> Infinity. The unknown maximum. Endless, boundless, unquantifiable.
----------------------------------------
The bubble passed hastily through the mouth of the portal, pushing itself to its “other side”. From this unseen side came a blinding light, which Probacon shielded with his forearm his eyes from, but to which both Duces remained highly unreactive.
The bubble came to a sudden stop, in which Probacon was sent flying forward and through a hole that had formed once the bubble completed its course through the portal. "Whoa!"
He fell forward, landing face first. “Oof!”
"Ow…That hur–.”
“Whoa!" Probacon looked up to see a myriad of more portals, as different beings within similar bubbles operated in similar fashion to himself and the Duces. All within grand area of sorts, with many elliptical platforms, from the ground which he was on all the way to the seemingly unreachable heights, all whilst many beings of varying species and races performed differing activities and tasks.
《The Dome Chasmic. A grand "gap reality" within the greater omniverse.》
"Welcome, young Djin!" The Duces exclaimed. "To The Dome Chasmic!!!”.
"Whoaaaaa!!" Probacon exclaimed with a wowed expression, in his view a sight of unprecedented splendour. Seeming infinite, and yet finite, as if in disobedience of that binary state, disregarding the previously set notion.
The young Djin arose and began moving about, turning slowly in order to get a full 360° view. At the same time, the Duces seemed to have left and headed elsewhere.
All of a sudden, Probacon callously bumped into someone, leading to the pile of papers the latter carried to scatter all over.
"Oh, goddammit!" They exclaimed as pieces of paper went flying throughout the air. "Now I'll be late, and he doesn't like it when I'm late!"
"Oh, and apologies for bumping into you." He said while turning to Probacon, still in a bit of a daze after the collision. "Wha-? No, no, no need to apologize. I wasn't really paying attention either. This place is just so…marvellous."
"That is true." The stranger replied, an ivory-skinned humanoid with messy and medium-length jet-black hair, strange goggles on his hair and a pair of glasses, a somewhat stylish but rumpled office wear, a brown tool-belt, reddened shoes, and different accessories across his body, most of which appeared with a mechanical theme.
"Well, I don't have time to frolic and bask in the beauty of the arena. Since I have to deal with…these." He said, looking and gesturing at the papers that had gone all over.
"Oh, I can help with that."
"Eh, don't bother yourself too much, nothing good old me ca..ca...…" The individual spoke, turning to the Djin only to see him carrying all the papers, retrieved and reorganized, stacked on his arms. "I wasn't sure about the original organisation, so I just…did as I could. Sorry if it's wrong though."
"...It's fine. The boss doesn't really care anyway. Thanks for the help though." The stranger replied thankfully, taking from Probacon the reorganised paper articles. "I kinda owe you one now, don't I?"
"Don't think this is a study reason…" "Ah. You have a point. Well, anywa–."
"SHINIGAMI!!!!" The two were quickly interrupted by a thunderous voice that caused all actions occurring within the place to come to a screeching halt.
Probacon looked about in confusion as he wondered who was shouting and why he was shouting, but the individual beside him shook in a familiar reaction.
"Shit! That's the boss! Gotta hurry up with these files!" He would say nervously, making haste and running past the Djin.
"Well, thanks again! Hope to see more of you, pink friend!" "You too, I guess…"
What an…interesting guy. Probacon internally noted, slightly tilting his head sidewards. Sure hope he doesn't get much flax from this "boss" guy he mentioned, especially considering I also influenced his lateness.
"Young Djin!" Someone from behind Probacon suddenly said, prompting a surprised jump from him. "Gah!! That was unexpected!" "Who are you anyway? And why did you sneak up behind me?"
"I am Binč! And I did not sneak up behind you,” declared the strange looking creature, which seemed to look akin to a small fairy, but with angelic wings and a glowing arch on each shoulder, which looped into and out of each respective shoulder. It had snow white hair, beige skin and pink irides within rounded eyes. It seemed to look and sound feminine, especially considering it wore a glowing cream dress, but such can never be quite clear. "I'm a member of the Frrîjä, divine helpers."
《Binc of the Frrîjä, the great aider angels.》
Another helper race? "Um, ok. And the help here is…"
"Guiding people through the Dome and preparing them for the tournament, fool." It said, bending forward with an akimbo pose. "I mean, you should understand at least that much…,”
Probacon swiveled his head around.
And in doing so he instantly caught sight of other beings of similar appearances alongside other beings and entities, looking to do as she was.
"Um, right. Haha. Sorry…" Probacon said with his head drooping down in shame. Not really supposed to guess that, y'know?
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
"Regardless, I'm here to guide you through the Dome Chasmic, giving you vital knowledge and facts, as well as to prepare you for the tournament beforehand." "Ah, I see Thanks!" Probacon replied with a smile on his face.
"H-Hmph! You thanking me doesn't do much. Know that much, at least." Binč said, being bashful. "Right, right. Sorry. Anyway, just do your thing, I'm all ears."
"The Dome Chasmic, or as I and others call it, the Grandest Stade, is an ancient realm…" She began explaining, with closed eyes and a lifted finger. But she was met with a swift, confused interrupted from Probacon. "Wait, a realm? I thought it was just another universe."
“Not really, considering their meanings…"
"Also, no interruptions. It's annoying." "Right. Sorry."
"Anyway." She continued, as they walked through parts of the realm, transposing at Binč's whims. "It was one of the many realms that was created earliest, older than many 'worlds' within our omniverse. Created by The Grandmaster Deity, it was designed to host the first Archversal Showdown when the time was right and true. After the events of that, it was left nearly barren for eons, until a while ago."
"It is of two parts...an 'outer void' and a 'malleable stage'. The void itself is infinitely reinforced in order to contain vast measures of strength, and the stage can be molded to take any size, shape or anything at all of that void, being able to mimic even various levels of worlds-beyond-worlds. And has only that geometric limit."
"Wow, that is spectacular!" Probacon exclaimed with an amazed tone, cutting her off once again. "Yes, it is. Now, stop interrupting!!" "Right. Sorry."
"Regardless, to learn this about the arena is of prime importance, as your contests can and will be driven by them. The environment itself will be controlled by the Grandmaster Deity, as He watches from above..."
The topic was changed in eventuality, just as they continued their stroll through the Dome. "The audience is also another critical aspect one must note. Selected from far and wide, those passionate about these kinds of things, who have a strong devotion to the Grandmaster Deity. You have to engage them.”
“This is a tournament of celebration. You are a simple entertainer, remember to play that role well!" She exclaimed, gesturing by widening her two hands, but also proving irritable to Probacon, who rolled his eyes as he looked away from her. "Yeah, I got it…"
Help the celebration, huh? I can do that no problem! Binč also conjured some thoughts of her own. Think it will be easy? Well, you might just be in for a shock. Mhm-mhm~.
"Ah! Here is a fun fact I: Did you know that when the Grandmaster Deity wanted to first create this realm, there is a possibility he thought of making another omniverse entirely?"
"WHAAAT!?" Probacon yelled in gaping shock. "Yes! But he scratched it and saw it as unnecessary. Wonder what this would've been like if he went with that idea." "I really don't want to think of it..."
"Well, I do!" Binč responded. "But we don't have much time left, so all you have left is one question before I guide you to your stay areas. Chop, chop!"
"Well, I guess I pretty much understand all you said…" "Good, good." "But I do have one question, but it doesn't pertain to the arena itself."
The air between them suddenly went silent. While prior they had been moving around through Binč's abilities, she suddenly stopped, turning to face him with a more tense stare.
"Dear Djin, I believe it will be better to attempt to answer that one question for yourself…"
AGAIN?!? Probacon thought to himself, frozen in place with a countenance of disappointed shock. Goodness, why won't they answer this? What's being hidden? WHY is it being hidden…? I will not back down till I find the answer.
"Well, goodluck on that quest." Binč cut off his self-indulgent thoughts, angering him. "Stop reading my mind.”
"Yeah, alright. Well, that marks the end of our mini-tour. The tournament technically starts ‘tomorrow’, so for the meantime you can take some time to rest.” She said just as she teleported them to a living area of sorts, looking greatly more pristine than the most top-class lodgings, beyond a limit of a natural world, even.
"Wow, this place is nice!" Probacon remarked with glee as he looked upwards. "Yes it is. Now…
With a snap of her fingers, they teleported right next to a door, where Probacon would accidentally bump into someone.
"Ugh! Watch it, fool!" The person angrily stated, an individual with white hair, turquoise skin and a strange looking robe. "S-sorry."
"Here you are.” She said, opening the door. "You'll be staying here until the tournament ends. Enjoy!"
"Wait, till it ends!?" "Correct."
"Huh……” He responded with an unsurprised stare.
"Well then, I'll see you during the tournament, young Probacon. Do well! Goodbye!" She concluded with a bright grin, before teleporting away.
"That was something." Probacon sighed as he entered his designated room.
The room was a well-organised, well-accounted one, well-furnished and spotless, with many of the Djin's preferences even being there.
"Well, at least they know their stuff.” He joked with a distorted smile, trying to hide all his feelings of excitement, worry, enthusiasm and discomfort.
Then he made no waste of the opportunity. He began by sorting his belongings out in a manner in which he could find them, and in a way he found pleasing.
Afterwards, he utilized a few of the objects left for his entertainment, before crashing on the bed, ready for a long rest.
Tomorrow. He began to contemplate on the coming events. How far will I go? What will I achieve? Will I even survive? Guess it'll all be answered starting tomorrow! Just watch, everyone! This guy's coming in hot!
He finally began to close his eyes, slowly drifting into a sort of slumber.
***
The next "period", he came rushing out from his room in great hurry, now adding a grey headband with a golden flower print in its centre to his attire.
《This is the First Day of the Tournament.》
He eventually reached a certain grand space, where the other many contestants gathered ahead of him with an influx.
《The time has come.》
They stood before a gate, prepared to walk through it. All from different species, races, dimensions and all else.
《With a-many possibilities present.》
But all had determined looks on their faces, here for one reason, and one reason alone.
"Sorry, excuse me, sorry, coming through." Probacon would say as he navigated through the crowd with a slither, trying to get to his starting point, with varying reactions from said crowd, primarily displeased or surprised ones.
《And a-many certainties.》
"Combatants and battlers, cometh forth!" An anonymous voice of no precise origin echoed amongst them.
《But for now…》
Let's go! Probacon proclaimed to himself, as the gates opened, and he and his fellow contestants began to strut into and through it, headed into somewhere as one of the events of their lifetimes lay now just on the cusp…
《Now, the combatants head out, ready for glory and sport, blissfully unaware of what was to come in its retrospect…》
----------------------------------------