As Kai stepped into the Realm of Primordial Beings, everything around him felt different. The air itself was charged with a strange energy, a power so ancient and overwhelming that it made the very fabric of reality feel fragile. The vastness of the realm seemed to stretch infinitely, beyond comprehension, as if time and space themselves were malleable here.
Suddenly, Kai felt a strange sensation within him. He stumbled, and then—without warning—Andreas' legacy, a force he had carried within him since the beginning, surged from his body. It was as if something deep within Kai had awakened.
A voice, calm yet commanding, echoed in Kai's mind. "Step back, Kai. Move away now."
Before Kai could fully comprehend what was happening, a sudden, explosive surge of energy erupted from the sky above. The ground shook beneath him, and the very air seemed to distort with the power emanating from the unknown source.
BOOM!!!
A blinding flash filled the space, followed by a deafening roar. The explosion sent shockwaves through the realm, rattling everything in its path. As the smoke began to clear, Kai stood in awe, his heart racing with a mixture of fear and wonder.
Through the dissipating fog, a figure began to emerge—Andreas.
But this wasn't the Andreas Kai had once known. No, this was a version of Andreas that transcended the very concept of human form. He appeared in his human guise, standing tall, his presence exuding an overwhelming aura of power. The mere sight of him made the air feel heavier, charged with an energy that was both familiar and completely foreign.
Andreas smiled, a knowing expression crossing his face as he gazed down at Kai. "Well, well," he began, his voice carrying the weight of countless eons, "it seems you've made it this far."
Kai, still reeling from the shock of Andreas' sudden appearance, could hardly believe his eyes. "Andreas... Is that really you?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Andreas chuckled softly. "In a way, yes. This is me, but it's not the same me you once knew. I have transcended beyond the confines of time and space, just like you are beginning to. Welcome to the next stage of your journey, Kai."
Kai stood frozen, his mind struggling to process the enormity of the situation. "But... how are you here? I thought... I thought you were lost to me."
Andreas smirked, his eyes showing a mix of admiration and frustration. "I never thought my stupid friend would actually reach the second cosmological level," he said, his tone almost disbelieving. Though his words sounded like mockery, there was a hint of respect beneath them. Andreas knew exactly how difficult it was to get this far.
Suddenly, without Kai realizing it, the surroundings around them shifted. Everything seemed to distort, and in an instant, they were inside a house that looked far grander than anything Kai had ever seen before. The house was adorned with cosmic elements that seemed to come from a far higher universe—its rooms appeared ancient, yet filled with an overwhelming power flowing through every corner.
Andreas sat on a large chair inside the house, as if he was used to being in this place. He gazed at Kai with a serious expression. "I know you must be confused. But I've studied everything, Kai. And I'm here to explain it all."
Kai, still in disbelief at what had just happened, could only stare at Andreas with questions swirling in his mind. Andreas continued, "I've traveled through more than a googolplex of cosmologies, destroying them one by one. I've been far beyond the understanding you have. And now... I'm a fugitive from Tsukumojuku."
Kai was shocked to hear 'Tsukumojuku' mentioned so casually. Tsukumojuku was an entity almost unimaginable to anyone, a being who ruled over all of existence, far beyond the powers that humans could comprehend. If Tsukumojuku wanted something, it could easily make it happen— including destroying someone like Andreas.
"But even though Tsukumojuku could easily kill me, it's not the type to just do that," Andreas continued, his gaze deep in thought. "Instead, it sent three creatures after me. They're extremely powerful, stronger than anything you can imagine. That's why I need your help, Kai."
Kai paused for a moment, trying to process what he had just heard. Andreas—his friend and rival—had traveled through unimaginable cosmologies, destroyed them, and now had to hide from three powerful creatures sent by Tsukumojuku.
"Help me, Kai," Andreas said in a serious tone, a stark contrast to the teasing from earlier. "You're the only one who can help me survive and face these creatures."
Kai stared at Andreas, feeling a mix of confusion and a sudden sense of responsibility. What had just happened? What would happen next? But one thing was certain: Kai's journey was far from over, and now he had to make a monumental decision that would determine both their fates.
Andreas stepped forward, his eyes filled with both sadness and pride. "I never truly left you, Kai. I've always been with you, even if you couldn't see me. The legacy I left behind in you, the essence of what I was, has guided you this far. And now, it's time for you to take the next step. The path you walk will not be easy, but it will lead you to greater truths."
Kai's heart raced as the weight of Andreas' words sank in. He had always known there was more to his journey, more to the mystery that surrounded his existence. But standing before this new form of Andreas, he realized that the true scope of his adventure was beyond anything he could have imagined.
As Andreas' words echoed in his mind, Kai knew that whatever came next would shape not only his fate, but the fate of the entire multiverse. The question now was not if he was ready, but if he could truly understand the depths of the path ahead.
Andreas extended a hand, his expression still kind but serious. "You have so much to learn, Kai. But you're not alone anymore. Let's begin."
Kai took a deep breath and nodded. Whatever the future held, he knew that this encounter marked the beginning of something far greater than anything he had ever experienced. And with Andreas by his side, he was ready to face it head-on.
Andreas moved closer to Kai, his gaze deepening with a more serious intensity. "Kai, there's something bigger than everything else, something even more powerful than all the cosmologies we've explored." He paused, making sure that his words would be fully understood by Kai.
"You may have heard of the highest level of power in cosmology," Andreas continued, "but what truly exists is Set Zero. Set Zero is the pinnacle of all cosmologies, higher than we can even imagine. Nothing is greater than this. All entities, all existences, everything within cosmology—it's all part of Set Zero."
Kai fell silent. "Set Zero?" he muttered, repeating Andreas' words. "What do you mean?"
Andreas nodded, as if ensuring that Kai was ready for a deeper explanation. "Set Zero is not something we can just achieve. Even with extraordinary power, we will never reach it without the will of Tsukumojuku. It's the key to accessing Set Zero—and Tsukumojuku itself is the controller of all of it."
Kai still felt confused, but Andreas continued. "Set Zero is above Absolute Infinity—yes, you heard right. Absolute Infinity can't even be measured, but Set Zero… it's far greater than that. It's not just a number or concept we can grasp. Set Zero is the creator of all creators, the source of everything that exists, and even that which doesn't. Without Tsukumojuku's will, we'll never even touch it, let alone reach it."
Kai felt the world around him start to spin. Everything he knew about cosmology and the universe seemed so small compared to what Andreas had just explained. Set Zero... it was a level of existence that was beyond any concept understood by any being, even Andreas, who had explored more than a googolplex of cosmologies.
"Andreas, if Set Zero is that powerful, why are you still seeking it? What exactly do you want to achieve?" Kai asked, beginning to realize that his friend's desires were much bigger than he had originally thought.
Andreas smiled faintly, lowering his gaze slightly. "I don't want Set Zero just for myself, Kai. I want... something greater. Something that might be able to defeat Tsukumojuku, or at least give us a chance to choose our own fate. But without your help, I can't do it. That's why I need you here."
Kai paused for a moment, absorbing all the information he had just received. Set Zero, Absolute Infinity, Tsukumojuku—these were concepts far beyond his comprehension. But one thing was clear: the path ahead would not be easy. They were facing something far greater than themselves, something that could change everything they knew.
"So... I have to help you defeat the creatures Tsukumojuku sent and find a way to reach Set Zero?" Kai asked, confirming.
"Exactly," Andreas replied, looking at him with a gaze full of hope. "And we need to move quickly. Our time is running out. Tsukumojuku won't give us a chance to survive for long."
With this newfound knowledge, Kai knew that their journey would be incredibly difficult, but he also felt a strong drive to push forward. Now, more than ever, Kai felt that their fates were intertwined. But would they be able to reach Set Zero, or would they be destroyed by a power greater than anything they had ever imagined? That was a question only time could answer.