Origin of the Infinite Worlds
Chapter 16 – The One Who Remains
The First World was no longer silent—it had awakened. The shadowy figure descending from the Tower stood before them, its presence so heavy that the air seemed to freeze. Zerion stood firm, body trembling, but his gaze unwavering. Void Walker was beside him, wearing that familiar faint smile—but this time, even his eyes were sharp with caution. Luna stayed a step behind, yet her eyes never looked away, not for a single second.
The figure slowly advanced. Every step cracked the ground, yet no sound followed—as if even noise feared it. It stopped in front of Zerion. "Power without understanding… is meaningless," the voice was cold, yet a deep strength hid within.
Zerion gritted his teeth. "Then I'll understand… by breaking you."
In an instant—everything exploded. Zerion struck first. Balance Break fully activated, releasing Creation, Destruction, and Chaos from his body all at once. He leapt directly at the figure. Void Walker did not lag—he circled around to exploit the shadow's blind spot.
BOOM!
Their attacks landed together—but the figure did not budge. It only raised a hand, and the entire impact halted. Energy froze mid-air. Then, in a sudden surge—
CRASH!
Zerion was thrown to the ground. Void Walker retreated several meters.
"Slow," the figure spoke again.
Zerion stood, but now his eyes held not rage—only focus. He realized brute force would not work here. Taking a deep breath, he extended his senses across the entire First World. The Tower's energy flow, the movement of fragments—it all began to connect.
Void Walker chuckled softly. "So you finally realized."
Zerion said nothing. He moved again—but this time his movement was different. Not slow, not fast—perfect. The figure attacked, but Zerion did not take the hits directly—he changed angles, followed the flow, and countered with perfect timing.
Void Walker understood immediately—synchronizing instinctively. They were no longer two separate fighters—they were one system. Zerion applied front pressure, Void Walker exploited gaps.
For the first time, the figure paused.
"…coordination…"
A hint of curiosity appeared in its eyes.
The battle resumed—but now it was no longer pure chaos. Zerion delivered one feint after another, while Void Walker struck unpredictably. The figure blocked every attack, but its movements showed slight delays.
"Now!" Zerion shouted suddenly.
Void Walker struck from behind at lightning speed—
THUD!
The figure staggered back.
Luna watched, breath caught. "They… hit it…"
But the figure laughed. "Interesting."
Then—
A terrifying pressure descended.
This time, it was not just power—it was authority.
Zerion dropped to one knee. Void Walker remained standing, but tension lined his face.
"Do you think this is all?" the figure raised a hand slowly. Light descended from the Tower, merging with its body. Fragments began orbiting around it.
"…this world… is mine."
Zerion gritted his teeth. His body trembled, yet he stood firm.
"…then I'll take it."
Balance Break ignited within him again—but this time it was controlled, not wild. His aura was calm, yet inside, a storm raged.
Void Walker smiled. "Now that's better."
The two advanced again. This time, their speed exceeded before. They vanished and reappeared, clashing, disappearing—a dance of pure high-speed combat.
The figure became fully serious, attacking directly, defending no more. Every strike was destructive on a world-level.
One blow Zerion blocked—the ground cracked. Another strike Void Walker dodged—the landscape behind them crumbled.
Yet they did not stop.
Zerion suddenly spotted a gap in the flow.
"…there…" he whispered.
Void Walker understood.
Together, they moved. Zerion applied pressure from the front—the figure attempted to block. At that moment, Void Walker penetrated from the side—
CRASH!
This time, the figure took a direct hit.
It staggered back several meters.
Silence.
The Tower trembled. The First World quaked.
The figure slowly raised its head. Its eyes no longer contained calm—only power.
"…you can reach this far…"
It spoke.
"…then come."
Dark-light energy poured from its body.
"…climb the Tower."
Zerion froze.
"…what?"
The figure gestured skyward—the Tower flared to life. Its doors opened.
"…only those who reach the top…"
"…can claim the origin."
Void Walker smiled. "…a test…"
Zerion narrowed his eyes. "…or a trap."
The figure said nothing, slowly blending back into the shadows.
"…prove your worth."
---
Silence.
The Tower loomed ahead—massive, endless.
Luna stepped forward slowly. "…do we go there?"
Zerion's eyes burned. "…yes."
Void Walker said, "…let's see who reaches the top first."
---
The three stood before the Tower.
A new challenge had begun.
The fight was not over—it had simply ascended to the next stage.
The First World was no longer just their battlefield—it was now their test ground.
And the Tower—
It held the answers to everything.
Origin of the Infinite Worlds
Chapter 16 – The One Who Remains
Part 2
The three stood before the Tower—Zerion, Void Walker, and Luna.
Under the broken sky of the First World, the Tower rose seemingly endlessly. Its doors were open—dark, deep, and unknown.
No one spoke.
Yet—everyone knew that entering meant no guarantee of returning.
---
Void Walker moved first.
"…after you?" he said with a faint smile.
---
Zerion did not look at him.
"…I don't follow."
---
He stepped forward directly. As he crossed the threshold of the Tower—
---
FLASH
---
Everything changed.
---
Zerion opened his eyes. He was no longer outside.
Inside—
A vast, empty space.
The floor was white, no walls, no ceiling—just a place like endless void.
---
"…illusion?"
---
His voice echoed.
---
Suddenly—
A voice floated through the void.
"…First Trial."
---
Zerion remained still. His gaze was steady.
"…show me your understanding."
---
In an instant—
Three figures appeared before him.
One—like him.
One—like Void Walker.
And one—dark, shapeless.
---
Zerion narrowed his eyes. "…test…"
---
The first clone moved forward.
Matching Zerion's speed, movement, aura.
It attacked.
Zerion blocked.
But—
This fight was different.
It was not about power—
It was about understanding.
---
The clone mirrored all his techniques.
Zerion realized—
Brute force would not win here.
He slowed his movement.
He began to observe.
His own patterns. His own flaws.
---
"…I see…"
---
He suddenly changed angles.
The clone reacted too late.
THUD!
The first clone shattered.
---
Silence.
---
The second stepped forward—
Void Walker's clone.
---
It was unpredictable.
Its movement random, fast, chaotic.
Zerion attacked—
Missed.
Again—
Missed.
The clone countered—
Zerion was hit.
He staggered back.
---
"…not pattern…"
---
He realized—
It did not follow a pattern.
Then—
What was it?
---
He closed his eyes.
He remembered Void Walker's fight.
His flow… his instinct…
---
Zerion opened his eyes.
This time—he did not react—
He anticipated.
---
The clone attacked—
Zerion moved first.
CRASH!
A perfect counter.
The second clone shattered.
---
Silence.
---
The third—
Shapeless entity.
It stood still.
But—
Its presence was terrifying.
---
"…chaos…"
---
Zerion stepped forward.
---
The entity suddenly attacked.
No pattern.
No logic.
Pure randomness.
---
Zerion could not block it.
He was hit.
Again.
And again.
---
He dropped to one knee.
"…this…"
He gritted his teeth.
"…can't be read…"
---
Silence.
---
A thought came to him.
"…then don't read it…"
---
He closed his eyes.
Chaos energy within him activated.
This time—
He did not lose control.
He synced with the chaos.
---
The entity attacked—
Zerion moved—
Randomly.
But—
Perfect timing.
BOOM!
---
The entity stopped.
Zerion stepped forward.
---
The final strike—
CRACK!!!
The third entity shattered.
---
Silence.
---
Everything merged.
Zerion stood.
His breath heavy.
---
A voice echoed again—
"…accepted."
---
Light flared up.
A door opened before him.
Second Floor.
---
Zerion looked.
"…just the beginning…"
---
He stepped forward.
---
Outside the Tower—
Void Walker stood.
He smiled.
"…your move…"
---
He entered.
---
Luna stood before the door.
Fear in her eyes—
But determination.
"…I won't stay behind…"
---
She entered too.
---
The Tower had activated.
Trials had begun.
And—
This time—
With each step, the truth would come closer.
Origin of the Infinite Worlds
Chapter 16 – The One Who Remains
Part 3
As soon as Zerion set foot on the Second Floor, the surroundings changed—but it was no longer empty like before. This place was alive, dense, and oppressive. Ahead lay a massive circular arena, surrounded by broken pillars, the floor scarred—evidence of countless battles. There was no sky, yet above, a rotating energy field swirled, sometimes pressing downward. Zerion immediately understood—this floor wasn't just a test, it was survival.
---
The moment he stepped forward, a circular pattern ignited on the floor. From the surrounding pillars, shadows began emerging—one, two, three… ten… then it didn't stop—the arena filled. They were humanoid-shaped, but unclear—blurred, unstable, as if made of pure energy.
A voice resonated, heavier than before: "…Second Trial: Endurance and Control."
Zerion exhaled lightly. "So not just understanding… now control."
---
Without hesitation, the shadows attacked together. This time, their assault wasn't random—it came in waves. Three from the front, five from the sides, more from the back. Zerion dodged the first wave, countering and breaking two, but new waves immediately followed.
He realized—there was no pause here.
---
Zerion activated Balance energy, but not as a full burst—this time, a controlled flow. His movements became smooth. Instead of fighting head-on, he began following the flow—evading one strike while using its momentum to crash another shadow into a different one.
But the problem remained—they never stopped.
The more he destroyed, the more were created. The energy field at the arena's center pulsed—each pulse spawning new shadows.
"…source…" Zerion whispered.
He looked up at the field. "That's the generator."
---
Just then, a heavy strike hit beside him—he barely dodged.
"…can't just look, have to move."
He adjusted his movement, running along the arena's edge. Shadows chased him, the arena turning into a deadly chase zone. Zerion calculated their speed, created gaps, then suddenly cut toward the center.
---
This time, he reached directly beneath the field.
But—
A beam shot down from the field.
BOOM!
Zerion blocked, but it pressed him downward.
"…heavy…"
The beam was more than an attack—it was pressure.
Zerion gritted his teeth. His body trembled, yet he stood.
"…control…"
He stabilized his energy. Creation, Destruction, Chaos—this time, not in explosive bursts but as steady, controlled flow.
He didn't resist the beam—he adapted. Slowly, he synced with its pressure, and at the perfect timing—
He slid past. The beam missed.
---
Zerion leapt, using a pillar to gain height, then mid-air twisted his body and struck directly at the field.
CRACK!
The energy field trembled. Shadows froze for a second.
"…got it…"
But the field wasn't broken—only weakened.
Shadows moved again—faster than before.
"…so not enough…"
Zerion landed and realized—a single strike wouldn't suffice. Continuous pressure was required.
He stood at the center again.
This time, he didn't avoid fighting—he engaged directly.
Destroying shadow after shadow, his aim wasn't only survival—it was clearing a path. He carved a straight line toward the field.
His movement speed increased. Control tightened.
Zerion entered pure focus mode.
"…again…"
He gathered energy—not activating Balance Break fully, but using a partial controlled form.
His body glowed—steady, controlled.
He ran. Shadows attacked—he cut through them all.
Finally—
He jumped. Mid-air, spun his body—
Striking the center of the field with full force.
BOOOOOOM!!!
This time, the energy field shattered.
The arena trembled. Shadows froze, then shattered.
Silence.
---
Zerion landed slowly. His breath was heavy, but his eyes calm.
"…done…"
A voice echoed again—deeper, almost satisfied.
"…accepted."
A door appeared before him—Third Floor.
Zerion stepped forward without a word.
---
At that moment—
Another flash on the Second Floor.
Void Walker arrived.
He looked around—the broken arena, the silence.
A smile touched his lips.
"…he cleared it fast…"
He shook his head. "…good."
Void energy flowed from him—
"…my turn."
---
The Tower was now fully active.
Every floor a test—
And each test forcing them to break their limits.
---
Zerion was already climbing higher.
Void Walker followed.
Luna was coming.
---
The race had begun.
And the Tower—
Was waiting.
Origin of the Infinite Worlds
Chapter 16 – The One Who Remains
Part 4
The moment Zerion set foot on the Third Floor, the surroundings changed again—but this time, it wasn't an arena, nor shadows. Instead, a strange city appeared. Broken, filled with ruins, yet somehow recognizable. He froze for a moment.
"…Dhaka…?"
Yes—like Dhaka, but distorted, empty, and terrifyingly silent. Streets cracked, buildings collapsed, the sky filled with dark rifts. The air carried a familiar scent—smoke, destruction, and… memories.
A voice echoed, different from the previous two trials—this one much closer.
"…Third Trial: Truth."
Zerion moved forward slowly, his eyes observing everything. It was an illusion—but not random. It was targeted.
---
Suddenly—a sound.
"Help!"
He stopped.
From behind—a small boy ran toward him, fear on his face.
"…please… help…"
Zerion's eyes trembled.
This scene… this moment… he recognized.
---
Flash.
Earlier times.
Dhaka city—rift attacks—monsters everywhere—people running—chaos—
And he—stood there.
One second's delay.
And in that delay… everything ended.
---
Zerion stood.
Before him—the same boy.
"…save me…"
His hand trembled.
"…this is not real…"
He told himself.
---
But—
The boy's eyes—real.
---
Suddenly—
Monsters spawned around them.
The scene was repeating.
---
Zerion realized—
This wasn't a test—
This was his past.
---
He moved forward.
This time—no delay.
He leapt, destroying the monsters, saving the boy.
Silence.
---
The boy looked up—then slowly vanished.
The scene broke apart.
---
Zerion stood. His breath heavy.
A voice echoed again—
"…you changed the outcome…"
Silence.
"…but can you accept the truth?"
---
The surroundings changed again.
This time—
Another scene.
He stood there.
And before him—Void Walker.
---
But—this was the future.
Void Walker stood—with Luna fallen beneath his feet.
Zerion's eyes widened.
"…no…"
Void Walker smiled.
"…you were too late again."
---
Zerion moved forward.
"…stop…"
But—
Void Walker struck Luna with a final blow.
CRASH
Luna was motionless.
Zerion froze.
"…illusion…"
But—
What stirred inside him—
Real.
Anger.
Fear.
"…I won't let this happen…"
He moved forward.
---
Void Walker looked at him.
"…then stop me."
Zerion attacked.
But—
Void Walker blocked.
The fight began.
---
This time—
Emotion versus control.
Zerion attacked with rage.
Void Walker remained calm.
Zerion took a hit.
He staggered back.
"…this is how you lose…" Void Walker said.
Silence.
Zerion closed his eyes.
His breathing slowed.
"…no…"
He opened his eyes again.
This time—calm.
"…this isn't real…"
He moved forward.
Void Walker struck—
Zerion dodged.
Perfect timing.
He countered—
CRACK!
Void Walker shattered.
The scene collapsed.
---
Silence.
Everything turned white.
Zerion stood alone.
A voice echoed once more—
"…accepted."
"…you faced your past…"
"…and your fear…"
A door appeared before him—Fourth Floor.
Zerion paused for a moment. His breath slowed. His eyes deepened.
"…this Tower…"
He whispered—
"…is not just testing power…"
"…it's testing me."
He began walking toward the door.
---
Behind him—
The ruined city of Dhaka vanished.
Everything returned to silence.
---
Below the Tower—
Luna stepped onto the Third Floor.
Before her—the same city.
She stopped.
"…what is this place…"
---
On the Second Floor—
Void Walker fought.
Shadows surrounded him—but he was smiling.
"…too easy…"
He destroyed them one by one.
"…I'm coming…"
---
Inside the Tower—
Zerion moved forward.
Floor by floor.
And each floor—
Changed him.
---
The Tower was calling.
Origin awaited.
And—
On the final path—
Everyone moved forward.
(°_°)
Hook Line:
"To reach the Origin, you must face your past, master your power, and survive the Tower's trials—or be lost forever."
(°_°)
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