"What do you hold dear?" A voice questioned commandingly, echoing in the darkness that shrouded everything.
"Everything," Another voice answered, shaky and weak.
"False ideals are a shackle, rid yourself of them before presenting yourself before me," the first voice spat.
"But you possess the power to protect, I do not, it is a simple and insignificant request for a god such as you," the second voice pleaded, slowly fading to silence.
"What makes you believe I would answer your requests, lowly filth, you should be shown where you belong," the first voice laughed.
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Slight amount of light illuminated a wall, two shadows visible on it, both seemingly possessing long hair, standing right in front of each other, neither moving for a long time.
"Why did they do this?" The same voice from earlier sobbed. "I only presented a simple request to a god."
"Gods are selfish beings, they do not care about others, and those with pure hearts are destined to suffer in this world." Another voice answered, different from the ones before.
"Are you also a god?" The first voice inquired.
"No, I am not a god, but I will listen to your request." The voice sighed just as one of the shadows pulled the other close.
"You will help me?" The first voice questioned with a sob.
"Yes, you have suffered long enough for your purpose, it is time we fulfill our purpose." The second voice announced, a chill spreading through the darkness.
"What do I have to do for it?" The first voice inquired as one of the shadows pulled away from the other.
"Do this with your hands." The second voice commanded, making some shape with her hands, the light going out just as she did. "Now, repeat after me."
"Imaginary Domain." Both the voices called out at the same time, abruptly cutting off.
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"What happened to everyone?" The first voice questioned.
"They simply ran away," the other voice answered. "Don't pay any mind to them, they are not important right now, what matters is our purpose."
"Right, what do I have to do now?" The first voice inquired.
"Do it again, by yourself this time." The second voice voice informed as it grew distant.
"Imaginary Domain." The first voice called out, being abruptly cut off again.
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"I have done it five times already but I don't understand what is happening, everytime I do it we end up at an entirely different place," the first voice mumbled.
"We are travelling through the worlds, helping its inhabitants reach salvation," the second voice informed.
"Should I do it again then?" The first voice inquired.
"No, not yet, there is someone else you need to help, someone you can only help yourself in person," The second voice informed.
"Where?" The first voice inquired.
"Follow me, I will take you to him." The second voice sighed as it faded into the distance.
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"Its time," the second voice mumbled.
"Time? What happened?" The first voice inquired.
"To help everyone else reach salvation," the second voice informed.
"Right, I almost forgot about it, I haven't seen you in years, and I have been happy living with him, a kind of happiness I never knew about before," the first voice sighed.
"That is the feeling of being loved by someone you love as well, but I hope you don't plan to turn back now, our purpose will be left unfinished otherwise," the second voice mumbled.
"Not at all, I am ready, I am sure he would also love to know I helped so many people," the first voice cheered.
"Certainly, he would just love to know how many people you are about to help now," the second voice chuckled.
"Imaginary Domain." Both voices called out at the same time, cutting off again.
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"What is this place?" The first voice questioned, a starry void illuminating itself around a dark figure.
"What have you done?" A man's voice mumbled, just as another dark figure became visible in the starry void, close to the first one.
"Wha, what happened?" The first voice mumbled as the dark figure looked around.
"You destroyed everything," the man exclaimed, "every single thing, what sort of monster are you?"
"I, I didn't, when, I don't remember," the first voice mumbled, panic taking over her.
"What do you, don't tell me, the man mumbled. "You were controlled by something weren't you?"
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"I don't know, I, I have no idea, what happened here? What is this place?" The first voice exclaimed in panic.
"Calm down, please calm down, I know you wouldn't do something like this yourself, let's try to figure out what happened exactly, okay?" The man requested, one of the dark figure's grabbing the other and pulling them closer.
"I did all of this, didn't I? I killed everyone? Destroyed everything? Why am I remembering all these bits now, from years ago." The first voice sobbed, starting to cry uncontrollably right after.
"Calm down, calm down, everything can be fixed, godly beings like you and I can fix it, eventually, we will find a way," the man sighed.
"No, you can't bring them back, neither can I," the first voice sobbed. "Why did I trust that thing? What even is that thing? How did all of this happen? I am not strong enough to do this."
"Listen to me, don't lose hope, I don't know what you are talking about, so please, explain it to me, hold on to the little bit of hope there is. Trust me, we can find a way," the man pleaded.
"Its already all over, it doesn't matter." The first voice exclaimed as one of the dark figures pushed the other away.
"What are you trying to– no, don't do anything reckle–" the man exclaimed, stopping before completing. The dark figure belonging to the first voice slowly disappeared, it's head hanging loosely from its body. "What caused all of this," the man grunted. "I will find the cause, and I swear, I will give it the most painful death possible."
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"Father is mean." A voice mumbled, belonging to a fairly young girl from the sounds of it.
"Is he now?" Another voice chuckled, a familiar voice, also belonging to a girl, carrying an icy chill.
"He doesn't teach me anything, and now I am weak even when he is the strongest being in existence," the first voice sighed.
"Is that what others say?" The second voice questioned in a whisper.
"Yes, they all do," the first voice muttered.
"They don't understand true power, you are greater than all of them, even your father," The second voice reassured.
"I don't believe you," the first voice sighed.
"Allow me to teach you then," the second voice chuckled. "Do this with your hands."
"Okay, now?" The first voice questioned.
"Say it with me now," the second voice commanded. "Imaginary–" the second voice begun.
"Stelle?" A man's voice called out.
"Coming," Stelle answered. "Teach it to me later, need to go for now."
"Don't worry, you will learn it soon enough, whether you like it or not." The second voice laughed, slowly fading to silence.
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"This competition is going to be my day," Stelle cheered.
"Is it now?" The second voice sighed.
"I am going to beat everyone and establish myself as the second strongest there is, and then after some time I will be stronger than even father." Stelle laughed, attempting to be sinister.
"Your father, are you aware how old he is?" The voice questioned.
"No, why do you ask?" Stelle inquired.
"Simply wondering, it will certainly be fitting for him, seeing the love of his life be the strongest, and then even getting the chance to see his daughter be the strongest there is," the voice laughed.
"But mother is very weak," Stelle mumbled.
"Of course she is, I was referring to the first love of his miserable life," the voice scoffed.
"You knew my father?" Stelle inquired.
"Did I not tell you that I am his old 'friend'? The voice questioned.
"Right, I forgot about that, and I still don't have any clue why you don't want to meet him then," Stelle sighed.
"I will meet him, when the time is right, he will recognise me right away when he does see me," the voice chuckled.
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"Stelle!" The same man's voice called out.
"I am fine Rei!" Stelle called back, coughing right after. This is tougher than I expected, I shouldn't be struggling this much in the first battle, She thought to herself.
"Need a hand?" The voice inquired.
"That would be against the rules, and how are you standing here even?" Stelle questioned.
"Don't worry about that, and I would only help you by teaching what I wanted to teach long ago," the voice replied. "Are you willing to learn it? Or will you accept defeat here?"
Stelle pondered it over in her mind, the silence stretching for several moments. "I won't lose," She answered.
"Repeat with me then," the voice chuckled. "Imaginary Domain," both called out at the same time, the voices cutting off instantly.
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"The next would be the final battle, I have breezed through this tournament, four battles and four wins," Stelle cheered.
"I still don't understand what that is," Rei mumbled. "I have never seen you doing it before."
"Its my special move, the unbeatable move of the undefeated champion," Stelle chuckled.
"Did your father teach it to you?" Rei questioned.
"No, he has never taught me any combat skills, he has always been against me becoming strong, but now I am certain to be the second strongest," Stelle squealed.
"Second strongest here, the strongest ones from the others will be far stronger than even you," Rei sighed.
"I will pass them as well soon enough, and then even father won't stand a chance," Stelle laughed.
"Whatever, he will be watching your next fight just so you know," Rei informed.
"That is only better, he should also see what his daughter, whom he doesn't believe in at all, is capable of," Stelle announced, her voice fading into the distance.
"They will see soon enough," the voice chuckled.
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"Easy victory," Stelle laughed. "I thought you said father would be here."
"He told me he would be when I talked to him last time, I am just as confused as you are," Rei sighed. "I do sense him nea–" the voice cut off, a loud bang echoing through the silence. "What are you doing?" Rei exclaimed several moments after the bang faded away.
"You are better off not knowing, just know this is for the better," A man's voice answered.
"Do you want to live?" The voice questioned.
"Yes," Stelle groaned weakly.
"Then what are you waiting for?" The voice inquired with a chuckle.
"Imaginary Domain–" Stelle called out before spluttering.
"Won't let you do–" The man exclaimed, his voice being cut off before he could finish.
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"Why did he attack me?" Stelle sobbed.
"He is afraid of your power, isn't that obvious?" The voice answered.
"But I am his daughter, right?" Stelle argued.
"He is the strongest in existence before being your father, he would do anything to retain that title," the voice chuckled.
"What do I do now?" Stelle sobbed.
"Trust me, doing so will have the best results for you," the voice answered.
"Why should I believe you won't betray me as well?" Stelle questioned.
"Because we are alike. I have been there before, being powerless, when no one cared for me. But then, I gained power, and everyone suddenly became my enemy," the voice chuckled. "The strong can never accept the weak receiving power, they will do whatever it takes to keep them low, so they can trample over the weak as they please. I have helped many before you in gaining power, and now its your turn."
"You won't betray my trust?" Stelle questioned.
"Never, I will protect you with everything I have," the voice reassured. "Are you willing to do it?"
Stelle took in a deep breath. "Imaginary Domain." The voice faded into the silence, several screams echoing in the dark quiet.
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"I am not done yet." he voice groaned, resembling Stelle's but carrying an icy chill.
"You were hasty to repeat what happened all that time ago, weren't you?" Stelle's father questioned.
"I never expected I would have scared you to this extent," the voice laughed. "Still crying over your dead love?"
"If you are attempting to enrage me then stop trying, I am aware of your tricks, and I am also aware whom you don't plan on killing," Stelle's father mumbled. "Your attempt has failed, it is time your life comes to an end."
"My life comes to an end?" The voice questioned, transitioning between Stelle's voice and back. "Are you forgetting whose body this is?"
"I do not care, she allied with you, her thirst for power will find another source even if I somehow save her without sparing you," he grunted. "You have done far too much to be spared, no matter who I have to kill along with you. Regardless, I know she will die even if I spare you."
"You think you can kill me?" The voice boomed. "I will come back, and rejoice your victory till then, afterall your daughter is a pitiful weakling. The next time I will be back with a better host. I have already pulled out all stops to ensure she would surpass everyone and everything before and after, nothing you can do will stop her. Everything will end once again just like it did all that time ago, and I will not be sparing you this time."
"If you come back, I will kill you again before you can fully spread your wings," He sighed.
The voice laughed maniacally, slowly fading into the distance. "The Empress will end your miserable existence, soon, very soon."