Long before the age of kings and wars, before hunger or deceit had ever touched the hearts of men, gods and humans lived side by side upon the earth. In those ancient days, humanity could see the difference between gods and mortals clearly their radiance, their presence, their very breath carried the weight of divinity. And so, humans honored them not out of fear, but with reverent respect.
There was no war, no theft, no bloodshed, and not even hunger. The gods kept the earth fertile and abundant, ensuring peace and order in all things. Justice was swift, corruption unheard of.
These divine beings were ten in number each a pillar of creation and power. Ok
Enoch, god of divine and ultimate power, was the greatest among them, his strength unmatched and his wisdom infinite.
Iris, goddess of war, fierce and beautiful, was the protector of the innocent.
Zorathos, god of fire and judgment, burned with passion and fairness.
Kaerlvryn, god of storm, lightning, and fury, roared with thunder and laughter alike.
Orryx, god of chaos and change, loved transformation in all its forms.
Velmioron, goddess of time and cosmic order, wove the threads of eternity with serene grace.
Ra, the sun god and bringer of life, shone brighter than all creation.
Zarthor, god of the iron hand of dominion, ruled with power and authority.
Kaeroth, god of the blazing fist of wrath, embodied divine vengeance.
Elunara, goddess of infinite knowledge, held wisdom that even other gods sought to learn.
Together, they dwelt with humans in the glorious kingdom of Zamorthal, a radiant empire famed for its magic, its trade, and its harmony. The gods walked freely among the people, speaking and sharing laughter. Enoch, though mighty, delighted most in playing with children. Iris loved adventure, often wandering beyond the kingdom with mortals who sought thrill and discovery. Kaerlvryn and Kaeroth bathed in the hot springs, enjoying the balance of heat and calm. Zorathos and Orryx often lingered in the temples, speaking of law, chaos, and faith. Ra would ascend the mountain peaks to commune with the sun, while Zarthor forged great relics of dominion. And Elunara ever curious traveled the world's libraries, collecting and sharing wisdom.
For many years, peace endured. Until one fateful day, the gods decided to leave Zamorthal together for the first time, simply to wander the world. They had no destination only curiosity as their guide.
It was Iris who first sensed something amiss. In a shadowed forest, they found a young human boy Xylander trapped inside an iron cage, surrounded by six armed warriors. The sight stirred her anger.
The men turned as Iris stepped into the clearing. They did not know who she was, nor did the boy. One of them sneered, "What are you staring at, woman?"
Another laughed, "Hey, don't be rude."
A third smirked and bowed mockingly. "Perhaps she'd like some company. What do you say, my love?"
The others laughed until they saw her face. Fury burned in her eyes like a living flame.
"Don't be angry, my love," the third warrior stammered just before Iris's fist struck his jaw with the force of thunder. He flew backward, crashing through the trees.
The remaining five warriors drew their weapons sword, spear, axe, flail, and bow.
"That is not how a woman should behave," one spat.
"Then make me behave," Iris said coldly.
They charged.
In an instant, she moved through them like a storm. The sword came first she caught the blade in her bare hand, dropped low, and swept the man's legs from beneath him. A spear shot toward her, but she snatched it from the air and hurled it back with divine precision. It struck its wielder through the shoulder, pinning him against a tree.
Another roared and swung his axe again and again, but Iris danced around each strike with effortless grace. "Aren't you tired of missing?" she mocked. Enraged, he swung for her head. She caught the axe mid-swing, wrenched it free, and slammed him to the ground so hard the forest shook.
The warrior with the spiked chain swung wildly; Iris caught the iron ball midair and wrapped the chain around her arm. A surge of electricity burst from her body, coursing through the chain into the man's flesh. He screamed and collapsed, his armor smoking.
Then a sudden sting.
An arrow pierced her back, bursting from her chest. The archer froze as Iris turned to face him, eyes glowing with godly fury.
"How are you still alive?" he gasped.
Iris said nothing. In a blink, she vanished and reappeared behind him. With one swift kick, she shattered his ribs and sent him crashing through the forest, lifeless before he struck the ground.
The forest fell silent once more. Only the caged boy remained, staring at her in awe and fear.
And thus began the day the gods realized not all humans remembered their makers.
Iris approached the iron cage where Xylander was imprisoned. Without hesitation, she gripped the bars with her bare hands and tore them apart as if they were made of clay. Xylander stumbled out, wide eyed with disbelief.
"Thank you so much, ma'am!" he exclaimed. "I will serve you as your slave from this day on!"
Iris shook her head. "No, you're free. Go wherever you wish, live your life as you choose."
He bowed his head. "Then thank you for saving me from those who kidnapped me."
"You're welcome," she said softly.
The world they lived in was mostly peaceful. Only a small fraction perhaps ten percent were corrupt souls who misused their strength and authority. Iris had just defeated a band of such warriors when she and Xylander began their walk back toward the mountains.
As they reached the open plain, a radiant light flashed before them the remaining gods had appeared.
"Iris," one of them asked, "who is this mortal? And why did you vanish from our presence without a word?"
"This boy," she replied, "was about to be sold into slavery. Imagine that humans enslaving their own kind. How far can cruelty go?"
A sudden gust of wind swept across the land, bitter and cold, as if nature itself recoiled at the thought.
"Let's go," said Enoch, the eldest among them.
They began their journey home with Xylander walking beside them. As they moved, he overheard the gods speaking among themselves. Iris turned to Enoch, her brow furrowed.
"Does it not trouble you?" she asked.
"Trouble me? About what?" Enoch replied.
She sighed. "That we may be gods, yes but even gods must have been created by someone."
Enoch's expression grew distant. "Don't ask me," he said quietly. "I know nothing of that."
Then Xylander spoke up. "I know a place," he said. "A place where any question no matter how great can be answered."
All ten gods stopped walking. They turned toward the boy, their eyes filled with wonder.
"Please, Enoch," they pleaded. "Let's go there. We must know the truth."
Enoch nodded. "Very well."
He raised his staff a long silver rod inscribed with divine runes and struck it against the ground. "Everyone, hold hands."
As they did, a surge of energy rippled through them. Their forms turned into streams of living light ten colors swirling together and they shot through the void faster than sight could follow.
When the light faded, they stood in a land beyond all imagination. There was no sky, no ground, no sound only a single colossal temple rising from nothingness. Its presence alone commanded silence and awe.
Xylander whispered, "Sir… how did you know this place?"
Enoch smiled faintly. "I didn't. When we held hands, our minds were joined. I saw the place through your memory. That made finding it simple."
He looked toward the temple. "Now," he said, his voice steady, "the true test begins. The one who guards this place… is not someone we should take lightly."
Zorathos frowned. "Who is this guardian you speak of?"
Orryx added, "Yes, Enoch what's about to happen?"
Enoch's gaze never left the temple. "We're about to meet the being that even gods fear."
Iris immediately thought of transforming into her war suit, but before she could act, Enoch sensed the surge of her power and said calmly,
"Easy, Iris. Let me handle this. He's coming out already."
Then, without warning, Enoch vanished.
Iris frowned and glanced around. "Really? I don't see anyone coming out, Enoch. You must be imagining things."
Since nothing happened, they all decided to continue into the temple. The group began climbing the long spiral staircase that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. After what felt like an eternity, grumbling filled the air.
"What kind of place is this?" one complained. "When are we ever going to reach the top?"
Kaeroth, god of the Blazing Fist of Wrath, shot Enoch an irritated glare. "This is your fault, Enoch. You dragged us into this misery."
"My fault?" Enoch scoffed. "You all begged me to come to the temple in the first place!"
Everyone sighed heavily, their patience thinning.
"Complaining won't get us anywhere," Enoch added, his tone steady.
Kaerlvryn glared at him. "So what do you suggest we do, old man?"
"We keep moving," Enoch replied sharply, "and for the record, I'm not an old man."
Grumbling under their breath, the gods continued climbing for another fifteen minutes, completely forgetting that they possessed divine powers. The temple had a strange effect it revealed their true selves, stripping away divine composure and pride until only raw emotion remained.
When they finally reached the top, the chamber before them was eerily silent. Empty chairs lined the walls, but there were no priests, no acolytes, no trace of life. Yet, dozens of candles stood tall and bright, flames dancing steadily. None of them melted, though they burned fiercely.
"That's strange," Iris murmured, eyes narrowing. "The candles aren't burning down. It's as if they just lit themselves when we entered."
Kaeroth tilted his head. "I don't understand what you're saying, Iris."
"She means," Enoch explained patiently, "that the candles are burning but not consuming the wax."
"Oh," Kaeroth said slowly, realization dawning. "I see."
Before anyone could speak further, the air grew heavy. At the far end of the chamber, a dark shape appeared an archway of pure shadow where no door existed before. From that darkness, a tall figure emerged.
A high priest, robed in black and gold, stepped out of the void and spoke in a voice that chilled the air.
"You shouldn't be here."