Atum
The Setting Sun
Divine Domains
The Sun
Sunset
Creation
Self-Creation
Divine Symbols & Sigils
The Scarab
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Atum’s physical form is a manifestation of his immense power, shaped by both his mastery of magic and his self-inflicted isolation from mortal existence. Unlike many gods who take forms that reflect their worshippers' perceptions, Atum's body has become something beyond human, existing in a state that defies conventional understanding.
In his most recognizable form, Atum appears as a towering humanoid figure, his physique carved from an otherworldly material that resembles shifting golden stone or molten sunlight. His skin is a tapestry of arcane inscriptions—ancient glyphs and formulas constantly shifting across his body, as if reality itself is being rewritten in his presence. His eyes burn with the cold intensity of a star at its final stage, vast and unknowable, hinting at the cosmic knowledge he has uncovered.
Despite his overwhelming presence, Atum’s form is not static. He exists at the edge of perception, his silhouette shifting subtly as if glimpsed through multiple layers of reality. At times, his body appears hazy and undefined, as though he is only partially present in the physical world. To mortal eyes, prolonged exposure to his presence can be disorienting, causing visions of past and future, or even fragmenting one's sense of time entirely.
Atum’s movements carry an eerie inevitability—deliberate and slow when unchallenged, yet devastatingly fast when necessary. In battle, his form adjusts to the scale of the conflict. He can expand into something impossibly vast, looming over cities like an astral colossus, or shrink to something more contained, precise, and surgical in execution. His control over his physical form is absolute, able to fragment himself across multiplerealities or dimensions simultaneously. This allows him to be present in numerous places at once, acting as a force of omnipresent power. Whether facing an opponent or investigating the cosmic fabric of the universe, Atum’s form adapts to his will, making him nearly impossible to pin down or predict.
Even in moments of stillness, his physical presence commands awe and unease. The air around him hums with raw arcane energy, distorting light and sound. His sheer proximity warps the natural laws of the environment, causing phenomena such as localized gravity shifts, spontaneous bursts of magical energy, or disruptions to the flow of time.
Atum’s physical form is not merely a vessel for his power—it is an extension of his purpose, a symbol of his unyielding authority over magic and his resolve to protect the universe from itself. To mortals and gods alike, Atum’s presence is a stark reminder of the price of divinity and the weight of his eternal vigilance.
Specialized Equipment
Atum possesses an extensive collection of magical objects stored within his personal pocket dimension. This library of artifacts spans millennia and includes items of immense power, some of which defy physical form and exist as manifestations of pre-physics arcana. These pre-physics objects are among his most enigmatic and powerful possessions, tied to the fundamental forces of the universe before the Big Bang.
When Atum walks the Earth to eradicate pantheons, he often brings an assortment of tools and weapons from his vast arsenal. Many of these items were acquired throughout his eternal existence, either crafted by his own hand, discovered through his studies, or taken as trophies from the gods he has slain. Each tool or weapon is selected with careful intent, tailored to the specific challenges he expects to face.
Among the most notable items in Atum’s arsenal are:
- Weapons of Fallen Gods: Atum has claimed numerous weapons from defeated gods, many of which carry unique properties tied to their former wielders. These artifacts, infused with divine power, are now bound to Atum’s will and serve as instruments of their creators' downfall.
- Arcane Constructs: Objects of pure magical energy that take shape only when summoned by Atum’s will. These constructs function as both weapons and tools, capable of reshaping themselves to meet his needs in the moment.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Human life
Atum is recognized as the first person to achieve godhood, but his journey began in a mortal life as Tem, a scholar and wizard in the ancient city of Heliopolis. As a man, Tem’s fascination with the metaphysical and his mastery of pre-physics arcana made him one of the most powerful practitioners of his time. For many years, he used his knowledge and magical abilities to aid his community and provide for his family, earning him respect and admiration among his peers.
However, Tem’s pursuit of knowledge gradually became an obsession. What began as a noble endeavor to understand magic evolved into an all-consuming quest for ultimate truth. He became fixated on unlocking the mysteries of magic’s very nature, delving deeper into his studies while withdrawing from the world around him. As his obsession grew, Tem began neglecting his responsibilities and relationships. His family, once his anchor, left him—a fact he failed to notice in his isolation.
Despite the personal cost, Tem’s relentless studies bore fruit. His understanding of magic advanced beyond anything known in his era. Through his research, he devised a method to integrate himself into the very fabric of magic itself—a process that would elevate him beyond mortality and into a state that would later be recognized as godhood.
In becoming Atum, Tem transcended the limitations of human existence, achieving a level of power and understanding unmatched by any who came before him. His transformation marked the beginning of a new era, as Atum’s existence redefined the boundaries of what mortals believed was possible and set the foundation for the concept of godhood in the ages to come.
The First Pantheon
After achieving godhood, Atum spent several generations reveling in the adoration of the people of Heliopolis. Worshipped as a living god, he basked in the reverence of his followers, who marveled at his divine power and wisdom. However, over time, the novelty of being venerated faded, leaving Atum with a profound sense of loneliness. Seeking connection and purpose, he turned his attention to teaching mortals the secrets of magic.
Word of Atum’s teachings spread quickly, drawing hopeful students from across the land to Heliopolis. Many came in search of enlightenment, eager to learn from the great and powerful god. For generations, Atum instructed countless disciples in the arcane arts, sharing his knowledge with those who showed promise and dedication.
Among these students, a select few stood out for their extraordinary talent and devotion. Atum identified these individuals as his favorites, and after years of instruction, he entrusted them with the ultimate secret: the method of attaining godhood. With Atum’s guidance, these mortals ascended to divinity, joining him as gods in what would become the pantheon of Egyptian mythology.
Over time, Atum’s original students passed on their divine knowledge to others, and the pantheon grew. The gods of Egypt, each with their own domains and powers, arose from this tradition, forming a complex and interconnected system of worship that shaped the spiritual identity of Heliopolis and beyond.
While the pantheon expanded, Atum did not rest on his laurels. He continued his pursuit of knowledge, delving deeper into the mysteries of existence. His focus shifted to the study of pre-physics arcana—the enigmatic forces and truths that existed before the Big Bang. For Atum, divinity was not the pinnacle of his journey but a stepping stone toward understanding the ultimate secrets of the universe.
In this way, Atum not only became the first god but also the progenitor of an entire divine lineage, shaping the foundations of Egyptian mythology while tirelessly exploring the infinite depths of the cosmos.
The Truth of Pre-Physics Arcana
In his relentless pursuit of knowledge, Atum uncovered a truth so staggering that it reshaped his understanding of existence itself. Through his study of pre-physics arcana—the ancient forces and laws that predate the Big Bang—Atum discovered that the universe as we know it is but one iteration in an endless cycle. The cosmos had formed and reformed countless times before, only to be destroyed each time by the very beings who rose to power within it.
Atum learned that gods, or beings of immense power, were not unique to this iteration of the universe. In every previous version, entities like gods (sometimes called chthonic gods or titans) had emerged, only to quarrel and battle on a cosmic scale, inevitably leading to the destruction of all existence. The cycle was endless, and its implication was chilling: Atum was not the first god, merely the first human to achieve godhood in this draft of the universe.
This revelation placed Atum in a position of profound responsibility and isolation. As the oldest and most experienced god of this iteration, he realized he was far more powerful than any of his peers. The other gods, still young in their divinity, posed no immediate threat. But Atum knew it was only a matter of time before they grew in strength and ambition, potentially repeating the pattern that had snuffed out the light of countless universes before.
Faced with this terrifying knowledge, Atum found himself burdened by a question that had no easy answer: could he stop history from repeating itself?
Fall of the First Pantheon
As the years passed, Atum observed his fledgling pantheon with growing anxiety. He watched as his former students flourished in their roles as gods, gaining power and influence among mortals. Yet, for all their devotion and growth, Atum could not shake the horrifying truth he had uncovered—the universe had been destroyed countless times before by beings just like them. The pattern was clear, and Atum became increasingly convinced that his pantheon, no matter how noble their intentions, would one day bring about the same catastrophic end.
Determined to break the cycle, Atum made the decision to eliminate his pantheon before they could ever grow strong enough to pose a threat to the cosmos. It was a grim resolve, but one Atum carried out with methodical precision. He knew he could not risk a prolonged conflict; the very act of a godly battle could lead to the destabilization of the universe. The betrayal needed to be swift, unexpected, and absolute.
Atum set a trap, luring his pantheon into a scenario where they would be defenseless and unsuspecting of his intentions. In a single decisive moment, he unleashed his unparalleled power, wiping them out before they could comprehend what was happening. The slaughter was as quick as it was devastating, ensuring there was no opportunity for a clash that could threaten the fabric of reality.
Though Atum felt some measure of guilt for the betrayal, it was outweighed by his conviction that the universe was safer without gods. In his mind, the act was a necessary sacrifice, one that ensured the continued existence of this iteration of the cosmos. To Atum, the ends justified the means—better to carry the burden of his actions than risk the annihilation of all creation.
With the pantheon destroyed, Atum retreated from the mortal and divine realms. He withdrew into a pocket dimension of his own design, a place where he could continue his studies in solitude. There, far from the eyes of mortals and the echoes of his past, Atum sought to uncover even deeper truths about existence, determined to find a way to break the endless cycle of destruction. For Atum, the path of knowledge had become one of isolation, sacrifice, and the heavy weight of cosmic responsibility.
Reign of the Godslayer
Despite Atum’s efforts to prevent the rise of gods, humanity's thirst for power and knowledge persisted. Across the world, new individuals began unlocking the secrets of divinity, following in Atum’s footsteps. From the frost of the North emerged Odin and his pantheon, while Zeus and his kin ascended in the Mediterranean. Others, too, rose in different parts of the world, each developing their own divine orders, drawing worshippers, and expanding their influence.
Atum watched from the shadows as these new gods claimed their domains, and with each rising pantheon, his sense of dread returned. He knew the cycle—gods would amass power, their ambitions would collide, and eventually, their conflicts would escalate to a cosmic scale. He had seen it before, in past iterations of the universe, and he would not allow it to happen again.
One by one, Atum returned to Earth, descending upon these newly formed pantheons like an unstoppable force of nature. Before any could grow powerful enough to resist him, he annihilated them. His assaults were swift, decisive, and absolute. He was a harbinger of doom to the divine, a silent executioner ensuring no god lived long enough to threaten reality itself.
Some gods managed to escape Atum’s wrath, but not without consequence. Many fled into pocket dimensions, severing themselves from the mortal realm and, in doing so, cutting off their sources of power. Atum rarely pursued gods into these spaces, as navigating another god’s domain came with unpredictable risks. However, no pantheons ever had more than a handful of survivors, and those who did escape were left to languish in isolation, their influence on Earth erased.
While most gods were simply destroyed, some proved more difficult to kill outright. For those who could not be slain, Atum devised other forms of containment—sealing them in prisons beyond time, binding their powers, or casting them into the void between realms where they would drift powerless for eternity. He was not cruel, nor was he driven by vengeance. To Atum, this was a duty—a necessary purge to ensure the continued survival of the universe.
Through these actions, Atum became the greatest terror to gods across the world. While mortals whispered his name in legend, the divine feared him as an unstoppable executioner. He was not a ruler, nor a conqueror, but a force of correction—an enforcer of balance who ensured that no pantheon would ever rise unchecked.
However, even Atum understood that constant intervention would only encourage instability. Before withdrawing from Earth Zero for a time, he established the Modern Laws of Arcana to maintain a semblance of order within magic in his absence. To prevent magic from spiraling out of control too quickly, he created the framework of the Eight Domains of Arcana, each representing a fundamental aspect of magic. To safeguard these domains, Atum appointed a Keeper to each one, mortal stewards who would inherit the mantle and ensure that magic remained balanced:
These mantles were designed to pass from mortal to mortal over generations, ensuring that the flow of magic would remain steady and organized without tipping into chaos. With the Domains and their Keepers in place, Atum vanished into his solitude once again, watching from afar and waiting. He knew that as long as mortals existed, the cycle would inevitably begin anew—and when it did, he would be ready to end it once more.
Final Invasion and Death
In 2031, the superhero team Metro Force uncovered the existence of Achilles, a near-divine man whose very presence rekindled Atum’s long-dormant instincts. Achilles’ resilience and power were enough to awaken Atum’s desire to once again descend upon Earth Zero and eliminate not only Achilles but any other being nearing what Atum perceived as a dangerous threshold of magical power.
Determined to finish his ancient crusade, Atum commanded Balor to begin a ritual to materialize Atum’s full presence in the mortal world. The ritual, if completed, would have brought Atum to Earth Zero in his complete form, unleashing devastation upon the realm.
However, Metro Force intervened before the ritual could be completed. Using the power of the World Tree, they embarked on a perilous quest to find the Forge of Hephaestus, a legendary site capable of creating weapons powerful enough to harm even a god. With these divine weapons in hand, Metro Force confronted Atum within the Unplanted Forest, a mystical and chaotic realm that served as the battleground for their final showdown.
In a battle that pushed every member of Metro Force to their limits, they managed to do what countless pantheons before them could not: they defeated Atum. With Atum’s death, a chapter of cosmic history marked by fear and destruction came to an end, and the cycle of divine slaughter that had begun eons ago was finally broken.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Atum is driven by a singular goal: the preservation of physical reality. However, his protectiveness of the universe is not born from altruism or a desire to save others. Instead, it stems from his deep academic curiosity and a fascination with magic as a concept. To Atum, the current iteration of the universe represents a rare and unprecedented opportunity—a version of existence where magic has become organized, codified, and increasingly refined.
In previous iterations of the universe, existence had always been snuffed out before magic could reach its full potential. Cosmic conflicts between gods and other powerful beings inevitably destabilized reality, reducing it to a non-physical state. Atum is determined to break this cycle and ensure that this iteration of reality survives long enough for magic to flourish and evolve. To him, the universe is a grand experiment, and magic is its most fascinating component.
Atum’s methods, though extreme, are guided by this academic perspective. He sees the eradication of gods as a necessary act to preserve the universe and allow magic to reach heights never before seen. By removing potential threats before they can destabilize reality, Atum believes he is safeguarding the most important experiment in existence. To him, the survival of reality is not just a matter of principle—it is an intellectual pursuit, one that fuels his eternal curiosity and desire to understand the deepest mysteries of creation.
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