CHAPTER 4

Whittaker Castle, though classical and decrepit in appearance, concealed in its basement a stark contrast: a futuristic environment filled with advanced technology and computer systems that flashed with an electric blue glow. Holographic panels floated in the air, displaying maps, codes and data in constant motion, while the metal walls emitted a soft hum, as if the place had its own technological breath.

The main hall, a vast space filled with monitors projecting images of the cosmos, was the heart of this underground. The atmosphere was charged with a mix of tension and anticipation as the group waited. Finally, the soft sound of the automatic doors interrupted the silence, sliding sideways with a clean, mechanical click. Ætheris 's entrance did not go unnoticed, as her presence illuminated the place like a flash of pure energy amidst the cold technological glow.

Ætheris walked forward with a confident stride, her golden hair and intense blue gaze seemed out of place with the industrial atmosphere of the place, but at the same time they fit perfectly, as if her very essence fused the natural and the artificial. Francisco Javier immediately stood up, concern visible in his eyes as he approached him.

— ¡Ætheris!— he cried, his voice relieved but tinged with reproach. —¿Where the hell have you been? You had us on the brink of madness.

Ætheris stopped in front of the group and raised a hand, calling for calm. His voice, soft but firm, filled the room with natural authority.

—I went in search of information,— he said, as a hologram emerged from a small device on his wrist, showing a digitized figure of Belial. —We need more than brute force to confront him.

The holograms were now projecting data on Belial, his energetic characteristics and power structure. Ætheris pointed out an anomaly in the pattern displayed before them.

— Belial possesses a demonic energy that seems overwhelming, but his true power is a mirage. He relies on energy stolen from others to sustain himself. He is a parasite who built his empire on the lives he has drained.

Ashtar, who had remained silent watching the projected data, finally spoke, his tone a mix of curiosity and caution.

—So, Ætheris, ¿what exactly did you discover? ¿How do we use this to our advantage?

Ætheris turned to him, her blue eyes shining with determination as she manipulated the hologram to enlarge it.

—There is a crack in his power, an unstable connection to the energy he steals. If we manage to interrupt that flow, even for a moment, he will be exposed and defenseless. However, there is a price. To break that link, someone will have to absorb the shock of the disconnection. It is an enormous, potentially lethal risk.

The group fell silent as they processed the information. Monitors and holograms continued to broadcast data, as if even the technology understood the gravity of the moment. Francisco Javier frowned, clearly worried, while Ashtar crossed his arms, deep in thought.

Ætheris stepped forward, his figure bathed in the blue light of the holograms, his voice echoing firmly.

—I know it won't be easy. But if we've come this far, it's because we have the strength to face Belial . We can't let his game consume us. He thinks we're weak pieces, but we'll prove him wrong. Time is against us, but victory will be ours if we stay together.

The room, illuminated by the cold light of holograms and screens, seemed to pulse with renewed energy. The people present, full of determination, faced the truth, the secrets that were slowly coming to light. The surrounding technology, with its constant buzz and flash, only intensified the feeling of being on the threshold of a momentous discovery.

—¡Wait!— Dennis interrupted, his voice ringing with disbelief and cutting through the moment like a laser. —¡You're telling me that this demon, who has devastated entire universes, is mediocre!— he exclaimed, with a mixture of alarm and skepticism.

Ætheris turned her head towards him, maintaining her characteristic calm, but her blue gaze shone with an intensity that made her conviction clear.

—These universes were created by beings just as inexperienced as the cosmic architects who made him,— Ætheris explained , her tone firm and devoid of doubt. —Ever since my creators left those planes, the replacements have not been up to the task. The new 'masters' who have attempted to shape reality are unworthy… or, more precisely, they have failed to enslave those who truly have the capacity to be.—

The statement left everyone stunned, but it was Darius who broke the silence, his inquisitive gaze fixed on Ætheris .

—Are you saying that the Cosmic Architects were once slaves?— he asked, his words filled with wonder and distrust. —If that is so, there is information that they have deliberately withheld from us.

Ætheris nodded slowly, as if acknowledging that the revelation was both shocking and necessary.

—Exactly,— he confirmed. —That information has been hidden for eons, but not by whim. Now, my creators are ready to share it. That is why I have summoned them. They will be here any moment.

Silence fell over the room, heavy and dense. Everyone was processing what they had just heard, the pieces of an intricate cosmic puzzle beginning to fit together, but the image that emerged was darker and more disturbing than they could have ever imagined. The hum of the automatic doors opening broke the tension, and the figures of the Cosmic Architects entered with imposing grace.

Caelum, Elio, and Lyra stepped forward toward the group. Their presences radiated an almost palpable power, and though their countenances were calm, their eyes glittered with the weight of millennia of knowledge and difficult decisions. Francisco Javier was the first to step forward, extending his hand with a mixture of respect and urgency.

—We need clarification on many things,— he said, his voice filled with confusion and anticipation. —The information we have received has left us stunned.

Caelum, the tallest of the three, spoke up. His tone was deep and resonant, like an echo of the universe itself.

—We understand your confusion,— he replied solemnly. —We have come today to reveal truths we once considered unnecessary, even dangerous, to share. But current events demand that you know the truth. You must understand what you are facing and why.

Lyra took the floor, and her normally serene face reflected a gravity that captured the attention of everyone in the room.

—You all know the part of our story where we had to flee our universe. You know that our parents sacrificed their lives to ensure us a chance at freedom. What we haven't told you —he paused, as if weighing the magnitude of his words— is that they were not only our protectors, but also slaves in that universe.

The expressions of those present changed instantly, a murmur of disbelief ran through the room before Lyra continued.

—One man seized absolute power and brought the entire universe under his yoke. He was a tyrant whose sole purpose was to conquer other universes and galaxies, plundering their natural resources. If he could not subdue them, he would destroy them without mercy.

Elio took over, his voice tinged with a somber tone that echoed with the weight of memory.

—Our parents couldn't allow us to grow up in a world like that. They taught us in secret, sharing what little they could while hiding the true extent of their knowledge. In that universe, schools were designed to train scientists and military men to serve the tyrant, separating them from their families to mold them into tools of his will. But we were different. We were part of a group of rebels who dreamed of something better.

He paused, his gaze lost for a moment, before continuing.

—When they discovered us, they forced us to flee. Our parents took us out of the tyrant's reach, but they paid a heavy price. That same day, they gave the order to eliminate the laboratory where they worked, along with everyone who was there. They wanted them alive, so that they could educate other cosmic architects, but not to free them, but to train them under a corrupt education, designed to perpetuate the tyrant's rule.

Marcus, unable to contain his curiosity, stepped forward.

—And, ¿what happened to that tyrant? ¿What happened to that universe? —he asked, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and fascination.

Caelum stepped in, his deep voice echoing through the hall like an echo off the metal walls.

—When we escaped, the interdimensional portal we used closed behind us. Our parents made sure it could never be opened again. It was their last act to protect us, and although we have not been able to return since, they did everything possible to ensure that knowledge and freedom would not be lost. They left us devices loaded with their wisdom and built a hidden laboratory in this unknown universe we came to. There, they prepared us for what was to come.

Caelum paused, pointing towards Ætheris.

—It was there that Ætheris , created by them just like this universe, assumed the role of guide and teacher. She taught us from our youth to adulthood, passing on to us everything they knew. Thanks to her, we learned to be the custodians of this universe and to protect it from threats like those that destroyed our own.

Silence fell over the room for a moment. Everyone was processing the story, taking in the sacrifice and struggle the Cosmic Architects had lived through. It was then that Claudius , arms crossed, mused out loud.

—So, you have been the custodians of this universe since its creation.

Lyra nodded, her gaze fixed on Claudius .

—Yes, that is so,— he confirmed solemnly. —This universe is both our home and our legacy. We are not just its guardians, we are its creation, its hope, and its responsibility.—

The air in the hall seemed thicker, heavy with the weight of revelations. What had begun as a quest to confront Belial had transformed into a deeper understanding of the struggle, not just against a tyrant, but against the shadows that stretched across existence itself.

Sapphire expressed her concern. —The important thing is to know if that tyrant is still alive. If so, he might learn about this universe and us through Belial .

Caelum intervened. —What we know is that Belial has no connection to that man. But we cannot rule out that a part of his essence is present in Belial.

—¿Could you see any connection? — Elio asked Ætheris.

—There is no connection, — Ætheris replied, —But it is possible that part of his essence is in Belial.

—What do you know about that tyrant? — Terry asked curiously.

—What I know is that the man no longer exists,— Ætheris replied seriously. —I had the opportunity to visit that universe and discovered that he himself, with his destructive practices, brought an end to everything. I have been unable to find any trace of him, which suggests that his life has come to an end. However, part of his essence was encapsulated in a gem, and according to my research, that essence now resides in Belial .

—You're right, — Aiden interjected. —If that tyrant's essence is in Belial , his goal may be to repeat what he did in his own universe.

Ætheris said with determination. — Belial lacks the necessary power and knowledge.

—However, it is imperative that we eliminate this threat— Marcus interrupted—Our universe is in danger. Even if Belial does not have the knowledge, he could acquire it by enslaving people who do.

—I agree,— Lyra nodded. —We must find a way to neutralize him before it's too late.

Sapphire posed a disturbing question that left everyone pondering in silence for a moment.

—It is a worrying possibility,— Ætheris admitted solemnly. —If Belial carries within him the essence of that tyrant, he could have been created for the purpose of finding us and enslaving us for his own evil purposes. It is a cunning strategy, using our own heritage against us.

—It would be a tragedy if we fell into their clutches,— Darius commented in a somber tone. —Our duty is to protect this universe and its people from any threat, whether external or internal.—

—We must be prepared for whatever comes,— Marcus added, determination in his voice. —We will not allow Belial or any other enemy to subdue us.—

—We are in this together,— Lyra said, looking at each of her companions with determination. —We will face this threat together and find a way to stop it.—

With their resolve strengthened and the danger clear before them, the group prepared to face the challenges that awaited them, determined to protect their universe and their freedom at any cost.

The meeting lasted late into the night, with everyone agreeing on the urgency of learning more about Belial in order to successfully confront him. Furthermore, it was agreed that Terry, Rodrick , and Ethan, and the younger ones Claudius , Dennis, Sapphire , and Kyran, needed to strengthen both their magical powers and their bodies. Therefore, it was established that they would dedicate every day to rigorous training, preparing for any eventuality and especially for a possible return of Belial . The certainty of his return hung over them like an ominous shadow, but they were determined to be ready to face him should he return.