Far beyond Planet Nohr.
Far beyond the countless star systems that mortals could ever comprehend.
There existed a place untouched by ordinary reality.
A realm older than most gods.
A place whispered about only in forbidden texts.
The Realm of Noxis.
Here, existence was quiet.
Endless pale skies stretched across floating continents of black stone. Rivers of silver energy flowed through the air like veins through the body of the universe.
At the center of a silent garden sat two old men.
Between them rested a Go board.
The pieces were not made of wood or stone.
Each piece was a miniature star.
And each move subtly altered the flow of space around them.
One of the men leaned back slightly after placing his piece.
His eyes were golden.
But not ordinary gold.
They were slit like a dragon's, calm yet terrifying.
His long white hair flowed down his back and his robes were a perfect blend of white and black, the attire of a ruler who had long abandoned his throne.
He looked like an emperor who had retired after ruling eternity.
This man was Oroborus.
He smiled.
"I think we've got a monster coming here soon."
Across from him sat the other player.
His presence was quiet but overwhelming.
Black hair streaked with blue fell loosely across his shoulders. His robes were black and gold, carrying the weight of an ancient authority.
On his forehead rested a small white triangle, glowing faintly.
His eyes were a deep blue.
Cold.
Sharp.
Calculating.
This was Mercury.
Mercury studied the board for a moment.
Then he made a move.
"I can't deny that."
His voice was calm.
"But that trance he entered…"
Mercury's eyes gleamed faintly.
"…that was only ever used by his mother."
Oroborus chuckled.
Mercury continued calmly.
"If he masters that state…"
His gaze drifted toward the endless horizon of Noxis.
"…it will become a serious problem for the bastards here in Noxis."
He tapped a Go piece lightly.
"And even for the Upper Realms."
Oroborus laughed louder this time.
The sound echoed across the garden.
"That's right."
He leaned back.
"It's rare to hear you compliment someone."
His golden eyes narrowed slightly with amusement.
"You've never praised someone from the Upper Realms like this before."
He tapped the board lightly.
"That says something."
Mercury smiled faintly.
"He's from the Nasarik bloodline after all."
His voice carried quiet certainty.
"He's royalty."
"Even in the Upper Realms."
He moved another piece.
"Because the Nasarik bloodline…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…has branches everywhere in existence."
"Across universes."
"Across dimensions."
"Across realities."
Oroborus nodded.
"Oh, I know that much."
He placed another piece on the board.
Mercury studied the board again.
Then looked up.
"You've lost over five thousand times now."
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You still want to keep playing Go?"
Oroborus leaned forward again with a grin.
"I refuse to believe I can't beat you."
He placed another star-piece on the board.
"So come on, Mercury."
His golden slit eyes gleamed with challenge.
"Let's have another round."
Planet Nohr -
The sky above the Land of the Dead had finally grown quiet.
The battlefield that once crawled with monsters was now empty.
A week ago, when the team first arrived—
They had slaughtered everything that lived there.
Not a single monster remained.
Now only silent black soil and scattered ruins remained behind them.
Eryndor was still unconscious.
Kaelus carried him on his back as the group walked steadily toward the border of the deadlands.
Darius glanced around as they crossed into the neighboring territory.
The land known as Camoon.
The terrain here was calmer.
Green plains stretched across the horizon.
Rein cracked his neck.
"Finally."
"No undead monsters trying to eat us."
Kaelus smirked.
"Don't jinx it."
Stellar walked quietly beside them, her icy aura faint but stable.
After a while, Darius stopped walking.
He reached into his shadow storage.
"I almost forgot."
He pulled something out.
The air in front of them distorted slightly.
Then—
A carriage appeared.
It was elegant and massive.
Its frame was forged from dark celestial steel.
Golden engravings ran across its surface.
Four horses stood at the front.
But these were no ordinary horses.
Their bodies burned with pure white fire.
Flames danced across their manes and hooves.
This was the element of the Headmistress.
The power of Seraphina Caldris.
Rein whistled softly.
"Well…"
"That's a nice ride."
Darius nodded.
"She gave it to us before we left."
Kaelus carefully laid Eryndor inside the carriage.
"Good."
He climbed in beside him.
"Because bro needs real rest."
The others entered as well.
The moment the door shut—
The fiery horses began moving.
Their speed was unreal.
The carriage launched forward across the plains like a comet.
Destination:
Celestia God Academy.
Travel time:
1 Day.
2 Hours.
Inside the carriage, the group finally relaxed.
Kaelus leaned back.
Darius closed his eyes.
Rein stared quietly out the window.
Stellar sat beside Eryndor, watching his breathing stabilize.
The wind howled outside as the carriage cut through the night.
None of them said it aloud.
But all of them understood something.
What had happened at Atlas…
Wasn't normal.
Not even for gods.
And news like that—
Spread fast.
History would later record it simply:
On the First Day of the God Calendar,
Four Gods infiltrated the notorious Atlas Tower.
They walked in together.
They walked out alive.
Leaving Atlas reduced to ruins.
That day marked the birth of a name that would soon shake the divine world.
A team.
A force.
A legend.
The Black Sun Syndicate.