They passed by separate cosmoses, each its own distinct structure containing either a single universe or a single multiverse. Others contained countless multiverses with unique laws of physics. They did not rush blindly; they stopped occasionally to rest and gather food, ensuring their strength remained absolute.
The journey took them through the Infinite Void, the vast nothingness that acts as the boundary between these separate cosmoses. This was distinct from the Void within a Cosmos, which they would only encounter once they entered a multiversal cosmos to travel between its individual universes. Moving from one cosmos to another meant crossing the ultimate distance, navigating the empty space that holds the entire tapestry of existence together.
Along the way, they encountered various threats cosmic monsters and tyrannical rulers of isolated planets. None could stand against the Empty Fist. Each time Apeiron toppled a tyrant or slew a beast, Shadow absorbed the fallen enemy, turning them into a Shadow Warrior. Together, they became a growing army of darkness, training within the horse's internal realm as they pursued the fading signature of the Source.
As they galloped through the Infinite Empty void between cosmos, the Vambrace on Apeiron's wrist pulsed with a sharp, digital light.
"Status Alert," the machine chimed. "Approaching a new Multiversal Cosmos: The Ein-Olam Cosmos. This sector contains infinite multiverses, each infinite in scale. A protection layer surrounds this cosmos. Entry requires permission or a structural breach."
Apeiron didn't hesitate. "Pandora is inside this one, right?"
"Scanning... The Source of Olympus is detected within this sector. Pandora is confirmed to be inside," the Vambrace replied.
"We don't need permission," Apeiron said coldly.
He gripped the reins, and Shadow lunged forward, hooves striking the nothingness with thunderous force. As they reached the barrier, Apeiron threw a single Empty Fist punch, shattering the cosmic permission layer. They burst through the rift, entering the new cosmos.
Immediately upon breaching the outer shell of the cosmos, they did not find stars or planets, but the Void within this Cosmos. This was the connective tissue between every individual universe within this specific multiversal cosmos. Unlike the absolute nothingness of the infinite void between cosmoses, the energy in this multiverse felt different, even in the void itself. As they traveled, a strange sensation prickled at Apeiron's senses it felt as though someone, or something, was watching them from the depths of the expanse.
Apeiron and Shadow galloped through the void until they reached the boundary of a single universe. They plunged into it, blurring past galaxies and solar systems at immeasurable speeds, only to exit the other side and return to the Void within this Cosmos once more. They repeated this cycle weaving in and out of separate universes, traversing the expanse that separated them as they drew closer to the signal.
They landed on a quiet, random planet in a nameless universe. Apeiron dismounted, patting Shadow's neck. "We've been traveling for days. The signal is still far, but it's slowed down. They're likely stopping to drain the sources of other worlds."
He looked at his loyal mount. "Rest, Shadow. I don't want to wear you out before the real fight."
The Black Unicorn nodded, walking toward a nearby stream to drink and graze on the strange, glowing grass of this world. Apeiron sat beneath a towering, silver-leaved tree. The scenery was breathtaking vibrant flowers and exotic plants swayed in a gentle breeze, a stark contrast to the violence he had left behind.
As he closed his eyes, his mind drifted back to the gardens of the Sanctum. He pictured Pandora, remembering the quiet moments they spent together before the Demon Fist tore their world apart.
Apeiron jerked awake, his gray eyes snapping open to the sound of terror. "Get away! Get off me!" a voice pleaded, followed by the guttural bark of a hunter: "Get her! Don't let any of them escape!"
He didn't hesitate. As he whistled, he began running forward, and Shadow left his own dimension to manifest. Dark smoke and shadows swirled around Apeiron's legs, slowly forming into the solid shape of the horse as it emerged from its realm. In a single fluid motion, Apeiron was mounted. Shadow's hooves remained silent against the glowing grass as they tore through the forest, blurring past ancient trunks. With his enhanced vision, Apeiron saw the clearing ahead: a chaotic clash of fire and steel.
The Demon Fist is there mechanical soldiers and high-tech units already beginning to scavenge. But they weren't alone. Intermixed with the Demon Fist Martial Artist Warriors were two Valkyrie Soldiers, their wings of light fluttering with predatory grace. Right beside the Valkyries stood the Soldiers of El.
These warriors were a stark contrast, clad in gleaming white-and-gold armor and flowing cloths, radiating a disciplined, knightly power. The Soldiers of El held the ground with heavy authority; some brandished shimmering broadswords, while others gripped swords of pure energy pulsing with holy light.
The Decree of Saradon
In the center of the clearing, a group of local inhabitants cowers, cornered by the combined might of the three organizations. A tall, imposing figure steps forward, his presence heavy enough to still the wind. This is Saradon, the leader of the Soldiers of El.
He wears gleaming, ornate white armor that seems to drink in the surrounding light. Etched clearly onto his breastplate are the letters "LL," the ancient sigils representing his status as a Level Two Holy Knight. Each "L" glows with a faint, rhythmic pulse, signifying the tiers of divine power he has mastered. His face is a mask of cold, celestial judgment, marked by glowing golden tattoos scripts of a strange, forgotten language that shimmer across his skin as he speaks.
In his grip, he holds a magnificent magical sword that hums with divine authority, the air vibrating around the blade as if the world itself is trembling in its presence.
"With our Lord's decree," Saradon announced, his voice echoing with an unnatural resonance, "you slaves must return to the fold, or be beheaded. Your foolish rebellion ends today." He pointed at two people in the crowd. "And as for the two traitors who led this rebellion you die today."
He pulled out a piece of paper. "There is a bounty on both of your heads. A trillion shekels. Dead or alive."
The Rebels' Stand
As the soldiers prepare for battle, the trapped civilians men, women, and children huddle together in terror. Standing tall in front of them, two warriors hold their fighting stances, refusing to yield.
The first warrior, Darius, wears flowing black, white, and blue cloth reinforced with sleek, light armor plating. He carries the aura of a wise master. Glowing Eldritch Mandalas intricate geometric rings of light rotate slowly around his wrists and palms, humming with ancient power. He begins to float into the air, his robes snapping in the wind of his own energy.
"You savages have taken over our planet and demanded we declare your God to be ours," he says, his voice steady and resonant. "We decline. We are going to free these slaves. They deserve to go back to their families."
Beside him, Cassiel floats in the sky, a violent pink aura flaring around her like a second skin, casting a flickering neon glow over the terrified civilians below. Her long, ink-black hair whips around her face in the turbulent wind of her own power, contrasting sharply with the piercing, emerald light of her dark green eyes.
She wears a sleek black warrior's dress, the hem reinforced with flexible carbon-fiber plating, and specialized combat heels. As she clenches her fists, the air around her ripples and distorts from the sheer telekinetic pressure she exerts.
"We will keep fighting until we take everything back!" she cries out, her voice a mix of cold determination and raw, jagged pain. "This is our world, not yours. We are the architects of our own destiny, and I will never forgive you for the blood you've spilled or the families you've torn apart starting with mine!"
With a scream of defiance that rattles the nearby trees, Cassiel ignites her aura into a blinding streak of pink light, charging headlong toward the enemy line.
The clearing turns into a chaotic vortex of magic, blood, and screaming steel. Cassiel is a blur of pink light; her telekinetic strikes crush mechanical armor like paper. As she reaches her hand out, she tears the warriors apart one by one, but the sheer numbers begin to take their toll.
Even as multiple warriors are shredded, more surge forward. Some leap toward her from the ground while others fly directly at her, launching a barrage of punches and firing lethal lasers. Cassiel dodges the flurry of blows, creating telekinetic shields to block the incoming fire.
However, her shields flicker and strain under the relentless pressure. The Demon Fist warriors strike her defense, their hits designed to destroy the very concept of durability. A massive explosion shatters her barrier, sending her spiraling backward through the air. She catches herself mid-flight, her dark green eyes burning with resolve despite her injuries.
She feels the horrific effects of the Demon Fist taking hold; her soul and flesh begin to explode from the inside. Reacting instantly, she uses her magic to reverse the effects to zero, forcing her body to heal. Reaching out with her mind, she seizes a group of warriors, her power contracting around them until their armor buckles and they pop like balloons, splattering blood across the glowing grass.
In her distraction, a Valkyrie catches her off-guard. A blade of ice from Helheim sweeps past, opening a jagged cut on her cheek and barely missing her eye. Cassiel doesn't flinch; she slams her hands together, unleashing a focused telekinetic pulse that vaporizes the Valkyrie in a blinding detonation.
Cassiel looks down, her energy levels dropping fast as the Soldiers of El move in formation, their energy swords carving arcs of holy light through the air. A coordinated spell of blinding radiance washes over the battlefield, specifically targeting her and shattering her concentration. She desperately tries to manifest a telekinetic field, but the brilliance is overwhelming; her eyes grow dizzy, and her mind begins to spiral into hallucinations.
Before she can regain her bearings, she feels the cold, agonizing bite of steel.
A Soldier of El has driven his blade straight through her stomach.
"You should have gone for the head," Cassiel spits, a bloody smile spreading across her lips.
She seizes the soldier, her magic wrapping around him in a tight, inescapable weave of telekinetic force that pins him in place. With a surge of power, she forces a localized Time Reversion on his specific existence, turning his internal clock back until he is reduced to nothingness. Gritting her teeth, she pulls the sword from her own gut and applies the same magic to herself, the wound knitting shut as if it had never been there.
The blinding light still messes with her perception, and through the haze, she sees more soldiers rushing toward her. Suddenly, Darius moves with the grace of a master. He slams his palms toward the earth, and a massive Eldritch Mandala erupts beneath the enemy ranks, its reach extending even to those in the air.
"Incinerate," he commands.
Flames roar upward, engulfing the soldiers and snuffing out their blinding holy light in a pillar of fire. Cassiel lands beside him, breathing hard, her chest heaving.
"Always saving me, aren't you?"
"You're always reckless," Darius replies with a weary smile, though his eyes remain sharp, scanning the horizon. "But look we need to get these people out of here. We're running out of time."
He coughs, clutching a hand to his side where his own armor is cracked. "We have to hurry. Reinforcements could show up at any second, and we can't keep fighting like this all night. We're already injured, and we've already fought through far too many Holy Knights and soldiers. Our luck is going to run out before our energy does if we don't move now."
As the smoke cleared, the remaining soldiers wavered, their confidence shaken by the display of rebel power. But Saradon remained unmoved. He pulled his divine sword from the dirt, the blade singing with a high-pitched, heavenly frequency.
"There is no reason to be afraid," Saradon said, his voice cold and steady. "As a leader, I must set the example. I will show you the power of a true Holy Knight."
He begins to walk forward, the ground beneath his feet cracking from the sheer density of his holy aura. Darius moves with incredible speed, aiming his hand as his magic flares. A shimmering Eldritch Mandala an intricate, rotating geometric ring of light manifests in front of the Holy Knight, trapping him in a structural barrier. Instantly, flames erupt beneath Saradon's feet, rushing upward with lethal force as the mandala concentrates the heat into a localized sun.
Cassiel watches the inferno, her breathing ragged. "I think you've got him. I doubt he's surviving that. Those flames can burn up to a million degrees."
"I doubt it's going to be that easy," Darius warns, his eyes fixed on the vibrating energy of the mandala. "Keep your guard up."
From inside the spiraling fire, Saradon's voice booms with a terrifying, ancient resonance:
"Holy Light Calamity of the Unmaking Radiance!"
A blinding eruption of energy shatters the Eldritch Mandala, the geometric fragments of the spell dissolving instantly into nothingness. The resulting slice of light tears forward, cutting down a massive swath of the forest and extending upward until it pierces the atmosphere and vanishes into the depths of space.
Saradon rushes forward through the smoke, his blade finding its mark and plunging deep into Darius's stomach. Cassiel screams in a fit of rage, throwing a telekinetic punch that sends the Holy Knight flying backward. She chases him into the sky, the two of them clashing in a violent blur of motion. Saradon manages to slice through her arm, blood gushing into the air, but Cassiel instantly invokes her time magic. Her flesh and bone snap back into existence as if the wound had never happened.
"I summon you!" she cries, her voice echoing with raw authority.
Reaching into the fabric of reality with a blend of pure telekinesis and ancient magic, she pulls her blade from the ether. The sword hums with a terrifying resonance as it materializes in her hand, jagged bolts of pink lightning dancing and crackling around the telekinetic force. With her weapon fully manifested, she dives back into the fray, a streak of lethal neon light.
On the ground, Darius looks up to see the remaining Demon Fist warriors, Valkyries, and Holy Knights charging toward him in a relentless tide. He glances back at the slaves terrified, cornered, and trembling. Gritting his teeth, his magic glows a deep, vibrant green this time as he reaches out to the life force of the world itself.
Massive, ancient roots burst from the earth, their bark as hard as worlds. Eldritch Mandalas of emerald light manifest around the soaring vines as they rush forward. The roots lash out like sentient whips, snagging some soldiers by the throat and slamming them into the dirt, while others are impaled or crushed under the sheer weight of the rising flora. A few high-level warriors manage to leap over the wooden torrent, their blades shimmering as they dodge the emerald-rimmed vines, but the onslaught holds the line.
As the enemy presses closer, Darius falls to one knee, the green light in his eyes flickering.
"I'm out of energy," he gasps, his breath coming in ragged hitches. "We wasted too much... saving them." He tries to stand, but his body fails him, the wound in his stomach leaking blood onto the grass. As a heavenly soldier stands over him with a raised, glowing sword, Darius closes his eyes and prays for a miracle.
Nothing happens.
He opens his eyes to see every single enemy soldier hundreds of them face-down on the ground, their life force snuffed out in a heartbeat. In the center of the sudden carnage stands a man with a flowing purple cape, leading a majestic Black Horse.
Apeiron walks over, his presence heavy and silent, and helps Darius to his feet.
"Are you okay?" Apeiron asked. "I saw you guys needed help. Hopefully, I'm not too late."
Darius stared in shock. "How did you do that? I blinked for a second... Who are you?"
"You can call me Apeiron Logos."
Darius nodded, still dazed. "I appreciate it..." He suddenly remembered his partner and turned toward the sky. Apeiron watched the aerial duel. "She's really good at fighting," he remarked.
"Yes, she is," Darius sighed. "I wish I could help her, but my energy is too low."
They watched as Saradon and Cassiel clashed one final time. The Holy Knight screamed as a massive light explosion erupted between them, sending Cassiel hurtling back to the ground. She landed hard beside Darius and Apeiron, gasping for air.
"Take a rest," Darius said. "You're exhausted. I think our new friend here can deal with this. From what he told me while watching you, he can handle it."
Cassiel looked Apeiron up and down, her eyes narrowing as she scanned his power. "This guy? He's weak."
"He can't be," Darius argued. "Before I could open my eyes, he defeated all the soldiers."
High above, Saradon hovered, looking down at the clearing. "It's over for you! You're surrounded! We will kill you all and take the slaves!" Then, he paused, his eyes scanning the field. "Wait... my soldiers? The Demon Fist... the Valkyries..."
He looked at Apeiron, his magic scanning the stranger. His power is nothing, Saradon thought. Maybe there are more warriors hidden somewhere. I have to go all out. The resistance must die. Our Master, Lord Elyon, commands it!
Apeiron interrupted the knight's internal monologue, his voice loud and clear. "How about you just leave these people alone and I won't hurt you?"
"Holy Knights do not take orders from peasants, slaves, or rebels who dare oppose Lord Elyon!" Saradon roared. "I will show you his power. Holy Judgment! I will finish you all with one hit!"
Golden light strikes down from the sky like thunder, bathing Saradon in a blinding, divine radiance. His form begins to grow instantaneously, swelling until he is larger than the mountains themselves, his massive shadow swallowing the entire valley. As he ascends, a seamless Holy Knight Mask of polished white and gold materializes, snapping into place to cover his features. From the dark slits of the visor, Golden Eyes glow with the intensity of twin suns, radiating the cold, impartial judgment of a celestial sentinel.
His armor expands and shifts, becoming thicker and more ornate, layered with impenetrable divine plating that thrums with the power of the Ein-Olam Cosmos. His sword grows with him, its tip piercing the clouds and reaching into the cold vacuum of space as he looks down at the "ants" below through his glowing mask.
Cassiel tries to pull away, her eyes wild with a mix of fear and defiance as she stares up at the mountain-sized knight. Darius grips her arm firmly, pulling her back with the last of his strength.
"Stop! You're too weak right now," he warns, his voice strained. "I know you want to prove yourself against the Holy Knights, but you have to rest. This is beyond us now."
"Get off me!" Cassiel snapped, her pink aura flickering weakly. "If I don't do something if I don't at least try he's going to kill us and every one of these slaves!"
Apeiron stepped between them, his gaze never leaving the colossal figure looming over the world. "Just back up," he said, his voice a calm anchor in the wind of the giant's aura. "I can tell you guys are tired from saving these people. I have plenty of energy. Let me deal with this."
High above, Saradon's voice was like grinding tectonic plates. "Prepare to die! I shall absorb the power of the stars!" He raised his massive blade, the metal catching the light of distant suns as he began his downward swing to erase the clearing.
Apeiron didn't wait. He leaped.
"Stop! You're just a human, he will kill…" Cassiel's warning was cut short as the shockwave from Apeiron's jump sent her and Darius stumbling backward.
In mid-air, the Black Presence erupted around Apeiron, coating him in the absolute stillness of Stage One: Empty Fist. He cocked his fist back, a tiny speck of shadow against the golden brilliance of the holy blade. When his punch connected, the sound wasn't a crash it was the sound of reality snapping. The mountain-sized sword shattered into a billion glass-like shards.
Apeiron didn't slow down. He became a streak of black light, punching straight through Saradon's massive chest. The giant's frame buckled, cosmic blood spraying from his mouth as the divine light in his eyes flickered and died. The mountain-sized knight collapsed, his body shrinking as he fell toward the earth.
Apeiron landed softly in the center of the clearing, the dust settling around his boots. Cassiel and Darius stood frozen, their mouths open in disbelief.
"You... you killed him with one hit," Cassiel whispered, her magic-scanning mind failing to comprehend what she had just seen.
"Sadly, yes," Apeiron replied, looking back at the broken armor of the knight. "I didn't want to kill him. But the energy he was gathering would have been devastating. If I had let him live, he would have called more soldiers. I couldn't allow that to happen."
He let out a sharp whistle. Shadow emerged from the treeline, his dark coat shimmering. "Shadow," Apeiron commanded, "absorb him."
Shadow's unicorn horn began to glow with a malevolent black and purple light. A beam of shadow-energy shot out, wrapping around Saradon's corpse. Within seconds, the Holy Knight vanished, his essence dragged into the internal dimension of the Black Unicorn to be processed as a new Shadow Warrior.
The clearing is silent for a heartbeat. Then, the slaves men, women, and children who had been hiding in terror realize the nightmare is over. A roar of cheering erupts. They rush forward toward their saviors, but the majority of the crowd swarms around Apeiron, reaching out to touch the man who shattered their oppressors.
"What is your name?" they cry out. "Are you part of the Resistance?"
"No," Apeiron replies, his voice calm and grounded. "I just heard people screaming. I came to help."
A little girl walks up to him, her small hand tugging firmly on the heavy fabric of his cloak. This is Hildara. She is dressed in rugged, Viking-style garments of blue, white, and black, built for a much harsher climate than this.
Her hair is a shocking, snowy white, pulled back in messy braids that frame a face far too young for the weariness it carries. Most striking is the jagged, faded scar that runs across her left cheek a permanent reminder of the violence she has already survived. With a thick, melodic Northern accent, she looks up at Apeiron with wide, searching eyes.
"Are ya gonna come with us?" she asks, her voice small but hopeful. "Be our protector on the way to the shelter? It's a long road for folk like us."
Before Apeiron can respond, her mother, Skuld, appears. She is an athletic woman with striking white hair that falls in sharp layers and deep brown eyes that scan Apeiron with weary suspicion. She wears matching white and blue Northern attire, the leather worn and scuffed from travel.
She quickly grabs Hildara's hand, pulling the girl back toward her side. "I'm sorry," she says to Apeiron, her voice guarded and low. "Don't bother him, honey. He has his own problems to worry about."
As she speaks, the light catches the intricate blue tattoos etched into her skin sacred runes from the Norse Cosmos. The markings flow elegantly down the side of her neck and across her cheekbones, the ancient script shimmering faintly as if holding the last embers of a dying realm. They are marks of heritage and power, contrasting sharply against her pale skin and white hair.
Apeiron looks down at them. "It is fine. I see you need assistance. I cannot stand by and allow such injustice to take place. I am willing to help you reach your destination if it is not too far. I am on my own journey." He pauses, his eyes narrowing as he looks at Skuld. "What are you doing here? From the energy I sense... you are not from this world. You are from the Norse Cosmos."
Skuld stiffens. "My past does not concern you. I do appreciate the help. We are just looking for refuge."
Before they can continue, Darius approaches with Cassiel at his side. He reaches out and places a hand on Apeiron's shoulder. "You're going to accompany us? Please do, my friend. We are essentially out of energy, and our journey is not far."
Cassiel eyes him suspiciously. "How do we know we can trust him? What if he's a spy for the Holy Knights, sent to find our base?"
"You need to be more trusting, young one," Darius chides gently. "Look at what he has done. He is no spy."
"I am no spy," Apeiron confirms. "And I am here to help, though I do not have long. Is your journey on this planet?"
"Yes," Darius says, "but this planet is not of a regular size."
"I know," Apeiron says. He turns to the darkness beneath him. "Shadow."
A shadow rushes to his side, coiling like liquid ink. "Summon: Chaos Shadow Dragon."
The shadow erupts, transforming into the Chaos Shadow Dragon one of the legendary monsters Apeiron defeated and sealed during his long journey. It is a massive beast of obsidian scales and glowing red veins.
"Everyone," Apeiron commands, "hop on."
As the terrified but hopeful crowd begins to climb onto the dragon's massive back, Darius looks worried. "We cannot use this creature! It will draw too much attention. The Warriors will see us from miles away."
"It's fine," Cassiel says, stepping forward and beginning to weave a spell. "I still have enough magic to make us invisible in the air."
Once everyone is secured, the dragon takes flight. Apeiron leans toward the beast's head. "Shadow, do not go too fast. There are humans aboard who cannot handle lightspeed or incredible movement."
The Shadow Dragon lets out a low, muffled roar of understanding, its massive wings flapping with steady power as it moves toward the destination. High above the ruined forest, Cassiel focuses her remaining energy, wrapping the dragon and its passengers in a veil of invisibility.