The Hidden Truths of the Masters

In the neutral dimensional chamber, the tension was a taut wire, ready to snap. The white heptagonal table glowed with a silver sheen, its sides occupied by the heroes of ATHOMIS: Kaelith, his scarlet armor smoldering, the Blade of Wrath pulsing; Zeryn, her silver robe shimmering, the Arcane Tome floating; Elara, her living bark armor glowing, the Scepter of Life radiating green energy; Thorne, his black armor dusted with ash, the Hammer of the Eon at his side; Mira, her blue scale armor gleaming, the Trident of the Tide shining; Draven, his black armor with red runes exuding cold, the Shadow Reaper in hand; and Athos, his glitched armor shimmering with liquid data, the Tear of Eryndor pulsing, his eyes glinting with suspicion. Before them, the three GMs loomed, their presence overwhelming: the woman in a liquid-light robe, her constellation-like eyes gleaming; the man in glitched-data armor, a digital tornado swirling around him; and the faceless ethereal silhouette, pulsing with unreadable runes.The silence following Athos’s question—“Who are you, and why did you summon us to this world?”—was heavy, as if time itself hesitated. The liquid-light figure tilted her head, her constellation eyes sparking. “You were summoned to restore balance,” she said, her voice echoing like a coded command. “ATHOMIS is a system, a construct designed to test strength, will, and fate. The demons, led by the Corruptor, are a flaw, a corruption threatening to destabilize the system’s core. You, heroes, were chosen—each from a different world—to face them.”Kaelith, his impatience boiling, slammed his fist on the table. “Chosen? We were ripped from our lives without explanation! And now, another demonic offensive? Tell us the plan, or I’m heading back to Valthar now!” His Blade of Wrath flared, reflecting his fury.The glitched-armor figure raised a hand, the data around him swirling faster. “Patience, Hero of Flames. The Corruptor plans a full-scale attack, led by his six remaining demons: Iragor, Gulthar, Avaron, Slothar, Lustara, and Envyra. They target the realms simultaneously, exploiting their weaknesses after the moon’s destruction. Our plan is simple: you must unite, combine your powers, and face each demon in their territories while the Corruptor is contained.”Elara frowned, her Scepter of Life pulsing. “Contained? By whom? You? And why was the moon destroyed? Didn’t that weaken the demons?” Her voice trembled, torn between hope and suspicion.The ethereal silhouette answered, its voice an echo resonating in each hero’s mind: “The moon was a conduit of power for the demons, but also for ATHOMIS. Its destruction was… an unforeseen but necessary event. As for the Corruptor, he will be faced by forces beyond you, in the Desolate Continent.”Athos, who had been watching silently, leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. The Tear of Eryndor pulsed brighter, as if responding to his suspicion. “Forces beyond us? You’re hiding something,” he said, his voice sharp as a blade. “You talk about balance, but you don’t say how we were chosen, or why I, a ‘glitch,’ am here. And this moon destruction… ‘unforeseen’? I’m not buying it. What’s the real game, GMs?”The heroes turned to Athos, surprised by his boldness. Zeryn, clutching her Arcane Tome, thought: He’s right. They know more than they’re saying. Thorne growled: “If you know so much, why not face the Corruptor yourselves?” Mira, with her Trident of the Tide, added: “Aquilon can’t wait. If the demons are coming, we need clear answers!”The liquid-light figure fixed her eyes on Athos, a calculated glint in her constellations. “You are perceptive, Hero of the Desolate Continent. But the system has its rules. You were summoned because you are unique variables, each with a purpose in ATHOMIS’s balance. The Corruptor is a threat requiring your combined strength. As for the moon… its destruction was a sacrifice to weaken the enemy, but also a risk that altered the system. Do not question our purpose; focus on the demons.”Draven, his Shadow Reaper in hand, spoke for the first time, his voice cold: “And if we fail? You threw us into this game, but you don’t say the cost. What happens if the Corruptor wins?”The glitched-armor figure replied, his metallic voice cutting: “If the Corruptor wins, ATHOMIS will collapse, and with it, all the worlds you came from. You have no choice. Unite, or all is lost.”Athos laughed, a dry, cynical sound. “A nice speech, but you still haven’t answered my question. Who are you, really? And why does the Tear of Eryndor react to you?” He pointed to the crystal, now glowing with glitched codes, as if trying to decode the GMs.Silence returned, heavier than ever. The three figures exchanged glances—or so it seemed; the ethereal silhouette merely pulsed, its runes glowing brighter. The liquid-light figure spoke, her voice softer but laden with authority: “The time for answers will come, Athos. For now, prepare yourselves. The demons are already marching, and ATHOMIS’s fate rests in your hands.”The heroes felt the weight of those words, but Athos’s suspicion lingered in their minds. Zeryn whispered to herself: They’re hiding something, but what? Kaelith gripped his sword tighter, Thorne clenched his fists, Elara held her scepter firmly, Mira glanced at her trident, and Draven fixed his eyes on the GMs. The air was thick with discord, and the hidden truths of ATHOMIS’s masters seemed on the verge of revelation—but time was running out.