Alexander forced his body upright, wiping blood from his chin while staring the old man in the eye.
“Tell me… what do you have to say?” whispered Alexander, maintaining his posture despite the pain in his chest.
“Your power goes beyond what this plane can endure,” said the white-bearded old man, watching the space around them vibrate with distortions. “Right now, reality itself is under pressure by your presence. Your place is no longer here.”
“Where should I go?” asked Alexander, furrowing his brow.
“To another plane, a plane that can contain you,” explained the white-bearded old man with composure.
“That plane is more powerful than this one based on what you’re saying, right?” asked Alexander, clenching his fists.
“That is correct; over there are beings as powerful as you, but you will become even more powerful,” said the white-bearded old man, flashing a smile. “It is the place where you will be able to feel free.”
Alexander contemplated him for seconds, analyzing every word before asking the question lingering in his mind.
“If I shouldn’t be in this place… what are you doing here? You’re stronger than me at the end of the day,” said Alexander, pinning his gaze on him.
“This is not my true self; it is a projection I left behind to guide those who reach your level. I am a shadow,” revealed the white-bearded old man.
A shadow… The thought of encountering someone who turned out to be a projection sent a chill through Alexander. If that entity was a shadow and possessed such strength, what would his main body be like? What would that other plane be like where beings like him dwelt?
“Sounds interesting… I want to go,” said Alexander, feeling a spark of ambition ignite within his chest.
“Of course. Now say goodbye to everyone you know; I will give you three days to say your farewells,” stated the white-bearded old man, clasping his hands together.
“Wait… what do you mean say goodbye?” asked Alexander, taking a step forward.
“Going to the other plane is not easy, but returning is even harder,” warned the white-bearded old man, looking at him sternly. “The path is a one-way trip.”
“And what will happen to them? Can I bring them with me?” asked Alexander, turning toward his women as his gaze anchored onto them.
The white-bearded old man observed them for a moment, a smile playing upon his lips.
“I see… you bestowed your Immortal Seed upon them, and the bond between your souls is deep,” said the white-bearded old man, his voice smooth, like a whisper. “They cannot accompany you. Picture that realm as a divine plane where the density and pressure are hundreds of times greater than this plane’s. The second they set foot upon that ground, their bodies will fail to endure the weight of reality and will be crushed.”
Alexander clenched his teeth, feeling a pang of rejection in his chest, but the old man took a step toward him, extending a hand glowing with warmth.
“Do not be disheartened, young monarch… it is a marvelous realm,” said the white-bearded old man, his eyes glittering like stars. “This plane you currently tread upon is not even a drop in the ocean compared to the vastness of that place. You will adore it; there, you will be free—free far beyond what your mind can conceive. With a flick of your wrist, you will split mountains and dry seas. The true sovereigns of that domain can destroy and rebuild entire planes with a thought. The possibilities over there are endless… it is the ultimate stage for a being of your lineage.”
Alexander lowered his arms, feeling a wave of apathy and depression wash over him. Everything the old man described sounded tempting, but he had fought for them: for his aunt, for his cousin, and for his women. What use was an infinite plane beyond if he would end up alone?
The white-bearded old man, noticing the youth displayed zero interest in power, looked at him with curiosity.
“If it is not power you desire… what are you doing here?” asked the white-bearded old man, tilting his head. “How did you end up standing at the peak of the plane where no one can face you? Reaching this level requires braving dangers and fighting against the entire plane, yet inside your heart I see no desire for conquest. Why do you fight?”
Alexander remained silent for several seconds, pondering the question. However, his doubt didn’t last; the answer inside his core was simple and clear.
“I fight for them,” whispered Alexander, looking at his women with resolve. “I fight for those I love, and I fight for those I want to protect.”
“If that is the case, you have even more reason to depart,” said the white-bearded old man, pointing a finger toward the sky. “What will happen the day your power is no longer enough? Right now you don’t feel it yet, but the plane will reject you; it will attempt to expel you by force because this reality cannot contain you. When it reaches its limit, it won’t be gentle: it will unleash its strength to destroy you and erase something that shouldn’t exist.”
Alexander clenched his teeth upon hearing the warning.
“If you wish to protect them, you cannot stop; you must keep pushing forward even if it means a temporary farewell,” said the white-bearded old man, his voice laced with conviction. “When you become strong enough, you can do what I did: create an avatar and send it back to this lesser plane to guide them to you. Then, no one in creation will be able to tear you apart.”
“How long will that take?” asked Alexander, furrowing his brow with distrust. “Will they even still be alive by the time I am as strong as you? I don’t understand why you’re trying so hard to convince me… what do you gain from me going to that place? What is…”
“A disciple,” interrupted the white-bearded old man sharply, with a look of solemnity.
Alexander froze in his tracks, listening.
“The other plane is, as you said, dangerous and harsh; trusting others up there is impossible, which is why I left this shadow behind in this lower plane,” explained the white-bearded old man, raising his chin. “I am the former sovereign of everything you behold. At one point, I was known as Ra, the God of the Sun, and part of my seed dwells within you. Your [Eclipse Monarch] unified the sun and darkness, making you part of my direct descent. I can only trust those who are like us and know what we have endured… that is why I want you to come with me to that realm.”