Arc 1: The Black Sun's Rising: Chapter 1. Kingdom of The Obsidian Cradle

The Obsidian Cradle

(Before the Awakening)

The strong never cry, never fall on their knees weeping like helpless weaklings. 

This is a theme strongly believed in this realm full of chaos, wars, dark sorcery, and slavery.

The strong lead while the weak merely follow and obey.

Are you one of them?

"Bend your knees and kneel before the king!" 

The Royal Herald proclaimed loudly to the faces of many people who had lined up. They were visibly stricken with terror and poverty.

The citizens murmuring and glancing at each other, slowly bent their knees, crumpling their rag-like, untidy, and faded clothes. Their clothes had been worn countless times and washed in murky waters.

"I, Rubeer Marbather, the 86th king of this Obsidian Castle will grant your wish of riches and freedom!" 

The king's bold declaration made everyone gasp in awe.

Who wouldn't want riches and freedom?

King Rubeer Marbather, leader of the Black Sun Alliance, had perfectly caught the people's attention.

As far as the common people knew, Black Sun was an alliance of thirteen kingdoms who had agreed to work together to vanquish evil and protect humanity at all cost. 

Today, representatives of the said kingdoms were gathered here in the capital of Marbather for a great cause they must uphold.

"Listen! People of the Obsidian Cradle, I will offer you treasures beyond your wildest dreams. 

Mountains of gold, the finest garments from the farthest corners of the world, jewels that could blind the gods itself!"

The King paused, letting them absorb his words.

"Whoah!!" 

The people cheered at this glimpse at a better life.

In this poverty-stricken realm, of course, they would love to accept such things.

"My people, raise your eyes to the leaders of the Black Sun… 

We are now on a new path to gaining one of the strongest powers of this world. 

The Seal of Gaxinar, Keeper of the Sons of the Devil.

We only ask you to help us slay a kingdom full of sinners, The Kingdom of Livingrings. 

A kingdom that had eaten babies, massacred villagers, and made ancient pacts with the devils.

Are you ready?" King Rubeer shouted gloriously to the multitude.

"Whoaaa!!!! Yes!!! 

Hail the mighty kings of the Black Sun!!!!!" 

Everyone yelled their support to King Rubeer and the Black Sun Alliance.

Even many children who did not know what they were lifting their feeble hands and voices for, followed suit.

The sound of ignorance trumpeted in the kingdom, filled with jumping and clapping of the hands, as the flags of the 13 kingdoms waved in the winds of uncertainty.

The 13 leaders of the Black Sun stood proudly as the people rejoiced, hoping that more will be given to them when the Black Sun becomes even more powerful after taking the legendary great seal.

They were also glad to know that the kingdom, being gossiped about as a place full of evil people — able to transform into unsightly monsters and demons and eat people, would finally be put to its end.

The Sons of the Devil, known only in history as hideous creatures created by their father from its grotesque burning form — untouchable even to the other gods since everything that got near it perished.

It was rumored that there were light-bearers (worshippers) of the Twin Sons of the Devil who once lived before Livingrings even existed. They worshipped the twin demons who wished to be brought above ground.

The light-bearers were said to have summoned the devils themselves and all of them got killed. Their fates now only reside in what history, people decided to write about them.

The supreme human warriors of the past had made the Seal of Gaxinar by releasing all their powers and turning these into one form, all to protect the following generations. 

The Seal of Gaxinar ultimately bound the two sons of the devil to never live again.

Many people did not believe in their existence, but they loved the idea of humans killing the devils themselves.

This has been retold countless times, that many people believed it to be the truth.

Hence, it is the fate of humanity, of the powerful, to take the seal back, like the Black Sun Alliance and their elite soldiers to harness its power back for all humanity to benefit.

After all, many researchers and wizards from other kingdoms, especially the Black Sun, had published it officially that the Kingdom of Livingrings wanted to use the Seal of Gaxinar only for themselves.

It was said that the Kingdom of Livingrings wanted to conquer the surrounding kingdoms. Then, unleash their true forms in other lands and make the people sacrifices to their gods.

Due to this, people believed the Kingdom of Livingrings was a place of evil. Even the children believed that everyone in Livingrings were like ordinary beasts. Thus, they deserved being hunted by the soldiers like the huntsmen do in the wild.

Hatred of Livingrings spread so much that a mention of its name boiled the blood of everyone who heard it.

Many would not even dare go near its waters or see it for themselves, afraid of their curses, and the belief that the demons may consume them and their children.

After his public speech was well received, King Rubeer smiled at the representatives of the Black Sun Alliance, who smiled back at him.

He glanced back at the crowd of people.

'You, miserable filthy creatures! Do you think you seek freedom? 

Do you think your hearts long for liberation? Foolish!' 

King Rubeer had darker thoughts while smiling towards the crowd. 

Rubeer didn't even want to get near these peasants, for fear their foulness would give him diseases. 

The old men struggling to walk, the blind, the deaf, the poor, the weak, he secretly abhorred them.

But for now, he needed their support and approval to move for the sake of his grand plans for the future.

This tactic had been practiced by these leaders to let the soldiers trample on anyone against them, for all their citizens to even give up their riches, their children, their all, for one cause.

"My king, preparations are ready," Commander Onarath approached King Rubeer once they had moved into the palace, out of sight from the commoners.

Commander Onarath was the leader of the Obsidian Vipers, the Black Sun's elite squad.

Authors Note:

*Rubeer Marbather - King of The Obsidian Cradle

*Black Sun - an alliance of 13 kingdoms

*Seal of Gaxinar - a mysterious power said to have sealed the twin sons of the devil

*light-bearers - worshippers of the sons of the devil

*Kingdom of Livingrings - "a land filled with 'sinners' who could transform into monsters and demons"

*Commander Onarath - leader of the Obsidian Vipers

*Obsidian Vipers - Black Sun's elite squad