The Upper Realm basked in eternal light, a kingdom of gods and warriors, where strength was everything and loyalty was rare. Yan Chen stood atop the highest terrace of the Azure Palace, his silver armor glinting under the golden sun. A smile played across his lips as he surveyed the bustling courtyard below; friends and allies he had trusted for years were laughing, training, and celebrating the recent victory he had led them to.
"Yan Chen, your strategy in the Northern Campaign was flawless," praised Lin Yue, his closest companion. "Without you, we would have lost the Sacred Tower."
Yan Chen's chest swelled with pride. Loyalty. Friendship. Honor. He believed these bonds could withstand anything — until the dagger struck where it hurt the most.
From the corner of his vision, Yan Chen noticed something strange: subtle glances between his friends, a whisper here, a shadowed nod there. His heart skipped a beat, though he tried to dismiss it. Paranoia? Perhaps. After all, the Upper Realm thrived on ambition. Yet something deep inside him whispered that fate was not as merciful as he believed.
Later that night, as the moon bathed the palace in silver light, Yan Chen gathered his comrades in the Hall of Pledges. The air was thick with the scent of incense and triumph. With a solemn voice, he declared, "Tonight, we celebrate unity. Let the bonds we've forged today guide us through the challenges ahead."
They nodded, smiles on their faces. But smiles can be masks.
Before the first toast could touch his lips, a sharp pain erupted in Yan Chen's chest. His vision blurred. He staggered, looking around in shock as the companions he had trusted raised their hands, glowing with forbidden energy. "What…?" he gasped, the betrayal sinking like a stone in his heart.
"Yan Chen… you've been too blind," whispered Lin Yue, a cruel smile twisting his face. "The Upper Realm has no room for weaklings who rely on friendship. It's time for you to fall."
Energy surged around him, a power he could not match, even with all his cultivation and strength. The golden light of the Upper Realm turned crimson, as if mourning the treachery that stained it. Yan Chen screamed, fury and disbelief mixing in one final cry, before the world dissolved into darkness.
When he opened his eyes again, it was not the light of the Upper Realm he saw. The sky was dull and oppressive, the land barren and unyielding. He had been cast into the Lower Realm, powerless and alone.
And yet, in the pit of despair, Yan Chen felt a fire ignite. Betrayal had destroyed him, yes — but it had also awakened something stronger.
"I will rise… and every one of you will regret this," he vowed, his eyes burning with a promise of vengeance.