Chapter-3 The Unseen Forces
"I am, The ashes of those who fell." he figure intoned, its voice echoing with a sense of finality.
"I am the one who brought this city to its knees, and I will not allow it to rise again."
Silas stepped forward, his expression grim. "Asher, this is the being that destroyed Velarion—the so-called savior. They've returned."
The figure's eyes narrowed, its dark energy swirling more violently.
"You should have left this place in ruins, boy. Now, you will suffer the same fate as those who came before you."
Asher could feel the energy in the air intensifying, the very fabric of reality beginning to warp under the figure's influence. He realized with a growing sense of dread that this being wasn't just powerful—it was beyond anything he had ever imagined. It could destroy entire worlds with a single thought.
"Silas," Asher whispered, fear creeping into his voice, "what do we do?"
Silas didn't answer immediately. His eyes were locked on the figure, his mind clearly racing as he assessed the situation.
"This is no ordinary test, Asher. If we don't stop this being, it will destroy everything. Not just this city—everything."
The figure began to gather its energy, preparing to strike. The sky above darkened, and the ground below trembled as the sheer force of its power reached a terrifying crescendo.
Asher's mind raced, trying to find a solution, but the enormity of the situation left him paralyzed. How could he possibly stand against something like this?
Just as the figure unleashed its power, a blinding light exploded from Silas, and he threw up a barrier around them, deflecting the initial attack. But even Silas's power seemed to strain under the force of the impact, the barrier flickering and cracking.
"We can't fight it head-on," Silas said through gritted teeth. "We need to find a way to contain it—now!"
Ashers adrenaline surging through him as he tried to think. He reached out with his senses, searching for anything, any weakness, that they could exploit.
But the figure wasn't going to wait. With a roar, it launched another wave of energy at them, more powerful than the last. The ground beneath them shattered, and the barrier began to buckle.
"There's no time!"
Silas shouted, his voice edged with desperation. "Asher, listen to me! If we don't—"
But before Silas could finish, the figure's attack broke through the barrier with a deafening crack. The shockwave hit them like a tidal wave, sending Asher flying backward, his body slamming into the ground with bone-jarring force.
The last thing Asher saw before his vision faded to black was the figure looming over him, its eyes burning with unstoppable fury.
Then everything went dark.
Asher drifted in darkness, his consciousness floating in an endless void. He wasn't sure how long he'd been there, lost in the abyss, but the weight of the previous events pressed heavily on his mind. Velarion, the figure that had appeared, the sheer, overwhelming power—he had never felt anything like it before.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the void, sharp and urgent. "Asher! Wake up!"
Asher's eyes snapped open. He was lying on the ground, surrounded by the shattered remains of the barrier Silas had created. The air was thick with dust and the remnants of dark energy, swirling around him like a storm. His body ached, but he forced himself to sit up, his heart pounding in his chest.
Silas was kneeling beside him, his usually calm demeanor strained.
"You're alive," Silas said, relief evident in his voice. "Good. We don't have much time."
Asher groaned, rubbing his temples as he tried to gather his thoughts. "What happened?"
"That being—the one who destroyed Velarion—it attacked,"
Silas explained quickly, glancing around as if expecting another attack at any moment. "I managed to deflect some of the energy, but not all of it. We're lucky to be alive."
Asher struggled to his feet, his legs trembling. The ground around them was cracked and broken, as if the very fabric of reality had been torn apart. He could still feel the residual energy in the air, pulsing with a terrifying intensity.
"Where is it?" Asher asked, scanning the ruins. "Where did it go? And arent you the god, the protector of this universe? The potentiality of it?"
Silas's expression darkened. "Thats the thing, this universe is divided into layers, the top resides me. I simply went down 2 layers, so that you, asher can precieve me. It will take time for me to reside in my actual layer. But It's still here. It's not going to stop until it finishes what it started. And this time, it's not just Velarion that's at risk—it's everything."
Asher's eyes widened. "Everything?
Silas nodded grimly. "That being isn't just powerful, Asher. It's capable of affecting the entire space-time continuum. If we don't stop it, it could unravel the fabric of reality itself."
The enormity of the situation hit Asher like a freight train. This was far beyond anything he had ever imagined. "How do we fight something like that?,"
Silas didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked up at the sky, his expression unreadable. "We don't have a choice. We have to stop it—no matter what."
Asher and Silas moved quickly through the ruins, the tension between them thick as they prepared for the next encounter. The city was eerily silent, the air heavy with anticipation. Every step felt like it was taking them closer to the edge of an abyss.
"Silas," Asher said quietly, breaking the silence. "You said this being can affect the entire space-time continuum. What does that even mean? How is that possible?"
Silas glanced at him, his expression thoughtful. "You've only begun to tap into your powers, Asher. You've seen what you can do—reshape reality, create life, destroy entire worlds. But that's just the surface. There are beings in this universe—beyond this universe—who can affect reality on a much larger scale."
"You mean like destroying planets?" Asher asked, trying to grasp the concept.
"More than that," Silas replied. "I'm talking about affecting the entire continuum—the fabric that holds space and time together. Imagine being able to erase a timeline, or create a new one. Imagine being able to make an entire universe never exist, or create one out of nothing."
Asher's mind reeled at the thought. "And this thing… it can do that?"
"Yes," Silas said, his voice grim. "And it's already begun."
Asher swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. "So how do we stop it?"
Silas paused, his gaze distant. "We have to find its weakness. No being, no matter how powerful, is invincible. There's always a way."
"But how?" Asher pressed. "What kind of weakness could something like that possibly have?"
Silas didn't answer right away. He seemed lost in thought, his eyes narrowed as he considered the possibilities. "It's not about power alone,"
he said finally. "It's about balance. The being that attacked us—it represents one extreme, a force of destruction. But every force has an opposite. We need to find that balance and use it against it."
Asher nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure he understood. "So we need to find something that can counteract its power?"
"Exactly," Silas said, his eyes locking onto Asher's. "And that something might just be you."
Asher blinked in surprise. "Me?"
"You have the potential, Asher," Silas said, his tone serious. "You have the ability to tap into the fabric of reality itself. You just need to learn how to control it."
Asher felt a knot form in his stomach. "But I'm not ready for this. I barely understand what I'm capable of."
Silas placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm. "None of us are ever truly ready. But that doesn't mean we can't rise to the challenge. Trust in your instincts, and trust in the power you've been given."
Asher took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of doubt in his mind. "All right. I'll try."
Silas nodded. "Good. Because if we fail… there won't be anything left to try again."
The two of them continued through the ruins until they reached the center of the city, where the destruction was most severe. The ground was torn apart, buildings reduced to dust, and the air crackled with unstable energy.
Asher could feel it—the presence of the being, waiting for them. It was like a dark cloud hanging over the city, its malevolence palpable.
"There," Silas said, pointing ahead.
Asher followed his gaze and saw it. The being stood in the midst of the destruction, its form now clearer than before. It was massive, towering over the ruins, its body composed of swirling darkness and crackling energy. Its eyes glowed with a fierce, otherworldly light, and the air around it shimmered with raw power.
"You came back," the being growled, its voice echoing across the city. "Foolish."
Silas stepped forward, his stance firm. "We won't let you destroy everything."
The being laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent tremors through the ground. "You think you can stop me? I am beyond your comprehension. I can unmake this reality with a thought!"
Asher's heart raced as he felt the pressure of the being's power bearing down on them. He could sense the very fabric of space and time bending around it, as if the universe itself was struggling to contain its presence.
Silas didn't flinch. "Power alone isn't enough. There's always a way to counter it."
The being's eyes narrowed, and it unleashed a wave of energy at them, the force of it distorting the air and cracking the ground. Silas raised his hand, summoning a barrier of light that absorbed the impact, but Asher could see the strain it took to hold it back.
"Now, Asher!" Silas shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "You have to counter it now, before it's too late!"
Asher closed his eyes, focusing on the energy around him. He could feel the pulse of the continuum, the endless streams of space and time intertwining, stretching out infinitely. He reached out with his senses, searching for the balance Silas had spoken of, the force that could counteract the being's power.
And then, he found it—a faint, shimmering light, buried deep within the fabric of reality. It was small, almost imperceptible, but it was there, a force of creation, of order.
Asher latched onto it, drawing it out, letting it flow through him. The energy surged within him, a warm, soothing presence that contrasted sharply with the being's chaotic power. He could feel it stabilizing the continuum, pushing back against the darkness.
Asher opened his eyes, and the world around him seemed to slow. The being's energy was still raging, but Asher could see the cracks forming in its power, the instability caused by the force he was channeling.
"You think you can defy me?" the being snarled, sensing the shift. "I will tear you apart, piece by piece!"
Asher stepped forward, his resolve solidifying. "Not if I tear you apart first."
With a shout, Asher unleashed the energy he had gathered, directing it toward the being. The light clashed with the darkness, and for a moment, the entire city was illuminated by the blinding radiance.
The being screamed, its form writhing as the light tore into it, disrupting the very core of its power. Asher could feel the strain as the two forces collided, the fabric of reality itself trembling under the impact.
But Asher didn't relent. He pushed harder, channeling every ounce of strength he had into the attack, forcing the being back, away from the city, away from the continuum it sought to destroy.
For a brief, terrifying moment, it seemed like
the being might overpower him. But then, with a final surge of energy, Asher broke through, the light piercing the being's core.
The being let out a final, ear-shattering roar as its form began to dissolve, the darkness unraveling as it was consumed by the light. The ground beneath it cracked and crumbled, and then, with a blinding flash, the being was gone.
Asher collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath, the light around him fading. The city was still, the air calm once more.
But as the dust settled, Asher felt a deep, unsettling tremor in the ground. He looked up, and his eyes widened in horror as he saw the sky above them begin to crack—fractures spreading through the fabric of reality itself.
Silas was at his side in an instant, his expression grim. "Asher… you did it. But the continuum… it's been destabilized."
Asher's heart pounded in his chest. "What does that mean?"
Silas looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with a rare fear. "It means everything is unraveling. If we don't fix this—"
But before Silas could finish, the ground beneath them shattered, and they were both swallowed by the darkness, the world collapsing around them.