Zerathos, feared across the realms for his cruelty and unmatched strength did not earn his name through idleness. He fought for it. He conquered for it. His power was carved from countless battles, and among the secrets behind his might was one creation, Abyss.
"Here is Abyss, my companion," Zerathos said as a dark, metallic aura rippled through the air. A black armor appeared, floating silently before them. It radiated fear itself , an energy so cold and dreadful that the space around it seemed to tremble.
Lucian froze. "Uncle…?" His voice was uncertain, almost reverent.
He recognized it instantly. This was not ordinary armor, it was Abyss, the legendary armor said to have destroyed worlds and ruled over them. The stories said that when Zerathos rebelled against Orton, the Mother of All, he left Heaven to forge a weapon worthy of his defiance. He gathered void stones, veins of dead dragons, and even the souls of demons and from those cursed materials, Abyss was born.
"You're giving me Abyss?" Lucian asked, stunned. This armor was the greatest treasure in all creation, something even gods and Otaenians feared.
Zerathos let out a deep breath, running his hand across the floating armor. His touch carried both pride and sorrow. "Abyss has followed me through ages, through wars that tore realms apart," he said softly. "But now… it must follow you to grow. Don't worry, I have a better armor now."
Lucian could hardly imagine anything stronger than Abyss. Yet, he knew his uncle. Zerathos never lied, his words were law.
Without thinking, Lucian stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him. To others, the sight would be unbelievable. They would faint from terror at the mere presence of Zerathos, yet here was Lucian ,the only one who saw not a monster, but family.
"Thank you, Uncle," Lucian whispered, his voice full of emotion.
Zerathos patted his back gently, smiling faintly. If anyone saw him like this, they would think he had lost his mind. After all, who would dare touch the strongest being in the universe, second only to Orton herself? But family was the one thing that still made him human.
"Go, kid," Zerathos said at last, pulling away. "Take care of yourself. And if you really intend to keep that mortal girl by your side… then train her well. She must be strong enough to stand beside you."
Lucian frowned. "But how? Mercedes is a mortal. She doesn't have true energy. She can't even use mana like other humans."
"All beings are children of Origin," Zerathos replied. His gaze seemed to pierce through reality itself. "Every living creature carries a spark of His essence. Even mortals — they just haven't learned to awaken it. Help her find hers."
Lucian's eyes widened slightly. Awaken it?
Before he could ask, Zerathos vanished — disappearing like a shadow dissolving into light.
For a long moment, Lucian stood in silence, feeling the fading echo of his uncle's presence. His words replayed in his mind again and again. Awaken her power… every being is a child of Origin.
Could mortals truly wield True Energy? They were the weakest of all life — fragile, short-lived, powerless. Yet Zerathos believed they held potential. Maybe that was enough for Lucian to believe it too.
Sensing movement nearby, Lucian immediately acted. He hid Abyss and erased all traces of Zerathos's power. Even a single spark of that energy could destroy Mercedes in an instant. He opened a small rift and cast the remaining essence into the void beyond the Primordial Realm.
Then he stood still for a moment, lost in thought. Abyss… Zerathos… awakening mortal power…
He already had someone in mind who could help — Irene, his loyal knight and the most brilliant scholar of ancient spells. If anyone could find a way to awaken the hidden veins of mortals, it was her.
Lucian remembered that every race had a unique core:
The gods had divine veins, channels that carried divine energy.
The immortals had immortal veins, granting them endless vitality.
Then surely, mortals too had a vein — one that had long been forgotten or buried deep within them.
He just needed time — and courage — to create a spell powerful enough to awaken that hidden spark.
A spell that would help Mercedes rise beyond her limits.
A spell that could make a mere mortal… surpass even gods.