Lenny's journey to the center of the Eastern region wasn't a smooth one, as he encountered many variables.
Fallen creatures inhabiting the Eastern region were all heralds of Behovena.
Lenny was smart, hiding from those whose strength was beyond him, and he killed those on his level.
Facing Level 1 and Level 2 Common rank Apocalypse creatures.
It didn't take him long for him to reach his destination.
He found a lost city, home to an ancient civilization forgotten and devoured by the Fallen Realm.
Deep in the jungle's unyielding grasp, where the trees whispered secrets to the shadows and the moon's crimson gaze filtered through the canopy like a diseased lantern.
Stood the ancient ruins- a testament to the civilization devoured by time.
And Lenny was exploring a nameless temple which is situated at the center of the forgotten city.
The temple's structure reared up like a forgotten titan, its stone blocks cracked and fissured, surrendering to the jungle's patient siege.
Vines threaded through its crumbling mansory like green veins, as if attempting to suffocate the memories trapped within.
Lenny was walking through a dreadful hallway, he was cautious and ready. The city may be forgotten but it's nowhere empty.
Lenny confirmed it with his two eyes, there were hundreds of Common rank Apocalypse creatures loitering around.
Apocalypse creatures of the Wanderer rank weredozens while Apocalypse creatures of the Nightwalkers rank were extremely rare.
But not zero.
Lenny wasn't willing to risk drawing attention by hunting Common Apocalypse creatures.
As a member of the Great House Night, Lenny thrived in mysteries, just like the rest of his family.
He was also an archaeologist and a historian.
Descendants of Great Houses were often taught histories and secrets of the Regulator's society.
Truths hidden from the world, only known to the Great Houses that governed the Regulator's society and the rest of humanity.
What he was seeing caught his attention a bit.
While moving through the hallway, Lenny noticed the drawings carved on the walls, they were ancient drawings.
Each depicts stories of the past and the civilization that once ruled this city.
There were a few noteworthy pieces of information he had received, but none could rival the drawing of the bleeding sun imprinted on the wall.
Lenny's movements came to a halt as he ran his fingers, careesing the wall, he softly exhaled, "This is the sigil of Herios, the god of the Sun"
He lingered for a moment, "There was once a time when the gods existed but that was long ago…."
"Even when humanity fell prey to the corruption of the Fallen Realm, five hundred years ago…."
"The gods were dead," He breathed deeply. Lenny tilted his gaze. His eyebrows furrowed as something caught his attention.
Before him was a colossal door, with its metallic doors rusting under the pressure of time.
His eyes gleamed, burning with curiosity. He quickly approached the door, and he observed the colossal door for a moment.
He paused, still in deep thoughts, "This is a temple, right? It must belong to Herios, the god of the Sun"
"I came here to learn about the existence of Behovena, maybe what I seek is locked behind that door" He encouraged himself.
Lenny stretched forth his hand, the moment his fingers graced the metallic door.
The colossal door clanked, opening a passage into the world it guards.
Lenny was stunned for a moment, but quickly composed himself. Lenny's lips curled into a faint smile.
Not hiding the avarice which burned deep in him.
He entered the room, and Lenny was met with a surprise. This hall, guarded by the colossal doors, protected a monolithic stone tablet.
This stone tablet was built on an altar.
There were hundreds of books scattered across the hall, and skeletons as well.
Bookshelves were crushed, and yet time wasn't able to destroy the knowledge engraved into the books.
"Where is this place?" Lenny whispered, he bent down to pick up a book, quickly clearing dust off the book with his hand.
He opened the book, and Lenny frowned, "This…this must be an ancient language, I can't understand it." He scowled.
Indeed, the contents written in this book were in an ancient language, forgotten by time and owned by the mysterious ancient civilization that had fallen.
He released his grip on the book, letting it fall to the ground, he wasted no time as he went for other books.
Just like the first book he carried, every one of them was written in an ancient language.
Lenny was getting frustrated; he was about to give up on seeking Information from these books when he noticed something.
A book was placed on the first step of the Altar. It had a crimson ruby stone engraved in it..
Lenny's eyes glistened in the moonlight, he approached the Altar, slowly bending down.
He grabbed the book from the step, his eyes filled with anticipation was met with disappointment.
Lenny opened the book, only to find it was completely empty.
Its pages were blank.
This was frustrating him, but he contained his rage. Not wanting to crash out and risk exposing his location.
He still held onto the book but his attention was focused on something else. The monolithic stone tablet is mounted on the altar.
An insignia of a three-horned goat head was engraved on the stone tablet, a pentagram symbol imprinted on the goat's forehead.
It cried blood, the goat's head had four eyes..
Lenny frowned, not understanding what was happening. "Shouldn't it be the symbol of Herios engraved on this stone tablet?" He asked..
"Wasn't this the temple of the God of the Sun?" He was confused, something wasn't right.
Just as he was distracted by countless thoughts, the book he held flickered for a second.
It was enough to attract him.
"What was that?" Lenny asked. He opened the book again, but this time… it wasn't blank anymore.
His eyes widened in shock as there were nine words boldly written on the blank page..
HAIL HIM!
FOR HE IS THE TENTH SINGULARITY, BEHOVENA.
"Behovena!" Lenny muttered, his pupils shrank to pin size, he opened the next page, and it wasn't empty like before.
It had more words this time..
Behovena was once a king whose crown had forsaken him, he went mad and made his people his crown.
A ruler who never existed yet, HE WAS EVERYWHERE!
Lenny impatiently scrolled to the next page as he was done reading.
The Land of Anyheruis was plagued when the corpse of the Ruler of The Sun, Herios fell.
Just as the Corrupted wept.
The Apocalypse could never be stopped.
Lenny's gaze darkened, "What is the meaning of this? A god was killed, by something known as the Corrupted?"
He deeply exhaled, "Where there beings whose strengths were on par with the gods?"
He scrolled to the next page, but what he read made him gulp, heavily swallowing his saliva.
His heart skipped a beat.
"The Gods wavered, They Ignored their duties,and abandoned those who worshipped them"
"Abandoning their duties, they accepted the corruption of the Unknown"
"A decision had to be made, A decision was made…..Even if it brought the end of millions"
"THE GODS HAD TO DIE!!" Said,Fallen of Death.
Lenny was visibly shaken, "The Fallen of Death?" He was visibly shaken, "So there were existences whose title was the Fallen?"
"Were they the progenitors of the Fallen Realm?" Lenny had a lot of questions to ask, but no one to answer them.
He still hasn't forgotten what he came here for, to learn about the existence of Behovena.
He raised his head, glaring at the stone tablet, "This must be the altar of that Fallen of Death" He muttered.
He scrolled to the last minute, and his face instantly fell.
If you're reading this, I'm certain you came to hunt Behovena.
Unfortunately Behovena, Who was long killed by the wrath of Herios, Refused to Die!
By your reflection shall thou Behold Behovena
Reading this, that was when everything suddenly clicked.
Lenny widened in shock, "Damn." His body shuddered, "Now I understand what Mother meant, I am Behovena…!"
"Behovena doesn't exist, yet I must kill it"
"The moment I was thrown into this forest, the moment my First Apocalypse began. I was Behovena"
"Or should I say, Behovena became me" A loud hysterical laughter uproared, echoing through the hall.
But suddenly his excitement disappeared, "I have to kill Behovena…."
"If I'm Behovena, does that mean…..I must die?"
"Could it be the price to conquer my First Apocalypse? To die." The atmosphere became tense.
Lenny raised his head, his eyes glued to the stone tablet, he shrugged with a grin "That shouldn't be a problem"
Lenny released his grip on the book, causing it to fall. He slowly climbed the stairs of the Altar.
Not removing his eyes from the stone tablet.
"The Fallen of Death" He whispered, "Are they on the same level as the gods?" He asked with shaky breath.
"I don't believe in the gods, perhaps I could sacrifice my life to you, before your altar….."
His chuckle resonated through the air, "I just find it funny" He grinned, without hesitation, Lenny plunged his fist straight into his chest.
He coughed up blood from his mouth, blood dripped from his nose, and he collapsed on his knees.
He knelt, facing the altar when he plucked out his own heart. Lenny was satisfied, not even wincing or flinching.
If it were others, they would be scared to kill themselves but Lenny was mentally far too gone.
He was completely unhinged.
Placing his bloodied heart on the altar, He coughed, "Here take it, it's a gift" He whispered.
His eyes blurred, and he collapsed on the ground, succumbing to the laws of death.
Just then, the whisper of the Fallen System resounded in his ears.
[You are dead]
[You've slain the Tenth Singularity, Behovena]
[Congratulations.....]
[You've conquered your First Apocalypse]