"Life is like an abstract painting."
"You find meaning among the thousands of streaks and lines of paint, and even though you may not know what it means at first when you see it closely, you may find out eventually."
"Unless you die, of course."
"And, this is the same for a Void World. Most people do find out what their Void World is. But, most never use it for what it's intended. Finding out the truth of this world, and our existence."
"The [Primordial Darkness], that exists beyond this world. Outside our world, there are most likely other worlds born of the eternal dark, just like ours. But, unfortunately, since I am not strong enough, I wouldn't be able to see for myself even if I wanted to."
"The [World Barrier], created from the same darkness, stops us from leaving as we please."
"So, please… for all of us."
Find out for us, what lies beyond this world.
…
The wind's breeze was harsh. The cold, biting winds were unforgiving. And yet, a young man, with long strands of black hair falling down his beautiful face and azure eyes, with them seeing sights that lasted centuries, sat near a mountain's peak.
He wore legendary silver armour and wielded a blade that held the stench of blood. His name was Exodus, one of the mythical beings of this era. He was a wyvern and one of the rare few beasts alive currently who had obtained his own [Void World].
"What a fantastic, yet saddening, memory that I recall. I remember the times when I used to joke and laugh like I had all the time in the world. Well, I still do, but, those around me don't." Exodus breathed out.
His Void World was unique, as it was called, the [Eternal Life Void]. This power granted him immortality, and the ability to metamorph. Though, his immortality was not truly immortality, because once he died, he would have to wait fifty years before waking up again.
This ability cost him far too much. Even though he had reached the zenith of strength, he was on the verge of falling into nihilism, and he would fade into nothingness, in a literal sense, falling back into the Primordial Darkness from whence he came.
"Perhaps, it's better if things happen that way. I won't have to suffer loss any more. Existentialism is far too hard to live by as an immortal…"
"I agree. And, by your death, both you and I won't have to suffer anymore." Someone with a snarky, vengeful tone in voice, approached him. He floated in mid-air in a seemingly composed manner.
He had blue eyes, and white hair that fell to his back, and wore a fancy white suit. He also wielded the [Inferno Spiral Whip], which informed Exodus to whom it may concern he was.
"Ah. It seems my karma has come back to bite me. Not only you, Serrate, but all of you have come."
Just as he said, all of his enemies, old and new, assembled around him, all of them floating in the air just like Serrate was, and fuming with hatred and wrath for him.
The reason he wasn't surprised was that he, Exodus, during the first stage of his life once he obtained his Void World, wasn't exactly the nicest being to meet. He devoured villages, towns and even cities, going on a rampage as a wyvern, before eventually settling down into a human form.
He was once known as the [Lord of Ashes], who erased countless lives and turned them into ash.
From this, he created countless enemies who vowed to take his life. And, although he spent a great time in his human form trying to wipe out all of his enemies, there were still hundreds who wanted to kill him.
And, especially the 16th General of the White Goblet Knights, Serrate of the [Watting Republic], who led all of his enemies against him.
"What a treacherous man…" Exodus muttered.
"Treacherous…?! I'M TREACHEROUS?! WHAT FOOLISHNESS!" Serrate roared, now seething with hatred.
"YOU KILLED MY ONLY SON!"
"…Indeed, I did. And, I probably did the same for most of you surrounding me at this very moment. But, that doesn't matter at all to me. What matters to me, is that all of my enemies have gathered in one place."
Exodus unsheathed his broadsword blade, the [Bloodstained Slayer], and a red gloaming shadow covered them all in the shade of a cataclysm. These were his blood-red wings, which permitted the Lord of Disaster to fly as high as he could.
"ATTACK!"
Using their Art Forms, all of them performed powerful spells and sword attacks and launched them at the nightmare that was about to be unleashed, but, to no avail, they did nothing.
"No… NO! STOP HIM!" Serrate shouted at the top of his lungs. But, it was too late. Exodus shrieked, exclaiming the roar of a wyvern, and flew up into the skies, covering the sun with his massive size.
He was the Lord of Disaster. One of the greatest mythical beings in existence, and one of the [Twenty Catastrophes] known throughout history. His wings allowed him to soar towards the heavens, his legs and tail allowed him to cause the earth to shiver, and his red eyes perceived all who were below him.
Yet, this battle would be the last battle he would have for many, many years. Hundreds of weapons pierced his ebony-black skin, and he was unable to use his Art Forms due to his wavering will to live. Even a Catastrophe named the [Lord of Ashes] couldn't escape the poison that was nihilism, which only the most fortunate could.
"Ha… ha… ha…. FINALLY…"
"We finally defeated him!" Serrate, missing an arm and one side of his chest declared, after extinguishing his mighty flames.
They couldn't smash and shatter his bones, as they were stronger than the strongest of metals, and they couldn't block or divert the swing of his claws, as they were sharper than the sharpest of blades.
But, they still managed to win in the end.
Exodus was silent. Numerous weapons were embedded into his skin, and yet, even though, he could still fight, he couldn't. He closed his eyes, ready to wake up in another fifty years, but, what they proceeded to do surprised him.
They dragged him to the largest, nearest lake and cast his enormous, wyvern body into it, chained and deprived of freedom by the chains that they had dug into his skin.
"So that's how they plan to get rid of me? How clever. Yes… perhaps that'll put me out of my misery too. I have witnessed too many of my companions dying and suffering in vain, after all."
"But, I do feel regretful. I won't be able to see the other side of the World Barrier, after all. But, perhaps that wicked Serrate and those other ones can do that for me. Yes…"
The Lord of Ashes fell into a very dark dream. A dream that lasted an eternity and the next. Despite what he thought, the Existentialism that drove him to eradicate to grow powerful was still scorching fiercely within him. And so, he fought off the forces of nihil that wanted to consume his mind, for that long eternity.
Until… his eyes opened once again.