For centuries, Humanity has survived and thrived in the unforgiving world of Remnant. Whether it had been because of the wondrous gift of the Two Brothers, their cunning intellect, or their sheer determination. However, there remains a very crucial reason as to why Mankind continues flourishing: their cooperation and unity with one another.
Despite the Creatures of Grimm ravaging across the harsh landscape, Humanity was able to prevail. They stood beside each other united as one.
Yet as years passed by, Mankind had slowly shifted apart from each other. And as the division grew, tensions had also risen. They would compete to gain more territories, more food and wealth, and even for glory. Rather than share their riches amongst themselves, others would keep it all for themselves instead. Soon, seeds of mistrust and treachery planted itself within Man's hearts and minds. Small quarrels turned into disputes, and eventually, they developed into fullscale conflicts.
A terrible war had started brewing, not a war with the ferocious Grimm, but a war with each other.
From the Land of Darkness and at the Pool of Annihilation, The Younger Brother observed Humanity with utmost disappointment. He then began to devise a plan which will unify the People once more. Suddenly, he was stricken by a brilliant idea.
He then stepped out of the Pool and began his work. He plunged his hand into his gut before he pulled out and retrieved a small piece of himself. He then snapped his fingers and several objects appeared before him.
One was small clumps of jagged stone, another was a handful of old rotten wood, the next was sheets and rods of rusted metal, and the last was a large skull of an elk.
He then threw them into the inky Pool and mixed them all. The God of Darkness then transformed into a mighty dragon and whiffed out black flames and thick smog. He stopped as he stared at the Pool, now bubbling and sizzling intensely, though it too had ceased.
Then, a tall figure emerged from the depths. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow and orange from its elk skull. A dark pungent miasma and swarms of locusts concealed most of its body, with bits of stone, wood, and metal poking out of the fog. The Grimm's wooden and steel fist held a burning lamp attached to a long rusted chain with black smoke coming out of it as well.
It hobbled out of its pond and approached its Creator, now back to his original form. The Grimm stood in front of him while it twitched and shuddered.
He spoke, "You shall be Famine; Corrupter of Crops and Livestock."
The Dark Lord took apart a shard of his bone. He then clapped his hands and a skeleton appeared, clothed in snow-white robes and a twisted iron crown sat upon its head. He tossed them in the Pool before he spat on it as well.
Dark clouds rolled from the horizon as thunder crackled. The crimson sky was then wrapped in deep darkness as the entire landscape had been enveloped by shadows. Strong gusts of wind soon rushed around the Pool. The wind was as hot as the blazing sun, yet it was also as cold as freezing waters. It continued to circle it before the wind had poured down and greeted the pitch-black waters.
The Pool swirled and churned like a stew of thick inky soup before a milky light glimmered from below. Soon, everything came to a halt. The skeleton emerged, eyes glowing rufous, and armed with a crooked bow and arrows. Dark thin fume shrouded its exposed parts and white steam trailed from its hunched form.
The Grimm shuffled its way towards the Younger Brother before it had stopped next to Famine. The ebony liquid laced on the pointed arrows hissed audibly in the air as the poison dripped from the tip.
"You shall be Pestilence; Bringer of Plague and Rot." He said.
The next one would be far more different. The Dark Lord grasped at the muscles on both of his arms. He then tore off two slightly large chunks of his flesh before he melded them together as if made of clay. He snapped his fingers and before him was an imposing suit of metal armor.
As he threw the ingredients into the Pool and mixed them, he had then waved his arm. Dark crimson clouds from above spun and twirled while mighty thunder boomed and rumbled. Heaven itself lit up, a bright blood-red light had gleamed in the skies. Colossal scarlet lightning bolts thundered forth and violently struck the void. Arcs of vibrant electricity swayed and danced as lightning continued its savage assault on the inky liquid.
As seconds went by, the ground too shook with fervor, but eventually, it had all stopped. The Pool boiled intensely as it exuded huge amounts of hot steam before it too had halted.
A towering body arose from the depths. It was clad in intimidating steel armor, smooth bony spikes protruded out of its spine and shoulders, and behind the slot of its helmet was a menacing glow of red. Its rose-red cape, all tattered and torn, was similar to that of the infernal wings of a great dragon. It held a massive sword that was stained with crimson red. Completing its look was the luminous scarlet mist emitting from the gaps of its armor and from its blade, which gave off an aura of power and strength.
It marched towards its Creator before it stood besides Pestilence. It overshadowed its brothers as it stood unwavering.
Then the God of Dark said, "You shall be War; Harbinger of Destruction and Carnage."
There was only one more needed, but he would require the aid of his Older Brother, God of Light. He traveled to the Domain of Light and came to him, he then told his brother of his plan. While initially hesitant, the Older Brother had ultimately placed his trust in him. The God of Light then took apart a tiny fragment of his mind and gave it to him. The Younger Brother graciously thanked him and returned to the Pool of Destruction.
The Dark Lord snapped his fingers and before him manifested a ghostly, ragged, and bleached blue cloak. Only one final ingredient was needed. He sank his hand into his chest and tore off a large piece of his icy heart. He flinched but had remained unyielding. He tossed the blue cloak into the gorge, following it was the pieces of Light and Dark.
The howling wind went silent and the world itself had seemingly gone still.
Suddenly, an enormous blinding pillar of black and white emerged and pierced through the clouds, tearing the raging heavens asunder. The beam of light and darkness twisted and revolved as if both were trying to merge into one. Violent tremors erupted from the earth, the mountains themselves rocked back and forth, the stone ground cracked and had nearly split itself into two.
Eventually, the color of the column slowly morphed into a dark shade of gray. The beam then immediately disappeared, and everything came to a stop.
A silhouette sprung up from the abyss. It wore a bleached blue cloak that wreathed its inner frame in shadows. An uncountable number of jet black tendrils protrude from its back and had remained suspended in the air like a tethered kite. The appendages weaved and waved gently in various directions as if they had a life of their own. Its spectral and coal-black hand clutched a large wicked scythe that slumped against its shoulder. Pale blue and glistening fog oozed from its body and gnarled scythe.
It did not walk, instead, it merely levitated off the ground unnaturally. It ominously glid to meet its Creator and hovered next to War. Its slightly short stature made it look rather small compared to its brothers, yet the frightening and nearly suffocating aura it radiated had stated otherwise.
"You shall be Death; The Inevitable, The End to All Things." The God of Darkness said.
He then clapped his hands and horses comprised of shadows appeared before them, their steeds uniquely designed for each of the Grimm.
The Younger Brother pointed his finger at them, "All of you will now bear the title of 'Horseman of the Apocalypse'. I shall give you one simple mission."
He continued, "Should Humanity divide itself and fight each other once more, you will become their adversary. Wreak havoc across their empires and kingdoms until they will have no other choice but to unite themselves to survive. And when they finally do unify themselves, you shall hide and wait until the cycle continues once again."
And with that, The Four Horsemen mounted their respective steeds and rode to the far horizon. Drought, decay, destruction, and slaughter followed wherever they went. Kingdoms and empires that waged battles with one another were soon undone by the heels of the Riders. One by one, nations fell and had returned to ashes. Legions of voices cried out with terror and anguish as darkness reigned upon them, but like a dying candle, they had all been snuffed out.
Yet those who recovered and still stood had quickly realized their folly. Mankind looked past each others' differences and soon had joined forces with one another to defeat their enemy.
Together, with their combined strengths, magics, and perseverance. Humanity pushed the Four Horsemen back into darkness. The Riders were left weakened and had scattered themselves across Remnant, hidden away from prying eyes. Humankind rejoiced and celebrated their victory, they stood beside each other united.
But there will come a time when the People of Remnant will have fought itself once again. And when that day comes, The Horsemen of Armageddon shall return. Humanity must gather their bearings and prepare themselves, lest the Age of Man becomes no more.