The Curator
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Prologue
🕑 Added 2024-10-08 14:45:56 +0000 UTC
On a world far from our galaxy, on a planet with four moons, the surface is adorned with golden palaces and pyramids that surpass anything the human mind could imagine. The architecture and grandeur of this world defy human comprehension, glowing with a brilliance that could dazzle even the most steadfast soul. In a multiverse ruled by countless gods, each jealously guarding their dominions, this place stood removed from those conflicts, overseen by a family whose mightiest members were on the verge of godhood. Though their power would not rank high by multiverse standards, the remoteness of this world shielded them from opposition, allowing them to cultivate their strength in peace. The planet’s mana density was low, and it held little value to outsiders, or so it was believed.
But this family’s history stretched far deeper into the past, to a time before the Great Extinction, when four transcendent beings ruled over everything. Their empires were mightier than anything known today, their power unchallenged, their influence stretching across countless worlds. It was an era of unimaginable grandeur and peril, where these beings shaped the very fabric of existence. The current inhabitants of this world, with all their splendor, were but remnants of that forgotten age.
An old man, his skin shimmering like polished gold, led a younger woman through a labyrinthine corridor deep within one of the grand palaces. He had lived far beyond the lifespan of even the most powerful S-grade beings, his longevity a testament to the ancient powers that coursed through his veins, powers that had once been commonplace in the era before the Great Extinction.
The woman had passed the final trial, proving herself worthy of the ancient. The trial had tested her in ways unimaginable, not only her physical prowess, but also her wisdom, resolve, and understanding of the ancient arts passed down through generations. It was not merely a rite of passage, but a crucible that refined her spirit, aligning it with the long-forgotten powers her ancestors once wielded.
The old man, silent and solemn, guided her through the dimly lit passage. The air grew heavier, charged with the weight of centuries of secrets. Their footsteps echoed off the walls, each step bringing them closer to the most closely guarded mystery of their family. At last, they arrived at a hidden doorway, concealed behind an illusion that only one of their bloodline could dispel.
The door opened to reveal a vast chamber, its ceiling lost in shadows. Statues lined the walls, each one a monument to a forgotten age. They depicted figures from a time when the universe was young, and powers beyond comprehension roamed freely. The craftsmanship was unparalleled, each detail so precise it seemed the statues might come to life at any moment. Their eyes, though carved from stone, appeared to watch the pair as they entered, perhaps judging them, or merely waiting for their purpose to be fulfilled once more.
The woman’s breath caught as she took in the sight. These statues were not mere art; they were guardians, each one embodying a fragment of power long lost to the world above. The old man turned to her. His golden skin gleaming in the faint light filtering into the room. He nodded, a silent acknowledgment of her worthiness to stand in this sacred place.
“This,” he finally spoke, his voice reverberating through the chamber like the echo of a distant storm, “is the legacy of our family, the truth that has been safeguarded through eons. What you see before you is not just stone but the essence of what we once were and what we may become again.”
He led her deeper into the chamber, past the statues, toward the heart of the room. There, at its center, stood an altar, upon which rested an ancient scroll, pulsating with a faint, otherworldly glow. The woman felt drawn to it, her very blood resonating with the power it emitted.
“This is the most precious treasure guarded by our family since the Great Extinction,” the old man said. “It is a prophecy of unimaginable worth.”
“Why is it so precious?” she asked, her shoulders slumping. “Every faction has prophecies, that’s nothing special. Most gods can even see the into the future. How could this prophecy be so special? And if it’s an old one, it’s probably even worse. Most of those are useless anyway.”
“That is true,” the man replied with a knowing smile. “But this is not a prophecy from a god of this age. It is the prophecy of Osirkhan Meru, once a grand disciple of the Great One.”
“He was one of the greatest seers the multiverse had ever known, even before the Extinction,” he continued with excitement. The woman’s eyes widened in surprise. “And this is far from a mere prophecy. It clouds the eyes of anyone who tries to see this future.”
“So, I don’t need to tell you the importance of keeping this a secret,” the old man said. “Now, witness the prophecy of the Endless Emperor.”
He touched the scroll, which erupted with a golden glow. Slowly, grains of sand appeared above it, swirling and forming letters in the air.
The Endless Emperor
In the 501st era, after the war’s last breath,
A force shall awaken, defying even death.
No family to claim him, his heart frail and cold,
Yet beneath it, a seed of blood, dark and bold.
Many are his faces, many are his forms,
Shifting like sand in a desert of storms.
A man with a talisman, golden and bright,
A serpent, a dragon, a figure of night.
Mercy is foreign, his enemies shall fall,
Gods will kneel, or they’ll perish, one and all.
His power will grow, surpassing all bounds,
Breaking the veil where darkness resounds.
“Wait, the 501st era is about to begin!” she exclaimed in shock. “How do you plan to help him?”
“We won’t help him at all,” the man responded coldly. “We will kill him and reap his rewards. This prophecy is old and powerful, but not set in stone. It will bring our family back to its former glory.”
“But how can you accomplish that? You’re not a god, and you can’t see into the new universe or bless people in the tutorial.”
“That won’t be necessary,” the man replied with a knowing smile. “Everything will reveal itself when the time is right.”
