Alex's heart skipped a beat as he rushed towards the faint light in the distance. For whatever reason, he felt the need to hurry.
The calling he felt from within was overwhelming, almost as if he were about to lose something important.
'The refiners!' Alex noticed the seven cloaked figures dishing out waves of energy at the struggling core.
He knew they had noticed his presence as well. However, due to their focus being entirely on the core, they ignored him.
"Taking what doesn't belong to you isn't the way to go!" Alex roared, feeling rage bubbling within him. "Let it go!" He extended his right hand towards the core as if to grab it.
Then he extended his senses towards the energy, intending to isolate it from the core. And while he was still ways away, his senses had no problems reaching the location.
Unfortunately for Alexander, he failed to consider an important factor in his rush towards the core.
The waves of energy the refiners were directing towards the core were not just energy. It was the manifestation of someone's will--a very powerful someone.
"!"
Alex's eyes widened in horror the moment his senses clashed with the energy waves. Then the unexpected happened.
"Aahh…!!!"
His momentum broke in an instant as he felt his senses shredded into oblivion, offering no resistance whatsoever. He was overpowered--just like that.
Alex grabbed his head in agony, screaming his heart out. The pain wreaked havoc in his very soul, causing him to bleed profusely from his eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
The agony was heart-wrenching, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who heard it. The core refiners paid him no mind, focusing on their job.
The blood spilling from Alexander's orifices drifted in the void, turning into motes of light that dissipated as energy.
He didn't know how long the pain lasted, but when he finally regained his bearing after his healing was completed, he found himself surrounded.
His breath came in heavy pants, his chest rising and falling as he inhaled vast amounts of the surrounding energies. However, his eyes looked around him.
Around him were three figures floating a couple of light years away, observing his wretched state with what Alex could only infer as indifference.
'The Veilwalkers.' Alex realized with a frown. 'They've been around all this time, and I failed to sense their presence. Also, I can't see through their level.'
He didn't need to think further. The Veilwalkers were at the god level. In fact, Alex couldn't even sense them when they were right in front of him.
It was like they were there and at the same time weren't. They existed in his vision, but not to his senses. They were basically reality itself.
'So this is the power of a god-level being, huh.' Regaining his composure, Alex stood with his back straight, his gaze shifting from one Veilwalker to the next. 'A state of complete resonance with reality.'
Looking back in the direction of the core, he watched as the core continued to struggle while the feeling in his gut continued to grow, urging him to hurry.
'Extending my senses in that direction would be foolish.' Alex thought silently. 'I have to find another way to reach the core.' He refocused on the Veilwalkers.
The walkers were patient, waiting for Alex to process his reality. They were in no rush and didn't really put Alexander in their eyes. They saw through his level the moment he appeared in this isolated space.
They hadn't acted earlier because they wanted him to experience the pain of what awaited him should he go against their master.
The three Veilwalkers were of different heights, a silent statement that they were of different races and obviously from different universes.
"Greetings, fellow walker." The tallest among the three said, sounding male. "You should know why we are here."
"We have not come here to cause trouble" The second figure continued, this one sounding female. "Are you willing to listen?"
"Of course, that will depend on your response." The last member and the shortest of the three--a male--added. "You should have realised the gap between us and yourself."
'Two males and one female.' Alex noted, looking at them in tandem. 'And must they speak in such a way?'
"Is it possible to ask you guys to leave my universe alone?" Alex probed, wanting to see their reaction. "This is my home after all, and you guys are trespassing."
"..."
There was no response for a couple of seconds. However, the woman among the three replied, sounding a bit sympathetic.
"We only wish it were that simple. You should know what our current reality has become. The only way to save it is to grow as powerful as possible."
"And to do that…" The short one took over. "...it is best to give all the power to one being."
"You don't have to become an enemy of the Supreme One." The other male added. "You've felt a fraction of his power. You should join us. There is no reason not to."
"Just submit to the Supreme One and your universe core will be yours to have." The woman gestured at the core.
"Why can't I just have it now if it will still be mine to take?" Alex frowned, not liking the idea of submitting. "And you just said all the power should be given to 'The Suprmeme One'. How would that work?"
As if expecting his question, the reply came swiftly.
"Because, just as you have subordinates who draw power from you, submitting to the Supreme One will indirectly link the core to his own, adding to his power and boosting yours as well."
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Alex raised his brows slightly. He had a feeling Veilwalkers could connect just like he did with his vassals, but he didn't attempt it because he had no desire to make Cassandra a subordinate in any way or form.
"And if I refuse…?" Alex asked once more.
For a moment, there was silence. However, what followed next almost brought Alexander to his knees.
"Mm!" Alex groaned as a mountain of pressure suddenly fell on him, forcing him to bend slightly. "What the hell…?" His eyes trembled in their sockets.
The strain on his face was real, his gaze shifting to the Veilwalkers who still remained in place. However, the presence that was missing for the longest time was finally felt, and it was unlike anything Alex had ever experienced!
'This is bad…!' Alex inwardly cried, his core spinning faster than ever to resist the pressure. 'This is not just from their aura!' Even in his current position, his mind spun to decipher what was happening.
'It's a declaration of their existence! An existence that is more powerful than mine!'
His understanding of the laws of the universe wasn't going to overcome the presence of a complete being who was basically a walking universe.
'I need to complete my evolution!' Alex forced his gaze towards the core, slowly stretching his hand towards it, but it was simply too far. 'Fuck…!'