Kyomu Kaibyaku: Black and White

—[Black Pole, Grand Pentagon of Twilight]—

The gods of the Black Pole were gathered once again in the great hall after the battle had ended. Each one sat on their throne, thoughtful and reflective, leaving the room steeped in profound silence.

"Then," Ereshyka said with authority, breaking the silence. "We know that what happened during the battle went far beyond anything we could have foreseen. The Dawns fought admirably against the Kyoki Manticores, creatures that were almost an extension of chaos itself, forged with the essence of Nirarthakata. Without a doubt, it was a spectacular feat, but beyond that..."

"An unusual force emerged, one unknown to all our knowledge," Yozora added, completing her comment. "Did anyone have any idea what it could have been? That strange thing was never part of our plans, and in part, we could say that it disrupted them. But it makes no sense; it wasn't something from the White Pole."

Ereshyka tilted her head slightly, as if meditating on Yozora's words, her eyes shining with a mixture of unease and curiosity.

"It wasn't from the White Pole, nor the Black," she affirmed, her tone firm yet uncertain. She looked at the other gods as if expecting one of them to offer an explanation.

Mivernag, reclining nonchalantly on his throne adorned with chaotic symbols, raised an eyebrow and let out a short, dry laugh. "Perhaps it was simply Nirarthakata playing tricks on our minds. Wouldn't that be poetic? Something so absurd even we can't comprehend it."

Semyazza turned her gaze toward him with a stern expression. "Don't spout nonsense, Mivernag. This isn't absurd. What we felt, what we all felt, was something primordial..." She paused, as if searching for words to describe the indescribable. "It wasn't void, it wasn't chaos, nor even order. It was like... necessity. A force that existed simply because it had to."

Semyazza's words brought silence back to the Grand Pentagon of Twilight, but this time it was a silence heavy with tension.

Baalzebub, with his imposing voice, broke the stillness. "If this force truly is a manifestation of necessity, then we are dealing with something that escapes the domains of the Poles. And that is dangerous. It's one thing for our intrigues to intersect with those of the White Pole, but something external... something that adheres to none of our principles, could destroy us all."

Ereshyka nodded slowly, her fingers drumming against the armrest of her throne. "This raises a key question. Did that force... appear by chance? Or did it manifest because our war, our manipulation of the Kyoki Manticores, and the use of Nirarthakata called it forth?"

Yozora leaned forward. "I don't believe in coincidences. That force was watching us. I could feel it... as if it were judging us."

"Judging us?" Mivernag repeated with a hint of mockery. "How dramatic. But even if it were true, what could judge the Poles other than something that transcends what we are?"

Semyazza struck the arm of her throne forcefully, her patience worn thin. "That's exactly the problem! We're talking about something that doesn't belong to chaos or order, to the Dawns or to us. What if this... whatever it is, stands above everything? What place would we have then in its design?"

The atmosphere grew heavier. Even the gods of the Dusk, known for their implacable and cold nature, appeared unsettled by the possibility of encountering a force they could neither comprehend nor manipulate.

"What you're saying makes no sense, Semyazza," Mivernag countered with a defiant tone. "The only things above us are the underlying forces from which we originate: Black and White. Moreover, creation is not chaos; it follows clear hierarchical steps in its construction, reinforcing my point."

"Hierarchical steps?" Semyazza inquired, narrowing her eyes.

"Yes, hierarchical steps," Mivernag affirmed, raising his voice to capture the attention of the other gods around him. "Let me explain it to you."

"First, there are the absolute forces of the universe, the Grand Universe of Universes, represented as the painting, divided into Black and White. These forces contain all creative and destructive potential. Second, there's us, the Gods of Dusk and Dawn: the brushes that channel that potential and transform it into something tangible. And finally, on the lowest rung, there's the canvas: all of creation, waiting to be shaped and completed by our hands. Everything follows a hierarchical step, as if we start at the top (the painting) and descend the stairs until we reach the final effort or rung (the canvas of creation)."

"Interesting metaphor, Mivernag, but it lacks something essential," said Ereshyka, leaning slightly forward in her throne, her gaze piercing through Mivernag. "Your explanation assumes that we understand every step and that there are no surprises along the descent. But this unknown force doesn't fit into any step. It isn't painting, brush, or canvas. What do we do if we encounter something that doesn't follow our hierarchical rules?"

Mivernag narrowed his eyes, his lips curling into a disdainful smile. "Then perhaps it's a defect in the canvas or an error in the brush. Nothing more. Everything that exists is contained within the framework we know. If there's an anomaly, it's because something or someone hasn't followed the natural course of things."

Yozora crossed his arms, his expression contemplative. "What if it isn't a defect, but something external to the framework? Something that was never part of the system you described. That would explain why we felt its presence but couldn't define it."

Baalzebub rested his hands on the arms of his throne, his voice resonant and calm."Perhaps we've assumed for too long that we understand the limits of this universe. Maybe there's something beyond the borders of Black and White... something we never considered because we never wanted to look beyond."

A flash of confusion crossed Mivernag's face, but it was Semyazza who spoke first. "That would be a threat to everything we know. If there's something beyond our poles, it means our existence, our actions, even our struggles, might be insignificant in the face of a superior force acting from outside."

Ereshyka raised a hand, signaling for silence, and the gods obeyed. "Whatever it is, we cannot allow this uncertainty to weaken our position. If that force transcends the poles, we must understand it before it acts against us. And if we cannot control it, then we must find a way to destroy it."

Silence returned to the Great Pentagon of Twilight, but this time it was filled not with tension, but with a quiet determination. Ereshyka, looking at her allies, continued:

"Baalzebub, Yozora. I want you to begin investigating any clues about this presence. Search through the oldest secrets of Nirarthakata and Tuchchata. Perhaps we'll find hints of its origin there. Semyazza, gather information from the Dawns. They were also on the battlefield and may have perceived something more. Mivernag... stay vigilant. If this force decides to manifest again, I want us ready to face it."

Each god nodded, accepting their task. Though none expressed it aloud, they all knew they were facing something unprecedented. As the meeting drew to a close, the Great Pentagon of Twilight plunged once again into a profound silence. But this time, a new thought lingered in the air: Was it truly possible to destroy something that transcended even the fundamental forces of the universe?