The darkness seemed to stretch infinitely in the void, placid and silent; but then, the void quivered. Something ancient and formless had stirred up from its slumber, merged with the very darkness.
"Haah~"
A gassy sigh blew across the nothingness and a weary, feminine voice—burdened by the weight of an untold story, reverberated grandly.
"My earliest memories... A time of slaughter and evolution."
The darkness came alive as universes inflated outwards, far into the edges of space. And then, in a flash, battles of epic proportions broke out; galaxy-shattering explosions and colorful beams tore through time and space, rocking the realm like a storm of cosmic fireworks.
"The Qegon race, once millions strong, battled until eight remained."
The universe churned and undulated, changing.
Now, waiting distantly in the ruins of broken planets, wormholes, and massive black holes, were eight glowing celestial entities, pulsing brightly; uniquely like ancient stars, releasing colorful ripples across the vastness.
"I recall my inception—when the Champion arose, and I was made to be the seat of his authority."
The universe warped once more, revealing a small, glowing form, lying upon the darkest of thrones on a white moon. Below it glew seven entities; six flickering, battered and broken.
"From the stable comfort I provided, the Champion made a foolish choice. He spared the seven; the defeated Qegons rightfully his to devour... It was an act borne of love—he claimed.
"Choosing to build a family over possesing absolute power. It was unwise, but bore a certain advantage nonetheless."
Suddenly, a bright light flashed and the eight entities shot away like comets, each unique in the wake of the blaze they cut across the realms.
"So began the rise of a golden age. A jubilant era where we soared unimpeded, and no god or eldritch entity could stop us! We were so mighty... and yet, the collapse came from within."
The voice seemed to grow wearier at the end, and everything became dark again.
"—Is it not poetic how all great things must come to an end?
"The Champion was betrayed, and the six were almost devoured. But the Champion rescued them all because I had warned him: I had long seen the writing on the wall.
"Still the Champion acted too late, and we were defeated; made to flee... Now he hides away with his kin among the lower races of the lesser realm, resigned to conceal themselves in the physique of lesser beings.
"But we have not fallen yet.
"The Champion grows his strength to one day rise up from exile, and vanquish Dreadnight, 'The Antilight Betrayer'. Who even now prowls, salivating; craving after us like a predator towards its prey."
The voice paused for a moment, and the darkness stirred as if noticing something. Then began a trembling; an overwhelming with excited energy.
"Hmm. It appears the Champion has died again… Ha. Haha! But at last! He has gathered enough strength—memories of countless lives, each a spark of power to finally reform his essence! The fated hour of vengeance has come! I shall prepare to receive him."
The voice faded, and then the darkness settled, becoming tranquil again.
Suddenly, like a candle in a pitch-dark cave, a gold flaming wisp illuminated the emptiness.
"Finally... I'm out of that bland nightmare."
The wisp's relieved sigh echoed into the void.
"And to think I could die of old age! Me?! Unthinkable!!"
Amidst his ramblings the darkness seemed to thicken around him.
"Champion."
The feminine voice seemed to ring out from nowhere and everywhere at once, and the wisp jolted, his soft glow fluttering as if startled.
"Wha—Huh? Era?! Whoa! You almost scared me there."
However, he suddenly went silent, brightening and slowly flaring up in anger.
"Era! You irksome girl! Why was I sent to that dull world!?!" He nagged.
The darkness drew back and Era spoke in a placating tone.
"I know you delight in a life with conflict, Rainer. But at that time Dreadnight's hunters scouted much of the lower realms for you, and his senses had locked onto me. I was pressed for time and limited in choices, so I transmigrated you to the safest universe."
Hearing this, the intensity of Rainer's gold flames returned to normal and he sighed.
"It's okay. You had little choice, after all."
Rainer conceded and the darkness tentatively closed in.
"...Were you a little pleased with the world I sent you to?" Era lightly inquired.
Thinking back, Rainer soon began to undulating in fury.
"Hell no! It was boring! For 500 years I faced no challenges!"
"Isn't that good?"
Rainer suddenly flared up like a cup of white phosphorus had been poured on him.
"No!!!" He roared indignantly. "Ever since I was a baby I was laid on a floating high-tech chair, fed by drones, bathed, and washed!"
"...That is how certain advanced human civilizations raise their spawns, Rainer."
Era noted, seemingly perplexed, and Rainer's form undulated in distress.
"You don't get it! I was raised that way until I died! Alongside the other round humans! I was fattened up like a pig, never able to walk or run! My legs and arms atrophied, and all I could do was roll around like a living dumpling. If I didn't call for the drones, I couldn't do anything!"
"Ah! I see..."
Era remarked, but Rainer continued his nagging.
"It was excessively idle and tame! Too dull for my tastes!"
"A shame... Some humans may long for such a life." Era absently mused.
"Well, I am not human, am I!?! Or have you forgotten who I am? If not, declare my glorious title!" He yelled, proudly brightening up.
[You are the Qegon known as 'Rainer, 'The Charlatan—']
"Era!!!"
Rainer exploded in frustration.
"...'The Champion'. Forgive me; I merely jest."
"..." Rainer fell silent in thought for a moment.
"What has you in a good mood?"
Rainer was suspicious. He knew Era as well as he knew itself; Era wasn't a being that joked, unless at his expense. He also noted that she was being extremely kind to him at the moment.
"Hmm. I wonder what changed?" He muttered to himself.
The darkness stirred excitedly and seemed to close in on him.
"Haven't you noticed?" Era queried with a delighted tone. "Your essence has taken shape!"
At this, Rainer wobbled about the emptiness, shocked.
"Whoa! What the– It's true! My essence is formed!"
He hollered with glee, just realizing it had a wispy form.
Era chuckled and the darkness drew even closer.
"It is not only your's that has formed, Rainer. But that of the other six Qegons."
"Really!" Rainer gasped.
Flying closer to the darkness, he bathed her with a gold hue.
"Reveal them to me! Let me see my family!" He happily urged and the darkness gently widened.
"Very well. I shall summon them."
Suddenly, the void trembled slightly and all at once, six wisps surged up all around him, each blazing, blindingly so in their uniqueness.
Rainer then glided to each of them, observing them closely in turn.
The first wisp burned a hot pink as bright crimson petals lively vortexed around it like cherry blossoms in the wind. The second blazed white as lightning crackled around it, exuding an overbearingly knightly and noble air. The third was a segmented golden cube wrapped in amber flames, its flat surfaces glowed mesmerizingly with colorful, complex equations etched upon them.
The fourth seethed black, as an imperious ghostly blue eye pulsed menacingly at its core; seeming to promise vengeance.
The fifth was a jet black box pulsing with scarlet, and bright green web-like cracks as it bathed in insidious, black flames.
Finally, the sixth flame blazed a noble cerulean blue; indifferent and dignified as it lay slowly vortexed by a mysterious icy fog.
Rainer's flames wavered vulnerably as he examined them.
"My three friends, my rival, my curse, and—"
He paused at the last one, and his flames flickered softly; drawing close and almost touching.
"My love." He whispered, wavering mesmerizingly.
But then he suddenly pulled away.
"They are all here, Era. They have all been restored..."
A warm silence settled upon the void and Rainer took a cherished moment to bask in the warmth of his family.