FATE (Volume 1)

Chapter 6: ​🇷​​🇪​​🇦​​🇱​​🇲​​🇸​

Oreveu, growing completely hot-headed, blurted hastily, "Like what, exactly?" the crystal creature responded, "Perhaps something that holds of value, a memory... an essence, a soul, a trinket or anything valuable!",  Jacob, understanding the nature of the Luminous Realm, decided to make a bold proposal. "We possess the Prodigon Stone, a reality-shifting artifact capable of altering the fabric of existence. In exchange for guidance through the Nexus and assistance against its control, we could offer you a chance to experience life beyond this realm." The creatures conferenced among themselves before returning to Jacob. The entity spoke up, "Agreement. But know that this deal cannot be broken once made.", Yehezqel's brows furrowed intensely "Are you fucking thinking? Do you really think that it's a good idea to give these self-centered assholes some godly weapon we barely know about? I suggest not!" he grabbed Jacob by the collar and stared at him intensely. Jacob, on the other hand was absolutely blown away by the reaction, "Then what? we can't be sitting ducks here, besides if we don't offer anything they'll probably report us to the council themselves, hell, one thing for sure they'll attack us... Look at them! there's BILLIONS of them around us, you really think we stand a chance? besides, even if we offered the Prodigon, I'll only transport them where they need, I'm not crazy to entrust them the stone.", Yehezqel stared at him with a hint of searching and suspicion in his eyes, "Fine, give them what they need... But don't fuck this up.", he let go of Jacob's collar. "O-kay! where do you want to go?" asked Jacob as he turned to the entity, fixing his collar. "Transport me somewhere in the Crystal Mines, we need more materials for this kingdom" ordered the entity to Jacob, Jacob turns his gaze to Yehezqel who nodded in approval reluctantly. Jacob closes his eyes, gripping the stone as hard as he can and empties his mind; thinking of 'Crystal Mines', envisioning it, as the atmosphere changes, Jacob opens his eyes as he sees himself in a glowing mine of fine gems and materials, his mouth hung agape in the mesmerizing sight. On the other hand, the entity stretched out its glowing arms and seemingly consumed the crystal, one by one... By the time the entity was done, Jacob was asleep, however, the entity woke him up by a sound of loud blaring horns which sent a chill down Jacob's spine. Jacob gripped the stone again as hard as he can, imagining his friends, the atmosphere changes again, he opens his eyes as he's now back. "Well, that was fast... Didn't you go, like, 5 seconds ago?" asked Epouchiom, "5 seconds ago?, is this the wrong timeline or did the stone just do that?" asked Jacob in utter confusion and disbelief, "I believe it's the stone, I don't see any irregular entities around this timeline" responded Yehezqel, his eyes glowing white, "WHAT? YOU COULD DO THAT??" said Jacob in awe. "Glad you noticed" said Yehezqel in return. Jacob turns to the entity, who was eagerly distributing the crystals to the other creatures of the place, "So, now that we have fulfilled your request, tell us about this place." The entity fixed its gaze upon Jacob, its eyes shimmering with ancient wisdom. "Ah, the layers of existence," it began, speaking in a measured tone that demanded attention. "In this cosmic tapestry, we reside within what is known as the Grand Pentagon. Picture five distinct layers stacked upon each other, each carrying its own unique nature," the entity explained, its words deliberate and clear. Jacob nodded, urging the entity to continue. "The Upper Genesis is the highest tier, a celestial realm where deities, demigods, and celestial beings hold sway. It's a place teeming with cosmic powers and infinite knowledge," the entity continued, its expression unwavering. "And then there's Reality," the entity stated, gesturing around them. "This layer is where time flows, events transpire, and humans traverse the tapestry of existence." Jacob listened intently, eager for more information. "Next comes the Pentagram, a layer dominated by the manifestations of the seven deadly sins," the entity elucidated, its voice echoing a sense of foreboding. "It's a realm where internal conflicts and desires reign supreme." Jacob thought for a moment, remembering their encounter with Zean. He leaned forward, intrigued by the entity's explanation. "Descending further lies the Void," the entity continued, its tone growing serious. "It's the lowest realm, shrouded in mystery and inhabited by demons—the Children of Adam. It conceals secrets that challenge the bravest of souls." Jacob absorbed the information, trying to grasp the significance of each layer. The entity concluded solemnly, "These layers form a vertical universe, each with its own distinct inhabitants", Jacob thought for a moment, "I see... We shall keep going now then, there are more layers to explore.", Yehezqel got up as the rest of the group prepare for leaving, before parting ways, the entity delivered an ominous warning: the higher layers of the Genesis were guarded by forces far more formidable than anything they had encountered so far. Armed with newfound knowledge and caution, the group used the Prodigon Stone once again, bracing themselves for the unknown awaiting them in the next layer. As the group used the Prodigon Stone and Nexus Crystal, they were suddenly surrounded by a brilliant light. When the light faded, they found themselves face to face with a powerful entity, radiating an intense energy that seemed to pierce through their very souls. "You have been deemed unworthy," the entity declared, its voice like thunder. "Your plans for rebellion against the Nexus Order have been exposed. You will be brought before the Council of Archons for judgment." The group knew that they couldn't defeat the entity, not yet. They retreated, hoping to escape and regroup, but the entity summoned a swirling vortex that blocked their path. "There is nowhere to run," the entity said. "Surrender now and your punishment will be less severe." Epochioum stood tall, looking directly at the entity. "We mean to bring down the Nexus Order. We won't surrender." Without another word, the entity attacked. Its assault was unlike anything the group had faced before. Energy blasts struck from all directions, threatening to consume them entirely. Jacob activated the Prodigon Stone, creating a localized distortion field around himself and his friends. The entity's attacks faltered as the distortion field disrupted its aim. Yehezqel channeled his connection to the Nexus Crystal, conjuring a barrier that absorbed the excess energy. He focused on maintaining the shield while simultaneously guiding the others toward a temporary escape route. As they fled, the entity relentlessly pursued them, unleashing torrents of power that strained the limits of the Prodigon Stone and Nexus Crystal. The group fought hard to keep their footing amidst the chaos, knowing that a single misstep could lead to oblivion. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they managed to evade the entity and reach a hidden sanctuary. Exhausted, battered, and bruised, they collapsed onto the cold ground, grateful to have survived. But their respite was short-lived. The sanctuary began to quake violently, signaling the arrival of another threat that the Council of Archons had sent. A massive creature emerged from the shadows, its form shifting and contorting with an otherworldly grace, made of metal chunks and burning flesh. It towered over them, its eyes burning with an ancient fury. This was no ordinary adversary; it was a Herald of the Council, a being tasked with enforcing the will of the Archons. "We have failed," Yehezqel muttered, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and resignation. "They knew we would come here." Epochiom, though weary, refused to give in to despair. "We won't go down without a fight," she declared, her voice resonating with determination. "We've come too far to back down now." Jacob, still catching his breath, clutched the Prodigon Stone tightly in his hand. Its power surged within him, a flicker of hope in the face of overwhelming odds. "We can't let them crush our rebellion," he said, his voice filled with a newfound resolve. "If we don't stand up against the Nexus Order, who will?" As the Herald approached with relentless determination, the group braced themselves for the final confrontation. They knew that defeating such a powerful entity would require every ounce of strength, skill, and strategy they possessed. Epochiom stepped forward, her hand glowing with a renewed energy. She channeled her inner power, summoning ancient runes that encircled her. The runes pulsed with a vibrant light, forming a protective barrier around her comrades. Yehezqel, his eyes gleaming with determination, drew his Ice-gold blade. They crackled with elemental energy, ready to unleash their devastating power upon their enemy. With swift and precise movements, he leaped into action, engaging the Herald in a fierce duel. Meanwhile, Jacob focused on harnessing the reality-shifting abilities of the Prodigon Stone. He concentrated his thoughts, carefully envisioning a weakness in the Herald's defenses. With a surge of power, he unleashed a reality-altering wave that disrupted the creature's form, momentarily staggering it. Using this brief opening, Epochiom launched a barrage of elemental attacks, each strike resonating with the force of nature itself. Flames scorched the air, bolts of lightning crackled, and gusts of wind battered their opponent. The Herald, enraged by their defiance, retaliated with a devastating display of power. Energy surged from its very core, unleashing shockwaves that threatened to tear the sanctuary apart. The group fought valiantly, but it became clear that the Herald was too powerful to defeat. In the chaos of battle, the Herald targeted Epochiom, sensing her as a formidable threat. Despite her best efforts, she was overpowered by the creature's relentless assault. With a final strike, the Herald struck her down, and she fell lifeless to the ground. Horror and grief washed over the remaining members of the group. Jacob, burdened by guilt, knew that it was his actions that had led to this tragedy. The weight of responsibility weighed heavily upon him, and the atmosphere grew tense with anger and accusation. "NO!" bellowed Oreveu, leaping forward to catch Epouchiom's dead body. She cried out loud, her eyes filled with tears and bitterness evident in her voice, "YOU'LL FUCKING PAY FOR THIS!" as she lunges towards the Herald, her sister's lifeless body laying beside Yehezqel. Yehezqel turned his fury towards Jacob, his voice filled with bitterness. "This is your doing!" he shouted, his eyes blazing with anger. "You made and brought them into this mess, and now Epochiom is dead because of you!" Jacob, his face etched with guilt and sorrow, couldn't bear the weight of their accusations. "I never wanted this to happen!" he pleaded, his voice choked with emotion. "I thought I could make a difference, but I was wrong." The group continued to argue and point fingers, their grief and anger fueling the intense atmosphere. Blame was cast, harsh words were exchanged, and trust began to fracture. They were faced not only with the loss of their comrade but also with the realization that their unity was crumbling. Enzo also laid his weight, "I'm going to die here too... What have you done?" his voice trembling in grief and fear, every moment reminding him about the trauma of his mother and father's death. Enzo faints, hyperventilating as he lie gasping on the cold, hard floor. Jacob looks at Enzo, extremely concerned and in tears, as Yehezqel was busy casting shield to Oreveu and himself as he blast white beams from his sword to the Herald; Jacob on the other hand, was busy calming Enzo down, "It's okay, it's fine..." he says to Enzo as he, too, was crying intensely, his shoulders jerking as he cried in the intensity of the situation, by the time he stopped crying, Enzo had eased on his hyperventilation, dead. Jacob on the other hand was blasting red beams from the Blade of Humility, although to his horror, none of the attacks nor the efforyts made by his team was any help to bringing the thing down. Jacob cried in frustration as he sat to rest, his Celestia all drained, Oreveu on the other hand kept fighting; "OREVEU! I suggest resting yourself, your celestia will be drained, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE!" bellowed Yehezqel, however, Oreveu paid no attention to the warnings... As she was fighting, she suddenly stopped; Yehezqel, who sensed something was amiss, flew over to see Oreveu, but he was too late... Her body falls to the floor lifelessly as color drain from her. "FUCK!" Yehezqel said, increasing the speed of his flying, although, at that fateful moment... The creature shrieks; Yehezqel - as a celestial being himself sensed that this shriek had a razor spell, a spell that cuts through objects... His eyes widened, realizing the weight of the situation... He moved out of the way, realizing that Oreveu was doomed. Horror flashed before Yehezqel's eyes, witnessing Oreveu's death, it was slow.... painful...... haunting...... her body being cut in a dozen pieces as it fell, her blood splattering all across the cavern, the red... vibrant blood cascading before him. As tears fall down on his face, thousand parts of Oreveu began clattering throughout the cavern as her guts spill down - a tangled mess of the once-vibrant cave. Jacob, as he saw this haunting sight remain frozen in place, no energy to stand up... Yehezqel's brow furrows as his body starts to glow white, "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" looking intensely at Jacob, swiftly turning to the Herald as he blasts a gigantic Puple Beam at the beast, screaming in anger, this blast killed the Herald, yellow and vibrant blood splattering all over, as Yehezqel stares at the explosion, his body collapses.... his surroundings become dim as he loses energy; Jacob, seeing the situation lept forward to catch Yehezqel, but just as he was about to catch him, light flashed in Yehezqel - resulting in a haunting, traumatizing death.... It had seemed like he exploded, his intestines flying as his once-vibrant green eyeballs bounce painfully in the cold stone floors, Jacob's vision blurs as his eyes ring, feeling numb; he clutches his arms to his chest as he sat in horror. "what did I do...", "I couldn't do anything", "I'm worthless", "It is fine"... "yeah, it's fine.", "What am I", "What am I", "What am I", "What am I" as his vision dims. The scene fades to black as Jacob's vision blurs and he slumps to the ground, overcome by the trauma of the events that have transpired. The sound of silence fills the cavern, broken only by the soft rustling of the wind and the distant echoes of the wind's subtle whoosh. As the minutes tick by, the darkness begins to lift, and the outline of the cavern slowly comes into view. The bodies of Oreveu and Yehezqel lay still, their forms illuminated by the faint light that filters in from above. Jacob stirred, groggily opening his eyes to find himself lying on the cold stone floor. He sits up, rubbing his head and trying to clear the fogginess in his mind. The memories of what happened come rushing back, and Jacob feels a wave of despair wash over him. He looks around, taking in the aftermath of the battle. The cavern is quiet, except for the occasional dripping of water or the soft rustling of the wind. The creature is nowhere to be seen, vanquished by Yehezqel's last efforts. Jacob forces himself to stand up, his legs shaking beneath him. He takes a deep breath and begins to survey the area, searching for any sign of life or hope. But there is nothing. Only the eerie silence and the stark reminders of the horror that had transpired there. He lays down, exhausted... And then, everything goes black.

"There's that scum of the earth." bellowed a firm, strong voice. Jacob's eyes fluttered as he opens his eyes, he was suddenly hit by a bright light, he squinted as it fades... He sees 5 men in white robes looking at him intently, their eyes a blue speck of light, no face... just two white orbs that he figured resembled eyes. "Disciple of Adam... absolute disgrace to Pendragons!" one of them bellowed as they strike Jacob with the Blade of Humility, knocking him out.

Jacob groaned as he came to, his head throbbing in pain. He found himself in a small, dimly lit room with plain white walls, a cold stone floor, and a low ceiling. The air was musty and stale, and the only source of light came from a small torch flickering in the corner. He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his head, making him wince. He touched his forehead, feeling a large bump where he had been struck. He looked around the room again, hoping to find some clue as to where he was and why he was there. But there was nothing. No windows, no doors, no furniture. Just four blank walls and a single torch. Suddenly, the door appeared, and five figures entered. They were dressed in long, flowing white robes, their faces hidden behind hoods. In their hands, they carried strange artifacts that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. As the robed men approached, Jacob couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. Their presence seemed to fill the room with an oppressive weight, and he could feel their judgment bearing down upon him. The leader of the group, a tall figure with a stern expression, spoke in a voice that brooked no argument. "Jacob, you have been brought before us, the Council of Archons, to answer for your crimes. You have been accused of wielding forbidden magic, of meddling in affairs that are not yours to concern yourself with. How do you plead?" Jacob felt a lump form in his throat as he struggled to speak. He knew that he was innocent, but he also knew that the Council was not interested in hearing his excuses. They had already made up their minds, and he was certain that they would not hesitate to mete out the harshest punishment possible. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered. "I haven't done anything wrong." The lead Archon sneered at Jacob's words. "Do not try to deceive us, boy. We have evidence of your transgressions. You have been seen consorting with creatures from the spirit realm, and you have been using magic that is beyond your understanding. You are a danger to yourself and to others, and you must be held accountable." As the Archon finished speaking, the other members of the Council began to chant in unison, their voices growing louder and more intense with each passing moment. Jacob felt a dark energy building in the room, and he knew that he was running out of time. Suddenly, the lead Archon raised his hand, he noticed that the lead Archon was holding the Blade of Humility, he flinched and begged, screamed, shouted at the lead Archon to discontinue their torture, but to no avail. The lead Archon slashes his eyes, he could feel the warmth of his blood dripping from his lap as he cries, adding more salt to the wound, he felt a painful stinging in his eyes afterwards, unbreable for his own, as if it had been stabbed and scooped multiple times, being turned into mush. Jacob found that he was unable to see, as stains of blood drip down from his slashed pupils. His eyesight had been removed by the Archon's magic, leaving him helpless and vulnerable. The Council of Archons began to laugh, their cruel mockery echoing off the walls of the chamber. Jacob knew that he was doomed, that he would never leave this place alive. With a fierce determination burning within him, Jacob reached out with his mind, searching for any trace of the magic that had been used against him. He knew that he couldn't defeat the Council alone, but perhaps he could find an ally, someone who could help him turn the tables and gain his revenge. As he probed deeper into the mystical energies surrounding him, Jacob sensed none to his despair, none to help him... as the Archon's mockery bellowed louder and louder into his eardrums, seemingly painful as banging his head on the wall, he knew... he knew damn well that he had ran out of time, and of luck.