The Transformation of Diyu 

Diyu couldn't believe Yow. What a cowardly man he has become.

"Maybe if I can get the Anunnaki to persuade him a little, he will come around, and we can finally get the rest of the village on board! They need to understand that we need to start working towards getting off this planet now." Diyu thought to himself as he got up and headed to go see the Anunnaki and talk with them.

As he approached one of the Anunnaki, it turned to him and looked into his eyes.

Then, Diyu heard a soft yet stern voice say, "I know what you will ask of us, and we must decline. We must maintain the order of the timeline. Any direct involvement from us could spin the whole timeline out of control. We are sorry, but any direct changes must come from your people alone."

With deep frustration, Diyu let out a roar. He made sure to face away from the Anunnaki, who then gave me space and went back inside their ship. At this point, things are becoming hopeless.

Diyu thought to himself "I will never be able to unite my village, let alone unite the clans."

He sat down by the Anunnaki craft, bewildered by what had just transpired. With his head down, staring at the dirt, Diyu can't help but think that this ground will be gone in the not-so-distant future. Lost in his thoughts, Diyu was surprised to see a figure in white glowing robes in front of him. He looked up to see an Anunnaki standing before him. A different soft hissing voice begins to echo in his head, "You wish to help your people, yes? You need not voice your opinion; I can read your thoughts. You think things are hopeless now, but I can promise you that I can help you change that. This is what you want." The words "what I want" continue to echo in my head, and I nod in agreement; this is indeed what I want. "Meet me at the High Hill landmark in the southern hunting grounds tonight after everyone is asleep." I nodded again.

Diyu was a little perplexed in the sudden change of heart the Anunnaki had shown in helping him save his people. They have never changed their mind about any decision they have made in the past. However, he doesn’t want this opportunity to slip from his grasp. Diyu had to do whatever it was going to take to save his people, they may not want to listen to him, or anyone else but that doesn't change the danger or the fact that their planet is doomed. Later that same evening, Diyu was intrigued by the prospect of a future among the stars and survival. So, he made his way to the high hill to meet the Anunnaki.

Upon arriving, he was taken aback by the sight of the Anunnaki performing a peculiar ritual. "What are you doing? Is the ground supposed to break apart and float like that?"

The same strange, soft hissing tone came in loud and clear, "Do you want to lead your people to survival and escape this cursed land?"

Diyu’s emotions boiled over and he let out a resounding "Yes!"

"Prepare yourself, Diyu. This is going to hurt."

The ground beneath Diyu’s feet began to quake as bits of stone and magma congealed together into a hovering, large ball just in front of him. It resembled a mirror, flickering with molten lava and purple lightning crackling within. The bubbling magma bubbled and popped, a foreboding sign of the intense heat emanating from the orb. The Anunnaki gestured toward Diyu, and he became weightless, immobilized, and unable to escape. Helplessly, Diyu floated towards the searing ball, his anxiety mounting with each passing moment. The searing heat radiated from it, a grim reminder of the agony that awaited him. Diyu was certain that this would be his demise, utterly helpless in the face of imminent destruction. With every inch that Diyu entered the orb, the excruciating pain intensified. Flames engulfed his boots as he entered the orb feet first. The Molten magma searing his flesh instantly burning leather boots and his own flesh. The burning sensation was so hot it almost felt cold all he could do was scream as every nerve in his body was seared away, and my skin bubbled up only to be covered by liquid metal. The fire spread, relentlessly crawling up my legs, each moment more torturous than the last. Diyu believed that this inferno would be his undoing! Gasping for breath,

Diyu mustered some strength and cried out, "Why have you forsaken me?"

Finally, molten metal had reached his chin, poised to cover Diyu’s mouth. He desperately tried to evade it, but as it slipped into his mouth, it surged down his throat with alarming speed. Diyu attempted to scream, but the rush of liquid metal choked him, and suffocated his lungs, and incinerating his insides. Helpless, Diyu’s body could withstand no more, Darkness enveloped him in an instant. Diyu’s consciousness wandered through an eternal black abyss, tormented as time stretched endlessly. Visions of a strange figure engulfed in red and purple flames flickered before him. This wasn’t an Anunnaki, yet his presence wasn’t alarming. The figure whispered that his time was not yet over. Each word lashed across my mind like searing chains.

"Diyu, you will follow me, your one and only god Zurrotan. Within this dark abyss, you have no choice but to follow me out and claim your birthright as the ruler of Hadawon, Take revenge on the Anunnaki! Together, we shall bring order and salvation to your land, and you shall ascend to godhood among your people!"

Rage consumed Diyu, bloodlust for the death of the Anunnaki infiltrated every fiber of his being. The voice of Zurrotan echoed in his mind, sowing seeds of doubt and betrayal. Confusion twisted with anger, tormenting Diyu’s every thought. He had trusted the Anunnaki, believed in their guidance, but now the foundation of his world had crumbled, replaced by a seething desire for retribution. The weight of his newfound significance in the universe became clear. Diyu was destined to rule, the sole wielder of the reins that would lead his people to greatness. The Anunnaki, those once revered and respected, would pay for their betrayal.

Images of their deceit flickered in Diyu’s mind's eye, fueling the fire within. His heart pounded, his pulse thundered in his ears as he clenched his fists. He could feel the power surge through his veins. How could the Anunnaki have fooled him?

“How could they have concealed their true intentions behind a facade of benevolence?” Diyu thought. Anguish mingled with fury, twisting his thoughts into a chaotic storm. "Zurrotan, release me from this torment! I have work to do, and I shall be the instrument that brings order to this world and exacts vengeance upon those who have betrayed me!"

Unbeknownst to Diyu, on the Hilltop where his body still lays, there was no Anunnaki. Only an imposter with a clever disguise of an Anunnaki. There he stood, a malicious grin stretching across his face. With a wave of his hand, his form began to change, morphing into the sinister visage of Zurrotan. "Yes, Diyu, rest. You will be my puppet of Chaos. These results are not what I expected but no less impressive," he taunted, his voice resonating with an otherworldly tone. The imposter revealed in his deception, relishing the chaos he had sown. "I bet you stupid Anunnaki didn't see this coming!" With that, the Chaos God Zurrotan disappeared, leaving Diyu unconscious on the ground, deceived into believing he was betrayed by the Anunnaki and saved by Zurrotan.

As Diyu slowly regained consciousness, a haze clouded his thoughts. The world around him seemed foreign, his own body unrecognizable. What used to be thick, leathery skin and broad muscles, was now a cold, metallic form.

Panic welled within him, intertwining with anger. "Oh, the deceit of these Anunnaki!" Diyu declared, his voice distorted by the unfamiliarity of my new vessel. The sense of violation and loss swept over him, fueling his determination to seek justice and reclaim what was rightfully his. The anger boiled as the realization of his blind trust and faith in the Anunnaki was taken advantage of. 

Diyu snapped and went into a blind rage. Slamming his joined fists together into the ground with such force that the ground exploded and sent shockwaves through the soil in all directions, quickly followed by cracks in the surface that split apart. Diyu could tell he was much stronger now then before this transformation.

“I will murder the Anunnaki for their betrayal of my loyalty. They WILL feel my wrath!”  Diyu exploded in a burst of speed in the direction of his village. Diyu also noticed he was much faster than he was before as well. This brought an overwhelming sense of deification to him. Diyu knew he would not fail! With a giant leap he bound over a tree and came crashing down in the middle of his village with a loud thunderous rumble. This drew attention to him by a village woman who lets out a terrifying scream from His now twisted and changed appearance. 

Another woman stepped forward that Diyu didn’t see. "Diyu? Is that you my child?" The voice sounded familiar and had a calming tone as he looked in the direction from which it came. It was his mother. she was looking at him, and she recognized him even in this cursed and betrayed form that the Anunnaki did to him! She placed her hand on his cheek. Then Diyu remembered when she used to do that when he was a boy. she would tell him how proud she was of him, that he would grow up to be a great hunter for the village someday. 

An older Kreegan came hobbling as fast as he could with a cane, "Heretic, betrayer, you are a monster!" the elderly voice snapped Diyu out of his nostalgic moment. Within a flash Diyu’s rage boiled over and his body snapped into action without thought or care. He closed the distance between the elder and him, then an explosion of anger and power. All Diyu could perceive was his fist penetrating the old man’s skull as brain and chunks of his skull, and teeth Explode in all directions through the air. When it was over his now headless body fell lifeless to the ground with a feeble thud. screams rang out across the village which triggered Diyu to take a defensive posture preparing for a fight.  

"What have you done? You can't be my son. He had a temper, but he wasn't a murderer." She was now in tears with trouble speaking clearly "This isn't how we live; we don't act like this anymore! We are of the peace."

Hearing the very word "peace" sent an electric surge of rage coursing through Diyu, as if it were a dagger piercing his heart. How could anyone dare to claim that we are of peace, when everything around us teetered on the edge of annihilation? The world was on the brink of being consumed by flames, devoured by chaos, and amidst such impending doom, the notion of peace seemed like a cruel mockery. The memories of relentless fires, endless darkness, and unyielding torment haunted my every thought, intensifying the fire of fury within me.

"What peace?" Diyu snarled; his voice laced with bitterness and contempt. His eyes blazed with a fierce determination, reflecting the inferno that raged within his soul. "You, and everyone else here, are doomed to die!" Diyu pointed an accusatory finger at the sun, its rays casting a harsh light on the desolation that surrounded them. "From that!" Diyu quickly and sharply spat, his voice seething with anger. "That blazing ball of fire in the sky, it holds the promise of destruction, not peace. This is your chance to open your eyes and follow me, to seize the opportunity to reclaim our people's freedom from the chains that bind us to this dying planet."

As the words escaped his lips, he could feel the weight of his tumultuous experiences fueling his fervor. The searing heat of the flames he had endured, both physical and metaphorical. Had forged an unyielding resolve within him. It was a resolve to defy the fate that awaited them, to rise above the ashes and forge a new path. The memory of the pain he had endured drove him forward, compelling him to challenge the very concept of peace in the face of impending doom.

Diyu’s mother, standing before him with a mix of sadness and concern etched on her face, took a step closer. "Diyu, my son," she implored, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Peace is not about denying the reality of our suffering. It is about finding a way to heal, to mend the wounds that scar our soul." Her words hung in the air, conflicting with my seething anger. "We cannot abandon hope," she continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "We must strive for peace, or our future generations are already doomed."

Her words pierced through Diyu’s anger, still able to reach a place inside him that existed untouched by chaos. Her words struck a chord deep within him. The clash between his burning desire for revenge and her plea for peace created a chaotic storm within Diyu’s mind. The weight of his mother's words, coupled with the memories of the pain and devastation he had endured, tugged at his conscience. Perhaps there was more to the world than the cycle of violence and vengeance he had become entangled in. Could peace truly offer a chance for redemption and liberation, or was it nothing more than a fleeting illusion?

These conflicting emotions swirled within him, a tempest of doubt and determination. Diyu stood there, torn between the consuming flames of his rage and the fragile flicker of hope that his mother's words had ignited. Deep down, he knew that the path ahead would be treacherous and fraught with uncertainty. As Diyu began to sway towards his mother's words his mind went dark and a sudden pain deep inside his head thrusted itself upon Diyu’s very thoughts. Whispers of revenge, war, and God hood swirled in his head uncontrollably. Diyu could see off in the distance the Anunnaki ship take off and jetting out of their planet’s atmosphere.

This triggered even more rage inside Diyu "Cowards, come back here and face your death sentence!" Diyu’s outburst was almost uncontrollable.  

Diyu’s mother never took her eyes off her son. “I can tell my son isn’t in control of himself, but I can also tell he is not fully lost yet. My words can still reach him. She thought to herself and then spoke to Diyu. "Diyu, listen to me please, it is better that they left. You can still make peace with yourself. With the villagers, and… with me."

Diyu’s mother's words hit at pieces of his ego that will not let him be wrong, Diyu was forced to remember what Zurrotan told him. "You will be worshipped as a God among your people."

Over confidence begins to consume his very being as he looked upon his mother, "Who says it’s better?" Diyu pauses and looked around the village at all of the hunters are now gathered but are keeping their distance away from him.

"I am the new leader of this Village, I am Diyu and I am your Lord. My hands will unite this world and we will survive this, and I will have my vengeance on the Anunnaki for what they have done to me. If you oppose me, I will end your life. No one here can hope to say the same to me." Diyu declared loudly so that all could hear him.

With that said Diyu saw the hunters and other capable men take a knee as a sign of pledging their loyalty to him from this day on either out of respect or just plain fear. Diyu knew he needed off this planet to seek his revenge. However, the Anunnaki made a mistake, they had already taught Diyu how he could build the craft that he needed to escape this prison of a planet. He just needed the resources. 

Diyu made eye contact with Emo among the other Kreegan’s down on one knee. Diyu changed his path to walk past him and muttered to him as he passed by. "Emo, spread the word within the village about these events. Ensure that everyone takes a knee. Those who refuse to comply should be dealt with. Once you've done that, find me in the Elder's hut. Now, let's go, Mother. We have matters to discuss." As he turns to his mom and ushers her to the Elder’s hut. Diyu could sense her reluctance to listen to him, but he knew she had no choice.

"Are you going to kill me too? Is this who you've become? Who are you? What have they done to my son?" she asked, her voice filled with fear and confusion.

Anger surged through Diyu as she failed to understand what he had been through. "Look at me! Look at what they did to me! I believed in them, and they took something from me that can never be recovered! They will pay with their despicable, deceitful lives!" Diyu lashed out.

"Stop this! The anger inside you is a tempest. You must endure the storm and remain calm, Diyu! Please, son, this is not the path you want to take," she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.

"Oh, but it is the exact path I desire and will pursue. Anyone who stands in my way will perish. Those who seek to halt me are the very one’s content with watching this planet die. If they are so eager to embrace death, I will gladly accommodate them."

Diyu can see that his mother will defy him, and will continue to push her own issues, and though he knew he should end her life right here and now, a flicker of compassion holds him back. "From now on, you will stay in this hut," Diyu commanded. "I will instruct the men of the village to bring you back here whenever they see you outside. If necessary, I will chain you to this hut." As Diyu surveyed the hut, his eyes fell upon an old, and dusty table scattered with papers. Amidst the clutter, an old, tan-colored paper caught his attention. Pulling it out, he revealed it was a map. It was a world map of Hadawon, with all 5 clan territories clearly marked out on it. Each of the capital cities were also marked for every clan. Their civilization's hierarchy seemed clearer than the tales he was told while growing up. Diyu realized he would need to go to the capital if he was to unite all his Anoxe Clan. Diyu Stormed out of the hut, he was met by Emo returning from his previous duties.

"Lord, I have carried out your orders," Emo reported. "Only ten out of the hundred villagers refused to kneel. I have arranged for their burial."

"Ah, Emo, you have always been loyal, even in difficult times," Diyu praised. "You shall make a fine general in my army." Diyu placed his hand on his shoulder in approvement.

"Lord, are we going to war with only ninety men?" Emo questioned. 

"No, we are heading to the capital to gather more men for the impending war.”

"Lord, my apologies, but I was unaware we even had a capital.”

Diyu motioned for Emo to follow me behind a hut, away from prying eyes. There, I unveiled the map.

"This is the key to uniting the clans," Diyu explained. "With the combined resources and labor force from each land, we will escape this forsaken rock."

"My Lord, your will be done," Emo declared, clenching his right hand and placing it over his chest as a sign of respect. "What are your orders, Lord Diyu?"

"Divide the ninety men into groups," Diyu commanded. "Half of them should begin preparing the village, transforming it into a war camp. The other half must focus on crafting weapons of war."

"With all due respect, Lord, our villagers lack the skills to create such weapons," Emo pointed out. "They are familiar only with bows and spears for hunting."

"Then bows and spears it shall be," Diyu affirmed. "They must be capable of slaying the mightiest Arctodus beasts to withstand the trials of war."

"Understood, Lord. Your will be done!" Emo exclaimed, turning away and moving down through the middle of the village to shout his orders. The further he made it down the more men that lined up outside their huts. Diyu couldn’t help but think that this is the beginning of chaos that will unite the clans and get us all off of this forsaken rock.

It has only been a week since Diyu took control of this once-sleepy village, and already they have transformed it into a formidable war camp. They have erected sturdy walls and positioned lookout posts in strategic locations. The constant clanging of hammers fills the air as armor and weapons are forged. The lingering scent of burning coal permeates the camp. However, it is not enough. Diyu yearns to wrap his hands around the throats of the Anunnaki and squeeze the life out of each and every one of them. Seeking solace, he retreated to his war room to study the map. He calculated that it would take them four days to march to the capital along the western shoreline.

In this moment, Diyu can't help but recall Yow's words to the western hunters long ago, warning them that traveling north along the western shores would lead to death by crossing a border. Diyu assumed it referred to the borders of another clan. Little did he know that all this time, it was the path to the capital of our own clan, the Anoxe Clan. Not to some sudden death. Diyu pondered if this was a real warning or one to just keep us here in this village.

Either way he knew his future waited for him in the Capital. Soon, he would have to face the chief of the Anoxe clan. Diyu thought to himself that he too shall kneel before him or perish. There was just  three more months until it all would unfold in Noxeer, the capital.

Diyu bide his time, planning beyond the capital. Emo and he discussed potential war tactics in case the current ruler refuses to submit or the people resist Diyu’s rule. Through these discussions, I have come to realize what an asset Emo is to my campaign. He is quick to challenge a bad idea and can usually suggest a better one in its place.

"Tomorrow, my lord, you will be ready to depart for the capital with a personal guard of ninety-armed soldiers," Emo informs Diyu.

"Emo, you shall accompany me as well," he responds, extending my hand as a symbol of trust and unity. "A warlord needs his finest general by his side in battle." Emo's hand quickly slaps together with my own followed by a firm squeeze. "You honor me, Lord. I am willing and able. Your will be done!"

They stepped out of the hut and for the first time Diyu saw all ninety Kreegan warriors assembled in two ranks. The first rank wields heavy-duty wooden poles, thicker than ordinary spears, topped with larger metal spearheads. The second rank holds bows as tall as themselves. Each man is armored and equipped with provisions for war. Diyu turned to Emo and nodded approvingly. "You have assembled a fine unit. I shall call them Guardsmen. It is time to march."