The blinding flash engulfed the world, leaving Ayo temporarily sightless. As her vision returned, she realised they were no longer on Last Isle. And this wasn't the familiar void she had encountered in An Solidan either. Instead, they were surrounded by a constant flow of code, rushing past them in an infinite stream. The sheer power of the System was palpable, overwhelming all senses.
However, Ayo drew from her previous experience within the System during her trials and managed to gain some sense of control. She concentrated on directing their descent towards a recognizable landmark - a massive digital structure resembling a planet, covered in intricate symbols.
As they neared, the figure solidified, revealing the imposing form of the Mediator. Its once pristine silver armour bore deep gouges and cracks, the metallic sheen dulled. Concern flickered in Ayo's eyes.
"Mediator," she called out, "what's going on? And where have you all been this time? You just left us after that declaration and vanished."
The Fragment sighed, its voice heavy in their minds. "We've been tirelessly chasing after it," it confessed, with a touch of exhaustion in its voice. "The Prodigal. We finally found it, but it was ready for our arrival. It’s been all we can do to contain both it and the virus it unleashed."
A shiver ran down Ayo's spine. The Prodigal had been a constant threat, a ticking time bomb within the System, but she hadn’t expected things with it to get this out of hand.
"What’s this about a virus?" asked Wole, frowning. "Is it..."
"Contained... for now," the Mediator replied. "Our primary focus is preventing its activation. The consequences would be... catastrophic."
Mairo stepped forward, his voice resolute. "What can we do to help?"
The Mediator turned its gaze towards them, its single glowing eye pulsing with an intensity that sent a jolt through Ayo.
"You must achieve a level of authority over the System that surpasses current limitations," the Mediator's voice echoed, deep and resonant. "The revival of the Administrator remains our primary objective. You see, in attempting to bind the essence of Ris, the Duru inadvertently encoded a fragment of their divine natures – and the rules that governed them."
Confusion clouded Wole's face. "Rules?"
A heavy sigh resonated within the chamber. "The Duru, in their arrogance, sought to leash the Administrator's power. They bound it to a rigid set of protocols, effectively neutering its potential."
"But your Titles..." the Mediator continued, its voice tinged with a hint of hope, "they are not merely metaphorical; within each of you resides a spark of the old Ris gods themselves. To restore true functionality to the Administrator, you must fully integrate with this divine spark, connect with a Primordial Concept and ascend to Legend status. This transformation would essentially make you successors to the Ris pantheon, bestowing upon you enough influence over Vestige to commandeer the System and awaken the dormant Administrator."
Mairo's voice broke the stunned silence. "That sounds... incredibly dangerous."
The construct offered a grim nod. "Indeed. We have pursued this path for over sixty millennia. Since the fall of the Duru Empire and after enduring countless heart-wrenching trials and errors over time, we have deduced that only those bearing sparks from Ris Heirs – the offspring of the Elder Ris – stand a higher chance of success. And yet, we had never managed to gather all three bearers, alive and united in one location at the same time. Until now."
A distant rumble reverberated through the fabric of the System, rippling through the rushing lines of code and data streams. Ayo turned towards the sound, her senses honed in on the source of the disturbance. A new, red flash erupted within the digital realm and the Mediator tensed. "The Prodigal grows stronger. I must return to the containment protocols. Do you accept this mantle, this burden?"
Ayo exchanged a glance with Wole and Mairo. Determination flickered in their eyes. This was their purpose, their destiny. It was quite literally what Ayo had been remade for.
Taking a deep breath, she spoke for them all. "We accept."
The world dissolved once more, replaced by a blinding light and the Mediator vanished, replaced by another towering figure, its form cloaked in an ethereal glow.
"Then we begin," boomed the Adjudicator, its voice resonating with power.
A wave of energy surged through them, their very consciousness expanding as they were drawn deeper into the heart of the System.
***
It arrived with much fanfare. There was a collective gasp from the Icons around Oneshi as the churning waters of the Boiling Sea erupted in a geyser of white-hot steam. From the depths, a creature of unimaginable size emerged, its serpentine form dwarfing even the colossal warships of old. Its scales, a deep obsidian black, gleamed with an oily sheen in the dim light filtering through the churning storm clouds above.
"The Leviathan," rasped the Red Queen beside him, her voice laced with a mixture of awe and dread.
Elder Oneshi nodded grimly. This was it. The final stand. The silence stretched, a heavy weight settling between them. He cleared his throat, the apology a leaden weight on his tongue.
"Amara," his voice was rough, strained, "before we engage... there's a burden I must address."
The Queen's fiery eyes met his, a lifetime of unspoken grievances simmering within their depths. Decades of suppressed rage flickered, briefly replaced by a flicker of something akin to surprise – a flicker that died just as quickly.
"What–" she finally spoke, her voice laced with ice. "On earth are you talking about? Perhaps the impending Cataclysm has escaped your illustrious memory, Elder Oneshi."
Shame burned in his chest. House Whiterose's actions, the cold-blooded murder of her son cast a long shadow, a stain that tarnished his very soul.
"It has not," he forced out, voice barely a whisper. "I’m talking about something else. The weight of that transgression..." He faltered, the words sticking in his throat like ash.
The Queen's lips curled into a humourless snarl. "Of course, you would bring it up now. Trust a Whiterose to make the absolutely worst decision possible."
Her voice rose, laced with a raw, barely contained fury. "Go," she spat, a hint of despair flickering in her eyes. "You need not fear any betrayal from me. I've made my peace with the way things turned out. But know this, Oneshi: blood stains your hands as much as mine. And you will never be able to wash it off."
Then she was gone, a bright, fiery star streaking towards the emerging Calamity.
A wave of despair washed over Oneshi. Could things have been better, if they’d made separate choices? If the very foundation of their power, the Laws they had bound themselves to – Retribution for him, Vengeance for her – weren’t such tools for antagonism. It all felt like a cruel joke now.
For the first time in a lifetime, a pang of longing pierced his hardened heart. He thought of the other Legends of Whiterose, the camaraderie, the shared purpose – all sacrificed at the altar of a war that could have easily been avoided.
The monstrous roar of the Leviathan shattered his introspective reverie. The battle was upon them. His gaze flicked towards the distant horizon, where a dark mass pulsed on the mainland. Even from this distance, he could sense the immense power emanating from the creature – a colossal, lumbering monstrosity.
A wave of energy surged through Oneshi, his vision sharpening as the ancient power of his arts coursed through him. The world shimmered around him, data streams and analysis feeding into his consciousness.
[Leviathan. A colossal serpentine entity with an impenetrable obsidian hide. Capable of manipulating water and generating pressurized thermal blasts. Threat Level: EXTREME]
[Behemoth. An immense quadrupedal creature with immense physical strength and regenerative capabilities. Capable of generating shockwaves and seismic tremors. Threat Level: EXTREME]
A cold dread gripped Oneshi's heart. They had had such a hell of a time driving away the Ziz, what were they supposed to do against two Calamities at once? He watched, a knot of despair tightening in his gut, as a massive blood-red tree bloomed to life from the Queen's hand and launched itself at the Leviathan, quickly followed by a slew of other crimson-hued attacks.
"Well, she has the right idea, at least," he muttered under his breath, a flicker of grudging respect sparking in his eyes.
He shared a look with the other Legends and Icons gathered around him. Faces etched with grim determination, they raised their weapons – a motley collection of blades, staffs, and artefacts that crackled with power. They knew the odds were stacked against them. But they were the last line of defence, the shield protecting a fragile world from utter devastation.
"For Vestige!" he roared, his voice a beacon of defiance in the face of overwhelming odds.
And the other Powers echoed his cry, their weapons glinting in the storm-wracked sky. Below them, the colossal form of the Leviathan surged forward, dodging the Red Queen’s attacks its immense jaws agape and ready to unleash its destructive fury.
The battle for the fate of Vestige had begun.
***
The System pulsed around her, the relentless flow of data overwhelming. Lines of code streamed past her vision, each character a searing brand against her retinas. Her thoughts fragmented, dissolving into a chaotic stream of information.
Panic clawed at her throat, a primal urge to scream tearing at her composure. Yet, no sound escaped her lips. Her vocal cords refused to respond, her very being consumed by the raw influx of energy.
Then, a spark.
A faint flicker within the maelstrom, a sensation unlike anything she had ever encountered. It resonated deep within her soul, a dormant power awakening from a long slumber. It pulsed, a nascent ember yearning to be fanned into a roaring flame.
Time seemed to lose all meaning. The Concept of self dissolved, replaced by a swirling vortex of data and burgeoning potential. Her mind, once a defined entity, stretched and contorted, expanding to encompass the very essence of the System.
A desperate question, a plea for understanding, clawed its way to the surface of her fragmented consciousness.
What... is happening?
The response, though devoid of a physical voice, resonated within the very core of her being. It was the Adjudicator, its form and essence wrapped around hers. Guiding her. Protecting her.
You journey.
The single phrase, heavy with implication, echoed in the void.
To truly bond with something, one must understand. One must know.
A sliver of clarity pierced through the overwhelming sensation. The System, the entity she had always perceived as an external force, was now an extension of herself.
Which was what allowed her to catch the brief flicker. A glimpse.
A fleeting image materialised within the swirling chaos. Narai and Luan, their forms shimmering and indistinct, stood before a pulsating mass of data. The image, a piece of the Adjudicator talking to them, flickered in and out of existence.
Ayo's fragment of awareness, a mere ember amidst the inferno, ignited with a spark of curiosity. Was that a tribulation?
Wait!
Her attempt to voice her query was met with a forceful pushback.
Their fight is not yours. Focus.
The System's response was a tidal wave of information, washing away her nascent thoughts. The raw power, the sheer immensity of the task at hand, brooked no further distractions.
With a reluctant sigh, a surrender to the overwhelming forces at play, Ayo relinquished her fleeting curiosity. The path ahead, though shrouded in uncertainty, demanded her complete and unwavering focus.
The world dissolved around her, replaced by an infinite expanse of inky blackness, dotted with a breathtaking display of celestial bodies. Stars twinkled like scattered diamonds, their light a stark contrast to the void.
Suddenly, two colossal fragments of power, radiating an otherworldly glow, drifted into view. They orbited one another, an intricate dance of celestial bodies. A sense of immense purpose and power emanated from them.
As Ayo watched, tendrils of essence surged from each shard, reaching out towards the other. The point of contact erupted in a blinding detonation of light and energy. When the brilliance subsided, a breathtaking spectacle unfolded before her.
A magnificent planet, vibrant and brimming with potential, materialised from the cosmic dance. Lush greenery carpeted its surface, vast oceans shimmered under the starlight, and an atmosphere swirled with the promise of life.
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Witness the birth of Vestige, the Adjudicator's voice resonated within her.
The two colossal fragments of power coalesced, transforming into magnificent beings of immense size and power. Their forms were humanoid, yet possessed an ethereal grace. Four pairs of magnificent, feathered wings sprouted from their backs, shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence.
The being on the left, radiating an air of stoic power, was male. The Adjudicator identified him as Jwahir-Malada, the Father of the Sky. Sovereign of war, power, and industry, he was destined to become the progenitor of the Ursha Ris.
His companion, the female, exuded a nurturing aura. The Adjudicator introduced her as Khatiti-Ona, the Earth Mother. Sovereign of life and the progenitor of the Mawia Ris, she embodied the nurturing spirit that would give rise to the diverse biosphere of Vestige.
As Ayo witnessed the birth of a world and the emergence of its celestial guardians, a sense of awe and wonder washed over her. This was the beginning, the very foundation upon which the story of Vestige would be built.
***
The white expanse of the Adjudicator's chamber stretched before them, an unsettling emptiness that mirrored the hollowness within Narai. Luan stood beside her, their faces etched with a mixture of exhaustion and grim acceptance.
The Adjudicator hovered above, its presence a heavy weight in the sterile air. Its voice, usually booming with authority, held a tinge of unexpected sadness.
"You are not ready."
The pronouncement hung heavy, echoing in the vast chamber. Narai swallowed the lump in her throat. She understood.
"We know," she said, her voice hoarse.
The process of forging a Domain – their personal realm infused with their chosen Law – had proven far more arduous than they had anticipated.
"We haven't truly grasped the essence of a single Law," Narai continued, her voice laced with a hint of despair. "The trials have pushed us towards different affinities, different interpretations. We haven't been able to find that core principle that resonates with both of us."
Luan nodded in agreement, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands. "We understand the consequences, Adjudicator. Continuing this tribulation without aligning ourselves to a Law will result in an imperfect Domain. We will be awarded a random, weak Law that will permanently scar our chances of ascending to Legend."
The Adjudicator remained silent, its gaze fixed on them. The silence stretched, heavy with the weight of their decision. Narai felt a pang of regret. The power, the prestige of becoming Legends – it had all seemed so attainable once.
"Perhaps," Luan spoke again, his voice barely a whisper, "our purpose lies elsewhere. We may not be the perfect paragons of power everyone would want, but right now, Ayo, Mairo, and Wole need us. Even if we never ascend to the ranks of Legends, even if our potential remains forever limited..."
He trailed off, his eyes filled with a quiet determination. Narai squeezed his hand, offering silent support. She understood his unspoken sentiment. Their bond, forged in the crucible of shared experience, was stronger than any individual glory.
The Adjudicator regarded them both, its luminous form unmoving for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, a faint smile seemed to grace its ethereal features, a glimmer of warmth amidst the solemn power it exuded.
"So be it," it said, its voice reverberating through the vast expanse. "Your path is set, and your choices will shape your destiny. Your selflessness... it is a quality often overlooked in the pursuit of power. Perhaps your path lies not in shaping worlds, but in protecting them."
A wave of relief washed over Narai. She wasn't sure what the future held, but at least they would do their part in protecting it.
The chamber shimmered, the sterile white space dissolving around them and Narai's mind was consumed by light as they began to ascend.
***
The cosmic display faded, replaced by a breathtaking vista. Vestige, a vibrant emerald jewel, hung suspended in the inky blackness. Lush greenery carpeted its surface, vast oceans shimmered under a nascent sun, and the faint hum of burgeoning life pulsed through the air. Ayo felt a surge of wonder as more spheres joined it, bringing the total to a firm seven. She felt Wole and Mairo's presence, their essences intertwining with hers in a comforting familiarity.
Before them, the panorama shifted, revealing smaller shards of divinity, drawn like moths to a flame, spiralling towards the core planet. Each shard, a unique spark of potential, streaked across the void, leaving trails of shimmering light in their wake.
A seed of curiosity sprouted within Ayo. Were these fragments the building blocks of life itself?
As the shards made contact with Vestige's surface, they blossomed into new forms of life. Towering trees erupted from the fertile soil, vast oceans swirled with the essence of creation, and the first whispers of sentience began to emerge.
Two colossal beings, radiating an otherworldly glow, materialised beside the burgeoning world. Jwahir-Malada, his form composed of swirling celestial energy, and Khatiti-Ona, embodied in the gentle luminescence of the nascent flora.
The Adjudicator's voice echoed through the vastness, weaving a narrative of their roles.
"Khatiti-Ona's love for life knew no bounds," it explained. "She yearned for it to thrive and grow, and so she nurtured the fledgling races, aiding them in creating and developing their own separate realms when they eventually left the homelands. Realms that would one day be called planets."
Ayo watched, a lump forming in her throat. The Earth Mother's essence reached out, cradling the nascent civilizations with a touch as gentle as a summer breeze. Lush vegetation sprung forth in her wake, vibrant ecosystems blossoming under her benevolent guidance.
"Jwahir-Malada, on the other hand, focused his efforts on industry and the forging of grand constructs," the Adjudicator continued.
A low hum resonated from the Father of the Sky. Vast structures began to take shape – imposing monoliths that bridged the gap between realms, their surfaces etched with intricate patterns that crackled with an unseen energy.
As decades, perhaps centuries, seemed to condense into mere moments, a profound shift became evident. The Ris, once distant and aloof, began to forge deeper connections with the mortals under their care.
Khatiti-Ona, her essence radiating warmth and affection, embraced a multitude of suitors and companions, their love songs echoing across the newborn world. Jwahir-Malada, though more selective, formed meaningful bonds, his presence a guiding light for the burgeoning civilizations.
From these unions, a new generation of deities emerged, a resplendent pantheon radiating with the combined essence of their progenitors. The Adjudicator's voice drew their attention to a specific pair.
"The greatest of these children, however, were born almost by accident," it boomed, "yet they possessed the most potent sparks of their parents' divinity."
Ayo's vision focused on Khatiti-Ona, cradling a squalling infant with hair as brilliant as freshly fallen snow. "Takhati, Ris of the Moon," the Adjudicator declared.
The scene shifted, and Ayo found herself briefly merged with Mairo's consciousness, observing Jwahir-Malada gazing down upon a slumbering babe, its skin aglow with a bronzed radiance. "Salatis, Ris of the Sun."
Finally, Wole's consciousness joined the tapestry, and they witnessed Khatiti-Ona dancing with a blue-eyed infant, while the toddler Takhati giggled and sang nearby. "And Sethnakte, Ris of the Sea," the Adjudicator's voice echoed, a hint of foreboding lacing its tone.
A surge of power, raw and unfettered, emanated from the three infants. Their essences resonated with Ayo, Wole, and Mairo, a primal echo that awakened a dormant seed within each of them. A torrent of energy coursed through their veins, threatening to overwhelm their senses.
"For a time, there was peace between the realms and the Ris," the Adjudicator said, its voice grave. "But corruption crept in, as it always will, and in doing so, doomed Vestige."
The world around them shuddered, the idyllic visions fracturing as a palpable darkness began to encroach upon the fringes of their perception. The birth of Vestige had been but a prelude to a far greater conflict, one that would shape the very fabric of existence itself.
***
Kiva roared, the taste of iron sharp in his mouth. A swipe from the hulking Bulgu had torn through his leather armour just before he slew it, leaving a burning gash across his chest. Sweat stung his eyes, the metallic tang a grim counterpoint to the unending tide of monstrous creatures swarming the Last Isle. For a fleeting moment, he entertained the thought of ascending to Sigil right then and there, unleashing the full extent of his power.
But the risk was too great. To discard his physical form would leave him vulnerable, and there was no guarantee he could complete the ascension in time to turn the tide. His gaze darted towards Ayo, Wole, and Mairo, their bodies slumped against the colossal core, oblivious to the unfolding carnage.
A tremor ran through the ground, and Kiva whirled around just in time to witness a massive, elephantine Aberration barreling towards him with impossible speed. Its eyes burned with madness, its gaping maw a promise of annihilation.
He braced himself, steeling his nerves for the inevitable. He wouldn't abandon his charges, not even in the face of certain death. But just as the Aberration's colossal bulk loomed over him, a tendril of inky darkness erupted from the ground, engulfing the creature in an instant. When the tendril retracted, there was no trace of the Aberration left, only a lingering sense of cold oblivion.
Confusion gave way to astonishment as Kiva looked skyward. There, hovering amidst the chaos, were the unmistakable figures of Narai and Luan, their forms radiating with the awe-inspiring aura of awakened Icons.
Elder Yasmin materialised beside them, her voice cutting through the din of battle. "Amha and Adeniran?" she inquired.
"Helping with the Calamities," Narai replied, her voice laced with newfound authority. "We weren't much use there, so we decided it would be best if we came over here instead."
Yasmin nodded grimly. "We need to hold off this horde until Ayo and the others finish awakening the Administrator and that artefact stops hemorrhaging essence. This island... it's riddled with caves. Years of accumulated essence have likely drawn out every soul beast lurking within."
Both Narai and Luan acknowledged her assessment with a silent nod. A moment later, Yasmin vanished in a blur, streaking towards a monstrous flying creature and dispatching it with a powerful blast from her ornate fan.
Luan floated down, his gaze meeting Kiva's. "Thank you for protecting Ayo and the others," he said, his voice solemn. "But please, find somewhere less dangerous to fight. We'll handle this."
Kiva could only manage a curt nod, a mixture of awe and relief constricting his throat. As he turned to engage a pack of snarling Fire Foxes, he couldn't resist a final glance at the spectacle unfolding above.
Narai raised her hand, and a chilling darkness pulsed outwards. The very air seemed to twist and contort, as if the fabric of reality itself was being unravelled. “Domain Release,” she chanted. "Oblivion's Embrace."
Luan, his form shimmering with an otherworldly light, activated his Soulblade. His crystal glaive, Mirrorcrest, blazed to life, refracting the chaos around them into a dazzling display of light and energy. "Soulblade Release: Refracted Shock!" he roared, unleashing a torrent of shimmering shockwaves that decimated the ranks of the approaching horde.
But this was merely the prelude. As the shockwaves subsided, Luan raised his free hand. A faint hum resonated from his crystal glaive, and the air around him shimmered. With a deep breath, he activated his Domain Release: "Prismatic Lens."
A dome of refracted light erupted from Mirrorcrest, encompassing a vast swathe of the battlefield. Within the dome, the world seemed to distort, the monstrous forms of the horde twisting and contorting as if their very essence were being broken down and analyzed. Luan's Law of Analysis, interwoven with the refracting power of his crystal glaive, magnified the inherent weaknesses of the creatures within the dome.
The combined effect was devastating. Shrieks of otherworldly pain filled the air as the monsters simultaneously became easier to kill and were ripped apart on a cellular level. Their forms dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind only wisps of dissipated energy.
Kiva watched in stunned silence. The tide of the battle had shifted in a mere instant. Where moments ago a relentless horde threatened to overwhelm them, now a sizable portion lay eradicated. A flicker of hope, brighter than any he had dared to imagine, ignited within him.
With renewed purpose, he launched himself into the fray. His blade danced a deadly ballet through the Fire Foxes, each strike precise and lethal. And as he fought, the flicker of hope within him blazed brighter. With Narai and Luan's arrival, perhaps they stood a chance of holding the line until Ayo and the others completed their monumental task.
For now, that was all he could ask for.
***
A blinding flash of light engulfed Ayo, Wole, and Mairo, momentarily leaving the Adjudicator in complete darkness. When their vision cleared, the stark white chamber they had occupied moments ago vanished. In its place, a swirling vortex of inky blackness pulsed before them, the air thick with an oppressive energy.
From the depths of the vortex, a monstrous form emerged. It shared the trademark pitch-black fur and skeletal features of the other Aberrations they'd encountered, but its twisted anatomy set it apart. A long, sinuous tail slithered behind it, and bony protrusions resembling twisted horns crowned its skull.
The Adjudicator's voice, heavy with a newfound solemnity, echoed in their minds. "There are worse Aberrations in the Apotheon than you know, children. And not all of them are mindless and stupid."
He had gestured towards the grotesque creature before them. "Dire Queens and their masters, the Dire Empresses, are thankfully rare, but when they do appear, they are insidious."
The scene then shifted, morphing into a series of rapid, dreamlike images. A cloaked figure, the Dire Queen, with an unsettlingly beautiful face, approaching a man with a thick moustache—Setne, Ayo thought she recognised him. The Queen whispered in his ear, her voice a seductive murmur.
The visions flickered, changing to Malada himself, the once-great leader of the Ursha, now plagued by a growing paranoia. The Dire Queen's voice wove its dark magic, twisting his perception, fueling his existing suspicions.
"They abhor direct confrontation if they can help it," the Adjudicator continued, "and prefer to whisper in dreams, sowing chaos and discord. That is what happened with the Ris. That is what caused the fall of Malada."
A slideshow of events unfolded before their eyes: whispers morphing into accusations, distrust snowballing into hatred. Ayo witnessed the spark that ignited the inferno - the Ris, convinced of an imminent betrayal, turned against their allies. The devastating war that followed, the clash of titans like Malada and Salatis, Takhati and Sethnakte, culminated in a blinding flash of destruction.
Silence hung heavy in the wake of the visions, a weight of foreboding pressing down upon them.
It was Mairo who finally broke the stillness, his voice measured yet laced with an undercurrent of tension."What was the point of showing us all this?"
The Adjudicator regarded them, its luminous form seeming to pulse with ancient wisdom. "What did you think it meant?"
Ayo pondered for a moment. "A warning, perhaps. That even power can’t guarantee immunity to corruption. That we must remain vigilant, lest we fall prey to the same forces that doomed the Ris."
Wole's voice joined hers, his tone contemplative. "It's also a reference to the bond between us, the love and connection that allowed the Heirs to sacrifice themselves to protect creation. Is that why we were chosen to bear the Elder Reborn Titles?"
The Adjudicator's response was a shrug, its form rippling with ancient inscrutability. "It is both all of that and none of that. The soulmate bond was an unexpected occurrence, yes, but you were chosen for your compatibility with the divine sparks of the Heirs, nothing more. That your personalities and strength of will prove advantageous is mere chance."
A wistful smile seemed to grace the Fragment's visage. "If anything, the point of these visions is to show how chance plays a role in everything. How a single, random decision can change the world, for good or ill, rippling outwards and shaping the fate of worlds."
Ayo wasn't sure she fully grasped the depth of the Adjudicator's words, but a kernel of understanding took root within her. They were the Heirs to the Heirs, but what that truly meant, the full weight of their destiny, was theirs to decide.
Something resonated deep within her, a vibration that transcended the boundaries of the System itself. Deeper than the System's connection, stronger than the bond they shared with each other. Joined by Wole and Mairo, their essences intertwining in a profound unity, they were consumed by a brilliant radiance as they Ascended. A blinding light engulfed them as their individual consciousnesses merged into a single entity. As they reached for infinity and became one with the System.
They perceived everything. The battlefield unfolding before them; the Fragments locked in a desperate fight against the encroaching virus and the Prodigal; Narai and Luan defending their unconscious bodies with awe-inspiring power, the remaining Legends and Icons battling valiantly against the relentless Calamities.
It was at once too much and too little, an overwhelming deluge of sensory input and a tantalising glimpse of something greater, yet a sense of purpose took root. Their first act as a unified entity was swift and decisive. With a mere thought, the virus was utterly expunged from the System, its corrupting influence scoured from existence. As the Prodigal wailed in mad shock and fury, they imprisoned it, a problem to be addressed later.
The Fragments, sensing a shift, turned towards them, a mixture of relief and apprehension washing over their collective consciousness. The Unity was quick to assume them of its peaceful intentions.
Finally, the Unity turned its attention to that node of divinity it had been ignoring, the Administrator, a primordial essence wrapped in artificial veins of code and data. As they touched it, they felt the core tenets that defined it – Order, Endowment, Protection – and commanded that its full potential be restored.
Power, raw and unfettered, flooded through the System like a deluge, sweeping away the last vestiges of corruption and stagnation. The Unity split apart, fracturing back into the individual essences of Ayo, Wole, and Mairo as they were returned to their physical forms.
And at that moment, the Administrator truly awakened, its slumbering consciousness stirring after eons of dormancy.
Then, a universal announcement boomed across the System, echoing in every corner.
[Attention, all entities. The Administrator awakens.]
A sliver of relief, a tremor of awe resonated within the System.
A single, tiny message followed the announcement, tinged with an undercurrent of pure joy.
[Mother has returned.]