In an empty space
Three thrones seemed to be waiting for their occupants, their presence felt despite being vacant.
An aura of power lingered around them, as if they had once held the weight of mighty beings.
The stars above twinkled like diamonds scattered across the velvet expanse, casting an ethereal glow on the thrones.
And In front of the throne stood a round planetary sized object but in front of the thrones they looked like mere a pebble.
It was bigger than Earth's moon and similar in appearance
Around them stood beings draped in long, dark cloaks, with a purple outlines and all had a mask over their face.
They stood motionless, their 'gaze' fixed on the 'pebble' that would act as the dock where the criminal would stand.
As if awaiting a verdict that would shake the realms- and it would.
The beings in cloaks did not speak, not even moved as they patiently waited for the criminal.
The silence thickened to the point a knife could cut it then it happened.
When out of nowhere, a crack formed from above the space and a single gigantic streak of lightning hit the pebble.
The blast sent minor shockwaves but relatively the archivers seemed themselves were unaffected but it did sway them a bit.
There was a lot of dust from the moon as it received the brunt of the impact.
And then when the dust cleared.
A dark metal box was revealed.
Runes etched into its darkness pulsing with an unseen malevolence the jewels imbedded in it pulsed.
The metal seemed to writhe and twist, and feeding on the shadows. Darkness coalesced around it.
The box's metal surface appeared to absorb the light like a black whole the ground around it had fissures due to the pressure it was applying.
And then out of the bottom legs like that of an arachnid sprouted
The legs propelled Duat-Khaft forward with an unsettling, mechanical precision, leaving deep gashes in the stone floor as it moved.
The container's metal surface seemed to ripple and flex, like dark, liquid skin, as it continued its slow, deliberate movement.
Taking in its new surroundings.
This wasn't no ordinary contraption.
It was one of the 10 Unholy Artifacts.
Duat-Khaft (Coffin of the Underworld)
An evil sealing container meant to entrap the soul of the being in it and known to be impossible to escape.
Without the the artifacts permission or its owners.
And right now it was loaned to help transport the criminal to the court room.
Just being in its presence made the hearts of the archivers tremble.
As the archivers gazed upon Duat-Khaft, the infamous Coffin of the Underworld, moving around on the dock
Even with no visible eyes they knew it was staring analysing each one of them.
Their voices barely above a whisper as if it demanded it.
"I've only read about it," one trembled, "but being this close is terrifying.
Do you even think the criminal is still alive?"
A posh-voiced archiver replied, "Many powerful gods have perished within its confines.
Perhaps he's already met his demise, rendering this trial futile."
Suddenly, a low, ominous laugh echoed through the room, drawing the group's attention to one of their own.
"Don't underestimate the power of the one inside it" the laughing archiver warned. "It doesn't conform to expectations but exceeds them.
Our concern should be ensuring he doesn't break free before the lady arrives."
An arrogant archiver snorted, "Escape? Impossible. Duat-Khaft's seals are impenetrable even that monster can't escape."
Are you sure?
Of course I'm.."
A loud bang interrupted the sentence, making the archiver jump, as the artifacts swayed.
The laughing archiver's smile spread.
The arrogant one scoffed,
"That proves nothing."
But before he finished, a dent materialized on Duat-Khaft's surface.
Making it sway again.
The metal rippled, repairing itself with it strange liquid alloy.
Another dent formed it swayed, and another, each one deeper, more.
The container shuddered, metal screaming in protest it's crystals glowed fiercely and with that the light around diminished.
It's movement becoming erratic with each growing second.
The archivers watched, frozen with bated breaths.
As Duat-Khaft's surface began to seem to struggle in containing a captive the 10th ranked Unholy treasure.
This was unprecedented.
The dents appeared faster, more frenzied.
it was bulging now the dock was experiencing tremors
The light around was being sucked rapidly only the glow from the purple crystals gave light to the space which had reduced in number.
The arrogant one feeling fear drew up all his courage, "COME ON DUAT-KHAFT DONT LET THAT BASTARD ESCAPE YOU'RE THE TENTH RANKED UNHOLY ARTIFACT!!!!!"
Then as if that gave it the boost it needed it went to an overdrive, sentient to a degree
It knew it must not let the anomaly go and drawing it's all the available power it started sucking all the light in the court of the Celestial Tribunal.
Some archivers tried creating light but that too was taken
And when that wasn't enough it used its cores as fuel shattering them
It would have taken those living beings souls but it was commanded not to take any life as long as it was containing this anomaly.
Trying to subdue creature in an even more powerful domain as it had to increase the strength constantly.
And thinking it was on its last legs surprisingly it managed to subdue it as it stopped struggling and it shrank but to a normal size.
The only light in the space was given by the singular crystals at its center which glowed fiercely.
All the archivers just stared in the direction of the Unholy Artifact.
It looked worn out after subduing it's captive.
It looked like it had aged many years.
As all it other crystals were destroyed and it surface look rusted and cracked.
But they could be restored but it still didn't answer one question.
What type of monster.... no monster was too nice a word but rather what type of creature could force such a thing to such a state was truly terrifying.
Even the arrogant one had no words but even if it had Duat-Khat left the world without sound too excluding light.
The silence was shuddering to say the least.
The all seemed entranced by the light, an effect of the artifacts, it could not just trap one soul but multiple.
But it wasn't even trying to trap these fools it was using all its power for its quarry.
And when all seemed at peace
As it stood still.
________________________________________________
A singular crack formed.
Then another crack appeared on surface of the final crystal."
Then it grew a tinsy bit bigger.
Then it grew a tinsy bit bigger.
Then another formed.
Then it grew a tinsy bit bigger.
Then another crack formed.
And finally out the cracks came out a liquid.
It looked like blood but not at the same time.
The coffin look like it was shedding blood that blood was called Taint.
Taint, a tarnished form of blood of Ichor which is the golden blood of the gods.
It was dark and rusty looking and it flowed along its body.
It actually looked pitiful it's light flickered on and off repeatedly looking like it was on its last legs.
Sensing it's life was in jeopardy it tried spitting out the undesirable meal as it cared more about its wellbeing.
But it was too late.
The crystals broke in two.
And all that it had taken from the space and were released the entrapped archivers were freed but still now stayed staring.
Unable to peel their eyes away.
The coffin swayed for the last and it finally fell back with a loud thud shaking the moon acting as the dock.
The coffin laid their presumably lifeless.
And a coffin opened.
The boom was deafening, a shockwave rippling outward, destroying the dock.
I felt myself lifted, suspended in mid-air, and then...
Everything went dark.
Everyone laid injured and scattered and I found myself quite unlucky.
When I came to awaken, I was floating in the cold, space with debris all around, looking up at the creature
The coffin lid mangled and damaged next to him.
The creature with no name had an appearance
A man with , his wild, snow-white hair cascading down his rugged, battle-scarred physique.
Intricate tattoos sprawled across his body, seeming to writhe and twist like living things. Blood stained his skin, but whether it was his own or not, I couldn't tell.
His eyes remained closed, despite the weight of our gazes.
His chest heaved with labored breathing, as if he was struggling to draw air into his lungs.
The man's presence was mesmerizing, his raw power and intensity radiating outward like a palpable force.
I felt my heart pounding in my chest, my mind reeling with the implications of his existence.
As I gazed upon the man, I knew that I was in the presence of something truly unimaginablely terrifying.
I knew this might be the last breath I'll take or more likely any of us do in here.
The creature's description was etched into my mind, a testament to the horrors that lay beyond the veil of reality.
The man's eyes remained closed, but I sensed that he was aware of us, aware of the weight of our stares.
His breathing was labored, as if trying to sort something out he was having a pained expression on his face.
Until he opened his eyes and looked directly at me.
I'll never forget those deep blue azure eyes that looked like staring at the abyss and what he said next.
"If I remember, you said and I quote, Even that monster can't escape."
"And you dared call me a bastard, root for my imprisoner to keep me sealed."
So how would you like your serving of death you'll be the first I'll kill here so start recording it down little archiver."
"Cause even monsters like myself have feelings."
At that moment he knew he was utterly.
Fucked and.....
[A/N]
Bonjour Dear readers.
Give your compliments to the chef
For this Author kun has cooked, no?