The endless darkness of the Void of Fallen Universe trembled softly as Vicky and the others continued walking toward the glowing structure in the distance.
Every step they took made the pressure in the air heavier.
Ancient ruins floated all around them now—broken pillars covered in glowing symbols, fragments of forgotten civilizations drifting slowly in the silent void. Strange streams of code-like energy flowed between the ruins like glowing rivers.
At the center of all of it…
Something shined.
The Rule of Code.
From far away it had looked like a star.
But now that they were closer, its true form began to reveal itself.
Luka stopped walking for a moment.
"…Whoa."
Aerito's flames flickered softly around his shoulders as he stared ahead.
"Well… that's definitely not a normal artifact."
Arna's mirrors trembled slightly as her spatial senses reacted violently.
"The energy coming from it… it's unbelievable."
Even the Ultimate Shadow, the giant guardian that had been leading them here, slowed its pace.
"Beyond this point…"
"…the influence of the Rule becomes stronger."
They finally reached the edge of a massive circular platform.
The structure was ancient.
Its surface was covered in enormous glowing runes that pulsed slowly like a heartbeat.
Those runes formed a gigantic magic circle that stretched across the entire platform.
And above that circle—
Floating in the air—
Was the Rule of Code.
Everyone stopped.
For a moment no one spoke.
Because the sight before them was breathtaking.
The Rule of Code looked like a massive sphere of glowing energy.
A power ball.
But it wasn't just light.
It looked alive.
The sphere glowed with pure white energy mixed with streams of golden and blue light.
It slowly rotated in the air like a miniature star.
But the most incredible part…
Was what could be seen inside it.
Through the glowing surface, tiny galaxies and stars could be seen moving slowly.
Entire cosmic systems seemed to exist within the sphere.
It looked like a universe contained inside a star.
Arna whispered in awe.
"…It's beautiful."
Luka rubbed the back of his head.
"So that's the Rule of Code…"
Aerito narrowed his eyes.
"It looks peaceful."
"But the power inside that thing…"
"…could destroy entire realities."
The Ultimate Shadow slowly knelt beside the platform.
"My duty ends here."
"I have brought you to the Rule."
Then it turned its gaze toward Vicky.
"Only the origin may approach."
All eyes turned toward Vicky.
The glowing sphere pulsed softly.
Almost like it had been waiting for him.
Vicky stared at it silently.
That strange familiar feeling inside him had grown incredibly strong now.
Like something deep inside his soul was responding.
Arna spoke softly.
"Master…"
"…maybe you should go."
Luka nodded.
"Yeah."
"Looks like it's calling you."
Aerito crossed his arms with a slight smile.
"Don't worry. We'll be right here."
Vicky stepped forward.
The moment he stepped onto the ancient rune circle—
The runes began glowing brighter.
Streams of code symbols lifted into the air and started circling around him.
The closer he moved toward the sphere…
The stronger the energy became.
But strangely—
It didn't feel hostile.
It felt…
Familiar.
Like returning to something that had always belonged to him.
Finally, Vicky stopped just a few meters away from the Rule of Code.
The glowing sphere floated silently in front of him.
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
The sphere pulsed.
A powerful wave of energy spread outward.
Arna gasped.
"Something is happening!"
The light from the sphere expanded.
And then—
Vicky's vision went completely white.
The world around him disappeared.
The void vanished.
The ruins vanished.
Everything faded away.
And suddenly—
A new scene appeared.
A vision.
A memory.
The Ancient Era.
Vicky stood in the sky above an enormous world.
But this version of him looked different.
His presence was overwhelming.
His aura filled the heavens like a cosmic storm.
Below him…
Countless beings had gathered.
Armies beyond imagination.
But they were not enemies.
They were kneeling.
Thousands…
No…
Millions of beings bowed before him.
Gods.
Demons.
Mythical creatures.
Gigantic dragons.
Ancient titans.
Celestial beings made of pure light.
Primordial monsters that looked older than time itself.
Every one of them knelt before him.
The entire world trembled with reverence.
And they all spoke the same words.
"Glory to the Creator."
"Glory to the Origin."
"Glory to Lord Vicky."
Their voices echoed across the heavens.
They worshipped him like a supreme god.
Vicky watched the scene silently.
Inside the vision…
He could feel the immense power he once possessed.
Power that could shape reality itself.
The sky behind him was filled with floating code symbols.
The very laws of existence obeyed him.
But then—
The vision suddenly changed.
The sky darkened.
The world burned.
The peaceful scene vanished.
And a new battlefield appeared.
This time…
The same beings who had once worshipped him…
Were now standing against him.
The armies of gods filled the sky.
Demons roared in fury.
Gigantic mythical creatures spread across the battlefield.
Primordial titans shook the earth with their footsteps.
But none of them were kneeling anymore.
They were ready to fight.
Against him.
The air was filled with killing intent.
The sky burned with energy attacks.
The entire world had turned into a war zone.
In the center of it all—
Vicky floated silently in the sky.
But now…
Everything around him was destruction.
Below him…
The battlefield was covered in bodies.
Thousands.
Hundreds of thousands.
The corpses of gods.
Fallen demons.
Dead dragons.
Broken titans.
An ocean of destruction stretched beneath him.
Blood stained the entire land.
And Vicky stood alone in the sky above it all.
His eyes were cold.
Emotionless.
The air around him was filled with terrifying power.
He had slaughtered countless beings.
Entire armies.
Yet the war was still continuing.
Far in the distance…
More enemies were approaching.
The beings who once worshipped him…
Now feared him.
And hated him.
And they had united to destroy him.
The vision froze at that moment.
Vicky floating in the sky.
Below him—
A battlefield filled with the dead.
Millions of fallen enemies.
The sky burning behind him.
The war of the ancient era.
And the truth of his forgotten past.
The vision slowly faded.
Back in the present—
The Rule of Code pulsed again.
Its glowing light reflected in Vicky's eyes.
But the memory he had just witnessed…
Had only raised more questions.
And somewhere deep within that ancient past…
The real reason behind that war still remained hidden.
To be continued…