Chapter 2 – The Soul in the Void

In the endless void, a hurricane composed of nothingness drifted without pattern. In truth, since concepts like time and space held no meaning here, the void winds seemed to simultaneously spin infinitely fast and infinitely slow while constantly blinking in and out of existence. Suddenly, after countless teleportations, the void winds appeared beside a black sphere. By all reasoning, notions like shape and size shouldn’t exist in the void, yet this massive black sphere distinctly possessed both spherical form and immense presence – this black sphere was a universe.

The very second the void winds appeared beside the black universe, something even more incomprehensible than the void itself emerged within the completely empty winds – a soul.

Punk drifted along with the void winds, feeling somewhat dazed. One moment he had been on his way back from buying stationery, worrying about the upcoming college entrance exams, and the next he found himself in this place that instinctively felt empty and cold to him.

“This is the void, the endless void where the concept of existence doesn’t exist” – this was Punk’s instinctive understanding. He didn’t know where this knowledge came from, but he instinctively knew it was true, just like how newborns breathe and cry without needing to be taught.

Surprisingly, Punk didn’t panic. His first feeling was actually “Great, no more college entrance exams!Even he found this unbelievable, but having been exposed to countless transmigration novels, he recalled how various protagonists handled rebirth and soul transmigration.

First, he needed to gather information about his surroundings – whether through hearing, sight, or trying the legendary spiritual perception. He had to understand if he was in danger, at the very least to avoid dying without knowing why.

Punk realized he probably couldn’t rely on human senses to perceive his surroundings anymore. He clearly knew he was in soul form now, with vision and hearing gone. “Then I can only try the legendary sixth sense.”

With this thought, Punk focused his mind, sending out strong thoughts hoping to perceive the outside world. Such mental concentration would have been impossible for him before, but now he easily mobilized his perception, and everything suddenly became clear before him.

The first thing Punk perceived was the void winds. The hurricane made entirely of nothingness seemed to have stopped moving, silently rotating at a position both infinitely far and infinitely close to the black universe. Punk shifted his attention to the conspicuously prominent black sphere that was impossible to ignore. He instinctively knew that was the universe where he was born.

Punk tried to move, but the nearly textureless void winds possessed an incomprehensible binding force. He felt embedded within the void winds, unable to move even slightly.

“Looks like I can’t go back,” Punk could only sigh helplessly in his heart.In the void, the concept of time does not exist. Punk felt as though countless years had passed, yet also as if only a moment had gone by. In reality, even this sensation was merely an illusion born from his soul’s inability to perceive time. The only solace was that, under the extreme conditions of the endless void, Punk’s soul had evolved. Unbeknownst to even himself, loneliness and fear could no longer be his enemies—life evolves, and to prevent his soul from being worn away by loneliness and fear, it had stripped away these emotions.

As Punk struggled to move his soul, a massive purple sphere abruptly appeared within his perception. Punk knew it was another universe, but this one was over five times larger than the black universe—his home, where Earth resided. The contrast was like placing an egg beside a soccer ball.

Just as Punk wondered why this purple universe was so immense, the next instant, the two universes collided violently. The void winds around Punk scattered wildly, and had it not been for their protection, the aftermath of the collision would have Annihilated him.

At the moment of impact, Punk sensed something enclosing the universes shatter. Countless gray fragments burst forth, a small portion vanishing into the void without a trace, while the majority were swept up by the void winds, drifting aimlessly. With this, more information about the two universes became perceptible.

Punk perceived that the black home universe, though smaller in volume, was solid and powerful. In contrast, the massive purple universe, while magnificent and vast, had many discordant aspects—like a fully assembled mecha patched up with modeling clay, appearing awkward and disjointed.

However, Punk soon returned to a state of perceiving nothing. The protective layers of both universes seemed to have restored, shielding all information from the purple and black universes alike.

Punk watched with frustration as the two universes pressed against each other, beginning to rotate slowly. He speculated it was like a contest between masters—to an outsider, it might seem like two individuals standing motionless with hands opposed, but the peril and turbulence within were known only to the combatants. Punk was that outsider, unable to discern anything.

Yet he soon discovered something new: a gray fragment, carried by the void winds, had drifted near his soul unnoticed. As the fragment drew closer and made contact, Punk’s soul instinctively devoured it. A warm current flowed through his soul, as soothing as soaking in a hot spring in winter—utterly comfortable.

“What is this? Could it be the legendary world essence?” Punk grew excited. “I need more of this good stuff!”

Unfortunately, the fragments were too scattered and moved too erratically. Punk watched helplessly as many fragments flew past, just barely missing his soul, only to vanish into the darkness without a trace. Still, after an immeasurable wait, Punk luckily absorbed five or six fragments. He felt his soul evolving and instinctively knew it would use this “excess” energy to develop the ability he most desired subconsciously at that moment. However, this process might prove exceedingly long.”Fortunately, time is the one thing I have plenty of right now,” Punk thought with no small amount of complaint.

During Punk’s soul evolution, the void winds gradually diminished until they vanished completely, while both universes simultaneously began vigorously drawing in all “existent” entities from the void – Punk being no exception.

Punk felt himself approaching the massive purple universe in an awkward state that was both infinitely fast and infinitely slow. He soon realized that if he were to crash into the purple universe like this, he would be instantly devoured. This was precisely the purpose behind both universes attracting “existent” beings from the void – to consume resources and replenish themselves.

Although Punk’s soul could now survive in the void, it was merely barely surviving. In reality, its level remained quite low, possessing no resistance whatsoever against being devoured by a universe.

“My soul, whatever you’re evolving into, hurry up and complete the evolution. Otherwise, if I get devoured soon, I won’t even get to know what my own evolution turned out to be.”

It seemed the soul had heard Punk’s plea. The very next moment after Punk’s thoughts formed, the evolution completed.

However… Punk stared blankly at his evolution, even forgetting the imminent threat looming before him.

“……..System,” Punk muttered in a daze.

“……..I actually evolved a System… Does this mean… I’m some kind of chuunibyou……..”

(End of Chapter)