CHAPTER 7: HISTORY OF THE HOLY WAR

CHAPTER 7: HISTORY OF THE HOLY WAR

"Long ago, before the current holy war, there were only three races fighting: Humans, Undead, and Elves," Eleanor began. 

"That battle was very different. There were no seven crystal shards like today there was only one great crystal that was the center of power and desire for all races."

Loren listened intently, while Howard and Anne, who were standing nearby, also focused on the story.

"Back then, the great crystal had the power to change reality. Whoever touched it would become the ruler of this world. But as you know, such power attracts hatred and greed. War broke out, and the Undead, led by King Tharoth, attacked brutally, slaughtering entire armies of Elves and Humans."

"As I stood before Tharoth, I could feel the darkness seeping into my bones. The temperature suddenly dropped drastically, and Tharoth's every step shattered the ground beneath him, making it feel like the end of everything."

Tharoth swung his giant black staff, a weapon made from the bones of dead kings, and directed a powerful death spell toward Eleanor. A blast of dark energy shot out with enough force to incinerate an entire army in an instant. Eleanor quickly raised a divine shield made of the power of light, but Tharoth's attack was so powerful that it shattered the shield, sending Eleanor flying back several meters.

"Tharoth's power is overwhelming. Each strike from him can shatter mountains or stop the flow of time. I knew that to defeat him, I would have to use everything I had," Eleanor countered. 

The Sacred Relic sword glowed brightly as she unleashed the Blades of Light, a technique that summoned hundreds of sacred energy swords to attack enemies from all directions. The swords of light shot out like shooting stars, tearing through the ranks of the undead and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Each blast of light reduced the undead warriors to ash.

But Tharoth remained undeterred. He swung his staff at the ground, causing a wave of dark magic to rise from beneath, summoning new undead soldiers to replace those lost. Wave after wave of undead warriors continuously charged at Eleanor, forcing her to defend with all her might.

"I attacked relentlessly, but it felt like fighting an endless ocean. Every time I destroyed a wave of undead, Tharoth summoned more. Meanwhile, he kept getting closer to the crystal."

But Eleanor was no ordinary Guardian. She used her supreme holy magic, combining the Sacred Relic sword with pure light energy. With a single mighty swing, she summoned Divine Judgment, a celestial attack that sent a pillar of light crashing to the ground, destroying thousands of undead and temporarily knocking Tharoth back. However, even though the attack shook the battlefield, Tharoth could not be stopped completely.

Eleanor looked at Loren. 

"At the last moment, Tharoth was almost at the great crystal. He could feel the power emanating from it, and with a touch of his hand, the world could end under his rule."

"But... what happened?" Loren asked tensely.

"I used the ultimate move, the Holy Beam. It was an attack with very strong divine power, enough to destroy everything around it. I knew that using the Holy Beam would mean losing my life, but it was the only way to stop Tharoth," Eleanor answered in a low voice.

Anne, who was listening, was touched by Eleanor's courage. 

"So, that's why the crystal shattered into pieces?" she asked.

"Yes, the Holy Beam not only destroyed Tharoth but also caused the great crystal to shatter into seven pieces. Each piece was scattered to different corners of the world. That was my way of stopping one person's rule over this world, but it also led to the holy war that is now." Eleanor nodded.

Loren looked at Howard, who stood silently, listening to the story. Howard lowered his head, his eyes beginning to fill with tears. 

"Howard arrived late to the battle because he was fighting the Death Knight, the warlord of the Undead. When he arrived, I was already close to death." Eleanor continued.

Loren could feel Howard's sadness. In his memory, Howard screamed in pain as he watched his best friend, Eleanor, lie on the ground, dying.

"Howard cried beside me," Eleanor continued, her voice starting to fade. 

"'I'm sorry, Eleanor, I'm sorry. I couldn't save you at the last moment,' he said through sobs. But I knew it was a choice that had to be made. If Howard had been there when the Holy Beam was released, he might have been killed too."

Howard lowered his head, remembering Eleanor's final moments. 

"I asked him, 'Why did you use the Holy Beam? Why were you willing to sacrifice yourself?'"

"I said, 'That's the path a hero must take, Howard. This is my destiny. I want you to keep this Sacred Relic sword and guard it. One day, you will find someone worthy to wield this sword.'" Eleanor smiled faintly. 

"I know you will, Howard." Eleanor spoke her last words softly.

Loren understood that those words were not just for Howard but for her as well. Eleanor believed that she had the power to stop this holy war.

After hearing Eleanor's story, Loren asked firmly, 

"How do we end this holy war, Eleanor? How can we stop all the blood that will be shed because of the crystal shards?"

Eleanor paused for a moment and then said, 

"This war can only be ended if all the crystal shards are gathered and reunited. However, whoever succeeds in reuniting the crystal must have pure intentions for good. Because, once the crystal is whole again, its power will be immense, and it has the potential to shape the world according to its owner's will."

Howard looked up, his eyes full of determination. 

"We must stop all the other races before they touch the crystal. We must protect the shards and reunite them before they fall into the wrong hands." Anne nodded, feeling the same responsibility. 

"Then we have no choice. We must embark on this journey to collect the crystal shards and ensure that their power is not used for destruction.”

“I will continue what you began, Eleanor. We will unite the crystals and end this holy war once and for all.” Loren stood resolutely, clutching the Sacred Relic given to him by Eleanor. 

Their journey was now clear. They would face off against various races who were also seeking to collect the crystal shards. However, they knew that the future of the world depended on the decisions they made, and the battle ahead would not be easy. With courage inspired by Eleanor, they set out on a challenging journey seeking the truth behind the lost crystals and battling the evil forces that continued to prey on this world.