In a secluded part of this universe stood a magnificent and eerie shrine— this shrine was made with a demonic and malevolent blood-red wooden overlay, an awe-inspiring and dazzling pale marigold color with rims and edges whose color was quite similar to the golden fleece as carpeting, flashy and glittering fountains of a dark silver which was encapsulated with a chronological element, and a rare and overwhelming life essence was used to guard the perimeter. The sight of this shrine was at the same time quite bizarre and ominous as these colors did not compliment each other.
Inside the shrine sat 4 figures cross-legged, each with their eyes closed and enshrouded by a large, dark and mystifying shadow able to put the entirety of the inner part of the shrine into darkness. An ominous and extraordinarily powerful aura seeping throughout their skin pours as it began to evaporate out of their bodies, in return strengthening the air with their terrifying core strength.
Currently, these 4 figures had been trying to temper their bodies to reach a higher realm with their body manipulation and refining. Using each other and their core power to strengthen their bodies, their bones, teeth and even senses— currently in this world, this method of improving one's strength was called— body refining.
After a little while later, one of the figures finally opened one of their eyes as if awakening from eternal slumber. Opening her left eye— a silver brilliance had now flown out of her iris, as if it had been entrapped for centuries now ready to roam the whole world. This brilliance which had brightened the entire shrine, soon proceeded to return to the woman's iris as if it were a child just realizing it had disobeyed its mother.
"Good." The woman said— as if pleased of what she's accomplished as a smile began to creep up her face. It seemed as if this woman had just made a breakthrough— after 2000 years of experimenting and tempering her body with the help of the other 3 progenitors, her body had finally made a breakthrough to a Quasi-First-Grade Body!
After opening both her eyes, the woman's formidable aura could now be felt— no, even now, she had concealed her aura as to not disturb the other progenitors; this had all been due to her otherworldly temperament!
The woman wore a silver and dazzling queen's robe, and was adorned by a silver crown on her temple. She had silver eyes and the temperament of a monarch— it was as if all secrets hidden throughout time or trickery had been laid bare upon her gaze.
The silver light which had returned inside her iris, had also been very surprised by her parent's new advancements, it seemed to be dancing in pleasant surprise as it began to dance in her irises making her eyes seem more dazzling.
"It seems I've made a breakthrough in body refinement... though the change may not be evident at first it seems I've gotten a 50-or-so percentage increase in my body's durability, endurance, strength, and reaction. I'm also definitely pleased with the improvement in my body's reaction..." She began to ponder.
"If I was able to move with a 70% synch rate between my brain and my body before... I'd say I've reached an 85% synch rate now!" She was extremely excited about this fact in particular.
If putting this world's rules into consideration without any scientific number behind it— a normal person in this world's synchronicity with their brain and body are only at about 5 to 15 percent; with 5% being people whose bodily or neurotic functions had been disabled through illness and 15% being people comparable to professional martial artists or athletes who are at top condition with their brains, environment and body. If this spectrum is used then— people who are 20% or higher in synch with their brains and body are people who can sense things the normal person can't, such as energy waves and energy wavelengths, magical energy and mana, light as a whole and as a spectrum— like having access or being able to see infrared, ultraviolet and so on...
Now— being very happy with herself Amser stretched her hands out towards the ceiling. The sound of her now enhanced and stronger bones cracking as if relocating themselves could now be heard as she stretched her neck, back, arms, waist and hips, and finally her legs.
"Hah〜" Amser let out a long and exhausted sigh as she waited for the others to finish.
After the passing of 10 minutes the other progenitors had awoken. Amser had been the Queen of Time— also known as the Progenitor of Time, she had come here with the other 3 progenitors after a horrible premonition had been shown to them 2000 years ago where they had shortly vowed to get stronger as to be able to fend off the upcoming threat. With her had been Aìma— The Blood Empress and the Progenitor of Blood, Dhahabu— The King of Gold and The Gold Progenitor, and finally; Rhin— The Emperor of Life and The Life Progenitor.
These 4 powerful entities had been forced to cooperate with each other to defeat a threat powerful enough to end and change all life as they knew it— leaving them no choice but to get stronger and to stop this threat.
"It should be the time, my friends." Amser spoke up. She was wearing a serious look and was addressing her fellow Progenitors.
"Hun... you are correct. 2000 years seemed to have passed in a blink, but we must still go against such a dreadful foe." Rhin responded. Rhin looked to be a handsome young man with pure and white hair and tranquil golden eyes. He wore a pure white emperor's robe with golden dragons embroidered on them—making him seem like an ancient emperor.
"Indeed, to think that we must fight that demon once more gives me chills...!" Aìma spat out. She seemed to still have a grudge or a fear of what had happened 2000 years ago. Her expression was dark and her blood-red and crimson irises began to glow a dangerous and murderous light! It seemed her mood had taken a turn for the worst— as even her empress robes began to float up without the presence of air.
"Aìma, it's not the moment to think back on the past. Now that we have reawakened, and he has reawakened— we must put the plan we'd made 2000 years ago for us to finally finish him off." Dhahabu scolded. Being the King of Gold, Dhahabu was covered with golden jewelry and magical artifacts on his body. He had golden blond hair with some few streaks of black hair signifying his old age as people of his race's hair start turning black from gold due to old age.
"Undoubtedly, we must put our plan into action immediately." Rhin began, "How have your advancements gone in body refining?" He asked.
Aìma had been the first person to answer. "hm hm, I've managed to advance my body into a First-Grade Body!" She announced proudly, puffing her uhh... well-endowned chest forward.
"Good, good. I've done the same here. However, I believe that my body may be slightly weaker to yours due to your special bloodline." Dhahabu nodded. Currently, at their current state, he believed that the only way for them to at least stand a chance against their enemy would be if they all reached First-Grade level in body refining.
"Heh heh..." Amser was currently smiling nervously while a single drop of sweat could be seen on her forehead. She was scratching her cheek with her pointer finger as if in a dilemma of how to put something into words.
"What's wrong?" Dhahabu raised an eyebrow. Though he didn't say it, everyone had spent a large amount of time with each other prior to this— so he had an idea of what she was going to say. But even if he knew her answer most likely isn't good news— he didn't show any expression on his face indicating any worry or displeasure.
"Heh heh... the thing is I sort of... well... only got to like... the Quasi-First-Grade..." Amser quickly put her head down in embarrassment.
"..."
"..."
"Sigh. It can't be helped."
"Uhn! Yeah! The thing is that it's also alright as Norn had had a huge gain from this experience as well! She had even reached the Quasi-First-Grade level as well!" Amser answered with lots of resolves in her voice. And just as she was talking about 'Norn'. A brilliant and silver light soon flew out of Amser's Irises and stopped itself midst-flight as it began to form itself into the silhouette of a young silver haired and eyed little girl— very much resembling Amser. "Umu, Norn says two Quasis are better than one!" Norn spoke as she glowed a pure light which seemed to almost encapsulated and amplify her innocence."
"It's true. I believe that us having an extra Quasi-First-Grade such as Norn would be better than to just have one First-Grade me and a Third-Grade Norn." Amser said firmly.
"Yes, I'm guessing that is true. However, will 3 First-Grades and 2 Quasi-First-Grades be enough to stop that fiend?" This time it was Aìma who spoke. "By the way fate is progressing— we have in between now and and 50 years to begin. Though he has reawakened he still needs time to recuperate his powers and find a suitable vessel! And by the time that—"
Rhin began to chuckle out loud as if he couldn't stop himself from sharing a funny joke anymore.
Aìma soon felt her heart fill with irritation as even though their situation seemed almost impossible to overcome with their current strengths, Rhin had the Leeway to act so care freely and chuckle at this situation. "Rhin, if I were Amser or Dhahabu I wouldn't ask, as they are one rank lower in terms of monarchy, but as we are both of Emperor rank—"
"You're an Empress."
"Gender doesn't matter! But... may I ask? Why are you laughing?!"
"Oh〜 my little friend〜" Rhin patted Aìma's head before continuing. 'Damn! This bastard is so patronizing!'
"Who'd said I was only at the First-Grade level?" Rhin gave a handsome smile once more. "Haiya〜! It saddens me that even my friends could not be able to sense my talent! This even brings, a dragon of a man as myself, near to tears!" 'Damn! This bastard is really good at jesting!' The other progenitors had collectively thought of the same thing.
"Wait! Then what level are you on? It's at least the Quasi-Myriad-Grade right?" A glint of hope shined inside everyone's eyes in that instant. last they had seen their enemy he had been at the Myriad-Grade— If they at least had a Quasi-Myriad-Grade body refiner with their current line up, they wouldn't even have to resort to resealing him, if they had enough man-power; killing him wouldn't be that much of a far cry.
Rhin's smile twisted itself into a maniacle smile. "Tsk, tsk, seems you guys keep underestimating me! *Sniff* *Sniff*, it feels like I'm trully going to cry *sob*."
"Are you telling us that you've reached the Myriad-Grade?!?!" Everyone present had soon turned speechless!
"The Myriad-Grade?! He's really reached the Myriad-Grade!"
"Haha! It seems killing this devil isn't much of a far cry after all!"
"Umu! Norn thinks we can kill the demon monkey now!"
"Norn!" Amser seemed very taken about with what Norn had just said. Norn, not knowing what she had done, tilted her head in confusion? "Did Norn say something bad?" Norn looked quite puzzled as she asked.
"No, no... well it's just that it's said to bring bad luck if you speak of his true appearance!" Amser scolded. "Though it only sounds like superstition... do you even know the story of our enemy?" Amser seemed to have recalled something.
Norn shook her head. It seemed she had no idea of her enemy's background.
"Sigh... Norn! I can't believe we haven't even told you of who he is!"
"But Norn had fought him 2000 years ago with mommy and her friends!"
"True, but there are some things you should avoid saying about him as it may harm you."
"Why's that, mommy?" Norn inquired.
Amser didn't blame Norn's uhh... innocence...? Well it had nothing to do with Norn herself— as Norn's species was a rare species of beast. Norn was a time elemental beast— her species was not only rare as it was a time elemental, but they age about 200 times slower than humans. Though born with intelligence, human appearance and able to make her own decisions at birth, she was still mentally 10 years of age and didn't know much about killing, life and death. What she really knew was that she loved Amser like a mother after being saved by her and cared for.
"Well, Norn. A long time ago, even before I was born the had been a being created from blood, death, and void— and this creature's name was; Gōman Chizaru.