In a forest beneath a towering mountain.
Florehill (shocked, chuckling lightly):
"Milady, it is a great honor to accompany you on your journey! I cannot refuse."
Zalaworia (smiling at him):
"Good! Then you shall be my companion on this journey!"
Florehill and Zalaworia decided to celebrate Florehill's joining. They began their festivities in the heart of the forest, clearly enjoying themselves, laughing and chatting.
Zalaworia (suddenly, placing her cup on the table and becoming serious):
"Florehill, do you know the story of the Underworld?"
Florehill (stopping his drink, looking intrigued):
"Actually, no! I don't know its story. As far as I know, only the Demon Lady knows the tale and history of the Underworld."
Zalaworia (smiling lightly):
"Then let me tell you an ancient story, a tale from before time."
Florehill listened with eager attention.
Zalaworia:
"Before primitive chaos came into being, four worlds emerged:
The first is called Hell,
The second Nirath,
The third the Abyss,
And the fourth Gate Zero, or the Black Gate.
These worlds were united under a single name: 'The Underworld.' With their creation, ten beings appeared, known as the Ten Ancestors.
They lived behind Gate Zero, a place said to hold no time or space, no understanding, no law, no order!
These ten decided, after some time, to create ten layers in Hell, each ruled by one of them, with its own inhabitants.
Hell:
Its inhabitants are very weak demons, their power limited to within Hell itself. Its size equals an entire spiritual world.
Nirath:
Over 100 billion light-years away from Hell. Its inhabitants are different, but the place is chaotic, lawless; chaos is the only law! Souls are imprisoned and tortured here; some survive and return to the real world, others never do. It is the prison of demons who sinned.
The Abyss:
The most terrifying place in the universe. Its inhabitants appear peaceful but are merciless demons. Their power is measured in horns; the more horns, the greater the strength and authority. This world seems like a boundless cosmos, and its creatures' power is terrifying—even I, the Demon Lady, do not wish to face them."
Florehill (astonished):
"To the point that they are that powerful?"
Zalaworia (narrowing her eyes in a calm, serious tone):
"Much more than that. They are the pure embodiment of cruelty and ruthlessness. They are the hardest to govern and organize in the Underworld, and they are the nobility of it. The Abyss holds the 'Black Darkness,' guarded by twenty of the strongest Abyss inhabitants, a convergence of infinite universes into one point.
Gate Zero, or the Black Gate:
A black gate marked with zero, located somewhere in the Abyss, impossible to enter. Its size equals thirty limitless universes. Behind it reside the Ten Ancestors and the Demon Lady—which is me, by the way! Each ancestor was born with the birth of the Underworld, older than primitive chaos itself.
They are truly terrifying beings, yet extremely mysterious. They emerge once every thousand centuries and then vanish. They are sometimes called 'the Shadows of the Underworld.' But no one can breach the Gate, as it exists beyond time, space, and all laws.
This is the beginning of the Underworld... the point from which everything originated.
The End."
Florehill (astonished, thoughtful):
"Milady, you said all Ten Ancestors came with the birth of the Underworld. Why don't I remember anything? I feel as if I just woke up."
Zalaworia (silent for a moment, then looking at him seriously):
"Listen carefully… what I am about to tell you must remain a secret!"
Florehill (fearful):
"Of course, it will remain a secret!"
Zalaworia:
"There is a being called Shadow Zero, or Ancestor Zero: Iltharon. The first creature to emerge with the Underworld at its inception. He had 100 black wings, the tips red as blood, 30 black horns, long white hair, and wore a headband of black and gold covering his eyes.
He may appear gentle, angelic even, but he is a terrifying demon! He was the first to arise with the Underworld, holding no feelings in his heart—I doubt he even has one! He pursues only his ambition, caring for no one.
The first time I saw him, terror gripped me, as if I had seen the literal meaning of 'demon.' He bore no life in his heart. His steps left a heavy aura as if twenty mountains were crushing me.
This being is the one who erased knowledge from the heads of the Ten Ancestors!"
Florehill (shocked and fearful):
"I've heard of him before, Ancestor Zero told me, but I've never seen him. In fact, no Underworld inhabitant, not even the Ten Ancestors, has ever seen him! He has been hidden from view from the very beginning."
Zalaworia:
"You must not see him; if he looks at you, you might die from the fear he instills. His real name is… Nagrial Q-O Mugen!"
Florehill was about to speak the name, but Zalaworia immediately stopped him.
Zalaworia (fearful and serious):
"Never, ever speak his name! Merely saying it is forbidden for anyone below the Demon Lady. If you dare speak it… you will die instantly! And it is forbidden… (she hesitated) for all below the Ten Ancestors to hear it!"
Zalaworia looked at Florehill with concern. Terror filled his heart; he began to sweat in fear. He tried to speak the name, but his tongue froze, his mind locked, his eyes turned black.
Suddenly, his body exploded into pieces.
Florehill (shocked, unable to speak):
"What's happening here?!"
Zalaworia:
"Florehill, let me tell you the story of Nagrial Q-O Mugen, Shadow Zero! He was the first to emerge with the Underworld. After his arrival, he created ten beings, each carrying a part of his power, later known as the Ten Ancestors, or the Ten Shadows of the Underworld.
Nagrial Q-O Mugen is the living, moving embodiment of the Underworld itself, its supreme will, even surpassing the 'First Primitive' in authority."
Florehill:
"Why does he wear a headband over his eyes?"
Zalaworia:
"When I first met him, I asked. He said that 20,000 centuries after the Underworld's creation, his right red eye went out of control, and he could no longer control his power. Later, the same happened with his left black eye. So he began wearing the headband."
Florehill (stunned):
"I can't believe it! Even this being has uncontrollable power!"
Zalaworia (with a faint smile):
"It truly is unbelievable."
Suddenly, she remembered:
"Right, I almost forgot, Florehill. Could you lend me your weapon of destruction? I left my weapons in the Underworld, in the castle."
Florehill (blinking twice from shock, shouting):
"How can you forget something like that? Weapons of destruction! If anyone touches them, it could destroy the order of the Underworld!"
Zalaworia (trying to calm him):
"Calm down, everyone forgets things sometimes."
Florehill (resigned):
"What's the problem? Are you joking? Do you even know what the Weapons of Destruction are?"
Zalaworia (hesitant, feigning confidence):
"Of course… wait, what exactly are the Weapons of Destruction?"
Florehill:
"…"
Zalaworia:
"Actually, I don't know!"
Florehill (face dropping in shock):
"You don't know?! The Weapons of Destruction are twenty weapons: ten divided among the Ten Ancestors, two taken by the Demon Lady, two others by Ancestor Zero. The remaining seven are forbidden even to the highest authority of the Underworld!
The first weapon, Lord of Destruction Laroth, belongs to Ancestor Zero; it is said to cut through anything, nothing can resist it.
The second is the Hand of Destruction, 'Void.' When activated, your hand turns white, and everything it touches vanishes from existence, even the soul. Legend says it can erase creatures that death itself does not know."
Zalaworia (interrupting, uninterested):
"Yes, yes, I know that! Just give me your weapon, I promise I'll return it."
Florehill (disappointed):
"What's wrong with you?"
Zalaworia:
"What?"
Florehill:
"Nothing."
Zalaworia (insistent):
"Then give me your Weapon of Destruction."
Florehill:
"Of course not! How could I give it to you? Absolutely not!"
Zalaworia (angry):
"Are you defying your Lady's order? Give it to me, I command you as the Demon Lady, not as a friend!"
Florehill (mocking):
"Oh, sorry, Demon Lady, I cannot give it to you, forgive me."
Zalaworia:
"You scoundrel! Give it to me!"
Zalaworia lunged at Florehill, and they began to fight over the weapon.
In the end, Zalaworia gave up and decided to go to the Underworld to retrieve her own Weapon of Destruction.
Zalaworia:
"I promise I won't forget this."
Florehill (dramatic, sarcastic):
"Oh no, milady, please! Don't do it, nooooo!"
Zalaworia left without looking back.
Florehill:
"Finally, she's gone."
He began searching for his weapon and couldn't find it. Anxiety and sweat filled him.
Florehill:
"Where did it go? Wait… I forgot my weapons too!"
He ran toward a suddenly appearing gate and entered, heading to the Underworld behind Zalaworia.
(To be continued…)