Chapter 2: The Birth of Ambrose
A faint light flickered in the dimly lit room. The sound of bubbling liquid echoed softly, and the air carried the scent of old parchment and metal.
"Hey, hey… looks like he's finally waking up."
A voice filled with curiosity and excitement broke the silence.
Atlas stirred, his vision hazy, his body feeling foreign—like it wasn't truly his. His fingers twitched as he tried to move, but an overwhelming wave of exhaustion pinned him down.
"Easy now, don't overdo it," the voice said again, this time softer, almost reassuring. "You've been asleep for four days. Who would've thought the experiment I dedicated my entire life to would actually work like this? To think all it took was the perfect vessel… a truly empty one."
The figure speaking to him was a man in a long, dark coat, his spectacles gleaming in the dim light. His expression was one of pure fascination, eyes scanning Atlas like he was the most valuable discovery in the world.
"Oh, but first things first," the man mused, "you should eat something. Can't have you collapsing again, can we?"
Atlas blinked, confusion washing over him. He tried to open his mouth, but no words came out.
"Hmm? Not only did you forget who you are, but you also forgot how to speak? That's… interesting," the scientist said, tilting his head slightly. "Guess I'll have to start from scratch, then. Teaching a newborn mind, what a rare opportunity!"
Atlas remained silent, still processing everything.
"Well, we can't have you walking around without a name, now can we? How about… Ambrose? Do you like that?"
The boy blinked again, his mind trying to grasp the meaning of the name. The scientist took his silence as agreement.
"Ambrose it is, then," he said with a smile.
The room they were in was secluded, enclosed by strange, pulsating energy that formed a barrier around them. The outside world couldn't see or sense what was happening here.
"You're in a protected space," the scientist explained. "At least for now, no one will find you. And don't worry, I don't bite," he added with a chuckle.
Thus began Ambrose's new life.
Eight Months Later
The man who named him Ambrose was Dr. Heinrich Faust, a brilliant yet exiled scientist whose obsession with knowledge drove him into isolation.
During those months, the scientist patiently taught Ambrose how to speak, starting with simple words, then forming sentences, then full conversations.
At first, it was frustrating. Ambrose would stare blankly when asked a question, struggling to form words. But the scientist was patient—encouraging even.
"Try again," he would say whenever Ambrose got something wrong.
By the end of the sixth month, Ambrose could hold short conversations.
By the seventh , he was speaking fluently.
And by the eighth, he was able to express thoughts, emotions, and even curiosity.
"Why… do you look so excited when you talk about me?" Ambrose asked one day, his voice still slightly awkward from lack of use.
The scientist laughed. "Because you, my dear boy, are proof that my life's work wasn't in vain."
"Life's work?"
"Yes," the scientist said, adjusting his glasses. "I spent years, decades even, trying to create something perfect. Something beyond natural limitations. And then… I found Zero. The key to everything."
"Zero?"
"A concept," the scientist explained. "A power beyond human comprehension. It does not create—it erases. It cancels the very fabric of existence itself. And you, Ambrose… you are the first successful vessel for it."
Ambrose processed his words. "So… I'm an experiment?"
The scientist smiled. "No, you're the result of an experiment. And a very successful one at that."
Ambrose wasn't sure how to feel about that, but there was something undeniable about the way the scientist spoke—it was filled with genuine excitement, not malice.
"You saved me," Ambrose admitted. "Even if I don't remember who I was before."
"Indeed, I did," the scientist said. "And now, it's time for you to take your first real step."
Experiment Start
The scientist had Ambrose stand in the center of the training area, analyzing his changes.
Observations:
• Hair: Originally a harsh shade, it had turned pure black after absorbing Zero.
• Body: Once thin and fragile, now filled out, his stature growing unnaturally fast.
• Age Appearance: He looked ten years old, despite being only six.
• Core Energy: Radiating a deep purple aura, darker than anything the scientist had seen before.
"Fascinating," the scientist murmured.
He clapped his hands together. "Alright, Ambrose. Let's see what you can do. Release your core energy."
Ambrose focused. A deep purple glow erupted from his body, crackling in the air like a living force.
"Hmm… now, try touching the ground with it."
As soon as Ambrose's fingers brushed the earth, the ground beneath him disintegrated into nothingness.
The scientist grinned. "Exactly as I expected. Faust, you fool… what have you done?" he muttered to himself.
Ambrose looked at his hands, stunned. "Did I… do that?"
"You did," the scientist confirmed. "And we've only scratched the surface of Zero's true potential."
He glanced at Ambrose with a grin. "Zero rejected Gaynac's son, but it accepted you. I wonder… just how far can you take this power?"
Training: Matter Materialization
"Now," the scientist continued, "Zero isn't just about erasing. I want you to manipulate the matter you disintegrate. Reshape it into something solid."
Ambrose frowned. "Like what?"
"Weapons," the scientist said with a grin.
At first, Ambrose struggled. It took ten days before he could form a simple knife.
"Not bad," the scientist praised. "But now, I want hundreds of weapons."
Ambrose groaned. "What?! Just kill me already!"
The scientist only laughed. "You'll get used to it."
It took five months before Ambrose could summon dozens of weapons with ease.
Zero's Second Application: Body Integration
"Now," the scientist said one day, his tone turning serious, "I want you to use Zero… on yourself."
Ambrose stared at him, horrified. "What?!"
"Zero isn't just about destroying. It's about canceling the laws of the world. If you can cancel something, that means you can apply it too."
Ambrose hesitated. "What happens if I mess up?"
The scientist smirked. "Then you die."
Ambrose glared at him. "That's not funny."
"But it's true."
Ambrose sighed. "Fine."
He spent four months integrating Zero into his body. The results? His speed skyrocketed—he could phase through objects, move faster than the eye could follow.
Zero's Third Application: Energy Cancellation
The scientist's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Now, let's take it a step further. I want you to cancel my core energy."
Ambrose's jaw dropped. "What?!"
"You heard me," the scientist said, releasing his full power. "Stop it with Zero."
For seven months, Ambrose struggled. Again and again, he failed. But finally—on the brink of exhaustion—he succeeded. The scientist's energy vanished in an instant.
Ambrose collapsed, panting.
The scientist grinned. "You did it. And Zero… it's stronger than I ever imagined. Unlike normal core energy, which remains fixed, Zero grows the more it's used."
He chuckled. "I've really created a beast, huh?"
Then, his expression darkened. He glanced at the barrier surrounding them.
"It seems my time is up, boy," he murmured. "They've found us."
Ambrose, still lying on the ground, looked up. "What do you mean?"
The scientist smiled. "I better get ready… before my signature is revealed."
TO BE CONTINUED…
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