Prism Calendar, 7th cycle of the 46th moon of year 1350.
In a dimly lit room filled with scrolls and magical inscriptions, a man in deep robes hovered above the ground, his hands weaving complex gestures.
White particles coalesced around him, forming a shimmering and lustrous aura. With a flick of his arm, golden energy surged into the air, piercing the skies.
"Not yet," he murmured, eyes slowly opening. He began drawing a magic circle in the air, saying, "I am almost there. Mortal limitations won't hinder me from harnessing divine energy once I master the 12th magic circ—"
Knock, knock*
The sudden knocks interrupted the man. Elder Hugen appeared. Draped from head to toe in antiquated garments and adorned with ancient accessories, it was clear to anyone observing that this strangely old individual was a Curser.
"Your Holiness, congratulations on your progress. Today, we've found the 'thing' you've been seeking. But it seems to be an ordinary crystal."
"Bring it," the man commanded.
The elder brought out a box, inside a unique, glistening cyan crystal and offered it to the man. "Cult Leader, we discovered this crystal at Argon Cave in the village, believed to be the heritage of Argon himself."
With a snap, the crystal appeared in the man's hand. He examined it closely, a faint smile crossing his face.
"Good."
"Your Holiness?
The man stood, towering above six feet tall, with long black hair and devil-like crimson eyes. His features were enchanting yet cold as ice.
"Burn the village. Eliminate all things related to the cave," he ordered.
"Understood."
Approaching Elder Hugen, the man continued, "Inform the believers that starting today you, Elder Hugen, you shall oversee the affairs of the cult henceforth. No one is to disturb my studies in the Incanto Tower."
Elder Hugen, taken aback, asked cautiously, "Your Holiness, forgive my question, but why this sudden decision?"
Uzziah, the feared Cult Leader who commanded legions and struck fear in the whole continent itself, looked at Elder Hugen with a chilling gaze.
"I care not for the daily affairs of the cult. My pursuit requires isolation. You desired this role once, did you not?
"I-I..." Elder Hugen stammered. He indeed coveted the Cult Leader's position in the earlier years of Uzziah's reign. But realizing the futility of coveting power when faced with Uzziah's omnipotent control, he dared not to.
Elder Hugen sighed. Who wants to compete with this devil?
"Then," Uzziah smirked, then turned around. He was not bothered by Elder Hugen's conflicted face and said, "Go forth now. Leave before you hinder me any longer."
Elder Hugen glanced at Uzziah one last time, seeing indifference in his eyes. He finally inclined.
He knew that in the grand scheme of things, he was but a mere ant in Uzziah's domain, and any ambitions he had were dwarfed by the Cult Leader's terrifying vision.
However, why does Uzziah suddenly want to pass his control to him?
"Yes, Your Holiness," Elder Hugen said seriously, bowing deeply. "I shall not disappoint you."
After Elder Hugen left, Uzziah was alone in the room again.
Holding the crystal in his hand, he waved his hand. The once beautiful and glistening crystal became a transparent crystal. Inside the transparent crystal was a small magical insignia located at the center.
"Now this is the real Northon's rock. Northon's rock, a cheat device created by 11th circle mage, was hidden by his disciple Argon. Anyone can mistaken for an ordinary gem, but would I?" Uzziah whispered as he held the stone.
The crystal's insignia allows 11th-stage mages to advance to the 12th stage, transforming their bodies into powerful vessels capable of containing even a god's power. The insignia helps to harness it by supporting the veins and overcoming the threshold of mortality.
Unfortunately, the man who created such a crystal couldn't enter the 12th stage of the magic circle himself and died of old age.
Saddening end of a genius mage!
"A path I must never take..."
Uzziah, without further ado, immersed himself and seated cross-legged comfortably. He began floating again with a single hand gesture.
The transparent crystal also floated. The magic insignia inside the crystal resonated with Uzziah and glowed passionately.
The magic insignia disappeared inside the crystal and transferred to his forehead. The once transparent crystal turned dark as it was just a container for the mysterious magic insignia.
Uzziah's forehead was now embedded with the magic insignia—golden lines were visible on his body. Between his forehead the magic insignia and connecting veins glowed remarkably. After 72 years, his body was now in an ethereal state and his heart formed a 12th circle.
"MARVELOUS~!"
Massive energy surged into Uzziah's body, filling his face with vitality. With the help of the Insignia, he could an store immense power—greater than mana itself.
DIVINITY!
Uzziah was filled with relentless excitement.
According to the ancient records of forbidden magic, all beings are born the same in the beginning of the universe. What differentiates a mortal and a god is the so-called Divinity, a power that controls the flow in the universe and transcends time and space.
"Conquer the Universe! I shall reign all beings with darkness~!"
"Pfft!?" Spitting out blood, Uzziah looked at his chest oozing with blood, pierced by an unknown object.
"???"
Stumbling on the ground, he muttered in a flustered tone, "Bl-blasphemy, wh-what is this?!"
Unbeknownst to Uzziah, the dark crystal had slowly turned into a blade after he achieved the 12th circle. That carelessness had the blade plunged successfully into his heart.
Every ounce of Uzziah's life force started to diminish, like sand slipping through an hourglass!
"Mortal."
Uzziah turned around and saw a figure. Not a person, but an unknown being. How could he tell? As the pinnacle of the human race, Uzziah could discern people's mana—something this being did not possess!
"Heh~ should I call you former mortal Instead?"
"Who!?" Uzziah looked at the being aggressively, his body wobbling as he struggled to crawl up from the floor.
"Who?" The being clapped his hands and said, "I don't mind introducing myself, but it's of no use to a dying, self-made god such as yourself, I presume?"
Uzziah's mind began to crumble, his eyes glued to the being's grinning smile. "What...?" he whispered.
"Anyways... I am Ezbeck~! One of the only young and talented Gods from the God's Sanctuary." The smiling god said as he pointed at the blade in Uzziah's heart. "Once you enter the 12th stage, the crystal will become an unnoticeable shard that can even kill a god!"
"Amazing, right~?" Ezbeck said proudly, unable to help himself. "I cursed it myself!"
With wide eyes, Uzziah felt perplexed, unable to utter a single word in his dying state.
"You..."
"What is it former mortal?"
Realizing his situation, Uzziah couldn't help click his tongue and said, "You're not a God but a wretched snake!"
"A wretch snake God? Surprisingly uncommon, don't ya think?" Scratching his nose, Ezbeck defended, "Even though it was written below the box that it was cursed, it's not my fault, am I right?"
Uzziah: ...
'Elder Hugen! You old bastard why can't you look below the box!!!' Uzziah screamed regretfully in his mind.
Elder Hugen who was currently sleeping instinctly woke up: Someone is cursing me!
"To maintain order and balance in the Realm of Gods, I was tasked with killing whoever used that abomination."
Uzziah, once revered and feared, was now dying like a charmed fly, obsessively drawn to the light.
Backlashed by his own actions, he struggled against the inevitable death he could have avoided. Yet his foolishness was undeniable, and deep down, he knew it was his idiocy—not checking below of the box.
Ezbeck, pouting as he thought of something, then said, "Oh! Anyhow, the curse directly targets the soul—incarnation is 99% impossible."
With his last remaining strength, Uzziah whispered, "You..."
Uzziah's mind spiraled into chaos. It wasn't until he lost his vision that he heard the god's final words.
"Ambitious fool—"