On planet Earth,
Ryo sat in his dimensional pocket.
Unlike usual, this time he didn't want to train — he wanted knowledge.
"System, can you explain to me about the elements?"
System:
"As you wish,
In the beginning, there was nothing — no nothingness nor existence, no time nor motion, no place nor life. During that period, four fundamental, pure, and eternal elements came into being:
The first is the Lost Element, the origin from which all other primary and secondary elements came. It is the imagination from which everything was born.
The second is the Sun Element, from which all beautiful things emerged: existence, hope, peace, comfort, bliss, beginnings, and everything good. It is the pure, absolute, and sacred origin of every fire in existence — whether the fire of flames, the fire of hell, the fire of beginnings, or even the fire that existed before the formation of time itself. From it flows beauty and light.
As for the Moon and the Void, they came together, and they are the opposite of the Sun Element in every way. They represent nothingness, darkness, misery, destruction, ruin, and everything that is not beautiful.
Those four elements shaped existence and nonexistence, and they were created from the imagination of the First Light and the First Darkness before existence or nonexistence even formed.
No one is capable of possessing them — and whoever does, becomes the new ruler."
Ryo, astonished:
"What do you mean no one can possess them? Everyone is born with a primary element!"
System:
"Let me clarify,
The element that people possess is not one of the pure, eternal, primary elements such as the Sun, Moon, Void, or the Lost. It is merely the ordinary Sun Element — the one you see rising over Earth each day. It is called 'primary' because it serves as a basic energy source for all beings in existence, not because it is an eternal and pure energy."
Ryo:
"I understand now… So what about me? Do I possess the eternal, pure one or the ordinary one?"
System:
"You are an exception. After absorbing countless cosmic energies, you now possess all of the pure, eternal, primary elements! However, even though you possess them, you are not capable of using them."
Ryo, shocked:
"Why? Why can't I use them?"
System:
"Because the eternal and pure energy is not something to be taken lightly, nor something your consciousness can comprehend. It surpasses your awareness and essence. Your current strength is unstable, and your imagination has not yet harmonized with it."
Ryo, with seriousness and determination:
"Then how long will it take for me to master control over them?"
System:
"That is not easy at all. You may need at least more than three trillion years of meditation and mental clarity to harmonize with just one element — and perhaps only a fraction of it."
Ryo sat on the ground in a meditation posture and said confidently:
"That's not a problem. I'll do it!"
System:
"Are you serious?"
Ryo:
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
The system went silent without replying.
Ryo:
"That's better."
He then took a deep, slow breath, and silence filled the entire place — as if time itself stopped for a long moment.
A second passed, and millions of dimensional portals opened, connecting to every universe in existence.
Ryo:
"System, seal all my powers, abilities, and skills to zero!"
System issued a warning:
"Are you serious? You will absorb countless immense energies from other universes and train in the four pure, eternal elements without any power, skill, or ability to help you endure it!"
Ryo opened his eyes slowly and said coldly:
"You're annoying! Just execute the command!"
The system did so without another word, and soon cosmic energy currents from other universes began to flow in — pure, older than the birth of time itself. Then other elements and energies beyond comprehension appeared.
They surged into Ryo's body.
At that moment, Ryo felt unbearable pain throughout his body. He thought of giving up, but he held firm and continued.
His body could not withstand all those cosmic energies, but he didn't give in — instead, he kept absorbing and training with the four elements, while also absorbing countless others.
He continued absorbing and training. Three days passed without sleep, food, or water.
Days and weeks passed — still the same.
Months and years passed — still the same.
After ten full years, Ryo remained in the same position. He hadn't moved a step, eaten, or slept during all that time.
During this period, Ryo changed greatly, his level increased unbelievably. All his skills became extraordinary and reached their utmost limit. His abilities rose to the maximum, and his weapons evolved — including Azo and Kagutsuchi.
His endurance became superhuman, capable of withstanding the pressure of billions of massive stars.
But with great power came a price:
His growth stopped — he remained trapped at the age of 13.
He lost all his memories; any event he experienced was instantly forgotten.
His body couldn't bear the pressure of all those cosmic energies — it was destroyed, and only his soul remained.
Throughout that time, Ryo reconstructed his body billions of times a day, until his body and existence vanished completely, leaving only a lone soul.
Despite all this, Ryo didn't care and continued absorbing and training in the four elements.
---
After one thousand centuries, Ryo finally finished absorbing all the boundless cosmic energies and created a new body — one that resembled a miniature universe, holding within it infinite cosmic power.
However, he still had not completed his harmony with the four elements.
Ryo thought:
"I can do it! I'll synchronize with them!"
---
In another place, someone was watching Ryo through a glass sphere and said in a low but terrifying and astonished voice:
"So, you wish to control those energies? That is truly fascinating!"
To be continued...