Ginro didn't feel the shadows lift him.
Nor did he see the way the earth dimmed as the black figure gently carried his unconscious body away from the cavern entrance.
He drifted in a dream-like void, weightless, thoughtless, suspended between two worlds.
But the world he had returned to… felt him.
ACROSS THE SKY
High above the clouds, the holy spires of the Radiant Citadel trembled. Cracks formed along the marble floors as an overwhelming pressure swept across the heavens.
Angels scattered in every direction, wings beating furiously against the disturbance. Some hovered, others fell entirely, their halos flickering as divine energy surged uncontrollably around them.
"What do we do?!" one angel shouted, fear in their voice. "He's awake! The Abyssborne is awake! The seal… it's broken!" "Do we strike now, or prepare the armies?" another replied, tension cutting through the air like a blade.
Groups of angels formed spontaneously, debating strategies. Some advocated immediate assault, wielding divine weapons infused with holy energy. Others warned caution. the Abyssborne's power was not just legend... it was apocalypse incarnate.
Above all this chaos, in the highest throne of the Citadel, the God remained seated, calm and composed, eyes closed in perfect serenity. The tremor of the Abyssborne's awakening barely disturbed her.
"Let them choose," her voice resonated softly, filling the Citadel in barely audible tones. "The Abyssborne will awaken fully, and the world will demand a champion. It is time for a new Hero."
A golden light descended upon the mortal lands, reaching the Luminaris, the legendary city of heroes, a beacon meant to find one pure of heart and strong enough to wield the Blessing.
in the -LUMINARIS THE CITY OF HEROES-
The training hall echoed with clashing steel and bursts of radiant energy as the twenty-year-old trainees sparred tirelessly. Sweat dripped from brows, shouts of exertion and grunts of impact filled the air.
Lira sat in the corner, her golden hair catching the stray light from the enchanted torches above. She fidgeted, trying to keep up, feeling the judgmental stares and the whispered mockery of her peers.
And yet… something deep within her stirred.
It began as a faint warmth in her chest, growing steadily with each strike and spell she observed. Her fingers tingled. Her golden eyes, normally soft and hesitant, flared with a strange light.
She clenched her fists. Then, without thinking, a surge of energy erupted from her very being. a pure, radiant aura that flooded the hall.
The entire room froze.
Weapons lowered mid-swing. Spells wavered in the air. Even the instructors stopped, their eyes widening.
The aura grew, golden and resplendent, forming a dome of light around Lira. Every trainee felt it, the power pressing against them like the weight of the sun itself.
One of the instructors, a tall woman with molten-gold eyes, stepped forward, her voice trembling. "It… it's her. The prophecy… she is the chosen one!"
Another teacher clutched the divine scrolls, words caught in their throat. "By the Goddess… it cannot be… but it is undeniable!"
The trainees gasped, some falling to their knees in awe, others frozen in disbelief. Whispers turned into murmurs, murmurs into shouts.
"Lira… the chosen one?" "She… she's the one the Goddess selected?" "Impossible… she's always been… so weak!"
Even those who had mocked her earlier felt a sharp sting of jealousy. A few turned away, hiding their faces. Others glared at her, irritation and fear mingling in their expressions.
Lira herself blinked, shocked by the power emanating from her. Her hands shook, but the warmth in her chest felt right. It was as if the Goddess had placed a piece of herself inside Lira, confirming what the world had long awaited.
The hall went silent. The teachers exchanged anxious glances.
"The prophecy… it has begun," one whispered, her voice low but heavy with dread and awe.
in the -THE DEMON REALM-
Far beneath the surface world, the cities of the demon clans quaked. Obsidian towers vibrated with awakening energy, and ancient statues cracked open, revealing glowing sigils beneath.
The Demon Realm had long been without a king. Power was divided among the Seven Deadly Sins, each ruling a domain of darkness. Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, and Sloth.
But now… something had shifted.
A surge of immense, dark energy rippled through the realm. an aura that none of them had felt in centuries.
"This… this power…" hissed the demon of Pride, his eyes narrowing. "It can't be… after all this time?" growled Wrath, fists clenching as shadows flickered across his body. "Our strength… it pales before him," whispered Greed, licking his lips with anticipation.
The energy was intoxicating. Every Sin felt it, and each could not resist its pull.
A single thought consumed them all. whoever controls this power… will rule all.
Greed, lust, envy, pride, wrath, gluttony, sloth... they glared at each other, sharp smiles forming on their twisted faces. The rules of hierarchy no longer mattered. Each Sin wanted the same thing. to claim the Abyssborne's power and become the next Demon King.
A war for supremacy ignited in their hearts before they even laid eyes on him.
"Let the games begin," Greed whispered. "I can't wait to meet him," Wrath growled. "He awakens… and we will see who is truly strongest," Pride murmured.
Across the fractured halls of the Nether Dominion, black flames surged once again, flickering and licking the obsidian walls, as the Seven Deadly Sins prepared for a world domination like no other all for the chance to claim Ginro's power and the throne he had yet to reclaim.
BACK AT THE FOREST EDGE
Meanwhile, the forest outside the cavern remained quiet… except for the swirling darkness where Ginro lay unconscious on a patch of moss.
The black shadow figure loomed over him, its form steadier now... clearer, sharper, almost humanoid. The shadows that made up its body pulsed like a heartbeat.
It crouched beside him.
One shadowy hand reached out, brushing aside dirt from Ginro's cheek with surprising gentleness.
"You are weaker than you should be," it murmured, voice layered and echoing. "The seal has taken much from you…"
Its faceless head tilted, as if studying him.
"…but you are still you."
The figure extended a hand over Ginro's chest. The shadows beneath his body shifted, forming a protective circle.
"Rest, Abyssborne. The world will come for you soon."
The wind stirred softly. Branches rustled. Birds nearby fled in silence.
And then... footsteps.
The shadow's head snapped up.
Someone was approaching.
Quick, light, cautious.
The shadow dissolved instantly, melting back into nothingness as Ginro's body remained hidden in the shade of the trees.