"Monsters come from every corner of the Multiverse. Some just know how to hide their nature, while others revel in the chaos they cause. It is a story as old as creation, so you better never forget about that, or one day you might find yourself with a knife in your back."

~Lone Traveler

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"You did not, young one..." Nikra sighed, addressing Leo's unspoken thoughts. "For the longest time, I believed myself to be the strongest being in the entire Multiverse, even without accessing my second aspect. After all, despite my deranged state, I emerged victorious over all my siblings during the war, so there was no reason for me or any other to think otherwise..."

Leo's throat tightened as a sense of foreboding washed over him. He could imagine where this was going. The mere thought that the Void hid even more dangers, beyond what he was already aware of, was disturbing, to say the least.

I'm starting to understand why some people think that ignorance is bliss.

Undeterred by Leo's musing, Nikra pressed on. "Yet, the moment Geron had me on my knees, the moment I released my lock on the Void, the entire Universe learned how wrong I was to think myself the strongest."

Nikra chuckled bitterly, still looking into the distance. "We never knew much about the Void before the first Outbreak, just enough to get by and fear its power. However, when the gates opened, we learned more in a month than ever before."

"First came the hordes of lowly Voidlings, almost mindless beasts that spilled into our home through every possible crack in reality... Despite the surprise, Universe Prima was advanced, be it technology or Essence manipulation. And so our people still managed to fight off those monsters. Even without the System supporting them."

So the System wasn't released along with the Void... Then where did it come from?

Quickly, before Nikra could continue, Leo cut in. "Hold on a moment. Wasn't the System in place at that time? And what about the corruption that the Void spreads during an Outbreak? Did it happen differently back then?"

"No, it wasn't, but you will soon come to understand why. As for the first Outbreak?" Nikra furrowed her brow, sparing Leo a short glance. "Despite being the event that started it all and killed all Old Ones, you could say it is more of an unofficial title."

"At that time, there was no corruption, no immediate transformations — at least not in the beginning," Nikra explained. "Instead, we just had two sides: mindless beasts and our people, fighting for their right to live... In retrospect, this is also most likely why the System didn't count it as an Outbreak... But make no mistake, no matter what it says, my release of the Void will always mark that moment as the first Outbreak in my soul..."

Alright, I will take that. Sounds like something the System would do. Leo nodded. He could only imagine the level of advancement Universe Prima must have possessed to fend off waves of Voidlings without the aid of the System. Well, at least they had numbers on their side, and the monsters were apparently weak, but still…

"But enough about that, I have a history lesson to get back to," Nikra shook her head with a wry smile. "As I mentioned, initially countless mindless Voidlings emerged, only to be mostly driven back by our people. Unfortunately, it was far from over, and within a few days, stronger and more intelligent monsters began to descend from the Void."

And here goes any advantage they had... Leo could wager that even with most modern weaponry, it would be a challenge to kill a Juggernaut... So what kind of weapons would be necessary to defeat creatures two or three times as powerful?

What a mess. Leo shook his head and snapped back to attention.

"By that point, my siblings and I had fully recovered and established a fragile truce," Nikra said, hugging her knees tightly. "They may not have trusted me anymore, and the bonds we once shared were shattered. But at least we all agreed to throw ourselves into the battle and help our people. They had already suffered enough thanks to our actions."

"We helped wherever we could, once more pushing the swarms of the Void back to where they came from... Or so we hoped," Nikra muttered, her voice filled with bitterness. "Then they came out of nowhere, facing us head-on on the battlefield and handling our power like no one had ever before."

"At first, there were six of them. While they didn't possess the same raw power as my siblings and I, they compensated with a level of skill we had neglected to cultivate," Nikra's scowl deepened. "Still, they couldn't beat us, but neither could we. And so we found ourselves locked in a stalemate while countless lives were lost across the Universe with each wasted hour."

"Who were they?" Leo asked, only to be ignored entirely.

"With a bit more time, we could have won. The connection to our aspects made us stronger in the long run," Nikra continued, her voice distant. "However, fate didn't want to spare us any pain, and before we could kill even one, three more appeared... Unlike the initial six, this new group possessed power almost on par with our own while surpassing us in skill and battle experience to an even greater extent."

Leo hesitantly placed a hand on Nikra's bare shoulder and called out once more. "Nikra, who were they?"

Yet, the Old One dismissed him again, tears streaming down her cheek as she tightly clenched her fists. "The twins were the first to fall, killed in an ambush. My youngest sister left us next, but she didn't fall to an enemy's blade in battle... No, the excitable little dragon died because we never expected a knife to the back from the youngest of us..."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Leo froze, his arm falling limply to his side. But why? The question burned on his lips, but he held himself back. He remembered well how Edward's abandonment felt, and yet he knew it could never compare to the anguish Nikra must have endured...

For one sibling to betray and kill another... There was a special kind of hell for people like that.

As such, Leo let the ancient entity weep and spoke up only when her body shook no longer. "Nikra... I need to know. Who were those beings? Who was the one that whispered in your mind? The one who caused all of this?"

Leo didn't hear the whole story yet, probably far from it, but it was enough to understand that the slow collapse of the entire Multiverse wasn't just Nikra's fault. She became a tool in another's hand because she made the mistake of locking her power away. Yes, there was still blame to be put on her, but for now, Leo really didn't want to think about it.

Later, when I will have time to take a breather. For now, I need to know who those fuckers were.

"Forgive me," Nikra murmured, wiping her eyes. "This was never an easy subject for me to speak about... I fear that despite being trapped in my shards for countless cycles, I never took the time to grieve and deal with my problems properly... Seems like an occurring theme with me, really..."

Leo gave her a tentative smile. "Don't sweat it. We all have our demons, and I would be a damn hypocrite if I had an issue with yours..."

"Thank you," Nikra answered as her lips curled up just a bit. "However, I have already wasted enough time, and you posed an important question. I will answer it, and then I can finish my story..."

"They called themselves the Barons and Lords of Ediovr, a vast Void dimension that could easily encompass multiple surfaces of your Earth," Nikra explained. "The first six were the Barons, the middle elite of Ediovr who answered to the three Lords, and those Lords, in turn, bowed to one being alone. The entity known as the Monarch, the same being who manipulated me and my siblings..."

"Ediovr..." Leo tested the alien word. "Does it mean anything? And what those Barons and Lords even are? Voidlings or something else entirely?"

Leo had an inkling of what the answer would be, but it didn't mean he found the thought comforting. Things could get really complicated depending on what the Old One would say.

"Ediovr... A presumptuous title, but it carries the same meaning as your only mutation," Nikra nodded to Leo's chest. "I wish I could tell you more about it, but I never had the opportunity to learn much about Ediovr. All I know is that it serves as the stronghold for the Monarch's armies and is the birthplace of Akirians... Which should answer your second question."

Just like I feared, Leo grimaced. "Does it mean..."

"That once you evolve, you will have natural instincts to follow the Monarch? To obey his commands no matter where you are?" Nikra finished, and Leo nodded, even if he would have worded it a bit differently. "No... Akirians might have been born in the Monarch's domain, but they also possess free will, and if they choose, they can leave Ediovr behind."

"I bet that ain't an easy thing to do," Leo muttered, his nerves settling somewhat thanks to the Old One's words. The freedom of choice wasn't taken away from him. Although being a part of a species responsible for the fall of the first Universe was disturbing, to say the least.

"Indeed, but as the Traveler told you, Akirians are not your typical Voidlings," Nikra confirmed, once more grimacing at the mention of the man. "To this day, I remain uncertain of the truth of their origin, but the Monarch must have played a role in their creation. It defies the natural order of the Multiverse for a race to possess most of the strengths of Voidlings and barely any of their weaknesses, be it within the System or the laws of life."

Interesting…

"Barely any weaknesses?" Leo hummed, looking pointedly at Nikra. "Care to elaborate?"

"You will find out about them soon enough," Nikra shrugged lightly. "But for now, I can say that despite Void Essence now running through your veins, your control won't get much worse than it already is. Some practice and points in Mind should fix even that."

Huh, that's good to know. Would be a damned pity if my entire control went to shit thanks to one evolution...

Leo frowned suddenly, a thought registering in his mind, one that had been building up for quite a bit now. "You know what? For someone who has apparently been trapped in a shard since the first Outbreak, you certainly possess a lot of information."

Nikra tilted her head. "You are right. However, it is also a part of my story that I should return to if I want to finish. We are nearing its en..."

Whatever Nikra wanted to say next, the words died in her throat as Leo's soulscape shook. The shadows in the pit exploded outwards, and they both sprung to their feet.

Nikra was the first one to speak up. "Alas, it seems our time has run out, Leo Hale. You are entering the last stage of your evolution, and for that, you need to leave your soulscape."

Leo's gaze snapped to the Old One, a weird feeling of déjà vu settling in his mind. "Wait, already?! You haven't finished yet."

Nikra nodded. "I didn't, but with your evolution, I will be able to speak with you much easier than before. Moreover, the ability to come back here isn't out of your grasp."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that..." Leo snorted. "I still have no idea how to reach this place."

Even as his entire soul trembled, the Old One gave him a light smile. "Focus on your soul, young one. Remember how it felt to come here, and the answer will become clear. Trust me, you will get it right."

"If you say so..." Looking around, Leo furrowed his brow. "Right, and how do I leave?"

Nikra chuckled, the vibrant laughter a stark contrast to her somber mood during most of their conversation. "I will take care of that. However, before you leave, I have to warn you."

Leo stiffened as Nikra quickly elaborated. "I've been monitoring what has been happening around your body in the outside world, and you may have company soon. I don't know if they are hostile, but you must take care. Remember, evolution won't heal your wounds."

Swallowing, Leo nodded. "Right... almost forgot about that. I will be careful."

"Good," Nikra smiled as she stopped before Leo and placed a hand on his chest. "I bid you good luck, Leo Hale. Find your family, grow, and never hesitate... Farewell, we will speak again soon."

Before Leo could say a word, Nikra pushed with her hand, and darkness claimed him once more.

See you soon.