Chapter 1- The Land of the Undead

10,000 years ago, the world as we know it was forever changed.

The rise of supernatural beings marked the beginning of the Era of the Undead—a time when immortality was no longer a myth, and the boundary between the living and the dead blurred. Chaos spread like wildfire across the Earth. Kingdoms fell, cities crumbled, and the skies burned with the fury of celestial war while the oceans trembled beneath the weight of ancient powers.

Amidst this turmoil, a being known as the Heir of Divine descended to restore balance. With his arrival came Lumen's Will—a sacred decree binding all beings under divine law. He divided the lands and seas to prevent further bloodshed, granting each supernatural race dominion while imposing strict laws to preserve harmony.

At the heart of this order, the Heir of Divine entrusted humans—the weakest yet most adaptable race—with the duty to uphold Lumen's Will. Though fragile compared to other beings, humans received a unique gift: the ability to cultivate their blood, awaken extraordinary powers, and form bonds with Soul Beings for protection. But with this blessing came a heavy burden—any human who defied Lumen's Will would face both divine judgment and the wrath of the supernatural.

At the pinnacle of existence stood the Angels, celestial beings of pure light who ruled the ethereal Divarys Realm. Guardians of divine law were forbidden from interfering in earthly matters unless demons directly violated Lumen's Will. Despite their sworn enmity, angels and demons could not engage in open warfare without incurring divine punishment.

Beneath them were the Vampires, immortal rulers of the frozen Chirosa Dominion. Ageless and immune to disease, they were bound by an ancient pact with the Heir of Divine, forbidding them from harming humans. Yet, beneath their elegant façades lurked a curse—an unending thirst for human blood. Though their power was unmatched, only the Hunters, an elite human order trained to kill supernaturals, posed a true threat to their reign.

Werewolves and Mermaids were guardians of the natural world. Werewolves ruled the untamed Myralis Territory, where the moon strengthened their bodies and heightened their senses. Mermaids governed the mysterious Avaris Domain, an endless ocean abyss where time flowed differently. Loyal to Lumen's Will, both races fiercely protected their sacred lands.

At the bottom of the hierarchy were the Demons, rulers of the cursed Tamorath Land. Possessing the feared Death Slayer ability—the power to command and obliterate souls—demons could only enter the mortal realm through summoning rituals. Such rituals were perilous, often costing the summoner their life force. Despite their destructive nature, even demons remained bound by Lumen's Will, though many sought to exploit its loopholes.

Unlike the supernatural races, humans alone were capable of spiritual evolution. Through prayer, hymns, and devotion, they could refine their blood and awaken extraordinary abilities rivalling the immortality of other beings. At the core of their power stood the Tree of Light—a mystical manifestation of their life force.

When a human turned five, they underwent the Ceremony of Awakening, where the first bloom of their Tree of Light revealed their unique ability. A brighter and stronger tree reflected purity and divine favour. Among all humans, none were more revered than the royal family of the Suralis Empire, whose Trees of Light shone golden—a mark of their divine lineage.

Yet the rarest and most sacred manifestation was the Iris, the Blue Tree of Light. It was said to appear only in the one God chose to wield Lumen's Will as a weapon, granting them absolute authority over all supernatural beings. But for 5,000 years, no Lumin Spirit—the prophesied heir destined to unlock the secrets of immortality—had emerged. Without this chosen figure, the empire's strength began to wane.

The rise of hybrids—Half-Bloods and Mix-Bloods—became a reason for conflict because of the animosity between humans and the supernatural.

Half-Bloods, born of humans and supernatural beings, possessed unparalleled versatility. They combined human adaptability with supernatural prowess. However, to fully awaken their powers, they had to undergo a Ceremony of Blood, where they either embraced Lumen's Will or risked losing their humanity. Yet refining their blood too much severed their connection to their supernatural heritage, trapping them between two worlds.

In contrast, Mix-Bloods, the offspring of two supernatural races, matured quickly but lacked adaptability. Their powers were limited to their parental heritage, and they could not evolve. Pure-blood societies saw them as abominations, and both Half-Bloods and Mix-Bloods faced prejudice, often living as exiles or mercenaries.

Their existence destabilized the fragile order maintained by Lumen's Will, weakening its hold over the world with each passing generation.

Once the heart of human power, the Suralis Empire now teeters on the edge of collapse. Without a Lumin Spirit or an heir bearing the Iris, the royal family's influence is crumbling.

Noble families vie for power while secret alliances with supernatural beings grow more common—despite the danger they pose.

At the Continent's centre lies the Pillar of Sanctity, an ancient relic said to hold the Will of Ultimate Sanctity—the secret to eternal life. Only the Luminous Spirit can unlock its full power, but with no successor in sight, whispers of rebellion spread like wildfire. Prophecies foretell the rise of a Shadow Heir, a being destined to tear down Lumen's Will and plunge the world back into chaos.

Forgotten powers stir in the shadows. Ancient enemies prepare to rise again. The world stands on the brink of a new age—one where the light may finally falter, and the darkness may claim dominion once more.

The Era of the Undead is far from over.

It is only the beginning.

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