The silence in Marcus's mansion study was thick enough to cut with a knife. Ryan's phone lay on the oak desk, the final text message from the unknown number glowing faintly on the screen: "One of your allies is not who they seem. The Void Beyond's agent is among you. Trust no one." The words hung in the air, poisoning the trust that had been the bedrock of their alliance. Ryan, Marcus, and Sophia sat across from each other, their faces etched with doubt and unease.
None of them spoke. To accuse one another felt unthinkable—they had fought side by side through countless battles, risking their lives for each other. Marcus had funded their every move, using his wealth and connections to secure weapons and information. Sophia had decoded ancient texts, uncovered critical lore, and stood firm in the face of unspeakable horrors. But the text message had been accurate about every previous threat. Could it be wrong now?
Finally, Ryan broke the silence. His voice was hoarse, heavy with the weight of suspicion. "We can't ignore this," he said, pushing the phone toward the center of the desk. "The text was right about the Order of the Black Serpent, the multiverse, the Outer Void Entity, and the Primordial Chaos. We have to assume it's right about this too."
Marcus's jaw tightened. He leaned forward, his eyes scanning Ryan and Sophia. "So we're just supposed to accuse each other? After everything we've been through?" He scoffed, but Ryan saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes. Marcus was a man who valued loyalty above all else, but the thought of a traitor in their midst was clearly unsettling.
Sophia's hands trembled slightly as she reached for the phone. She reread the message, her brow furrowed. "It says the agent is 'hiding in plain sight,'" she said, her voice quiet. "That means they've been with us from the start. Or at least long enough to gain our trust." She looked up, her gaze lingering on Ryan and Marcus. "But how do we find them? We have no clues, no way to tell who's who."
Ryan nodded, his mind racing. He activated his Creator's Balance Energy, focusing on his senses. If the agent was among them, they must have a faint trace of the Void Beyond's energy—cold, empty, and infinitely dark. He closed his eyes, reaching out with his energy to scan Marcus and Sophia.
Marcus's energy was warm, a mix of light energy from the Luminari training and the faint trace of wealth and power that had always surrounded him. There was no hint of darkness, no sign of the Void Beyond's influence. Then he turned to Sophia. Her energy was bright, filled with the curiosity and intelligence that had always defined her. He sensed the light energy from her artifact, and a faint trace of the multiversal lore she'd studied—but again, no darkness.
"Ding! No Void Beyond energy detected in immediate vicinity. Agent may be suppressing their energy signature using advanced techniques. Recommend searching for physical clues or behavioral anomalies."
Ryan opened his eyes, frustrated. "I can't sense anything," he said. "The agent is hiding their energy somehow. We need to look for other clues—things that don't add up, things we might have missed."
Marcus stood up, pacing back and forth across the study. "Let's start from the beginning," he said. "When did the text messages first start? The first one was about Lilith and the Order of the Black Serpent. Who knew about our investigation into the Serpent's Egg?"
"Only us," Sophia said. "And Alistair, later. But the first message came before we met Alistair."
"What about the portal to the Luminari base?" Ryan asked. "Only we, Elara, and Alistair knew about that. And the agent somehow knew we were going to the observatory to meet the Watcher."
A chill ran down Ryan's spine. The agent had been one step ahead of them this entire time. They knew their plans, their secrets, their weaknesses. That meant the agent was someone who had been involved in every major event of their journey.
Just then, Ryan's phone buzzed again. It was a new text message from the unknown number:
"Clues lie in the past. The agent has manipulated key events to push you toward the Edge of Existence. Remember the Serpent's Egg? The one that hatched Lilith? It was not a coincidence. The agent planted it. Look for who had access to the egg before you found it."
Ryan's eyes widened. The Serpent's Egg. That was where it all began. The egg that had given him the system, the egg that had hatched Lilith, the first threat they'd faced. If the agent had planted it, then the agent had been orchestrating their journey from the very start.
"Who had access to the Serpent's Egg before we found it?" Sophia asked.
"Marcus's family collected ancient artifacts," Ryan said, turning to Marcus. "Did anyone else have access to your family's collection?"
Marcus shook his head. "Only my immediate family and a few trusted curators. But the Serpent's Egg was in a hidden vault—only I knew the combination. Until I showed you two, that is." He paused, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. "Wait. A few months before we found the egg, there was a break-in at the vault. Nothing was stolen, or so we thought. Could that have been the agent planting the egg?"
"It's possible," Ryan said. "Do you have security footage from the break-in?"
"Yes," Marcus said. "In the security room downstairs. Let's go check it."
They hurried down to the mansion's security room, a small, dimly lit space filled with monitors and hard drives. Marcus pulled up the footage from the break-in, which had occurred six months before they found the Serpent's Egg. The footage showed a shadowy figure breaking into the vault, moving with inhuman speed and grace. The figure was wearing a hooded cloak, its face hidden in shadow.
"Can you enhance the footage?" Sophia asked.
Marcus nodded, typing on the keyboard. The footage zoomed in on the figure's hands—pale, slender, with a faint scar on the back of the left hand. Ryan's heart skipped a beat. He'd seen that scar before.
"Sophia," he said, his voice tight. "Show me your left hand."
Sophia's eyes widened. She hesitated for a moment, then held out her left hand. There, on the back of her hand, was the exact same scar—a thin, curved line, almost identical to the one on the figure in the footage.
Marcus gasped. "Sophia? It can't be…"
Sophia pulled her hand back, her face pale with shock and anger. "It's not me!" she shouted. "This scar is from a childhood accident—when I fell off my bike and cut my hand on a rock. Anyone could have a similar scar!"
Ryan stared at her, conflicted. The scar was a match, but he didn't want to believe Sophia was the agent. She had been with him through everything, had saved his life countless times. But the evidence was there.
"Let's keep watching the footage," he said, trying to stay calm. The figure in the footage placed the Serpent's Egg in the vault, then slipped out as quickly as it had come. Just before it left, a beam of light from a security camera hit its face, revealing a glimpse of long, dark hair—exactly like Sophia's.
"That's not me," Sophia said, her voice trembling. "I swear. Someone is framing me."
"Who else has long, dark hair and a scar like that?" Marcus asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his energy sword.
Ryan thought for a moment. He couldn't think of anyone. The only person he knew with that combination was Sophia. But he still couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The agent had been manipulating them for months—would they be this obvious?
Just then, the security room's lights flickered. The monitors went black, and a cold, dark energy filled the room. Ryan activated his Creator's Balance Energy, summoning the sword of light. "We're not alone," he said.
A shadowy figure materialized in the corner of the room—tall, slender, with long, dark hair and a hooded cloak. It was the same figure from the security footage. "You've found the first clue," the figure said, its voice distorted, unrecognizable. "But you're pointing the finger at the wrong person. Sophia is not the agent. She's just a pawn, like you."
"Who are you?" Ryan shouted, raising his sword.
The figure laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "I am the Vanguard of the Void Beyond. Sent to prepare the way for its arrival. And to eliminate anyone who stands in its path." It lunged at Ryan, its hands transforming into sharp, shadowy claws.
Ryan dodged, swinging his sword at the figure. The blade hit the figure's claw, sending a shower of sparks flying. The figure hissed, stepping back. "Creator's Balance Energy," it said, its voice filled with disgust. "A abomination of light, void, and creation. The Void Beyond will destroy it."
Marcus drew his energy sword, joining Ryan in the fight. Sophia activated her artifact, firing a beam of light energy at the figure. The beam hit the figure, making it scream in pain. "Light energy hurts it!" Sophia shouted.
Ryan and Marcus pressed their attack, swinging their swords at the figure. The figure dodged and weaved, its movements faster than the human eye could follow. It lunged at Marcus, slashing its claws at his chest. Marcus blocked with his sword, but the force of the blow sent him flying into a wall.
"Marcus!" Ryan shouted. He channeled Creator's Balance Energy into his sword, swinging it at the figure. The blade hit the figure's shoulder, and black blood poured out of the wound. The figure screamed, collapsing to its knees.
"Tell us who the agent is," Ryan said, pressing the sword to the figure's throat.
The figure laughed, blood dripping from its mouth. "You'll never find them. They're too well hidden. And by the time you do, it will be too late. The Void Beyond is already awakening. The Edge of Existence is calling you, Ryan Harris. Go there, and you'll find the truth. But beware— the agent will strike when you least expect it."
The figure's body began to dissolve into dark energy, which vanished into the air. The security room's lights came back on, and the monitors flickered to life.
Ryan rushed to Marcus's side, helping him stand. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," Marcus said, wincing. "Just a few bruises. But that thing was powerful. The Vanguard of the Void Beyond—if that's just the vanguard, what will the Void Beyond itself be like?"
Ryan didn't answer. He was too focused on the figure's words. Sophia was not the agent. The agent was still hidden, waiting to strike. And they needed to go to the Edge of Existence to find the truth.
Sophia walked over to them, her face still pale. "I told you it wasn't me," she said, her voice quiet.
Ryan nodded. "I know. I'm sorry I doubted you." But even as he said it, a small part of him wondered if the figure had been lying—if Sophia was still the agent, and the vanguard had been sent to throw them off her trail.
They returned to the study, their trust even more fractured than before. The security footage had pointed to Sophia, but the vanguard had denied it. Who could they trust?
"We need to go to the Edge of Existence," Ryan said. "The vanguard said we'll find the truth there. About the agent, about the Void Beyond, about everything."
"But the text message said the Edge of Existence is a place of no return," Marcus said. "That we'll face trials that will test our mind, body, and soul."
"We don't have a choice," Ryan said. "The Void Beyond is awakening, and its agent is among us. We have to find the truth before it's too late."
Sophia nodded. "I'll research the Edge of Existence. There must be ancient texts or Luminari records that mention how to get there."
Over the next few days, they prepared for their journey. Sophia spent hours researching the Edge of Existence, pouring over ancient texts and Luminari artifacts. Marcus gathered supplies and weapons, including more Luminari energy swords and artifacts. Ryan trained with his Creator's Balance Energy, honing his skills and preparing for the trials ahead.
But even as they prepared, the shadow of suspicion hung over them. Ryan couldn't help but watch Marcus and Sophia, looking for any sign of betrayal. Marcus avoided eye contact, his guilt over suspecting Sophia evident. Sophia kept to herself, her trust in them shaken.
On the third day, Sophia called Ryan and Marcus into the study. She had a Luminari artifact open on the desk—a ancient book with glowing symbols. "I found it," she said, her voice excited. "A Luminari record about the Edge of Existence. It says the Edge is located at the farthest point in the multiverse, where reality itself begins to break down. To get there, we need to activate a portal using the Creator's Balance Energy and a Luminari key."
She held up a small, golden key, engraved with the same symbols as the book. "This is the Luminari key. I found it in Marcus's collection—hidden in a box of ancient artifacts."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "I didn't even know I had that."
Ryan took the key, examining it. He could sense Luminari energy in it, and a faint trace of the Edge of Existence's energy—cold, wild, and chaotic. "This is it," he said. "With this key and my Creator's Balance Energy, I can open the portal to the Edge of Existence."
"But the record also says the trials of the Edge are three," Sophia said. "The Trial of Mind, the Trial of Body, and the Trial of Soul. Only those who pass all three can reach the seal of the Void Beyond. And if you fail any trial, you're trapped in the Edge forever."
Ryan nodded. "We'll face the trials together. Whatever happens, we stick together."
But even as he said it, he knew the agent would be watching. Waiting for them to fail, waiting to strike.
That night, they gathered in the mansion's backyard. Ryan held the Luminari key in one hand, his sword of light in the other. He activated his Creator's Balance Energy, channeling it into the key. The key glowed brightly, and a portal began to form in front of them—swirling with a mix of white, black, and gold energy, unlike any portal they'd ever seen.
The portal's energy was wild and chaotic, making the air around them tremble. Ryan could sense the Edge of Existence on the other side—cold, vast, and full of danger.
"Are we ready?" he asked, looking at Marcus and Sophia.
Marcus nodded, gripping his energy sword. Sophia activated her artifact, the light glowing brightly. "Ready," they said in unison.
Together, they stepped through the portal.
The transition was unlike anything they'd experienced. They felt like they were being torn apart by the chaotic energy of the Edge of Existence. When they emerged, they found themselves in a vast, desolate landscape. The sky was a swirling mix of black and gold, and the ground was cracked and barren, covered in sharp, jagged rocks.
"This is the Edge of Existence," Ryan said, his voice echoing in the empty landscape. He could sense the trials ahead—three distinct energy signatures, each more powerful than the last.
Just then, a voice echoed through the landscape—a deep, booming voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
"Welcome to the Edge of Existence, Ryan Harris, Marcus Thorne, and Sophia Bennett. You have come to face the trials, to find the truth, and to stop the Void Beyond. But first, you must prove yourselves worthy. The Trial of Mind awaits you."
The ground shook, and a large, stone door appeared in front of them. The door was covered in glowing symbols, and above it was carved the words: "Only those who see the truth can pass."
Ryan pushed the door open, and they stepped inside. They found themselves in a large, circular room. The walls were covered in mirrors, each reflecting a different version of themselves—versions where they had failed, where they had betrayed each other, where the multiverse had been destroyed.
"What is this?" Marcus asked, staring at his reflection—a version of himself where he had joined the Dark Council, his eyes glowing with Void Energy.
"The Trial of Mind," a voice said. "To pass, you must confront your greatest fears, your deepest regrets, and the truth you have been hiding from. If you cannot face the truth, you will be trapped in your own mind forever."
The mirrors began to glow, and the reflections stepped out, surrounding them. Ryan's reflection was a version of himself where he had given in to the Outer Void Entity, his body covered in dark energy. "You are a failure," the reflection said, its voice cold. "You could not protect the multiverse. You could not protect your friends. You are nothing but a pawn."
Marcus's reflection lunged at him, swinging a dark energy sword. "You are weak," it said. "Your wealth and power mean nothing. You couldn't save your family, and you can't save your friends."
Sophia's reflection stood in front of her, holding a dark artifact. "You are a fraud," it said. "You pretend to be smart, to be brave, but you're just scared. Scared of being alone, scared of failing."
Ryan, Marcus, and Sophia drew their weapons, fighting their reflections. The reflections were stronger than them, faster than them—they knew their every move, their every weakness.
Ryan's reflection swung its dark energy sword at him, and Ryan blocked it with his own sword. The impact sent him stumbling back. "You can't win," the reflection said. "You're not strong enough. The Void Beyond will destroy you, and you will watch as everything you love burns."
Ryan thought of Earth, of his Burger Haven, of Marcus and Sophia. He thought of the people he had lost, the mistakes he had made. But he also thought of the battles he had won, the lives he had saved. "I'm not a failure," he said, his voice firm. "I've made mistakes, but I've learned from them. I've fought for what's right, and I'll keep fighting."
He channeled Creator's Balance Energy into his sword, swinging it at his reflection. The blade hit the reflection, and it dissolved into light and dark energy.
Marcus fought his reflection, his energy sword glowing brightly. "I'm not weak," he said. "My family would be proud of me. I've used my wealth and power to help people, to protect the multiverse." He sliced his reflection with his sword, and it dissolved.
Sophia faced her reflection, firing a beam of light energy from her artifact. "I'm not a fraud," she said. "I am smart, I am brave. And I'm not alone." She hit her reflection with the beam, and it dissolved.
The mirrors faded, and the room's walls disappeared. They found themselves back in the desolate landscape of the Edge of Existence. The voice echoed again:
"You have passed the Trial of Mind. You have faced your fears and accepted the truth. Now, the Trial of Body awaits."
The ground shook, and a large, stone arena rose from the ground. In the center of the arena stood a massive, muscular figure—humanoid, but with skin like stone and eyes like fire. It wielded a large, iron hammer, and its body pulsed with raw, physical power.
"This is the Guardian of the Trial of Body," the voice said. "To pass, you must defeat it. But beware—its strength is unmatched, and it feels no pain."
The Guardian roared, raising its hammer and slamming it into the ground. The arena shook, and cracks formed in the stone. Ryan, Marcus, and Sophia rushed into the arena, ready to fight.
The Guardian swung its hammer at them, and they dodged. Ryan swung his sword at the Guardian's leg, but the blade bounced off its stone skin. "Its skin is impenetrable," he said.
Marcus swung his energy sword at the Guardian's arm, but it also bounced off. Sophia fired a beam of light energy at the Guardian's eyes, and it roared in pain, covering its face with its hands.
"Its eyes are its weakness!" Sophia shouted.
Ryan seized the opportunity, flying into the air and swinging his sword at the Guardian's eyes. The blade hit the Guardian's left eye, and black blood poured out. The Guardian roared, swinging its hammer blindly.
Marcus and Sophia attacked the Guardian's legs, trying to trip it. The Guardian stumbled, but didn't fall. It swung its hammer at Marcus, hitting him in the chest. Marcus flew across the arena, collapsing to the ground.
"Marcus!" Ryan shouted. He channeled Creator's Balance Energy into his sword, swinging it at the Guardian's right eye. The blade hit, and the Guardian's other eye began to bleed.
The Guardian was now blind, swinging its hammer wildly. Sophia ran to Marcus's side, helping him stand. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'll be fine," Marcus said, wincing. "Just need a minute."
Ryan flew around the Guardian, swinging his sword at its head. The blade hit, and the Guardian's stone skin began to crack. It roared, its body shaking. Ryan swung again and again, until the Guardian's head exploded into stone fragments.
The Guardian's body collapsed to the ground, dissolving into dust. The arena disappeared, and the voice echoed again:
"You have passed the Trial of Body. You have proven your strength and your courage. Now, the Trial of Soul awaits—the final trial. Only those who are true to their souls can pass. Beware—this trial will test the bonds between you. And the agent will reveal themselves."
The ground opened up, and a staircase appeared, leading down into darkness. Ryan, Marcus, and Sophia looked at each other, their faces filled with determination.
"This is it," Ryan said. "The final trial. And the agent will reveal themselves here."
They walked down the staircase, the darkness swallowing them. When they reached the bottom, they found themselves in a small, circular room. In the center of the room was a pedestal, on which sat a glowing orb—the Orb of Souls. The orb pulsed with a warm, golden light, and Ryan could sense that it was capable of revealing the truth.
"The Orb of Souls will reveal the agent," the voice said. "Touch it, and the truth will be known."
Ryan stepped forward, reaching for the orb. But just as his hand was about to touch it, Marcus grabbed his arm. "Wait," he said, his voice tight. "What if touching it is a trap? What if it's the agent's way of eliminating us?"
"We have to take the risk," Ryan said. He pulled his arm away from Marcus, touching the Orb of Souls.
The orb glowed brightly, and a beam of light shot out, scanning Ryan, Marcus, and Sophia. The light stopped on Marcus, and his body began to glow.
"Marcus?" Ryan said, shocked.
Marcus's eyes widened. He looked down at his body, then at Ryan and Sophia. "It's not me," he said, his voice trembling. "I swear. The orb is lying."
The beam of light intensified, and images appeared in the air—images of Marcus planting the Serpent's Egg in his family's vault, images of him sending the text messages, images of him meeting with the Vanguard of the Void Beyond.
"No!" Marcus shouted. "That's not true! Someone is framing me!"
Ryan stared at the images, his heart breaking. Marcus—his best friend, the man who had stood by him through everything—was the agent? It couldn't be.
Just then, Sophia laughed—a cold, hollow laugh that Ryan had never heard before. He turned to her, and his eyes widened. Her body was glowing with a faint, dark energy, and her eyes had turned black, with glowing red pupils.
"You fools," she said, her voice distorted. "Did you really think Marcus was the agent? The Orb of Souls is under my control. I've been manipulating it to frame him."
"Sophia?" Ryan said, disbelief in his voice.
"Yes, Ryan," she said, smiling coldly. "I am the agent of the Void Beyond. I've been with you from the start, manipulating every step of your journey. The Serpent's Egg, the text messages, the Vanguard—all of it was my doing. I've been waiting for this moment, for you to reach the Edge of Existence. For you to unlock your full Creator's Balance Energy. Because now, I can absorb it and free the Void Beyond."
She lunged at Ryan, her hands transforming into sharp, shadowy claws. Ryan dodged, swinging his sword at her. The blade hit her claw, and black blood poured out. "Why, Sophia?" he asked, his voice filled with pain. "We trusted you. We cared about you."
"Trust is a weakness," she said, lunging again. "And caring is a liability. The Void Beyond will create a new multiverse—one of pure chaos, where weakness does not exist. And I will be its ruler."
Marcus drew his energy sword, joining Ryan in the fight. "We'll stop you," he said, swinging his sword at Sophia.
Sophia dodged, firing a beam of dark energy at Marcus. The beam hit him, and he collapsed to the ground, weakened.
Ryan channeled Creator's Balance Energy into his sword, swinging it at Sophia. The blade hit her, and she screamed in pain. Her dark energy began to fade, and her normal appearance returned for a moment—her face filled with pain and regret.
"Ryan… help me," she said, her voice normal. "The Void Beyond is controlling me. I don't want to do this."
Ryan hesitated. Could he trust her? Was this another trick?
Just as he was about to lower his sword, Sophia's eyes turned black again. She laughed, a cold, evil laugh. "Fool!" she shouted. She lunged at Ryan, stabbing him in the chest with her shadowy claws.
Ryan screamed in pain, feeling his Creator's Balance Energy being drained. He collapsed to the ground, the sword of light clattering out of his hand.
Sophia stood over him, her hands glowing with his stolen energy. "Now, the Void Beyond will be free," she said. She raised her hands, and the Orb of Souls began to glow with dark energy. The seal of the Void Beyond—located deep within the Edge of Existence—began to weaken.
Marcus pushed himself to his feet, grabbing his energy sword. He lunged at Sophia, swinging his sword at her back. The blade hit her, and she screamed, collapsing to the ground.
Ryan crawled to the sword of light, grabbing it. He channeled the last of his Creator's Balance Energy into the blade, swinging it at Sophia. The blade hit her, and she dissolved into dark energy, which was absorbed by the Orb of Souls.
The Orb of Souls stopped glowing with dark energy, returning to its warm, golden light. The seal of the Void Beyond stabilized, and the Edge of Existence stopped shaking.
Ryan and Marcus collapsed to the ground, exhausted. They had defeated the agent—Sophia. But the cost had been high. Their trust was shattered, their hearts broken.
Just then, the voice echoed again:
"You have passed the Trial of Soul. You have defeated the agent of the Void Beyond. But the battle is not over. The Void Beyond is still awakening. To stop it, you must destroy its physical form, which lies beyond the seal. But beware—Sophia was not the only agent. There is another. A higher agent, one who has been manipulating events from the shadows. One who is closer to you than you think."
The room began to shake, and a portal opened in front of them—leading to the seal of the Void Beyond. Ryan and Marcus looked at each other, their faces filled with dread.
Another agent. Closer than they thought.
Ryan thought of everyone he knew—Alistair, Elara, the Luminari. Could one of them be the higher agent?
He stood up, gripping the sword of light. "We have to keep going," he said. "We have to stop the Void Beyond."
Marcus nodded, standing up. Together, they walked through the portal, ready to face the final battle. But as they stepped through, Ryan couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap. That the higher agent was waiting for them, ready to strike at the moment of their greatest weakness.
The portal closed behind them, leaving the Edge of Existence's Trial of Soul room empty. But in the corner of the room, a shadowy figure materialized—Alistair. His eyes were black, with glowing red pupils, and he smiled coldly.
"Well done, Ryan Harris," he said, his voice distorted. "You've defeated my pawn, Sophia. Now, you're right where I want you—at the seal of the Void Beyond. And when you destroy its physical form, you will unknowingly release me. Because I am the higher agent. I am the Void Beyond's true vessel. And soon, I will rule the multiverse."
He laughed, a cold, evil laugh, as the room faded into darkness.