Atachi One

A few days had passed on the planet Terra since a dire piece of news spread like poison into the minds of every inhabitant. An SSS-ranked dimensional rift had appeared, born from the Webenne Cataclysm, heralding an unfathomable evil. This unparalleled threat had driven the Yorquin Rangers Terra (YRT) to urgently mobilize every hero on the planet—every available force—to confront this cosmic-scale peril.

At the YRT headquarters, the most powerful heroes of this world had gathered to prepare for the decisive raid that would determine the fate of their world. Among them, a unit of Beta-class B heroes had been recalled from their various missions to bolster their ranks. A sense of unease lingered—it was likely the last time they would have the chance to talk about their lives.

"—It's nice to see your ugly faces one last time."

"—Don't get carried away; we're far from buried yet. Personally, I intend to survive this raid and be among those who save humanity. I'll be Terra's savior."

The statement made the members of the unit, who hadn't been together in far too long, burst out laughing.

A third, flashing a mocking yet genuine smile, added:

"—Rezna, you'll never change. You were born to make a name for yourself among the exalted. Who knows? This raid might finally propel you into the upper class!"

But Rezna, despite her confidence, could not hide a cautious humility when faced with the power of the upper classes.

"—I think you underestimate the gap between us and the strongest classes. The weakest of them could obliterate the entire YRT without even using half their power. They're called geniuses, miracles, or heaven's chosen ones for a reason. As for the heroes of Class Z Omega, they're living legends—untouchable. My goal? Just to get out of this alive."

Lorena spoke, her voice tinged with a mix of passion and frustration:

"—I might have gotten carried away, but the difference between classes is real. Why are we even here? Can't the strongest heroes handle this?"

Susan interjected, her tone laced with bitterness:

"—Terra is home to beings with inconceivable powers. I can raze the surface of Terra, so why do we still suffer such constant attacks?"

Rezna responded, her voice steady but edged with pragmatism:

"—We have bigger priorities elsewhere. This is just a form of control, nothing more. We are few, but our strength could let us conquer not only Terra but countless other worlds. I've grown immensely during my raids across outer worlds. Terra is becoming a target for higher deities, drawn by what we possess—something unique, even beyond their grasp."

Suddenly, a tense silence fell over the room. An individual staggered in, bloodied, dragged by a towering warrior whose imposing stature seemed almost surreal. Draped in dragon pelts from countless species, his power was unmistakable. It was the Barbarian Calamity, Toscov Alandorf—the most fearsome of the Alpha Class A. The moment he entered, a titanic aura, barely contained, filled the room. The weaker heroes felt an overwhelming pressure; some trembled under its intensity, while others struggled to breathe.

The person he had deposited on the ground had clearly borne the brunt of his presence. As Toscov resumed his stride, the heroes beneath his rank showed their admiration and respect, saluting the strongest among them. Toscov, impassive, continued his path toward an imposing door leading to the upper level of the HQ. There, in a secluded chamber, the other members of Alpha Class A awaited him, greeting his arrival with evident respect. Among them, however, the few members of the prestigious Class Z Omega maintained a more measured, almost indifferent demeanor, reflecting their unshakable confidence.

Once silence returned, Toscov spoke, his tone grave and deliberate, his words laden with significance:

"—We are finally gathered to review the report from Class I Iota Hayères. These memories were downloaded using the new technology you brought back from the Inter-Universe Market Tower."

A high-ranking official nodded at Toscov's statement and replied:

"—Interdimensional transactions are intensifying, Toscov. The trade initiated by Class Z Omega has grown to proportions beyond all our expectations. Our expansion has allowed us to conquer countless territories across the worlds, but now a deep and unprecedented threat is shaking the foundations of this empire."

Toscov frowned, visibly troubled.

"—Do we have any idea of the scope of this threat?"

The official slowly shook his head, as if weighed down by an almost palpable helplessness.

"—We are utterly powerless against something that defies our comprehension."

A member of Class Z Omega, concealed in the shadows, stepped slightly forward, his words striking the minds of every listener.

"—Its name is Barbatéos, conqueror of the World-Eating Spawn. He subjugates entire universes on an incomprehensible scale. No one has ever defeated him—not even members of Class Z Omega."

The revelation left Toscov stunned. His face froze, his legs wavered, and he fell to his knees, utterly devastated. His reaction was entirely understandable; despite journeying through countless worlds, he had never encountered anyone more powerful than a Class Z Omega member. Defeating several of them marked the advent of a catastrophe beyond precedent.

The informant continued, his words echoing in the leaden silence:

"—Five faced him, and even they could not injure him. One by one, they fell, reduced to dust by this menace poised to plunge every world into chaos."

Toscov whispered in a broken voice:

"—May God help us... Are we doomed to face obstacles so vast, incomprehensible, and beyond the biased limits of our understanding of the world?"

Meanwhile, within the dimensional rift, the battle raged on. Titan and Aracus, forced to ally, struggled to discern whether they faced a Terran or an out-of-category entity. Aracus, rising with unyielding determination, attempted to gain the upper hand by teleporting behind the boundless anomaly to deliver a powerful diagonal slash. Atachi snapped his fingers, releasing a gust of wind that swept Aracus aside effortlessly. Titan arrived at the same moment, executing a devastating energy-laden strike from his divine arsenal.

"Titan—Cosmic Density Accumulation: Cosmic Deflation!"

The condensed energy shrank into an infinitesimal point, its density increasing exponentially, concentrating immeasurable power into an atomic fragment. Atachi, arms crossed and wearing a bold smile, stood unmoved. A shockwave displaced Titan slightly, causing his attack to misfire. The resulting explosion, spanning billions of kilometers, became a colossal problem. Atachi had left behind a residual image; his true body was at the farthest point.

When the dust settled, Aracus, enraged, shouted in desperation:

"—Who are you, damn it?! How can a wretch humiliate me like this? I refuse to lose! I am Aracus, the pride of my deity and my precious people! Cosmic Potential Release! Deity Form!"

He unleashed an overwhelming energy that engulfed the entire dimension. Titan, exhausted, rose, realizing that Aracus was ascending to a staggering level. He concluded that Atachi must face the strongest of minor gods.

"Titan—Incarnation of Creation! Divine Coronation!"

Cosmic entities, observing from their elevated planes, watched in stunned disbelief as the scene unfolded. The concentration of phenomenal energy within such a restricted space seemed poised to shatter the barrier separating spectators from combatants.

"—I will stabilize and expand the dimensional space," one of the entities declared.

With a gesture, the dimension began expanding exponentially every second. Titan reached his divine form. His long, golden hair cascaded around his face, while an ethereal armor defying physical laws formed around him. A luminous halo glowed behind him, signifying his rank as a deity. On the other hand, Aracus ascended into an abstract, formless state—a pure essence of raw power.

Atachi observed silently before conceding, with a trace of disdain:

"—I must admit, you are strong, but not nearly enough to pose a worthy threat. The fact that I'm not even using 1% of my capabilities should alarm you a little."

The words struck Titan like a death sentence.

"Titan—1%? He doesn't seem to be lying, but how can a being of his magnitude coexist with Terrans? Is he even one of them?"

Noticing Titan's troubled gaze, Atachi smirked.

"—You think too much, Titan. Focus, or your distraction will cost you your life."

Aracus, resolute, fixed Atachi with blazing determination.

"—I must protect my people; victory is the only option for survival. Atachi!"

Aracus charged at Atachi, his unyielding rage spilling into reality itself, as though the heavens demanded he strike down his enemy at any cost. Titan followed, unwilling to waste a moment. The two stood above Atachi, ready to resume the fight. Yet Atachi remained indifferent—they simply weren't up to par.

"—Spectators! Allow me to provide a brief demonstration to momentarily sate your fervent desire for excitement," Atachi announced.

He gently lifted his right knee, conjuring two afterimages of himself. These duplicates began individual battles with Titan and Aracus, while the original Atachi stayed motionless. The gods, unable to discern the real from the fake, were left in awe, the illusion of impossible speed defying their senses.

Aracus, desperate, felt his courage falter under the weight of the blows.

"I can't measure up to him. Every strike I've delivered has been in vain, while his pierce through my very being. He has brought me to my knees before the eyes of my people and rendered me powerless in the sight of my deity. We are facing something horrifying. Mother, father, I am terrified at the thought of continuing this fight against this demon."

Atachi turned slightly toward Aracus, amused by his despair, which was evident in the markings on his face.

"A champion, really? I don't know where they dug you up from, but at least they know their target."

The battle intensified, each attack resonating through the expanding dimension. Titan and Aracus did their best to strike the impenetrable Atachi.

In a hidden corner of the dimension, the Watcher leaned forward, fascinated.

Watcher: "We are witnessing an event that will go down in history. I have seen beings capable of overcoming trials with disconcerting ease, but never one who has provoked the gods so thoroughly. He is currently fighting a minor god and a champion, while existing in three places at once, all the while accelerating his assault against his opponents."

At those words, a cosmic entity spoke, a pensive look in its eyes.

"I recall a mortal, long ago, who challenged Finnos to a duel and even managed to kill him. His fame across the cosmos began the moment even the limitless gods and the omnipotent ones trembled at the mere mention of his name. This boy is nothing more than a fly we could crush at any moment. If he is still alive, it is only because his journey intrigues us."

The Watcher frowned, visibly shaken.

"You mention Finnos, the limitless God of the End, the one who was sealed away? Could he truly have defeated a threat of such magnitude in a single duel? I still have so much to learn about the history of the worlds."

On the dimensional battlefield, Atachi took pleasure in exhausting them, still reveling in a hilarity that cruelly contrasted with his adversaries' desperate struggle for survival.

Titan, exasperated by his own powerlessness, lunged forward.

"I can't take it anymore! Even my father isn't this unbearable. I'll make you swallow your arrogance, you miserable mortal! Big Bang..."

Atachi grabbed him by the chin with both hands, bursting into laughter. Titan realized that this man was afflicted by a terrible madness.

Atachi: "Show me the world that has been hidden from me all this time. You are weak, Titan, and Aracus is no less disappointing. Fighting me is futile. If your humiliation wasn't enough, then fine, I will end this tiresome spectacle."

With a calculated gesture, Atachi unleashed a crushing gravitational wave. Under the unbearable pressure, the armor of the two fighters cracked, and soon their bodies, minds, and souls were reduced to fragments. Atachi raised his right hand, palm open, and closed his fingers with almost mechanical precision. The dimension around them tore apart, fragments of reality collapsing like shattered mosaics, and the barrier between spectators and combatants disappeared, opening an interspace where worlds intertwined. The Watcher shuddered, a strange sensation spreading through him—a feeling of insignificance he had only ever experienced before cosmic entities, never before a human.

For Aracus, the stakes were terrifying. His people were watching; his family, his loved ones, all were there, their hearts pounding, hanging on his every move. To win or to die was not merely about his own glory but their very survival, with the specter of total annihilation looming over every misstep.

Aracus: "I won't let you take away their smiles!!! I will fight for my people, and I will defeat you, Atachi!"

Aracus's words were met with Atachi's icy calm, who responded by letting his crushing aura emanate.

"Do you think your people are my priority? I am not a guardian of peace. I am not a hero who would have tried to save both peoples. I concern myself only with those egotistical fools who think they can meddle with my world for stupid ideals and experiments."

Still on the ground, Titan realized that Atachi was a unique individual in the world. He was neither good nor evil on the scale. He had created his own weight, proving the existence of a scale with complete polysemy. Titan was fascinated by this man. Aracus, with tears streaming down his face, made the wise decision to kneel before Atachi. The world would witness this pivotal event.

In the Webenne desert, the heroes gathered before the portal. An army of 10 million heroes prepared to face a boundless threat. Toscov stood alone before the dimensional rift. The pressure exerted by the rift had tripled due to the battles taking place within. He extended his hand, searching for the nearest energy source to reveal the dimension. He found Atachi and his power surpassing all understanding.

Overwhelmed by the events, Aracus found his burden unbearable.

"I beg you, spare me, spare my people... I wasn't strong enough to succeed in the challenge presented to us by that minor god and myself. You have friends, don't you? A family waiting for you each day. I too must protect my people from every threat; I must rise to every challenge. I am undoubtedly powerless before these gods, and standing before you, begging, is my punishment for letting them act. Kill me if you must, but I implore you, Terran Atachi, ensure my people live. This burden I've borne for centuries—I will never be forgiven for the peoples who have perished by my hands."

Facing him, Atachi remained impassive, his dark eyes scrutinizing Aracus's wounded soul without a trace of pity.

Atachi: "Titan, get up and return home without delay. You'll know where to find me when the time comes."

Titan, reverting to his base form, rose slowly, absorbing the calm after the storm and tending to his wounds. Questions about future challenges swirled in his mind; a future as dark as it was thrilling seemed to call him.

Titan: "Thank you for your mercy, Atachi. I will return to offer you the opportunity of your life."

Atachi, unblinking, turned to Aracus.

"Rise, Aracus. You may return to them. I've decided the fault lies with the observing entities, not with those who were forcibly used in this tasteless masquerade."

Aracus rose, wiping away his tears, and embraced Atachi. He thanked him, saying:

"Your loved ones must be so proud of you. Thank you for your mercy, Terran; you have a pure heart filled with such benevolence."

Atachi: "My loved ones? I've had none since birth. I've survived all this time by climbing the ranks; the world gave me misery so that my strength would be of immeasurable wealth."

Meanwhile, the cosmic entities laughed, finding strange pleasure in the unpredictable spectacle Atachi had provided. His existence, full of violence and arrogance, seemed to fascinate them. Without another word, Atachi vanished in a flash, suddenly reappearing beside the Watcher, who was stunned to see him materialize.

Atachi: "I will destroy your gods, one by one. Listen to me well: one day, I will rise to your level. When that day comes, be certain that I will annihilate your flawed system, and you will be the next race to fall. Farewell to those who have forsaken their miserable existence to play with fiction. Yakudé!!!"

Atachi created a dozen portals combined into one, where the power of his punch would be multiplied. He channeled a fraction of energy into his arm, enough to bring an end to this event. As his fist traversed the portal, the rift on Toscov's side opened, unleashing an incomprehensible release of energy that exploded in all directions. The dimension imperiling Titan forced him to escape.

Toscov – Flee! All who can protect Terra, come to my side. We must defend humanity against these vile creatures threatening our world!

Titan propelled himself out of Terra's atmosphere, observing the situation from space, his gaze fixed on the Terranians below as they organized into a circle. Each hero channeled their power to contain the cataclysmic energy. Together, they created a barrier to redirect the explosion away from the planet.

As the explosion reached its zenith—of unprecedented magnitude and absurdity—the barrier began to crack under the strain of the colossal energy. Yet they held firm, allowing the destructive wave to surge into the cosmos, visible to all.

Titan – I will find you again, Terranian. You were born to accomplish things that reason and destiny cannot explain.

Members of the Z Omega class present on Terra assisted the heroes on-site, fortifying the barrier. The incident dragged on for over ten minutes, and the weaker heroes fell one by one under the endless pressure of this power. Then, suddenly, everything stopped at once. Nothing could have been more relieving for these true heroes who maintained the unified barrier forged by the Terranians. They all cried out in joy; the rift had vanished for good.

Everyone – We did it!!! Hooray!!! Humanity is saved!!!

Their laughter and jubilant cries echoed in the air—a pure and intense celebration. Yet, in the midst of this exultant crowd, one man remained unseen. Atachi, cloaked and invisible, walked unnoticed among the heroes, who were absorbed in their collective victory. Passing near Toscov, he bowed slightly and murmured in a calm voice:

Atachi – Be proud of yourselves, heroes. You are the true saviors of Terra.

Toscov, unable to determine the source of the voice, stood up and scanned his surroundings, but there was no one to be seen. On the outskirts of the city, Atachi felt a pang of loneliness. He couldn't join the heroes in celebrating their victory; he was not one of them, and he never would be. Though he had played a part in their triumph, Atachi remained on the sidelines, a stranger to this shared victory. He concluded by lifting his gaze to the heavens and uttering the following words.

Fixing his eyes on the sky, he murmured softly, his words directed as much to himself as to an invisible audience:

Atachi – History will grant you the title of a hero, the name of the side to follow. But that is merely a perspective. Reality is something else entirely.