A few days had passed on the planet Terra since a grim news had spread like poison in the minds of every inhabitant. A dimension rift of rank SSS had appeared as a result of the Webenne cataclysm, and with it, the announcement of an unfathomable evil. This unprecedented threat had forced the Yorquin Rangers Terra (YRT) to urgently mobilize all the heroes of the planet, every available force, to face this peril of cosmic proportions.
At the YRT headquarters, the most powerful heroes of this world gathered to prepare for this decisive raid that would determine the fate of their world. Among them, a unit of B-class Beta heroes had been called back from their various missions to reinforce the ranks. A feeling of unease settled in, for this was perhaps the last time they would be able to exchange in their lives.
A first hero started the conversation with a hint of humor.
"It's nice to see your ugly faces one last time."
One of his teammates retorted determinedly.
"Don't get too excited, we're far from being buried. Personally, I intend to survive this raid and be one of those who will live having saved humanity. I'll be Terra's savior."
This sentence made the members of the unit, who hadn't gathered in far too long, laugh.
A third hero, flashing a mocking but sincere smile, added:
"Rezna, you'll never change, you were born to make a name for yourself among those who have risen. Who knows, maybe this raid will finally push you into the higher class!"
But Rezna, despite his confidence, did not hide a cautious humility in the face of the power of the higher classes.
-"I believe you don't realize the difference that separates us from the most powerful classes. The weakest of them could wipe out the entire YRT without even using half of their power. The so-called geniuses, miracles, or heaven-blessed would be the offended ones. As for the heroes of the Z Omega class, they are living legends, untouchable. My goal? Just to get out of here alive."
Lorena- "I might have gotten a bit carried away, but the difference between the classes is real. Why are we here? Can't the greatest heroes handle this?"
Susan- "Terra is home to beings with inconceivable powers, I'm capable of razing the surface of Terra, so why do we still face such daily attacks?"
Rezna- "We've got better things to do elsewhere. It's a form of control, nothing more. We're few, but our strength could allow us to conquer not just Terra, but many other worlds as well. I've evolved a lot during my raids in outer worlds. Terra is gradually becoming the target of higher deities, attracted by what we possess that is unique, and even they cannot claim it."
Suddenly, a tense silence fell over the room. An individual had entered, bloodied, dragged by a warrior whose imposing stature seemed enormous. His dragon fur hinted at his power.
It was the Barbarian Calamity, Toscov Alandorf, the most formidable of the A-class Alpha. Upon his entry, a titanic aura, barely contained, enveloped the room. The weaker ones felt an overwhelming weight; some trembled under the intensity of his presence, others could barely breathe.
The person he had dropped to the ground bore the brunt of it. When Toscov resumed his walk, the heroes inferior to him showed their admiration and respect by saluting the loudest. Toscov, impassive, continued his march towards an imposing door leading to the higher level of the HQ.
There, in a muted room, the other members of the A-class Alpha awaited him, greeting his arrival with manifest respect. Among them, however, the rare members of the prestigious Z Omega class maintained a more measured, almost indifferent attitude, reflecting unwavering confidence.
Once the silence subsided, Toscov spoke, grave and measured, his words heavy with meaning.
"We are finally gathered to report on the Iota-class Hayères report. These memories have been downloaded using this new technology you brought back from the Inter-Universe Market Tower."
A high-ranking official nodded in agreement with Toscov's words, then replied:
"Inter-dimensional transactions are intensifying, Toscov. The trade initiated by the Z Omega class has taken on a scale beyond all our predictions. Our expansion has allowed us to conquer countless territories across the worlds, but a threat, deep and unprecedented, now shakes the foundations of this empire."
Toscov frowned, visibly concerned.
"Do you have any idea of the extent of this threat?"
The official slowly shook his head, as if crushed by an almost palpable helplessness.
"We are utterly powerless against this thing that exceeds our understanding."
A member of the Z Omega class, hidden in the shadows, stepped forward slightly, his words striking the mind of every listener.
"Its name is Barbatéos, conqueror of the race of little world-devourers. He bends entire universes to his will on an unimaginable scale. No one has been able to defeat him to date, not even members of the Z Omega class."
Toscov was so shocked by the revelation this Z Omega class member had just made that his face froze in place. His legs wavered, and he stumbled back, falling to his knees, utterly devastated. His reaction was entirely normal. He had traveled through various worlds but had never encountered anyone more powerful than a Z Omega class member. Defeating several of them was a sign of a truly unprecedented catastrophe on the horizon.
The informant continued, his words resonating in the heavy silence:
"Five of them faced him, and even they couldn't manage to hurt him. One by one, they fell, reduced to dust in the face of this threat ready to plunge every world into chaos."
Toscov whispered in a broken voice, surrounded by the silent, mourning awakened:
"May God help us... Are we condemned to face obstacles so vast, incomprehensible, escaping the limits of our biased understanding of the world?"
Meanwhile, in the dimension rift, the battle raged on. Titan and Aracus had allied out of necessity; they didn't understand if they were facing a Terran or a being beyond category. Aracus rose, still determined, and tried to gain the advantage by teleporting behind this boundless anomaly.
He struck it with a powerful diagonal blow. Atachi snapped his fingers, releasing a gust of wind that swept him away. At the same time, Titan arrived, attempting a hook charged with a phenomenal density of creation energy. He executed a technique from his divine arsenal.
"Cosmic Density Accumulation: Cosmic Deflation!!!"
The accumulated energy gathered to condense into an increasingly smaller point while exponentially increasing the density and quantity concentrated in this tiny fragment the size of an atom. Atachi stood facing him, crossing his arms with a bold smile. A shockwave hit Titan's knee (the patella area), pushing his body forward.
This unfortunate accident caused his own attack to hit the wrong target. An explosion with a radius of several billion kilometers was about to become problematic. Atachi had left a residual image beforehand; his true body was located at the furthest point.
When the dust settled, Aracus, enraged, shouted in a desperate tone:
"Who the hell are you!!! How can a worthless being humiliate me like this??? I refuse to lose! I am the champion Aracus, the pride of my deity and my precious people!!! Release of cosmic potential!!! Deity form!!!"
He unleashed an amount of energy that enveloped the entire dimension. Panting, Titan rose, realizing that Aracus was embarking on an impressive ascent, and he concluded that Atachi must face the strongest of the minor gods.
Titan decided it was time to get serious.
"Incarnation of Creation!!! Divine coronation!!!"
Cosmic entities, from their elevated observation planes, watched in astonishment at the scene unfolding before their eyes. The phenomenal concentration of energy contained within this restricted space seemed on the verge of breaking the barrier separating the spectators from the gladiators.
"I will stabilize and then expand the dimensional space."
An entity extended its hand over the dimension, making it grow, tripling in size each second. Titan reached his divine stage. His long, shining blonde hair cascaded around his face, while a metaphysical armor, defying all physical laws, assembled around him.
A luminous halo floated behind his back, marking his rank as a deity. On the other side, Aracus evolved into a superior state of being, transforming into an abstract entity, still without a fixed form, a pure essence of raw power.
Atachi silently observed them before conceding, not without a note of disdain:
"I must admit, you're strong, but certainly not strong enough to pose a real threat to me. The fact that I haven't used even 1% of my abilities should start to frighten you a little."
The words struck Titan like a sentence.
"1%? He doesn't seem to be lying, but how can a being of his magnitude live in harmony with beings like Terranians? Is he even one himself in the end?"
Atachi, noticing Titan's troubled gaze, flashed a mocking smile.
"You're asking too many questions, Titan. Focus a little, you might lose your life for lack of attention."
Aracus, his face resolute, fixed Atachi with a burning determination.
"I must protect my people, victory is the only option for survival. Atachi!!!"
Aracus charged towards Atachi, an immeasurable rage manifesting in reality. The heavens urged him to strike down his enemy, no matter the cost. Titan wasted no time, following Aracus in his charge. The two were above Atachi, ready to resume the fight. Atachi cared little for the battle; they were simply not up to the task.
He proudly announced.
"Spectators! Let me give you a little demonstration that will temporarily satisfy your fervent desire for excitement."
He gently raised his right knee, and two Atachi images, formed as remnants, were created in addition to the original. They began an individual battle against Titan and Aracus while Atachi stayed in place. The gods were stunned. They couldn't distinguish the real from the false, the illusion of an unattainable speed.
Desperate, Aracus felt his courage falter under the weight of the blows.
"I can't measure up to him, each of my strikes has been in vain, his pierce through my being. He has put me on my knees before my people and rendered me powerless in the eyes of my own deity."
He continued, a sense of dread creeping in.
"Despite the chains holding me back, at equal power, he is utterly superior. We are facing something terrifying. Mother, father, I am terrified at the thought of continuing this fight against this demon."
Atachi slightly turned towards Aracus, his despair amusing him, which could be read in the expressions on his face.
"A champion, really? I don't know where they dug you up from, but at least they know their target."
The battle intensified, every strike shaking this expanding dimension. Titan and Aracus did their best to land a blow on the impenetrable Atachi.
In a hidden corner of the dimension, the Overseer leaned forward, fascinated.
"We are witnessing an event that will go down in history. I have known beings who could overcome a trial with disconcerting ease, but never one who has so provoked the gods. He is currently facing a minor god and a champion, being in three places at once while accelerating his race against his opponents."
At these words, a cosmic entity spoke up, a thoughtful look in their eyes.
"I remember a mortal, once, who challenged Finnos in a duel, even managing to kill him. His fame in the cosmos was made the moment even the unlimited gods and the all-powerful trembled just by hearing his name. This kid is just a fly we can eradicate at any time. If he's still alive, it's only because his journey intrigues us."
The Overseer frowned, visibly shaken.
"You mention Finnos, the unlimited god of the End, the one who was sealed? He really could have defeated such a threat in a single duel? I still have so much to learn about the history of the worlds."
On the dimensional battlefield, Atachi enjoyed wearing them down, still laughing, his amusement cruelly contrasting with the desperate struggle of his opponents fighting for their survival.
Titan, exasperated by his helplessness, charged once more.
"I can't take it anymore! Even my father isn't as unbearable. I'll make you swallow your arrogance, miserable mortal! Big Bang..."
Atachi grabbed him by the chin with both hands, bursting into laughter. Titan realized that this man was consumed by terrible madness.
"Show me the world that's been hidden from me all this time. You are weak, Titan, Aracus is no less disappointing. Fighting me is useless. Your humiliation wasn't enough for you, so fine, I'll close this tiresome show."
With a calculated gesture, Atachi released an overwhelming gravitational wave. Under this unbearable pressure, the armor of the two combatants cracked, and soon, their bodies, minds, and souls were reduced to fragments. Atachi raised his right hand, palm extended, and closed his fingers with almost mechanical precision.
The dimension around them tore apart, the fragments of reality collapsing like broken mosaics, and the barrier between spectators and fighters vanished, opening an interspace where worlds intertwined. The Overseer shuddered, a strange sensation spreading through him – a feeling of insignificance that he had only ever perceived in front of cosmic entities, never before in front of a human.
For Aracus, the stakes were terrifying. His people watched him; his family, his loved ones, were all there, hearts pounding, hanging on every move he made. To win or die concerned not only his glory but their survival itself, a fate of total annihilation looming over them with every misstep.
Aracus's relentless drive and his indomitable will to protect his people, he yelled loudly.
"I won't let you take their smile!!! I will fight for my people, I will defeat you Atachi!"
Aracus's words were met by the cold calm of Atachi, who responded by letting his crushing aura emanate.
"You think your people are my priority? I'm not a keeper of peace. I'm not a hero who would try to save both peoples. I only care about the egocentric assholes who thought they could mess with my world for stupid ideals and experiments."
Titan, still on the ground, realized that Atachi was an individual apart from the world. He wasn't part of the good or the bad on the scale. He had created his own weight, proving the existence of a scale that had total polysemy. Titan was fascinated by this man. Aracus had a few tears falling from his eyes. He made the wise decision to kneel before Atachi. Everyone would be witness to this defining event.
In the Webenne desert, the heroes gathered before the portal. An army of 10 million heroes, prepared to defeat an unimaginable threat. Toscov stood alone facing this dimensional rift. The pressure exerted by the rift had tripled due to the ongoing battles inside it. He extended his hand, seeking the nearest source of energy to unveil the dimension. He found Atachi, whose power surpassed everything.
Aracus, overwhelmed by the events, felt a burden he could no longer bear.
"Please spare me, spare my people... I haven't been worthy enough to succeed in the challenge you set before us, this minor god and myself. You have friends, don't you? A family waiting for you every day. I too must protect my people from every threat, I must face every challenge. I am undoubtedly powerless against these gods, and standing before you, begging, is my punishment for letting them do this. Kill me if you wish, but I beg you Terran Atachi, make sure my people survive. This burden I have carried for centuries, I can never be forgiven for the peoples that have perished at my hands."
Before him, Atachi remained unmoved, impassive, his dark eyes scanning Aracus's broken soul without a hint of pity.
"Titan, rise and go home without delay. You will know where to find me when the time comes."
Titan, returning to his base form, stood up slowly, absorbing the calm after the storm and healing his wounds. Questions about future challenges swirled in his mind; a future as dark as it was thrilling seemed to beckon.
"Thank you for your mercy, Atachi, I will come back to offer you the opportunity of your life."
Atachi, without flinching, turned to Aracus.
"Rise, Aracus, you may return to them. I have decided that the fault lies with the observing entities, not those who were forced into this farce of very poor taste."
Aracus stood up, wiping away his tears, and embraced Atachi. He thanked him, saying:
"Your loved ones must be so proud of you. Thank you for your mercy, Terran, you have a pure heart filled with such kindness."
Atachi – "My loved ones? I have had none since my birth. I have survived all this time by climbing the ranks, the world offered me misery so that my strength would become an invaluable treasure."
Meanwhile, the cosmic entities laughed, finding an odd pleasure in the unpredictable spectacle that Atachi had provided. His existence, full of violence and arrogance, seemed to fascinate them. Without another word, Atachi vanished in a flash, suddenly reappearing before the Overseer, stunned to see him appear by his side.
"I will destroy your gods, one by one. Listen to me: one day, I will rise to your level... When that day comes, rest assured that I will eradicate your failing system, and you will be the next race to fall. Goodbye to those who abandoned their miserable existence to play with fiction. Yakudé!!!"
Atachi created a dozen combined portals in one, where the power of his fist would be multiplied. He infused his arm with a bit of energy, enough to end this event. When his fist passed through the portal, the rift on Toscov's side opened, revealing an incomprehensible release of energy exploding in all directions. The dimension, threatening Titan, forced him to escape from there. He found himself for a moment facing Toscov, who had turned to alert everyone.
"Flee! All those who can protect Terra, come to my side. We must defend humanity against these vile creatures that threaten our world!"
Titan propelled himself out of Terra's atmosphere, observing the situation from space, his gaze fixed on the Terranians below who were organizing to form a circle, each hero channeling their power to contain the cataclysmic energy. Together, they created a barrier to redirect the explosion away from the planet.
As the explosion reached its peak, in an unprecedented scale and absurdity, the barrier began to crack under the pressure of the colossal energy. Yet, they held firm, letting the destructive wave travel through the cosmos, visible to all.
Titan – "I will find you, Terran, you were born to accomplish things that reason and destiny cannot explain."
Members of the Omega Z class present on Terra helped the heroes on-site by reinforcing the barrier. The incident dragged on for over ten minutes, and the weakest heroes fell, one after another, in the face of this endless power. Then, suddenly, everything stopped. Nothing could have relieved these true heroes more than the unified barrier held by the Terranians. They all shouted in joy, the rift had finally disappeared.
"We did it!!! Hooray!!!! Humanity is saved!!!"
Their laughter and shouts of joy echoed through the air, a pure and intense celebration. But among this exultant crowd, one man remained invisible. Atachi was gone, having concealed his presence. The heroes passed by without seeing him, caught up in their collective victory. As he passed near Toscov, he bowed slightly and whispered in a calm voice:
"You can be proud of yourselves, heroes, the only saviors of Terra."
Toscov, not knowing where the voice was coming from, stood up to scan the surroundings, but no one was there. On the outskirts of the city, Atachi felt a little alone. He could not celebrate the victory with his heroes, for he was not one, and he would never be one. Although he had contributed to their triumph, Atachi remained on the sidelines, a stranger to this shared victory. He finished by looking up at the sky, saying the following words:
Staring at the sky, he murmured softly, his words directed as much to himself as to an invisible audience:
"History will give you the name of a hero, the name of the camp to follow, but that is just one point of view, the reality is quite different."