THE STORY OF AKUJI - Chapter 3
In watching their comrade Akuji's fall, the Titans felt a spasm of shared sorrow. Known for his valor, compassion, and unwavering adoration for their world, they chose to honor him in an unheard-of manner. His grandiose frame was lifted heavenward, morphing him into a radiant sun. So mighty was this celestial form, that even the strongest Titans sought shelter from his brilliant glow. It seemed Akuji was now omnipresent, an all-seeing luminous force that no corner of the universe could escape.
Yet, his soul retreated back into the primordial soup that bore him, ready to foster a new existence. From this celestial crucible, Akuji, with omnipotent abilities, fashioned the universe known today as the Mainlands. Unexpectedly, his creation birthed Dwarves and Imps, living in the shadowy territories between realms. They reproduced and created the menacing race known as the HobGoblins.
Akuji's departure had thrown the Titans into emotional chaos. Many felt their powers sapped, while others were left weakened. However, life evolved, with mankind finding its niche, thriving, and achieving supremacy. Silent Akuji's blessings started to herald humanity's prayers. Humans became one with the earth, unraveled life's mysteries through senses, open-minded exploration, meditation, and lessons learned from past miseries, edging them closer to enlightenment. Witnessing this, the Titans became fond of this emerging race, granting gifts, whispers on the wind, and benevolent attention, but only to those they chose. Meanwhile, Akuji remained a silent observer, subtly shaping their existence.
In shadows, secrecy and dissent, the people bickered and battled, driven by the insatiable desire to establish the mightiest bloodline. Ordinary folk, yearning for power, took daring risks, experimenting on themselves with forbidden artifacts, and devising weapons to rival the royals. The royals were direct descendants from the titans and the new race of mankind dub humans.
Witnessing the chaos, the remaining Titans of the mainland foresaw a grim outcome. As a final act of unity, they crafted the Nine Fragments of Ebony, living stones embodying qualities of the universe, and beyond. Individually, each fragment had the potential to unleash terrifying power; united, they held the capacity to fracture a realm. This fail-safe was the Titans' legacy – a doomsday mechanism to eradicate life if their realm succumbed to the anarchy that consumed The lands of the Kitsune, which are now referred to as The Warlands.
Frustration, resentment, and a gnawing thirst for combat stirred among the people as factions propagated rumors of abandonment by their creators, fueling unrest. Communication fell into disarray, words became a scarce commodity and compromise was a forgotten skill. Anticipating the prophesied Great War, some sought sanctuary among royal clans while others rallied defenses, prepared for the impending storm.
Amid this upheaval, a fragment of unique entrainment, the Stone of Daphney, fell into the hands of the dwarf, Thatreus. Unlike most of his kin, Thatreus harbored a peculiar curiosity for humans and harbors an ambition to make the most radiant woman his own. Using his magic, he bewitched one of the ebony fragments, influencing it to seek and serve only the purest and most beautiful woman. *Dwarfs are intelligent and crafty, producing artifacts with magic and advanced craftsmanship. They prefer commerce over conflict and are typically more inclined to engage in trade than battle. With their mastery over various crafts, Dwarfs are central to the economy and balance of power, creating potent items that others desire.
The stone fragment worked not just as a shield but also a healer, its powers boundless and timeless. It was more than just a stone of protection - it had the ability to cast a protective barrier that didn't just shield its wearer but could also guard allies. Its healing abilities were such that it could restore any physical anomaly, even regrow lost limbs, and under extraordinary circumstances, it even held the power to breathe life back into the deceased. Added to all of this, it could energize its wearer with extra stamina at will.
However, the stone had one peculiarity: it chose its own bearer. It now had its eye, or so it seemed, on a woman Thatreus, a potential suitor, also fancied. The stone offered Thatreus a choice between three women.
The first, the most irresistible of them all, was the stunning Daphney from the Pederson clan. Daphney was no ordinary woman. Her beauty was unparalleled, her movements reminding onlookers of a goddess in her elements. More than her physical attributes, her intelligence was admirable, her principles immutable. She valued her kin above all, a trait that Thatreus found worthy of his affection. However, there were two more women to consider...
Even still, Thatreus' love for her was so profound, he offered her not jewels or gold but the gift of prophecy to capture her heart. Yet, she stood her ground, spurning the dwarf's advances. His love shifted to fury, and he cursed her, damning her prophetic words to fall on deaf ears. The bitter irony - even amidst his wrath, he pined for her, immortalizing her in the stone he named in her honor.
Then came the radiant Domino, Queen of the Olsen clan, second only in her beauty. Upon witnessing the enigmatic stone's abilities, she contrived a scheme dripping with deceit. Falsely professing her devotion to Thatreus, she lured him into entrusting her with the stone, then murdered him without a second thought. But the stone measured beauty not by the face, but the soul. Disturbed by her murderous act, it restrained its powers from her. Despite her exterior allure, the stone deemed her soul tarnished, revealing only portions of its abilities, sometimes none at all.
Driven by her deranged obsession, Domino absconded with the stone, evading detection. Meanwhile, King Edward, her forsaken husband, seethed in a maelstrom of fury and confusion. His incredulity morphed into a blind conviction that Domino had been abducted. Fueled by this misplaced rage, he singled out rival clans as his scapegoats. Believing firmly in their superiority, the Olsens cast themselves in the role of misunderstood heroes, claiming retribution for their 'stolen queen', imposing their iron-fisted order in the name of peace. Their conquest began with Roland, a sub-nation under the protection of the Anderson and Pederson clans. The ensuing conflict revealed the Olsen's mastery over the PRANA gene, affording them nearly supernatural healing abilities. Finding strength in their newfound power, they braced themselves for the battles to come.
*the PRANA gene is necessary for developing Kaijū glands, which produce vigor, a vital energy source. Without this gene, individuals cannot access the special powers associated with vigor.