Shadows Of Deception

Mengi's voice grew heavier, each word carrying the weight of long-buried truths as he continued his explanation. Jin, Seiji, and the others sat in tense silence, absorbing every revelation like pieces of a puzzle falling into place.

"After Jiangshi's banishment," Mengi began, "life in Atlantis continued. And then, Jin, you were born. Your arrival was nothing short of miraculous. The skies above Atlantis roared with approval, bright streaks of light dancing across the heavens as if the gods themselves celebrated your birth. The people of Atlantis rejoiced, their voices united in song and prayer. They praised Mother's strength and Father's reign, and for a while, all seemed perfect."

Mengi paused, his expression darkening. "But perfection never lasts. Five years after your birth, Jiangshi's shadow loomed once again. He had been seeking power in exile, stretching the boundaries of his compass magic to delve into realms forbidden even to the most daring of sorcerers."

Mengi's eyes flicked to Jin, searching for understanding. "Do you know what he sought, Jin? He sought the truth about the power you now carry—the demon within you. Our ancestors, the Mayan family, were renowned for their mastery of ancient, otherworldly forces. Jiangshi knew that your power, the very thing that made our family strong, had a history far older than Atlantis itself. And so, he used his compass magic to travel into the past, hoping to uncover the secrets of its creation."

Seiji shifted uncomfortably. "And did he succeed?" he asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Mengi nodded grimly. "Yes, but at a cost. Jiangshi ventured back thousands of years to a time when our ancestors first harnessed the demon's power. He learned the technique they used—a forbidden ritual that brought the entity into our world. But…" Mengi hesitated, his fists clenching. "He was wrong. He didn't see the entire ritual. The power Jiangshi sought to control was far beyond his understanding. The ritual was incomplete, and when Jiangshi tried to use it for his own gain, it backfired."

Jin's eyes narrowed, confusion and anger swirling within him. "What do you mean it backfired?"

Mengi sighed, his gaze distant as if reliving the events. "The power Jiangshi unleashed didn't bring forth the demon you carry. Instead, it awakened something far worse. Something that our ancestors had sealed long ago. Something that should have remained buried forever."

Mengi's voice dropped to a near-whisper. "The Three-Headed Dragon of Hell. They were not mere demons—they were gods. Primordial forces that existed before the world began. One was the God of Death, who ruled over the end of all things. Another was the God of Destruction, who unleashed chaos upon the earth. And the third was the God of Madness, who bent reality to his will, unraveling the minds of all who dared oppose him. Together, they were a force of unrelenting annihilation, and our ancestors barely managed to seal them away."

The room grew colder as the weight of Mengi's words sank in. He continued, his tone heavy with regret. "Jiangshi's incomplete ritual disturbed their slumber. Though he couldn't free them entirely, he made contact. And they struck a bargain."

"A bargain?" Jin repeated, his voice trembling.

Mengi nodded. "The Three Heads agreed to grant Jiangshi a fraction of their power—a power that elevated him to demi-godhood. In return, Jiangshi promised to harness the energy of the earth and its inhabitants to break their seals completely. He became their agent, their tool, their chosen harbinger."

Seiji's face darkened. "And what power did they give him?"

Mengi shook his head. "I don't know the full extent of what they gave him, but it changed him. Jiangshi was already a manipulator of time, but this power made him something else entirely. His abilities grew beyond comprehension, and he became untouchable. But it wasn't enough for him. Jiangshi wanted to return to Atlantis—not just to reclaim what he believed was his, but to use Atlantis as the foundation for his ultimate goal."

"Which was?" Jin demanded, his fists clenched.

"To gather the energy needed to free the Three Heads of Hell," Mengi replied. "Atlantis was the heart of the world's power, a sanctuary of life and unity. Jiangshi saw it as the perfect place to begin his campaign."

Mengi's voice cracked, and he turned away from Jin, his shoulders tense. "Father didn't see it coming. None of us did. Jiangshi returned to Atlantis, not as a brother or a council member, but as an enemy. And that was the beginning of the end."