chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Path to Power

Adam stared at the glowing, swirling portal before him, his heart pounding. After his encounter with Rafiq, he realized he couldn't continue this journey alone. He needed allies—someone he could trust to help him navigate the endless dangers of the multiverse.

The answer came quickly: Kimy.

Kimy was an old friend, a fellow physicist who had always been fascinated by the impossible. Years ago, they had worked together on cutting-edge theories about dimensions and matter, sharing countless late nights fueled by curiosity and coffee. If anyone could help him, it was her.

A Reunion of Minds

Adam found Kimy in her lab, surrounded by holographic displays and whirring machines. She was exactly as he remembered: sharp-eyed, determined, and endlessly resourceful.

"You're alive," she said, stunned, when Adam appeared. "I thought you disappeared off the face of the Earth."

"I did," Adam replied. "But I came back. And I need your help."

Over the next hour, Adam explained everything: his family's death, the Multiverse Key, and the malevolent being named Rafiq who had manipulated his fate. Kimy listened in silence, her expression a mix of shock and intrigue.

Finally, she nodded. "If this Rafiq is as powerful as you say, then you're going to need more than just luck. You're going to need strength—real strength. And I think I know where we can find it."

A New Universe

Using the Multiverse Key, Adam and Kimy leaped into a new universe, one vastly different from their own. The air felt denser, the sky shimmered with unnatural colors, and their bodies were transformed. They were no longer carbon-based beings but something entirely alien—woven from strands of luminous, crystalline energy.

Adam flexed his hands, marveling at the way his translucent limbs refracted light. "This is… incredible," he said.

Kimy smirked. "Welcome to the laws of physics turned upside-down. In this universe, the rules are different. Matter as we know it doesn't exist."

Their goal was clear: find Meon, the Great Shaman. Legends across the multiverse spoke of his unparalleled ability to predict events thousands of years into the future. If anyone could give Adam a chance against Rafiq, it was him.

The Ambush

Their journey was treacherous. The landscapes of this universe constantly shifted—crystalline mountains rose and fell, rivers of liquid light flowed in impossible directions. Yet, just as they reached the outskirts of Meon's domain, they were intercepted.

A tall figure stepped into their path. His body, like theirs, shimmered with crystalline energy, but his presence exuded menace. He introduced himself with a smirk.

"I am Aiman Putre," he said, his voice reverberating like shattered glass. "Rafiq's enforcer. He sent me to ensure you never reach Meon."

Kimy drew back, instinctively taking a defensive stance. Adam stepped forward, his crystalline fists clenching. "Get out of our way," he growled.

Aiman chuckled. "You don't understand, do you? This isn't about you winning or losing. It's about teaching you futility. You think you can challenge Rafiq? Every step you take is a step deeper into his trap."

A Fight for Survival

Without warning, Aiman lunged, his crystalline form morphing into a razor-sharp weapon. Adam and Kimy fought with everything they had, using their newfound energy bodies to manipulate the environment around them. The air crackled with bursts of light and sound as the battle raged across the ever-shifting terrain.

Though they fought valiantly, Aiman was relentless, his power a testament to Rafiq's influence. Just as it seemed they might be overwhelmed, Adam noticed a faint glimmer on the horizon—a beacon marking Meon's sanctuary.

"We have to make a run for it!" Adam shouted to Kimy.

Together, they unleashed a blinding surge of energy, momentarily disorienting Aiman. Using the distraction, they sprinted toward the sanctuary, their forms flickering with exhaustion but driven by sheer determination.

The Sanctuary

They burst through the shimmering gates of Meon's domain just as Aiman's roar echoed behind them. Inside, the air was calm, serene. A figure stood waiting—tall and cloaked in a radiant robe that seemed to hold the universe within its folds.

"You seek answers," Meon said, his voice soft but resonating with infinite wisdom. "And the path you walk is one of great peril."

Adam stepped forward, panting. "We need your help. Tell us how to defeat Rafiq."

Meon's glowing eyes met his, and for a moment, Adam felt as though the entirety of time and space had been laid bare before him.

"The future is vast, Adam," Meon said. "But to change it, you must first understand the truth of who you are—and who Rafiq truly is."

The battle with Aiman was over, but Adam knew the true fight was only beginning.