The air was heavy with ash and the stench of decay. Ashenvale, once a proud city perched at the edge of the world, was now a desolate graveyard. Broken towers jutted out of the ground like skeletal remains, and rivers of molten rock snaked through the ruins, glowing faintly in the eternal twilight.
Eren Kael trudged through the debris, his leather boots crunching on the charred remains of what used to be cobblestone streets. He carried a battered satchel over his shoulder, its contents rattling faintly with each step. His scavenging gear—worn gloves, a rusted dagger, and a crude pickaxe—marked him as one of the desperate few who dared to brave the ruins.
"Another dead end," he muttered, kicking a fragment of stone. It clattered against the remnants of a toppled statue—a warrior, frozen mid-battle, its face long eroded by time. Eren sighed and pulled his hood tighter against the cold wind.
The sun hadn't risen in Ashenvale for over a century. When the gods fell, they shattered the world. The sky, once blue and infinite, now churned with dark clouds that glowed faintly with the remnants of divine fire. The world had grown dim, and the people of Ashenvale had learned to survive in the shadows.
But survival wasn't enough for Eren.
For years, he'd heard the legends of the Titan Fragments, shards of godly power hidden in the ruins of fallen cities. People whispered about them in hushed tones, speaking of warriors who could crush mountains with their fists, heal mortal wounds with a touch, or command storms with a single word. The Fragments were said to be cursed, driving their wielders mad with power. But to someone like Eren, cursed power was better than none at all.
As he climbed over a mound of rubble, a faint glimmer caught his eye. He paused, squinting in the dim light. There, partially buried under the remains of a shattered column, was something glowing faintly—a shard of crystal, its surface smooth and pulsing with an inner light.
Eren's breath caught. "Could it be…?"
He scrambled down the slope, his heart pounding. The crystal seemed to hum as he drew closer, resonating with a low, almost musical vibration. He dropped to his knees and reached out, hesitating for just a moment before brushing the dust away.
The shard was warm to the touch, and as his fingers closed around it, a jolt of energy shot through him.
Visions flooded his mind.
A golden city, suspended in the heavens. Beings of immense size and power, their voices shaking the very fabric of reality. A great war, the clash of divine weapons, and the earth splitting open beneath their feet. And then—silence. The gods falling, their forms breaking into countless fragments, scattering across the mortal realm.
Eren gasped and pulled back, the shard slipping from his grasp. The visions lingered, burned into his mind. He looked down at the crystal, now glowing brighter than before.
"What… what are you?" he whispered.
The shard didn't answer, but the air around him seemed to shift. The ruins grew quieter, the wind stilled, and a presence—a faint, indescribable presence—pressed against his senses.
Before he could react, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Bearer."
Eren froze. The voice was deep and resonant, carrying the weight of ages.
"You have awakened me. Do you seek power, mortal?"
"I… I don't know," Eren stammered, his voice barely audible. "I just—"
"Do not lie," the voice interrupted, cold and commanding. "All who touch the Fragments seek power. Speak your truth, or I will crush your soul where you stand."
Eren swallowed hard. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the shard's gaze—if it could be called that. "I… I want to change things. My life, this place, this world… It's broken. I'm tired of watching everything fall apart. I need power to fix it."
There was a long silence. Then, the voice spoke again, softer this time.
"A noble goal. But power comes with a price. Will you pay it?"
Before Eren could answer, a sound shattered the stillness. Footsteps. Heavy, deliberate, and growing closer.
Eren turned sharply, his hand instinctively reaching for his dagger. A figure emerged from the shadows—a man clad in black armor, his face hidden behind a helm etched with arcane symbols. The air around him crackled with energy, and in his hand, he held a weapon that shimmered with the same eerie glow as the shard.
"A scavenger," the man said, his voice cold and dismissive. "And here I thought I'd found a worthy opponent."
Eren gritted his teeth. "Who are you?"
The man tilted his head, the glow of his weapon illuminating the jagged ruins around them. "You're holding something that doesn't belong to you," he said, ignoring the question. "Give it to me, and I might let you live."
Eren glanced at the shard, then back at the man. His instincts screamed at him to run, but his feet stayed rooted to the ground. The shard seemed to pulse in his hand, filling him with a strange, defiant energy.
"I found it," Eren said, his voice steady despite the fear curling in his chest. "It's mine."
The man laughed, a low, mocking sound. "Foolish. But brave. Let's see if that courage lasts."
Before Eren could react, the man lunged.
Time seemed to slow as Eren raised the shard instinctively. The air around him exploded with light, and a barrier of shimmering energy erupted between them. The man's weapon collided with the barrier, sending a shockwave rippling through the ruins.
Eren staggered back, the shard vibrating violently in his hand. The man stepped back as well, his stance cautious now.
"So," the man said, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "You've already bonded with it. Interesting. Perhaps you're worth killing after all."
Eren didn't wait for him to attack again. He turned and ran, clutching the shard tightly as the ruins blurred around him. The man's laughter echoed behind him, promising a pursuit.
As he fled, the shard's voice returned, urgent and insistent.
"You are not ready, but you have no choice. Take the power I offer, and survive."
Eren didn't understand what it meant, but as the world around him erupted into chaos, he realized one thing: his life had changed forever.
The night was cold and still as Eren sat beneath the jagged remains of an ancient archway, the shard glowing faintly in his palm. The hum of energy had subsided, leaving a strange silence in its wake. He clutched the shard tighter, staring at it as if it held all the answers he desperately sought.
Then, the voice returned—calmer, yet still laced with a commanding presence.
"You have stumbled upon a fragment of something far greater than yourself, mortal. If you wish to survive what lies ahead, you must understand the truth of the gods you now carry within you."
Eren shivered as the shard pulsed, and the world around him blurred. His surroundings faded into darkness, replaced by a vast expanse of stars. In the center of the cosmic void stood seven towering figures, each radiating an aura of divine power.
1. Solas, the Radiant Sovereign
At the forefront stood a golden figure, clad in gleaming armor that shimmered like the sun. His face was obscured by a radiant helm, and in his hand, he held a blazing spear.
"Solas, the god of light and order," the voice intoned. "The first among the gods, he was the bringer of law and harmony. Yet his pursuit of perfection turned to tyranny, for no mortal could live up to his impossible ideals."
Eren could feel the heat of Solas's presence, a suffocating weight of judgment that demanded submission.
2. Nyxara, the Eternal Veil
Next to Solas was a figure cloaked entirely in shadow. Her form shifted and wavered like smoke, her eyes glowing faintly with a cold, silvery light.
"Nyxara, the goddess of night and secrets. She wove the fabric of dreams and nightmares, granting mortals the solace of darkness. But her hunger for knowledge led her to betray even her fellow gods, hoarding their secrets for herself."
Eren felt a chill run down his spine as Nyxara's gaze seemed to pierce through him, unraveling his very thoughts.
3. Zepharion, the Tempest King
A towering figure with wild, windswept hair stood next. His form crackled with electricity, and his cloak billowed as if caught in an eternal storm.
"Zepharion, the god of storms and freedom. A rebel among the gods, he championed the cause of mortals, granting them the strength to defy their fates. But his boundless fury knew no bounds, and his storms destroyed as much as they liberated."
Eren could almost hear the roar of thunder as Zepharion raised his hand, lightning dancing across his fingertips.
4. Thalrion, the Warden of Stone
Beside Zepharion stood a massive, stone-like figure with skin that resembled cracked earth. His eyes glowed with a deep, molten light, and his hands were clasped around a massive hammer.
"Thalrion, the god of earth and endurance. A protector and builder, he forged the foundations of the world. But his desire to preserve led to stagnation, for he feared change more than he valued growth."
The ground beneath Eren's feet seemed to tremble as the Warden of Stone loomed over the void.
5. Lyria, the Verdant Mother
A serene figure followed, draped in flowing robes of green and gold. Her hair cascaded like vines, and flowers bloomed with every step she took.
"Lyria, the goddess of life and renewal. She nurtured the world's creatures, creating a paradise of abundance. But her love for creation turned to obsession, and she unleashed plagues of growth that devoured the world unchecked."
Eren felt a strange mix of comfort and unease as her soft gaze lingered on him.
6. Veyron, the Crimson Tyrant
A figure wreathed in flames stood next, his body armored in molten steel. In his hand, he wielded a sword dripping with blood. His eyes burned with an unrelenting rage.
"Veyron, the god of war and conquest. He was the mightiest of the gods, unmatched in battle. Yet his thirst for power consumed him, driving him to betray even his closest allies in his quest for dominance."
Eren's heart raced as the Crimson Tyrant's fiery aura radiated pure destruction.
7. Astralis, the Dreaming Star
Finally, at the edge of the gathering, a figure unlike the others stood. Shrouded in ethereal light, her form was delicate yet infinite, as if she encompassed the cosmos itself. A faint melody seemed to emanate from her, haunting and beautiful.
"Astralis, the goddess of the astral plane and the unknown. She wove the threads of fate, guiding mortals through the tapestry of existence. But she was betrayed by her kin, cast out into the void for reasons even the gods would not speak of."
Eren felt an overwhelming sadness as he gazed upon Astralis. Her presence was softer than the others, yet her loneliness was palpable, echoing across the vast expanse of stars.
The voice returned, cutting through the silence.
"These were the Seven Gods, beings of unimaginable power who shaped the world in their image. Their desires, their flaws, their betrayals—all led to their fall. The Fragments you seek are pieces of them, shards of their essence scattered across the land."
The cosmic vision began to fade, and Eren found himself back in the ruins of Ashenvale, the shard still glowing faintly in his hand.
"You carry the essence of the gods now, mortal," the voice continued. "But beware—others seek the fragments, and their ambitions will stop at nothing to claim them. Choose wisely how you wield this power, for you may find yourself walking the same path as the gods you now hold within you."
Eren clenched his fist around the shard, his resolve hardening. The gods had fallen, but their legacy remained—and he would uncover the truth of their betrayal, no matter the cost.
The night grew darker, and the war of the Titans loomed ever closer.