5 KINGS: Ülgen Awakens
It begins like a legend, rising from the misty pages of time and echoing in the depths of the heavens. Thousands of years ago, the connection between the earth and the sky was severed forever by celestial seals. As the gods withdrew their power from this world, their trace silently continued to flow in the veins of humanity. In the long nights that followed those days, neither gods nor humans remained the same.
Ülgen, the ancient lord of sovereignty and light, opened his eyes among the forgotten shadows of the elders. He rose silently in the deep embrace of the forest with the body of a warrior, disconnected from his own self and identity. He could neither grasp onto a clue of his past nor comprehend the meaning of his continued existence. Every breath contained an unknown tale, every step pointed to a riddle of his being waiting to be solved.
Yet, he was not only the beginning of a turning point that would overturn his own fate, but also the thrones of five kings, the destinies of peoples, and the balance of the heavens. As the world prepared to break free from its chains, Ülgen's presence carried the first spark of a new era. Searching for his place in the endless void, he did not know that the moment he remembered who he was, everything would be over. The burden he carried as the son of the sky was heavy; it was interwoven with an inescapable end, just as much as with the silent splendor that followed him. For Ülgen, the lord of light, was now being reborn within his own darkness, pushing the boundaries of being human and god to rule the heavens.
At that moment, the sky lit up three times with lightning, as if ancient powers were resurrecting and greeting the earth. The ground trembled with an echo from the deep, crying out the beginning of an ancient story that would swell after every drop of blood.
When Ülgen's eyes finally opened, he felt the coldness of the blood staining his hands. A strange armor touched his skin; uncertainty about this shell, a deep darkness, crept into his mind. He had no memory, but fragmented recollections torn from lost times struggled to fill the void in his mind like trembling shadows.
Who... am I? This muffled question, begging for an answer, echoed only within the trembling melody of the wind.
"You are the last hope of the five kingdoms..." When the whisper of fate reached Ülgen's ears, the forest woke up with a terrifying sign of vitality. Bird chirps echoed in the branches, a hawk screamed in the far distance, and this call pierced the atmosphere like a sharp knife, announcing the naked reality of change.
From this day on, nothing would remain the same. As the ancient balances were shifted, history was about to be rewritten, and Ülgen was preparing to step forward as the solitary hero in the middle of this tale.
5 KINGS
Chapter 1: Pre-Flood
In those ancient ages when the earth had not yet seen the devastating effects of the flood, there was a world ruled by four great kingdoms. In this world, in a rural corner of Mesopotamia surrounded by rushing rivers and fertile lands, lived a man named Toygar who led a simple but meaningful life. Toygar, who stood out with his tall and majestic posture, captivated the people around him with his auburn hair falling over his shoulders and his glistening hazel eyes. However, it was the depth of his character, more than his appearance, that made him special. Toygar's life centered on his family; dedicating his life to his wife and children, this man had earned everyone's respect with his silent sacrifices and diligence.
Toygar's wife, Dayana, was the embodiment of beauty. With her long blonde hair and pure blue eyes, she drew attention in every environment, radiating peace with her grace and naive demeanor. Dayana, a strong character, had stood up for her family without yielding even in the most difficult circumstances, filling their home with happiness alongside Toygar. The couple had two children: Twelve-year-old Humar and eight-year-old little Cengiz. This family of four lived in a quiet and peaceful house nestled in the heart of nature outside the town. Besides the chirping of birds and the sweet breeze of the wind, little other sound was heard around them; their lives flowed in harmony with the rhythm of nature, adding serenity to their happiness.
The family's livelihood was quite modest. Toygar heated his house and contributed to the family budget by collecting wood from the vast forest area. Cutting wood was not just a simple job for him, but also an important source of income for his family. One morning, Toygar decided to take his son Humar with him to the forest to gather wood. Since Cengiz was too small, going to the forest could be dangerous for him. Therefore, he would stay at home with his mother. Toygar put Humar on the horse, and he walked beside the horse, accompanying his son along the path, chatting as they went.
That day, he and his son were looking for a tree that was quite difficult to find. The name of this tree was Kutanik. The Kutanik tree was a highly valuable tree that had become an open target for people due to its considerable monetary returns. While it appeared to have a delicate soul with its long and thin branches, its majestic structure inspired a deep respect in the human spirit. One couldn't help but wonder how this magnificent structure could emerge from such thin branches. Every single leaf harbored a separate cure within it. Therefore, these very precious and colorful leaves contained valuable molecules used in making elixirs for diseases.
During the journey, Humar turned to his father and asked in a cheerful voice: "Dad, can we buy some sweets from the town today? I miss the taste so much, and Cengiz will be so happy too." Toygar turned to his son and replied with a smile: "If we can make some sales, why not, my son," and they continued their journey, chatting.
However, this peaceful atmosphere did not last long. A sudden and disturbing hum from inside the forest led to a stifling silence. Toygar immediately paused with a warrior's reflex; his tensed muscles and the alarmed expression on his face reflected the seriousness of the danger. The rustling rising from the bushes clearly indicated that an indefinite threat was approaching. Before he could even collect his thoughts, two large wolves suddenly burst out of the bushes and began running towards them. As a sense of intense danger enveloped the area in the blink of an eye, Toygar, without losing any time, grasped the heavy axe hanging on the side of the horse with a sharp movement. Immediately after, to take little Humar to a safe area, he tightly held the reins, quickly dismounted his son from the horse's back, and shielded him behind his body. Although his face was momentarily covered with the shadows of fear, his determination to protect his family was enough to keep his courage alive. Taking a deep breath, he slightly knelt and waited for the wolves' attack without taking his eyes off them.
One of the wolves reached the target first. With an agile leap, it attacked the horse's neck directly and sank its deadly teeth into the unfortunate animal's throat. As the horse's heartbreaking cries echoed through the trees, traces of deep pain and rising tension appeared on Toygar's face. However, these sights could not break his will. He gathered all his courage not to let his son be harmed and swung the axe at the wolf approaching him with great speed. As if with years of experience, he perfectly timed and placed the non-sharp side of the axe toward the side of the wolf's head. The powerful blow sent the wolf staggering to the ground, but the fight was not yet over. The other wolf was both more patient and cunning, moving carefully and waiting for the right moment to attack.
Toygar took a breath of deep determination as he met the gaze of the second wolf. He would either try to gain time by defending or take a risk and attack directly. Just then, he noticed the creature tensing and preparing to leap. Time seemed to slow down; when his instincts told him not to wait any longer, his muscles moved reflexively. Toygar tightly gripped his axe, gathered all his strength, pushed his arm back, and attacked with a circular blow. The powerful impact created by the axe fatally split the wolf's head in two, instantly dropping the beast. The axe slipped from Toygar's hands due to the force of the blow and plunged into the ground.
Little Humar, a witness to this moment defying death, stared at his father's incredible power a few steps away. He looked at his father with fear and panic. But Toygar had no time to console his son. Because the other wolf, which he had hit on the head with the axe, had come to its senses and was waiting for the most opportune moment to leap onto his son.
Toygar's eyes instantly darkened with rage at the sight, and he was transformed into a bloodthirsty warrior from ancient times. His fury burst out with a loud scream, and he advanced a few quick steps, wrapping his bare hands around the wolf's neck. They fell to the ground, engaging in a relentless struggle. The wolf widely opened its foaming mouth, trying to show its sharp teeth to Toygar's face, but not the slightest trace of fear remained in Toygar; it had been replaced by absolute rage. He firmly gripped its throat with both hands, gaining the upper hand, and continued to wrestle with the wolf. As he tightened his choke with his right hand, he rained down angry punches with his left hand. The force of his blows started to crack the wolf's skull, and eventually, the animal's body went limp.
His son, watching this wild scene from behind, stared at his father with frozen eyes. The familiar figure of his father was seemingly nowhere to be found; the violence emanating from that warrior had brought out a dark side hidden within Toygar, one that had never seen the light of day until now. When the wolf was completely dead, Toygar stood up, taking deep breaths. Though his eyes still carried traces of fury, he noticed the look of horror on his son's face and went to him, hugging him tightly, trying to calm him with a composed demeanor. Afterward, father and son slowly walked back to their fallen horse. They carefully cut the useful parts of the horse and took them with them, setting off silently for home.
A strange silence prevailed between them along the way; the air was almost thick with tension. Toygar's anger had not fully subsided, while his son walked timidly right behind him. They advanced without saying anything, as if afraid to break the silence. As they approached home, the wooden huts became visible on the horizon. In front of the hut, Toygar's little son, Cengiz, was spending time playing happily with the handmade toys his father had made for him. Noticing his father and brother from afar, the little boy jumped up excitedly and shouted to his mother. Then he ran to them, hugging them and starting to shower them with innocent questions: "Brother, why didn't you wake me up this morning? Why did you go somewhere without me? Where did you go?"
Dayana had heard her son's shouts. But she couldn't understand why they had returned so early. Had something gone wrong? She quickly stepped outside and saw her husband walking with a large piece of meat on his shoulder, and her son was following him, trembling. Without questioning the situation, she looked closely at her husband's face and was met with an unyielding flash of rage in Toygar's eyes. At the same time, her son's state, tinged with fear, did not escape her notice. With an anxious movement, she stepped aside, allowing them to pass silently into their hut.
Toygar placed the meat he was carrying on the ground and asked for water to wash his hands and face. Dayana quickly brought a bowl of water and handed it to him. After washing his face and hands with the cold water, Toygar took a deep breath, then silently turned to his wife and fixed his eyes on her with deep determination. He was ready to talk now. He didn't want to keep his wife wondering any longer and began to narrate what had happened. After telling her everything in detail, he looked into her warm blue and deep eyes and said: "Today, I felt like I turned into a completely different person. While my son and I were face to face with death, I ceased to be myself and turned into a different creature. It was as if my whole body and soul were possessed by a power I couldn't understand." Dayana stared at her husband, terrified by what she had heard. This situation did not please her at all. She noticed that the anger in her husband's eyes still hadn't subsided. To lighten the atmosphere a little, she offered him a suggestion: "Let me give you a glass of the new wine I made, drink it and relax."
She quickly went to the kitchen, opened a hidden compartment that no one else knew about, and took out a small bottle. She carefully took the bottle in her hand and poured exactly nineteen drops into the glass. As she poured, she silently prayed: "Sky God, please let the effect not wear off."