Welcome to Golangane, The Magic Plane, a realm of wonder and enchantment. In this extraordinary world, powerful mages are the lifeblood of existence, their mastery over magic shaping the very fabric of reality.
Towering mountain ranges are more than majestic natural formations; they are the abodes of the revered mountain gods. These gods, who appear as ordinary humans, wield the mantle of immortality.
The world is divided into four realms, each governed by a mountain god: Golangane in the north, ruled by an emperor; the demon realm; the mortal realm; and the floral realm, the source of all flowers.
Within Golangane's boundaries, harmony is maintained by four distinct sects, each a repository of formidable magical prowess.
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Ten thousand years ago, the four masters of the great sects set out to protect the city from a group of possessed people known as the Enthralled Shadows. Once possessed, they only obey the last command given by their possessor. None of the possessed were spared, even if they were still normal.
"They... they just wiped out a thousand families! So what if they were possessed? There should have been a better solution than extermination!" questioned a concerned observer.
The emperor, however, gave the order to show no mercy, despite the pleas from the leader of the Heka group for a second chance.
Amid the possessed villagers was a child who still appeared normal, marked by a rare sign that astonished the leader of the Heka group.
"This can't be a mere sign. This child is destined for greatness," said Lysander, the leader of the Heka sect.
Driven by an insatiable desire to gain the emperor's trust, the second sect leader ordered the child's elimination—a command swiftly obeyed.
"To kill a child just to gain favor with the emperor? What kind of man does such a thing?" someone muttered in disbelief.
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As the morning unfolds, a tranquil scene emerges: the moon delicately overlays the horizon, the soft symphony of birds greets the dawn, and the sky is gently painted with the hues of the transition from night to day.
Suddenly, the cloudy sky clears. Thunder strikes in the distance, rain begins to fall, and simultaneously, a meteorite descends.
The people of Golangane watch in awe as the meteorite streaks through the sky.
"Isn't... isn't that the resurrection of a mountain god?" asked the Bandu sect leader, his gray hair glinting in the morning light.
Standing beside him, the Songwan sect leader sighed, his hands behind his back. "The magical barrier should have blocked the meteorite unless it was the soul of the next mountain god. It seems the heavens favor us."
At the Heka sect, a male disciple burst into Lysander's room, breathless with excitement. "Master, a meteorite has fallen!"
Lysander, deep in meditation, opened his eyes wide in astonishment. He rose swiftly from his cushion, grabbed a long jacket from a nearby chair, and headed for the door. "I must see His Majesty. Lock the door when you leave."
"Yes, master," the disciple bowed, holding his sword tightly against his abdomen.
The meteorite crashed into a dark cave in the mountains, creating an explosion. A thick haze of smoke filled the entrance and lifted as a young man emerged. His face was covered in dirt, and his hair was rough. He wore only black pants.
As the frail-looking young man stepped into the light, a sinuous creature with obsidian scales and eyes ablaze with an otherworldly intelligence unfurled its wings and followed him closely.
"Rowan," the man thought, his emotions a mix of wonder and determination. "Once I was afraid of darkness; now I embrace its mysteries."
"You have been endowed with powers and new skills upon your rebirth from the land of the dead. It is time to decide what you will do in this new world."
The young man glanced at his hand, searching for clues about his powers. A flash of knowledge entered his mind, as if everything had been stored within him, waiting to be unleashed.
His head swam as a voice echoed in his mind, distinct from the dragon's. "Your initial skill is Devilmite Beam."
The young man frowned, curiosity deepening the crease along his nose. "And? How do I use it?" he said aloud, but there was no response. He shrugged nonchalantly and headed back into the cave.
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In the imperial palace, guards stood vigilantly at every corner, their spears at the ready.
The emperor sat on a silvery throne, with Lysander and Thorian, the Gnostic sect leader, standing before him.
"A great sign appeared in the sky today. Master Lysander, do you have any insight?" the emperor asked.
Lysander bowed, his hands clasped near his abdomen. "My apologies, Your Majesty. I have no explanation."
"What's so significant about a reincarnated mountain god? He's just a guardian watching over the mountain on Your Majesty's behalf," Thorian remarked dismissively.
Lysander turned to Thorian, surprised. "The plants in Golangane withered when the mountain god died months ago. We should be grateful that the heavens have assigned another one. How can you be so dismissive, Immortal Thorian?"
Thorian ignored Lysander and addressed the emperor. "Put your mind at rest, Your Majesty. I will train the Gnostic sect students to protect the royal family."
"Very well, you may both leave now," the emperor said. The sect leaders bowed.
"As Your Majesty pleases."