The universe had always existed, yet no one truly understood its vastness. In an unimaginable expanse beyond comprehension, 7 Epics, the architects of existence, stood facing an eternal, boundless void. Their form shimmered as if they were beings of pure energy, an unending flow of power radiating from them. They were the Lower Epics—the most powerful of their kind. Older than time itself, they were the weavers of galaxies, the creators of stars, the architects of everything that had ever been or would ever exist.
The Lower Epics, in their infinite wisdom, had the power to shape and control reality. But even with their unfathomable power, they could not escape the mistakes of their own designs. They had learned this the hard way. The universe they had created was far from perfect. With its beauty came chaos, with its harmony came destruction. The Lower Epics had retreated into the deepest corners of existence, away from the universe they had shaped. Their task now was to create a new one—one that would balance the forces they had once unleashed.
Together, they moved in sync, their glowing eyes radiating an otherworldly light. A wave of energy rippled through the cosmos as they began their task. Their minds were connected in an intricate network of thought, understanding, and purpose. They pulled the very fabric of the universe from the void. Slowly, galaxies began to form, their swirling spirals of stars igniting in the darkness. Planets took shape from the dust, oceans forming, mountains rising. The air itself hummed with energy, and the ground beneath their feet began to solidify, taking shape.
But as the Lower Epics molded the universe to their design, a small flaw, a single crack in their calculations, went unnoticed. The balance they so carefully crafted faltered. A mistake. A flaw. A black hole—an anomaly—began to grow, its power expanding far beyond the expectations of its creators. The black hole, once an innocuous point in space, began to consume everything in its path: light, matter, and even time itself.
Among the Lower Epics, Simon stood at the edge of the swirling chaos, a smile playing on his lips. His eyes gleamed with malice as he watched the destruction unfold. This was no accident. This was exactly what he had planned.
The other Epics scrambled, using their immense powers to try and contain the spiraling black hole. But no matter what they did, it grew stronger, its gravity more intense. Stars were pulled into its core, disappearing into its abyss. Whole galaxies were devoured by its voracious hunger. Time itself bent and warped as the black hole expanded uncontrollably, its pull dragging everything into its destructive void.
Simon, however, stood unshaken. His gaze never left the dark whirlpool of energy. He had known this would happen. He had been the one to tip the balance in favor of chaos. As the universe trembled under the force of the collapsing black hole, Simon's mind worked in overdrive. He knew what had to be done. The Lower Epics needed to act fast or risk everything they had built being destroyed forever.
And so, in their final act of desperation, the Lower Epics made the decision that would change everything. They sealed the black hole's uncontrollable power into a single being. A mortal. A human. A man. This being, chosen by fate, would be the one to contain and wield the destructive power of the black hole. The Lower Epics did not know what this individual would become, but they were out of options.
California, Earth – Present Day
Johnny walked through the busy streets of Sent Carta, California. The city was alive with movement: cars honked, people shouted, the hum of voices and footsteps filled the air. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden light that bounced off the polished windows of the towering skyscrapers. Despite the busy city surrounding him, Johnny felt completely out of place.
"Well, well, well... I'm Johnny. Just a 20-year-old guy trying to survive in this messed-up world," he muttered, glancing at the buildings that seemed so much taller than the ones back in his hometown of Carson City.
Johnny had moved to Sent Carta for college. He had no particular interest in academics—college was just a means to an end. It wasn't a bad life, but it was nothing extraordinary. Every day felt the same. He woke up, went to class, studied just enough to get by, and then spent his time hanging out with his best friend, James.
James was everything Johnny wasn't: charismatic, confident, and always at the center of attention. They were an unlikely pair, but they had been best friends for as long as Johnny could remember. Johnny's usual routine was to meet James after class and grab lunch together, maybe hit the gym or just hang out. It wasn't glamorous, but it was familiar. And that familiarity was all Johnny had.
"Where the hell is James?" Johnny muttered to himself, scanning the crowd as he walked toward the college campus.
Just as he spoke, he heard a loud voice behind him. "Oi, Johnny!" Johnny turned around to find James jogging toward him, a cocky grin on his face. James had a way of making everything feel effortless. Tall, broad-shouldered, and always the life of the party, James was the kind of guy everyone knew and everyone liked.
"Where were you?" Johnny asked, raising an eyebrow.
James shrugged casually. "Basketball club, bro. Checking out the girls."
Johnny rolled his eyes. "You spend more time flirting than actually playing basketball."
James laughed. "Better than you, loser. At least I talk to them. You don't even look at them."
Johnny couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, right. What's the point if you can't even get them to notice you?"
"Better than being a total loser," James teased, nudging him.
The two friends walked toward their college building, chatting as they went. The conversation turned to their next class, but Johnny's thoughts kept drifting. He couldn't quite shake the sense that something was different about today.
As they approached the entrance to the building, a group of girls walked past. Johnny's eyes briefly landed on one of them. Cassy. She was the epitome of beauty, with long, dark hair that cascaded like a waterfall down her back. Her eyes briefly met his, and in that instant, Johnny felt a strange rush. It was fleeting, but it left him with an unfamiliar feeling. He tried to ignore it, brushing it off as nothing more than a fleeting glance.
"Bro, do you know who that was?" James stopped abruptly, his voice tinged with excitement.
Johnny shrugged, feigning indifference. "No idea."
James smirked, clearly amused by Johnny's nonchalance. "That's Cassy. She's the most beautiful girl in the whole college."
Johnny raised an eyebrow. "So?"
James groaned, grabbing Johnny by the shoulders. "Dude, she's out of your league! And to make things worse, Calex has a crush on her."
Johnny's brow furrowed. "Who the hell is Calex?"
James lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "He's a third-year student. The most feared guy in this college. His family is loaded, he's got connections, and he's a total psycho. If he finds out you even looked at Cassy, you're dead."
Johnny scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Relax, man. It was just a smile. Nothing's gonna happen."
James sighed, shaking his head. "I hope you're right, Johnny."
Later that day, during their lecture, Johnny's mind wandered. He couldn't stop thinking about Cassy. As the professor droned on about some irrelevant topic, Johnny's attention was elsewhere. That's when he felt it—eyes on him. He slowly turned his head, and to his surprise, Cassy was looking directly at him. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and just as quickly, she looked away.
His heart skipped a beat.
A boy sitting a few rows ahead of Johnny noticed the exchange. His lips curled into a knowing smirk as he stood up and slipped out of the room without making a sound. His footsteps were silent as he made his way through the crowded hallway.
Later, in a dimly lit corner of the campus, the boy approached a group of intimidating men. He moved with purpose, urgency in his step. The leader of the group was sitting casually on a bench, flipping a coin in the air. His sharp features and piercing eyes made him seem more like a predator than a student.
"Boss," the boy said, his voice low and tense. "His name is Johnny. Same batch as Cassy."
Calex caught the coin mid-air, his smirk widening. "Hm… I'll deal with him tomorrow."
TO BE CONTINUED...