Since the beginning of time, before stars blinked into existence or atoms dared to collide, there was Asthathug-a colossal cosmic entity born at the moment of the Big Bang. With eight tentacles stretching across dimensions, it wielded incomprehensible energy: Cosmic Enthalpy (CE). But such power came at a cost. Asthathug's brain, unable to contain the force, fragmented. Each tentacle evolved a consciousness of its own, and together they scattered throughout the universe, waiting for worthy vessels.
And so emerged Spiracle, a fragment of Asthathug's mind. Compact, intelligent, eerily composed-Spiracle's sole purpose was to search the cosmos for beings with at least 500 CE units-a natural, fixed force present in all things but rarely potent enough to matter. These chosen few would host the tentacles and wield their unfathomable powers.
She descends upon a forested region of a planet named Prith, disguised as one of its native species-the Blecian. In the quiet shadows of the trees, she detects her first candidate: a being with 500+ CE, an anomaly, a myth among mortals.
His name is Foxen.
Famous. Feared. Revered. Foxen, the Blecian who ended wars with weapons of mass entropy. The one who forged peace through force. The one who always knew he'd be hunted.
Foxen approaches. Spiracle stands still, plucking a flower from a shrub.
Spiracle: "So... Foxen. The brutal massacre menace."
Foxen (smirking): "Please. If you're going to insult me, at least be original. I didn't massacre. I delivered peace."
Spiracle: "Delivered peace, or destroyed it?"
Foxen doesn't respond.
Spiracle: "Let's begin the test. Two questions. Answer honestly. If you pass, your life changes forever. If not, I vanish, and you continue being your tragic self."
Foxen: "Two questions decide my fate? Sounds lazy. Let's hear them."
Spiracle: "First: If a CE-infused bomb orbiting your planet detonated, would you stay to save your people, or flee?"
Foxen: "Flee. It's been on my radar for years. This planet doesn't deserve a martyr."
Spiracle: "Pass."
She lets the flower bloom in her hand.
Spiracle: "Second: The Kokkinos species you annihilated. If they hadn't settled on mineral-rich land, would they still be alive?"
Foxen (quietly): "Yes."
Spiracle (smiling faintly): "Pass."
She plants the flower back in the soil.
Spiracle: "You suit Achinos. He'll be pleased."
Foxen: "Who said I will accept it ?"
Spiracle: "Well hear this-"
Spiracle reveals something about Foxen
and he trembles in fear,his eyes wide open
Foxen: "You,how do know about this??"
Spiracle: "So do you accept it now ?"
Foxen: "Yes,I accept."
Suddenly, the air tightens. A voice, not from the sky, but from within:
Achinos: "You passed. Not because you're kind. Because you're honest. Raise your hand, jump thrice, say it: Yathyatham."
Foxen (groaning): "What am I, five?"
Achinos: "Say it, meat shark."
Foxen jumps. He chants. A pulse of light erupts from his core. The hosting begins.
In the dirt beneath them, the planted flower glows.
End of Chapter One.