The Ultimate Void

Chapter 3

The group stared at Haruto in confusion, trying to grasp the meaning behind his words.

Daiki: "What are you talking about?"

Haruto adjusted himself, his expression serious. "If what he's saying is true, then we're nothing more than temporary creations—a fleeting product of existence. Compared to beings like him, we're insignificant. Yet, despite his significance, he's trying to save us. Why? If he simply wanted to eliminate the 'otherworldly,' then why take the time to explain all of this to us?"

The others nodded slowly, beginning to connect the dots. Exagora, standing tall with his imposing yet calm demeanor, allowed a faint smile to grace his lips. His crimson, glowing eyes reflected both wisdom and cruelty, and his long, white robes shimmered faintly, as though imbued with celestial energy.

Exagora: "Indeed, you are a clever one. It's true—your lives, on their own, hold no value to me. My goal is to eradicate the 'otherworldly.' In most cases, I would simply alter your memories and leave. But that barrier changed everything."

Haruto frowned, his sharp mind racing. "The barrier… You mean the one the ritualist created? That was odd. We were already restrained—why would he need to use it against us?"

Exagora nodded, his silver hair cascading like a waterfall as he spoke with a measured tone. "That barrier was not meant to restrain you but to force the Source within you to evolve. For higher beings like me, it is insignificant, but for low-level beings like humans, it has profound effects. In your case, it increased your energy levels far beyond those of normal humans. That, in turn, makes your presence a potential threat to the human world."

The air grew heavy with tension, and unease was evident on everyone's faces.

Haruto stepped forward, his dark eyes filled with resolve. "So, what are you going to do? Kill us?"

Exagora crossed his arms, his voice calm yet commanding. "I have two options: kill you to eliminate the risk or teach you how to control your Source. For now, I choose the second option."

Everyone exchanged wary glances, unsure of what to expect.

Exagora: "I will teach you how to control your Source, though not all of you are capable of affecting the human world. I've prepared a chart for clarity."

Exagora raised his hand, and a glowing projection appeared in the air, listing names:

Marked Individuals (Potential Threats):

Akira Family

Kazuki Akira (Marked)

Emi Akira

Ren Akira

(Parents remain in their hometown)

Nakagawa Family

Saki Nakagawa (Marked)

Mr. Nakagawa

Mrs. Nakagawa

Tanaka Family

Daiki Tanaka (Marked)

Mr. Tanaka

Mrs. Tanaka

Hiro Tanaka (Younger brother)

Shiori Family

Asuka Shiori (Marked)

(Parents remain in their hometown)

Kurosawa Family

Haruto Kurosawa (Marked)

Mr. Kurosawa

Mrs. Kurosawa

Haruki Family

Myuki Haruki (Marked)

Masaru Haruki

Yuuto Family

Kazuhiro Yuuto (Marked)

(Parents remain in their hometown)

Orphans

Aiko Nishimura (Marked)

Sato Takeda (Marked)

Exagora: "Those marked have elevated energy levels due to prolonged exposure to me. The rest of your families are safe."

A wave of relief washed over some, though the marked individuals looked grim.

Exagora: "I suggest you rest for now. Go home, and avoid using excessive strength. A basic living being in the Absolute Realm could easily destroy the entire Temporary Realm if unchecked. The difference in power is colossal. To prevent accidents, I'm placing a protective seal on your Sources."

Haruto: "What's this seal?"

Exagora waved his hand, a faint golden glow surrounding each of the marked individuals. "It's a safeguard. As the name suggests, it will protect you from accidentally unleashing destructive power."

With another wave of his hand, glowing portals appeared, each pulsating with soft, otherworldly energy.

Exagora: "Step through any portal—it will take you directly to your homes. We will reconvene tomorrow at 10 p.m."

The group began to disperse, stepping cautiously into the portals.

Masaru Haruki lingered, his broad frame and stern expression giving away his concern. His usually composed demeanor wavered slightly. "I'm not marked, but I want to learn to control the Source. I want to protect Myuki next time."

Exagora regarded him for a moment, his gaze piercing. "Very well. It makes little difference to me."

With that, Masaru stepped through a portal, and Exagora turned, his imposing figure disappearing into the void.

The night felt heavier than usual as each individual returned to their homes, their minds burdened by the weight of what was to come.

The following evening, everyone gathered at the designated location. Though they didn't fully trust Exagora, they had little choice. Their lives were at stake, and the implications of their newfound power left them with more questions than answers. The 20 members present included the marked individuals and their families.

The atmosphere was tense, and unease hung in the air. No one had spoken about the situation to anyone outside their group.

Exagora, dressed in a flowing black robe adorned with faint silver patterns, surveyed the group. His ethereal presence was commanding yet enigmatic, his eyes glowing faintly as he began to speak.

Exagora: "This training is primarily for the marked individuals. However, those who are not marked may join if they wish. For now, I will demonstrate how to control your

Daiki, wearing a casual hoodie and jeans, stepped forward. His muscular frame and confident demeanor showed that he had something to share.

Daiki: "Today, while walking on the streets, I accidentally punched a wall. I didn't use much strength, but it cracked. I didn't feel any pain either."

Exagora nodded, his expression calm but serious.

Exagora: "Hmm. The strength and speed your bodies now possess far exceed that of normal humans. No human, regardless of their weaponry, could harm you with sheer strength. Even bombs and missiles would be ineffective."

Haruto: "Even atomic bombs?"

Exagora tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Exagora: "An atomic bomb might damage you, but you could survive the impact of 10, perhaps 20, such explosions. Your evolution places you far beyond the limits of humanity."

Suddenly, Exagora gestured with his hand, and several guns materialized in mid-air. They hovered ominously before firing in unison. Bullets rained down on the group, causing a moment of panic. However, the marked individuals quickly realized that the bullets barely affected them, leaving only superficial marks.

Daiki: (grinning) "This is... cool."

Kazuhiro: (frowning) "How inhuman have we become?"

Asuka: (thoughtfully) "It's like we've gained superhuman abilities -strength and speed beyond imagination."

Exagora: "I wouldn't call it 'superhuman.' It's simply the natural process of evolution under unique circumstances."

He summoned several thick stone walls around the area and distributed glowing charms to everyone.

Exagora: "These charms function similarly to the barrier you encountered before. They stabilize your Source and allow you to train safely. Marked individuals, break the walls. Those unmarked, concentrate on the charm. Even if you fail, it's fine. Stabilizing your Source is key."

Masaru Haruki, standing off to the side, stepped forward, his determined expression matching his broad shoulders and calloused hands.

Masaru: "I may not be marked, but I want to learn to control my Source. I want to protect Myuki next time."

Exagora: "Very well. Train with the marked individuals. Five hours here equate to just 10 minutes in your world. You'll need 3-4 hours of training daily for now

Two Weeks Later

Kazuki wandered the quiet streets, his thoughts weighed down by recent events. The sky was painted with hues of orange and purple as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Kazuki: (thinking) This feels like a dream I can't wake from. Training barely takes 10 minutes daily, but everything else about this situation is unsettling. Everyone else was heading down normal paths- studying, working... now we're here.

He recalled his friends' lives before all this. Sato had recently been promoted to manager at the café where he worked part-time. Kazuhiro had started freelancing in graphic design and was close to landing a job at a studio. Others, like Nakagawa-san, were preparing for postgraduate studies.

As he passed an abandoned construction site, he spotted Sato with two other young men. Sato's sharp features and confident posture made him stand out among the group. The other two- Umio, a lanky man with shaggy hair, and Satoshi, shorter with a stocky build-were friends from the orphanage.

Kazuki paused for a moment but decided not to interrupt.

Sato and His Friends

Under the dim light of a flickering streetlamp, the three friends stood among the skeletal remains of the unfinished buildings.

Sato: "So, this is what happened."

Satoshi: "It sounds like a dream, but after seeing your strength and speed, it's hard to deny."

Umio: "Yeah, it's unbelievable. You're beyond human now."

Sato nodded and pulled out the charm Exagora had given him.

Sato: "This charm enhances our power. Tomorrow, let's meet here again at 7:30 pm and continue experimenting. It's fun, and who knows what else we'll discover?"

Both of his friends agreed enthusiastically, unaware of the danger looming over them

Four days later, as the trio trained at the construction site, a shadowy group observed them from the distance.

First Figure: "They're human, no doubt about it. But their energy levels are far too high for mere mortals."

Second Figure: "One of them has protection on his Source. It seems another otherworldly being is involved."

A third figure entered, a tall man with a commanding presence. His name was Daw, and the two others greeted him with reverence.

Daw: "There's an otherworldly entity behind this. Kill the unprotected ones. The protected one will serve as bait to lure their benefactor."

Without hesitation, Daw raised his hand and fired beams of energy. One struck Satoshi, piercing his heart and obliterating his Source. The second hit Umio, killing him instantly.

Sato froze as his friends collapsed, lifeless. Memories of their time at the orphanage and their shared struggles flashed through his mind. Tears streamed down his face, and a surge of helplessness overwhelmed him.

Sato: (sobbing) "No... this can't be real..."

But it was. His friends were gone, and nothing he could do would change that.