Ch-14 < 2nd time in sea of quanta >

Kevin drifted into the depths of the Sea of Quanta, feeling its vastness pressing in around him.

The Sea was a place where the very fabric of reality was thin, a place where time twisted and bent upon itself, where universes could be born and destroyed in the blink of an eye. It was cold, colder than anything he had felt before, and the pressure was immense—pressing in on his mind and body with a weight that felt almost sentient.

He knew that time moved differently here. Minutes in the Sea of Quanta could translate to hours, days, or even months in the real world.

The energy here was corrosive, a dark, insidious force that could eat away at reality itself. He had been here once before, but this time, something felt different. There was a tension in the air, a deep, primal hum that seemed to resonate from the very fabric of existence.

As Kevin moved deeper, he sensed a multitude of presences lurking in the depths, dark, formless creatures that seemed to be drawn to him, yet wary to approach.

They were remnants of shattered worlds, fractured entities that had lost their purpose and form, wandering aimlessly in this endless void. Their eyes—if they could be called that—glowed with a hungry, malevolent light, and their twisted forms radiated an aura of despair and madness.

Further down, Kevin noticed several "bubble universes" still pulsating with life. He frowned. These were pockets of reality that should have collapsed long ago, their timelines severed or devoured by the Sea's corrosive power.

And yet, here they were, flickering with a faint glow, as if refusing to die. Inside them, he glimpsed scenes of fragmented worlds: cities floating in space, forests suspended in endless twilight, and people frozen mid-motion, trapped in a perpetual loop of a single moment.

The system within Kevin stirred, its voice echoing in his mind.

*"Anomaly detected. These bubbles contain residual energy signatures beyond the normal parameters of decay. The core of the Quantum Sea appears to be absorbing energy at an accelerated rate."*

Kevin narrowed his eyes, feeling a strange pull from the deepest regions of the Sea. "Why are these universes still intact?" he asked, both curious and concerned.

The system's voice returned, clinical and precise.

*"The laws set by the Will of the Honkai—known as the 'Stigmata Awakened'—dictate that any remnant universe within the Quantum Sea should decay unless there is a disturbance in the flow of energy. The core is drawing this energy into itself, creating anomalies."*

Kevin's heart quickened. "Is it related to the awakening of a Herrscher?"

*"Correct. The Sea of Quanta is in the process of creating a Herrscher, one of its own. With enough energy absorbed, the Herrscher of the Abyss will awaken, born from the very chaos and entropy of this place."*

Kevin closed his eyes and began to meditate, feeling the energy of the Sea of Quanta coursing through him. He knew he needed to absorb its essence, to understand it if he was ever to control it. Slowly, he focused his will, channeling his authority to draw the chaotic energy into himself.

The Sea resisted at first, as if recognizing a foreign intruder, but Kevin pushed harder, asserting his will over it. The energy swirled around him, dark and heavy, like a whirlpool in a storm. His body tensed, every muscle taut, as he fought to maintain control. His mind felt like it was being stretched to its limits, pulled in every direction by the quantum tides that surged and ebbed around him.

Hours turned into days, and days into over a week. Time became meaningless. His senses dulled, his consciousness fading in and out as he struggled to contain the power that flowed through him. The corrosive force of the Sea gnawed at his soul, testing his resolve.

*"Core energy absorption: 95%... 98%... 100%,"* the system finally announced. *"Data compilation complete. You have successfully integrated the essence of the Quantum Sea.

You now possess the potential to awaken as the true Herrscher of the Abyss, with a secondary authority of ???—a counterbalance to the Abyss. You must now return to your real body to complete the awakening process."*

Kevin's eyes snapped open. He felt different. There was a deep, resonating power within him, something that went beyond the authority he already possessed.

He could feel the potential to manipulate the darkness of the Abyss itself, but also something else that could pierce through it. It was a strange duality—a fusion of opposites.

But a sudden, sharp thought cut through his sense of triumph—he had been here for over 7 days! But in world more than 4 years should has passed.

He had missed Kiana and Bianca's sixteenth birthday. Panic seized him. He knew they would be angry—no, not just angry, they would be sad.

Without another thought, Kevin activated his Void authority, ripping open a path back to his world. The moment he breached the dimensional barrier, he felt it—a deep, seething anger radiating through his soul bond with Bianca.

Kevin's heart clenched. "This much hatred… from Bianca? That shouldn't be possible!" He whispered to himself, feeling the weight of her emotions pressing against his chest. It was like a dark storm cloud was hanging over her heart.

Something had gone terribly wrong. He didn't waste another second. Channeling his authority, he honed in on the connection with his soul bond, tearing through the layers of space to reach her. He emerged back into his world, disoriented but alert, scanning his surroundings frantically.

He found himself in the middle of a forest with grassland field. The sky was a bleak gray, and there was an unnatural stillness in the air.

Kevin's senses were on high alert as he focused on the bond that tethered him to Bianca. He followed the trail of frustration and hatred, his heart pounding in his chest.

Within moments, he reached a hidden bunker—a place he recognized as their new hideout. He burst through the entrance reaching the house instant.

Inside, he saw Bianca, her eyes filled with anger that was unfamiliar to him. Her eyes were cold, filled with something dark and intense while Kiana was sleeping on bed.

"Bianca!" Kevin called out, but she did not respond but then her expression soften and tears formed in them when she saw Kevin clearly.

A/N~ guess what happened with her.

30 stones.