The multiverse had no beginning, and yet, it was forged with intention.
Seven ancient beings—known across dimensions as the Epics—stood at the edge of an eternal void. They were not gods, yet they held powers that rivaled creation itself. They were not born, nor created—they simply were. Their existence preceded the laws of time, space, and matter. Together, they looked upon the emptiness and chose to fill it. Not with one universe, but many. A multiverse.
The Epics worked in perfect harmony, their minds synchronized in a rhythm older than sound. With every thought, a universe bloomed into existence. With every motion, galaxies spun into life. They shaped stars, birthed worlds, and wove the fabric of reality itself. But they knew creation alone wasn't enough. Protection was necessary.
And so, they sealed every universe they created—each locked away in its own cosmic vault, safe from corruption, invasion, or collapse. These sealed realms became their legacy. But among them, one universe drew their constant attention—a central, unique system that behaved differently. A universe with immense potential… and immense risk.
For eons, all seemed well. But then, it began.
In this special universe, a subtle shift took place. The energy of darkness—what they had once used to create balance—grew unchecked. Black hole energy, a force designed to absorb excess chaos, began to rise. Slowly, silently. Until one day, it crossed the threshold.
50%.
That was the limit. And it had been breached.
The universe they had once nurtured was now on the edge of collapse. If the black hole energy continued to grow, it would not only destroy that world—it could corrupt the entire multiverse, leaking through the seals the Epics had created.
The Epics did not panic. They acted.
Realizing that they couldn't intervene directly without unraveling the laws of free will, they made a fateful choice. They scattered fragments of their power—divine, ancient, immeasurable—into that universe. A select few mortals were chosen. They would become the protectors, the wielders of Epic power, unknowingly tasked with maintaining balance.
But fate is rarely obedient.
In the chaos of the power's descent, something went wrong. One of the most powerful fragments—originating from one of the strongest Epics—fell into the wrong hands. A mortal with a soul too broken, too angry… too dangerous.
With the power of an Epic coursing through him, he became a threat not just to his world—but to every world.
He could reshape reality, twist space, crush time, and annihilate anything that stood in his way. And worst of all, he knew it. He wasn't confused or afraid. He was ready.
The Epics had tried to fix the flaw. But in doing so, they had created a greater one.
Now, their perfect multiverse stood on the edge of destruction—not from external invasion, but from something born within.
And so began the war for balance.
Not between gods and demons.
But between mortals chosen by power…And one who should never have had it.
California, Earth – Present Day
Johnny walked through the busy streets of Sent Carta, California. The city was alive with movement: cars honked, people shouted, the hum of voices and footsteps filled the air. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden light that bounced off the polished windows of the towering skyscrapers. Despite the busy city surrounding him, Johnny felt completely out of place.
"Well, well, well... I'm Johnny. Just a 20-year-old guy trying to survive in this messed-up world," he muttered, glancing at the buildings that seemed so much taller than the ones back in his hometown of Carson City.
Johnny had moved to Sent Carta for college. He had no particular interest in academics—college was just a means to an end. It wasn't a bad life, but it was nothing extraordinary. Every day felt the same. He woke up, went to class, studied just enough to get by, and then spent his time hanging out with his best friend, James.
James was everything Johnny wasn't: charismatic, confident, and always at the center of attention. They were an unlikely pair, but they had been best friends for as long as Johnny could remember. Johnny's usual routine was to meet James after class and grab lunch together, maybe hit the gym or just hang out. It wasn't glamorous, but it was familiar. And that familiarity was all Johnny had.
"Where the hell is James?" Johnny muttered to himself, scanning the crowd as he walked toward the college campus.
Just as he spoke, he heard a loud voice behind him. "Oi, Johnny!" Johnny turned around to find James jogging toward him, a cocky grin on his face. James had a way of making everything feel effortless. Tall, broad-shouldered, and always the life of the party, James was the kind of guy everyone knew and everyone liked.
"Where were you?" Johnny asked, raising an eyebrow.
James shrugged casually. "Boxing club, bro. Checking out the cheer girls."
Johnny rolled his eyes. "You spend more time flirting than actually Boxing."
James laughed. "Better than you, loser. At least I talk to them. You don't even look at them."
Johnny couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, right. What's the point if you can't even get them to notice you?"
"Better than being a total loser," James teased, nudging him.
The two friends walked toward their college building, chatting as they went. The conversation turned to their next class, but Johnny's thoughts kept drifting. He couldn't quite shake the sense that something was different about today.
As they approached the entrance to the building, a group of girls walked past. Johnny's eyes briefly landed on one of them. Cassy. She was the epitome of beauty, with long, dark hair that cascaded like a waterfall down her back. Her eyes briefly met his, and in that instant, Johnny felt a strange rush. It was fleeting, but it left him with an unfamiliar feeling. He tried to ignore it, brushing it off as nothing more than a fleeting glance.
"Bro, do you know who that was?" James stopped abruptly, his voice tinged with excitement.
Johnny shrugged, feigning indifference. "No idea."
James smirked, clearly amused by Johnny's nonchalance. "That's Cassy. She's the most beautiful girl in the whole college."
Johnny raised an eyebrow. "So?"
James groaned, grabbing Johnny by the shoulders. "Dude, she's out of your league! And to make things worse, Calex has a crush on her."
Johnny's brow furrowed. "Who the hell is Calex?"
James lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "He's a third-year student. The most feared guy in this college. His family is loaded, he's got connections, and he's a total psycho. If he finds out you even looked at Cassy, you're dead."
Johnny scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Relax, man. It was just a smile. Nothing's gonna happen."
James sighed, shaking his head. "I hope you're right, Johnny."
Later that day, during their lecture, Johnny's mind wandered. He couldn't stop thinking about Cassy. As the professor droned on about some irrelevant topic, Johnny's attention was elsewhere. That's when he felt it—eyes on him. He slowly turned his head, and to his surprise, Cassy was looking directly at him. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and just as quickly, she looked away.
His heart skipped a beat.
A boy sitting a few rows ahead of Johnny noticed the exchange. His lips curled into a knowing smirk as he stood up and slipped out of the room without making a sound. His footsteps were silent as he made his way through the crowded hallway.
Later, in a dimly lit corner of the boxing club, the boy approached a group of intimidating men. He moved with purpose, urgency in his step. The leader of the group was sitting casually on a bench, flipping a coin in the air. His sharp features and piercing eyes made him seem more like a predator than a student.
"Boss," the boy said, his voice low and tense. "His name is Johnny. Same batch as Cassy."
Calex caught the coin mid-air, his smirk widening. "Hm… I'll deal with him tomorrow."
TO BE CONTINUED...