Chapter 34: Armageddon
Long before the era of peace known as the Renaissance, Hundun went through a dark period called the Medieval Era.
At that time, a single empire ruled over the entire territory. However, a great drought struck the world. It was not just a lack of water: the earth itself refused to produce.
Then, each month brought a new misfortune. Unknown diseases decimated the animals. Swarms of locusts ravaged the few crops still standing. The last rivers that had not dried up turned into rivers of blood.
On the day of an eclipse, the royal shaman, known by the nickname of the Enchantress, announced a terrible prophecy. According to her, the first nine plagues had already passed. Only the tenth remained, the one that was to end humanity: the awakening of the one who bore the Mark of the Beast.
The bearer of this mark possessed the power to command creatures that had been asleep since the pre-medieval era: the Dragons.
Faced with this fatality, the Emperor asked the great monasteries for advice. The monks then decided to pray to the Heavens for seven days and seven nights.
On the seventh day, the rain finally began to fall.
This rain purified the earth, the seas and the rivers. Even more, it brought a new energy to the world: Chi. The rain continued to fall for forty-nine days and forty-nine nights.
Then, on the last night...
A virgin gave birth to a blind, deaf and mute child, completely deprived of the five Primary Senses.
She became known by many names: the First Witch, The Chosen One, or even The Midnight Star.
But her true name was El. The latter taught humanity how to master Chi.
The Emperor then became the first Chi User in history. Thanks to this new power, he created the first Ancestral Sense: Slay. From then on, he took the title of The Dragon Slayer.
This is how the war began.
The Midnight Star and The Dragon Slayer joined forces against the bearer of the Mark of the Beast, known as The Dragon of Endless Evil.
But while they thought they could defeat him quickly, the Enchantress joined the conflict alongside the Dragon. The war spread over an entire century and entered the legends under the name of Armageddon.
After a hundred years of fighting, the Enchantress was finally defeated.
However, victory came at a price.
During the final confrontation, The Midnight Star and The Dragon of Endless Evil killed each other. According to legends, the Dragon’s blood transformed certain humans into monstrous predators called the Eaters.
As for El’s body, it fragmented into hundreds of Mystical Relics. Each of them retained a part of her divine powers.
Her brain became the Oracle... Her right arm became Excalibur... Her blood became the Holy Grail.
And more than a millennium later, humanity finally discovered the location of the relic of the heart of The Chosen One: Pandora’s Box...
***
*Year 1550, Domain of the Sorcery Clan, Hundun*
Once every five years, the most prestigious and most powerful organizations of Hundun gathered to discuss decisions that would shape the future of humanity: the Hundun Assembly. That day, like the previous ones, most of these factions were present. Their meeting place was not insignificant: it was the only truly neutral place in all of Hundun, the Domain of the Sorcery Clan.
In the large inner courtyard, long tables had been arranged in a circle, each assigned to a faction.
Dawn had not yet tinted the horizon when the first guests crossed the gates.
The Sword Clan was the first to make its entrance. At its head walked Dorian, the patriarch, a man with an angular face that his forties seemed to have frozen in a permanent expression of displeasure.
The Magic Clan, for its part, had no patriarch. Because the four elemental families: Fire, Water, Earth and Air possessed strictly equal powers, none of them accepted to submit to the others. So they sat side by side.
Jahel, the patriarch of the Venom Clan had an androgynous face, wearing a slight permanent smile. His dark green hair fell on his shoulders, and a white snake lazily coiled around his right forearm. He sat down crossing his legs, looking bored.
The Nobility Faction sent its most eminent representative: Duke Gauvain De Norman and knight of the Round Table. He was a blond with gray eyes and an athletic build, he wore partial armor. He did not sit down immediately, preferring to remain standing behind his table, hands clasped behind his back.
The Monastery dispatched the Old Monk Solomon. He was bald, dressed in a coarse robe with bare feet.
The Alchemy Clan was represented by its patriarch, Oaken, a man with short black hair and green eyes, he wore glasses.
The Spear Clan, finally, was presided over by the First Lancer. The latter had not bothered to sit down either: his black spear planted in the ground beside him. His face bore a scar that cut his upper lip: Taran Strain.
All were present except the host Clan: the Sorcery Clan.
The Old Monk Solomon broke the silence first.
"It seems that the Great Witch is really busy... She is not even present to welcome her visitors."
The patriarch of the Venom Clan turned his head toward him. He licked his lips, his smile widening a notch.
"Old Monk, should you not be meditating? So much bitterness in your voice should be impossible~."
The head of the Fire family placed both fists on the table. "Even after fifty years, you are still without manners, patriarch?"
The Venom patriarch did not even deign to look at him. He contemplated his own perfectly trimmed nails. "I only speak to patriarchs." Then he paused, his gaze sliding toward the four elemental leaders. "Ah, sorry. The Magic Clan has no patriarch. You are too barbaric to organize yourselves properly."
The head of the Earth family gripped the edge of his table. "Are you looking for death, Jahel?"
Before the situation could degenerate, the Alchemist patriarch raised his voice in a neutral tone. "Patriarch Jahel, do not stir up the dispute. This is a peaceful meeting."
But the head of the Earth was no longer listening. He stood up, when suddenly a breeze crossed the courtyard.
A light breeze that came from nowhere. And yet, it made the banners shiver and the flames of the torches flicker. When it calmed down, the Great Witch stood in the center of the circle.
Agath’s black robe fell to her ankles. Her blond hair was today crossed with long white strands. Yet, her eyes were those of a woman who had lost nothing of her power in a hundred years.
"Please calm down... Today’s meeting is of great importance."