A New Beginning is the fourth volume of The Spectral Chronicles. The Stone Cutters, the Champions of the Light and their allies' victory over the Dark Stone Cutters 25 years ago has founded the Platinum Age, a time of global peace and prosperity. However, this has not stopped the demons' imperial gaze on planet Earth as was hoped in all these years. The Spirits of the Goetia, 72 of hell's strongest demons second in power only to the Dark Emperor himself, elect Duke Berith to lead the newest attack on the Earth. His plan is to divide the Champions of the Light by resurrecting the worst enemies Demetrios and Lily had in their mortal lives, leaving the Stone Cutters' city of Kinardas defenseless against the demonic legions. To combat this terrible new foe, the Champions of the Light ally with another team of heroes: the Red Knights of Kingsport. Will their unity be enough to combat a Spirit of the Goetia?
Not to be confused with the video game of the same name.
Tropes:
- All Animals Are Dogs: The wolf spirit Zerron is the ancestor of dogs, and thus dedicated to protecting humans from evil. When interacting with people, he acts more like a Big Friendly Dog.
- Almost Kiss: Frederick and Felicia have this twice. The first was interrupted by the arrival of Jessica, the second was by Ashur telling them to hurry up and join the others as they left.
- Catchphrase Interruptus: Bruce's attempt to intimidate Kalegar with a demonic proclamation is interrupted mid-sentence by a subtle but strong strike from Kalegar's new Battle Aura.
- Dark Is Not Evil: The Red Knight Cameron may be a dour and aloof necromancer, but he seeks to preserve and restore order from the chaos the demons leave in their wake.
- Decapitated Army: Berith's death sends his remaining demonic forces retreating back to hell.
- Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: The Champions of the Light and the Red Knights kill Berith.
- Another example: Demetrios's old enemy and Berith's recruit Daniel actually turns into Cthulhu, which Anne-Marie and her friends defeat in an intense battle.
- Dreaming of Things to Come: Kalegar has been having many unusual dreams about meeting a mysterious figure bathed in light. The figure is a goddess called the White Knight, who blesses him to become a paladin.
- Evil Is Deathly Cold: Jessica's evil presence causes the swamps of Louisiana to freeze over. Defeating her brings them back to normal.
- Flipping the Bird: Allen does this after Anne-Marie's team survived Daniel's death trap with the hands of Midas. Aislin pulls him away before Daniel dislodges the hands and throws them at the heroes.
- Howl of Sorrow: Will gives one when Aristotle dies from the terrible wound Melissa kills him with.
- Humanoid Abomination: The twisted succubi Daniel has in his army are nightmarish-looking monsters with a great sense of wrongness about them instead of beautiful fanservice-y women.
- Malicious Misnaming: To Running Gag levels. Berith continuously gets Demetrios's name wrong, up to and including getting it backwards, and even calling him "Chrysler" at one point."Our forces are always stopped by that ghost boy - Demetra or Santios or something like that. Human names all sound the same to me."
- Multinational Team: The Red Knights.
- Nice Character, Mean Actor: Daniel was one of a sorts. He was telling everyone he was going to become a great charity director, but he was actually using the money he collected to fund criminals instead of helping those in need. Lampshaded by Michael:"So, the beloved celebrity turned out to be a sick pervert. Nope, didn't see that coming."
- Old Soldier: Aristotle and Jack have become very old, but they are still capable fighters.
- Promotion to Parent: Thanks to the familiar Kroisus, Felicia gave Michelangelo a new home and now considers him her own son.
- Psycho Ex-Girlfriend: Melissa to Demetrios. Cecil was one in a way as well to Lily, though more of a Stalker with a Crush.
- Public Domain Character: Not only the Goetia, but Raguel, the archangel who founded the Red Knights. Parts of Daniel's Nightmare Dungeon are guarded by Garm and Mahesasura. A couple succubi also mention their mother and progenitor Lilith.
- Rainbow Pimp Gear: When Cecil turns into an incubus, his armor becomes tastelessly revealing and "all sorts of garish colors, making him look more like a stereotypical pimp than a battle-ready knight."
- Took a Level in Badass: Kalegar becomes the first grey alien paladin.
- Wham Episode: Melissa brutally kills Aristotle.
- Windmill Crusader: The assassin Emily seeks to kill Demetrios after she thinks he broke her grandmother Marissa's heart. She eventually finds out the truth and joins Demetrios and company in fighting Melissa.
