Chapter 161: The Origin of Ruin
Nephine stood still.
The cave seemed to lose its sense of time, as if the past itself was awakening.
"What I am about to tell you," Nephine said calmly,
"is the origin of everything you are facing."
Shen listened in silence.
"More than a million years ago," Nephine began,
"before Heaven and Hell were fully defined…"
"There was a great destruction in the God World."
Nephine's voice was steady.
"Gods slaughtered gods."
"Laws collapsed."
"Existence itself cracked."
Shen felt pressure settle on his chest.
"When the chaos ended," Nephine continued,
"only two Origin Gods remained."
He raised two fingers.
"Artha—the Goddess of Balance."
"And Shastra—the God of Existence."
Shen nodded.
"…Artha is female. Shastra is male."
"Yes," Nephine said.
"They rebuilt the broken universe."
"They created the elemental gods."
"They restored order."
Nephine waved his hand.
A vision formed.
"They fought the Evil Gods together."
"And when corruption spread beyond control—"
"They divided existence itself."
"One half became Heaven."
"The other became Hell."
Shen felt a chill.
"To govern creation," Nephine continued,
"Shastra created ten Sub-Gods."
"They governed time, space, matter, energy, life, death, light, darkness, fate, and law."
"Artha, however, chose a different path."
"She created two Descendants."
"Beings meant to inherit balance itself."
Nephine's tone darkened.
"But then…"
"A million years ago—Shastra sacrificed his life."
Shen's breath tightened.
"…He died?"
"Yes," Nephine replied.
"His existence became the foundation of the worlds."
"Before fading, Shastra transferred his authority."
"One of his Sub-Gods inherited it."
"That being became the Next Shastra."
Shen felt unease rise.
"At first," Nephine continued,
"the Next Shastra fulfilled his role."
"He protected creation."
"He maintained order."
"But eternity corrodes even gods."
"Slowly… he walked the evil path."
Shen clenched his fists.
"He destroyed Artha's two Descendants."
"They were obstacles to absolute control."
"And finally—"
"He sealed Artha
The cave trembled faintly.
"But Artha had already foreseen this," Nephine said.
"Before being sealed, she made her final move."
Shen's palm grew warm.
"She divided her ultimate authority."
"She scattered it across the Three Universes."
"That power shattered into thirty fragments."
"Thirty Symbols."
"They fell upon countless worlds."
Nephine turned toward Shen.
"Any child born with one of these symbols—"
"Is called an Artha Descendant."
Shen swallowed.
"Their purpose," Nephine said,
"is to gather the remaining twenty-nine symbols."
"Either by traveling across worlds…"
"…or by becoming powerful enough to awaken them."
Nephine paused.
"There was another purpose."
"To defeat the Next Shastra."
"The White Existence."
Shen's eyes widened.
"But the situation has changed," Nephine said coldly.
"The previous Shastra was not truly powerful."
"This one—"
"He is true evil."
"The White God."
"The God of Existence."
"He has hidden himself for countless ages."
Silence filled the cave.
Nephine finally looked directly at Shen.
"You found the secret entrance."
"You bear one of the symbols."
"You are an Artha Descendant."
Shen exhaled slowly.
"So that is why…"
Nephine nodded.
"Yes."
"That is why I will give you one chance."
"Train here for four years."
"Grow strong enough."
"Then fight me."
"If you survive—"
"You may leave this universe."
Shen stepped forward sharply.
"Four years?"
He scoffed.
"You think I'm a fool?"
Nephine nodded calmly.
"Yes."
The word struck harder than force.
"You have three choices," Nephine said.
"Defeat me now."
"Accept four years of training."
"Or be expelled from this universe."
Shen fell silent.
Kenya.
Rin.
Eliz.
Ruke.
Slowly, he raised his head.
"…I'll train," Shen said.
"For four years."
Nephine nodded.
"Good."
"I have matters to attend to."
He raised one hand.
"A barrier will seal this place."
"You cannot escape."
Before Shen could speak—
Nephine vanished.
Not with sound.
Not with force.
Like light deciding to cease.
The cave sealed shut.
The air became heavy.
Shen stood alone.
Four years.
A god-realm prison.
And a destiny bound to Artha
End of Chapter 161