Upon a grand altar that rose to half a mountain’s height was perched a single figure. Clutched in her strong grip were two tools. One to hold the object steady, the other to drive the great power inside.
With each thunderous crash of the hammer, the world around it shook. The ground swelled and cracked around the altar. Storms grew and violently whipped around. Great Waves of water crashed through both. Lightning lashed out at everything.
Despite the breaking of the world and blows the calipers held the object steadily.
The Goddess continued her forging.
So great was her focus that it wasn’t until an army had reached the topmost steps that the Goddess looked up. Despite her best efforts to hide herself and the place, the power had drawn her enemy in.
Once more she struck the orb she’d been forging.
Unlike the previous blow, this one called a shimmering dome around the top of the altar. Then, she calmly returned to her task. Striking again and again. All the while the army of misshapen abominations clambered and crawled over her defenses.
Now engulfed in a writhing mass of enemies, the Goddess continued to strike the orb. Churning Earth dropped the army into an abyss. Brutal walls of water sank them into darkest depths. Pitch black clouds rode imperious gusts that stole bodies into the distance. That which lightning didn’t strike began to erupt into flames.
Light began to stir inside the orb. Sparks danced inside its transparent skin. Then, flames. Finally, the orb began to emit light. Each strike sends waves of energy surging out.
The hateful soldiers, killed by each burst of power, poured through inky, black gates that continued to open around the Goddess. The mocking laughter of their God driving them on.
Finally, the world fell away into an abyss and was devoured by the orb. Every swirling gale was drawn into its simmering core. The ceaseless tide’s darkness was drawn into the light. Only the darkness of the void was left around the altar after even the light being drawn in.
Only the Goddess remained, her strikes against the orb, making the power swirl inside it. The Altar began to move, bringing the Goddess to a new place. Pristine and filled with life. The Goddess’ shield vanished and she looked upon her work.
The orb bore no imperfections but for a small crack. It quickly spread. As the Goddess’ eyes widened in horror, laughter descended from above. The God of Hate arrived in person, tentacles lashing the landscape. With a roar of fury, the Goddess ascended into battle on silvery white wings.
As the pair thrashed and tore at each other, the orb began to shake. The cracks spread. Then, in an eruption of light, it shattered. From the fury of a world butchered came six creatures. Each one a different color. Their scaled bodies shimmered as the light on them faded.
After tearing the God of Hate apart, the Goddess returned to her altar.
Only the remnants of the orb lay scattered around.
The six creatures had vanished into the jungle beyond.
A scream of frustration and misery escaped the Goddess.
It also heralded the start of the six’s journey into a world that would come to never know the word mercy. For the Goddess called her own army and the God of Hate drove his forces. The war would only ever grow more fierce.