บท 2: 2. The Arbiter’s Offer
The air in the Tesseract was unlike anything Caelus had ever felt before. It wasn't warm or cold—it was just… there. A presence that filled the space around him, heavy and weightless all at once. He looked around, but the landscape was impossible to define. It was neither light nor dark. Shapes shifted and blurred at the edges of his vision, never quite forming into anything solid. The sky above wasn't a sky at all, just an expanse of shifting colors and swirling energy.
It was overwhelming.
For a moment, Caelus felt his knees buckle, the sheer strangeness of the place pressing down on him. This wasn't like his decaying world. This place wasn't broken or dying—it was alive, pulsating with energy that he could feel in his bones. But there was no comfort in that realization. The Tesseract wasn't here to make him feel safe. It was here to test him.
"This is… the Tesseract?" Caelus asked, his voice barely a whisper.
The Arbiter stepped forward, his presence as solid and unchanging as ever. "Yes," he replied, his voice calm. "This is where your journey begins."
Caelus forced himself to stand straight, his heart pounding. He had expected something more… tangible. Something he could wrap his mind around. But this place—it defied logic. It was a place where the rules of reality didn't seem to apply. He could feel it in the air, in the ground beneath his feet. Everything was in constant motion, yet standing still at the same time.
"What… what do I do now?" Caelus asked, trying to steady his breathing.
The Arbiter glanced at him, a faint smile playing at the edges of his lips. "You will ascend the Tesseract, facing different versions of yourself in each reality. Some will offer you guidance, but many will challenge you. And with every victory, you will gain the power and knowledge of your alternate selves."
Caelus swallowed hard. "And if I lose?"
"Then you will remain in that reality," the Arbiter replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "Forever."
The weight of the Arbiter's words sank into Caelus like a stone. The thought of being trapped in one of these strange, shifting realities for eternity was terrifying. But what other choice did he have? He couldn't go back to the decaying loop. And something inside him—something deep and unshakable—told him that this was the only way forward.
Caelus took a deep breath, forcing his fear to the back of his mind. "How do I start?"
The Arbiter raised his hand, and the space in front of them rippled like water. A doorway appeared, its edges shimmering with a faint, iridescent glow. Beyond the doorway, Caelus could see a landscape—vague and hazy, but there nonetheless. It was the first clear thing he had seen since entering the Tesseract.
"This will lead you to your first reality," the Arbiter said, lowering his hand. "A world governed by elemental control. There, you will face an alternate version of yourself—one who wields the power of the earth."
Caelus stared at the doorway, his stomach twisting into knots. An alternate version of himself. He had never been able to fully grasp the idea of multiple versions of himself existing in other realities. The concept was too foreign, too abstract. But now, it was real. He was about to face another Caelus Rynne—one who had lived a completely different life, in a completely different world.
"What… what if I can't do it?" Caelus asked, his voice faltering.
The Arbiter didn't answer immediately. When he did speak, his voice was quiet but firm. "You are stronger than you know, Caelus. The Tesseract wouldn't have chosen you if you weren't capable."
Caelus clenched his fists, the tension in his body building with every second. He wasn't sure if the Arbiter's words were meant to comfort him or push him forward out of necessity. Either way, the reality was clear: there was no turning back.
With one last glance at the Arbiter, Caelus stepped toward the doorway. As he approached, the shimmering light seemed to pull him in, wrapping around him like a cocoon. For a moment, the world went dark, and the sensation of weightlessness returned.
Then, with a sudden lurch, Caelus found himself standing on solid ground once more.
The world around him was drastically different from the Tesseract. Gone was the surreal, shifting landscape. In its place was a vast expanse of land, stretching as far as the eye could see. But it wasn't barren or desolate. It was vibrant, teeming with life. Trees towered above him, their branches thick with leaves, while the ground beneath his feet was solid and earthy, the smell of fresh soil filling the air.
The sky above was a deep, clear blue, and the sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything. For a moment, Caelus felt a sense of calm wash over him. This world was alive—thriving in a way that his home world had never been.
But the calm didn't last long.
A rumble echoed through the ground, faint at first, but growing louder with each passing second. Caelus's eyes widened as the earth beneath his feet began to tremble. It wasn't an earthquake—it was something else. Something powerful.
From the distance, Caelus saw the ground start to rise, as if the land itself was coming to life. Slowly, a figure emerged from the earth—tall, imposing, with eyes that gleamed like polished stone. His skin was rough, like the surface of a mountain, and his movements were deliberate and measured, as if every step he took was in perfect harmony with the land around him.
Caelus's breath caught in his throat.
It was him.
The figure looked exactly like him—but different. His body was stronger, more rugged, as if he had been forged from the earth itself. And the power radiating from him was unmistakable.
"So, you've finally arrived," the alternate Caelus said, his voice low and steady. "I've been waiting for you."
Caelus didn't know what to say. He had prepared himself to face alternate versions of himself, but seeing it with his own eyes was something entirely different. This version of him—this earth-wielder—wasn't just an echo. He was a living, breathing person, with his own thoughts, his own experiences, and his own power.
"I know why you're here," the alternate Caelus continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You've come to take what's mine. My power. My connection to the earth."
Caelus opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. He didn't know how to explain it, how to tell this version of himself that he didn't want to fight. That he didn't want to take anything from him.
But it didn't matter.
The alternate Caelus took a step forward, and the ground beneath him cracked and splintered. "I won't let you," he said, his voice cold. "I've fought for this power. I've bled for it. And I won't give it up—not to you, or anyone else."
Before Caelus could react, the alternate version of himself raised his hand, and the ground erupted beneath him. Massive pillars of earth shot up from the ground, hurtling toward Caelus with terrifying speed.
Instinctively, Caelus dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. His heart raced as he scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. He had never fought like this before. He had never wielded power like this.
But now, he had no choice.
If he wanted to ascend the Tesseract, if he wanted to survive, he would have to fight.
And he would have to win.
Caelus barely had time to think before the ground rumbled again, another surge of earth rising from beneath him. The alternate version of himself moved with the grace of someone deeply connected to the land, his movements calculated and smooth. For a brief moment, Caelus could only watch in awe. This was a version of him—an extension of himself—but so much stronger, so much more attuned to the world around him. The way he controlled the earth wasn't just power—it was artistry.
But admiration wouldn't save him.
The next wave of attacks came swiftly. Massive stone pillars erupted from the ground, aiming to crush Caelus where he stood. He darted to the side, barely avoiding the strike as one of the pillars shattered into dust behind him. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his mind racing. How could he possibly win this? He had no power—nothing to defend himself with. This Caelus had spent his life mastering the earth. He had no such experience.
"Is this all you've got?" the alternate Caelus sneered, his voice echoing across the field. He raised his hand again, and the ground beneath Caelus's feet began to tremble. "I expected more from myself."
Caelus gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm. There had to be a way out of this. A weakness. Something he could use. But his mind was blank, overwhelmed by the sheer force of the attacks. The ground continued to shift and quake beneath him, making it hard to stay on his feet. Every time he thought he had found a stable spot, the earth would rise up again, throwing him off balance.
"I told you," the alternate Caelus said, his eyes narrowing. "I've bled for this power. I've fought for it. You can't take it from me."
Caelus clenched his fists, frustration and fear mingling in his chest. "I don't want to take anything from you!" he shouted, his voice cracking slightly. "I'm not here to steal your power—I'm here because I don't have a choice!"
The alternate Caelus paused, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then his lips curled into a bitter smile. "No choice, huh?" he said softly. "That's what they all say. But you don't understand what it's like. The sacrifices I've made. The pain I've endured."
Caelus's breath hitched. There was something in his voice—something familiar. The pain. The anger. It wasn't just about power. It was about something deeper, something more personal. But before Caelus could speak again, the alternate version of himself lashed out, his hand slicing through the air.
The ground beneath Caelus's feet gave way, opening up into a massive chasm. He yelped, scrambling to find solid ground, but it was too late. His body tumbled down, falling into the darkness below. For a moment, panic gripped him. The sensation of freefall was disorienting, the wind rushing past his ears as the ground came up to meet him.
But then, something strange happened.
As he fell, Caelus felt a surge of energy. It started small, like a spark deep within his chest, but quickly grew stronger. His heart raced, and for a brief moment, the world around him seemed to slow. The air around him seemed to thrum with energy, vibrating with a power he had never felt before. His body responded instinctively, his hand reaching out, and suddenly—
The ground beneath him stopped.
He wasn't sure how it happened, but instead of crashing into the earth below, the ground caught him—soft, like a cushion, as if the earth itself had reached up to break his fall. He hovered there for a moment, suspended just above the ground, before being gently lowered back to his feet.
Caelus stared down at the ground in disbelief. Did he… do that?
The earth beneath him shifted again, but this time, it felt different. Instead of resisting him, it responded. It was subtle, but Caelus could feel it—the connection. The power. It was there, deep within him, waiting to be unlocked.
His alternate self watched from above, his eyes narrowing. "So, you've felt it, haven't you?" he called down, his voice tinged with something like jealousy. "The power of the earth. It flows through you, just as it does through me."
Caelus swallowed hard, his pulse pounding in his ears. "I… I don't understand. How—?"
"You're a Convergence," the alternate Caelus interrupted, his tone bitter. "Just like me. That means the potential for power has always been inside you. You just needed the right push to find it."
Caelus's mind raced. The Arbiter had told him that as he ascended the Tesseract, he would face different versions of himself. But he hadn't expected this—hadn't expected to actually gain their powers, to feel them so viscerally. The connection he felt with the earth wasn't something that could be explained. It was instinctual, like the ground beneath his feet was a part of him, waiting to be shaped by his will.
He clenched his fists, feeling the power thrumming through his veins. This was it. This was how he could fight back.
The alternate Caelus watched him, his eyes cold. "Don't think that just because you've felt the connection, you can defeat me," he said, his voice low. "I've spent my entire life mastering this power. You've only just begun."
With a flick of his wrist, the ground beneath Caelus shifted again, this time rising up to trap his legs in thick, stone-like tendrils. Caelus gasped, struggling to free himself, but the more he fought, the tighter the earth's grip became.
"Like I said," the alternate Caelus said, his voice a low growl. "I've bled for this. I've suffered for it. You can't take it from me. Not now. Not ever."
Caelus's heart raced, his mind scrambling for a solution. The power was there, just beneath the surface, but he didn't know how to control it. How could he hope to defeat someone who had already mastered the very thing he had only just discovered?
But then, he remembered the Arbiter's words: You are stronger than you know.
Caelus closed his eyes, forcing himself to focus. The earth wasn't his enemy. It was a part of him. If he could just—
He took a deep breath, letting the power within him flow. The ground beneath his feet responded, the tendrils around his legs loosening slightly. Caelus's eyes snapped open, and with a sharp, focused thought, he willed the earth to release him.
The tendrils crumbled away, dissolving into dust.
Caelus stumbled forward, his breath ragged, but he didn't stop. The power was still there, flowing through him, waiting to be used. He could feel the connection now, stronger than ever. The earth wasn't just beneath his feet—it was a part of him, and he could shape it.
His alternate self watched him with a mixture of surprise and anger. "You think you can control it?" he spat, raising his hands again. "You think you can just walk in here and take everything I've worked for?"
Caelus didn't answer. He didn't need to. Instead, he focused, reaching out with his mind. The ground beneath him trembled in response, the power surging through him like a pulse. Slowly, deliberately, Caelus raised his hand, mimicking the movements of his alternate self.
The earth responded.
A pillar of stone rose from the ground, not as large or as powerful as the ones his alternate self had summoned, but enough. Enough to show that he could do it. Enough to prove that he had the power.
The alternate Caelus's eyes widened, his lips curling into a snarl. "You think this changes anything?" he growled, his hands clenching into fists. "You think you can defeat me with that pathetic display?"
Caelus braced himself, his muscles tense. He didn't know if he could win. But he wasn't going to back down. Not now.
The alternate Caelus lunged forward, the ground erupting beneath him in a storm of stone and dirt.
Caelus raised his hand, willing the earth to protect him.
And the battle began.
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