Orders of Light

The streets of Tokyo roared once again with chaos. Dark energy surged from cracks in reality, twisting the air, sending sparks of malice into neon-lit streets. People screamed, stumbling over each other, oblivious to what—or who—threatened them. Shadows flickered across walls and asphalt, unnatural and hungry. The scent of ozone mingled with street food and burning tar, forming a strange, acrid perfume. The hum of malfunctioning electronics echoed through alleys, punctuated by clattering carts, shattering glass, and panicked footsteps. Steam hissed from manhole covers, twisting into ghostly spirals around the dark energy surges, while neon signs flickered violently, fracturing reflections across puddles.

Amid shattered rooftops, dangling power lines, and overturned motorbikes, Akihiro summoned the Sword of Light, its radiant blade forming in his grasp as his wings unfurled like soft mist. Each strike deflected dark energy, precise, measured. Sparks rained onto graffiti-splattered walls and wet streets. His green eyes were sharp, devoid of unnecessary emotion.

“Rei, left,” he commanded, deflecting a demon’s strike, sending a wave of light across a wall plastered with torn posters and flickering billboards.

Rei darted around the first wave of demons, ribbons of light weaving with every movement. “Akihiro, your swings are almost predictable,” he smirked, redirecting attacks while keeping civilians safe. Neon signs flickered, paper lanterns swayed, holographic banners glitching in gusts stirred by the battle. Steam from vents formed ephemeral halos around his light. A group of terrified pedestrians huddled in the shadows of a shuttered convenience store. One old man whispered a prayer as he pressed a child to his chest, eyes darting between angels and shifting shadows.

Ayame’s dark violet-black wings rippled like waves as she deflected demons. “Akihiro, cover my left,” she whispered, her gaze betraying a fleeting longing for him, though her professionalism remained flawless. Neon reflections danced across puddles, broken glass, and rain-slicked streets as her movements intertwined with Akihiro’s strikes.

Kaito’s soft blue wings shielded civilians with a subtle wave of light. “Rei, move that side group!” he instructed, voice calm but anchored amid chaos. Sparks flickered from failing streetlights, energy flowing invisibly to protect panicked passersby. A young woman pressed her forehead to a wall, trembling as her dog whimpered at the distortion around them.

Daichi, wings blazing in molten red and gold, roared. “Let them feel the power!” The ground quaked beneath his strikes, asphalt sizzling where energy met dark matter. Demons fell, civilians cleared. Steam twisted into glowing swirls where his attacks met darkness. Overturned vending machines and scattered umbrellas glowed briefly, painting the streets with ephemeral light. A teenager peeked from behind a dumpster. “Are they… angels?” he whispered before ducking as a shadow skittered past.

From the cracks emerged more than possessions. Screamers shrieked, distorting sound and paralyzing minds; Wraithbound feasted on memory; Corruptors burned the asphalt they touched. Akihiro’s blade cut through them, light flaring against shadows, reflections dancing across broken windows and puddles. Shouts and screams blended with the electric buzz of broken signs, creating a living cacophony.

Rei sent a ribbon of light to redirect a possessed pedestrian. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” he called. Daichi thundered, “Akihiro, faster! Their line is closing!”

Akihiro’s calm voice cut through chaos: “Stay composed. Every strike counts. Protect civilians.”

Ayame murmured, redirecting waves of energy: “Every shadow… under control. Almost.” Her eyes briefly flickered to Akihiro before she refocused.

The streets stilled as the last demon fell. Repairers stitched reality; Erasers dissolved panic. Neon lights flickered steady, holographic ads stabilized, shattered glass lifted as if by unseen hands. Pedestrians blinked at their untouched reflections, unaware of their invisible guardians.

But Akihiro felt it: the attacks were coming faster, stronger. Dimensional shifts bolder.

Rei exhaled. “This isn’t random. Someone—or more than one—is orchestrating this.”
Ayame clenched her fists. “They’re getting stronger.”
Daichi nodded. “We need to know who truly commands these forces.”
Kaito’s gaze rose. “Time to coordinate. The Guardians must be located.”

A demon lurked in the shadows, watching, listening. Red eyes glinted. “Guardians,” it whispered, then vanished, rushing to report to the Demon Prince, Ravukaru.

In his distant fortress of darkness, Ravukaru’s wings stretched like tattered shadows. His eyes glowed molten red, dark energy coiling around every stone, every tower.

A demon approached. “Your Majesty, the angels… are searching for the Guardians.”

Ravukaru’s laugh rumbled through the walls. “Guardians?” He flexed his dark crystal sword. “Elemental? Human-born? Or something older, hidden even from Heaven?”
He paused, letting the thought stretch like a shadow. “Whatever they are, accelerate our plans. Find them before the angels do. Let demonic power claim those meant to bear the light.”

The demon nodded, disappearing. Ravukaru remained alone, cold cunning in his heart. The first confrontation between light and darkness was set—but the true game had only begun.

Back at A-Academy, Akihiro stood in the Control Hall, wings half-folded. “We’ll divide the Vanguard. Each of you leads your own unit. The Guardians could awaken anywhere—we need to be there first.”

He turned to Rei. “North, Nikko. Disturbances suggest something ancient beneath the area. Take Tsubasa, Hikari, and Eren. Monitor every dimensional pulse. Contain the source if it aligns with water signatures.”

Rei nodded. “Water, huh? Let’s hope she’s not shy.”

Kaito’s calm presence radiated like soil after rain. “West, Yamanashi. Earth energy is spiking. Take Arisa, Koji, and Nao.”
Kaito bowed. “Understood. If it’s tied to Earth, it won’t hide for long.”

Daichi’s fire blazed. “South, Kyushu’s volcanic regions. Lead Hikari, Minato, and Kenta.”
“Perfect. I like it when the ground fights back,” Daichi grinned.

Ayame’s presence was gentle yet charged. “East, Mount Fuji. Winds have shifted. Take two scouts. If it’s tied to air, you’ll feel it first.”
“The wind whispers before it speaks,” she said softly, bowing.

Akihiro’s gaze swept all. “I remain in Tama Hills. Base must stay operational. Communicate. Report awakenings immediately. Do not engage unless necessary.”

Rei raised an eyebrow. “And if ‘necessary’ means the world’s ending?”
Akihiro answered plainly, his expression unchanged. “Then improvise.”

Light flared. Wings unfolded, each unit vanishing into beams of radiance, leaving Tokyo trembling in their wake.