Chapter 18: "Gates of Hell"
Azar stood still, his mind filled with thoughts that barely found a way to be organized. The life he had lived, the universes he had crossed, and even the power he had gained, were all nothing more than a series of carefully crafted lies. But something new loomed on the horizon, something unfamiliar, and filled with consequences beyond measure.
In this world, which he had discovered was merely an experiment, everything was changing rapidly. An unexpected event suddenly struck Earth, a deep earthquake that shook the planet. It wasn't a natural earthquake; it was one of the first signs of a massive event, an event that would change the face of the universe. Azar felt something strange within himself, as if a supernatural force was tied to his movements, something stronger than anything he had known, something terrifying.
In his own world, the Absolute Ruler, a being whose power humans could never imagine, was watching what had happened. He observed Azar from the higher realms, while Azar discovered new facets of himself and life. The Absolute Ruler, who governed the balance of the universes, had sensed an external intervention in the system of the worlds. He felt that someone had breached the system, entered places they should never have gone.
Azar didn't know, but his choices, his power, his interventions, and even his exploration of the secrets of other universes had caught the attention of the Absolute Ruler. Thanks to him, the Absolute Ruler had gained new knowledge and learned what the human experimenters had done in their tests. He also knew that Azar, with the power he had gained, had entered realms that were not meant for him. That's why he decided to intervene.
At an unexpected moment, the Absolute Ruler began to direct his will toward the planet Earth. Giant, pitch-black gates began to appear in the sky. Through them, giant creatures began to emerge—monsters from countless dark realms. They came from worlds no one could have imagined passing through. Terrifying beasts with strange powers threatened to destroy everything in their path.
But the Absolute Ruler wasn't satisfied with just that. He decided to make Earth the place to choose the ruler of the Iron Galaxy. He wanted to select among humans those who had the ability to lead, those who could stand against the challenges to come, those who would be capable of facing the creatures coming through those gates. That's why the Ruler began granting some humans superhuman abilities to help them adapt to these new monsters. Some gained the power of gravity, others began to control natural elements, while others gained the ability to manipulate time.
But Earth was not a natural place for this experiment. Humans, in a state of chaos, began to fight for control of these powers while trying to adapt to the monsters arriving from all directions. Internal wars increased, intertwining with the battle against the monsters attacking the Earth.
While Azar sensed all of this, he began to feel something strange in his heart. He wasn't sure yet whether this was part of the original plan or if something had gone out of control. It was a critical moment in his life. He watched as things escalated, and the world he hadn't known he was part of turned into a terrifying battlefield before his eyes.
But the Absolute Ruler didn't stop there. He was watching how humans were reacting to this new power and was planning a bigger move. Just as Earth was a stage for the test, a larger test loomed on the horizon. Azar, who felt lost and uncertain, had to make decisive choices. The life he knew had suddenly changed, and everything depended on him in this moment.
And as he prepared to face the destructive creatures, he felt something he hadn't expected: the Absolute Ruler was watching him closely. He was testing him just as he was testing the other humans. It was almost as if he was saying to himself: "Is Azar capable of becoming the ruler? Or is he just another part of this experiment?