Sigh... now that Leon's gone, I can finally move freely.
Void stretched his neck as the system's voice echoed beside him.
[You are right, Host. Now, what is your plan?]
Void's lips curled slightly. "Nothing much. It's time."
[Time? Host, what do you mean by that?]
"I think it's time I inherit it... the Physique of Eternal Void."
The system's tone sharpened. [Are you serious, Host? Why now of all times?]
"No special reason. Just... felt like it."
He looked at the endless horizon, eyes glowing faintly white. "Should I transform here?"
[No! Absolutely not!] the system barked. [Host, if you awaken that physique in this universe, everything nearby could collapse! The system will teleport you to an empty realm immediately!]
"What? A different universe?" Void frowned. "I'm not leaving—"
[No time!]
Light erupted, and Void vanished.
***
Somewhere in an abandoned universe...
The silence of space stretched endlessly—cold, empty, forsaken.
[Host, we're now in a dead universe. No life. No gods. Nothing but the void itself.]
Void floated in the stillness, silver-blue hair glimmering faintly under the dim starlight.
"So dark... fine. Let's begin."
He raised his hand. "Activate—Physique of Eternal Void!"
The words echoed like a divine decree.
Instantly, every star trembled. Space warped, twisting into rivers of darkness. The light of galaxies bent, spiraling toward him like offerings to a god.
[Host... this energy—it's beyond comprehension!]
"Kehahaha... unbelievable."
The pull intensified until Void's body was swallowed in collapsing starlight. His veins glowed black and white, reality cracking around him.
"Ghkk... it's like my body's being torn apart a million times!" he roared.
[Hang in there, Host! The void essence is rewriting your existence!]
The stars screamed—then silence.
A cosmic explosion tore through eternity. The shockwave devoured entire universes. Gods across creation froze in dread.
***
"Did you feel that?"
Even the highest heavens shuddered as ancient beings turned their gaze toward the darkened space.
***
When the light faded, Void hovered amidst the ruins of countless galaxies. His body pulsed with infinite calm.
"...I feel... stronger."
[Host... oh no. You don't understand. That explosion—]
"What about it?"
[You just erased an entire multiverse. Every god felt it. Even those who were sleeping in timeless domains. You've drawn the attention of beings far beyond divine.]
Void smirked faintly. "Heh. About time."
Then his expression twisted. "Wait... why does my body feel heavy?"
[Host! You're bleeding! That's impossible! The Physique of Eternal Void should make you untouchable!]
"Check my skills—now!"
[Yes host. Most of your skills are sealed.]
Void chuckled, amusement curling in the edges of his words. "If I'm right, even the Beyond is meddling. Keke."
"What do you mean, host?" the System asked. "A number of your skills appear sealed or locked."
Void's smile thinned. "Of course they are. The Beyond—or whatever pompous name they wear—is interfering. Call it the other name Void Expanse if you like. Whoever sits above the omniverse likes to keep its toys in order."
[Host, how do you know?] the System pressed.
"You moron, think," Void scoffed. "Beyond the omniverse lies the the beyond/true expanse. If my theory is true, True Outside cares for one thing only: finding a king."
[Host, that's—impossible.]
"Nothing's impossible." His eyes glowed white as he clenched his fists. "Those bastards... they sealed my trump cards, didn't they?"
[Yes. Your forbidden skills are locked: Abyssal Rewrite, Origin Collapse, Void Domain, and Absolute End.]
"Damn you... Void Expanse!" he roared, his voice echoing through the broken cosmos. "You dare seal my skill ?!"
His aura burst outward, warping dead galaxies.
"Listen, you cowardly gods! I'll kill you all one day! Every single one of you! You can't stop me—KHAAHAHAHAHA!"
[Host... was that necessary?]
Void's grin sharpened. "Yes. From now on, I'm the enemy of gods themselves."
[This is going to be troublesome...]
"Of course. Now, send me back."
[As you wish.]
***
Back on the mortal world.
Leon paused mid-training, eyes narrowing. "Huh? I can feel Master's aura again. I knew it—he's fine."
Meanwhile, Void reappeared deep in the forest, flexing his new power. "Heh... finally. The physique's complete. I should start some combat drills before I rust."
He looked around. "Hmm... I already mastered every martial art from my past life. Let's see—Tiger Style, Iron Palm, Dragon Flow, Ninefold Step, Heaven Breaker Spear, you name it. But my true art... will always be the sword."
He sighed. "Hah... back then, I kept my strength hidden just to avoid attention. Now? I might regret being too low-profile. Things are going to get noisy soon."
At that moment, voices echoed from a nearby village.
"Everyone! Look! A wanted notice! A demon who destroyed the Heavenly God Sect!"
Void's expression froze. "A what?"
He vanished instantly, reappearing beside the crowd—concealed under Echo of Silence.
He snatched a paper from the post.
The sketch matched his face perfectly. The title read:
«WANTED: The Demon of Black Fire – Void.
Bounty: 1,500,000,000,000,000 Crystals.»
Void blinked. "...What the hell? That many zeros? Do they even have that much money?"
He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "Tch. Calling me a demon for destroying one little sect? Typical. Glad I'm using Echo of Silence—those gods would've sensed me otherwise."
He crushed the paper in his hand. "System. Analyze this world. Who's behind the bounty?"
[Understood, Host. Analyzing.]
Moments later, holographic sigils formed before him.
***
Kingdoms that are targeting you, Host:
1. Eternal Zenith Empire – Said to stand at the peak of mortal civilization; its ruler has reached Heaven's Limit.
2. Abyssal Star Dominion – Cultivators who worship the void between stars.
3. Celestgrave Dynasty – A fallen heavenly empire seeking lost divinity.
4. Radiant Dusk Kingdom – Realm of endless wars of succession.
5. Obsidian Veil Empire – Empire of assassins ruled by an unseen Empress.
6. Sovereign Flame Court – Flame monarchs born of magma rivers.
7. Astral Myriad Kingdom – Formed by 10,000 sects united in pursuit of transcendence.
8. Netherborn Dominion – Kingdom on the edge of the underworld.
9. Heaven-Piercing Realm – Cultivators who dare challenge heaven itself.
10. Titanfall Dynasty – Descendants of giants who wield primal strength.
***
Known Elders and Prodigies
Elder Kaelion – calm yet terrifying, master of soul control.
Elder Xuran – the Thousand-Eyes Prophet.
Grand Elder Seraphion – radiant tyrant of the Dusk Kingdom.
Elder Myra Veinheart – cultivator of forbidden bloodlines.
Elder Vorthan – keeper of forbidden physiques.
Sage Oryndor – one who predicts calamity.
Young Master Rhyen Blackflame – cruel genius of Sovereign Flame Court.
Young Master Cale Vortan – heir of the Obsidian Veil.
Princess Lyra Celestgrave – celestial-blooded prodigy.
Young Lord Ardent Zephyr – son of the Wind Sovereign.
Young Mistress Serin Astra – proud, intelligent starborn noble.
***
[Host, all of these factions are mobilizing. Their strength is far beyond typical mortals.]
Void smirked. "Good. That'll make it interesting."
[Some weaker princes weren't worth mentioning.]
"Figures." His eyes glowed faintly white. "Let's see what they can do...
***
To be continued...
***