Chapter Thirteen: The Resets
I stood there, processing the incredible conversation with Veryr Kar, the Red Lord. My own disciple, sealed away, yet full of warmth and humor, even while trapped in what he called the "First Hell." The heavy, ominous chains that bound him seemed to hum with the immense, suppressing power of his prison.
Then, a new wave of energy emanated from him, different from the oppressive power of his chains. It was a gentle, yet firm, energy that washed over me, a feeling of vast, ancient generosity.
"I have a gift for you," Veryr Kar's deep voice rumbled, "a gift that won't be limited to what you gained from that puny lizard's inheritance."
My mind raced. "Puny lizard's inheritance?" He meant the Primordial Black Dragon God Remains! The very source of my recent, immense power. What could he possibly give me that surpassed that?
"All your skills and your race will be reset," he continued, his words like thunder, "but your strength will remain. And you will not be limited to one path as you grow."
A chill ran down my spine, but it wasn't fear. It was a mix of awe and anticipation. A reset? My Creator class, my evolved Ultimate Skills, even my True Dragon Genesis race, all gone? Yet, my core strength would remain, and I wouldn't be confined to a single path. This was a gift that promised limitless potential, a complete rebuilding of my power from an even higher starting point.
Veryr Kar's voice softened, a hint of something ancient and hopeful in his tone. "In this cycle, or this realm, you're the only one with the potential of truly surpassing me. So, this is my investment in you." He paused, and I felt a profound sense of loneliness in his words. "Maybe someday, you will free me from these Primordial Silence Chains."
The energy around me intensified, focusing. I could feel my new skills, my race, everything I had just gained, begin to shimmer, then unravel. It wasn't painful, but it was definite. It was a stripping away, not of power, but of labels, of defined paths, leaving only raw, boundless potential.
The Red Lord was giving me the ultimate freedom—the chance to become something even greater than a Creator, free from even the "Primordial" step. He saw my true origin, my ancient, undefined potential, and he was betting everything on it.
"Take this marble and swallow," his voice commanded, a deep rumble that vibrated through the air.
A small, shimmering orb, no bigger than my thumb, floated from his hand towards me. It glowed with a soft, inner light, yet I felt an ancient, indescribable power radiating from it. It felt... primordial, yet even more. It felt like everything.
"It will be painful, but bear with it," Veryr Kar added, a hint of something grave in his tone.
This small thing? I thought, looking at the marble. It seemed so insignificant, yet the energy it held was terrifyingly vast. Despite the warning of pain, I trusted him. He was, after all, my disciple, and this was his investment in me.
I reached out and took the marble. It felt impossibly heavy, a miniature universe in my palm. Without hesitation, I brought it to my lips and swallowed.
The moment it passed my throat, a searing, unimaginable agony erupted through every fiber of my being. It was as if a thousand suns had ignited inside me, tearing me apart from the inside out, then remaking me, piece by agonizing piece. My new, perfect human body screamed in silent protest, but I couldn't move, couldn't even think past the overwhelming pain.
The System's voice, usually so calm, now spouted rapid-fire prompts that barely registered through the torment.
"System prompt: Foreign object has been injected. Do you want to absorb it or eject it?"
Even through the blinding pain, a single, primal thought clawed its way to the surface. Absorb it.
The energy intensified, swallowing me whole. A flood of raw power, information, and raw existence crashed into my mind. I felt a barrage of unreadable prompts, countless notifications flashing by too fast to comprehend. The world, the Forbidden Red Sky Tomb, the looming figure of Veryr Kar—it all twisted, distorted, and then...
...I blacked out.
A gentle nudge, soft yet insistent, stirred me from the deep, painless void. A voice, familiar and deep, resonated in the darkness.
"Wake up, if you regain consciousness."
My eyes fluttered open, slowly, painfully. My body felt… different. Not just perfect, but something more. The pain was gone, replaced by a strange sense of vastness within. I looked up at the looming, chained form of Veryr Kar, still enveloped in the red mist.
"How long was I out?" I asked, my voice a dry rasp.
Veryr Kar chuckled, the sound rumbling like distant thunder. "Here, the concept of time doesn't exist. But ask your talking light if it knows."
I focused, reaching for the System. "System, how long was I out?"
"Compared with the Great Plane, approximately 5 years," the System responded, its voice as calm as ever, despite the startling revelation.
"What! Was it that long?" Five years? It felt like only moments.
Veryr Kar's voice held a touch of awe. "Yeah. Look at the surroundings. Can't you see there's a change? It all happened because of you."
I looked around. The Forbidden Red Sky Tomb, once just a desolate chamber, now seemed to pulse with wild, untamed energy. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ancient stone, light and shadow dancing in bizarre patterns. The oppressive red air itself seemed to churn with chaotic power, far more active than before. And I felt... other presences. Distant, powerful, and utterly hostile.
"The universe is going berserk, and so are the creatures within it," Veryr Kar explained, his voice serious. "Some have even drifted here to kill you."
"What! Why me?" A sudden jolt of fear, quickly overridden by fierce determination, coursed through me.
Veryr Kar paused, then his voice became almost reverent. "The Universe has given birth to you. You will find out yourself, so there's no need for me to explain."
I turned back to him, still trying to grasp the enormity of his words. "Red Lord, did you know this will happen?"
He let out a booming laugh, a sound of pride and immense satisfaction that echoed through the volatile chamber. "Hahaha! You're more than qualified to rule more universes than me, for you are the one who will surpass me. My master was once a Universal Guardian." He spoke the title with deep respect. "But he left this for us—me and my Senior Sister—and this marble during my journey."
He looked at me, and I felt a profound connection, an understanding that transcended words. He had given me a gift that would reshape my destiny, all based on a forgotten promise.
My mind raced. A Universal Guardian? My past self? This "marble" he gave me, the one that caused me agonizing pain and reset me... it was a piece of my own legacy, given back to me by my loyal disciple. The universe itself was reacting to my re-emergence.