On a dark, distant world, the armored warrior knelt before a massive obsidian throne. "My lord Emperor, I bring alarming news," he rumbled.

The Emperor, an ageless, pale-skinned man with a look of beauty and perfection, set on the throne without showing a hint of emotions on his cold face. "Speak, commander." He said in a natural tone.

"I located the demon Princess Lara hiding in Universe 50972. But when I tried to apprehend her, a human boy interfered...wielding strange magic he should not possess."

The Emperor’s eyes gazed coledly. "Impossible! The primitives of 50972 lack both the integration of the system an magic. Its System integration time is a millennia away. Our visits and agents in 50972 report as such"

The commander recoiled from the Emperor’s remark, knowing what happens to people the emperor finds lacking. "Yet the boy commanded powerful spells. Purple lightning that obliterated my drone fleet with ease! He was aided by the Princess and they escaped capture through a rift portal."

"Lies!" the Emperor said coldly. "No mere human could wield such abilities in an unawakened universe. You clearly failed in your mission to capture the Princess. And now concoct these pathetic excuses to hide your incompetence!"

"I speak only truth, my lord," the commander swore. "I too found the boy's powers... surprising. But they were undeniable."

The Emperor gazed at the commander in silence, his perfect body not moving an inch on the the throne. That Universe was to be an example to all – our agents managed to insert our purity ideals to its population. War and hate is everyware in univers 50972. Oure plan is to Raise a system lord of our Kinde over there. If there is truth to your report it means that somehow an outsider had pierced its veil... this could threaten everything. The boy and whoever aided him would need to be erased - quickly and absolutely.

"Commander, return to 50972," the Emperor ordered. "Find the meddling human and Princess Lara. Eliminate them both and whoever else empowered them. That Universe's state must be restored."

The commander bowed. "Your will shall be done, my Emperor." He turned to carry out his mission. As the throne room doors boomed shut, the Emperor sank back brooding. Had he not invested enough in 50972? Its pitiful denizens barely managed to resist his efforts of converting them to purity. And now, an unknown new player with an awakened system is meddling in the empires affairs.

No matter. He would scour that reality clean once more. And woe befall any who dared obstruct his divine ambition. The meaningless lives of its whimpering people were his to torment and end as he pleased. This latest anomaly would be crushed beneath his boot like all before who opposed him.

Such was the right of the mighty. And his hunger for domination was endless.

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*****

Lara led Robert and Raj through a shimmering portal into a lush alien forest. Strange birds sang in rainbow-hued trees as three moons shone down on a glittering lake.

"Welcome to my world," Lara said. "This is one of the few beautiful places that remain untouched by the Emperor's corruption."

She sat cross-legged on the moss. Raj gaped in wonder at the exotic scenery while Robert looked at Lara intently.

"Please, tell us what's going on," Robert asked. "Why is that Emperor after you? And what did he mean about Universe 50972 lacking magic and technology?"

Lara sighed heavily. "Let me start from the beginning. I hail from Universe 50971, Conquered and ruled by the Emperor of Purity Jakass. Many eons ago, my Father was the Demon Lord who resisted his efforts to dominate 50971. After many losess the Emperor managed to assassinate my parrents, the Emperor sought to erase all resistance, having a large support from universe 50970. Oure intel suggests that more then a thousand Adjacent universes are converted to purity, as we know 49538 to 50970 have fallen"

"The method we have learned was used in the puritysts prosses was to create a situation where a purity believer will be chosen as the system lord in every universe. Your very existence is a miracle."

Robert shivered as Lara described his universe's menipulation. Raj looked outraged. "That's monstrous! But why? What did we ever do to him?"

"For the Emperor, for the puritysts hate is its own reward," Lara said bitterly. "He desires only to control everything he can reach. Some universes they conquered quickly. Others took more...subtle efforts over generations. Like 50972, where his agents slowly influenced society toward intolerance and hate."

Robert nodded solemnly. "You mentioned how they promoted ideologies of racial purity. My people's history has cruelty rooted in similar poison, I’m Jewish on my mothers side."

Lara placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "I am truly sorry generations suffered because we could not stop the Emperor. My resistance has survived, but we are fractured and few. I hoped to eventually free 50971, but lack the means to do so."

"Until the System somehow awoke in you," Lara continued, looking at Robert intently. "I know not how, but you are 50972's System Lord. You might have the power to liberate both our universes!"

Robert reeled as he grasped the enormity of Lara's words. Him, a savior? It seemed impossible. But then again, so had wielding lightning magic mere days ago.

"I'm just...a regular teenager," Robert protested weakly. "How can I possibly stand against an evil Emperor?"

"The System chose you for a reason," Lara maintained. "With proper training, you may gain power enough to defeat him." She gripped his hands, eyes shining with hope. "Will you help me free both our realms from his grasp?"

Robert hesitated, overwhelmed. But seeing Lara's desperation and hearing the suffering across universes inflicted by the Emperor, he knew he could not simply walk away. He might be the only chance for both their universes.

Meeting her gaze steadily, he gave the only answer he could. "I'll do what I can to help."

Raj stepped forward and put a hand on Robert's shoulder. "Wherever this goes, I'm with you too."

Lara smiled warmly. "Then we shall face the darkness together."

The three stood with hands joined, illuminated in silver moonlight. Robert had no clue what the future held, but knew some destinies could not be denied. And if he was truly this “System Lord”, he had much training ahead to prepare for the battles to come.