ALTERNIVERSE: Chapter one

Jin and the rest find themselves standing in the middle of the citadel in the presence of the Seven Gods. All eyes are on Phin after Dynamism reveals that he is a god and the golden aura Phin has is proof of his true heritage. As demigods, Kerish, Jin, and Lumina didn't even know that another god existed outside of the seven great deities. They look on with disbelief that the human they recently met is a god.

"Hold on, this is all too much to handle," Phin states while in shock. "You can't expect me to believe that I'm some reincarnated version of a god you all knew over what, like five thousand years ago?"

"It's been a little over twenty thousand years since the time of your death." Sol Blaze casually mentions to Phin who just shakes his head slowly. "I believe it would be best to show you the events of the past rather than telling you." Sol Blaze looks to his fellow gods who give him a nod in agreement. Vesper, Dynamism, Torrentia, Platinum, Borean, and Subterra pool their energy together with Sol Blaze in conjunction to fill the citadel with a rainbow of swirling aura. Phin, Jin, Mikayla, Nuclei, Kerish, and Lumina watch on as they are enveloped in the aura. As things begin to settle down the group can't seem to see the gods all that well as they find themselves floating in a colorful limbo space. "Back when the world was fairly new and our children, the demigods, not only served as prophets of our power but also as the protectors of mankind. The ideals of one demigod forever shaped the course of history for us Gods and became the first of what we call the Fallen." The colorful limbo they were floating soon becomes dark as the night sky during a full moon with little light shining from below them.

From below they can see a vision of some sort just out of arms reach when the world's continents were still one.

Overlooking an early settlement by the ocean's gentle touch from atop a seaside cliff stood a demigod with ebony skin, dark blue eyes, dressed in lapis blue robes with long black dreads that reached the bottom of his chest. In his right hand is a light blue trident with a sapphire gemstone encrusted in the spot where the three spikes meet. Kor, the Demigod of water and son of Torrentia, takes in the view of the rising sun over the waters that he claimed as his own.

Kor closed his eyes as the sea breeze gently washes over him. A slight smirk grows on Kors's face when the breeze subtly changes direction. "Greetings, my old friend. What brings you here?" He says, still facing towards the sea.

Softly planting his feet upon the ground after using the air as a cushion, Aether, demigod of the wind, son of Vesper, and best friend to Kor arrives behind him. With similar facial features to Phin as well as tan skin, silver eyes, gray-tipped black hair, wearing gray and silver robes, and wielding a halberd with a diamond engraved at the base of the blade.

"Do I honestly need a reason to visit a close friend of mine?" Aether effortlessly twirls his halberd then plants the bladed part into the ground. "I've been so busy with our godly duties that a month has gone by without me noticing. So I thought it would be pleasant to visit you. How have you been fairing?"

Kor's smirk disappears as he lets out a sigh that makes Aether feel wary. "I've been thinking about this for quite some time now. Why must we do this? Forced to be these... slaves to the mortals?"

Aether just looks confused hearing what Kor had to say. "Slaves? What are you talking about, Kor? We are their protectors and prophets of our Gods. What you speak is nonsense."

Kor turns to his friend. "Is it truly nonsense, Aether? We spend our days watching over them, protecting them from any danger that would come their way. Whether it be natural occurrences or the chaotics. All this work and the gods get the praise of the humans." Kor turns his gaze back down to the shores of the village now with hostility in his eyes. His godly aura surfaces in a shade of blue around him. "Shouldn't we be the ones they worship? Shouldn't we be the ones who rule?"

"That's not how things are meant to be," Aether says to him, placing a hand on Kors's shoulder. "Things are what they are because the Gods will it to be. It's our job to make sure to keep it as. I beg you, please let this be the only time we talk about this."

"Fine... I won't speak of it again." Kor says as Aether smiles softly.

"I'm happy to hear that." The Demigod of wind turns around, picking up his halberd from the ground. "Come along, Kor. Our fellow Demigods are gathering for a bit of revelry in the eastern canyons. Some horseplay will serve you well." Kor reluctantly comes along with Aether who throws his arm around Kor as they leave. The bluish aura around Kor slightly turns darker just before receding into him.

...

"So this Kor person was the first fallen?" Mikayla asks, looking up to Torrentia.

The water Goddess nods in response to the question. "Indeed he was. I feel the most at fault for this since he was my son and your half-brother."

Jin turns to his father with a curious gaze. "How come I never heard of Kor or Aether?"

"You never heard of them for this was generations before you and the demigods you come to know. A dark time in which we hoped that we would never have to relive."

Phin makes a joking face at Mikayla. "Just when you think you're family doesn't have any more issues you find out that your brother is an evil god." Nuclei blast Phin in the face with water from its body to which makes Lumina giggle. "Ok, I deserved that one. I just have one question though: what are chaotics that Kor mentioned?"

"To understand that you must understand the basis of our power comes from," Kerish states lifting his arm as he channels the power has. His arm is enveloped in a silver aura as the flesh of Kerish's arm shifts into a metallic-like state. "God or Demigod, when we use our powers we generate what is called harmonious energy. Think of it as a positive action in the universe. Though for every positive action there's a negative reaction."

"This negative reaction is called chaos energy and sometimes can... infect other creatures." Platinum states as the Gods begin showing the group visions of grotesque, deformed creatures all with the same ocular feature of blackened eyes and red iris. "What you call mythical creatures from lore are just the tales of chaotics passed down through the ages." Images of chimera, chupacabra, sirens, banshees, harpies, werewolves, and other cryptids are shown. Phin and Mikayla look on in horror as they come to terms that the monsters they see in movies are real. "I can see your discomfort on your faces. Oh, how I wish that chaotics was our only problem." The colors of the limbo began to swirl again as they are shown visions of Kor once again but this time kneeling in the presence of Torrentia, the god of water, and his mother. The two seem to be a realm with a bright blue sky and ocean as far as the eye can see.

...

Even after being told otherwise by his closest friend, Kor still couldn't let what was on his mind go. His ideas eventually led him to an audience with me. "Kor, surely you jest?"

"I am serious, mother. We spend countless days in the... the employment of the humans. Why is that when we have all the power?"

"We serve mankind as their protectors and guide them so they in return respect and praise us."

"You mean to praise you and the rest of the gods when it's through the acts of us demigods that they worship you," Kor explains, lifting his head to Torrentia.

The words of her son only incite anger in God as the waters of the sea to begin to rage all around them and the sky darkens from storm clouds. "You dare speak to me with such disrespect!? I who gave you life, a purpose reserved only for the gods of men!"

Kors aura covers his body now shown darker than before. "A purpose in life I never wanted!" Torrentia binds him with shackles made from the water he knelt on as he is raised high into the air.

"SILENCE!" Her voice fills the watery void with a powerful force. "YOU ARE STILL ONLY A FEW HUNDRED OF YEARS OLD SO YOU ARE STILL NAIVE! SO I WILL SHOW YOU MERCY THIS ONE TIME!" Torrentia curls her fingers to pull Kor closer to her. "The next time you speak out of line to me I will not show you such kindness even if you are my son." The shackles return to their fluid state as Kor drops into the water below. "Honestly, your siblings don't complain about the status quo."

When Kor breaches the surface of the water he finds himself at the shores just outside of the border of the village. His trident flies straight into Kor's hand as his aura shifting even more into a darkened shade of blue with a hint of purple that slowly begins to encompass him. Afterward, Kor went on to talk with other fellow demigods on the matter most of which, at first, saw his ideals to be preposterous. Over time a few of the demigods began believing what Kor had explained to be better for them, then a few became more, and before they knew it a great number of demigods have aligned themselves with Kor's belief. Enough to start leading the world into a new regime.

It didn't take long for word to reach Aether at this point. Filled with rage from his oldest friend conspiring against the very gods that made the world and the demigods that protect it, Aether arms himself with the halberd entrusted to him by Vesper as he sets out to hopefully put a stop to the ensuing chaos. It doesn't take Aether to find Kor as he can always be found looking out over the ocean on the cliffside.

"KOR!" Aether yells out landing down behind him with enough wind pressure that would blow away any normal human but doesn't even phase Kor who still looks out to the ocean. "What have you done?" Kor doesn't respond to the question. Aether brings back his halberd, channeling wind pressure around the blade, then swinging it full force. Kor retaliates with his trident surrounded by swirling water. The two connect causing the cliffside the shatter from the sheer force of two godly weapons clashing. "Look at me when I'm speaking to you." Aether unleashes his silver aura in anger. Kor obliges by opening his eyes only to shock Aether to see that the eyes of the man he once respected are no longer a bright blue but a strong, vibrant violet color. The dark purple aura starts radiating from Kor's body as Aether looks on in horror. "What happened to you, Kor?"

The two bring back their weapons. "Nothing really, I just started seeing things in a new light. One that favors the demigods rather than the gods."

"This isn't light you're seeing but a darkness that is clearly clouding your judgment."

"Clouding my judgment? Oh on the contrary I have never seen things more clearly, my friend." Kor brings up his hand into a fist. "I mean to bring this world into a new order."

Aether takes a step forward to his friend. "Please don't do this, Kor. The only outcome your actions will bring is chaos... and I won't let that happen." The silver aura around Aether has a quick spark of gold at that moment.

"Hehe... oh really?" Kor gives Aether a twisted smirk as he lowers his fist. "Chaos will reign with or without you on my side but if you think you can stop us now then feel free to try."

That day sparked the beginning of the war between Gods as Aether gathered up the other demigods that were opposed to Kor's plan to rule over the world. With two sides as powerful as they are the entire earth became their battlefield; earthquakes shook the ground which caused volcanoes to spew lava across the land. Powerful typhoons, lightning storms, and tsunamis devasted the coast. Gigantic shards of metal cover the landscape with multiple forest fires filling the sky with smoke. Massive snow storms brought mini ice ages all over the world. 

With every encounter Kor fought in the chaos in his heart grew more, fueling his power to where the creatures of chaos fell under his command. The tide of the war greatly shifted in Kor's favor now that Aethers side had to deal with demigods and chaotics. In one particular battle Aether witnessed the unimaginable happen before his very eyes. With his hand through the chest of a demigod of fire, Kors chaotic aura drained the light from their body until they went limp.

"W-what.... WHAT DID YOU DO!?"

Kor drops the body to the side as he finishes taking the power he stole. His aura now turned completely black and eyes blood red. "Don't worry they're not dead." The fallen demigod exclaims as the body he drained staggers to get up from the ground. "I merely showed him my way of thinking." The once lively demigod of fire is nothing but a husk with black veins and black soulless eyes.

"Kor.... how could you!?" Aether yells knowing that his oldest friend is gone and a far worse being is all that's left.

"Don't call me that anymore... Kor is dead." Soon his black aura erupts with a powerful force. "Korthax is who I am now."

Aether, knowing he couldn't win at this rate, ran as fast as the wind could take him. His demigod brethren dying all around him as he watched, powerless to help. He knew their only hope is for the gods to aid them so that's what he went to do and with a surge of silver and gold light he was gone. Korthax only smiled as he knew where Aether fled to. As for now no one could stop him from draining the light from the other demigods.

Aether, now in the realm of the gods, got down on his hands and knees before the gods themselves. "Please, my gods, I ask for your help. As I speak more of my brethren die and suffer at the hands of Kor- Korthax. His power has grown too much for us to handle anymore, if left unchecked the world will fall into immortal chaos." The gods look at eachother in silence then back at the defeated Aether.

Vesper, the god of wind and his mother, steps forth. "Rise my son, we have seen what has been happening on earth. We thought you and the rest could handle it as the protectors but the issue has grown far beyond what we could imagine." Vesper and the other gods form their respective weapons in their hands. "We will join your fight."

At this moment only twenty of the demigods remains to combat Korthax and his corrupted army of fallen demigods and chaotic beasts. When all hope seemed lost an explosion of rainbow colored aura appears between the demigods and Korthax's army. Out steps Aether, shrouded in silver and golden aura, and the pantheon of gods with him.

"Tch... YOU THINK THE GODS CAN SAVE YOU!? YOU WILL ALL FALL BEFORE ME!" Korthax yells out pointing at them as his army rushes in to attack. Aether runs in leading the Gods and the rest of the forces for one last bout.

The clash between the two forces shook the very earth itself as the war of the gods began to draw to an end. Forces of chaos and harmony came to blow, demigods cutting down any and all chaotics that came for them, the God's having to strike down the very children they came to love. As the fight went on both sides began taking heavy losses but all the while Korthax fell more and more in darkness until the last shred of humanity was gone.

"More... I need MORE!" Korthax, in the heat of battle, drained the chaos energy from the rest of his forces. He kept draining until nothing was left except for empty husks flesh and bones. Even the God's themselves were mortified at the sight, Torrentia more so to see her child truly is dead. A pillar of darkness shoots up from Korthax with energy unlike they have every seen and growing wider every second. The pillars of darkness soon fades and being of pure shadows as tall as the Gods themselves. Aether and the God's stand before Korthax, the new God of Chaos.

The demigods could only watch on as the towering Gods duked it out for the fate of the world but the power of Korthax was greater than they realized. One by one, each God began to fall, fearing the end of the world the other remaining ten demigods decided to pool their remaining energy into Aether as a last ditch effort. Aether was reluctant to take their energy as it mean they forfeit their godhood permanently. This didn't affect any of their resolves for they it was the right thing to do and all at once they channeled what ever power they had into their friend.

Vesper hits the ground hard enough to make a crater underneath her from the impact. The rest of the gods struggle to get onto their feet after fighting Korthax who stands victorious against the pantheon. The sky begins to darken as Korthax unleashes his power. Just as Korthax was about to proclaim himself ruler of the world a bright, golden pillar of light pierces the heaven and blowing away the black clouds. After absorbing the energy of his comrades, Aether ascended to the mantle of God of Harmony.

The two newly born Gods, once friends now enemies, face eachother down. "Who would have thought they we'd end up here?" says Korthax.

"Definitely not I." Aether replies looking at his hand made of golden energy. "Still wish things were the same as before."

"I don't, I couldn't be happier. Once I rid myself you and the other gods I'll reign supreme over this world. Maybe I'll spread my reach to other worlds beyond this one."

"As if I would let you do as you please. You caused enough chaos, Korthax. It's time for you to die." Aether says as he tightens his fists.

"You still think you can kill me, Ha! Don't make me laugh."

Korthax and Aether collide in a dispute of power that the previous gods didn't think was possible. Subterra shields the weakened demigods from the sheer force from Aether and Korthax's collision. Ruptures in the entire super continent start to give way as the mass of land breaks apart under pressure, energy waves of light and darkness ripple across the world.

In the last moments of the fight Aether and Korthax pierce eachothers chest simultaneously, the resulting force from their blows was enough to split the ocean both ways.

"L-Looks it's a draw..." Aether says weakly with a hand in his chest and chaos energy coursing through him. "At least I managed to stop you."

"T-This is only... a setback..." Korthax states as his body is being enveloped by harmonious energy. "Mark my w-words... I will return and chaos will reign."

"Then by my p-power... I'll be there to stop you again..." Then in an massive explosion the two Gods fade into nothingness and the continent splits into multiple pieces.

...

The colorful limbo space the group was floating in shines with a blinding light from the explosion making everyone cover their eyes from it. once it fades they find themselves back in the citadel.

"Amazing... To think that such a war took place between our people." Lumina says still in shock of the truth.

Phin looks to the God's. "I don't get it though. I died, we all saw it. So how am I that God?"

"As a God we are not physically like you and the other demigods. Our entire being is made up of energy of our respective element and energy can't be destroyed only displaced and reformed ." Dynamism answers back to Phin.

Mikayla gets a curious expressionon her face. "So if that energy of Aether was reformed into Phin. What did Korthax reform into?"