"The Old One requires sacrifices, your kins are perfect."
________________________________________________________
Skill List:
Kanji (lv0): Aspect of Energy: Electricity, Thermal.
{Skill points: 1}
[Full destructive power limit: Village]
[1. Infuse/Absorb] [2. Energy travel] [3. Energy trail] [4. Energy bolt]
Inventory: Geographic sphere, spyware device, tungsten-infused nanotech silver chain, multi-device pad (Hide, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???).
Claire (lv0): Aspect of Creation
[1. Create (Slots: 5)]
Inventory: Black cloak, crossbow, crossbow bolts, ammo pouch, fanfics.
David (lv0): Aspect of Form
{Skill points: 1}
[Range limit: Self]
[1. Expand (x2)] [2. Spikefacation] [3. Delay (1-10s)] [4. Shieldfacation]
Inventory: Iron bat, AK -47.
Amelia (lv0): Aspect of Reality
{Skill points: 1}
[Attack type: illusion] [Attack range: x3 field of view]
[1. Third-person vision] [2. Blurring Mirage] [3. Double] [4. Connect]
Inventory: Frying Pan, Knife.
________________________________________________________
A young lady lies motionless on her bed, drained of energy and devoid of purpose. The triple combo of depression has rendered her a shell of a person, too exhausted to even remove her purple boat shoes.
She is born and raised in America to Chinese parents with the surname "Li". The young woman clings tightly to her cultural heritage, honoring it with yearly traditions as there is a shrine next to her apartment window.
Her daily life is a grind, toiling endlessly in a local fast-food restaurant for meager wages that barely cover her student loans, basic needs, and of course rent.
Dressed in a nondescript outfit of grey sweatpants, a black t-shirt, and a red hoodie, she hides her waist-length locks beneath the hood in an attempt to cope herself to sleep. She only likes keeping to herself and her small circle of friends or anything. It's not surprising, given her history of being relentlessly bullied and ignored.
Despite the pain of her past, she perseveres, finding solace in the small freedoms afforded by college life where she is no longer a target.
Why is that?
Did they become mature and LEARN from their mistakes?
How is it fair that they get away scot-free while their victims suffer?
These thoughts had plagued her for years, but one day she had an epiphany...
Her true purpose was awakened.
She stands up from her bed, taking in her spacious apartment with its kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom.
How could she afford this?
Well, She had a certain friend who had offered to pay for her expenses for the rest of her life, but feeling guilty about the offer, she insisted on earning money for food, laundry, and education. Nonetheless, she still felt indebted to him and accepted the offer.
She sits at her computer desk and opens up Twitter. Other than chatting with her friends and reading esoteric and eldritch-themed stories, her last form of entertainment is watching and reading Twitter drama which in hindsight is quite disturbing.
As she sits at her computer desk and opens Twitter, the young lady munches on a cold mooncake and scrolls through the pages.
One post catches her eye about the sighting of cultists.
She panics and quickly opens another program.
?? "GUYS!! What the hell?! We've been spotted!"
"Chill! High Mistress! Those are members of a different cult group."
?? "Oh. Whew! Why do they have the same red robe as us?!"
That's right. This is her true calling, a large cult dedicated to stopping bullying by using force. Their purpose is not revenge, but to act as a force of nature to end mistreatment once and for all. They hit and move on, no conversations are needed. In its early stages, many members were arrested for assault, but they were determined to continue their work. Eventually, the authorities recognized the potential benefits of the cult's actions and collaborated with them, making their activities legal but hidden from the public eye.
As a random fact, the entire cult shares a fascination with Lovecraftian stories.
The young woman's mind eases as she ponders...
?? "Will my friends think I'm insane?"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Where am I? NO, NOT HERE AGAIN! Shit! Shit! Shit! Bloody shit!
Amelia runs tirelessly over the dark purple hills, her escape seemingly never in sight.
Exhausted and out of breath, the thought of death begins to loom over her. But as she gazes forward, she spots a figure approaching in the distance. Someone is coming...
Amelia wakes up.
Amelia "AAAAAA!!"
Her fingers skim the surface of her face, brushing against the crimson ribbon that veils her vision. This emblem of her blindness taunts her, a cruel jest echoing her sightless plight. Her screams, a discordant symphony in the still night, rouse her companions from slumber.
Amelia "Sorry, pardon my screech of terror. I had the most horrid of dreams of that darn place again."
Dave "Amby, dude. You're alright."
Kanji "Glad you're ok. You look a lot more stable."
Claire "Amy!!"
With a sudden surge of movement, Claire envelops her friend in a tight embrace.
Claire "You're ok!"
Amelia "Woah! Claire, you sure are enthusiastic about my state of alrightness."
Dave "You stole my fucking chance, c'mon man! Anyway, why are you so energetic? Weren't you like all depressed yesterday?"
Claire "Well, that was because I thought we couldn't win against that thing. But Kaney gave me the confidence to fight on my own and it convinced me that maybe being negative all the time wouldn't be good for anyone. From now on, no more sad Claire!"
Amelia's gaze lands on Claire, her sweater adorned with an artistic rendering of a deep blue Earth.
Claire "From now, I'll stay at the back lines and watch your back, Amy!"
Amy "Oh... why thank you. Also, your sweater looks amazing today."
Kanji "Everyone sure used a lot of nicknames today."
Dave "Speaking of nicknames dudes. Here's everyone's nickname. Kanbro. Claira. Amby."
Kanji fixes a menacing glare on Dave
Kanji "You can't use Claira. It's too convenient of a name, I'm taking it but I'll also not gonna use it."
Dave "Bruh! What the fuck?! Fine. Cla'bro it is."
Claire "That sounds really neat!.... So Amy, can you see anything right now? How many fingers am I holding?"
Amelia "No. No, I can't see anything. Though I can see in the third person, I guess I'm on permanent around-the-clock scouting duty then. Also, you're holding up two fingers by the way."
Kanji puts his hand on her shoulder.
Kanji "At least, you can keep everyone safe."
Amelia "Ha. You're right! That made me feel a tad bit better about myself. So, who are we going to pick up next?"
Kanji "Let us first consult AN to see if anything is up... AN."
AN "...."
Kanji "AN!"
AN "Wah! Jeez, Kanji you scared me! I was meditating. Anyway, what do you require?"
Kanji "Anything new with your viewing device?"
AN: "Ah yes! Check this out!"
Before the quartet of warriors, a holographic screen blooms into existence, its ethereal blue light casting an otherworldly glow on their faces.
Dave "Dude, is this a system? Man, are we living in a simulation? Either that or we are in some Korean webtoon which would be kinda sick, bro. "
Kanji "We should be glad actually, this allows us to keep track of our skills and equipment."
Amelia/Claire: "Sweet!"
Claire's hands clasp the sides of her head, channeling her imaginative prowess into the space that lies before her.
Dave "Yo, Cla'bro. Why are you doing the Da baby meme?"
Claire "I'm creating something to help with our lack of showers and laundry of course. We all stink lmao. And yes, I definitely did the meme unironically."
Dave "Nice, dude."
Five bars of mechanical soap materialize out of thin air. With swift precision, she intercepts their descent, her palms closing around the cool, hard surfaces.
Dave "Wha-what the fuck are those dude?"
A sly grin stretches across her face, aimed at Dave. Sensing an undercurrent of trouble, he instinctively starts to turn away.
Dave "Oh shit! Dudes run! If you don't want to be clean."
Dave's attempted evasion arrives a beat too late. An errant bar of soap strikes the back of his head, sending him tumbling into a large, hovering bubble. One by one, the rest of the group follows, their forms disappearing into the shimmering sphere.
As the dirt and grime clinging to their clothes begin to dissolve, so too does the dark crimson stain on Amelia's attire. Within moments, they re-emerge, their garb immaculate, cleaner than a newly minted t-shirt.
Dave, however, stands unpleased amidst the newfound cleanliness.
Dave "Welp! There go 100 gifted subs. Chat, you win this time."
|His chat spams Omegalul|
Dave begins to pester AN.
Dave "So, is this Abyssal whatever it is you said yesterday about some crazy, edgy, one million tentacle hentai dimension or something dude?"
AN "You are close Dave, it is quite similar. Also, what's hentai?"
Kanji "Wait, seriously?"
AN "Just kidding, I know what it is."
Dave "Hold that for a bit, man. This could be an epic gamer moment, like catching two fish with a fishing rod."
In a dramatic motion, Dave turns his head towards Kanji.
Dave "Right. Bro."
Kanji "Oh, I see what you're putting down. It's a strange coincidence that those two will be the ones we are getting next. Out of everyone in our group, they are the least social and less likely to join us on this journey. So maybe this topic can stimulate their interest and convince them to reconsider."
|Dave's chat spams 5head and SmartChamp|
Dave "Yeah....exactly what l was going to say."
|His chat spams Kap|
Claire "Come on guys, I'm pretty sure Sarah and Noah are quite talkative in real life. I'm sure of it!"
Amelia "I truly hope that you're right Claire, especially Sarah. I can feel that even all those years and despite being with us, the poor girl sorta felt lonely like there was something she didn't want to tell us."
Kanji "Everyone has their own story and secrets including hers. Whether we get to know about it is the real question. For now, let's just pack up and leave."
Kanji swiftly gathers his devices and places them into his bag before heading towards the front door. Claire, opting against wearing anything new, follows closely behind him.
Dave assists Amelia in standing upright, and after some practice, she adapts to control her body in the third person. Eventually, the duo meets up with Kanji and Claire.
Upon arriving at the front door, the group notices Mr. Pokey patiently waiting for them.
Dave "Oh shit! What do we do with him?!"
Kanji "I feel like this journey is too dangerous for him to accompany us."
Amelia "You're right, and I know. I'm truly going to miss him and his adorable fluffy face. I'll be putting him in a local animal daycare while we are gone."
Claire "Wait! Can we at least take him for a walk?! You promised. Remember."
Amelia "Sure, I don't see the harm in doing so."
The group takes Mr. Pokey to the same park as before, and Amelia is haunted by memories of her recent loss of sight. Dave comforts her by patting her on the back, though his expression reveals little emotion. Despite this, Amelia senses that he is urging her not to worry.
After a lengthy walk with Mr. Pokey, the group arrives at a nearby dog daycare.
Amelia places Mr. Pokey in the "Picked up when the owner returns" section and embraces him one final time.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Amelia "I'm gonna miss you, little lad."
Mr. Pokey barks and jumps around, seemingly oblivious to Amelia's goodbye.
Despite this, Amelia sobs as the group bids farewell to her furry companion. With their destination ahead, they make their way back to the airport they originally departed from to reach NewShire.
Dave "Yo, why are we moving back through the same plane dude?"
Kanji "Apparently, Sarah lied to us about where she lives."
Dave/Amelia/Claire "What?!"
Dave "So she doesn't live in Wuhan, China! What the fuck, bro?!"
Amelia "Why would she lie to us?"
Claire "Guys. She must have had a good reason, I think."
Kanji "Claire's right, so we shouldn't judge her decision. The truth is that she actually lives on the west coast of America."
The news bewilders Dave, causing him to step back and nearly fall onto his backside.
Dave "Woah! Hold the fucking phone! You're telling me that she has been living on the other side of the country all this time. Man! If I just kept searching, I would probably found her already."
|His chat spam PeepoSMH|
Kanji "Yeah, It's quite inconvenient to backtrack. So let us not waste more time and get on the plane. We can't get answers waiting here."
The group boards the flying vessel and returns to America, with the trip keeping them occupied. Kanji and Claire enjoy each other's company while watching the LOTR trilogy, while Dave is too preoccupied telling Amelia about his latest movement. Though she finds it silly, Amelia wholeheartedly supports his endeavors.
Upon arriving back in America, time seems to pass quickly as they make their way to California. The air is filled with a different kind of freedom, as California is unlike any other state in the nation, having undergone little change over the past 20 years.
Dave "We have to look out for Florida man. I heard his influence has spread to this state, his power transcends all of ours combined dudes."
Claire and Amelia share a giggle, while Kanji lets out a small chuckle.
The group walks through various roads until they arrive at a crowded apartment district. Eventually, they enter an apartment in a far corner of the complex and climb up the stairs to a room with the ominous label "666".
Dave "I knew it, man, I told you she would pick some cursed number for her apartment. Chat, give me back my subs."
|His chat spams Sadge followed by -100|
Kanji knocks on the door.
Kanji "Sarah, you there?"
It opens slightly and a young lady peeks her head out to see who's there.
Sarah "Um..m.m...Hi?"
She said as she slowly opens the door.
Claire dashes in and greets the person, shaking her hands eagerly.
Claira "So glad to actually meet you! We all are."
Sarah "Yes... me... too."
Claire releases her hands and glances down at Sarah's clothes.
Claire "Your clothes are a bit dirty, but nothing I can fix. Here have thi-
Kanji -Stop. Before we do anything, I want to talk with her in private. Dave, bring everyone out."
Dave "You got it, boss man."
With a firm grip on both Claire and Amelia's arms, he pulls them out of the door. Claire then yells.
Claire "Kaney! What is this all abo-
As the door shuts with a loud thud, Sarah's bedroom is enveloped in a thick blanket of tension. Kanji strides forward and takes a seat on her bed, his posture and demeanor resembling that of a stern father figure.
Kanji "I know about your cult and what you are doing."
Her countenance rapidly shifts, betraying a flicker of fear.
Sarah "P-Please. Please, I... I can explain."
Kanji "You don't need to explain, I actually don't mind it one bit. In fact, I'm glad to have someone like you as a friend, someone would do crazy and even illegal things for what they think is right. It is quite admirable really and besides, everyone has their bad side. Claire goes full doom-slayer mode with a hood on, Amelia becomes a drugged-out party girl when she's drunk, and Dave is literally an agent of chaos. Yesterday, I noticed him taking selfies while fighting a dragon! That sneaky bastard."
Sarah "Oh I see... that's a bit comforting. But wait what's this about a dragon?"
Kanji "I'll get to that. In summary, you shouldn't worry so much and find the right time to tell everyone. I also suggest that you be more talkative. We are your friends. Aren't we?"
Sarah "Yeah, I'm sorry. It's hard to talk and be with people like... physically."
Kanji "My tip is to be more open. Like what you just did right there."
A subtle grin tugs at her lips as Kanji diverts his gaze toward the door.
Kanji "Everyone can come in now!"
Dave, Claire, and Amelia make an entrance. As they barge in, Claire stealthily approaches Kanji.
Claire ["You're going to tell me what happened. O. K."]
Kanji ["Alright, Jeez."]
They survey the room, noticing the numerous Lovecraftian artworks that adorn its walls. Among them, one painting stands out - a creation of Claire's.
Claire "Awww. You added the one I sent you and even printed it. I thought you would probably ignore it since it wasn't edgy enough."
Sarah "Well, your interpretation of Chuthulu is very fresh compared to other artwork. As cartoonish as it might look, you somehow retained the true essence of what an old god supposes to be, unfathomable and unknowing. This earns some recognition from me, sister."
Claire "Thanks! See guys, I told you she can talk."
Dave "Only if you talking about spooky demon shit."
Sarah "Hey! They are old gods, not demons! Take that back!"
Dave "No, I don't think so."
Sarah lunges after Dave, wielding a book as a makeshift weapon, determined to defend her precious collection. Meanwhile, Amelia and Claire hasten to separate the bickering duo.
Oblivious to the commotion, Kanji fixates on a pile of novels atop Sarah's bedside table, each one bearing the unmistakable signature of H.P. Lovecraft.
As Dave pauses, he notices an array of jars perched upon a nearby shelf, their contents shrouded in mystery.
Dave "Dansgame! What the fuck are those?!"
|His chat follows with HyperDansgame|
Dave inches closer to inspect the jars' murky contents. Suddenly, the liquid clears, revealing a grotesque eye that pops open, causing him to jump back in shock.
|His chat spams MonkaW and then LUL|
The commotion caused by Dave's startled reaction draws everyone's attention, prompting them to huddle around the jars and catch a glimpse of their mysterious contents.
Amelia "This sure is a ghastly collection of I don't know what that is."
Claire "Omg! Sarah! Are these dead animals?! Why!?"
Dave "Holy shit! These are roadkill jars, aren't they?! That's kinda rad, man."
Kanji "What purpose do these serve or are they just for mere decoration?"
Sarah "They are just decoration, road kills that I picked off the streets when I was a kid. I know. It's a disgusting fetish."
Kanji "Everyone likes different things, we shouldn't judge right?"
Dave, Claire, and Amelia exchange nods. All eyes then turn toward Sarah
Kanji "Alright! It's time to tell you why I'm actually gathering everyone."
He relays all that has happened. Sarah is visibly shaken with disbelief as she stumbles back.
Sarah "What? No. There is no fucking way that this is real, right?! He's joking, right?!"
In a swift, decisive motion, Kanji unveils Dave's concealed left arm. It pulsates, an enigma of warping shapes. Concurrently, he retracts his mechanical arm, and a blueish spark lights up the room.
Sarah "Ok. That is pretty sick!"
Kanji "So are you willing to join us?"
Sarah "I..I.."
Her fingers trace the contours of her arms, her silence resonating with worry.
Sarah "...I don't know. My life right now is fairly safe and this journey seems quite dangerous, especially for someone like me who has never fought before."
Amelia "To be fair, me and Claire never had combat experience and we are doing fine and dandy."
Sarah "Yeah...sure. Your eyes are gone."
Dave "It's no point Amby. We need desperate measures. Alright, Kanbro. BRING OUT THE BAIT."
Her gaze lands on Kanji, a fog of confusion clouding her eyes.
Kanji "Maybe hearing about a never-before-heard eldritch theme story from an alien planet may spark your interest."
Suddenly, her eyes ignite with delight. A radiant smile dances on her lips as she bounces in place.
Sarah "Wait! Really!! Oh my god!!! Oh god yes!! Tell me! Tell me! TELL ME!!!"
Kanji "You are a bit too close there."
Sarah "Oh, sorry."
AN "Ready to hear it, Miss Sarah?"
Sarah "AN, please to meet you... I guess."
AN "Please to meet you too. Since you already know who I am from Kanji's summary, I won't be bothering you with introductions and just jump right in. Did you know that my species' way of life is solely based on improving our technology?"
Kanji "Wait really? Like you only invent and improve your technology and nothing else."
AN "Yep! That's basically it."
Dave "Dude that sounds boring as shit. Like no Internet. No social media. No games. NO MEMES!"
Sarah "I agree."
Amelia "Do you cook or not?"
AN "Food is processed automatically using AIs."
Amelia "Gosh! That sounds so tasteless! Where did all flavor, love, and passion go?"
Claire "Guys, I think they find enjoyment in doing what they do. Right?"
AN "Claire is sorta right, but we weren't all always like this. In fact, in the beginning, we were just like you guys until something happened, something horrible. You see, our current society lives a semi-eusocial lifestyle, where everyone has free will to whatever unless the monarch commands it. Those who are freed from this way of life, tend to recover their passion for other things, we rebels are an example of this case."
Kanji "That's why you don't sound like a one-dimensional husk. Also, you're telling us that it's the Empress's fault."
AN "Heavens! No! She would actually be delighted to see her people like that, but she also doesn't want them to be out of her control. The reason that those under her influence are like robots, is theorized to be because of a fear that was edged deep into the very souls of our ancestors. Coming to that conclusion, one of our rebel members who is a historian became intrigued with the topic and started digging for the truth about what happened long ago. What she found was remarkable! A lost journal is written by the first wielder of Reality who coincidentally was also our planet's first historian."
Amelia "So this person is like my ancient alien senior, huh."
AN "Yep! And I always have her journal on me at all times for safekeeping. The many things she recorded and experienced are all so fascinating to me. The places she visited, and the journey she went through. But for now, we are going into the tragic chapter of her journey, the last chapter, also known as "Abyssal Earth"."
Dave "Guys, I need popcorn or something man to enjoy this shit. Also, I'm calling Sarah's bed my seating spot."
Amelia "I'll be sitting there, too."
Sarah "Wait for a second... are you guys dating? When did this happen?"
Dave "Yeah..."
He takes a bag of chips from his bag.
Chips crunch under his teeth, a few crumbs escaping to litter the front of his shirt. With a casual toss, he hands the bag to Amelia.
Dave "....we knew each other before meeting... the rest of you guys. Kanji for some reason forgot to tell you that."
Kanji "I felt that it was unnecessary to convey such information."
Sarah "I see. Well, I guess I'll just sit on the floor then."
Claire "Don't worry. Kaney and I will sit with you."
Kanji and Claire nestle beside Sarah.
Their proximity ignited a flicker of discomfort within her. Yet, a foreign sensation of camaraderie and warmth slowly begins to outweigh her unease. As if sensing her internal struggle, Dave drapes a blanket over their huddled forms. A feeling of shared warmth and friendship takes over the scene.
|His chat spams DaveCozy|
AN "Well, it seems everyone is nice and comfy which truly isn't appropriate for the story I'm going to tell you but whatever. Oh! By the way, this book is written in an ancient native language so I'm going to translate it for you. So, is everyone ready?"
"Yes!!!"
An "Alright then, let's begin."
Once upon a time, in the land of Caverrin, there thrived a legendary band of twelve. Heroes of renown, their exploits echoed throughout the realm, each wielding the distinctive power of their aspects. Yet, their heroism was aimless, their battles fought in the name of a nebulous peace.
All changed with the discovery of an anomalous entity that threatened to unbalance the Universe itself. A sentient black hole, defying all logic, had taken the form of a colossal turtle, an insatiable beast hell-bent on devouring existence itself.
Facing a foe of such magnitude, the heroes boldly threw themselves into the fray, their hopes high of halting its ruthless onslaught. Enraged by their audacious resistance, the beast tore them asunder, each body swallowed into the oblivion of its monstrous form.
Only the Aspect of Reality survived, forced to witness the horrifying demise of her comrades, rendered powerless by the beast's might. Her grief was an endless river, days and nights bleeding into one another as sorrow festered into a blistering rage. Such was her fury that she found herself torn from her timeline, thrust into a cruel, repeating cycle.
She found herself reliving the same doomed day, each iteration a futile attempt to change the inevitable. Yet, she was flung relentlessly from one timeline to the next, a helpless marionette in the merciless grip of time.
The bitter truth dawned on her: her aspect was Reality, not Time. Even as she grappled with the futility of her actions, she knew the Aspect of Time would fare no better. Regardless of her efforts, the outcome remained a fixed point, a heart-wrenching echo of her hopeless struggle.
Kanji raises his right hand.
Kanji "Wait what do you mean by that? You mean that the aspect of time can't change the past."
AN "Yes, for some reason, something is preventing all the previous wielders of Time from not being able to alter the past. Their abilities only affect the present and future."
Dave "Wow, that's sucks man! But can't they just look into the future or something bruh?"
|His chat types 4head|
AN "No, her group's aspect of time was lv0. During that period, they didn't know about the crystals needed to make themselves stronger. Anyway, I'm just going to continue now. There is much more to know."
Eventually, she ceased her fruitless attempts to alter destiny, electing instead to observe her own path post-tragedy. The self she beheld chose a different course, retreating into a depression, a lone figure on a desolate mound, removed from the hustle of society.
Days turned into a relentless watch, until, one day, her other self simply disappeared. Shock rippled through her at this unexpected anomaly. Curiosity piqued, she began to hop through timelines, witnessing the same abrupt vanishing act replayed.
The question haunted her, "Why does this happen over and over again?" Eventually, the question ceased, replaced by a relentless search. She spent years scavenging for answers, sifting through the dust of ancient ruins, and poring over the scriptures in forgotten temples.
The truth she unearthed sent chills down her spine: the chilling nature of the Aspect of Fate. When awakened, this aspect shackled all timelines and realities to the main timeline's destiny, an unyielding law that not even she could bend.
Dave "Holy shit! Hell naw! I guess we shouldn't wake that shit up then, dude."
Sarah "Yeah. That just seems like a very sane thing to do."
AN "The thing is that only the main timeline controls whether or not the Aspect of Fate is going to be awakened. So You may or may not have a choice."
Kanji "Let's say we are the main timeline, and we choose to not activate the Aspect of Fate."
AN "Then that means every timeline has its own sensible outcomes. This can also create a huge problem."
Kanji "The Ultimate Dilemma. You could either choose to awaken Fate, having a 50-50 chance to make every timeline succeed or fail. Or your timeline could be one of the millions of timelines that will succeed or fail."
|Dave's chat spams WAYTOODANK|
Amelia "Yikes! That's one hell of a doozy!"
Claire "I'm super confused right now. But I believe we should just worry about it when the time comes."
AN "Ok, everyone should just relax for now. I must finish the story, I was getting to the important parts."
She searched the depths of her own existence, seeking answers for her divergence, but found none. Reborn with a newfound purpose, she wished for her own suffering to end.
In the next timeline she leaped to, she acted on her newfound resolution. She ended her alternate self's life, sparing her the pain of loss that many others had endured. It worked. She reasoned that each version of herself was destined to fade away, thus her intervention merely shortened the period of isolation and suffering.
For centuries, she acted as her own executioner, the memory of her friends gradually fading from her mind. The all-too-familiar cloud of sorrow began to consume her, the same melancholy that had claimed so many versions of her.
One day, she found herself in an uncharted land, a sprawling field of hazy purple hills stretching into the horizon. Here, grotesque creatures, an amalgamation of unimaginable body parts, roamed in hordes. Fear propelled her into a desperate run, but the futility of her plight soon dawned on her. She surrendered to her fate, finally ready to reunite with her departed friends.
But the beasts did not attack. They retreated, leaving her in the presence of a formidable entity. A skeletal figure, its aura radiated a chilling emptiness. Its torso was a skeletal framework, more emaciated than the most starved man. Arms, thin as reeds, were reminiscent of long-forgotten corpses, while its legs boasted a strength rivaling the mightiest of dragons. Its head was nothing but a grotesque amalgamation of a goat and dragon skull, hollowed and fractured. Adorned in broken fragments of Spartan-like armor, it was bound together by sinuous black vines, each thorn housing an eerie eye. The vines coiled around the entity's body, their ends entwining around a spine-like tail, where a blooming lotus harbored a needle-sharp barb.
As she braced for her end, she found the entity extending a hand to her. She took it, and with a surprising gentleness, it hoisted her up. This formidable figure, it turned out, was quite pleasant, apologetic for the fright his subjects had caused.
She brimmed with questions, and he, it seemed, was more than willing to answer them.
"Where is this place and who are you?"
"This place is home, and I'm.... my name is Lord Kin."
"How did I end up here, Sir Kin?"
"You were destined to come here eventually. Those who stray from the normal road end up in the strangest places."
"I see. Am I stuck here forever?"
"Yes, I believe so."
"Umm... this might be rude and random, but what do you do here?"
"I work as a janitor under my father's order. You see, he is a very powerful man."
"So you clean things. May I ask what kind of things?"
" I clean up "Timelines"."
"Wait, by "clean" you mean like "destroy". You're the Destroyer of Timelines."
"Hahaha! That's quite a silly way to see it, a more appropriate title would be the Sweeper of Timelines. I correct things so everything happens the way it should. Let's say there is a timeline where something out of logic happens, like the universe exploding for no reason or cause. My presence alone automatically deletes those types of timelines. Duties, where I need to be there physically, are the ones involving the wielders."
"What kind of involvement?"
She nervously asked.
"Failure. When a group of wielders fails their goals, I will be there to erase all traces of their existence from history."
"But Why?!"
"I don't know. I'm just following orders"
Her mind rushes to the thought of his father,
"Who is this guy? Who is powerful enough to have a son like this?"
"Wait, that means all those times of me disappearing. It was-"
"My doing. Yep."
"Then you are going to kill me. Why are you sugarcoating this conversation?"
"At first, I was planning to. However, seeing you going through the effort of ending your many selves for a singular purpose changed my opinion of you. It inspired me, you remind me of myself you know. Also, I haven't had company ever since my dad visited eons ago and left to get cigarettes."
"Ahaha, wait... what are cigarettes? You know what never mind. I guess it must be lonely out here then."
'Yeah. Yes, it is."
In the vast expanse of eternity, they found companionship in each other, their burgeoning friendship filling the chasms of loneliness that time had carved into their hearts.
This bond, however, was just the beginning. Over time, they found endearing qualities in each other, and their affections silently reciprocated.
Perhaps her isolation had skewed her perception of normality. Yet, when she looked at him, she saw not a monster but a soul echoing her own loneliness. They fell in love, and his heart began to experience something akin to humanity - no, Castastriananity. The memory of their unique bond lives. This enduring legacy is the reason this journal exists.
As time passed, she found herself carrying the symbol of their love - their unborn children.
AN "After this, the writing is more crooked, I'm guessing it's Lord Kin's writing."
The group collectively nods, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. They gently prompt AN to proceed.
Regrettably, her frail form faltered under the strain of childbirth.
As her life began to ebb away, her lips parted for a final utterance:
"Please, my love. Please carry this dream of mine."
"Yes, my dear. What is it?"
From his hollow skull, tears of inky blackness began to flow.
"The Sola..."
She *coughs*
"... The Solar System. I feel a great destiny awaits on one of the planets, a planet called Earth. My dream was to visit the place with my comrades one day, but I guess that was a hopeless desire... huh. My final wish is for my people to one day visit Earth by any means necessary."
She wept, planting a final kiss upon his lips before slipping into the void, leaving behind ten radiant eggs.
He grieved her loss, carrying her lifeless form to the heart of his reality. In those early days, it was but a small purple planet lost in the void. Yet, with a wave of his power, her remains became a new universe, one he christened "Abyssal Earth".
Their children flourished, growing into planetary-sized eldritch abominations that took their place alongside the celestial bodies of the solar system if they were on the same dimensional plane. They were named Suntarus, Mercuryath, Venusith, Earthas, Marsagoz, Jupiteroth, Saturnagator, Uranusava, Neptunez, and Plutoren.
These monstrous progeny mated with each other, birthing an array of otherworldly beings that took their place among the stars and planets of the universe. Each had its own collection of unnerving inhabitants, all paying fealty to Lord Kin, who resided upon Earthas.
Dave "What about that black hole dude? Should we all be dead if he is still alive?"
AN "Oh, I was about to get into that. You see the funny thing is...."
Moved by Lord Kin's poignant tale, his children were consumed by a bottomless rage, tearing through the fabric of reality and piercing every timeline in existence.
For in Abyssal Earth, time held no power, and reality existed beyond the constraints of time and space. Thus, they appeared in every TIMELINE where their mother had been, launching a brutal assault on the black hole monster.
(To be continued.)