The Ordinary Days of an Infinite Existence

Darkness surrounded him, forcing him, choking him. He floated in a vacuum with neither sensation nor thought, and along the edges of his mind, memories churned: bits of laughter, warmth from sunlight, the sting of betrayal. They danced like shadows, evanescent and elusive, always out of reach.

Then a ray of light leapt forth in that burrow and drew him to it: a lamp aglow with colors he had never known. It flowered, edging closer to him, to a blazing orb and filled his chest with deep, wordless longings.

"Are you ready to waken?" he heard, this smooth, melodic voice to which the single word was laced with just the one sort of mischief, echoing through him.

"Who am I?" he thought, having no body with which to speak the question.

"I am the Legacy of the Cosmos, your guide to unmatched power," the voice replied, almost playfully. "You have been chosen."

Chosen? He thought to himself. The word echoed within him and memories came forth like a hurricane: a life of hardship and sorrow. He remembered being discarded, banished from everything he had ever known.

"Enough of the past. You are here now, in a new body, with a chance for greatness,' the voice said, its excitement echoing through the tone. "Prepare yourself!"

A jolt of energy yanked Kael awake. Colors brightened everywhere; he was drenched with the wind of sensations. He was pulled out from the void and hurled into another reality.

Falling onto the soft grass, he froze at how cold it was. This brought him back to himself in this world he wasn't quite familiar with. He opened his eyes to find that he was placed in a forest of peace; ancient trees towered above, and the leaves softly rustled in the breeze. The sun made its way through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the earth.

But something was wrong. Weight of power churned through him, pulsed in his veins like something alive. Kael stretched out a hand, wonder on wonder coalescing at his fingertips: a light, swirling, edged with life. Inside he felt living, energized and inhabited by that unmistakably himself.

"Welcome to your new life, Kael!" the Legacy of the Cosmos declared. "You have woken up at the Infinite Ascendant tier, ready to start your cultivation journey!"

"Infinity ascendant?" Kael asked dizzily. "What does that mean?"

"That meant you have achieved the top of the power pedestal in that world, which is unfathomable and unattainable for most", the Legacy said. "But let's discuss your abilities."

"Powers?" Kael's eyes spread wide. "What am I to do?

"Well, let's assess your situation," the Legacy said.

Kael focused as hard as he could, trying to set his mind into physical form. Before him, a translucent screen materialized, radiating ethereal glow:

Name: Kael

Cultivation Level: Infinite Ascendant

Tier: 24

Abilities:

Omniscience Across Realities: Know all in every reality.

Omnipotence Over All Existence: Energy, reality, time are all under one's command.

Multiverses Creation and Destruction: Ability to create and destroy universes with a flicker of one's wish.

Total Control Over Cosmic Forces: Manipulation of the fundamental laws of nature.

Kael's heart was pounding as he went through the intel. "I'm on Tier 24? What does that even mean?"

"It means you've passed beyond the limits of all perceived being. You have incredible power, but with that kind of power comes great responsibility," the Legacy said, its voice darkening to a fatalist's tone.

"Responsibility?" Kael felt the weight of those words form over him. "What do you mean?

"You will have choices that mold your character and the world around you. Your actions can create or destroy," the Legacy explained. "You must learn to wield your power wisely."

Kael nodded, his determination settling in his chest. He wasn't going to make the same mistakes he had back in his old life. This time, he would harness his strength with purpose.

"Let's test your power," Kael declared, his excitement boiling inside him.

Marvelous! Stretch out and touch the energy of the universe that surrounds you, "the Legacy commanded. "Feel it flow through you".

Kael shut his eyes and took a deep breath, committing all that alive color to his depths. He listened for the rustling of leaves and savored the scent of earth, felt the wind whispering its secrets in his ear. Slowly he began to feel the throbbing force that ran through everything, this cosmic web that united the world.

Now, tap that energy, the Legacy coaxed. Let me see your true strength.

Focusing all his efforts, Kael visualized the energy coiling inside his body like lightning. He should feel the warmth spread out in his chest as it developed into a form.

Well done! Now let that power out, Legacy encouraged him.

Kael stretches out, opening his eyes and raising his hands. Radiant energy shoots out of his palms, and his clearing is lit up. Ground starts to rattle underfoot, and birds go flapping wildly.

"That's impressive!" said the Legacy, grinning himself. "You certainly do seem to give your order very easily to your energy. You are a natural."

Kael couldn't help but smile at this current. He had been given a do-over—a second chance at something greater.

Now go ahead and fine-tune your skills some more, the Legacy suggested. Make something out of pure energy.

Kael shut his eyes once more and reached out with senses, siphoning energies from around him. He started building up from scratch, incrementally, a glowing blade of light in his palm full of raw power.

"Good, good! Now try to cut through the air with it," the Legacy told him.

With a flash of movement, Kael swung the energy blade. It passed through the air with an ear-shattering crack, leaving behind a blur of glowing light.

"That is perfect!" the Legacy praised. "You have power beyond many seasoned cultivators but do not forget: true mastery lies within the delicate balance of strength and wisdom.".

And so the day passed, lost in bits and fragments of training, testing his powers. Time lost all its meaning when hours became nothing as he started building constructs and worked with energy in the exercise of his senses to see the world around him more intensely. Every little success led to an enhancement in his confidence and deepened it, starting to lead into a decision made to be a balance in power within this new world.

By the time he finally fell silent, the sun had dipped below the trees and the sky was a brilliant golden, its rays shooting down upon the woodland. Kael took a deep breath. An odd feeling of completeness washed over him.

"You've done tremendous work today," the Legacy said. "But this is only the beginning. As you explore your powers, you will be bound to meet obstacles that will test you to your limits."

"What kind of challenges?" Kael asked, interested yet wary.

"Foes will arise, so will natural disasters, and you'll have to cope with all of this world," said the Legacy. "But with your power and our alliance, nothing stands in your way."

Kael nodded, accepting the scope of what he was now to face. This new life was full of promise but yet full of unknowns. And still, he was determined to see it all through.

As dusk fell, and stars leapt into twinkling existence above Kael's head, he lay on soft grass staring upward at the endless expanse. It was breathtakingly limitless, like the possibilities awaiting him.

"Thank you for this chance," he breathed to the universe, flooding himself over with thankfulness.

"Along with one another, we shall forge a way beyond worlds," the Legacy said, its voice a soft hum in the dead silence of night.

For that reason, he could smile because his hope was rekindled, as tomorrow promised to be yet another day of traveling toward mastery of the cosmos.