I woke up in a place that didn't feel like a place at all.
It was dark—not like nighttime or a room with the lights off. It was deeper than that, heavier, like the darkness had weight. It pressed down on me, wrapping around me like it wanted to swallow me whole.
There was nothing. No sounds. No walls. No ground. No sense of up or down. It felt endless.
I tried to move, but it was strange. My arms and legs felt like they were there, but they didn't touch anything. It was like floating, but not in water or air. Just... floating in nothing.
My chest tightened. My thoughts were a mess, racing to figure out where I was and what was happening. But everything felt so far away, like my brain was reaching for answers that weren't there.
"Am I... dead?" I whispered.
The sound of my own voice startled me. It echoed, but not like in a room. It sounded hollow, like it was bouncing off the inside of my own head.
I didn't want to believe it. But where else could I be?
I stretched my hands out in front of me, hoping to feel something—anything. But there was nothing. No wall, no floor, no edge to grab onto. Just emptiness.
A cold chill crept over me, even though I couldn't feel the air. It settled in my chest, squeezing tight. Panic bubbled up, clawing at the edges of my mind.
What if this was it? What if I was dead?
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I could feel that much, at least. But it didn't make me feel real.
"Okay…" I muttered, my voice shaky. "I'm dead. Now what?"
The words hung there, swallowed by the void. There was no answer, no sign. Just the endless, suffocating dark.
And then, something changed.
It started small, like a crack in glass. A tiny, sharp noise that seemed to echo in the nothingness around me.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
The darkness… it wasn't solid anymore. It looked like it was breaking, splitting apart. Thin, jagged lines spread out in front of me, glowing faintly, like light trying to push its way through.
The cracks grew bigger, brighter.
And then, all at once, the darkness shattered.
Blinding light burst through, so bright it made my eyes sting. I squinted, throwing my hands up to block it, but the light didn't hurt. It felt warm, pulling at me, like it wanted me to step closer.
As my eyes adjusted, I saw something—or someone—in the center of the light. A shape, blurry at first, but slowly coming into focus.
My heart pounded in my chest.
Who—or what—was it?
I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat. Fear and curiosity fought inside me, but I couldn't look away.
The figure didn't move, just stood there, waiting. It was like it was watching me, even though I couldn't see its face.
The light grew brighter, wrapping around me, pulling me toward the figure.
And in that moment, I couldn't tell if I was being saved... or if I was about to face something far worse.
It wasn't a person. It wasn't anything I could recognize.
The figure in front of me was more like a glowing outline, a shape made of shimmering light. It wasn't solid—not really. The edges of its form flickered and pulsed, stretching and shrinking like it was alive.
It reminded me of a star, bright and full of energy, but impossible to touch.
I couldn't look away. My chest felt tight, my breath shaky.
Then, a voice rang out.
It wasn't coming from the figure, not exactly. It was everywhere—around me, inside me. Deep and calm, but strange, like it didn't belong in the world I knew.
"Hey there," it said, smooth and almost amused. "Looks like you kicked the bucket."
I froze. My heart stopped for a second.
The words felt wrong, too casual for what was happening.
"What?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. "Kicked the bucket? You mean… I'm dead?"
The light pulsed softly, like it was laughing at me.
"Yeah, you're dead," the voice said, matter-of-fact. "But don't worry. That's not the end for you. Not even close."
I blinked, trying to make sense of it. My mind felt like it was spinning, like I was standing on the edge of something huge and couldn't see the bottom.
"What does that mean?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Who are you? What is this place?"
The light shimmered again, glowing brighter for a moment.
"I'm what you might call... a higher being," it said, its voice smooth, like it didn't have to explain itself. "A force that exists beyond your understanding. And this?
This is a threshold. A place between places. You're standing at the edge of existence."
The edge of existence? My stomach twisted at the thought.
I didn't know what to say. My mouth opened, but no words came out.
The figure seemed to sense my confusion. Its light flickered again, dimming slightly.
"You're here because there's something more for you," it said, its tone steady. "Something bigger than the life you left behind."
I shook my head, my mind racing. "I don't understand," I said. "I'm just... me. I wasn't special. I didn't do anything important. Why would I be here?"
The light pulsed, brighter this time, almost as if it was leaning toward me.
"Wrong," the voice said firmly. "You've always had something inside you. A spark, a power waiting to be awakened. You just didn't know it yet."
A spark? Power? It sounded like something out of a story, something that didn't belong in my quiet, ordinary life.
"You're telling me I had some kind of hidden power?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What, like I'm supposed to be some kind of hero? A chosen one or something?"
The figure didn't laugh. It didn't deny it, either.
"You've always had the potential," it said. "Now, you have the chance to unlock it. To become more than you ever thought possible."
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "And what happens if I don't?"
The light dimmed slightly, and the voice took on a heavier tone.
"Then this is where it ends for you," it said. "You'll fade into the void, forgotten. But if you choose to rise, you'll become something far greater. Someone who can rewrite their own fate."
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. Rewriting my fate? Could I really do that?
The light pulsed again, steady and powerful.
"There's more at stake than you realize," it continued. "Worlds beyond your own are connected by threads you can't see. Threads that are unraveling.
Chaos is spreading across the multiverse, and someone needs to take control. Someone strong enough to claim the throne."
"The throne?" I echoed, my voice shaky.
"Yes," the voice said. "The throne of the multiverse. A seat of infinite power and infinite responsibility. It's yours to claim—if you're willing."
The words hung in the air, heavy and impossible to ignore.
I took a step back, my thoughts spinning. "Me? Take control of the multiverse? I don't even know what I'm doing. I was barely holding my own life together!"
The figure's light dimmed, its tone softening just slightly.
"It's not about what you were," it said. "It's about what you can become. The power is there, waiting for you to take it. The question is... do you have the courage?"
I stared at the glowing figure, my chest tight with fear and uncertainty.
I thought of Asha—her face, her voice, her laughter. I thought of all the times I'd let her down, all the times I'd promised to protect her and felt like I failed.
Maybe this was my chance. Maybe I could finally become something more.
The figure's light brightened, surrounding me in warmth and energy.
"So, Kai," the voice said, steady and commanding. "Will you fade into nothing, or will you rise and rewrite your fate? Will you claim the throne of the multiverse?"
I didn't have an answer yet. My heart was pounding, and my hands trembled at my sides.
But deep inside, something stirred—a flicker of hope.
The figure's light pulsed faintly, like it was amused by my confusion.
"You can traverse through worlds," it said, its voice calm but carrying an edge of excitement. "Not just a few worlds, Kai.
The multiverse—an endless web of realities. Each one different, each one holding truths and powers you can't even imagine."
I blinked, trying to process what it was saying.
"Wait, what? Travel between worlds? You mean… like portals? Like… an anime protagonist or something?"
The figure chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to echo through the void. It wasn't mocking, but it carried a weight, a sense of knowing far beyond anything I could comprehend.
"It's more than that," it said, its light glowing brighter for a moment. "You won't just step through portals and play the hero.
You'll have the ability to shape your own path, to explore infinite worlds, and discover the power within you."
I struggled to wrap my head around it.
"So, what? I'm supposed to hop between worlds, gain powers, and save the day?" I asked, half-joking but mostly overwhelmed.
The figure's voice shifted, becoming more serious.
"Not exactly," it said. "There are beings out there—ancient, destructive forces—that can tear apart entire universes.
You're being given a chance to stand against them. To restore balance to the multiverse and protect what matters most to you."
My heart sank. The weight of what it was saying hit me like a brick.
"I'm just one person," I said, my voice cracking. "I'm not a hero. I can't do what you're asking. I've barely kept my life together as it is."
"You're more than you realize," the figure replied, its light dimming slightly, as if to soften the moment. "But before you can protect others, you'll need to grow.
You'll be trained, guided. Only then, when you've unlocked your true potential, will you be ready to face what lies ahead."
The words felt heavy, like they were pulling me under. My chest tightened as I thought about everything—my parents, the fight, the alley, Asha.
Asha.
I had to know.
"What about my sister?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Asha… is she okay? Is she… is she alive?"
The figure's light flickered, and its tone softened.
"She's alive," it said, a note of reassurance in its voice. "She's still in your world, carrying on without you.
But if you want to see her again, if you want to protect her, you'll have to step into this new life. You'll have to become stronger than you ever thought possible."
The mention of Asha hit me hard. I clenched my fists, my emotions swirling—grief, fear, and something else. Something like hope.
"So, I have to become some kind of… guardian?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "To protect my world? To protect her?"
The figure's light pulsed warmly, almost like a nod.
"Yes," it said. "But this is more than just about your world. The multiverse itself is unraveling. You're being offered a choice, Kai.
A chance to rewrite your fate. To claim the throne of the multiverse and become the one who keeps the balance."
I stared at the glowing figure, my chest tight with disbelief.
"The throne of the multiverse?" I repeated. "You're saying I could… rule it? All of it?"
"Rule isn't the right word," the figure replied, its tone deep and steady. "The throne is not about power for its own sake.
It's about responsibility. You'll have the strength to shape worlds, to defend them, to protect what matters. But the path won't be easy.
You'll face trials that will test everything you are."
I swallowed hard, the weight of it all pressing down on me.
"And if I say no?" I asked, my voice trembling.
The figure's light dimmed slightly, its energy growing somber.
"Then this is where your story ends," it said simply. "You'll fade into the void, forgotten. But if you rise—if you choose to take this path—you'll have the chance to change everything.
For yourself. For Asha. For all of existence."
I closed my eyes, the figure's words echoing in my mind.
Asha's face flashed before me—her laugh, her determination, the way she always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself.
"I don't know if I can do this," I said quietly. "But… if it means protecting her… I'll try. I'll do whatever it takes."
The figure's light brightened, enveloping me in warmth.
"Good," it said. "You've taken the first step. Remember, Kai—this journey is yours. Your choices will shape the multiverse and everything within it.
Trust in your strength. And trust in the bond you share with your sister. It runs deeper than you know."
Before I could respond, the light around the figure flared, and the void shifted again.
The darkness melted away, replaced by something new. I found myself standing on a stone platform surrounded by endless sky.
The air buzzed with energy, and I could feel it humming in my chest.
"This is the beginning," the figure's voice echoed faintly, its presence fading. "The multiverse is waiting. Will you rise to meet it?"
"Okay... any cosmic beings here to give me a tour?" I asked, my voice uncertain, but filled with the smallest glimmer of hope.
Somewhere far beyond the boundaries of reality, across the vast threads of the multiverse, a figure stood motionless, her glowing blue eyes like distant stars fixed intently on Kai.
She watched every step he took, her expression calm yet unreadable, as if she carried a secret too heavy to share.
It was Asha—or rather, it had been. But now, she was something more, something far beyond the girl she once was.
The innocence of her former self was gone, replaced with an aura of quiet power and unshakable resolve.
Behind her, another figure emerged from the shifting void, their form cloaked in swirling shadows.
Their voice was low and resonant, carrying a weight that seemed to echo across dimensions.
"Do you think he's ready?" the shadowed figure asked, their words measured and deliberate.
Asha didn't look away from Kai, her eyes glowing brighter for a moment as if the question stirred something deep within her.
"He's my brother," she replied, her voice soft but firm, as though she spoke more to herself than to the one behind her.
"And I believe in him."
The shadowed figure tilted their head slightly, their presence looming but not threatening. There was a pause, as if they were choosing their next words carefully.
"You've seen what lies ahead for him," the figure said, their tone heavy with meaning.
"The trials, the choices he must make. When will you tell him who you truly are?"
Asha's lips curved into a faint smile, one filled with both warmth and sadness.
"When the time is right," she said quietly.
"This is his journey now, not mine. He has to find his own path."
The shadowed figure remained silent for a long moment, as if contemplating her words. Finally, they spoke again, their voice softer this time.
"The bond between you two—it's stronger than you know. It may be the key to everything."
Asha's gaze never wavered, her glowing eyes filled with an unspoken determination. "I know," she murmured.
"But he has to find his strength first. He has to become who he was always meant to be."
The air around her shimmered as her form began to shift.
The powerful aura softened, and her otherworldly appearance melted away, replaced by the familiar features of the sister Kai had known all his life.
"He'll find his way," she whispered, her voice now carrying the tone of the Asha Kai remembered. "And when he does, I'll be there."