Eternity Crystals
Prologue
The Eternity Crystals, four mystic jewels that can cause the destruction of humanity, or purify the spirits of mankind. Originally the crystals where kept together, hidden, in the center of Victoria Island, the area that is now known as the Sleepywood Dungeon. The dungeon is a maze of tunnels filled with monsters that are, familiar, strange and mysterious. Most creatures that dwell within the tunnels keep to their own kind, and attack any, and all, outsiders. Although, there are some that are willing to help lost travelers. There are even some creatures that are said to have magical properties that can both help and hinder. This is what the area has become.
Several millennia ago the 'Dungeon' or Saphoria, as it used to be called, was the center of everyday life. Hundreds if not thousands of people would commute to Saphoria everyday. What gave Saphoria the breath of life were the four Eternity Crystals, kept in a tower in the center of the city. The tower itself was guarded by four of the greatest warriors from each town on Victoria Island.
Dances with Balrog, a great warrior coming from the mountainous terrain of Perion. He's mastered the way of the warrior and, is a formidable opponent when he has his Helios in his hands. Dances with Balrog was the champion of his village, and was hand chosen by the creator of the Eternity Crystals, along with the three others who were to guard the tower with him.
Grendel, the master magician hailing from the forest village of Ellinia, the master of all forms of magic. He's able to harness the abilities of ice and lightning, with the destructiveness of fire, and the power of poison. He has also been blessed with holy abilities, said to have been given to him by the gods themselves. He's able to heal any wound and it has also been rumored that he is able to bring the dead back to life.
Athena, a master marksman, or markswoman would be a better term, coming from the silent town of Henesys. She's able to hit any target she sets her sights on, and her ability to fire multiple arrows at one opponent, with destructive force, and with precise aim is unmatched. Her aim is so perfect it is said that she has never missed a target. With the ability to form multiple dummies to fool opponents into attacking them, she is able to strike her targets down with one strike.
The Dark Lord, a mysterious figure from Kerning City, he keeps himself in secret, revealing nothing of his past, nor his own face. With the ability to use shadows as a weapon he is able to focus his attention to multiple targets. His skill with the throwing knives and daggers are unmatched, his speed and agility only add to his lethality. Not only powerful but brilliant, his strategic attacks have never failed whether it is just him that is attacking or if he is leading an army.
These four were hand chosen by the creator to protect his/her great creations, to make sure the crystals didn't fall into the wrong hands. With these four great protectors, those in Saphoria thought of themselves as safe from anything, or anyone, who would be foolish enough to try and steal the crystals. This was true, for a time, although there was an unforeseen side effect from the constant use of the Eternity Crystals. The reason that the crystals were able to purify the human spirit was because it has the ability to absorb the negative spirits that is naturally within the human soul. The negative spirits were held within the crystals, whether the creator knew it or not, the crystals were only meant to be used once. Once to purify all human kind when the negative spirit became out of control and they needed to be wiped out at once, giving every human being a second chance. Since the crystals were used constantly they constantly absorbed the negative spirit from the people, and especially those that were in close contact with the crystals.
As the years passed the Eternity Crystals absorbed more and more of the negative spirits from the people of Saphoria. That was until the crystals reached their breaking point, and the negative spirits were released into the world. The dark spirits took the forms of those closest to them, meaning the four powerful protectors that were closest to the crystals for all those years. To their suprise the four protectors saw their own images, made from the negative spirits that were released from the crystals. Not only did the negative spirits take the form of the four guardians, but their skills, memories, and talents as well. The 'Negatives' ,as they are now known, took it upon themselves to take the Eternity Crystals to spread the negativity and darkness. Luckily the creator also designed the tower with a fail safe, just incase someone managed to get passed the four guardians. As soon as the Negatives went to reach for the crystals, all four broke into ten different pieces and scattered themselves around the world.
A great battle erupted in Saphoria that day, the Guardians fighting their negative counter parts. Their powers equally matched, the struggle appeared to go on for days, if not months. At the final leg of the battle the four Guardians combined their powers to form a portal that tossed the Negatives into an unknown area, deep within Victoria island. After that day Saphoria became a dead city, without the power of the Eternity Crystals the city, the people, and the island changed.
Since then the Guardians searched for the pieces of the Eternity Crystal, they managed to gather nine out of the ten pieces needed to re-create each of the Eternity Crystals. After years of searching they returned to their home villages, unsuccessful to find the final piece of the puzzle. Grendel managed to grant The Dark Lord, Athena, and Dances with Balrog eternal life, but not eternal youth. Now at their home villages the four wait for the ones that are to finish their quest. Grendel foresaw that they would not be able to complete the quest they put upon themselves, but that their successors would.
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"Hello?" says a young man as he opens the door to an old broken down café in Kerning City. As the voice echoes through the empty café, the eyes of the Dark Lord open, the voice breaking him away from his meditation.
"Finally….He is here" The Dark Lord thought as he awaits his visitor to find him.
Chapter 1: Upgrade +4
"Hello?" the young boy repeats, his voice once again echoing through the empty café. In the distance he can see a neon sign, flickering on and off, the café doors and windows might have been boarded up, but the inside was still in good shape. He took another step inside, dust rose from the floor, turning his black sneakers and jeans into a brownish color as the dust settles. He wiped his hands on his white t-shirt as he feels, what he thinks to be, a cob web wrap itself around his hand. "The place might be in good condition but it's disgusting" he whispers to himself. He shakes his head and combs through his black hair with his hand, having the feeling that dust and cobwebs are settling all over him.
"Big brother, let's go home. I'm scared" said a small voice. Dust rose again as a little girl stepped into the café. "I don't like it here" she said again, adjusting her white hair away from her eyes, but at the same time making sure it didn't touch the ground. It was clear on her white shoes and dress the amount of dust that was circulating within the building. She stuck close to her older brother, hanging on to his hand and staying as close as possible without tripping.
"I know, that's why I told you to stay home" the boy replied as he moved deeper into the café. "Look the sign it still glowing. Electricity is still flowing into this building, that should mean someone is still here. Doing something.". He sat at a table, looking around, silently thinking to himself. His younger sister making her way onto his lap, trying to stay as close to him as she could. '16 tables, a bar, 4 neon lights, two computer rooms and one bathroom' he thought to himself, looking around the room. "Might as well start in the bathroom" he said, thinking out loud. He put his young sister on the ground and made his way over to the bathroom, looking around, seeing only one stall, one sink, and what looked to be a urinal connected to the floor. Upon further inspection he found that it was a hole in the ground, with a ladder leading far into the ground. "Well well, look what we have here" he said with a tone of curiosity as he looked downwards. He couldn't hold back a smile as he stepped a foot into the open hole and started his decent.
"Big brother what are you doing?!" his younger sister shouted as she saw him making his way down. "Don't you think that could be dangerous?" she said, only able to watch him as he made his way lower, ignoring her worries. As usual. Frustrated at her older brother lack of common sense she followed him down into the unknown.
"Take a look, a secret room. Well, not to secret I suppose" he says to himself as he helps his little sister off the ladder. His smile grew a bit wider as he looked down the hallway, seeing a red light glowing out from a room. He slowly made his way to the edge of the doorway and stopped, thinking what might be inside, and what the person, or thing, is doing.
"Come in" said the Dark Lord, looking directly at the doorway, "I've been waiting for quite some time".
"I suppose you heard us coming" the boy said as he entered into the room, his sister almost being dragged in as she clung to his shirt. "The right question would be then, what do you mean, you've been waiting?" he said, standing in the door way, looking at the Dark Lord, eye to eye.
"You are the one that is to be my successor, as Grendel foresaw, some time ago. You and three other companions that you will meet on you journey are the ones that are to finish the quest that myself, Grendel, Athena, and Dances with Balrog started some millennia ago.". The Dark Lord got to his feet and took a few steps towards the boy, "What is your name?" he asked, not breaking eye contact with the boy.
"My name is Gene, strange name I know, but then again, my parents were a bit different". he said with a smirk. His younger sister tugged at his shirt, looking at the Dark Lord, and looking back out the door, signing she wants to go home.
"Do not fear little one, I am not one that will harm a person" he said, breaking eye contact with Gene to look at the little girl. "Would you care to tell me your name as well?" he said in a lighter tone.
"My name is Mina…" she said quietly, in a voice barely audible to anyone in the room.
"That is quite a nice name" he said, bringing himself back, looking at Gene, "If my information is correct, you should have turned thirteen years of age within the last month, correct?". Gene looked at the Dark Lord, wondering how he knew, but nodded his head slightly. "Good, by the time you are finished with you training you will be seventeen years of age.". That is when Gene broke his line of silence.
"Seventeen? What are you talking about?" Gene said as he looked upon the Dark Lord, more with confusion rather than curiosity. "What are you planning? What am I going to be doing for the next four years?" he asked, his tone of voice demanding answers.
The Dark Lord stood silent for a while, then, "training" he replied to the boy. As he spoke a large portal opened on the far left wall. "48 hours, that is how long you will be within that dimension."
"48 hours? Hardly close to four years wouldn't you say?" Gene said while staring in awe at the portal that opened so suddenly.
"That is speaking in this dimensions time, in the dimension you are to travel to four years will pass within that span." The Dark Lord turned his gaze to the portal, "There you will learn all I know, and you will be prepared for the challenge that is ahead of you."
"And if I refuse?" the boy asked, turning his eyes back onto the Dark Lord.
"Then you may leave, but I must tell you, whether you accept this fact or not the strings of fate will pull you into this quest, whether you are ready or not". "I waited for you to teach you, to prepare you for this journey, now whether or not you choose to face this quest prepared, or not it is your choice."
Gene looked towards the portal, the Dark Lord, and to his little sister as well, he thought about all the events that took place, in such a short time. 'This is to elaborate for a prank. And that portal, 48 hours, four years. This is happening so fast, so sudden.'
"Big brother. I think. I think you should do it" Mina said suddenly, "I don't know why but; but I think you really have to do this, you really REALLY have to do this. Trust me big brother I don't know why, but I know that what he's saying is true, and you do have to do this". Gene looked at his little sister in a bit of shock, he was about to say something when she started to speak again. "I'll be fine big brother, it's only for two days, and this is real important."
Gene kneeled down and put a hand on his little sisters head, "you sure?" he asked. Mina just smiled and nodded. "Alright. I'll take on this little session, let's get this started" he said as he made his way towards the portal. He looked back once more to his little sister, and the Dark Lord. Mina waved enthusiastically, the Dark Lord only giving a nod of his head. Gene took in a deep breath, and closed his eyes as he stepped through the portal.
