Horizon 0

-----Chapter 3: The Echo Of Chaos-----

The calamity had struck without warning. The skies themselves seemed to break apart as if the heavens were tearing under the weight of its enormity.

Destruction swept across the realms—godly, demonic, and mortal alike. A disaster beyond comprehension, it shattered the very foundations of existence.

As the echoes of this unprecedented event reverberated across the multiverse, each being in its respective realm struggled to comprehend its meaning.

---

Across countless worlds and realms, the aftermath of the calamity was as widespread as it was devastating. In one corner, a kingdom lay in ruin, its great citadels reduced to ash. A once vibrant forest, teeming with life, now stood silent, the trees mere husks, their leaves like brittle paper crumbling at the touch.

In a village, a man stood amidst the rubble, his eyes wide, gazing at the destruction. "What has happened?" His voice cracked as he stumbled forward, his heart heavy with sorrow. The earth beneath him seemed to tremble as though it, too, mourned. He had no answers. No understanding. Only the stark horror of an empty world.

Elsewhere, across a fractured continent, warriors stood upon a blood-soaked battlefield, clutching weapons with trembling hands. The gods, the devils, the very forces that had shaped their existence, seemed far away, indifferent to their suffering. "How could this happen?" a soldier muttered, looking up at the darkening sky, where the celestial bodies seemed askew. There was no sign from the heavens, no command from the divine. Only silence.

And in the vastness of the lower realms, where mortals and other beings struggled for survival, the devastation spread like wildfire. Different races, from towering giants to ethereal creatures, all felt the weight of the phenomenon, each in their own way.

Some, driven by rage, began to rally their forces, while others, gripped by grief, sought solace in their shattered homes. Yet, none could comprehend the full extent of the cataclysm. They were but pawns in a game whose rules they did not understand.

---

In the divine council chamber, the gods had gathered to deliberate on the fate of the lower realms. They stood, poised and composed, the weight of the decision before them pressing down like a storm cloud.

Sun Wukong's voice rang out, full of energy and defiance. "We cannot simply watch as the world burns! The mortals must be given guidance, given the strength to survive, to fight back against the chaos!"

Buddha, seated with eyes closed in deep contemplation, responded softly, "Rushing to intervene is not the answer. The calamity may be a trial, one that tests the strength of the mortals. We must wait, observe, and only then decide how to act. We cannot make their choices for them."

Odin's voice, heavy with authority, broke through. "The balance is shifting. The devils are already using this calamity to their advantage. If we do not act soon, we risk losing everything. The mortals, no matter how strong they may become, cannot defend themselves against the devils' forces without our help."

Zeus, his voice thundering like the storms he commanded, added, "The mortals are weak. Without intervention, they will be crushed. We must give them the strength to defend themselves, to stand tall in the face of the growing darkness."

Narayana, ever the voice of reason, spoke last. "We cannot simply impose our will upon them. If we give them strength, we must also give them the opportunity to choose their path. The mortals must rise, not by our hand, but by their own. The fate of the lower realms lies in their hands."

The gods' debate continued, the air thick with tension. It was clear that they were divided. The question remained: how could they provide assistance without overstepping their bounds?

---

Below, in the fiery pits of Purgatory, the devil sat upon his dark throne, eyes burning with excitement as the calamity unfolded before him. He saw this as a moment of opportunity, a chance to tip the scales in his favor.

"It begins," the devil whispered, a cruel smile curling upon his lips. "The mortals are weak, their worlds already on the brink. Once they have been torn apart by the chaos, we will sweep in, and the lower realms will be ours for the taking."

His generals, towering figures of shadow and flame, nodded eagerly, their eyes gleaming with hunger. One demon, bellowing with excitement, spoke of blood and glory. "The mortals will fall, Master. And when they do, we will be the ones to claim the spoils."

The devil's gaze turned cold, his smile widening. "Indeed, their suffering will be our gain. Once we conquer the lower realm, nothing will stand between us and the heavens themselves."

---

The humans of the lower realms, clueless as to the source of the calamity, struggled to survive amidst the wreckage. Fear and confusion were their constant companions. Their once-bustling cities were now ghost towns, and their people, scattered and broken, were left to pick up the pieces.

A young woman, clutching her brother's lifeless body, knelt in the ashes of her home. "Why?" she whispered through clenched teeth. "Why must this happen to us?"

A child, no older than six, looked up at the dark sky, the stars hidden behind an endless veil of smoke. "Will the gods help us?" she asked, her voice trembling.

An elder, stooped and weary, stood before them, his hands shaking. "There is no help. Only us. We must find a way to survive... for those who have fallen, and those who will."

But they did not know how, or where to go. They only knew that the world they had once known was no more, and with it, their understanding of the divine.

---

The gods' council remained fraught with tension, as their disagreement lingered in the air. The urgency to act was palpable, but their course of action was not clear.

"I cannot stand by," Sun Wukong said, clenching his fists. "We must show them the way to fight. The mortals must have the strength to defend themselves and to protect their own."

Zeus, always eager to take charge, responded, "The time for talk is over. We must open the gates and give them the tools to stand against the devils. They will need our help to survive the coming storm."

But Narayana, ever the calm presence, spoke with wisdom. "We will not intervene directly. We will offer them the chance to grow stronger. We will open the gates to other realms, to those that are destroyed, or on the brink of destruction. But it is up to them to decide their own fate."

And with that, the gods agreed: they would open the portals to the many lower realms, each one teetering on the edge of annihilation, each offering the mortals the potential to grow and rise.

The gods would not directly intervene, for they had no authority over mortal decisions. But they would give the mortals the tools to defend themselves, and perhaps, the chance to reshape their destiny.

---

The devil, watching from the shadows, felt a flicker of concern. He had anticipated this. The gods were giving the mortals a chance. But even so, he did not falter. He would use the chaos to his advantage. While the gods opened their gates, he would unleash his forces on the lower realms, pressing forward with his plan to consume and conquer.

"The balance is tipping," the devil muttered to himself. "But it will be ours. No mortal, no matter how strong, can stand against the weight of our power."

---

And so, as the gates to countless lower realms opened, the mortals were left to face the unknown. The gods had given them the chance to rise, but it was their decision, their strength, that would ultimately decide their fate. The balance of power was fragile, and the future uncertain. What lay ahead could change everything—or bring about the end of all.