Shocking news emerged regarding the brutal, bloody murder of King Norgad Vicker and his wife, the Queen. The monarchs grew deeply concerned by these events. From Erex Castle, located within the Troy Empire, Emperor William Stark decided to send out invitations for an alliance to all the various kingdoms and empires.
William Stark: "Lanster, I am counting on you for this. Do not forget—there may well be many traitors among the ranks of the Aramagon organization."
Lanster Devry, the assistant to the Emperor of Troy, possesses black hair and wields a unique spear imbued with dark magic. A prodigy since childhood, he earned his position as the Emperor's aide.
Lanster: "As you command, Your Majesty. Furthermore, a strange portal has opened following Princess Arya's departure; we have yet to determine what lies within it."
Emperor William: "The organization has proven itself to be extremely dangerous. If we do not eliminate them now, they will only grow larger and more powerful in the future. Also... I want you to summon *them*."
Lanster: "You mean *them*? Are you certain about this?"
William: "Yes. Summon the Digentar—the Lords of the Council."
Lanster: "As you wish, Your Majesty."
The scene shifts to Ivan, who, upon reaching the summit, beholds a truly legendary sight: he has arrived at the continent that marks the beginning of the end—the great land of Babylon.
Ivan: "The beginning of the end, huh? So, this is where you were, Sora."
He moves forward and discovers a temple, beside which stands a statue of the god of the underworld—Hades, the eighth god. Deep within Ivan, the legendary, destructive winged dragon Balerion—usually cynical and cold—spoke, his voice now carrying a tone of surprise and reflection.
Balerion: (His voice echoing in Ivan's mind) "This... this statue reminds me of the distant, ancient past. I never thought I'd see it again. What a surprise!"
Ivan: (Responding with a faint, mocking tone as he examines the statue closely) "I didn't take you for the sentimental type, dragon. Have you suddenly grown a soft heart?"
Balerion: (Offering a faint, internal smile, then replying with sudden seriousness—ignoring Ivan's jibe) "You naive fool! This is a statue of the god of the Underworld—the god of the Eighth Realm. He is not merely a deity; he is a destructive force in his own right. He annihilated half the Titanos armies during an ancient war—a conflict that predates the war between angels and demons by hundreds of thousands of years. His presence here, alongside the goddess Athena... it means a great deal. It means we are not in an ordinary place."
Ivan: (Gazing at the statue with a solemn expression, contemplating a grandeur long since vanished) "Power... might... or perhaps just desire and the reckless tampering with fate? Who truly knows the reality of that forgotten history? It seems I have arrived at a place that holds answers to questions yet to be asked." The Continent of the Beginning of the End—what secrets are you hiding?
Ivan began to explore the surroundings of the place where he had arrived. He noticed creatures of entirely unfamiliar forms—some possessed strange wings, others crawled on multiple limbs, and many bore unnatural, vibrant colors. It felt as though he had stepped into a realm from another world—an ancient, alien place. He then approached a colossal rock, carved with intricate, archaic inscriptions and depictions of diverse, exotic species. Finally, he spotted some ancient writing in an unknown script; yet, the power of the Phoenix granted him the ability to comprehend and read it.
Ivan: (In a voice filled with astonishment) "So... this is the legendary, ancient continent of Babylon! I never believed it truly existed."
Balerion: (With a clear note of surprise in his tone) "What a revelation! I never expected it to be here! I had assumed it was lost to the mists of time—or perhaps nothing more than an old myth recounted in legends."
Ivan: (Placing his hand against the carved temple walls, he felt an ancient energy pulsing from within) "It seems you know a great deal about this, Dragon. Tell me more."
Balerion: "You humans... you know nothing of the ancient world—of its fragmentation, or of the myriad civilizations that flourished thousands of years before your own era. The legendary continents, the races that both vied for dominance and coexisted in a delicate balance of harmony and conflict... It appears, boy, that you are now in far greater need of knowledge than you are of physical strength." Ivan: (Closing his eyes for a moment, imagining worlds and eras long past) "Gods... angels... demons... perhaps even mythical dragons... or entirely different races... ancient spirits... There seems to be so much to wonder about in this mysterious place."
The Phoenix Prophecy: A Call from the Past
Ivan continued his exploration inside the temple.
The Temple of Anomika: An Encounter with Legends
As he ventured deeper into the temple, Ivan noticed something peculiar about the various strange, ancient statues scattered throughout. Some depicted creatures he had never encountered in any history book—beings that blended human and animal features—while others were abstract and enigmatic. The statues seemed to point the way toward the heart of the temple. Its design was legendary, a fusion of diverse architectural styles, topped with runic inscriptions and mysterious symbols, alongside carvings of various animals (a monkey, a kangaroo, a lion, a bat, and a wolf).
Ivan: (Astonished, contemplating the grandeur and magnificence of the temple) "A temple like this... here? In the heart of this unknown continent? This is truly strange."
Balerion: (Responding, his voice carrying a sense of profound and vast knowledge) "This is the Temple of Anomika. It is no ordinary temple, boy."
Ivan: "Anomika? What is its story?" The Dragon: (Beginning to recount a long history, as if dredging up ancient memories) "This temple was built by the ancients—by all the diverse races that once inhabited this continent. It was a collaborative construction, dedicated to the legendary phoenix, Shura, and to Hades, the god of the Underworld and the Eighth Realm. Together, they serve as symbols for the various peoples and races of this mythical continent, representing both balance and power."
Ivan: (Recalling the statue he saw on the shore) "Was the battle between Hades and the Titans significant to these races? And was this continent a part of that devastating war?"
The Dragon: "Indeed! It is an ancient conflict, dating back nearly fifty thousand years—long before the dawn of the Age of Angels and Demons. This continent lies at the very heart of ancient history; it was here that some of the most pivotal events unfolded, shaping the destiny of the world as you know it."
Ivan moved toward the deepest part of the temple, his senses on high alert, wary of any traps or ambushes that might lie hidden within this ancient structure—a place that holds the secrets of millennia. What will Ivan discover inside the legendary Temple of Anumika?