"First, let's forge you barrier creators into barrier warriors," Hazel declared to the two remaining figures. His gaze held an intensity that promised transformation.
A hesitant voice broke the silence. "Sir, with all due respect, how is that even possible?" One of the boys shifted his weight, his skepticism palpable.
Hazel's lips curved into a confident smile. "It's simple, yet demanding. Trust my guidance, and you will become barrier creators the likes of which this world has never seen."
"Begin by erecting a barrier around yourselves," Hazel instructed. Without hesitation, the two boys complied, shimmering green energy outlining their forms.
"Now," Hazel continued, his voice dropping a note lower, "compress it. Draw it inwards, make it a second skin."
Frustration flickered across their faces as they struggled. The green shields wavered, resisting their will. Sweat beaded on their foreheads with the effort. Finally, slowly, painstakingly, the barriers thinned, clinging to their bodies like an invisible film. The once vibrant green faded to near transparency, a subtle shimmer their only indication.
"Excellent," Hazel affirmed, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. "Now, create another."
"Wait… a second barrier?" The other boy blurted out, his eyes wide with disbelief. The ingrained understanding was that one barrier was the limit.
"Do as I say," Hazel repeated, his voice firm, brooking no argument.
They tried, their concentration strained. Flickers of a second barrier would appear, only to dissipate like smoke. Doubt gnawed at their resolve. Yet, driven by Hazel's unwavering belief, they persisted. After what felt like an eternity, a second, distinct barrier shimmered into existence around each of them, this one remaining a visible green.
"Very good," Hazel acknowledged, a subtle nod of approval. "Now, focus. Compress this second barrier, not around your entire body, but onto your right fist alone."
"What? That's even harder!" one of them exclaimed, his voice laced with protest.
"Do it," Hazel commanded, his gaze unwavering.
The training became a grueling cycle. They would summon the barriers, struggle to compress the second, often losing control and shattering both. Each failure meant starting anew, their bodies aching, their minds weary. While the other warriors honed their skills elsewhere under Alexa's watchful eye, Hazel remained a constant presence, his focus solely on the barrier creators. The night bled into day, an unbroken stretch of exertion with no respite.
Slowly, painstakingly, they achieved the impossible. Three shimmering barriers now clung to each of them: one a near-invisible shield around their bodies, the others focused on their individual fists.
A rare smile touched Hazel's lips. "Maintain these barriers," he instructed. "Always."
The following week was a testament to their dedication. They learned to live within their layered defenses, the constant energy drain a new reality. They pushed their limits, discovering the ability to project these barriers onto others, offering fleeting moments of protection. By the week's end, they could sustain five barriers simultaneously, a feat that defied their previous understanding.
Hazel observed their progress with quiet satisfaction. Yet, a knot of unease tightened in his chest. Loris and Zig's sudden disappearance before the encounter with Doom still troubled him, the inability to summon them a stark reminder of the unknown. He resisted the urge to expend his limited questions, choosing to hoard them for a moment of true significance.
Meanwhile, the other two warriors flourished. Their training under Alexa and the other Sovereigns pushed them to the very edge of their potential, their strength growing exponentially with each fallen Sovereign they faced.
Then, Hazel shifted his focus again, guiding the barrier creators in the offensive application of their abilities. They learned to shape the barriers into concussive blasts, energy blades, and impenetrable gauntlets. Time blurred, marked only by their relentless training. Inevitably, their efforts bore fruit. They ascended.
[Sovereign of the Void] - Mike
[Sovereign of the Void] - Nicole
Mike and Nicole became the first dual Sovereigns, their intertwined abilities a testament to their unique training.
The other two warriors also achieved their Sovereign titles:
[Sovereign of Thunder] - Link
[Sovereign of Ice] - Noah
With their combined might, the landscape of their world began to shift. Dragons and other behemoths, once terrifying threats, fell with increasing ease. The monstrous presence that had plagued the country dwindled, their numbers becoming, almost unbelievably, countable.
~A YEARS PASSED~
~~System notification ~~
[The ruler of your realm has deemed it time for the next phase.]
[All survivors will be summoned to the presence of their god and ruler.]
[Please prepare. You have sixty seconds.]
~End of system notification~
"Well," Hazel murmured, a hint of grim anticipation in his voice. "I suppose this is it."
Darwin's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his weapon. "Yeah. Let's get this over with."
Ashton's brow furrowed. "Don't be reckless, Darwin. We are about to meet the being who granted us these very powers. To show disrespect would be utter foolishness."
"He's right," Oscar added, his gaze thoughtful.
Mia stepped forward, her eyes steady. "Don't worry, I'll keep him in line."
While the others voiced their apprehension, Nicole, Link, Noah, and Mike approached Hazel, their expressions earnest. "Thank you, Hazel," Nicole began, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "Without your guidance, we would never have reached this level. You have helped us immeasurably, far more than we have been able to repay you."
"There's no need for such sentiments," Hazel replied, his tone gruff, masking a flicker of warmth.
"Your strength now will serve a purpose later."
Alexa interjected gently, "Just let them, Hazel. They're expressing their gratitude."
"I suppose," Hazel conceded, though a hint of awkwardness remained. "I still don't see the necessity…"
The abrupt chime of the System cut him off.
[You will be transported in five seconds.]
Before they could react, the world around them dissolved.
They materialized in a colossal hall, the sheer scale of it breathtaking. It teemed with people, and a palpable wave of power washed over them. Half the assembly radiated the unmistakable aura of Sovereigns.
Suddenly, a crimson notification blazed into existence:
[You stand before the god of this realm.]
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Heads craned, searching for the divine presence. Those with heightened senses could feel it – a weight, a pressure that defied description.
Then, he was there. Not on the ground, but high above them, suspended in the air before descending with an unnerving fluidity. His appearance was a visceral shock, a grotesque parody of humanoid form. Half a head, devoid of eye and nose, yet a gaping maw filled with jagged fangs dominated the remaining features. His body pulsed with shifting, unnatural colors, and his fingers ended in wickedly sharp claws. A tattered piece of cloth was his only garment, doing little to soften the disturbing spectacle.
Then, a voice echoed through the hall, resonating with an alien authority. "Welcome. Refer to me as Glitch. This is my realm, my domain. I know you harbor countless questions, and in time, some will be answered. But first, you must understand your purpose. You will fight for me, against the people of other gods who contest my existence. You will not face the gods themselves, but their chosen, just as you are mine. These adversaries may be monstrous or human. Some gods have claimed regions of your planet as their own, as I have. However, I was delayed in guiding your growth. The gods' council imprisoned me, hindering your development and allowing my rivals' followers to become far stronger. This system I gifted you, this accelerated evolution, was a desperate measure. The orchestrated apocalypse, the surge of monsters… I ask for your forgiveness."
Glitch's pronouncements were cut short by a voice of raw defiance from the crowd. "How dare you manipulate our lives, drag us into your conflicts simply because you possess greater power?"
In a blink, Glitch was in two places simultaneously. One towering figure remained before the assembled masses, while an identical copy materialized directly in front of the defiant man. The Glitch facing the man spoke, his voice a low, menacing growl. "I despise disrespect." A snap of his grotesque fingers, and the man dissolved into a spray of crimson mist, barely recognizable fragments of flesh clinging to the air.
A collective gasp of terror swept through the hall. Glitch's voice boomed, laced with lethal menace.
"Silence! Unless you crave oblivion." An oppressive quiet descended.
"Good. I abhor unnecessary noise." The two Glitches merged back into one.
"You question my imprisonment? Understand this: I have slain thousands of other gods. I am the most feared among them. Now, know this: your battles will primarily be fought in groups – your entire collective against another god's domain. Failure means annihilation for all of you. Victory grants you dominion over the defeated region. That is all. You will now be returned to your world. I have restored your lands, your infrastructure, your technology. When the time for battle arrives, you will be summoned again. Participation is your choice, but if those who represent you fall, your entire realm will perish. Good luck."
The chilling pronouncements ceased, and the world dissolved once more. They reappeared in their familiar surroundings, yet subtly altered. The devastation was gone. Buildings stood pristine, technology hummed with renewed life. However, scattered across the landscape were ominous rifts, swirling vortexes that pulsed with raw energy, gateways to unknown dangers and the promise of further power.