Alone within the hall of gods, Thomas steeled himself mentally for an extended training session, determined to push his limits to new heights.
As he delved deep into the crystal heart's recesses with his thoughts, a realistic three-dimensional image began to form within his mind. To his astonishment, he discovered that, despite its organic origin, the heart was composed of numerous layers of runic glyphs. These runes, far beyond the rudimentary symbols found in the lower realms, held meanings that touched upon the very foundations of existence and the laws governing the universe.
The Sin Force itself, embodying an extraordinary and potent law, rivaled the very essence of divinity. Even more disconcerting was the realization that this powerful law at the core of the heart seemed to engage in a perpetual conflict with the universe's fundamental laws.
Thomas recalled that the heart's aura did not belong to this universe; it was an energy signature akin to beings from the realm beyond, much like the system's creator or the former master of the yellow chain.
This realization left Thomas with a sense of unease. While no immediate harm had befallen him, he couldn't shake the fear that harnessing this power might provoke retaliation from the laws governing his current universe.
"There must be a way to reconcile these opposing laws," Thomas pondered aloud, unintentionally slipping into a profound state of mind that defied explanation. His consciousness cleared, leaving him with unparalleled focus.
Superfluous thoughts were cast aside as a multitude of ideas flowed into his mind with astonishing ease. He entered a deep state of meditation, sealing his five senses to eliminate any potential distractions. Unconsciously, his hands began to trace myriad symbols in the air, initially slow but rapidly gaining speed until they blurred before the naked eye.
The two hearts within him, real and crystal, began to move, drawing nearer to each other at an infinitesimally slow pace. In the blink of an eye, days felt like seconds, and years like minutes.
Over the course of countless years, Thomas became enveloped in layers of dust. His body, frozen in place, had entered a state of suspended animation, conserving energy and devoting itself wholly to the monumental task at hand. It was a testament to the dedication of practitioners undergoing such closed-door training that they became highly attuned to the slightest environmental changes, knowing that even the slightest disturbance could disrupt their training.
After many years, the rhythmic beats of the two hearts grew so synchronized that they were indistinguishable from each other. Their forms radiated with brilliant intensity—one warm and as luminous as the sun, the other exuding a soft, enigmatic glow amidst the infinite darkness.
In the depths of his mental world.
Clouds and mist swirled as a solitary star burned brilliantly. The chains that held the star showed signs of decay as its light intensified dramatically.
The six-colored light emanating from the depths of Thomas's soul transformed into a resplendent seven-colored radiance.
At a certain point, the two hearts aligned perfectly, and a phenomenon hitherto unseen began to unfold both within and around Thomas's body.
Creak...
Suddenly, after years of stillness, Thomas's body exhibited its first signs of movement.
"Boom!"
Terrifying energies erupted from Thomas's form, cascading outward like thundering waves. The unleashed energy swept through his surroundings, reducing everything to rubble. Yet, Thomas remained in the same position as before, suspended within the maelstrom of energy.
************************
Within Violet Imperial City's Imperial Palace.
Alone within the hall of gods, Thomas steeled himself mentally for an extended training session, determined to push his limits to new heights.
As he delved deep into the crystal heart's recesses with his thoughts, a realistic three-dimensional image began to form within his mind. To his astonishment, he discovered that, despite its organic origin, the heart was composed of numerous layers of runic glyphs. These runes, far beyond the rudimentary symbols found in the lower realms, held meanings that touched upon the very foundations of existence and the laws governing the universe.
The Sin Force itself, embodying an extraordinary and potent law, rivaled the very essence of divinity. Even more disconcerting was the realization that this powerful law at the core of the heart seemed to engage in a perpetual conflict with the universe's fundamental laws.
Thomas recalled that the heart's aura did not belong to this universe; it was an energy signature akin to beings from the realm beyond, much like the system's creator or the former master of the yellow chain.
This realization left Thomas with a sense of unease. While no immediate harm had befallen him, he couldn't shake the fear that harnessing this power might provoke retaliation from the laws governing his current universe.
"There must be a way to reconcile these opposing laws," Thomas pondered aloud, unintentionally slipping into a profound state of mind that defied explanation. His consciousness cleared, leaving him with unparalleled focus.
Superfluous thoughts were cast aside as a multitude of ideas flowed into his mind with astonishing ease. He entered a deep state of meditation, sealing his five senses to eliminate any potential distractions. Unconsciously, his hands began to trace myriad symbols in the air, initially slow but rapidly gaining speed until they blurred before the naked eye.
The two hearts within him, real and crystal, began to move, drawing nearer to each other at an infinitesimally slow pace. In the blink of an eye, days felt like seconds, and years like minutes.
Over the course of countless years, Thomas became enveloped in layers of dust. His body, frozen in place, had entered a state of suspended animation, conserving energy and devoting itself wholly to the monumental task at hand. It was a testament to the dedication of practitioners undergoing such closed-door training that they became highly attuned to the slightest environmental changes, knowing that even the slightest disturbance could disrupt their training.
After many years, the rhythmic beats of the two hearts grew so synchronized that they were indistinguishable from each other. Their forms radiated with brilliant intensity—one warm and as luminous as the sun, the other exuding a soft, enigmatic glow amidst the infinite darkness.
Within the mental realm.
Clouds and mist swirled as a solitary star burned brilliantly. The chains that held the star showed signs of decay as its light intensified dramatically.
The six-colored light emanating from the depths of Thomas's soul transformed into a resplendent seven-colored radiance.
At a certain point, the two hearts aligned perfectly, and a phenomenon hitherto unseen began to unfold both within and around Thomas's body.
Creak...
Suddenly, after years of stillness, Thomas's body exhibited its first signs of movement.
"Boom!"
Terrifying energies erupted from Thomas's form, cascading outward like thundering waves. The unleashed energy swept through his surroundings, reducing everything to rubble. Yet, Thomas remained in the same position as before, suspended within the maelstrom of energy.
**************************
Within the Violet Imperial City's Imperial Palace.
"Am I trembling? There's a profoundly unsettling sensation deep within my heart, one I can't quite comprehend. It also feels strangely familiar..." A soft voice resonated from a stone chamber beneath the palace.
*************************
At the Seven Sins Star.
A young demon, clad in resplendent purple-gold armor, gazed skyward. She the supreme commander of the Demon Palace and held the distinction of being the youngest demon emperor in history before the rise of the Violet Moon Empress.
Everything had seemed normal for a while, but suddenly, all the stars in the distance lost their radiance.
"What is this disturbance? I must alert His Excellency!" The young demon empress trembled in panic as she hurried back into the palace.
It had begun with the stars, but soon, all sources of light were extinguished.
In mere moments, the universe plunged into absolute darkness, and this phenomenon wasn't limited to the demon realm alone.
***********************
In Zeria, the situation mirrored that of the demon realm. The three massive suns that had burned for millions of years were now shrouded in darkness.
This strange occurrence repeated itself across every corner of the galaxy.
***********************
On Earth, all the Adepts and citizens of the Human Alliance all stepped out of their houses, dropped their duties and gathered on the streets to watch the sky was completely pitch black.
"What's going on? Wasn't this suposed to be a mere solar eclipse? Why is it like this!?" Scream resounded across every floor of the Human Alliance HQ.
"Deputy Director, we don't know what is happening. Before all light went down, we noticed the same is happening not just here but everywhere else in the galaxy. This isn't just a eclipses but a universal event of unknown scale. Not just were all forms of energy rendered useless as not even radio signals are working anymore. We can't contact anyone in the other cities to know more."
In Dexia City on Mars, a profound darkness engulfed the metropolis, and its citizens were gripped by an overwhelming fear. Their proximity to one of the largest dimensional rifts fueled their dread, as many believed that this mysterious phenomenon might be the machination of extraterrestrial entities—an ominous prelude to an imminent invasion.
The chain of events had commenced several months earlier when Chancellor Udanta's faction wrested control of the Human Alliance. In a swift series of actions, they began to enact stringent laws that curtailed the freedoms of non-military adepts while compelling every adept to align with their faction rather than the Adept Association. This strategic maneuver aimed to undermine the Adept Association's once-unassailable authority as humanity's last line of defense.
Not long thereafter, the Alliance unveiled a formidable new weapon designed to safeguard the world against potential alien threats: the Adept Knight. This colossal mechanical marvel possessed the unparalleled capacity to catalyze Anima Energy, far surpassing the capabilities of a human pilot. It emerged as the ultimate weapon in the battle against extraterrestrial adversaries.
Meanwhile, individuals like Katherine, Clarisse, Kan, and others found themselves incarcerated within rooms at the highest echelon of the Alliance's Dexia Branch. Accused of treason and conspiring with beings from other realms, they were locked away as perceived threats to the Alliance's agenda.
As the unprecedented phenomenon unfurled and plunged the city into darkness, all sources of light including security measures within the building ceased to function. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the facility's workers abandoned their posts and congregated outside, their gazes fixed on the pitch-black sky.
Perplexity etched across her features, Katherine uttered, "Huh?..." as the doors to their confinement unexpectedly swung open. She ventured out, meeting with the others, all of whom were equally stunned by the eerie scene that unfolded beyond.
"Clarisse, everyone's gone," Katherine observed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "We should seize this opportunity and escape."
"Agreed," Clarisse replied, her voice trembling. "But there's something undeniably strange about all of this."
"Yeah," Kan chimed in, casting a wary glance at the starless void above. "Let's get out of here first, and then we can try to make sense of it all."