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In the deepest parts of the endless cosmos she remains: the Darkness. Dressed in a black gown with a veil over her head, she watches the stars gleam and glow only to be consumed by her shadow. In her hand is a lantern with a purple flame that illuminates her being, showing that even if she is darkness itself, there is beauty behind her veil. She dances and weaves, encircling everything in her embrace—all except Heaven, for she has no claim over the domain of Yahweh or Asherah. She harbors no ill will toward them; she is Darkness and keeps to herself. But she cannot deny that she questions the actions of one of her siblings—those actions alone can be disheartening even to her.
But all that can be forgotten when the embodiment of Time, Chronos, arrives to meet her. Chronos is a new deity who has entered the cosmos and fallen for the Darkness’s embrace. He even gives her the name Nox to personify her veil of shadows. He will not leave her unless he is called by another. The time they share together is memorable, and they would not change a single moment.
“Are you sure it would be wise to block out the stars, beloved Nox? Wouldn't Vitriol be angered by this and seek compensation?” Chronos asks while fixing the monocle on his right eye. Nox merely smiles lovingly as she wraps her darkness around her lover. “Do not worry, my love. Vitriol is not one to hold grudges.”
As if summoned, a great lion made of fire bursts from the darkness and devours two stars while three fall from the sky to avoid the teeth of the devourer of starlight. The lion glares at the Darkness with disdain but then calms as the taste of stars envelops him. It is clear that this is none other than Vitriol himself, known as the devourer of stars and the embodiment of Energy. “This hunt was much better than the last one—thank you for giving me the chance at this cat-and-mouse game, Sister Dark!” the lion says with glee as he licks his chops.
“So we are all gathered together at last. Then the time has come?” speaks a voice that echoes among the other deities. Soon the cosmos begins to unravel itself, taking the form of a great Dragon who embodies Infinity, for the Cosmos itself is infinite but not endless. The Dragon is known as Ouroboros. He stands tall, showing the height difference between his siblings—not to gloat, but to gaze upon them better.
“Yes. On the first day Yahweh brought Light into the dark, which led to the battle between us and the false ones. On the second day he gave the sky and sea. On the third day he brought land and plants. On the fourth day the Moon and Sun will always chase one another in the endless stars. On the fifth day life came to sky and sea. On the sixth, animals now roam the land. This is now the seventh day, the day where our dear brother chooses to rest.”
The Darkness speaks in a soft voice while Vitriol drools at the mention of stars. Ouroboros closes his eyes and nods his head. “If only things were different... Dear sister, are you certain this is the right way?” Ouroboros asks, looking far ahead where Khaos dwells—Khaos, forever endless, forever shapeless and bound to no one.
“We have witnessed all the possibilities within his eye. No matter what road we take to avoid it, they will one day be released. But with this route, we can manage the balance between the Universe and what will come to be. There will be heartache, but that is only natural—for the road ahead is not a story with a happy ending.” The Darkness speaks in a whisper. She clings to Chronos’s arm as if seeking comfort, which he gives without even a blink.
“Sacrifices must be made; there is no question of that. Like all things, time waits for no one and it plays no favorites. The time has come. Khaos will do what needs to be done and the vows that were made are solidified. Balance will be restored once the deed has been done.” Chronos declares as he pulls out a pocket watch and watches the arrows tick—the time is almost here.
“Khaos has already begun to stir; the time has come at last!” Vitriol shouts as Khaos begins to ripple and darken. It expands and grows as smoke and fire form from its center. Soon enough a legendary mass of stone and rock emerges from Khaos; it takes the shape of bone-like structures—nine masses that join together by shadow and flame, forming nine rings that circle one another. The Elders watch in awe as it takes form into something beyond their comprehension.
“Rings... they took the shape of rings. Can such a world take such a shape?” Ouroboros questions as he sees the rings start to move on their own in synchronized motion. The Darkness gazes upon it and knows better than to question. “It could take any shape it wants... for each ring has a part to play.”
“See how the fire molds the rings together, how it forms stairs, pillars, and rivers. Do you see how it forms? The first ring is rock and stone; the second ring is mist and violent storm; the third ring looks cold and damp as water falls from the second ring, making it seem like rain. The fourth ring—why, the land is covered in gold; its rivers boil with that material. The fifth ring looks like a swamp, murky and filled with fumes that would drive one mad.”
Ouroboros speaks out of pure curiosity, but Chronos continues for him. “The sixth ring is nothing more than fire and lava—how could one live in such a place, fiery like the heart of one who has been scorned. Look, my love: in the seventh ring there is a river of blood, while the land is made of rotting flesh... there are bones there...”
“Indeed... ahh, the eighth ring—so dark that not even the sixth ring could illuminate it. Finally, the ninth circle—see how cold it is, so unforgiving, such a sad place... oh, you poor thing.” Nox admires this new realm. “It's beautiful—so beautiful that I cannot look away. Oh, how I wish that look could last for all eternity.”
“Now we shall let time take its course, for soon Yahweh will learn of this land. But what shall this land be called?” Chronos asks curiously, but the question is answered not by the Elders, but by Khaos themself. All they say is one word.
“Hell.”
