Chapter 2: The Catalyst
Somewhere in the Vast Expanse of the Cosmos—
The void stretched infinitely, an endless canvas of black speckled with distant stars that shimmered like fragments of forgotten dreams. At the heart of this emptiness, a radiant white light pulsed, its glow shifting and twisting as if it defied the very concept of form.
Slowly, the light began to take shape—a towering, ethereal figure whose presence exuded an overwhelming sense of divinity. Its edges flickered, undefined, yet its sheer aura was enough to command reverence. If a mortal were to see it, they would fall to their knees, awestruck and terrified in equal measure.
The figure turned its attention to a tiny flickering orb floating nearby. The orb trembled, its faint glow dwarfed by the being's immense radiance. Compared to the towering entity, it was insignificant—a mere speck of dust before a mountain.
"A soul…" the being mused, its voice resonating through the void, not as sound but as a presence that filled every corner of the space. "How curious. How did it come here?"
The figure extended a hand, its fingers—if they could be called that—reaching toward the orb. With a subtle motion, it began unraveling the secrets of the fragile light. Memories, emotions, and thoughts unfolded before it, like pages of a book being read in an instant.
"A human soul from a primitive world," it mused, its tone contemplative, yet there was something deeper—a flicker of intrigue, perhaps even… amusement. "But this… this is peculiar." The light surrounding the figure dimmed momentarily as it paused, the air growing heavier. "This soul… knows of the Otsutsuki baron family. The weakest… yet the most ancient of bloodlines. How could a world so backward hold such knowledge? Even as fiction, such truths should remain beyond their grasp."
The being's form flickered as its thoughts deepened. "It seems my seclusion has lasted too long. The threads of fate are stirring, and events beyond my sight are in motion."
Its gaze returned to the orb, which now shone brighter, its light growing purer in the sacred space it floated in. The divine energy surrounding it refined the soul, shaping it into something more than it once was.
"You were not brought here by accident, little one," the being said, its voice tinged with something almost like amusement. "Perhaps it is his will. Or perhaps… it is yours."
The orb quivered, its light flickering as though it understood the weight of the being's words.
"You desired power," the figure continued, its tone shifting—colder, more calculating now. "A life beyond the mediocrity of your existence. Very well. I shall grant you this chance. But be warned, mortal: the path ahead is one of suffering and strife. The world I send you to holds the keys to your salvation and your destruction. You know of its future, yet even that will not prepare you for the trials that await."
With a deliberate motion, the being raised its hand, its movements as graceful as they were terrifying. The void seemed to shudder, galaxies trembling as a powerful swoosh echoed across the vast expanse. The soul was flung into the infinite black, hurtling across dimensions, through stars and galaxies, its light trailing like a comet against the abyss.
"Prove yourself, little one," the being murmured, its voice lingering in the empty space long after the soul had vanished. "If you rise above the greatest of that world, if you shatter the chains of mortality, then… we shall meet again. Until then, this gift shall serve you well."
And with those final words, the light began to fade, the figure dissolving into the void as though it had never existed. Only the faintest echo remained, a whisper that would never reach mortal ears.
"Do not disappoint me."