Those with transcendent power form a big group, but there is an even bigger group that cannot meaningfully touch it.

Stuck in the quagmire of mundanity, without the ability to take their lives into their own hands, perhaps it is a universal desire to give anything to change the situation. When presented with an opportunity to change one's fate, few can keep themselves from reaching out.

But… [Immortality is as much a curse as it is a blessing, and any form of power comes with shackles of its own.]

Apollyon was one such being who gave those who wielded it the ability to turn the tide. It was very willing to help any lost soul - his kindness and generosity knowing no bounds.

Its strength extended to anyone or anything, rich or poor, weak or strong - none of that mattered.

Well, if they sacrificed everything of theirs in return just as generously, of course.

[However, before their destined payment, perhaps they could make something of this fleeting moment.]

Expanded Synopsis:
Within the pages of folklore and fantasy, tales of people who chased after immortality rarely ended with happy endings. They either came to terms with their limitations, gave up, and returned to a life of mundanity or faced a ghastly realization of their wishes. The latter was often the worse fate, as they came to realize, only far too late, that what they sacrificed was worth far more than the time they gained.

Ultimately, the common thread in all these stories was that “immortality is as much a curse as it is a blessing”. Time and again, people either realized this early and turned back, or pressed forward, doomed to inevitably face the consequences of their choice.

Throughout Eldridge’s travels across countless worlds, nothing had contradicted this saying yet. Every pathway had shackles of its own. To ambitious mortals on the ground, they brought the skies high above down to the earth, leveling the playing field. With luck and determination, they too could become the heaven others looked up to. And, with time, they too would be replaced. After all, what fun was a game if the pieces stayed stagnant over the eons?

It was thanks to this fundamental, foundational law that the determined few were able to defy their fate and achieve immortality for themselves.

Eldridge’s path didn’t break this trend. In fact, his shackles were more binding and restrictive than most. However, he didn’t see it that way.

On the day of his ascension, a world’s worth of souls were melted and recast. On that day, the human’s path had reached its conclusion, its feeble form remolded into a Cursed Artifact, cursed by the resentment of a world. All of this, however, was secondary to the fact that his plan had succeeded. An artifact, a weapon, was eternal, after all.

As for the curse? The payment will be made, as it must. So why not offload it to someone else? Mortals threw their lives away for all manner of petty reasons, noble or otherwise, especially in times of desperation.

Someone would eventually be willing to foot the bill. Most would, if given the chance. The bait was far too tempting, after all. Power, status, knowledge - all were at their fingertips, if only they said “yes”. Though their meager life alone might not have been enough to bear the weight of all those shackles, what were mortals if not numerous?

Apollyon is very willing to help any lost souls; his kindness and generosity knew no bounds. His help can extend to anyone or anything, rich or poor, weak or strong. It did not matter. Well, if they sacrificed everything of theirs in return just as generously, of course.