"Ah boy! That was one hell of a dive. We'd surely win an Olympic medal for this." (Officer)
The officer stepped out of the pool, noticing giant meteor-like objects falling in the area.
"Looks like your friends are coming to give us some company." (Officer)
Suddenly, a series of explosions erupted, emitting gas and smoke.
Coughing sounds "Kuh... kuh… this is too much! Kuh… my eyes are itching… I can't see!" (Officer)
Before he could recover, an enemy struck him from behind with full force, hitting his back. Flames exploded from the impact, and the officer was thrown 10 feet away, landing on the floor unconscious. Approaching him, a large, soggy hand grappled his face, lifting him into the air and smashing him into the ground.
"Ethereal Flame!" (Enemy)
The explosion cleared the smoky air, revealing nothing but blood imprints marking the officer's position. It resembled a crime scene. Everything else had burned to ash, but the blood remained.
"Oh, you, boy! I see you've come here to keep our promise." (Enemy)
"Such grave intentions, my god. You can't burn fire with vines or water, silly officer. Anyway, I've relieved you of your hectic job. Now, let the real fun begin." (Enemy)
On the planet Spectrum, people awaken their mana or IQ at the age of five. The first ability awakened defines their potential. Ivan, however, was a unique case. At 19, he had neither awakened mana nor IQ. His potential was so immense that his body alone couldn't contain it without risking destruction. Instead, Ivan had awakened only one ability: "Vacuum."
Vacuum seemed mundane at first, and no one cared about it. Even his father, Legzer, deemed Ivan a failure and abandoned him and his mother, considering them a disgrace to his legacy.
But Blaken knew the truth about Vacuum. Its growth was limitless, harboring a mysterious connection to something far beyond the scope of this planet or even the universe.
Legzer, observing from a distance, murmured, "I won't interfere in your fight, boy. You're 19 now; you should sort things out on your own." (Legzer)
"Full throttle!" Legzer leaped from a helipad, smashing an enemy's head.
"Can't you see I'm busy with father-son bonding here?" (Legzer)
"Boy, I think you're either dead or can't speak. Anyways, I'll make sure you talk."
On heads orders, 20 hellish creatures advanced toward Ivan.
"First, let me feed you some starters." (Enemy)
The creatures punched and kicked Ivan mercilessly. Each blow landed on his face, chest, and legs, pushing him to the brink of death. Yet, his body remained unyielding. The same creature that had killed the officer earlier struck Ivan, smashing him into the ground. Blood dripped from Ivan's mouth, but his body showed no signs of injury.
The enemy burned Ivan with hellish flames, creating an explosion akin to a petrol station fire. However, the attack was nullified upon contact with Ivan's skin.
"Boy, you have the potential of a great magician." (Enemy)
The creature repeated the attack, yet the result was unchanged. Staring into Ivan's eyes, the creature froze. In Ivan's eyes, it saw vivid images of its past—the moment it was born, its fiery upbringing, its rise in ranks, and all its sins. The enemy became lost in the vision, forgetting it was in the middle of a battle.
"Is it Ivan's eyes or brain damage from the explosion?"
"I don't have much time. Finish him now!" (Enemy Head)
The head creature intervened, tossing its subordinate aside and breaking the eye contact. The creature's head exploded, burning its body with its own fire.
"He shouldn't have looked into the Vacuum."
"Indeed, you're something, young man. I like what you did to my friend. Now, let me see what's in your eyes." (Enemy Head)
The head creature lunged at Ivan, aiming sharp, dark-red fingers at his chest. But before it could strike, Blaken emerged from the ground, grabbing Ivan and soaring into the sky.
"Razor Thread!" (Blaken)
Blaken snapped his finger, summoning an ethereal, thread-like blade. With precision, he severed the enemy's fingers without spilling a drop of its blood.
The thread, appearing pure white and shimmering, floated like a jellyfish's tentacles. It moved gracefully, cutting the enemy into several pieces midair.
"You can't escape with your tricks, human!" (Enemy)
Another creature leaped toward Blaken, applying immense force to cut off his left arm.
"Blaken, I can't hold your weight anymore, Ivan. You need to wake up!" (Blaken)
The creature charged at Blaken, slamming him aside with burning claws. Blaken lost his grip, and Ivan plummeted from the sky. The enemy, engulfed in flames, dove after Ivan, attacking like a hawk swooping down on its prey.
Ivan, regaining consciousness mid-fall, instinctively slashed at the air. The atmosphere responded, screaming and emitting the same eerie sounds as the enemy's attacks. The enemy froze in confusion.
The scratches in the air vanished, and Ivan's appearance transformed. His black hair, now long and wild, reached his elbows, tied with golden rings at the ends. His body was encased in a worn, cosmic suit of black and white, adorned with glimmering stars. The suit gave off an ethereal, celestial aura.
The environment around him changed as well. Darkness and light seemed to be sucked away, leaving behind an unsettling grey void. Ivan stood there, transformed into someone entirely new.
"This is Ivan's Vacuum."