# Chapter 7: The Sprouting Era
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**Second Epoch, Year 0 - The Sprouting Era Begins**
The darkness was absolute.
Adrian stood in the Foundation Archive's central chamber, his Archivist Characteristic processing the mystical patterns of a world transformed. Nine hundred and eighty-one years since the Cataclysm. The First Epoch had ended with Aurmir's ascension to Ancient God status, and now the Second Epoch—the Dark Epoch—had begun.
The Supernova Dominator occupied the sun's position beyond Earth's barrier, but His light couldn't penetrate. Without the Primordial God Almighty to serve as a light source, the world remained in perpetual darkness, lit only by mystical fires and Beyonder energy.
"The kins of chaos are being systematically eliminated," Marcus reported, his crystalline elf-form refined after nearly a millennium of existence. "Ancient God subsidiary forces are hunting them across all continents. Within three centuries, they'll be extinct."
Adrian nodded, his perfect memory cataloguing the shift. The era of pure chaos was ending. The era of fantasy—of civilizations built by Beyonder races—was beginning.
"The Sprouting Era," Adrian announced to the assembled Archive leadership. "Year 0 to approximately 1268. This is humanity's critical period. We must understand what makes this era unique."
He pulled up information structures showing population distributions and mystical patterns.
"Currently, eight Ancient Gods are consolidating power: Giant King Aurmir, Dragon of Imagination Ankewelt, Elf King Soniathrym, Sanguine Ancestor Lilith, Devil Monarch Farbauti, Phoenix Ancestor Gregrace, Mutated King Kvastir, and King of Demonic Wolves Flegrea. They're dividing the world's authorities, establishing dominion over sky, land, oceans, the Spirit World, and Astral World."
Elena appeared through the communication array. "And humanity's position?"
"Here's what's critical," Adrian emphasized, his voice carrying weight. "Giants, elves, vampires, and humans—they still exist as a **unified race**. They haven't divided yet. A giant still considers himself human. An elf still remembers human origins. Vampires acknowledge their humanity."
He let that sink in.
"This unity won't last. In 1268 years, the First Blasphemy Slate will be revealed, and humans will fracture under instigation from dragons, mutants, and demons. Giants and elves will renounce their humanity, declaring themselves divine creatures. But for the next twelve and a half centuries, that fracturing hasn't happened yet."
Thomas's giant-form straightened. "So I'm still... human?"
"According to current cultural understanding? Yes." Adrian's gaze was steady. "You're a human who transformed into a giant. Not a separate species. That's the paradigm of the Sprouting Era. It's also our greatest advantage."
He manipulated the information structures to show organizational strategy.
"The Archive's mission for the Sprouting Era: Preserve and strengthen human unity. Every giant, elf, vampire, and baseline human needs to remember they're the same species. When the fracturing comes in year 1268, we need enough humans who remember the truth to prevent complete cultural collapse."
Marcus studied the projections. "What's the political landscape we're operating in?"
Adrian pulled up faction analysis. "The Ancient Gods are establishing their territories. Races that take human-like forms—giants, elves, vampires—are fighting against non-human races: dragons, phoenixes, mutants. Devils and demonic wolves stand apart, wanting to destroy and corrupt everything."
He expanded the detail.
"According to patterns I'm tracking, Aurmir, Soniathrym, and Lilith will form one coalition. Ankewelt, Gregrace, and Kvastir will form another. Farbauti and Flegrea will remain independent destructive forces. This three-way conflict will define the Sprouting Era's political dynamics."
"And baseline humans?" Vera asked.
"Subordinates or slaves to giants, elves, and vampires," Adrian said bluntly. "But 'subordinate' means different things in different territories. Some Ancient Gods treat humans as valued servants. Others as expendable resources. The Archive needs to identify which gods are... manageable."
He pulled up specific targets.
"Priority One: Establish deeper presence in the Silver Kingdom under Aurmir. The Giant King has shown capacity for cooperation with organized humans. His wife Omebella promotes relatively benign policies toward baseline humans."
"Priority Two: Expand operations in elf territories under Soniathrym. Elves value knowledge and scholarship—our natural advantages. We can position ourselves as essential to their intellectual development."
"Priority Three: Carefully penetrate vampire domains under Lilith. She's sophisticated and dangerous, but vampires have the closest cultural ties to baseline humans. That's exploitable."
Elena caught something. "You're deliberately avoiding dragons, phoenixes, and mutants?"
"For now, yes." Adrian's expression was calculating. "Dragons hoard knowledge but don't share it. Phoenixes are too chaotic with their death-rebirth cycles. Mutants are unstable. We focus on the human-like coalition where our knowledge has maximum value and minimum risk."
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**Second Epoch, Year 300 - The Golden Age of Expansion**
Three centuries into the Sprouting Era, and the Archive had grown beyond Adrian's most optimistic projections.
"Twenty-five thousand trained disciples," Marcus reported during the tricentennial review. "Forty-three thousand apprentices across eighty-nine surface operations and seven deep sanctuaries. Presence on every inhabited continent."
Adrian archived the numbers with satisfaction. In the darkness of the Dark Epoch, the Archive had become a light of its own—not literal illumination, but the light of preserved knowledge and maintained human consciousness.
"Casualty count?"
"Eight hundred and ninety-four over three centuries. Mostly from Ancient God territorial conflicts or subsidiary god power struggles. All Archive Seeds recovered."
Eight hundred and ninety-four names added to Adrian's perfect memory. Seventeen centuries of operation, and every loss still registered with crystalline clarity.
"The kins of chaos are nearly extinct," Elena reported. "Perhaps a hundred remain across all continents, hiding in the deepest places. The Ancient Gods have achieved their goal—the world is theirs to rule without chaotic interference."
Adrian nodded. "Expected. The Sprouting Era is living up to its name. Civilizations are genuinely sprouting from the ashes of the First Epoch's carnage. Giants are building architectural wonders. Elves are developing sophisticated mystical traditions. Vampires are cultivating arts and culture."
He pulled up sociological data compiled over three centuries.
"What's most remarkable: despite the power imbalances, despite the slavery, despite everything—humans remain unified. A giant farmer working his fields still tells his children stories about the Pre-Epoch. An elf scholar studying mysticism still acknowledges she was born human. Vampire aristocrats still remember their mortal origins."
Thomas spoke thoughtfully. "The Acting Method helps with that. Every disciple maintains their human identity through conscious role-play."
"Exactly," Adrian confirmed. "The Acting Method isn't just about controlling Beyonder powers—it's a cultural preservation technique. When you consciously perform your pathway's role, you maintain awareness of the difference between performance and identity. You're *acting* like a giant. You haven't *become* fundamentally non-human."
He manipulated information structures showing the next nine hundred and sixty-eight years.
"This unity will last until year 1268, when the First Blasphemy Slate emerges. That revelation will trigger humanity's fracturing. Our mission for the remaining millennium: make human unity so deeply ingrained that even when the fracturing happens, significant populations resist it."
Vera raised a concern. "That's nine and a half more centuries. Most of us won't survive that long. Even with Beyonder longevity, we're looking at multiple generational transitions."
"I know," Adrian said quietly. "I'll be there—biological immortality means I personally bridge the entire Sprouting Era. But you're right. Most disciples alive today won't see year 1268. Your grandchildren will. Your great-great-grandchildren will witness the fracturing."
He looked at each senior member present.
"That's why we're not just training operatives—we're creating culture. Every child born in an Archive sanctuary grows up learning: 'You are human. Your form doesn't change that. Giants, elves, vampires—all human.' We make that identity so fundamental that it becomes generational inheritance."
Marcus smiled slightly. "We're building a religion without gods. A faith in humanity itself."
"Precisely." Adrian's eyes gleamed. "And when the fracturing comes, when dragons and demons instigate the humans to divide, when giants and elves declare themselves divine creatures separate from baseline humanity... the Archive will be there, preserving the truth. Reminding people who they really are."
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**Second Epoch, Year 600 - The Consolidation Phase**
Six centuries into the Sprouting Era, the Ancient Gods' territories had solidified into genuine empires.
Adrian reviewed comprehensive reports from Archive operations across three continents. The political landscape had stabilized exactly as his projections suggested: Aurmir, Soniathrym, and Lilith forming the quasi-human coalition. Ankewelt, Gregrace, and Kvastir leading the non-human alliance. Farbauti and Flegrea remaining independent forces of chaos.
"We've achieved critical embedding in five Ancient God domains," Marcus reported. His elf-form had advanced to Sequence 2—Angel level—making him one of the most powerful Beyonders in the Archive. "Giant territories under Aurmir, elf territories under Soniathrym, vampire domains under Lilith, phoenix regions under Gregrace, and partial penetration of dragon territories under Ankewelt."
Adrian processed the success with clinical satisfaction. Six centuries of careful work, building relationships, demonstrating value, becoming indispensable.
"What services are we providing?"
"Agricultural optimization in giant territories—they have strength but lack subtlety. Mystical scholarship in elf territories—they value knowledge above all. Information networks in vampire domains—Lilith uses us as her intelligence apparatus. Resurrection cycle management in phoenix regions—Gregrace needs administrators who survive between his death-rebirth cycles. And knowledge translation in dragon territories—Ankewelt hoards information but needs help organizing it."
Adrian nodded. "Defensive integration is working perfectly. We're so valuable that killing us would damage their own infrastructure. Continue expansion."
Elena appeared with different news. "I've detected unusual activity near the Chaos Sea. Something is... stirring. Ancient energy patterns that don't match any current Ancient God."
Adrian's Archivist Characteristic immediately focused. "Describe the patterns."
"Reminiscent of the Primordial God Almighty's signature, but not identical. As if someone found His corpse and was... changed by it. The energy readings suggest a human transformed by prolonged contact with divine remains."
Adrian's perfect memory pulled up his projections about the Ancient Sun God. "That's expected. Somewhere in the Chaos Sea, a Pre-Epoch survivor named Adam is being transformed by exposure to the Primordial God Almighty's corpse and the First Blasphemy Slate. He'll eventually emerge as what history calls the Ancient Sun God."
Marcus looked surprised. "Another Pre-Epoch survivor? Like you?"
"Yes, but he took a completely different path," Adrian explained. "I achieved biological immortality and fused with a Beyonder Characteristic during the Cataclysm. He survived through unknown means and found his way to the Chaos Sea. Now divine power is transforming him into something unprecedented—a human ascending to godhood through accommodation of multiple pathways."
He pulled up long-term timeline projections.
"He won't emerge for another seventeen hundred years—around year 2325 of the Second Epoch. When he does, he'll slay Soniathrym and Ankewelt, severely wound Aurmir and Gregrace, force Farbauti to seal the Abyss. He'll become humanity's champion and eventually our greatest tyrant."
Thomas frowned. "How do we prepare for that?"
"By being invaluable when he emerges," Adrian replied. "The Ancient Sun God will need administrators for his theocracy. He'll need scholars to codify the pathway system. He'll need humans who understand Pre-Epoch knowledge to help rebuild civilization properly. The Archive will provide all of that."
He smiled coldly.
"The Ancient Gods think they rule this epoch. They don't realize we're building the institutional infrastructure that will outlast them all. When the Ancient Sun God emerges and destroys their empires, we'll already be positioned to serve the new regime."
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**Second Epoch, Year 900 - The Deep Embedding**
Nine centuries into the Sprouting Era, the Archive had achieved something unprecedented: genuine political influence.
Adrian reviewed the organizational structure with satisfaction. Thirty-eight thousand trained disciples. Sixty-two thousand apprentices. Operations on every continent, embedded in seven of eight Ancient God domains. Only Flegrea's demonic wolf territories remained impenetrable—and that was by design, since the Annihilation Demonic Wolf wanted to destroy everything.
"We're managing critical systems across multiple empires," Marcus reported. "Food production in giant territories feeds twenty million humans. Mystical education in elf territories trains thousands of young Beyonders in the Acting Method. Intelligence networks in vampire domains span three continents. Administrative structures in phoenix regions maintain continuity through Gregrace's repeated deaths and rebirths."
Adrian archived the data. "Excellent. We're approaching the operational status I envisioned. By year 1268, when the First Blasphemy Slate emerges and triggers humanity's fracturing, the Archive should be so deeply embedded that no faction can afford our destruction."
Elena added new intelligence. "I've detected increased tensions between Aurmir and Lilith. The Giant King is planning something—my operatives in his court suggest a betrayal is being prepared."
Adrian's Archivist Characteristic processed that against his knowledge of the timeline. "That aligns with projections. Somewhere between now and year 1268, Aurmir will betray Lilith, attempting to cause her death. In retaliation, she'll orchestrate the deaths of Kvastir and Flegrea alongside her own apparent death."
Marcus's eyes widened. "Apparent death?"
"Lilith is far too sophisticated to actually die from such a conspiracy," Adrian explained. "My analysis suggests she'll fake her death, then eventually replace Omebella as Aurmir's queen with help from allies we haven't yet identified. She'll continue operating in secret."
He pulled up strategic assessments.
"When that conspiracy happens, subsidiary gods will scatter. God of the Dead Salinger will turn to Gregrace. Goddess of Misfortune Amanises will vanish—and later become the Evernight Goddess. Goddess of Life will be killed. Goddess of Beauty Auernia will turn to Soniathrym. God of War will be killed. God of Spiritual Creatures Tolzna will vanish."
"How does the Archive respond when Ancient Gods start killing each other?" Vera asked.
"With perfect neutrality," Adrian replied firmly. "We serve information, not factions. When Lilith 'dies,' we continue serving whoever takes over her territories. When subsidiary gods scatter, we offer them Archive protection in exchange for knowledge. We don't take sides—we preserve everything and serve everyone."
He looked at the assembled leadership.
"The Sprouting Era has three hundred and sixty-eight years remaining. During that time, Ancient God conflicts will intensify. The conspiracy that 'kills' Lilith, Kvastir, and Flegrea will reshape the political landscape. And at the end of it all, the First Blasphemy Slate will emerge, triggering humanity's fracturing into the Dual Era."
Adrian's voice became intense.
"Our mission: ensure that when humans fracture—when giants declare themselves divine, when elves renounce humanity, when vampires claim separation—there remains a core population who remember the truth. Who know that transformation doesn't change origin. Who preserve authentic human identity through all the lies."
He gestured to the Archive around them.
"We're not just an organization. We're memory given form. Culture made permanent. The proof that humanity is more than physical form—it's consciousness, identity, continuity of purpose across millennia."
Thomas spoke quietly. "I'm a nine-meter giant. But I'm human."
"Yes," Adrian confirmed. "That's the message we're preserving through the Sprouting Era. Form doesn't define species. Power doesn't erase origin. And no amount of time or transformation can change what we fundamentally are."
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**Second Epoch, Year 1268 - The End of the Sprouting Era**
The political landscape shifted dramatically as the Ancient Gods consolidated their empires.
Adrian felt it through his Archivist Characteristic—mystical patterns indicating the transition from one era to another. Twelve hundred and sixty-eight years since the Second Epoch began. The kins of chaos were extinct. The Ancient Gods had established absolute dominion.
"Status report," Adrian commanded, his voice carrying through mystical channels to operations across three continents.
Marcus appeared, his Sequence 2 angel-level power fully stabilized after nearly two millennia of existence. "The Sprouting Era is ending. The eight Ancient Gods have solidified their rule. Aurmir and Lilith's conspiracy is approaching—I estimate within the next few decades."
Adrian nodded grimly. "The Early Era of Fire begins. Also called the Age of Giants, it will last until year 1730. During this period, humanity remains unified—giants, elves, vampires, and baseline humans still recognize themselves as one species. But the Ancient Gods' conflicts will intensify."
He pulled up comprehensive data accumulated over 1,268 years.
"Archive final status for the Sprouting Era: Forty-five thousand trained disciples. Seventy-eight thousand apprentices in training. Operations embedded in seven Ancient God domains. Managing critical infrastructure across every inhabited continent."
Elena added casualty reports. "Three thousand, two hundred and seventeen lost over the past 1,268 years. All Archive Seeds recovered and data integrated."
Three thousand, two hundred and seventeen names. Adrian archived them with perfect clarity—bringing his total remembered losses to eighteen thousand, six hundred and forty-eight humans over 2,249 years of operation.
Every single name preserved forever in his immortal memory.
"The Sprouting Era is over," Adrian announced. "The Early Era of Fire begins—the Age of Giants. For the next 462 years, the Ancient Gods will rule absolutely. Aurmir will betray Lilith. She'll orchestrate the deaths of Kvastir and Flegrea alongside her own apparent death. Subsidiary gods will scatter or die."
He looked at his assembled disciples—thousands visible through mystical communication arrays, representing the Archive's vast network.
"But here's what's critical: humanity remains unified throughout the Early Era of Fire. Giants still remember they're human. Elves still acknowledge their origins. Vampires still recognize baseline humans as kin. This unity will persist until year 1730, when the First Blasphemy Slate emerges and triggers the fracturing."
His voice carried absolute conviction.
"We have 462 more years to strengthen human identity before the fracturing comes. 462 years to embed ourselves so deeply that when dragons, mutants, and demons instigate the division, we can preserve the truth: transformation doesn't change origin. Giants are human. Elves are human. Vampires are human."
He pulled up projections extending another seven centuries.
"After the Early Era of Fire comes the Dual Era—690 years when Giants and Dragons dominate, when the fracturing destroys human unity, when the War of the Betrayers ravages the world. Then the Era of Tranquility—365 years of relative peace. Finally the Dawn Era—when the Ancient Sun God emerges and destroys the Ancient Gods' empires."
Adrian smiled grimly.
"We've survived the First Epoch's chaos. We've survived the Sprouting Era's darkness. We'll survive the Early Era of Fire, the Dual Era's fracturing, and everything else this epoch throws at us. And when humanity finally breaks free in the Third Epoch, we'll hand them every piece of knowledge they need to never be enslaved again."
The Sprouting Era ended.
The Early Era of Fire—the Age of Giants—began.
And the Archive—humanity's memory, humanity's continuity, humanity's secret guardian—endured.
Twenty-two hundred and forty-nine years of operation.
Many more to go.
But Adrian Thorne, the last scholar of Old Earth, had never been good at accepting defeat.
And he would never, ever forget.
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**End of Chapter 7**
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**Next: Chapter 8 - The Early Era of Fire**