The Journey Beyond The Absolute
The Unknown
As the first light of dawn creeps through the curtains, I awaken in my bed, a sense of calm washing over me. I take a deep breath and mutter to myself, "Alright, just who are you?"
From the corner of the room, a figure steps forwardhis presence almost tangible as he emerges from the shadows, a small, playful grin on his face. "My, my, it has been a while, hasn't it, Ather?" he says with an air of familiarity, as if we were old friends sharing a moment after many years apart.
I feel a rush of surprise, my eyes widening at this unexpected encounter. "Wait, you're…" I attempt to articulate my thoughts, but the words falter on my lips.
With a light laugh that dances around the room, he responds, "Oh, Ather, so you do remember me! That's right, I am Caelith. It warms my heart that you even recognize me after all this time." He speaks as if reminiscing about longlost memories, his tone soothing yet enigmatic. "I came to check on your healing, obviously."
"Ah, so you were the one who brought me here, huh?" I reply, my voice steady but laced with intrigue.
Caelith sighs, his expression shifting to one of mild exasperation. "You are just too sharp sometimes, you know that?" His eyes scan me as if assessing my physical state. "Well, you look to be in decent shape, at least. I suppose this is where we part ways for now. But remember, there's himyou. I'm sure you'll manage just fine. Knowing you, I'll just wish you luck with all that." With a gentle pat on my shoulder, he turns to leave, shrouded once again by the dim light of the room.
I can't help but feel bewildered. "What was that all about?" I muse aloud, pondering the cryptic nature of our encounter.
Just then, the door swings open, and a physician appears, clipboard in hand. "Ah, Ather Vael, is it? You have a visitor," he announces with a cheerful grin, stepping aside.
From the shadows, another figure emerges, and my eyes bulge in disbelief. "No way… but you are"
That same grin forms on his face, and he nods. "That's right, Ather. I am you."
I blink, regaining my composure amidst the surreal atmosphere that surrounds us. "But how is this happening?" The words tumble out with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
Ather, who is also me, adopts a calm demeanor, explaining, "Back when you confronted Xyraeth, you reversed time in a desperate attempt to bring yourself back to life. That action, however, created an alternate reality that intertwined our timelines, merging our worlds. This time reversal carries heavy consequences." His tone shifts, turning grave as he elaborates on the intricacies of our shared fate.
Now, as I contemplate this revelation, everything clicks into place. "But I must know," I urge, "what is your purpose in finding me?"
With an unsettling calmness, Ather replies, "Isn't it obvious? I came here to kill you, to restore my timeline." With that declaration, he launches a punch toward my face, the force behind it evident.
I counter, catching his punch with quick reflexes and striking back with an elbow to his gut. "I guess I really am my own enemy," I mutter, a mix of perplexity and determination fueling my actions.
"Nice try," Ather smirks, effortlessly flipping over my attempted strike. In a split second, he grabs my neck midair and hurls me through a space known as The Irreducible Absolute, an experience both jarring and enlightening as I crash heavily onto The Transabsolute.
The Transabsolutethis realm precedes everything, where the very fabric of existence is a delicate dance between existence and nonexistence, a space beyond comprehension. It transcends all other realms in a manner that defies linear understanding and includes even The Irreducible Absolute within its enigmatic depths.
"Let's see how you handle this speed then," I declare, gathering my energy and determination to rise.
Ather's eyes widen, realization dawning upon him. "I underestimated you again," he admits, the tension in our confrontation rising as I deliver a flurry of punches, but to my surprise, they don't seem to harm him at all.
"How is this possible?" I gasp, shock coursing through me.
With a chilling grin, Ather responds, "I am your future. What did you expect to happen?" Before I can react, he unleashes a kick to my gut with a speed I cant comprehend.
Regaining my composure amidst the chaos, I ponder my next move, reaching out to Azor within my mind. "How can I win?" I question, desperate for guidance in this infinite battle.
"The simplest solution would be to surpass yourself, but he also has your exact capabilities. It will come down to a battle of stamina," Azor advises, his voice steady within my thoughts. "If you can exhaust him enough, you might just prevail but you'll have to hope his stamina runs shorter than yours. It's your best shot."
"Thanks, Azor. I don't know what I would do without your strategy. Let's do this together, shall we?" I reply, feeling the surge of confidence radiate through me.
"I couldn't agree more," Azor states, our minds united in purpose.
In a surge of initiative, I sweep Ather's legs out from under him, pinning him down triumphantly. "Gotcha now!"
His eyes widen in surprise as he processes my tactic. "Your strategy changed. It was Azor, huh? Trying to make me struggle and exhaust more stamina? That might have worked if I hadn't caught on to your antics."
"Damnit!" I groan inwardly, "Azor, he caught on!"
"Of course he caught on he is you. The only way to pull off a successful strategy now is to act entirely against your nature. He can't predict you if you do the opposite of what he expects." Azor advises calmly, pushing me toward a unique strategy.
"You're so smart, Azor," I acknowledge, impressed with this newfound tactical understanding.
"Thats what comes with being an absolute god," Azor replies.
"I calmly assert that it's far too early to dismiss me. With a swift and determined motion, I throw a punch aimed directly at Ather's gut.
In response, Ather raises an eyebrow and responds, his voice steady and unflappable, Is that truly the best you can muster? He absorbs my attack effortlessly, showing no signs of distress as my fist impacts against him.
I maintain my composure and retort, Youre annoyingly resilient. In a seamless motion, I reappear behind him and send a powerful kick straight into his back.
With the same calm demeanor, Ather replies, I didnt even register your kick, once again proving unfazed by my offensive maneuver as he's propelled forward into a realm beyond human comprehension, a place I can only describe as the Transabsolute where the rules of physics seem irrelevant.
Determination surges within me as I assert, It doesn't matter how tough you think you are I will break through your defenses! Infused with resolve, I hurl a punch straight at his face, my focus unwavering.
Ather responds with a measured calmness, Well, we shall see about that, and, with unerring precision, he catches my punch midswing, swiftly countering with an elbow strike to my gut.
I gasp quietly, my mind racing as I remark, You hit harder than I anticipated. If I take a direct hit, it could spell my end. Coughing up blood, I clutch my abdomen, aware of the dire situation I am in. But just then, an extraordinary event occursthe sky is split open by a blinding radiance of yellow light, a celestial explosion that resonates through every fabric of the Transabsolute, sending tremors through the ground beneath my feet.
This powerful burst fuels my resolve, and I leap to my feet, invigorated by an energy that transcends instinct alone. As the brilliant light begins to fade, I find myself enveloped in a glowing aura of a vibrant yellow, which takes on the very form of the universe, pulsating in harmony with the cosmic rhythm. My eyes transform, reflecting the vastness of the universe itself, swirling with galaxies, constellations, and stardust. I stride toward Ather, embodying the immense power I have harnessed, declaring with fervor, This is my… Absolute Pinnacle Celestial Sovereign! My presence alone tears at the very fabric of the Transabsolute, laying bare the profound depths of the The Transabsolute that lie beyond human understanding.
Ather, undeterred, coolly asserts, I'll respond in kind, as darkness begins to envelop him. This is my… Absolute Pinnacle True Darkness. In an instant, a pitchblack light erupts into the sky, shrouding the world in a veil of absolute darkness, a deep black aura wrapping around him as his eyes transform to a voidlike black.
With a slightly mocking tone, Ather states, Let's see how well you handle this. He launches a kick straight toward my jaw with disconcerting speed.
In a practiced motion, I reply calmly, Nice try.' I flip over the kick with agility, evading the attack before countering with a dropkick aimed squarely at his face.
Ather glances at me with a hint of respect as he comments, Not a bad counter. Yet, he withstands the blow, revealing once more that he is far from defeated, though his demeanor suggests he is not out of the fight.
I warn him nonchalantly, Don't let your confidence get the best of you. I wouldn't consider you safe until I declare it myself. With renewed focus, I throw a punch toward his chest, determined to chip away at his defenses.
Ather remains unfazed, coolly stating, Is that truly all you've got? Once again, he absorbs my attack without any visible consequence.
I retort, selfassuredly, Oh, I'm just getting started. I know your capabilities better than you think.
Ather simply sighs, I'm bound to win in the endwhy even bother? You're just stalling the inevitable. As he brushes off my persistent attacks with effortless grace, it becomes glaringly clear that my struggle against him is far from over. His calmness only fuels my resolve to push beyond my limits."
Taking a deep breath, I decide to act on Azor's wisdom. Feeling the resolve strengthen within me. "This is my… last resort, Absolute Horizon!" I shout, creating a massive sphere charged with yellow energy, pulsating with cosmic power, that covers a beyond mathematical of The Transabsolute.
Ather counters, "You're not the only one capable of such attacks. This is my… True Darkness!" He raises his hands, summoning a ball of dark energy that swells to encompass the full breadth of The Transabsolute.
"Eat this!" I cry defiantly, launching my radiant attack at him, fueled by the very essence of my being.
"My victory is really Inevitable," Ather retorts, flinging his True Darkness down with an overwhelming force that engulfs my attack.
As our energies collide in an extraordinary clash, a cataclysmic explosion erupts, annihilating every aspect of The Transabsolute, the very fabric of reality shuddering under the intensity of our powers.
When the dust settles, I find myself lying on the ground, bloodied and scratched, yet miraculously still alive. Ather's voice breaks through the haze, dripping with condescension. "Now, now, what makes you think you have a chance?"
"I refuse to allow myself to lose to you," I declare with determination, slowly pushing myself to my feet despite the pain and struggling to find my footing.
Ather merely shakes his head, a smirk creeping across his face as he muses, "What a fool."
To be continued...