Evening skies began to fade, leaving an orange hue suspended between the ruins of Griteul. A gentle breeze passed, carrying the scent of dust and memories now reduced to rubble. At the edge of Griteul's cliff, three figures stood facing each other—Yeon, Caius, and Kael.
Caius and Kael stared in disbelief, their eyes filled with raw emotions.
"Impossible..." Caius's voice was heavy, laced with anger and disappointment. "This city... was destroyed by the vessels?"
Kael gritted his teeth, his eyes reddened as he tried to contain the turmoil. "I thought it was the work of monsters... but you're saying... they were being controlled? By humans?"
Yeon nodded slowly, as if not wanting to deepen the wound with certainty. "Yes. The vessels used the monsters as a veil. A veil to hide the blood they spilled. I don't yet know the reason... but the fact remains undeniable."
Caius turned his gaze toward the darkening sky. "How can you be so sure?"
Yeon raised a finger and tapped the side of his head with a slight smile. "Because nearly all the information in this world... exists in my mind."
That sentence stole the breath from the air. Caius and Kael glanced at each other, as if to make sure they hadn't misheard.
"Your ability… it's not just teleportation?" Caius asked, recalling the night Yeon vanished in an instant.
"Teleportation is merely one of many abilities I possess," Yeon replied. "But it doesn't come from a fragment."
"Then… where does it come from?"
Yeon didn't answer. Instead, he removed the black sunglasses he had never taken off. And in that moment, time seemed to stop.
Yeon's left eye glowed red. Six symbols spun around his pupil—a chain, an inverted crown, an hourglass, an infinity symbol, a sphere with a white dot, and an inverted cross. Each symbol radiated an invisible pressure, as if each held a will beyond human comprehension.
Kael swallowed hard. "What… is that?"
"The Six Eyes of the Gods," Yeon said flatly.
Caius then looked to Yeon's right eye. A violet pupil, with a white crystalline shape within.
"And that?"
"The Omniscient Eye," Yeon answered. "It's the source of my fragment's power. But my left eye doesn't come from a fragment."
Silence fell. Awe and fear swirled in the hearts of Kael and Caius.
"But unfortunately… your curiosity ends here," Yeon said, putting his sunglasses back on. "Because you're still too weak."
That statement struck their pride. But not with anger—rather, with realization.
Yeon gazed at the ruins. "I will rebuild this city. Not as it was, but stronger… more meaningful. Not for those who exploited it, but for those worthy of living in it."
"Brother Yeon, are you… serious?" Kael could barely believe it.
"Absolutely," Yeon replied. "I need you both. But… you're not ready."
Caius remained silent, contemplating the immense weight of Yeon's words.
"The Central Elites—"
"They have no right," Yeon cut in, his voice sharp. "They discarded Griteul like garbage. So don't blame me if one day I kill anyone who claims authority over it."
Kael and Caius froze. Their entire bodies trembled without understanding why.
"Now tell me… will you help me bring Griteul back to life?" Yeon asked, his voice calm yet full of power.
"Of course!" Kael responded without hesitation.
Caius nodded. "If it means saving our heritage… I'm with you."
Yeon gave a faint smile. "I like your spirit… But there's something you need to know, Caius. You possess two fragments."
"What…?"
"Have you ever felt energy within you that didn't feel like your own?"
"…Yes," Caius replied quietly. "So that was—"
"Your second fragment."
Kael glanced at his brother, then at Yeon. "What about me? I have a fragment too…?"
"You're a pure vessel. Your fragment awakened through something deeper… memory. And your power will be extraordinary."
Kael tilted his head. "Then… what's my ability?"
Yeon didn't answer. He just smiled. "It seems you haven't fully recognized your fragment, Kael. You'll know once you understand it."
With a snap of his fingers, the sound of shhkkk cut through the air.
A tall figure emerged from thin air—an insect-like being resembling a praying mantis, its segmented body standing upright like a knight. Its red eyes gleamed menacingly, black wings reflecting light like obsidian.
"Zeith?" Caius and Kael whispered together.
"My king…" the deep voice resonated from the creature as it knelt, one hand across its chest. "I have arrived as ordered."
"W-Wait… Did he just call you king?" Kael turned to Yeon, confused.
Caius stared ahead, thoughts racing. "Then… who are you really…?"
Yeon only smiled. "A human, like you. But my path… is different. You'll understand soon enough."
They grew wary, but Yeon showed no signs of hostility. Only calm.
"Zeith, train Kael. And send a message to Siron… it's time to train Caius."
Zeith nodded. "Should Siron and I teach them how to use… that?"
"Yes," Yeon affirmed. "Teach them how to harness the power of nothingness."
Zeith froze for a moment, then bowed deeply. "As you command, my king."
He turned to Caius and Kael, studying them.
"Interesting… Two people with remarkable potential."
Caius and Kael exchanged confused glances.
Zeith raised his right hand, ripping open space and creating an interdimensional portal. "Let's begin your training."
Yeon smiled at them both. "You have nine months. Prove yourselves worthy if you wish to help me rebuild this city."
They were shocked—it felt too short a time.
Then Caius smiled. "Alright then. I'll train seriously. Wait for me, Yeon, I'll catch up!"
Kael smiled too. "Me too… I'll grow stronger so I can help you!"
Yeon was pleased by their enthusiasm. "I'll be waiting for you… both."
Then Zeith, Kael, and Caius stepped into the portal.
___
Abyss — The Unclaimed Territory
At the edge of the eternal, silent Abyss, Siron stood alone atop a jagged cliff. His shadow reflected faintly on the obsidian-black ground. Above him churned not clouds—but something denser than void, raging in silence.
Without a word, Siron raised his right hand.
"—This is enough."
A soft snap echoed. Not loud, but enough to sever the boundary between places.
In an instant—faster than a blink—the Abyss vanished as if it had never existed. What remained was a new world, vast enough to swallow the horizon, intricate enough that even sky and earth seemed woven by laws from nowhere.
It wasn't just a world.
It was a space created by Siron.
A personal realm where he was God. Here, he dictated time, designed the sky, allowed the wind to blow only because he willed it.
And without notice, millions of colossal beings from another dimension were already within it. Their shift was too swift, too silent. Even the most instinct-driven of them didn't realize they'd been displaced.
Siron stood in the center of the barren field, motionless as a statue. But the air around him grew taut. The ground beneath the monsters pulsed like a heartbeat. The sky radiated an unseen pressure.
Then they charged.
Siron raised one hand.
With no grand gesture, the sky split like paper. From the tear, dark light poured down, burning the front lines. Their bodies were caught by invisible threads of light—like steel wires—pulling them upward into the closing rift.
They didn't scream.
They vanished, devoured by Siron's will within his own world.
More waves surged forward. But the land folded like fabric, creating bottomless pits that devoured hundreds in seconds.
Siron walked.
With each step, energy pillars burst from the ground, slashing through the air, breaking enemy formations. He snapped his fingers again, and the terrain rearranged like a chessboard, repositioning the monsters according to his thoughts. They lost direction, lost the ability to distinguish friend from foe. Some even turned on each other.
Siron raised his left hand.
Air froze. Thousands of beings stiffened, their eyes wide. Not just their bodies, but their intent had been halted.
"You are not guests. You are nuisances."
He slowly lowered his hand. And as he did, black spears rained from the sky. Each pierced an enemy silently, without blood—like their bodies were made of fog and emptiness.
But their death was not mere erasure. It was rejection—rejection by the world Siron had created.
The final wave approached. Larger, faster, more vicious beings.
Siron reached sideways, and a massive sword of energy descended from the sky into his hand. He ran.
And the world moved with him.
With one slash, he split the battlefield. His strike cut both sky and land, and from the wound came star-like fire. Ten, twenty, fifty monsters were cleaved in one motion.
Then came thunderous steps.
A fortress-sized creature with three heads emerged from the mist. It roared, shaking the realm. But Siron vanished—appearing on its shoulder, then on its head, touching its forehead.
"Return to your origin."
Instantly, the creature disintegrated into white dust, carried by the winds of Siron's world. No battle. No resistance.
For in this world, Siron was God.
He controlled every direction, every command, every possibility.
He closed his eyes, and silence returned. No trace of the outsiders remained.
Then, his world crumbled—reverting to the Abyss.
The battle had ended… before it even began.
___
A dimensional rift slowly tore through the air like cracks on fragile glass. Dark light seeped through, accompanied by a foreign breeze and unseen pressure. From the rift emerged three figures—Zeith, Kael, and Caius.
Siron turned, standing amidst the now-quiet land of the Abyss, sharp eyes hiding ungraspable depth.
"Hmph… you've finally arrived. You should've seen earlier. I just swept dimensional trash without even moving my feet much," he said, calm with a hint of sarcasm.
Zeith chuckled. "As dramatic as ever, Siron."
"Dramatic? I call it efficient. Unlike you, who always reeks of dead insects."
Kael and Caius exchanged glances, sensing the heavy atmosphere—not of hostility, but mutual respect between rivals.
Siron looked at them, his gaze like a blade.
"You two… interesting. My king's eyes never fail. The potential within you radiates so strongly I could smell it from another world. But don't get cocky—you're still far beneath our King."
Kael swallowed. "Our King… you mean… Yeon?"
Caius stepped closer to Zeith. "Who is he, really?"
Zeith looked at Siron, then replied. "He is Siron. Our King Yeon's strongest subordinate. Arguably the second most powerful being after Yeon himself."
"Subordinate… strongest? A… human…?"
Zeith shook his head. "No. He is a demon. A pure one. One of the last from the Abyssal Primordial Race. Lord of Darkness—Vacua!"
Kael and Caius froze. The word "demon" uprooted their logic.
"Demons… are real?" Caius whispered.
"Real. As real as I stand before you," Zeith replied. "The Abyss isn't empty. Within it live many races: demons, humanoid insects like me, Drakyn—descendants of dragons, Sylith spirits, the Therak who control elements, and Wargs—outerworldly beings like humans, but superior."
Kael looked around the Abyss, realizing how small he was here.
Siron spoke again. "But not all Abyssal beings are like us. The creatures invading Earth are mindless monsters—they only kill and destroy. They tear through dimensions, causing instability you call 'reality rifts.'"
He looked up at the calming sky.
"But it's not just them. Some sentient beings are now invading Earth—not to rampage, but to expand territory, seize resources. Power is addictive, and the Abyss… is never short on greedy monsters."
Zeith stepped forward, gazing at the two humans.
"But our King is different. He rejects all of that. And you two… have been chosen not for your current strength, but for your potential."
Siron narrowed his eyes. "Your potential is almost limitless. Especially you, Kael."
Kael blinked. "Me…?"
Siron nodded. "Your fragment doesn't just grant strength. It reacts instinctively to your opponent's fragment, shaping your power based on theirs. Your ability is Heavenly Reflection—a special fragment that lets you adapt to your opponent's abilities, copying them—twice as strong."
Kael held his breath. "That sounds… too incredible."
"It is. Even stronger than your brother's. But…" Siron turned to Caius. "You are no shadow. Your foundation is more stable. And your second fragment will balance your power."
Caius stood tall. "What is this second power…?"
Siron snapped his fingers. A golden chain-like shadow appeared behind Caius.
"Divine Chain, Veluctus."
"That chain is your second fragment's manifestation. A chain born from nothingness. It doesn't just bind—it absorbs. It devours energy, destroys attacks, and shields its user." He continued, "As a weapon, it becomes a living whip from hell—chasing, coiling, crushing, or devouring enemies entirely."
Caius stood frozen.
"As defense, Veluctus forms a dome of obsidian chains around you, resisting anything—gravity, spirit attacks, even distorted time."
Caius could barely believe it. "That's… amazing…"
Siron nodded slowly. "You need balance. One fragment for control, one for strength. But remember… such power demands perfect control. Without it, you'll destroy yourself before your enemy."
Zeith added, "That's why our King sent you here. You won't just train… you'll be reforged. If you fail… the world loses two great hopes."
Siron stepped forward, wind avoiding his presence.
"We begin now. Caius, with me. Zeith, take the time-child."
Zeith patted Kael's shoulder. "Don't underestimate this. Siron isn't just a demon… he's every race's nightmare. Even the rulers of the Abyss keep silent at the mention of his name."
Siron chuckled. "Stop flattering me, insect. I only do what needs to be done."
Zeith smiled. "And that's why… you're feared."
They parted ways, guiding the two humans whose lives were now gambled.
Their training begins—not to grow strong, but to become worthy of Yeon's dream.
They had only nine months.
And the Abyss… knows no mercy.