Joph couldn't ignore the feeling that the world was watching him.
Every week his phone glitches.
The pressure on chest that pulsed like a heart beat not on his own.
The presence he can feel stalking him from above.
And now..
Three strange figures stood at the end of the street, cloaked in soft starlight.
The center figure was a tall woman with hair as golden as daw she stepped forward. Her aura pressed gently against reality, like the air bowed to her existence.
She spoke, calmly but commanding.
"Joph Elri."
Joph froze.
"How do you know my name?"
The woman placed her hand against her breast in greeting.
"I am Zeraphina Vale, High Commander of the Luminar Order."
"Luminar what?" he asked, confused.
Zeraphina continued to talk calmly
"We are an inter dimensional protection force a coalition of celestial-born beings and chosen humans. Our purpose is simple contain demonic breaches and prevent the coming catalysm and with your aid we can claim this victory.
That word hit him like a stun grenade.
Catalysm.
But he shook his head.
"Wait no. No. I don't know anything about your organization. I don't know what you're talking about. I just want a normal life."
"He says these words even he can remember the woman warnings"
Seraphina's golden eyes softened.
"You were chosen by the relic older than our Order itself. The artifact bonded itself to you willingly not by force and we already detected its awakening months ago."
She nodded to his chest.
"The Gunsword Core has recognized you as its wielder."
Joph backed away.
"I don't want this. I'm scared. I'm not ready. I almost died when I face a herald.
"We know," she said softly.
"That is why we are here not to take you, but to offer you a sanctuary."
She placed a small glowing crystalline card on the ground.
"If you ever accept who you are becoming call us."
In the blink of an eye, the three strange figure vanished into the night like collapsing constellations.
Leaving Joph in froze in silence.
TWO DAYS LATER
Joph stared at the card on his desk.
The surface shimmered like water touched by moonlight.
Joph exhaled deepy.
"I know I can't run from this forever."
Finally ,he now decided to tap the card.
A pillar of white-gold light swallowed him.
Joph found himself inside a massive citadel floating above an endless ocean of clouds.
Silver bridges spiraled around towers carved with starlit runes.
Celestial beings trained in open-air arenas, wings tucked behind armored backs.
Advanced technology fused with sacred magics, screens of holographic symbols hovered above crystalline consoles.
Zeraphina approached him with a proud yet gentle smile.
Joph!
"Welcome to Luminar Citadel, headquarters of our Order."
Joph's eyes darted everywhere.
"Thi.. this is insane."
Zeraphina walked beside him as they crossed a glowing bridge.
"Our Order has existed for over seven thousand years, formed after the First Rift War. We operate across realms, sealing dimensional fractures before demons can pass through."
She pointed toward a massive great hall filled with people and celestials
Humans with shining badges and celestial warriors polishing weaponsoflight, technicians adjusting floating machines.
"We are composed of seven divisions," Zeraphina explained.
THE SEVEN DIVISIONS OF THE LUMINAR ORDER
1. Vanguard Unit – frontline fighters who confront demons head-on.
2. Rift Wardens – specialists who seal portals and stabilize dimensions.
3. Astra Sentinels – scouts and reconnaissance specialists, masters of detection.
4. Arcforge Division – engineers who create celestial-tech hybrids.
5. Seraph Choir – healers and support casters capable of purifying corrupted energy.
6. Celestial Archives – historians, analysts, and prophecy researchers.
7. Herald Excision Corps – elite unit tasked with hunting Herald class demons but nothing has been descovered yet.
8. Elite vanguard- The strongest unit of all.
Zeraphina added, with a smile on her angelic face.
"As the wielder of an ancient artifact, you will eventually qualify for a specialization. But first you'll need registration."
A silver rectangular device floated onto a table, humming with celestial symbols.
"This is. Zeraphina said, is your AURACODE.
Joph raised an eyebrow.
"Aura… what now?"
"AuraCode," Zeraphina repeated.
"An artificial spirit-engine that monitors your combat data.
Your Level, Vitalityv,Energy Output, Artifact Synchronization, Combat power, Threat Assessment Metrics"
The device hovered to Joph's wrist and magnetically snapped into place like a living bracelet.
Screens lit up around his arm.
Name: Joph Elri
Age: 19
Rank: recruit
Level: 1
Energy Output: 3.1
Artifact Sync: 4%
Combat power: unsteady
"…Unsteady?" Joph muttered.
"It will improve," Zeraphina assured.
"Now your training begins."
FIVE MONTHS LATER
Joph's days became a blur of sweat, bruises, and glowing blades.
From sunrise to midnight aura compression, the Luminar Order forged him into something sharper, faster, stronger.
The Aura Code now displayed:
level:3
Energy Output: 8%
Artifact sync: 12%
Combat power: steady
And for the first time… he felt confident.
"Joph's first mission"
An emergency alarm blared through the Citadel.
"Demonic breach detected! Sector Delta Ridge! Swarm-level threat!"
Zeraphina handed Joph a cloak, her voice craccked.
"This is your first mission. Show us what the Gunsword Core has awakened in you."
A portal gate opened beneath his feet.
joph dropped into a moonlit forest.
The smell of fresh iron twisted the air.
Growls echoed from every direction.
A ring of twelve demons circled around them lean, skeletal beasts with elongated jaws dripping black venom.
Joph felt his heart hammering, breath shaky.
His Aura Code beeped.
Threat Level: Red.
Recommend retreat.
He ignored it.
"A-Alright… here goes nothing."
He clenched the pendant.
It pulse
THUMP.
Then
FWOOOM!
Crimson-silver energy exploded outward, forging the hybrid Gunsword in his hands. The blade hummed, hungry.
The demons lunged from all directions.
Joph moved.
Faster than ever.
He slid under the first demon's claws, firing a blast from the gun-barrel.
BANG! BANG!
A demon's head exploded in a burst of silver embers.
He swung the blade sideway
SHRRRING!
Three demons were split cleanly, dissolving into smoke.
Another leaped from behind
The Aura Code flashed
Warning! Rear assault!
Joph spun, firing a point-blank blast.
BOOM!
The shockwave tore trees apart.
"Five demons remaining" the aura code said.
They pounced togethed
Joph roared, thrusting the Gunsword into the sky.
SCARLET SALVO!
A sphere of swirling red-silver energy detonated from the blade, incinerating the entire pack in a brilliant explosion.
As the smoke cleared, Joph stood panting, arms trembling
but smiling.
He did it.
He actually did it.
The AuraCode flashed:
Mission Complete.
Level Up! Lv. 4
Energy output: 8.3%
Artifact Sync → 27%
Combat Power: Rising
Zeraphina stepped through a portal, eyes wide.
"You've exceeded expectations, Joph Elri."
Joph sheathed the glowing weapon.
"Guess I'm starting to get the hang of this."