The tremors of Pan Gu’s words reverberated through the cosmos, leaving a ripple of energy that spread across the Infinite Immortal Realms. Gods and immortals alike felt the quakes, but none could comprehend the true source. Only Zui Tian, Wújìn Mèng, and the few powerful beings who understood the old myths knew the significance of what had just happened. Pan Gu, the First Rakshasa, the one who had split Chaos into Heaven and Earth, had spoken his name, and the very idea of him had sent shockwaves through reality.
In the quiet aftermath, as the echoes of his power slowly subsided, Zui and Wújìn remained deep in thought, processing the revelation that strength and its absence—weakness—were the keys to binding concepts, ideas, and forces together.
Pan Gu had shown them the way forward, but they knew the path would not be simple. The balance between strength and weakness, energy and its absence, creation and destruction—it was a delicate dance, one they would have to master to become Anulled.
As they sat in contemplation, a shadow began to shift in the corner of the chamber. It was subtle at first, a flicker at the edge of their vision. But Zui, always attuned to the presence of something hidden, felt it immediately.
“Show yourself,” Zui Tian called out, his voice steady but carrying a weight of expectation.
The shadow flickered again, then slowly began to coalesce into a figure. Dark and ethereal, its form was that of a man, tall and lean, with glowing red eyes that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality. The air around him shimmered with the energy of non-existence, as if he were both there and not there at the same time.
Wújìn Mèng’s eyes narrowed as she stood beside her brother. “You’ve been following us for a long time, haven’t you?”
The figure stepped forward, his presence imposing but not hostile. “Yes,” he said in a voice that was deep, almost echoing as though it came from another dimension. “I have watched you both for eons.”
Zui Tian crossed his arms, his usual nonchalance masking the growing intensity of the moment. “I figured as much. You’re the First Darkness, aren’t you?”
The figure nodded, his expression unreadable. “Yes. I am the First Darkness, born from the Aether like you and Wújìn. But unlike you, I chose to remain hidden in the shadows. My existence is the embodiment of non-existence—the other half of the duality you are only just beginning to understand.”
Pan Gu, who had been silent since the First Darkness appeared, now stepped forward. His eyes, gleaming with ancient wisdom, fixed on the shadowy figure. “You hid from your siblings all this time. Why now? Why reveal yourself at this moment?”
The First Darkness met Pan Gu’s gaze evenly. “Because the time has come. Zui and Wújìn are on the cusp of becoming Anulled. They are walking the path toward understanding duality, but they cannot complete that journey without knowing the truth of non-existence.”
Zui Tian smirked. “And you’re here to teach us?”
The First Darkness smiled faintly, a ghost of an expression. “In a way, yes. You’ve learned that strength binds concepts together, that energy fuels ideas. But there is another truth—non-energy—the absence of power. It is just as important as strength, for without weakness, strength would have no meaning. Without non-existence, existence would have no purpose.”
Wújìn stepped forward, her mind racing with the implications. “So, you represent the other half of Pan Gu’s concept. You’re not just non-existence… you’re the idea of it.”
The First Darkness nodded. “Precisely. I am the counterbalance to everything that exists. Just as Pan Gu wields the strength of creation, I wield the absence of it. Together, we represent the complete duality of the universe.”
Pan Gu’s expression softened as he regarded the First Darkness. “And yet, you’ve remained in the shadows for so long. Why reveal yourself now, when the universe is teetering on the edge of destruction?”
The First Darkness’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. “Because now is the time for balance. The Devourer of Nihility has returned, and its presence threatens to consume all that exists. If the balance between existence and non-existence is lost, the entire cosmos will unravel. Zui and Wújìn must understand the full truth of duality if they are to stop it.”
Zui Tian exhaled slowly, the weight of the revelation settling over him. “So we’re not just dealing with ancient concepts and forgotten truths. We’re dealing with the very fabric of reality itself.”
Wújìn nodded, her eyes sharp with determination. “And if we fail to understand that balance, everything we’ve fought for will be lost.”
Pan Gu stepped forward, his voice firm and resolute. “That’s why I revealed myself to you. The knowledge of strength is crucial, but without understanding weakness, you cannot complete the journey. You must wield both creation and destruction, existence and non-existence, if you are to bring balance to the cosmos.”
The First Darkness’s form flickered again, his presence growing more solid as he addressed Zui and Wújìn directly. “You have already begun the journey. But now you must go deeper. You must understand that the absence of energy, the void, is just as powerful as the energy itself. Only by mastering both can you ascend beyond the confines of this universe and become Anulled.”
Zui Tian nodded slowly, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. “Looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us, Sis.”
Wújìn smiled faintly, though her eyes were filled with resolve. “We’ll walk this path together, Zui. We always have.”
As the First Darkness began to fade back into the shadows, he left them with a final word of advice. “Remember, the balance is not found in power alone. It is found in understanding both strength and weakness. Only then can you wield the power of the Aether and bring true harmony to the cosmos.”
With that, the First Darkness vanished, leaving Zui, Wújìn, and Pan Gu alone in the chamber. The weight of what they had learned hung in the air, a heavy but necessary burden.
Pan Gu turned to his siblings, his expression solemn. “The Devourer of Nihility will not wait. You must master the balance of duality before it is too late.”
Zui Tian took a long drink from his flask, then grinned at Wújìn. “Well, Sis, I guess it’s time to save the universe. Again.”
Wújìn chuckled softly, though there was a steely determination in her voice. “And this time, we do it by embracing everything—strength, weakness, light, darkness. All of it.”
As they prepared for the next step in their journey, the cosmos outside continued to tremble, the forces of creation and destruction swirling in an eternal dance. But now, with the knowledge of the First Darkness and the strength of Pan Gu behind them, Zui and Wújìn knew they were ready.
The path to becoming Anulled was before them, and the fate of the cosmos rested in their hands.