In the vast nothingness beyond time, beyond space, beyond the mere concept of existence, sat Vaelios. He did not rule because there was nothing to rule. He did not govern because there were none to govern. He simply was.
His presence alone shaped the fabric of all realities, yet he remained untouched by them. Universes rose and fell like waves upon an infinite ocean, civilizations flourished and crumbled, battles were fought over petty grievances, and mortals struggled to grasp meaning in their short, fragile lives. Vaelios had seen it all. He had seen gods claim omnipotence only to be dethroned by the march of time. He had seen warriors fight with a fire so fierce that their names were etched into legend—only for their legacies to be forgotten within the next cosmic breath.
It was all so… tedious.
He exhaled—a soundless sigh that rippled across dimensions.
"How long has it been since I last enjoyed something?"
The concept of time was meaningless to him, yet even so, he felt it. The weight of eternity pressing down on him, thick and cloying.
Then, a thought. A flicker of amusement.
"Perhaps… it is time for a new game."
A tournament. A grand spectacle. Not a war of gods, for he had seen such things before. No, this would be different. He would pluck warriors, champions, and monsters from their worlds and throw them into the arena—not for survival, not for destiny, but for his entertainment.
The rules? Simple. Fight until death. And yet, death would mean nothing, for he would return them to life once the battle was done. They would clash with all their might, knowing that true loss did not exist—only the shame of defeat.
And the prize? Anything.
For what better way to make them fight with everything they had than to dangle before them the promise of limitless desire?
With a mere flick of his wrist, the call was sent. Across the infinite expanse, across countless realities, the greatest warriors would feel the pull—a summons that could not be denied.
Vaelios leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Let the game begin."