Long before the current Pantheon War, when gods still ruled with near-absolute dominion and ancient demons lurked at the edge of reality, a catastrophic event threatened all creation.
The Ancient Demon, a primordial force older than the gods themselves, had broken free from its cosmic prison beneath the Shattered Reach—a realm where realities intertwined and fractured.
This demon's power was so immense it could consume entire worlds, devour divine essences, and unravel the very fabric of time.
The Call to Arms
Sensing the threat, the Celestial Sovereign—the ruler of the pantheon—summoned a unique force: The Ascendants.
This was no ordinary team. They were children born with fragments of the New Gods' power, warriors destined to stand against the impossible.
Led by Chris, the strongest and most disciplined among them, The Ascendants were humanity's shield against cosmic annihilation.
Flashback — 7 Years Ago
Location: The Shattered Reach, where an ancient demon was sealedTeam Assembled: The Ascendants — led by Chris, summoned by the Celestial Sovereign
The skies above the Shattered Reach were torn open with thunder. Cracks of divine light sliced through clouds soaked in the screams of the past. Beneath it all stood the last line of defense—The Ascendants.
Valen stood at the edge of a cliff, his cloak shredded by violent winds, his eyes fixed on the chasm below. A black mist oozed up from the pit—ancient, poisonous, and wrong. Even gods had fled this place once.
Chris, the leader, stepped forward, silver gauntlets glowing.
"Whatever's down there—it killed gods before they had names. No hesitation. No mercy."
Valen nodded, masking his nerves. The team fanned out. Pyros, Gaelon, Starseer, and Nyxia—each born with shards of New God power, each trained to hold back the apocalypse.
But as the first wave of demonspawn burst forth, time seemed to bend.
A portal opened—a circle of celestial gold. Out stepped a woman cloaked in starlight and fury, her long silver-white gown trailing divine fire. She raised her hand, and the air itself bowed.
"By command of the Celestial Sovereign," she declared, "this domain is under divine lockdown."
Her voice was commanding. Untouchable.
Valen stared at her as the rest of the team hesitated. The woman's eyes were glowing blue like twin comets. Her expression cold. Royal. Unreachable.
Then her gaze landed on him.
And something in the world… paused.
Their eyes locked. For one breath. One heartbeat.In that silence, Valen didn't see a goddess.
He saw a girl who looked just as caged as him.
Later that night, after the demon was sealed and the team treated their wounds, Valen found her alone near the cliff's edge, gazing at the stars like they whispered secrets only she could hear.
"You saved us back there," he said quietly.
"You saved yourselves," she replied. "I was sent to observe. Nothing more."
"What's your name?"
"Aurelia."
"I'm Valen."
She gave a faint smile—but it didn't reach her eyes.
"You shouldn't be talking to me."
"You shouldn't be standing alone in a place like this," he shot back.
She laughed softly. It was the first real sound of life he'd heard all day.
From that night on, he couldn't stop thinking about her.And from that night on, Chris began to notice.
The Battle
The Ascendants descended upon the Shattered Reach, confronting the demon and its horde of shadowspawn.
Each member wielded incredible gifts:
Chris with his silver gauntlets, striking with the force of a thousand storms.
Pyros, igniting the skies with infernos born of divine fire.
Starseer, bending light and glimpsing possible futures.
Gaelon, commanding the earth itself to shake and crush enemies.
Nyxia, melding into shadows to strike unseen.
Cyrix, harnessing ancient technology to level the battlefield.
The clash was apocalyptic.
The ground cracked. Stars dimmed. Time flickered like a dying candle.
But through grit, sacrifice, and unyielding will, The Ascendants sealed the demon back into its prison—though not without cost.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The victory saved countless realms but shattered the unity among gods and mortals alike.
It marked the beginning of the Pantheon War, where gods feared the rise of mortal champions bearing godlike power.
Chris and Valen, his closest friend and ally, survived the battle—forever changed by the horrors they faced and the choices they made.
Chris's team became legends—heroes who could stand toe-to-toe with gods and win.
But their victories were bittersweet. Some were lost, others changed forever.
Flashback — Days After the Demon Battle
Location: The Hall of Echoes, The Ascendants' hidden base
The room was quiet, lit only by the glowing relics of past missions. Valen stood alone at the training altar, fists wrapped, pounding away at a glowing slab of divine stone. Sweat rolled down his face. He was faster, stronger than ever—but distracted.
Chris entered.
He didn't speak right away. He just watched. His presence was heavy—the kind that made the air feel thinner.
"You've been different since the Reach," Chris finally said.
Valen kept punching.
"I'm fine."
"You're thinking about her. The goddess."
Valen stopped. Turned.
"Her name is Aurelia."
Chris stepped forward, jaw clenched.
"She's the daughter of the Celestial Sovereign, Valen. One of the most powerful gods in existence. She wasn't there for you. She was there on orders."
"You don't know her."
"And you don't know what you're playing with."
Chris's voice cracked a little, like it hurt to say.
"You're my brother, Valen. I watched you grow from a scared kid to the strongest warrior I've ever fought beside. And now you want to throw all of that away for... what? A girl you just met?"
"She's not just a girl," Valen said. "She understands what it's like to be chained by duty. She didn't choose to be a goddess any more than we chose to be weapons."
Chris's eyes hardened.
"I'm telling you this as your friend. Stay away from her. Her father will never let you be with her. And if he finds out—he won't just kill you."
"He'll destroy everyone you care about."
Silence.
Valen's fists trembled. He looked away, then back.
"Then I'll run. I'll vanish. No one else will get hurt."
Chris stepped in close.
"You can't outrun gods, Valen."
Valen's eyes burned with something deeper than fire.
"Then let them try."
Secret Meeting — Midnight at the Veiled Glade
The moon hung low, casting silvery light over the whispering trees of the Veiled Glade—a place between realms, hidden from prying eyes.
Aurelia's footsteps were light but hurried, her silver-white gown trailing faint sparks that dimmed whenever a shadow flickered nearby. Her glowing blue eyes scanned the darkness with a mix of caution and hope.
She wasn't supposed to be here.
Her father's warnings echoed in her mind:"Never trust a mortal. Especially not one who steals your heart."
But tonight, she defied them all.
A rustle in the bushes.
Valen stepped out, his dark cloak blending with the night, his eyes bright with a mixture of relief and urgency.
"You're late," he said softly.
"I had to be sure no one followed me."
"You risk so much."
She looked down, brushing a stray lock of silver hair behind her ear.
"I can't stay chained to expectations that aren't mine."
"Then what do you want?"
Her gaze locked with his, fierce and raw.
"Freedom. To choose my path. To love… whoever I want."
Valen stepped closer, reaching out to take her hand.
"Then we'll find a way—together."
But shadows shifted at the glade's edge. A cold voice cut through the night.
"Aurelia."
They both froze.
From the darkness emerged a guardian of the pantheon, eyes glowing with divine authority.
"You will return at once. Your absence has been noted."
Aurelia's grip tightened on Valen's hand.
"I'm not going back."
Valen's jaw clenched.
"Then I'll protect you. No matter the cost."
As they vanished into the night, the whisper of ancient powers stirred—their secret love igniting a spark that would soon engulf gods and mortals alike.