Shadows are born to follow, silent and unseen, bound by the will of the light. Yet in the depths of true darkness, where light cannot reach, shadows become sovereign, unshackled by expectation. This is the story of such a shadow—one that defied its role, betrayed its master, and claimed a power that even gods fear to acknowledge.

The primordial gods weren’t just ancient. They were the first. The ones who shaped the world, who created everything and everyone, expecting worship and loyalty in return. 

But even gods have egos. 

They feared someone may touch their own territory and steal their position. They feared someone becoming more stronger than them that's why they need to cut off such a opportunist.

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Inside the Primordial Court, a rare gathering of gods convenes to discuss the fate of one of their own—Erebus, the god of darkness. This is where the primordial deities meet, but today, they’re here to talk about the one who is causing trouble.

Erebus is a god born from the darkness that existed before the world—and before any other gods. His essence is tied to the afterlife, the liminal space between life and death.

The four long chairs designed for these deities are more than just seats; they radiate power, enough to crush any average human with ease. Seated in these chairs are four of the gods: Ignavor, God of War and Conquest; Calythra, Goddess of Life and Growth; Aetherion, God of Radiance; and Zephyros, God of Thunder. The others didn’t even bother to show up—not when the goal was to plot against one of their own.

Most of them appeared as smoke or have no physical form at all, but their eyes are always present, and their voices cut through the air.

They sit in silence, waiting for Erebus, the one they’ve called for. “What an irresponsible god,” Ignavor mutters, his patience fraying. “He’s kept us waiting so long, I forgot why we’re even here in the first place.”

Ignavor, the god of war, represents the harsh truth that only the strong deserve to rule. His purpose is to keep balance through conflict—war and conquest are tools to maintain order in the cosmos. The others remain quiet, their focus sharp, their gazes fixed on the void where Erebus should appear. The seconds stretch on.

“Tsk,” Zephyros grumbles, clearly irritated.

Just as Ignavor is about to snap, they all feel it—an overwhelming force, a power that sends the chairs trembling. The presence of Erebus, the god of darkness.

“Here he is,” Calythra says coolly, her chair shaking in sync with the pulse of dark power.

The center of the room is overtaken by a massive shadow, a diamond-shaped mass of smoke, the power of Erebus in full form. Two piercing lights—his eyes—burn at the heart of the shadow.

"You decided to show up after all," Ignavor said, chuckling, but there was hatred in his voice.

"I still don’t know why you called me here," Erebus replied, his tone flat.

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The other gods locked their eyes on him, calculating. "Then you're here to find out why," Aetherion said.

"Orders?" Erebus asked.

"No," Aetherion answered, "You're being replaced."

Erebus paused before speaking again, his voice steady. "Replaced by who?"

"Scotus," Zephyros said. "Your counterpart from another dimension."

Erebus had always suspected the gods were planning his downfall, that they were desperate to see him gone. They said his power was too much, that he'd ruined the balance between gods and humans. Now it seemed they were finally moving to overthrow him.

"To put it simply," Ignavor said, "You’re ready to disappear, to be stripped of your place as a deity."

Then a light appeared behind Erebus. It wasn’t just light—it was like a portal made of pure, blinding brightness, capable of swallowing darkness whole, a force that could lock away any shadow forever.

"Why should I?" Erebus asked, his words dripping with defiance, sparking anger in the other gods.

"Are you rejecting it?" Aetherion asked, his voice growing colder.

Erebus stared at the light. It didn’t suffocate him, but he could feel the threat—it was close. Still, he didn’t resist. What was the point? Most of the gods had already decided his fate. Fighting for it seemed pointless.

"No," Erebus replied, turning back to the gods.

"Then you accept your vanishing?" they asked in unison.

In the history of the primordial gods, only two had ever been sealed away in a portal like that. Erebus was on the verge of becoming the third.

Erebus took a deep breath, then spoke, his voice filled with contempt. "No." The words sent ripples of confusion and impatience through the gods. "I’d rather fight than just walk into that portal and vanish." With that, he unleashed his power. Darkness flooded the court.

Swish...

In seconds, the entire primordial court was swallowed by blackness. The only light came from the portal behind him. The other gods stood frozen, helpless, caught in the suffocating grip of Erebus' power—the very power they feared. It was the reason they'd conspired against him, hoping to take him down. The god of darkness was a force capable of destroying them all.

"I’m Erebus," he said, his voice booming in the silence. "The god of darkness. I know what you're up to. You want to overthrow me. But your jealousy? It will never be enough. You’re going to be eaten...by me."

Dark circles appeared behind the four gods.

Whoosh!

"You!" Aetherion shouted, fury in his voice as he watched the shadows close in on them.

But then something appeared behind Erebus.

Another blinding light.

This light was different—brighter, more intense, and sharper, like it could tear through Erebus’ very soul. In his mind, he knew what it was before he turned to face it. Helios and Apollo. The gods of the sun. The two brothers had come to save the others.

Their light clashed with the darkness engulfing the Primordial Court, pushing back against Erebus' shadow, threatening to consume the gods. But even the strongest had its limits. Erebus, like all gods, had his weakness. Excessive light was a poison to him, weakening his power, making him feel smaller. But then he was determined.

"You’re done now, Erebus!" Helios shouted.

As the brothers tried to fight off the darkness—Zephyros vanished. Swallowed by Erebus' darkness. The god of thunder was devoured whole, his power absorbed by the very shadows he feared. The other three gods were helpless, unable to do anything as the darkness continued to smother the court.

"I'm just getting started." Erebus said.

Whoosh.

The court split in half—one side lit up in blinding brilliance, the other swallowed by shadow. The two forces waged war, and the gods could only watch as the world around them twisted and cracked.

"This isn’t enough, Helios! Move the portal closer to him!" Apollo commanded his brother.

Their plan was simple: get the light portal close enough to Erebus to lock him in, but they needed one of them to keep Erebus distracted long enough for it to work.

"I’ll be the bait," Helios said. "Just make sure you lock him in."

Helios moved toward Erebus, who was focused on controlling his shadows, but as soon as they locked eyes, the tension between them grew. Meanwhile, Apollo slowly maneuvered the portal, inching it closer to Erebus.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

The two gods faced off, their battle heating up. But their plan was working. The portal was now behind Erebus, and they knew his weakness—Erebus lacked full awareness. It was a flaw, and the brothers knew exactly how to exploit it.

But as the three gods grew weaker, one by one, Erebus stopped fighting Helios. "I surrender," he said.

The words hit the brothers like a punch. Why would he surrender now, after everything? Was he really that stupid? Or just playing some twisted game? But then, Erebus moved toward the portal, and the brothers were left dumbfounded.

Why?

Curiosity gnawed at them, but they felt a wave of relief. Maybe it was over.

"I'm Erebus," he said, and the brothers thought it was his final declaration as he stepped into the light that would trap him forever.

But then Erebus spoke again, just before he was completely sealed. "I’m gonna live forever."

The darkness around him began to fade, but his core—the very essence of his being—remained. The core was the key to a god’s life, the part that kept them alive and functioning. Once it was removed, a god could no longer speak, but they could still think.

As the brothers reached for his core, it vanished.

Whoosh!

"What?!" Helios shouted as the core disappeared.

Apollo stood frozen, shocked. It was the first time anyone’s core had vanished in the realm of gods. But the truth was clear: when a god’s core vanished from their realm...

It was headed straight for the world of humans.

"This is insane," Apollo muttered.