The Void's Embrace - TUTOR

Vale smiled when Lottus doubled down on his conviction for the upcoming training. Of course, he did not doubt the warrior a single second, he was merely being considerate. After all, it was his training, his decisions, and only that mattered. The Shinjin getting too involved in that process would render everything futile. It had to come from Lottus.

While Lottus was away in the baths, one of the servants approached the master of Death, questioning his peculiar interest in the Saiyan. “You seem rather fond of this Saiyan. If I may ask, why go to such lengths for a mortal? Since I have been at your side, I have witnessed stronger, smarter, and wiser fighters worthy of such treatment, yet you did not bat an eye… Please, forgive me for prying into your affairs…”

Vale burst out in laughter before considering the servant’s thoughts, finishing with a chuckle. Placing a hand on their shoulder he said: “You are not wrong for entertaining such a thought, Demeros. You see, Lottus is a product of neglect and war. A mere child stuck in a grown man’s body, robbed of a proper childhood and social net to foster his growth into a proper adult. He deals with situations in a very black-and-white manner. Either preserve or destroy. When faced with emotions too complex, he will revert back to a more primitive mindset, either fleeing or destroying. When you say it like that, it doesn’t sound too interesting, hmm.”

“I’m not sure I understand or if there is anything to understand, for that matter…” Demeros replied.

Vale lifted a finger in the air, silencing the demon. “Despite his obvious low emotional IQ and limited ability to reason, he is determined to do whatever is in his power to protect those few people he cares about. Life has been unkind to him and in those tumultuous times, he buried both friends and family, meaning he understands the importance of protecting them that much more. I can say with confidence that he values their lives more than his…especially now that he is about to face the responsibilities of a parent. And so, where does that leave us?”

Vale’s smile widened into something equally joyous and wicked, quickly continuing without letting his assistant speak further. “It left him before me, asking me to impart him with forbidden knowledge, for the strength to protect his loved ones, to go as far as break the very cycle of life and death so they don’t end up like the people he lost! Can you believe it! He’s setting himself on a collision course with the greater forces of the universe, all for the sake of his childish desires!”

Gently, he held the face of the demon with both his hands, lifting his face and locking his eyes with his. “My dear Demeros, this is a spectacle that I wouldn’t miss for the world. Either he breaks himself apart to the very last bit to preserve his people OR he pulls off something so unfathomable that I cannot help but tremble at the very notion of it, and he changes the very structure of the universe by conquering it. No matter the outcome, it will certainly be a cherished memory that I will keep for the remainder of my existence.”

***

After a while, Lottus emerged from the baths, fresh as ever, now getting acquainted with the food. As he munched away, he got straight to business, asking questions.

“Good question. Very good question. How does one start tapping into it? See, even if I told you myriad ways, it would amount to nothing. It’s something you have to figure out for yourself. Feel it, grasp it. The question you should ask yourself is ‘what is it that I am trying to tap into?’. You will be presented with many doors to open in the times to come. In order to find the right one, you will need to strip yourself down to your very core. That brazen conviction of yours that you so brilliantly displayed to me barely scratches the bare minimum required to achieve your goal. But I believe in you.”

He let the Saiyan eat, speaking at the same time.

“Rather than get into long-winded explanations, let’s go with the first part of the training.”

Vale clapped his hands and the world around them dissolved into nothingness, even the food Lottus was munching on. Both were drenched in pitch black without a single sound around them and for a few seconds, Vale allowed the Saiyan to experience this nothingness. Being stuck alone within one’s own body, their senses not reaching beyond the confines of their own body, save for the sensation of some sort of floor. Another clap of the hands broke the silence and two spotlights illuminated Vale and Lottus. Despite this source of lighting, even if the Saiyan would look around, nothing was to be seen, not even the floor.

Sitting on a stool, Vale would start talking. “We are…somewhere at the edge of the universe, stuck between our realm and…whatever exists beyond that point. There is nothing here. Light won’t reach this place, probably won’t ever. Are we on a planet or some kind of liminal space? I couldn’t tell you myself. I can only tell you there is nothing here. Well, nothing aside from you and the reclusive lifeforms that dwell here.” He raised a single finger in the air. “One month. Here. Alone. Survive this long and I will consider you able to learn death energy. My only piece of advice is to eat their eyes raw and sear their flesh before eating it. No comments on the taste. I’ll answer three of your questions, after which I’ll be gone for the duration of this first step.”

Though he would answer three questions, he never mentioned anything about answering them truthfully. This first step had a clear purpose in mind. As he had expressed to the Saiyan, this place was just that, mostly nothingness. Even if he were to light at his feet, he would see nothing that could qualify as ground or floor. The creatures that would stalk him would be his only source of sustenance. Their eyes and blood were a liquid that would fill a role similar to water in a lesser capacity while their flesh would be his food, although it is near-inedible. A month was the limit for sentient beings to survive in this place. That was if his mind or body didn’t collapse before that.

In that month, Lottus would be forced to understand the limits of his being, both physically and mentally, and learn to be alert even under crushing exhaustion. To know the level of energy at his disposal and the level-headedness to make rational and conservative decisions. Also, by being forced into this nothingness at a perpetual low level of energy, he’d force his body to take in some of that foreign energy within himself, unconsciously allowing his body to adapt to it, and prepare it to become a proper vessel for the usage of death energy. He might even tap into it all by himself! In sum, this was a preparatory step.

The funniest thing was that for that entire month, despite all other entities, Lottus would be the only living being there at any given time.

Lottus was used to this lifestyle, he had experienced it before. It was both a good and bad thing. While it increased tremendously the chances of the training succeeding, it also worried the Shinjin a little. His preconceived notions of survival would get in the way and he’d probably be bound to make some careless mistakes. Which were expected, to a degree. On the off chance that things went too smoothly, Vale would also have to get more involved in order to…properly prepare the vessel. Thankfully, he hadn’t booked anything too important in the next months, so he’d monitor Lottus closely.

He listened as Lottus gave his interpretation of the situation, and certainly, it was rooted in experience. He wasn’t totally wrong either, assuming these creatures dwelling in this place were bound by the same rules as any other living beings. As for the questions themselves.

“For your first question, the answer is yes.” However, it wasn’t only that. His mere presence here already acted as a beacon. He was irregular, a strange signature in the lifeless boundary between the universe and the unknown. To expect things to behave a certain way could prove dangerous.

“For your second question, feel free to explore and move. I will be able to find you at a moment’s notice.” Vale felt this was a waste of a question, as he did not need much to find Lottus. This was the case here as well, especially when the Shinjin knew that the environment around them had already started to change. The fabric of space itself was drawn by the energy of the Saiyan, marking him as the epicenter of this region of space. Almost as if he had his own gravitational pull.

“For your third question, yes, it would work.” The tricky part is that these creatures wouldn’t offer proper nutrition to let him recover the spent energy.

“Good, now that everything is settled, enjoy your alone time for the while being. Do be careful, long exposition to the void will have your face against your own mind. It is an insidious, creeping thing. If things get too difficult, call out my name. I might help you out if I’m feeling generous.”

He chuckled, joining his hands together.

“Though, between you and me…” He looked above his glasses. “I wouldn’t bet on it. See ya!”

And he was gone, the lights were gone, too. Suddenly, there was nothing. No sound, no smell, nothing to see or to touch. As expansive as this area was, one couldn’t easily shake the feeling of the darkness closing in on him. For the first few days, no creatures would dare approach him. Perhaps, if he was perceptive enough, he would feel observed.

Describe the first few days (day 1-4) of Lottus stuck in the void!
-No enemies will attack, yet.
-He is being observed
-Hallucinations might occur when spending too much time in complete darkness.
-Sleep is possible, for now.
-No food is available.

The first thing Lottus would need to become aware of was that no matter where he went, he was at the center of it. Better than that, HE was the center. Being the only creature able to perceive, the strange, formless environment he was in started morphing to suit this new change. As such, being the center of this proto-world, he began attracting things. Formless, shapeless creatures that only truly existed when perceived and whose form would change upon different viewing. The best way to conserve energy would be to remain immobile as much as possible.

Vale kept an eye on him for the first two days, watching the Saiyan experiment with the liminal space he found himself in. Like watching an unsure child playing in shallow water, it quickly became very boring. He gave a side-eye to his associate, before saying:

“You, watch over him for a few days, I’m going to go take a nap. Notify me if something noteworthy happens.”

Just like that, Vale left his position while the Saiyan faced the great unknown of the Universe. It would not be before the fourth day when the young demon would call his master after Lottus had called for him. Vale came back in a hurry, draped in a bath towel.

“What’s up?” He said, before being shown the television.

“The Saiyan, sir. He called for you.” the demon replied.

“Really now…How much time has it been?”

“About three days and a half.”

Vale sat down, watching the Saiyan carefully. He noticed the cut on the back of his hand and immediately figured out what he had done so far to sustain himself.

“Clever, but he’s merely tricking his body into thinking he’s nourishing himself. I could go see what he wants, but I really want him to savor the moment. He looks too healthy for me to intervene.”

And, as such, despite Lottus’ call, he would be met with nothing but the deafening silence. He would not have too much time to think about it. The distant sounds he had been hearing would come closer and closer, and eventually, he would be able to feel them pass by him. Vaporous, strange creatures. Their body was almost like cotton candy that tasted of rust. Their only blind eye contained a gelatinous substance, almost too thick to drink and with an acrid taste. They didn’t claw or bite or attack. They simply sapped energy everytime they brushed against something material. Hitting them felt like striking air, they sound they made was a strange buzzing, always on the same note, no matter the distance.

There would be no pleasure in killing these. However, so long as Lottus knew how to avoid their touch and how to kill them efficiently, he could feast upon them all he wanted. Luckily, only the curious ones came to meet him directly.

About a hundred of them.

“The first hurdle begins. Unable to sense their non-existent energy and only feeling them when they make contact with him, how will he manage to kill them before they get him first?”

Vale sat comfortably in his chair, watching the event about to unfold.

The first hurdle in this journey!
-Strange vaporous creatures are swarming Lottus.
-There's about a hundred of them.
-They attack by sapping away energy when making physical contact with you.
-They're not intelligent and they're not very strong.
-Hitting them feels like hitting a cloud. Their flesh tastes like rust with the texture of cotton candy. Their single eye contains a thick gelatinous substance that can be converted into water by the body.
-Lottus must find a way to safely kill them without being touched too much.
-Anything is free game, there might be consequences, though.

The pace had been set, Lottus and the creatures were now acquainted. Seeing the Saiyan rip through them like nothing did not stop their relentless assault whatsoever. Too eager to dig in this strange new meal, they would stop at nothing to feast upon the Saiyan, even if it meant stepping over their fallen brethren. The blood moon rising gave form to this otherwise formless world, washing everything in a bright crimson hue. As Lottus could have expected, there would be nothing to see all around him, save for the countless shining eyes surrounding him. A glance would not be sufficient to even get a rough estimate of their numbers. At the lowest, they numbered in the thousands.

Perhaps this was feeding time, but could the Saiyan push through this ordeal and come out unscathed? He would soon find out, especially since this attack would go on for three days without rest.

Surprisingly, Vale would keep watch for most of this. This was the second hurdle in this journey. Though he could form a guess on how Lottus would be able to handle a situation such as this one, he knew that everyone had their limit. For normal people, hallucinations come around the forty-eighth hour of sleep deprivation. With little to eat and drink and while being physically active, the shinjin wondered in what state the Saiyan would come out of this.

During the swarm, at different intervals, Lottus would be able to perceive a shadow in the corner of his eye. A humanoid form, too vague to resemble anything or anyone. It would whisper in his ear with a voice that was not familiar, yet that he instinctively knew he had heard before.

On the second hour, it whispered: “To find him, drown yourself in the circle of stars.”

On the twenty-sixth hour, it whispered: “The fourth of the dead will usher in my coming.”

On the thirty-fourth hour, it was Vale who would speak to him, via telepathy this time. The familiar voice would mark a stark contrast with the previous whispers thus far, giving maybe a sense of relief. The message felt pre-recorded and didn’t take into account what Lottus was currently going through. Coincidentally, there would be no way for him to shut this voice off. “You know, I’ve been thinking. Much like you saiyans have your legends, we also have our own. It is said that there exists a single most powerful being in this universe. One that lives solely for his own pleasure and displeasure, outside of this universe’s hierarchy. The closest being to a god, in the truest sense of the word. Should you somehow find yourself able to claim that title for yourself, this irrational goal of yours would suddenly feel a lot more grounded in reality…Since such a thought can be manifested, there is already a non-zero chance of it being attainable. Only you hold the key. Find yourself, and protect what is yours. From your enemies, from this world itself.”

On the fifty-second hour, the voice from before would resonate in his ears: “Embrace the truth of death. Complete the circle.”

Finally, in the sixty-fifth hour, it would whisper for one last time: “Five shadows given life from the same candle. One will consume all others.”

And then, come the end of the third day, all shadowy beasts would be vanquished, offering Lottus a brief respite.

And the world would tremble.
And Lottus would sink in the ground.

The second hurdle in this journey!
-Lottus will to fight without rest for three entire days. The intent is for him to come out injured/fatigued/sluggish, but still able to fight
-He will get whispers from an unknown entity. They all feel true and compelling, even if he can't explain why.
-Vale will also directly whisper to him via telepathy. He can react however he wants to that.
-Don't give up!

A little after Vale had told Lottus about the legend of the God of Destruction.

A shadow, the same that had whispered to Lottus prior could be seen from the corner of Vale’s eye. A quick jerk of his body would allow him to face the shadow, only to be met with nothing but dead air. His reaction was one of annoyance, of stress, too. He knew what was happening, but did not want to entertain ghosts for the moment. It whispered to him, too, and the Shinjin would get up, and start walking in circles, forcing him to delay his reply to Lottus.

“Why are you here, now? Have you been bothering him? Now’s not the time! He’s training! I…It’s not ready yet! There’s progress, we’re getting there, we are on schedule. There. Is. no hurry! At all! So…quit making things more complicated, would you?”

A moment of silence followed Vale essentially talking to himself, thankfully with no one to see him. After taking a deep breath, he added:

“I want this just as much as you, but each piece will fall into place when the time is right. This is not a race; you should know this better than anyone else.”

With the comforting emptiness of silence, Vale found himself alone, his foot tapping on the ground, thinking about what to do next. It continued for a few good minutes before he reached out telepathically to one of his subordinates.

“Bêl, my dear. I would appreciate it if you could work a little faster. I am starting to be a little impatient.”

***

He managed to find Lottus in the middle of his trial, fatigue slowly setting in for the Saiyan. Good, he was ripe for the next step. Before that, he replied to his earlier question, to ease any doubts should they arise.

'What I’m saying is…no one is born a God. A god refers to a being of higher power. Higher power is attainable with enough dedication and work, regardless of circumstances. The only limit…is your own.'

Finally, after the horde had been dispatched, it was time to carry on with the training. While working on the body was primordial, they couldn’t neglect his mental state. It had caused problems earlier on and through his roundabout way, Vale hoped that Lottus would be able to work on his mental fortitude.

As he sunk deeper into the void, holding on to his breath, he would find himself still, stuck in the middle. Here, it was a complete sensory deprivation. No light, nothing to hear, nothing to taste, to smell, or to feel…well, almost. Eventually, he would have to gasp for air and when he did, he’d find himself to breathe in that substance. It would fill his lungs, weighing on him ever so slightly, but he could still breathe through it. This density, this feeling, he may recognize it. It was something intimately tied to him, something that had shaped him into the man he was today. His tired mind, his exhausting body, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize it…

The feeling of breathing in Destron gas.

Upon that realization, memories, thoughts, and ideas would seep out of his eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouth, giving form to the otherwise formless environment. Almost like his mindscape was being extracted from him and given form. It felt so realistic, no, it was real! The sensations, the sounds of war, the memories of losing loved ones.

On this day, Lottus found himself on the same battlefield from years ago. Facing the Tuffle menace to secure a future for his people. The sound of mechs, of troops yelling, dropping to the ground. Words echoed, vibrating in the air.

Murderer.

Monster.

Low Class Scum.

If he would lick his lips at this moment, he’d taste the metallic taste of Pinach’s blood still on him. The scene changed rapidly, a scene of Rapini explaining the newer mech the Tuffles were employing on the frontlines. She was there, he could touch her!

A voice echoed in the Saiyan’s mind.

‘If you were the man you are now, what would you change?’

An opportunity presented itself.

The third step!
•Lottus is sent back to the past???
•A once-in-a-lifetime chance to get another perspective on his past...A chance to see what his power could've done?

The world began to crack. First the ground, then the air. Everything that surrounded Lottus felt like shattered glass until it fell apart, returning him to the world of nothingness. He’d find that all energy spent during that fantasy had really been taken from him, perhaps leaving him to wonder if this was truly nothing more than an absurd dream. Although the strangest part of all was that behind him, Rapini remained. Her body cracked all over, about to erode like the rest of the world. Still, as strong as she ever was, she managed to hold on to her form, even if temporarily. She opened her mouth, only to say:

“Hey, Lottus. Thank you.” For remembering her, for continuing to push forward.

Her hair would flicker gold, only for a moment, before she closed her eyes and started disappearing into dust. The particles that eroded from her would remain until she was completely gone, coalescing into different forms. Silhouettes with no discernable features, three of them. Perhaps loved ones, perhaps friends. The smallest one, maybe someone who had yet to draw their first breath. This strange phenomenon felt like a wish as if Rapini’s memory would live on inside those that Lottus cherished. One last push to allow him to let go of the past as he had clearly demonstrated earlier.

Whether all of this was a clever trick of the mind or an anomaly sitting outside the realm of possibilities, Vale had played no part in it. As the events unfolded, he decided the best course of action was choosing not to think about them too much.

***

Vale allowed him some time to recoup after the last events. It was the tenth day since the start of the training, though the training part had yet to start. This was still only prep work. Vale appeared beside the Saiyan, sitting on the ground.

“How are you holding up. I’m just checking on you. Congratulations on making it to the fifth day.”

A bold lie, told with such sincerity that it was hard not to believe. Twenty-four more to go.

“How’s this place treating you? Let’s have a chat, kill the silence a little. If you’re nice, I might even have a reward for you.”

The Shinjin was aware that the man was probably hungry, though he was unsure if he’d go as far as to try and eat him. Vale wouldn’t comply so easily.

“Tell me, what do you think about the balance of the universe, as it stands?”