Origins: The Absolute

Chapter 15: Limits

The training chamber was a vast expanse of shimmering metal and translucent energy fields, designed to push a Phase Caster to their limits. It had become my sanctum, a place where I could test the boundaries of my abilities without interruption. Today, I was alone, the echoes of my footsteps swallowed by the silence of the chamber. The air hummed with residual energy, a testament to the countless hours of training that had taken place here.

Standing in the center, I activated my aura. The familiar sensation washed over me, a deep, pulsing energy that flowed through every cell of my being. I no longer needed to utter the names of my abilities; they had become second nature, an extension of my will. Yet, despite the progress, I knew I had yet to reach my full potential. There were limits I had to transcend.

In the distance, I sensed 1’s and 7’s surprise and concern, their otherwise inscrutable expressions revealing a hint of something else, a mixture of acknowledgment and caution. Their presence, usually a steady backdrop to my training, now felt muted, their auras struggling against the intense gravitational pull emanating from the singularity.

I focused, channeling my energy outward. "Coherence,” I thought, the word a silent command. Two shimmering clones materialized beside me, their forms identical to mine, each a perfect replication down to the smallest detail. Their eyes glowed with the same intensity as mine, their auras a mirror of my own.

The clones moved to opposite ends of the chamber, their auras flaring as they took their positions. I could feel the connection between us, a shared flow of power that resonated through our link. Their activated auras amplified mine, a feedback loop that enhanced my capabilities. The room pulsed with the collective energy, a tangible force that charged the air with anticipation.

“Singularity,” I directed my will into the command. The air around me began to distort, bending light and space as the gravitational pull of the singularity took form. It was a delicate balance, controlling the immense power while maintaining the stability of my clones’ auras. I could feel the strain, but I pushed through, focusing on the unity of our energies.

As the singularity expanded, a heavy, dimming wave radiated from its center, affecting everything in its path. The once-vibrant auras of 1 and 7, observing from a distance, flickered and dimmed as the gravitational force exerted its influence. Their auras, previously strong and steady, now seemed to waver, their energy signatures distorted by the singularity’s pull. The gravitational pull wasn’t just a physical force; it seemed to consume the very essence of light and energy, casting long shadows across the chamber and muting even the brilliance of their auras.

As the singularity grew, I felt the familiar stirrings of the Abysmal Void, a dark energy rising from deep within me. It was a force I had struggled to control, a manifestation of my quantum abilities that threatened to overwhelm me. But today, I did not resist. Instead, I let it surface, embracing its presence with a calm acceptance. There was no fear, only a serene clarity as the void began to engulf me.

The chamber around me seemed to fade, replaced by a vast, endless darkness. In the heart of the void, I heard a voice, a whisper that cut through the silence. It was faint, almost inaudible, but it carried a weight that resonated deep within my soul.

“Divergence,” the voice murmured, the word echoing in the recesses of my mind. It was a command, a directive that compelled me to act. I could feel the power of the word, its significance shimmering at the edge of my consciousness. I began to utter it, shaping the word with my thoughts, letting its meaning permeate my being.

“Divergence,” I whispered, the word barely escaping my lips. As I spoke, a surge of energy coursed through me, a wave that rippled through my aura and into my clones. The void around me pulsed with a renewed intensity, a chaotic symphony of power and potential.