Prologue 2: A Family Guided Life Before…

-29th Layer; Zenith Beta; Infinite Endless White-

"In the end, we have reached another tie. You truly always push me to go beyond... I can't actually imagine what I would have done if I had won. It's beautiful to know something to look forward to will always exist, so long as we are here." In the void space, words resounded gently and unusually warmly.

"Shut up! I can't believe I keep tieing with a little shit like you! I'm so much better in every conceivable way! Nothing justifies your measly existence, somehow always pulling me down to your level! Worry not as I will soon make things right and exterminate you, the way it should be!" In the same void space, words resounded hazardously and extremely coldly.

In a fully white voided space, two entities with a humanoid figure laid on what one would assume is the floor in this vaguely defined, multi-dimensional plane separate from everything.

"Haha, you really should try just relaxing, all that pent-up frustration, otherwise how are you any different from the mortals you loathe?" The first entity responded with what could be called a smile on its face.

"Unnecessary, only lesser forms of sentience are undeserving of any thought. After all, they bare no value." The second voice retorted with no emotion whatsoever simply a deadpan face.

"As usual we'll have to disagree, there is value in those beings, they just need to be given the chance to be greater, and in time, not even we will bear the authority." The first entity stated with conviction.

"Tch! Your stupidity has always been inadequate, but your willingness to believe in those lowly creatures only makes it harder for me to take anything you say seriously." The second entity commented while rolling its eyes.

"Hm... Then how about we make a bet? If we give them the chance and up until the next end of all things, no being has reached us, you'll win and I'll accept defeat." The first entity suggested in high spirits.

"How noble of you, to give up for your over-glorified toys... If I was anything like you, I would refuse, but since you insist on handling it to me on a measly 28th-dimensional plate, then so be it." The second entity chuckled as it accepted.

"That's if you win, but if any of them makes it to us before the next end of all things, they are the ones winning and we both lose." The first entity declared.

"It seems insanity has finally caught up with you... Just so I'm sure, I understand you... You're actually suggesting we allow one of them to reach The Drunken Hand, instead of one of us?" The second entity narrowed its eyes looking at the first, wondering if it hadn't hit it too hard.

"Honestly, I believe it would be more interesting if we added a special bonus for a few of the beings below. Unless of course, you fear their ability to actually succeed." The first entity retorted.

"No, your naivete simply never ceases to amaze me. Fine, but how about we instead turn this into something more interesting?" The second entity posed.

"And what do you have in mind?" The first asked.

"Two teams of beings from below will be selected from each Layer, and the members of each team will get a special bonus selected by us. One team represents your side of the bet, the one who will have to reach this place, team Pursuers. and on my side, those whose objective is to hunt down team Pursuers, team Hoarders." The second entity proposed.

"We have ourselves a deal. On this day, I Origo Alpha, begin this absolute contract with you, Fin Omega, under the Reality Law, from this moment on. May the best team win." The first entity declared as they both shook hands and the ripple effect of their actions reached every corner of all the 29 Layers.

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-Zero Layer; Null Void; Chronoless Abyss; The B. Container-

The ripple effect caused by Fin and Origo came all the way down to the second-lowest Layer of Reality, where time and space as concepts didn't exist, an entire infinite plane, used as a prison for some of the most powerful beings in all of Reality, in a prison for Transcendents, those who are at the very least 5th-dimensional beings with 5th-dimensional levels of power, known as The B. Container.

Among the many prisoners, There was one who was shackled and sealed with a much higher intensity than all the others ones, having a constant vigilance force of over 1,000 elite fighters who are all at least 12th-dimensional beings, at all times watching over this one prisoner, these elite fighters being each able to destroy at least 8 infinite universes with infinite timelines, or a singular multiverse of the same magnitude, such level of destruction done with ease.

In what could be referred to as a cell, sat a being in meditation in a completely dark place with no lights of any form, as shadowy beings would attack it from the darkness with no warning rhythm or pattern, a completely random tune it couldn't dance to, and only take it as it regenerated unaware of wether it would or not be attacked again. This odd prison reduced to to nearly be a mortal again, subjetive to die again, but never would it be allowed to rest, being immediately pulled back to life at full health to be tortured by this space for all of eternity.

From its mouth, a singular dot with zero dimensionality came to be and then the being died again in its cell, before being forced to stay alive, and as it was brought back, simple words left its mouth.

"Finally… Distortion… Those fools will pay for taking me this lightly… Everyone is Nothing… Never forget…" As soon as those words left its mouth, millions of formations of shadows turned into weapons and tools, which then attacked the being relentlessly not letting it take a single breath until every single one had tortured it.

While that was going on, the dot disappeared completely without a single trace of it staying to tell the tale.

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-1st Layer; Lower Topological Space; Zero Spot-

In a place with only one dimension of time and zero of space, The dot came to be with it being in an area where somewhere in an infinite amount of distance, there could be found other dots, but only dots. As time passed, the dot come to became infinitely what it was, reaching the limit of what it could be where it correctly exited, something that didn't stop it, since when your reach a limit, the only options are to give up… Or break those limits and become greater than you ever could.

Life, that was one that it lived in this place, meeting others and learning about itself, but that didn't make it feel complete, it had to continue.

A simple dot chose the latter and ascended beyond what it should ever have been able to.

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-2nd Layer; Topological Space; Simple Spot-

Once zero dimensional, now 1 dimensional, in a place where one dimension of space and one of time exist. The dot found itself repeating the same cycle from before, to first reach infinite as a whole, to then surpass that reaching unseen heights.

Once again, it had a life, and it went through it with dissatisfaction, as it was still far from enough, more much more was yet to be seen. So it continued…

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-3rd Layer; Higher Topological Space; Complex Spot-

Changes bigger than before came and this dot became a line, a singular line, something thar continued and the once dot was now far beyond that, 2 dimensional space, and a single dimension of time, making for a world that was too vast for it, but this being was not one to give up.

There was more to be seen and that same drive, lead it to once more taste infinity and what it meant to go beyond that, but nevertheless, leaving another life behind was bittersweet and couldn't be unaffected, even still the road ahead awaited and it came.

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-4th Layer; Universe A; Laniakea Supercluster; Milky Way Galaxy; Solar System; Earth-

If one could receive something from a range of superpowers, which one would they want to get?

That's a question many had asked themselves here or maybe there, whatever the case, this scenario was imaginary, and most of the time not thought through as well as many would like to believe.

However, one thing nobody could do anything about was a possibility that was best left alone since it ruined some of the fun. What if the limitations weren't just fair, but rather… Well, limiting or even worse, what if it was all up to luck or something out of your control?

That was something, an idea found crossing the mind of a young man, Alaric Nyx Trexus.

A mixed name coming from a rather rich background. A half-German, half Afro-American father, and a half-Japanese, half-Greek Mother, or at least that's how they held their pride.

And at the moment said Alaric found himself sitting on a sidewalk in Lisbon, Portugal, at the Avenida Da Liberdade. None of the places he would have expected to be considering his parent's background, however, things were different from his understanding from the beginning.

Not only was the grandfather on his father's side Angolan, but it was as expected, also his father's African side of the equation. Due to this, he spent a large amount of his childhood in Angolan and was also an Angolan aside from a few other things.

This led him to learn Portuguese, German, English, Greek, and even Japanese. All that just to keep up with the worldwide disjointed family all over the world. Despite all that, his grandfather for some reason suggested he stay in Portugal.

So now there he was, sitting on a bench as cars and people passed by the bustling streets, though empty and quiet compared to US big cities, it was still the same, just on a smaller scale, that's about the conclusion he drew about most big cities, it was the same vibe even if the style and aesthetic could change vastly.

"It's a safe environment he said, you'll be learning well he said, their free healthcare is amazing he added… What was Gramps trying to get at? Living here alone? How does that help me? Build character? Nope!

"But I could never thank the old man enough! I never thought having the freedom to do what I want for once could be simultaneously the worst, and the best. I should have expected it." Alaric who was sitting on the bench said to himself looking at the trees around the sidewalk as well as the sky taking in the day.

In the background ground, an argument between two random people, a taxi driver and someone working for an online taxi app, could be heard, as they cursed each other out like there was no other option in their pattern of speech.

As that was going on, another young man approached him while holding a plastic cup in each hand, and sat right beside him, before hanging it to Alaric.

"Here's the drink! Man, I don't understand why you insist on having coffee on these random benches. It's not like they see you all the time." A young man smiled as he spoke quickly relaxing and letting a sigh that produced smoke, before holding the drink with both hands.

"Man… Prin, my guy. If I have to say this again I will bury you in a trash can. You think I'm crazy but that's because you don't know my family.

"Just think of how the mafia or big criminals always have hyper efficient information networks in movies. Unfortunately for me, this isn't a movie and I'm not winning that battle so, why fight?" Alaric grabbed the cup and Prin offered then opened the lip before taking in a big sip.

"There's no way I'm ever believing that stuff man. No offense, but your supposed background story is way crazy, and I've seen the room you live in, the rich act won't work on me… Not anymore at least." Prin followed suit and removed the lid before chugging the coffee like a shot.

"Ehhh… My tongue... Man, I hate warm drinks. As for you, my boy, believe whatever helps you sleep at night, this is for the best regardless." Alaric let his tongue out due to a heat burn on his tongue then forced himself to drink the rest in one go.

"How come you lived here for 5 years and you're still not used to coffee? How do you even survive?" Prin questioned as he pulled out a blunt and a lighter before starting to smoke then and there.

"I came here at the age of 10, it's not like I used to drink that much coffee back in my homeland. Also, quit it with the smoking, aren't you only a year older than me? That's a t-"

"That's a ticket to an early grave. I know, you won't shut up about it. It's still, I've been smoking for 2 years now and I'm just fine. Not planning to live too long anyway." Prin kept smoking inhaling a hefty bit and then letting out, quickly burning through the cigarette.

"Not the way to live. You'll regret this stuff for sure." Alaric rolled his eyes and insisted.

"You know what's not a way to live? Whatever is going on with your parents, at least I chose to be a smoker." Prin continued to go on smoking nearing the end of it.

"Don't start. It's not that simple. No office but someone from a basic background like you wouldn't understand." Alaric frowned as he replied.

"Hey, can you hit me up with another cig?" Prin interrupted to ask as he extended his hand to him.

"…" For a few seconds, Alaric simply looked at him, until eventually he just sighed and gave him another cigarette, one he got from a pack in his pocket.

"I don't even know why you have these. You hate me smoking but always some in hand, to hand me? Is that a contradiction I smell?" Prin took the cigarette and lit it up before smoking again, letting the nicotine-filled fumes roam around.

"Don't even, I have my reasons, and plus the old saying goes if you can't beat them, join them." Alaric responded with a calm expression.

"Weak, that's some weak mentality. Whatever, do what you want, but don't expect others to be cool with it. Anyway, I'm off." Prin got up and left going on his own way.

Left there alone sitting on the wooden bench, there was Alaric, looking at the world around him and then at the sky, trying to take it all in before saying.

"I probably should hurry up and head to my martial arts lesson, the me time is over, so much for 5 minutes." He sighed as he realized what time it was.

At that time, the two men in an argument stopped, and one of them came to sit next to him.

"Young master, Alaric, this is the third time in a year you have wasted time and failed to meet your schedule. You should know this type of behavior is unacceptable." The man said as he sat next to Alaric discretely and extended his hand to him.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You don't have to tell me twice. I just lost track of time during my break." Alaric sighed seemingly tired, as he handed the pack of cigarettes to the man.

"I don't recommend even making this mistake again, even if I don't report you, somebody else will do it. There is a reason your life is being controlled in such a precise manner, you have the be ready for the disaster that will befall." He reminded the young man as he opened the pack and pulled out a cigarette before extending it to him.

"Nothing has happened for ages. It's not going to change suddenly. I can't believe they still live by some stupid superstitions like that. I hope it's worth ruining any semblance of my own life in the long run." Alaric complanied unconvinced by their reasoning, before lighting up his cigarette.

"Young master, this isn't a simple matter of superstitions, there is a reason the Trexus family made it this far and big in the world, so please trust that it is all for your best." He replied and then started smoking right there.

"Yeah… I know, it's just not been fun to live this way. I mean, why have me alone if I can't even make my own decisions? Why?!?!" Alaric clenched his fists as he asked a frown on his face.

"Young master, you're not supposed to know, but I guess you deserve some explanation, the reason is because it would cause a disaster to befall if you were to d-" Just as he was explaining, his phone rang, and he answered it.

This caused Alaric to look at him, as these people working under his family rarely if ever got a call from anyone if not his family, so if this was happening it was likely his parents.

"Yes… No, he's right here with me… To take him there now?… With all due respect, I don't think he's ready… Yes, apologies, I will do as you order. I just th-" The man sighed as the phone call ended on his face, and then he had both hands covering it.

"Is everything okay?" Alaric asked never having seen this kind of reaction from any of the servants.

"No, it's too late. Things have reached the boiling point. The time to prepare is all gone, let's go, young master." He looked pale as he grabbed Alaric's hand and started pulling the young man to go with him.

"Hey! What's going on?! You do realize my martial arts lessons are the other way, right?" Alaric asked worried about thus sudden change of pace.

"Forget the martial arts lesson. In fact, forget school or your so-called friends. Things have gone critical and the disaster event reached us much sooner than expected. You'll have to go now or it's over for all of us." He picked up Alaric and ran with him on his back.

(Just what is going on? I've never seen any of them so riled up. What's going on?!) He was very confused to see things go this way.

After a while, they arrived at a warehouse near the area they were at not long ago.

"Young Master, you'll have to be ready to go." He said as he pointed at a hatch deep within the warehouse.

Chapter end