01. The Beginning (1)

[PoV: Varro Lazas]

This might be the last time I get to enjoy a quiet life, fueled by the dwindling remains of a loan I can never repay. A simple steak dinner, accompanied by a cup of coffee in an unpretentious restaurant. Simple it may be, but the price tag certainly isn't. This meal cost me 250 Hast—enough to survive for eight to ten months if I were frugal. Even so, the loan agency's warnings will continue to pile up, as I haven't paid off my debt. Therefore... after I finish here, I'll end it all... with the regrets I've kept buried deep inside.

The restaurant is spacious. Air fresheners perfume the air, pendant lights illuminate every corner, and the wooden tables are neatly arranged with pristine tablecloths. It feels luxurious, yet it's only a two-star establishment in the heart of a city plagued by suffering. My right hand expertly slices through the steak with a knife; the other holds a silver fork, puncturing and lifting a juicy morsel. It's delicious, so tender. It's been ages since I had such a meal. The last time I remember eating meat was fried chicken, eight years ago.

After finishing my meal, I lay down the knife and fork, then sip the bitter coffee. The taste of such a lavish meal feels alien on my tongue, so accustomed as I am to dry bread and tap water. The world doesn't care about us—no, I shouldn't blame the world. The blame lies with the people who inflict suffering, the self-serving and their sycophants.

My meal is finished; I head to the counter to pay. The cashier and other patrons stare at me with disgust, their gaze lingering on my scarred face and the lingering odor of my unwashed body. My white shirt and black trousers remain clean, but it's pointless. I'll be dead today, unnoticed. I'm tired. I've spent 39 years in this world, only to suffer in unrelenting regret.

As I approach the automatic glass doors, they hiss open, sensing my movement. The streets and sidewalks are shrouded in the darkness of night, illuminated by red, blue, and white neon lights, accompanied by the metallic scent of rust and littered scrap metal in the alleys and building corners. Holographic billboards showcase the achievements of noble artists and advertisements for expensive goods.

As I walk, a luxurious car glides by. The window is rolled down, revealing a vision of an ideal girl, perhaps eighteen years old. She possesses perfect proportions, a sharp gaze, and an elegant, captivating demeanor. Her eyes and hair are silver. I don't need to wonder who she is; only one noble family boasts such hereditary genetics—the Arius family.

If only I were born into a noble family... I wouldn't have to worry about anything... Fantastic daydreaming, Varro. Right, my destination is the bridge—

Klang!

A hard blow slams into my head, feeling like a metal pipe. My body collapses, my vision blurs, and I feel blood trickling down my scalp.

"Nice dinner, huh?" someone jeers.

"You think this is a joke? Pay up, you bastard! Boss says you're overdue. No money? Then we'll sell your parts—easy as that."

Debt collectors? Ha, ha... damn it.

My body aches intensely. They tried to kill me with iron pipes and want to sell my organs to settle the debt. The people around watch, some indifferent. It's a common occurrence; it happens to me. Perhaps... this is better. I'll join you soon, Mama, Papa, and Lira.

One of them raises a pipe, intending to crush my skull. But as the pipe moves, the surroundings turn strange. All movement ceases. Slowly, I push myself up, using my hands to support myself. As I sit weakly, my eyes fix on my surroundings.

What's happening? The world has stopped, but I can still move.

The iron pipe, poised to shatter my skull, hangs motionless in mid-air. The debt collector's face is frozen in a sadistic expression—eyes wide, lips twisted in a grotesque smile abruptly cut short. The city's noise—the roar of engines, footsteps, even the night wind—all vanish. Only crushing silence remains. I groan, my trembling hands touching my injured head.

"You should be dead." The voice appears suddenly, echoing in my head, not through my ears, but directly into my consciousness.

I turn, and there stands a man. Or rather, "something" shaped like a man. He's over two meters tall, his form indistinct, like smoke, but a vibrant, bluish hue. His face... is nonexistent. Only two pale white points of light mark what might be eyes.

"Varro Lazas," the voice repeats, cold and flat.

I try to stand, but my knees tremble. "Who... who are you?"

"I am something beyond your comprehension," he intones. "But you can call me 'Guardian.'"

"Guardian of what?"

"Guardian of the Planet."

"Guardian of the Planet? What do you mean?"

The blue points of light narrow, as if reluctant to explain. "That..."

I stare at him intently, utterly confused by what's happening, a deep curiosity starting to crawl inside me.

"Huft~ I figured, you're always such a troublemaker," he says with a small, ghostlike smile.

I don't understand. Does he know me? And do I know him?

"Then, let me tell you the details."

He raises his hand and snaps his fingers. He takes me to a different place—no, it feels like a different world.

My eyes froze, trembling. What kind of world is this? This is insane!

A blood-red sky mixed with gray mist, and the ground beneath my feet looked like writhing flesh—pulsating, as if it had a consciousness of its own. And above the sky, tentacles—endless in number—slowly emerged, slithering through the fog. They reached down, trying to destroy all living beings and turn the planet into a mass of living meat.

Then... countless pale yellow, abstract eyes revealed themselves in the crimson sky. Fear. Horror. Madness. Greed. Chaos. Destruction. Evil. Or whatever it was. No words could define what was happening. It went beyond feelings, beyond emotions I could comprehend.

"W-Where are we?!"

I fall to the ground—no, it's not ground. The surface beneath is moist, pulsing like living flesh. I quickly pull my hand back; disgust crawls across my skin. My breath hitches, my heart pounds like it will burst from my chest.

"You needn't panic," says the Guardian in a flat voice. "This is merely a projection, a different dimension I created myself. So, your planet is still frozen."

"Just a projection?!" I scream, my voice cracking. "What is this? What do you mean by 'Guardian of the Planet'? Why did you bring me here?!"

The points of light on his face blink slowly. "I am a Guardian of the Planet, from a galaxy far from yours." He begins to explain, "Guardians of the Planet are authorities granted to those chosen by 'The Cosmic Balance,' a law of universal equilibrium. Because of that, whenever there's chaos, there is hope. And we Guardians are tasked with that, because every planet with civilization must have a protector; I was chosen to protect my home planet, Planet Zebers. The Guardian of Planet Zebers. But, as you see, my planet…" The Guardian raises his hand, pointing to the sky filled with tentacles and horrifying eyes. His voice trembles—despite the absence of a face, I sense despair in his words.

"The planet I've guarded with all my attention… has fallen."

"What… what happened to it?"

His white points stare at me. "These creatures… are 'The Devourers'—dimensional predators. They invade worlds, consuming everything alive and turning it into a part of themselves. I've fought them for millennia, but they're too powerful. Even with the power of a Guardian, I couldn't stop them."

"Why didn't you ask for help from the other Planetary Guardians?" I ask.

The Guardian pauses; the white points blink slowly, as if considering his answer. "Because… there's almost nothing left." His voice is low, almost a whisper. "The other Guardians in our universe have fallen one by one. The Devourers aren't just attacking Zebers—they're consuming the entire galaxy, the entire dimension. Their existence isn't bound by time; they're everywhere and anywhere a civilization exists. They're an unstoppable plague. I'm one of the few remaining, and even I…"

He looks at his own hand—or at least, the shape resembling a hand—which begins to turn transparent, like a fading shadow.

"I'm almost gone. My power is fading. Zebers cannot be saved. But…" He turns to me, and for the first time, something resembling emotion is in his voice. "...there's still hope for your world."

I'm stunned.

"Your planet, Everions, will surely be the next target. The Devourers will start searching for prey. They'll come, and if nothing stops them, Everions will end up like this."

I shiver. "But… why me? I'm nobody. I couldn't even escape the chains of my own regrets!"

"Because you are a candidate."

"A candidate? For what?!"

"A candidate to become a Planetary Guardian."

The air around me grows heavier. I try to process his words, but it feels like my brain refuses to comprehend.

"You're joking."

"No."

"Look at me!" I stretch out my arms, showing my ragged body, scarred face, the blood still dripping from my head. "I'm no hero. I'm not a good person. I'm just a thirty-nine-year-old societal reject who failed at life and chose suicide because I couldn't bear the suffering!"

"That's precisely why you're suitable."

I fall silent. The Guardian approaches, his smoky form moving slowly. "Guardians aren't chosen for their perfection. They're chosen because they understand suffering. Because they know how precious something is when it's almost lost. You've suffered, Varro Lazas. You know what it's like to lose everything. That's what makes you strong."

I want to argue, but his words sting.

"And you should have died today," he continues. "But I stopped time. Giving you a choice."

"A choice?"

"Yes. You can return to your world, let time resume, and die at the hands of the debt collectors. Or…" He extends his hand—a glowing blue orb in his palm.

"...you can accept this power. Become the Planetary Guardian of Everions. And try to save your world before the Devourers arrive."

I stare at the orb.

This is insane.

This is impossible.

But…

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[Flashback: 15 Years Ago]

My sister, Lira, laughs joyfully, holding wildflowers she's just picked. "Varro, look! Beautiful, right?"

I smile, stroking her head. "Yes, very beautiful. Just like you." She blushes, then suddenly starts coughing. Blood stains her hand.

"Lira?!"

But she just smiles weakly. "I… I'm fine."

But I know. We don't have money for medicine. No money for a doctor.

And three days later, she dies in my arms, at the age of fifteen…

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[Present]

I look at the orb again. If… if there's a chance to change something. If there's a chance to prevent such suffering from happening again… I will prevent every child from suffering.

I sigh. "If I accept this… what do I do?"

"First, you must learn to control the Guardian's power. It's not easy; this power can destroy you if you're not careful. Second, you must find the 'Fragments of Balance,' ancient artifacts scattered across the galaxy, even across the universe. They are the key to defeating the Devourers."

"Fragments of Balance?"

"Yes. They are artifacts belonging to Planetary Guardians who have failed in their duty. Artifacts given by 'The Cosmic Balance' to every Planetary Guardian. What we're looking for is an artifact left behind by the previous Guardian. If you collect enough and perform extraction, you can gain enough power to protect Everion, your solar system, even your own galaxy."

"And if I fail?"

"You already know the answer." He points to the sky full of tentacles.

I clench my teeth. "Alright. I accept." Without hesitation, I reach out and touch the orb of light.

The Guardian nods, as if already knowing I would ask.

Then, a swirling vortex of light like collapsing stars appears as a dimensional rift.

"W-What is that?"

"That is… a Manifestation of The Cosmic Balance. It seems… he has accepted my request."

The vortex of light continues to grow, radiating a brilliance like collapsing stars. I feel a strange pull, as if my entire existence is being pulled from the reality I know.

"Don't resist," whispers the Guardian. "Let it take you."

I close my eyes, feeling the sensation of my body disintegrating and reforming in an instant. When I open my eyes again, we are no longer in the terrifying world of flesh and tentacles. We are now floating in the boundless emptiness of space—a pitch-black void adorned with millions of glittering points of light.

Before us, something indescribable appears.

Its form shifts, sometimes resembling a cluster of galaxies, sometimes a gigantic human figure, sometimes a series of unreadable mathematical symbols.

Its voice echoes throughout the space, not through the air, but directly into my consciousness.

"Varro Lazas."

I tremble. This… this is the voice of the universe itself.

"Ressmond and I have chosen you as the candidate for Planetary Guardian of Everions. However, the final choice is yours."

"Final choice?"

"Accepting this responsibility means letting go of all worldly attachments. You will no longer be an ordinary human. You will have no fixed form—you can shift your shape at will. You will become a guardian, a watcher, and if necessary, a judge for your planet."

I am silent. Relinquishing everything? But… what else do I have to let go of? My life is already shattered. My family is gone. I have no friends, no future. But it's precisely because of that—

"I accept."

"Consider carefully. Once you decide, there's no turning back."

"I have considered it. If this gives me a chance to prevent the destruction from The Devourers, and prevent rulers who are overcome by their own hunger… then I will strive to ensure others do not suffer the same as I… then I am willing."

A hum sounds, like the universe itself acknowledges my words.

"Very well."

Suddenly, the Guardian, I mean Ressmond, appears from a point of light. In his hand is the glowing orb I previously received. And it feels like he's genuinely happy.

"Ressmond has agreed to pass on his power to you, so I hope you will use his power well."

"W-What?"

Then, a blinding light bursts from the center of the void, and Ressmond thrusts the glowing orb into my chest. I scream—it feels like every cell in my body is being torn apart and rebuilt. My bones burn, my blood boils.

I see everything.

I see the birth of stars.

I see the death of galaxies.

I see civilizations rise and fall in an instant.

And amidst it all… I see "them."

The Devourers.

Beings that transcend time and space. They are not just monsters—they are "concepts." Concepts of insatiable hunger, inevitable destruction. They are cancer in the body of the universe.

"Congratulations on becoming a Guardian, Varro. I hope you can protect your planet, and don't make the same mistakes as me. With this combined power, you have twice the strength you should have as a beginner Planetary Guardian. That way, you'll certainly be able to protect your civilization… Farewell, Varro. My friend."

I will always remember your words... Ressmond.

And that's the farewell from Ressmond...

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[Real World/Planet Everions]

When I regain consciousness, I find myself lying on the ground. Cold. Wet.

I'm… back?

Trembling, I try to sit up. My body feels… different. Lighter. Stronger.

Before me, the bodies of the three debt collectors lie motionless. But they're not dead—they're just unconscious, as if put to sleep by something. And in my hand… something. A "mark." A strange blue symbol glows faintly on my palm, shaped like a circle with intricate lines. The symbol of a Planetary Guardian.

"I…" My own voice sounds foreign to my ears. "I'm alive."

And not only that… I now have a "purpose."

"Eh? What's that?" When my gaze drops, I see a cube, more like a Rubik's Cube, but without colors; just an ordinary metal Rubik's Cube. But I feel it's not that simple...

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[A Few Hours Later]

I stand on the roof of a tall building, overlooking the city sprawling below. Neon lights, holograms, factory smoke—everything looks so… small. Like toys.

"First, you must learn to control your power."

The strange robotic voice echoed near me. Yes, it's the voice from the Rubik's Cube earlier. It's flying now, following me wherever I go.

Apparently, this small item—Fragments of Balance—is a gift from The Cosmic Balance. Because when I recall Ressmond's words, every Planetary Guardian is given an artifact by The Cosmic Balance. And perhaps its use is as a guide, an informer, and something that can be used as assistance in crucial moments.

"The power of the Guardian comes from The Cosmic Balance. You can manipulate the energy of the universe, control the elements, have no concept of a fixed form, where you can change your body shape as you please, and even bend space and time to a certain extent. But be careful—every time you use this power, you attract the attention of the Devourers."

I nod. "How do I start?"

"Try focusing on the symbol on your hand. Feel the flow of its energy."

I look at my palm, trying to concentrate. At first, nothing happens… but then, like a slow-flowing current, I feel "something" creeping from the symbol into my whole body.

And suddenly.

Bzzzt!

A blue energy blade forms in my hand, emitting a sizzling sound.

"Holy—" I almost drop it.

"Calm down. That's just a basic energy projection. You can form any weapon you want, as long as you can visualize it."

I try again.

This time, the blade changes into a short sword, then a spear, then an arrow.

This… is incredible.

""You possess great power, but it is still limited in use, as if the power is sealed to keep you from exploding due to its uncontrollable force. You're not fully accustomed to it yet. Take it slow, don't rush toward results that may not even be satisfying."

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