The training grounds of the Celestial Hall echoed with the clash of energy and the heavy rhythm of disciplined movement.
Ariv stood at the center, his focus razor-sharp, as streaks of shimmering light spiraled around his body — the early signs of his Galaxy Zenith awakening.
Across from him, Rohit's form blazed with a deep, earthen force, each strike of his stance sending faint tremors through the stone floor. The air between them crackled as their forms collided, their energies testing, adapting, and sharpening with each exchange.
"Your form's stabilizing," Rohit said between breaths.
Ariv smirked faintly. "Yours too. But you're still a step behind."
"Keep talking," Rohit replied, lunging forward, "and I'll put you a step underground."
They pushed each other harder, not out of rivalry alone, but with the silent understanding that when the Day of the Three Gods arrived, neither could afford hesitation.
---
Meanwhile, deep within the Soul Transferring Unit's inner chambers, Vaishnavi followed her father — Vireon — through vast halls lined with glowing crystal conduits. The air shimmered faintly, heavy with an otherworldly hum.
"This," Vireon explained, gesturing to the endless flow of lights moving through the conduits, "is the lifeblood of Atherion. These are souls — taken from the edges of reality itself."
Vaishnavi's eyes widened. "Taken? By whom?"
A figure emerged briefly at the far end of the hall — tall, cloaked, with a faint aura of shadow clinging to him.
"Kalarak," Vireon said. "He is the Gatherer. He traverses reality, drawing forth souls that have reached their end. They are then submitted to us."
Vaishnavi watched as a soul — a glowing, fragile sphere — drifted into the heart of a crystalline chamber. It pulsed once before dissolving into radiant streams of light.
"We," Vireon continued, "convert them into life. Erasing all memory of their past existence. These become the newborns in reality. But only for those who dwell in Atherion and the lands of the Celestials."
"And the others?" Vaishnavi asked quietly.
Vireon's expression hardened. "Those who live under Noxian's domain… their souls do not convert. They diminish, dissolving into the air like mist. Lost forever."
A chill ran through Vaishnavi. The weight of her father's words pressed against her heart — not just as an explanation of her new role, but as a truth she would carry from this day forward.
---
Back at the training grounds, Ariv and Rohit finally broke apart, sweat running down their brows. The sun had dipped low, casting the yard in shades of orange and crimson.
"Not bad for a day's work," Rohit said, stretching his shoulders.
"Not bad for the first day," Ariv corrected, determination burning in his eyes.
Far above them, the sky darkened — just for a heartbeat. A faint ripple passed through the air, unnoticed by most. But somewhere beyond, forces were already shifting, aligning, and watching.