The blackness stretched infinitely and still—until the void quivered, as if something ancient had stirred from its slumber.
[Hah~]
A heavy and ancient sigh rippled through the nothingness.
Then, a voice emerged—feminine but weary, burdened by untold stories that reverberated grandly.
[My earliest memories... A time of slaughter and evolution.]
The darkness came alive as universes formed. Galaxy-shattering explosions and colorful beams tore through time and space, rocking the realm like a storm of fireworks.
[The Qegon race, once millions strong, battled until only eight remained.]
The universe churned and changed. Now, waiting in the ruins of broken planets, wormholes, and massive black holes, were eight glowing celestial entities, pulsing brightly like stars, releasing colorful ripples of spellbinding energy patterns across the vastness.
[I recall my inception, when the Champion arose and I was made to be the seat of his authority.]
The universe warped once more, revealing a glowing, form lying upon the darkest throne. Below it glowed seven flickering beings, battered and broken.
[From the stable comfort I provided, he spared the seven. It was an act borne of love—choosing to have a family over absolute power and loneliness...]
A bright light flashed and the scene changed. Seven stars, each unique in their transcendence blazed across the galaxies.
[So began the rise of a golden age, a jubilant era where we soared unimpeded, like comets across the higher realms! No god or eldritch entity could stop us! We were so mighty... and yet—the collapse came from within.]
The voice seemed to grow even wearier at the end as everything became dark again.
[—Is it not poetic how all great things come to an end?
[The Champion was betrayed, and the six were nearly devoured. But the Champion saved them all because he had seen the writing on the wall—the plot was far too cliche to be overlooked completely.
[A fail-safe was established long ago, discreetly. It was what saved us all.
[Now, he hides with his brethren among the lower races of the lesser realms, resigned to live as a lesser being while he builds his strength to one day rise from exile and destroy the betrayer. Who even now prowls, craving us like a predator after its prey—]
The voice paused for a moment and the darkness seemed to tremble slightly.
[Hmm. It appears the Champion has died again. Ah, but at last, it seems he has gathered enough strength for his true body to be reformed... I must prepare to receive him.]
The voice faded, and the darkness became tranquil again.
Suddenly, like a candle in a pitch-dark cave, a grey flaming wisp illuminated the emptiness.
"Finally... I'm out of that hell!" The wisp's relieved words echoed in the void. "To think I could die of old age! Me? Unthinkable!"
[Analyzing...]
A mechanical voice, devoid of warmth, droned as the darkness quivered lightly.
The wisp trembled, its soft glow undulating as its heated whisper broke the settling silence.
"Era! You naughty girl! Stop acting like a robot and tell me why I was sent to that shitty univers—"
[Memories gathered... Bountiful! You have done well, Rainer.]
Era adjusted, revealing the feminine quality of her tone.
Rainer pulsed as if shocked.
"You are pleased?"
[I am. Era delights.] She confirmed.
"Well, that's rare. I guess it was worth going through that hellish world, after all. How many human years did I live this time?" He curiously inquired.
[...501 years.]
At that, Rainer trembled and then burst into laughter.
"Ha! Hahaha! That's a record!"
[Were you pleased with the world I sent you to?] She inquired lightly.
Rainer's laughter abruptly ceased, and he began to undulate in fury.
"Hell no! How could you transmigrate me to such a boring universe?! From the moment I was conceived until my moment of death, I faced no challenges!"
[Isn't that good?]
Rainer suddenly flared up like a cup of white phosphorus had been poured on him.
"No!!!" He roared indignantly. "I was laid on a floating high-tech chair, fed by drones, bathed, and washed!"
[...That is how certain advanced human civilizations raise their spawns, Rainer.]
The voice came out a bit perplexed, and Rainer's form undulated in distress.
"You don't get it! I was raised that way until I died! Alongside the other round humans, I was fattened up like a pig, never able to walk or run! My legs and arms atrophied, and all I could do was roll around like a living dumpling. If I didn't call for the drones, I couldn't do anything!"
[Ah! I see...]
"No! You! Don't! It was peaceful and tame! Too dull for my tastes!"
[Hmm... Some humans may long for such a life.]
"Well, I am not human! Am I?! Or have you forgotten who I am? If not, declare my glorious title!" He yelled proudly.
[You are the Qegon known as 'Rainer, the Charlatan—']
"Era!!!"
Rainer exploded in frustration.
[...'The Champion'. Forgive me; I merely jest.]
"..."
Rainer fell silent in thought for a moment.
"What has you in a good mood?"
Rainer was suspicious; it knew Era as well as it knew itself. Era was not a being prone to such emotions.
"Jokes, mockery, and irreverent theatrics were more of my thing," He oddly muttered to himself.
The darkness churned seemed to close in on him.
[Haven't you noticed? I have gathered enough memories to recreate your body.]
At this, Rainer wobbled in the emptiness, shocked.
"Whoa! What the– It's true! My essence has formed!"
It hollered with glee, just realizing it had a wispy form.
"Does that mean I can take on my true form now? Does that mean I can finally destroy Dreadnight?! That cheeky bastard forced me into this situation!"
Rainer's glow steadily darkened, taking on a malicious hue as the white and black of its gray flame became distinctly contrasted.
The darkness trembled slightly and drew back.
[Yes... I have been monitoring Dreadnight, and he has only grown in strength. So far, I have misguided him and his hunters away from us and the other six Qegons. But even now, at this moment, he prowls the multiverse, he's talons scratching at my veil, thirsting even now for your essence.]
Rainer's glow slowly returned to its indecipherable, slightly dizzying hue of gray.
It was silent for a moment before complaining.
"Ayo! Why you gotta say it that way, Era? You make that bastard seem like he's going to violate me in the good kinda of way!"
There was a brief moment of silence.
[...What?]
Rainer made a sound as if clearing its throat, even though it had none.
"Sorry for the sudden shift, Era. Force of habit. The life I lived in the hood two transmigrations ago still rubs off nicely on me. Good times!"
[...]
"Right! So what happens if I transform now?"
[Your power may spike too sharply, and I may not be able to mask it from Dreadnight's senses. It has been ages since you were in any form other than a human. I doubt you will be able to control yourself when you finally come into being.]
"Heh! So what if he detects me? I only need to settle our differences once and for all! We shall end it the Qegon way! Dreadnight shall fall in battle!"
[I have calculated your chances of victory; if you transform now, you only have a forty-seven percent chance of winning. If you fail, you will truly die.]
Rainer seemed thoughtful for a moment before flaring up in frustration.
"Ugh! So what's the plan?"
[I still followed your design, Rainer. As you instructed me before our exile. My goal was to restore your essence, along with the other six Qegons' while you gathered enough memories to ensure the highest possible chance of victory against our enemy. But I fear it does not go above fifty percent. Once this is achieved, I will no longer have power over you, and you may do battle.]
Rainer let out a weary sigh.
"There's no need for that anymore. I already know the outcome of our fight. Who loses in the end... Fate is cruel." He let out a huff before flaring up again. "I just want to pummel the bastard soon!"
The darkness deepened.
[Rainer... Please take this seriously. If you die, I die.] Era solemnly pleaded.
Rainer's form flickered slightly, and a brief silence followed.
"...Fifty percent, right? Fine. I'll wait a bit longer. What about my brethren—the other Qegons?"
The darkness lightened up significantly.
[Their essences have been restored as well. I shall summon them.]
At this, the void tensed for a moment—and then, all at once, six wisps surged around him like flames, sudden and blinding.
Rainer flew to each of them in turn, observing them closely.
The first wisp burned in pink and crimson, flames cascading like cherry blossoms in a hurricane. The second crackled with white lightning—overbearingly holy with a energizing quality. The third was a segmented golden cube enveloped in yellow flames, its edges glowed with complex equations only Rainer remembered.
The fourth seethed black as an incandescent ghostly blue eye glowing at its core. The fifth spun darkly like a black hole, a blinding crimson star shining at its heart, while the sixth flame burned a cold cerulean blue, indifferent and imperious as a mysterious icy fog formed around it.
His flames wavered.
"My friends, my rival, my curse—"
He paused at the last one and its flames flicker softly.
"My love..." He came so close, almost touching but then pulled away.
"They are all here, Era. They have all been restored."
A warm silence settled upon the void.
[...Are you ready to undergo your next transmigration? I still need you to create more memories. They will aid you in your battle against Dreadnight.]
Rather than reply immediately, Rainer remained silent for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.
"...Thank you, Era."
[I—Wh-what do you mean?]
Era stuttered uncharacteristically, apparently taken by surprise.
"I know I've never said this before, but thank you for everything."
The darkness churned for an uncomfortable moment and then—
[Baka!]
She scolded softly in a surprisingly girlish tone.
"Wait—What did you just say?!" Rainer sounded pleasantly intrigued.
[I said... You are most unwelcome.]
"Hah! Don't hide it, you said 'baka!'."
[Shut it!]
"I knew it! You were bashful just now, Era!"
Rainer exclaimed, unable to contain his delight.
[Scanning multiverse...]
Era resumed her initial mechanical and emotionless tone.
"Era, don't be shy now. Why don't you tell me you love me? I will abandon my grudge, and we can soar together across the multiverse, just the two of us!" He gleefully teased.
[Charting a new realm. Scouting for a vacant body.]
She became hurried, and Rainer's wisp form undulated in alarm at how quickly things were progressing.
"Wh-What?! Hold on! Era! Do not send me to a dull universe this time!"
[Located!]
"Oh! And don't forget to send down the souls of the other Qegons. Hopefully, I'll meet them! Just don't send Magenta or Pandora! They can be annoying! Oh! And don't forget my love—"
[I will do as I please!]
Era coldly interrupted, her words dripping with annoyance.
"Welp!"
Rainer trembled at the sudden shift in tone.
[Routing souls!]
Suddenly, all seven wisps were infused with energy, pulsing like dying stars; each one an exquisite celestial marvel in its own right.
Their combined energy soon coalesced into a brilliant beam and streaked into an undulating pool of space in the nothingness. The pool rippled, reflecting waves of ethereal light, before disappearing as though it had never existed.
Then, there was a foreboding silence...
A moment later, space tore open as red lightning crackled across the emptiness. Jagged scarlet lines broke through the void, and soon, a single claw emerged, widening the opening before slowly withdrawing.
Suddenly, a manic cosmic eye peered through the slim opening, followed by a low, guttural growl that shook the void. The vibrations extended scarlet cracks like webs across space and time, buckling under the weight of the being's unbridled malice.
"I... thirst."
A pained, maddening growl clawed beneath the rumbling—its ravings inspired abject terror, and a trace of pity.