The Legends Of Starfall Abyss

~†~ T.L.O.S.A.~†~

Genesis breathes stars into the waiting dark;

Entropy teaches every sun to whisper into silence.

Between the first spark and the final ash,

Existence is the argument they never stop having.

~†~ Prologue ~†~

The Legend Before The End

~ The Authors~

At the center of reality lay Starfall Abyss, a realm of endless emerald valleys where silver rivers wound through mist-veiled forests before plunging into hidden gorges. Colossal snow-capped mountains crowned the horizon, their jagged peaks glowing beneath twin afternoon suns, while floating islands drifted among the clouds.

Across the realm, colossal World Trees towered above the forests, their vast canopies stretching for miles and roots plunging deep into the heart of the world. From every trunk flowed visible currents of Qi, shimmering in every color as they cycled the realm’s natural energy, nourishing the land, skies, and every living soul beneath their branches.

Magnificent kingdoms gleamed across the wilderness. Marble cities crowned rolling hills, their gilded rooftops, soaring spires, and crystal towers shining beneath the warm afternoon light. Great stone bridges spanned broad rivers as ancient roads linked one thriving capital to the next.

Yet nothing moved.

Not a banner stirred atop the battlements. No smoke rose from countless chimneys. No bells echoed through empty streets, and no travelers walked the abandoned roads. Every kingdom remained frozen in absolute silence, preserved exactly as it had been in its final moment, as though the world itself had simply... Stopped.

On the windswept highlands overlooking the realm, a solitary figure stood at the cliff’s edge.

Michael gazed across the silent cities, his expression taut with grief. Mountain winds stirred the white fur lining his cloak and swept loose strands of rich brown hair across his face. Beneath his hand, the bow glided over his violin, its mournful melody so beautiful it made the silence ache.

Behind him, the Eternal Guardians gathered beneath the golden light of dusk. Laughter echoed across the valley. Glasses clinked. Platters of appetizers passed from hand to hand. Old rivals traded jokes while lifelong friends retold stories they had shared a hundred times before.

To any passing observer, it would have looked like a celebration. Perhaps it was. Or perhaps, though none dared speak it aloud, it was a farewell.

Nothing about the peaceful gathering hinted that existence itself had already begun to unravel. Starfall Abyss alone remained untouched, hidden behind ancient wards that had protected the core of reality since the dawn of creation. Even those defenses were failing. Soon, nothing would remain but echoes of the place the Gods had once called home.

Ordinarily, such a catastrophe could never have gone unnoticed. The Prophet would have foreseen it before the first shadow fell. The Time Quads would have followed the fracture through the currents of existence, tracing its ripples across memory, reality, and possibility. Together, they and The Emperor and Empress would have stopped it before it began.

That was how creation had always survived.

But this time was different. This time, they had seen it too late… The timelines had already ended. The fatelines had begun turning white…

For the first time since the dawn of creation, the Guardians of Fate, Time, and Existence stood completely blind.

And if that sentence does not terrify you, dear reader, then you have not yet grasped how profoundly wrong the universe had become. ~ C.A.E.

“A-Die,” Emma called, stepping beside Michael, though the tension in her shoulders betrayed her calm. “Why did you and Nayomie ask us all to come here?”

Emma possessed the kind of beauty reserved for fairy tales. Raven-black hair framed porcelain features, while midnight-blue eyes shimmered like a sky strewn with stars. Layers of midnight-blue hanfu flowed around her, embroidered with silver constellations that caught the fading light.

“Have you asked Nayomie?” Michael lowered his violin as it dissolved into motes of white light.

In contrast, he was striking in his simplicity. Strong, square features, rich brown hair, and kind baby-blue eyes radiated a warmth that put everyone at ease. Flowing white robes lay beneath ornate golden armor engraved with the crest of Starfall Abyss.

“I did,” Emma sighed. “Unfortunately, people who can see the future are remarkably

difficult to question.”

That statement somehow gets more accurate with Nayomie every day... Also, why does calling her “Nayomie” feel so bizarre? - N.A.

Because that’s also your name… You did this to yourself. - N.K.J.

… Shut up. - N.A.

Shh. Both of you. We’re going to lose our readers if we aren’t quiet. They aren’t used to the authors speaking to them. ~ C.A.E.

To be fair… He started it. He always does. - N.A.

I do not. I am a good boy. - N.K.J.

Whatever stupid brother. Let’s move on. - N.A.

*C.A.E. Sighs aggressively.*

“… What on earth is happening?” You Mutter. “Wait a minute- What? What the Hell?”

Relax. You’ll be fine. Just keep reading. ~ C.A.E.

“So…?” Emma prompted as Michael turned back toward the gathering.

“We’re expecting guests from the future,” Michael said. “Ace is bringing them.”

“Is that wise?” Emma frowned, folding her arms. “We can’t even see the timelines anymore.”

“The last thing I saw before my visions stopped was this meeting and the point in the future they came from,” Nayomie said, joining them. “Apparently, Dad needs to tell them a story. Why, I have no idea. The rest of us have already lived it.”

A puzzled silence settled over the gathering.

“That’s concerningly vague,” Emma muttered. “What story?”

“Ours, of course,” Nayomie slipped an arm through Emma’s. “Why else would they come?”

“Why would they need to know our story?” Zadkiel asked, making a face.

“Each of them has their own reason for coming,” Nayomie’s gaze followed a white butterfly drifting from flower to flower. “Some will stay. Others will leave early. I only hope the message reaches those who need to hear it.”

She was, in a word, strange. Black cherry hair cascaded to her waist, framing youthful features that lent her an almost innocent air. Only her golden-brown eyes betrayed any sharpness, fixed somewhere beyond the horizon as though forever watching a future no one else could see.

Knowing her, she probably was. ~ C.A.E.

“…Okay.” Emma let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “I don’t understand half of what you just said, but your visions have never steered us wrong. How long do we have?”

“No idea,” Nayomie shrugged. “Ace should be here any minute, though.”

The words had barely left her lips when the air rippled. Fate, it seemed, had decided to announce their guests itself.

Space folded inward as a portal unfurled into existence, its center dark as the void while

concentric rings of sky blue, gold, and sakura-pink light flowed endlessly around its rim.

A moment later, a young woman who resembled Zadkiel bounced from its depths. Snow-white hair faded to sakura pink at the tips, framing soft, elegant features, while her upturned sky-blue eyes gleamed with excitement.

“I’m here!” Ace, the Time Bunny, announced as people began filing through her rabbit hole, stepping onto the grass before gathering around her.

As you read, the air beside you ripples. A portal, identical to the one Ace emerged from, opens wide enough to serve as a doorway. On the other side, Ace waves with a grin, beckoning you forward.

Now- If you’re waiting for a formal invitation, this is the best you’re going to get. ~C.A.E.

Chrysanthium… That’s rude, At least give them time to process. *N.K.J. shakes his head.*

For once I agree with him. We should be nice to our guests if we want them to stay. *N.A. chuckles*

I never claimed to be nice. I just want to tell our story. *C.A.E. Frowns*

Well then. Let’s get on with it. Unlike the gods, we don’t have forever to waste. ~ N.A.

Come on in, then, reader’s. I’ll try to keep these two dummies on point. -N.K.J.

Clutching your book, you hesitate, lingering on its pages for one last moment before stepping through the portal.

Warm evening air replaces the world you left behind, carrying the scents of roasted meat, fresh bread, and wildflowers. Before you can find your bearings, the Time Quads hurry past with platters of drinks balanced effortlessly in their arms, weaving through the growing crowd as laughter and conversation ripple across the valley.

You glance around at the unfamiliar faces, suddenly unsure where you’re supposed to be.

After watching another Reader drift toward a long table piled high with food, you quietly follow. The line moves surprisingly fast, and before long, a tray rests in your hands laden with herb-glazed grilled chicken, buttery mashed potatoes drenched in rich gravy, a warm dinner roll, steamed garden vegetables, fresh fruit salad, and a generous slice of decadent chocolate cake.

Stepping away from the tables, you pause, searching the gathering for an empty place to sit.

“Over this way,” Ace gently takes your arm, guiding you to a plaid blanket where several Readers have already settled.

“Welcome,” Michael said with a warm smile, his gaze sweeping over each face. “Make yourselves at home. Though... What exactly should I call all of you?”

“The Readers,” Nayomie answered.

“Readers?” Emma echoed.

“At some point in our future, we’ll write books about our lives,” Nayomie explained with a smile. “These people come from beyond that point. Apparently, they wanted the story from the source.”

An awkward silence followed from several readers as you glanced around once more. It wasn’t as though anyone had warned you this was going to happen.

FYI, you signed up for this the moment you opened the book. Just… Stick with us. ~

C.A.E.

“Well, that’s horrifying,” Zadkiel said.

“Convoluted,” Michael corrected.

“Both,” Zadkiel replied.

He was breathtaking. Delicate, androgynous features lent him an almost ethereal beauty, while cerulean eyes encircled by radiant golden sunbursts seemed to hold the light of the heavens themselves. Waist-long snow-white hair flowed down his back, the upper half gathered beneath an ornate golden XiaoGuan, while a single slender braid, tipped with a polished black bead, rested behind his left ear.

“Wait…” Emma blinked. “We’re authors?”

“Successful authors,” Nayomie corrected.

Emma stared at her before burying her face in her hands.

“Somehow that makes it worse,” She muttered.

“Honestly, I’m surprised people actually read about us,” Oliver admitted.

A collective gasp swept through the Readers.

“I’ve read the series over a hundred times,” One Reader blurts.

“A hundred?” Emma nearly choked.

“It’s my coping mechanism,” They shrug.

“Your characters got me through some of the darkest years of my life,” Another Reader admits quietly.

“I’ve laughed with you... Cried with you... Screamed at all of you,” Someone else confesses. “Usually in the same chapter.”

“You people have ruined every other fantasy series for me,” A third Reader sighs dramatically.

“I’ve convinced half my family to read it,” Another adds proudly. “Now they’re obsessed too.”

“I opened a book and somehow ended up inside of it,” You clear your throat. “I’d say you’ve got my attention…”

The silence that followed was almost impressive.

“…Should I be offended,” Zayden asked slowly. “Or deeply concerned?”

“Concerned,” Zadkiel answered without missing a beat.

“I think we’ve accidentally started a cult,” Jayden muttered.

“You think?” Dylan deadpanned. “I’d say that’s painfully obvious.”

“A literary cult,” Nayomie corrected.

“Still not helping,” Emma sighed.

Zayden, the Keeper of Time, had curly chestnut hair and husky-blue eyes. Oliver, Keeper of the Past, was nearly his double, save for one blue eye and one green. Jayden, Keeper of the Present, shared the same shade of hair, though his fell straight, while emerald rings circled the middle of his blue eyes. Only Dylan, Keeper of the Future, broke the pattern, his golden-blond hair and emerald-green eyes setting him apart.

“We should probably begin before this gets any further out of hand,” Nayomie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Let’s use a time bubble. We’re going to need the extra time.”

“Already on it,” Ace replied brightly.

She and the Time Quads lifted their hands in unison, streams of radiant energy surging skyward before weaving together into a vast, shimmering dome that enveloped the gathering.

“What’s a time bubble?” You ask, brows furrowing.

“Exactly what it sounds like,” Zayden explained. “It’s a bubble made of time energy. Time passes either slower or faster inside than outside. We could spend months here and still step out before dusk.”

“Isn’t it awesome?” Another Reader nudges you with an excited grin. “Just wait. This series is full of fun stuff like this.”

“Fun is a generous word,” Emma murmured, eyeing the dome as ripples of silver light rolled across its surface. “Deeply alarming feels more accurate.”

“You’ll get used to it,” The Reader promises, shaking their head.

“No, they won’t,” Dylan said.

“You know…” The Reader considers hat for half a second before nodding. “That is also probably true.”

Across the gathering, the final strands of time energy settled into place. The air beneath the dome grew strangely weightless, carrying the faint hum of a ticking clock. Beyond its shimmering boundary, drifting leaves slowed until they hung almost motionless above the grass.

“There,” Ace said with a satisfied smile. “All done.”

“Right, then,” Michael exhaled, his gaze sweeping across the cliffside.

Twin suns drifted toward the horizon, setting the sea of wildflowers ablaze in gold and crimson. A cool breeze rolled over the hills, carrying the scent of summer and distant rain.

Every victory… Every loss… Every sacrifice... All of it had led here. Yet even after everything, it still felt unfinished.

“Once upon a time... No, that isn’t quite right,” Michael began. “‘Once upon a time’ implies there was time for something to happen in. There wasn’t.”

He paused, his gaze passing over Guardians and Readers alike.

“There was no ticking clock hidden in some forgotten corner of reality. No stars scattered

across an endless sky,” A faint smile touched his lips. “There wasn’t even nothing.”

Folding his arms, he chuckled at the bewildered expressions before him.

“Yes, I know how absurd that sounds,” He said warmly. “If you’re confused, good. You should be. Reality didn’t exist yet to make sense of anything.”

His smile faded before he sighed.

“Long before moments could be measured,” He murmured. “Before silence knew how to be silent, before existence understood what it meant to exist, there was only Nether- A boundless unreality so complete that even emptiness had yet to be imagined.”

Michael’s gaze drifted somewhere far away, as though he could somehow see that impossible beginning.

“Calling it an abyss is simply the closest lie language can tell,” He continued. “Nothing lived there. Nothing died there. Nothing could.”

A hush settled over the gathering.

“Yet every worthwhile story begins with the impossible,” A faint smile returned.

“...That line goes unnecessarily hard,” A Reader whispers.

“I know, right?” Another murmurs without looking away.

Shhh You’ll want to pay attention. This is important later. ~C.A.E.

“In that endless expanse, something awakened,” Michael said before pausing. “Actually...” A soft chuckle escaped him. “Two somethings.”

Laughter rippled through the Eternal Guardians.

“There’s always at least two of us,” Jayden said with a grin, looking toward the Readers. “We kind of run in doubles.”

“Or triples,” Zayden added.

“Sometimes quads,” Oliver murmured, pulling Amara against his side.

“Or twenty-seven,” Dylan said blandly.

Michael cleared his throat. The four looked back at him, grinning as they rubbed the backs of their necks sheepishly.

“The first was HunLuan, Empress of the Cosmos- The Primordial Chaos from whom all possibility was born,” Michael continued. “The second was ZhiXu, her Emperor, the embodiment of Absolute Order. He was the eternal foundation upon which reality itself would stand.”

“Let me guess,” You sigh. “They were the perfect opposites, and therefore the perfect halves.”

“They were not opposites. Opposites imply division,” Michael slowly shook his head. “HunLuan and ZhiXu were completion. Alone, each was infinite. Together... They became

Creation.”

The highlands fell silent.

“When Yin and Yang first touched within that endlessness, the universe awakened,” Michael said. “From longing came the first light. From will came matter. Galaxies unfurled like celestial blossoms. The silent void, which had known only Nether, finally learned how to exist.”

He paused, then smiled.

“Strange, isn’t it?” Michael looked toward the Readers, his expression softening. “Reality began not with war, conquest, or destruction... but with two beings refusing to remain alone.”

Several Readers exchange quiet smiles.

“I already ship them,” Someone admits.

“They literally invented love,” Another whispers.

“They invented everything,” A third replies.

“Fair point,” The second shrugs.

“You… Ship them?” Emma’s brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”

“Er… They go well together,” Nayomie explained. “So the readers support their relationship.”

“Ah… Huh…” Emma leaned into Zadkiel’s side. “Weird phrasing.”

And now the Empress is judging us poor unfortunate humans. *N.A. Sighs.*

“Shall I continue, or should I let the rest of you tell the story?” Michael asked. Everyone fell silent, chuckling quietly. “Thank you.”

He began pacing before everyone, tucking his arms behind his back.

“Stars and worlds were only the beginning,” He said. “A universe requires more than creation; It requires caretakers. So the First Souls were born, each carrying a fragment of their creators’ power.”

“You mean they created new gods?” You clarify.

“Yes,” He nodded. “The first to awaken beneath the gaze of the Primordials was ChunJing, the Goddess of Fate.”

He paused, then laughed, shaking his head.

“Now, before you picture some gentle woman sitting behind a loom weaving destinies together, allow me to stop you right there,” He pointed toward Nayomie. “Picture her instead.”

Every eye turned as Michael’s voice softened.

“She was the messenger, but remember... Fate was never kind to her, or to any of us. It was simply inevitable,” He glanced toward Nayomie. “It has always been her duty to guide us through each anchor alongside her other half.”

Several Readers glanced uneasily in Nayomie’s direction.

“Beside Fate emerged QingTing, JunDe, MingZe, and HaoYu, The Gods of Time. And no...” A grin tugged at the corner of Michael’s mouth. “Time was not a bunch of old men

clutching a giant hourglass.”

The Time Quads looked collectively offended.

“Mortals invented that image much later because they desperately needed something

simple to explain something impossibly vast,” Michael gestured toward them. “In truth... The quads were far better-looking.”

“Thank you?” Zayden blinked.

“Er...” Dylan scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, thanks... I guess.”

“That’s a weird thing to hear Michael say,” Jayden muttered to Oliver. “He never compliments us.”

“Yeah...” Oliver nodded once. “He’s usually too busy glaring at us. It’s got to be some kind of trap, right?”

“I mean, I think so,” Zayden leaned in conspiratorially. “What do you think he’s up to?”

“Beats me.” Dylan folded his arms. “But let’s be cautious around him.”

“I can hear all of you,” Michael said with a frown.

“We know,” The Quads answered in perfect unison.

Laughter swept across the highlands.

“Together,” Michael continued, a touch more stiffly as he resisted rolling his eyes. “Fate and Time became the first pillars upon which existence stood. But a universe cannot survive on destiny and chronology alone. Thus came JiGuang, the Guardian of Morality.”

“Morality?” Someone asks. “Seriously? That sounds lame.”

“Someone had to teach creation that not every path leads to the same destination,” Briarley said with a shrug, brushing a strand of dark hair from his eyes. “Good and evil both exist in life. Without my concept, no one would even know the difference.”

“...I feel judged,” A Reader mumbles.

“You should,” Briarley replied.

“I don’t even know you!” The Reader gasps dramatically.

“And yet I stand by my statement,” He smirked.

Trust me- You want to get to know this guy. Just look at him. *C.A.E. drools.*

… I am not drooling, Nayomie.

Yes you are. *N.A. giggles.* So am I.

… You two are ridiculous. *N.K.J. sighs*

Briar stood an absurd 6′7”, as though Creation had decided to play favorites before

stacking the odds even further in his favor.

Warm golden-bronze skin, high cheekbones, a strong jaw, and full lips made him effortlessly handsome without ever tipping into arrogance. Long dark lashes framed perceptive liquid gold eyes rimmed in scarlet, while dark red-brown hair streaked with subtle ruby highlights fell in loose waves over one shoulder. Most of it was tied back with a scarlet sash, though a few rebellious strands framed his face.

“Next came XianNu,” Michael chuckled, gesturing toward Andromeda. “The Guardian of Truth.”

The goddess in question was breathtaking. Honey-blonde waves framed rosy ivory skin, while striking steel-blue eyes glinted with mischief. Delicate features, gently arched brows, high cheekbones, and a refined jaw gave her a vixen-like beauty, while full, naturally rosy lips curved into a smile that was equal parts inviting and dangerous.

“Since I’m being introduced, I might as well make use of it, so take this little piece of advice as my motto.” Andro smiled. “Truth does not knock. It does not wait to be invited. It simply arrives... and the world bends around it.”

A thoughtful silence settled over the gathering.

“...That’s uncomfortably accurate,” A Reader admits.

“I’m told I’m wise.” Andro shrugged before climbing into Briarley’s lap. “Now shh. It’s still story time.”

“Thank you for the advice,” Michael said with a chuckle. “To save time, we’ll skip the remaining eighteen members of the amalgamation for now.”

“The what?” You ask.

“That’s what we call our collection of soulmates,” Emma gestured vaguely toward herself, the Quads, Briarley, Andro, Zadkiel, and Nayomie. “We’ll get into that later, so don’t ask any more questions. The important part is that, over the ages, my past self created millions of gods, each embodying new concepts and responsibilities.”

“The twenty-seven of us who were forged in the beginning formed the First Covenant with the Emperor and Empress,” Zayden said with a small smile. “Soul answered soul- Not through law or duty... But through love.”

The breeze drifted quietly through the wildflowers.

“Divinity multiplied like stars until a vast celestial family surrounded the Emperor and Empress,” Michael continued from where they’d left off. “Under their guidance, the First Reality flourished. Life spread across countless worlds. Civilizations rose. Kingdoms prospered. The gods walked openly among their people.”

He paused, his gaze lingering on each of the Guardians.

“For ages beyond counting... Harmony endured,” Michael’s smile slowly faded as he looked toward the Readers. “Now... If this sounds too perfect, that’s because it was. And perfection, as history repeatedly proves, rarely survives.”

The warmth that had filled the highlands vanished. Even the breeze seemed to quiet.

“Far beyond Creation... deep within the forgotten reaches of Nether... Something stirred,” His voice dropped, and unease settled over every Reader at his words. “And from the darkness beyond existence rose ZaiNan, the Lord of Calamity.”

“He was destruction given thought,” Emma murmured. “Ruin given purpose. And hatred...” Her eyes hardened. “Made manifest.”

No one spoke. Not even the Authors. Suddenly, the highlands felt cold.

“Calamity?” You interrupt, unimpressed. “Really? That’s what you named your villain?”

“Actually, his name is ZaiNan,” Emma corrected. “When you can pronounce that, then we can discuss my creativity.”

“ZaiNan,” You repeat with a grin. “See? Easy. Zhi... ZhiSh... Uh... Okay, that one’s harder.”

“I wouldn’t underestimate him,” Zayden said. “Where HunLuan and ZhiXu wove existence together, ZaiNan sought only to unmake it.”

“He arrived, and reality began to die,” Michael said, slipping back into the story. “World after world fell. Civilizations vanished. Histories were erased before they could be remembered. The Children of Origin could do nothing but watch their people perish.”

He let the silence linger.

“ChunJing searched the threads of Fate and found fragments of salvation hidden somewhere in the distant future. QingTing looked beyond death and glimpsed the promise of his return. Yet neither could see the path between.”

“Kind of like now?” A Reader asks. “You said Fate and Time are blind.”

“Exactly,” Michael’s gaze swept across the Readers. “And what happened then may very well be what’s about to happen to us now that the story you’re hearing has reached its end… After all... History has always had an unfortunate habit of repeating itself.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Devon- A man with black shoulder length hair cut into a mullet, and bluish-grey eyes and olive skin mutters. You just catch a glimpse of him through the crowd as he moves through. “Has anyone seen my goat? No…? Okay, see ya.”

“Who the fuck was that?” You ask, bewildered.

“Oh… That was just Devon,” Emma waved you off. “Don’t worry about it. We don’t need to go over that.”

“Reality entered a cycle of destruction and rebirth,” Michael continued as though nothing had happened. “Fourteen times Creation rose. Thirteen times it fell. This fourteenth ending...” His voice dropped to little more than a whisper. “It may well be our last if I am wrong about repetition.”

A heavy silence settled over the meadow.

“...Well that’s horrifying,” A Reader mutters.

“You’re telling me you’ve all failed thirteen times?” You ask.

“Technically,” Oliver said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Our predecessors failed.”

“That isn’t nearly as comforting as you think it is,” Emma replied.

Michael chuckled softly before resuming his slow pace.

“With the birth of the Fourteenth Reality, hope returned, for Calamity had been banished to the Great Void- A vast band of darkness encircling all existence,” He said. “From the ashes of the first thirteen realities, HunLuan forged a new cosmos, where universes unfurled across the dark and set it ablaze.”

“It was awesome to watch,” Andro grinned.

“While the gods prepared themselves, HunLuan began her greatest work,” Michael raised a hand, channeling light into the air. “Drawing upon Nether and Aether alike, she forged Aurian... Then divided it into four realms.”

Shimmering illusions bloomed above the gathering. Four vast orbs rotated slowly

overhead, overlapping one another. Both physical and ethereal, they glowed gold, blue, green, and crimson.

“The highest was Katharos,” He said as golden mountains emerged, floating among endless clouds while radiant cities glittered beneath celestial light. “The sanctuary where divine souls awaited ascension.”

The vision shifted.

“Kolosai,” He continued as infernal volcanoes erupted beneath crimson skies and black fortresses loomed over rivers of molten fire. “The realm where corruption itself was burned away.”

Another ripple swept through the illusion.

“NaiHe,” He said as a tranquil sea stretched beneath silver stars, countless lanterns drifting across mirror-like waters while silent ferries glided between distant shores blanketed in spider lilies. “The river between life and death.”

The final world appeared.

“And between them all... Mesis,” He murmured while forests stretched beyond the horizon as vast kingdoms shimmered beneath twin suns. Oceans sparkled beside towering mountain ranges, and colossal World Trees dotted the land, seeming to hold the sky aloft. “The realm where mortal destinies would unfold.”

“...That’s gorgeous,” A Reader whispers.

“It really is,” Andromeda smiled.

“For the first time in ages, the cosmos seemed whole,” Michael ignored them. “The wounds of thirteen shattered realities had begun to heal. The gods stood united. The mortal realms flourished. Even Fate appeared to smile.”

“I did?” Nayomie slowly tilted her head.

“No,” Zadkiel answered immediately. “You probably looked mildly less disappointed.”

Several Readers laughed.

“I can live with that,” Nayomie admitted.

“Then...” Michael shook his head, the wry smile on his lips quickly fading. The illusion overhead cracked. A deep tremor rolled beneath everyone’s feet. “Starfall Abyss trembled.”

Dark crimson Qi burst through the fractured sky like a tidal wave.

“Evil Qi swept across reality… And the seals of the Great Void... shattered,” He paused as the meadow fell silent. “ZaiNan had returned, and behind him came the fanatics who had waited through countless ages for their master’s call.”

The illusion became a sea of black silhouettes stretching beyond the horizon.

“They poured from the darkness like a plague, flooding every realm in numbers beyond counting,” He continued. “Heaven ignited. Immortals clashed across the skies. Mountains split apart. Entire oceans vaporized. Storms of divine wrath consumed the heavens as realms fractured. Rivers ran red with the blood of gods, monsters, heroes... And villains alike.”

As he spoke, images of the war played across the illusion.

“Across creation, the skies became battlefields,” His expression tightened as a massacre played over the image. “And the stars bore witness to slaughter beyond mortal comprehension.”

Several Readers stared without speaking.

“The war raged without mercy until even the threads of destiny began to fray, yet unlike every conflict before it... No soul was truly lost,” A small smile returned to Michael’s lips as he turned back to the group. “The fallen drifted instead to NaiHe, where they awaited rebirth upon Aurian. Death was no longer an ending; Only a pause between chapters.”

Michael stopped walking.

“Enraged beyond reason, ZaiNan fought the remnants of the Eternal Guard,” He murmured. “When it became clear Calamity could not be killed… HunLuan chose another path.”

“What did she do?” You wonder.

“She seized ZaiNan and bound him to the endless cycle of death and rebirth,” Michael answered, as though it explained everything. It didn’t. “She forced the Great Calamity onto the same wheel that governs every living soul. Thus... every god bowed before mortality.”

He looked at every Reader gathered before him.

“That sounds simple enough until you truly think about it,” Emma said, her expression growing solemn. “Imagine being eternal one moment and fragile the next.”

“Or knowing the secrets of creation, only to forget them,” Nayomie added.

“We fell from divinity... Into humanity,” Zadkiel said quietly.

“Imagine losing every memory of your loved ones, only to spend countless lives finding and losing them before you could remember,” Zayden said, swallowing hard.

The weight of those words settled over the clearing.

“That wasn’t only every god’s punishment,” Michael sighed. “It was their salvation.”

For several long seconds, no one spoke.

Finally, you blink.

“...Wait... What?” You stare at Michael, completely flabbergasted. “What do you mean?”

“I was wondering how long it would take someone to ask,” Michael smiled knowingly. “As it stands, we’ve reached the end of the tale- At least, the part I’ll be telling you.”

“That makes it my turn,” Nayomie smirked, rubbing her hands together.

“What exactly are we doing now, then?” You ask, raising an eyebrow.

“We’re going to watch a movie,” Ace said, rocking back and forth on her heels.

“Watch a... Whatever that means,” Michael said, clearing his throat.

“More specifically, we aren’t just going to tell you the rest of our story...” Nayomie said. “We’re going to show you.”

“What do you mean by that?” A reader asks.

“Well…” Nayomie smiled nervously. “It’s easier if I just…”

She snapped her fingers, and the dome went dark. Energy streamed from her, swirling across the sphere in shimmering currents. An image spread over its inner surface, expanding until it completely engulfed you, TEG, and every reader present.

Here it is, Folks. Grab your popcorn and tuck in. It’s going to be one hell of a ride. ~C.A.E.

I’ll say. I’m looking forward to it, though. -N.K.J.

Oooh… I’m so excited! *N.A. giggles literally vibrating* … Shut up- I am not over here literally vibrating with excitement… *She mutters the last part* Even though I totally am.

… Nothing further needs to be said. ~C.A.E.