"Well I was in the forbidden land, all the time, you know."
"Wh-what?!! But no one can enter 'Blank Page'."
During their conversation, Jin suddenly sensed an unusual presence.
"Lord Albedo, step back. Something approaches."
"Inside a innate world! What?"
"I think, it's me."
"Ohh, so he is coming." Albedo realized.
The void stretched endlessly, a vast expanse of white that seemed to go on forever, utterly devoid of shape or form. It was a space that felt timeless, empty, and infinite. Then, without warning, tiny specks began to flicker into existence—numbers. At first, they were few and scattered, but soon they multiplied, countless digits swirling and converging in chaotic yet deliberate patterns.
The numbers danced and twisted, weaving themselves together as if guided by an unseen force. Slowly, they began to take shape, molding and contorting into the outline of a human form. Limbs, a torso, a head—all emerging from the abstract sea of figures. The air buzzed with a strange energy as the formless mass of numbers transformed, becoming more tangible with every passing second.
From this nothingness, a figure gradually took shape. The numbers faded into flesh, and what had once been a chaotic storm of data was now unmistakably human. As the final details solidified, the figure's face came into view, clear and unmistakable. It was Jin... but from the future.
He looked identical to the original Jin, without even the slightest difference. He appeared to be the exact same age.
"So, you're the one. You bastard," Jin burst out in anger.
"You do realize you're calling yourself a bastard, right?"
"Enough with the nonsense," Jin snapped.
The two clones of Jin launched their attack simultaneously. Spiritual energy gathered in their palms, coalescing into glowing orbs. With a sudden burst of force, they hurled the energy balls toward the future Jin at high speed. A streak of blue light followed in the wake of the projectiles, tracing their path through the void.
Numbers materialized in the white void and instantly merged with the energy ball, amplifying its power several times over.
They reached the future Jin and exploded with an intense sound: 'BOOM!'
There was no smoke, as it was a void. Instead, an explosion of energy illuminated the space, revealing everything clearly.
A barrier composed of numbers shielded the future Jin, leaving him completely unharmed.
Future Jin raised his arms, and numbers began to gather in his palm, shaping into a black rod. Then, the number 299,792,458 merged with it, granting the rod the speed of light.
If an object were to travel at the speed of light and collide with a planet, it could destroy it. However, matter cannot typically withstand such speeds. But the black rod was different; it was imbued with the durability to endure that velocity.
The black rod shot forward toward the clones. Just before it could make contact, one of the clones formed a barrier using multiple zeros.
Upon contact, the black rod's motion was nullified, bringing it to a complete stop. Then, the rod itself vanished into nothingness.
Meanwhile, the other clone summoned countless numbers and merged them with himself, amplifying his physical attributes. He dashed forward, engaging the future Jin in close combat.
"Oh my. Fighting two clones at once is a bit challenging," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
As the clones closed in, he summoned the numbers, amplifying his strength and agility. With a sudden burst, he dodged the first clone's strike, rolling to the side and using the momentum to launch a counterattack. His fist connected with the clone's jaw, sending it stumbling back.
But the second clone was quick to retaliate. It swung a powerful punch, aiming for his midsection. He anticipated the move, ducking just in time as the blow whistled overhead. Seizing the moment, he pivoted on his heel and struck with a swift kick to the clone's side, forcing it to the ground.
Regaining his footing, he turned to face the first clone again, which was already recoveed by using numbers. It charged forward, a flurry of punches aimed at him. He blocked the first few blows, feeling the impact reverberate through his arms. Using his enhanced speed, he sidestepped and countered with a quick jab to the clone's ribs, but it absorbed the hit and retaliated with a spinning kick.
The two of them danced around each other, exchanging blows. He felt the adrenaline surge through him, pushing him to adapt with every strike. The clones were relentless, their movements synchronized and fluid. Just as he was starting to gain the upper hand, the second clone recovered and joined the fray again.
While the future Jin was busy battling the clones, the original Jin was quietly preparing for his attack.
"Aren't you forgetting about me?" he called out.
Jin summoned the numbers and wove them into a formula. In doing so, he created hundreds of gigantic black golems, crafted from the same material as the black rod.
"Of course, you know the formula for that metal as well," the future Jin said.
"How could I not?" Jin replied, a smirk playing on his lips. "It's the strongest metal, after all."
Jin could create anything, as long as he understood the exact numbers that made it up. Everything that existed living or non-living was composed of specific mathematical algorithms. As long as he knew those, he could bring them into being.
He commanded the golems to attack.
"Enough of that. Let's talk first," the future Jin suggested.
"We'll talk after I beat the crap out of you."
"Ugh," he sighed. "I was such a pain back then."
The future Jin raised his hand, and the number zero materialized in the white void, matching the number of golems. It shot toward them, erasing them completely.
Jin summoned countless numbers, creating millions of clones. The future Jin did the same, summoning an equal number of clones.
The fight lasted for hours, with no clear winner. They matched each other's strength, skillfully countering every attack. Eventually, they both paused.
Neither of them was tired; they felt exactly as they had at the start of the fight.
'Our power is the same. If this continues their wouldn't be a winner.'
"You finally get it. So let's talk."
"I don't care why, but I want my memories back. Give them to me."
"Haaa," he sighed. "I can't give them back. Not until..."
"I don't care the reason. Give them back."
"You fool. Think before acting. Why do you think we sealed our own memories. Their was a reason."
"Then tell me the reason, and I will understand."
"You know I can't. You know how this works. If I let you have them back. You know the consequence that will came with it. You know what the Outer Gods will do, right."
"Outer Gods...or she came herself, I don't let anyone stop me."
"You are not thinking straight. Your soul has been touched by her. You are already marked by her. Your red eyes is the symbol of that."
That was when Jin noticed the future Jin's eyes; they were not crimson but black.
"Your eyes... they are black! But how?"
"You will understand one day. That it was the right choice."
He raised his hand and shaped. In an instant, the white void vanished, leaving Jin and Albedo standing in Albedo's domain.
"But what was...." Jin murmured.
"I do believe that he have some point." said Albedo.
Albedo was about to continue but stopped suddenly, sensing something. A smile broke across his face.
"Well I like to analyse you a little bit more, but it's time for you to go somewhere."
"Where....."
Jin was about to ask, but before he could speak, he was teleported outside the domain and into the human realm.
"Oh, great. Again." He completed.
********************
In a small hospital room, the faint smell of medicine hung in the air, mixing with the sterile, cold atmosphere. The walls were a dull, muted color, adding to the sense of stillness. An ECG machine sat beside the bed, its rhythmic beeping the only sound, tirelessly tracking the condition of unconscious Jay. Medical equipment was neatly arranged on a nearby tray, untouched, as the room remained still. Jay had been unconscious for two days now, lying motionless under the soft, dim lighting.
The doctor said there were no injuries, but he might be unconscious due to psychological trauma.
He slept deeply, utterly still, almost giving the impression of death. His chest barely moved, and his pale face remained expressionless. Yet, the steady beeping of the ECG machine reassured that life still pulsed within him, confirming he was alive, though locked in an unresponsive state.
Inside his subconscious, there was a vast, empty void. But no, not entirely empty. In the center of the endless darkness stood a throne, imposing and solitary, as if it had been there for an eternity. The darkness stretched infinitely in all directions, swallowing everything, yet the throne remained, a silent monument in the middle of this desolate expanse. Its presence was commanding, as though it held the weight of something powerful, waiting in the endless void for him to notice its significance.
The throne was adorned with an impenetrable darkness, deeper than anything found in the human realm, as if it drew in all light and warmth. It stood solitary in the void, an imposing figure that exuded an air of majesty and supreme authority. Its presence felt both inviting and foreboding, as if it held secrets that whispered through the shadows. This was not just any throne; it was the throne of a monarch, a seat of power that seemed to pulse with a life of its own, waiting patiently in the depths of the endless darkness for its rightful ruler to emerge. It was the throne of the monarch.
Jay slowly opened his eyes. "Where am I?" he asked, staring into the darkness before him. He couldn't see anything—only an endless void of darkness.
Jay was not fully capable of understanding; he remained in a trance-like state, unable to grasp his surroundings.
He tried to look around, and to his astonishment, he realized he was seated on a grand throne. As he focused his gaze, he noticed thousands of creatures kneeling before him.
The creatures were, in a word, absurd—monstrous and more horrific than anything imaginable. Their twisted forms defied the laws of nature, each one more grotesque than the last. Limbs contorted at unnatural angles, eyes glimmered with malevolence, and mouths filled with jagged teeth opened in silent screams. The sight was so disturbing that few could bear to look upon them without succumbing to overwhelming dread.
They moved in unsettling synchrony, their shadows flickering in the dim light like a dark wave of despair. It was as if they were drawn from the deepest recesses of nightmares, embodiments of terror and horror that seemed to feed on fear itself. The very air around them felt charged with a palpable menace, a chilling reminder of their power. To be in their presence was to confront the abyss, to feel a primal instinct to flee or succumb, trapped in the suffocating grasp of their nightmare.
The air was thick with an unsettling reverence, each creature's posture conveying a mix of awe and fear. They bowed their heads, their eyes fixed on him, as if he were a figure of immense power and significance. A sense of weight settled on his shoulders, and he wondered what had brought him to this strange and unsettling place.
"Th-This is...."
[Innate World: Kingdom of Nightmare]
********************
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." An inhuman voice reverberated through the depths of the abyss, each syllable heavy with a sense of dread. "We... we found him, Your Highness." The abyssal creature knelt before the figure, its grotesque form trembling slightly as it bowed deeply, displaying its utmost respect.
The darkness around them seemed to thrum with anticipation, and the air was thick with tension. Shadows flickered in the periphery, swirling like restless spirits eager to witness the unfolding event. The creature's eyes, glinting with a mixture of fear and reverence, darted anxiously toward the throne, awaiting a response that could change everything. The weight of the moment pressed down on them, for the figure seated above them radiated a power that demanded both obedience and awe.
"Very well," the figure seated on the throne spoke, their voice resonating with majesty. "Prepare to attack the human realm." The words fell like a decree, echoing through the darkness and enveloping all the creatures lurking in the shadows. The figure then reached for a mask resting nearby and donned it.