Master of the System

Jordan patted his favorite disciple on the head. She was a young girl; just the other day, she had turned five hundred thirty-two years old. “Don’t worry,” Jordan said and let out a small laugh. “I’ll be back within a couple of weeks. It won’t be dangerous at all.”

“But, Master,” the girl, who was actually an old crone, said. “Aren’t a lot of ancestors from different sects attending the secret realm this time? I’m afraid it won’t be as simple as it seems.”

Jordan smiled and stroked his disciple’s hair. “Enter closed-door cultivation. By the time you’re done, I’ll be back.”

“Alright,” the girl said and lowered her head. “Stay safe, Master.”

Jordan chuckled and waved at his disciple, gesturing for her to leave. After she left the room, Jordan’s face hardened, and he entered a teleportation formation. After the dizzying trip, he found himself in an open space with a massive stone gate erected in the center of the clearing. Dozens of famous immortals were gathered, but none of them were speaking to each other. They were standing in guarded positions, wary of the people around them. Jordan looked around before finding an empty spot. He closed his eyes and reviewed the words floating in his text.

[New Mission: Understanding]

[Right now, you are still a frog in a well. Take this opportunity to understand where you stand in the food chain of the universe. Attend the titan secret realm.]

[Reward: Whatever you can get your hands on in the secret realm]

[Penalty: Failure to attend shall result in death]

After reading the text again, Jordan opened his eyes and swept his gaze over the rest of the immortals, making sure his eyes didn’t linger on any one person for too long lest they think he was trying to provoke them. The top cultivators of the continent were gathered, even those who had been silent for centuries or more. In fact, there were quite a few immortals that Jordan never even knew existed. What exactly was the titan secret realm? Well, he was about to find out. It didn’t take long for the stone gates to rumble, and a purple portal opened within the gate’s pillars.

The immortals went through in the order of strength. Jordan didn’t mind going in last. The first ones usually were targeted by those in the back anyway. When he was the only immortal left, he entered the portal, and the scene in front of him was so bizarre that he had no idea what he was looking at. It was as if he were standing in space, but there were tons of holes poked in the fabric of reality. He recognized some of the stars from their constellations, but not all of them were visible. They were blocked by countless voids, and barely any light could get through. He swore he saw a gigantic squid being pulled into a void, causing it to be torn apart, disintegrating the creature into nothing. Were those … blackholes? As someone who had been reincarnated from Earth into a fantasy world, he understood the concept of space and blackholes. However, he was a bit surprised. From what he knew, he should’ve been sucked into a blackhole because of his proximity.

“Everyone has gathered.” A short, plump man with a fancy hat was standing in the void above the immortals. “Gravitat, you can disable the defenses.”

A naked man was sitting with his legs crossed in the lotus pose. He was positioned on top of a hole in the fabric of reality, and when the short man spoke, the naked man opened his eyes. His gaze swept over the immortals and gods below. “This isn’t enough.”

“I’m here too, aren’t I?” the plump man asked with a wry smile. “Just don’t take too long.”

The naked man, Gravitat, snorted. The sound was akin to thunder echoing in Jordan’s heart. Gravitat unfolded his legs and stood up, revealing his perfectly chiseled body. “Don’t regret it.” He raised his arms, and the things Jordan suspected to be the blackholes vanished from view. Ear-piercing screeches and roars assaulted Jordan’s senses, causing his vision to blur. Once the curtain of torn space was removed, the ugly reality behind it was revealed. Trillions of squirming creatures as black as ink were feasting upon each other. Then, one of them noticed the waiting gods and immortals. When it rushed over, the rest of them followed. Even Istoriya’s face paled upon seeing the sight.

“I’ll be back when the mission is done,” Gravitat said and approached a portal. “I suspect I won’t come back to much.”

***

Vremya furrowed his brow. Something was approaching his world at an extremely fast speed. Had another god come to trouble him? He sighed and shook his head. When would they ever learn? He flipped through his display, reading the notes Pravos had left behind regarding his users. They had all pretty much grown the same way to become immortals, thanks to using the same techniques. There were a few differences in their elements and fighting styles, but they could all be classified as warriors. It was a bit disappointing for him to see Smith Jr. grow up to be a warrior instead of a chef, but sometimes, the times didn’t allow for things to always go as he wanted.

“Uh, Vremya, what’s that?” Karta asked, pointing out the window.

Vremya glanced outside. There was a ball of darkness that was rapidly expanding. It washed over the barrier covering the world and swallowed the house the next second. Pravos let out a scream from the upstairs bathroom. “Who turned off the lights!? I’m showering! Karta, was that you!?”

Vremya stood up with a frown. He recognized this ability. “Gravitat?”

A voice echoed from all around the house. “It’s been a while. Unfortunately, I’ve been told to imprison you.”

Vremya’s frown deepened. “I didn’t think you were one to listen to the council. On the internet, everyone claims you’re disconnected from society, only focused on killing titans. What’d they offer you to trap me like this?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Gravitat asked. “Kosmos’ divinity. I never understood why you rejected such power, but since you don’t want it for yourself, you shouldn’t mind if I take it, no?” There was a grim chuckle. “Even if you do mind, it isn’t like there’s anything you can do about it.”

Vremya pursed his lips. Istoriya not only had plans against him, but the god of history was also plotting against Kosmos. Vremya froze time and stepped outside his house. He walked towards the edge of the barrier and pressed his hand against it. Instead of phasing through like usual, his hand was stuck as if he were trying to push it through a concrete wall.

“You know it’s useless,” Gravitat said. “Not even time can escape from a blackhole. If it were eons ago, you’d be able to travel to the past and avoid this outcome, but since Istoriya encroached on your domain, there’s nothing you can do. You can travel to the future, but by the time this blackhole dissipates, I’ll have already become the god of gravity and space. Goodbye, Vremya.”

Vremya walked back into the house and took a seat on the couch. It was true time couldn’t escape from a blackhole unless it went into the past. However, what if Vremya didn’t only have the power of time? If time couldn’t escape from a blackhole, then maybe a godly avatar with some understandings of the laws of gravity could. Vremya dug into his bellybutton with his finger; it was time to see how Baby Vremya was doing.

“Are you picking your bellybutton again?” Karta asked.

“It’s pitch-black in here. How can you even tell?”

Karta rolled her eyes despite Vremya not being able to see them. “By the smell. Duh. This nose isn’t just for show.”

“Vremya! Can you turn the lights back on!? I can’t see!” There was the sound of something screeching against the bottom of a tub. Then, there was the sound of a loud thud. “Fuck! That hurt!”

Karta turned towards Vremya. “Is justice allowed to curse?”

Vremya waved his hand dismissively. “If Pravos can physically do it, then justice can do it.”