In the depths of darkness, where light could barely penetrate, Marlin stood in an unknown place. The world around him shifted like clouds, its colors blending and intertwining, nothing remained still, and even time seemed to stand still, neither advancing nor retreating. He looked at the ground, which changed from one shape to another, as if it were a mirror shattering and restoring itself over and over again.
"You are a guest here, Marlin... but you do not belong," the strange voice came from all directions, echoing in his ear as though something were trying to invade his mind.
Marlin suddenly woke up, gasping for air, his heart pounding violently. He opened his eyes to find himself in his small room, with the moonlight streaming through the window, revealing the tired features of his face. He felt something strange pressing on his chest. The events of the day rushed back into his memory.
---
Marlin and Ryan sat in the living room, the atmosphere charged with tension. Marlin avoided looking at his brother, his mind still lost in multiple thoughts about the new world he had arrived in, while Ryan observed every movement he made.
"Marlin, are you okay?" Ryan asked calmly, but there was an unusual concern in his eyes. Marlin was breathing heavily, as though carrying a heavy weight on his chest. He tried in every way to make sense of what was happening in his mind, but confusion overwhelmed him.
"I'm fine... just thinking about something," Marlin replied hesitantly, his eyes still unfocused.
"Don't worry, Marlin," Ryan said gently, placing his hand on Marlin's shoulder. "What do you know about this world?"
Marlin replied as he thought for a moment: "Yes... I know that there are two main continents. Valeron and Komora, and a third... which they say was destroyed by a conflict between the gods. Each continent has countries that are ruled by gods who control the paths."
Ryan smiled kindly and said: "That's partially correct... but it's more complicated than you think. There are countries under the control of gods, yes, but the situation is not as simple as it seems."
"In our continent, Valeron, there are countries under the control of different gods, and each country is dominated by a specific path," Ryan began explaining thoughtfully.
Indoril: The country we live in, ruled by the God of Darkness.
Lomora: A country ruled by the God of Life.
Tiresia: Governed by the God of Time, who has the ability to control and slow time.
Moria: A country under the control of the God of Destruction.
Granira: A country governed by the God of Order, who seeks balance in everything.
Ryan continued, "As for the continent of Komora, it holds countries ruled by gods like Death, Nature, Desire, Space, and Chaos."
---
Ryan then smiled and said, "As for the paths themselves, everyone is born with a spiritual resonance that aligns them with a specific path, which determines the course of their life. If you attempt to walk a path that doesn't resonate with you, you may face insanity or even become something unrecognizable."
Marlin asked eagerly, "Do you follow a specific path?"
Ryan answered calmly, "Yes, I'm in the Path of Mystery. This path focuses on manipulating silence, concealment, and killing enemies without them realizing. In the first level, it's called 'Shadow Doubt': I can create simple illusions that confuse minds, making people question whether they are seeing things as they truly are." Ryan explained, "Anyone in this path's level can create deceptive shadows, causing enemies to become disoriented."
Level Two - Crossroads:
"Here, I can manipulate memories. I can plant new thoughts into people's minds or alter the facts in their heads, making it difficult for them to distinguish between truth and deception," Ryan continued explaining his abilities.
Level Three - Silence:
"In this level, I can create silent zones, where no one can hear anything, and no one can control the course of events in that space. I can control sound entirely."
At that moment, Marlin felt a strange sensation shaking his heart. "But... Ryan..." he began, trying to gather his thoughts. Panting heavily, he felt a deeper weight, "You... were you working in a mine?" he asked in a low voice.
"What?" Ryan looked at him in surprise, then smiled gently. "You don't know what was really happening. I'll tell you later."
Marlin felt something heavy in his chest. He had always believed Ryan was just a regular miner, stuck in this kind of life forever. But what Ryan had revealed about the paths and the details of his world was shocking. Was this really what his brother had been doing all along? Marlin felt as if the reality around him was cracking, and everything was just a complicated play for roles he didn't understand.
Marlin closed his eyes for a moment, waves of worry and fear washing over him. If Ryan possessed these abilities, what did that mean? Had he killed people to gain these powers? Had he gone through terrifying things?
He looked at Ryan with eyes full of questions, but his heart was confused. The fear of losing his brother enveloped him, but he was also questioning everything around him. Could it be that Ryan had been involved in horrific deeds? Could it be that he had strayed from his humanity in pursuit of power?
"Ryan..." Marlin whispered, "Did you kill people for this path?"
Ryan answered quietly, but the sadness in his eyes was evident. "No... it wasn't what you think. I don't want to scare you, but in this world... we don't have a choice. What you see here is not the full truth. We are just trying to survive."
Ryan's words ignited a fire of worry in Marlin's heart. "If you killed them... how will you remain yourself after all this?"
Then, Marlin looked into his brother's eyes, trying to read beyond his words. Could he believe everything Ryan said? Or was the reality far more complex than he had imagined?
Ryan added, "As for the Path of Darkness, it's for those who align with the shadows. This path represents neutrality between light and chaos. In the first level, it's called 'Touch of Darkness', the ability to summon small shadows to control objects. In the second level, it's called 'Growing Shadow', where I can move shadows and block light. In the third level, it's called 'Living Shadow', where I can make shadows move independently and attack enemies."
Ryan continued, "As for the Path of the Abyss, it's more extreme. In the first level, it's called 'The First Seed', where the user gains increased physical strength and pain tolerance but starts losing their connection to reality. In the second level, it's called 'Voice of Shadows', where one can summon dark shards to attack enemies and use simple dark magic. In the third level, it's called 'Covenant of the Devil', where the user can transform their limbs into temporary demonic forms, granting immense physical strength while beginning to lose their humanity."
---
In the grand cathedral, Cardinal Toberos stood before a stained glass window, his eyes staring blankly into the void. In his hand was a letter sealed with the bishop's crest.
"Destruction's country..." he muttered softly, his hands trembling slightly. His fear wasn't from its inhabitants, but from the ancient beasts there—dark, hidden, and dangerous entities.
Toberos slowly turned his head toward the shadows that surrounded the room, as if they moved with his breath. "If this is your will, I will carry it out."