The Awakening Of The Shadows
Chapter 60: The Beginning of Everything

Chapter 60: The Beginning of Everything

Lian was lying on the ground, gasping for air as the life had already faded from his face. Even after experiencing death day after day, the feeling of despair and fear during the moment of dying was impossible to get used to.

"You did well in today’s training, Lian." Kael had a smile on his face.

"Why are you helping me?" Lian glanced at Kael. Even though they were both wielders of Oblivion, Kael was already dead, he had nothing to gain from this. "You’re already dead, what motivation do you have to waste your time here with me?"

Kael let out a small sigh and created a chair out of shadows beside Lian before sitting down. "Well, I believe it’s time I explain everything to you more clearly," he said as he crossed his arms and leaned his head back.

Lian sat up and looked at Kael with curiosity. With this, he would finally understand the story behind his powers and who he would be fighting against.

"Then let’s start from the very beginning..."

"In the beginning of time, before the universe even existed, there were only two beings. Gods, Oblivion and Aurion, light and darkness, life and death."

"At some point, a dispute arose between the two gods over who was the most powerful. A god’s pride is greater than anything else, and this led to a battle between the two cosmic beings. The collision of life and death resulted in the universe as we know it. Humans call this event the Big Bang."

"After an intense battle between the gods, part of their energy fell into our universe, creating the cycle of life and its blade."

"I never imagined that gods actually existed." Lian was focused on the story, surprised by the existence of deities.

"Why did you think gods didn’t exist? Nothing can be created from nothing," Kael spoke with a hint of irony.

"I don’t know. I just thought that if gods were real... they wouldn’t allow so much evil to exist."

"That’s a foolish way of thinking. If I kill an innocent person... who is to blame?" Kael asked, looking directly into Lian’s eyes, surprised by his naïveté.

"Anyway, after all that, the two gods moved far away from each other and created servants to glorify their egos. But as billions of years passed, envy grew within some of these servants. They coveted the gods’ power, rebelled, and were ultimately defeated."

"It’s foolish to rebel against a god. They were created by that god, and yet they still betrayed them."

"That’s true, but it happens even in your world. How many children have betrayed their own parents? We could call humanity a reflection of demons." Lian nodded, knowing that the world was rotten.

"The defeated servants were banned from returning to their former masters’ realms, becoming known as demons, and were forced to spend eternity in this universe. Now, they seek the gods’ energy left behind here so they can gain even a fraction of divine power."

"But there’s something I don’t understand... If Oblivion is a god, why doesn’t he just kill all these demons? If he did, then the wielders wouldn’t be hunted."

Kael burst into laughter. Lian’s innocence amused him, it reminded him of when he was younger. Lian didn’t understand the reason for his laughter.

"You possess the power of a god, but you don’t possess the god himself. Your blade is such a small part of the true Oblivion that he didn’t even notice its absence. It’s like a single strand of hair falling from his head."

"But don’t worry, since you’re still weak, they’ll have a hard time finding you."

Lian reflected on Kael’s words, feeling a mix of curiosity and unease. Having a fragment of a god’s power seemed like something grand, but at the same time, it made him a target for creatures he didn’t yet fully understand.

"So... if I understood correctly, these demons want to take this fragment of energy to try and reach the power of the gods?" Lian asked, his expression filled with doubt.

Kael nodded, his gaze distant. "Exactly. For them, any fragment of Oblivion or Aurion is an opportunity to get closer to absolute power. Some want it to take revenge on the gods, others simply to rule over everything and everyone. And then, there are those who just want to destroy everything."

Lian frowned. "And how can they do that?"

Kael looked straight at him, his voice firm. "You are one of the wielders of Oblivion. You carry a fragment of his power, just like others before you. The demons hunt wielders because the more fragments they collect, the stronger they become. But they can’t just kill you, the fragment is bound to your soul. They need to completely dominate you, and then you’ll be nothing more than a prize."

A chill ran down Lian’s spine. "And what happens if they gather enough power?"

Kael took a deep breath before answering. "Then nothing will be able to stop them from rewriting the rules of existence. If one of them gains enough power, they could even change the laws that govern this abandoned universe."

The weight of that revelation hit Lian like a stone. "So that’s why I need to get stronger? To prevent that from happening?"

Kael smiled slightly. "Not just for that. You need to get stronger to survive. You still don’t fully understand your position, Lian. Right now, you’re weak. If a powerful demon crossed your path now, you wouldn’t stand a chance. Even one of lower rank would be almost impossible for you to defeat."

Lian clenched his fists, his expression determined. "Then teach me more. Help me get stronger. I don’t want to be just a target, I want to fight."

Kael observed Lian for a moment before standing up from his shadow chair. "It’s good to see you determined even after dying so many times. We’ll continue training tomorrow. For now, rest."

Lian nodded, but his mind was still racing with the information he had received. The fate of the universe was, in a way, tied to him. The idea was overwhelming, but at the same time, it ignited something within him. A flame he had never felt before.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. If he had power, then he would use it to fight.

His plan had never been to save the universe, but if he had to do that to get his revenge, then so be it.