The moment the seal fractured, an iridescent pulse surged through the ruined chamber beneath Nexus Academy. The ground trembled subtly, but enough for the others on the surface to feel a strange chill run down their spines. Above, the morning sun remained oblivious, casting golden light on a world about to change.
Kael stood still as the pulsating light danced across his face. His SmartFrame activated on its own, a blue holographic interface unfurling across his vision.
> [UNLOCKING UNKNOWN DATASET: COSMIC SINGULARITY ROOT CORE…] [DECODING PRIMORDIAL GENETIC SIGNATURES…] [AUTHORITY LEVEL GRANTED: COSMIC WEAVER – TIER 1]
Kael blinked. "Cosmic… Weaver?"
The SmartFrame continued its work. In moments, Kael's GeneMark—his unique evolution-tracking system—updated into a new version. The system pulsed a violet hue instead of blue.
> GENEMARK SYSTEM UPGRADED Now synchronized with: COSMIC WEAVER SYSTEM Gene Potential Points (GPP) renamed: Arcane Resonance Points (ARP) Current ARP: 2300 New Ability Tree Unlocked
As the information poured in, Kael's mind expanded with clarity. He wasn't just gaining power—he was unlocking a force buried by time and forgotten by existence. This was beyond cultivation, beyond genetic enhancements. It was reality weaving.
"You're not just evolving," said a calm, unfamiliar voice from within his SmartFrame. "You're becoming the threadmaster."
Kael's brows furrowed. "Who are you?"
> AI Construct: Nyx Purpose: Integrated companion and strategist Mode: Passive/Support
"So you're… like a guide?"
"No," Nyx replied. "I'm a mirror. What you see in me, you already possess."
Kael took a deep breath. His instincts told him something bigger was stirring. He turned around, footsteps echoing faintly in the hollow space. Behind him, three crystal slabs began to float—each inscribed with cosmic glyphs.
> New Pathways Detected: 1. Sovereign Flame Codex 2. Temporal Core Imprint 3. Voidwalker's Sigil
He reached out instinctively toward the Temporal Core Imprint, and his body froze.
Visions.
Endless loops of time folding in on themselves. Kael saw infinite versions of himself—some triumphant, some broken, others corrupted. But at the center of all was the same truth: he always protected the ones he loved.
Kael gasped and pulled back. He was sweating. His SmartFrame chimed softly.
> Time Echo Identified Your core identity remains unchanged across infinite realities Trait Confirmed: Loyalty Absolute
A smile crept on his face.
"Good," he whispered. "Let's make sure it stays that way."
Above ground, strange energy spikes caused ripples across reality. Satellites blinked, sensors glitched, and powerful figures across dimensions turned their attention toward one nexus point: Kael.
A mysterious Council in a realm beyond space, the Chrono Tribunal, paused its deliberations.
"He's awakened."
"Impossible."
"Prepare the Echo Hunters."
At Nexus Academy, Kael resurfaced through the ruins. Drenched in stardust, his aura completely different now—elegant, commanding, untouchable. The students parted instinctively.
"Is that… Kael?" one whispered.
His dual identity was becoming harder to separate. His real self had begun to shimmer with the traits of his secret persona—cool, composed, with power thrumming beneath the surface.
Kael raised a hand. His SmartFrame spun, emitting translucent code. In moments, holographic constructs of all his team members appeared beside him.
"We don't have time to wait anymore," he said, his voice calm but ironclad. "Prepare. The multiverse won't protect itself."
As he spoke, a tremor shook the city.
> [ALERT: INTER-DIMENSIONAL BREACH DETECTED] [TIME TO INCURSION: 48 HOURS]
Kael turned west, where the sky had started to fracture.
"So it begins."
The city was darker that night, as if the sky had been painted in deeper hues to reflect the danger rippling beneath its surface. Neon flickers bounced from the chrome structures, casting fleeting illusions across Reign's eyes as he navigated the back alleys of Sector Seven. His mind replayed every detail of the encrypted message left by the Smart Window system — the one that had whispered to him about "The Core Protocol."
A secret so potent it had been hidden in layers of digital ruins buried in the multiverse's oldest timeline — one even the higher beings seemed to have forgotten.
Reign activated his Smart Window.
[SYSTEM STATUS: ACTIVE]
IDENTITY: Reign Vortex (REAL)
DISGUISE MODE: SHADE ACTIVE]
MENTAL FORTIFICATION: 97%
GENETIC SIGNATURE: ALPHA SOVEREIGN NODE (LOCKED)
His breath hitched at the last line. Locked? That was new. The system had never labeled any of his core abilities as locked. That meant someone — or something — was interfering with his growth path. Was it another Entity? Or a hidden limiter the creators had installed?
Before he could analyze further, a ripple ran through the air.
A cloaked figure appeared midair and landed silently in front of him. Her eyes glowed violet, her voice a mere whisper.
"You activated the Whispering Code. Do you know what that means, Reign Vortex?"
He held his ground. "It means I'm getting closer to the truth."
"It means you just declared war on the Nexus Committee."
Reign smirked beneath his Shade disguise. "Good. I was getting bored."
---
Meanwhile, in the Outer Library of Astra-Universe 4D
Alora was deciphering ancient runes left behind by Reign's father — someone who, as it turned out, had traversed universes to place clues for Reign's eventual awakening. A familiar pattern emerged: the Seal of Seven Seraphs.
Her fingers traced the lines, activating a hologram.
"If you're watching this, it means my son has reached the threshold. Reign, they'll hunt you now. But remember, your bloodline isn't just rare — it's forbidden."
Alora gasped. That explained the Committee's fear.
Reign wasn't just powerful — he was an illegal existence.
---
Back in Sector Seven...
The cloaked woman lunged. Reign sidestepped, his Smart Window showing predicted motion paths. His hand shimmered as he summoned a Void Blade — a weapon that shouldn't even exist in his current timeline.
Clang! Sparks flew.
The clash triggered an echo, and time slowed. In that moment, Reign saw beyond.
A memory unlocked — a vision of a throne made of pulsars, where he sat wearing a crown of shifting timelines. Around him knelt dozens of shadowed figures — guardians? Enemies? He couldn't tell.
Then — a single whisper: "Choose wisely, Reign. The throne or the soul."
Time snapped back.
He deflected her blade and countered with a pulse blast that tore the woman's disguise, revealing her true form: a hybrid AI-being from Universe Zeta Prime.
She smiled even as her arm sizzled.
"You're exactly what the prophecies warned about. The Nexus won't let you live."
Reign deactivated his weapon. "Let them try."
Before she vanished, she left behind a sigil — glowing faintly, humming with energy.
His Smart Window interpreted it instantly:
[WARNING: NEXUS ASSASSIN PROTOCOL INITIATED]
[ESTIMATED TIME TO STRIKE: 36 HOURS]
Reign stood in the quiet aftermath. The silence wasn't peaceful — it was the calm of a battlefield waiting to erupt.
But he felt it — something inside was changing. The seals on his Alpha Sovereign Node were weakening.
He glanced at the sky.
"Let's see how far I can push destiny."