The Age of Peace had ended.
Before us stood Chthon and Set, no longer the brothers we had laughed and lived with for countless ages.
The crimson skies above Eden wept as darkness spread across the world.
Yet I refused to believe they were gone.
No.
They were still my family.
And I would bring them back.
"Aetherion..." Gaea whispered, tears in her eyes.
Oshtur's voice trembled.
"We may have to fight them."
I shook my head.
"No."
"They are our brothers."
"I will not abandon them."
Across from us, Chthon's eyes glowed with forbidden power.
Set stood beside him, his once cheerful expression now cold and distant.
"You still refuse to see the truth," Chthon said.
"Creation is flawed."
"Everything eventually dies."
"Why resist the inevitable?"
Set nodded.
"Brother, join us."
"There will be no more suffering."
"No more pain."
"No more loss."
Their voices were calm.
Too calm.
As if they truly believed they were saving existence.
I closed my eyes.
Memories flooded my mind.
Set challenging me to contests.
Chthon debating with Oshtur beneath the World Tree.
The five of us laughing together in the Garden of Eden.
Family.
How could I destroy them?
Opening my eyes, I smiled sadly.
"No."
"I won't join you."
"But I won't lose you either."
Chthon frowned.
"Then you stand against us."
Dark power exploded from his body.
Set transformed into a colossal serpent whose roar shook the oceans.
The War of the Elder Gods had begun.
Yet instead of attacking, I spread my arms.
Gaea and Oshtur stared at me in shock.
"Aetherion!"
But I ignored them.
Chthon unleashed waves of chaos.
Set struck with enough force to destroy continents.
And I accepted every attack.
Not once did I strike back.
The darkness tore through my body.
Mountains crumbled.
The seas raged.
Still...
I stood.
Chthon's eyes widened.
"Why?"
"Fight!"
I smiled.
"Because I love you, little brother."
Set froze.
Chthon's hand trembled.
"After everything..."
"You still..."
"Of course."
"You are my brothers."
"And nothing will change that."
For the first time since their corruption began...
Their eyes wavered.
But then...
A voice echoed from beyond reality.
"Weakness."
The shadows behind them expanded.
And from within those shadows emerged two monstrous forms.
Manifestations of Oblivion.
They wrapped around Chthon and Set like chains.
Chthon screamed.
Set roared in agony.
The corruption wasn't their choice.
They had been fighting it all along.
"AETHERION!" Chthon cried.
"HELP US!"
Set's eyes filled with tears.
"Brother!"
Without hesitation, I released the power of creation.
Golden light illuminated the heavens.
Gaea joined me.
Her power of life embraced the world.
Oshtur raised her staff and unleashed ancient magic older than stars.
Together, the three of us fought not against Chthon and Set—
But against the darkness controlling them.
The manifestations of Oblivion shrieked.
For the first time, the Primordial Entity felt resistance.
"You dare?" the voice of Oblivion thundered.
"I dare."
I stepped forward.
"No one takes my family."
Grabbing the chains binding Chthon and Set, I poured all my love, memories, and hope into them.
I remembered every laugh.
Every journey.
Every moment we had shared.
And slowly...
The chains began to break.
Chthon's crimson eyes returned to normal.
Set's monstrous form faded.
Both brothers collapsed to their knees.
Free.
For the first time in millions of years.
The five siblings were reunited.
But the victory came at a price.
Far beyond existence...
Oblivion opened its true eyes.
And for the first time since the birth of creation...
The Primordial Entity itself became interested.
Its endless voice echoed throughout the void.
"Interesting."
"Then I shall come personally."
And as the five Elder Gods embraced once more beneath the World Tree...
None of us realized that the greatest enemy in existence had finally turned its gaze upon Earth.
To Be Continued...