Chapter 132: The Collapse of Reality

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Kaelen's storm surged like a primordial wave crashing against the very fabric of reality. The void around him trembled as if the universe itself was holding its breath. The collision of powers sent ripples through the cosmos, distorting space and time in ways that no mortal or god had ever witnessed.

For a brief moment, everything stopped. Time seemed to stretch, and the universe held its collective breath, as if it was preparing for what came next.

Erythos's form flickered, and Kaelen's heart pounded in his chest as the Overseer of Realms stood unharmed in the center of the storm. He was surrounded by a barrier of pure cosmic energy—his control over the very elements of the universe in full force. His eyes glowed with ancient wisdom, and his voice was calm, despite the chaos swirling around them.

"You've come far, Kaelen," Erythos spoke, his tone almost paternal. "But there are forces beyond your understanding, beyond your control. This storm you've summoned—it's not enough. You cannot simply wish the universe into submission."

Kaelen gritted his teeth, the storm around him flickering with his rage. He had spent so long growing stronger, embracing his anger and the power that came with it. But even now, facing Erythos, he could feel something gnawing at the edges of his mind—a doubt, a hesitation. Was this really enough?

"Enough talking," Kaelen snarled, his voice dripping with defiance. "I'm done with the 'lessons.' I've taken your warriors down. Now I'm going to take *you* down."

His hand shot forward, and the storm reacted, intensifying. The sky cracked, and lightning flashed as Kaelen gathered every ounce of power within him. With a shout, he released the storm in a concentrated burst, aiming directly at Erythos.

But Erythos merely raised a hand, and the storm faltered. The energy fizzled out, disintegrating before it could reach him.

"You misunderstand, Kaelen," Erythos said. "You think power is about destruction. But power—true power—is control. And control is not something you can *force*. It must be *earned*."

Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "I'm done with your philosophy."

His body burned with rage, and the storm raged even harder. This time, the attack was different. It wasn't a simple strike—it was an entire cascade of energy, pulling from every corner of the void, reshaping the universe around him. He wasn't just attacking Erythos anymore. He was attacking reality itself.

Erythos raised an eyebrow, his calm demeanor unwavering. "You think you can rewrite reality, Kaelen? You have no understanding of the consequences."

The storm roared, tearing apart the sky as Kaelen released his full fury, ripping at the very structure of space and time. Stars blinked out of existence, black holes opened and closed, and entire galaxies seemed to collapse in on themselves as the power flowed from Kaelen's body.

But something unexpected happened.

The more Kaelen unleashed, the more he began to feel... *empty*. His anger, his desire, his will—they were all there, but the storm, his storm, wasn't responding as it had before. It wasn't feeding him. It was draining him.

"W-What is this?" Kaelen gasped, his body trembling as he felt the power slipping through his fingers like sand.

Erythos's voice came again, calm and unbothered. "You are no longer in control, Kaelen. The storm was never truly yours. It was merely a reflection of your anger—your need to *possess*. But you have reached the limits of that power."

The void around Kaelen began to shrink, closing in on him as if the very universe was rejecting him. The once-chaotic storm now swirled around him like a dark cloud, suffocating him. His strength, his confidence—all of it was fading.

"No…" Kaelen whispered, his mind reeling. "No, this can't be happening."

Erythos slowly descended, his form casting a long shadow over Kaelen. "Your power was born of a fleeting emotion. Anger is a fuel, but it is not eternal. You cannot conquer the universe with rage alone, Kaelen. If you truly wish to become more than a force of destruction, you must learn what true control means."

Kaelen's knees buckled as he struggled to stay on his feet, his chest heaving as the weight of his failure crashed down on him. He had thought that power was all that mattered. But now, standing before Erythos, it was clear that he was nothing more than a pawn in a game far larger than he had ever realized.

Lira, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, her expression a mixture of concern and sadness. "Kaelen… you've always relied on your rage, your anger. But it's not enough. You need more than that. You need to understand what it means to truly *control* this power."

Kaelen clenched his fists, frustration boiling within him. "I don't care about your advice, Lira! This is my fight. My destiny!"

Erythos let out a deep sigh, as if mourning the loss of something precious. "You have the potential, Kaelen. But right now, you are a storm without a direction. A tempest without a purpose. If you continue down this path, you will destroy everything—including yourself."

Kaelen's eyes flared with anger again, but this time, he felt the storm within him struggling. It was fading. The power was slipping away, and no matter how hard he fought, it wasn't enough to bring it back.

He fell to his knees, exhaustion consuming him. The cosmic battlefield stretched out before him, vast and incomprehensible, but Kaelen couldn't focus on that. His mind was clouded with doubt, with uncertainty.

*Was this really the end?*

Erythos stepped closer, his voice softer now, almost sympathetic. "It doesn't have to be. But you must let go of your need for control. The universe will never bend to a single will, Kaelen. But if you understand it, if you become a part of it, you might be able to shape it—gently, without destroying everything around you."

Kaelen's hand trembled, his power still fluctuating, but in that moment, he realized something. The storm had never been his to control. It had always been a part of him, a reflection of his emotions, his desires, and his rage. But power wasn't about bending the world to his will. It was about understanding it. Working with it.

For the first time, Kaelen felt a flicker of hope.

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