100,000,000 Years Ago

In the dawn of time, when the universe was a tapestry of raw potential and the cosmos still in its infancy, seven beings rose to prominence as the custodians of elemental power. Known collectively as the Keepers of the Rings, they were chosen for their deep attunement to the fundamental forces that governed existence: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Light, Shadows, and Lightning. Through ancient artifacts of immense mystical potency—seven rings—they wielded authority over these elements, ensuring harmony across realms and dimensions.

At the heart of their council stood Korath, the Keeper of Fire. A figure of imposing stature and commanding presence, his voice resonated with the echoes of ages past as he guided the council through epochs of prosperity and enlightenment. Under his leadership, the Keepers upheld a delicate balance, their influence extending across lands both seen and unseen.

Yet, beneath Korath's veneer of wisdom and benevolence lurked a hunger—an insatiable desire to transcend their role as mere guardians of the elements. He believed that the rings, symbols of their stewardship, held the key not only to maintaining balance but also to reshaping reality itself. Secretly, he delved into forbidden knowledge and ancient magics, driven by visions of a world where he wielded power beyond mortal comprehension.

Whispers of Korath's ambitions spread like wildfire among the council, stirring dissent among his peers. Some, swayed by promises of power and prestige, entertained thoughts of embracing Korath's vision. Others, mindful of the perils of unchecked ambition, urged caution and restraint.

The turning point came within the sanctified confines of the Crystal Sanctum—a sanctuary hidden deep within the heart of Avalon City, a celestial metropolis woven into the very fabric of the universe. Here, amidst crystalline spires that shimmered with the energies of creation, the fate of the Keepers would be decided.

On a night cloaked in shadows and treachery, Korath made his move. With a calculated and swift betrayal, he turned against his fellow Keepers, unleashing the full fury of his elemental prowess in a bid to seize control of the rings. The Sanctum trembled as elemental forces clashed with cataclysmic might, threatening to unravel the very fabric of reality.

Earth trembled beneath their feet, its crust splitting with fiery fissures that spewed molten lava in great geysers of destruction. Flames roared to life, consuming everything in their path with a voracious hunger that defied containment. Waters surged, swirling in tempestuous fury, threatening to drown all who dared defy their will. Winds howled with an otherworldly cry, tearing through the Sanctum like vengeful spirits unleashed from ancient seals.

Amidst the chaos, beams of blinding light pierced through the darkness, while shadows danced in malevolent patterns, whispering of secrets long buried. Lightning crackled across the heavens, its electrifying touch rending sky and earth asunder.

The Keepers, once bound by unbreakable bonds forged over millennia, now found themselves divided by betrayal and mistrust. Though they managed to subdue Korath and imprison him within a timeless void—an ethereal prison beyond the reaches of time and space—the cost was high. The Sanctum lay in ruins, its sacred halls shattered by the very powers they had sworn to protect.

With their energies depleted and their unity fractured, the remaining Keepers knew that their era was drawing to a close. In their final moments, they foresaw a future where champions would rise from the ashes of their betrayal—mortal souls destined to inherit the mantle of the rings and restore balance to a world teetering on the brink of chaos.

And so, the tale of the Keepers of the Rings faded into legend, their names whispered in reverence and fear across the ages as Avalon City flourished and evolved around the remnants of their once-great civilization.