Origin stood tall beneath the brilliant radiance of the Divine Realm's sky, its vast golden light pouring down on the silver-white marbled path that led into the majestic Heavenly Palace. He had just finished expressing his gratitude to the god who had changed the course of his fate—Veldanava, the Creator of the Cardinal World.
"I will be forever grateful to you," Origin said with a respectful bow, his tone humble but firm.
Veldanava, regal yet strangely warm, smiled as he looked at Origin's sincere expression. "Come now," he replied casually, "no need to be so formal. After all, you're not doing this for free." His voice held a teasing note, though the divine aura surrounding him still carried the weight of a thousand cosmos.
"You'll be helping me manage the Cardinal World for a while before you return to your Marvel Cosmology, won't you?"
Origin chuckled softly and nodded. "Of course, Sir Veldanava. You've done me such an incredible favor. Helping you is the least I can do to repay it."
Veldanava let out a relaxed sigh, then chuckled. "You make it sound like I saved your soul," he joked lightly, but his eyes glowed with quiet pride. Origin had the potential to become a being of tremendous power—and purpose.
As the two continued walking deeper into the palace, Origin tilted his head, curious. "By the way, Sir Veldanava… You seem to know quite a lot about the future, despite no longer being omniscient or omnipotent. How is that possible?"
At this, Veldanava laughed heartily, as though the question were expected.
"Well," he began, "I can still see glimpses of the future—but not too far ahead. You're right, I gave up my omniscience and omnipotence a long time ago. But I have a little cheat, you could say." He tapped his temple with a knowing grin.
"You mean the VOTW…?" Origin guessed.
Veldanava's smile widened. "Exactly. The Voice of the World. I created it to regulate the laws and evolution across this entire cosmology. Thanks to its nature, I can 'peek' into short-term events when absolutely necessary. But it's not without a cost—it requires a massive amount of energy."
"How much energy does it usually take?" Origin asked, his voice calm but genuinely intrigued.
Veldanava paused, then rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well… Imagine the amount of energy you used to penetrate the barrier protecting my cosmology."
Origin nodded slowly, recalling the nearly reality-shattering energy surge he'd needed to breach that barrier.
"Now double that," Veldanava said.
Origin's eyes widened. "Hiss… That much?! That's insane!" He couldn't hide his astonishment. "I envy your reserves, Sir Veldanava."
The creator of the world waved a hand dismissively, his laughter echoing off the divine walls of the palace. "No need for envy. Your energy will grow in time. In fact, given what you are—and what you're becoming—your energy will one day surpass even mine in purity and strength."
Origin smiled, humbled. "You praise me too much, Sir Veldanava."
With light-hearted conversation flowing between them, the two arrived at a large chamber within the palace. Crystalline windows refracted heavenly light into all corners, while grand pillars etched with runes supported an infinite ceiling. It was serene yet vast—an eternal hall for legends.
"Well," Veldanava said, placing a hand on Origin's shoulder, "before we begin your training and help you get stronger, I need to understand your current limits. And there's no better way to do that… than a real fight."
Origin's expression sharpened slightly, but he kept his voice composed. "I see. Who will be my opponent, Sir Veldanava?"
He mentally ran through names—Guy Crimson, Velzard, Rudra, even Feldway—trying to guess who it might be. Based on Veldanava's current appearance and presence, it had to be from before Milim's birth. That narrowed the timeline somewhat.
But nothing could have prepared him for the answer.
"Your opponent," Veldanava said, "will be the Mad King of Giants—Ashura."
Origin blinked. "What…? Ashura?" His breath caught as the name unlocked a flood of half-remembered legends.
Wasn't Ashura the original being from whom Dagruel, Glassord, and Fenn descended? The primal Mad Titan, who once tried to slay the very god that made him?
Veldanava chuckled at Origin's wide-eyed expression. "Yes, the same. Ashura was born not by my will, but by the will of the world itself. When I created this world and set Twilight—the spirit of creation—to shape life, the world responded in kind. It birthed Ashura, a raw embodiment of might and chaos. Wherever he went, earthquakes and calamity followed. Whole races were nearly wiped out by his rampages."
"You didn't destroy him?" Origin asked, still stunned.
"I was going to," Veldanava admitted. "But I decided to contain him instead. He's far too useful as a test of strength. And since you're here now… I'm giving you the opportunity."
Origin's fists clenched unconsciously. He had trained against avatars, simulations, even abstract multiversal entities. But Ashura, the Mad Titan who even gods feared? That was a different scale altogether.
"But won't a battle like that… destroy vast portions of the world?" he asked, his tone suddenly cautious.
Veldanava smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'll construct a battlefield sealed with divine laws. The destruction will be contained. I want you to fight without hesitation, Origin. Show me what you're truly capable of."
Origin stood tall once more, his eyes filled with resolve. "Very well, Sir Veldanava. I'll do my best."
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Author's Note - Sorry for the short chapter. I hope you like this part and tell me your suggestions for the new chapters. I hope to be able to update new chapters but since my college project is going on I may take a few days off before uploading a new chapter.