Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

Chapter 983  The Place Out of the Boundaries of Time and Space.

Rudy found himself trapped in a petrified state, unable to move his lips or even his body. His existence had been transformed into that of a living statue. He yearned to speak, to ask countless questions of the mysterious figure who stood before him, but his voice was locked in silence.

The figure, appearing to understand the unspoken queries that consumed Rudy, finally broke the silence. ”You will be unable to speak in this condition,” she explained, her voice ringing with a calm and ethereal quality. ”But I have done this countless times, so I know the questions you seek to ask.”

As Rudy tried to make sense of his bewildering situation, the girl began to reveal herself. Her voice, soothing and timeless, gently filled the void.

”I am known as the Guardian of Realms, the Watcher of Timelines. My existence transcends the boundaries of time and space, and I have observed the intricate tapestry of existence since time immemorial.”

Her words flowed like a melody, soothing and ethereal, washing over Rudyʼs consciousness. ”I have seen empires rise and fall, galaxies collide and be born anew. Your presence here is not a unique occurrence, Rudy, or should I call you… Prince of the Universe.”

As she continued, her voice held an almost melancholic undercurrent, a sense of eternity weighing upon her words. ”I must admit, I didnʼt expect you to awaken. You were meant to remain in stasis, but anomalies have a way of challenging expectations.”

With a gentle touch on Rudyʼs rigid shoulder, the girl initiated a shift in their surroundings. Although Rudy couldnʼt feel her contact, their environment transformed, and they found themselves in an expansive, open hall. The transition was so swift and seamless that it left Rudy further disoriented.

”Since the concept of time doesnʼt exist here, you may perceive it as a teleportation, but it is not,” the girl explained, her voice like a soothing whisper in the emptiness. ”I merely skipped the distance. Though akin to warping, it is a distinct process.”

Questions swirled in Rudyʼs mind. ʼCan she manipulate time?ʼ he wondered. ʼWhat is happening? Am I dead? I should be, right? How much time has passed since then?ʼ

The girl extended her finger, pointing toward Rudy, as she continued her cryptic explanation. ”The throne upon which you are now sitting is that of the Overlord.”

ʼOverload? The fuck is that?ʼ

”You fulfilled your duty,” she continued, her tone unwavering. ”You, the harbinger of apocalypse, triggered cataclysmic events across the multiverse, including the human world itself. The course you set in motion now leads to an impending destruction. This end will usher in the birth of a new reality, a clean slate upon which existence can start anew.”

The girlʼs eyes, still veiled behind her ancient garments, revealed nothing of her emotions. ”Though it may seem incomprehensible to you, the aftermath of this apocalypse will set the stage for a fresh beginning. But do not misconstrue this as an instantaneous transformation. The emergence of life, the growth of civilizations, and the dance of stars will take millions of years to unfold.”

”And,” she added, ”Youʼve etched your mark upon this forthcoming creation by employing George as a vessel. A vessel to shape and mold what is to come.”

ʼIt will take forever for the third reality to be destroyed. I planned it perfectly. I gave everyone a chance to become strong and fight back, to survive,ʼ Rudy uttered inwardly.

Amid the boundless void of this timeless space, the girlʼs words echoed like ethereal whispers, reaching into the core of Rudyʼs newfound existence. She explained the paradox of his condition - dead, yet aware - in a manner that transcended human understanding.

”Your soul,” she continued, ”Now merged with the fabric of the mother universe. Your awakening, even in this form, signifies an irregularity within the cosmic order.”

The girl strode gracefully to a lifeless tree, its spectral branches outstretched as if yearning for life. Her hand alighted upon it, and Rudy felt an otherworldly connection, as though he, too, could touch the tree.

”This tree,” she began, her voice unwavering, ”Symbolizes the current state of the third reality. It is the world tree, and as you can observe, it stands desiccated and on the brink of death. Its leaves have withered, its branches have grown brittle, and its roots fail to grasp the nurturing sustenance of existence.”

Rudyʼs understanding deepened. This tree was not merely a symbol; it was a living testament to the state of the world he had left behind. The very metaphor of life and its eternal cycles, embodied in wood and leaves.

The girl continued, ”With its imminent demise, the harbinger of a new reality will be upon us. When this Yggdrasill withers away, a phoenix of existence shall rise from its ashes—a new world, unburdened by the scars of the past.”

”And when that time comes,” she explained, ”Your consciousness will fade into oblivion, and you will experience true death. Forgive me if my words sound cold; I am without emotions. I was created for a singular purpose, to act as a guardian overseeing existence. I have crossed paths with countless lords, but it marks only the third instance where Iʼve met an Overlord such as you.”

The girlʼs movements were as fluid as her tone was unyielding. With a simple snap of her fingers, the world around them metamorphosed yet again. Rudyʼs senses had lost their grip on the predictable, and now they stood in an expanse that could only be described as an open graveyard. Tombstones sprawled across the terrain, extending as far as the eye could see, forming an eerie horizon of remembrance.

It was then that Rudy discerned an anomaly, something he had not yet contemplated. The entirety of his journey since awakening had been bereft of color. Here, in this space that resided beyond the confines of time and space, the fundamental concepts of light, reflection, and color held no dominion.

Surveying the graveyard, the absence of color contributed to the surreal aura of the place. ʼWhat is this place?ʼ Rudy couldnʼt help but question, finding himself perpetually thrust into perplexing and somber locations.

The girlʼs response was as dispassionate as ever. ”This is the final resting place of the lords of the beings who once bore the title of Lord. These are the tombs that house their remains.”

The beings who once bore the title of Lord, were now reduced to mere monuments in this lifeless, colorless graveyard. Their might and glory had long since faded, leaving behind only the silent echoes of their past existence. It was a solemn reminder of the transience of power and the inevitability of all things returning to dust.

”Hey now, why are you scaring him like this?” The voice rang out, its tone light and seemingly belonging to a child.

Turning his gaze towards the source of the voice, Rudyʼs eyes widened in astonishment. There, before him, was a colored figure, and the most surprising aspect was that the figure bore a striking resemblance to him as a child.

The child-like figure gazed at Rudy with a mischievous glint in its eye, an enigmatic presence in this colorless realm.

”Yo my other self,” the kid greeeted.ṣ