The Journey Beyond The Absolute
The Revival?
Azors presence reemerges, and his voice resonates with a deep, almost thunderous timbre as he addresses me. "Well, well! Looks like youve shuffled off this mortal coil," he states with a hint of amusement, a stark contrast to my current predicament.
"What about it, huh?" I reply sardonically, my tone thick with shadows.
This time, Azor delves deeper into my consciousness, a booming laughter echoing in my mind, shaking the very fabric of my thoughts. "Tell you what," he announces, each word dripping with insidious promise, "Ill give you an hour to grow stronger than him."
I cant help but ask, my curiosity piqued despite the situation. "Whats the catch?" The words escape my lips, dark and skeptical, as I brace myself for his response.
Azor communicates again, his voice curling around my thoughts like fog. "The catch is simple," he continues, his tone delightfully sinister. "I will take 5% of your soul once more." With that statement, he extends his hand towards me, a gesture both enticing and ominous.
Resigned to my fate, I quip darkly, "Whatever. Not like I have a choice," and clutch his outstretched hand, feeling its coldness seep into my very essence.
In an instant, I am jolted awake, my eyes fluttering open to an alien environment. "Huh? Azor... what did you do?" My eyes dart around the bizarre room, an unfamiliar blend of ethereal light and shifting shadows. Spotting a mirror on the wall, I approach it cautiously. The reflection staring back at me is astonishingly youthful, my features noticeably more vibrant, a stark contrast to the previous weariness I carried.
Azors voice bursts into my head once again, casual and unbothered. "Well, if you must know, I simply rewound time. Absolutely." His words swirl about my mind with a sense of eerie calmness. "You have an hour before he arrives again, but it seems my absolute time manipulation has had an unexpected side effect on your body as well," he adds, the amusement in his tone evident.
"So you can manipulate time itself?" I say, an incredulous tone creeping into my voice. "Wait a minute. If you could do that all along, why didnt you step in when I was getting pummeled by Xyraeth?"
Azor responds, his voice reflecting a mix of wisdom and mischief. "I choose not to interfere in your battles unless its absolutely necessary. Besides, I wanted to see you growevolveon your own without my constant intervention."
I scoff at this. "Id punch you in the face for that if you had a physical form," I mutter darkly, my frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"Thats quite amusing!" Azor chuckles, the sound reverberating through my mind, lightening the mood even if only slightly.
Curiosity swells within me, leading to a pressing question. "Why are you going through all this trouble to assist me? A being of your caliber shouldnt bother with someone like me."
"Because Im nice," Azor replies nonchalantly, "but enough chitchatget to training. Youll discover the truth in due time," he urges, his voice laden with a promise I cant quite decipher.
"But how can I train without my sensei, Kael Ryn?" I protest, doubt creeping into my tone.
"Then find yourself a new sensei," Azor instructs, his voice unwavering.
I shake my head, frustration building. "Its not that straightforward, Azor. Theres no one left who can guide me."
"Then you could always train yourself," he suggests matteroffactly.
"Right," I reply, a hint of desperation in my voice, "but how do I teach myself effectively?"
Azors response is immediate and powerful. Suddenly, he teleports me outside of The Anantaxis, and I find myself awestruck. Before me stretches an immense blue sphere, an overwhelming sight that defies comprehension. It radiates a sense of the infinite, pulling at the very fabric of my senses.
"Where are we?" I question, wideeyed and bewildered.
"Welcome to The Protopantheon," Azor announces with grandiosity, his voice echoing with gravity. "This is a realm that encompasses all conceptsreality and unreality, dimensions both known and unknown, metaphysical and ontological premises, everything you can imagine and more. Its a place where the boundaries blur between the possible and the impossible, and more.
"Incredible," I murmur, struggling to absorb the magnitude of this information. "But what does that mean for me?"
Azor continues, unfazed by my wonder. "In The Protopantheon, All and any impossiblity, all and any Existence, all and any Nonexistence, all and any Possibility, all and any Impossibility, all and any Duality, all and any Nonduality, all and any metaphysical, all and any ontological, all and any dimensions, all and any reality, all and any nonreality, all and any Totality, all and any logic all and any illogic, all and any power, all and any ability, and when I use all and any, I mean that literally for every single concept in The Protopantheon. It doesnt matter if that concept is absolute, like absolute impossibility, it doesnt matter. Its already inside The Protopantheon. They all exist inside The Protopantheon, and every concept inside The Protopantheon transcends the others. For example, the concept of impossibility or absolute impossibility has layers, it isnt simply impossible. Each form of impossibility or absolute impossibility cannot be compared to another because they invalidate one another. The same thing applies to every single concept inside The Protopantheon. Here, these transcended concepts dont just exist they can surpass transcendence itself, whenever it wants to, elevating beyond absolute infinite itself and even far beyond that it simply cant be explained where this operates at but its far beyond the idea of beyond absolute infinite itself and even beyond that. The also contains the Anantaxis.
The sheer enormity of what hes saying sends shivers down my spine. "So, everything is here? There are no limits?"
"Precisely," he affirms, his tone affirming my revelations. "Each Protopantheon transcends each other whenever it wants to, and it can even surpasses trancendance whenever it wants to. It flows endlessly, including The Anantaxis itself. Now, throw a punch."
Spurred on by his directive, I prepare for my training, feeling an exhilarating rush of determination ripple through my being.
In the depths of uncertainty, I utter a dark murmur, "Very well then." With a mix of determination and frustration, I lift my hands high above my head, drawing my fist back with the intention of unleashing my full force upon the enigmatic entity known as The Protopantheon. Yet, to my astonishment, my strike appears to have no effect at all. My heart sinks as I confront the disappointing reality of my situation.
Suddenly, Azors voice resonates within the confines of my mind, calm and casual, as if unbothered by my failure. "Try again," he urges, a hint of encouragement lacing his tone.
And so, I do just that. For hours on end, I throw punch after relentless punch, pouring every ounce of my energy into each strike. A rhythm emerges in my movements, a desperate dance of frustration and determination. Yet, as the minutes stretch into what feels like an interminable struggle, I notice the fatigue settling into my bones. With a heavy sigh, I concede defeat its no use. Hours of effort have led me nowhere, and a sinking feeling unfolds within me. A voice, faint yet insistent, murmurs the dark notion that perhaps Im simply not cut out for this.
Eventually, I fall to my knees, despair wrapping around my heart like a cold, suffocating shroud. It grips my very soul, pulling me under in a tide of hopelessness. The aching void left by my losses weighs heavily upon my spirit, rendering me almost immobilized by grief.
Azors voice permeates the darkness, probing gently yet firmly. "It seems there is something weighing on you, something thats restraining your full willpower. Could it be related to your deceased sister? Or perhaps your mentor? A close friend?" Each question cuts through the silence, drawing attention to my buried pain.
With a heavy heart, I sigh and let my hands fall helplessly to my sides. "You know," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper, "sometimes I feel like Ive let them all down... like Im just not enough."
To my surprise, Azor chuckles, a sound that seems to resonate with both mirth and a touch of exasperation. "Pathetic," he calls me out, his tone both teasing and sharp. "You claim to possess unwavering resolve, yet deep down, the truth reveals itself their deaths still haunt you. The most effective way to conquer this is to let go."
I cant help but nod, realizing the truth in his words. "Youre right... I should try to let go," I confess. "But they were practically the only family I had left. It wasnt until I lost them that I truly understood their importance in my life. And now, Im back to feeling utterly alone. Will this relentless cycle of grief ever come to an end?" Tears spill down my cheeks, a cascade of sorrow that I can no longer contain.
Once more, Azors voice breaks through the turmoil, though riddled with its own brand of awkwardness. "Im not the best at offering solace, but the best advice I can muster is this focus on the present, on the tasks at hand. Save the rest for after we address the issue. Did you forget why were here? To train you to defeat Xyraeth. They wouldnt want you caught up in despair like this. Now, rise and try again not just for yourself, but for them. Above all, remember your purpose."
Suddenly, enlightenment washes over me, awakening a flicker of hope. "Youre right!" I exclaim, the embers of determination igniting within me. But wait purpose? Do I even have one at this point in my life? The thought lingers, heavy and uncertain.
Azor interjects with renewed focus, "Your true purpose will reveal itself in time. But first, are you ready to resume your training?"
With a feverish determination, I wipe away my tears, my eyes now ablaze with resolve. "Absolutely," I affirm, my heart racing with newfound energy.
"Then let us begin!" Azor instructs, his encouragement echoing within me.
I close my eyes, feeling the familiar rush of transformation ignite deep within my core. My hair darkens to a raven hue and my eyes blaze with a striking blend of red and white, a reflection of the tempest within. A radiant aura of red and yellow swirls around my form, illuminating the void that had once felt so suffocating. I declare, my voice resonating with power, "I will call this transformation True Form Absolute Pinnacle. Thanks to you, Ive learned to release my grip on the past. I will forge a new path, not just for myself, but in honor of their memories."
With a sense of purpose fueling me, I raise my fist skyward and unleash a punch directed at The Protopantheon. This time, the impact destroys a beyond absolute infinite number itself, obliterating a limitless expanse of The Protopantheon with undeniable force.
Azors voice returns, laden with approval. "You passed," he declares.
In disbelief, I stare at my hands, the reality of what Ive just accomplished sinking in. Inner thoughts whirl through my mind, a mixture of astonishment and newfound pride. "I really did all that?"
Azor nods in response, a confirmation that fuels my spirit.
"I see…" I breathe out softly, a smile stretching across my face, "thats quite good to know." An overwhelming sense of hope blooms within me, for the first time in what feels like an eternity. There is light ahead and a chance to honor the memories of those Ive lost. Its time to embrace the fight, to forge a legacy that would make them proud.
To be continued...