"It was only the beginning."
Vael floated in the void, his mind teetering on the edge of comprehension. The voice that had guided him lingered, its presence vast and unknowable. He had defeated the God of Swords, erased it from existence, yet instead of victory, he found himself here—adrift in a place without time, without form.
"There's more to this, isn't there?" Vael asked, his voice steady despite the disorientation.
"The god is gone. The battle is over."
The voice pulsed through the space around him, not a sound but a presence.
"Killing a god—erasing a god—was only the first step."
Vael's breath came in slow, measured draws. He had given everything to that fight, pushed himself past every limit. Yet, it hadn't been enough. Not really.
"To save her, you must do more than just kill a god."
At the mention of her, something in Vael cracked. A deep, gnawing ache spread through his chest. His mother. The image of her fading, slipping from his grasp, was burned into his mind like an open wound.
"Explain," he demanded, his voice rough.
"To save her, you must transcend even what you are now."
"The being you must face in the near future will be far stronger than the god you just defeated."
"In fact, that god would be nothing more than a mere insect compared to what awaits."
The words sank like iron weights in his gut. Vael clenched his fists. He had barely survived that battle. The idea that greater threats existed made his stomach twist.
"Then explain. What am I up against?"
"The gods follow a hierarchy," the voice began. "At the lowest tier are the Solar Gods—those who govern individual stars and systems. Above them are the Galactic Gods, rulers of entire galaxies."
Vael exhaled sharply. "Then where did the God of Swords stand in this hierarchy?"
"It was a Galactic God," the voice answered. "A lesser being in the grand order of divinity."
Lesser? That monster had nearly ended him.
"Yes. Beyond them stand the Universal Gods, beings whose reach spans entire universes. Higher still are the Multiversal Gods, who hold dominion over countless universes."
Vael's head ached from the sheer scale of it. "And it doesn't stop there, does it?"
"No," the voice admitted. "Between the Multiversal Gods and the Omniversal Gods, there exist additional ranks—beings of unfathomable power that shape vast cosmic structures beyond mortal comprehension. However, due to the differences across omniverses, their names and classifications vary. I cannot specify them with certainty."
Vael swallowed hard. "And beyond them?"
"At the pinnacle stand the Omniversal Gods or Omni-Gods. They do not just rule over existence—they define it. Their will shapes reality itself."
A pause. Then, for the first time, the voice hesitated.
"There are… two more ranks beyond them. But I cannot speak of them. 'They' will not allow it."
Something about the way the voice said it sent a chill through Vael.
"But to save your mother, you must go beyond even them. Beyond all the ranks. No god, no matter how high, will be enough. You must transcend them all."
Vael let out a hollow laugh. "You expect me to reach that level? I nearly died just fighting a Galactic God."
"The power you used was a mere fraction of its potential," the voice replied smoothly. "But you will learn. I will teach you."
Vael exhaled, steadying himself. "Then what must I do in return?"
The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken truths. Then, the voice spoke again, its tone eerily familiar.
"I will take my payment at a later time."
Vael frowned. There was something unsettling about how the voice spoke—not just with knowledge, but with an intimacy that made his skin prickle.
"Who are you?" Vael finally asked.
The response was immediate, effortless.
"I know you better than you know yourself. I have seen every path you could walk, every choice you might make. I know the fear that lingers in your heart, the doubts you refuse to speak."
Vael's breath caught for a moment. "How can you possibly know me so well?"
The voice did not answer his question.
Instead, it spoke with finality.
"Our time here is over. You must go back."
As the void trembled and began to collapse, Vael called out one last time.
"Who are you?"
The voice, unshaken and calm, responded effortlessly.
"I am you."
Before Vael could process the words, everything around him shattered into light.
Vael's eyes shot open. His breath came in ragged gasps as reality reasserted itself. The cold, sterile scent of herbs and bandages filled his nostrils. He was no longer adrift in the void.
He was back.
A soft light flickered above him, and the weight of a blanket rested over his aching body. A presence stirred beside him.
Someone was tending to his wounds.
The woman beside him, a private nurse, gasped as she noticed his eyes open. Without hesitation, she turned and called out urgently.
"Doctor! The patient has regained consciousness!"
Vael's body felt impossibly heavy. His mind drifted in and out of focus. Voices murmured around him.
"His condition was worse than we expected. The fact that he's regained consciousness this soon is remarkable."
"Indeed, but his body is still in a fragile state. We should monitor him closely."
"These injuries—they were caused by a god's attack."
Sleep pulled him under again, but this time, it was not an escape. It was rest.
Time passed. Vael stirred, his strength returning. He sat up, taking in his surroundings.
A man stood before him. Late thirties, perhaps early forties. Gray eyes, a faint scar along his cheek. His presence carried quiet authority.
"You're awake. Good."
His voice was steady, calm.
"My name is Lucian. And you are?"
Vael took a breath. "Vael Eldorin."
"Where am I?"
Lucian met his gaze. "You're in the infirmary of the order I lead."
"Order?"
Lucian gave a slow nod. "A hidden order, ancient and powerful. We operate outside the public eye, training those capable of defending this world against threats beyond mortal understanding."
Vael narrowed his eyes. "And you expect me to believe that?"
Lucian's expression remained unreadable. "Your body is covered in wounds no ordinary weapon could inflict. You survived an encounter with something beyond human comprehension. And yet, you're alive. That tells me you're not ordinary. Neither are we."
Vael remained silent.
Lucian continued. "You don't have to trust me. Not yet. But you do need answers. And I suspect we have more than a few that might interest you."
Vael studied him, his mind still sluggish from exhaustion, but sharp enough to catch the weight behind Lucian's words. This was no mere offer of knowledge—it was an invitation into something far deeper, something ancient and unseen.
Before Vael could respond, the door creaked open again. Another figure entered, moving with deliberate intent. The air shifted, heavy with an unseen force. Lucian turned slightly, his gaze sharpening.
A faint draft slipped through the opening, carrying with it the distant scent of rain.
"You're early," he said.
The newcomer stopped at the foot of Vael's bed, their face obscured by the dim light. "He woke up sooner than expected. That changes things."
Outside, somewhere far beyond these walls, a low rumble of thunder rolled across the sky.