The Gathering
Location: unknown
The chamber was vast and shrouded in an ethereal glow, its walls carved with runes that seemed to shift and writhe as though alive.
The air crackled with tension as six beings sat around a massive round table of obsidian. The room felt timeless, like it belonged to a forgotten era where gods and myths ruled.
At the head of the table was Valthor, a towering orc with moss-green skin and deep scars crisscrossing his muscular arms. His tusks gleamed faintly in the dim light, and his piercing amber eyes were locked on the others.
Once a brutal warrior in his realm, he now bore the weight of countless decisions as one of the Order's enforcers. His voice was a guttural growl, full of restrained anger.
"I warned you fools that meddling with time would cost us. Look at what you've done!"
To his left sat Morina, the Time Witch, draped in a robe that shimmered like the night sky, constellations constantly shifting across its surface.
Her silver hair floated as though suspended in water, and her violet eyes glowed with an otherworldly wisdom—and irritation. She waved a hand dismissively, her long fingers adorned with rings of forgotten eras.
"We agreed this was necessary, Valthor. The timeline was collapsing, and Earth was doomed regardless. Or do you forget the endless cycles of failure before this?"
Beside her was Kaelith, a lithe and feline humanoid with sleek, obsidian fur and sharp, golden eyes that glinted with mischief. His movements were unnervingly graceful, his clawed fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. A faint smirk played on his lips, though his tone dripped with sarcasm.
"Oh yes, blame the witch for trying to fix your mess. Typical. Perhaps we should have let the humans drown in their own stupidity instead of breaking the Void."
Across from him sat Tharien, a being who resembled a living flame encased in a translucent humanoid form. His fiery core pulsed with each word, his voice crackling like a roaring inferno.
"Enough of this bickering! The Void breaches are spreading, and those creatures are already decimating Earth. If we delay, there won't be any humans left to save!"
Next to Tharien was Selene, a luminous figure cloaked in radiant light, her features almost indistinguishable, save for her glowing silver eyes. She radiated calm authority, her voice soft but firm.
"The time travel spell was a gamble, yes. But it was also a necessity. Qianqian was chosen for a reason, and we must trust that she can rise to the challenge. The system and Echo were designed to guide her."
Finally, at the opposite end of the table sat Drenar, a shadowy figure with horns that curled upward like a crown of bone. His presence oozed malice, his blackened claws tapping against the obsidian table. He leaned forward, his red eyes glowing like embers.
"Trust her? You mean the human who already broke reality? The breaches weren't a coincidence, Selene. The spell triggered a cascade, and now beings far more powerful than us are slipping through the cracks. Your 'pillar' has failed before, and she will fail again."
The room grew deathly silent as Drenar's words hung in the air.
"Enough!" Selene's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Debating the past changes nothing. The humans must be moved to preserve their lineage. It is the only way to avoid total extinction."
Morina, who had been silent for a while, sighed and flicked her wrist. A swirling projection of Earth appeared above the table, showing crumbling cities, zombies ravaging survivors, and monstrous entities tearing through the landscape.
"We'll transfer the remnants of humanity to the Outer Realm," she said, her voice calm but resolute. "But they will need a guide. Qianqian will serve as their pillar, whether she is ready or not."
Kaelith leaned back in his chair, his tail flicking lazily. "And when she fails again?"
Selene's gaze hardened, her silver eyes blazing. "Then we all fall."
The Order sat in tense silence, the weight of their decisions heavy. They had gambled on Qianqian once, and it had torn open the Void. Now, they would gamble again, knowing it could be the end of everything.
silent as Drenar's words hung in the air.
"Enough!" Selene's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Debating the past changes nothing. The humans must be moved to preserve their lineage. It is the only way to avoid total extinction."
Morina, who had been silent for a while, sighed and flicked her wrist. A swirling projection of Earth appeared above the table, showing crumbling cities, zombies ravaging survivors, and monstrous entities tearing through the landscape.
"We'll transfer the remnants of humanity to the Outer Realm," she said, her voice calm but resolute. "But they will need a guide. Qianqian will serve as their pillar, whether she is ready or not."
Kaelith leaned back in his chair, his tail flicking lazily. "And when she fails again?"
Selene's gaze hardened, her silver eyes blazing. "Then we all fall."
The Order sat in tense silence, the weight of their decisions heavy. They had gambled on Qianqian once, and it had torn open the Void. Now, they would gamble again, knowing it could be the end of everything.