The silence hung heavily between them until Kaiser spoke again, cautiously intrigued. "These creatures we've faced here, are they Unborn?"

"No," Zilean answered instantly, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation.

Kaiser frowned, still uncertain. "The Sol in them, it's odd, greyed, corrupted somehow. Are you certain—"

"They are not Unborn," Zilean repeated firmly. "If they were, your young friend would already be dead. The weakest true Unborn carries Sol equal to his, at minimum."

Kaiser's eyes narrowed, thoughtfully processing the startling revelation. "Then tell me clearly, these Unborn. How are they structured, exactly? Do they possess ranks as we do?"

Zilean released another heavy sigh, shaking his head gently. "You truly are stubborn. Why obsess over beings nearly wiped out in the Divine War centuries ago?"

Kaiser didn't smile, nor did his expression waver. His eyes burned with quiet intensity, awaiting answers.

Zilean chuckled despite himself, a weary, metallic sound. "Fine, stubborn child. If you insist."

"The lowest of their kind are known as the Forsaken," he began, voice low and edged with contempt. "These are the pathetic wretches, failed souls who barely survived Hell's corruption, clinging to existence by the last frayed thread of their will. Most were not born Unborn; they are the remnants of weak Liberators, unfortunate Grounded, or desperate souls who made the fatal mistake of trying to slay an escaped Unborn. Instead, they were consumed, body, mind, and soul by the taint they hoped to destroy."

He continued. "The transformation is neither swift nor merciful. Their essence rots slowly, memories unraveling, their humanity leaking away drop by drop until only hunger remains. They are not mindless, not entirely, as sometimes a sliver of their old life lingers. But for the most part, they wander the blighted places of the world as little more than animated vermin. They attack anything living with a blind, gnawing malice, incapable of reason or restraint."

He paused, looking now slightly into his open fist. "The higher Unborn look down on them, seeing them only as disposable fodder to be thrown at enemies. In the hierarchy of the damned, the Forsaken are nothing but a warning to what is to come after them."

Kaiser absorbed this silently, his gaze unwavering.

"Above the Forsaken are the Hellspawn." He paused, running a gloved thumb along the scarred edge of his glove, the gesture obviously more of a habit then anything. "These are the ones truly twisted by Hell… Creatures whose original forms have been devoured by corruption, leaving only a monstrous outline behind."

He shifted his weight, casting a wary glance toward a shattered window. "They don't come from the weak. Hellspawn are usually made from the strong, or rather the Liberators who managed to kill an Unborn alone, or Silvarin and Grounded whose power drew too much attention from below."

"And beyond them?" Kaiser prompted, not allowing pause.

"Next are the Calamities," Zilean went on, his gaze darkening. "These are some of the strongest among the Unborn. As Calamities, they vary greatly in form and power, but every one of them is a walking disaster, most on par with Angel-class Liberators, and some surpass even that. When a Calamity appears, entire regions can fall. Even the bravest know to avoid them at all costs."

Zilean paused briefly, voice thickening with solemnity.

"Above Calamities stand the Heralds, the generals and tacticians of Hell's legions. Cunning, intelligent, immensely powerful. They recruit, corrupt, and guide lesser Unborn, organizing them into formidable armies for their masters."

He noted Kaiser's hardening expression and continued, relentlessly:

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Their masters being the seven Overlords, the terrifying rulers, avatars of chaos and despair. Six are unimaginable horrors , ancient heroes or eldritch nightmares reborn from death and decay. Only one remains a true god amongst them. Each commands vast realms, each answers only to their divine superiors."

Kaiser's breath grew quieter, tension tightening his jaw.

"The Supreme Beings come beyond them," Zilean said, and for once, something almost like fear flickered in his eyes. "There are ten real, walking gods. In the days of the Holy War, they shattered the world and remade it in their own image. Every law we know, every boundary, every monstrous possibility—they forged it, and the Unborn worship them as if they are so much more then even gods, which they are at this point."

The room seemed colder now, shadows thicker, ink darker upon the floorboards.

"Finally, beyond all," Zilean said, voice nearly a whisper, "Stands, or stood the God of Death. The greatest Unborn, originator of Hell, master of souls. He led all Unborn and corrupted gods into the Divine War against humanity. An enemy so fearsome, humanity nearly perished."

Kaiser sat utterly still, absorbing the enormity of it all. Slowly, deliberately, he spoke. "But they lost."

Zilean nodded heavily, relief palpable in the slight sagging of his massive shoulders. "Barely. At unimaginable cost. The Divine War sealed or killed most higher Unborn, scattering the remainder. Rare survivors are hunted instantly, as their destruction is a top priority."

For a moment, silence enveloped them, heavy as lead.

"And the Soulless," Kaiser said softly. "Your kind... are the ultimate countermeasure against them."

"Exactly," Zilean confirmed, voice quiet but resolute. "We cannot be corrupted. We can kill the Unborn without taint, wielding pure weapons untouched by their darkness. Our curse is humanity's salvation."

Kaiser allowed himself a quiet laugh, cold but respectful. "A tragic blessing."

For several moments neither man spoke, the weight of the information settling between them.

"And these ink-beasts?" Kaiser asked finally, changing the topic back, yet curiosity still alive in his crimson eyes. "They bear corrupted Sol, though weaker. You're absolutely certain they aren't related?"

Zilean paused, clearly contemplating carefully before speaking again, voice firm with absolute conviction. "Not Unborn, but dangerous nonetheless. Perhaps a power twisted by someone's Origin. Such curses are rare. But they are not the darkness we discussed."

Kaiser looked a bit lost, replaying the flood of information he'd just received. He knew—oh, he knew too well—that far more was hidden from him here. Much more than he could see. But for now, this was enough. It was a crack in the mask of ignorance he was facing.

Still, a fresh frustration gnawed at him. Why hadn't the Liberatorium explained any of this? Surely, the odds of encountering an Unborn on a simple Tale were low, but that hardly justified keeping something so crucial a secret. For all his reasoning, he couldn't find a satisfying answer. Perhaps it was about maintaining public peace… but no, that explanation fell apart under scrutiny. This was too serious, too dangerous to leave in shadow. What the hell could the real reason be?

He brooded on it, a thousand quiet theories warring in his mind, until Zilean's movement broke his train of thought. The armored giant finished what he was doing, straightened, and spoke, his voice cutting through the silence.

"I'm finished," Zilean declared, his tone almost casual—as if he hadn't just shattered Kaiser's understanding of the world.

Kaiser managed a faint smile, his composure returning. "Took you less time than you said you'd need."

A low, metallic chuckle rumbled from Zilean. "Correct. Perhaps I'm not as rusty as I remember being."

Kaiser's smile thinned, but his curiosity didn't fade. "Tell me, Zilean. Those higher-tier Unborn—the Supreme Beings you mentioned. Some are sealed, yes? Is it the goal of the Unborn to break those seals and release them?"

Zilean's answer was flat, no hesitation. "Yes. Every scheme, every gathering of power among their kind, ultimately points toward that end."

Kaiser nodded, mind already racing. "I've heard so much about the Ten Hopes. If they are truly as mighty as everyone claims, why not just release the sealed Supreme Beings deliberately, and then destroy them one by one, as to make sure the threat is ended for good?"

Zilean actually laughed at that, a deep, jagged sound. "If only it were that simple, boy. But it never is."

Kaiser opened his mouth to probe further, a dozen more questions forming—but just then, a sudden, blinding flash lit the city. A miniature sun burned for a heartbeat over the rooftops, white-gold and unmistakable.

Both men stiffened. The answer was written in their eyes: Celestine.

Zilean was already on his feet, orders cutting through any trace of hesitation. "Secure the painting somewhere memorable. Leave it there and come with me."

He strode to the door, pausing only to glance back at Kaiser. "Can you sense where the Sol came from?"

Kaiser nodded. "I could. But even if I couldn't sense Sol at all, I'd know exactly where to go. That strike was bright enough for the whole damn village to see."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.