No sooner than the word left her mouth, the space above Aster's palm distorts, opening up a small rip in reality. It quickly grows in size, however, expanding and swirling with such gravitational force that it is generating hot winds that fan the flames licking at her body, all the while pulling things into it like the blood covering the kitchen table and floor. The apartment walls shake unsteadily as things fall from their place, shattering into pieces. What was but a small rip in reality morphs—a black mass not perfectly spherical that makes the blood it absorbed act like ferrofluid, spiking and ebbing in a magnetic rhythm. It was screeching so loudly that she could still faintly hear it with her burst eardrums. It rapidly grows out of her expectations, causing her palms to tremble from the growing density of such an incredible phenomenon. She struggles to lift her head from the oppressive atmosphere and glance up at the man in front of her, who is yelling something unheard. His bloodshot eyes fill with an increasing dread and terror. His scarred face was haggard and pale as he helplessly slid down the kitchen wall. He collapses onto his knees, gripping at his hair with shaky hands. He was glowing, and his whole body was slowly disintegrating in front of her, particles consumed by the black mass.
It's eating up the space around it. Aster's gray, kaleidoscope eyes twinkle brighter, unbeknownst to her, as distracted as she was by her hysteria. The black hole curves inward, sucking into itself and blocking her view. She grunts, dropping into a kowtow while her arms just barely resist falling to her side. Lacerations from the sharp winds slice in the direction up her burning arms, blood rupturing like petals. Once the black mass grows enough to loom over her, she feels a sudden shift in the air, and before she can register anything, her body itself explodes. Flesh flies, her blood absorbs alongside everything, and her bone rattles, caught up in the now black hole's path. She chokes on a scream; the pain is almost too much, but just as quickly as it appears, it disappears. She watches in delirium as her missing flesh grows back, only to be eviscerated off again. This chain reaction continues even as the black hole swallows her completely. The inside structure of the blackhole was just pure darkness. It is sweltering hot, making her break out in sweat. The flames that were consuming her body were put out, unable to burgeon within the black hole. Here, at the center of the black hole, space and time cease to exist.
Aster's body continues to destroy and repair itself, burning and shredding agonizingly slowly. There was no release from this wretchedness. Weighed down by profound exhaustion, her shoulders slump as she falls flat on her face. She tries to hold onto consciousness, but it's getting harder to feel any kind of sensation except pain. Just as she closes her eyes and resigns to her death, an agitating ringing grows louder, overtaking the screeching of the blackhole. She gasps as a pointed pain latches onto her mind, her spine involuntarily curling inward. The ringing transforms into a melodiously clear voice as a fluorescent screen pops up in front of her face.
║║█║▌ Do you want to live? ║║█│▌
A sentence types out, warping like corrupted code and bearing an unsettling message. Yet, despite it all, the lull of that voice gave her a tentative hope. It took a few wheezing attempts before Aster could form a proper sentence. Her dimming eyes begin to fracture energetically, and a surge of strength travels through her rebuilding body.
"Yes, I want to live." She pauses, swallowing back a lump in her throat as tears spring from her eyes. "What do I need to do?" A plea and demand simultaneously escape her.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
The fluorescent screen flickers as if it is contemplating her question before it brightens, illuminating her face.
║║█║▌ Lift your spirits and accept this ring of mine. ║║█│▌
The fluorescent screen grows brighter and brighter until all she sees is a white flash. Aster closes her eyes for a brief moment and opens them to the sight of a glowing ring made up of gas and dust that was the size of both her palms. Despite its small size, there was an intensity to the ring, and it had a distinct smell to it. Metallic and strangely sweet. Like a dying star. Her mind supplies. It gently hovers above her head and hums, a sound pleasing to her ears.
"What is it?" She asks, drawn to the ring. A warm feeling, unlike the burning, swept through her body gently. The fluorescent screen takes a few seconds before replying back to her.
║║█║▌ A limiter. It is called Event Horizon. It will contain Singularity. Use it well, Aster Klein. ║║█│▌ The fluorescent screen fades, scattering away like reflective scales.
"Wait! Who are you?" She calls out frantically, reaching for the screen, but her hand phases through. "When can I see you again?"
║║█║▌I am the mover and the destroyer, ■■■■■■. ║║█│▌It answers her and pauses once more at her last question. ║║█│▌Find the seeds of Truth left behind if you wish to see me again. ║║█│▌
The screen finally disappears, leaving Aster feeling vex. She shakes her head and delicately reaches for the ring. As soon as it is in her hands, the plane of darkness she was in trembles with a low groan, and she watches as the ring shoots up like a shining beacon as it pierces through the darkness. The black hole begins shrinking, screeching even louder. She is slowly leaving the center of the blackhole, and she catches glimpses of the kitchen outside. Renewing with a sense of vigor, she lifts herself up onto her feet, wobbling precariously. She cradles her body and watches in awe as the glowing ring latches onto the black hole, encircling it. The black hole and the ring lock in an intense skirmish, one trying to break free while the other steadfastly reigns it in. Finally, after what seems like hours, the blackhole is now but a small ball lazily spinning. It still had a red hue, possibly because the blood shed. Occasionally, the black hole tries to stretch out of the ring, and in response, the ring keeps it in check. It was a wild child, scolded by their parents.
Aster chuckles tiredly and glances around the place, almost not believing everything that has transpired. The whole kitchen was even more of a mess, with glass scattered across the floor and bits of wood chips blown everywhere. The monster corpse was long gone—nothing but a pile of ash on the scorched kitchen table. She then focuses her attention next to the man, or rather, the other corpse. Unlike the monster corpse, it was somewhat intact. It was hardly recognizable, though, with charred skin peeling back to reveal slimy, raw layers. The man died with his eyes open, almost translucent and gooey. She grimaces and turns away from the corpse. Even if the man was a bad guy, she'd never get used to the sight of death. Aster sighs and cradles the spinning black hole in her palms. It croons like a bird, causing her to giggle at the absurdity of it all.
"Now, what should I do with you? I can't have you floating around and exposing me, you know."
The black hole spins a little faster, and the glowing ring brightens in response to her words. In front of her eyes, they melt into her palms. She raises an eyebrow at the tingling sensation but nods her head in satisfaction. Just as the little blob vanishes, not a second later, a screen appears into existence, surprising her. Her heart races, thinking it was the voice from before, but she frowns, realizing the screen was different. It is a golden color, garish to the eyes, and much louder, pinging.
>> Congratulations! You have awakened; would you like to register your designation into the Gienah System?
. . .
[YES] or [YES]
Aster blinks, but quickly gets with the program and reaches out to click 'YES'.
>> Excellent! Please input your desired designation: __________
She hums and decides on an alias, wanting to stay under radar for the time being. Until she knows more about this world, she's not willing to risk her life again.
>> Is this your desired name?
. . .
>> The Emitter?
. . .
>> Godspeed, The Emitter. May your days be many and your woes few.