The rain had finally ceased, leaving the city slick and shimmering under a pale dawn light. The battle's aftermath clung to the air—smoke, ash, and the sharp scent of ozone from discharged magic. But there was little time for rest.
The four boys gathered in a crumbling chapel, once a beacon of faith now repurposed as their sanctuary. Stained glass windows fractured by time and war cast broken rainbows across worn stone floors. The faint hum of ancient machinery pulsed beneath their feet—remnants of a forgotten age when science and sorcery blurred into one.
Kaito ran a hand through his soaked hair, the weight of leadership pressing heavy on his shoulders. "We need answers. Why did the Vatican send their agents now? Why after all these years?"
Ren tossed a smoldering cigarette stub onto the floor with a frustrated grunt. "Jealousy, power plays, politics—typical Vatican nonsense. They want us, or what we represent."
Haru's sharp eyes scanned the chapel's ancient glyphs, etched both in stone and embedded circuitry. "The Ministry Church was supposed to protect us from the Vatican's grasp. Our birth was no accident—they chose us carefully. Each of our powers a gift... and a weapon."
Daiki knelt before a cracked altar, touching the etched runes. "The Ministry has kept us hidden, trained us in the old ways. But now, the Vatican seeks to claim us or destroy us to maintain their control."
The air around them flickered as an old holo-projector buzzed to life, casting a flickering image of a man clad in ceremonial robes—the head of the Ministry Church.
His voice, calm but urgent, filled the room. "Boys, your existence is a balance between two forces: the divine mandate of the Vatican and the protection of the Ministry. You are the key to the coming war—guardians of ancient secrets and weapons forged by gods and man alike. Your powers are tied to the very elements that shaped this world, and to the ancient technology buried beneath our feet."
Ren scoffed. "Sounds like a heavy burden for four kids."
Kaito's gaze hardened. "It's not just power. It's responsibility. We were born to fight, to protect humanity from demons—and from ourselves."
Haru stepped forward, voice low. "Our foresight shows a future of chaos. The Vatican will stop at nothing—even if it means sparking a war that consumes all."
Daiki stood, the ground trembling beneath him. "Then we prepare. Our training, our unity—that's the only way to survive."
Flashback:
Years earlier, the four boys were brought together as infants, handed to the Ministry Church amid swirling conspiracies and shadow wars. Their parents lost or vanished, their destinies intertwined by ancient prophecy and secret experiments that fused elemental magic with cybernetic enhancements.
They trained under harsh conditions in isolated facilities—ancient temples retrofitted with archaic tech. Stone walls embedded with glowing runes and humming conduits lined their classrooms, battlefields, and dormitories.
Kaito, the Windblade, learned to harness storms, slicing air and moving with impossible speed. His sword was more than steel—it was a conductor of tempests.
Ren, the Flame Pistol, mastered regulating his fiery power through his custom pistols—tools forged from a blend of old-world metalwork and nanotech, allowing him to channel and control his volatile flames.
Haru, the Seer, honed his precognitive abilities through meditation and combat drills, fusing his mental prowess with cybernetic implants that enhanced his cognitive speed and reflexes.
Daiki, the Earthshaker, trained in brute strength and geomancy, his fists capable of shaping and shattering stone. His body bore mechanical enhancements that reinforced his physical endurance and power.
Back to Present:
The chapel's ancient walls echoed with their determination.
Ren cracked a grin, breaking the tension. "Well, I guess if we're going to save the world, we might as well have some fun doing it."
Kaito allowed himself a rare smile. "We fight not just for ourselves, but for everyone caught in the crossfire."
Haru's voice was steady. "And for the truth hidden in shadows."
Daiki nodded. "The ground beneath us is old and broken—but we'll make it whole again."