In the beginning of all things, long before the first heartbeat of time was ever heard, there was only absolute silence. This void was not merely an empty space; it was a haunting absence, a place where light had no color and sound had no vibration. At the center of this eternal darkness lived a pure consciousness that named itself Zhenos. As the first entity, Zhenos had spent the equivalent of billions of years in profound solitude. He possessed no fixed physical form, only a swirling vortex of consciousness, contemplating how to weave reality from the remnants of primordial atoms that had died before life could even begin.
Every second of that eternity was filled by Zhenos calculating possibilities. He imagined what it would feel like if this cold space were filled with the warmth of stars. However, his infinite intelligence realized one thing: creating a balanced universe was a burden too heavy to bear alone. He needed a partner, a mirror for his calm soul to share the weight of creation. He longed for another voice that could respond to his thoughts.
Thus, exerting his entire will, Zhenos gathered the purest particles of light from the deepest dimensions and condensed them with wild quantum energy. He spun that energy in his imaginary palms, compressing it to the highest boiling point. From that blinding explosion of energy, Luxios, the Great Light, was born.
Luxios was born with a radiance so beautiful, a golden-white beacon that illuminated the void that had been pitch black for so long. Zhenos welcomed him not as a servant, but as a true friend. "Welcome, Luxios. You are my answer to this suffocating silence," Zhenos said, his voice trembling with warmth—an emotion he was experiencing for the first time.
"I exist because of your will, Zhenos. I can feel the grand vision within your mind. Let us paint this nothingness into something eternal," Luxios replied. His voice sounded like the harmony of a thousand silver bells. At that moment, Luxios was filled with sincere devotion and admiration for the figure who had granted him existence.
The Cosmic Laboratory
For the next millions of years, they became an inseparable duo. They created what they called the "Cosmic Laboratory," a special area at the center of the void protected from the gravitational pull of nothingness. There, they tested the laws of physics, designed gravity, and sorted the spectrum of colors. They laughed together when an atomic experiment successfully created a new color that had never existed—ocean blue and searing red.
They were often seen walking side by side, traversing the ocean of darkness while holding small crystal spheres. These spheres were not mere decorations; inside them were prototypes of galaxies spinning slowly. Their bond was so tight it seemed that if one were lost, the universe could never be created. Zhenos was the calm logic and the solid foundation, while Luxios was the explosive energy and the driver of change. The two complemented each other, creating a harmony that appeared unbreakable.
One day, as they stood on the laboratory balcony gazing at the expanse of millions of crystal spheres beginning to glow softly, Zhenos shared his grand idea. "This universe needs guardians, Luxios. We cannot constantly oversee every corner of every atom forever. We need pillars—beings of high consciousness who will maintain the balance of natural law while we rest or design other dimensions."
Luxios agreed with overflowing enthusiasm. "A magnificent idea, my friend! Let us create the very best! I will give the brightest core of my life-light so they may have an unquenchable spirit!"
The Ten Mythical Pillars
Thus began the ritual of creating ten high-level mythical beings. It was an exhausting and complex process. Zhenos had to design the physical structures, the skeletal frames from solid matter, and the threads of their destiny from stable dark matter. Meanwhile, Luxios was tasked with breathing spirit, consciousness, and elemental power into their empty heart-cores.
The first being to rise was Aurelion, the Primordial Void Dragon. His scales were pitch black, shining like diamonds dipped in darkness, capable of swallowing any energy attack directed at him. Zhenos and Luxios stood mesmerized by his majesty as Aurelion flapped his wings for the first time, creating ripples in the vacuum. "He will be our fortress, guarding the void from unexpected external disturbances," Zhenos whispered.
Then came Yggdrasyl, the World-Sustaining Giant, an entity resembling a massive tree whose roots spread through dimensional barriers to maintain spatial stability. Luxios joyfully showered pure light energy onto its shimmering silver leaves. Shortly after, Chronos, the Turtle Guardian of Time, was born, whose shell was an eternal hourglass regulating the rhythm of the universe; Aetheria, the Silver Phoenix, who possessed healing powers capable of resurrecting dead atoms; and Vajra, the Diamond Golem, whose body could not be destroyed by any weapon, no matter how powerful. These five beings bowed with sincere respect to Zhenos, feeling the peace and tranquility radiating from the first creator.
The Seed of Ambition
However, when it came time to create the next five beings, Luxios showed an unusual interest. He requested permission to bestow a much larger, more aggressive portion of energy. Zhenos, out of blind trust and great affection for his friend, allowed it without the slightest suspicion.
Thus rose Ignis, the Eternal Fire Phoenix, whose heat was equal to the explosion of a million suns at once. Luxios laughed proudly, his voice sounding slightly louder as he watched Ignis's golden flames burn fiercely. Then appeared Typhon, the Star-Crushing Behemoth, a terrifying thousand-armed giant whose every hand could crush a planet; the Nebula Hydra, seven-headed with poisonous gas breath capable of melting atoms; the Cosmic Fenrir, a massive black wolf whose fangs could tear the fabric of space to forcibly create portals; and finally, the Abyss Kraken, a creature with gargantuan tentacles capable of manipulating black holes in the deepest depths.
As the ten great beings lined up before them, the atmosphere in the cosmic laboratory changed instantly. The radiation of energy from the ten pillars was so immense that it caused the void around them to vibrate and crack. Zhenos felt immensely proud of their hard work, but on the other hand, he caught a strange glint he had never seen before in Luxios's eyes. Luxios no longer looked at these creatures as humble guardians, but as an armada of combat troops ready for deployment.
"Look at them, Zhenos," Luxios said. His voice was no longer soft like a bell, but sounded heavy, filled with an ambitious tone hungry for recognition. "With power like this in our hands, we don't have to just maintain this boring balance. We can rule everything, Zhenos! We can erase this dull darkness forever and replace it with an eternal, blinding, and pure light. Why must there be darkness if light can conquer all?"
Zhenos was stunned. He turned slowly, placing his hand gently on his friend's shoulder, trying to remind him of the values they had built together. "Power without control is the path to destruction, Luxios. We are creators who nurture, not conquerors who oppress. These beings exist to serve the life we will sow later, not to be tools to satisfy our egos."
Luxios remained silent for a long time. He did not argue, but he removed Zhenos's hand from his shoulder with a movement that was slow yet felt incredibly cold and alien. "Perhaps you are right, Zhenos. Perhaps your old-fashioned thinking is right..." he muttered softly, almost inaudibly.
That night—if in the absence of time it could be called night—Zhenos returned to his resting place with a sense of hesitation, yet still trying to think positively. He did not realize that behind the glow of the ten mythical beings they had just created, Luxios was not resting. Luxios stood in the darkness, whispering in secret to Ignis, Typhon, and the three other beings he had overcharged with energy.
The seed of envy that had been hidden for so long had grown into a strong tree of hatred within Luxios's chest. He began to feel that Zhenos's tranquility and caution were a great weakness, a chain holding back his vast potential. To him, it was time for the light to take the throne entirely.
The chapter closes with the sight of the ten mythical creatures standing frozen in the vast darkness. However, if one looked closer, five of them—the creatures created with Luxios's excess energy—had eyes that began to glow ruby red. They stood in a state of readiness, waiting for a single command from the Light to betray and destroy the Darkness.