The Story of the Four Guardians [CHAPTER 1/15]

I still remember those amazing events—that beautiful story brings joy to my soul, even in the
afterlife. The moments lived by those individuals and the feats they accomplished in those days
continue to astound me.

It all started the day of a fateful meeting that brought together a small group of merchants from the
Kingdom of Ernblue. On that day, they formed a secret organization called the NKNT—No King,
No Taxes. King Anderser of Ernblue had earned the hatred and disdain of nearly all the kingdom’s
merchants when the rumors were at last confirmed.

After years of levying high taxes, the king had spent it all not on the people but on satisfying his own carnal desires and throwing lavish parties for the benefit of his friends. Year after year, taxes increased in every sector all to feed his own lusts.
The merchants of NKNT already considered the King and his noble court unnecessary. It was a
waste of resources and contrary to the kingdom’s core values instilled by the first great king of
Ernblue, who had saved not only his people but the world.

Centuries ago, there were five strong kingdoms in the land: Soty, Lihope, Strength, Uship, and
Ernblue, which was the largest and most prosperous of them all. These kingdoms lived in peace,
trading and helping one another generously. As the people lived in peace and prosperity, their
numbers continued to grow. Inventors created technological marvels while artists cultivated a
thriving culture. The future looked bright, until one day, everything turned bleak.

Monsters appeared, destroying the long-lasting peace. Terrible, imposing, monstrous creatures with
horrifying and twisted bodies flooded the cities and towns, wreaking havoc and unleashing chaos on
all.

No one knew where they came from, but one thing was clear—they had dark, evil hearts.
They weren’t simple animals hunting prey for food, but creatures with twisted minds that used their
imagination to torture and maim and taunt their prey for their own amusement.

The people who once knew nothing but peace found themselves enslaved to the creature’s whims and darkest lusts.

The kingdoms combined their armies and fought together to stop the monsters, but the creatures
were too strong. They possessed supernatural strength and power that no army could rival.
Distraught and at a loss of how to save his people, the great king of Ernblue walked onto the terrace
of his palace and looked out at the destruction and chaos throughout his kingdom. Tears streamed
from his swollen, red eyes as the anguished screams of his people echoed in the streets.

The king fell on his knees and cried out to his God amidst sobs.
“Please, Keoa! Hear my pleas! Do not turn your face from me. Give heed to my cry and hear my
lament. Help us! Look what these beasts have done, see how they have ruined your beautiful world.
Please, use your mighty power to save us. Not just Ernblue but the whole world. Show them that
you are truly God, let my faith in you even now be enough to save us all.”
Keoa took pity on him and in that moment gave him a vision of what was and what would be.
The world around the king turned black. He was floating in the dark ether of space, looking onto his
land from the stars.

His heart raced in panic, not understanding what was happening, but a deep and
pleasant voice soothed him.

“I have heard your pleas. I have searched your heart and know that you are sincere. I have watched
you maintain your faith in me through every hardship, even in the face of darkest death. This is my
vow to you: No longer will your people suffer. I will choose four warriors—only four as no more
are needed. To each of them I will give divine and immeasurable power. With this divine Talent,
they will destroy the monsters that plague and torment you. The guardians will save the people and
become the Guardians of all the land.”

And on that day, the four Guardians were chosen. First was Marc Wilson of Uship, who was given
the Talent to emit a red energy so powerful and destructive that it could destroy an entire continent.
Then came Jack Wright of the Kingdom of Strength, whose Talent was that of prediction. He knew
what was to happen up to five hours before it came to pass.

Next was Christopher Walker of Lihope. His Talent was to shrink any creature or object until it was insignificant.

Legends say he could shrink an elephant to the size of an ant in seconds. The final Guardian was Raymond Clark,
whose Talent was the ability to fly at immeasurable speeds. When he soared through the air, his
speed and impact force rivaled that of a meteorite.

These four Guardians—Mark Wilson, Jack Wright, Christopher Walker, and Raymond Clark—went
down in history as the first four Guardians, the ones who saved the world. Their names became
known throughout the land, even centuries after their deaths.

The four Guardians formed a team and worked together to eradicate the monsters in battle after
exhaustive battle that lasted eight months. But finally, at long last, the evil creatures that had
enslaved humanity were defeated. Those who could not be destroyed fled until the kingdoms were
once again safe.

The people adored and celebrated the Guardians, following them through streets to catch a glimpse
of them, to touch them, to shake their hand. They protected the land for the rest of their lives, and
upon their deaths, the next four Guardians were born