In some unknown space, five statues with indiscernible features sat in a circle.

Their heads were bowed, gazing down at the center.

There, a massive luminous cloud mass floated in the air. Within it, one could dimly make out a miniature world with land, mountains, and flowing water.

The cloud mass was divided into isolated regions, large and small, each with a tiny point of light drifting above it.

At the edge of the glowing mass, black specks writhed across a small blue region.

Then it erupted, and several different hues of light burst forth at once.

Immediately after, as though a violent explosion had gone off, faint tremors radiated outward from that region into the surrounding cloud mass.

Like clouds stirred by a passing wind, the mass swayed and undulated gently.

Then, without warning, a vast tide of inky blackness...