Everna Saga: Arcel Raine

By Andry Chang

Arcel Raine is a knight who vanishes
in a massive explosion while fighting
Mephistopheles in the Crystal War.

Arcel finds himself on Modern-day Everna,
is armed only with Seven Rainbow Crystals
energy and needs to learn how to use them.

With the guidance of Alistair Kane and
his partner, Chloe Hewitt, Arcel sets out
on a path to a new destiny, that of a
divine figure, an inter-realms pilgrim.

However, the biggest obstacle in Arcel's
quest for self-improvement is the black
organizations in Centronia, that are
members of the Ultimatum Syndicate.

And Arcel is limited by time. He must become
an inter-realms pilgrim within two years or be
killed by the conflicting forces within himself.

Will Arcel Raine survive and become more than a hero?
Overcoming all obstacles, achieving immortality.

Everna Saga: Arcel Raine is an urban fantasy novel set in the complete, detailed Earth parallel world of Terra Everna and part of the Everna Saga brand created by Andry Chang.
It’s highly recommended for young adults and adult readers who love:
- Novels are written in a unique, cinematic way
- Lively and likable characters, strong protagonists
- The parallel world setting is like the Modern America on Earth
- Detailed and immersive world-building and history
- Earth-based religion blended with fantasy world philosophy
- A pinch of mild romance here and there
- Inspirational moral values and heartwarming moments
- Fictional cultures and geography parallel to Earth
- Recognizable, easy-to-imagine Earth-like details

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andry Chang
• Release date: Dec 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215697665

Andry Chang

Andry Chang is a pilgrim in authorship since 2005. Aside from his everyday life as an entrepreneur, a husband and a father of one, he always makes time to write, draw or developing games. He continues to hone his skills and never gives up, resulting in his published multimedia works.Some of his commercially published writings, either singulars or collaborations are:FireHeart – Legend of the Paladins (2008), Vandaria Saga – Kristalisasi (2012), Qi Xi – Bunga Rampai Asmara (2012), Love Around You (2013), Magical Stories (2013), LEINA – Legenda Imaji Nusantara (2015), Everna Saga – Hikayat Tiga Zaman (2015), Everna Saga – Utara dan Selatan (2015), Everna Saga – Barat dan Timur (2016) (Indonesian Language Works) and Everna Saga - Morf and the Pirates of Flamenca (2016) (English Language Works)

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Andry Chang

Everna Saga: Arcel Raine

Copyright © 2023 by Andry Chang

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

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Contents

1. The Three Mirrors

2. The Dark Side of Centronia

3. Brian Storm

4. Debora Wren

5. Chloe Hewitt

6. Alistair Kane

7. VOLSUNG

8. Vordac

9. The First Mission

10. Dean Vizier

11. Bloodfeast

12. The Syndicate’s Attack

13. Blood Red Square

14. Locked Away

15. The Path of Reconciliation

16. Five Tiers to the Heavens

17. The Singh Family

18. Yoga Energy

19. A New Best Friend

20. The Cage Fight Tournament

21. Sixteen Judges, One Court

22. A Champion’s Spirit

23. A Traitor’s Backlash

24. Bloodfeast’s Feats and Fates

25. The Mime and the Klown

26. Crossed Swords, Scars, and Marks

27. The Swirling Chains and Chaos

28. I Won’t Let You Pull My Strings!

29. To Calm the Chaotic Storm

30. The Rainbow and the Lightning

31. Another Shot at Redemption

32. Dominion’s Domination

33. The Ones Left Standing

34. The Promise

Glossary

Centronia Hyperpolis

Skill, Magic, and the Pilgrim System

1

The Three Mirrors

Mephistopheles

Terra Everna, an Earth-like planet in another dimension, would never be the same again.

Bare-chested and bleeding, a young man stood somewhat unsteadily, clutching a fresh wound on his abdomen. The wound was not too deep, but it continued to bleed.

The man’s brown eyes stared into the corner like a wild animal. A scream came from his bloody lips, Damn you, Mephistopheles!

What the redhead was rebuking was a blood-red devil in his ultimate form that stood about five meters tall. He had four arms, six wings, and seven horns. His huge body floated in the air, with Yggdrasil in the background, a mountain-sized World Tree engulfed in flames.

Whatever you say, you and the Forces of Light have lost, Arcel Raine, Mephistopheles boasted as he spread his four arms. His devilishly handsome face wore a maniacal smile.

The Arcane Age is over, but instead of the Machine Age, it is the Dark Age dawning upon this world! I, Mephistopheles, have accomplished a great mission that my two siblings, Lilith and Vordac, could not. From this moment on, all of Everna will no longer worship Vadis, Adair, or even Enia, but me! His triumphant laughter followed.

Arcel Raine gasped. The Demon King wasn’t mincing words. All the Red Rainbow Crystal energy in his body had been drained. All six of his fellow Rainbow Crystal Warriors lay on the ground, and one of them was already lifeless.

With only the Angel of Justice’s sword in his hand, would he be able to defeat Mephistopheles?

Well, there’s no need to delay any longer! Terra Everna, welcome the true new age! As he said this, the powerful demon extended his four hands. A black sphere formed in front of him and began to expand.

As it grew, the ultimate dark energy did not dissipate, but rather compressed until it multiplied at an incredible rate. When it reached a saturation point, the giant ball would explode, spreading dark, destructive energy in all directions with immeasurable power. This was the ultimate move, Symphony of World Destruction.

Seeing this, Arcel’s entire body felt weak. Vadis, how could I possibly survive this move alone? the knight thought. Even with my full strength, I can’t win, let alone in this condition!

Suddenly, a man’s heavy voice rang out. Don’t give up, Arcel! Stay strong!

This was followed by a woman’s voice that was slightly shrill like a cat meowing. Usain has fallen, but we’re still here!

Arcel turned her head to see all five of her brothers in arms rising from their prone positions to standing, half-kneeling, or sitting positions.

One of them, a beautiful woman with round glasses and silver-white hair named Genna Kapadokios, called out loudly, Here, Arcel! Accept our six Rainbow Crystals! She threw the Indigo Rainbow Crystal in her hand to the heir of the Red Rainbow Crystal.

The other four Rainbow Knights did the same. Kylie Gurley, a petite girl from Mincarlie, took the Green-Rainbow Crystal from the corpse of Usain Djisse of Ubanga and threw it to Arcel along with the Purple Rainbow Crystal.

Orange Rainbow Crystal from Mahpiya Amitola, a healer from the Myriath Continent.

Yellow Rainbow Crystal from Zhu Yue, a half-woman, a half-cat demon from Wushu.

Blue Rainbow Crystal from Sanjaya Tirtayasa, a well-built male warrior and master sailor from the Antapada Peninsula.

The six colored crystals resonated with Arcel Raine’s Red Rainbow Crystal, which was also floating in the air. Then everything seemed to break apart and merge into one True Rainbow Crystal, seven kinds of energy combining into the most powerful energy in the universe, surpassing the energy of light and darkness.

Then the ultimate crystal shot out again, as if animated, and melted into Arcel Raine’s body, right where his heart was.

From that moment on, Arcel’s body was completely united with the Rainbow Crystals. Within seconds, all the energy of the seven colors was also compressed and concentrated into one point, namely the tip of the Angel of Justice’s sword, Excalibur Evangelis, in Arcel’s hand.

The boundless absorption of energy, with a power equivalent to the Symphony of World Destruction move, caused Arcel to exclaim, No matter what happens, the Dark Age must never happen again! I must stop you, Mephistopheles, even if I have to drag you back to the Inferno with me!

Nonsense! There is no way that the power of the seven crystals alone can stop the power of darkness and hundreds of thousands of curious ghosts! The Dark Age is inevitable, the strong will survive, and the weak will perish! Welcome, Arcel Raine!

Begin! Both fighters shouted at the same time, charging forward and closing the distance between them. Mephistopheles’ four hands seemed to be pushing the huge black ball, while Arcel drew his sword to his side, ready to strike with a simple, nameless move he had just created.

Once within sword range, Arcel plunged his sword into the giant black ball. Happy to fight you, Mephistopheles! he shouted unexpectedly.

Mephistopheles pushed the ball with all his might. You’re welcome, Arcel Raine! he shouted. I’m pleased, really pleased!

Nobody knew what made those strange words come out. Could it be that both of them realized that they wouldn’t escape the collision of two ultimate energies with immeasurable limits?

The divine sword and the giant black orb collided.

In a second, the two opposing energies attacked each other, devoured each other, and were about to dissolve each other. But the impact of the collision caused them to reach their saturation point and explode with a thunderous boom that echoed throughout the Yggdrasil Forest.

The fighters still alive on the battlefield struggled to survive with their remaining energy.

But of course, the two fighters at the center of the explosion were the most affected. Mephistopheles’ body was being burnt and dissolved. So this is the choice of the age. I understand now! he exclaimed as he let out a painful roar and drew his last breath.

Arcel Raine couldn’t help but smile, accompanying a single thought in his last moments of consciousness.

It’s okay that my life ends here. At least all the missions I have to fulfill in this world are done. Long live Everna.

Suddenly, Arcel Raine’s body vanished without a trace.

* * *

Where am I?

The next time Arcel Raine’s eyes opened, a path appeared. The shirtless young man walked along the path that cut through the dark forest until he reached a clearing. His red hair fluttered in the night breeze.

Arcel’s brown eyes widened. In front of him was a castle no larger than that of a middle-caste noble. Surprisingly, the walls of the castle were made of special stones that seemed to sparkle in the moonlight. On a hunch, the redhead entered the castle, the gates of which were open.

As he walked down corridor after corridor, Arcel stared at the two rows of mirrors hanging along the walls. Uniquely, it was not her image that was reflected in the mirrors, but a variety of images, almost all of which she did not recognize.

Almost at the center of the castle’s circular hall, Arcel was startled by the appearance of a huge black horse, and immediately all the bad memories flooded his mind, beating him without pause.

Coming to his senses, Arcel focused on the sweetest memories and the most beautiful dreams he remembered. He stared into the black horse’s eyes, summoning his inner strength. The horse whinnied loudly. Immediately, the worst memory of his entire life entered his mind. It was when his teacher, Xavros Lenaviel, killed his father, Marc Raine, in front of him.

There was a whisper, Just give up! You won’t be able to prevent the worst from happening, including your death! Let death take your life!

This isn’t the afterlife, is it? Then this is not the end of my journey! I didn’t give up on Mephistopheles, why should I give up on you? Arcel snapped back. While summoning energy, he focused on the memory that overcame the worst of it, Marc’s last message to him. The message was for Arcel to choose his path wisely and live it to the end.

The black horse’s body was hit so hard by Arcel’s energy that it collapsed to the ground. Then it got up, flapped its wings, and flew away through the large open window of the hall. Damn, it’s much stronger than I thought, he cursed.

Arcel looked down with a sigh of relief.

Well, you managed to scare off Nightmare, the guardian of nightmares in Dream Castle, said a woman approaching Arcel from the end of the hall. Her skin was tan and her robes were colorful. You have passed the dream test. What is your name?

Arcel Raine, he replied. But am I still in Everna? The last thing I remember, I was caught in an explosion while fighting Mephistopheles.

Now you’re in Limbo, the realm between the afterlife, the mortal realm, and the interdimensional realm. My name is Auryn, and I am one of the five Great Elders of Dream Castle.

Arcel gasped. So I am… dead?

Auryn shook her head. Thanks to Vadis’ will, you are alive now. But now you must choose between these three ways.

Three mirrors appeared in front of Arcel.

What do you mean? the black-tattooed cheek one asked.

These three ways lead to a place where you can continue your life. Look carefully at each one.

When Alec looked into the first mirror, he saw Vanessa, the elf girl who was Arcel’s lover in Ishmina. Their different life choices forced them to part.

In the second mirror was Genna Kapadokios, a silver-haired girl who was crying. She thought that Arcel had died with the Demon King, Mephistopheles.

In the third mirror was a cute girl with long green hair. Her face was pale as if she was in danger.

Which way will you choose? asked Auryn.

Arcel was silent for a moment, then answered, I can no longer be with Vanessa. Maybe I’ll settle down with Genna. But I think I’m called to help the green-haired girl. So my choice is the third mirror.

Auryn nodded with a smile. Go ahead, Arcel Raine. Create a new legend in the future and become a much stronger pilgrim than you are now.

Thank you, Auryn, Arcel, nicknamed the Pilgrim of Ishmina, replied as he stepped into the magical portal in the third mirror.

Arcel didn’t understand Auryn’s last sentence. But he felt that his journey to become a person he had never imagined before was about to begin.

Far into the future.

2

The Dark Side of Centronia

Arcel Raine

Upon entering the Mirror Portal between realms, Arcel Raine found himself floating in an all-black space that was infinitely vast and had no end in sight.

This was the highway in Limbo, the spirit world. More specifically, it was the realm between different dimensions, space, and time. One could move from one dimension to another, back and forth between the afterlife and the mortal realm, and between the past, present, and future.

Arcel floated because he was controlled by the supernatural force that filled this in-between realm, not because he was directionless or could fly.

It seemed that the multicolored streaks of light were moving in the same direction, which was opposite to the direction in which he was flying. Objects and even various kinds of creatures, humans, were also seen floating in place.

What caught Arcel’s attention was that the farther he flew, the more strange and unrecognizable the objects and appearances of the people in Limbo he saw.

From the beginning of the Machine Age, Arcel began to feel strange when men began to wear suits, tall hats, and ties. Then there were strange objects that he would later recognize as radios, cars, and telephones. There were also stained glass windows and many other modern trinkets.

Arcel was even more surprised when he saw smartphones and computers for the first time, as well as women wearing tank tops and hot pants. Then he saw an open door. A beam of dim light came out of the doorway, and Arcel floated into the light.

Ouch! Arcel fell and landed on a pile of garbage.

Arcel was exhausted because he hadn’t had a chance to rest since moving from the beginning of the Machine Age and crossing Limbo earlier. It took him a few seconds to gather his strength and center his mind, then he got up.

But just as he was about to take a deep breath, Arcel quickly caught his breath. Oh my! I’ve been in shabby and smelly places since I was a pilgrim, but never this stinky! he thought.

He closed his mouth, suppressed the urge to vomit, and hurried down the narrow alleyway, away from the piles of garbage.

Great, I’ve just arrived in the middle of nowhere and I already smell like garbage. Arcel frowned, his gnawing nature returning. Then he suddenly shivered. Silly me, I forgot to ask the Dream Castle for some clothes earlier. It’s so cold tonight. Maybe this is the Aurelia Continent or something.

Suddenly, Arcel heard a woman’s scream in the distance. Without thinking, he ran quickly towards the source of the sound.

Entering a rather open space surrounded by the backs of three and four-story buildings, Arcel saw a woman surrounded by at least ten people in dim light. He gasped as he realized it was the beautiful green-haired girl he had seen through the magic mirror in the Dream Castle.