I materialized in the bright realm, surrounded by the fifteen individuals I had seen before. Blin stood beside me, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity.
"The time of alignment is upon us," the Bastion of Finire announced, their voice echoing through the realm. "The Aeons will imbue us with more of their power. Let us begin."
The mountainous figures in the sky began to glow, their light intensifying until I felt myself being lifted off the ground. The Aeons' energy coursed through me, a torrent of creation and destruction.
My vision expanded, and I saw the universe unfolding before me. I saw stars being born and dying, galaxies colliding and merging. I saw the infinite dance of creation and destruction.
When the energy finally receded, I found myself back on the ground, gasping for breath. Blin stood beside me, their eyes aglow with an inner fire.
"Our powers are growing," they said. "We must learn to wield them, Clarke. The balance of the universe depends on it."
I nodded, still reeling from the vision. I knew that Blin and I were connected, our powers intertwined.
As we stood there, a figure emerged from the haze. It was the Bastion of Finire, their dark armor gleaming in the bright light.
"The time of trial is upon us," they announced. "Clarke, you will face the first challenge. Blin, you will face the second. Success will bring balance to the universe. Failure will bring destruction."
I steeled myself, ready to face whatever lay ahead. I knew that my powers were growing, and I was determined to wield them for the greater good.
The Bastion of Finire gestured to a portal that had appeared beside them. "The trial of creation," they said. "Clarke, you must create a world, an entire ecosystem, in the span of a single thought."
I took a deep breath, focusing my mind. I thought of a world, teeming with life, where oceans flowed and mountains towered. I thought of forests, vast and green, where creatures roamed free. The energy of creation and life coursing through me made it easy to bring these images to mind and envision perfection for what I was trying to do.
As I thought, the air around me began to shimmer. A world took shape, coalescing from the ether. I saw it, vibrant and alive, a testament to my power.
The Bastion of Finire nodded. "Well done, Clarke. Your creation will be the cradle of a new civilization."
Blin stepped forward, their eyes gleaming with intensity. "My turn," they said.
The Bastion of Finire gestured to another portal. "The trial of destruction," they said. "Echo, you must unmake a world, reduce it to nothingness, in the span of a single thought."
I stared at them in shock as Blin's face set in determination. They thought of a world, once teeming with life, now barren and still. They thought of oceans drying up, mountains crumbling, and forests withering away.
As they thought, the air around us began to distort. A world began to unravel, its very fabric disintegrating. Blin's power was a force of nature, unstoppable and fierce.
The Bastion of Finire nodded. "Well done, Blin. Your destruction will make way for new creation."
What the hell just happened? I wondered. This was starting to feel weird, somewhat unreal. Did Blin just destroy a full world with nature and life? Why wasn't u freaking out about this?
Those thoughts quickly left my head and my reality adjusted. Blin and I stood there, our powers resonating, our connection growing stronger. We knew that our trials were far from over, but we were ready. Together, we would maintain the balance of the universe.
Suddenly Clarke felt like he was having a moment of Deja Vu as the scene around him changed. It was familiar and yet it wasn't.
The Bastion of Finire nodded in approval. "The trials will continue, Clarke and Blin. Each challenge will test your powers, your connection, and your balance."
As they spoke, the realm began to shift and change. New portals appeared, each leading to a different trial. Blin and I stood ready, our powers at the forefront of their minds.
"The trial of harmony," the Bastion announced, gesturing to a portal pulsing with a soothing melody. "Clarke, you must create a symphony of sounds, a harmony that brings balance to the universe."
I closed his eyes, ignoring the chaotic voice in my head screaming at me that something was wrong, and focused on the music within me. I thought of notes and chords, of rhythms and beats. I thought of the harmony that existed between all things.
As I thought, the air around me began to vibrate. A symphony of sounds emerged, a beautiful harmony that filled the realm. The Bastion nodded in approval.
"Well done, Clarke. Your harmony will bring balance to the cosmos."
Blin stepped forward, their eyes gleaming with intensity. "My turn," they said.
The Bastion gestured to another portal, pulsing with a discordant energy. "The trial of discord," they announced. "Blin, you must create a cacophony of sounds, a discord that shatters the balance of the universe."
Blin's face set in determination. They thought of notes and chords, of rhythms and beats. But this time, they thought of the discord that existed between all things.
As they thought, the air around us began to shatter. A cacophony of sounds emerged, just as I wondered if Blin could also hear my thoughts. Were we that connected?
The cacophony was a jarring discord that threatened to destroy the balance of the realm. The Bastion nodded in approval.
"Well done, Blin. Your discord will make way for new harmony."
Blin and I stood there, our powers resonating, our connection growing stronger. We knew that our trials were far from over, but we were ready. Together, we would maintain the balance of the universe.
Once again this felt familiar, not similar but familiar. This was another deja vu moment. Why was I having these? Before I could think further more on it, my reality adjusted.