EGDE OF THE DURU

After the thunderous impact of the giant walls falling upon the ground of the Infinite Duru, an eerie silence engulfed the void. The dust of the blasted bodies started to swirl and coalesce, forming clay-like structures seemingly molded by an unknown force, not connected with either Duru or Earth. It was evident that this monstrous figure was responsible for the vanishing of their friends, leaving an air of uncertainty and fear in the aftermath.

As the reconstructed bodies began to stir, confusion clouded their expressions, much like the lost souls wandering the depths of hell after experiencing the demise of their past lives. Amidst the silence, Arthur, with a sense of bewilderment, questioned, "Where are we? Who are we? These queries hold paramount importance and demand answers; they are not to be taken lightly; they are the stark reality."

The sound of Arthur's voice stirred Alex from his enigmatic slumber. As he awoke, Alex felt an urge to wake Arthur from his unknown dreams. In Arthur's dream, he saw Alex attempting to rouse him with an intense concentration of mental power. In that surreal moment, it seemed as if Arthur's consciousness teetered on the edge of life and death. Overwhelmed by terror, darkness closed in around him, portending an indescribable level of agony and stress. Bizarrely, he felt his body shrinking, while his mental acuity, strength, and power waned gradually. It was as if his very essence was being drained.

In the midst of this strange occurrence, the sound of approaching footsteps pierced the air, rushing towards Arthur with an unmistakably negative energy. As the figure drew closer, Arthur couldn't identify whose footsteps they were, but there was an undeniable malevolence emanating from them. A tall, blood-drenched man with no visible eyes, nose, or ears but a monstrous mouth adorned his face, filled with countless teeth capable of crushing diamond walls with ease. This horrifying entity was none other than the perpetrator responsible for their friends' disappearance.

Driven by a mix of fear and determination, Arthur fled in terror from the grotesque figure, who relentlessly pursued him. It didn't take long for the monster to catch up, tightly gripping Arthur's head with a force that shattered it into fragments. Any ordinary being would have succumbed to such a blow, but somehow Arthur was granted a second chance at life, an opportunity to save his family and friends from impending doom.

The monstrous being spoke with an air of dark authority, "I am granting you a chance to live because I have unfinished business with you. Fail, and I shall unleash my ruthless punch on your friend, a force no diamond can withstand. Your fatherly figure will be my plaything later, as you well understand."

In the face of such a formidable threat, Arthur couldn't contain his anger and emotions any longer. Tears streamed down his face as he defiantly challenged the monster, vowing to seek revenge. He declared, "I will make you pay for the pain you inflicted upon me! Don't underestimate my resolve! I challenge you to complete your task before you lay a finger on my friends and my uncle! Remember my words, and once your work is done, you shall receive your due reward."

In response to his audacious retort, the monster delivered a powerful kick to Arthur's back, propelling him high into the air. With uncanny agility, the monster leapt and delivered another vicious kick to Arthur's stomach, causing him to cough up blood and rendering him unable to rise to his feet. Still, Arthur's determination remained unbroken, and he continued muttering defiant words, speaking of defeating the monster.

Unfazed by Arthur's resistance, the monstrous entity kicked him once again, and with a malevolent sneer, it taunted, "Mere human, know your place. Accept your utter powerlessness in protecting your family. Be mindful of the danger your elder, known as R-"

Before the monster could finish its threat, Arthur unleashed a flurry of ferocious attacks, breaking the creature's teeth and jaw. In that moment, the monster sensed an aura emanating from Arthur, one that seemed eerily familiar, harking back to someone it had encountered countless years ago. Suddenly, the monster's imposing form solidified into a stone-like structure, rendering it immobile and seemingly trapped in a coma-like state.

Despite the confusion and chaos, Arthur's will remained resolute. As he fainted in front of the monster, he found himself waking up to its mournful cries. It lamented, "I can't continue inflicting this torment upon them. I am the embodiment of cruelty, and all these souls are bound to me as slaves."

Intrigued by the monster's predicament and the mysteries of Duru, Arthur probed further, inquiring, "Are you truly a god?" The creature replied, "You may call me a god, but I am not the true essence of divinity. We were fashioned from cosmic energy, harnessed by a human who traveled back countless years through time. You know who the real god is. It is omnipotent, formless, boundless, unborn, everlasting, and beyond all comprehension."

Empathy welled up in Arthur's heart for the tormented being. Even amidst his willingness to aid the monster, he had his own wish – to protect his fatherly figure and friends, who had been his constant companions throughout his solitary childhood. Nonetheless, Arthur was now determined to undertake the tasks assigned by this retired god.

Resolute in his decision, Arthur declared, "Now, I am prepared to carry out your work, but where do I begin?" The monster replied, "Head to the edge of Duru, and you will uncover your true nature." Astonished by the statement, Arthur retorted, "What are you talking about? I was born on planet Earth!"

Unfazed by Arthur's confusion, the monstrous entity wore a menacing smile, a sinister laughter echoing in the air

. It warned, "You will come to know the truth when you reach that place. Your true identity awaits you. And remember, teach that man a lesson. Farewell!"

With those chilling words, the monster vanished, leaving Arthur to ponder his words. The weight of the responsibility he now carried weighed heavily on his shoulders. While he raced to protect his loved ones, Duru itself seemed to transform into a menacing force, capable of instantaneously destroying the human world. But Arthur remained undaunted, knowing that he must face whatever challenges arose to safeguard the dawn of humanity.

Present Timeline:

Location: Erebus Gates

Time: 12:00 AM

In the present, Digvijay sat solemnly before the imposing gates of Erebus, a place steeped in a history spanning billions of years. Memories of a past fraught with challenges surfaced in his mind, harking back to the time when he and his brother faced off against the mightiest devil king ever born.

With a fiery determination in his eyes, Digvijay murmured, "This is the place where I will summon him; only he can save us from the clutches of that evil man! He seeks to destroy our god's Omniverse, and his soul may linger near this gate, bearing the weight of our god's Omniverse. As I told you twenty-six years ago, we shall meet again. Here I am, my only friend, and my dearest fatherly figure, my mentor."

As the gates began to open, a dark aura emanated, infused with the energy of screams, terror, and a history of genocide. The enormity of their journey and the challenges they had yet to face weighed on Digvijay's mind. He knew that halfway to greatness, turning away in the face of failure was not an option.

TO BE CONTINUED - FAITH AND FATE

"GOD is unborn, omnipotent, infinite, never-ending, and the one above all. Worship the real god, an embodiment of energy, not the one we connect with through mythology!"