Chapter 296: The Whisper of the Beyond
Chapter 296: The Whisper of the Beyond
The Nexus Realm had fallen under Sung Jin-Woo's dominion, its secrets and relics secured. Yet, as the thirteenth clone resumed its duties, an ominous ripple coursed through the dimensional fabric. From the farthest reaches of the Void, a faint whisper resonated—a call from a presence beyond existence itself.
In the Umbra Citadel, Sung Jin-Woo sat upon his towering throne, his second divine jewel shifting between hues of dark purple and white. The energy that accompanied the whisper unsettled even him, a rarity in his absolute state.
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The Origin of the Whisper
The thirteenth clone, stationed in the Nexus Realm, traced the ripple's source to a place known only in ancient legends: the Edge of All Things, a boundary where reality dissolved into pure nothingness. Even the Void, vast and incomprehensible, avoided this realm, for it was said to be the dwelling of the Prime Beyond, an entity predating creation itself.
The clone relayed its findings to Jin-Woo. "The Edge beckons, Absolute One. A force beyond comprehension stirs."
Jin-Woo's gaze darkened, his voice echoing with authority. "Prepare. I will see what lies beyond."
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Venturing to the Edge
Jin-Woo did not send a clone this time. He descended from his throne, his massive form emanating an aura so overwhelming that even the Absolute Realm seemed to tremble. With a single step, he tore through dimensions, arriving at the Nexus Realm.
The thirteenth clone awaited him, kneeling before his master. "The path is unstable, my lord. Beyond it lies only voidless oblivion."
"Then it shall be shaped," Jin-Woo replied. Raising his scepter, he extended his dominion over the unstable path, weaving order into the chaos. The path solidified, and Jin-Woo advanced, his twelve wings casting a shadow over the realm.
As he neared the Edge of All Things, a voice greeted him—not a whisper, but a deafening roar that reverberated through every dimension.
"WHO DARES TRESPASS INTO MY DOMAIN?"
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The Prime Beyond
Emerging from the voidless expanse was the Prime Beyond, a being of incomprehensible scale and form. Its presence defied logic, shifting between infinite shapes and colors. It was not merely a god—it was existence and nonexistence intertwined, a force beyond even the Absolute Crown's reach.
Jin-Woo halted, his scepter glowing with dark silver energy. "I am Sung Jin-Woo, Absolute One. This domain is no longer yours. It belongs to me."
The Prime Beyond laughed, a sound that shattered entire dimensions. "You are but a fragment of what you claim to be. Absolute? You know nothing of the true void. Turn back, or face annihilation."
Jin-Woo's divine jewel shifted to a dark purple glow. "I do not turn back. I conquer."
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The Clash
The battle that ensued shook the multiverse. The Prime Beyond unleashed waves of pure oblivion, attempting to erase Jin-Woo from existence. Each attack struck with the weight of infinite realms collapsing, yet Jin-Woo stood firm, his divine armor absorbing the brunt of the assaults.
Jin-Woo countered with the Breath of Death, a force that consumed even the void itself. The Prime Beyond screamed as parts of its form were obliterated, yet it regenerated instantly, its power seemingly infinite.
"You are strong, mortal, but you are not eternal!" the Prime roared, its voice warping reality.
Jin-Woo smirked. "Neither are you."
Channeling the full power of the Absolute Crown, Jin-Woo unleashed a beam from his second divine jewel. The energy tore through the Prime's core, unraveling its essence.
The Prime Beyond faltered, its form destabilizing. "How…? How can you wield such power?"
"Because I am not bound by your limits," Jin-Woo replied. With a final strike of his scepter, the Prime Beyond shattered, its essence absorbed into Jin-Woo's being.
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Claiming the Edge
As the Prime Beyond fell, the Edge of All Things began to stabilize. Jin-Woo extended his dominion over the realm, binding it to the Absolute Realm. The once-chaotic expanse now pulsed with orderly energy, a testament to his unparalleled power.
From the void, a relic emerged—a Fragment of Eternity, said to contain the power of true infinity. Jin-Woo grasped it, feeling its energy merge with his own. The second divine jewel on his forehead shifted to a brilliant white, signifying a new evolution.
"The multiverse bends further to my will," Jin-Woo said, his voice echoing across dimensions. "Let the whispers of defiance fade. I am the Absolute One."
With the Edge of All Things conquered, Jin-Woo returned to the Umbra Citadel, his dominion now extending to the very boundaries of existence. Yet, he knew this was not the end. The Fragment of Eternity held secrets that even he had yet to uncover.
"The game has only just begun," Jin-Woo murmured, his gaze fixed on the horizon of infinity.