Jason stepped out of the portal, Shade, and Gordon sadly absent. He couldn't see anything but the rocky black terrain around him, extending to the horizon. Another two portals opened next to him and out came another two figures.

One held a bow, string taunt and arrow nocked. They had a white wooden mask over their face, two blades strapped to their waist, potion bottles on a bandolier, and a quiver full of purple-blue arrows. The other had an axe out, a strange backpack full of vines, odd tattoos all over them, and an aura that felt like a physical manifestation of violence and bloodshed.

"G'day guys. I'm Jason. I don't know where we are be it's nice to meet you."

Jason extended his hand. Zac and Jake, both noticed each other and immediately trained their weapons on the other. Jason retracted his hand and summoned a large grill, a table, three chairs and some water. Zac finally broke the silence.

"Who are you two? And why am I here? You don't feel like people are meant to. Is that meat for all of us Jason?"

Jason nodded before slapping some steaks, lamb, and sausages onto the grill. Zac slowly lowered his axe as Jake lowered his bow before both desummoned them. Still eyeing each other off, they took seats at either end of the table.

"Strewth mate. You really have something against each other, don't you?"

"More like a potential threat," answered Jake. "I've never met this guy before."

"Name's Zac. You?"

"Jake."

"Well Jake, I don't know why we're here, but it probably needs teamwork. Can I trust you to not stab me in the back?"

"As long as you don't."

Jake turned his mask translucent and Zac deactivated [Billion Faces]. Jason clapped sarcastically.

"Finally, friendship. That was like watching fans against the fifth Airwolf season."

Zac and Jake looked at him like he had an extra head.

"Apparently I'm not a threat."

He let a smidge of Colin's aura emerge from him. It felt of death, blood, endless hunger, worlds stripped of life to feed the swarm.

"But I know someone who is."

Colin emerged from his back as a mass of leeches before transforming into his apocalypse beast form, leather form, reality seeper form, and his human form.

"Hello. My name is Colin. I am a sentient swarm of leeches summoned by Jason to be his companion. Due to a few lucky events, I was able to form a closer connection with him that I presume, allowed me to join him here."

Zac looked at Colin like the extra head had hopped off, grown a body, and was introducing themself. Jake scratched his head.

"So, are you they, she, he, or...?"

"You can refer to me as a singular male entity. I cannot converse in my split form anyway."

A purple hologram of a man sprung up out of the barbeque. Jason jumped in place and threw his tongs at it. Jake and Zac both pulled out weapons again.

"My apologies Jason. I didn't mean to scare you. My name is Chris. I will be your manager and guide for the time you reside in here."

They all put their weapons away again and Zac stood up and strode towards Chris as he walked out of the barbeque while Jason tried to save the steaks from incineration with his hands.

"Great a guide. Why are we here? What is this place? Is there anyone else? If not, why are we together?"

"All good questions Zachary, yes I know your names. You are here because you were uniquely powerful and recommended by a rather influential multiversal figure or selected by the dungeon itself. This is the Preparation Grounds for the Dungeon of Infinite Parallels, a gameshow set in a dungeon-like format. There is no-one here but you will face three other groups of three individuals when it starts. You are together due to chance. Swearing on the show is prohibited and will be replaced with more family-friendly language. Your patron and stat messages should be coming in around now."

After a few awkward moments, purple screens flashed up in front of the three.

Zac's screen.

Zachary Atwood. Title: The Deviant Asura.

Human/Draugr.

Description: This cataclysm that is the Deviant Asura should not be messed with. No matter how long the odds are, he will live.

Offense: A

Perception: C

Speed: B

Durability: A

Survivability: A

Killability: A

Unpredictability: S

Patron: Terminus.

Beginning Patron message: You have annoyed me for long enough. Survive, and I will impede your progress no longer.

What? Impeding me? Fine, I will survive. Screw you Terminus.

Jason's screen.

Jason Asano. Title: The Defiant Heretic.

Human.

Description: A man with no regards for consequences, who will (and has) died for his friends. That clearly didn't send a big enough message though.

Offense: D-S

Perception: B

Speed: A

Durability: A

Survivability: A

Killability: S

Unpredictability: A

Patron: The Cosmic Throne.

Beginning Patron message: Take this opportunity as my thanks.

I guess helping Carmen with the throne was a better idea than I thought.

Colin's screen

Colin. Title: The Bloodthirsty Apocalypse.

Sanguine Horror.

Description: A world devouring apocalypse held inside a sweet little leech swarm.

Offense: D-S

Perception: B

Speed: B

Durability: D

Survivability: S

Killability: S

Unpredictability: A

Patron: None. (Special Companion)

Beginning Patron message: None.

Jake's screen.

Jake Thayne. Title: The [REDACTED] Hunter.

Human/[UNKNOWN]

Description: Paradoxically a heretic and chosen of a god, this hunter seeks only the biggest prey.

Offense: A

Perception: S

Speed: A

Durability: A

Survivability: A

Killability: B

Unpredictability: A

Patron: Oras.

Beginning Patron message: Do well Heretic-Chosen. Make Vilastramoz proud.

I hope Villy can see this. Oras might be annoyed if I screw this up.

All three looked up and at each others screens. Chris ploughed onwards.

"After each section of the dungeon, patrons can send another message. Any non-accidental damage, inconvenience, harm, or likewise will result in immediate expulsion from the dungeon. Some abilities that would be considered unfair or broken will be blocked. This includes instakills, powers that allow permanent shelter, and powers that provide immortality to name a few. You have one day to prepare before voting begins. Any further questions?"

Jake and Zac both raised their hands while Jason was plating up the meat. Chris pointed at Jake.

"What's the voting?"

"You will receive further information about that when we start it. Yes Zachary?"

"First of all, stop calling me that. Call me Zac. What about Haro and Alea? Can I keep them?"

"You can keep both but your Plant King, due to not being fully sentient, will not receive a system or be a seperate combatant."

"Got it."

Chris clapped his hands and disappeared. Jason delivered the plates to each person and they dug in.