On the shore of the Otherworld, the portal still shimmered, a luminous fracture between Terra and this enigmatic realm. Beyond its ethereal arches stood a monumental palace, imbued with a timeless oriental grandeur. Its jade and gold walls seemed to narrate millennia of history, and its corridors, inhabited by hundreds of high dignitaries, vibrated with the echoes of animated discussions.
At the heart of this sanctuary, around a table so vast it seemed fit for a divine council, an old man with a silver beard spoke, the fire of anger blazing in his eyes.
"You have absolutely no grasp of the magnitude of the threat that awaits us! He has gathered the most powerful warriors in history from the kingdom of Megerya. According to testimonies extracted from those who crossed paths with them, they defeated the black dragon Ydragia and opened the Forbidden Tomb—where the most terrible malevolent entities have slumbered since time immemorial. I assure you, brothers, only the Terrans can lead us to victory in the Great War."
A tense silence followed this cry of alarm before a strategist, clad in an armor resembling that of Tamerlane, spoke with a calm, almost provocative demeanor. His measured tone sharply contrasted with the elder's rage.
"Be patient, venerable counselor. The Terrans will not delay. They are recognized and revered as beings of great strength, having proven to the multiverse itself their existence as a superior race."
In the shadow of this discussion, not far from the glimmer of the portal, Atachi and Titan appeared silently. The portal's light behind them accentuated their strangeness in the eyes of the guards. Titan, ever his composed self, observed this new world with calculated nonchalance, while Atachi slightly squinted, his mind visibly stirred by the indecipherable sounds resonating around him.
"Do you understand what they're saying, Titan? All these languages are foreign to me."
Titan, the very embodiment of creation, smirked slightly.
"Just a moment. I'll fix that."
In the blink of an eye, a small chip materialized in his palm. Gently, he affixed the device behind Atachi's ear. Guards quickly approached them to identify the strangers, their armor clinking like a warning. Their weapons were raised, but something in their posture betrayed apprehension toward these two foreign figures.
Atachi, now capable of understanding their words, gave them a glacial look imbued with strange authority.
"Do not worry; we are the Terrans you've been waiting for. Kindly lower your weapons. I hope I've made myself clear."
The guards hesitated, stepping back slightly before yielding passage to an imposing man—their leader—accompanied by a small unit of five combatants forming his royal guard. Approaching to introduce himself, the leader asked:
"I am Baldur, Emperor of Sinongara. It is an honor to host you here. Your assistance is invaluable to us. Tell me, did you bring the artifact we agreed upon?"
Atachi handed the box to Baldur, the exchange complete, and then asked a straightforward question.
"What do you intend to do with a singularity? Are Terra's services not sufficient for you? If there's a head you wish to see fall, let us know. We'll remain here for some time to conduct research."
The Emperor, visibly unsettled, stared at Atachi. How could this Terran know the box's contents, sealed for billions of years?
Baldur: "A singularity, you say? We hope it contains the power necessary to defeat the strongest being in this world."
The revelation that the singularity would be used to take down a single man disturbed Titan, who retorted:
"The strongest in your world? Our contract merely stated we were to deliver this artifact. But giving a singularity to individuals as irresponsible as you... You couldn't even harness its full capabilities."
The silence that followed was deafening, laden with tension. Atachi and Titan, standing before the Emperor and his guard, seemed like threatening shadows ready to ravage this universe. Yet behind Atachi's cold exterior, a spark of intrigue gleamed in his eyes, as if the mysteries of this world offered him a new challenge.
Atachi: "Open this box. I will personally handle the singularity within."
The Emperor Baldur, impressive in his bearing and stature, hesitated. The perplexity in his eyes betrayed his ignorance of the true nature of what he held.
"I don't understand. Our contract stipulates that this box can only serve as an eternal fuel source. We intended simply to power a mecha using it."
Atachi gave a chilling smile, his tone turning sharper, his words piercing the veil of hidden intentions.
"You're preparing for a war, aren't you? No... such a weapon in a world of this scale... You will undoubtedly commit genocide. You'll decimate 95% of the world's population. I will ensure such an event never occurs."
The tension between the Terrans and the inhabitants of this world neared a breaking point. Strategists rose, the most powerful warriors gathered around them, and a confrontation seemed inevitable—until a radiant female figure, exuding unshakable majesty, spoke up.
"I don't know who you think you are, but we decide the fate our world deserves! You're nothing more than outsiders, pitiful pawns of the Yorquin Rangers of Terra. Kindly return to where you came from. You speak of morality and justice, but do you even know what your own world has imposed upon ours? If you insist, we will reveal details we'd rather keep hidden."
Atachi and Titan stood frozen, their composed facades cracking under her revelations. The woman continued relentlessly:
"Perhaps you're unaware of the real origin of your mission, but know this: a treaty of alliance with Terra stipulates that our world must be annihilated. This destruction project is meant to serve top-secret initiatives. Spare us your lectures on morality."
Shocked, Atachi and Titan momentarily broke character. Titan, shedding all pretense, raised his hand and seized the box abruptly, imposing gravity a thousand times greater. Bodies collapsed like leaves swept by a storm, only the strongest resisting.
His eyes burning with lived fury, Titan declared:
"Master, could their planet be the source of something far graver? I warn you: one day, I will find out. Not only will I know, but your world will fall by the hands of a god."
Atachi replied calmly:
"I adhere to no doctrine, no philosophy, no ideal for my people. I merely impose my ideas. Terrans do what they want—they are certainly not the only ones to do so, and you know it well! You belong to a race that also targets individuals from other worlds. Good and evil are but the human sides of the divine."
The people of this world no longer understood their own words. Atachi had intentionally altered his voice so that Titan would remain identified as a Terran. With a swift and precise motion, Atachi snatched the box, surprising Titan, whose grip was remarkably firm.
Atachi turned away with sovereign coldness, bypassing Baldur to approach another figure in the room: a woman with a sharp gaze, her hands marked by years of working on intricate machinery.
"You must be the genius scientist of this world. I entrust you with the power contained in this artifact. But on one condition: we will assist you in the creation of this mecha. My disciple here needs rigorous training. Teach him mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Focus especially on the fundamental concepts. He needs this for his development."
Baldur, still stunned by the turn of events, spoke again with a tone of defiance.
"You ask a lot of my protégé. Grant me one wish, hero of Terra. There is indeed one head I would like you to take. It belongs to a hero named Jayden, summoned by our neighboring kingdom to defeat the Great Terror, a divine calamity. This hero's goal is to establish peace by unifying all the kingdoms. He is likely the strongest being in this world's history, accompanied by the most formidable figures in history. A team we could never defeat."
Atachi: "Jayden, you say? I will strive to fulfill one of your wishes. But be warned: war will engulf your entire world, whether you like it or not."
Back on Terra, where time flows much faster than in the world they had just left, the two Terran heroes were gripped by a quiet rage. The weight of humiliation weighed on them, knowing this world represented a crucial stake for their superiors.
The first hero broke the silence with a furious cry:
"I will find that guy. We'll mobilize all the available A-Alpha Class. They will pay for the shame they inflicted on us! Let's return to the abyss; the boss must have noticed the phenomenal disturbances caused by these strangers."
Without waiting, the two warriors leaped with colossal force. The power of their momentum shattered the ground over a wide area, creating gaping cracks and shockwaves. They headed toward a forbidden oceanic perimeter, where even the skies seemed enraged.
Storms howled above them, torrents mixed with tsunamis reaching dizzying heights of one hundred meters. Yet these natural forces could do nothing against them. They dove into the ocean's depths, an unexplored territory barred to civilians, forbidden because of the titanic creatures that reigned there.
Hundreds of kilometers disappeared beneath their traversal, the waters bending under the heroes' power as if fearing their wrath. Nearing their destination, a shimmering portal appeared, surrounded by monstrous marine horrors. Leviathans, tens of kilometers long, gathered around the forbidden entry.
The second hero, with a single punch, pulverized one of these aquatic giants, his rage fueled by the humiliation endured. They finally plunged into the portal, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The rage provoked by Atachi was boundless.
Arriving inside their HQ, a hundred soldiers awaited them, standing firm to execute orders.
?: "The White Seeker is waiting for you."
The mention of this name, evocative of traumatic memories, caused the two heroes to recoil several steps. Nonetheless, they followed the soldiers, knowing they were trapped. Robots, hundreds of them, worked harmoniously on complex machines. On a balcony overlooking the frenzy, a silhouette emerged: the White Seeker.
He turned slowly, his face masked by an inscrutable expression. With a simple hand gesture, he dismissed the soldiers, leaving them alone with him. He spoke, his icy voice echoing in the vast hall:
"After decades of research, we have perfected technologies allowing us to travel through time, space, and even across realities. My work in meta-quantum physics has opened infinite possibilities, including unlocking the dormant supernatural power within every Terran. Using equations beyond dimensional understanding, we've altered reality itself. Fascinating, isn't it?"
The second hero replied, lost:
"I don't think I understood the message, but we are truly sorry for the delays caused in the world GU2µo-4pS."
The White Seeker inclined his head, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.
"We observed everything through your eyes. The analysis of the two individuals you faced exceeds everything we anticipated. Comparing their power to that of our A-Alpha Class would be laughable. They are equivalent to a Z-Omega Class, completely beyond our comprehension."
He paused, his gaze hardening.
"One of them, the one dressed in red and blue, annihilated our measuring instruments. The scale of his powers caused all our sensors to explode. As for the artifact he carried, its value is inestimable. That is why I have decided to send the most powerful of our A-Alpha Class to resolve this issue."
Understanding that their mission had failed, they wondered what fate awaited them. The first hero, dropping to his knees, implored:
"We beg you! We couldn't do anything against them. Give us another mission, and we will accomplish it. We won't disappoint you again."
The White Seeker responded with a playful tone:
"Be delighted to hear this excellent news. Toscov will arrive in five days due to the temporal difference. An improvement project is in order; we will simply rewrite your reality code with our new discoveries."
The two heroes exchanged a glance, panic evident in their eyes. In a furtive attempt, they tried to escape, accelerating at the speed of light. They were pulled into an operating room. Screams of terror echoed through the metallic walls of the base.
The White Seeker, observing Atachi on a holographic screen, let out a laugh mingled with amusement and fascination.
"I can't wait to discover the extent of your abilities, citizen of Gomarah, aged 25, height 1.77 meters, weight 79 kilograms, with a deplorable academic record and numerous relocations in recent months. Every place you've moved to has been the scene of major catastrophes, as if you attract the cosmos's misfortunes. What a strange anomaly..."
Back in the other world, Titan followed Atachi's advice to read at the speed of light. He immersed himself in frantic reading, surrounding a book with a thin energy layer to protect it from speed constraints. Insatiable, he absorbed knowledge at a superhuman pace, pushing the limits of his mind.
He shared many lessons alongside the most intelligent scientist in this world, Aliya Ferra, a stunning brunette with dazzling blue eyes, her figure a synonym for perfection according to beauty standards.
Titan: "The world truly works this way? Gravity is such a fascinating force. Aliya, you should study in my world. There are cosmic bodies called black holes capable of exerting a gravitational force of approximately 1.22×10⁴³ G."
Aliya, surprised by this extraordinary figure, grew excited at the prospect of learning more about different worlds. She asked:
"But doesn't this singularity belong to a black hole?"
"The singularity my master spoke of is commonly known as the center of a black hole. At this point, the density, temperature, and mass are simply infinite in my world, dilating spacetime to the point of halting it completely."
"My next creation will therefore know no limits. I can't wait to unlock the potential of my mecha."
Climbing a ladder, Aliya adjusted a curvature in the alloy of a gigantic robot under construction. Atachi appeared in Aliya's lab.
"Tell me, Titan, since you are a deity, do you still feel genuine emotions? Love, for instance? Do you know what it is?"
Atachi's sudden appearance startled Aliya, causing her to fall. Titan jumped to catch her mid-air, descending slowly to the ground. He replied:
"Love? What is that? My father never spoke to me about it."
The situation grew awkward for Aliya, who realized Titan was completely indifferent to the question, being utterly ignorant of the concept. Aliya quickly stood back on the ground, adjusting her glasses, and began questioning Titan:
"You are a deity in your world, not just a hero? How can you ignore this concept when the gods themselves created love?"
Titan averted his gaze, pensive.
"I became a deity. But in my cosmology, it works differently. I was five years old when my race was exterminated. My adoptive father, a deity, took me in. I've never encountered love, nor understood its essence."
Atachi observed the scene in silence before addressing Aliya.
"Lady Aliya, I would like to discuss his education with you. Titan, I announce that my departure will take place in the coming hours. I wish you good luck. You had better exceed my expectations. I must push you to the next level at all costs."
Titan saluted his master for all the efforts he was willing to make to turn him into a true warrior worthy of his rank. Atachi withdrew with Aliya to discuss the learning phase.
Atachi turned to Aliya, an enigmatic smile on his lips.
"I have one last request for you, Lady Aliya: my disciple does not know love, and I ask you to teach him."
Aliya widened her eyes, stunned.
"Teach him? What are you talking about? I cannot teach him love unless… I myself have never fallen in love. I don't have time to waste on such trivialities. I am the greatest scientist in this world. I must design the most extraordinary inventions, those that will revolutionize the world. Love is a futile emotion that would disrupt my work, so I completely reject your inappropriate request."
Atachi, sensing an unyielding argument, continued his reasoning with fiery assurance:
"Then we have an agreement. Titan must become the greatest deity possible. Using love is a good way to create a being that will change the world on the greatest scale. I leave you to ponder this, Lady Aliya. Before I leave, I want to share the results of my research after devouring the imperial library. It will contain everything you need for the mecha's creation. I've added some secrets for your interactions with my disciple."
Before vanishing, Atachi placed a file containing tens of thousands of pages into Aliya's hands. She collapsed under the weight of the immense knowledge within the dossier. Trembling, she realized that Atachi embodied a mind of unimaginable power, a monster of boundless creativity.
Titan continued studying in the hours that followed but noticed that Aliya remained huddled on the ground, paralyzed by a knowledge she didn't want to understand. In her imagination, she associated Atachi's existence with an unstoppable scourge, a monster of ingenuity and limitless creativity.
Titan approached her, his voice filled with sincere concern:
"How are you, Aliya? You seem a little tired, so I prepared a meal for you to regain your strength."
Aliya: "Start eating without me. I need to keep thinking."
Titan snapped his fingers, and the two found themselves face-to-face with a buffet filled with food he had seen on Terra.
Aliya: "You had time to cook all this for me? Forgive me, but your master's file left me perplexed. I just have one question before we start this meal. Could you tell me what your master is?"
Titan: "The only thing I can tell you about him is that my master is a mere Terran. However, I've never met someone so unpredictable. I know nothing about him yet, but embarking on a shared ascent with him feels like a journey as tragic as it is exciting. And I am ready for anything, even abandoning my soul, to one day surpass him."