The Archetype Of Eternity

Darkness wrapped around Adrian like a familiar shroud, pulling him away from the modern world in an instant. The sensation of shifting between realities no longer felt foreign—it had become a cycle, a transition that felt both seamless and disorienting. When the pull ended, he stood once again in the vast, empty void, the only presence beside him being the ever-watchful Cube.

The six glowing orbs from before floated in the distance, pulsing with an ethereal rhythm. Adrian's gaze briefly settled on them before shifting toward the Cube, who hovered silently, as if waiting for something.

Adrian exhaled softly, taking a moment to adjust before speaking.

"So… that was fate?"

The Cube's voice resonated through the void, calm and impassive. "Indeed. You have completed the trial."

Adrian furrowed his brows. Though he had lived an entire life in that world, something about it felt… incomplete. Like a part of him should have remembered more, yet the memories slipped through his grasp. He could recall the moments he learned about fate—the interplay of choices and predetermined outcomes—but there was something deeper, something off.

He didn't dwell on it. Perhaps it was the effect of moving between worlds.

"What did you learn?" the Cube asked.

Adrian took a moment to organize his thoughts before replying. "Fate isn't just about predetermined paths. It's a web—interconnected decisions that ripple through existence. Some outcomes seem inevitable, but the paths to reach them can shift. It's not something set in stone, yet at the same time, it can't be entirely avoided."

The Cube remained silent for a moment, as if contemplating his words. Then it spoke. "You have grasped the something although not the essence of fate. With that, your trial is complete."

Adrian crossed his arms. "So, what's next?" His eyes drifted to the six orbs once more.

"There were six glowing orbs at the start," he continued. "Time, Chaos and Order, and now Fate. That makes four trials completed. The fifth should be Space, right?"

The Cube confirmed, "Yes."

"So am I going through the Space trial next?"

"No."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"You don't need to undergo a trial for Space," the Cube stated. "Unlike the other primordial laws, I am the embodiment of space itself. That means I can guide you in its principles whenever necessary. For now, there is no need for you to grasp it as a separate trial."

Adrian processed the explanation before nodding. It made sense. The Cube had already demonstrated a level of control over space that defied natural laws. If it could help him directly, there was little reason to struggle through a trial for it.

"Alright," he said. "Then that leaves the sixth orb. Is it another law?"

"No," the Cube answered. "The final trial is not a concept, but a world."

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "A world?"

The Cube pulsed with a faint glow before continuing. "Your next trial will take place in a mortal realm—a world governed by cultivation. It is a place where the strong transcend their limits, and the weak are left behind. There, you must carve your own path and overcome the trials that await."

A cultivation world…

Adrian had read about such worlds before, stories of martial power, ascension, and ancient sects. A place where strength dictated survival and the pursuit of immortality was the ultimate goal. But if this was a trial, then there had to be a deeper purpose behind it.

"So my goal in this world is to transcend?"

The Cube's glow dimmed slightly. "Your goal is to survive, learn, and ascend. The mortal world is merely the beginning. If you cannot endure it, then you will never reach the heights necessary to transcend the universe itself."

Adrian asked curiously. "And you won't help me? wouldn't it benefit you if I were to ascend quickly and be of help to you."

"I have already set the stage for you. I can speak with you here and provide guidance in limited ways. But if I interfere too much, the balance of the world will be disrupted."

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "You mean the other primordial laws?"

The Cube was silent for a moment before answering. "The other laws are not sentient like I am, but they are not powerless. They govern the universe, even if they do not actively shape it. If I interfere too much, their influence may react—perhaps not consciously, but instinctively. And if that happens, the mortal world itself could be erased as an anomaly."

A quiet understanding passed between them. The primordial laws may not have will or intent, but their presence alone shaped reality. If the Cube acted against the natural flow, it could draw unwanted consequences.

Adrian let out a breath. "So, I have to handle things myself."

"That is correct."

He closed his eyes briefly before opening them with renewed resolve.

"Then send me in."

The Cube pulsed once, and the void trembled. The next trial was about to begin.