Monarchs of Ruination

"The Primordial Guardian revealed the predetermined path leading to the absolute End of Existence. The bringer of this Ruination… is Nox Ashborn.

NOX, succumbing to madness, would herald the Descent of Destruction itself—proving his devotion through Rudra Thandav, forcing 'The Primordial Guardian of Destruction' to descend upon his realm."

"At least… that was what the Primordial Guardian's decree proclaimed," Garuda said, his face still etched with disbelief.

"You mean…" VRITRA's voice wavered as he began to tremble, the weight of those words sinking in.

The implications were something neither of them dared to speak aloud.

Because the decree of the Primordial Guardian was… wrong.

One must understand—when Garuda and VRITRA knelt, it was not for NOX himself, but for the incarnation he had taken, one that bore an eerie resemblance to a Primordial Guardian.

This alone was proof of the depth of their devotion. The Primordial Guardians were not mere beings—they were the absolute, fundamental forces of Existence itself. Everything in creation belonged to them.

The world could be wrong. The Laws of the Universe could be wrong.

But a Primordial Guardian could never be wrong.

Their decree was the very essence of authority, the embodiment of predestination. Creation itself would twist and reshape reality to ensure their will remained intact.

And yet… their prophecy was wrong?

Such a revelation was blasphemous.

But no matter how absurd it was, this was now their reality. They had no choice but to face it.

Taking a steadying breath, Garuda continued:

"Everything unfolded exactly as 'He' decreed. The apocalypse. His Omnipotent Concept… his [Destruction Immunity]. NOX surrendering to Madness. The Cosmic Dance. Every single event followed the decree."

VRITRA scowled, his jaw tightening at the mention of NOX's [Destruction Concept]. His face twitched with irritation.

"You bastard… you knew all of this, and you still watched me humiliate myself?"

Garuda gave no response, nor did he react. He was still too shaken by the impossible truth—that the Primordial Guardian could have made a mistake.

With a solemn expression, he pressed on, as though voicing these thoughts aloud might somehow bring clarity:

"But something changed.

He suddenly awakened an Unrecorded Ancient Divinity, something even I could not quantify. Minutes later, a new future was 'created.' And above all else—those damned traitors from the Heavens had already anticipated this future."

Garuda's voice grew raw with frustration.

"This doesn't make sense! How could those traitorous bastards predict what even the Primordial Guardian could not?"

His spiraling thoughts spilled out, unrestrained.

VRITRA offered no words of comfort, no theories or solutions. He, too, could make no sense of it.

But what VRITRA and Garuda did not know…

Was that the Primordial Guardian's true goal had always been to create a 'Variable.'

And they had succeeded.

They had birthed a 'Variable' so monstrous that even The [Fool] feared its existence.

Yet, unlike Heaven, they had not schemed from the shadows or meddled in the affairs of creation. They despised interference, viewing existence as a Grand Stage meant to unfold without their direct hand.

They desired a Variable.

And they got one.

As VRITRA and Garuda were lost in thought…

Suddenly, all of existence trembled.

A terrifying scream echoed from the distance—where NOX and Lucas were.

Then, following the scream, came NOX's voice. A warning. A decree. A prophecy.

His words were so terrifying that existence itself responded, manifesting his warning into visions for all to witness.

At that moment, as VRITRA and Garuda heard it, an overwhelming dread seized them. For the first time, they were too terrified to speak.

"Heaven's Fall…" VRITRA muttered, his voice unsteady.

Then—

BOOM!

VRITRA's aura spiraled out of control.

"Hahaha… Hahahaha!" He erupted into wild, uncontrollable laughter—like a man who had just witnessed divine retribution unfold before his eyes.

"You fucking bastards! You've finally kicked an iron plate! You toyed with and angered an anomaly so monstrous that his mere warning became a Prophecy of Heaven's Fall!"

He kept laughing, his excitement reaching an unnatural level.

"Serves you right…

Serves you right!"

"You've created a weapon—one that will tear apart your so-called Heaven!" VRITRA bellowed, his voice laced with mockery and triumph.

*****

A few moments before NOX's warning…

Beneath the vast, starry sky, a massive moon of vibrant, shifting colors hung motionless in the void. It was an unnatural celestial body—adrift in existence with no planet or star to orbit. Devoid of revolution, without rotation, it simply was.

Within this strange yet hauntingly beautiful moon, dead mountains stretched endlessly, their peaks clawing at the dark sky. Abandoned shrines, colossal temples, and ruined structures stood as silent witnesses to an era long lost.

The moon itself was lifeless. No plants, no animals—only desolation.

Beneath the mountains, dried river canals ran like scars across the barren land.

In the distance, standing side by side near the twisted stem of a massive purple tree, were NOX and Lucas.

Lucas observed his surroundings with quiet intensity, as if lost in cherished memories.

Neither spoke. Nostalgia bound them in a heavy silence.

After a long moment, Lucas finally broke it.

"Home," he whispered, sorrow and loss laced in his voice.

He sighed, lifting his gaze toward the sky, where once a massive planet had loomed—a celestial titan that no longer existed.

"So many lives lost. So much blood spilled… all in the name of greed, masked as justice." His voice was distant, heavy with the weight of the past.

He turned to NOX, who remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. And again, silence descended upon them.

Then—

"Do you think this world is just?" NOX asked suddenly, his voice barely containing the storm of emotions within. "That good is always rewarded and evil always punished?"

Lucas frowned, caught off guard. He wasn't sure why NOX was asking this, but he answered anyway.

"I don't know if the world is just… but it's complex," he admitted. "Just like people."

His response was vague, uncertain. He didn't know what NOX wanted to hear.

NOX's gaze didn't waver.

"Then tell me—if I gave you the chance and the strength… could you make the world just?" This time, his voice was clear.

Lucas stiffened. Unease crept into his heart. He studied NOX carefully, noting the seriousness in his tone.

He didn't ask why. He simply pondered his answer.

"People cherish good because they fear evil," Lucas finally said. "As long as there is free will, there will always be conflict. Opinions will clash, choices will be made… and those choices won't always be good."

He met NOX's gaze, his expression firm.

"So, no. I can't make the world just—not without taking away free will."

Though he still didn't fully understand NOX's intent, worry flickered in his eyes.

"But… can you?" Lucas asked, studying NOX carefully. He wanted to understand what was happening inside his brother's mind—wanted to help before it was too late.

Because NOX was the only family he had left.

NOX gazed at Lucas, a tired smile on his lips.

"This world is neither good nor bad," he said softly. "When we lost everything—you still saw its beauty… while I experienced its cruelty."

He exhaled, closing his eyes briefly.

"We lived in the same world but were divided by its reality."

"Perhaps," he mused, "we are the very embodiment of [Duality]—you, the proof of goodness and beauty… and I, the madness and cruelty."

His voice was distant, laced with old wounds.

Then, he extended his hand toward Lucas.

"Take my hand, brother… and my power is yours. Shape this world as you see fit."

He smiled.

Lucas, however, did not.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" he snapped, anger flashing in his eyes. "You dare to give away your strength—to me of all people?"

He knew the struggles NOX had endured to obtain his power. The sacrifices. The countless bodies he had buried along the way. And now, this fool was willing to throw it all away?

Seeing Lucas' anger, NOX simply admitted, "I'm tired, Lucas."

"Tired of running… chasing the impossible." "Tired of hope."

"I just want to end this and rest."

Lucas frowned deeply.

He knew NOX was hiding something.

NOX wouldn't just give up—not like this.

But confronting him directly would only make him resist more. So, Lucas played along.

"If you're giving away your power to me… what are you planning to do next?" he asked casually.

"What am I going to do?" NOX repeated, as if the thought had barely crossed his mind. He tilted his head in mock contemplation.

"I hadn't really thought that far ahead… Maybe I'll find a quiet planet, settle down in the countryside, and live out my remaining days as a humble farmer." He smirked.

"If I'm lucky enough to woo a village girl, I'd love to start a family. Have a few kids. Brag to them about how awesome I used to be—how their father was once a legend."

His smirk widened, but there was something distant in his eyes.

"Of course, you'd have to ensure my safety," he added, throwing a glance at Lucas. "I refuse to die a pathetic mortal death—like choking on water. Imagine that! After everything I've survived, only to become some cosmic joke."

He glanced at Lucas, watching his reaction before continuing.

"And naturally, you'd be the godfather of my child… and his teacher. You must teach him Dharma properly."

Lucas didn't react right away. He simply studied NOX, his expression unreadable.

Then, after a moment—

"You're lying." His voice was sharp, cutting through NOX's words like a blade.

"I know you better than anyone. Even your family. And you always sugarcoat your lies."

His eyes were filled with both suspicion and concern. "Why are you lying to me?"

Lucas had known NOX for over a billion years. He wasn't just a friend—he was family. And NOX should have known better than to think he could hide the truth from him.

NOX met Lucas' gaze but remained silent.

Then, after a long pause, he finally relented.

"Alright, alright… I'll tell you," he sighed, shaking his head. "But stop looking at me like that—I'm straight, you know."

He shuddered dramatically, pretending to get goosebumps.

Lucas didn't even blink.

NOX's smirk faded. His expression turned solemn.

"If I transfer all my power to you… I will die."

His voice was calm, steady.

"Not just die—I'll be erased. No trace of my existence will remain. No history. No proof that I ever lived."

He hesitated, then added in a softer tone—

"Even you… might forget me."