The wind blew once more, carrying the scent of electricity, oil, and carbon smoke. Below, the City of Silver remained alive with its noise—people walked along narrow streets, aerial vehicles traversed the sky lanes and ground tracks, and neon lights flickered without rhythm.
A single thought crossed my mind. The Cosmic Servant—Ressmond. That means he's at the Dimensional Guardian tier? If so, isn't he incredibly powerful? Are The Devourers truly that strong? If Ressmond couldn't handle it, am I just an ant in a hole? One unable to comprehend how terrifying this vast universe truly is.
Perhaps, I am but a tiny bacterium in this universe...
Calm yourself, Varro. This is still the beginning; we don't know what results await us in the future. For now, we focus on the next problem.
"How does one advance to that tier?" I asked.
Rubik seemed to vibrate lightly before finally answering with a flat tone that almost resembled an echo within my own mind.
"An important question… and also a dangerous one."
I turned to it. "What do you mean?"
"Every tier advancement is not merely an achievement of power. It is a test of your soul's essence. You cannot reach it through training or combat alone. The Cosmic Balance demands more than that."
I frowned. "More? Like what?"
Rubik rotated slowly, then projected a holographic light into the air—images that shifted rapidly: a planet exploding, a Cosmic Servant submerged in a sea of cosmic fire, then another sacrificing themselves to save an unknown creature.
"To advance a tier, you must prove you are capable of guarding more than just yourself. Power comes with responsibility for a larger system of life. The 'Balance' observes every choice you make. Not in duels or battles, but in moral decisions, invisible actions, and your deepest intentions."
I took a deep breath. "So... a moral test?"
"More than that. An 'Existential Trial'," Rubik answered without hesitation. "The higher your tier, the greater the portion of reality you must bear. Not every soul can withstand the burden of the universe. Even the 'Eldest Servant'... has failed."
I sharpened my hearing. "What do you mean the Eldest Servant failed? Who is he?"
Rubik seemed hesitant. Then it spoke softly, "He... was the first Apostle chosen. He has lived for several generations, and by now his age likely reaches billions of years. And because of his failure to ascend to the tier 'above' Dimensional Guardian, he exiled himself to a silent, unknown dimension. There is a reason for his seclusion. He once betrayed the Balance. He violated the core principle: Do not totally intervene with the path of free will. He annihilated one world to save another. In the Cosmic view, that is an imbalance."
I scowled. "But isn't that logical? One saved, one sacrificed?"
"Logic is not the Balance's primary law. Harmony is. And harmony cannot be achieved through absolute sacrifice without the consent of all involved. In the Balance's system, all existence holds equal right. Both the weak and the strong. Even an ant... has a voice."
Its words echoed in my mind. A strange philosophy... but there was truth in it.
The fragment spun back to its original position. "So if you ask how to advance a tier... then my answer is: live your life with fairness. Live with honesty in your new role. Help without oppressing. Protect without dominating. Learn without belittling. And… be prepared to lose."
"Lose?" I repeated, my voice slightly hoarse.
"There is no true power without loss. Because cosmic power is not given, but redeemed."
I looked down. Instantly, all the city's sounds—the holograms, neon, factory noises, aerial vehicles—sounded like distant whispers from an uncertain future.
That explanation. It means I will lose the people I care about... again.
The wind brushed against my face, carrying the metallic scent from the factories, yet my hand, calm yet slightly restless, immediately wiped my face.
"What about the 'Special Condition' to break through to the Dimensional Guardian tier?" I asked.
"I...
I do not know. For now, there is no information on that matter, for not a single soul knows. The other Dimensional Guardians keep their mouths tightly sealed. But one thing is certain, it is vastly, vastly beyond the comprehension of mortal beings."
If the "Special Condition" is considered extremely difficult to achieve, what is the Condition to "Ascend" above Dimensional Guardian? Is that even more incomprehensible? Could it be said to be something beyond cosmic understanding?
"And—"
My eyes moved, staring at it with intense curiosity.
"The previous explanation was the Internal method."
"Internal?"
"There are two methods: Internal and External. And the one just now was the Internal method."
"So what about the External method?"
"First, to increase your power externally. You must find 'Balance Fragments'."
"Balance Fragments?"
"They are artifacts specifically granted to all Cosmic Servants by 'The Cosmic Balance'. I myself am a Balance Fragment, tasked with serving you. And what we seek are artifacts left behind by former Cosmic Servants who have failed—in other words, those who have perished. They are the key to enhancing your physical skills and upgrading your existing abilities."
"Where can I find them?"
"They are scattered across the galaxy. The Fragments are usually hidden in places with high cosmic energy, like ancient caves, ruins of old civilizations, or even in the hands of people unaware of their value—or in the tombs of fallen Cosmic Servants."
"However, the External method alone is not very useful. It cannot make you advance a tier. Because the External method only enhances your innate power. Meaning you will not gain new abilities; your abilities will simply 'stop' at the same point, even with greater power; it's ultimately useless. But even so, it's a suitable method for you. A Planet Guardian's power is still considered weak, so using the External method is beneficial enough."
I sighed. "So then I have to adventure across the universe?"
"If you wish to save your civilization, yes."
For a moment, I felt a little doubtful. "Well... before adventuring across the vastness of space, perhaps I should strengthen the defense systems and solidify this world's unity first, before I begin exploring."
It's terrifying to leave this vulnerable planet while I would be millions of miles away. Space pirates, alien invasions, disasters—they would be problems. But The Devourers? That isn't just an end; it is absolute annihilation, the erasure of everything.
This fractured world, staggering on the edge of global unity, is a powder keg. Any small spark—territorial disputes, political assassinations, rebellions, international conflicts, civil wars, technological ruin and progress—could ignite a world war, leaving humanity powerless against the true cosmic horrors that lie in wait.
I stared at the city below. All this time, I had only seen it as a place of suffering. But now... perhaps there is more here that I have yet to understand.
"...So how do I train my abilities?"
"Good, you're starting to get serious. Try focusing on the symbol on your hand. Feel the flow of its energy."
I stared at my palm, trying to concentrate. At first, nothing happened... but then, like a slow trickle of water, I felt "something" creeping through my entire body.
And suddenly.
Bzzzt!
A blue energy knife formed in my hand, emitting a crackling sound.
"Whoa—!" I almost dropped it.
"Calm yourself. It is merely an energy weapon, a basic ability. You can form any weapon you desire, so long as you can visualize it. There are many types of abilities possessed by Cosmic Servants. For example, if you only create weapons or tools by 'Manipulating Energy', it is categorized as 'Low' level 'Creation', or called 'Low Creation'," it said.
"The ability to create something is an ability within the 'Creation' category. What you are creating now is an energy weapon utilizing 'Energy Manipulation', which falls under the 'Low' tier. The 'Creation' category ability has three general tiers, depending on what ability they use and what they create."
I tried again. This time, the knife shifted into a short sword, then a spear, then an arrow.
This... is incredible!
.....