Seated upon his throne, Nihil observed his creations with unwavering passion, his crimson eyes reflecting both deep contemplation and admiration for the masterpiece before him.
Among all that he had brought into existence, one creation stood out—the colossal black cube, spinning around its own axis at an unimaginable speed. It absorbed vast amounts of energy from the white expanse, yet only retained a fraction of it, as if it were merely tasting the infinite power surrounding it.
Leaning forward slightly, Nihil rested his chin on his hand, his gaze locked onto the cube. His mind, a vast expanse of endless ideas, was already searching for the next concept to bring into reality.
For a moment, he remained still, lost in thought, then slowly leaned back into the throne's cold embrace, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Hmmm… What else could I create from this pure, stable energy?" he mused aloud, his voice a mere whisper against the silence of the nothingness. There was no urgency in his tone, no desperate need to act—only the slow, deliberate contemplation of a being who had all the time in existence at his disposal.
"Hmmmm," he hummed again, this time closing his eyes.
As his consciousness drifted inward, he willingly stepped into the boundless depths of his own mind.
............
Upon opening his eyes once more, he found himself in a space of absolute darkness—a realm within his own consciousness, where only his will shaped reality. Yet, amidst the abyss, a single light shone. His core.
It pulsed with a steady, gray glow, a light that, with each passing cultivation sub-stage, was becoming purer, brighter, whiter.
With slow, deliberate steps, Nihil approached it. His every movement carried an air of patience, of control. His faint smile never wavered; he had no reason to rush. He was exactly where he wanted to be.
Each step through the endless void brought him closer to his destination. Excitement flickered in his crimson gaze, yet it was the excitement of discovery, of progress—not mere reckless ambition.
Finally, the core was before him.
His expression shifted—his smile, once faint, now bloomed into something fuller, something satisfied. He already knew what he needed to do next.
Raising his hand, he extended his fingers toward the core, his touch featherlight as he ran them over its surface. It was warm—alive.
"I know what comes next," he murmured, his voice carrying an almost affectionate tone.
Slowly, he began to circle the core, trailing his fingertips along its surface as if committing its every detail to memory. His eyes gleamed with intrigue.
"Let's see what will become of you… This will be interesting. Truly… fascinating."
With those words, he completed his slow orbit and, with one final lingering touch, closed his eyes.
............
The next moment, he was back.
Opening his eyes to the vast space before him, Nihil took in his creation once more. A satisfied smirk graced his lips.
"Let's see what happens next."
Raising his right hand, he reached outward, summoning the energy from his core. Like a river responding to its master's call, the energy surged forth, flowing toward the platform—but it was not the platform he aimed for.
Instead, the energy moved toward the towering pillars that surrounded the central construct.
Moments later, each pillar ignited with a flame-like essence, pure energy spilling from their surfaces and shifting, morphing into something new—something Nihil envisioned.
Watching the transformation unfold, he reclined against his throne, exuding both power and ease, a deity admiring the birth of his own divine work.
"If I create more cubes, the energy will be drawn here at a much faster rate. With that, my cultivation will accelerate significantly."
With that decision made, he closed his eyes and resumed his meditation.
Meanwhile, the energy he had shaped solidified into eight smaller cubes—still large, but dwarfed by the monumental black cube at the center.
They hovered above the eight pillars, their mere presence distorting the space around them.
Then, as if responding to an unseen command, the cubes shot forward, moving at incredible speeds. They formed an orbit around the colossal central cube, their synchronized motion creating a mesmerizing, empty circle in the void. Their sheer velocity and density amplified the gravitational pull of the energy field, causing an influx of raw power to rush toward them like an unstoppable tide.
This place—this sanctuary—was now a paradise for any cultivator. An oasis of boundless energy.
....
moments passed in Cultivation
Within this perfect environment, Nihil's cultivation soared.
Unfazed by the passage of time, he steadily advanced toward the third stage of Core Formation. His preparation had been flawless; the energy around him was abundant beyond measure, and his progress was nearly twice as fast as before.
Unknowingly, his presence had grown more formidable. His aura, once controlled, now radiated with an overwhelming majesty. Any ordinary cultivator who gazed upon him in this state would either tremble in worship or be consumed by sheer madness. Some, weaker still, would simply perish—unable to withstand the unbearable pressure of his existence.
...........
Two days later Nihil remained in deep meditation, his cultivation unceasing.The energy coursing through him condensed within his core, strengthening it further. The transformation was gradual yet unmistakable—his very being was evolving, refining itself.
..............
Five Days Later
The core within him swelled, absorbing even greater amounts of energy.
It expanded, its essence growing denser and purer. The process was soothing—each transformation brought an indescribable sensation of relaxation and power.
The energy continued to gather. It would not stop.
.................
One Day, Eleven Hours Later The moment had come.His core had reached its limit. No more energy could be absorbed without breaking through.
A chaotic surge erupted from within, his aura fluctuating wildly. A grin stretched across his face as realization dawned.
"It's time!"
His core trembled—cracks formed along its surface, much like an eggshell about to shatter.
Then—
A sudden rupture. The old shell crumbled away, revealing the true core within—a structure five times its previous size, pulsating with unrestrained power.
The chaos dissipated instantly.
In its place, a new, overwhelming pressure took form—a force so immense that, had anything fragile been near, it would have been crushed in an instant.
Silence followed.
Nihil opened his eyes.
Something about them had changed. They gleamed with an even greater intensity, reflecting the profound transformation within him.
A smirk played across his lips as he clenched his fist, flexing his fingers as if testing his new strength.
"Perfect… It couldn't have gone any better. The time it took to break through was even shorter than my first and second advancement."
Lowering his hand, his smirk remained, though his gaze sharpened with contemplation.
"Still… I cannot stop here. I must continue cultivating until I reach the next level."
With those words, he shut his eyes once more, plunging back into the endless depths of cultivation.
................
Six Days Later
Nihil remained unmoving.
His mind was lost in the tranquil abyss of cultivation, his progress unrelenting. The energy flowing into him showed no signs of stopping, and his core grew ever stronger.
It pulsed with a light nearing pure white—though true perfection was still a distant goal.
..................
Another Five Days Later
Then, chaos struck again.
His core, having reached yet another limit, trembled violently. Cracks spread across its surface.
With one final pulse—
It shattered.
And in its place, something far greater was born.
A new core. Five times stronger. Five times larger.
The sheer force of its awakening sent waves rippling through the void, shaking even the most stable structures.
As Nihil opened his eyes, his smirk deepened.
"Perfect… Absolutely perfect."
Then, his smile darkened with something deeper—something insatiable.
"But it's still not enough… I must keep cultivating… More… More…"
And so, he returned to his meditation, chasing the next boundary that dared to stand in his way.