Deep in the archailect,

In the expanse of space,

Nexus 1

Name: Genesis.

All great things have a beginning, and the archailect, the system that had been in place from eons immemorial also had one, a source, an origin, and the product of that origin as genesis. A titanic structure that defied the concept of size itself, a sprawling creation that could fit an entire galaxy within itself while also as small as a city, perception was a fickle thing when it came to the mythical relic that was Genesis. Its walls were made of metal lost to time, as old as the archailect itself as it hummed with sentience and a sharp dark blue color, it was also a planet of rulers, a place exclusive to only the top powers of the archailect, a place devoid of the intricacies of factions or houses. Battles were frowned upon in genesis, and any form of fights were swiftly dealt with by the messengers, these were the original creations of the supreme beings and not the clones that delivered the wills of the supreme beings to the archailect. Possessing ruler-ranked capabilities and greater control over the concepts of authority, they were more than enough to hold down any ruler before summarily banishing them from genesis.

Homes in Genesis were a sprawling work of art, built by each ruler to personify their specific taste and opulence, but recently, a new phase had been gradually appearing, a quiet divide between the rulers that had transformed into districts in Genesis, a divide according to each of the supreme beings, specifically a divide by following each of their harbingers. Harbingers were the equivalent of the emissaries of rulers, they wielded a tiny minuscule fraction of the powers of a supreme being. A fact only those who had ascended to rulers were aware of the fact that there were harbingers among them, and even fewer were aware of their existence. The concept of harbingers was a wildly debated one, an existence above the rulers who were meant to be the ultimate life forms existing in the archailect.

Commander general Xerxes of the dragon brigade snorted at the thought as he landed on a stone platform that was right in the middle of Genesis, around him were statues of strange beings, made with the same metal Genesis had been built with. He stood still, eyes closed as he waited, the structure existed and did not exist at the same time, even now rulers walked by without as much as a hint about his presence which would drive them nuts with fear and excitement. It served as a meeting place for harbingers,

Harbingers such as Xerxes.

Their actual existence was known to only a few outside their circle of fellow harbingers and those were sworn to secrecy, the districts created in Genesis were in the direction of each of the statues that stood at the six points of the hexagonal structure. The rulers divided themselves based on whatever path they initially followed during their early ascension days, well, not like he cared anyways, theirs was a game of self-created issues and disputes, he dealt with greater forces, substantially greater forces. The statues were six in number, each representing what was the perceived view of each of the supreme beings.

Xerxes stood under a long serpentine dragon, the next statue was a sword, the next was a giant crystal, followed by a large world, which was followed by what looked like a gigantic ship, and finally what looked like an intricate rune circle that had been carved. Silently, he waited, as was the custom in this part of the archailect, a series of hums announced the arrivals of five other people who stepped out through a spatial path.

Xerxes glanced at them all, nodding his head,

“Good, we’re all in attendance, as the moderator, I will call to session the meetings of the supreme beings via harbingers,” he said,

Below their feet, a ring began to form as the statues behind them glowed to life, same as the eyes of each of the harbingers in attendance,

“The circle recognizes the presence of Lotes, the true dragon and the supreme of space and aether along with its harbinger Xerxes” Xerxes started as he felt a fraction of the supreme being uncoil from within his mind and attach itself to the statue behind him, the serpentine statue uncoiling from its wrapped position in a haze of power so strong, reality began to hum,

A man in a straw hat with a sword at his side that glowed with an otherworldly power, a sharp feeling of a thin razor edge emanating from him, and the distinct feeling that the blade was watching with unseen eyes, which in fact it was, stepped forward under the statue of a sword, his face hidden under the hat.

“The circle recognizes the presence of Alastor, the true blade and the supreme of edge and intent, along with its harbinger Zane,” he said,

a muscular humanoid man stepped forward, with the features of a canine and the body of a human, arms crossed with fingers that ended in sharp nails that seemed to gather authority of their own volition spoke from the statue of a world he had stood under,

“The circle recognizes the presence of Draulr, the true planet and the supreme of force and aura, along with its harbinger Grimswolf,” he said, ending with a snarl, Xerxes paid no attention to it,

A woman in a light veil that revealed everything beneath it stepped forward from under the statue of the crystal that glowed, her eyes bright with a cascade of colors that switched as she blinked, a sultry smile on her face,

“The circle recognizes the presence of Vazyra, the true aether crystal and the supreme of elements and mana, along with its harbinger Ganna”

A floating flame in the shape of a man stepped forward under the statue of the carved rune circle, yellow eyes glowing as its voice sounded like the crackle of flames in a bonfire,

“The circle recognizes the presence of Filvux, the true authority and the supreme of mind and mantles, along with its harbinger Tixuhl”

Finally, a creature that could not be called anything less than a walking cybernetic humanoid with a face showing scripts of different kinds dancing all over it stepped forward,

“The circle recognizes the presence of Liakya, the true construct and the supreme of technology and weapons, along with its harbinger Ernesh,” the cyborg said,

The circle beneath their feet flared to life as the introductions were completed, encapsulating them in a thick haze of aether as the statues shifted to life together, their harbingers standing in absolute silence,

“This meeting has been called with haste to discuss the incursions” Lotes the true dragon said, her voice sounding feminine,

“I will let my harbinger explain,” she said pausing,

Xerxes spoke,

“As of a few weeks back, an incursion was recorded in a new galaxy integrated into the archailect, a category 2 blight,” Xerxes said, noticing the reactions of the other harbingers as their powers bubbled to the surface in anger,

“It was quickly dispatched by an overseer, but the mere fact that an incursion could happen that deep in the system is troubling enough” Xerxes completed,

“Wipe out the galaxy involved” Liakya the true construct said,

“We do not harm potential sources for this little a situation” Vazyra the true crystal said,

“We risk a contamination should we let it go, that point of incursion could as well be a feint” Filvux true authority said,

“do we wipe out every galaxy whenever an incursion manifests?, besides, the amount of energy the abyss must have expended in getting through our defenses that deep would not have been sufficient to plant another incursion,” Draulr said,

“We simply cannot risk another incursion behind our lines” Alastor the true sword said,

“It is why I propose an initiative” the sword continued,

“We are listening,” Lotes said, the dragon’s voice rumbling,

“A body responsible for taking the fight to the converted worlds,” Alastor said,

“We have always maintained the line, it is how it has been done,” Vazyra said,

“And thus far, it has not provided results, only a never-ending cycle of rulers thrown to their deaths, a better solution must be found, I stand with Alastor,” Liakya said,

“You are asking us to place rulers in a world corrupted by the abyss, with no access to the aether, a death sentence,” Draulr said,

“a situation that can easily be remedied by a slight bestowment on those willing to take it,” Liakya said,

“You wish to create another corps, similar to the dragon brigade,” Lotes said to the living construct,

“a necessary move to gain a step in this battle” Liakya responded,

“Without thinking of the move the abyss would take in turn, are we ready to risk that?” Vazyra said,

“It has been calculated and deemed manageable, a few hundred years of this strategy and we could win formerly lost worlds and even galaxies,” Alastor said,

“We shall put it to a vote, as usual, all in favor?” Lotes said,

Liakya, Filvux, Alastor, and Vazyra indicated through their harbingers. Xerxes turned to the woman Ganna who had a smile and a wink on her face,

“I would not have thought you would follow their lead Vazyra,” Lotes said,

“They present a new path forward, as compared to your dragon brigade that has done nothing,” Vazyra said,

“The brigade is responsible for incursions and issues within the archailect and not at the lines,” Draulr said,

“All the more reason why this plan bears merit,” Liakya said,

“And I believe you have a candidate in mind?” Lotes asked Alastor,

Zane the harbinger of the true sword stepped forward,

“Rulers following the paths related to edges have gathered for a tournament, supreme Alastor has decided to sweeten the deal, ensuring that whatever faction wins would willingly take the opportunity,” he said,

Xerxes tsked under his voice, glancing at Zane who showed no bodily expression. This was all a move by the sword to gain a portion of power in the archailect,

“Your proposal has been accepted; however, I wish to add a clause, the method which we all know will be employed in empowering them will not work within the worlds held by the archailect, only on corrupted worlds,” Lotes said as Xerxes smiled grimly,

Checkmate,

“Lotes, ever as cunning, we accept, the fringe walkers would only operate outside of the archailect, their ascension tier named jade,” Alastor said,

“It is law,” the entire supreme beings said as one as the entirety of genesis resounded as a gong,

Messengers flew through the air as they awaited the messages to be delivered,

“This meeting has been called to a close” Lotes said as the circle was broken, the supreme beings withdrawing their presence entirely, leaving the harbingers standing on their own,

“a bold move by the sword, I would be watching this tournament of yours,” Xerxes said, eyes blazing,

Zane in his usual manner simply nodded and passed through a spatial path without replying,

“Do be careful Xerxes, I heard Zane has been in a dark mood, besides, we all would be watching the tournament,” Ganna said as she laughed and disappeared through a spatial path,

One by one the harbingers disappeared, leaving only Xerxes behind who stared at the starry skies of space,

“I hope you know what you’re doing Lotes” he whispered,

He felt a familiar presence at the back of his mind, an amusement that bordered on vicious cunning,

“Watch the tournament son,” the supreme being said,

Xerxes turned, calling up his HUD as he contacted the planet Orbio,

“Give me everything on the incursion, the planet involved and those affected,” he said,

It was time he looked into what was going on in that galaxy himself.