CTS TIME RE250.08.27 - 11:23 PM
The night sky over Exohorizon City pulsed with energy, a neon-drenched expanse of towering skyscrapers and illuminated skyways. Massive holographic billboards projected highlights of past battles, building anticipation for the Grand Finals set to take place the next day. Amidst the luminous skyline, a colossal structure loomed—the Hyperion Defenders Outpost. At its peak, two massive letters, "H" and "D," glowed in radiant blue, marking it as the operational stronghold of the Pro-Hero Task Force under the Interstellar Space Agency (ISA).
Inside the outpost's conference hall, four A-Rank Hyperion Defenders sat around a reinforced alloy table. Behind them, a holographic screen streamed intense replays from the tournament's previous matches. Soon, the arena would witness a legendary showdown—Blaze deathbringer vs. Tenebris thron.
Lance – A-Rank Stealth Master
Lance, a slender man clad in a tactical black suit built for advanced stealth operations, leaned back in his chair, his silver eyes gleaming as he watched Blaze obliterate his last opponent in combat. A sly grin tugged at his lips.
"Man, I can't wait for tomorrow's Grand Finals! Blaze and Tenebris—those two are absolute monsters. I don't know who'll win, but my bet is definitely on Blaze."
His tone was lighthearted, but beneath the casual demeanor lay the razor-sharp instincts of a seasoned infiltrator.
Scarlet – A-Rank Combat Master
Across the table, Scarlet—a battle-hardened warrior with crimson hair tied into a ponytail—shot Lance a disapproving glare. Her muscular frame and battle-worn armor left no doubt about her expertise in close-quarters combat.
"Focus, Lance. We didn't come here for entertainment—we were assigned to protect Sir Xander Starcrest during his stay. The safety of the Starcrest Dynasty's ruler is our primary mission."
Her voice was sharp, commanding—the voice of someone who had seen too many missions, too many fallen comrades.
Blade – A-Rank Squad Leader
At the head of the table sat Blade, the designated Squad Leader. His raven-black hair was neatly trimmed, his posture rigid with military discipline. Unlike Lance, he never indulged in idle conversation. Every thought, every movement, was calculated.
"Scarlet's right. Our mission comes first. Sir Xander's safety is paramount. But… I'll admit, I'm still a bit curious about tomorrow's match. Blaze has an incredible offensive style, but Tenebris's Darkblade is beyond comprehension."
His voice trailed off, his expression darkening slightly.
"…But something has been bothering me. We've been stationed here for exactly ten days according to Exohorizon Mean Time (EMT). However, I can't shake the feeling that it's felt like nearly two weeks."
Sienna – A-Rank Long-Range Weapon Specialist
Beside Blade, Sienna, the team's long-range specialist, casually polished her pulse sniper rifle. Her wavy long silver hairs and sharp silver eyes reflected an air of cold precision. Without looking up, she responded.
"You're not imagining things, Blade. Time distortion is a well-known phenomenon in the Exohorizon Region. This city is built at the center of the known universe, and it's heavily influenced by the Gravity Amplifier Network."
Blade's brow furrowed.
"Gravity Amplifier Network?"
Sienna smirked, finally meeting his gaze.
"Seriously? Don't tell me you forgot your astrophysics course."
Blade scratched the back of his head, sheepish.
"I remember the basics, but go ahead—refresh my memory."
Sienna sighed, setting her rifle down.
"The Gravity Amplifier Network (GAN) is a massive infrastructure built by the ISA to regulate the time-flow and gravity balance around Exohorizon. Because it's the central point between twelve universes, time dilation is unavoidable. The amplifiers stabilize time, but as a result, the perception of time feels slower to people who aren't native to this region."
Lance chuckled, leaning back.
"So basically… we're aging slower here?"
Sienna grinned.
"Sort of. You'll still age normally, but your perception of time will feel stretched due to the amplified gravity fields."
Blade blinked, letting the information settle.
"That explains why it feels like we've been here longer than ten days…"
A brief silence followed, the weight of unseen forces pressing upon them. Then, the conference hall doors slid open.
Their supervisor had arrived.
Sudipto's eyes swept across the team, his presence commanding as he spoke.
"Is everyone clear about tomorrow's mission?"
The team responded in unison, their voices firm.
"Yes, sir!"
Barrier Deployment Discussion
Blade – A-Rank Squad Leader
Blade leaned slightly forward, his tactical mind already calculating potential threats.
"Sir, I was considering deploying a green barrier around the Grand Arena to safeguard the audience."
Sudipto nodded thoughtfully but remained silent as Blade continued.
"The green barrier can withstand most energy surges from blader combat, but I'm concerned it might collapse during the semi-finals like it did last time."
Lance – A-Rank Stealth Master
Lance grinned, his casual tone breaking the seriousness in the room.
"Yeah, Blade. We all saw what happened last time—the green barrier barely held during the semi-finals. Remember that clash between Ragnarok Fang and Phantom Tempest? The barrier shattered from the top, but at least the audience was still safe."
Blade exhaled, clearly not satisfied.
"But if it happens again during the Grand Finals, there's no guarantee of minimal casualties."
Scarlet – A-Rank Combat Master
Scarlet, ever the combat specialist, leaned in with her usual intensity.
"We already discussed that, Blade. We'll deploy a yellow barrier this time. It's capable of absorbing the explosion of an entire dying star or a planetary collision. Sienna can explain the technical specifications."
Sienna – A-Rank Long-Range Weapon Expert
Sienna adjusted her pulse sniper rifle on the table, speaking with quiet confidence.
"Based on my analysis, we've had multiple barrier failures throughout the tournament. During the preliminaries, we used the blue barrier, but it shattered under extreme pressure. The red barrier collapsed in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, the green barrier held up better, but it still fractured from the top due to overwhelming battle energy."
She pulled up a holographic combat analysis.
"The yellow barrier, however, has undergone stress tests against planet-level explosions and supernova bursts. It utilizes gravitational kinetic dispersion, meaning it redirects impact force away from the audience while absorbing the energy."
Blade exhaled.
"So the yellow barrier is our best shot?"
Sienna nodded.
"Yes. It's designed to withstand legendary-level blader combat."
Why Are the Bladers So Strong?
Lance – A-Rank Stealth Master
Lance leaned back, a puzzled look crossing his face.
"Okay… but I still don't get it. How are these bladers getting so damn powerful? Some of them are shaking the entire arena with a single clash. That's not normal."
Sienna smirked.
"That's because of the Dragon Spirit Bond."
Lance raised an eyebrow.
"The what now?"
Sienna pulled up another holographic display, showcasing the anatomy of a blader's weapon.
"Each legendary blader wields a sword embedded with a Dragon Spirit. This spirit forms a direct bond with the blader's soul, amplifying their power, stamina, reflexes, and healing abilities. The stronger the bond, the harder it is for an opponent to disarm them."
Blade's eyes widened.
"So that's why it's almost impossible to take their weapons?"
Sienna nodded.
"Exactly. The hilt and blade synchronize with the blader's soul. When the bond is at its peak, their power can rival planetary explosions—which is why the burst system exists. If the bond weakens, the sword can shatter, resulting in a burst finish."
Lance smirked.
"So basically—the stronger the bond, the longer they last in battle without bursting?"
Sienna chuckled.
"Exactly. That's why it's one point for disarming your opponent and two points for bursting their blade."
The room's intensity eased as Lance turned to Sienna with a mischievous grin.
"Sienna, you sure know a lot about this. Almost like you've been stalking a certain blader, huh?"
Sienna's face flushed crimson.
"What are you talking about?"
Lance laughed.
"Oh please, everyone knows you have a massive crush on Jasper Tyros."
Sienna quickly looked away.
"Shut up, Lance!"
Blade, sensing an opportunity, joined in.
"And let's not forget Scarlet. Isn't Blaze Deathbringer your type?"
Scarlet instantly turned red.
"You idiot! I'm leaving now."
The room erupted into laughter as Scarlet stormed off.
As the laughter faded and the team dispersed, only Blade and Sudipto remained. The air grew heavier, the once-playful mood now overshadowed by something far darker.
Sudipto's voice broke the silence.
"Blade, have you found any trace of that mysterious figure from the energy readings?"
Blade's expression hardened.
"Yes. I caught his energy signature briefly… but his face was hidden beneath a cloak. However…"
Sudipto leaned in.
"What?"
Blade's voice dropped, his words carrying a chilling weight.
"His energy signature matched something I've only seen once before—near the Milky Way Galaxy, on a dead Type-2 civilization planet… Earth."
Sudipto froze.
"Earth was wiped out 14 days ago. What did you find?"
Blade's voice dropped to a whisper.
"The planet was lifeless. No injuries. No war damage. Just… empty bodies, perfectly intact… as if someone pulled their souls from their bodies."
A chilling silence filled the room. Sudipto's expression darkened.
"That's not natural. The ISA High Council is already investigating that anomaly. But if you're saying that energy reading matched this figure…"
Blade nodded.
"It's the same energy—and I'm afraid it belongs to the Void Syndicate… or something worse. If they infiltrate Exohorizon, they'll target Xander Starcrest—and it won't be for negotiation."
Sudipto immediately activated his communicator.
"I'll contact ISA Command. We need reinforcements."
Blade clenched his fists.
"…We may already be too late."
CTS TIME RE 250.08.28 - 12:30 AM
The night sky over Exohorizon City burned with electric fire. Streams of incoming starcrafts streaked across the skyline like shooting stars, their thrusters casting radiant trails of blue and gold. Towering skyscrapers pulsed with holographic displays, showcasing the champions of the Grand Finals—warriors whose names would soon be immortalized. The city itself was alive, a beating heart of neon and sound, its streets echoing with the roar of the crowd and the clash of ceremonial war horns.
But beyond the brilliance, in the city's desolate outskirts, a lone figure sat on the fractured edge of a ruined skyscraper. His obsidian cloak billowed in the cold wind, its fabric shifting like living shadow. Beneath the hood, two piercing eyes observed the distant spectacle—not with awe, but indifference. In his gloved hand, he held a Neural Cipher Device, an artifact of forbidden technology capable of breaching multiversal space. With a flick of his fingers, the device activated, and a holographic display flickered to life, streaming encrypted data through the void.
A voice, distorted and mechanical, emerged from the figure, laced with an eerie calm.
"Mission report. There is good news… and bad news. Which do you wish to hear first?"
Silence. Then a deep, resonant voice—cold and commanding—spoke from the hologram. It belonged to Master Void, the enigmatic warlord of the Multiverse.
"The good news first."
The figure's grip on the device tightened as new data stabilized.
"As per your hypothesis, Venom Devolos and Prime Apocalypse—both wielders of the legendary swords—were only drawing upon ten percent of their weapon's power."
A pause. Then, a slow, deliberate breath.
"But our scans have detected another weapon. A blade of greater magnitude… one that taps into fifteen percent of universal energy." The figure leaned in slightly, his voice carrying a note of reverence.
"Its name is Necrozma."
Master Void's presence flared within the hologram, his energy pulsing like a dying star.
"Interesting… Very interesting. And the bad news?"
The cloaked figure hesitated before answering.
"There is no trace of the Blue Crystal's energy from Anik's body."
A flicker of distortion rippled through the projection, as if the universe itself recoiled at the words. Master Void's voice, when it came, was edged with disbelief.
"Impossible."
The figure remained composed.
"Our scans confirmed it. Anik no longer possesses the crystal—if he ever did."
The hologram pulsed, red light flickering ominously.
"The Blue Crystal cannot be destroyed. No mortal force could erase it from existence." Master Void's voice darkened, a cosmic weight settling over each word.
"If Anik has lost it, there can be only two explanations. Either he has learned of its true nature and willingly relinquished it… or something far more dangerous has taken it from him."
The figure exhaled slowly.
"Then Anik is no longer a threat?"
Master Void's voice was like the void itself—cold, absolute.
"Without the crystal, he cannot ascend. He is nothing. A broken heir."
But the figure was not convinced.
"With all due respect, my lord, we must not underestimate him. He is of Aetherion blood—the purest lineage in all twelve universes."
The hologram trembled, as if space itself recoiled at the name. Master Void's voice turned to ice.
"I am well aware."
A pause, weighted and venomous.
"I slaughtered Regulus and Seraphina with my own hands. Their dynasty should have died with them. Now, only two remain—Anik and his sister, Rina."
The figure's hand drifted toward his belt, where a high-frequency particle blade rested beneath his cloak.
"Shall I eliminate them?"
A long silence. Then, finally, Master Void spoke.
"No… Not yet."
The warlord's energy pulsed, crackling like dying stars.
"The Multiversal Council will soon convene to appoint a new supreme ruler. As tradition dictates, they will favor the offspring of ancient bloodlines, believing their heirs to be destined for power. Anik and Rina will be summoned, given a seat at the table."
A familiar energy flared to existence—Master Void, his towering presence shrouded in shifting crimson mist. His voice, when it came, was void of emotion.
"It is confirmed. There will be a Selection Process among the twelve universes to determine the next Supreme Ruler. The rulers' offspring will gather… and one will ascend."
Master Void's energy shifted, his tone laced with amusement.
"As I predicted. Desperation often drives rulers to embrace fate—only to discover it was their undoing."
The figure adjusted his cloak, his voice sharpening.
"Shall we intervene during the selection?"
Master Void let out a low, guttural chuckle.
"No. Not yet. Let them gather in hope. When they taste the sweetness of victory, I will crush it beneath my will."
The cloaked figure did not flinch.
"There is another matter, my lord—regarding the Starcrest Dynasty."
Master Void's energy subtly flared.
"Ah… the Starcrests. Proceed."
The figure accessed an encrypted file in his device, a stream of holographic data unfolding before him.
"The current ruler of the Starcrest Dynasty, Xander Starcrest, has a son—Mainak Starcrest. Our scans indicate the boy possesses an abnormally high capacity for elemental energy manipulation. However, he remains completely unaware of his potential."
Master Void's voice darkened.
"The Starcrest Family… the third most powerful royal bloodline. Their ancestors could manipulate universal elements and withstand vast quantities of energy without rupture. If the boy were to awaken…"
His voice trailed off, but the implication was clear.
The cloaked figure's voice turned venomous.
"Shall I eliminate him now, before he discovers his power?"
Master Void did not answer immediately. His mind, vast and incomprehensible, sifted through countless futures. Finally, he spoke.
"No. Let the boy live… for now. His ignorance is our advantage. When the time comes, either his power will destroy him—or I will."
The cloaked figure bowed slightly.
"Understood."
The conversation shifted, the figure inquiring about their greater mission.
"My lord, now that my mission in Exohorizon is complete, should I return to our main headquarters?"
Master Void's response came immediately.
"Yes. The true mission begins in five years, when the Multiversal Selection concludes. By then, the rulers of the twelve universes will have exposed their offspring. That is when we act."
The figure hesitated, sensing there was more to discuss.
"But, my lord… what of the ISA-controlled universes?"
Master Void's energy crackled, his voice turning colder.
"The Interstellar Space Agency (ISA) is merely a remnant of the old order—a failed government attempting to regulate universal peace. They govern 12 universes, while the remaining 12 are ruled by Royal Bloodlines. However…"
A sinister pause.
"…the last two universes are still forming. The aftermath of the First Great Universal War, 250 years ago, left them in chaos. Their existence is fragile—and therefore, exploitable."
The cloaked figure smirked beneath his hood.
"So we use the Selection Process to fracture the multiverse itself?"
Master Void confirmed.
"Precisely."
As the conversation neared its end, the figure brought up another concern.
"One more thing, my lord. The rogue shinobi, Atomic Slicer. He still pursues his mission of activating the Red Moon Eclipse—the Infinite Tsukuyomi illusion—to enslave his universe."
Master Void chuckled darkly.
"Yes… Atomic Slicer's plan aligns perfectly with ours. He seeks to place his entire universe in a state of eternal illusion, believing it to be peace. However, I see it differently."
The cloaked figure grinned, understanding his master's vision.
"You plan to harvest that universe once it collapses under the illusion."
Master Void's voice was a thunderous void.
"Yes. Help Atomic Slicer obtain the Akatsuki no Me (Red Moon Eclipse). His success will accelerate his universe's collapse. Once his world is consumed by infinite illusion, I will feed on its cosmic remnants."
The figure nodded coldly.
"I will provide him with whatever resources he needs."
The Hyperion Defenders and the ISA Threat
As the figure prepared to end the transmission, one final concern arose.
"My lord… the Hyperion Defenders. They detected my presence tonight. They nearly intercepted me."
Master Void's energy flared dangerously.
"Foolish. The Hyperion Defenders are an elite group of Pro Heroes directly operating under ISA Command. Their purpose is to protect universal peace and enforce the Multiversal Council's decrees."
The cloaked figure grinned.
"But they failed. They couldn't capture me."
Master Void's voice turned deadly.
"Do not underestimate them again. The Hyperion Defenders answer only to the Interstellar Space Agency. If they uncover our plan, ISA will mobilize its full military might—and that will hinder my ascension."
The figure's arrogance faded.
"Understood, my lord. I will avoid detection next time."
Master Void's final command came.
"Return to headquarters. In five years… the multiverse will kneel."
The cloaked figure's form slowly faded into the wind, his silhouette dissolving like mist. Far in the distance, Exohorizon City still celebrated. But beneath the veil of joy, the fate of twelve universes teetered dangerously close to annihilation.