The Birth of Evil

The regional arena had fallen silent, the crowds long gone, leaving behind a calm and tranquil atmosphere. Mask and Lady Aria walked between pillars adorned with golden details, approaching the center of the arena. A thin layer of water on the ground shimmered faintly, reflecting the dim black sun hanging in the sky.

Mask came to a stop and turned to Lady Aria. In his eyes, there was both the seriousness of a farewell and the promise of a new beginning. His voice was gentle and deep:
“I must leave now, my lady. But before I go, I have an offer. I would like to continue our meeting in the Iron Kingdom—by hosting you there.”

Lady Aria looked at Mask, sensing the importance of the invitation. With a slight smile and regal posture, she gave her answer:

“Prince Mask, your offer is an honor to me. However, I am quite busy over the next two weeks. I will come as soon as I can and send word through my hawk.”

Mask bowed his head in thanks. As he turned and walked toward the exit of the arena, the wind gently fluttered the ends of his cloak. Lady Aria leaned against one of the arena’s pillars and gazed into the distance. As the wind played with her elegant hair, both sides seemed content with this alliance.

Outside the arena, Mask approached his gathered soldiers. They were standing in disciplined rows, ready to depart. Just then, envoys from the Realm of Lakes approached, speaking politely yet firmly, stating that they were ready to escort Mask and his troops.

In silence, they set off, moving through corridors lined with golden pillars toward the exit of the Lake Realm. Mask gave brief instructions to his soldiers while the envoys guided the secure journey. Upon reaching the exit, Mask gave his thanks to the envoys and departed.

Marc, Silhou, and Mythos arrived at the large iron door upon Jayce’s invitation. As the door slowly opened, a white and blue light spilled out, revealing the lab’s mesmerizing atmosphere. Jayce stood at the center of the laboratory, beside a holographic control console.

Activating a part of the console, Jayce pointed to a glowing projection.
“Welcome,” he said, his voice serious with a hint of excitement. “There’s something I’ve been working on for a long time—something I want to show you. It’s not just about overcoming the Iron Kingdom’s technology, but securing a strategic edge as well.”

Jayce tapped the console, enlarging the projection.

“This,” he said, “is a prototype designed to counter the Iron Kingdom’s technology. It’s not finished yet, but once properly used, it could stand against even their most powerful systems.”

Pointing to the hologram hovering over the console, Jayce began speaking with a grave tone:

“This prototype is called the Eclipsion Core. It may appear small and simple—just a chip—but its power comes from being integrated into the human body. The Eclipsion Core grants the user energy manipulation, strategic computing capabilities, and an advanced AI system. Designed to surpass the Iron Kingdom’s technological advantage, the chip only reaches full power when it syncs with its user. The process is complex—but incredibly effective.”

Silhou watched the chip hologram intently. After a brief pause, his brows raised slightly.
“This chip… it looks a lot like my medallion,” he said, touching the medallion hanging around his neck. “Is it something like this?”

Jayce glanced at Silhou’s medallion and his expression changed. Curiosity shone in his eyes.
“Yes,” he said excitedly. “The structure and shape really do resemble the Eclipsion Core. Perhaps this is not a coincidence. If you’ll allow it, I’d like to examine your medallion in the lab. It might have a connection.”

Silhou hesitated for a moment, then removed the medallion and handed it to Jayce.
“If it’ll help, I won’t hold back. But be careful—this piece means a lot to me.”

Jayce took the medallion gently and placed it on the examination table. He spoke carefully:
“Don’t worry, Silhou. I won’t damage it. But to uncover its secrets, I need to run a detailed analysis. This could be a major clue for the Eclipsion Core.”

Silhou watched silently for a while as the medallion was placed on the lab table. Then he turned to Jayce with a thoughtful expression:

“This chip… it should be wielded by a truly powerful warrior, shouldn’t it, Jayce? I think we should hold a tournament to choose the right one. What do you think?”

Jayce nodded slightly in agreement.

“Absolutely, Silhou. If the Core falls into the wrong hands, it will be wasted. Only a true champion can unlock its full potential.”

With that, Silhou turned to his aides waiting in the corner of the room. His voice was firm and commanding:

“Begin spreading word of the tournament across the entire nation. This is no ordinary contest—we must find the best of the best. The news must travel fast. Also, I want tournament preparations to begin immediately. The arena and every detail must be flawlessly arranged.”

As the aides rushed out to fulfill his orders, Jayce remained at work under the lab’s glowing lights.

Marc glanced at the chip’s holographic image, then smirked and turned to Silhou.
“You know, Silhou… that chip would suit you. Don’t you want it? A power like that could make you even stronger.”

Standing under the dim glow of the lab, Silhou answered with a serious face as he touched the medallion around his neck:

“I already possess the same power—and perhaps even more—through this medallion, Marc. It would serve our nation better in someone else’s hands. My strength is already vast. But in the right warrior’s hands, this chip could shape the fate of our people.”

Marc smiled and nodded.
“Your loyalty to your country is always admirable. But you’re right—only a true champion deserves this chip.”

Silhou turned to Jayce to reaffirm his stance.
“We know how important this tournament is, Jayce. We’ll do everything necessary to find the best.”

Jayce carefully placed the medallion onto the lab’s analysis table and activated the devices. A violet glow danced across the surface, casting a mystical aura around the room. As Jayce examined the data, he spoke his thoughts aloud:

“This medallion... it’s extraordinary. It resonates with a purple energy, almost as if it has a will of its own. The power flows like a living being. It’s not of this world—neither built with technology nor made of any known materials. Its power is immense. The Eclipsion Core doesn’t even come close.”

Marc stared at the medallion, a faint smirk on his face.

“I already knew that, Jayce. From my past experiences, the medallion’s power is clear. But the matter of will—you must be careful when trying to sync with it. If it rejects you, it might act against you.”

Silhou nodded in agreement and turned to Jayce.
“Marc’s right. I wield this medallion because we’re in harmony. In another’s hands, without that bond, it could be dangerous. If you want to understand its power source, don’t push it too far.”

Mythos, watching the unusual conversation unfold, furrowed his brows and asked Jayce:
“How can something this powerful even be controlled? Jayce, even studying this medallion in detail seems risky.”

Jayce responded calmly, understanding the concern:
“There is risk, yes. But I need to decipher this power to determine whether it can be controlled. The energy stored in this medallion is unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”

The medallion pulsed with light at Jayce’s touch. Marc rolled his eyes briefly and added with a playful tone:

“Not surprising. Once you’ve used its power, you’ll never forget it.”

Silhou glanced at Marc, then replied with a faint smile:

“You’re the safest hands for this research, Jayce. But if I were you, I wouldn’t trust it too much. What matters is who the medallion chooses to serve.”

After completing his analysis, Jayce gently lifted the medallion from the table. He looked into the glowing surface for a moment, then turned to Silhou and said firmly:
“The secrets and power within this medallion are truly extraordinary. But seeing it with you—it feels like the right choice to let it reveal its full potential in your hands.”

Silhou took the medallion from Jayce with care and placed it back around his neck. It shimmered gently, as if reunited with its rightful owner. With a faint smile, Silhou looked at Jayce and thanked him:

“Thank you for examining my medallion so carefully.”

Outside the laboratory, someone was expertly hidden among the shadows—Nash. Quietly, he listened to Silhou and the others’ conversations, carefully observing their movements. As always, he maintained a calm and strategic posture while inwardly crafting a plan. His eyes sparkled as he watched Silhou giving orders with determination.

He whispered silently to himself, but these words were like a vow echoing in his mind: “I will learn everything about you, Silhou. Your character, your fighting style, your values... And then, I will use all of that against you. Your strength will become my opportunity.”

Nash’s mind was filled with a carefully calculated plan. Shadows were his ally, and patience was his deadliest weapon. As he analyzed every step and every word, this silent observation was preparing the ground for an ultimate confrontation.

The group moved down the corridor, exiting through the heavy iron doors. Silence was only broken by the sound of their footsteps.

Hidden among the shadows, Nash followed without losing a single step. His face wore a sharp and ambitious expression, detectable even in the dark. As Jayce and the others split at the end of the corridor, Silhou entered a side door into a different room. Nash didn’t miss his chance and silently slipped inside after him.

The room had been designed with Jayce’s advanced engineering skills. The walls were covered in smooth metallic surfaces that glowed with magical energy. A control panel in the center activated the room’s power system. This room had the ability to create copies of the most powerful warriors of any kingdom for ten minutes—warriors modeled with perfect accuracy, with the same powers and abilities.

As soon as Silhou stepped into the room, he activated the panel. The metallic surfaces quickly shifted, and the room glowed with purple light. Within seconds, familiar figures began to appear: Varyn, a master of both magic and physical power; Daeghar, a warrior renowned for his sword and agility; Jorah, a tactical expert who guided his attacks with magical energy; and Lady Aria, a strategic force with charismatic leadership on the battlefield.

Silhou squinted his eyes and looked at his opponents. Each one was perfectly accurate to the smallest detail. Silently, he took a combat stance. Small waves of energy swirled around the copies.

Varyn led with magical attacks while Daeghar swiftly launched an attack from the side. Silhou used his reflexes to dodge Varyn’s magic and blocked Daeghar’s strike. Just as Jorah’s energy waves surrounded him, he held onto the power of his medallion and quickly cleared the area to make a counter-move.

Lady Aria, without hesitation, approached Silhou with a strategic attack. Silhou defended with the power from his medallion and sharpened his tactics to defeat the four opponents together. The room trembled with chaotic energy from the battles.

Nash, observing from a corner of the room, watched every move carefully. With silent admiration and mixed ambition, he analyzed Silhou’s fighting style and intelligence. He whispered, “I will uncover all your secrets and weaknesses, Silhou. This is just the beginning.”

Silhou remained focused on the four copies in front of him. Skillfully maneuvering between Varyn’s magical attacks and Daeghar’s swift moves, he repelled them. After deflecting Jorah’s energy waves, he used the power of his medallion to engulf the area in flames and launched a strategic counterattack. When Aria approached with her unique grace and precision, Silhou cleverly deflected her strike and regained control.

In the end, the copies weakened and disappeared one by one. As the battle room fell silent, Silhou took a deep breath and turned off the panel. The lights on the walls faded, and the room returned to its previous stillness. Silhou briefly scanned the room with his eyes, deep in thought, then headed for the door.

As Silhou left the room and walked down the corridor toward his own chamber, the medallion on his neck shimmered slightly, accompanying him like a companion. Nash, carefully watching from the shadows, evaluated his every movement. However, when Silhou entered his room, Nash hesitated and withdrew, silently fading into the darkness of the corridor.

Silhou entered his room and closed the door behind him. After the intense struggle, he took a deep breath in the peaceful atmosphere of his room. The medallion’s energy seemed to pulse lightly as if it was resting with him.

The God Prison

There was a deep silence in the cell. Lordhair, looking at the starry floor, fell into deep thought. A feeling from the dark corners of his mind told him that his peace would be short-lived.

As Lordhair breathed deeply in his cell, Solve and Mask suddenly appeared around him. The people he loved and trusted looked at him mockingly. Solve spoke in an icy tone: “You are alone and weak, Lordhair. You will always be like this. You will suffer throughout your life.”

Mask, following Solve, added with a stern expression: “We tried to protect you, but everything was ruined because of your lack of will and weakness. Following you was a mistake!”

Lordhair didn’t want to believe these words. The echoes he heard around him and the mocking glances were weighing on his mind. Anger filled him uncontrollably. “No,” he thought, “This can’t be real!” But the pain from the words, the images, and the betrayal was unbearable.

Finally, he gave in to his anger. Clenching his fists, he struck the floor of his cell with all his strength. The starry floor cracked, and powerful energy waves spread out. The illusion instantly shattered, but Lordhair was still gasping for breath, trembling with rage.

Lordhair didn’t want to accept what they said. Yet, the mocking words triggered a deep wave of anger. Closing his eyes, he thought that these images were not real. Just then, the images suddenly disappeared. Lordhair paused for a moment, looking around in shock: “Did it end this quickly? What is happening?”

However, his astonishment didn’t last long. Suddenly, dark thorny wires covered his cell from every direction. These thorns rapidly wrapped around Lordhair’s body, immobilizing him. The sharp wires pinpointed the pain points in his body, applying pressure with raw strength. Lordhair could hardly breathe due to the intensity of the pain. He writhed, but as the pain grew, his anger also multiplied.

For minutes, he endured this unbearable agony. Each strike of the wires tried to weaken him, but a force from somewhere deep within Lordhair grew his anger. Finally, he closed his eyes. At that moment,  he unleashed an incredible burst of power. The thorns around him shattered completely and disappeared. The entire prison trembled with this wave of power.

The ground shook, and the walls of the cells cracked. Amid the echoes from deep within the prison, a prisoner screamed: “Without a doubt, this person is Veyrhan! Who else could create such a powerful explosion?”

Another prisoner muttered in shock and fear: “A power that shakes the very foundations of this prison… This is not something an ordinary prisoner can do!”

As the prisoners’ shocked and fearful voices echoed throughout the prison, Lordhair stood in his cell, kneeling. His body trembled, but his spirit still burned like fire.

The door opened with a heavy sound, and Attila entered. He was carrying hundreds of books in his arms, and the serious expression on his face matched the magnitude of the energy in the room. He approached Lordhair, slowly placing the books on the floor, and spoke in a clear voice: “These books are for you, Lordhair. Everything you need to find your answers is here.”

Still reeling from anger and pain, Lordhair turned to Attila and breathlessly asked, “What… are these?”

Attila spoke with a stern and determined tone: “You will read all of these. Starting with the Epic of Creation.”

Still affected by intense emotions, Lordhair asked in shock, “Why am I reading these? What could these books change?”

Attila responded with a slight hint of mockery on his lips: “Do you have something more important to do, Lordhair? Or are you just going to wait for time to wear you down with nothing but pain?”

These words paused Lordhair. He took a moment to calm himself, nodded lightly, and spoke with a deep breath, both helpless and resolute: “Of course, you’re right. I’ll read them. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Attila nodded, satisfied, and handed Lordhair a book from the pile. “Start well, Lordhair.”

Lordhair picked up the top book from the pile Attila left on the floor. It was the Epic of Creation. The title, written in golden embossing on the pages, caught his attention: “In the beginning, there was only water.”

Lordhair turned the first page and began reading silently. Each word echoed in his mind, and the depth and grandeur of the epic came to life before his eyes.

IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS ONLY WATER

The epic began at a point where everything had vanished. In a time when there was no concept of time, space, or matter, there was an endless expanse of water. As Lordhair read this passage, a dark void appeared in his mind. He imagined this boundless water, which to him represented the purest form of existence. He thought of the radiant figure of God, floating within the water. This idea sparked a curiosity in him: "What could be the driving force of creation?"

When he read that God took the form of a bird to begin creation, Lordhair pondered this powerful and symbolic act. Creating Ülgen and Erlik from his own essence brought balance to the story, a balance of order and contrast. The sky was described as nine layers, with each layer representing a different realm. "Nine layers... This number must hold some significance," Lordhair thought as he read with admiration about God's organizing power.

When Lordhair reached the part of the epic describing the creation of man from the earth, he paused for a moment. As he read about God breathing His spirit into man, he reflected on the magnitude of creation. The idea of humans being created as part of a divine being struck him as both impressive and thought-provoking. "The breath of a soul into the body… one must understand what kind of fate God has prepared for humans," he murmured to himself.

THE REBELLION OF ERLIK AND THE BIRTH OF EVIL

As Lordhair turned the pages, he encountered the rebellion of Erlik and the birth of evil. He read carefully about how Erlik, consumed by the desire to be equal to God, was driven by pride and ultimately cast into the underworld. Lordhair sought a lesson in Erlik's tragic fall: "Pride... what a cause for destruction. It always requires balance."

In the beginning of creation, Erlik was a being close to God. He witnessed the process of creation alongside Ülgen. But over time, he overestimated his own power and desired to be equal to God.

"I can create too!" he declared.

Secretly, he tried to create a man from clay, but this creation was rotten and soulless.

This arrogance angered God, and God cast him from the heavens to the underworld. Thus, the underworld was granted to Erlik, but it was a punishment.

After being exiled, Erlik began to spread darkness, death, diseases, and calamity. He created his own creatures to deceive the souls of men, pollute nature, and bring chaos to the world:

He sent evil spirits (dark souls), spread diseases, and began to corrupt the souls of men.

Lordhair continued reading, questioning the accuracy of these tales.

In some versions, Erlik has nine sons and nine daughters. These children bring evil, deceit, lies, and death to the world.

Erlik began to draw the souls of the dead to himself. While the good souls ascended to Ülgen's realm, the sinful ones fell into Erlik's underworld hell.

In his eyes, humans were weak and incapable of seeing the truth. That's why it was easy to deceive them. Death was his greatest weapon.

In some myths, Erlik has the ability to shapeshift. Sometimes he appears as an old man, sometimes as a snake, and sometimes as a terrifying creature. He approaches people in these forms, offering knowledge, only to mislead them from their path.

He also occasionally bargained with Ülgen, even setting traps for him. But he could never overcome God's absolute will.

Erlik sits on his throne in the underworld, in a dark palace. There, beings who torture the souls of the dead reside. They test, interrogate, and punish the souls.

And from time to time, in his quest for vengeance against God, he would give the souls who served their punishment a body and form an army from them, occasionally trying to lure the Veyhrhans to his side.

As the epic neared its end, Lordhair read a worldview based on balance. Ülgen's guardianship of the sky, Erlik's chaos in the underworld, and the existence of humans on the earth provided Lordhair with a framework for understanding how the universe was maintained in balance. 

Lordhair closed the book and took a deep breath. The grandeur and depth of the Creation Epic left him deep in thought. Turning to Attila, he silently nodded. "This seems like just the beginning," he said. "But I will continue with this."

Attila smiled slightly and responded: "This was just the first step. You have a long road ahead."

A strange movement in the atmosphere of the chamber caught their attention. The ground vibrated slightly, and a wave of light spread through the air. Suddenly, a figure appeared from within Alter. It was a man dressed in an ancient wizard's cloak, holding a device resembling a clock. His eyes were weary but contained deep knowledge. Lordhair immediately recognized him; this was Chronos. Attila quickly stood up, his face showing a familiar expression from the past as he looked at Chronos.

Chronos, with a slight smile on his face, spoke to Attila: "Are you still making the Veyhrhans read these boring books, Attila? The only thing that hasn’t changed is you."

Attila responded with the same warmth: "We haven't crossed paths in a long time, Chronos. How’s it going? You've been wandering inside Alter for centuries. You're always rushing somewhere."

Chronos smiled as he adjusted the ends of his cloak and fiddled with the device in his hand: "You know me, Attila. I've been traveling between universes inside Alter for centuries, and I’ve never grown bored. The past, the future, time—they’re all like a game. I always wonder what I’ll see with the next step."

Attila nodded slightly and replied: "I wish I could be as free as you, Chronos. But my duties are more fixed."

Chronos pointed the clock-like device at Lordhair, narrowing his eyes as he looked carefully: "It seems your Veyhrhan here is a bit confused. The Creation Epic? Do you really have to start with these ancient stories?"

Attila chuckled lightly: "Sometimes, you can't walk into the future without understanding the past, Chronos. I told you that centuries ago, do you remember?"

Chronos responded with a hint of sarcasm: "Stop trying to tell me stories. I have more clues about the future."

Finally, Lordhair gathered the courage to speak, his curiosity piqued by Chronos’ captivating presence and Attila’s open conversation with him. He asked with interest: "How do you two know each other?"

Attila and Chronos exchanged a brief glance at Lordhair's question. However, both of them fell into silence.

Lordhair waited for an answer, but the silence lingered. Chronos, slightly shaking his device, began to look in another direction, while Attila refocused on his books. Lordhair was surprised that the question went unanswered. However, the depth of the connection between them raised new questions in his mind.