The two found shelter in a half-burned house, its charred walls whispering stories of the past. Amid the quiet ruin, Ana handed Atom a small rice ball, her smile soft and warm against the cold night air.
"These are for you," she said gently.
Atom accepted it with gratitude, his voice calm yet sincere. "Thank you, Ana."
She giggled softly, watching her brother take the first bite. The moment was simple, humble but in that silence, it felt sacred. For once, the world outside didn't matter. Atom ate quietly, savoring every grain, as if each bite carried her kindness.
And as he looked at her smiling face under the pale moonlight, he thought,
Even in the ashes of the world, warmth can still be found.
This world was born from the hands of the Lord Almighty. The Creator of all that breathes, burns, and dreams. In His divine wisdom, He entrusted fragments of His power to chosen beings. Those who received it were called Lords, the protectors of the world.
But faith is fragile, and power hungers. The three greatest of His warriors — blessed beyond measure — betrayed their own Creator. Their hearts once pure, were consumed by greed. Together they struck down the Almighty, chaining the very being who had given them life.
With their combined might, they stole the essence of creation itself… and the world fell under their reign.
A thousand years ago when the memory of the true Creator had faded into myth, a man rose upon the Peak of Creation — the first mountain ever shaped by the Almighty's hand — he stood cloaked in divine light and burning with unyielding will. His aura split the sky, his voice shook the stars.
Because He had challenged the false Lords.
The battle raged for days — a war of gods and men. Though his body was torn, his arm severed, he refused to kneel. Even as blood painted the earth, he stood tall, fighting for the justice he had believed in all his life.
When the dust settled, both the Lords and the imprisoned Creator had fallen. Yet before his final breath, the man sealed their stolen powers into a sacred stone, hiding it where no one could reach.
And then... he vanished.
Some say he died that day.
Others whisper he ascended beyond life itself —
to become the Lord of Lords.
After the Creator's death, the fragments of His divine power scattered across the world, drifting like whispers in the wind. They sought new hosts, choosing those worthy to bear their strength. And so, the Ruler's Era came to an end… giving birth to a new age — the Era of Lords.
Centuries later…
A young man named Atom wandered through the ruins of a burned house, his sister Ana following close behind. The air smelled of ash and old memories. They searched quietly, hoping to find anything of use — but the ruins offered nothing but silence.
Then — a sound.
Atom froze. His senses sharpened. Was it an animal… or something else?
He gestured for Ana to stay behind him, his eyes fixed on the overgrown bushes ahead. The leaves rustled once more — and out hopped a small rabbit.
Ana exhaled, half annoyed, half relieved.
"You're way too serious," she teased softly, a faint smile tugging her lips. "Why don't you ever smile, Atom?"
Before he could answer, she knelt down and reached for the rabbit — but it darted away into the shadows. She sighed again, brushing the dust from her hands.
"Guess even rabbits don't trust us," she murmured.
Atom gave her a quiet look, the corners of his mouth barely lifting — not quite a smile. And together, they left the ruins behind, unaware that destiny had already begun to move.
But Atom didn't know…
In the shadows behind those same bushes, someone was watching. Hidden eyes followed his every move — cold, unblinking, filled with hate.
"He's the one… who killed my brother."
The voice trembled with rage. It was the brother of the man who had attacked them before — the one Atom had defeated.
Now, vengeance burned within him like wildfire. All he wanted was to end Atom's life.
Oblivious to the danger lurking nearby, Atom and Ana made their way toward a nearby town. The burnt horizon faded behind them, replaced by the distant hum of life — merchants shouting, wheels rolling, people talking.
But something felt off.
As they walked through the crowded streets, people turned to look at them — whispering, staring, avoiding eye contact.
The air was thick with unease, as if the siblings carried a curse upon them.
Ana, however, seemed untouched by it all. Her eyes sparkled when she spotted a small jewelry shop.
"Brother, wait!" she said, tugging his sleeve.
Inside, the glass cases shimmered with stones and silver. The dim light made everything glow — a moment of beauty in a world of ruin.
Ana's gaze stopped on a delicate emerald pendant. She lifted it carefully, her face lighting up with joy.
"Isn't it pretty?" she asked, her voice soft with wonder.
Atom couldn't help but smile faintly. Using the little money he had, he paid for it. For that brief moment, the world felt peaceful.
But as they stepped out, the shopkeeper stood frozen — sweat running down his neck. He stared at them long after they'd left.
"Thank the Lord…" he whispered, trembling.
"He didn't kill me."
As they moved through the bustling market, a small child suddenly stumbled into Atom and fell hard to the ground.
Atom knelt down immediately. The boy's leg was scraped, blood trickling down his shin. The child whimpered softly, his tiny hands trembling in pain.
Before Atom could say anything, Ana rushed forward.
"Are you okay? Little one," she said gently, kneeling beside him. She took out a small ointment bottle from her bag, her tone filled with kindness.
But just as the boy reached for it, a harsh voice cut through the air.
"Don't touch that!"
A woman — his mother — stormed over and struck the child across the face. The sharp sound echoed through the market. The boy burst into tears, his mother pulling him close with fear in her eyes.
"Don't go near them!" she shouted, glaring at Atom and Ana before hurrying away.
For a long moment, the market was silent. Then came the whispers.
"Look, he hurt that kid."
"What kind of man harms a child?"
"Is she really his sister?"
"Poor girl, her life's ruined because of him."
"Should we tell the king?"
"Don't be stupid! He might kill you!"
"He's dangerous…"
"A bad guy… a really bad guy."
The voices followed them like a storm. But Atom said nothing. He only took Ana's hand, his expression calm — unreadable — and led her out of the town.
They entered the forest, where the world was quiet again. The air smelled of moss and rain, the sunlight breaking gently through the trees. Ana was tired; her steps grew slower with each breath.
"Brother… can we rest a bit?" she asked softly.
Atom looked around — no house, no shelter, only rocks and trees. Then, without a word, he placed his palm on a large stone nearby.
He whispered,
"Lord Almighty… Nifl."
The stone began to tremble. Cracks spread across its surface, glowing faintly with light. Atom moved his hand slowly, shaping it as if sculpting the air itself. Within seconds, the rough boulder reshaped into a smooth stone chair, strong, elegant, and warm to the touch.
Ana blinked in awe. "You… made this?"
Atom said faintly. "You needed rest."
As she sat down, a soft wind passed through the trees. The forest felt alive... watching them, whispering something only Atom could hear.
Note: this is a power system explanation...
In this world, "Lord Almighty" is the mantra used by the one who wields the power of the Lord. There are three Lords — each possessing their own unique mantra.
And Atom had used These 4 activation spells — Nifl, Sihur, Kawach, and Death — they are the 'Commands' spoken after the mantra to channel a specific effect.
Sihur: Enhances the atomic growth of any object, allowing it to increase in height, size, or mass.
Kawach: manipulates atoms to form a shield capable of absorbing any form of attack.
Death: simply represents Death.
Nifl: accelerates atomic aging, causing the object to rust, decay, or decompose rapidly.
For example, when Atom invoked "Lord Almighty; Nifl," he accelerated the aging of the rock's atoms, allowing it to weaken, crumble, and be shaped easily according to his will.
Now back to the story;
Now back to the story…
"Ana, I'm going to make some arrangements for dinner," Atom said softly, before heading toward the river to catch some fish.
Ana remained behind, sitting quietly and soaking in the serene beauty of the evening.
The sky glowed orange, the clouds drifted lazily, and the last light of the sinking sun shimmered across the water.
It was so peaceful… that Ana eventually drifted into sleep.
When Atom returned, fish in hand, he noticed her resting peacefully.
"Well, looks like she's really tired," he murmured, smiling faintly.
Carefully, he began to prepare the place for cooking. Gathering dry wood and stones from around the clearing, he sprinkled a few drops of water over them and whispered the mantra:
"Lord Almighty; Vish."
The water ignited instantly, bursting into steady flames.
As the fire crackled to life, the aroma of cooking fish slowly filled the cool evening air.
Waiting for the fish to cook, Atom's gaze drifted toward Ana.
Her face looked tired — yet peaceful — as if nothing in the world could disturb her sleep.
He had made a soft bed of leaves for her, comfortable enough to ease her exhaustion, the kind brought on by everything her brother had endured.
"I'm sorry," he whispered quietly. "I have to find a safe place for you. But every time I look around, I start to doubt — does such a place even exist? Somewhere you could live without me constantly worrying about you?"
As her elder brother, Atom carried a deep weight in his heart. Her safety was his greatest concern — especially because of that day.
The day everything began.
The day that shattered their lives and set them on this endless path of running — searching for an answer he still hadn't found.
"The night… the stars," he murmured, looking up at the sky. "They may shine bright, but whenever I look at myself, I only see darkness. And if you stay with me… I'm afraid that darkness will consume you too."
Atom's heart was torn between love and fear.
He didn't want Ana with him — not because he didn't care, but because he cared too much. He wanted her to live safely, away from the chaos that surrounded him.
But deep down, he knew the bitter truth.
"This world isn't safe anymore. She doesn't belong here… not in this cruel reality. And if I ever let my guard down — even for a moment — I'll never forgive myself."
The weight of responsibility and the urgency of survival blended into one overwhelming feeling — confusion, guilt, and love. All trapped inside a brother who had already lost too much.
Atom didn't sleep that night.
Under the vast sky, surrounded by the quiet songs of the stars, he kept watching — guarding his sister.
The light of the night felt alive, humming softly as if the heavens themselves were singing a lullaby.
And in that stillness, Atom drifted into a waking dream.
He saw himself running through a field of flowers, laughter echoing in the air.
Ana was beside him — smiling, radiant, carefree.
The golden sun sank beyond the horizon, birds soared above, and the world felt perfect for a fleeting moment.
Then, amidst the gentle rustle of petals, her voice echoed softly
"Will you really protect me, brother?"
Atom's eyes opened. The fire had long died down. Dawn was breaking.
He sat up, his senses sharp again — but something felt… wrong.
The place was too quiet.
"Ana?" he called out. No answer.
He rose quickly, scanning the area.
"Ana!" he shouted louder this time, his voice echoing through the forest. Still nothing.
Panic gripped him. He rushed toward the river — maybe she had gone there for water.
He ran and ran, calling her name again and again… until silence was his only reply.
He stopped, breath heavy, heart sinking.
Only the sound of the flowing river answered him.
"Ana…" he whispered, his voice breaking.
And in that moment, a chilling realization struck him —
someone had taken his sister.
His only family. His reason to keep moving.
She was gone.