Several centuries ago, seven gemstones of extraordinary power appeared, known as the Papryos Stones, scattered across the world among different kingdoms. Each stone possessed a unique ability that set it apart from the others, and these stones became known for their immense powers—capable of performing miracles.
The seven stones quickly drew the attention of the great kingdoms, each striving to seize them in order to strengthen its influence and power. Thus, bloody conflicts and devastating wars erupted in the pursuit of these supernatural forces. The stones transformed from legendary treasures into keys of destruction, reshaping the course of history and overturning the balance of power among nations and kingdoms throughout the ages.
Six hundred and twenty-nine years after the appearance of the seven stones, in the heart of a vast, endless desert, a lone young man stood bearing the weight of destiny upon his shoulders. His long black hair fell over his shoulders, and his dark eyes gazed steadily toward the horizon. His tall stature added to his imposing presence as the wind wrapped his dark cloak tightly around his body.
His left hand was tightly wrapped in a dark piece of cloth, concealing something that should not be seen. Along his arm, mysterious markings were etched into his skin, glowing faintly whenever the cold wind brushed against them. In his other hand, he held a map pointing toward an unknown location.
During his journey, he passed through a land surrounded by dark, ominous flames—fires that never extinguished, no matter how fierce the winds grew.
He stared at the black flames devouring the land without mercy, contemplating the supernatural powers and challenges that awaited him.
The young man knew his journey would not be easy, and that his path was filled with danger. Yet, he did not retreat.
Basil—the name that would change the course of history—walked steadily toward his fate…
After many long days of exhausting travel beneath the scorching desert sun, Basil finally arrived at a massive structure resembling a temple. He stood before it, observing the towering pillars adorned with ancient carvings. The air was thick with dust, and the atmosphere radiated grandeur and hidden secrets.
He advanced cautiously toward the great gate, surrounded by precisely carved columns depicting scenes from an ancient past.
As he approached the gate, he noticed its unique details. It was engraved with intricate patterns, and at its center was a large hand bearing a precise symbol intersected by a tilted square, within which lay a wide eye, as if watching everyone who approached.
His gaze fixed on the symbol for a moment. A strange sensation swept over him, as if his body were responding to something unseen. A faint sting pulsed through his left hand—the very hand he had kept hidden beneath the cloth.
He hesitated briefly, then touched the wrapping around his left hand. Taking a deep breath, he slowly unraveled it. As his skin was revealed, a mark appeared upon his hand.
It was the same mark engraved upon the gate.
His heart pounded violently. A mysterious feeling surged through him, as if this moment was not a coincidence—but something that had been awaiting him for a long time.
As Basil continued to examine the gate, he felt a strange movement beneath his feet. When he turned, he saw a massive serpent emerge before him, its scales gleaming, its eyes glowing with a fierce light.
The serpent drew back slightly and raised its enormous head, its gaze locked onto Basil.
Without hesitation, Basil rushed toward the gate, attempting to open it. He pushed with all his strength, but it did not budge.
Meanwhile, the serpent advanced rapidly, tension and fear creeping into Basil's heart.
Suddenly, the eye engraved at the center of the hand on the gate glowed with a brilliant light. As the markings shone, the tilted square began to move slowly, then the eye itself flipped backward, revealing another eye beneath it—darker and more ominous in color. The gates began to open slowly, emitting a deep, humming sound, like a call rising from the depths of the earth.
At the final moment, Basil darted inside, while the serpent followed swiftly, its massive body sliding across the sand, its eyes never leaving him.
Before it could pass through, its enormous head struck the edge of the opening. Due to its immense size, it crashed violently into the rocks, causing the ground to tremble beneath its weight.
The serpent slowly retreated, hissing angrily as it slammed its long tail against the ground, its eyes still fixed on Basil, as if refusing to surrender.
Basil exhaled deeply as he watched the serpent remain outside, silently observing him.
As he moved farther inside, the gate suddenly shook, releasing a deep creak before slowly closing.
A heavy silence settled. Basil stood for a moment, staring at the sealed gate, then calmly exhaled and continued onward.
Inside, the structure was dark and cold, its walls covered in ancient carvings that told mysterious stories.
Basil moved forward through narrow corridors, symbols and engravings lining the walls.
At the end of the passage, he reached a vast hall. At its center stood a stone pedestal, atop which rested a glowing gemstone radiating vivid colors, casting a faint light that filled the chamber with an eerie aura.
Before Basil could approach, the ground trembled violently. A massive creature appeared before him—its head that of a bull, its body a lion's, and its hindquarters those of a crocodile. Its eyes burned with rage and majesty.
Its deep voice thundered through the hall, breaking the silence:
"Intruder… Who are you to dare set foot in this place?"
Basil stood firm, despite his rapid breathing.
Slowly, he reached for the hilt of his sword and drew it from its sheath, its blade reflecting a faint glow under the gemstone's light. He gripped it tightly, preparing for battle.
The creature moved forward slowly and spoke again in a deep voice:
"Anyone who dares claim what is not theirs… shall meet their end by my hands, and their name will be erased from existence!"
In a flash, the creature lunged with incredible speed, attacking Basil with its massive claws.
Reacting swiftly, Basil blocked the strike with his sword, his arms shaking violently from the impact.
He struggled to push back against the overwhelming force.
The creature attacked again, even faster this time. Basil failed to fully block it—its claws tore into his left side with tremendous force. A burning pain surged through his body, his grip loosened for a moment, and with the next strike, his sword slipped from his hand, sliding away with a metallic clang.
Before he could retrieve it, the beast charged once more, delivering a crushing blow to his chest that sent him flying backward into the solid wall of the hall.
The air was knocked from his lungs. A painful cracking echoed through his ribs, agony flooding his entire body. Yet, he raised his left hand defensively, struggling to endure.
The creature lunged again—but just before its claws struck, the mysterious mark on Basil's left hand flared with a brilliant light, flooding the hall with its glow.
The creature froze instantly. Its expression shifted from fury to shock as it stared at the mark with widened eyes.
In a low voice, it muttered, "This… this is impossible… that mark…"
It stepped back in disbelief, then knelt and lowered its head, speaking with clear respect:
"I have been waiting for you. The mark on your hand is the Mark of Fate, granting its bearer the right to reach the Rashid Stone."
It raised its head and continued:
"I am Amatorus, your loyal servant and the guardian of the Rashid Stone. Tell me—what is your purpose?"
Basil, barely able to speak from exhaustion, replied in a broken voice:
"I want to become the Lord of Wishes so that…"
He finished his sentence, but his words were unheard. His true purpose remained a secret between him and Amatorus.
The creature stared at Basil in astonishment, then stepped back slightly.
"There is something great within you… something I cannot comprehend…"
Then it added, "To achieve your goal, you must gather the seven Papryos Stones. I will stand by your side to help you fulfill this destiny."
At that moment, Amatorus' body began to glow, gradually transforming into a stone radiating immense energy.
Basil approached it, and as soon as he touched the stone, a powerful surge of energy flowed through him.
The stone then transformed into an iron gauntlet that covered his hand, pulsing with strength and protection.
Basil stared at the gauntlet in awe before a deep voice echoed from it:
"I have granted you my power. You will find me both a weapon and a shield. Beware—the path ahead is filled with danger, but I will stand by your side."
After catching his breath and slowly rising, Basil approached the glowing gemstone atop the pedestal.
The moment he touched it, energy surged through his body. A strange warmth enveloped him, followed by an overwhelming rush of power.
The gemstone glowed brighter, thin golden lines spreading from its center and wrapping around his fingers as if alive.
Suddenly, the stone trembled in his palm and began to change shape.
It transformed into an exquisite necklace, the radiant gem now set at its center—no longer a dormant source of power.
As Basil remained in this state, hallucinations overtook him. He saw lights and indistinct shapes moving around him. He lost all sense of time and space; everything became vague and hazy, as if his soul were wandering through other realms.
Then, a mysterious voice echoed in his ear:
"You are on the right path now… yet you may wish to turn away… while you still can."
Basil froze, torn between curiosity and fear.
Moments later, he stumbled out through the gate, still lost in hallucination.
Upon exiting, he encountered the serpent once more. It lunged at him as before, yet Basil remained calm and composed.
As it rushed toward him, Basil extended his hand forcefully. In an instant, the mysterious mark on his hand shone brightly.
The tilted square appeared and began to move. The engraved eye flipped, revealing another eye beneath it—darker and sharper. Blood began to flow from the symbol, dripping in heavy silence.
Through an unknown power, Basil subdued the serpent, forcing it to remain still without harming him.
No fear or confusion appeared on Basil's face. His eyes were cold and steady, as if he held complete control over the situation.
At that moment, the same mark appeared on the serpent's head, identical to the one on Basil's hand.
Slowly, it lowered its head in submission.
Without hesitation, Basil climbed onto its back. The creature that once threatened his life now bowed to his command.
And so, Basil set forth on his new adventure—armed with the power of the stone, protected by the gauntlet, and accompanied by the serpent's loyalty—determined to gather the remaining seven stones, no matter the cost…