Long before the birth of humankind, before the universe itself had even drawn its first breath, there was only one city.A city beyond time, beyond space, beyond all logic.Its name echoed through the divine realms — THE ETERNAL SHADOW.
The sky there was forever cloaked in night, an endless darkness where no dawn dared to rise.Towers of black obsidian pierced the heavens, touching the fractures within the very fabric of reality.Through mist-covered streets of shimmering silver walked the Gods — supreme beings whose power could both forge and shatter universes.
Among them dwelled:
Zankoku, the God of Evil, whose eyes burned with the fire of chaos;Amagami, the God of Creation, silent and wistful, his gaze colored by the eternal dawn;Retsu, the God of Destruction, stern and unyielding as granite;Kagami, the God of Illusions, ever smiling, his voice smooth as silk and twice as deceptive;Naraka, the God of Lies, whose very name inspired dread;Ryuujin, the God of Power, blunt, loud, yet strangely honest;Hayari, the Goddess of Time and Memory, wise as eternity itself —and others whose names were long since lost to the ashes of ages.
The Starry Night
Atop one of the towering spires, beneath a sky woven with shattered stars,Amagami and Zankoku lay upon the marble floor, staring into the void.
"Do you have a purpose, Amagami?" Zankoku's voice broke the silence — slow, thick, and heavy as tar.
"Of course I do," Amagami replied quietly."I want to create — my own world. A world without fear, without pain, without hate.I can no longer support the path our Master has chosen."
Zankoku chuckled darkly."And how do you intend to do that? You know we can't defy the Master.You'll only bring danger upon all of us if you even try."
"I'll take any risk to see it done," said Amagami, his voice calm but burning with conviction."The Master destroys worlds without mercy, leaving nothing but dust.You call that order? The souls of those worlds only wished to live.I couldn't see it before… but now I do."
Zankoku laughed again, sharper this time."A good joke, my friend. And if it isn't a joke… what truth have you found?"
Amagami turned his gaze toward the abyss."I'm not joking. I've never told anyone this…but I hate our Master — and I hate you all for following him.You're hypocrites, just like he is."
The world fell into a deathly silence — only for a moment.
"You dare to betray the one who created us?" Zankoku hissed."Do you even realize what you're saying? What else could you possibly want to achieve?"
"The Master destroys. I will create," Amagami answered firmly."I'll protect what I bring into being, not watch it turn to ashes. That is my choice."
Zankoku's expression hardened into disgust.He couldn't comprehend Amagami's resolve — to him, it was treason.What began as a quiet conversation between friends turned into a clash of faiths.And unseen, another God had heard every word.
A thunderous echo rolled through the spire.Descending the stairs came Ryuujin, his footsteps roaring like a storm.
"Do you even grasp what you've just said, Amagami?" his voice boomed like lightning."You treat the Master's warnings as a jest?Would you throw away everything we've built?Abandon the eternity we share?"
"His warnings are chains," Amagami said. "And I will break them.You should too — before it's too late."
"Chains?" Ryuujin roared. "You'll bury us all!"His fist crashed into the marble, cracking it apart."If you walk this path — you are my enemy!"
"Your cruelty toward the weak disgusts me," Amagami replied coldly."Their weakness does not make you strong. You've never asked what they feel.I've seen the truth you refuse to face."
Before they could strike him down, Amagami's image flickered —and dissolved into mist. It was only a clone.
Zankoku stood frozen, a mix of anger and sorrow twisting inside him.His best friend had betrayed him. And yet… part of him mourned.
"We must tell the others," Zankoku muttered."Amagami is already moving to fulfill his plan."
"Yes," Ryuujin growled. "Before it's too late."
The Council of Gods
Soon, the deities gathered in the Hall of the Silver Spiral.Starlight shone through the ceiling, painting their thrones with cold fire.Only one seat remained empty — Amagami's.
"He's gone," Zankoku began darkly."He intends to create his own world — his own universe.If he succeeds, our power may wither… or we may die."
The room filled with whispers and dread.Each god met the other's gaze, fear reflecting in their immortal eyes.
"We must stop him," Ryuujin declared.
"But how?" asked Retsu. "Time is slipping."
"Indeed," said Hayari softly.
"If his Core ignites," Naraka warned,"we'll either lose our essence or cease to exist. He's betrayed us all."
"Then let's kill him," Kagami said with a smirk.
"You fool!" Retsu slammed his fist against the floor, shaking the hall."We cannot kill gods. One has already fallen — the God of Speed —and even that nearly shattered reality!"
Hayari rose slowly from her throne."Then we'll destroy his creation — not him.The Core is unstable. While it remains so, it can be undone."
"Entering the center of creation may drain our mana entirely," Naraka sighed.
Zankoku stepped forward."We'll use the Absolute Teleportation.The portal will take us straight to him — swiftly and precisely."
"But it will consume half of each of our energies," Hayari noted."We'll be left exposed."
"If not now," Ryuujin thundered, "then never. Let's end this."
"I'll shatter his focus with my illusions," Kagami added.
They all nodded — and began.
The Gods formed a circle.In the air above them burned the symbol of the Eternal Loop,drawn in plasma-like mana.One by one, they poured their power into the ritual.Winds screamed, energy twisted — and a dark violet vortex tore open.The stench from it was foul, like rotting time and bleeding worlds.
Kagami fell to his knees, clutching his head."My illusions… they're tearing me apart…"
Ryuujin gritted his teeth, forcing the flow.Hayari stretched out her hands, stabilizing the collapsing stream of time.
Then the portal burst with blinding light —and swallowed them whole.
The Battle of Creation
They emerged on the edge of a new world —Amagami's world.The air trembled, thick with magic, as if reality itself was breathing.
Zankoku stepped forward, fists clenched."Amagami! You've gone too far. Stop this madness before it kills us all!"
Amagami stood by the glowing Core, calm but resolute."I'm not asking for your understanding.Just… leave. This is my creation — my dream.I'll spare your lives if I can."
Ryuujin growled, lightning sparking across his arms.
"We're not here to be spared," Kagami said coldly."We're here to keep our promise — to the Master.And to save you from yourself."
Amagami finally turned, eyes burning with determination."To save me? No. You're the chains I'm breaking.If you wish to destroy my world — you'll have to destroy me first."
The ground exploded.Ryuujin charged, his fists blazing blue with divine fire."This ends now!"
Amagami dodged and countered, raising mountains of stone that crashed down on Ryuujin.Kagami smiled thinly. "So, the game begins."He warped the space around them, weaving illusions into the battlefield.
Amagami closed his eyes for a heartbeat — then unleashed a freezing storm.The blizzard shattered every illusion, throwing Kagami back in pain.
Naraka struck next, twin blades flashing like lies made steel.Amagami met him head-on, releasing a wave of radiant light that hurled both Naraka and Ryuujin aside.
"You…" Amagami breathed, exhausted. "You never learn."
Meanwhile, Hayari approached the Core, her face lined with sorrow."If it stabilizes, we're finished," she whispered."We must destroy it now."
Ryuujin nodded. "Then let's do it — together!"
Retsu and Ryuujin combined their powers,directing raw destruction at the heart of creation.The Core flared gold, vibrating violently.
Amagami, realizing the danger, flung a spear of ice at Hayari.She fell, clutching her chest, but used time itself to deflect the fatal blow.
Zankoku lunged forward, hands wreathed in shadow."You've broken our balance, Amagami! You'll pay for it!"
He struck with fury, but Amagami evaded,trapping Zankoku in a surge of solidified earth.
Panting, weakened, Amagami gathered what remained of his divine energy.Zankoku rose shakily, voice trembling."You can't defeat all of us… not alone."
Amagami's eyes softened. "You were my friend, Zankoku… once."He said nothing more.
Ryuujin attacked again — and lost his arm.Retsu followed — nearly blinded.Hayari countered, severing Amagami's fingers to stop his spell.
Breathing ragged, Amagami fell to one knee.In a final, desperate act, he drove a blade into his chest —but it was an illusion crafted by Kagami.
The mirage shattered.They saw Amagami bleeding, yet alive.
Kagami gasped. "He… he broke through my illusion…"
Hayari rushed to his side, trying to heal him.Amagami whispered softly:
"This world… I will protect it… no matter the cost…"
In his last strength, Amagami charged toward the Core —but Zankoku caught him, tears streaming down his face.
"I don't want this, brother. Don't make me lose you."
Amagami looked at him with sorrow."I'll always be your friend, Zankoku."
With a faint smile, he sent Zankoku away — teleporting him back to the divine city,just as the universe around them began to expand.
"You simply had no choice, Zankoku…"The words echoed in Zankoku's mind as Amagami turned to the others.He opened a final portal beneath them, saving their lives —and was left alone.
The newborn universe bloomed before him.Amagami had won.
The Birth of a World
After countless ages of recovery, Amagami began to shape his creation.He forged a planet where life could thrive — though his early attempts failed by the thousands.Yet eventually, he succeeded.
He called his world Earth.Around it, he placed others:
Mercury. Venus. Mars. Saturn. Jupiter. Neptune. Pluto.And at their center — a blazing star he named the Sun.
He sealed the Core, ensuring his Master could never reach or destroy this universe.Then he turned his will to life itself.He created animals — sheep, cows, chickens, pigs, and countless others.And finally… beings in his own image — humans.Fragile, yet wise. Imperfect, yet beautiful.
He loved them.He would die for them.
Zankoku never forgot him.Even after centuries, anger still burned in his heart —but so did grief.For Amagami had saved them all.
And thus… the tale ends.
"Now, now — that's enough for tonight.Time for bed, Akira," a gentle voice said.His mother smiled, kissing his forehead."Tomorrow will be a long day."
She closed the door softly, leaving the boy to sleep.