God Quest

Banri and the others gazed at the castle walls as they approached the kingdom of Quath. They marched up to the entrance.

"Who are you?" the guards asked them.

"We are newly awakened guardians" Hikari replied creating a small fire on his finger tips to prove to the guards

"We have travelled here to join a guild"

"There is only one guild here, it is known as Black Widow"

The guards directed them to the local guild for guardians known as the 'Black Widow'. "The guild offers food, housing, and even a salary in exchange for their service as guardians."

A guardian guild, as the name suggests, is a place for those blessed with special abilities. Members use these powers to safeguard celestial beings from demons and mutants. If they could infiltrate the guild, they might learn the whereabouts of a celestial beast.

Quath was renowned for its exquisite silk and elegant clothing, and the kingdom bustled with life. Merchants shouted their wares from colorful stalls, their voices mingling with the laughter of children playing in the streets. The air was thick with the scent of spices and the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods, creating an intoxicating atmosphere that beckoned both travelers and locals alike.

Alina and Katherine walked side by side, their eyes wide with wonder as they absorbed the sights around them. The streets were alive with activity, and the vibrant colors of the silk fabrics fluttering in the breeze captivated their attention. Each stall was adorned with shimmering textiles, showcasing intricate patterns and rich hues that seemed to dance in the sunlight.

"Look at that one!" Alina exclaimed, pointing to a stall draped in deep emerald silk.

Katherine nodded, her excitement palpable. "I've never seen silk like this before! I can only imagine how it feels against the skin." She reached out to touch a nearby fabric, her fingers gliding over the soft material.

Banri and Hikari walked a few paces ahead. "Stay focused, you two," Hikari called back, a playful grin on his face.

"This place is beautiful," Katherine said, her smile brightening her face.

"It will all be mine once I become god" Banri replied confidently.

"Hikari is the one destined to become a god, I'll make sure of it" Alina shot back.

"Does that mean you don't want to become a god, Alina?" Katherine asked.

"No, I don't. I came here to help Hikari. How about you? Why do you want to become a god?"

At that moment, a somber expression crossed Katherine's face as she replied, "It's the only way I can protect my home."

The group walked for a few minutes, admiring the merchandise as they passed by. Soon, they arrived at the Black Widow guild. They entered the Guild, making their way down the hall, their were people inside siting, laughing and drinking, Hikari made his way to the receptionist while Banri stopped to gaze at the guildhall.

After a moment, Banri joined the others at the desk. The receptionist was a beautiful lady seemed to be in her late 20s. She had beautiful black hair, and a pale beautiful white skin, her body was full signifying her womanly nature. She was the type of girl that young men would often dream about.

Banri was taken aback the moment he laid eyes on her. He watched her lip closely as she said her name "Mariah".

"Welcome to the Black Widow guild, how may I help you."

Hikari stepped forward, gathering his composure. "My friends and I are hoping to join your guild. We have just awakened as guardians."

"Is that so?" Mariah replied with a slight chuckle , her expression shifting to one of professionalism. "We'll need to conduct a test to verify that you possess special abilities. We will also conduct an interview to learn more about you."

"Cyrus," she called out, "it seems we have some new recruits. Will you take them to the test room and verify their abilities?"

Cyrus was a tall, muscular man. He approached them and, with a small grunt, muttered, "Follow me." He led them into a spacious room down the hall. "I need you all to demonstrate your powers."

They all looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

"You ready, Banri?"

With a look of confusion Banri turned to look at Hikari but before he could respond, a powerful blast erupted from Hikari's hand, aimed directly at him. The blast melted everything in its path. The area where Banri stood was engulfed in flames, and from the fire emerged a scaled beast, its shimmering scales reminiscent of a dragon.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Banri shouted, but as the words left his lips, he began to sink into quicksand.

As he sank deeper, his body started to change. Webbing began to form between his fingers and toes, allowing him to push against the quicksand more effectively and swim through the material rather than sink. Small bumps developed on his skin, providing traction against the quicksand. He looked almost like a giant frog.

"What are you waiting for, Katherine? Show him what you've got!" Alina called out, a big smile plastered across her face.

Katherine hesitantly stood there. "I don't want to hurt Banri."

"He'll be fine; cockroaches like him are hard to kill."

With a deep breath, Katherine pulled out a large slingshot, loading it with a hefty metal ball as ammo. She aimed it at Banri's head and fired. The shot flew through the air at an incredible speed, enhanced by her ability to increase the velocity of objects.

The shot collided with Banri's head, but just a fraction of a second before impact, his skin transformed into steel. A loud clang echoed through the air as sparks flew.

Banri struggled to his feet, a bit bewildered by the impact. "Now it's my turn to demonstrate my ability," he said, glaring at the trio as his hand began to morph into claws.

"I've seen enough!" Cyrus called out. As his voice rang out, they all turned to look at him, except for Banri, who was seething with anger.

"How dare you refer to the perfect being as a mere cockroach!" he directed his ire at Alina.

"Thanks for your help, Banri. We couldn't have demonstrated our powers without you," Hikari said mockingly.

"Thank you, Banri," Katherine added while acting shy.

"Thanks, Banri," Alina chimed in with a wink.

"I will interview you individually now. Banri, you're first. Come with me." Cyrus wore a slight smile as he spoke.