Mastering the Void

The small portal wavered before Azul, flickering unsteadily like a candle in the wind. She focused, trying to steady it, but it collapsed with a faint pop, leaving behind only a residual ripple in the air.

She exhaled sharply, frustration gnawing at the edges of her mind. Not enough control.

Her entire body still hummed with the aftershocks of her awakening. The sheer magnitude of her new power was overwhelming. It was like trying to contain a storm inside a fragile glass bottle. She could feel it—like an ocean pressing against the walls of a dam, waiting to be unleashed. The potential was intoxicating, but the uncertainty of it all left a lump of unease in her stomach.

She extended her hand again, visualizing the spatial fabric bending to her will. This time, instead of forcing the portal open with brute strength, she willed it into existence gently.

A faint shimmer appeared in the air. Azul's eyes narrowed. Hold it. Shape it.

The shimmer expanded into an oval portal, about the size of a dinner plate. It was small, but stable. A surge of triumph coursed through her veins. Progress.

Now, the real test.

She picked up a small book from her desk, its weight familiar in her hand. A book she had read countless times in her previous life—one of the few comforts she had clung to in a world falling apart. She hesitated for a second before tossing it toward the portal.

For a split second, nothing happened. Then—

Whoosh!

The book disappeared into the void. Azul's breath caught as she turned her gaze across the room. A second portal shimmered open near her bed, and the book tumbled out, landing softly on the mattress.

She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. It worked.

[Ding! Basic Spatial Manipulation Achieved. Skill Unlocked: "Void Transfer"]

Her fingers trembled slightly as she clenched her fists. This was real. This was hers.

She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the rapid thudding of her heartbeat. A thousand emotions swirled within her—relief, exhilaration, and an unshakable hunger for more. She had spent her past life running, fighting for mere survival. This time, she would be the one in control.

"Let's push it further." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of a thousand unspoken hopes.

Her next objective was distance. If she could move objects within her room, could she send them beyond?

She walked to the window and opened it, the night air cool against her flushed skin. The street below was still, bathed in the glow of flickering lamplight. Everything was so ordinary. It wouldn't stay that way for long.

She extended her hand and willed a portal to open outside.

Nothing.

She gritted her teeth, her heart thudding. Too far? Not enough power?

No. She needed to understand how space worked before she could bend it to her will.

Azul closed her eyes and focused. She could feel space around her—like an invisible web stretching beyond her reach. Instead of brute-forcing the portal open, she tried something different: tracing the connection.

Slowly, she imagined two points linking together. Her room. The street below.

A pulse ran through her fingers. Yes.

She opened her eyes. A portal shimmered into existence outside.

A rush of exhilaration shot through her veins. She grabbed another book and threw it—

Whoosh.

The book vanished, and an instant later, she saw it reappear on the sidewalk below.

[Ding! Medium-Distance Spatial Manipulation Achieved. Skill Upgraded: "Void Transfer (Level 2)"]

She leaned against the windowsill, her body still shaking slightly. She had expected this to be thrilling, but she hadn't anticipated the deep-seated satisfaction. It was like finding a missing piece of herself she hadn't even known was lost. This was freedom.

Her fingers danced over the wooden frame of the window as she thought about what this power meant. She could move objects, send supplies, evade attacks—she could escape death itself. No longer confined to fate, she was writing her own story.

Her exhilaration was undeniable, but she needed to understand exactly what she was capable of now. Azul straightened herself and spoke aloud.

"System, show my status."

[Ding! Displaying Updated Status…]

[Maximizer System]

Host: Azul Valtieri

Rank: Awakened (SSS+ Tier)

Points: 750,000

Skills:

Void Transfer (Level 2) – Move objects through space instantaneously.

Void Step – Instantly teleport short distances.

Void Ascent – High-altitude teleportation unlocked.

Dimensional Awareness – Passively senses spatial distortions and rift anomalies.

Abilities Unlocked:

Basic Spatial Rift Control – Allows the creation of small, controlled portals.

Enhanced Reflexes – Improves reaction speed beyond human limits.

Reinforced Physique – Increases endurance and physical resilience while maintaining a balanced body structure.

Instant Maneuver – Enables rapid bursts of movement in any direction.

Impact Absorption – Reduces damage from physical blows by distributing force evenly.

Equipment: [None]

Azul's eyes scanned the glowing interface, her heart racing. This was it. This was tangible proof that she wasn't the same weak girl who had barely survived in her last life.

Her fingers traced over the words in the air as if by touching them, she could etch their meaning into her very soul. This power was hers. And she would use it to shape the future into something better—something she could finally control.

She smirked, determination hardening in her gaze. She wasn't just going to be strong. She was going to be unstoppable.

"Now, what about... movement?"

Teleportation. That was the true essence of space manipulation. Moving objects was one thing, but moving herself? That was the next step.

She took a deep breath and willed a portal open in front of her. It shimmered, awaiting her command.

Her heart pounded. What if it failed? What if she got stuck in the void? What if she miscalculated and ended up somewhere she couldn't return from?

No. Trust the system. Trust yourself.

Azul stepped forward—

The world shifted.

A moment of weightlessness, an instant of pure void—and then—

She stumbled forward onto the sidewalk, knees weak but exhilaration burning in her chest.

[Ding! Teleportation Unlocked. Skill Gained: "Void Step"]

She whirled around, staring up at her window. She had done it.

A wild grin spread across her face, an almost manic edge to it. She wasn't just mastering space—she was becoming its ruler.

She took a shaky breath, the rush of adrenaline still coursing through her. If this was only the beginning, then what awaited her in the future? Power beyond imagination.

Testing the Limits

Azul turned her gaze skyward. What if I went higher?

A bold idea formed in her mind. Could she teleport straight onto a rooftop? She looked up at a five-story building across the alley. Only one way to find out.

She took a deep breath and focused. Distance. Height. The space between.

With a flicker of energy, a portal formed mid-air. Azul didn't hesitate.

She jumped—

And vanished.

She landed on the rooftop with a roll, momentum carrying her forward. She stood, slightly breathless, but victorious. She had done it.

[Ding! High-Altitude Teleportation Unlocked. Skill Gained: "Void Ascent"]

She stepped to the edge of the rooftop, staring out over the city. It was quiet, the calm before the storm.

Three months. That was all the time she had before the world turned to chaos. Three months to become strong enough to survive. No, not just survive—thrive.

She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. She wasn't just mastering space. She was claiming her future.

And when the apocalypse came?

She wouldn't just be ready.

She would own it.