The ancient banyan tree in Sabah Central Park had stood for over a century, its gnarled branches twisting like serpents, its canopy stretching like a colossal umbrella. The midday sun filtered through its dense leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground below. Yeh Yao and Alicia sat on a bench beneath it, nervously awaiting the arrival of the mysterious caller.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Yeh Yao asked, eyeing Alicia with concern. She had just been discharged from the hospital, and her face was still pale.
Alicia blinked playfully. "Don't worry, I'm not that fragile. Besides, I wouldn't miss this meeting for anything." Her tone was light, but Yeh Yao noticed how her gaze kept darting around, scanning for potential threats.
Ever since the blood moon night, they had both become more cautious.
"What do you think this Marcus Chen is?" Alicia whispered. "A government agent? Part of some secret organization? Or—"
"Or just an ordinary person who happens to know extraordinary things," a calm male voice interjected from behind them.
They spun around to see a well-dressed middle-aged man approaching. He looked to be in his fifties, tall and lean, with a kind but sharp-eyed expression. Most striking was his demeanor—composed, confident, as if he had weathered countless storms yet remained unshaken.
"Marcus Chen?" Yeh Yao asked warily, standing up.
The man nodded slightly and took a seat on the bench opposite them. "Yes. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Yeh Yao, Alicia." His Mandarin was fluent, with a faint Singaporean lilt.
"How do you know our names? And what happened that night?" Yeh Yao demanded bluntly.
Marcus smiled. "Because my job is to find people like you—wielders of the Light Weapons." He glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, then lowered his voice. "I assume you've realized by now that what happened wasn't an isolated incident. Similar attacks have occurred worldwide."
Alicia nodded. "We saw the news. But the authorities are dismissing them as terrorist attacks or mass hysteria."
"Governments rarely admit what they can't explain," Marcus said, a hint of resignation in his tone. "But the truth is, these events are real. The attackers aren't human—they're beings from another dimension. We call it the 'Shadow Realm.'"
"Shadow Realm?" Yeh Yao repeated, a chill creeping down his spine.
Marcus nodded. "A plane of existence parallel to ours, with entirely different physical laws and lifeforms. Normally, the barrier between dimensions is strong, but under certain conditions—like a blood moon—it weakens, creating what we call 'Hellgates.'"
"So those monsters came through these Hellgates?" Alicia asked, her eyes alight with curiosity.
"Precisely," Marcus confirmed. "And the situation is worsening. The blood moon was just the beginning. New Hellgates are appearing globally, and more shadow creatures are crossing into our world."
Yeh Yao frowned. "But why now? If these Hellgates have appeared before in history, why are they suddenly opening everywhere at once?"
Marcus's expression darkened. "That's the most troubling part. Historically, Hellgates were natural phenomena—rare and localized. But this time, there's evidence they're being deliberately opened."
"Deliberately?" Yeh Yao and Alicia exclaimed in unison.
"Yes. We don't yet know by whom, or why," Marcus admitted. "But whoever is behind this is threatening the safety of the entire world."
Yeh Yao fell silent, processing the information. Then he looked down at his palm. "And this sword... what is it? Why did it choose me?"
A glint of admiration flashed in Marcus's eyes. "The Light Weapons are ancient artifacts created by a civilization known as the 'Guardians of Light,' designed to combat threats from the Shadow Realm. They possess consciousness and choose wielders who resonate with them—based on character, potential, and inner qualities."
"So the sword chose Yeh Yao because it deemed him worthy of being a... warrior?" Alicia asked, skepticism creeping into her voice.
Marcus smiled. "Not just a warrior—a Guardian. Light Weapons don't choose merely the strong. They choose those with pure hearts, courage, and the willingness to sacrifice for others." He looked at Yeh Yao. "Your actions proved your worth—your first instinct was to protect Alicia, not flee."
Warmth spread through Yeh Yao's chest, but it was quickly overshadowed by the weight of responsibility. "But I don't know how to use it. That night, it appeared on its own. I don't even know how to summon it again."
"That's why I'm here," Marcus said, pulling an aged leather notebook from his briefcase. "I represent an organization called the Watchers. For centuries, we've monitored the Shadow Realm, gathering knowledge about the Light Weapons. We can teach you to control your power."
He flipped open the notebook, revealing hand-drawn diagrams and ancient script. One page depicted a weapon nearly identical to Yeh Yao's sword, accompanied by detailed notes.
"The Holy Lightblade," Marcus explained. "The most balanced of the five Light Weapons, capable of offense and defense. It can unleash energy slashes and create shields of light. And according to records, it's the only Light Weapon that exists in two forms."
"Two?" Alicia asked, intrigued.
Marcus nodded meaningfully. "Legend says the twin blades choose fated partners. The deeper the bond between the wielders, the stronger the swords become."
Yeh Yao and Alicia exchanged glances, both flushing slightly. Marcus tactfully moved on, flipping to another page.
"Besides the Lightblade, there's the Light Hammer, the Light Bow, the Light Staff, and the Light Gauntlets," he said, pointing to the illustrations. "Each has unique abilities and chooses different types of wielders."
"So there are others like me?" Yeh Yao asked.
"Yes. Our intelligence suggests the other four weapons have also found their wielders," Marcus said, closing the notebook. "Our mission is to gather all of you to face this crisis together."
"Have you found the others yet?" Alicia pressed.
Marcus shook his head. "Not yet, but we have leads. One wielding the Light Hammer may be in Hawaii, another with the Light Bow in Yunnan, China. The other two are still untracked."
Yeh Yao took a deep breath, a sense of purpose rising within him. "Then what should we do?"
"First," Marcus said, "you must learn to control your power. Light Weapons aren't just physical tools—they're manifestations of will and energy. To summon it, focus on the energy within you, then visualize it materializing."
"Sounds like meditation," Alicia remarked.
Marcus smiled. "Quite similar. In fact, many ancient meditation and martial arts traditions may have originated from early Light Wielder training."
Yeh Yao closed his eyes, following Marcus's guidance. He sought that warm, powerful sensation from the blood moon night. At first, nothing happened—but as his concentration deepened, he felt a faint vibration, a pull from within.
"I can feel it," he murmured, eyes still shut. "Like... a light, deep inside."
"Good," Marcus encouraged. "Now, imagine that light surging forth, taking shape in your hand. Visualize its form, its weight, its power."
Yeh Yao obeyed, picturing the sword—its silver-white blade, the ancient runes, the way it had felt in his grip. Suddenly, warmth spread from his chest to his limbs, pooling in his right hand. He opened his eyes and gasped as a faint glow began coalescing in his palm.
"Keep going," Marcus murmured. "Stay focused."
Yeh Yao inhaled deeply, shutting his eyes again. The glow intensified, solidifying. When he looked again, the Holy Lightblade rested fully formed in his grasp, pulsing with soft radiance.
"I did it!" Yeh Yao exclaimed, carefully testing the sword's weight. It felt lighter than expected, like an extension of his arm.
Alicia stared in awe. "Incredible!"
Marcus nodded approvingly. "Excellent—faster than I anticipated. This confirms your synchronization with the blade is strong."
Yeh Yao marveled at the weapon, a newfound sense of duty settling over him. "Now what?"
"Master it," Marcus said. "Then, we find the other wielders. Only together can you counter the Hellgate threat."
"So when do we leave?" Alicia asked, determination blazing in her eyes.
Marcus hesitated. "Alicia, I understand your desire to help, but this will be dangerous. Without a Light Weapon, ordinary humans stand little chance against shadow creatures."
"I don't care about danger," Alicia said firmly. "Yeh Yao and I have faced everything together since childhood. I won't let him shoulder this alone."
Yeh Yao looked at her, touched. He knew arguing was pointless—and truthfully, he didn't want to face this without her.
"I'll protect her," he told Marcus. "And Alicia's research skills and instincts could be invaluable."
Marcus studied their resolute expressions, then sighed. "Very well. But remember—this isn't a game. Lives are at stake."
"We understand," Alicia said solemnly. "We've seen what those monsters can do."
Marcus retrieved two plane tickets from his briefcase. "Pack your bags, then. In three days, we leave for Hawaii to find the Light Hammer's wielder."
Yeh Yao took the tickets, emotions swirling—excitement, fear, resolve. His life as an ordinary student was over. He was now a Guardian, tasked with protecting the world.
"One more thing," Marcus added before leaving. "Practice dismissing the blade—same as summoning, but in reverse."
Yeh Yao nodded, envisioning the sword dissolving back into light. The glow faded, the blade turning translucent before vanishing entirely, leaving only warmth behind.
"Well done," Marcus said. "Keep practicing. I'll see you in three days."
With that, he departed, melting into the park's crowd.
Yeh Yao and Alicia sat in silence, absorbing everything.
"Are you scared?" Alicia finally asked softly.
Yeh Yao nodded. "Terrified. But also resolved. If this power chose me, then I can't turn away."
Alicia smiled, squeezing his hand. "That's why the blade picked you. And remember—you're not alone. I'll be right beside you."
Yeh Yao returned her grip, fear giving way to warmth. Whatever lay ahead, they'd face it together.
"Three days," he said, voice steady. "Our adventure begins."
The sun still shone, the park still bustled—life went on, oblivious. But Yeh Yao knew a storm was coming. And he was at its center.
Meanwhile, across the world, other Light Wielders were awakening to their destinies. The gears of fate were turning.
The great expedition for humanity's survival was about to begin.