The moment the fragment of the Eternal Realm fused with Xerath Aeonshade's being, everything changed.
In an instant, the fabric of the Originverse Sect quivered. It was as though the very cosmos had taken a deep breath, held it, and then exhaled with an ancient, sorrowful sigh. Across the holy lands of Earth, the very ground trembled, and for the first time in countless eons, the divine power of the Founding Ancestor stirred, awakening from its endless slumber.
Xerath's form was now a figure beyond comprehension, his vast aura not just emanating outward but sinking deep into the layers of the Originverse itself. He was far more than just a mere entity in this plane. He was an Eternal Sub whose power reached beyond even the concepts of reality as the mortal realm understood it.
But now… now, a new force within him had emerged. A half-step Eternal power. This was something no being within the sect had dared to imagine. The Eternal Sub-Entities were known to be supreme, unchallenged. But now, Xerath was at the edge of the Eternal threshold—a realm few had ever witnessed.
Across the realms, the response was instantaneous. Those closest to the holy land of Earth felt the tremor first, a cosmic ripple that swept across the entire multiverse. Even in the lowest of realms, those with the faintest traces of divine awareness could feel the ominous presence. The high lords, mighty avatars, and even the Ancestors of other sects paused. Fear. Awe. Panic. These emotions crept into the hearts of beings whose power surpassed mortal understanding.
At that moment, Xerath Aeonshade stood alone in his sanctum, where time itself seemed to lose meaning. His mind, for the first time in aeons, surged with thoughts beyond comprehension. The Eternal Shard that now resided within him was not a mere fragment—it was a key, a relic from a realm outside the bounds of even the highest planes of existence.
The weight of this knowledge pushed against his mind. Every millisecond that passed felt like centuries. And yet, despite the sheer magnitude of this awakening, he remained eerily calm, untouched by the surge of emotions or the cacophony of power reverberating through his being.
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The Rulers of Time and Space Stir
The higher echelons of the Originverse Sect had been the first to receive whispers of Xerath's awakening. The Saint Ancestors were among the first to gather in their grand council hall, a place that existed between worlds, accessible only to those at the highest ranks. These beings, immortal and infinitely wise, had existed for more than a millennium, each one a living testament to the sect's power.
But no matter how ancient their wisdom, they were but ants compared to the power that now resided in Xerath.
Moriath—the eldest of the Saint Ancestors—felt a shiver crawl up his spine as he stood at the center of the council. His long silver beard swayed in the non-existent wind of the hall, and his sharp eyes narrowed.
"I can feel it," he whispered, more to himself than to the others. "The seal is broken. The Founder… he is awakening."
Around him, the other Ancestors nodded gravely. Liovira, a fierce woman with eyes that burned like twin stars, clenched her fists. Her voice, though calm, betrayed a hint of worry.
"Is it not too soon? The Founder was never meant to stir from his slumber for eons yet. This… this shard… it changes everything."
"We do not know what this means," Moriath agreed, his voice heavy with experience. "The fragment that fused with the Founder is from a realm we know nothing of. If Xerath has truly become a half-step Eternal, then none of us are prepared to deal with the consequences."
Their conversation was interrupted as a portal of immense power opened before them, and a figure walked through. His form was a shadow of cosmic flame, but there was an aura of calm about him that demanded respect. It was The Prime Elder, a being who had been alive since the formation of the sect itself. Though he was not an Ancestor, his strength and wisdom were beyond compare.
"I have seen the first signs," he said, his voice carrying the weight of ancient knowledge. "The realms are already beginning to shift. The higher planes are in motion."
Moriath turned sharply toward him. "Then we are already too late, aren't we? The Originverse itself is on the brink of unraveling."
The Prime Elder remained silent for a moment. "The only thing we can do now is prepare. Xerath's awakening is both a blessing and a curse. We must find a way to ensure the balance holds before it shatters completely."
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The Avatar's Purpose
In the stillness of the sanctum, Xerath's consciousness expanded. Across the multiverse, his countless avatars flickered to life. They were no longer mere reflections of his power, but manifestations of his growing might—a fraction of his being now walking in multiple dimensions at once.
But even these avatars were not immune to the overwhelming presence of Xerath's new power. Though they could wield formidable force, they were only one step below his true form. Each one had a purpose, a directive: to act as his eyes, ears, and hands in the lower realms.
However, the more the avatars awakened, the more the universal balance teetered. The foundation of the Originverse, once solid and unyielding, began to crack as Xerath's power seeped into the very fabric of existence. What had once been a controlled, disciplined cosmos was now spiraling into chaos.
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The Rebellion of Fated Souls
Far below, in the mortal realm of Earth, a boy named Arius was born under extraordinary circumstances. He had always known that he was different—his potential was far beyond any mortal's comprehension. From the moment he opened his eyes, he could see the threads of fate and manipulate them with ease. Though he was unaware of the true magnitude of his abilities, he quickly rose to prominence, earning the respect and fear of those around him.
But Arius's life was not destined to be one of simple achievements. He, too, carried within him a fragment of the Eternal Shard—the same relic that had awakened Xerath. His power surged unexpectedly, and at the age of 99, he was able to surpass even the greatest of the sect's mortal practitioners. His fate, however, was sealed. His challenge to the Ancestors would come soon, and with it, the collapse of everything he knew.
But before that fated moment could unfold, his untimely death altered the course of history. With his death, the fragment that had merged with him now sought a new host—Xerath Aeonshade.
The consequences of this union were unimaginable. The very nature of the Originverse Sect would be altered forever.
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The Awakening of the True Force
As Xerath continued to absorb the eternal knowledge granted by the shard, he began to understand the true nature of the fragment—a piece of a realm beyond even the Eternal Sub level. This revelation was terrifying. A fragment from this unknown realm had the potential to overthrow the entire foundation of the Originverse, a structure that had existed for eons.
But Xerath was not one to be afraid. He was a being that existed above time, whose existence stretched beyond all comprehension. He would master this power and bend the multiverse to his will.
However, as his power grew, so did the stirring of ancient forces—rivals long dormant in the higher realms who had once challenged the very foundations of existence. Now, those forces were beginning to stir again, as the balance shifted irreparably.
Xerath Aeonshade was not just a Ninth-Level Eternal Sub any longer—he was a being on the cusp of eternity itself. His future was now uncertain, and the multiverse would never be the same again