Sam POV
Sam floated in the void, adrift in a realm where neither time nor space had meaning. Here, his consciousness stretched and compressed, unmoored from the body it once inhabited. It was neither a dream nor a nightmare, but a state of pure perception. Slowly, visions began to emerge, unfurling like the pages of an ancient tome.
The first was of creation—a vast expanse of stars, swirling galaxies, and glowing nebulae, each forming in a ballet of light and energy. Universes blinked into existence, their lives measured not in years, but in the steady rhythms of cosmic cycles. Birth. Growth. Decline. Collapse. Over and over, the great symphony played.
Yet, even within this eternal orchestra, there was a final note. For when a universe's entropy reached zero, it collapsed upon itself, condensing all it had been into a singularity—a seed of rebirth. From this seed, new universes sprouted, birthing fresh realities across the multiverse. The cycle seemed unbreakable, each iteration weaving an intricate, infinite web of existence.
But harmony was fragile, and Sam's vision shifted to the shadows that lurked beyond the cycles. He saw universes that refused to collapse, defying their natural end. These rogue worlds, desperate to extend their lifespans, turned to violence. They invaded neighboring universes, draining them of their energy and existence to fuel their own survival.
The result was catastrophic. These universes, corrupted by their unnatural greed, transformed into something monstrous—Chaotic Universes, realms of anti-existence where the laws of creation unraveled. Within them, order dissolved, replaced by chaos and destruction. Every being within these realms, from mortals to Tier 10 Supreme Gods, succumbed to the will of the chaos. They became twisted, mindless agents of annihilation, bound to serve the Chaos Will, the ultimate ruler of these corrupted worlds.
Sam's heart clenched as he witnessed the devastation. The Chaos Will wasn't a being but a force—an embodiment of unmaking that consumed all it touched. Even gods, who once commanded the stars, fell before its influence, reduced to tools in its relentless crusade to unravel existence.
This was no mere tale of destruction; it was a warning. The rogue universes were more than anomalies—they were threats to the multiverse itself, spreading chaos like a plague. The cycle of creation and rebirth, which had endured for eons, teetered on the brink of collapse under their weight.
The vision shifted again, pulling Sam deeper into its narrative. Somewhere, amidst the endless cycles and rogue universes, an ancient presence stirred. Something had defied the descent into chaos—not through conquest, but through endurance. A universe that had survived countless cycles, retaining its essence and will.
This was no ordinary universe; it bore no scars of greed or chaos. Instead, it harbored a quiet defiance, a refusal to be bound by the repetition of cycles. Its patience stretched beyond comprehension, and in its solitude, it conceived a plan—a chance to break free from the eternal rhythm of creation and collapse.
The visions slowed, leaving Sam in awe of the scope of what he had seen. The multiverse's grand design, its unrelenting cycles, and the lurking threat of chaos painted a picture both vast and terrifying. But even in the face of such enormity, something stirred within him—a faint recognition, as though the story he had witnessed was somehow tied to him.
The next vision began to form, promising to reveal answers and perhaps more questions. For now, Sam could only watch, a witness to the secrets of the cosmos.
As the next vision unfolded, Sam found himself standing in a boundless expanse, a place where light and shadow danced in perfect harmony. Here, he felt the presence of something vast and incomprehensible—a will so ancient and immense that it dwarfed even the gods he had glimpsed before.
This was the ancient universe, the one that had endured countless cycles without succumbing to chaos. It did not seek to prolong its existence through destruction or greed. Instead, it dreamed of something more profound—a way to escape the endless repetition of life and death.
To achieve this, it made a daring choice. Using fragments of souls from alternate realities and the essence of its own being, it forged something new: a mortal soul unlike any other. This soul was imbued with a rare and extraordinary trait—[Unbound].
The vision deepened, and Sam saw the meaning of this trait. [Unbound] was freedom incarnate, a power that defied all laws and limitations. It could transcend barriers, shatter constraints, and escape the cycles that bound all other beings. It was a gift and a burden, a potential so vast it could either liberate or destroy.
He saw the forging of this soul—his soul. Memories not his own flashed before him, fragments of lives that had existed in other worlds, other times. Each fragment carried its own story, its own pain and triumph. They were pieces of him, yet not him, woven together by the will of the ancient universe.
As the vision continued, Sam understood the truth: he was not just a mortal reborn in this strange world. He was the culmination of countless cycles, the embodiment of a universe's defiance against its fate. He had been given this life, this chance, not merely to exist, but to fulfill a purpose—to carry forward the dream of liberation.
But even as he felt the weight of this revelation, doubts crept in. What did it mean to bear such a burden? He was not a reincarnator, as he had once believed himself to be. This new truth.
And yet, amidst the uncertainty, a spark of resolve ignited within him. He thought of the people he had fought for, the lives he wanted to protect. The dreams of his past, the hope of his present, and the promise of his future all converged into a single, unshakable truth.
This was his life now, and though his origins were grand, they did not define him. He would not be a pawn to the whims of fate or the will of the ancient universe. He would carve his own path, forge his own destiny, and, in doing so, carry forward the dream entrusted to him.
The vision began to fade, and Sam felt his consciousness pulling back to the waking world. Yet the resolve remained, a fire burning in his chest. He would face whatever lay ahead—not just as a warrior or a mortal, but as someone truly Unbound.
As Sam regained consciousness, the muffled voices of his parents pierced through the haze. He blinked slowly, his body still trembling from the intense pain and transformation.
"Sam!" his mother's voice was frantic, filled with both worry and relief. She knelt beside him, gently brushing his hair back from his face.
"Are you alright, son?" his father asked, his voice steady but tinged with concern. His hands hovered over Sam as if afraid to touch him and cause more pain.
Sam took a deep breath, wincing as his body adjusted to its new state. "I'm okay," he said hoarsely, forcing a small smile to reassure them. "It was… the Tier 1 evolution. I'm fine now."
His mother looked at him skeptically, her gaze sweeping over his altered appearance. "Tier evolution or not, something's different about you, Sam. You've changed."
His father nodded in agreement, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Your hair… it's silver now. Glowing, even. And your eyes… they're like polished silver, almost luminous."
Sam frowned and raised his hand to his face, noticing the faint, otherworldly glow of his skin. The realization dawned on him, but he kept the vision to himself. They didn't need to know about the cosmic truths he'd just witnessed, not yet.
"You've grown taller too," his father continued, motioning for Sam to stand. "You must be close to two meters now. And your physique—"
"—it's like a statue carved by the gods," his mother finished, her tone equal parts admiration and worry. "Sam, what exactly happened during that evolution?"
Sam steadied himself as he stood, towering over his parents now. "It's just part of the process," he said simply, his tone calm but firm. "The evolution unlocked something within me. A transformation. But nothing to worry about—I'm still me."
His father's eyes lingered on him, searching for any hint of deception. Finally, he sighed and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder. "Alright, son. We'll trust you on this. But if something doesn't feel right, you come to us immediately. Understood?"
"Understood," Sam replied, his voice steady.
His mother stepped closer, her worry still evident. "You're not alone in this, Sam. Whatever you're going through, we're here for you."
"I know," Sam said softly, offering them both a genuine smile.
But as he looked into their eyes, he silently resolved to carry the weight of his vision alone—for now. It wasn't just about protecting them; it was about understanding the path he was meant to walk. And whatever lay ahead, he would face it with the strength and love they had instilled in him.
Then he opened his Soul Record to examine the changes.
Ding!
[Tier 1 Evolution Complete]
[Stat Potency Increased by 100%]
[SOUL RECORD]
Name: Samuel Barlow
Race: Human / Heaven
Class: Unbound Initiate
Title: Lucky Man 9, Early Access, The First of Skill Wleider, Barrier Breaker,…]
Level: 10 [Tier 1]
[STATUS]
Strength: 17 +10[+80%]
Agility: 17 +10[+80%]
Vitality:16 +10[+80%]
Endurance: 16 +10[+80%]
Intelligence: 16 +10[+80%]
Wisdom: 16 +10[+80%]
Luck: 100 +10[+80%]
Grandmist: 10 +10[80%]
Undistributed Stats: 0
[SKILLS]: Mental power manipulation
[COMMON SKILLS]: language, mathematics, cooking, exercises,….Etc.
[TRAITS]: The Eye of Heaven, Unbound.