The Elders materialized, their ancient presence imposing and undeniable. William locked eyes with Polo, sensing something amiss. "You're not Polo, are you?" he inquired.Polo's voice, now infused with the unmistakable timbre of Death, responded, "Hello, William. You're correct." A jolt of shock passed through William; their names were meant to be unspoken secrets among the cosmos. Sensing tension, Sulayman interjected, "Enough of this charade. Let's settle this." Norvax, possessed by Time, attempted to halt the moment, but the Elders remained unaffected. "Be wary, Sulayman," Time warned. "One wrong move and balance will be the least of your concerns." Light Bulb's energy flared, anger evident. "What did you just say?" he thundered, ready to unleash his might.Ava, now the vessel for Life, stepped forward, her voice dripping with irony. "Isn't life just...unpredictable?" Death's command cut through the mounting tension, "Enough! Elders, you come here preaching balance, yet among you stands Beelzebub—a demon and an Elder." The revelation sent shockwaves through the Elder assembly. "How could you possibly know that?" they demanded.
Polo, still channeling the essence of Death, replied simply, "I am Death." The gravity of that declaration silenced the Elders. They knew not to trifle with such a force. Regaining composure, Death proposed, "Let's strike a deal. You're here to confront us, but even you cannot challenge me. What if, instead, they were to face the ultimate threat?" Confusion clouded the faces of the Elders. Only Sulayman and William seemed to have a glimmer of understanding, yet remained uncertain. Death, ever perceptive, read their thoughts, "Yes, him. Karnox."At the mere mention of the name, the Elders recoiled. Karnox—the being who, as lore dictated, had once slain many of their kind, destabilizing the balance of the universe. William, a hint of desperation in his voice, asked, "And you believe Polo and his companions can defeat Karnox and his legions?" Death replied, "Not in their current state, no. But I can unlock their true potential, though it comes with a price." "And what price might that be?" questioned the Elders. "All in due time," Death responded cryptically.With an uneasy truce established, the Elders departed. Death, once they had left, turned to Polo and the others, sharing the grave plan ahead. The group was most concerned about the "price" Death had mentioned.He answered simply, "Your lives."
Karnox Backstory:Karnox was not born into malevolence, he chose it. From his earliest days, a dark curiosity lurked within him. At sixteen, in a bid for power, he committed an unspeakable act, murdering his own parents to claim the throne. His hunger for power led him to a seemingly ordinary stone. Yet, this stone possessed a sinister quality: it enabled Karnox to consume the souls of those he vanquished, absorbing their very essence and strength. His first victims? His ill-fated parents.In time, he hunted down and subdued numerous low-tier demons. As his power swelled, so did his reputation. Initially, the masses hailed him as a hero, but as his atrocities grew, even the likes of Satan grew wary. The world recognized the menace he represented and placed a bounty upon his head. However, Karnox was not alone. An army of loyal followers, seduced by his power, marched behind him. They were heading to the enigmatic Hall of Oceans. Many had ventured into its depths, lured by tales of immense power, but none ever returned. The mysteries of the Hall awaited, and it was uncertain what an individual as formidable as Karnox might uncover their.
In the darkest annals of history, when chaos and fear reigned, Karnox's malevolence was a force few could reckon with. However, amidst tales of his cruelty, there arose legends of a lone warrior: Clave. Clave, unlike others, wasn't born from royalty or blessed by the gods. His strength came from an unwavering spirit and relentless training, combined with an innate sense of justice.
The stories say that Clave and Karnox clashed in an epic battle, the likes of which the world had never seen. Mountains shattered, and seas roiled as their energies collided. It was a battle of wills, a dance between darkness and light. In the end, with a final, tremendous blow, Clave managed to seal away the darkness that was Karnox. But such a feat came at a high price. Exhausted and wary of the world's continued safety, Clave chose to disappear, leaving behind only a legacy. Some say he sought solitude to heal and meditate, finding refuge in the hidden valleys of the world. Others believe he was taken by higher powers, rewarded for his bravery or perhaps kept as a safeguard should evil rise again. Whispers among the elders suggest that Clave, foreseeing the return of such malevolence, left behind clues for the worthy to find him. These clues, scattered across the lands, were said to be a beacon for those with pure intentions.Death, Time, and Life relayed this daunting tale to Polo, Norvax, and Ava. Polo, visibly agitated, exclaimed, "You expect us to confront THAT monster?" Norvax, ever the stoic, simply said, "You must be mad." Ava, her voice tinged with fear, countered, "I won't risk our lives for a suicide mission! Time, Death, and Life faced Polo, Norvax, and Ava. "Whatever path you choose," Time began solemnly, "remember that in the end, we all meet the same fate: death."Death added, "If we stood in your shoes, we'd seek a boat for this voyage." Norvax frowned, "Why a boat? Can't we simply teleport?" "No," Life replied with a hint of impatience. "There's only one captain who can navigate these waters." Polo questioned, "And where can we find this captain?"The trio pointed in a specific direction and, with that, vanished into thin air. Ava sighed, "You can venture forth if you wish. I'll stay behind." Neither Polo nor Norvax tried to convince her. She retreated, confiding everything to Jason, who surprisingly became enthusiastic. "We should go with them!" Jason argued. After a heated exchange, rooted in Ava's concern for Jason's safety, they both decided to join the quest.Following the direction given, they arrived at a modest house. Upon knocking, the door opened to reveal a tall, aged man with an eyepatch, holding a Quran in his right hand and a sword in his left. Without waiting for them to speak, he introduced himself, "I'm Kareem. I only sail to one destination, and whatever happens to you on this journey, it's not my concern. Think twice before making this choice." Polo, ever pragmatic, inquired, "How much will it cost?" "Why would I need money," Kareem responded cryptically, "when I'm ferrying you towards potential death?" Ava shifted uncomfortably. Kareem, noticing her unease, tried to reassure her, "I didn't mean to frighten you, but you need to be prepared. That world is unlike anything you've known." Norvax, puzzled, interjected, "What do you mean 'world'?"Kareem sighed. "You truly are clueless, aren't you? Let me explain." He beckoned them inside. Once seated, he began, "The Hall of Oceans isn't just a place. Think of it as an enormous sun, made up of countless planets merged into one. That's its vastness. It's the pinnacle of creation. Most who venture there never wish to return. They're either lost, dead, or enjoying their time there. Only a few, like me, have ever come back." The three exchanged glances, realizing the magnitude of their decision. After a brief discussion, they turned to Kareem resolutely, "Take us there."Kareem nodded slowly, "Very well. Embrace your fate."
Norvax approached his sons, Ethan and Harry, to inform them of the impending journey. Although they were eager to join, Norvax harbored reservations due to the dangers ahead. However, after learning about their unique abilities — Harry possessed the power to manipulate gravitational fields, enabling him to control the weight and movement of objects, while Ethan had the ability to perceive events a few moments before they occurred, granting him a near-prophetic edge in battle — Norvax found himself agreeing. Their unique skills would prove valuable. So, with a determined crew consisting of Norvax, Harry, Ethan, Jason, Polo, Ava, and their enigmatic guide, Kareem, they prepared to set sail. They gathered their belongings, ensuring they had everything they might need from clothing to money, with an emphasis on the latter due to its universal usefulness. As the ship moved through the waves, Harry and Ethan engaged in whispered conversations, clearly forming battle strategies. Norvax, lost in contemplation, gazed upon the vast ocean, his thoughts consumed by memories of his dearly departed wife. Polo, seeking solace, lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, lost in introspection. Ava and Jason, sensing the gravity of their situation and knowing the risks ahead, sought comfort in each other's embrace. Feeling restless, Polo ventured outside and approached Kareem, who was manning the ship. "Hello," Polo greeted. Kareem didn't respond, and upon closer inspection, Polo noticed tears streaming down the older man's face. Without prying, Polo inquired, "How much longer till we reach our destination?" Kareem, voice thick with emotion, replied, "Two, maybe three days."Sensing Kareem's sorrow, Polo softly offered, "If you want to talk about it, I'm here." Kareem remained silent, so Polo, respecting his privacy, retreated. Norvax watched from the side, taking in the scene, a silent observer.Ethan's voice pierced the air. "Watch out!" A mere heartbeat later, they were ambushed. Ava, disentangling herself from Jason, leapt to her feet. Polo, Norvax, and Harry frantically worked to stabilize the boat's gravitational force. In the midst of their focused efforts, a knife hurtled toward Polo. Swiftly sidestepping, he managed to avoid it, but lost his protective shield in the process. Norvax tried to halt time, but to no avail. Ava's powers also waned."Not all powers function in this realm," Kareem warned. "Rely on your physical prowess." Polo, voice strained with urgency, shouted, "Why are they attacking us, Kareem?"
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