Flexo was no longer smiling. His face, usually so animated and rubbery, was pale and drawn with the memory of fear and profound betrayal. The silence in the small rubber house was heavy, punctuated only by the crackle of the dying fire as he prepared to continue his tale.
"After the great clans bent their knees, Savior had a clear path to absolute power," Flexo whispered, his eyes distant. "But a king needs a fortress, and a god needs a Heaven."
THE WALL OF NO RETURN
Savior's first act was to physically divide the continent. He built a colossal, impenetrable Wall of No Return around the heart of old Mynthara—a structure of sheer black stone laced with pulsating, burning Mysterious Symbols. These symbols weren't just decorative; they were traps, curses, and wards designed to repel any who dared to touch the stone.
He named this fortress barrier THE ROYAL GATE, the immense, terrifying structure that Elios had tried to climb just hours ago. The Gate itself was guarded by a single, monstrous being, said to be an ancient demon or perhaps even a creature born from the sins and abandoned Aether of all the fallen warriors.
Inside this colossal wall lay a city of perfect order, pure control, and profound mystery, which Savior christened WONDERFAA. The world outside remained the old Mynthara—now fragmented, broken, and fading into insignificance.
THE FAMILY AND THE DOMINION
"Savior knew that simple fear wouldn't be enough to hold the entire continent," Flexo explained, tracing patterns on the table with a trembling finger. "To maintain his sprawling, oppressive empire, he built a terrifyingly efficient power structure. He divided his seized land into three great regions, each symbolizing a part of nature itself, but now held by an iron fist."
* The Desert Lands: Vast, harsh, and resource-rich, kept in a state of perpetual struggle.
* The Mountain Dominion: The high peaks, used as surveillance posts and strategic centers of power.
* The Coastal Realms: The outer reaches, constantly monitored for escapees or outside contact.
Each of these three regions was ruled by a Supreme Leader, chosen directly by Savior himself, based on unparalleled ruthlessness and absolute loyalty. Together, these three rulers were known simply as "THE FAMILY"—the terrifying Trinity of Tyranny who enforced Savior's vision.
"But even power needs structure and minions," Flexo added with a bitter laugh.
Each member of The Family commanded three elite sub-leaders, all veterans of the recent conflicts, utterly ruthless and fanatically loyal to their master's cause. These nine sub-leaders were collectively known as "THE DOMINION."
The Dominion handled all the dirty work: intelligence gathering, strategic assassinations, and absolute control over the lower clans who had been forced to swear fealty. They ensured every flicker of rebellion was crushed before it could even begin to spark.
Together, The Family and The Dominion formed the Twelve Pillars of Tyranny, a system so total and efficient that no one dared to resist Savior's dominion.
THE FALL OF THE REBELLION
Flexo's voice tightened, now barely a choked whisper. This was the painful heart of his story.
"My father, Rubble Rubberon, the leader of the Rubberon Clan, refused to kneel. He saw the truth behind Savior's lies. He gathered the surviving brave clans—the ones who hadn't bent the knee, the ones who kept their Artifact Rings hidden—to form a desperate rebellion."
At first, some survivors refused to join, still paralyzed by the fear of the Tydora Clan's annihilation. But the tide turned when the fierce Great Emberion Clan, who had once been banished beyond the wall's influence, secretly united with Flexo's father. With this powerful symbol of unity, others followed.
For the first time in centuries, Mynthara united—not for a tribal war, but for the sacred cause of freedom.
They marched in secret, training their disparate Aether powers for months. But the Savior had already foreseen it. He was always steps ahead.
As the unified rebellion approached the daunting shadow of the Royal Gate, seeking to breach the wall and expose Savior's secrets, the catastrophe began. Tiny, sinister green particles began falling from the clear sky—a fine, glowing dust that burned the exposed skin of the warriors like acid.
Flexo's elder brother, Tyber, standing at the forefront of the charge, collapsed first, coughing violently, the dust burning the inside of his lungs. Within minutes, his powerful body was motionless.
When the horrified Aether healers examined his body, they found it filled with radiation energy—a silent, invisible weapon none had ever seen or understood. It was the same cursed, unnatural energy that had instantly destroyed the Tydora clan.
Soon, the very air itself became a deadly poison. Warriors fell one by one, their powerful Aether energies useless against the silent killer.
The unified rebellion broke apart in utter panic and chaos. People ran, abandoning their shields and their oaths, seeking refuge from the invisible death. The mighty Gate stood untouched—a silent monument to the Savior's victory—and in its shadow, lay the lifeless, radiating body of Flexo's elder brother, Tyber Rubberon.
Flexo's voice broke completely as he spoke the final words. Tears fell, silent and heavy, splashing onto his untouched food.
Elios and Gracia waited silently, their own grief a shared mantle in the tiny hut. But before Flexo could find the strength to continue, his mother's voice called from outside, a soft but insistent plea for him to help with the cattle.
Flexo sighed, scrubbing his tears away with a weary hand. "Guess that's all for now…"
He stood up, his posture slumped, and left the house, leaving the story hanging in the heavy, painful silence.