Before time began its continuous course and the stars forged their light in space, after the birth of the Great Ultimates, there was a golden era, an age when the newly formed universe was young, immaculate, and had not yet fully escaped its stage with the purity of the first sense. The first civilizations arose...
A kind of immortal and perfect beings, shaped by the very forces that created the cosmos — White and Black — were the first to receive the power of the Language of Creation and Destruction. — A way of speaking to the universe itself, of commanding reality to bend before their will. Through this language, they could build and destroy, give life or take it away, all with a simple word.
As the first to exist, they were destined to be the architects of the universe, to fill the universe with color, shaping the first constellations, giving form to worlds, and guiding the laws of time and space. Their cities were not physical, but vast structures of energy and thought, floating at two extremes, divided into White and Black.
—[White Pole, Year 000]—
"It was another day in the golden age, the Gods gathered, listening to a hegemonic command from our leader before going on another mission."
"Are we doing things right?" I asked deeply.
«...»
The gods gathered before the throne of Ceres, the Sun of the Dawn. With a deep and authoritative voice, Ceres proclaimed: "Gods of the Dawn, Gods of Creation, let us follow and propagate the will that love has granted us. Let us forge a world of color, an unparalleled beauty, guided by the forces that shaped our Universe... Raise your hearts and fill the cosmos with color!"
Ceres' cry echoed in the place, and the gods responded with powerful cheers, like warriors before battle.
«....»
«Ceres' words echoed around us, but my mind wandered back to the beginning of everything. I remembered the Zero Point, that moment when nothing became aware of itself. It was then that the Great Ultimates were born: White and Black, the two absolute forces that wove this universe. Love, hate, order, and chaos… Fragments of something greater that even we, the first, cannot fully comprehend. Since that awakening, the gods have existed to fill the void with color and form. But… was this really what we wanted? Or rather… is this what I want?»
Shizuhana was lost in her thoughts, and she was the only one who would not have celebrated the speech, having been strange for several days. "Color… Meaning… Beauty…" She would say, whispering, lost in her own thoughts.
A strong slap on the back snapped her out of her reverie. Sorin, one of her loyal companions, smiled beside her. "What are you doing here so lost? Did you lose your purpose?"
"S...Sorin?" Shizuhana blinked, slowly returning to reality. "It's nothing, I just got distracted thinking about something."
—[Sorin Shinji, Third Devotee of the Fifth Dawn]—
"I see! Lately, I've noticed you've been very distracted... Could it be that you're dreaming of me as your handsome prince charming saving you from your nightmares?" Sorin joked, but Shizuhana looked at him with indifference, furrowing her brow.
"Huh? Prince charming… I don't know what that means, but I'm fine. You don't need to worry," she replied calmly.
"Of course, I worry! You're the leader of the Fifth Dawn. I must watch over you, above all. I, Sorin Shinji, devotee of the Fifth Dawn, will protect you in any circumstance, no matter how small." Sorin said, assuming a military posture.
Shizuhana would smile faintly as she placed her hand on Sorin's shoulder. "I deeply appreciate the great loyalty you have toward me. B-But… You don't need to be so formal, we're not exactly strangers."
«This idiot is Sorin Shinji, he has too much potential, but it's like seeing a powerful spirit with the mind of an idiot.»
"Of course, my lady… I mean, Shizu! I'll do my best to avoid... formalities."
«You're a fool, Sorin...» Shizuhana would think to herself.
Shizuhana let out a relaxed sigh. "Fffu… You're hopeless, aren't you? Well, do you know where Murayama is?"
"Murayama… probably at the tavern, as usual."
"I told him not to drink so much…" Shizuhana sighed. "That idiot does whatever he wants."
"Well, let's go find him. Come with me, Sorin."
They both walked in silence until they reached the tavern The Refuge of Eos. Upon arrival, Shizuhana stopped. "Sorin, wait here. I need to speak with him privately."
Upon entering the tavern, Shizuhana scanned the place until she found Murayama, sitting at the back, drinking with acquaintances.
"Murayama, how many times have I told you not to drink so much?" Shizuhana said, approaching.
"Oh! Lady… I didn't see you coming…" Murayama responded, nervous and surprised.
—[Murayama, Fourth Devotee of the Fifth Dawn]—
"I'll let it slide for now. But we have to go on a new mission," Shizuhana would say, fixing her gaze on the other lesser gods accompanying Murayama. "Them…?"
"Oh! They are devotees of the Fourth Hegemonic, Lady Rikumi. They came to ask me for some battle advice... It's not common for the Kyoki Manticores to appear in battle."
"K-Kyoki Manticores?" Shizuhana asked, surprised.
«Aren't the primordial spirits only meant to serve as guardians? If it weren't for how my Atikraman — Principle of Transcendence works, it would be very difficult for me to deal with one. No wonder Rikumi allows her devotees to interact with mine. The Kyoki Manticores are creatures created by the Nirarthakata of the Third God of Dusk. They are extremely powerful and dangerous high-level creatures, capable of reducing everything they touch to a nihilistic void. I believe their principles seem antagonistic... Rikumi, a Goddess who emanates the value of all things, Mulya. — Mivernag, a God who emanates the vacuity of all things, Nirarthakata. That's why the power of the Kyoki Manticores rises with the antagonism.»
"Mmm… I see, then there's no problem. However, leave the advice for later, we have a mission." That said, Shizuhana would turn her gaze toward Rikumi's devotees, signaling that they also had to meet with their hegemonic lady.
"O-Of course!" Rikumi's devotees would say, accompanied by a bow, before leaving.
"Well, follow me, we'll leave right now." Shizuhana would leave the tavern with Murayama and then head with Sorin toward the central tower of the White Pole
—[Central Base - White Pole]—
«This is the central tower that maintains the entire structure of our white pole; the energy it contains is so vast that it becomes incomprehensible to our way of perceiving or measuring. It is formed with the magnitude of countless celestial bodies, forged with the nature of great nascent universes.»
Shizuhana ascended with her devotees to the highest point of the tower, entering the Great Aurora of the Pentagon. The Gods of the Dawn were seated on imposing sacred thrones, each radiating an aura reflecting their divine nature. Before them, their devotees held positions of honor, arranged according to the deity they served.
Amidst this gathering, the three remaining devotees of Shizuhana—Tathuvan, Ruvyastra, and Balduryon—would soon be joined by Sorin Shinji and Murayama. Shizuhana, advancing slowly, took her place on the Fifth Throne of the Dawn.
A beautiful white-haired servant, with a firm appearance, slowly entered the hall. She walked up to position herself before the Dawns and, turning to face the devotees, prepared to deliver her speech.
"Devotees of the Dawns, believers of the Great Clarity:
Before you stand the great deities of the Great Aurora of the Pentagon, exceptional beings whose essence emanates from the principles that shaped our universe: White and Black. Their emanating principles—the Dawns—when united in great harmony, form the five supreme forces that seek to infuse love and order into existence, in opposition to the Dusk. Now, I will present them."
"The First Hegemonic: Ceres, The Great Sun— God of Utpatti (Origin), the primordial source of the Dawns."
"The Second Hegemonic: Amayori, The Great Breath— Goddess of Astitva (Being), the immutable guide of our existence."
"The Third Hegemonic: Hanuman, The Forger of Meanings— God of Artha (Purpose), the anchor that holds the meaning of our creation."
"The Fourth Hegemonic: Rikumi, The Flame of Valor— Goddess of Mulya (Value), the spirit that protects the significance of all existence."
"The Fifth Hegemonic: Shizuhana, The Liberation of Things— Goddess of Atikraman (Transcendence), the gaze that pierces the limits."
After the presentation, a reverent silence filled the hall, only interrupted by the imposing voice of Ceres, the Great Sun.
"Devotees, gathered here under the light of the Dawns, we must address an unquestionable truth: the expansion of chaos threatens to penetrate our borders. The shadows of the Black Pole have begun to move their pieces, and we cannot allow their nihilism to consume the color we have so painstakingly woven into this universe. It is time to act."
Amayori gently inclined her head, her tone calm yet firm. "The balance is at stake. Each of you will play a crucial role in this mission. Harmony cannot be imposed, only cultivated. For this reason, the Dawns will grant a portion of their strength to their devotees. Only in this way can you face what lies ahead."
Rikumi spoke next, her tone critical. "Amayori is right. The White Pole is strong, but only because we have defended our principles with resolve. Talking about harmony sounds noble, but chaos does not understand dialogue. I propose we act with force, ensuring no Dusk dares cross our borders."
Hanuman, with an enigmatic smile, intervened. "Rikumi, not all battles are won with the edge of a sword. Sometimes, a profound meaning can cut deeper than any weapon."
The room filled with a tense air. From her throne, Shizuhana let out an almost imperceptible sigh before speaking. Her voice, soft but laden with intent, cut through the air in the space:
"Shall we debate tactics forever while the balance crumbles? Perhaps... what we need is not more order, but the ability to transcend what limits us."
『A tactic of narrow perception to make visible a thought that sees and transcends things beyond the sacred order. It was an inconceivable thought. — — Transcend what limits us? What kind of conception is that? Is color a limit or a force? At this moment, it was not a good idea to bring forth such a controversial thought. Whether Shizuhana's words were a half-truth or a complete paradox mattered little. Everything could crumble... like an earthquake affecting even the heavens, though it may arise beneath our feet. It was more likely that everything would crumble, fall, or collapse...』
After a deafening silence, the eyes of the gods turned to Shizuhana, some with confusion, others with a mixture of curiosity and indifference. Rikumi was the first to break the stillness, although her words betrayed her confusion:
"T-Transcend what limits us? W...what are you saying? What kind of comment is that?"
Hanuman raised an eyebrow, his smile now sharper. "Interesting perspective, Shizuhana. Though, as always, your words seem more like a riddle than a statement."
Amayori watched attentively, while Ceres remained silent, though his gaze weighed upon the fifth Dawn like an unappealable judgment.
Amayori finally broke the silence, with a delicate and soft voice. "Shizuhana... Transcending what limits us may seem like a solution, but what remains if we break our own rules? What are we without the principles that hold us?"
Hanuman clasped his hands thoughtfully, his gaze shifting between Shizuhana and Amayori. "Perhaps what Shizuhana suggests is not to destroy color, but to go beyond its meaning. Let it flow without our chains. A risky thought, but... interesting."
"Ridiculous!" Rikumi's voice resonated like thunder, rising from her throne with fury in her eyes, slamming her fist on the table. "Going beyond what we are is not transcendence, it's annihilation. What will become of us if we forget our purpose? Didn't we come into being to weave meaning and value in the void? These kinds of ideas are dangerous... Unacceptable! Don't you understand what you propose, Shizuhana? Your vision will lead us all into the abyss!"
Shizuhana remained calm, her gaze serene, contrasting with the intensity around her. "And what about the void? Is it so terrible that we fear facing it? Sometimes, Rikumi, stopping the weaving is the only way to understand the canvas in its entirety."
Shizuhana's words fell like a stone into a pond, creating invisible ripples in the minds of all present. Some devotees murmured among themselves, while others remained in uneasy silence.
Ceres, who had remained in absolute silence, finally raised his hand to impose order. His voice, full of authority, contained the tension. "Enough."
The Great Sun rose from his throne, his figure radiating order. "Internal dissent will take us nowhere. The shadows of the Black Pole grow stronger while we debate. Shizuhana, your words are a peculiarity, something we still do not fully understand. Perhaps you will find truth in them... or perhaps they will lead you to your doom."
A small wave of uncertainty and conviction crossed Shizuhana's eyes, but she remained silent. She knew her words would not be understood... at least not yet.
"For now," Ceres continued, "we must focus on the task before us: to protect the White Pole. This debate on transcendence must wait. Devotees, prepare your spirits, for the Dawns will walk with you into battle. There is no more time to lose."
Ceres's authority sealed the discussion, but not the doubts in the hearts of those present. As the devotees rose and prepared for their assignments, Shizuhana remained seated, still in her throne, feeling the weight of the gazes still upon her. In her mind, a thought repeated: to transcend, one must first break... but what will remain when we do?
She knew her vision went beyond the immediate... and that her path had only just begun.
『It was to be expected. The Goddess of Atikraman proposed "to transcend what limits us," an inconceivable thought that dismantles the collective vision of the Gods, something that escapes and is outside the universal order of all things. What is the sense in losing your color? Perhaps the fifth Dawn — Goddess of Atikraman, as the principle of transcendence (overcoming) sees something the Gods do not see... But how viable is it? Losing oneself by going beyond oneself is not transcendence, it's annihilation!』