People who possessed special abilities received from the Global Axis were called the Origins. Only they had the opportunity to escape their tiny worlds and end up in the Great Lands, which was basically one real world where energy always existed.
To become an Origin, one had to do only one thing: obtain Epos. This was possible either when energy came into the world naturally or through cracks when a Connected World attacked a Blank World, which happened with Kreyn and Groza.
To get an Epos, one had to create an event that had a significant impact on the life of a person, a group of people, or even the whole world. One had to create a story.
Any Origin could use their Epos for battles or other purposes, but only through a Catalyst. Unlike the Epos, which depended on what an Origin did, the Catalyst was unique to each Origin, combining their past, present, and their first Epos.
So, even though a Catalyst was unique to each Origin, knowing that person and their first Epos, one could guess what their Catalyst would be capable of.
...
Groza's eyes widened as she stared at the long, dark sword in Kreyn's hand, devoid of a guard but with an unusual hilt. Chains extended from the hilt, covering Kreyn's hand, to the bracelet on his wrist.
"Hmm? Is this my Catalyst?" Kreyn looked at the base of the blade, with a hollow in the center, as his gaze swept over the faint lines covering his sword like empty veins waiting for the flow of power.
[Hunger of War (Catalyst)
A weapon forged by your desire, your true thirst and hunger to wage war, in any of the worlds, against any of the enemies. Now, this weapon will become the embodiment of your desires and an opportunity to show the world the power of your stories.]
"Hah, that's a different matter. That's what I need."
Kreyn met his reflection in the blade and, in response to Groza's movement, pointed his sword at her.
"What is your name, and why the hell did you attack my world? Do you really want to get to the Great Lands that badly?"
"Tsk. You accepted the Overlord's Blade. You want it too, so why are you asking? We came to this world to get energy!"
Kreyn nodded weakly, running his finger along the edge of his sword. "I see. So we were just supposed to be your appetizer to gain strength before the battle against another world. But this appetizer turned out to be a sharp bone stuck in your throat, didn't it?"
"Don't think too highly of yourself! You destroyed our frigate with an unknown weapon, but we also have a trump card up our sleeve. The portal is still open!" Groza swung her sword.
At the same moment, a stream of flames gushed out of the breach between the two worlds as wide wings unfolded in the blue sky.
"Shit... You really came from the fantasy world..." Kreyn muttered, looking at the majestic dragon. A great creature with red scales, sharp claws, and deep eyes.
Kreyn knew what dragons looked like. He'd defeated them in video games and read about them in books, but now a real one was hovering right above him.
"Hahaha! Nothing to say? Just look at what it can do!" Groza exclaimed as the dragon unleashed a torrent of flame on the eastern part of the city, engulfing the skyscrapers in an inferno.
"What a luck..."
"Agh...?"
"As a child, I dreamed that I would get a chance to see this at least once in person."
Groza became alert.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
In response, Kreyn pointed at the dragon.
"How the dragon will fall. How fantasy will lose to capitalism. How war will begin..."
After a few moments, his voice became dry.
"Azura. Go on. You will go to the Great Lands with me."
Without hesitation, she pulled out the remote and pointed it coldly at the dragon, who was preparing for his next attack.
At the same moment, massive turrets appeared from the two hills, ready to fire. Tightly compressed lasers cleaved through the sky, instantly reaching and piercing the great dragon.
The sky turned red, following the painful cry of the mythical creature.
The howl of agony reached the ears of everyone who witnessed this scene, including Azura. Unlike Kreyn, who was full of excitement, she looked at the falling dragon with a cold gaze, and only thick blood reflected in her blue eyes.
When the dragon crashed to the ground, Azura saw what Kreyn saw earlier.
[Epos was created.]
[The Fallen Dragon
Mythical to many worlds, it invaded your world and ultimately fell before your cold gaze. Flames, death, and cold, facing the struggle for a better life alongside your ruler. This event deserves to become history.]
Unlike Kreyn, who was the first Origin of their world, Azura did not have the opportunity to obtain the Overlord's Blade and decide whether or not they would go to the Great Lands. She became the second Origin of their world. She may not have the powers that Kreyn received, but she did not need them because she got stronger as well.
Whoooooosh.
Then flames covered Azura as tattoos spread across her right arm up to her shoulder. In the middle of her forearm stood a dragon symbol.
Without hesitation, she extended her hand forward as a burst of fire shot out of the flame ring straight at Groza. She wasn't ready for this.
"No!" Liam exclaimed, creating a barrier in front of Groza at the last moment.
The fire rushed past Groza as Liam collapsed to his knee with a painful groan.
Kreyn glanced at Liam, then at Azura, noticing that they both had tattoos, quite different, but neither he nor Groza had anything like that.
"Pffft, is that all? Looks like you're not as strong as you want to appear." Azura snorted, raising her hand again.
But Kreyn stopped her.
"Wait. I want to understand something." He stared at Groza. "What you said at the beginning, about me being the same. Why are their Catalysts different?"
Groza frowned but decided to answer.
"Every Catalyst is unique, but they are divided into types. You and I have the Arx Type, a weapon of any kind. They have the Veyr Type, free control over energy through tattoos."
"I see." Kreyn slung his sword over his shoulder. "So, before I smash your face, I have a proposal for you."
"What?"
Kreyn grinned. "Don't want to surrender? We can all go to the Great Lands, right? I need subordinates."
"Never. I'm ready for any outcome, but I won't lay down my weapon!"
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Cracks spread across the sky. The portal had been open for too long, and time was now not on her side.
"How about this?" Groza suggested. "One attack. You and I, as two rulers. Whoever destroys the World Heart will be the leader. In any case, only one side can go to the Great Lands."
Azura gasped. "K-Kreyn, this... This is a trap!"
"Alright." Kreyn shrugged. "I agree."
He smiled broadly at Groza, who didn't understand that she already lost, because far behind the city, near the hills, a platform opened, releasing his trump card.
He needed to sacrifice his world to get to the Great Lands?
He was ready to do it without a shadow of a doubt.