Indrath vs. Vritra: The Eternal Shadow War in The Beginning After the End (TBATE Lore)
If you’ve been following The Beginning After the End, you probably started for Arthur Leywin’s growth, his struggles, and that classic reincarnation power fantasy vibe. But somewhere along the way, the story quietly flips the script—and suddenly you realize something unsettling: Arthur isn’t the center of the world. He’s just caught in it. Because behind everything—wars, kingdoms falling, even reincarnation itself—there’s a much bigger conflict brewing: Indrath Clan vs Vritra Clan. And honestly? Calling it a “war” feels like an understatement. This is more like a thousand-year-long chess match played by gods… using entire civilizations as expendable pieces.
The Lie We Were Told About the Past
At first glance, the story paints a simple picture: Kezess Indrath as a divine ruler and protector of order, and Agrona Vritra as a mad scientist villain exiled for unethical experiments. Sounds familiar, right? Almost too clean. But once you dig deeper into the lore, that narrative starts falling apart. The Indrath weren’t just rulers—they were hoarding Aether knowledge. The ancient Djinn weren’t “lost”… they were erased. Agrona didn’t just rebel—he found out the truth. Instead of being punished for experiments alone, Agrona likely became a threat because he knew too much. And when he tried to expose it, Kezess didn’t debate him—he tried to eliminate him. That moment changes everything, because suddenly this isn’t a story about good vs evil anymore. It’s about power, control, and who gets to rewrite history.
A War That Can’t Be Fought Directly
One of the most fascinating aspects of TBATE’s worldbuilding is that the strongest beings can’t actually fight each other freely. If they did, they would likely destroy everything. So instead, the war evolved into something far more disturbing: a proxy war fought through “lesser races.” Humans, elves, and dwarves aren’t truly allies or enemies—they are resources. Entire nations rise and fall not because of their own choices, but because they are positioned on a board controlled by forces far beyond them.
Agrona’s Side: Cold, Calculated Evolution
In Alacrya, Agrona doesn’t pretend to be a savior. He builds a system that is brutally efficient and openly ruthless. What makes his approach terrifying isn’t just the power—it’s the logic behind it. He engineers Vritra-blooded humans to enhance mana capabilities, introduces rune systems for structured growth, and creates Wraiths capable of challenging even Asuras through coordination and specialization. Then there’s Cecilia, known as The Legacy, a being with overwhelming control over mana itself. Agrona’s strength lies not in immediate domination, but in long-term inevitability. He plays the kind of game where every loss is temporary, and every move builds toward a future where he cannot be defeated.
Indrath’s Side: “Protection” with a Price
On the other side, the Indrath present themselves as protectors of Dicathen. They guide humanity, offer training, and occasionally intervene in critical moments. But this so-called protection comes with a cost. Their decisions reveal a mindset focused entirely on maintaining dominance. Entire regions can be sacrificed if it preserves their advantage. Knowledge of Aether is tightly controlled, and anyone approaching their level becomes a potential threat. The destruction tied to Elenoir is a clear example—this wasn’t just collateral damage, but an acceptable loss in a much larger strategy. It forces the question: are the Indrath truly better, or simply more refined in their control?
Power Comparison (Simple Breakdown)
| Clan | Leader | Core Power | Philosophy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indrath | Kezess | Aether (Space & Time) | Maintain absolute dominance |
| Vritra | Agrona | Decay Mana & Experimentation | Break the system and rebuild it |
Kezess is widely seen as the strongest in raw power, with abilities like time manipulation placing him far above most beings. However, Agrona is arguably more dangerous overall, as his strength lies in planning, adaptation, and long-term execution. Raw power may win battles, but strategy determines the outcome of wars.
Arthur Leywin: The Glitch in the System
Arthur Leywin stands apart from both sides. What makes him unique is not just his strength, but what he represents. As a reincarnated soul with a hybrid body influenced by Sylvie’s sacrifice, he can wield Aether in ways that defy the limits imposed by the Indrath. He does not fully belong to either faction, making him unpredictable and dangerous. From a narrative perspective, Arthur is not simply rising in power—he is disrupting the very system that defines power. This is precisely why both Kezess and Agrona view him as a potential threat. He is not a piece on the board, but something entirely outside it.
Why This Conflict Hits Different
Many stories rely on clear distinctions between heroes and villains, but TBATE deliberately avoids this simplicity. Instead, it presents a “holy” faction built on hidden atrocities and a “villainous” faction driven by ruthless progress. Neither side offers a truly just future. This moral ambiguity is what makes the conflict so compelling. It shifts the focus away from who will win and instead raises a more important question: what kind of world should exist after the war ends?
Final Thoughts (From a Fan)
If the conflict can be summarized in simple terms, the Indrath represent order without freedom, while the Vritra represent progress without morality. Arthur stands as the only figure attempting to move beyond both extremes. That is what makes this war so engaging—it is not just about power, but about ideology, legacy, and the consequences of past actions. If the story continues along this path, the final conflict may not simply be a battle between two sides, but the complete collapse of the system they have maintained for centuries.
