Chapter 1: A World Divided

In a world torn apart by the enmity of Gods and Demons, humanity stood divided. Greed drove some to abandon the divine, worshiping Demons in exchange for their deepest desires — and in doing so, they fell to every sin imaginable: Lust, Wrath, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony, Pride, and Avarice.

One God resolved to walk the mortal realm, and what he found filled him with despair. Bountiful as they were, humans defied the Gods' laws, and many knelt before Azerel, the Demon King. Rage consumed him — he wanted to destroy the world he had created... until a soft voice pulled him back.

Back story

"Hello, mister! Are you lost? Why are you crying?"

The God wiped his eyes. "Nothing."

The girl leaned in, her brow furrowed. "Mister, are you hungry? You look so pale."

"I'm alright."

"Come with me," she insisted, taking his hand.

He followed her as she led him through the wilderness for half an hour. "Lady, where are we going?"

"Oh, sorry!" She stopped. "We're here."

Before them stood a tiny tent — barely big enough for one person. The girl pulled out fruits and water. "Here, mister."

"Do you live here alone?"

"Yes, sire."

"That must be lonely..."

"I used to have a family — three siblings, my parents. They all died in the war. I'm the only one left."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I've moved on. They'd be sad if they saw me unhappy, so I have to keep going."

The God hesitated. "Do you think the world is cruel?"

"Why ask that?"

"After everything that's happened to you... don't you think it is?"

"It is cruel, sire. But it's also worth loving. Not everything is bad. After my family died, I wanted to end my life — but an old woman stopped me, sheltered me. She taught me kindness can change people... and it changed me."

The God's eyes lit up. "You're right! That's exactly it!"

"By the way, what's your name?" the God asked.

"Mara. And you, sire?"

"I'm Henry — God of Nature."

Henry devoured the fruits in seconds. Mara stared, shocked — but she figured he was just starving, not really a God.

Present

In the Xylem Dynasty of Gwangnan, a girl was born to the realm's strongest cultivator. Her name was Natsou — with white hair, pale skin, and a beauty that turned heads. When she turned nine, her father Hiro began her training as a cultivator.

[Cultivators: Warriors who hunt monsters and Demons. Some are healers too, drawing on nature's energy to fight and mend. They use hand gestures to control this power.]

"Father, I want to play with my friends!" Natsou begged, dropping her training stance.

"No," Hiro said firmly. "Not until you're done."

"But I'm still young! When I'm older, I'll train hard to be like you — I promise!"

"You said you wanted to be stronger than me, remember?"

"I did... but I'm too little for this!"

"I started training when I was five."

"Really?!"

"Yes. Natsou, we only have each other now. Your mother is gone — if I die, there'll be no one to protect you."

Tears welled in her eyes. "Father, everyone says I'm a curse... even the shaman. They say mother died because of me."

"She said that?"

"I went for a palm reading with my friends. She said she saw a curse in me... do you think I deserve to die?"

Natsou broke down crying. Hiro pulled her close. "That's a lie. Your mother is at peace now — she hated seeing you cry. People are just jealous of my beautiful daughter."

"Don't lie to me!"

"I'd never lie to you. If you're tired, let's rest. Okay?"

"Okay."

Hiro carried the sleeping Natsou to her chamber. As he watched her, rage boiled up — remembering how the shaman had bullied her, how rumors spread like wildfire. He'd had enough.

He marched to the shaman's hut. "Master Hiro! You've come — would you like a reading?"

"No. What I want is your palm. May I have it?"

"What do you mean?"

Hiro leaned in, his voice low. "I'm going to cut it so you never make my daughter cry again."

"Master, I can explain!"

But Hiro had already drawn his blade. The shaman screamed as her hand hit the ground. "Why?!"

"No one bullies my daughter."

"But it's true! She's a curse — you know it!"

"Want me to cut your head next?"

The shaman fell silent, terrified. "Okay... I'll leave her alone."

Hiro then went to the market square, where Gwangnan's people gathered. He held up the shaman's severed hand for all to see.

"Everyone knows me — I am Hiro Hiwari, Master of the God of Nature Sect!"

Whispers rippled through the crowd. "That's the great cultivator... the one with the half-demon daughter..."

"See this hand?" Hiro roared. "This belongs to the shaman who started the lie that my daughter is a curse. No one — no one — will call her that again. If I hear the rumor spread, I'll cut out their tongue. Remember that."

He turned and left, leaving the crowd trembling in fear.

"How sad," a woman named Mei said softly. "Everyone thinks he's a monster now."

A boy beside her stared after Hiro, his eyes wide with awe. He's incredible. The strongest cultivator.

"Let's go home, Kei," Mei said.

"Okay, Mother."

End of chapter 1

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