This is the final result Darkness.
An endless void stretched beyond imagination.
No light.
No sound.
No time.
No life.
Nothing existed.
Then...
A single drop of crimson blood appeared within the infinite emptiness.
It drifted silently through the void.
One drop...
Yet it carried the weight of existence itself.
The blood shimmered.
Then—
It divided.
Again.
And again.
Until thirty-six crimson droplets floated throughout the endless darkness.
Each drop began to glow.
One after another...
They awakened.
The first beings to ever exist.
The Thirty-Six Gods.
They were the Gods of Earth, Darkness, Light, Fate, Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, Nature, Mountains, Oceans, Life, Death, Time, Space, Dreams, War, Peace, Wisdom, Wealth, Justice, Chaos, Order, Creation, Destruction, Stars, the Sun, the Moon, Souls, Knowledge, Truth, Illusion, Harmony, Spirit, Balance, and Secrets.
Together, they gazed upon the endless nothingness before them.
The universe was empty.
So...
They created.
Stars ignited where only darkness had existed.
Infinite seas flowed through newborn heavens.
Mountains rose.
Forests spread.
Life blossomed.
Together, the Thirty-Six Gods forged...
The Seven Realms.
Seven worlds, each carrying its own destiny.
Among them...
One world would eventually become known as...
Eryndor.
...
For countless ages, the gods ruled in harmony.
Yet even divine beings feared one thing.
Power.
For if divine authority could be copied...
Or stolen without consequence...
The balance of creation would collapse.
Thus...
The Thirty-Six Gods gathered once more.
Together, they established the eternal laws that governed all divinity.
The laws that not even gods could escape.
They became known throughout all Seven Realms as...
The Sacred Laws.
Silence returned to the endless room.
The Messenger slowly raised his head.
"The First Sacred—"
Suddenly—
CRACK!
The endless white world shattered.
Like glass.
Countless fractures spread across reality itself.
The Messenger froze.
The brilliant white surroundings rapidly darkened.
Light vanished.
The heavens disappeared.
The stars were extinguished.
Everything became pitch black.
An overwhelming pressure descended upon the world.
The Messenger's expression changed for the first time.
His body began to melt.
Like wax beneath an unseen flame.
His flesh dissolved.
His bones crumbled.
Within moments...
Nothing remained.
Only a dark puddle spread across the endless void.
Then—
BOOOOOM!
The space before Erek twisted violently.
Reality folded in upon itself.
A colossal throne emerged from the darkness.
Ancient.
Majestic.
Its size rivaled mountains.
Countless golden symbols floated around it.
Each symbol radiated enough power to destroy worlds.
Upon the throne sat a lone figure.
His face was hidden behind endless divine light.
His mere presence caused the void itself to tremble.
Then...
A second figure appeared.
A man dressed in magnificent golden robes.
The God of Wealth.
Aureon.
The moment he appeared...
He immediately dropped to one knee.
His head lowered.
His posture carried absolute respect.
No.
Not respect.
Reverence.
The kind shown only to a ruler.
Erek's eyes narrowed.
He looked at Aureon.
Then at the figure seated upon the throne.
"...Who are you?"
His voice echoed through the darkness.
"...And why is Aureon here?"
Silence.
Then...
The figure upon the throne slowly spoke.
His voice was calm.
Yet every word seemed to shake existence itself.
"I am the one who stands above the Gods."
"I am the one whom even the gods obey."
"The ruler of all divine beings."
The pressure within the void intensified.
Even Erek found it difficult to breathe.
Then the figure continued.
"I am..."
A brief silence followed.
"...Orion."
The darkness trembled.
As though the Seven Realms themselves acknowledged that name.
---
Far away...
The bustling city of Aurelia was as lively as ever.
Inside a large restaurant near the Adventurer's Guild headquarters...
Four familiar figures sat around a wooden table.
Riyo.
Lia.
Trunk.
And their captain...
Honk.
The swordsman was currently enjoying another bottle of alcohol while staring lazily out the window.
THUD!
A quest paper slammed onto the table.
Honk glanced down.
Lia blinked.
Even Trunk looked over.
Riyo folded his arms.
"This."
"...is an SSS-Rank Quest."
The atmosphere around the table instantly changed.
Lia's sapphire eyes widened.
"SSS-Rank?"
Even Trunk looked surprised.
Those quests rarely appeared.
And when they did...
Entire kingdoms paid attention.
Riyo pointed toward the quest details.
"It came directly from Frostalia."
"A large number of witnesses claim to have seen Dark Beings within the Icepeak Territory."
"The mission is simple."
"Investigate the sightings."
"And if Dark Beings truly exist..."
"...eliminate them."
Silence followed.
Everyone knew what that meant.
Dark Beings.
The race that had supposedly vanished seven hundred years ago.
The race that once ruled Darkain.
Riyo looked toward the man drinking beside him.
"So..."
"...what do you think, Captain?"
Honk casually took another sip.
Glug.
Glug.
Glug.
Then he placed the bottle down.
"There are no Dark Beings left."
His tone carried absolute certainty.
"As far as the world knows..."
"...they're extinct."
Riyo raised an eyebrow.
"Then we refuse?"
Honk looked back at the reward section.
His eyes immediately lit up.
"...Absolutely not."
Lia sighed.
Trunk nodded knowingly.
Riyo rubbed his forehead.
Honk pointed at the paper.
"Look at that reward."
"That's enough money to buy several mansions."
He stood up.
"We're going."
A grin appeared on his face.
"If Dark Beings really exist..."
"...we'll deal with them."
"If they don't..."
"...we still get paid."
The captain grabbed another bottle.
"Sounds like a perfect quest."
---
Far away...
Within the Kingdom of Sanctoria.
Inside the magnificent Royal Palace.
A grand meeting chamber had been prepared.
Twelve figures stood within the room.
All wore the white-and-gold armor of the Royal Knights.
Among them stood Drakar and Shalo.
The remaining ten knights were some of the strongest warriors in the kingdom.
Sir Aldric Lionheart — Commander of the Royal Knights. A towering veteran with silver hair and countless battle scars.
Sir Roland Graves — Master Swordsman and former champion of Sanctoria.
Sir Cedric Vale — A calm strategist famous for winning battles without shedding blood.
Sir Magnus Ironwall — A giant knight carrying a shield larger than most doors.
Sir Lucien Dawnstar — Spear Master and one of Seraphine's most trusted protectors.
Sir Gareth Blackwood — An expert assassin capable of eliminating enemies without leaving a trace.
Lady Elena Frostwind — The strongest female knight in Sanctoria and a master ice mage.
Lady Selene Whitestar — Holy Mage and guardian of the royal temple.
Sir Victor Stormblade — Lightning swordsman known for overwhelming speed.
Sir Orion Hartwell — Youngest Royal Knight and a prodigy admired throughout the kingdom.
The room remained silent.
Then—
The doors opened.
Creeeak...
Every knight immediately lowered their heads.
Queen Seraphine entered.
Her long purple hair flowed gracefully behind her.
Her violet eyes radiated calm authority.
"Your Majesty."
The twelve knights bowed simultaneously.
Seraphine nodded.
"You may rise."
The knights obeyed.
She slowly walked toward the enormous window overlooking the capital.
"Today..."
"...a special delegation from the Kingdom of Meledia will arrive."
A few knights exchanged curious glances.
Seraphine stood before the enormous palace window.
"They have arrived."
The Royal Knights stepped forward.
Curiosity filled the room.
Even Drakar looked outside.
The massive gates of the royal palace slowly opened.
Creeeeak...
A long military formation entered the capital.
The soldiers of Meledia marched with perfect discipline.
Their banners fluttered proudly beneath the afternoon sun.
The citizens lining the streets erupted into cheers.
The procession continued.
Then...
Drakar's eyes suddenly widened.
His body froze.
For the first time since arriving in Sanctoria...
Genuine shock appeared on his face.
Impossible.
His crimson pupils trembled.
A cold chill ran down his spine.
Beside him, Shalo blinked in confusion.
"...Drakar?"
No response came.
The former Archdemon General remained completely motionless.
His gaze was locked onto something in the distance.
Something only he seemed to understand.
Something that should not exist.
Something that made no sense.
Outside...
The procession continued its approach toward the royal palace.
While inside...
Drakar could only stare.
"...How?"