Noren struggled to understand the entity's words. They had an otherworldly rhythm that was hard to follow.
"You see your world through the lens of three dimensions," the entity said. "You are bound by length, width, and height. But what lies beyond that? The fourth dimension holds the secrets of time. Past, present, and future flow together like rivers into one great ocean."
The entity seemed to look right through Noren, as if seeing the very stuff that the universe was made of. "Beyond the fourth dimension is the realm of possibilities. Every choice you make gives birth to a new reality. The multiverse opens up like a flower blooming in space."
Noren's mind felt dizzy. The words painted pictures of things too complex to grasp. "The fifth dimension shakes with the echo of parallel universes. Each one is a reflection of every single possibility. And further out, the sixth dimension calls. It is a place of pure potential. There, the fabric of reality is woven from the threads of probability."
The entity's voice grew faint, as if it was coming from a great distance. "Yet, these are only small hints of the true nature of everything that exists. The Dimensional Expanse goes much further. It is an endless ocean of Kalpas. Each Kalpa holds billions of universes. They were all born from the dreams of the Cosmic Architect."
Noren felt his understanding break into pieces. It was like dropping a mirror onto a stone floor. He felt the heavy weight of infinity pressing down on him. He realized that his own reality was just a brief thought in the mind of the cosmos.
"You asked about this dimensionality," the entity continued. "Can you feel what dimension this space is? Since you humans only have theories about dimensions, you have never experienced one before."
The entity paused, letting the silence hang in the air. "Consciousness is not limited by dimensionality. It is no wonder you could not experience anything with the plate. It is the same for this realm. It may seem like a dimension, but it is not. It is a realm that exists beyond physical dimensions. Here, consciousness is the most important thing. When you entered, your consciousness was separated from your physical body. This allows for experiences and growth to happen very fast. Time passes differently here. Hours, days, or even years here are equal to only moments in your world. This speed allows for intense focus and progress. As your consciousness grows through experiences and challenges, your body and soul are also changed. They reflect the growth of your inner self. You may have felt like you were in a dimension when you entered. But once your consciousness separated, the rules of space and time faded away. This realm is above physical dimensions. It allows for experiences that a mortal mind cannot fully understand."
The entity seemed to consider something. "Also, the theories of your world hold some truth, but they only scratch the surface. The Kaluza-Klein theory talks about small, curled up dimensions. That idea is intriguing. String theory talks about tiny strings that vibrate. That resonates with the music of the cosmos. The Many Worlds idea says that every choice makes a new reality. That echoes the infinite possibilities that exist beyond what you can see."
The entity's words hung in the air for Noren to think about. "These theories are not complete, but they are whispers of a bigger truth. This realm works on rules that are both familiar and very strange. It is governed by laws that are beyond mortal understanding."
"So that is how it is," Noren said. He felt both astonished and joyful. He had learned an answer that many people had died without ever knowing.
"You can enter here for as long as you want," the entity explained. "But if you leave, you must wait for three or four days in your world before you can return. That time will increase the more you enter and leave. After you reach a certain stage, you can enter whenever you wish. You could even change the whole laws and mechanics of this realm if you want. To do that, you would have to defeat me in a duel."
"Oh," Noren said, understanding dawning on him. "That is how it works."
"Your soul imprint will be removed after you take over this realm," the entity added. "It is like a key for entering here, but only until you reach a certain level."
"What about the progress?" Noren asked. "What do I need to do?"
"Each level has its own task," the entity replied. "The task for the level you are in now is to find your soul and your body in the sea up there. Then you must integrate with them." While saying this, the entity pointed his finger above Noren.
Noren looked up. In that super vast realm, which he thought might be expanding because of the accelerated time, he saw a sea. It was a flowing ocean of countless lights and stars.
"Sir," Noren said, his voice full of doubt. "How am I supposed to find mine in that vast sea?"
The cloaked entity moved his hand. The world around Noren vanished. His consciousness, his very self, was pulled away. It was sent to a vast and endless sea. This was not a sea of water. It was a sea of space and tiny lights, shining in an endless dark.
Noren was drowning. He had no body to swim with. He felt himself sinking into the great deep. He looked around in fear and wonder. The sea held more lights than he could ever count. Each light was no bigger than a speck of dust. They floated all around him. As he sank, these tiny lights touched him. Some brushed against his mind. Others sank deep into his sense of self.
Then, something began to form. The lights gathering around him started to make a shape. They built a sword made of pure gold light. The sword shone so brightly that its glow filled the whole dark sea. The endless black was pushed back by its powerful light.
"A sword," Noren thought. His voice was just a whisper in his mind. "What does this mean?"
He reached out to grab the shining sword. But the moment he tried, it changed. The sword lost its form. The light swirled and twisted. It began to take a new shape. It looked like a person made of light. A body formed from the glow.
Then, the light began to fade. It started at the head. A deep darkness swallowed the light. It moved down the neck, over the chest. The dark spread until the whole body of light was gone. It was completely black.
From this dark form, a great power pulsed. A single blow shook the entire sea of stars. The force was immense. From that blow, a name appeared. It was written in three simple letters. The name flew through the sea and did not fade. It went straight into Noren's mind and fused with his consciousness. It became a part of him.
Far away, the cloaked entity watched. His eyes widened in surprise. "His soul," he whispered to the empty air. "What is that, actually? His mind is fighting my spells. His soul does not want the light. Let us wait. Let us see how he finds his body now."
Back in the sea, everything changed for Noren. The feeling of drowning was gone. Now, he flew. He moved through the sea without any resistance. His speed was terrifying. He cut through the inner sea of stars like a knife. His consciousness moved on its own. It was like he knew this place. It was like he had flown here before.
He flew as fast as a meteor falling to the center of the earth. He had a goal. He was headed for the deepest, darkest part of the sea. There, in the deep dark, he saw it. A great shell. It was huge and old, like a giant egg made of stone. And within the shell, he could see a golden orb, pulsing with a soft light.
Next to the shell, he saw a body. It was a naked body, floating. It was his body. But it looked different. It looked stronger. The muscles were more defined. The skin seemed tougher. It was a better version of his own form.
Noren's consciousness rushed at the great shell. He hit it with all his will. But the shell did not move. It did not crack or shake. The power of his hit was not enough.
This made him angry. His mind launched attack after attack. Heavy punches of pure will slammed into the shell. The force was so great it shook the deepest abyss. The water and stars trembled around him. The power of these mental blows left the cloaked entity in a state of shock.
The cloaked entity stared, unable to look away. "His consciousness contains a terrible strength," he said, his voice low. "Before I sent him away, I saw the consciousness of a respectful, playful man. Now it represents a ruthless fighting demon. How can a human being hold two consciousness inside him? Hmm..."