Two days after the selection of the throne candidates, a tournament loomed to determine the kingdom's next ruler. The candidates were: Anon Xembo, the wealthiest nobleman; Luna, the adopted princess and fallen royal; Qshon Shun, the vice commander of the king's soldiers and adopted son; Choenil Lina, the king's true daughter and commander of the king's soldiers; and Nexus Nebula, a mysterious individual chosen by the king under unusual circumstances.
Anon, planning a meeting with Luna at his mansion, waited anxiously by the window. Upon her arrival, he greeted her with, "Welcome to my little mansion, my lady." Luna, however, bristled at his formal tone.
"Anon," she said, "we're both candidates for the throne. We're equals!"
Anon, gazing at her, replied, "My father taught me to treat a girl like a princess."
Luna blushed, then shifted the conversation. "Then why didn't you treat the goddess, Lux Aeterna, like a princess? Answer me."
Anon paused, looking towards Lux Aeterna. "That's a difficult question. Perhaps I didn't see her as a girl, but as something else."
Luna's anger flared. "Explain yourself!"
Remembering their pact of mutual trust and secrecy, Anon revealed his extraordinary past, providing more detail:
"Luna, you must believe me. Originally, there was only one universe, a single world inhabited by modern humans. These humans were exceptionally skilled at discovery and innovation, constantly finding new ways to survive and thrive. My parents were among them, living ordinary lives until a cataclysmic event occurred: the appearance of a new star. This star imbued all humans with extraordinary abilities, powers previously relegated to the realm of myth and legend. These abilities ranged from minor enhancements to godlike powers of creation and destruction.
The ensuing years were a period of rapid change and upheaval. Humans quickly mastered their newfound abilities, some using them for good, others for selfish gain. Many, overwhelmed by their power, abandoned their humanity and declared themselves gods, creating their own universes and leaving the original world behind. My parents were among those who ascended to godhood. My mother is Lux Aeterna, a being of immense power and light. My father, however, was deeply troubled by this transformation. He witnessed the destruction and chaos wrought by the newly empowered humans and couldn't reconcile it with his own sense of morality. He believed humanity was meant for something more.
Driven by this belief, my father, using his unique ability to manipulate the very fabric of existence, created hundreds of new universes, each carefully crafted to support new civilizations of normal humans, free from the godlike powers and the conflicts that had ravaged their original world. He and my mother worked tirelessly to manage and protect these new universes, ensuring the survival and prosperity of their inhabitants.
But I was different. I was born with an even more extraordinary ability: the power to surpass any concept, to redefine reality itself. This power was both a gift and a curse. It was so immense, so potentially destructive, that my father feared its consequences. To protect me, and the universes he had created, he made the ultimate sacrifice. When I was five years old, he sacrificed himself to create a new body for me, a vessel designed to contain and suppress my overwhelming power, ensuring I couldn't accidentally reshape reality in catastrophic ways. His final words to me were, 'Be fair and choose a hard way to grow, my son.'
I lived for many years in this world, unaware of my origins, until I discovered that my mother, who had abandoned me after my father's death, was worshipped as a goddess. I came to this kingdom for two reasons: to connect with my mother, and to find 'The Root,' a being of immense power who granted my mother her all-knowing abilities. I believe understanding the source of her power is crucial to understanding my own."
Luna, believing his story, asked, "Can you restore your mother's memories?"
Anon smiled. "You're kind, Luna. I'll restore her memories, but not her power."
He approached his mother, placing his palm on her head. Lux Aeterna regained her memories, surveying her surroundings.
"So, I'm captured by my abnormal son. Why am I in a maid's outfit? And who is that girl?"
Anon looked at his mother. "You haven't changed your arrogance, Mom. This is Luna, one of your former worshippers."
Lux approached Luna. "Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty."
Luna, embarrassed, stammered, "No, not yet."
Lux continued, "Let me introduce myself. I am Lux Aeterna, former goddess of light and peace, now a mother paying for neglecting her abnormal son. I only like white. I hate other colors. I don't like being called beautiful, but 'pretty' is acceptable. And I'm approximately 903 million years old."
Luna's approach was a mixture of shock and curiosity.
"Hey, Anon, you said your mother only regained her memories, right?"
Anon replied, "Yes, why do you ask?"
Luna was wary. She feared Lux might reveal her identity to the kingdoms people, inciting an attack on Anon.
But Lux sensed her apprehension. "Don't worry, Luna. Once I lose my power, I'll be a normal human."
Reassured by this, and by the lack of secrets between them, Luna's trust in Anon and Lux solidified. It wasn't based on appearances, but on their unwavering honesty.
"By the way, Anon," Luna began, "you said your father sacrificed himself to create a vessel to seal your immense power. Then how did you defeat your mother?"
Anon chuckled at Luna's insightful question. "It's true my father sealed my immense power, but to understand how I defeated my mother, you need to know I have two distinct abilities. Sadly, only one was sealed, even with his sacrifice. I call them Transcend To Above (TTA) and I Know Myself (IKM). TTA lets me transcend any concept or boundary, overcoming limitations. IKM, however, was the one sealed. My father did this by duplicating or separating my reality into two. One of those realities, a separate body, is essentially lifeless, incapable of feeling. That body is the one sealed, still connected to me, but beyond my control."
Luna remained unsatisfied. "Still, how did you defeat your mother?"
Anon sighed, offering a clearer explanation. "My mother is incredibly powerful. She controls the very root, the source of light itself. With it, she can erase anything—like light dispelling darkness. She can also predict and control the future movements of anything within her sight. But with my TTA, I've transcended the concepts of control and erasure. I've surpassed the very concept of being erased, rendering her power ineffective against me."
Luna's curiosity wasn't driven by simple inquisitiveness, but by the awe-inspiring realization that she was conversing with a being who could truly be called a god.
"Okay," she said, "this is my last question, Anon. Did you already discover who gave your mother—and all the other gods—their power?"
Anon shook his head. "It's still unknown."
Their lengthy discussion concluded, and Luna spotted Choenil and Qshon walking outside. She called them over, introducing them to Anon and facilitating a meeting between the fellow throne candidates.