Chapter 5: Smack Against Prophecy
Adam and Kimy finally returned home after their exhausting adventure. Adam collapsed onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh. "Should we rest for now? I'm really tired," he muttered.
Kimy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we've earned a break."
After taking a long, hot shower, Adam felt somewhat refreshed. He approached Kimy and said, "Let's grab something to eat. There's a restaurant nearby."
The pair found themselves at a quiet, dimly lit diner, enjoying a much-needed meal. As they ate, Kimy glanced at Adam, puzzled. "Why do you still wear that astronaut suit during our adventures? We have advanced masks that can protect us from space radiation and let us breathe anywhere."
Adam smiled faintly. "This suit was a gift from my grandfather. It means a lot to me. Even with all the advancements, I feel like I owe it to him to wear it. It's sentimental, I guess."
Kimy chuckled. "That's a weird reason, but I get it. Can I ask you something serious?"
"Sure," Adam said, taking another bite of his food.
"With all the abilities you've gained, including time manipulation, why haven't you just gone back in time to save your family?"
Adam's face darkened. He hesitated, then replied, "I've thought about it a lot. But I'm scared of the grandfather paradox. What if I change something and make things worse? Or what if the paradox doesn't exist, and fate finds another cruel way to balance things? If it were that simple, I'd have done it already."
Kimy studied his face and sighed. "I understand now why you haven't tried. It's not about power—it's about responsibility."
Adam checked his watch. "I'm full. Let's go for a walk."
---
A Brutal Encounter
As they strolled through the quiet city streets under the night sky, Adam paused. "Can I use the restroom real quick?"
Kimy nodded, and Adam entered a nearby bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, staring into the mirror. Suddenly, an unfamiliar face appeared behind him in the reflection—a man with an unsettling smile.
Startled, Adam spun around, but no one was there. When he looked back at the mirror, the man lunged through the glass, kicking Adam in the face and sending him crashing into the wall.
Adam groaned, disoriented. "Who are you?"
The man said nothing, only smirking as he brutally attacked Adam, his strikes faster and stronger than anything Adam had faced. With a final shove, the man hurled Adam into a dimension of swirling chaos.
"Welcome to Smack Against Prophecy," the man said. "Here, I am stronger. I am everywhere. And I know all your weaknesses."
Adam stumbled to his feet, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Eyes covered the dimension, watching him from every angle. "Who… are you?" Adam demanded.
"I am Ucup," the man finally replied. "The first singularity. The only one of my kind across the multiverse. This dimension strengthens me, making me nigh-omnipresent. You have no chance here."
---
The Ten Rings and Acausality
As Ucup prepared to attack, Adam noticed the ten glowing rings on Ucup's hands. Each emitted a distinct aura, resonating with unimaginable power.
"These rings," Adam muttered. "What are they?"
Ucup grinned. "Gaia, Agul, Leviathan, Goliath, Hakaimono, the Ring of Hope... and others you're not ready to know about. Each one holds a power beyond your comprehension."
Desperation mounting, Adam activated his time manipulation, attempting to rewind the timeline by five minutes. But Ucup pulled him back with a flick of his wrist.
"You think time travel will save you?" Ucup sneered, punching Adam in the face. "You can't escape me. Not with time. Not with anything."
Lying on the ground, barely breathing, Adam felt a strange object land on his chest. Ucup had thrown one of his rings at him.
"This is the Ring of Acausality," Ucup said. "Even if you try to alter the past, nothing will change. Fate is immutable. You'll learn that the hard way."
Ucup kicked Adam's head, then handed him a peculiar pistol. "You'll need this to defeat me. Not that it'll help."
As Ucup laughed and stepped away, the chaotic dimension dissolved, leaving Adam lying battered on the bathroom floor.
---
Recovery and Revelation
Kimy found Adam moments later, bruised and bloodied. "What happened?" she asked, panicked.
"I… I got beat up by someone. Maybe one of Rafiq's subordinates," Adam groaned.
Kimy quickly rushed him to the hospital. As Adam recovered, he explained what had happened. "His name is Ucup. Ever heard of him?"
Kimy shook her head. "No, but the way you described him... he doesn't sound like anything we've encountered before."
Adam showed her the pistol Ucup had left him. "He gave me this. Can you figure out what it is?"
"I'll take it back to my lab," Kimy said. "Maybe I can uncover its purpose."
---
Meanwhile, on Golden Needle
On a distant planet known as Golden Needle, the wealthy and powerful gathered in a glittering city of opulence. Among them were the Lambert siblings, Khrishiv and Coretta Kraus.
Khrishiv swirled a glass of wine, gazing out at the neon skyline. "Sister, do you believe in gods?"
Coretta smirked. "My dear brother, the only gods we recognize are money and power."
They laughed, but Khrishiv's expression turned serious. "I heard rumors. A universe destroyed by a random entity-a god, they say."
Coretta waved dismissively. "If a god exists, then we should aim to destroy it. No one is above us."
The two shared a sinister smile, their laughter echoing into the decadent night