The first universe trembled.
Kael stood beneath the enormous symbol in the sky.
It looked like an eye.
But it wasn't an eye.
It was a door.
Something was behind it.
Something that had been sleeping for longer than Kael could imagine.
Eryx raised his weapon.
"Kael…"
"I know."
The third piece stood beside them.
"It's waking up."
Kael stared at the symbol.
The voice of the First Kael still echoed inside his mind.
Don't let it remember you.
Kael swallowed.
"What happens if it does?"
The voice didn't answer.
"First Kael?"
Nothing.
Kael closed his eyes.
"Answer me."
Still nothing.
Then Aetherion spoke.
"I think I know."
Kael opened his eyes.
"What?"
Aetherion sounded nervous.
"I remember this presence."
Kael froze.
"You've seen it before?"
"Not directly."
Aetherion paused.
"But I've felt it."
"When?"
"Before you."
Kael's expression changed.
"Before me?"
"Yes."
Aetherion's voice became quieter.
"Before the Origin."
The symbol in the sky began opening.
A thin crack appeared across it.
Light poured through.
Then darkness.
Then something moved.
Kael felt the Hunger inside him react.
It wasn't afraid this time.
It was angry.
Kael placed a hand over his chest.
"Calm down."
The Hunger answered.
I know it.
Kael froze.
"You know it?"
I was created because of it.
The realization hit Kael.
The First Hunger wasn't created because of the Origin.
It wasn't created because of the experiment.
It had been created because Kael had encountered this being long before either existed.
Kael looked toward the sky.
"What are you?"
The symbol opened wider.
A voice answered.
"I am the memory of the first mistake."
The entire universe went silent.
Eryx stared upward.
"The first mistake?"
The voice continued.
"Before creation, there was only possibility."
Stars began forming around the symbol.
"Every possible universe existed as a thought."
Kael listened.
"Every possible life existed as a possibility."
The darkness expanded.
"Then something chose to make one possibility real."
Kael whispered:
"The first creation."
"Yes."
The symbol opened completely.
Something appeared behind it.
It had no body.
No face.
No shape.
It was simply a massive presence surrounding the entire universe.
Kael couldn't even see its edges.
The being spoke again.
"But creation created another possibility."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"What possibility?"
The being answered.
"You."
Kael's heart stopped.
Eryx looked at him.
"What does that mean?"
The being continued.
"You were not created by the creators."
Kael remembered the first Kael.
He remembered the beginning.
He remembered the empty darkness.
The voice continued.
"You were the first thought that creation could not contain."
Kael's body became still.
The fourth force began glowing around him.
The being noticed.
"You remember."
Kael shook his head.
"Not everything."
"You will."
Suddenly, the universe disappeared.
Kael was somewhere else.
He stood in an endless white space.
There were no stars.
No planets.
No darkness.
Only silence.
And standing in front of him…
was the First Kael.
Kael stared.
"You're back."
The First Kael shook his head.
"No."
He looked behind Kael.
Kael turned.
The enormous being was there.
The First Kael whispered:
"I'm not back."
He pointed at the being.
"It remembered."
Kael felt cold.
"What happens now?"
The First Kael looked at him.
"Now it remembers everything you did."
The being spoke.
"You created the first universe."
Images appeared.
"You created the Origin."
Another image.
"You created Eryx."
Another.
"You created the Hunger."
Another.
"And then you erased yourself."
Kael stared.
"Why?"
The First Kael answered.
"Because you were afraid of what you would become."
Kael looked toward the being.
"And what was I going to become?"
The First Kael didn't answer.
The being did.
"Me."
Kael froze.
Silence.
The being continued.
"You were the first existence capable of standing outside creation."
The fourth force grew stronger.
"You were incomplete."
Kael clenched his fists.
"So you became me?"
"No."
The being's voice became strangely calm.
"You became me."
Kael's eyes widened.
The universe around them cracked.
Eryx's voice echoed from somewhere far away.
"Kael!"
Kael looked around.
"Eryx!"
The First Kael grabbed his arm.
"Listen to me."
"What?"
"You cannot let the two of you merge."
Kael frowned.
"The two of us?"
The First Kael pointed toward the enormous being.
"You and it."
Kael looked at the creature.
"What happens if we merge?"
The First Kael's expression became serious.
"You stop being Kael."
Kael's heart began pounding.
"What would I become?"
The First Kael whispered:
"The first creator."
Kael stared at him.
Then the Hunger spoke.
No.
Kael looked down.
The Hunger emerged from his shadow.
You don't have to become anything.
Kael smiled slightly.
"That's right."
He looked at the enormous being.
"I've spent my entire existence being told what I was supposed to become."
Creation.
Destruction.
Transformation.
Star Eater.
Experiment.
Replacement.
Creator.
Kael raised his hand.
The fourth force surrounded his body.
"But I'm done with that."
The being remained silent.
Kael's eyes began glowing.
"I choose what I become."
The First Kael smiled.
For the first time, he looked relieved.
Then the universe shook violently.
The enormous being moved closer.
"Then prove it."
Kael looked toward the darkness.
"Eryx!"
His brother appeared beside him.
Eryx looked at Kael.
"What are we fighting?"
Kael stared at the impossible being.
"Something older than creation."
Eryx smiled.
"Good."
The third piece joined them.
"So we're all fighting it?"
Kael nodded.
The Hunger rose behind them.
Aetherion's power surrounded them.
Creation.
Destruction.
Transformation.
The fourth force.
And the Hunger.
All five powers gathered together.
The being finally moved.
Reality shattered.
Kael raised his hand.
"Let's go."
Eryx charged.
The third piece followed.
The Hunger roared.
And Kael stepped forward.
For the first time…
he wasn't fighting to survive.
He was fighting to decide his own future.
Then the being whispered one final sentence.
"Good."
The universe disappeared.
"Now show me what humanity was supposed to become."
TO BE CONTINUED...