The next morning, the sun had yet to fully reveal its light from behind the silvery clouds, but Exafanos was already awake. Unlike his usual routine, he didn't remain in his small, solitary hut at the edge of the forest that day. After tending to the plants that had been his only companions for so long, Exafanos gazed at the morning sky with a different look in his eyes.
Something had shifted within him.
In his silence, he pondered.
"Is this solitude... truly the best choice?"
All this time, he had lived as the ultimate embodiment of "vanishment," an existence unbound by time, space, or even the logic of the world. He was free, limitless, without direction. But that freedom, it turned out, had left a void he had never realized—until now.
For the first time, Exafanos truly wanted to live... as a human.
Not just as an observer of the world, but as a part of it. He yearned to experience companionship, friendship, interaction, and perhaps... conflict. He wanted to step out of the comfort zone that had long confined him. And to do that, he decided to leave—towards the nearest city.
The city of Wlyna.
Located on the southeastern coast, this city stood majestic as a center of trade and economy for the southern region. The vast blue sea stretched out on its eastern side, with grand harbors where ships from various kingdoms docked. The city lived 24 hours a day, never sleeping. The hustle and bustle of activity seemed to be the very breath of its people's lives.
Wlyna was the territory of an influential noble—Duke William. He was known as a stern ruler who tightened export and import regulations throughout the surrounding waters. Goods entering and leaving had to pass through strict controls and high taxes, yet many foreign merchants were willing to pay the price. Because indeed, the potential for profit in this city was extraordinarily high.
As Exafanos entered the city gates, an alien aura immediately emanated from him, even though he had concealed most of his essential being. But still, a few low-level mages and cultivators with keen senses glanced briefly in his direction—before ultimately turning their attention away. They couldn't comprehend his existence. And that made them instinctively avoid him.
Amidst the dense crowd of the city market, Exafanos walked leisurely. A simple gray robe cloaked his body, making him not too conspicuous. He observed the people around him.
There was a merchant laughing joyfully because his goods were selling well. Children ran by, clutching warm bread in their hands. Young couples chatted with radiant faces. But there were also people with somber expressions, looking tired and stressed. The human world... was full of color.
Suddenly, someone bumped into him from the front.
A young hooded woman, in a hurry, collided with his chest quite forcefully. The woman stumbled, but didn't fall. Gasping for breath, she bowed her head. "I-I'm sorry... I'm in a rush...!"
Exafanos said nothing, merely looking at her with a neutral gaze. But before he could ask anything, the woman glanced back with a worried expression. Ten fully armed men were in pursuit.
Seeing Exafanos's bewildered look, the woman simply said quickly, "Sorry! I really have to go!" and started running again.
Exafanos watched the ten men. They were uniformed, carrying long swords and exuding a sharp aura. From a quick observation, they were all at the Sword Knight level. Quite high in the ranks of swordsmen. In this world, they were equivalent to generals on the battlefield.
But Exafanos didn't care.
He still hesitated.
To become human... did it mean getting involved? Should he help someone being chased? But if he truly wanted to experience life as a human... wasn't helping each other part of that?
Finally, he raised one hand.
Without a word, without a chant, without a grand gesture.
Instantly, the ten men stopped. Their bodies trembled violently. They lost their balance and fell one by one, like puppets without strings. Their mouths were tightly shut, no sound escaped. The sword aura that had previously enveloped their bodies vanished instantly. They couldn't even lift a finger.
The crowd erupted in commotion. People panicked. They didn't know what was happening. Some screamed, some moved away, others curiously approached. But no one knew that the cause of it all was the gray-robed man standing calmly in the middle of the street.
The woman who had been running also stopped.
She turned around and was shocked to see her pursuers had fallen.
She walked slowly towards Exafanos, still panting. Her gaze was filled with disbelief. "You... was this your doing?" she asked in a soft voice.
Exafanos nodded slowly.
The woman bit her lower lip, still incredulous. "They... they were Sword Knights. Ten of them at once... in just a moment..." she murmured.
Exafanos didn't respond. He simply asked in return, "Who are they? And why were they chasing you?"
The woman lowered her head briefly, then lifted her face. "They are my father's personal guards. I am Rose William... Duke William's daughter."
Exafanos looked at her blankly.
"And they were chasing you because?"
Rose swallowed hard, then answered. "Because I ran away from home. Father wants to marry me off to the prince of the Barias Empire—Leandro Barias. But I don't love him. He's a scoundrel, he enjoys toying with women. He even collects married women."
Exafanos sighed. He looked up at the sky. "A stale plot. Running away from a political marriage."
Exafanos knew this, because although he had never lived life as a normal human, he had lived in this world for a very long time, and had seen humans from ancient times until now.
Rose snorted. Then she looked at Exafanos with a serious face. "Please help me... just this once."
Exafanos looked at the woman's face. There was sincerity there. Also fear. She truly wanted to be free. Free from a life as a political tool of the nobility.
Exafanos initially wanted to refuse. But a small part of him—the part trying to become "human"—whispered softly.
He nodded.
Rose was taken aback. Her eyes widened. "You... you'll help me?"
Exafanos sighed and then nodded.
This world is not only composed of ordinary humans. There are three main paths of power: Swordsmen, Mages, and Cultivators. Each has a very complex and separate hierarchy of strength. However, all three can compete in battle, depending on strategy and mastery level.
The Sword Knights, like Rose's pursuers, were already in the ranks of the esteemed. A Sword Knight could cleave large rocks with a single slash. They could channel energy into their swords, creating a sharp aura capable of piercing steel.
But before Exafanos—an existence that could erase reality with mere will—they were just powerless ants.
Exafanos didn't even need to touch them to completely nullify their power.
Meanwhile, Rose truly didn't understand who this man was. But her instincts told her that he was no ordinary person.
Continuation
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the market crowd, which was now beginning to quiet down, Rose stood beside Exafanos.
"I know a safe place," she said. "But we have to hurry before my father sends another group of soldiers."
Exafanos simply nodded.
"Then, let's go," Rose continued, pulling Exafanos's arm.
For the first time, Exafanos felt the warm touch of another human.
For the first time too... he allowed himself to be guided by fate.
Power Tiers of this Multiverse
I. SWORD PATH
The sword path is the realm of those who have become one with their sword as an extension of their soul and will. In this world, swordsmen are highly respected for their technique and high discipline. They are not only physically strong but also possess a steel-like mentality forged alongside the sharpness of their blades.
* Sword Novice
Learning basic sword techniques such as straight slashes, thrusts, and basic defense.
Does not yet understand "sword aura" and relies solely on physical strength.
Used for survival or low-level security.
* Sword Apprentice
Masters basic techniques with high stability.
Movements become smoother, faster, and more precise.
Begins to develop Sword Sense, a natural instinct to read the direction of enemy attacks.
* Sword Knight
Can channel energy into the sword called "Sword Energy."
Able to create a weak Sword Aura around the blade.
Attacks can easily cleave through steel, walls, or large rocks.
* Sword Master
Able to release Sword Aura in the form of long-range waves.
Can eliminate dozens of enemies in a single wide-area attack.
High physical endurance, can withstand basic to intermediate magic.
* Sword Grandmaster
Sword Aura is very dense, resembling an invisible sword blade.
Able to split small mountains or large cliffs.
Considered a national-level fighter who can face intermediate mages.
* Sword King
Each slash affects the elements: fire can appear, earth can shatter, water can split.
Can create a Sword Domain, an area where they have absolute authority.
Attacks seem to transcend the laws of physical logic.
* Sword Saint
Soul and sword become one, inseparable.
With a single slash can erase armies or destroy small cities.
Equivalent to intermediate-stage cultivators and high-level mages.
* Sword God
Slashes can cut through space, the laws of the world, and time locally.
Can challenge any existence: magic gods, divine cultivators, or even cosmic forces.
Sword Aura is so dense that it manipulates the reality around it.
II. MAGICAL PATH
The magic path focuses on the mastery of elements, natural laws, and arcane knowledge. Mages emphasize understanding, regulating magical energy, and connecting with invisible sources of power. Magic can originate from natural elements, astral energy, or even the power of other dimensions.
* Novice Mage
Learning to read and memorize basic spells.
Can create small flames, gentle winds, or cup-sized water.
Requires high time and concentration for a single simple spell.
* Magician
Masters one element quite well.
Can cast intermediate spells such as large fireballs, wind walls, and strong water bursts.
Can begin to fight and defend in real conflicts.
* High Mage
Able to control 2–3 elements simultaneously.
Can create their own spells without a spellbook.
Their magic can control small areas such as limited battlefields.
* Archmage
Master of large-scale magic: firestorms, lightning storms, ice tsunamis.
Can change weather, control the earth, or create realistic illusions.
Can face Sword Masters or Core-stage cultivators.
* Magic Sage
Becomes one with the elements, can summon elements at any time without incantation.
Their magic affects the laws of the world to a limited extent: accelerating local time, slowing down space.
Can open Dimensional Gates to other worlds.
* Magic God
Their magic shapes alternative realities.
Can create life, magical creatures, even small worlds from energy.
Rivals the highest powers in other paths, can fight sword gods or divine cultivators.
III. CULTIVATION PATH
Cultivators rely on the purification of their body, soul, and will to transcend mortal limits. The cultivation process is very long and painful. The higher the level, the closer one gets to immortality and god-like power.
* Mortal Awakened
New energy pathways in the body (meridians) open.
Strength above ordinary humans, can crush large rocks with bare hands.
* Refining Stage
Purifies the body of toxins, diseases, and internal weaknesses.
The body begins to be as strong as steel and can absorb the surrounding natural energy.
* Qi Condensation
Qi gathers in the Dantian, can be used to attack enemies.
Internal techniques such as palm strikes, energy blasts, begin to emerge.
* Foundation Establishment
The true foundation of cultivation is formed.
The body can withstand magical explosions and ordinary swords.
Can walk on water or levitate briefly.
* Core Formation
Forms a Golden Core, Qi energy concentrated like a small star within the body.
Strength can destroy buildings with a single blow.
* Nascent Soul
The soul is born from the core, can leave the body and fight independently.
Can fly freely without assistance.
* Soul Transformation
The soul transforms into pure energy, can destroy large cities.
Their existence can traverse other worlds.
* Void Stage
Merges with the void, can teleport between spaces.
Their existence is difficult to detect and touch.
* Spirit Ascension
Ascension to a high spiritual level, can see short or parallel futures.
Lifespan can reach hundreds or even thousands of years.
* Immortal Ascension
Rejects the concept of death, the body is not destroyed by time.
Can govern small planets, change local laws.
* Heavenly Immortal
Recognized by the laws of heaven.
Can govern fate, create minor laws in a certain place.
* Celestial Sovereign
Governs dimensions and the laws of the world.
Can create their own worlds to house souls or followers.
* Divine Emperor
Absolute god-like power.
A single act of anger can destroy a world.
* Chaos Overlord
Masters the chaos at the beginning of creation.
Can erase time, space, cause and effect with mere will.
* Origin God / True God
The starting point of all existence.
Able to create multiverses with thought, erase and recreate everything.
Cannot be explained by any logic or science, unbound by dimension, space, time, fate, or existence itself.
Important Notes:
The sword path is very strong in direct combat and sharp instincts.
The magic path excels in wide manipulation and mass effects.
The cultivation path is slower but much stronger in the long run, with the potential for immortality and reality control.
Among all of that, Exafanos is an entity outside this system, his existence not even within the Origin God. He is an absolute anomaly, the embodiment of vanishment, capable of erasing all the concepts above with a single will.
...
To be continued...