Reaper's Resurgence: A System Reset

Chapter 58

Somewhere Within the Quantum Realm

A short time ago, moments before the Universe’s Will came under attack

The Quantum Ruler, Veltorius, remembers everything. All the way to the very beginning of the universe.

He remembers the birth of the first sentient creature after him. Remembers the creation of the very first planet, much less the first galaxy. And he remembers the day he was given responsibilities he didn’t want by the Universe’s Will.

Yet he allowed the Universe’s Will to bind him to the rules. Because when he came into existence, the Universe’s Will was the only other thing that existed. And the Universe’s Will was unable to speak.

So he was lonely. And since he was promised the creation of other creatures he could interact with, he decided to allow it to bind him.

But after so many years bound to the rules of the Universe’s Will, he can’t unbind himself even if he wanted to. And he’s begun to lose touch with who he originally was.

Veltorius knows this.

He knows it well.

And now that he senses the quakes moving through the universe, everything comes back to him. The loneliness at the beginning. The disappointment he felt when he saw the creations he had long desired to see becoming corrupted in more ways than one. Whether it’s actual quantum corruption, or corrupted in a metaphorical sense.

Jealousy. Envy. Hatred. War. Death.

Selfishness.

Possessiveness.

What’s worse is that even his own altered clones were the same. The other Quantum Beings.

So now that he sees the Universe’s Will being attacked, with everything flashing through his mind at once, a small part of him simply wishes for it all to come crashing down. For everything to be destroyed.

For a genuine reset and not the false one done by his son’s creation.

But his relapse into his original personality and thoughts quickly ends, leaving him returning to one of his hand-crafted personalities. At which point he stands up from his throne and opens a gate leading directly to the Universe’s Core.

The place where the Universe’s Will manifests itself in physical form.

Then he walks through the gate with a slight frown on his face. Where he finds himself entering a large chamber located within the distant void at the center of the universe.

The chamber itself is spherical in form and nearly three hundred meters in diameter, with glitching panels making up the circular walls all around the chamber. And a single orb at the very center of the chamber. One with numerous barriers made of quantum energy all around it.

It’s been ages since the Quantum Ruler set foot in this chamber. At least several million years.

Yet instead of feeling nostalgic, he simply feels irritated.

Why he feels irritated, he doesn’t know. Nor does he know if it’s his false persona that feels this way or his real personality.

Either way, he focuses on the glitchy silhouette floating outside of the outermost barrier.

A barrier already showing several cracks in it.

But as Veltorius is about to open his mouth to speak to his brother, he pauses as he notices something.

The Corrupted One’s form is constantly changing now, with the only similarities to before being that the glitched bar covering his eyes is always present. And unlike before, his form doesn’t stay as a single form for longer than a second.

Veltorius narrows his eyes at the Corrupted One, who only briefly turns his head in Veltorius’ direction before focusing on shattering the first barrier. Doing exactly that in just one more punch.

And it doesn’t take long for Veltorius to come to a realization. At which point he slowly closes his eyes with hints of pain and regret filling him from head to toe.

Because he knows without a doubt now that his brother is finally gone.

His entire personality has been taken over by the corruption. Erasing the last traces of him that were fighting against it still.

And it’s all Veltorius’ fault.

The entire reason his brother, Regrex, was corrupted in the first place was to save him after all. By pushing Veltorius out of the way of the initial source of corruption in the universe, before taking in the rest of the source himself to save the universe from immediate corruption.

He did all of that, saving everyone and Veltorius while sacrificing himself without a single person knowing about it.

And now he’s gone completely.

Without a trace of his personality left. Leaving nothing but a walking source of corruption merely weaker than the original source by fifty percent.

Veltorius takes a deep breath despite not needing to breathe, then he opens his eyes again and rushes straight at the Corrupted One, who is currently moving onto the next barrier. Slamming bolts of quantum lightning into his brother, or rather, the body that once was his brother, and sending it flying to slam into the walls of the Universe’s Core chamber.

But, just as he expected, his attack doesn’t deal nearly as much damage to the Corrupted One as it needs to. Letting the Corrupted One send several dozen bolts of corruption straight back at him while rushing to slam into the barrier again.

Veltorius counters the bolts of corruption with bolts of quantum energy and moves to attack the Corrupted One again. Only for the Corrupted One to dodge the attack and continue his onslaught against the barrier. Completely ignoring the Quantum Ruler in his barrage beyond dodging and blocking attacks.

Showing the sheer determination of the new Corrupted One’s form to destroy the Will of the Universe.

Despite all of his misgivings, Veltorius continues to fight to protect the Will of the Universe. And at some point, some of the other Quantum Beings begin to arrive as the Will of the Universe no doubt summons them forth to protect itself by instinct.

But despite several Quantum Beings attacking the Corrupted One simultaneously, the Corrupted One simply recovers any and all damage done to it instantly.

Hinting that its completed form may be unable to retain damage.

Veltorius grits his teeth as he sees the Corrupted One continue to gradually shatter one barrier after another.

Slowly making his way to the Universe’s Will itself.

Chapter 59

Within the Universe’s Core Chamber

When the barriers finally reach down to the last one, with none of the Quantum Beings managing to stop the Corrupted One, the Quantum Ruler feels everything he’s been working for with his false personas all these years beginning to crumble away all at once. His false personas begin to panic, his real self feels a mix of excitement and anger making him conflicted, and all of it leads to a brief hesitation.

The Corrupted One glitches through the Core Chamber while smashing through the various Quantum Beings one after another to attack the final barrier.

And with every Quantum Being he slams into, he makes them all feel things they haven’t felt for ages.

The Quantum Vanguard slows down his own attacks a significant amount as he feels the weight of all his years constantly fighting dragging him down.

The Quantum Balancer, who should’ve been sealed away, stops attacking entirely after putting up a false display of fighting.

The Quantum Judge, who also should’ve been sealed, continues to fight despite knowing that it’ll keep him bound to the Universe’s Will. Simply because the corruption is against the justice he stands for.

The Quantum Cleaner very obviously fakes an injury from barely letting himself get attacked by the Corrupted One. Only putting up a token resistance to the Corrupted One in the process before not-so-secretly smiling and pumping his fist in support of the Corrupted One.

And the Quantum Architect tries to isolate the Corrupted One and keep him from the Universe’s Core.

Meanwhile the other Quantum Beings who aren’t combat oriented at all show their own differing faces to seeing the events occurring in the Universe’s Core Chamber.

The Quantum Scribe and Quantum Archon both watch on in silence. Recording and analyzing everything occurring within the Universe’s Core Chamber.

And the Quantum Builder and Quantum Creator simply stand by in silence while doing their jobs. Not saying or doing a thing about the matter.

All while the Corrupted One finally makes a crack on the last barrier of the Universe’s Core.

The Quantum Ruler rushes forward to slam every single attack he has into the Corrupted One. Doing everything he can now to protect the Universe’s Will.

But his hesitation still shows from time to time as his personalities conflict with each other.

Leading to the Corrupted One finally managing to shatter the last barrier.

The Quantum Ruler feels his eyes widening, only for Veltorius to feel the Universe’s Core flashing as power radiates out of it on instinct. Directly towards the Quantum Ruler.

Making the Quantum Ruler feel his entire body locking up as the Universe’s Will uses a last resort.

Its one single chance to absolutely control the Quantum Ruler through their pact.

Right as the Corrupted One gathers all of his power to attack the Universe’s Core, the Quantum Ruler’s body is forced to put every single ounce of energy and his own body in the way of the attack as he sends millions of missiles out to slam into the Corrupted One.

The other Quantum Beings all show surprise as the two trade blows. With none of them ever expecting the Quantum Ruler to use his own body to protect the Universe’s Will.

Because none of them would ever do the same. Nor did they expect the Quantum Ruler to care that much.

But none of them say a word.

They just watch as the attacks clash.

The Corrupted One’s attack slams into the Quantum Ruler, blasting one hole after another into his body with numerous attacks still managing to make it past him thanks to the Universe’s Core’s forced control of him. A control that isn’t perfect since it isn’t a willing takeover.

Meanwhile the Corrupted One is blasted over and over again by the Quantum Ruler’s missiles. Weakening and injuring the Corrupted One with each and every last resort onslaught missile.

But in the end, despite the Quantum Ruler and Corrupted One both attacking, with the Ruler blocking with his body, the Corrupted One’s attacks manage to make it through and slam into the Universe’s Core.

Quickly making cracks appear on the Universe’s Core in the process.

Silence fills the Core Chamber as the various Quantum Beings watch on in shock at the sight of it all.

Of the Quantum Ruler’s current crippled state, where every ounce of quantum energy has been drained from his body. Quite possibly permanently.

And of the Corrupted One’s state, where his body is covered in holes.

And last but not least, the Universe’s Core that is just barely holding on with the sphere covered in cracks.

Reality all around them begins to show cracks, looking as if it were just a sheet of glass about to break into pieces. Meanwhile the different Quantum Beings feel their restrictions loosening by the second.

But not completely shattering.

The Quantum Beings all notice the Corrupted One beginning to glitch out entirely. Vanishing and reappearing. No doubt almost being forced out of the material universe and back into the corrupted universe thanks to the severe damage dealt to him by the Quantum Ruler.

Meanwhile the Quantum Ruler himself begins to lose consciousness.

The Quantum Beings genuinely wanting to protect the Universe’s Core show relief that the core is still there. That it wasn’t fully shattered.

But then, right as the Corrupted One appears to be vanishing entirely from the Core Chamber, the Quantum Balancer makes his move.

He rushes straight up to the Universe’s Core in the middle of the Universe’s Will’s control slip before slamming his spear into the core.

Shattering the Universe’s Core personally.

Along with the fractured glass-like reality around them. Changing the very shade of the universe itself ever so slightly.

And releasing all of the Quantum Beings from the Universe’s influence as the rest of the Quantum Beings stare in shock at the Quantum Balancer.

But the Quantum Balancer just starts to laugh a maniacal laugh.

All while the Corrupted One finally vanishes from the Core Chamber.

Chapter 60

Within the Universe’s Core Chamber

Quantum Balancer Zorblax Xylophius Quillaran Vortessia Nebulon has always hated everything the Universe’s Will stands for.

It forces an unnatural order on the universe, binds the Quantum Beings to work as its slaves, and doesn’t give them anything for it beyond power that they aren’t even allowed to use. And even its methods are too strict and controlled.

Zorblax hates it.

He hates all of it.

And that hate has boiled over in the hundreds of years he spent in the pit’s time distortion. Growing stronger and stronger by the year.

But while it was growing, before he even finished his time in the pit, he finds himself being pulled out of the pit and thrown into the Universe’s Core chamber to protect the Universe’s Will from the Corrupted One.

His first instinct upon arriving at the Universe’s Core Chamber, however, is not to protect the Universe’s Will.

No.

His first instinct is to destroy the damned Universe’s Will himself.

But he finds his body completely controlled by the Universe’s Will, without even a hint of control belonging to him. Almost like his body is nothing more than a puppet under the control of the Universe’s Will. One being forced to fight against the Corrupted One and defend the Universe’s Will.

And this just infuriates him further.

He’s spent millions of years working for the Universe’s Will. He’s been punished numerous times just for doing his job. And now he doesn’t even have control over his body anymore?

As if the Universe’s Will hadn’t already taken enough from him, now it’s taking his entire body and will?

Zorblax feels his previous flame of anger blazing into an inferno. One so strong that the moment he sees the Universe’s Will Core cracking from the Corrupted One’s attack, and he feels the Universe’s Will’s grasp on his body significantly weakening, he breaks straight through its remaining control.

And rushes straight up to the Universe’s Will Core to shatter it personally.

Shocking each and every one of the other Quantum Beings in the process.

Even the Quantum Beings who clearly hesitated about helping the Universe’s Will, and the ones who directly stepped away to allow the Corrupted One to attack.

No one expected a Quantum Being to directly land the final blow himself.

Every last Quantum Being in the universe feels a sense of shackles shattering in their mind and body. With many of the Quantum Beings, both those bound by roles and those not bound, not even realizing those shackles existed.

Meanwhile the universe itself shows its will shattering in seconds.

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But, to everyone’s surprise, the fragments of the Universe’s Will don’t just disappear after shattering like glass all across the universe. Instead, the fragments are all absorbed by the System created by the Quantum Architect.

Granting the System additional power within the universe without any of the ability to directly control the Quantum Beings.

Zorblax and the other Quantum Beings show surprise at this new development, but because the System doesn’t absorb the Universe’s Will’s control over them, none of them care about it. And after a brief moment of staring at the Quantum Balancer, who is still laughing maniacally, most of the Quantum Beings show relief before leaving the Core Chamber one after another.

All the way until only the Quantum Balancer and the Quantum Ruler are left behind.

Eventually the Quantum Balancer stops laughing as he feels nothing but excitement at the feeling of freedom. And at the death of the Universe’s Will.

After letting out a happy sigh, he finally glances at the Quantum Ruler. Just to find the Ruler staring blankly at where the core was.

Hmm. He looks broken.

Zorblax originally planned on fighting the Quantum Ruler now that the hierarchy has been shattered. On attacking him and taking his revenge on the so-called ‘Hound of the Universe’.

But now that he finds the Quantum Ruler practically crippled with the majority of his power having been erased by the Corrupted One’s attack, with his mind nearly broken as well thanks to the loss of the Universe’s Will after so many of his personas were developed to deal with it. And there’s no better revenge in Zorblax’s mind than the Quantum Ruler’s current situation.

Even if Zorblax had nothing to do with what caused the first half of said revenge, he’s still satisfied with his efforts.

Everything until now has been worth it…

A bright grin spreads across Zorblax’s face.

So with that thought in mind and Zorblax personally memorizing the current state of the Quantum Ruler, he finally leaves the Universe’s Core Chamber. Heading back to his home for the first time in ages to relax.

Feeling thoroughly satisfied at not having any job he’s required to do.

At being able to do whatever he wants.

And he’s not the only one, as the majority of the other Quantum Beings quickly begin to feel relieved at being able to relax for the first time.

Especially the Quantum Cleaner, who immediately begins a gaming binge. Playing numerous games he wasn’t able to play before because of the interruptions.

The only Quantum Beings who don’t stop doing what they were doing before the Universe’s Will was destroyed are the Quantum Archon and Quantum Scribe. Both of whom continue reading and writing without a care.

Meanwhile the Successors to each Quantum Being lose the purpose of their positions while retaining some of the power from the roles. With at least half of them leaving their respective Quantum Beings now that they don’t need them and aren’t needed by them anymore.

Finally, the Quantum Ruler continues staring blankly at the disintegrating Core Chamber around him as one of his personas after another shatters. All the way until his real personality underneath it all finally resurfaces.

But not without large amounts of damage to it, still leaving him standing in place staring at what used to be the Core Chamber even after it finishes vanishing.

No matter who it is, though, everyone in the Quantum Realm knows one thing is certain.

The universe has now entered a new era.

Chapter 61

Alexia

When I read the notification, I find myself feeling… rather… shocked, to say the least.