"I have received the request from 'Ressmond,' selecting you as the inheritor of the Cosmic Servant, Ressmond. However, the final choice lies with you."
"The final choice?"
"To accept this responsibility means you must relinquish all worldly attachments. You will no longer be an ordinary human. You will become a protector, an overseer, and, if necessary, a judge for your civilization."
I fell silent. Give up everything?
But... what did I even have left to lose?
My life was already in ruins. My family was gone. I had no friends. I had no future.
But precisely because of that.
"I accept."
"Consider carefully. Once you decide, there is no turning back."
"I've already considered it. If this gives me a chance to prevent destruction by The Devourers, to stop a civilization from being ruined by rulers drunk on their own selfishness... Then I will strive to ensure others don't have to suffer the same pain I did... I am willing."
A kind of hum resonated, as if the universe itself was acknowledging my words.
"Very well."
Suddenly, the Cosmic Servant—Ressmond. He emerged from a vortex of created light. In his hands was something resembling a luminous orb. And for some reason, he seemed pleased.
"Ressmond has agreed to bequeath his power to you, so I hope you can use his strength well."
"W-What?"
Then, a blinding light erupted from the center of the void, and Ressmond took that glowing orb and drove it straight into my chest. I screamed—it felt like every cell in my body was being torn apart and reassembled. My bones were on fire, my blood was boiling. As if my aged body was being slowly repaired.
I saw everything.
I saw the birth of stars.
I saw the death of galaxies.
I saw civilizations rise and crumble in an instant.
And amidst all of it... I saw "Them."
The Devourers.
Creatures that transcend time and space. They were not merely monsters. They were a "concept." The concept of insatiable hunger, of inevitable destruction. They were a cancer in the body of the universe.
Ressmond's voice echoed in my mind.
"I never expected that on my journey to create a new opportunity, I would find a 'Cosmic Rift' and discover another 'Abstract Circle Universe.' No, this is slightly different, I am in a newly created 'Abstract Circle Universe'! And perhaps my guess is correct, this is the place where 'The Origin' resides. Hah! I've traveled quite far, it seems!" He laughed a bitter laugh.
"I don't wish to mince words. The point is, you must survive, and don't shoulder all the burdens by yourself. On your journey, many obstacles will block your path.
And I hope you can protect every civilization, and do not make the same mistakes as the other 'Origins.'
After arriving in this Universe, I submitted a request to The Cosmic Balance to perform the 'inheritance,' and with power granted by The Cosmic Balance and myself, you possess strength far greater than a new Cosmic Servant should. Compared to other 'Origins,' you might be stronger than all of them were at the start of their journeys!"
The loud voice fell silent for a moment. It was replaced by a more relaxed, calm tone.
"Hearing this directly, it may sound clear. However, as this is specialized understanding, after this final meeting, the memory of everything I have said will fade from your mind...
Farewell. Protect... this Universe of yours, Varro Lazas, The 'Origin.'"
After Ressmond's presence and voice ended, it was followed by a statement from The Cosmic Balance.
"Truly, just who are you? O unrecorded 'Origin' whose destiny is not written."
.
.
.
When my consciousness returned, I found myself lying on the ground. Cold, and wet.
I opened my eyes—rain was falling heavily, washing over my face.
I... came back?
Trembling, I tried to sit up. My body felt... different. Lighter. Stronger.
It felt like... I was forgetting something, but what?
Yet all those thoughts were swept away as I looked at the figure before me.
In front of me, the bodies of the three debt collectors lay motionless. But they weren't dead—they were merely unconscious, as if put to sleep by something.
And in my hand... was something.
A "mark."
A strange symbol glowed a pale blue on my palm, shaped like a circle with intricate line patterns. Then, slowly, the symbol vanished. But I knew it didn't disappear completely; it was just no longer visible.
The emblem of the Cosmic Guardian.
"I..." My own voice sounded foreign to my ears. "I'm still alive."
"Huh? What's that?"
When my gaze fell downward, I saw a cube, more like a Rubik's cube, but it had no colors, just like a plain metal puzzle. Yet I felt it wasn't that simple.
.
.
.
[A Few Hours Later]
I stood on the roof of a tall building, looking down at the futuristic slum city—Silver City—which was where I lived.
A place where the caste system was so strong; the Nobles and Government, the circles that held the top position in law; the Metiks, the middle class who worked in specific fields (Doctors, Scientists, Cybersecurity, Engineers, etc.); and the Snau, the lower class who lived in injustice and were always the "Cash Cows."
And for myself... I lived somewhere between the Metiks and the Snau.
"..."
The city stretched out below. Neon lights, holograms, and factory smoke.
Everything looked so... small.
"First, you must learn to control your power."
A strange, robotic voice echoed near me. Yes, it was the voice from the cube earlier. It was floating now, following me wherever I went.
After thinking about it for a while. I seemed convinced that this small object was a gift given by The Cosmic Balance. And in my personal view. Its uses were likely as a guide, an information provider, and something that could provide aid in critical moments.
"The power of the Cosmic Servant comes from The Cosmic Balance. The balance that maintains the order of the universe. And every time you use this power, you must be careful. You will attract the attention of The Devourers."
I nodded.
It continued, "But fortunately, for now you are still at the 'Planet Guardian' tier, so it's relatively safe to use your power for basic-level applications, as it appears very faint, even undetectable, in the perception of The Devourers. For now, you must develop gradually."
"Wait. So Cosmic Servants have tiers?" I asked while rubbing my chin with my fingers.
"They do," it replied. "It is a rule that has been established. 'The Cosmic Balance' wants humans to strive with their own capabilities. And it knows humans are too naive—or greedy—to receive power like this all at once. So it created four tiers that are nearly impossible to break through."
"First: Planet Guardian. A new Cosmic Servant, tasked with protecting their home planet. They generally only possess basic powers. They have Energy Manipulation, along with several other Basic Abilities, and that is the initial capability on the great journey of a Cosmic Servant.
Second: Solar System Guardian. A Cosmic Servant who guards the civilization of every planet bound by a star's gravity—or a Solar System. Those who have ascended to this tier gain other abilities; they can use and freely manipulate Elemental powers; they can also perform Gravity Manipulation; can mimic things at a glance; and can manipulate biological forms or Structures."
"Third: Galaxy Guardian," it continued, its tone slowly growing heavier, deeper. "At this tier, a Cosmic Servant has a crucial duty: to protect all civilizations across solar systems within their Galaxy.
And at this tier, they can breach the limits of existence. They are capable of Galactic Translocation. With their mind, they can bend space and time, can manipulate matter, and can wield the power of stars, even reading the pulse of dying stars' souls."
I fell silent. The air around me felt denser. Not from the cold, but from the realization—that what I was facing wasn't just a new path in life, but a destiny that could alter the fate of millions of living beings.
"And the fourth tier?" I asked, my voice almost drowned out by the busy sounds of the modern city below, full of suffering between reality and technology.
It vibrated for a moment, as if hesitant to respond to the question.
"Fourth: Dimension Guardian. Exceedingly rare, most Cosmic Servants don't even believe this tier truly exists. Even across other Multiverses, their existence can be counted on one hand, because this tier has different and rather special 'Requirements.'
Those who reach this tier have had their existence altered; they are no longer Cosmic Servants who have received power, or in other words, 'bestowed' power. But they are Cosmic Servants who have become 'directly connected' to The Cosmic Balance, representing its nature, power, thoughts, and more—one could say they are 'Apostles,' or in another sense, messengers who carry the torch of hope to all corners of the Universe. And they show the 'path' to other Cosmic Servants or 'High Entities' who are 'lost.'
They possess incredible abilities—they can create Black Holes and control them on a large scale, and are capable of piercing through dimensional boundaries. With their hands, they easily split reality to birth illusions of truth, creating alternate dimensions. To the point their existence is no longer bound by written fate.
And actually, there are many more abilities gained besides those I've discussed briefly and clearly for these four tiers, but it would take time and would not be easy to comprehend."
I swallowed hard, slowly.
"Is that the end of everything?"
The cube didn't answer immediately. It floated slowly to my side, gazing at the same sky as me—even without eyes. In the distance, flashes of light from buildings and technology towers swept across the night sky like wounds that never healed.
For a moment, only the night wind made a sound, whispering through the remnants of old metal and worn-out cables around the roof.
The cube finally spoke, softly, yet clearly, "There is no end to everything. Even The Balance is in constant motion. Reality, time, and existence are merely layers of something wider, deeper, more... unfathomable. Dimension Guardians are merely on the threshold. Beyond them... is something that cannot even be measured and surpasses cosmic understanding."
I closed my eyes.
My world had changed in a matter of hours. Before, I only intended to survive, to avoid hunger, to try and pay off debts, and to guard what little honor hadn't been completely burned away by the social system. Now? I was given a choice to... become something I couldn't even fully comprehend.
...