Chapter 4: The Primal Gods of the Elements
At the edge of the Astral Plane, over a dozen Primordials of various forms were approaching. Some were giant beasts composed of pure fire, others were roaring thunder giants... each exuded a chaotic and violent aura of divinity.
Sulen and Shar had already established a line of defense. Under Sulen's control, starlight coalesced into countless barriers of light, standing across the path of the Primordials' advance.
Shar wove together layers of shadow labyrinths, twisting and folding the space of the Astral Plane to delay the Primordials' speed.
"They are here," Sulen's voice transmitted through the starlight into the consciousness of Shar and Chauntea.
The first to strike the light barrier was a Fire Primordial. It crashed into the starlight screen like a burning galaxy. Sulen waved her hand to reinforce the defense, and the power of stars collided violently with the power of fire, erupting in a blinding radiance.
Shar slipped into the shadows and appeared behind a Thunder Primordial. The power of darkness condensed into chains, binding the giant made of lightning. However, the Thunder Primordial roared and released an electrical discharge of billions of volts, nearly tearing the shadow chains apart.
"Their destructive power is beyond imagination," Shar assessed calmly, while simultaneously mobilizing more dark energy to reinforce the restraints.
On the continent of Faerûn, Chauntea closely monitored the battle. She mobilized the power of the earth, channeling energy through the ley lines to the Astral Plane to support her sisters' defense.
Starlight flickered in Sulen's eyes as she pushed her hands forward. Countless stars condensed into spears of light, shooting toward the Fire Primordial at the very front.
The light spears pierced the flames and struck its core. The Fire Primordial let out a shrill roar as its body began to disintegrate, turning into sparks that filled the sky.
Shar focused on dealing with the Thunder Primordial. She condensed darkness into a void domain that devoured everything, trapping the Thunder Primordial within. Lightning flickered and struggled within the darkness, but was eventually consumed and dissipated by the endless gloom.
The two Primal Gods cooperated with perfect chemistry, eliminating the Primordials one by one. Starlight and darkness intertwined, forming a perfect system of offense and defense.
However, the Primordials were too numerous and their strength too great. After losing half of their companions, the remaining Primordialssuddenly erupted in unison, concentrating all their power to strike a single point.
"Not good!" Sulen cried out, sensing cracks appearing in the starlight barrier.
Shar tried to reinforce the defense, but it was too late. The Primordialsjoined forces to punch through the starlight barrier, broke through the shadow labyrinth, and charged toward the Material Plane.
"They've broken through!" Chauntea's voice carried a sense of urgency. "They are heading for the continent of Faerûn!"
Sulen and Shar immediately returned to the Material Plane. Here, their power was more complete. Sulen's avatar was the stars and light of the entire material universe, while Shar's avatar was all darkness and shadows.
The seven surviving Primordials rushed into the Material Plane, their target clear: the life that was gestating on the continent of Faerûn.
"We must not let them succeed!" Sulen's voice echoed throughout the universe. Countless stars lit up simultaneously, condensing into pillars of destructive light that blasted toward the Primordials.
Shar brought the dark side of the universe to life. Shadows entwined the Primordials like living things, restricting their movements.
On the continent of Faerûn, Chauntea mobilized ley line energy to form a massive protective shield, protecting the animal life that was taking shape.
The Fire Primordial was the first to be illuminated by Sulen's starlight; its fiery body gradually extinguished under the pure starlight. The Thunder Primordial tried to release lightning to counterattack, but it was completely absorbed by Shar's darkness.
The Wind Primordial formed a hurricane that tore through space, but Sulen mobilized the power of the stars to stabilize the spatial structure. The Water Primordial turned into a massive flood, but was guided by Chauntea into the newly formed ocean basins.
The battle unfolded in every corner of the Material Plane. Although the Primordials were powerful, they gradually fell into a disadvantage on the home turf of the three Primal Gods.
Sulen concentrated starlight and completely purified the last Wind Primordial. Shar used darkness to devour the last Water Primordial. Chauntea guided earthfire to force out and eliminate the Earth Primordial that was trying to dive underground.
When the last Primordial was eliminated, the universe returned to peace.
But although the Primordials were destroyed, their divine essence would not easily dissipate. These chaotic divine energies drifted everywhere in the Material Plane, potentially causing unpredictable consequences.
"We must deal with this residual divinity," Sulen said worriedly.
Shar thought for a moment: "We can try to filter and merge these divinities, making them a part of the universe instead of a destructive force."
Chauntea agreed with the idea: "Yes, these divinities are essentially the ultimate expressions of the elements. If they can be purified and controlled, they can enrich our universe."
The three goddesses began to work together to process the residual divinity of the Primordials. Sulen used starlight to purify the chaotic nature within the divinity, Shar used darkness to filter out the violent factors, and Chauntea guided these purified divinities to merge into the material universe.
The divinity of wind was released into the atmosphere, forming various wind phenomena, from gentle breezes to violent hurricanes. The divinity of water merged into the oceans and rivers, giving the bodies of water a flowing vitality.
The divinity of fire seeped into the ground, forming earthfires and volcanoes, and also gave the sky lightning. The divinity of thunder intertwined within the clouds, forming lightning bolts.
With the fusion of these elemental divinities, the material universe became richer and more complete. A full river system appeared on the continent, ocean currents were generated in the seas, and a complex climate system formed in the atmosphere.
The fusion of these elemental divinities gave rise to new divine consciousnesses. From the depths of the ocean, the divinity of the water element condensed into a graceful figure: Istishia, the Primal God of Water Elementals.
From within the earthfire, the divinity of the fire element condensed into a blazing figure: Kossuth, the Primal God of Fire Elementals. From within the atmosphere, the divinity of the wind element condensed into a fleeting figure: Arkadi, the Primal God of Air Elementals.
From deep within the earth, the divinity of the earth element condensed into a steady figure: Ghulamba, the Primal God of Earth Elementals.
The four Elemental Primal Gods awoke simultaneously, sensing their own essence and responsibilities.
"Were we born from the purified divinity of the Primordials?" Istishiaasked softly, feeling the water currents around her.
The flames on Kossuth's body flickered slightly: "We carry the essence of the elements, but no longer chaotic or violent."
Arkadi drifted in the air: "We have a clear consciousness and mission."
Ghulamba stood steadily: "We shall maintain the balance of the elements."
Sulen, Shar, and Chauntea looked in surprise at these four newborn Primal Gods. They were neither destroyers like the Primordials nor creators like the three goddesses, but maintainers of the universe's elemental balance.
"The universe is perfecting itself," Sulen remarked with a sigh.
Shar nodded: "The threat of the Primordials has been transformed into the richness of the universe."
Chauntea smiled: "Now all the elements needed for life are complete."
The four Elemental Primal Gods bowed to the three goddesses in greeting, then each returned to their own Elemental Planes to begin fulfilling their duties of maintaining elemental balance.
Ling Hao observed all of this, his heart surging with emotions. In the game's setting, the birth of the Elemental Primal Gods indeed required external divinity.
But his contemplation was interrupted by the changes on the continent of Faerûn. With the establishment and enrichment of elemental balance, the animal life on the continent finally completed its formation process.
Chauntea looked at all of this with joy, and Sulen and Shar also felt gratified.
At the same time, Ling Hao felt his connection with this universe grow even tighter.