[ Creators ]

Chapter 61

The Void is a strange place.

That's become incredibly apparent at this point. It's not an afterlife, and it's not a place that harbors the right conditions for any life outside of the Stygian race and Vyz. It doesn't exist, and yet can somehow exist anywhere Vyz wills it to be. Recall that he was able to pull Straus and Koto into it easily, but it also couldn't connect to one of their Worlds without him hijacking it, and them, first. This "Voidverse" is an absolute anomaly, much like Vyz himself. Someone who claims to have borne witness to the wrongs of Jupiter's rule, but didn't take any direct action until she was gone. Maybe he was influencing outcomes without anyone knowing? And why is he so obsessed with Straus in the first place? Why ask him of all people to join in his cause? Perhaps...perhaps some mysteries in the Multiverse aren't so easily solved. Only time will tell, one can suppose.

Vyz stands at the precipice of his realm, overlooking the writhing masses of lesser beings below him. Although his posture would read as confident, he finds himself still winded from his tussle with Straus.

"hhh...Well. That was...different."

A slightly more sentient Stygian hobbles up to Vyz and asks, "What do we do now, Master?"

"Eventually, they're going to make their way here. And we can't have that... we need to expand our realm further than our current location to throw them off the path...we need to overtake the Kingdom Jupiter once held...We've lost some a large number of assets in that battle but give it time...we will allow our realm to expand...past Jupiter...past Feros..."

"Of course, Master."

Vyz outstretches his hands and pushes them forward. As he does, a flood of Stygians begins to stampede from all corners of the land. And with them, Voidverse begins to claim new territory. It's not apparent at first, but soon, several areas across the Multiverse begin to witness the same sight: an oncoming darkness with a sense of dread and hopelessness, accompanied by a dark purple sky, and bright purple cracks striking through the ground, making it crumble and shift in unnatural ways.

"Gotta admit, sister,", says Venus, taking in the sights of Gaia's castle, "it must've been nice having your own palace for all these years." "It was certainly...quiet.", chuckles Gaia, not wanting to admit how lonely she had felt. Crescent, standing at a window, gets their attention, "Sisters...what is that?"

It came suddenly. Even Royal Creators were unable to sense it before it was too late.

"Huh-?", Gaia looks outside and is shocked to see her home being torn asunder by such power. Venus, not wanting to see what happens next, grabs her sisters' hands and gets them all through a portal just as the castle's foundation begins to fall apart.

Elsewhere, Saturn watches the same thing begin to happen outside the abode his spouse once held dominion over. "I dreaded this day would come around...", he sighs, watching the masses begin to panic and scatter.

It seemed like the end of days.

"Straus!", calls out Ajax, coming in from patrol. "What's up, Ajax?", asks Koto, concerned considering she's never seen him this rattled. "The age of darkness has come, apparently!" Straus, Koto, and Red join him in looking outside. "Oh...it's dankness.", states Straus, nonchalantly. Koto frowns, "Gee, I wonder who could've done this?" "No doubt, it's him. Just when I thought we could all rest for a minute." "Is this the thing you two saw during our little... Feros expedition?", Red wonders. "Could very well be...it looks the same to me.", observes Koto, "...What're we supposed to do?" "It's hard to tell.", Ajax sneers, "It's like everything around us has been overtaken by some psychedelic subspace." "Then we'll have to reach the source.", Straus concludes, "This fight has literally moved onto our home now." Koto shudders, "We'd just have to make sure he doesn't put us in that trance again. Who knows what'd happen..." "It won't happen.", Straus declares, leading the others back inside.

All of the usual suspects are summoned to the Space. A nervous chatter from everyone resounds throughout. No one foresaw something like this happening, at least not so soon after Straus dealt such a heavy blow to Vyz (and his ego).

"What's been happening here?"

"It's a war, it's serious!"

"And here I thought the Followers were bad."

"Gotta agree on that."

"This is nothing to me."

"Everyone, let's focus.", Koto announces, trying to get everybody to settle. "Vyz is a powerful entity that will not listen to reason. This fight will be the most challenging one for any of us." "What else is new?", Red shrugs.

"Straus?", Castor pipes in, "This...is your home, right?"

"Well-...it's seen better days... Also- where's DarkClaw?"

"He's taking time to heal. I'm here in his stead. And he...looked like he needed it, to be honest with you."

"You understand what we're getting into, right?"

"I do. And I'm not backing down now. I'm doing this for Delta, and to keep all of us safe."

"...Ok."

It's then that Gaia, Venus, and Crescent arrive. Saturn sighs with relief upon seeing them. "Ah... everyone's here.", Gaia breathes, "That tells me you all already know what's going on." "Yeah, are you all ok?", Koto inquires. "We're fine.", grumbles Venus, "Whatever this is you're dealing with, you're going to need our assistance." Crescent nods in agreeance. Koto smiles at the sisters, "Thank you." "Appreciated.", Straus adds.

"We shouldn't delay further, guys.", Ex chimes. "You guys ready?", Koto asks. Uriel nods, "Always." Zeus holds Pandora's hand and says to Straus, "We'll help get people to safety while we're ahead. Just be safe, son." Straus gives a thumbs up to his parents and mentors, then faces his friends, "Let's get going."

On the way out, Gaia gives a glace to Red, who awkwardly looks away before joining the others.