Above the largest and highest planet was a radiant golden barrier, its brilliance unmatched. It seemed so impenetrable and eternal that Atticus felt trapped just looking at it, as if the barrier's sheer presence held dominion over all.
The scene shifted again, zooming back into the largest planet at the top. The figure's voice echoed as though it came from the world itself:
"From the beginning of time, Eldoralth has been the highest power among the lower worlds. Eldoralth was ruled by a singular race: the Eldorians. All other beings received their commands from us. Our unity and strength made us unmatched, and none dared to earn our ire."
As Elderish spoke, the swirling stars shifted, painting vivid images of Eldoralth's grandeur. The vision moved to a throne room with walls of shimmering crystal, reflecting light in endless fractals. The Eldorians stood side by side in resplendent robes, their postures noble and commanding.
"But as the saying goes," Elderish continued, his tone darkening, "with great power comes envy and hate. Many from the lower worlds desired to drag us down, to steal what they could never achieve. And unfortunately, one of their ploys succeeded."
The scene shifted once more, showing the sprawling lands of Eldoralth inhabited by two distinct groups.
The first were the Eldorians, standing tall and radiating power. The second were shorter, weaker, and devoid of the natural gifts of the Eldorians. The latter worked tirelessly, their roles clearly subservient.
"Eldoralth was home to two races," Elderish explained, "the Eldorians and the Mugruel. The Mugruel were weak compared to us and served as our laborers.
"But despite their weakness, they greatly outnumbered us. To maintain balance and to empower Eldoralth further, the Eldorians developed a method to bestow our power upon the Mugruel temporarily. This alliance made us unstoppable and kept the balance intact."
The vision displayed Eldorians extending their hands toward the Mugruel, radiant energy flowing between them. The Mugruel, once hunched and powerless, were now standing straighter, their eyes gleaming with power.
Eldoralth thrived as the two races worked together, their combined might keeping the lower worlds in submission.
"But envy is a seed that grows quickly when nourished by whispers," Elderish said, his voice heavy and filled with regret.
"The other worlds poisoned the minds of the Mugruel, filling them with ambition and greed. They taught the Mugruel a way to take our power for themselves."
The scene shifted quickly, showing the betrayal. The Mugruel turned on the Eldorians, their eyes filled with greed and hate. The Eldorians fell, and their power was ripped from them.
"The betrayal was swift and devastating," Elderish continued, his voice filled with pain. "Using what they had been taught, the Mugruel found the origin of the Eldorians' power and shattered it into nineteen cores, dividing our strength among their factions."
The image showed glowing orbs, the nineteen cores, each being carried away by Mugruel factions. The Eldorians, once proud and invincible, had been brought low, their unity broken and their power stolen.
Atticus stood silently, his mind racing as the story unfolded before him.
It was insane.
'Does this really mean what I think it means?'
If everything he had heard was the truth, then it meant that all the races of Eldoralth had originated from a singular race. Those prideful races, who carried themselves as though they were at the top of the world, were actually doing so with stolen power.
The implications were too much to consider all at once. 'Now that Eldoralth is divided, the lower worlds are trying to take over.'
This was Atticus's conclusion after hearing everything. The Mugruel had betrayed the Eldorians, stealing their power and sharing it among different factions. This betrayal caused a divide among the Eldorians, which in turn weakened their hold over the lower worlds.
That hold had dwindled considerably over time, and now Eldoralth had reached a point where they were being pushed to the brink by those they had once lorded over.
All because of greed.
'Greed is a disease,' Ozeroth suddenly spoke. 'It's exactly because of greed that the Spirit King is swallowing worlds like treats.'
Atticus nodded, agreeing with his words. It was an emotion that, if not well managed, could make anyone do the unthinkable.
With one look at Elderish, Atticus could see that he was above the paragon rank. This meant that in the past, the strongest powerhouses hadn't stopped at the paragon rank, it had been higher.
Elderish remained silent, allowing Atticus to process everything he had just explained. The images faded into darkness, leaving Atticus alone with his thoughts.
After a few moments of reflection, a question suddenly popped into Atticus's mind.
"What is the purpose of informing the worthy?"
Atticus suspected there was more at play. Would a figure as powerful as Elderish waste his time testing people to see if they were worthy, only to give them a history lesson? He doubted it.
Elderish smiled.
"Smart," he said before his gaze turned serious. "I'm sure you're already aware. The current Eldoralth is on its way to ruin, and if changes are not made, all will be lost."
"The purpose of informing the worthy is to attempt to effect this change."
"I see," Atticus muttered. "And how do I effect this change?" he asked.
"Straight to the point. I like that," Elderish nodded. "To do that, you must first obtain each of the 19 cores of the Eldorians. Doing so would enable you to become a true Eldorian."
Atticus's gaze flickered as his thoughts spun. Now he had the full picture of the situation. The Mugruel had divided the power of the Eldorians into 19 cores, and now he had to locate and absorb each core.
'It's better than I thought.'
Atticus had been expecting a new avenue of power, but he had gotten far more than he could have ever imagined.
Currently, Atticus only had the mana signature of one technique from each of the superior races. But if he could obtain the cores, he would be able to utilize all their abilities.
It was a thought that filled him with glee. Without hesitation, he asked, trying hard to mask the smile threatening to appear on his face:
"How do I find these cores?"