"So, what is the situation with our plan? So we can begin sowing." Lord Kaelen, the main head of the Council, asked in a clear, tyrannical voice. His every word contained divine law energy, a palpable force of imposed order. His whole body was made of light-gray cosmic energy, swirling and dense. The only visible features on his head were a pair of pitch-black eyes and intertwined, horn-shaped structures resembling a crown. A large halo, the same color as his body, shimmered behind his head.

  They were in an enormous floating platform, the floor made of smooth, high-quality cream-colored marble that was polished to such a smoothness it could be used as a mirror. At the edge of the platform, there were 32 pillars made of the same material, equally spaced. Each pillar was carved with a large, coiled monster figure, its form resembling the Corinthian design at the top. These pillars were colossal in size and height compared to mortals, but were merely the size of pillars found in temples built for gods.

  Standing atop each pillar was a god, and each one had their own distinct form and color, reflecting the divine powers they wielded. (Clockwise from Lord Kaelen): Lord Kaelen, Lady Lysandra, Vorlag The Silent Broker, The Arbiter Zuriel, Grand Calculus Vex, The Warden Atra, Lady Seraphina-The Veiled, The Conduit Sol, Lord Mortis-The Collector, The Herald Vox, Lady Bellum-The Strategist, The Crucible Ignis, Lord Terron-The Foundation, Lady Zephyr-The Unseen Hand, The Overseer Ocular, Lord Chronos-The Meter, Lady Lux-The Illuminator, The Culler Raze, Lord Fathom-The Deep Thinker, Lady Styx-The Binder, Lord Moros-Warden Of Doubt, Lady Vina, Lord Nexus-The Connector, Lady Aura-The Reflector, The Chancellor Aegis, Lord Temper-The Forge Master, Lady Cypher-The Cryptic, The Scrivener Lumen, Lord Tyr-The Absolute, Lady Moirai-The String Puller, The Sentinel Gate, Lord Gloom-The Dreader. The five Gods and Goddesses on both sides of Lord Kaelen were part of the High Council, while the rest were normal members of the Council.

  The platform was floating inside a vast place where the clouds and sky shimmered with a shiny pastel blue hue. This celestial light illuminated a circular, wide, large form resembling water, floating away from the platform, a scrying pool or mirror of immense size.

  A God with a muscular body moved, his whole form covered by cosmic pink, shaded with black. His halo moved as his head turned towards Lord Kaelen. With a slight move of his fingers, a clear green vision appeared on the surface of the water mirror. "Everything is already set. I have made a pathway from the Middle Realm to the Lower Realm. What you see on my mirror is the detailed map of Earth – the only planet in the Lower Realm where the mortals reside." Lord Nexus said. His voice was calm and filled with confidence, his eyes locked on the mirror.

  "It's a smaller world than what I imagined," Lord Gloom said while caressing his long beard. His body was covered with cosmic blackness. A triangle-shaped halo hovered at the back of his head.

  "That's easy to solve," Lady Moirai said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her body was covered by cosmic dark blue, and her light purple hair flowed down to her hips. Her halo was a shiny dark blue with a diamond pattern. "Just make Earth bigger; mortals can be easily reproduced. The only drawback is their short lifespan. How sad."

  "That's because they are mortals, you idiot!" The Scrivener Lumen said with a high-pitched, feminine voice. Her body was covered in clean white light, her face not visible within it, and her purple halo had a cross within a circle pattern. "Even now, I wonder how you managed to join the Council."

  "You-!" Lady Moirai was about to retort.

  "Enough!" Kaelen's voice, a wave of resonant authority, crashed over the arguing gods, silencing them instantly. The sheer power of it caused a physical vibration in their forms. "Cease this petty squabbling! We are engaged in a matter of paramount importance. Argue elsewhere, spill divine blood in the outer realms for all I care! But not here, not now. Do not forget why we are here. We are wagering everything on this plan, just to finally break free from the Creator's suffocating grasp. So we never again live in fear that one day we might simply vanish, just as he did to some of the ancient gods. That is why we must seize this moment, this fleeting opportunity while he is absent!"

  The Creator, the ultimate source of all divine existence, the Father from whom all the gods came, is missing for thousands of eons, and the gods do not know the reason. They just realize, one day they don't feel the presence of the creator. Other gods have different theories; some say the Creator is undergoing a slumber to regain power, some say the Creator is already dead, some say the Creator is in a different place, far away from these realms.

  Silence fell. They decided to simply look at the mirror. Some were amazed and smiled at what they witnessed. They found it amusing.

  "I can't wait to play with them," Lady Zephyr said, clasping her hands while smiling sweetly. Her innocent and angelic appearance contrasted sharply with her true nature. She had a childlike body and wore a cute, fluffy pink dress, her beautiful face perfectly formed. She had a pink ray of light halo. "Using the monsters from the Middle Realm, all of them will flood their world. Many of them will die. And when they have nothing left to cling to, they will pray to the heavens, and that's our cue to step in! To be their saviors! So they will willingly worship us."

  Laughter filled the entire place. Every laugh and every single move spilled different kinds of divine energy that made the surroundings more lively, full of vitality.

  "Exactly," Lord Temper's laugh was prominent among the others. His body resembled that of a dwarf, short but stout, paired with a thick beard that covered his mouth. Lord Temper's form was made of blazing cosmic red fire. A metal pipe cigar was in his mouth, its smoke a visible spill of his divine power. His halo was blazing red fire. "And we also offer them weapons and other things that make them believe in us more. Mortals are simple creatures, it's like adopting a dog from the streets. Even though they didn't grow up under your power, if you show them kindness, they will treat you like a god. To the point that they are willing to sacrifice their life for their owner."

  "What's wrong, Lady Lux?" asked by The Warden of Doubt in a clear and calm voice. His body is made of transparent cosmic white. The stars on his body glitter like a diamond. The shape of his eyes, nose, and mouth are the only visible on his face. "I'm just wondering why you are not happy."

  "Don't use that irritating voice of yours on me. It disgusts me. I'm not like the others here who have been poisoned by your voice." Disgust was visible on Lady Lux's face as her eyes remained fixed on the mirror. The body of Lady Lux is also visible. Hourglass body, clean white blue wavy hair with that reached to her hips. She has mesmerizing beauty, wearing silk gown fitted to her body. Her visible aura is cosmic light blue mix with light pink. "Lord Kaelen. "

  "Yes, Lady Lux. Do you have a suggestion? You've been quiet there in your spot."

  "If you open a pathway from the Middle Realm to the Lower Realm, the monsters and citizens of the Middle Realm will surely rush into the Lower Realm. Knowing the mortals are untamed and not tainted by any outside power, this uncontrolled flood from the Middle Realm will turn them into carnivorous animals that will devour the humans. Even if the Aethelred system awakens them – even provides a form of 'revival' – it won't be enough to defend them. They can easily wipe out the mortals, ruining the farm before it begins. Furthermore, the energy harvested from these 'revived' mortals won't be pure. The power of the Aethelred system itself, used for their 'revival', inherently taints the energy gathered from them. Therefore, we must restrain the Middle Realm invaders, not just to prevent a premature destruction of the 'crop', but to establish a controlled, sustainable harvest and manage the division of mortals amongst ourselves."

  "Finally! Someone noticed the loopholes in our plan. Good job, Lady Lux. Lord Mortis, fix this immediately."

  Many nodded at Lady Lux's statement, but some frowned because they hadn't thought of that. They should have been the ones Kaelen praised. Lady Zephyr frowned and crossed her arms in displeasure.

  "Yes, Lord Kaelen. Following Lady Lux's crucial insight, I have finished instructing the whole Middle Realm regarding the revised, staged plan. I have also cast a powerful restrain magic, and secured their agreement, to ensure that the invasion is controlled and staged according to our needs. They will cooperate with us to divide the mortals – to manage the 'harvest' – for each one of us according to our needs and the mortals' progress." Lord Mortis said. His body was visible, muscular and half-naked, his lower body covered by a thin color of dirty white cloud. He was holding a gold staff. His halo had a double line, white, and glittering.

  "Lord Kaelen, I'm sorry but I feel worried about that box, the Aethelred." Worry was visible on Lady Cypher's face. She has beautiful, kind, and angelic face. Her head is facing Lord Kaelen but her eyes remain closed. She has a black veil like for the nun, her whole body is covered by runes that she personally invented to hide her vision from other eyes. Her halo is also made by runes.

  "With its complicated system, it might backfire on us. It might be used by the mortals to fight back."

  "It won't happen. Why? Because they are just mortals. Even if they reached the pinnacle power of mortals, they remain mortals. There is no chance that they will surpass us."

  Silence fell once more. But deep inside, they were filled with intense happiness, so excited to implement their plan and watch how everything unfolded perfectly. They were simply afraid to show it, afraid to disrupt the mood of Lord Kaelen.

  Uragast, once a member of the Council but now banished, knew the location of this secret meeting place. To force his way back in and make his presence known despite his banishment, he targeted Sentinel Gate, the being who controlled and guarded access to this domain.

  Sentinel Gate opened its mouth to shout a warning – "Intr..." – but the cry was cut short by a sudden, devastating attack, turning into an agonizing scream, "In-arrgggh!"

  Everyone was startled. A large hole appeared in Sentinel Gate's stomach, and white-colored blood overflowed from its mouth.

  "Someone is manipulating the gate of realms!" Lord Kaelen announced, the tension high. He immediately sensed the surroundings using his divine senses.

  Chancellor Aegis quickly cast a shield that covered the whole platform. Chancellor Aegis's action further heightened the tension. The gods and goddesses immediately readied themselves for a possible fight. They were also afraid that their plan might have already been learned by the Creator.

  Then, from above, Uragast suddenly appeared. He was in his formidable Archangel-like form, a muscular build radiating divine energy, framed by a mane of manly curly, shoulder-length hair. His face was set with determined resolve. Blazing golden wings extended behind him, casting a radiant glow. He wore pieces of shining gold armor on his shoulders and lower body, and Roman-like sandals on his feet. In his hand, he held his sword, blazing with golden fire, and with it, he slashed the shield. The blade instantly created a long slit that resulted in the shield dissolving, wearing away into nothingness.

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  Uragast focused his eyes on the floating platform, his gaze sweeping over the familiar figures. He knew every single being standing on the pillars. But one figure captured his attention, drawing his gaze more powerfully than the rest: Vina.

  (Transition to Memory/Flashback)

  Their last encounter had been a fierce verbal fight, a heated argument that had cut him deeply.

  Vina's voice had been sharp, filled with frustration: "That's what I detest about that attitude of yours! You're too soft, too kind-hearted. Some lowly gods offended you, but you just let it slide. The inheritance that was intended for your sword – it just went to your half-brother, and you did nothing! You are just serving your father! What if one day we just vanish suddenly? What if we have offspring? What about them? What about me? You will just give in?!"

  Uragast had argued, his voice rising: "You worry about vanishing? Of course, our life is just borrowed from our Creator! If he were to take it back, we can do nothing. That is his right! Everything we have is from him; he is just letting us use it. And your reason for wanting to break up is so shallow. What is wrong with being soft? You'll leave me just because of that? And why are you so eager to end things? You mention that often when we argue. Is there already someone else in your heart?"

  She didn't reply, just stared at him. Then she opened her mouth again, Vina's final words had been cold, definitive:

  "Meet me at our usual meeting spot when you have changed that attitude of yours." She had turned and left.

  (Return to Uragast's thoughts/Memory)

  Uragast carefully thought about their argument. He loved Vina fiercely, and the idea of her having someone else seemed impossible; perhaps he was just paranoid. Maybe he really did need to change if he wanted a future with her, to settle down. Maybe he really was too soft-hearted in the eyes of this harsh divine reality.

  After thinking it through, he decided to ask for Vina's forgiveness. He was ready to woo her, to make things right. Besides, he was close to finishing his gift for her. The Aethel-Caris, a world of profound beauty he had created specifically for Vina, a gift he intended to give her before they tied the knot. Aethel-Caris was an enormous world, every detail meticulously crafted by his own hands. Inside that world were perfect copies of places they had visited together since they became lovers, each one a reminder of a cherished memory connected to that location.

  Filled with hope, he went to their usual meeting spot. But when he arrived, Vina wasn't there. There wasn't any trace that she had been there since their last painful visit.

  Uragast was deeply hurt. Vina never showed up again after that argument. Anger boiled in his chest later when he learned that Vina had replaced him on the Council. It all sank in then. She had chosen the Council. She had, it turned out, submitted to the greedy gods. She had also been blinded by their power and their fear. Maybe that's why she kept criticizing him for being "too soft" – because his principles were an obstacle to her own ambition or fear-driven choices.

  (Return to the Present Council Chamber)

  In this moment, their eyes met across the platform. Yes, she was still beautiful, but the vibrant life he had loved was gone from her face. It was replaced by expressions of disgust, resentment, and cold anger directed squarely at him.

  I hope you don't regret your decision.

  It was clear now, utterly clear, they had no hope left for each other. He returned the courage and determination to his face once more. Averting his gaze from Vina, he carefully observed the raging faces of the other gods. A battle could erupt any moment now; he needed to be ready.

  Uragast remained in that position, floating in the sky, literally looking down on the 32 greedy gods. Just looking up at him seemed to make him more confident. A sweet smile escaped his lips, which only flared up the anger of the other gods. His gaze, however, settled and fixed upon the ancient, black box resting on the pedestal. He knew exactly what it was, and what it contained.

  Uragast's voice, though calm, resonated with immense power, filling the chamber: "Look at you, hiding in this dimension, surrounded by your minions. It is the posture of cowards! And it is precisely that cowardice, that fear you hide behind, that fuels the righteous rage with which I stand before you! You would turn the mortal world, Earth, into a mere farm! Mortals are not your toys! They are not animals for your use! Do you not comprehend the Creator's design? The Three Realms exist apart for a reason – for each to govern its own domain! You violate that sacred order, and you should tremble at the consequences!"

  His gaze tore away from the box, fixing now solely on Kaelen. "Instead, you hide here, clinging to stolen power, too afraid to face the Creator's true will! Cowards! Worthless! Your weakness is laid bare for all to see! And you, Kaelen! You want the real reason I was removed from your 'Council'? It was not principle or law – it was your fear! You knew I was stronger than you!" He wasn't just speaking to Kaelen now; he was declaring this truth to the entire Council gathered there, challenging Kaelen's authority in front of his peers.

  The air crackled with the Council's collective fury, directly provoked by Uragast's words.

  "Presumptuous!" Lord Kaelen roared, his eyes blazing with absolute wrath. He threw a javelin purely made of his divine power towards Uragast, but it was easily parried using the sword. The divine construct Uragast created to meet it flared for a moment before dissolving the attack.

  Before the echoes of the parried javelin even faded, Lord Kaelen vanished from the platform and appeared, in a millisecond, directly before Uragast. In his hands, Divine Law energy solidified instantly into a terrifying spear forged of pure power. He delivered a horizontal slash, an arc of raw authority intended to cleave Uragast in two. It tore through reality with a terrifying sound that echoed around the vast chamber. But Uragast was ready. His own sword, blazing with golden fire, rose effortlessly to meet the strike. He met the spear's horrifying arc with a counter-slash that felt almost casual despite the immense force involved. Divine power met divine power, creating a blinding explosion of sparks. The impact sent a shockwave of pure force rippling outwards, making the very fabric of the dimension tremble.

  Immediately following the parry, the confrontation erupted into a whirlwind of devastating strikes between Uragast and Kaelen. Their forms blurred, a storm of divine energy as sword of golden fire met spear of hardened law. Uragast pressed his advantage, seeking to dominate the exchange, driving Kaelen back with powerful blows, intent on making the Council witness his true power and Kaelen's inferiority.

  Suddenly, a streak of light, a single, distinct arrow piercing the chaos, flew towards the clashing gods. Uragast's focus fractured. He knew that particular arc, that divine signature, instantly. Vina. It was her arrow. The bow... his gift to her... he had designed and crafted it himself, a token of his love.

  In that fractional moment of recognition and emotional shock, Kaelen didn't hesitate. Exploiting Uragast's distraction with brutal, focused speed, Kaelen's spear found its mark. It plunged into Uragast's shoulder, pure Divine Law energy ripping through his divine form. An immense force erupted from the blow, throwing Uragast violently backward across the vast chamber, smashing him against a distant celestial pillar with a jarring impact.

  Before Uragast could even fully recover from the impact against the pillar, Kaelen lunged forward again, spear raised for a finishing blow. But in a flash of golden light, a shield of shimmering, transparent divine energy snapped into existence right before the reeling Uragast. Behind its ethereal surface, like figures stepping through a veil drawn across reality, the six allies appeared – Elara, Siris, Anya, Lyra, Faelan, and Rhys.

  Faced with this sudden, unified front, Kaelen snarled and fell back, putting distance between himself and the newcomers.

  Among the arriving allies, Rhys, Master of Veils, had met the gaze of Lord Ocular, who had stepped forward from his pillar. Ocular's voice, cold and sharp, had cut through the escalating tension: "You chose your side, brother. See that you do not regret it." Lord Ocular lingered a moment, his eyes cold and devoid of warmth, before retreating back to his position on his pillar, making it clear he would not engage in combat with his brother.

  With Ocular's withdrawal, the battle truly ignited across the platform. The remaining active Council members surged forward, divine power flaring, as each ally found themselves facing a formidable opponent drawn from the ranks of the 32 gods who ruled from this dimension.

  Rhys, Master of Veils, twisted reality and wove illusions against Lady Lux, the Illuminator, a member of the Council whose analytical light reveals all. But Lady Lux's radiance tore through Rhys's constructs as if they were mist, rendering his veils useless and leaving him exposed and vulnerable.

  Elsewhere on the platform, divine power clashed in equally desperate struggles: Elara, the Shield of Resilience, met the intense, refined power wielded by The Crucible Ignis, a Lord of the Council whose Aspect is the Refiner of Power. Her radiant barrier absorbed blows that would shatter mountains, yet cracks like weeping wounds began to spread across its golden surface under his relentless, fiery assault.

  Siris, the Embodiment of Principle, stood like a mountain against the tides of corrupted authority wielded by Lord Malakor, a Master of Twisted Authority within the Council. His form unwavering even as Malakor's pressure threatened to shatter his very being with perverted law.

  Anya, Bearer of Dawn, unleashed waves of pure, life-giving light, pushing back the encroaching veils of mystery and shadow woven by Lady Seraphina, the Veiled, a Lady of the Council whose secrets could swallow light. Yet, Seraphina's shrouding power was vast and relentless, slowly consuming Anya's brilliant radiance.

  Lyra, Singer of Souls, wove a complex, beautiful melody of cosmic harmony, seeking to bring solace and order against the absolute, resonating pronouncements of The Herald Vox, a Lord of the Council whose Aspect is the Proclaimer of Dogma. But Vox's powerful dogma grated against her song, threatening to tear it – and her form – apart with sheer, unyielding sound.

  Faelan, Master of Elements and righteous fury, met the immense, unmoving cosmic stone of Lord Terron, the Foundation, a Lord of the Council whose Aspect is the Anchor of Reality. His elemental might raged against Terron's anchoring power, but the bedrock of reality itself was slowly turning Faelan's dynamism to inertness.

  Even wounded, Uragast was still a force of nature. Two lesser gods, members of the Council not designed for direct confrontation, perhaps emboldened by his injury or ordered to press the attack, moved to engage him. But with two swift, brutal strikes of his blazing sword, Uragast easily inflicted heavy wounds upon them, sending them reeling back, clearly not designed for such direct confrontation.

  The Council gods not designed for direct combat remained on their immense pillars, watching the chaos erupt, hesitant to join the unpredictable melee. They were afraid of causing stray destruction that might jeopardize their grand design, afraid of ruining the plan.

  Seeing the battle flare and the plan in sudden peril from these unforeseen variables, a look of cold calculation crossed Lady Styx's face. Without a word, she reached for the black, ancient box resting on its pedestal. As she gathered her power to cast it, a shimmering gateway tore open in the air near the pedestal, poised to receive the Box. In that same instant, Uragast, mid-battle despite his shoulder wound, saw the genesis of the gateway, the destination of the plan's key instrument. His eyes widened with renewed urgency. Abandoning his immediate fight, his guard momentarily forgotten in the face of this critical threat to Earth, Uragast surged forward, a desperate streak of golden light hurtling towards the emerging portal.

  Lord Kaelen, ever watchful, saw Uragast's diverted focus and recognized the opportunity instantly. With predatory speed, Kaelen intercepted Uragast. His spear, now a blur of divine law energy, plunged deep into Uragast's side, a devastating critical strike allowed by Uragast's desperate reach for the Box.

  Even as the searing pain erupted from the new wound, the Box was irrevocably swallowed by the shimmering gateway. The portal snapped shut, the mission accomplished. Uragast reeled, the critical wound a burning void in his essence, and he crashed onto the cold surface of the platform, his form flickering violently.

  From above, Kaelen's triumphant, cold laugh echoed through the chamber, a sound of victory in this crucial exchange.

  Through the haze of pain, Uragast's eyes swept across the battlefield. What he saw was a crushing sight. His allies – Elara, Siris, Anya, Lyra, Faelan, Rhys – were falling. Their forms were battered, heavily wounded, collapsing under the relentless assault of the Council. They were defeated. The sight was a heavier blow than any spear. A profound sense of despair washed over him. Hope, a fragile flame in his heart, was extinguished. He had failed.

  For just a fraction of a moment, his mind offered a fleeting image – the simple warmth of mortal sunlight on his face, the distant echo of pure, unburdened laughter from a village green. The memory, bright and cruel in its contrast to the cold stone beneath him, intensified the crushing sadness. He felt he had failed them. Failed the fleeting, precious lives he had sought to protect. A surge of dark, negative thoughts overwhelmed the last vestiges of his resolve.

  Was there still an ally standing? Was there anyone left who could possibly save me, help me now?

  A profound weakness settled into his divine form, heavier than any physical blow. His limbs felt unresponsive, his essence trembling as if the very light within him was turning to lead. The crushing weight of failure was now physical, pinning him to the cold platform.