The Ascendant Mortal: Beyond Divine Boundaries

Aamir wandered through the seemingly endless aisles of the Library of Wisdom. Each step resonated with the quiet hum of a place steeped in history and knowledge. His mind, restless and curious, urged him to absorb more about the world he had barely begun to understand.

As he passed rows of books on ancient artifacts and forgotten languages, a memory surfaced—a vivid recollection of the first time he met Kunal.

It had been a chance encounter in a small library back in Amritakshetra. Aamir, still a novice in his pursuit of knowledge, had spotted Kunal engrossed in a thick tome. The title of the book was partially obscured, but Aamir remembered its vibrant cover and the intensity with which Kunal flipped through its pages.

"What's the book about?" Aamir had asked.

"Ancient wars," Kunal had replied without looking up. "It's called The Ancient Era and War. You wouldn't believe the things written here—stuff that feels more like a tale from another world than our history."

That brief exchange had been etched in Aamir's memory. And now, as he meandered through Nalanda's grand library, the name of the book resurfaced. A spark of curiosity lit within him.

Determined, Aamir headed to the section where books on the world's history were stored. The shelves towered above him, filled with tomes of every size and color. He scoured titles and descriptions but couldn't find The Ancient Era and War.

After several minutes of searching, he sighed and decided to seek help. He approached the librarian, an elderly man with a long white beard and spectacles perched on his nose.

"Excuse me," Aamir began. "I'm looking for a book called The Ancient Era and War. I've been searching in the history section, but I can't seem to find it."

The librarian adjusted his glasses and thought for a moment. "Ah, that one," he said. "You won't find it in the history section anymore."

Aamir frowned. "Why not? Isn't it a history book?"

"It was," the librarian explained with a small smile. "But its contents are so fantastical that most scholars dismissed it as fiction. Over time, it was reclassified and moved to the fantasy fiction section."

Aamir blinked in surprise. "So, it's not considered accurate?"

The librarian shrugged. "That depends on what you believe. Some claim it holds grains of truth buried under layers of exaggeration. Others say it's purely imaginative. Regardless, you'll find it among the fantasy tomes now."

"Thank you," Aamir said, nodding.

The fantasy fiction section was quieter, tucked away in a corner of the vast library. The air felt different here—almost whimsical, as though the books themselves carried a spark of magic.

Aamir scanned the shelves, running his fingers over titles like Tales of the Forgotten and Legends of the Abyss. After a few minutes, his eyes landed on it: a golden book with a red-and-black background, its title emblazoned in bold letters:

The Ancient Era and War.

He pulled the book from the shelf, feeling a strange weight in his hands. The golden cover shimmered faintly under the library's soft light. He opened it and began to read.

"Approximately 1,600 years ago, the world was unlike the one we know today. It was an age of unparalleled advancement—towering skyscrapers, advanced vehicles, and sprawling cities as vast as present-day states. Magic existed but was weak, a fading echo of its former glory.

In this time of prosperity, a man rose who would change everything. His name is lost to history, but his ambition and cruelty remain legend. Through unknown means, he discovered a power not of this world—a force that transcended the limitations of magic. With this newfound strength, he declared war against humanity itself.

The world, unprepared for such destruction, teetered on the brink of annihilation. It was then that the Guardians—the protectors of balance, second only to the creators of existence—intervened. Yet even their combined might proved insufficient against the man's growing power.

In desperation, they turned to the gods themselves. Two of the primal five answered the call: The Goddess of Light and The God of Darkness. United, they confronted the man in a battle that shook the very fabric of existence.

The gods triumphed, but they could not destroy him entirely. Instead, they sealed half of his energy deep within the earth, ensuring it would never again threaten the world. The other half… vanished.

Before departing, the gods warned humanity:

"He cannot be destroyed. One day, he will return. And when he does humanity be ready''

Aamir closed the book, his heart racing. The story felt eerily real, as though the words carried a hidden weight. Was it truly fiction, as the librarian had said? Or was it a forgotten truth, dismissed and buried over the centuries?

His mind reeled with questions. Who was this man? What was this otherworldly power? And, most chilling of all, what would happen if he returned?

As he clutched the book tightly, Aamir felt a strange determination take root within him. Perhaps this wasn't just a story. Perhaps it was a warning—a glimpse into a past that refused to stay buried.