~ Ten thousand years ago, before the War or Magic ~
In all the vastness of existence, there was a place unlike any other... Another dimension where only beings of supreme purity and light were found. This dimension was called Uranos. The dimension of Light. To see it was equivalent to finding peace. Enlightenment. Perhaps even Heaven. Whatever you may call it. Those who inhabited Uranos were a part of the Angel race, the first sentient beings of Creation.
Angels were the servants and warriors The One created to protect the Universe. The Guardians of Creation were the principalities and the overseers of all Creation, working from the Uranos dimension. Before the event known as the War of Magic took place, four known dimensions existed. . Nihil was under the Second Guardian. The Arkana was under the oversight of the Third Guardian. And the last one was Uranos, and its overseer was the Fourth Guardian.
A very peculiar machine of great importance was located in Uranos. It was so important and unique that not everyone in Uranos had access to it. Those that did, however, could see the things that were soon to be and soon to come. This machine was the ENGINE OF TIME. Only the Guardians were allowed to manipulate the Engine. But the failure to observe this simple rule set by The One himself would bring about the series of events that became the catalyst for the War of Magic.
Uranos' Guardian started to perceive something that was hidden from most... he became aware of what seemed like a fifth dimension; it had been growing perhaps from the beginning of creation... maybe even without the knowledge of The One. The Guardian consulted the Engine of Time about this issue and saw that this growing existence in the future developed into a beacon and stronghold of darkness, where only the evilest and vilest of emotions dwelled and bred unspeakable monstrosities.
The Engine of Time offered a glance at the future, and it wasn't always clear what to make of it. And in a breach of protocol, the Fourth Guardian decided to allow a few other angels to see this vision. After they did, things would then change forever.
Meriel: I volunteer as a scout to investigate this anomaly.
Fourth Guardian: It is a significant risk. Are you certain?
Meriel: I live to serve... Forever! If there were danger therein, we would be able to eliminate it from the very root.
Adramellech: Forgive me, honorable Fourth Guardian. But I strongly oppose this course of action. We all saw what the Engine of Time showed us. And humans are the root of this problem.
Meriel: What would you have us do?
Adramellech: Simple. Destroy them all. Why allow them to grow, to populate Nihil, the Arkana, and Midgard if we know of the atrocities they will commit? All the suffering that will befall the innocent... The injustice... Those wars... All the senseless violence! If we allow this to happen, we are no better than them!
Fourth Guardian: Adramellech. Remember that what you saw in the Engine of Time is subject to interpretation...
Adramellech: Are you saying you do not believe they will bring misery throughout all existence?
Meriel: Adramellech, I understand your righteous fury... But according to what I saw, humans are also victims of this ordeal. The real problem is within that fifth dimension that has been somehow growing even without The One's knowledge! Or at least that is what we are all assuming... Let us find the source of the negative energy therein and spare humanity a punishment for something they have not yet done!
Adramellech: Ramiel. Kasiel. You both witnessed the same as we did. What say you?
Ramiel: I do not believe it to be our place to take such definitive measures...
Adramellech: Then why were we consulted if we were not to have any say in the matter?
Kasiel: I would like to hear The One's instructions. I disagree with you on destroying humanity. Is it just to eradicate a species for a crime they have not yet committed?
Adramellech: Is it just to allow a species that will commit many crimes to continue to exist?
Meriel: Brothers... this seems to be a difficult issue. Let us not sow discord amongst ourselves. Is it possible for us to address this concern with The One himself, honorable Fourth Guardian?
Fourth Guardian: Sadly, The One is no longer available. That is the reason why I asked for your wisdom. The four of you are well respected in all Uranos among the Angel race, and your righteousness is legendary. Nonetheless, the burden of this decision will ultimately rest on my shoulders.
Kasiel: A matter of such magnitude... Surely would call for all the Guardians to convene, yes?
Fourth Guardian: You are right, Kasiel. But there is no more time to be wasted. This is my decision: The four of you will go to this fifth dimension, identify the source of whatever threat therein and eliminate it.
The Fourth Guardian opened a dimensional portal, and the four angels (though one of them reluctantly) went to investigate this unknown threat.
~ A few days ago ~
Relm trapped the spirit inside his orb and proceeded to walk toward the meteor atop the highest peak on the Eastern Continent. He blasted a hole in the meteor, creating an opening for him to venture inside. The power emanating from the object within the meteor was awe-inspiring. As Relm walked closer to the item, he was almost overwhelmed by the powerful glowing aura the weapon emanated. He needed to concentrate his power only to be able to get near enough to touch it.
Relm: {I must not allow this minor inconvenience to bring my mission to a halt... I've come too far to let myself falter now!}
Relm made an extra effort and was finally able to hold the Omega Rod in his hands. The moment he touched it, an insane amount of energy was released, and the entire meteor crumbled to the ground.
The orb he carried with him from the beginning suddenly cracked. There was a voice that spoke shortly after.
[I HAVE SEEN YOUR PLAN. I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO SUCCEED.]
Relm: I know you will try. We'll see who shall be the victor in the end, won't we?
Relm laughed maniacally after that.
~ Present-day ~
The dust and smoke were settling, and the battered heroes were relieved and perplexed at seeing what they had witnessed. A mountain range shielded the kingdom of Moriah. This made it relatively isolated from the rest of the Western Continent. The Castle and the city were located on a peninsula behind the great mountain range. But now, the mountain range was split in half thanks to Relm's attack. He obliterated all of the Reach's forces while also pulverizing the center mountains in the mountain range.
Meg was suddenly flying around again.
Meg: I didn't recognize you before.
Relm: Are you speaking to me? – he said with a smirk.
Rachel was walking towards Relm to thank him for his help. Nimrod tried to stop her.
Nimrod: Don't...
Rachel: What's the matter? I want to thank him. He saved us all!
Richard: Look at the mountain range!!
Legend: What's wrong with the - - Legend and the others realized the extent of the powerful blast Relm had fired.
Relm: Come now... Don't be shy...
Rachel: Sir Relm... Why does your face look that way? - Rachel asked while looking both confused and unsettled.
Relm: Why... How does it look, dear?
Rachel: Evil... – lightning struck in the background as Rachel said this, and Relm's face was that of a raving lunatic with a disturbing smirk.
Relm laughed in a very sinister way. It sent chills up everyone's spines.
Meg: I understand now! I can't believe I didn't realize it before!
Legend: Realized what, Meg?
Meg: The one standing before you is actually one of the Four Fiends... he likes to be called the Grand Master, but he's also known as the Spirit Fiend or the Nightmare Fiend.
Everyone was naturally in shock and disbelief.
Rachel: You mean to say he's the one that trapped Legend and the people of Lybia in another dimension to feed on their souls?! – Legend's face turned to look at Relm, enraged.
Rachel: But I thought we had trapped him in the orb that Sir Relm gave me! Did he escape? Is he now possessing Sir Relm?!
Relm: Well, well, well... This bird is quite the chatty type, isn't it? I don't recognize you... But you are only half right.
Legend: WHO ARE YOU? AND WHY ARE YOU HERE!?
Relm: Very well. I'll tell you a little bedtime story – as he spoke, not for once did that dreadful smirk leave his face.
Relm: A very, very long time ago... I, the Grand Master, the true god of all creation, came into being. Shortly after my genesis, I was placed in a dimension utterly devoid of light or color, unable to move from the strange space I was trapped in and surrounded by utter and complete darkness. But as time passed, I felt the presence of a suitable vessel, which came to the place of my confinement for some strange reason. Once I appropriated the vessel, naturally, I escaped. Then, I began to build my empire. I created my own dimension, called Phobos. From there, I started my work.
Rachel: What work?
Relm: To make the humans suffer... Torment them... Feed off their fears and their miserable existence... Don't you see? Humans exist for my pleasure! So I can receive sustenance from their hopes, dreams, fears... Otherwise, their existence is so... futile... meaningless. You all live such short lives... with me, that simple and foolish existence has a purpose! Plus, it is so rewarding to experience your suffering!
Richard: He has got to be utterly insane! Did he say he was the true god of creation?
Relm: I am! Have you not witnessed my magnificent power? I easily destroyed those who came to oppress you! Of course, I could never allow another oppressor besides me!
Nimrod: He's definitely off his meds... Are you going to torture or save humanity? Which is it?
Meg: We are in big trouble, guys... And sadly, Kohrr isn't here to help us. Legend... Rachel... You're our only hope for survival!
Relm: Hope... Such an overrated word! Go ahead... Have your hope... your dreams... your ideals... That will make it all the more satisfying when I extinguish it all out of your souls!
As Relm said those words, he snapped his fingers, and an extensive dark fog quickly engulfed all of them, and everything went silent. After a moment, we saw all the heroes lying on the ground unconscious, including Meg. Their souls were all transported to the Nightmare dimension, Phobos.