The Second Parallel Universe. One hundred thousand years in the past.
Thales opened his eyes. Thankfully, the hem of the robe he'd been clutching was still in his hand, and he felt a wave of relief wash over him.
He lifted his chin, his face radiating a simple, heartfelt pride. He had managed to reverse one hundred thousand years of time on his first attempt at a Temporal Reversal. Tell me, who else was as formidable as he was?
As he looked up, Zoran was busy surveying the surroundings.
Green hills and clear waters, the landscape didn't look much different from when they had first landed in this era. Due to the nature of the cycle, the Second Parallel Universe hadn't changed much in a hundred thousand years; it was by no means a primitive society.
"Uncle? What do you see?" Thales asked instinctively. At this moment, Zoran was his only support.
"I'm here to attend to some business. Just watch," Zoran replied, his voice steady. It calmed the lingering anxiety in Thales's little heart.
Watching Zoran drift forward, Thales waddled after him, his chubby body swaying, and he pulled a kitchen knife out from who-knows-where, striking a defensive pose. "Don't worry, Uncle, I'll cover the rear!" He followed closely, taking small, cautious steps behind Zoran.
Seeing this, Zoran smiled silently. Because of his limited perception, Thales didn't fully grasp what a powerhouse of the Nebula Body level truly represented.
But he was about to find out.
The causality between the Azure Dragon and White Dragon tribes ultimately stemmed from one thing: the arrival of Devin from another universe. Devin had encountered the Poison Dragon in the Poison Dragon Pool and had been saved by Rowan. It was precisely because of this that Rowan's armor had been stained with poisonous blood, which later led to the accidental death of the White Dragon leader, Valen, during a duel.
From there, the situation had spiraled out of control. It was a cycle, and the reason Devin would appear in the Second Parallel Universe was precisely because of this discord between the two tribes.
All Zoran needed to do now was find the right point of insertion to attempt a change. This moment was the perfect opportunity. He swept his gaze across the terrain.
A thread of sinister, malicious energy lurked in the distance, restless and unable to hide.
"Uncle, where are we going…"
Before Thales could finish his sentence, the world blurred. When his vision cleared, he saw a vicious, green Poiso n Dragon looming before him, hissing and roaring directly at him.
"Waaah!" Thales scrambled backward, still brandishing his kitchen knife.
The Poison Dragon stared at the two strangers who had suddenly appeared, opening its massive, bloodthirsty maw to let out a warning, a stench of rot and decay filled the air.
"This little snake has some terrible breath!" Thales muttered, his legs shaking, though he refused to concede verbally.
"This is no weakling," Zoran explained from the side. "Even for someone like Valen, one of the greatest warriors the Dragon tribe had ever seen, it would take every ounce of his strength and a desperate finishing move to defeat this creature."
"Valen?" Thales asked, confused.
"A man who only exists in the current timeline," Zoran said calmly. "If he hadn't died, he might have eventually grown to reach the level of Hades."
"Is that so? Then, Uncle, shouldn't we avoid its sharp edge?" Thales peeked out from behind Zoran. He had seen Hades just recently; the guy was terrifyingly strong.
"That won't be necessary." Zoran smiled, reaching a hand toward the Poison Dragon Pool.
Thales squinted, but he didn't even see Zoran exert any effort.
The entire Poison Dragon Pool suddenly began to tremble. The dragon, which had been so ferocious just a moment ago, now recoiled into the center of the pool, cowering like an earthworm. Even from a distance, Thales could feel the overwhelming terror radiating from the beast.
In a split second, the ground around the pool began to tear apart. As if the mountains and seas were being overturned, massive quantities of earth and rock surged toward the pool. The "Poison Dragon" truly became the little snake Thales had mocked, buried under the earth, hissing helplessly from the bottom of the pit.
"Uncle, it's still making noise," Thales tattled.
"Patience." Zoran flicked his finger.
Suddenly, Thales felt the sky go dark. He looked up, only to realize it wasn't night; a nearby mountain was rising into the air, floating toward them. His eyes widened, his mouth falling open wide enough to fit an egg.
"Uncle? I never knew you could fight this fiercely!" Thales gasped.
This was the first time he had seen Zoran take action. He stood frozen, watching blankly as Zoran gave a light wave of his hand. The mountain hovered over the pool and then sank downward.
The earth shook, and the world went silent.
Looking ahead, the Poison Dragon Pool was gone, replaced entirely by a massive mountain. With a mere gesture, the landscape had been rewritten.
Thales's eyes sparkled. He darted his gaze between the mountain-crushing summit and Zoran, his lips puckering as if he were trying to suppress a laugh. But the irrepressible look of triumph on his face betrayed him.
Zoran had mentioned he was just going to handle some "minor" business, but this was a huge deal!
Zoran stood calmly in the air, sensing a presence gathering nearby. In mid-air, a mysterious wormhole opened without a sound.
"A wormhole? Someone's coming!" Thales jumped. Who would be traversing parallel universes to come here at a time like this?
Zoran watched the exit, his eyes darkening as he raised his palm.
On the other side of the wormhole was the Fifth Parallel Universe.
"Go. Remember what I told you: say nothing, and do not reveal your true identity. You must find the answers yourself."
At the entrance to the wormhole, Hades, clad in his black armor, spoke to the person beside him: Devin. He had already opened the path to the Second Parallel Universe, intending for Devin to seek the truth on his own.
"Understood!" Devin nodded and leaped into the wormhole.
Hades's expression remained stoic, his eyes fixed on the portal. He raised his hand, preparing to close the passage.
But then, he paused.
Devin, who had just jumped into the tunnel, was suddenly spat back out, standing right in front of him again.
"It seems you do not wish to seek the answer," Hades said, his voice laced with confusion.
Across from him, Devin shook his head. "I had only just entered the tunnel when I was sent back by a force. I can't get through."
"Oh?" Hades's expression tightened. He sensed a strange, unfamiliar aura on the other side.
Someone was there. That very presence was blocking Devin's path.
"To think someone would dare to obstruct me?" Hades let out a cold huff. "It seems there is a formidable opponent on the other side."
As he spoke, the wormhole began to wither, about to collapse. The person on the other side was actively dispelling the channel he had just created.
"Bold!" Hades growled. His Hetero-Energy surged, billowing out toward the wormhole.
The collapsing passage forced itself open once more. He had just promised Devin that he would send him to the Second Parallel Universe, and now someone was slapping him in the face.
He would not allow it!
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