Far above the mortal plane, beyond the reach of human eyes and comprehension, lay the Divinity Realm — a place of eternal light, of balance, and of silent power. Golden clouds drifted lazily across skies that shimmered with the hues of eternity. The air itself hummed with the resonance of creation, a harmony untouched by mortal chaos.
At the center of this realm, atop a lotus of molten gold, sat Lord Gautam Buddha. His posture was serene, cross-legged, hands folded, eyes closed. Yet, despite the tranquility of his form, his consciousness stretched outward, piercing the veil of the mortal world.
He had seen it — the rivers running red, forests shattered, villages consumed by fire and shadow. Humanity, fragile and weak, had been caught entirely unprepared for the awakening of the Scarlet Demon.
> "The Scarlet Demon has risen," he murmured, voice soft yet echoing across the endless halls of the Divinity Realm. "Power beyond reckoning flows through him… and the world suffers."
Despite the immensity of his awareness, even the gods were bound by cosmic law. They could observe, but not interfere directly. To intervene would be to disrupt the delicate balance of life and death, to shatter the threads that bound the universe.
Yet Lord Gautam Buddha knew he could not stand idle. Humanity, though weak, carried the potential for resilience. He closed his eyes, inhaling the resonance of existence, and extended his aura — not in full, but a fragment, just enough to ignite hope.
> "A spark… a fraction… ten percent of my aura shall flow to those who may yet stand," he whispered.
The aura descended like golden sunlight, invisible to most, yet potent. It wove through the mortal realm, seeping into the hearts and spirits of those attuned to the flow of life. This aura would awaken Wielders, ordinary humans who carried the seed of strength, courage, and resilience.
Below, in Shirakawa village, in deserts of distant lands, and in the hearts of hidden champions, faint threads of golden energy began to stir. Mortals unaware of their destiny would feel the change subtly — a flicker of power, a pulse of strength, a whisper of courage.
> "Ten percent is but a beginning," Lord Gautam Buddha continued, his voice now merging with the wind itself. "They must rise, they must fight… but only if they believe in themselves, only if they dare to defy the darkness."
The Scarlet Demon's forces continued their march across the world, rivers of blood spreading unchecked, chaos becoming nourishment for his ascension. Yet within this darkness, a seed of hope — fragile, yet luminous — had been planted by divine will.
> "The path ahead will be perilous," Buddha murmured, eyes still closed. "The Scarlet Demon gathers strength… his Upper Demons scour the lands. But humanity must endure. They must rise, and they must fight, for in them lies the last defense of the mortal realm."
A golden light shimmered across the Divinity Realm, flowing into mortal veins like liquid fire. Warriors, children, ordinary men and women — those who would carry the gift of Wielder power — began to feel it, faint and fleeting at first. Some felt courage where there had been none. Others felt a sudden clarity, a sense of purpose amidst chaos.
> "Do not falter," the Buddha whispered. "I cannot fight for you, but I will guide. Ten percent is yours. Use it well… and perhaps… humanity may endure."
And then, with a final, silent exhale, the aura withdrew into the fabric of the mortal world, leaving echoes of hope in its wake. The Divinity Realm resumed its eternal calm, golden clouds drifting over endless light, yet every pulse of power had now begun to shape the fate of Earth below.
In the mortal plane, the Scarlet Demon's shadow continued to stretch, rivers of blood flowing, mountains trembling, villages crumbling. Yet, scattered amidst the devastation, humans felt an unfamiliar warmth — a flicker of energy, a heartbeat of power not their own, seeding the rise of Aura Wielders.
Buddha opened his eyes, serene yet knowing.
> "The storm has begun," he said, voice barely above a whisper, yet resonant in all corners of existence. "The Scarlet Demon rises… and humanity now carries its first chance to stand."
The Divinity Realm shimmered, its golden light reflecting the hope and struggle that would soon erupt across the mortal world. And somewhere, deep in the mountains of Japan, a boy's aura began to stir, tiny sparks igniting the potential of the first Wielder.
The stage was set. Chaos and darkness spread unchecked, but the faint pulse of divine energy hinted that even in the shadow of the Scarlet Demon, light would fight to endure.
> "Let the age of darkness begin," Buddha murmured, "but let it not extinguish the spark I have sown."