"I summon you to announce the fissure in the seal binding the fallen one bu-" he was swiftly interrupted.

"HOW SO??!! The seal should endure throughout his immortal existence. It only falters if his life force diminishes, which should not occur for another ki-r."

"His might surpasses our estimations," another voiced.

"Yes, his potency is grand, but the seal should endure unless his entire life force nears depletion. The seal relies on his life force, so how did it crack? And what shall we convey to 'THEM'?" another stressed.

"SILENCE!!!" The elder roared.

"Forgive us, great elder," they replied simultaneously.

"The seal is ruptured, yet he resides within. He cleaved his soul from the trinity, causing the breach. He employed these fissures to dispatch his soul to the lower planes, depleting most of his powers. He slumbers deeply, his life force waning swiftly."

"Suicide, essentially. Why concern ourselves? Soon, his life force will fade, and he will perish, along with the soul sent to the lower planes," one stated.

"That may not be the case. Recall the prophecy of the Forsaken son?" The elder asked.

"The prophecy of the Forsaken? Calamity starts when the Forsaken son divides his soul from the trinity. His demise is his rebirth. What connection does this hold? Look at the crimson gate. His demise seems distant."

"Elder, he is insignificant. Not one of 'Them.' A fortuitous being who stumbled upon power."

"Perhaps I am mistaken. Pray I am. Inform the gods of the lower planes of recent anomalies and assist Zebha. His transcendence is imminent. Soon, a new Erk'mûñ emerges. Determine his law before assigning gods to rear him bu-"

As he spoke, the crimson gates behind him erupted, compelling him to shield the Erk'mûñ with unfathomable power. They suppressed the explosion, dwindling it to a spark, then extinguished it. The explosion signaled the truth of the Forsaken son's prophecy, setting fate in motion.

"Sigh, report this to 'THEM.' Order gods under you to gather newborns marked with runes, a sign of divine reincarnation. Search every plane but time is limited," he instructed.

"Ser ur nihu," they echoed.

And vanished, leaving the elder Erk'mûñ alone. His gaze penetrated the void down to the lower lanes.

"Perfect... my old friend, I await the day you rise again, liberating us from 'THEM.'"

He vanished, leaving Hur'ekz, a void with nothing... ....

In a dark world, a glowing ball moved through shadows, heading to a woodland house. Inside, a woman struggled through childbirth.

Unseen, the glowing ball approached, illuminating the darkness. As the baby was born, the ball merged with the infant. Crimson patterns covered the baby, a mysterious design.

The mother, in childbirth's throes, overlooked the transformation. Reaching for her baby, she realized life had departed. A scream of despair echoed in the woods as the grieving mother cursed the gods for her fate.

Unnoticed, a glowing ball left the lifeless baby, flying into the sky, seeking a new vessel.