"What...?"
Yuuga stepped back cautiously, his voice barely above a whisper as the masked knight raised a mirror toward him.
"I'm sorry," the knight said, his tone calm yet absolute. "But you weren't meant to witness what happened tonight. You'll forget everything."
Before Yuuga could respond, the mirror gleamed with an unnatural brilliance. A blinding light engulfed him, freezing him in place. His pupils dilated as the memories of the monster, the battle, and even the knight began to slip away—erased like chalk in the rain.
The knight lowered the mirror and sighed.
"And the woman he saved..." he muttered, glancing around the dark alley. "She ran off. Tch… I should go after her."
He paused, considering it for a moment.
"Then again… no one would believe her anyway." He gave a small shrug and vanished into the shadows.
A voice echoed from all around him—calm, deep, and unearthly."I have seen the bravery in your heart."
Yuuga spun in place, surrounded by a blinding white void. There was no floor, no ceiling—just light, endless and weightless. Panic surged through his chest.
"Wh–who said that? Where am I?! What is this?!"He turned again, heart racing."How do you know my name?!"
The voice responded, steady and almost soothing."Do not be afraid, Yuuga. I am no enemy. I am merely a guide."
Yuuga squinted into the light, trying to locate a figure—anything—but there was nothing.
"A guide? What do you mean? What is this place?! What's happening to me?!"
A soft hum vibrated through the space like the resonance of a crystal. The voice spoke again, each word sinking into Yuuga's mind like a distant memory being awakened.
"You have been chosen. The path of fate has shifted. From this moment on, your life will no longer be ordinary."
Yuuga's breath caught in his throat.
"Chosen…? Chosen for what?"
"To rise as a Gem Knight," the voice declared. "A warrior who stands between light and darkness—between humanity and the void that seeks to consume it."
Yuuga stared wide-eyed at the glowing gem still in his hand. It pulsed with a faint red light, beating like a second heart. His fingers trembled around it.
"This has to be a dream..." he muttered.
"It is not," the voice answered immediately, as if reading his thoughts."You carry the mark of potential. Bravery in the face of terror. Compassion in the face of despair. That is what makes you worthy."
Yuuga looked down at the gem again, the light of the void reflecting in his eyes.
"A Gem Knight..." he whispered.
"That's right. Warriors who protect humanity from monsters unknown…"The voice echoed calmly, yet carried the weight of ancient power."We call them Mythos — beings from the distant reaches of space, whose origin defies comprehension. They came not in peace… but to spread chaos, feeding on fear and destruction."
The glowing void surrounding Yuuga pulsed with red light.
"But from the darkness, there arose those chosen by fate… Gem Knights. They are no ordinary warriors clad in shimmering armor — they wield powers not of this Earth, forged from cosmic essence and the spirit of humanity itself."
Yuuga stood frozen, still gripping the strange red gem tightly.
"Yuuga Klause… I ask you this."The voice deepened."Do you wish to become a Gem Knight — to protect humanity from the Mythos? Know this: once you accept, you must never reveal your identity, never abuse this power for selfish gain. You will walk a path of danger… and purpose."
Yuuga hesitated for only a moment, then gave a small nod. "...I do."
"Then bear witness to your power. Now… place the gemstone on the back of your hand… and say its name."
He took a deep breath, pressing the warm gem against his hand."Like this…? Ignis."
The gemstone lit up in a blinding red blaze.
"Wha—what's happening?!" Yuuga shouted, as glowing crimson minerals erupted from the gem, spiraling around his body. They hardened, cracked, and reshaped — forming dazzling red armor, sleek yet radiant, laced with glowing lines and embedded jewels.
With a final flash of light, the transformation completed.Yuuga stood tall, clad in fiery red armor — his breathing sharp, his mind racing.
"…No way… this is… me?"
"Welcome, Yuuga… the Knight of Flame. The world now rests on the shoulders of Gem Knights like you."