Eons of stars and moons ago, before time and space were concepts to

  consider, life was not ordinary by any matter.

  It was neither envisioned by our ancient ancestors, for none existed back then nor was aware of

  its essence in the first place.

  However, some say that it was a more chaotic and malicious nature than one could possibly grasp.

  In short, we are lucky to be alive, more than we can imagine.

  We are fortunate to live in a more.... peaceful age. No matter how much one may disagree with the course of the current era. It's a retaliation against the chaotic past.

  It is said that in the age of the ancients, the world was unformed but

  shrouded in a vast plane of stars and void. This world was ordained by

  none other than the upper Aeon, considered the progenitor and forefather

  of all things.

  However, the reasons for their existence and how they came to have remained unanswered.

  Many civilizations, both past and present, have tried to achieve their level of godhood and glory, driven by

  unimaginable and sensational lust for power.

  But why should we bother with the past? Learning about it seems

  meaningless, even when the promises it holds are harmonious and

  elegant.

  I am disappointed by the modern culture's obsession with correcting the

  past, idolizing past heroic figures, and looking to the future based on the

  same unedited principles.

  Again I ask, Why? Why do you all concern yourselves with

  the unknown? tirelessly and vigorously wasting your youth in search of

  something that could possibly be the very reason for your downfall? I

  heard from a certain man that the oldest and strongest emotion of

  mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the

  unknown. It is fear that actually drives you to live, not your devotion to

  a cause or your honorable spirit to life.

  Still not convinced? Let me ask you this: How does it feel to know that

  the moment you die, your name becomes nothing more than a

  meaningless word? Nobody will remember who you were or what you have done when you fade away.

  In a few hundred years, you will be nothing but a fragment of ashes, as if you were never born in the first

  place. Not even your precious friends, family, or loved ones will

  remember you because sooner or later, they too will die and be

  forgotten, continuing the cycle of existence itself.

  Some may argue that those who leave a legacy behind will always be

  remembered. But who told you that such a legacy is even true in the first

  place? Were you alive back then? And even if you were, who would

  believe you? Even if it is true, you will eventually be replaced by a new

  legacy, and that legacy will be replaced by another and another...

  In better terms, the ancient ones were no different from us now. They

  were driven by fear and selfish desires to leave their mark in the endless

  void. They were nothing but ignorant children who sought only their

  own benefit above all else. "The future is ours" was their motto and it

  still remains because we have chosen to follow that path, a choice

  foretold by the old gods.

  Honestly, what does one's ideal and free will mean if it is dictated by

  gods? I see it as a prison of regression, perpetuated by one being after

  another, like a deterministic wheel of fate.

  You don't believe me? Fine, let's approach this in a more conventional

  manner.

  Let's travel back millions and millions of years ago, to the dawn of time.

  I, Rahul, the Witness, shall be your narrator.

  *

  Long ago, at the very peak of the unknown void, the Pleroma was ruled

  by the upper Aeon. These beings were far superior to the title of gods

  and they crowned themselves as the sole rulers of life itself, surpassing

  all existence. Over time, their numbers grew to such an extent that the

  throne was no longer capable of accommodating them.

  Like any species, they sought power and survival, using any means

  necessary, even if it meant killing to achieve their goals. They referred

  to this period as the great cosmic war, where thousands of gods and

  celestial beings engaged in a battle that may have lasted millennia,

  although the extinct of the details remained, unconfirmed. And the true

  details of the conflict and its victor remained unknown.

  Some speculate that the surviving gods of our universe emerged as the

  victors. These beings were among the few who survived the ancient war,

  but they did not wage war against each other. In fact, they were

  incapable of doing so.

  The archangels, followers of the demiurge, were brutally killed by the

  watchers.

  The seven princesses of hell, along with Lucifer himself, broke down

  hell, leading to its self-inflicted destruction. Irony reached its peak as

  hell brought about its own downfall after Lucifer's demise.

  Samel, the host of nightmares, is now lost in the void, forever trapped by

  the archangels during the later centuries of war.

  The Titans of power, once masters of roaming and world forging, are

  now barely countable. They slowly wither away after losing their

  immortality, as the cunning Nyarlathotep stripped them of their primeval

  energy.

  The elder ones, embodiments of darkness and malevolence, are the most

  horrifying forms of evil. They remain shrouded in mystery, lurking in

  the shadows, awaiting the opportune moment to strike. However, they

  too find themselves trapped, isolated from reality, time, and space, as if

  bound by unknown forces.

  And, of course, there were the ancient dragons who ruled over Midgard,

  reducing it to ashes and greyness. These dragons emerged victorious

  after wiping out the last remnants of angels in Midgard, dominating over

  what little remained of mankind as they gradually faded into distant

  memories.

  But just when everything seemed bleak and hopeless, a radiant light

  emerged, shining like a sun, sparkling like a star. It dawned on the

  horizon, casting a blinding spell upon all who witnessed it. I was there,

  and I saw it with my own eyes.

  This light brought forth a stark contrast

  and a sense of disparity amidst the darkness and chaos.

  Life and death.

  Dark and light.

  Chaos and order.

  Shadow and self.

  Ahhh! Arise old lion! Let Sophia's wisdom be bestowed upon us all! It

  remains cast upon the earth as a holy saint. She was later named Lady

  Alya, the first maiden and the holy spirit.

  The holy maiden is believed to be a ray of light enrobed in the

  anthropomorphic form of Adam Kadmon, a realm of infinite divine light

  without vessels, bound by its potential to create future existence. This

  embodiment has taken the form of the four primal powers, known as the

  Alya sisters, the four maidens.

  With the strength of the four maidens, guided by the eldest sister, they

  enriched the spirits of the remaining humanity on Midgard. They rose to

  challenge the dragons!

  The holy maiden, accompanied by her mighty silver knights, brandished

  holy lances against the dragons, forcing them to cower to the ground.

  The ever-blinding light she cast upon them left the dragons defenseless

  against her and her knights!

  The wind maiden, alongside the first "Bushi" warriors, masters of the

  sword and wind, unleashed lightning and hurricanes upon the soaring

  dragons. The dragons lost their confidence to take flight.

  The earth maiden, alongside the elves, masters of the forest, poisoned

  the remaining land, bringing death and disease. The dragons were

  toxified to their last breath, their spirits, bodies, and souls shattered into

  fragments, as if their scales offered no defense against the maiden's

  godly power.

  The water maiden, with her tribe, engulfed the dragons by summoning a

  giant wave from the ocean, resembling a hulking beast wreaking havoc

  upon each touch. The dragons' mighty scales that deemed unbreakable in

  nature were shattered into nothing more than ore, their scales providing

  no defense against the overwhelming power of the maiden.

  The fire maiden burned the dragons' homes and bodies, eradicating the

  remnants of the old world. The dragons faded into ashes and scales,

  signifying the end of the dragon age. They became nothing more than

  stones and ore, mere remnants of what they once were!

  And just like that, the dragons were no more, and the age of the Maidens

  began. I like to refer to it as the beginning of the end!

  *

  And so, a new age began—the age of retribution, the age of the

  Maidens. They ruled over Midgard in a time of peace and harmony.

  Under their guidance and power, they co-founded humanity, and new

  kingdoms emerged, blossoming in their presence.

  The holy maiden bestowed upon humanity hope and a reason to live.

  The people chose to worship the maidens as the godmothers of all life.

  The fire maiden granted life, will, and purpose to follow that reason. She

  instilled in them the determination to protect what they hold dear. That

  reason could encompass anything their hearts desired.

  The earth maiden brought life to Midgard, nurturing it with abundant

  trees, rainfall, oceans, and towering mountains. She awakened the forces

  of nature that sparked vitality throughout the land.

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  The wind maiden brought freedom and gave voice to the lands. For the

  first time in millions of years, humanity had the opportunity to express

  themselves and have a voice of their own.

  The water maiden awakened emotions and fostered scientific

  development, shaping society and bringing order and philosophy to the

  forefront. She encouraged the growth of knowledge and the pursuit of

  wisdom.

  Together, the five maidens formed the Kingdom of Kaldaria upon the

  ruins of the forgotten empire that was once dominated by dragons. A

  new age dawned upon the stars, as the Maidens' influence spread and

  brought about a time of transformation and enlightenment.

  However, we both know that this state of peace and harmony wouldn't

  last forever. Many kingdoms have risen and fallen on this earth, and this

  one is no exception as the last.

  Anything that has a beginning also has an

  end. No flame, no matter how brilliant, can avoid the eventual flickering

  fading flames away. But from the ashes, a new flame ignites, giving

  birth to a new kingdom with its own destiny and tales to be told.

  It is a curse, and this curse will inherit the order of the world.

  As the Maidens rise from the ashes of the previous world, they too will

  eventually meet their end. And from those old ashes, a new kingdom

  will emerge, ascending to prominence.

  The Maidens, despite their sisterly bond, could never come to a unified

  agreement. They would often bicker and pursue their own selfish causes.

  Some sought greatness and evolution beyond their current limitations.

  Others sought order and eternal preservation, desiring to sustain their

  existence as it always had been. Some sought peace, longing for a life

  free from the horrors and cries of past wars that scarred the land. Some

  remained confused and untrusting of one another, unable to make sense

  of their own desires. And some sought the truth of their own existence,

  searching for answers in the secrets of the old world.

  An instinct compelled the fire maiden, driving her passions with

  an eagerness akin to a moth drawn to a flame. She yearned to discover the

  light herself, free from the influence and deceit of her mother and peers.

  Thus, she embarked on a journey to uncover the truth, fueled by a fear of

  something greater than she could imagine and a reliance on the

  knowledge that kept her in the dark.

  The light she sought, the so-called truth, was a simple reversal of the

  knowledge that had kept the green orb at bay. But the moment she dared

  to tremble with forbidden knowledge that had plagued her mind for so

  long, it brought her the very misery she feared most.

  At the time, I did not know the true nature of the knowledge she sought,

  but I was well aware of its dangerous implications. Without delving into

  the oblivion that it promised, I knew all too well the risks it posed.

  With corruption taking hold of the fire maiden, it wasn't long before her

  sisters followed suit. The same order that once brought the world

  together became the catalyst for its destruction, orchestrated by the very

  saviors who sought to protect it.

  The fire maiden paid a heavy price in her attempt to escape the fated

  end, yet she remained stagnant and unremorseful in her choices, as if

  devoid of regret. When I first saw her, she appeared emotionless, as if

  her heart had been stripped away, leaving behind a coldness that made

  her seem devoid of life.

  Whether it was the forbidden knowledge or a choice she made that

  sowed the seeds of her corruption, it mattered little to me. I simply

  watched as the world she had built over centuries crumbled by her own

  hands—a bitter irony for one who was once driven by passion and

  purpose.

  With the fire maiden's descent into darkness, a war erupted between her

  and her sisters. The world plunged into yet another age of chaos. Blood

  was spilled as thousands of men and women fought under the guidance

  and adulation of their maidens, battling against other nations for the

  future.

  Some speculate that this war was orchestrated by a benevolent yet

  unknown force, while others believe it was destined to occur. However,

  I believe there is more to the story than meets the eye.

  Regardless, the maidens waged a war that lasted for centuries, a

  senseless conflict that brought about nothing but despair and tragedy, as

  if the citizens hadn't already suffered enough. War, it seems, never

  changes.

  Until one being emerged from the depths of the NetherRealm—a lord

  from the high demon council, a younger lord who decided that enough

  was enough. He recognized the need for action and real change.

  His name remains unknown, but his title instills fear in every being

  within the universe. He is the rebellious lord, the unnamed god, the

  godfather of demons. He is the unmatched knight, the Maiden Ravager,

  the god killer. The destroyer of realms and kingdoms—the one who

  shattered fate itself.

  He is the emperor in red.

  *

  The red emperor, accompanied by his voices, the lich heralds,

  assassinated his father, the former emperor Urezin, and silenced those

  who questioned his authority and rule. Those who pledged loyalty to

  him were promised everlasting peace, including the people of Midgard.

  The emperor did not discriminate against any beings, whether they were

  demons, elves, humans, giants, or dragons. He desired loyalty from all

  who fell under his command. However, the true intentions of the

  emperor remained unknown, as he never spoke a word. Not even his

  heralds heard him utter a single sentence.

  Those who dared to provoke his wrath were swiftly extinguished by the

  mythical power he possessed. This power was made possible by a device

  he created, forged from the souls of the ancient titans, known as the

  Gauntlet of Eternity. With this device, he could harness and command

  the power of the maidens at will.

  The emperor's ability to control the maidens' power and even eliminate

  them, despite their own godlike abilities, remained one of the greatest

  mysteries surrounding him. This theory labeled the emperor as the most

  powerful and cunning demon across all regions.

  With his immense strength, the red emperor initiated his conquest by

  first destroying the Golden Kingdom in the forbidden lands, eradicating

  every servant of Alya and her ancestral children, and severing the lineage of

  the holy maidens. Next, he targeted the lands of Chalybe, obliterating

  the last remnants of the Titans and their formidable knights, forever

  losing the knowledge of their cosmic smith. Then, he turned his attention

  to the people of Kaze kara nigeru, mercilessly slaughtering them and

  their blade masters, alongside the Maiden of Wind and Storm. The

  people retreated to distant lands out of shame, their legacy lost. Finally,

  he attacked the lands beyond, leaving them in ruins as he systematically

  killed one maiden after another. The water nation suffered a massacre,

  their sacred grounds drenched in blood and disease. The elves' homeland

  and trees were burned, dealing a heavy blow to the elven home world.

  And who could forget the meteorite summoned by the Emperor himself. Demolishing nearly half a portion of the Holy Empire armies in a mere infinitesimal measure of time.

  Ahhh! The scenery was certainly something. for me, reminiscing of the old times and determinism to defile the nature of the world.

  As the days passed, the red emperor's reign of war continued to ravage

  life on Earth, leaving humanity to experience true hell for the second

  time, without any savior to turn to. Lost and adrift, people no longer

  believed in second chances. It was a world consumed by chaos, as

  anticipated by a mere lamp.

  The red emperor was acutely aware of the current state of the world,

  where demons and humans found themselves amidst unprecedented

  chaos and imbalance. He believed that serving gods was a radical

  mistake, one that would ultimately lead future generations to their

  downfall, as history had foretold. In this regard, I find myself in

  agreement with his perspective.

  War crimes are undeniably abhorrent, but in order to stand against fate

  itself and defy the orders of the upper aeons—who were the true

  instigators of this hellish state—the red emperor believed it was

  necessary.

  Amidst this engulfing chaos, a glimmer of hope emerged

  from the depths of the grim darkness. Those who had risen from their

  graves sought out the flames, driven by their own ambitions and desires,

  whatever they may be. Despite their individual goals, they shared a

  common objective: to defeat the offspring of the red emperor and the red

  lion himself.

  The Infinity Slayers, warriors who harnessed the combined blood of

  humans and demons, were the ones who defied the boundaries of

  mortality to pursue their desires at any cost. They were willing to

  sacrifice their memories and souls for their cause, defiling the natural

  order of the world. They sought power and knowledge, wielding both

  darkness and light as tools for greatness rather than weapons.

  These legends stood above all beings, surpassing humans, elves, Titans,

  demons, dragons, and even the gods themselves. Despite their relatively

  small numbers compared to other nations, a few hundred Infinity Slayers

  were more formidable than tens of thousands of knights. They possessed

  unimaginable power, the Magnum Opus, the first material. Even an

  Infinity Slayer who had not reached the final stage of their

  transformation, known as the Nigredo stage, still surpassed other beings

  in superiority.

  I held great respect for them and their cause. Despite their selfish nature,

  they were more alive and vibrant than the insignificant gods that humans

  once worshipped. Together, they marched against the red emperor and

  his forces in a fierce battle that lasted for a century. This prolonged

  conflict became known as the Cold War, as the lands were infested with

  blood, corpses, and death, spreading like an incurable infection. One

  could not traverse the land without encountering the remains of the

  fallen, be they Infinity Slayers or demons.

  During this time, there was no room for smiles, sadness, or even hope.

  The era reeked of unending despair. The bloodshed continued between

  the factions until the Infinity Slayers finally launched an attack on the

  demon realm, reaching the gates of hell and the red emperor's final

  palace.

  A battle took place there, one that was never recounted or recorded. It

  began with an eruption of blood and fury, but ended in shadows and an

  everlasting fog. This battle was meant to bring an end to the bloodshed,

  but instead, it spawned a new era of even greater suffering than before.

  None had uncovered the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of

  the Red Emperor. To make matters worse, the souls of the maidens were

  never recovered, forever lost in unknown realms, leaving Midgard

  devoid of spirituality and faith for future generations.

  Only the Infinity Slayers had some knowledge of what transpired.

  Unfortunately, they did not survive long after the battle at the gates of

  hell. As a result, the Harmonic Convergence took place, bringing forth

  the demi-humans and restoring order to the world.

  A curse was left behind by the hands of the Infinity Slayers, who

  vanished shortly after. They were never recognized for their futile efforts

  and sacrifices since they were never acknowledged to begin with.

  It is a real shame, I must say. I had developed an affinity for the people

  there. They proved to be more intriguing than the historical figures I had

  encountered. These individuals were truly indebted to themselves rather

  than others.

  They followed their own will, unaffected by the choices of gods or

  others. Their desires, even if banal or misguided, were genuine and true

  to themselves. It is a feeling that no longer exists in the current era.

  And so, the age of men began. An age where humanity had no gods to

  rely on, where their own actions governed the world they inhabited. It

  was a disappointing age, one I had hoped for, where gods could no

  longer influence and bear the weight of the world. Instead, it was filled

  with endless selfishness and foolishness.

  Centuries have passed since that day in this world. Yet, it feels like an

  eternity as I have explored numerous worlds and universes, searching for

  something provocative or refreshing to witness.

  To my disappointment, I have found nothing.

  Everything remains the same, trapped in an endless cycle of repetition the exact same tale. No twists or revelations in the story. its all the same, laminated into insignificance and utter yawn.

  But then, this individual joins the crowd. And this one remembers

  everything, in exquisite detail. asides from the fact he died.

  He is an interesting lad, much like the others before him. only this one looks familiar. I wonder, Will he be the one destined to bring about

  change, unlike the other one?

  No... it's not a matter of guessing. He is worth the wait I have endured

  for hundreds of centuries. I can tell that this is going to be a fun

  experience to watch.

  Makas... what an interesting name. Perhaps he is the one who is destined

  to change, not the other