The aftermath of Vorthax's destruction still lingered over Terra Prime. Shattered buildings, scorched earth, and faint traces of violet energy painted the landscape. Yet for Aetherion, the world no longer felt like a prison. It had become a canvas—a realm waiting to be rewritten.
He stood atop a cliff, violet light shimmering from his body, the ruined village sprawled below. Lyra Veyl's words echoed in his mind: "Systems adapt. Every action feeds evolution. Do not underestimate them."
Aetherion smiled faintly. "Then I'll be the virus they cannot predict."
---
The First Rift
As night fell, the air above Terra Prime began to ripple unnaturally. Aetherion's eyes, attuned to the lattice of reality, detected a disturbance unlike anything he had encountered before. The sky tore open in a jagged line of violet light, revealing a shimmering rift in the very fabric of existence.
"This…" he murmured, stepping closer. "A doorway… to something beyond."
Lyra appeared beside him, her silver cloak fluttering. "That is the Void Nexus," she explained. "A realm beyond realms. It's where systems are born, maintained, and occasionally… destroyed. Few have ever entered willingly—and lived."
Aetherion's grin widened. "Good. Then I will survive where others have failed."
The rift pulsed, sensing his anomaly. A low hum resonated in the air, vibrating through his bones. With a deep breath, he stepped forward, and the world around him dissolved into blinding light.
---
The Void Nexus
When Aetherion opened his eyes, he found himself in a realm that defied all logic. The ground was translucent, a network of glowing lines forming intricate patterns beneath his feet. Massive structures floated in the air, their geometry shifting constantly, defying physics.
Lyra's voice echoed in his mind. "Welcome to the Void Nexus. Here, systems are pure. They govern existence itself. And here, you will face your first true test."
Aetherion observed the floating structures, noting the patterns of energy that flowed like rivers of light. Every motion, every shift in the environment, obeyed rules he could see—but only if he focused. The Void Nexus was alive, aware, and entirely hostile to anomalies like him.
---
The Arrival of Kael Draven
From the far end of a glowing bridge, a figure approached. His armor shimmered like polished obsidian, and his presence radiated confidence and power. Aetherion recognized him immediately—not from Terra Prime, but from whispers of the multiverse.
Kael Draven…
"Destroyer," Kael said, his voice echoing unnaturally in the void. "I've been waiting for you. You've stirred more than just your little village. You've drawn attention."
Aetherion's violet eyes narrowed. "And you are?"
Kael smirked. "A rival, a guide, and possibly… your greatest challenge. I've faced anomalies before, but none like you. Let's see if you deserve the title System Annihilator."
Without another word, Kael lunged. The ground beneath them fractured as he moved, his attacks precise and violent. Aetherion barely dodged, feeling the sheer force of a combatant who could manipulate reality itself.
---
The First Rivalry Battle
Kael's strikes were unlike the corrupted beasts or even Vorthax. Each movement was a direct challenge to Aetherion's understanding of systems. He wasn't just fighting strength—he was fighting intuition, adaptation, and raw perception of reality.
Aetherion's eyes glowed violet as he analyzed Kael's patterns. "Interesting…" he muttered. "He isn't just skilled… he understands the rules."
The battle raged across the floating bridges of the Void Nexus. Reality bent, distorted, and sometimes shattered entirely under their clash. Energy surged, forming storms of code that threatened to collapse the entire area.
Lyra's voice resonated in his mind. "Kael is more than a fighter. He's an experiment—an anomaly perfected by corrupted systems. Do not underestimate him."
Aetherion grinned. "Good. I like a challenge."
---
The Hierarchy of Systems
During a brief pause, as the two circled each other, Lyra explained further. "The Void Nexus operates on a strict hierarchy. Every realm has ten tiers. Each tier controls multiple systems. Tier 1, like Vorthax, are enforcers. Tier 2-5 are administrators of localized laws. Tier 6-10 govern realms, planets, and life itself. And Kael…"
Aetherion tilted his head.
"He exists outside the usual hierarchy," Lyra continued. "He's been partially augmented by a corrupted system. Stronger than most Tier 5 administrators. He's your first real measure of your ability to adapt, Destroyer."
Aetherion's grin widened. "Then it's time to push the boundaries."
---
The Clash of Anomalies
The fight intensified. Aetherion's violet energy clashed with Kael's obsidian aura. Bridges collapsed, rivers of pure code twisted violently, and fragments of the environment were sucked into the vortex of their powers.
Kael smirked. "You're fast… but not precise enough. You analyze too much. Let instinct guide you, Destroyer."
Aetherion tilted his head, considering. And then he let go of his calculations, letting raw intuition guide his movements. He adapted in real-time, countering Kael's strikes with fluidity that no system could predict.
The clash shook the very foundations of the Void Nexus. Floating structures twisted, energy storms erupted, and for a brief moment, it seemed the entire realm might collapse.
---
The First Mutual Respect
After an intense exchange, the two stepped back, panting, energy flaring around them. Kael's armor was fractured, his aura flickering, but his expression remained confident.
"Not bad," he said, a rare note of respect in his voice. "You're… unpredictable. The system never prepared me for this."
Aetherion's violet eyes gleamed. "And you're… strong. Strong enough to matter."
Lyra stepped forward, clapping lightly. "Excellent. This… was your first real test. But remember, anomalies like you will draw attention from higher tiers. Kael is only Tier 5 influence. True Tier 6+ administrators will not be as forgiving."
Kael smirked again. "Then I look forward to the next encounter. Don't think this rivalry ends here."
Aetherion's grin widened. "Neither does mine."
---
The Next Step
As the two parted ways, Aetherion felt a surge of exhilaration. He had faced his first true rival, tested the limits of his abilities, and glimpsed the structure of the multiverse beyond Terra Prime.
The Void Nexus pulsed beneath him, as if aware of his presence. Energy rippled through the floating structures, resonating with his anomaly. Somewhere far beyond, the Administrators took notice. Vorthax's defeat and Kael's challenge were small tremors in a universe that now feared the rise of the System Annihilator.
Aetherion looked toward the horizon, violet energy radiating from his form.
"This is only the beginning," he whispered. "Systems, realms, gods… all of it will bow or break before me. And I will rewrite everything."
The rift shimmered behind him, a reminder that the multiverse was vast, dangerous, and full of challenges. But Aetherion felt no fear. He had become more than a boy. He had become a force—an anomaly that no system could ignore.
And so began the true journey of the System Annihilator, where rivalries would sharpen, systems would crumble, and one boy would rise to rewrite the rules of existence itself.
---