Chapter 1: Shadows of Suspicion
The air in the Domainverse crackled with tension, thick enough to choke on. Zerich and Kazo moved swiftly through the neon-lit streets, their footsteps echoing against the obsidian pavement. The distant hum of interdimensional rifts buzzed in the background, a constant reminder of the fragile balance between worlds.
Zerich clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. "Let's hurry up back to the bar and regroup," he growled, his voice laced with impatience.
Kazo nodded, though his eyes darted warily around them. "Yeah, I know. But it seems like we'll have to wait a little while longer."
Zerich's temper flared. "This is seriously pissing me off. What the fuck does Dano really want with us?"
Kazo exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, same thing I'm thinking over here."
A wicked grin spread across Zerich's face. "I'll cause a distraction. Use it and head to the bar, regroup with the others, then request immediate backup."
Kazo groaned. "You want to do something stupid again, right?"
Zerich's eyes gleamed with reckless energy. "Yeah. And right now, my blood is pumping for a fight."
Kazo sighed, shaking his head. "Just don't overdo it. You know if you cause too much trouble, she will come for you."
Zerich's grin widened, undeterred. "Hmmm. Well, I'll just have to fight her too—and defeat them all if it comes down to it."
Kazo's voice dropped to a warning whisper. "Zerich, please be careful. The Domainverse doesn't give a damn about the Cronoverse. They don't even fear the Rulers—except Krelious. So be safe."
Chapter 2: The King's Command
Far away, in the heart of the Cronoverse, the towering spires of Krelious's kingdom pierced the crimson sky. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and ancient power.
Dainen, clad in battle-worn armor, knelt before the throne. "My King, we are done with our task."
Krelious, his golden eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction, nodded. "That is good, Dainen. You all finished quite on time. I'm surprised."
Dainen bowed deeper. "Thank you, my King, for your praise."
Then, Krelious's expression darkened, shadows flickering across his face. "Dainen, I want you to prepare the army. It seems to me that the Meeting of All will not go according to what we planned."
Dainen's grip tightened on his sword. "Understood, my King."
Chapter 3: The Gods' Gambit
Meanwhile, in the celestial halls of the Multiverse Gods' Council, three figures stood amidst swirling cosmic energy.
Hendi, his form flickering between corporeal and ethereal, clenched his fists. "We were just killed—and somehow brought back. These Rulers have done it now."
Dai, his voice a low rumble like distant thunder, nodded. "Indeed they have. But we must plan carefully before we can exact our revenge."
Shisi, her silver eyes calculating, crossed her arms. "Hmmm. True. But on our own, we cannot defeat them. We need help from the Void Gods."
Dai smirked. "Yeah. Even they must be tired of the Rulers. If anyone should want to destroy them, it's the Void."
Hendi's form solidified with resolve. "Then let's make preparations. After the Meeting of All, we'll depart for the Void Domain and forge an alliance."
Shisi's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "And after we're done with the Rulers, we'll take the throne—and rule over all, including the Void."
Dai's laughter cut through the tension. "What?! Don't be stupid. If we win the war, the Void will claim the throne for themselves."
Hendi raised a hand. "Ummm, I get your point, Dai. We know the Void Gods are a threat too. But we're not alone in this. We have him—someone with strength equal to the Void. And you know who I mean."
Shisi's eyes narrowed. "Will he really fight by our side? Are you certain he hasn't sided with the Rulers?"
Dai's laughter deepened. "It doesn't matter. When the time comes, he will fight with us."
Hendi's voice softened, heavy with history. "He's only pretending to love the Rulers. But the truth is… centuries ago, the Rulers' war against the Unknowns took the lives of his wife and child. That pain still burns in him."
Dai's smirk faded into something darker. "Yeah. A pain he can never forget."
Shisi exhaled slowly. "Hmmm. Alright. Let's hope you're both correct."
Dai grinned again. "Of course we are."
Hendi turned toward the shimmering gateway ahead. "Now come. Let's prepare for the Meeting of All."
THE DOMAINVERSE
Chapter 4: The Underground Gambit
The air in Martha's Bar was thick with the scent of stale ale and whispered secrets. Zerich and his team slipped through the back entrance, their boots scraping against the worn wooden floor as they regrouped with Team Alpha. Outside, the streets of the Domainverse writhed with chaos—Dano's troops scoured every alley, every shadow, leaving no stone unturned, no hole unprobed. The hunt was relentless.
Martha, the bar's enigmatic proprietor, observed them with a gaze sharp enough to cut through lies. She knew the stakes. Without a word, she accepted their payment and gestured toward a hidden hatch beneath the counter. "Stay down there. No one looks there," she muttered, her voice a gravelly whisper.
The underground chamber was a tomb of silence, its walls slick with condensation, the only light a flickering lantern that cast long, skeletal shadows. For three days, they tried to raise Team Kima on the comms—static hissed back, a mocking reminder of their isolation. Zerich's knuckles whitened around the transmitter. No response. Again.
Then, as abruptly as it began, the search ceased. The Domainverse exhaled. Shops reopened, crowds returned, but the calm was a serpent coiled to strike. "It's a trap," one of Team Alpha growled. Zerich agreed—yet staying meant surrender. Their mission was clear: Find Kima. Go home.
But escape wasn't simple. Martha's underground refuge had no exits. "Unless we make one," Zerich said, eyeing the damp brick wall. The risk was monumental—a blast would bring Dano's wrath upon them and Martha. But hesitation was a luxury they couldn't afford.
As they primed the charges, Martha's hand clamped down on Zerich's wrist. "Wait," she breathed. Her eyes were dark with foreboding. "You need to hear this first."
The King of All
Martha's words slithered through the dimness like a prophecy. "Zerich, the Verses are unraveling." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "The High Head—Krelious—has crowned himself King of All. He demands submission from every god, every domain, every shred of existence."
Zerich's pulse spiked. A grin tugged at his lips—chaos was opportunity—but Martha wasn't finished. "The realms are splitting," she continued. "The gods deny him. The Abyss roars defiance. Even the Unknowns stir, claiming the title is theirs by right. The Void whispers its own claim. And the Three Kings..." She trailed off, her face ashen. "They're not themselves. If they catch you now..."
The lantern's flame guttered, plunging the room into momentary darkness. Zerich felt the weight of her words like a blade at his throat. This wasn't just a war—it was an upheaval, a storm that would crack the foundations of creation itself.
And Team Kima was still out there.
Epilogue: The Calm Before the Storm
As the three gods vanished into the cosmic rift, the Domainverse trembled—not with fear, but anticipation.
Somewhere in the shadows, Zerich cracked his knuckles, his grin wild and untamed.
And in the halls of Krelious's kingdom, the war drums began to beat.
The storm was coming.
And no one would be spared.
NEXT CHAPTER ✓
ACT 16: THE DIVINE TRUTH.