ACT III

Chapter 6 – The Pact of Proxima Mortis

There was a moment in the history of Memoriam Loco when the already fragile balance began to falter, marking the beginning of a deep and devastating crisis. The forces governing that universe, though different and often in conflict, had managed to maintain a fragile truce until that point. But, as happens in every complex system, it only took a spark to ignite a fire.

The direct culprits of this crisis were Death and War, two brothers bound by a destructive nature, but until then, driven by autonomous and distinct intentions. Their union, though temporary, marked a turning point: not a simple alliance, but a pact forged by the desire for domination and the ambition to rewrite the rules of creation.

It was in this context that their meeting took place, a dialogue destined to forever change the fate of Memoriam Loco. That meeting was not merely an exchange of words, but the intertwining of two visions that would together fuel the spiral of destruction that would follow. What follows is the moment when two dark forces found common ground, in a web of ambition, betrayal, and violence.

Death: Why do you dare enter my realm without warning, War? Consider it an affront, an irreverence I will not easily forgive.

War: My brother, is this how you greet me after all this time? With disdain and suspicion? I thought the bond between us was stronger than mere circumstances. Perhaps you should be more lenient with the one you once called your closest ally.

Death: Once, yes. But those days are long gone. Now you are like all the others: driven by ambition and lust for power. Since we are no longer in the presence of the Eternal, everything has changed, and you know it too. Can't you feel it, War? This new world has awakened dreams of glory we would never have dared to imagine before.

War: It is glory that I have come to speak to you about, Death.

Death: (ironically) You mean to say you want to face me? You wish to challenge me to prove your strength?

War: Nothing like that, my brother. The glory I seek is not against you, but by your side. I have come to propose an agreement. Of course, we're still talking about battles, but this time with a common goal. Light and Shadow are busy with their own affairs and have no eyes for us.

Death: Do you perhaps suggest that we strike them now, while they are distracted?

War: Not yet. It would be more difficult than you think. You’ve stayed long in your realm, but I’ve seen what’s out there. The world has changed. There are creatures we don’t know, armies we can’t underestimate. The other brothers have armed themselves and lead forces we never imagined.

Death: I see. You’ve come to propose an alliance. But tell me, War: why should I trust you?

War: Trust me? (smiling coldly) I never suggested you should, nor would I. Trusting me would be your greatest mistake. However, I tell you this: in the end, it will be just the two of us. Our fate is sealed, and only one of us will witness the end of Memoriam Loco. What I propose to you is not just an alliance, but a bond. A pact that will only dissolve when all others lie among the dead. Until that moment, we will fight side by side. And when we are alone... we will face each other as is right.

Death: (a pause, reflecting) Killing our brothers... It is a thought I’ve entertained many times. I never thought, though, I would hear it proposed by you. (a cold smile) Yet the idea aligns with my goals, War. You have my answer: I accept.

Thus, the pact was sealed, known as Proxima Mortis, a lethal fusion of the singularities of War and Death. The name itself evokes an inevitable descent into the end, a compromise between destruction and annihilation.

Entering Proxima Fini means immersing oneself in a landscape of pure horror. The ground is covered with a blanket of blood that flows relentlessly, soaking everything. The very objects "sweat" blood, emitting a pungent, nauseating odor that seems to penetrate to the bones. This environment is not only disturbing: it is a weapon.

Inside this singularity, anyone who enters suffers the effects of an energy that reopens every wound ever sustained, making it impossible to heal. The constant nausea and pain weaken the mind and body, leaving victims vulnerable to the fury of War.

The true power of Proxima Fini, however, lies in War's ability to manipulate blood. He uses it as an extension of his own body, transforming it into a weapon that can take any form: spears, chains, destructive vortices. This, combined with his unparalleled physical strength – War is the strongest physical being to ever exist – makes him an almost unstoppable adversary on the battlefield.

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If Proxima Fini is a physical nightmare, Cupiditas Mortis is a descent into the deepest darkness. When one enters this singularity, everything that lives and persists is subject to the manipulation of its creator. Death has the power to control the particles of Inertia, the fundamental energy of the universe, and can deprive anyone of this essential resource.

The effects of Cupiditas Mortis are devastating. Objects and creatures within it undergo accelerated aging, deteriorating until they turn to dust. Sight becomes obscured, leaving the unfortunate in an oppressive twilight, while sounds distort into unsettling echoes that mix together, disorienting perception.

Death’s main power, however, lies in his ability to absorb the Inertia of others, strengthening himself with every moment of conflict. The more powerful the opponent, the stronger Death becomes. This places him in a double advantage: not only does he weaken his enemy, but he also uses their strength against them.

In a direct confrontation, Death is almost unbeatable. His ability to draw power from his enemy’s energy allows him to adapt and overcome any opposition, making him an adversary capable of breaking even the strongest.

The alliance between War and Death was not just a mere formality, nor was it a symbolic pact. On the contrary, the two brothers immediately set to work, crafting an ambitious and methodical plan to build their army and prepare a place that would become the beating heart of their strategy: a planet that would be transformed into a fortress.

After careful research, they found a planet suitable for their needs. This desolate world, devoid of life, would become the operational base for their growing army. But they did not simply take over the planet: they decided to divide it into two hemispheres, one for each of them, representing their respective natures and domains.

The division was not a symbolic act, but a titanic work that required the union of their singularities and their incredible strength.

Before proceeding with the transformation of the planet, War and Death took care to eliminate any possible gravitational interference. They destroyed every planet, moon, or orbital system in the vicinity, annihilating anything that could disturb the stability of their new dwelling. The scene that unfolded after their passage was one of absolute desolation: a cosmic void in which their planet loomed, isolated and imposing.

They called it Hell.

With the surrounding environment now cleared, they began the most massive operation. War, using his superhuman strength, physically separated the planet into two hemispheres. This was not a mere act of destruction but a demonstration of power: with a single blow, War shattered the core of the planet and split it in two perfect halves, creating a void between them.

Then, Death entered the picture. Using his bone-manipulating powers, he created a titanic bridge connecting the two hemispheres.

To understand the dynamics that led to the creation of War and Death's army, it is necessary to introduce two Calamities that intertwined with their plan: Oppression and Violence. These beings, drawn to the destructive nature of the two brothers, tried to ally with them, but their fate was far from favorable.

Oppression tried to get close to Death, perhaps to form an alliance or perhaps to exploit his power. But the result was disastrous: Death reduced her to slavery, bending her completely to his will. On the other hand, Violence had an even more macabre fate: by approaching War, she was brutally torn apart, becoming nothing more than a symbol of her brother's unstoppable fury.

However, the influence of the two Calamities did not end with their downfall. Oppression, though enslaved, was exploited by the two Edens to create their army, a titanic feat that would crown their preparation plan.

With the enslavement of Oppression and the thirst for power of War and Death, the army that would become the most influential in the history of time was born. The beings created in this endeavor were called Earthlings, creatures of mud and earth, molded in the image of the Edens but lacking their purity and power.

Their creation was a complex process that combined the unique powers of the two brothers:

Death provided the bones, strong and robust structures that gave shape and substance to the Earthlings.

War infused them with blood, a vital sap that animated them and made them fierce in battle.

The creatures were shaped in War's hemisphere, and once completed, the Earthlings crossed the bone bridge, symbolically uniting the two domains, and gathered in a monumental square located in Death’s hemisphere.

This process, though it may seem simple, is in reality not so. Its full description requires a deeper understanding, and will therefore be addressed in detail later, when the context makes it more appropriate.

War and Death’s goal was clear: to assemble an immense army of Earthlings to launch an attack on Light and Shadow. The Earthlings would represent an unstoppable force, designed to overwhelm any resistance.

War and Death knew that the combination of their forces, along with the potential of their army, would give them an overwhelming advantage.

The fate of Memoriam Loco seemed to be changing for the worse, and an imminent end loomed as boredom threatened to return when no one would remain to fight it. I could not allow that to happen.