As the stone hurtled toward Elowen and the fallen general, Elowen closed her eyes, accepting her fate. But suddenly, a voice rang out: "Prismatic Barrier".

  A shimmering hexagonal shield materialized before them, composed of intricate patterns of light. The boulder struck the barrier and disintegrated into harmless dust, carried away by the wind.

  From behind the soldiers stepped Liora, one of the star on her staff glowing brilliantly as she strode forward with quiet determination.

  Making way for her, the soldiers watched in stunned relief as she whispered another spell: "Golden Ray." A small pillar of light descended upon the general, reviving him gradually.

  Elowen, still crouched beside the wounded man, looked up at Liora with pride and gratitude, offering a warm smile that Liora returned tenfold.

  The orcs were not idle spectators. Shaken from their stupor, they charged en masse, howling with fury—all except the Orc King, who remained eerily calm.

  Undeterred, Liora raised her staff once more, chanting, "Dawn's Embrace." Brilliant rays of light rained down from the heavens, piercing through gaps in the clouds and obliterating the green-skinned foot soldiers instantly.

  Their bodies turned to ash, scattering in the wind, while the stronger orcs screeched in agony, succumbing to the relentless barrage. Yet the Orc King stood unyielding, letting out a deafening roar that shook the battlefield.

  Fear rippled through the human ranks, but Liora remained steadfast. She cast "Golden Ray" directly at the Orc King, causing him to stagger momentarily, panting and steaming from the impact.

  Realizing brute force alone wouldn't suffice, Liora gestured elegantly with her staff, calling forth Solara. "Come Forth, Solara", she intoned, her voice steady despite the chaos.

  The air grew heavy as clouds spiraled together, parting to reveal the majestic phoenix descending gracefully. Her wings spread wide, Solara landed beside Liora with an authoritative presence, her sharp eyes locking onto the Orc King menacingly.

  Without hesitation, Liora commanded, "Photon Strike". Light gathered between Solara's beak, swelling to immense proportions before launching toward the Orc King.

  He had no chance to dodge or block; the blinding energy consumed him entirely, reducing him to nothingness within seconds.

  When the attack subsided, only a crater remained where the Orc King once stood—a testament to the overwhelming power unleashed. For several minutes, silence reigned supreme.

  Liora nodded at Solara, giving her approval for the dismissal of the summoned being. Solara jumps and claps her wings, flying, circling a little before sped off and disappear into the clouds.

  Everyone was frozen in disbelief, struggling to process the miraculous turn of events. Then, breaking the stillness, Elowen rose shakily to her feet and screamed from the depths of her soul, "WE'VE WONNNN… WE'VE WON, EVERYONE!" her cry ignited a volcanic eruption of joy across the battlefield.

  But before this situation unfolded, just a few days prior, no one would have believed that Liora Belle—a beautiful, gentle, compassionate, and naive young girl—would become the savior, let alone the deciding factor in the battle between the warriors of the Kingdom of Sanctora and the overwhelming numbers and strength of the cave-orcs.

  She was just an ordinary girl, nothing special about her. Forget offensive spells—even supportive buffs and healing magic often left her struggling. Yet, everything changed when she was chosen by the Starlight Staff , brought by Elowen Verdantia, who had been sent by the Six Great Mages to search for and audition mages across the remaining human kingdoms.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  After countless mages failed to gain its recognition, the staff chose and acknowledged Liora as its rightful owner. Through it, she gained access to a power source that, around 500 years ago, had secured victory for the Ten Saints in their war against the Demon Race .

  Yes, humanity had once triumphed over the Demon Race, but now they were overwhelmed. One by one, the kingdoms of humankind fell, seized by the relentless advance of the Demon Race. Of the ten original kingdoms, only four remained, with the Kingdom of Gritstone standing as both a fortress and the front line of defense, holding back the sheer force, cunning, and brutality of the demons.

  Humanity now awaited the arrival of their prophesied savior—a figure destined to be the key and secret weapon in humanity’s struggle against the Demon Race. And that person was none other than Liora.

  This gentle, naive girl had to push herself to the limits to overcome the trials set by the Ancient Beasts, earning their recognition and power. It was no easy task for Liora, as she had to transform herself, shedding traits that had been ingrained in her through centuries of cultural values passed down from generation to generation in her homeland, the Kingdom of Sanctora .

  The first Ancient Beast she faced was Solara the Phoenix, residing in a temple built by Saint Felix Sanctoria—one of the Ten Saints, the founder of the Kingdom of Sanctora, and a revered figure in this society since ancient times.

  A master of light-element magic, Felix was also the first summoner of Solara. In this trial, Liora was forced to confront a bitter truth that clashed with her very nature: she had to embrace violence—not merely injuring opponents, but the grim necessity of annihilating them entirely. This marked the beginning of her transformation. The weight of her destiny pressed heavily upon her shoulders, yet within her, burned a quiet determination.

  The second Ancient Beast that Liora encountered was Sylphine the Harpy Eagle, a trial far more challenging to her heart and emotions. Set in the Kingdom of Windoria, a land with starkly different geography and societal culture compared to Sanctora, Liora earned recognition from the renowned Windorian Hunter Generals. There, she faced her next trial and met the formidable Sylphine.

  Sylphine observed impassively, landing gracefully on the goal-shaped pole once more. "Now," she declared, her voice cold and commanding, "finish the final phase, Liora."

  As if choreographed by fate itself, a rugged-looking man replaced the goblin, chained in the same position. Unlike the previous victims, however, this human did not scream or resist—he sobbed uncontrollably, pleading for mercy. "Please," he whimpered, tears streaming down his face, "don’t kill me! I beg you, please! I don’t want to die!"

  Liora froze, her resolve wavering under the weight of his despair. Her mind raced back to her mother’s teachings—that punishment should stem from care and love, not vengeance—and she clung to those words like a lifeline.

  Summoning every ounce of courage within her, she turned to Sylphine, her voice trembling yet resolute. "Is this man truly guilty? If so, what crimes has he committed?"

  Sylphine chuckled dismissively, her piercing gaze indifferent. "What do I care?"

  But Liora's eyes hardened with determination. "I care."

  Without hesitation, she cast Wind Cutter once more. In the blink of an eye, the man’s head rolled onto the ground. Overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions—frustration, anger, guilt—Liora turned away and screamed violently, releasing all the pent-up turmoil within her. The sound echoed through the still air, raw and unfiltered.

  Sylphine flew to her shoulder, whispering softly but firmly, "Congratulations." A surge of energy coursed through Liora’s body, mirroring the sensation she'd experienced upon gaining Solara's powers—a sign that she had passed yet another grueling trial.

  The trials Liora faced tested not only her physical strength or her creativity in crafting magic spells but also her wisdom and inner resolve. For what purpose does immense power serve if it is not accompanied by unwavering resolve tempered with sincerity and wisdom? This was no mere test of skill; it was a crucible of character, shaping her into someone capable of wielding such forces responsibly.

  Of course, this was not the end of her journey—it was only the beginning. Liora’s path stretched long and arduous ahead of her. Would she succeed in earning the powers of all the Ancient Beasts? Could she maintain her identity while upholding the relentless resolve required for her mission? And what of her budding romance—could love find its place amidst the chaos of war and destiny? Could she fulfill her role as the savior and champion of humanity?

  These questions lingered unanswered, their resolutions waiting to unfold over time within the tapestry of this tale. Each step forward would bring new challenges, deeper sacrifices, and moments that would define her legacy. The story of Liora Belle was far from over—it had only just begun.