Celestial Guardians: Uniting Dimensions (Celestial Guardians Series, #1)

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Kevin's POV

I thought we were already at peace. I thought it was already forever peaceful, with no chaos or war from the otherworldly creatures. But I was mistaken. We're mistaken! 

Peace was temporary!

Peace is fragile. It cradles you in its arms, lulls you into a sense of security, and shatters without warning.

I was going to grab a coffee from the corner café when the first scream echoed through the air. At first, I thought it was just the chaos of city life—an argument, maybe a street performer causing a scene. But then came the second scream, louder, closer, raw with terror.

The sky darkened unnaturally fast as if someone had draped a thick black curtain over the sun. People froze in place, their faces tilted upward in confusion, and chaos erupted simultaneously.

Flames tore through the streets, consuming cars and buildings with merciless speed. Shadows twisted and coiled, taking on monstrous forms that prowled the sidewalks, their hollow eyes glowing with an eerie red light.

And then I saw her—Lyra, the goddess of the underworld. She rose from the ground like a specter, her dark robes swirling around her like living smoke. Her voice was a jagged melody, echoing through the city like a death knell.

"This world will crumble," she proclaimed, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "And I shall be its ruin."

My heart raced as I ducked into an alley, hands shaking. Weeks had passed since we'd faced this fear, but now there was no time to hesitate.

I closed my eyes and reached deep within myself to the power that had been dormant since Sofia's defeat. My celestial wings unfurled when I opened them again, shimmering with renewed strength.

The transformation brought clarity, which only comes when you have no choice but to act. I leaped into the air, the city sprawling below me in a patchwork of fire and shadow.

Finding Nel and Jamaica was my first. I flew toward the school, dodging blasts of dark energy that erupted like geysers from the streets.

When I landed on the roof, Nel and Jamaica were already there. Their faces looked pale, but they were determined.

"Lyra," I said, my voice steady despite the panic coursing through here."

Jamaica cursed under her breath, her hands clenched into fists. "We knew it couldn't last forever."

"We need to move fast," Nel said, his tone sharp and commanding. "If she's unleashed her army, we'll need every bit of help we can get."

"I've already seen civilians trying to fight back," I told them. "It's not enough. We need the police, the military—anyone who can hold the line while we take her down."

Jamaica nodded. "I'll head to the precinct and rally the officers. Kevin, you keep the skies clear. Nel, you get civilians to safety."

For a moment, the pressure of everything almost overwhelmed me. Lyra wasn't just an enemy—she was a goddess. Then Nel put a reassuring hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye.

"We've done the impossible before," he said quietly. "We'll do it again."

I nodded, my resolve hardening. "Let's move."

We split up, each of us diving headfirst into the chaos. As I soared above the city, my heart broke at the sight below—families huddled together, children crying, flames consuming everything in their path. But there was no time to dwell on the destruction.

This was what we were meant to do. This was why we were chosen.

Lyra aimed to bring chaos but didn't expect the guardians to stand in her way.

The city felt like a battlefield. The cries of innocent people fueled my anger. Each beat of my wings carried their hope, and every scream in the air made me more determined.

I saw a group of Lyra's shadow creatures surrounding a bus. The driver had left, and the passengers were stuck inside, banging on the windows. A large shadow with scythe-like claws jumped onto the roof, its red eyes staring at the people below.

Not on my watch.

I dove into the water and took the shining arrow from my quiver. Its bright tip glowed with light, and when I placed it on my bow, the air around me became still.

"Hey, ugly!" I yelled, drawing its attention.

The creature turned its head toward me and let out a horrible hiss that sounded like metal scratching. It jumped from the bus and lunged at me with its claws out. I shot the arrow, and it hit the creature in midair.

The impact was bright and overwhelming—a flash of light and rushing water erased the shadow, leaving only steam behind. The other creatures ran away, retreating into the alleys.

I landed on the bus's roof and looked down through the broken windows. "Get to safety!" I shouted to the passengers. "Go toward the school—it's safe!"

They nodded and quickly exited the bus in the direction I pointed. I didn't have time to check if they got away safely because there were more lives to save.

As I took off again, I saw that the fires had grown larger, spreading like hungry animals to the sides of buildings. I heard a voice in my earpiece—Jamaica had connected us to the police.

"Kevin, what's your status?" her voice came through, steady but urgent.

"Cleared a busload of people near Central Avenue," I replied. "Where are you?"

"I'm rallying officers near the precinct," she said. "But it's bad, Kevin. We're losing ground quickly. Nel is trying to protect the civilians, but they are scattered."

My chest tightened. "And Lyra?"

"She hasn't shown herself again yet," Jamaica said grimly. "But you know she's watching. Probably waiting for us to exhaust ourselves before she makes her move."

"Not if I find her first," I muttered.

"Kevin, don't—"

But I cut the comms. I couldn't wait for Lyra to come to us. If we were to win this, we must take the fight to her.

I soared higher, scanning the city for any sign of her. It didn't take long. From my vantage point, I saw a massive plume of darkness swirling above the city square—Lyra's signature.

I dove toward it, every muscle in my body tensed for the battle ahead.

As I approached the square, I saw her in the middle of the confusion, her dark robes flowing around her like storm clouds. Shadows moved around her like loyal pets, and her eyes shone wickedly.

"You came," she said, her voice dripping with mockery.

"Stop this, Lyra," I said, landing a few feet away from her. "There's no honor in slaughtering innocents."

She tilted her head with a hint of amusement. "Honor? Do you really think I care about that? This world will fall, guardian. And you can't stop it."

Her words stung, but I stood firm. "You're wrong," I said, drawing my bow. "Because as long as I'm breathing, I'll fight. Not just for this city—but for every life in it."

Her laughter was like thunder. "Then come, celestial guardian. Show me the strength of your conviction."

"You force me to do this, Lyra!"

"Well, don't forget that I am a goddess, handsome guardian!"

Did he call me handsome? It was funny to hear it from that monster.

End of Chapter Forty-Five