Welnar sits slumped against a wall of the shrine, blood pouring from his nose and eyes. His ears are ringing, his head hurts… The awakening was way worse than he expected.

  The heat that had slowly began rising in his chest at first, was just a small, almost comforting warmth. But it grew, and grew, and grew… Soon, that comforting warmth felt like a raging inferno in his heart, as Welnar fell to his knees in pain. Then, the heat spread. Through his arms, legs, head… The head was the worst. It felt as if the back of his eyes were being split apart and remade, the pain wasn't like anything he'd ever felt before. Welnar thought he was going to die then and there.

  But here he sits, heaving… Alive. The ringing begins to fade, his thoughts clearing as he recognizes Monarch's voice.

  “Helloooooo. You're very clearly alive Welnar! Talk to me, you okay?”

  “Just… Just give me a minute…” Welnar speaks between pained breaths, letting himself fully recuperate for a minute or so before finally looking up from the floor. Instantly, his eyes catch the pink glowing text and images drawn in the walls. Those weren't there before, were they?

  “Good, you can see it! The prophecies left by my creators. Only those properly attuned to me are capable of seeing them.” Monarch chimes in, confirming to Welnar that they weren't there before.

  Welnar slowly stands to his feet, looking around in a panic for the halo as he now realizes it's disappeared from his hands.

  “Up.” Monarch instructs, Welnar listening and looking up,seeing the metal halo now floating above his head.

  “Oh. That makes sense.”

  Welnar then walks up to one of the walls containing the pink text, staring at it and reading out loud to himself.

  “To you, who is worthy of Heaven. Heed these words, and follow the ritual.”

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  “Six Scarlet Hearts. Six Scarlet Weapons.”

  “Feel the Resonance of the Hearts, and claim them for your own. Harness their soul, their strength, their very being, and forge your Scarlet Armory with them.”

  “With your Scarlet Armory assembled, sacrifice the armory to attain Heaven, and with it the god slaying weapon. The ZERO Blade.”

  “H-hang on, god slaying weapon? Monarch, what does this all-”

  “Just keep reading. Look at the other wall.” Monarch interrupts.

  Welnar listens reluctantly, turning to a wall that seems to depict six hearts, and below them, six weapons. On top of the Hearts, are singular words.

  “Psychotic Heart equals a dagger… Determined Heart, a shortsword…”

  Welnar goes through the rest silently. Burning Heart, a spear. Lustful Heart, an axe. Holy Heart, a hammer. And finally, the Merciful Heart, equaling a rapier.

  “What… What does this all mean… Scarlet Hearts, Scarlet Armory?”

  “Out in the world, at all times, there are six people whose hearts resonate with intense power that aligns with my magic. We need to find them, and kill them to take their power and make it our own.” Monarch responds.

  “So then what can you do right now, Monarch?”

  “Oh, nothing!”

  “Seriously?!”

  “Don't worry, it's fine! You can still use your own, newly awakened magic until you acquire your first heart.”

  “Right, sure…” Welnar isn't entirely sure what his form of magic is yet. He thought he'd feel the change immediately but right now he doesn't feel any different.

  Regardless, Welnar moves onto his next question. “So how exactly do I find these hearts?”

  “Like the text said, simply feel the resonance. Don't try to look for it. Just close your eyes and focus.”

  Welnar does as told, closing his eyes and focusing. After a few moments, he would suddenly be able to hear the sound of six separate heartbeats, all from different directions and at varying intensities.

  “See? Told you. The stronger the intensity, the closer they are.” Monarch clarifies for Welnar, sensing his confusion before he could even ask the question.

  Welnar opens his eyes, and the sound of hearts beating disappears in an instant. “Man, that's weird.”

  “Anyway, you still need to answer my earlier question actually! What was that about a god slaying weapon?!”

  Monarch sighs mentally. “It is capable of slaying gods. There's nothing saying you'd have to! It just means you'll be really, really strong.”

  “Strong, huh… If I'm strong, I'll be able to be a hero to Normals. I won't be like other Sorcerers.”

  “That's the spirit! And to get stronger, you'll be killing asshole Sorcerer's anyway, so it'll be a win win.”

  Welnar clenches his fist, his resolve solidified now. He knows what he must do.

  He'll gather the Scarlet Armory by killing the Hearts… And he'll become the strongest. He'll save the Normals from their oppression.

  Welnar steps out of the shrine finally, shielding his eyes as the sun beams through the canopy of the dense forest. He closes his eyes for a few moments, focusing on the Scarlet Hearts… Figuring out which one is closest.

  “Looks like the closest is southeast.”

  “Well, let's get going then. Also, when we're in public, just talk to me through your head. Don't talk out loud like a crazy person.”

  “Oh. Right. Good idea.” He thinks to Monarch.

  And so, with his goals solidified, it was now time to hunt down the Scarlet Hearts. He must complete the prophecy.