## The Shadow Multiverse: Chapter 3 – Sudden Emergence of the Order of Diabolos?
It's been almost a month since the experiment with the "lump of meat." As I stand once again in that abandoned village, the memory of that day resurfaces—a sigh escaping me at how much things have changed.
The experiment started simply. Because it wasn't my own body on the line, I experimented freely, unleashing magic in every direction, guided at each step by the **Atomic Core** system. Every new pattern, every test, was a revelation—I watched my own magic control sharpen, my power unmistakably grow. I felt closer than ever to understanding the essence of magic.
But on the day I managed to completely suppress her magic deviation (magic deviation: the dangerously unstable overflow of magical power), the unexpected happened. The lump of meat—which had become my unwilling test subject—was gone. In its place stood a young blond elf girl.
I didn't realize at first. I was so focused on the flow of magic that only when I saw her standing, staring at me with clear eyes, did I comprehend my experiment's success. She was whole again—an elf (elf: a fantasy being known for longevity, beauty, and skill in magic)—and not just alive, but radiantly so.
My initial plan was simple: send her off to find her own fate—I hadn't set out to rescue her. But she refused with the kind of quiet resolve that only elves seemed to possess. "I cannot return home," she said gravely. "I owe you a debt that I must repay."
Running away briefly flashed through my mind, but the **Atomic Core** system interrupted with a personal mission prompt:
> **Atomic Core Mission:**
> Make use of the subject's gratitude to advance your own growth.
> *Reward for Cid only*: Unlock a unique insight into magical origins.
With the System's advice in mind, I changed course. "Alright—from today, your name will be Alpha." (Alpha: pronounced 'Al-fuh'; first in the Greek alphabet, signifying 'the leader' or 'the beginning.') She nodded in acceptance, blue eyes clear, her entire demeanor tinged with capability.
Her next question came naturally, "What is my purpose?"
I paused. To be a power in the shadows wasn't about charity—it was about strategy. The **Atomic Core** suggests I define my organization's purpose, but only to further my own development.
Piecing together the lore gathered by the System and my own ideas, I created an origin story:
"We will operate from the shadows, preventing the return of the demon Diabolos."
"Diabolos?" she echoed.
"In ancient history," I explained, "three heroes—a human, a beastkin (beastkin: people with animal features), and an elf—defeated Diabolos, who nearly destroyed the world."
Her brow furrowed. "Isn't that just a story?"
I smiled—a shadow ruler needed good stories. "It's more real than you know. Before dying, Diabolos placed a curse on the heroes. That curse became known in this world as demon possession (demon possession: a feared condition where dark magic overtakes someone). It marked the descendants of heroes, identifying those with extraordinary magic—just as you suffered before."
Her eyes widened. "Then… all those hunted as demons…"
I nodded. "Those with the most powerful magic are threats to the Order of Diabolos (Order of Diabolos: a secret group aiming to revive the demon). So they hide the truth, corrupt history, and hunt the gifted."
Alpha's fists clenched, her voice tinged with anger. "How could they?"
"They are our enemy. As the **Atomic Core** system directs, they operate only in secret—so must we. We are the hidden counterforce."
Another mission prompt appeared for me:
> **Atomic Core Main Quest Update (for Cid only):**
> Use Alpha's loyalty and the legend of the Order to create a shadow organization.
> *Reward for Cid*: Improved leadership reflexes, access to hidden System archives.
I declared, "We will be Shadow Garden. Those who hunt from the darkness."
Alpha's resolve sharpened, her blue eyes dancing with possibility. "Shadow Garden… I'll follow you wherever you lead."
But the System remained focused: Only I would gain new knowledge, new power from our victories. Alpha—my loyal subordinate—would grow only by my methods and guidance.
Our immediate mission? Training. Strength. Strategy. The **Atomic Core** system outlined objectives purely for me:
> **Atomic Core Training Objective (Cid only):**
> Spar daily with Alpha to refine sword technique and magical flow.
> *Reward*: New sword ability, improved magic efficiency.
The enemy is strong, the path shadowed, but Alpha's growth bolsters my own. Every clash beneath the moonlight, every challenge taken, drives me further along the System's plan—toward mastery, perfection, and the legend of the true power in the shadows.
Today, Shadow Garden was founded. And with it, my quest—personally guided and improved by the **Atomic Core**—advanced into legend.