Introductions-
Astreon has always existed unaffected by the ravages of time, an eternal cosmos where the law of time itself is challenged, flourishing under the watch of beings of infinite wisdom which later came to be known as Gods. These higher existences engage in breathtaking battles that ripple through the fabric of existence, their knowledge binding many worlds to the origin saving trillions of lives, their conflicts shaping destinies in realms beyond mortal comprehension.
They oversee the towering spires of fundamental laws—monolithic pillars that uphold the very essence of reality, each one standing on the center of threads of creation and order. These spires rise like celestial citadels, radiating with the pure energy that fuels the cosmos, maintaining the harmony and balance of Astreon Order and chaos. Every corner of Astreon pulses with life and magic, a testament to the endless cycles of birth, growth, and renewal overseen by its exalted gods.
Chapter1-
In the far explored corners of the Astrix root of the vast Astreon, two beings were standing opposed to each other.
"Long time no see, Veritus—god of the gods, legend of The House Red, and the last of the Starbearers," he said, his voice dripping with mockery, as though taunting a supreme being. A grin full of malice accompanied his words. "I would have been more friendly if not for the current circumstances."
"To what do I owe the pleasure of a Dreader visiting me, Vex? The last Dreaders who came here weren't so keen on seeing the next dawn," Veritus said with a light of confidence that dawned in his eyes, absolute words of truth, for gods do not lie, constrained by the law of truth.
"As much as I would like to face you in an honorable battle, Veritus, it seems my wish will forever remain just that—a wish. You are the being I admired the most, devoid of my worries regarding the large part of this world, which of course is under the control of the ones who call themselves 'the mighty beings' who only sit on their glorious thrones arrogantly corrupted with power that they clearly don't deserve. But you, Veritus, were a semblance of hope to me, a being worthy of what you are. But fate has some other plans, and I must submit to it," he said, his voice clearly fueled with deep sorrow and rage, as though he had lost the very meaning of life itself, as if all the vibrant colors this plane once offered had faded away, leaving only the shadowed existence of a broken Dreader.
Veritus was lost in his thoughts for a moment as he was thinking, "Fate, huh, who knows, perhaps Eleria might have a few answers," and finally said:
"Your actions will disrupt the very essence of our life and order, Vex. The intertwining of fate and destiny doesn't always go as desired by our wishes."
Suddenly Veritus saw the lines of origin around Vex fluctuate even just for a second. He knew somewhere inside him emotions still remain, the memories of the past are still not all forgotten. Maybe—just maybe—there's a chance I can prevent the bloodshed. But soon he saw a few lines of death origin energy enveloping Vex's origin core.
'Fortune is not on my end in this one.'
One after the other, three more figures appeared from within a blue shimmering light. He recognized them instantly as the three masters below Vex, who were known as Illiana, Rodrun, and lastly Garu, who were the highest echelons of the once legendary race called The Dreaders. Veritus was observing the lines of destiny with intense focus, but the odds of it being unpredictable had already surpassed his mind's realm of predictions.
The moment Veritus laid eyes on the three masters before him, he knew he wouldn't emerge from this battle unscathed. However, fear didn't exist for gods; they were reincarnated without memories even if they died. Yet, he felt an unknown variable in the lines of his destiny. This had never happened before. Without further delving into his thoughts... in a moment's notice, he teleported each one of the individuals into a deep, dark part of the cosmos where there were very few planets nearby, using the energy of the core of his own world, Vertinhem, where the origin energy was strong, unlike this part of Astreon where it was significantly less. A small price to pay as the scale on which the battle was about to take place would devour worlds themselves. That day Veritus would save a lot of lives. The battle which was about to begin would go down in the Book of Goddom of history of gods, kept in the Spire of Eternity on the realm of Hymn.
Deep within the heart of Astreon, God Emperor Aritax Van Keryl sat upon the throne of Starfall alongside his council of gods, intently observing the battle that was taking place out of his reach. Even if he tried to assist, the Dreaders opened multiple battlefronts with no one being able to defend Starfall, where the Spire of Order and Creation, the most important of the spires, was present. The Dreaders deliberately sent signals of their origin energy to provoke the gods, using this confrontation as a testament to their rise to power following the lost Battle of Trillium nearly a billion years ago. Aritax was duty-bound to the throne as the last of the warrior gods staying in the capital to ensure the protection of the entire plane and its lesser gods by the law of protection. He sat on his throne, sorrow etched into his eyes, watching helplessly as his best friend, the strongest of the gods, prepared to fight alone.
The Dreaders cornered the gods from every side, projecting the battle across numerous parts of Astreon—from the roots of Hymn, Astrix, and Velarion to countless other sacred locations. These areas were the pinnacles of the god realms, where every demi-god, lesser god, and the highest of the gods sat to watch with a mix of curiosity, hope, and finally fear. It felt as though the world itself had come to a standstill to witness the oncoming clash. The Dreaders' motive for the battle wasn't mere victory; they aimed to send a message to every being in Astreon who believed in the gods. Their intent was to undermine the gods' influence, stature, and the very foundation of belief in the divine.
Veritus stood in the vast space, his golden armor gleaming brilliantly. White hair cascaded to his shoulders, framing his pale skin and glowing red eyes that shimmered in the darkness.
Illiana came forth saying, "O noble of the gods, if not for the battle between our races, I myself would walk up to you with my beating heart of love in my own hand," she said with a devilish smile.
Veritus replied with a grin, "I fear you have arrived a little too late, for my heart is already won by a majestic beauty, to whom I'm bound by the eternal thread of destiny." A feeling of sadness echoed through his heart, as it would for any soldier who must go to battle to defend the very home they created, thoughts of never seeing her again, thoughts of losing the memory of his loved one. He questioned himself: Was it from the fear of him facing four of the most powerful beings in the entirety of Astreon? No, it was a feeling that was long forgotten by him—afraid of never being able to meet his love again, afraid of what the numerous lines of fate he was observing were depicting, afraid of an anomaly he couldn't figure out.
Rodrun and Garu stood directly in front of Vex, resembling knights of valor who were ready to engage at any command they received regardless of the outcome. There was no fear in their eyes, only conviction towards whatever hierarchy they had, and Veritus would respect their decision, which the line of fate coming from them already projected. Rodrun was a man of medium stature, tanned skin with a particularly slender physique, with a deep scar on his right eye, which probably was a result of a life-and-death duel. His long silken black hair falling on his shoulders, his silver armor made of pure Vystrium, made him a fearsome foe to the many powers in the Astreon, a master of his craft whose appearance spoke volumes of his dedication and the battles etched into his very being. His stance was always ready, a testament to his unwavering focus and the silent strength that defined him as one of the realm's most revered blade masters.
Veritus acknowledged his opponents and delivered a bold declaration that only he would dare to make: "If anyone on this present day wants to walk away from an early eternal death, do so as I request you to, but if we cross weapons today in this battlefield, it will result in chaos across the realms, an utter unnecessary bloodbath which I promise you as I make this vow of truth." The fate lines instantly changed, something unknown just locked at the place, such was the vow of the truth of a god.
"What a pity," she said in a tone that resembled pity and drew a dagger from her void space. Her ethereal deadly form emerged wearing violet armor with fierce silvery eyes, truly a beauty striking through the shadows in the dark night. She struck magnificently, only to find herself awestruck; Veritus caught the blade with just his fingers without even moving an inch from his original position. That was who Veritus was, a fearsome warrior in battle; his sheer battle prowess made enemies tremble in fear. With each of his steps forward, a current passed through the space, formulating the power of incomprehensible gravity in the space. The power of gravity increased on a level immeasurable on any scale, focused at the three masters and the Dreader king Vex, which decreased their movement speed by a significant margin, and the damage the constant field was doing to them was visible as thin streaks of blood started flowing out of the three masters' ears and nostrils.
As soon as he caught the dagger, a ferocious, sudden slash came from Rodrun. Veritus dodged just as smoothly, stepping to the right as time seemed to slow around him. Proficient in the laws of time, destiny, light, and existence itself, Veritus was unrivaled. His mastery of these laws was such that no other god could rival him in a one-on-one confrontation. Rodrun began moving at extreme speeds, while Garu struck down from a blind spot. As soon as Vex saw Garu's large build striking on a blind spot with the power of lightning wielded on his hammer, he was sure the Starbearer wouldn't be able to escape the damage of this blunt attack, but unbeknownst to him of what was about to happen, he heard:
"[Lock] [Judgement]"
A crown of nine stars, brilliantly embedded and formed from condensed light, materialized on his head. For a fleeting moment, time itself seemed to halt—stillness settled over everything, the dark eerie night, his glistening red eyes turned cold, signaling that Veritus had seized the perfect moment.
In the blink of an eye, a lightning-fast slash tore through that of reality itself. Cracks spread outward as a strange portal opened in its path, severing the overflowing lines of energy that even Vex's Void Eyes struggled to understand, multiple planets destroyed in a single slash as if death itself had descended. The collective breath of everyone around Astreon stopped as Garu's head was violently detached from his body.
Watching the horrific scene taking place in front of his eyes, Vex thought:
"Just like that!"
He knew he had made a grave mistake when he challenged The Starbearer, but what he didn't know was that his power had grown to such an extent. Nevertheless, Vex was prepared for the consequences of his actions; for him, the malice against the gods had taken such a deep root in his heart, it was simply irreversible. Whatever the reason was, he had to see it to the end.
Illiana was stupefied watching the last moments of the third most powerful person in the Dreaders just becoming black dust, fragments of his soul vanishing, the sign of an eternal death. It was an honor for him to die at the hands of the unrivaled, or at least that's what she convinced herself to believe.
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Both Rodrun and Illiana rushed at Veritus from opposite ends, the night air thick with tension. Rodrun's blade danced through the eerie darkness, blue glimpses of light tracing the path of his sword. He knew any moment could be his last in this battle, especially since Vex was telepathically directing them from afar, choosing not to engage directly, a move that raised Veritus's suspicions.
With a swift motion, Rodrun's sword arched towards Veritus's neck. Simultaneously, Illiana lunged forward, twin daggers flashing as she aimed to immobilize their opponent.
Illiana said in a frustrated tone, "No more games, Veritus. Surrender now!"
Veritus stood his ground, eyes narrowing as he effortlessly predicted each of their attacks the instant their muscles tensed. He twisted magnificently between their strikes, his body turning clockwise to redirect their weapons away from him with minimal movement.
"Futile attempts," came in a cold tone.
Without hesitation, Veritus launched a counterattack. Each strike of his weapon sliced through the void with lethal intent. Rodrun, ever the defender, parried each blow with unyielding strength, his armor shimmering with an ethereal barrier that absorbed the lethal energy of their clashes. Meanwhile, Illiana moved with deadly grace, her every attack a dance of light and shadow, each of her strikes aimed at Veritus's beating heart with unparalleled precision. Veritus's avoiding each attack while following up with counterattacks was a sight to behold, moving gracefully with his footwork under his gravity control, the dagger passing just above his nose, so close that his eyes noticed the intricate pattern on such a magnificent deadly yet beautiful weapon.
Veritus's movements were precise, each strike calculated to kill. The legendary Starlight sword clashed against Rodrun's and Illiana's formidable defenses, sending brilliant cascades of red sparks intertwined with luminous energy streaming from the origin of light and death.
Each collision ignited surrounding celestial bodies, causing entire planets to shatter and disintegrate in spectacular explosions of cosmic fire. The remnants of these worlds scattered into the abyss, their fragments becoming new stars and dark nebulae in the aftermath of the relentless battle. Their hands moving in a blur, sparks flying in the dark, it was as if the sun itself had risen while Veritus also subconsciously focused on defending from Illiana; it was simply a majestic sight of death dancing. This was what deep down every war god wanted to achieve—to be just like Veritus, the Starbearer, the master and truest friend of Emperor Aritax himself. Vex knew the lines of fate were constantly messed by the old geezers sitting in the Spire of Fate in Velarion to direct the tide of battle in the favor of Veritus. The longer they continued, the more they would be certain to face death.
The battlefield expanded beyond the confines of a single root system, spanning multiple roots as the gods' fury knew no bounds. Supernovae erupted in synchrony with their strikes, black holes warped space-time around them, and nebulae were torn asunder by the sheer force of their wills. The clash of gods was a spectacle of unparalleled magnitude, where creation and destruction were intertwined in an eternal dance.
Tremendous blows were exchanged between the masters and the Starbearer, but they were nowhere near enough to even tire the monster of a god. Rodrun finally took the offensive and wielded the origin energy of condensed death on his sword, and with Vex's guidance through his Void Eyes, the element of surprise came into effect, and he struck the bicep of Veritus, scratching by the side of the arm. Though not fatal, but it wasn't healing—that is when Veritus's suspicions were confirmed.
"So the Dreaders finally mastered the most difficult of the origin energy, completely opposite to the life energy that gods use."
"Now you know that you will fall here," said Vex with a very disoriented grin on his face as he was truly happy to injure a god, as if his experiment was successful. And suddenly Veritus's mind caught on something: "It was an experiment all along to see if they can injure a god with their newly achieved powers; if it develops further, chaos will follow."
"You know, Vex, you are not the only one with surprises," Veritus said in a tone domineering as always.
And suddenly, a chill descended on everybody around the Astreon itself. In the midst of the battle, Veritus's eyes glowed, his red blood eyes sparkling, a sudden feeling of fear caught on Rodrun and Illiana. All of their attacks started to be parried on a lightning-fast scale as if Veritus could see the future. Rodrun couldn't believe whatever he achieved in the million years of his life were nothing in front of this man; his movement became smoother, his sword became absolute, existence itself crumbled as slashes started to become visible on the body of Rodrun, blood oozing out of the wounds, the Vystrium armor crumbled, few life-bearing stars seeing their last moments. It was something superior to even Void Eyes, which were believed to be the most powerful eyes in the Astreon, but this was an ability that even Vex wasn't able to get his head around, Rodrun and Illiana becoming helpless as time passed. Then suddenly Vex heard—
'Domain of Red—Particle Eyes' was unleashed for the first time after the legends.
Emperor Aritax—Starfall
The god of destiny—Hylm realm
The goddess of wisdom—Vertinhem
The god of fate—Velarion
Each of the superior gods, the Dreader generals, and mortals stopped; it felt like time itself had stopped. Seeing this horrendous scene, each of the superior gods bowed down in utter respect, whispering—
"The Starbearer may forgive us for our sins."
This was the legendary domain that was only mentioned in a few records of the Battle of Trillium, but this was a myth, the domain that allowed to use full extent of origin energy without any resistance coupled together with his ridiculously overpowered ability to see the future. Such was the power of the first race—
The House Red
Vex's mind was overwhelmed; soon exhaustion became clear on Illiana's face as according to the laws everybody should face some resistance while using their origin core. There was clearly fear on her sweet face filled with pride a moment ago. As the battle raged on, the skies above Velarion darkened, stars flickering in and out of existence could be seen by trillions of people.
The fate of countless planets hung in the balance, the outcome of this confrontation determining the course of the cosmos itself. And then Veritus's eyes glowed yet again, his origin core stressed to its limits, the Starlight glowed obeying its master to its fullest extent, a streak of light slash heading directly towards Illiana, her confident eyes now certain of death—"Is this how I face death? Was this my destiny, Vex?"
In the last desperate attempt, Rodrun moved to defend with all his might; the attacks clashed. A bright light passed through all of Astreon, the projections disrupted, and a massive blast took over the skies, fire reigning on billions of destroyed stars which was watched by each and every living being in the Astreon while their breaths being held by the predictive outcome of the battle. Who could've guessed the moment it all cleared up, another miserable scene would follow.
Rodrun's sword hand flew off, and the battle came to a halt with the Dreaders facing tremendous losses. It was time Vex joined in and gave the order to retreat to his fellow comrades; his Void Eyes proved utterly useless in front of absolute power. Illiana was about to argue, but seeing the determination on the face of Vex and the being who she was utterly helpless against—it was fear—true fear, she retreated without a doubt followed by Rodrun.
The face of Emperor Aritax, from being fearful, transitioned to an expression of joy thinking Red would make it.
From the darkest reaches of the astral plane, a shadow emerged, cutting through the cosmic tempest with menacing grace. Clad in armor as black as the void itself, Vex descended upon the battlefield. His flowing red hair billowed like flames against the backdrop of collapsing stars, and his silvery eyes gleamed with the cold intensity of death incarnate. An aura of deathly energy enveloped him, a force that seemed to drain light and hope from the surroundings.
Veritus stood opposite him, the legendary Starlight sword gripped firmly in his hand. His presence was a beacon of overwhelming power, his red eyes glowing with a mix of curiosity and respect. The wounds on his arm, inflicted by the newfound origin energy of death, remained unhealed—a witness to the evolving threat Vex posed. The two locked eyes, the air between them charged with unspoken challenges and the weight of millennia.
Vex smirked, his eyes narrowing. "Impressive as always, Starbearer. But let's see how you handle this." He clenched his fists, and the shadows around him coalesced into massive spears of darkness. With a flick of his wrist, he launched them toward Veritus, each spear warping space-time as it traveled.
Veritus raised his free hand, summoning a shield of condensed starlight. The spears impacted the shield with explosive force, causing supernova-like bursts that illuminated nearby roots. The sheer energy released vaporized nearby asteroids and sent shockwaves that disintegrated uninhabited planets caught in their path.
Rodrun watching from afar—"Is this what true peak of power looks like, being able to demolish anything in its path, feeling of being unrivaled? This is what I want to pursue in my remaining lifespan. I will achieve what you have achieved, Veritus; it is my vow to you."
Seizing the momentum, Veritus pushed himself forward, his movement blurring the lines between space and time. He closed the distance in an instant, bringing Starlight down in a powerful overhead strike. Vex met the attack with a blade formed from pure death energy, the two swords colliding with a thunderous roar. The clash unleashed a burst of energy so intense that it tore open rifts to other dimensions, glimpses of alien worlds flickering before sealing shut.
They exchanged a flurry of blows, their weapons moving faster than the lesser god eye could perceive. Each strike was a calculated attempt to exploit a weakness, but neither combatant gave an inch. Veritus's mastery over gravity allowed him to shift unpredictably, his footwork graceful and fluid. Vex countered with his command over the void, teleporting short distances to evade attacks and reappear at unexpected angles.
Realizing that conventional tactics were insufficient, Vex decided to escalate. He began to chant in an ancient, forgotten tongue, the words resonating with the power of death itself. The aura around him intensified, and his silvery eyes transformed into endless voids, devoid of any light. The energy of death expanded outward, forming a colossal sphere that encompassed entire star systems.
"Behold the Oblivion!" Vex declared, his voice echoing across the cosmos.
Within the sphere, all matter began to decay. Stars aged billions of years in seconds, collapsing into neutron stars or black holes. Planets crumbled to dust, their atmospheres dissipating into nothingness. The sheer scale of destruction was unimaginable.
The toll of the domain was already pushing the body of Veritus far beyond the limits, and he reactivated it.
'Particle Eyes.'
Red eyes blurring in the chaos, leaving a thin streak of red light behind. The force of Veritus's attacks increased several folds, enveloping the entire Astrix root, laying waste to tremendous amounts of lives. Veritus, unfazed, closed his eyes momentarily. When he opened them, they blazed with the intensity of a thousand suns. He raised Starlight high, and a pillar of pure light erupted from the blade, piercing the heart of the Oblivion resulting in a big explosion consuming both powerhouses, permanently damaging Vex's origin core.
Thin cracks with light residue could be seen in the armor of Vex made by the last of the ancient gods—Rega. Vex coughing up blood, debris of the stars scattered around. Oblivion finally succeeding to take an eye of the legendary Starbearer, which shocked the entire Astreon. It was the first time they saw blood running down the face of the mightiest of them all. But before anybody got a chance to mourn, Vex moved suddenly, reappearing in a void behind Veritus. Veritus took a defensive stance, his Particle Eyes nearly fading away, but still he was confident he could take Vex down once and for all. And perhaps assuming this was the biggest mistake he made, suddenly he heard a crackling sound—Vex crushed something, some sort of black earl artifact, and the domain of death erupted covering the entire root.
The origin energies faded, the lines not visible anymore; it's as if the connection with the Astreon itself was cut, vulnerable as a mortal with Particle Eyes. The cosmic battlefield fell silent as the origin energies dissipated, the once-visible lines of power connecting Veritus to the Astreon fading into nothingness. It was as if the very lifeblood of the universe had been drained, leaving Veritus vulnerable, feeling the weight of mortality for the first time in an infinite time. His Particle Eyes, which once perceived the intricate lines of fate and possibility, now saw only the immediate threat before him.
Vex stood opposite, a figure of ominous power, his silvery eyes reflecting the void he sought to command. The legendary Starlight sword in Veritus's grasp felt heavier, its brilliance dimmed, no longer pulsing with the star energy that made it a beacon of hope. As Veritus raised it to defend against the incoming horizontal sword thrown by Vex at light speed, he realized with a sinking heart that Starlight had lost its divine spark.
The thrown sword sliced through the void with lethal intent. Veritus, drawing upon his remaining strength, attempted to parry the attack. The impact was devastating. Without its celestial power, Starlight could not withstand the force; the blade shattered, fragments scattering like dying embers across the expanse. The residual force struck Veritus, sending him reeling backward, a searing pain ripping through his being.
"What have you done, Vex?" Veritus gasped, struggling to steady himself. "This will result in death ruling the world!"
Vex approached slowly, his expression a mixture of triumph and melancholy. "I've severed your connection to the Astreon," he replied calmly. "The era of the gods as you know it is over. It's time for a new order—one that understands the true balance between life and death."