Nygeris chuckled inside his mind low, ancient, amused.
"You people… if there's something you don't understand, you simply call it a myth.
That's always been your way."
Then, the voice echoed in his head again.
"Steve... let me tell you the truth now."
Steve blinked. "What truth?"
"In another multiverse... someone like you awakened my powers before. He became my vessel."
Steve looked confused. "What happened to him?"
"He used my powers… not to protect, but to destroy."
Steve's eyes widened. "He destroyed… his own world?"
"Not just his world. He started destroying other multiverses too. Anyone who had a chance of getting my power he hunted them down. One by one."
Steve froze. "Why? Why would he do that?"
"Because he believed there should only be one. Only one with my power. Only one true vessel. And he made sure he stayed that way."
Steve's breath quickened. "Did no one try to stop him?"
"They did. The gods of different worlds came together. They tried to kill him. They couldn't."
"They only managed to seal a piece of his power. That's it. But even now, he sends his army through the cracks in space... to wipe out anyone like you."
Steve looked down, hands shaking. "How… how is that even possible?"
Nygeris paused. Then said,
"You don't understand what kind of power is inside you now. You've just seen the surface."
Steve clenched his fists. "But I couldn't even save my own team…"
"I know. And it hurt. But it was necessary."
"Get ready..."
Nygeris' voice echoed in Steve's head.
"One... two... three."
Suddenly, Steve's eyes snapped shut, the world turning pitch black. He felt nothing. No floor beneath him, no air, no pain. Just… floating.
Then..
White light.
He blinked slowly.
The ceiling above was unfamiliar. A soft beeping echoed nearby.
Steve sat up with a jolt.
Two men in dark suits were standing at the foot of the bed. One had his arms crossed, the other was tapping something on a sleek tablet.
"You're awake," the taller one said. His tone was calm, but there was no smile. "We were starting to worry."
Steve looked around. "Where… am I?"
"You're in a hospital facility," the second one answered, not looking up from the tablet.
Steve furrowed his brow. "Hospital? So… it was all a dream?"
His hand instinctively went to his chest. No pain. No energy. No voice in his head.
Nothing.
"But… why am I here?" he asked.
The first man stepped forward. "We found you collapsed just outside a portal zone. You were alone. No one else made it out."
Steve's heart dropped.
Outside the portal?
Alone?
Then… was it all real?
Nygeris, Vaelyx, the blood, Lee Hyun's death?
The man continued. "I'm Agent Alex. This is my partner, Dae. We work with a government department that handles portal activity."
Steve blinked. "So you're here to… question me?"
Alex nodded. "We're here to understand something. You survived a portal where seven others well-trained and ranked died instantly.
Steve's fingers curled into the sheets.
He couldn't say it. Not yet.
Alex narrowed his eyes. "How come you survived?"
Steve stayed silent, still gripping the edge of the blanket.
Alex tapped the tablet again. "From everything in our records… you're E-rank. No combat magic. No reinforced physical stats. Just a strategist."
The other agent, Dae, stepped closer. "So how did an E-rank survive a portal that even an A-rank couldn't escape from?"
Their eyes locked onto Steve sharp, calculating. Suspicion hung heavy in the room.
Steve's lips parted… then closed again.
He said nothing.
Alex sighed and stepped back. "Fine. If you don't want to talk…"
He nodded toward Dae.
"Let's do it our way."
Dae reached into his coat and pulled out a compact device sleek, silver, humming faintly. Its edges shimmered with blue energy.
Steve frowned. "What's that?"
Dae didn't answer. He placed it on the table beside the bed. The device unfolded, spider-like arms clicking into place around a glowing core.
"This," Dae said coolly, "is a Neural Sync Analyzer. It scans brain waves, magical residue, even unnatural fusions. If you've encountered… something in that portal, we'll know."
The machine pulsed once an eerie hum filling the air.
Steve's heart began to pound.
Steve didn't move, but a bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
END OF CHAPTER