As Sun's body dissolved into the swirling energy and was transported from the past, a rush of memories flooded his mind. He relived the horrors of the demon invasion, the loss of his family, the acquisition of his powers, the downfall of humanity, and five hundred years' worth of pain. It was as if he was the sole survivor in a blood-soaked world consumed by vengeance.
The memories shifted, pulling him into an unfamiliar universe where Seraphine, the Dark Empress, clashed fiercely with Aurelius, the Zenith Celestial. Despite Aurelius's courageous fight, Seraphine's power proved overwhelming.
Sun didn't know where he was. He tried to move, but could not. His limbs refused to respond, his voice silenced. He could only watch in silent despair as Aurelius fell beneath Seraphine's relentless assault. Yet, in one final act of defiance, Aurelius used his power to seal Seraphine and her allies in a state of suspended animation, temporarily ending their reign of terror.
A figure familiar to Sun appeared in a golden circular portal beside Aurelius.
From the beginning, Sun couldn't hear anything. He could see Seraphine speaking even while frozen in time, but he couldn't understand her words or read her lips.
Aurelius slowly stood and was assisted by Enard. They spoke briefly, and Aurelius placed his hand on Enard's shoulder. Light surged from the touch.
Sadness was written across Enard's face. He dropped to one knee and portaled away.
Sun might not have understood what was happening, but he sensed this was the moment Aurelius transferred the last portion of his power to Enard to be delivered to Sun.
Something stirred within Sun's body. The mysterious vision was fading. Just before it ended, Aurelius turned his back, then looked directly at Sun.
The sight shocked Sun. He could hear Aurelius clearly.
"Guardian of Earth... I see. I'm glad Enard succeeded in his mission. This burden was never yours to bear. It was mine alone. But perhaps this is destiny. I hope you help your people, your planet, and save the fate of this universe."
Aurelius's voice echoed through Sun's soul. Not only did he hear Aurelius's plea, he felt his emotion.
The love Aurelius held for all creation. The weight he bore for every living being. The sorrow over his sister's fate.
"The power I granted you is called Cosmic Creation. You'll learn more about it. It holds infinite potential, depending on the user. But remember your decisions and everything around you affect this power. You'll understand what I mean in time.
This might be the last time you see me. I wish you luck... Sun."
Sun vanished instantly. Everything turned dark. His vision faded. He lost consciousness again.
The scene changed.
Sun awoke in a room that felt oddly familiar. It was the year 3100 SC, an age of technological marvels. A bustling city filled with inventions and devices that made life convenient.
His eyes widened. He had really traveled back in time.
He stood and glanced at his reflection. It was the day before his graduation but it would also mark the beginning of the invasion. Multiple gateways would soon appear across Earth. The planet itself would expand to accommodate the flood of mana that would surge into the world.
A mysterious voice would be heard, granting humanity a system.
Sun remembered the voice he once heard. It sounded strikingly like Aurelius. Perhaps he gave every being a chance to fight back against the coming storm.
It was hard to believe. But Sun was determined to seize this second chance.
As he processed recent events, Sun tried to piece together the identities of those involved. Based on Enard's explanation, he deduced that the woman Aurelius fought in the memory was Seraphine. The fact that Aurelius had cast her into the Void, after gaining chaos-related power, confirmed her desire for revenge. Now, all he could do was seal her.
"Enard said it may take five years in our time before she escapes that suspended animation... but with that kind of power, I don't know if it'll really take five years to break free," Sun muttered. He trusted Enard, but he couldn't rely on the time estimate. Something could happen that would let Seraphine escape earlier.
She could break free at any moment, especially if Aurelius was truly weakened.
Sun's mind raced. He was worried.
"I can't waste any more time. But I still need to wait until tomorrow before the system activates," he said. He knew there was nothing he could do until then.
However, with his future consciousness now merged with his past self, all his experience and memories came with him. There might be a way to force growth even without the system.
He remembered that although the system was not yet active, portals were already forming around the world. They remained closed, on standby, because there wasn't enough mana on Earth to open them.
He recalled specific portals opening near his area, although he didn't know their exact location.
His thoughts were interrupted. A transparent board materialized before him, displaying his current attributes.
It was the same screen he had stared at for five hundred years.
=====
Name: Sun
Level: 1 (0/100 EXP)
Title: The Last Guardian of Earth (NEW) / Cosmic Traveler (NEW)
Strength: 14
Intelligence: 11
Stamina: 15
Constitution: 15
Agility: 12
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Free Attribute: 5
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Active Skill: Cosmic Burst (F) [0.0%]
Passive Skill: Cosmic Absorption (F) [0.0%]
=====
As he scanned the numbers, something felt odd.
"My current status is a bit higher than before." Sun hadn't expected to see his stats so soon. Maybe Aurelius had something to do with it.
"What are these skills and titles then?" he asked, focusing and opening the description panel for each.
"This... Isn't this overpowered?" Sun exclaimed, grinning after reading the descriptions.