MTLNOVEL Chapter 6: The Vault Of Eternal Confinement
The void stretched endlessly around Zar, an infinite abyss where time and space had little meaning. He sighed, rubbing his temples.
"System, can you at least give me a hint on where to go next? And more importantly, how do I control my power?"
The system responded casually.
["You can start by practicing with your brain."]
Zar blinked. "Wait… what?"
He frowned. "Are you joking?"
Then something clicked in his mind.
He recalled his recent actions—the way he had crashed into the Wall of Dominion. His body had reacted with godlike speed, but his mind had lagged behind. His thoughts hadn't been able to keep up with his movements.
It wasn't just about speed. He needed to process faster too.
His eyes widened slightly. "Actually… that makes sense."
He clenched his fists. "Alright, System. How do I do it?"
["First, do you even know where you are right now?"]
Zar looked around and then shook his head. "Nope."
["Correct. You're standing in the boundary of a void space—a realm where reality and time weaken. Look around."]
Zar followed the system's advice.
In the distance, colossal castles and towering temples hovered in the void, each exuding divine energy. The sheer pressure from these structures made his breath hitch for a moment.
Even from afar, he could tell—these were no ordinary structures.
"Are these the domains of gods?"
["Exactly. Each one belongs to a god that governs an aspect of this multiverse."]
Zar exhaled slowly, taking in the sight.
Then the system continued.
["Now, the important part—you can train here."]
Zar raised a brow. "How?"
["Simple. When I give the signal, run as fast as you can."]
Before Zar could ask more, an interface appeared before him, glowing ominously.
[Transporting User to: The Vault of Eternal Confinement]
His body was engulfed in light before he could react.
---
A New Realm
The atmosphere shifted.
Zar felt an oppressive force surround him, dark, heavy, suffocating.
He stood on a floating platform, surrounded by an endless chain-covered abyss. Monstrous shackles, thick as mountains, coiled across the infinite void. Each pulsated with an ancient, binding force.
A strange presence lingered in the air, a silent watching force. The chains did not move, yet they felt… aware.
Almost as if they were waiting for something.
Zar narrowed his eyes. "What is this place?"
["Welcome to the Vault of Eternal Confinement—a prison built for gods who defy the laws of this multiverse."]
His gaze sharpened.
"Are there any gods imprisoned here?"
["No. This is a new multiverse—Multiverse 9008—so no gods have broken the laws yet. But the prison is still active, waiting."]
Zar studied the chains. They weren't just physical constructs—they pulsed with laws, something deeper than mere bindings.
"And I'm supposed to train here?"
["Yes. This place was designed with an infinite loop mechanic—no matter how far or fast you go, you'll always remain within it."]
Zar smirked. "I get it now. This way, I can push my speed to the limit without worrying about consequences."
["Exactly. Now, get ready."]
Zar took a deep breath, feeling the tension in his muscles. "Give me the signal."
A moment of silence—
Then—
["Go."]
Zar launched forward.
-----
The void shattered.
The sheer force of his acceleration sent shockwaves tearing through the abyss. The chains rattled. The air distorted. The entire prison trembled as his body tore through space.
His vision blurred.
The prison twisted around him, yet—
He was still inside.
But that didn't matter.
He wasn't running to escape.
He was running to adapt.
His mind sharpened. His thoughts sped up. He started processing everything faster—every shift in the air, every vibration of the void.
He was catching up to his speed.
Time no longer felt the same. He could feel it now—the flow of motion, the distortions.
He was evolving.
And then—
The chains moved.
A deep, resonating hum filled the abyss.
The chains trembled, their movements slow, deliberate—like ancient serpents awakening from slumber. Some pulsed with a strange golden glow, others flickered between existence and nonexistence.
Zar skidded to a stop, eyes narrowing. "What the hell?"
One of the largest chains—thick as a world—suddenly lashed forward. It stopped mere inches from Zar, vibrating as if testing him.
Zar stood still, watching in silent disbelief as the chains reacted in an unexpected way.
At first, they trembled.
A deep, eerie vibration resonated through the air, the chains rattling violently as if they had encountered something they should not have. Then, without warning, they began retreating—not calmly, but in sheer terror.
The massive divine chains, once looming with the oppressive power to imprison even gods, now slithered away like terrified serpents, their glowing runes flickering erratically. It was as if simply being near Zar was an unbearable horror to them.
Zar narrowed his eyes. "They're… scared of me?"
The idea sounded ridiculous even as he said it.
Even with his sealed power, there was no way these divine chains—designed to suppress and bind beings of unimaginable strength—should be afraid of him. And yet, they fled.
The last of them coiled backward at an unnatural speed, vanishing into the void, leaving nothing but the faint remnants of shattered space in their wake.
A deep silence followed.
Then, just as Zar's thoughts were beginning to race, the system's voice mockingly broke through.
["Oh? Look at you, using your brain for once."]
Zar exhaled sharply. "Not now, system."
["What's wrong? Did the big, scary chains running away give you an existential crisis?"]
Zar scowled. "I asked you a question. Why did they react like that?"
["Tch. And here I thought you were supposed to be smart,"] the system said with exaggerated disappointment.
Zar's irritation flared, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Just answer me."
["Fine. It's because of your sealed power."]
Zar's brows furrowed. "My sealed power…?"
He stared at the space where the chains had disappeared, deep in thought.
It made sense. If the chains were meant to suppress overwhelming power, then perhaps even the slightest resonance of his true strength was enough to terrify them.
But that only led to a more unsettling thought—just how terrifying was his sealed power?
His fists clenched. He hated this uncertainty. How could something that belonged to him feel so… foreign?
Then, as if sensing his inner turmoil, the system's voice rang out again, this time with an amused sneer.
["Don't get ahead of yourself, though."]
Zar looked up. "What do you mean?"
["Sure, your sealed power scared off a few divine chains. Big deal. But compared to the real monsters in the Nexus Verse, you're still nothing."]
Zar fell silent.
He already knew that.
He had always known.
No matter how strong he became, there were beings out there who could erase entire realities with a mere thought. Beings who had existed long before he was even aware of his own existence.
Compared to them, he was just another piece on the board.
His expression darkened. "I know."
He exhaled slowly, trying to push aside the frustration. There was no use in dwelling on it. He had one goal—get stronger.
The system, for once, didn't respond with immediate mockery. Instead, it simply let out a hum of acknowledgment.
A long silence stretched between them. The prison remained eerily quiet, the air still heavy with the residual energy of the chains that had vanished.
Then, another thought hit Zar.
His expression shifted, suspicion creeping in. "Hey, system. If I own this multiverse now… why do I need to take an entrance exam for some academy?"
The system burst into laughter.
["Pfft—HA! Oh, I was waiting for you to ask that!"]
Zar narrowed his eyes. "And?"
["Oh, you'll find out when you get there."]
His eye twitched. "System."
["Trust me, Zar. You'll thank me when you get to the academy."]
That only made him more suspicious. "Why would I thank you?"
["Because the academy isn't just some school for the strong,"] the system said cryptically.
["It's something much more important. And let's just say… without it, you won't survive what's coming."]
Zar's gaze darkened. Something was coming?
He exhaled slowly. Fine. If the system wasn't going to tell him now, he'd just have to find out on his own.
For now, he needed to focus on his training.
He looked around, scanning the infinite void of the prison. He had gotten a taste of his speed earlier, but now he needed to fully push himself.
["So? Ready to keep running?"] the system asked, amusement returning to its tone.
Zar smirked, cracking his neck. "Let's see how fast I can really go."
As he prepared to launch himself forward again, a sudden notification window flashed before him.
—---
[Mission Assigned]
Training Mission: Mastering Speed in the Infinite Loop Prison
Objective: Sprint through the Infinite Loop Prison at maximum speed while maintaining full control over movement, space resistance, and energy output.
Time Limit: None
Special Condition: The prison will amplify resistance the longer you run, simulating real combat conditions.
Reward: Enhanced speed control & increased resistance to external force manipulation.
—---
Zar blinked.
Then, slowly, he turned his gaze upward. "System… why do I feel like you could've given me missions all this time?"
The system let out a small chuckle.
["Oh, you noticed? Well, let's just say… I was waiting for the right moment."]
Zar narrowed his eyes. "The right moment? Or just messing with me?"
["Who knows?"] the system replied with a teasing tone. ["Now, quit complaining and run, will you?"]
Zar exhaled sharply, shaking his head with a small smirk. "Fine. Let's do this."
With that, he vanished, tearing through the infinite space of the prison, the very fabric of reality shattering in his wake.
The training had just begun.