《Death of Divinity》


 Chapter 1: The End

    Chapter 1: The End


    ¡°Narrator speaks the prologue:¡±


    In deep darkness, the infinite prevailed. No beginning. No end. Nothing.


    But out of nothing flickered a thought. A spark. The creation reached for it ¨C and formed two worlds out of it. One of light. The other of darkness.


    Then came the destruction. It gave them power. A power that does not build, but divides.


    It was followed by space and time. And with them a gift that changed everything: the soul. It brought thoughts, memories, dreams ¨C and doubt. Doubt, born of what was imposed on them: a written destiny. An eternal war. Not to win, but to entertain.


    Thus began the endless battle between angels and demons. It lasted. Without end. Without mercy.


    And from the restlessness of these two forces, infinity longed for something new. Something that brings balance. Thus a third world was created: the world of humans.


    A place without hatred, without power ¨C only with peace. It was small. Inconspicuous. Mortal. But in its weakness lay something hidden that neither light nor shadow could comprehend.


    For where neither victory nor defeat counts, balance can be born ¨C or broken. And when balance breaks, even that which seemed infinite becomes finite.


    ¡°Prologue over¡±


    The glaring light of the full moon lay over the world of men like a veil. The ground was soaked with blood, the sky heavy with smoke and sorrow. The war had long since claimed its victims ¨C and yet there was no end in sight. The eternal struggle began anew, as if it had never stopped.


    In the midst of this chaos stood a man. His robe was long, light, and seemingly untouched by the horror around him. His face was hidden by the shadow of a deep hood.


    It was silent. A moment frozen in time. Then a shout broke the silence, a scream carried on the wind, born of desperation:


    ¡°Death to the Divinity!¡±


    The man raised his head slightly. His gaze wandered in the direction from which the shout had come. Without a word, without hesitation, he set himself in motion.


    He walked slowly, but purposefully. Step by step through the burning battlefield. Passing angels, demons ¨C and humans.


    Then he saw him. A small boy. Barely older than ten. Badly wounded. His body trembled, his face was covered in blood. But there was something burning in his eyes that was stronger than fear.


    ¡°...death of... divinity...¡±, the boy whispered with a hoarse voice. It was all he had left: a scream in the midst of doom.


    The man stopped in front of him. The wind rose, grabbed his robe, and pulled back the hood. The light of the full moon fell on his face. It was calm. Determined. There was a golden shimmer in his eyes.


    The boy looked up. His lips trembled, but then he asked quietly, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The man knelt down and held out his hand. ¡°Come. I''ll take you away from here.¡± There was a gentle, peaceful smile on his face.


    The boy hesitated for a moment, then reached for the hand and allowed himself to be lifted up.


    The man looked into the distance for a moment, then back at the boy. ¡°My name is unknown to me. But you can call me... Fugare.¡±


    He lifted Tashi onto his back, turned around ¨C and walked away. Away from the flames. Away from death.


    Four hundred years passed.


    In a remote village called Sadek, the sun slowly sank behind the trees, as if to bid farewell to the world for today.


    In the village square, a small boy ran excitedly back and forth while the villagers gathered in front of the house of the eighth Fugare ¨C the head of Sadek.


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    They waited anxiously for good news. And yet there was a tense silence in the air.


    All eyes were fixed on the entrance. A man stood there, erect, arms folded, eyes alert.


    Takeshi. The Fugare''s right hand.


    Suddenly, a scream broke the silence. A newborn.


    Takeshi didn''t hesitate. He opened the door.


    And there the eighth Fugare stepped out ¨C in his arms a child, wrapped in white cloths.


    With a firm, clear voice he spoke to the assembled crowd: ¡°It is done. Ariella has given birth to her son. And his name will be known in all the worlds: Shin Juuji.¡±


    A murmur went through the crowd. Then cheers. Smiling faces. Tears of relief.


    In the midst of this cold world, a new spark had been born.


    Fugare looked up and smiled gently. ¡°Shin is a gift. Another light for our village. May he live a long life ¨C and always carry Sadek in his heart. Let us toast and honor this day with a celebration.¡±


    Night had fallen. Torches were lit, music sounded, voices filled the air with joy.


    But deep inside the house, all was quiet.


    Fugare slowly made his way down a long, narrow hallway. At the end stood a door, ajar. A faint light shimmered through it ¨C flickering and warm.


    Candles cast dancing shadows on the walls, which were adorned with four old pictures. The light touched them one after the other:


    A lotus flower. A scale ¨C carried by a human with an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other. The symbol of infinity. And the fourth picture... lay in the shadows. Hidden. Concealed.


    Fugare entered the room. Ariella was lying on the bed. Exhausted, but smiling, she held the newborn in her arms ¨C little Shin.


    Fugare was wearing a necklace, the pendant of which he held in his hand. A simple zero.


    His eyes were soft as he approached. ¡°Ariella... how do you feel?¡±


    She smiled and looked up at him. ¡°It''s incredible... I can hardly believe that he is alive and well.¡±


    He sat down at her side and nodded. ¡°Don''t worry. He will achieve great things ¨C and make you proud. And until that day... I will protect him. As Fugare of Sadek.¡±


    Ariella looked at her child. For a moment, everything was still. Peaceful.


    Then the light flickered. The warmth vanished. Colors distorted, the image became blurred. A cough. A jolt. Blood on Ariella''s lips.


    And suddenly ¨C darkness.


    A new place. Or the same one, destroyed.


    Sadek was on fire. Fire was eating through the houses. Smoke shrouded the sky. The inhabitants lay dead in the streets.


    Suddenly, a figure appeared above the crescent moon.


    A creature whose mere presence stifled all resistance: a demon.


    His appearance paralyzed body and mind. Panic seized the few who were still standing. Some screamed ¨C but the silence that followed was louder than any scream.


    A family ran. The next moment ¨C torn apart. Only blood remained. And ashes.


    A huge tongue of flame erupted in the center of the village. The Fugare''s house collapsed. Only a single wall remained standing.


    Behind it: Fugare. Covered in blood. Panting. Next to him ¨C the young Shin.


    Shin''s gaze was empty. Motionless. Sunken in a pool of blood.


    The Fugare fought for breath. With his last ounce of strength, he whispered: ¡°Your story... will not end here. I will protect you. Forever.¡±


    Slowly, he pushed himself up. His legs trembled. And yet ¨C he walked.


    Suddenly, a bright light flooded everything in brightness. A moment that swallowed everything.


    Shin''s eyes shot open. The sun blinded him. Reflexively, he raised his hand to protect himself ¨C or perhaps to reach for something that had long since passed.


    ¡°...A dream?¡± he whispered.


    Shin continued to look into the endless blue sky. The sun was high, its rays seemed warm, almost peaceful ¨C and yet it seemed as if this light was asking a question he didn''t understand. ¡°What are you trying to tell me?¡± he whispered into the wind, which gently stroked through the tall grass. His thoughts were still confused. Fragments. Shadows. Memories that felt like dreams. And dreams that burned like memories.


    Slowly, he stood up. His movements were heavy, as if every fiber of his body was still attached to the night that never quite let go of him. He looked around one last time, taking in the peaceful silence that lay over the place ¨C so still that it was almost noisy. Step by step, he approached the gravestone where he had slept. The stone was simple, gray, marked by time and weather. And yet the letters shone clearly: Mama + Papa.


    Shin''s hand slid over the writing, so carefully, as if he were afraid of disturbing it. He looked at the names for a long time, and in his eyes was reflected not only sadness, but also something else ¨C a determination that grows only in those who have lost everything. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes briefly, and then turned around. His gaze wandered over the wide field, over the countless gravestones that seemed to inscribe themselves into the ground like a silent army of remembrance. For a moment, it seemed as if he was nodding to each and every one of them.


    ¡°I thank you... for everything,¡± he said softly, but with a firm voice. ¡°As the only survivor of Sadek, I will carry your stories in my heart. Forever. *Anu* (Anu ~ A word preached by the first Fugare that gave the people strength). It was a promise ¨C one that meant more than words could ever say.


    Now it was certain. Shin was alone. The last one standing. A tragic victim of a world that had swallowed him up before he could even understand what it was. But he had not only seen death. He had survived. And somewhere in that survival, there was a spark that was more than mere memory.


    He closed his eyes, let the air into him once more ¨C and then he fell backwards. The sky above him remained clear, but out of nowhere a dark fog suddenly formed. Silent, like a shadow without origin, it spread. It reached for Shin, enveloped him, embraced him like a veil of oblivion. And then ¨C it swallowed him whole.


    Only one last voice could still be heard. It came from deep inside, as if echoing through space and time, carried by both hope and pain:


    ¡°One day... we will all meet again. Please wait for me that long.¡±


    Then the fog fell. Slowly, silently, like ashes. It descended on the ground of the cemetery, covering the silence with darkness ¨C and nothing remained.

 Chapter 2: Black vs. Red

    Chapter 2: Black vs. Red


    In the heart of the village, the dark mist crept silently across the ground. Then, without warning, Shin emerged from it. His posture was erect, his gaze fixed on the house of the former Fugare. It looked different than in his memories ¨C more stable, calmer, almost alive. It was as if he had recreated it. Shin entered the building, closed the door behind him with a handle on the back and let it gently fall into the lock.


    He went to a small, narrow mirror on the wall, next to which was a wooden bucket of clear water. Without hesitation, he dipped his hands into it, raised them to his face and patted the cool water against his skin. Strands stuck to his forehead, but he brushed them aside, breathing heavily and letting out a small, disappointed sigh. ¡°What if I''m not strong enough?¡± The thought was like a cut, honest, uncomfortable reality. His gaze remained fixed on the mirror, staring deep into his own reflection, as if he were judging himself. ¡°The time has come. I can''t sit here any longer and do nothing... I''m taking back my freedom today."


    He turned away from the mirror, went to the old wooden bed in the corner of the room and sat down. With a calm movement, he reached under the mattress, groped for a familiar object ¨C a frayed, leather pouch, worn and dusty. He pulled it out, opened it slowly, and took out a shimmering dagger. The steel gleamed faintly in the light, as if it had been waiting all these years just for this moment. ¡°You''re coming with me,¡± Shin whispered, and sheathed the dagger on his hip.


    Time passed. The sun had long since passed its highest point when Shin approached the village exit. The old paths led him to a ruin, the last remaining border. Step by step, he approached until he stopped in front of a mark on the ground: ¡°Ten meters¡±. His gaze was straight ahead, his will unyielding. Suddenly ¨C an attack. Fast, barely visible. Shin punched into the void with his bare fist, and at the same moment a golden glow flared up. Sparks flew, the air began to crackle. A golden barrier appeared in front of him, stretching like a dome over the entire village ¨C powerful, almost alive.


    ¡°What remarkable power... This must be the last layer of the barrier. Finally.¡±


    A rumbling bang interrupted his thoughts. Shin pricked up his ears and scanned the area. Then ¨C another bang, louder, closer. ¡°What is that?¡± Animals fled the forest in panic. Birds took to the air, screeching, deer burst out of the thicket, fear tangible in every movement.


    A single deer ran straight towards Shin. But when it touched the barrier, it vanished ¨C without a trace, silently, as if it had been erased. Shin didn''t move, his gaze remained hard. ¡°Always the same... Nothing remains. Everything disappears.¡±


    He put his hand on the barrier. Sparks flashed again. A burning pain shot through his fingers, tearing through the nerve pathways. With a jerk, he pulled his hand back, his face contorted, but he said nothing. Then ¨C another deafening bang. This time accompanied by a strong gust of wind. Shin staggered slightly, but kept his balance. It felt like the wind was coming directly from the source of the impact.


    ¡°What is happening outside this barrier?¡±


    And suddenly he saw him. An old man, staggering, covered in blood, his movements erratic and heavy. Shin shouted: ¡°Hey, old man! Do you hear me?!¡± But there was no answer. The man staggered a few more steps, then simply collapsed.


    ¡°Damn it... Hold on!¡± Shin clenched his fists and began to beat against the barrier. Over and over again. Each blow harder, more desperate. His knuckles split open, blood dripped down the invisible boundary. ¡°I have to become even stronger...¡±


    Then ¨C a new sound. A hissing, a screeching, followed by a dull thud. Something had shot through the air at tremendous speed and had drilled into a nearby tree. Shin''s eyes widened. Shock. In the distance, half-buried under tattered leaves, lay a young man. Lifeless. Blood oozed from deep wounds, his body marked by death.


    Shin couldn''t utter a word.


    Even as he stared, the old man moved again. His hands clawed at the ground as if he wanted to pull himself away ¨C away from something lurking behind him. Shin screamed inwardly, his blows against the barrier became uncontrolled. ¡°What''s happening?! I''m coming! Please hold on!¡±


    Then ¨C a blow to the pit of his stomach of reality. Something stirred in the forest. An aura so overwhelming and alien that Shin instinctively took a few steps back. His eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat. And then it emerged from the shadows: a demon. Big. Red. Baring its teeth. Its tongue hung out of its mouth, its eyes empty, and fresh blood stuck to its claws. Smoke rose from its body, from open craters, as if it had been forged from war and madness.


    The demon began to move slowly. Without haste, without any haste, as if everything had been decided long ago. With sluggish, bone-breaking steps, it approached the young man who was lying motionless at the tree ¨C half dead, bruised, long since closer to death than to life. He didn''t bend, he didn''t kneel, he just reached. His bloodied claw grasped the man''s leg, lifting him into the air in a single motion, as if his body were no more than a doll. The body hung lifeless in the air, the head sagged back, no sound, no tremor ¨C just silence.


    Shin didn''t scream. Not yet. But his fists slammed against the golden barrier again. Harder, more desperately. His hands had long since opened, bloody, full of cracks and splintering skin, but he didn''t stop. ¡°I won''t let you die here...¡± he growled, half whispered, half shouted against the invisibility of the border.


    But the demon''s gaze changed. Something inside this creature seemed to be bored. The body in his hand didn''t move ¨C no resistance, no sound. The game was over. Without hesitation, the demon held his free hand to the man''s chest. Smoke rose. A tingle in the air. Then ¨C an explosion. A sudden, brutal tear in space and flesh. The man''s body was torn into a thousand shreds, scattered across the clearing, over trees, grass, stone ¨C nothing remained intact.


    Shin stared. Silent. Breathless.


    His will was put to the test.


    And in his mind, the memory rose.


    Not of words. Not of faces.


    Only of death.


    He lost control. His blows became wilder, less targeted, driven only by rage. The barrier trembled under the assault, but it held. Behind him, the old man still lay gasping on the ground, while the demon slowly turned his gaze to him. A grin spread across his disfigured face, his tongue lolling over his lips, dribbling with anticipation.


    His steps grew heavier. Every single one of them made the ground shake. He came closer and closer, the old farmer crawled, desperate, helpless, but the demon didn''t stop. Shin trembled. ¡°Why... Why am I still so weak? Why can''t I protect anyone again...?¡± His voice almost broke under the weight of his thoughts.


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    Then the demon stopped. Right in front of the old man. And as if he had heard him, he turned his head.


    Looked through the golden barrier.


    Looked Shin directly in the eye.


    A low growl, then a smile ¨C wider, more fearsome, more hideous than anything Shin had ever seen. His tongue hung out of his mouth, his eyes empty, and that smile... it wasn''t an expression of joy. It was pure provocation.


    ¡°No... old man!¡±


    The farmer put one hand in front of the other for the last time, dragged himself a few centimeters further, until the demon lifted its leg ¨C and kicked with all his might. The kick hit the man''s back. A crack. Then another explosion, this time even more brutal. Nothing remained. No bones, no flesh. Only ash.


    Shin opened his eyes wide. His eyes never left the grin on the demon''s face. ¡°I...¡±


    The demon enjoyed it. Completely. Saliva dripped from his tongue, landing on the bloody remains of his victim, while he grinned to himself with a soft wheeze. Then, satisfied, he slowly turned around and walked back into the forest.


    Shin moved. Not consciously. Only driven. His hands trembled, his breathing was shallow. With his last ounce of strength, he hit the barrier again, this time not with his fists, but with his open palms. He pushed, he pressed, he burned. The pain was almost unbearable. But his thoughts had changed. They were no longer characterized by fear. No longer by weakness.


    ¡°I will... extinguish you.¡±


    The barrier reacted. It flashed, lit up in bright gold, pulsed ¨C and hurled Shin several meters back. He remained standing on both feet, stared at his hands, which were spread open. His eyes flickered. His hatred grew.


    Then his right hand reached for the hilt of the dagger at his side. Without him consciously realizing it, he drew the blade. It glistened in the sunlight, calm, expectant.


    And suddenly ¨C he threw it.


    With a speed that made the air hiss, the dagger flew after the figure in the forest.


    ¡°STOP!¡±


    The dagger hit the barrier. A chain reaction.


    Thousands of sparks leapt up.


    The air hissed, vibrated, trembled.


    And then ¨C Shin had vanished.


    He had followed the blade. So quickly, so decisively that even the demon hadn''t noticed.


    ¡°STOP FOR GOD''S SAKE!¡±


    The barrier shattered. Like glass under too much tension, it cracked and broke with a dazzling flash of light.


    The demon turned, too slowly.


    Shin shot past him ¨C


    a single moment was enough.


    The dagger rammed deep into the creature''s skull, and in the same breath, a fist hit its face with such force that the demon flew meters through the air. Trees shattered, branches splintered, until its body crashed against an old, thick trunk and remained motionless.


    The grin was gone.


    He screamed ¨C loud, angry, distorted with pain.


    But he got up again.


    Slowly, breathing heavily.


    Blood dripped onto the ground.


    He reached for the dagger in his head.


    Pulled it out.


    And let it explode.


    Not a second passed before Shin was standing in front of the demon again. Driven by hatred, rage and the burning disappointment within himself, he struck ¨C once, twice, again and again his fist hit the face of the monster. Each blow made the demon recoil further, the mocking grin faded more and more from his face, each hit an outburst of unbridled desperation that discharged in Shin''s fist. But just before he struck again, he paused with his left fist, as if he wanted to pause briefly, to gather his strength ¨C but before he could do so, he rammed his right fist straight into the demon''s stomach.


    But this time something was different. The blow ricocheted, literally sinking into the demon''s massive fat. The grotesque wall of flesh absorbed the force, swallowed the energy, and then ¨C the mass closed around Shin''s hand. He couldn''t pull it back anymore. His gaze slowly wandered upwards. The demon had his grin back. Without warning, he pushed Shin''s forehead into his skull. The impact was fierce. Shin sank to one knee, dazed, but not broken.


    The demon put his hand on Shin''s back. Smoke rose from the open crater wound on his palm, then ¨C an explosion. Violent. It hurled Shin directly into the ground, as if it wanted to burn him into the earth. His eyes turned white, for a moment there was nothing left in him, just emptiness. Consciousness and body parted, everything seemed to blur.


    A hot, stinking breath came out of the demon''s mouth as he bent over the motionless body. Then he grabbed Shin by the head, lifted him up, held him right in front of his face. But before he could say anything, Shin whispered in a hoarse voice, ¡°Not yet...¡±


    Surprised, almost irritated, the demon tilted his head. He put his free hand on Shin''s chest. ¡°I have...¡± Shin whispered and struck. Right on the forehead.


    Smoke escaped from the demon''s body again, followed by a new explosion that hurled Shin through the remains of the barrier, whose last glow now finally extinguished. He flew through debris, through the abandoned house, crashed into the wall of his room, remained lying at the old bed ¨C supported, but no longer upright.


    Blood dripped from his mouth, his gaze wandered. Everything was spinning. The strength fled his body, every fiber screamed for rest. ¡°I... have... not... yet... lost...¡±


    Then he fell to the side. His body sank to the ground, heavy, exhausted. His head turned slightly to the side, looking under the bed. ¡°Too... weak...¡±.


    His right hand groped under the bed, searching the wooden surface. Then the dark mist lay over the ground again. It crept like shadows from old memories over the wood, over Shin''s battered body ¨C and swallowed him up.


    When the fog lifted again, Shin lay at his parents'' grave. The fog slowly faded, leaving his body in the warm light of the sun. His vision was blurred, dazzled. But then ¨C he saw her.


    His mother. Smiling. She turned to him, beckoned to him, peaceful, full of warmth. Next to her stood the Fugare, calm, protective, a sword in his hands. He held it out to Shin. And Shin ¨C took slow steps into this memory, raised his hand, wanted to grasp the sword...


    But suddenly ¨C darkness.


    His eyes flew open. He heard it. Felt it. A thunder, a pressure wave. The demon came at him with tremendous speed, hurled into the air by an explosion ¨C like a red beast, unleashed, purposeful, angry.


    Shin reacted at the very last moment, throwing himself to the side with his last ounce of strength. Dust swirled, visibility became a wall of sand and smoke. Then silence. And when the dust settled, Shin saw ¨C the crater. And in it ¨C the demon.


    And behind it... nothing.


    No grave. No stone. No place.


    Everything his parents had ever been to him now lay in ruins. Materially. Symbolically. Completely destroyed.


    Shin''s gaze lost itself. Empty. No anger. No reaction. Just... absence.


    But then.


    The dark mist.


    It gathered around his body, drawing itself over him like a second skin. Darkness gathered on his right hand, dripped to the ground, formed. Drops became lines. Lines became a blade.


    A black sword emerged. So dark that it seemed to swallow light. The handle shaped like an ancient symbol, the blade itself criss-crossed by golden characters ¨C alien, glowing, unreadable.


    The demon charged. Without hesitation, full of rage, full of bloodlust. His claws aimed at Shin''s neck, ready to end it all.


    But then ¨C


    A cut.


    Flowing. Silent.


    The demon''s arm fell. Just like that. Severed.


    Shin barely moved. His posture was calm, his eyes darker than the night, like the heart of the demon itself. And when the demon realized what had happened, he jumped back. Panic.


    The grin was gone.


    Victory lost.


    Only fear remained.


    Shin approached him slowly. Step by step. ¡°I banish you from this world... Anu.¡±


    The demon froze. He sensed something that went beyond pain. Something that even stopped his rotten heart.


    And then ¨C


    Shin''s hand touched him. The mist rose, spread over the demon''s skin, enveloped him, covered him completely ¨C until only the head remained.


    Shin raised his sword, swung ¨C


    But before he could strike, his body collapsed.


    He lost consciousness. Fell backwards.


    The demon was swallowed by the dark mist. Its form was torn apart, its existence evaporated. And nothing remained.


    The narrator speaks:


    The victor: Shin Juuji.

 Chapter 3: Stonehead

    Chapter 3: Stonehead


    Far from Sadek, high above the ground, lies a city unlike any other. It was not built on land, but into the mountains themselves.


    Three huge mountains stand side by side. Within them, between them, on them: the city of Stonehead. Houses, paths, walls ¨C everything is made of the stone of the mountains. The buildings seem to be connected to the rock, as if they had never been built, but had simply always been there.


    The way there is difficult. There is only one access: a long, narrow bridge that stretches for many kilometers at a dizzying height through the clouds. Anyone who crosses it needs courage ¨C or no sense.


    Nevertheless, Stonehead is a well-known place. Travelers from many parts of the world come here. Traders, adventurers, seekers ¨C they all hope to find something in this city.


    Because Stonehead is more than just a city of stone. It holds secrets. Ancient stories. And maybe even answers.


    And it is here, between rock and sky, that a new chapter begins.


    At the top of the middle mountain, where the sky seems almost close enough to touch, stands a mighty palace. It is built of turquoise stone, smooth and flawless, as if it had been cut from a single piece.


    This is the Paraiba Temple.


    A holy place. A center of order. And the heart of Stonehead.


    Along the stone path that leads to the entrance of the temple, three figures move. Their steps are calm, deliberate. No words. No noise. Only the dull echo of their boots on the stone.


    They may seem strange to some, but in Stonehead everyone knows their names. They are the guardians of the city ¨C three people, each responsible for one of the mountains. They watch over the borders and protect the balance.


    As the three keepers of Stonehead walked along the temple path from Paraiba, their steps echoed softly through the expanse of the stone complex. Between them was not silence, but a discussion, carried by concern and foresight. The last few days had left their mark ¨C not on the stone, but on the minds of those responsible for this city.


    Jaseol, the keeper of the deepest mountain, Citrine, was the first to break the silence. His voice was deep and firm, with a hint of urgency. ¡°We have seen a huge increase in the population of Citrine. It''s getting crowded. If it continues like this, we will run out of living space.¡±


    Next to him walked Lazuli Lapis, the guardian of Paraiba, the mountain in the middle. Her gaze was calm, her step deliberate. She nodded slightly, almost sadly. ¡°My prediction is once again coming true,¡± she said in a low voice. ¡°If it continues like this, Stonehead won''t be above ground for much longer. Parts of Citrine and Paraiba could slip away.¡±


    Zircon, the guardian of the highest mountain, Alexandrite, stopped. Her eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°How many years do we have left?¡±


    Lazuli looked at her, her face showing concern, but her voice remained calm. ¡°One year.¡±


    A brief moment of silence fell over them. Then Zircon took a deep breath, closed her eyes briefly, and spoke with calm determination: ¡°Then we have no choice. We must tell the people of Stonehead at the Festival of Hope that we will close the borders.¡±


    But Jaseol immediately stepped forward, his voice rising slightly, not out of defiance, but out of fear. ¡°But without tourism... Stonehead will economically collapse. We depend on trade with the capital.¡±


    Zirkon continued without answering him. Their steps led them through the temple''s large entrance hall and into the high-ceilinged hall, the centerpiece of which was a massive stone sculpture¡ªa detailed image of Stonehead himself, carved directly out of the rock. She paused before the statue, let her gaze wander, then spoke slowly and emphatically: ¡°Lazuli, I ask you to find a way towards the future. You have time ¨C until the Festival of Hope.¡±


    Lazuli bowed her head slightly and nodded. She said not a word, but her eyes reflected her determination.


    At that moment, a shout broke the silence of the hall. It came from the upper corridors, loud and urgent. It was the voice of Granit, Lazuli''s closest advisor. He entered hastily, his robe fluttering in the wind as he shouted, ¡°Guardian Lazuli... another attack by the Black Orlov! One of their members is trying to destroy the walls towards Alexandrit!¡±


    Zirkon turned around, her forehead wrinkled. ¡°To Alexandrit? Are they still looking for...¡±


    Suddenly ¨C a crack in reality. An aura permeated the room. No wind, no light, but pure presence. A power so strong that it paralyzed thought.


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    Jaseol spun around, his voice a mere whisper in the face of such power: ¡°Is that... the attacker?¡±


    But at that moment, Lazuli had already disappeared. No movement, no sound ¨C she was simply no longer there.


    Zircon looked at the spot where she had been standing, and her expression changed. She seemed to have an idea, followed by a slight smile. ¡°I think... Lazuli has found an answer.¡±


    Granite took a step forward, visibly confused. ¡°Where is Guardian Lazuli all of a sudden?¡±


    Zircon looked at him, friendly, with a gentle smile on his lips.


    Granit blushed slightly, bowed his head and hastily bowed.


    At the western gate, which connected Paraiba with the highest mountain, Alexandrit, the ground lay in ruins. Smoke rose. Screams echoed through the rocks, accompanied by the sound of fleeing footsteps. People ran, stumbled, dragged the wounded behind them ¨C and again and again a metallic, pulsating crack sounded.


    An unknown figure was raging. No one knew his name, no one knew where he had come from. But what he left behind was unmistakable: chaos.


    His body was no longer entirely human. Again and again, it changed. Flesh turned to metal, limbs to weapons. Enormous black smoking cannons sprouted from his arms. Without warning, he fired ¨C a blazing shot was aimed at the great west gate, hitting it with an earsplitting bang. The stone splintered, part of the gate broke out of the wall.


    Before the dust had settled, the stranger reloaded.


    Another cannonball raced towards the weakened gate.


    But before the ball could hit it ¨C there she was.


    Lazuli.


    With a single step, she had appeared, as if fallen out of the air. Her figure seemed small against the approaching projectile, but she remained completely calm. Her right hand rose, fingers spread, the surface of the ball against it.


    At that moment, something awakened.


    No wind, no light. An aura ¨C ancient, deep and powerful ¨C flowed through the air. And then a third eye opened on Lazuli''s forehead, slowly, like a glimmer from another world.


    The cannonball hit. But at the touch of Lazuli''s hand, it stopped ¨C and a bright shock shot into the metal, tearing it from the inside. The explosion was loud, but not wild. Precise. Controlled.


    Lazuli''s gaze changed.


    She looked at the stranger, calm, scrutinizing ¨C and then she spoke:


    ¡°I did not see you. You are the wrong one.¡±


    Her voice was cool, but not angry. But it was precisely this disappointment, this expression of insignificance, that caused something inside the attacker to break.


    He roared, driven by rage ¨C but before he could react, an energetic pulse shot out from Lazuli. The wave hit him with full force, tearing his clothes apart and baring his upper body. Metal plates, strange patterns, strange scars.


    Lazuli was suddenly standing in front of him. Her voice was calm but penetrating.


    ¡°Tell me ¨C what are you to the Black Orlov?¡±


    His voice trembled, torn between anger, pressure or perhaps inner resistance. ¡°I am...¡±


    But before he could finish the sentence, Lazuli had already touched him. Her fingertips rested on his chest for a fraction of a second, and in a low voice she forestalled him: ¡°Too slow.¡±


    Even as she spoke, his body changed again. Metal broke out of his chest, a rotating circular saw shot out, screeching loudly, ready to rip her apart ¨C but Lazuli was long gone.


    She was behind him.


    ¡°You are a traveler,¡± she said calmly. ¡°One who allowed himself to be blinded in the pursuit of power... and is now being exploited.¡±


    A surge of energy shot through the man''s body, making him flinch and halting the transformation. The saw collapsed, the metallic shine disappeared, and skin replaced the artificial. His body became human again ¨C wounded, but whole. His gaze was empty, his movements slow, as if part of his consciousness was missing.


    Lazuli approached him again. Her third eye glowed slightly as she put her hand on his chest. Her voice was calm but penetrating.


    ¡°What is your name?¡±


    A moment passed. Then came the answer, dazed, almost soundless: ¡°Pray... Rust.¡±


    ¡°Do you belong to the Black Orlov?¡±


    He hesitated, his gaze remained glazed. Then: ¡°No...¡±


    ¡°Are you under their orders? If so, what was your task?¡±


    Silence. Only breathing. Only the sound of the wind at the gate. Then - a splintering voice: ¡°They... promised me more... and gold... I should...¡±


    Suddenly - an arrow.


    As if from nowhere.


    Lazuli''s hand let go of Bete the moment the arrow shot through the air.


    It hit. Right in the head.


    Bete fell forward. Lifeless.


    Lazuli spun around. Her eyes scanned the surroundings. Buildings. Rocks. Wind. But nothing. No shadow. No attacker.


    Silence.


    Then cheers.


    The people who had gathered at a safe distance broke out in relief.


    ¡°Clairvoyant Lazuli has saved us!¡±


    ¡°Our guardian protects us!¡±


    The voices carried hope, gratitude ¨C and amazement.


    But before anyone could get close to her, before anyone could take a step in her direction, she had vanished.


    A soft gust of wind.


    And only the empty space where she had been standing remained.


    Outside of Stonehead, where the sky seems lower and the roads are few and far between, a dusty trade route ran through barren land. It was empty, silent ¨C except for the steady clatter of hooves echoing through the air.


    A coach moved leisurely along the road. It was pulled by two strong horses, and the carriage itself was simple but sturdy, made of dark wood and with a heavy roof of oiled cloth. A young woman sat at the front end. Her clothing was simple but well-kept, and a dark cloak protected her from the sun. Her gaze rested on the coachman next to her, but her eyes seemed restless, as if she had been wrestling with herself for several minutes.


    ¡°What do we do with him?¡± she finally asked, quietly, almost hesitantly.


    The unknown man next to her moved slowly. He raised his head, and a mask appeared from under the hood ¨C smooth, made of metal, with no visible facial features. His clothes were completely black, his body large, calm, almost eerily still. A heavy cloak hung over his shoulders, fluttering slightly in the wind.


    ¡°We''re taking him with us,¡± he said calmly, his voice deep and unmoving. Then, almost casually, he added: ¡°Welcome to Stonehead.¡± Now they were standing before the bridge that led to the city in the mountains.


    Inside the carriage, lying on rough cloth, was a figure. His body was still marked by injuries, his clothes were tattered, and there were traces of dried blood everywhere.


    Shin Juuji.


    Unconscious ¨C or at least it seemed so.


    But suddenly, without warning, something moved.


    His eyes flew open.


    A brief twitch. A shallow breath.


    Then: silence.

 Chapter 4 ~ The 5 Stones Of The Black Orlov

    Chapter 4: The five stones of the Black Orlov


    The coach moved slowly over the narrow bridge that stretched like a ribbon between heaven and the abyss. The wind blew strongly, driving clouds across the sky and causing the old wood of the coach cover to creak softly. Below ¨C only emptiness.


    Sana sat tensely on the coach box, the reins loosely in her hand, her gaze sweeping over the wide valley. ¡°Was it really smart to take the coach? One mistake and we''d plunge into the depths.¡±


    The coachman, Taro, never took his eyes off the road. Instead, a quiet, almost playful smile crossed his lips, which soon turned into a loud, hearty laugh. ¡°Please never doubt me.¡±


    Sana sighed. Annoyed, she leaned back, raised her head and looked up ¨C where the highest of the three mountains, Alexandrit, Stonehead, rose into the sky. ¡°We''re almost there. So finally tell me what our mission is, Taro.¡±


    But his answer came as a slap in the face: ¡°We have no mission. I act in my own interest.¡±


    Sana''s head turned to him. ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°I was just looking for someone to accompany me. I hate being alone.¡±


    He laughed again, loudly and exaggeratedly. And promptly received a fist to the head.


    ¡°Ouch... calm down, Sana. Just enjoy our trip.¡±


    He laughed again ¨C but suddenly fell silent. He looked ahead, serious.


    ¡°Sana...¡±


    She followed his gaze. A few meters ahead of them, a man was standing at the edge of the bridge. His body slightly bent, his head bowed, his eyes fixed into the depths.


    ¡°I have to do it...¡± he whispered, barely audible in the wind. ¡°Otherwise he''ll kill me...¡±


    Sana jumped up. ¡°He''s not going to...?¡±


    Taro jerked the reins, and the horses picked up speed.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Sana shouted, her voice carrying against the wind. ¡°Wait! Please! What are you doing?¡±


    The man turned slightly, but his face remained in the shadows. ¡°Leave me alone, you strangers. Stay away from me.¡±


    Taro brought the carriage to a halt, just a few meters from the man.


    Sana stepped down, slowly, carefully. ¡°There is no reason to take your own life. Perhaps we can help you.¡±


    The man wept. Tears ran down his cheeks. His voice was broken. ¡°I am cursed... no one shall share this suffering with me... as they told me to do¡­¡±


    Taro stepped down, his step firm.


    ¡°The Black Orlov?¡±


    The man nodded.


    Taro stepped closer. ¡°Then jump. And spend your last seconds thinking that you ran away ¨C and that Death will never forgive you for that.¡±


    ¡°Taro!¡± Sana cried in horror.


    But Taro remained calm. ¡°Go on... jump. If you think Death is easier than fighting an evil organization, then you haven''t understood anything.¡±


    The man looked at him, his eyes wide, desperate. ¡°You don''t understand anything... you haven''t seen them. They are... terrifying...¡±


    Taro fell silent for a moment. Then he threw off his cloak, revealing an empty right sleeve. His right arm was missing. Only the left was left.


    ¡°I have seen enough. And yet I still stand.¡±


    Sana turned to the side and took a deep breath. The man slowly stepped back from the edge of the bridge. Tears still ran down his face.


    Taro put his coat back on and turned around. But suddenly the man coughed violently and his body convulsed.


    ¡°What¡­?¡±


    Sana ran to him just as he spat a single glowing cherry blossom out of his mouth. Then ¨C a burst of heat. His whole body began to glow.


    He screamed. Loudly. He scratched at his clothes as if trying to rip them off.


    Sana tried to hold him, tore open his shirt with a knife ¨C and froze.


    Bright cherry blossoms spread over his upper body as if they were being burned into his skin.


    ¡°What... is this?¡± she whispered.


    Taro stepped closer. His voice was calm but serious: ¡°Don''t touch him anymore. It could be a divine blessing... or something worse.¡±


    Sana let go of him ¨C her hands were burning. Her skin was hot as fire.


    The man screamed louder and louder, his eyes red, his pupils flickering. ¡°Help me... please... I don''t want to die!¡±


    Sana looked at Taro, pleaded with her eyes ¨C but he held her back.


    The man staggered back. His skin glowed, his voice broke. Then ¨C one last step.


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    He jumped.


    ¡°No!¡±


    Sana threw her arm forward, trying to grab him ¨C but Taro held her fast.


    ¡°Damn it...¡± she whispered. ¡°I''m a healer... and I let him die.¡±


    Taro looked down. ¡°You saw his body. Whatever that was ¨C they wanted him to die.¡±


    At that moment, something stirred.


    Dark mist rose from the curtain of the carriage and slid silently over the wood.


    ¡°Taro...,¡± Sana said softly. ¡°The carriage...¡±


    Taro looked back. His eyes widened slightly, not with fright, but with growing curiosity.


    ¡°I think... someone is regaining consciousness.¡±


    The fog settled over the bridge, moving as if alive towards the abyss ¨C then it plunged down at breakneck speed, followed by the man.


    In free fall, just before impact, the fog completely enveloped the man''s body ¨C


    ¨C and disappeared.


    Sana stood frozen. Her eyes widened as she looked at what was hard to believe. The dark mist that had just plunged over the bridge reappeared ¨C silent, shadowy, pulsating. It gathered in the air, swirled as if alive, formed itself briefly... and then disappeared as if it had dissolved into the stone of the bridge.


    But it left something behind.


    Right where nothing should have been, the man was suddenly there again ¨C the man who had just fallen to his death.


    Motionless. Breathing.


    The curtain of the carriage moved.


    A ray of light fell on the wooden edge when Shin pulled it aside. Slowly he stepped out, blinded by the daylight, his eyes searching the surroundings. His upper body was completely wrapped in bandages, every step seemed heavy, as if he were bracing himself against the memory of pain.


    ¡°Where... are we?¡± His voice was rough, broken, but clear.


    Taro leaned back, a curious grin spreading across his face. ¡°Who''s asking?¡±


    Sana didn''t pay attention to the two of them. She had immediately rushed to the unconscious man. Her fingers carefully traced over his skin ¨C the blooming pattern of glowing cherry blossoms was gone.


    ¡°It''s gone...¡± she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else.


    She quickly reached for her belt, undid a small bag and pulled out a glass vial. She opened the cork, a fine smoke rose, then she gently tilted the man''s head back, let the liquid slowly drip into his mouth, then closed it and pushed his chin up slightly to make him swallow.


    Meanwhile, Shin carefully moved away from the carriage. His steps were slow and unsteady, but firm.


    ¡°My name is Shin,¡± he said in a weak voice. ¡°And I come from the village of Sadek.¡±


    Taro didn''t react immediately, his forehead wrinkled slightly. ¡°Sadek...?¡± he murmured, almost to himself.


    Then he stepped closer, his voice louder and clearer: ¡°I am Taro. This is my companion Sana. We are just outside Stonehead ¨C a town in the mountains of the kingdom of Flores.¡±


    But Shin barely noticed him. Without a word, he walked past him, directly to the old man on the ground.


    He stopped next to Sana, looked briefly at the man, then at her.


    ¡°You said you were a healer. Then you are the one who treated my injuries?¡±


    Sana looked up, surprised, and nodded.


    Shin bowed slightly. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She was about to say something in return, but her voice faltered when she saw how Shin was swaying. ¡°How can you even move with these injuries?¡± she asked in wonder.


    But before Shin could answer, his body slumped.


    The pain had caught up with him.


    His knees buckled, his body fell ¨C but Sana didn''t manage to catch him.


    At that same moment, the dark mist gathered around Shin once more.


    It enveloped his body like a protective veil ¨C and disappeared with him.


    All that remained was a soft breeze.


    In the great hall of Citrine Palace, deep inside the mountain of the same name, an unusual calm prevailed. A soft, warm glow from crystal lights lay over the room, which had been hewn out of the rock itself. The table was large, round and made of black stone. The food steamed on it, smelling of roasted meat, steamed vegetables and aromatic herbs.


    Three people were sitting at the table: Jaseol, the keeper of Citrine, Sana, and Taro.


    Jaseol, his voice calm but firm, leaned back slightly as he put his cutlery aside. ¡°So that''s how it is. Then I can count on your help?¡±


    Taro put aside the last bite of his food, wiped his mouth, and leaned back, relaxed. ¡°As soon as I know what I''m getting into... so, what can you tell me about the Black Orlov?¡±


    Jaseol was silent for a moment, as if he had to weigh something in his mind. Then he nodded slowly. ¡°We don''t know much. The first attacks on Citrine and Paraiba were about four years ago. Since then, no one has been able to hold one of their followers for more than an hour.¡±


    ¡°An hour?¡± Sana looked at him in surprise.


    Taro sat up a little straighter, his eyes brightening.


    Jaseol continued, ¡°Yes. We have managed to capture members several times. But then it begins ¨C their skin changes. As if something inside them is awakening. A divine blessing, we suspect. One that we do not understand. It torments them... until they die.¡±


    Taro nodded slowly. ¡°So... just like with the man from earlier.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Jaseol''s voice was now lower, more serious. ¡°But in all the chaos, we did manage to glean one important piece of information: they have a leader ¨C and under him, five special followers. They''re called the Five Stones.¡±


    Sana looked down. ¡°The Five Stones...¡± she murmured.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Jaseol leaned his elbows on the table and folded his hands. ¡°They say they are his most loyal servants. Each of them commands a different group. Their job is to recruit strangers like you ¨C tourists, travelers. They lure them with jobs and good pay... and turn them against the city.¡±


    Taro closed his eyes briefly. His forehead furrowed.


    ¡°Their goal is Alexandrit. But in all these years, they have never been able to get past the guardians.¡±


    A brief moment of silence.


    Then Taro leaned back, letting his head fall back. ¡°So they want to get to the top...¡±


    His gaze changed. He straightened up, pushed the chair back with a short jerk, walked around the table and headed resolutely for the exit.


    ¡°Sana. Come.¡±


    Jaseol raised his head in surprise. ¡°Taro? What are you going to do now?¡±


    Taro stopped in the doorway and looked over his shoulder. ¡°I''m going to find someone.¡±


    Then he left the room.


    Sana stood up slowly, casting an apologetic glance at Jaseol. ¡°Thank you for the meal, Overseer Jaseol. Don''t hold it against him... but he''s the best I know.¡±


    Jaseol only smiled mildly, reached for the teapot and poured himself a cup calmly. ¡°Then I wish you luck.¡±


    Sana bowed slightly ¨C and followed Taro.


    Somewhere in Stonehead. Deep beneath the city''s roots.


    A dark room. The air was still, as if holding its breath. In the middle of the room rose a throne, carved from pure rock, noble and ancient ¨C its shape tapering to a point, like a crown of cold stone.


    On either side stood statues: one made of gleaming white, crystal-clear rock. The other of deep black obsidian, rough and ominous.


    A silhouette stepped before the empty throne.


    Silently. Quietly.


    The figure''s gaze lowered ¨C symbols were set into the ground in front of the throne, carved into stone: circles, intertwined lines, ancient runes.


    Then one of the stones glowed ¨C violet.


    A crack opened in the air, and a first figure emerged from it.


    Further signs awakened: red, blue, green, pink.


    Portals opened, one after the other. Five shadows emerged. Their outlines distorted, their faces hidden.


    But two of the stones before the throne remained dark.


    Silent.


    Untouched.


    Then the figure before the throne spoke, its voice deep and authoritative:


    ¡°The time has come. The Feast of Hope approaches ¨C the day when they believe they will bring light back. But we... we bring darkness. We will bend all three kingdoms. We will bring true hope back to our world.¡±