Chapter 23: The Last Training

At the top of Everest, where the air was extremely heavy and the neon streams swirled in unstable vortices, Zero felt his body vibrate with pure power. 

This place, where dangerous streams of neon energy literally permeated everything around him, seemed designed for his training. No one alive could endure such an environment, but Zero was an exception. He stepped on top of a cliff surrounded by bright clots of neons that shimmered with different colors, and inhaled deeply.

'The Absolute Training Technique' gave him the ability to reshape his body on a molecular level, raising the reaction speed of the neons to limits only available to beings of cosmic scale. It required tremendous concentration and stamina. His goal was clear - to prepare his earthly body to accept the partial power of TON618. Zero stopped, lowered himself to the ground in lotus pose, closed his eyes and began to breathe slowly and deeply, adjusting the rhythm of his neons to synchronize with the surrounding currents.

- To feel everything ... - he whispered, striving to become one with the surging energy around him.

The seconds stretched slowly ...

Zero could feel the neons inside him rebuilding the structure of his cells.

- Like this, step by step ... - he clenched his fists, feeling each change.

The process was extremely painful, but Zero endured because he knew that his body had to become strong enough to withstand at least 0.1% of TON618's power afterward. This was the only opportunity to rise to a whole new level. His Earth body, thanks to the symbiosis with the TON618 particle, had the potential to do so, but required ten years of brutal training.

Zero inhaled again, feeling the new cells being reborn. With each inhale and exhale, his body grew stronger and stronger.

- Already soon, I will receive a portion of absolute power - he said into the void, as if addressing the power that created him - I will be ready to receive it when the time comes.

During the first year, Zero began to synchronize every neuron in his body, analyzing the structure of the Earth body to create the foundation for the future - an absolute body at the age of 18.

Every cell, every neuron and its rhythm was under his control. He then began the 'Absolute Training Technique', a process that required more than just physical strength: he was immersed in another dimension where time and space flowed completely differently. The changes occurring there were transferred to his physical body, causing unbearable pain.

There were moments when the pain seemed impossible to bear. It was at times like these that Zero thought of his mother. His promise to her - to become strong to protect her - was like a ray of light in the midst of darkness. He would stop, close his eyes, and it was as if he could hear her voice...

Meanwhile, Alina was making significant steps on her path.

She entered the top 300 of the Earth Phantom Rankings and joined the 'Green Forest' Guild, an all-female team that gained fame under the leadership of Captain A-rang. Alina was close to her B-rank, which required even more effort on her part, but she kept pushing forward. One evening, sitting on a hill, she looked up at the starry sky, remembering those evenings when she and Zero used to watch the stars together.

- Wherever you are, Zero, I know you're looking at the stars right now too, - she spoke softly and a smile appeared on her face.

At this time, advanced civilizations had become active, and the entire 'Milky Way' galaxy was almost divided. 

The tidbits had already been handed out, only the 'crumbs' remained, and then everyone would have the right to do whatever they wanted with them. Some were eager to watch the process, others were eager to grab their piece. The galaxy had an important structure of planets that had large stores of neons laid down in their cores from the beginning of the creation of the universe. This made them incredibly valuable, although there were no such resources in the solar system. Therefore, it was unknown who would get the right to the Earth. The Nanites played a major role in this war, as only a few other civilizations could oppose them. Intelligence was always stronger than physical strength, and the Nanites were some of the most intelligent beings.

On Earth FX12, at this time, the cream of the board, having purchased information from the 'Mist Sellers', began to prepare the Phantoms even more actively for the upcoming battle. They weren't sure of victory, but they weren't going to give up. Along with the new information, they gained access to the full version of the game 'Phantomathia', which allowed them to look beyond their world. In Phantomathy, the Phantoms could meet other beings, train with them, share experiences, and even just travel. But first they needed to gain the strength to prove themselves as a powerful race in this game, and set themselves up for the serious challenges that awaited them.

Four more years passed, but for Zero, time was flowing faster - he felt like 3,000 years had passed.

He was now 17, and his birthday was approaching, when he was to receive the absolute power he had worked so many years to achieve. His body had changed, his gray hair and the thin but thick gray aura that hovered around him were a symbol of his transformation and testified to the profound changes that had taken place within. Neon energy vibrated around Everest, creating an atmosphere of tension and anticipation. Zero sat on the rock and his thoughts traveled back in time. He remembered his mother, Alina, her smile, their conversations that gave him inspiration in the hardest of times. There was a warmth in his heart - it was time to fulfill the promise he had made, to return home.

Just as Zero was nearing the climax of his training, AVI's artificial intelligence activated and notified SON HQ of a possible approaching cataclysm from Everest. The screens at HQ were flooded with graphs and numbers that supported the theory that the unknown neon outburst caused by Zero could be related to Project 'Megalodon'.

- What does that mean ? - The Commander asked, scrutinizing the data, -Can we confirm this information?

AVI replied in his mechanical but clear voice:

- Analysis indicates that this unknown energy is anomalous and exceeds all previous readings. It could cause serious consequences not only for our planet, but also for larger events throughout the galaxy.

At this moment, Zero realized that his time was approaching. He focused on the energy around him, feeling it build up and concentrate in his body. This was the last training session before he would become the man he was always meant to be. There were only a few days left until his 18th birthday, until he would accept a portion of absolute power. Though chaos reigned around him, Zero had a ripe feeling that he was ready to accept 0.1% of the absolute power...