In the depths of a dark forest filled with a malevolent aura, where monstrous entities roamed freely beneath a dark-purple sky, a pink moon hung ominously overhead.
Its eerie glow painted the world in soft crimson light, illuminating the trees with an unsettling beauty that whispered of mystery and dread.
At the heart of this forest stood an ancient palace.
The structure radiated an oppressive aura so overwhelming that even the most feral of creatures dared not approach. The beasts instinctively understood — whatever resided within those walls was far more terrifying than they were.
Inside a vast chamber of the palace, darkness swirled like a living storm. Space and time warped and twisted, distorting reality itself.
Around a massive obsidian table sat several figures, their forms blurred and indistinct. Only the colors of their auras distinguished them from one another.
"Seems like your attack failed, sister," a voice echoed through the chamber.
The speaker possessed a vivid crimson aura. Though her features were obscured, her curvaceous silhouette and the slow sway of a sleek tail behind her were unmistakable.
"Well, it was merely a test, sister," replied another figure — smaller in frame, wrapped in a deep purple aura. Her tone was calm, almost dismissive.
"There is no need for you to concern yourself with my plans."
"How can I not be concerned,my dear sister?" the red-aura figure replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.
"Your 'test' resulted in the loss of a High Star child — one who might have had the potential to join our ranks."
They were speaking of the Class Five Abyssal that had nearly reduced an entire city to ruins — referring to it as nothing more than a child.
All Abyssals were categorized from Class One to Class Five, with Class Five being the highest classification the current generation of Imperial soldiers had ever encountered.
However, if one were to ask the veterans of the previous generation, they would tell a different story.
Class Five was not the peak.
Beyond the numerical system existed a class so far above ordinary Abyssals that it defied categorization. To the current era, it was considered myth — an exaggerated tale born of battlefield trauma.
But the previous generation had witnessed it.
An Aetherian Abyssal.
A humanoid entity capable of speech, reason, and absolute dominion over lesser Abyssals. Entire swarms would kneel at its mere presence. Yet what made them truly terrifying was not their intelligence nor their authority —
"Do not worry, sister. I retrieved its core after the battle," the purple-aura figure interrupted calmly.
"I can recreate it at any time I wish… although it will require preparation."
Silence fell briefly.
The ability she referred to was known as
"Hmmm… very well," the red-aura figure said with a teasing hum. "I will let you off this time."
A third presence shifted.
This one radiated a brilliant golden aura. Its frame appeared larger than the others, and faint outlines of massive horns and folded wings could be discerned through the distortion.
"But what exactly were you testing, little sister?" the golden figure asked.
"The defensive capabilities of one of their Central Cities," the purple figure replied. "Specifically, the strength of its barrier and military response."
"The Houke Barrier is impressive," she continued.
"Far more resilient than anticipated. However… their combat strength is concerning. Especially the princess."
"Those princesses are pests," a fourth voice interjected. This one emanated a cold blue aura.
"Still upset about getting your ass whooped?" the red-aura figure teased.
"Shut up!" the blue figure snapped.
"I will take that as a yes," the red one replied, a mocking grin evident even through the distortion.
"I lost cause I was ambushed and that was 20 years ago!!" the blue figure replied.
"You lost cause you were arrogant and thanks to that you set back our plans by an entire 2 decades" the golden figure spoke as it's aura intensified showing that it was pissed.
"The princess herself is not our greatest concern," the purple figure interjected, her tone turning serious.
"It is the beast she wields. That creature is abnormal."
"The amount of Ki it possesses… for a brief moment, it matched my own."
Silence engulfed the chamber.
"That is impossible," the golden figure responded. "Their beast companions are powerful, yes. But to rival one of us—"
"I sensed it," the purple figure insisted. "For a single instant, its Ki equaled mine… and then it was suppressed by another force."
Even now, she remained unsettled. The surge of Aether released during that moment had been immense — overwhelming, ancient.
And unfamiliar.
But beneath her lingering shock, another thought surfaced.
He would make an excellent test subject.
"Then the solution is simple," the red-aura figure said casually. "Kill the beast and its master."
Violence was always her preferred answer.
"We cannot reveal ourselves now," the golden figure replied. "The level of Ki required for our descent into their world has not yet accumulated sufficiently due to a certain somebody."
The blue figure began to shrink herself in her seat.
"Right…" the red figure sighed. "Their fragile world can barely withstand even a fragment of our presence. How disappointing."
"Then we accelerate our preparations," she continued, her crimson aura flaring.
"The inevitable descent will come. And when it does, we shall fulfill Mother's will."
Her gaze lifted toward the towering ceiling of the palace.
There, suspended in colossal chains that stretched into darkness, was the severed head of a gargantuan centipede-like dragon. Its eyes were closed, yet its exposed brain pulsed rhythmically throbbing like a living heart.
It was not dead.
Merely sealed.
Just a little longer mother the purple figure thought
Whilst a certain green aura figure had stayed silent during the entire meeting, hiding itself in the corner.
The day Mother's jaws opened, the residents of the United Regions of Gaia would face the greatest calamity in their history.
Meanwhile, far away from the suffocating aura of that palace…
A certain black-haired boy slowly opened his eyes.