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Chapter 100 – The Infinite Strain
The wind howled as it whipped across the barren landscape, the jagged cliffs framing the horizon like the teeth of a great beast. Erevan stood at the edge of the world, staring into the distance, where the dark void of the Vortex Nexus awaited him. It was a place where realities collided, dimensions bent, and the laws of time and space were little more than suggestions. The Nexus had always been a place of instability, a chaotic intersection of worlds, but now, it felt different.
Erevan had changed. The power coursing through him was no longer just his own. It was the culmination of every version of himself—every alternate reality, every life he had lived in a thousand different timelines. The singularity that had formed within him was not just a fusion of his past selves; it was the merging of infinite potential, a force that could rewrite reality itself.
As he stared at the swirling vortex of colors, energy, and shattered fragments of the multiverse, Erevan felt the weight of it all. The Tower had fallen, but its influence was far from gone. The remnants of its control still clung to the universe like a dark stain, a force that threatened to erase everything in its path. And yet, Erevan knew that the Tower was not the true enemy. It was but a pawn in a far greater game, one that stretched across realities, one that had yet to reveal its full scope.
Behind him, the rebels were readying themselves for the journey ahead. The camp was quiet, the sounds of preparation muted under the weight of anticipation. Victory had come at a cost. The battle for the Tower had been only the beginning, and now they had to face the true heart of the enemy. Erevan's transformation had made him something new, something greater, but it also made him a target. The force that controlled the multiverse had no intention of letting him—let alone the rebels—remain free.
"Erevan, are you ready?" Serah's voice broke through his thoughts, warm and familiar, yet tinged with concern.
He turned to find her standing a few paces away, her expression unreadable, though her eyes betrayed a mixture of worry and resolve. There had always been something in her gaze, an unspoken bond between them that transcended mere words. They had fought side by side, bled side by side, and now, they were on the verge of something far greater than either of them had ever imagined.
"I was born ready," Erevan said, his voice steady despite the tumultuous storm inside him. He could feel the pull of the Nexus, the energy swirling around him, trying to tear him apart, trying to pull him into a thousand different realities. But he held firm. "The real question is: are we ready for what comes next?"
Serah smiled faintly. "We've been ready for a long time."
Erevan couldn't help but feel a strange sense of gratitude toward her. Despite everything—despite the horrors they had witnessed, the betrayals they had endured, and the losses they had suffered—she was still here, still standing by his side. Together, they had become something greater than mere rebels. They had become a symbol of defiance, a beacon of hope in a universe consumed by darkness.
He turned back toward the Nexus, the swirling vortex of reality and energy pulling at his very soul. "Then let's go."
The rebels gathered around him, their faces set with determination. Each of them had a part to play in the coming battle, and though they had already fought through countless horrors, this next phase of their journey was different. The Vortex Nexus was not just a crossroads of worlds; it was a place of unimaginable power. And they would have to cross it to reach the next node in the multiversal web. A place where the final battle for the fate of the multiverse would unfold.
As Erevan stepped toward the vortex, he felt the surge of memories—memories of his alternate selves, each one living a different life, each one making a different choice. In some realities, he had failed. In others, he had triumphed. But in all of them, the Tower had fallen, and the multiverse had been thrown into chaos. And now, it was his responsibility to restore order, to heal the rifts, to save all of existence from the forces that sought to destroy it.
"Are you sure this is the right path?" Yuren asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Erevan nodded, his gaze unwavering. "It's the only path. If we don't go through the Nexus, the Tower will regroup, rebuild. And we won't be able to stop it."
Serah moved closer, her hand brushing against his. "Then we'll follow you, Erevan. Always."
The words brought a sense of warmth to his chest, but they were fleeting. He couldn't afford to dwell on such feelings—not now, not when the fate of everything was at stake. His transformation into a singularity was both a blessing and a curse. The power he wielded was immense, but it came with a terrible responsibility. The lives of countless versions of himself were now intertwined with his own, and if he failed, they would all fall. Every possible future, every version of himself, would cease to exist.
The group moved forward, stepping into the swirling vortex. The air around them seemed to stretch and distort, pulling them into the heart of the Nexus. As they traversed the chaotic storm, the boundaries between realities began to blur. For a moment, Erevan felt like he was being torn apart, his body and soul pulled in a thousand different directions. His mind exploded with visions—visions of worlds where the Tower had never risen, where the rebellion had succeeded, where he had failed, where Serah had died, where Yuren had turned against them.
But through it all, he remained grounded. He was no longer just Erevan of this reality. He was Erevan of countless realities, a singularity whose mind and soul spanned across infinite possibilities. He felt the weight of every choice made, every sacrifice endured, and every victory achieved. It was overwhelming, but it was also empowering.
"Stay focused," Serah said, her voice cutting through the chaos. "We're almost through."
Erevan forced his mind back to the present. The Nexus was a treacherous place, and while he had the power to navigate it, he couldn't afford to become distracted. The very nature of the multiverse was in flux, and even a slight misstep could send them spiraling into an unknown reality, one where the rules were even more dangerous.
They pressed on, the vortex closing behind them as they crossed into a new reality. The world that greeted them was unlike any they had encountered before. The sky above was a deep crimson, the air thick with a strange, oppressive energy. The ground beneath their feet seemed to ripple, as though it were not entirely solid, but instead a manifestation of raw energy and thought.
Erevan felt the presence of something ancient, something powerful. The force that controlled the multiverse was here. He could feel its gaze upon him, as though it were aware of his every move, his every thought. It was a force beyond understanding, one that had existed long before the Tower, long before the rebellion. And it was watching him now.
"We've made it," Yuren said, his voice a mixture of awe and dread. "But what now?"
Erevan clenched his fists, feeling the power of the singularity surge within him. "Now we fight," he said. "We fight to restore balance. To restore the multiverse."
But even as he spoke, he knew that the true battle was just beginning. The multiverse was vast, and within it, countless forces sought to reshape it in their image. Some sought to destroy it, others to control it. And Erevan—he was the anomaly, the one who had the power to shape it. The one who could tear it all down or rebuild it from the ashes.
"I'll lead us forward," Erevan said, his voice strong and resolute. "But I can't do this alone. We do this together, or not at all."
Serah nodded, her hand reaching for his once more. "Together," she echoed.
The team moved forward, stepping into the heart of the unknown. The journey ahead was filled with unimaginable dangers, but it was a journey they would take together. Erevan knew that no matter how powerful he had become, he could not carry the weight of the multiverse alone. He would need his allies, his friends, and the strength of every version of himself that had ever lived.
As they moved deeper into the reality before them, Erevan could feel the power of the singularity within him intensify. The very fabric of existence seemed to bend to his will, the threads of reality warping and shifting as he grasped them. He was no longer just a man. He was the embodiment of infinite possibilities. And with that power came the responsibility to shape the future of every reality.
The Tower had fallen, but the war was far from over. The true enemy remained, and Erevan had yet to confront it. But as he looked at his friends, his allies, he knew that they would face whatever came next together. The path ahead was uncertain, but they would walk it with purpose, with resolve, and with the strength to overcome whatever challenges lay ahead.
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Author's Note:
Thank you all for your continued support as we reach Chapter 100 of Abysswalker: Rise of the Cosmic Tyrant! This chapter is by far the biggest chapter I've written so far, spanning over 2,000 words! It's not just a milestone in terms of word count, but also in the depth of the story we're building. Erevan's journey has reached a crucial turning point, and this chapter marks a pivotal moment in the narrative as we prepare for the challenges ahead.
To celebrate this milestone, I wanted to give you all something special, so here's the longest chapter yet, filled with action, emotion, and the weight of decisions that will shape the course of the entire multiverse.
As always, please feel free to share your thoughts and feedback. I'd love to hear what you think, and if you enjoyed the chapter, don't hesitate to leave a review or send a stone! Your support means the world to me, and I'm incredibly grateful to each of you for coming on this journey with me.
Let's continue this ride together into the unknown! 🌌
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