In the southwest of the Middle Continent lay Gray Sky Sanctuary, a land where the sky was always gray and rain never ceased. The ground bore small white cracks, like scars across the earth. Here stood the Empire of Ruined, and nearby, an enormous dark building rose like a monolith, its pointed head piercing the stormy sky. Six massive arms extended from the structure, each holding a metallic white dome.
Inside one of the domes, chairs and a table were set in the center, surrounded by a garden of glowing flowers that sparkled with neon colors. This place was the headquarters of one of the three calamities—the Dusk Lost Society.
Seated in a chair with legs crossed was a man who appeared around twenty-seven. His red hair resembled butterfly wings, framing his red eyes. He wore a black cloak adorned with metallic gold at its center and edges, a white cross emblazoned on the back. Vertical metallic stripes ran along his hands, while two horizontal stripes circled his neck. He lifted a teacup to his lips, breaking the silence.
A figure appeared. He was a Riveras, a race with metallic stripes on their bodies, able to sense their surroundings through vibrations. Riveras were immune to ambushes and possessed formidable physical strength.
"Head Commander, the operation of all thirty forces assigned to the Outer Continent—to steal the artifacts from the Genesis Tower—has been wiped out," said a man behind him.
The man was an Elf, appearing in his fifties, with gray hair and red eyes. He wore a black cloak with a white cross on its back.
"Poor souls. It's unfortunate—not only did we lose the pawns, but we failed to retrieve the artifacts. Captain, do you have any idea where the orb and the rapier are?" asked by the Head Commander.
"No, sir. The location of the two artifacts is unknown for now," replied the captain.
"I see. Make the orb a secondary objective. We must retrieve the rapier at all costs," the Head Commander said, his gaze cold.
"But sir, aren't both ancient artifacts? Why is the rapier more important?" asked the captain.
The commander's eyes hardened, his voice low and dangerous. "That rapier is no ordinary artifact. It is a divine artifact, within which a Genesis monster is sealed. It is not like a puny ancient artifact containing only primordial monsters."
"What? So the rapier was the main artifact in that tower… one of the seven divine artifacts in the world?" the captain asked, shocked.
"Yes. It is our primary key if we ever wish to stand against the Three Great Gods and the world," the Head Commander confirmed.
"Understood, sir. I will inform the other commanders and make tracking the rapier our first priority," said the captain.
"No," the Head Commander interrupted. "Tell only the other commanders. The reason I didn't disclose the rapier's importance to the thirty who perished is because… there seems to be a mole among us."
"You mean… the reason those anonymous organizations kept blocking our paths and staying hidden is because of a mole in our ranks?" the captain asked, annoyance clear in his voice.
"Yes. That is why we must be careful with information," replied the Head Commander.
"Yes, understood, Commander. I will warn the others," the captain said, departing toward the dome's door.
As the captain left, the Head Commander stared out at the gray sky, heavy rain, and white cracks on the ground. His gaze was menacing.
"Hays… what an unexpected turn of events. I thought I would only need to worry about the actions of the Three Great Gods or the Adventurer Association. I didn't expect an unknown organization to give us trouble," the captain muttered, irritation lacing his tone.
"Anyway, once we obtain the artifact, we can add them to our list of targets to obliterate," he continued.
"We must remain patient. When the time comes, we will seize all authority from the gods and bring rebirth once again to the old world," he said, his expression cold and serious.
In the north of the Middle Continent lay the Archine Empires, and nearby, a duchy called Everblack Duchy, where the surrounding trees were dead. A huge lake, black as ink, mirrored the gray skies. At its center stood a gray cathedral—the hideout of one of the calamities, the Dark Throne.
Inside, an elegant Human girl of eighteen sat in the front pew. Her lavender-blue hair framed her face, matching her eyes. She wore a black classic gothic Lolita dress with white sleeves, a black ribbon choker around her neck. Her hands were modestly crossed over her lower abdomen, holding a bladed fan. Soon, her eyes closed as she faced a tree-shaped statue.
A couple of men entered.
"My lady, we received a report. The heads of the five empires of the Middle Continent, along with the eight kingdoms from the Outer Continent, have gathered in secret in the Empire of Echoes. We suspect they are planning to counter the three calamities—including you," said a servant in a butler uniform.
"If they discover your true identity, they may target you," another warned.
"They may try," the young lady said condescendingly. "But it will only make me stronger. They would serve only as mere nourishment for my ability."
A dark blob with red eyes hovered nearby. "Indeed, my lady. If they come, they will only strengthen you. HAHAHAHA!"
"Enough," she said sharply. "Your mouth speaks too much, artifact."
"They can search all they want, but they will find nothing. It is amusing to watch their efforts result in nothing," she continued.
"What poor souls," muttered the dark blob.
"Go back into the fan. I am tired of your noise," the young lady said. The dark entity merged back into her fan, disappearing.
"But my lady, should we take action now?" asked the servant.
"For now, we prepare. Nothing will happen until the right moment. Step by step, we gather our forces," she replied.
"Everything is ready for your entry into the Adventure Association Academy," another servant added.
"Good. At the academy, no kingdom can touch me, for students are protected by the laws of the Three Great Gods. Soon, I will purge the world of the fake and filthy nobles," she said through gritted teeth.
"All royals today are weak, chasing fame and pleasures through bloodlines. The true royals are those of old, obtained through sheer will and power. One day, I will restore that order," she said with a smirk.
Her servants bowed in respect, and the cathedral bells rang loud across the duchy's territory.
In the southeast, between the Middle Continent and the Outer Continent, the vast ocean teemed with life—and death. Sea monsters lurked in the deep blue waters, and the cycle of life continued relentlessly. The small were eaten by the big, the weak devoured by the strong, the strong fought each other, the dead nourished the weak—and the cycle continued without end.
Above this brutal ocean, an enormous round airship floated, powered by mana. Its flat surface stretched as long as five kingdoms combined. At the center of the ship rose a tall structure resembling a Japanese castle—this was the Lunar Fortress. Around the ship, four shrines—north, south, east, and west—mirrored traditional Japanese shrines, called the Lunar Shrines. In the center, dozens of houses nestled among cherry blossom and wisteria trees, with people walking through the streets as though it were an empire unto itself. This was the headquarters of one of the strongest among the three calamities—the Nest of Evil.
On the top floor of the Lunar Tower, the sliding doors opened. Seated upon the throne was a woman who appeared to be around twenty-seven. Her jet-black hair was cut into sharp, perfectly even bangs, adorned with a kanzashi featuring a soft lavender flower. Her luminous violet eyes scanned the horizon. She wore a luxurious dark charcoal kimono of shimmering silk, its wide transparent sleeves and hem embroidered with delicate gold and muted-purple cherry blossoms drifting across the fabric like smoke. A broad lavender-gray obi encircled her waist, tied into a loose, flowing bow at the back. Behind her, three small iridescent moons, each the size of a watermelon, orbited clockwise.
Slowly, she walked to the window, mesmerized by the view below. She spoke softly."To create such paradise again, even in this world created by them… it is still lacking, not as grand as the one I once had in the other world. But I do not regret doing this here."
She was a Lunaries—an ancient, extinct race in the current world. Her orbiting moons allowed communication with her kind across vast distances, worlds, dimensions, or realities. Members of her race could hear the voices of any being for an hour, so long as their names were spoken.
"To think I would find a place I can call home in this unfamiliar world… it is good to have a place where I can calm myself," she murmured.
Below the Lunar Tower, countless men marched, weapons in hand. Each wore a white mask with a moon symbol on the forehead—some crescent, some quarter, some full, some blue. The woman's gaze swept over them as she continued."Yes… it's great to see my subjects doing just fine…"
Then her expression darkened."I understand… so stop shouting… all of you… all your voices, I can hear them. I have not abandoned you all… hehehe…" she said, sweat forming on her face.
Around her, the surroundings remained lively and peaceful. People spoke softly to one another, smiling; soldiers laughed freely, and the breeze gently brushed through cherry blossoms and grass.
"No… if it hurts, please cry… What? T-t-tired? Then please stop… you… can't stop?" she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
"Y-You want it to end? Y-Yes… it will end. Trust me… death is still there… it is… the last salvation…" she continued, tears streaming as she slowly broke apart.
"What did… you say? …What did… you do… to deserve this?" she asked, biting her lips.
"Yes… please stop, all of you… I have heard every single wish: a wish so desperate, a wish for an end, a wish for change… even for a second, or a minute, just to feel how to exist properly…" she said.
"Please be patient a little longer. I am doing my best to regain the power I've lost from the past. Once I reclaim all my strength, I will save you all. Trust me… this time, I will save you," she said, determination hardening her voice.
"Just trust me. Why else do you think I am still speaking to you, even after you have lost yourselves? Your reasoning, emotions, memories, consciousness… all of it…"
"But do not worry. I am slowly gathering all criminals from this world. Once I have gathered enough and regained my full strength, I will destroy this world, ruled by those clowns playing at divinity," she said, her tone full of disdain.
"I give you not just my promise, but my oath, everyone," she added, a confident smile gracing her face.
She turned her head, gazing toward her subjects. A voice called from outside the door:"Our goddess, we, your humble subjects, ask for your presence."
"I permit," she replied.
A stronger wind swept through, carrying fallen leaves upward. As each of the three calamities plotted their next moves, the world grew noisier. And as the noise increased, the fragile peace of the world grew ever more tenuous.