Void
There was no one here.
The sky was a deep dark blue, scattered with countless fragments of asteroids.
A mechanical sound slowly broke the silence of this desolation.
Klack—
Klack—
A humanoid figure clad in a thick cloak sat cross-legged atop an asteroid, engrossed in playing with its marionettes.
Not one or two, but dozens possibly even hundreds or thousands of marionettes moved under its control, as its fingers danced as though weaving a grand performance.
The figure's expression betrayed no emotion, indifferent to the destruction and dismemberment of its marionettes one after another.
Each finger was linked to an interconnected web of strings stretching toward small portals, spreading across various worlds infected by the Abyss.
The same was true for Earth, its index finger shifted a mere inch, and a thin, radiant thread of gold and violet light extended toward the portal connected to Earth.
Yes, the thread pointed directly at Arov.
Click—
The index finger twitched again, revealing mechanical cogs beneath the thick cloak.
Clearly, this being was not human.
A dark aura surrounded the figure, radiating as 'thoughts' and 'wisdom' it had created.
Some called it a miracle, will, command, event, future, or system.
The dark aura emitted a beautiful violet glow, projecting an image.
Various worlds stretched across the projection—large, small, vast, beautiful, unique, and more.
Countless worlds with intelligent lifeforms as their inhabitants were facing crises at this very moment.
This was the result of the Abyss's invasion.
Under normal procedures, entities known as "Watchers" would select one individual from each world to act as a medium to close the Abyss gates.
Those chosen were typically granted powers and became heroes or beacons of hope for their people.
The intention was for their involvement to remain minimal to preserve the native integrity of those worlds.
Those selected would live out the fate predetermined by the Watchers.
But lately, countless worlds across the multiverse were experiencing large-scale simultaneous assaults.
The Watchers had become overwhelmed by the chaos across the cosmos.
While the primary worlds were embroiled in war, Abyss gates eroded the fabric of countless peripheral worlds.
The situation was dire, necessitating extraordinary measures.
As a result, the Watchers would now select only one individual in each afflicted world as a mere "tool" and medium to seal the Abyss gates.
This was the situation Arov now faced—not as a grand hero but as a disposable asset for the world's survival.
At this moment, space-time seemed to warp abnormally.
Stable space folded into chaos as if crushed by an incomprehensible force, tearing into a vast and dangerous rift.
Exotic, mysterious lifeforms emerged from the spatial rift.
Their bodies shone with the gleam of silvery-white metal, exuding an aura of mystery and mysticism.
"Old man, the leader has call you."
A soft yet firm voice emanated from one of the beings. Its appearance made it impossible to discern its gender, as though it existed in a realm between.
The cloaked Watcher turned to face the being, its expression obscured, though a faint trace of anger escaped into the void.
"Hmmph! Do you think I'll go to him? After what he's done to my world and my race!?"
The Watcher's snarl reverberated, shaking the emptiness of the Void.
Asteroids exploded one by one, scattering energy across the expanse.
"…I apologize, but there is nothing else we can do. Difficult choices had to be made, weighing the cost of each loss. We had no choice but to abandon them and prioritize saving other races."
The being's tone was somber, continuing as it produced a mysterious rune.
"However, we promise to help you rebuild your race from scratch, considering you are among those we still need."
The brown rune, streaked with black, floated above the being's fingertips. It handed the rune over through space.
The Watcher received it, opening its palm to reveal the same rune.
"This…"
Startled, the Watcher examined the rune again.
It bore a personal seal of agreement signed by their supreme leader—an existence that had reached the pinnacle of immortality and power in their universe.
A being capable of creating innumerable worlds with a mere wave of its hand, reversing the heavens and earth with its will, and traversing hundreds of thousands of miles in a single blink.
"Guide the way."
The being smiled strangely, though its voice remained as soft and courteous as before.
"Follow me."
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731 Word