Shadows of Suspicion
The air in the Domainverse was heavy with tension, like a storm about to break. The streets glowed under neon lights, reflecting off the dark, polished stone beneath Zerich and Kazo's boots. The sound of their footsteps echoed as they moved quickly, their eyes sharp, scanning for danger.
Zerich clenched his fists so tight his knuckles turned white. His patience was wearing thin.
"We need to get back to the bar and regroup—now," he growled, his voice rough with frustration.
Kazo nodded but kept looking around, uneasy. "Yeah, I know. But it looks like we'll have to wait a little longer."
Zerich's temper flared. "This is pissing me off. What the hell does Dano even want with us?"
Kazo rubbed his temples, sighing. "That's exactly what I've been thinking."
A slow, dangerous grin spread across Zerich's face. "I'll cause a distraction. You use it to slip away, get to the bar, and call for backup."
Kazo groaned. "You're about to do something stupid again, aren't you?"
Zerich's eyes burned with excitement. "Yeah. And right now, I'm itching for a fight."
Kazo shook his head. "Don't go too far. You know if you cause too much trouble, she will come for you."
Zerich's grin only widened. "Hmph. Then I'll fight her too—and anyone else who gets in my way."
Kazo's voice dropped to a warning whisper. "Zerich, be careful. The Domainverse doesn't care about the Cronoverse. They don't fear the Rulers—except Krelious. So watch your back."
The King's Command
Far away, in the heart of the Cronoverse, the sky burned crimson. The towering spires of Krelious's kingdom stretched into the clouds, glowing with ancient power. The air smelled of lightning and old magic.
Dainen, a warrior clad in battle-worn armor, knelt before the throne. His head was bowed in respect.
"My King, we have completed our task," he announced.
Krelious sat on his throne, his golden eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction. "Good. You finished sooner than I expected."
Dainen bowed deeper. "Thank you, my King, for your praise."
Then, Krelious's expression darkened. Shadows flickered across his face like storm clouds.
"Dainen," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "prepare the army. The Meeting of All will not go as planned."
Dainen's grip tightened on his sword. "Understood, my King."
The Gods' Gambit
Meanwhile, in the celestial halls of the Multiverse Gods' Council, three figures stood surrounded by swirling cosmic energy. The air crackled with power.
Hendi, his form flickering between solid and ghostly, clenched his fists. "We were just killed—and then brought back. The Rulers have gone too far this time."
Dai, his voice deep like distant thunder, nodded. "Yes. But we must plan carefully before we strike back."
Shisi, her silver eyes sharp with calculation, crossed her arms. "Hmm. True. But alone, we can't defeat them. We need the Void Gods' help."
Dai smirked. "Even they must be tired of the Rulers. If anyone wants to destroy them, it's the Void."
Hendi's form solidified with determination. "Then let's prepare. After the Meeting of All, we'll go to the Void Domain and make an alliance."
Shisi smiled, but it was a cold, dangerous smile. "And once the Rulers are gone, we'll take the throne—and rule over everything, even the Void."
Dai burst into laughter. "What?! Don't be stupid. If we win, the Void will claim the throne for themselves!"
Hendi raised a hand. "Umm, I see your point, Dai. The Void Gods are a threat too. But we're not alone. We have him—someone as strong as the Void. And you know who I mean."
Shisi narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure he'll fight with us? What if he's sided with the Rulers?"
Dai's laughter faded into something darker. "It doesn't matter. When the time comes, he'll fight with us."
Hendi's voice softened, heavy with old pain. "He's only pretending to love the Rulers. But the truth is… centuries ago, the Rulers' war against the Unknowns killed his wife and child. That pain still burns inside him."
Dai's smirk disappeared. "Yeah. A pain he can never forget."
Shisi exhaled slowly. "Hmm. Alright. Let's hope you're both right."
Dai grinned again. "Of course we are."
Hendi turned toward a shimmering gateway ahead. "Now come. Let's prepare for the Meeting of All."
The Underground Gambit
Back in the Domainverse, the air inside Martha's Bar was thick with the smell of old ale and whispered secrets. Zerich and his team slipped in through the back door, their boots scraping against the worn wooden floor as they regrouped with Team Alpha.
Outside, the streets were crawling with Dano's soldiers. They searched every alley, every shadow, leaving no place untouched. The hunt was relentless.
Martha, the bar's owner, watched them with sharp eyes. She knew the stakes. Without a word, she took their payment and pointed to a hidden hatch beneath the counter.
"Stay down there," she muttered, her voice rough. "No one looks there."
The underground chamber was cold and damp, the walls slick with moisture. The only light came from a flickering lantern, casting long, eerie shadows.
For three days, they tried to contact Team Kima on the comms—but only static answered. Zerich's grip tightened on the transmitter. Nothing. Again.
Then, suddenly, the search outside stopped. The Domainverse seemed to relax—shops reopened, people returned to the streets. But the calm was deceptive.
"It's a trap," one of Team Alpha growled.
Zerich agreed. But staying meant surrender. Their mission was clear: Find Kima. Go home.
Yet escape wasn't easy. Martha's hideout had no exits.
"Unless we make one," Zerich said, eyeing the damp brick wall.
The risk was huge—a blast would bring Dano's wrath down on them and Martha. But they had no choice.
As they prepared the explosives, Martha grabbed Zerich's wrist.
"Wait," she whispered, her eyes dark with warning. "You need to hear this first."
The King of All
Martha's voice was low, urgent.
"Zerich, the Verses are falling apart," she said. "The High Head—Krelious—has declared himself King of All. He demands that every god, every realm, every living thing bows to him."
Zerich's pulse quickened. Chaos meant opportunity—but Martha wasn't finished.
"The realms are splitting," she continued. "The gods refuse him. The Abyss roars in defiance. Even the Unknowns are rising, saying the throne is theirs. The Void whispers its own claim. And the Three Kings…" She trailed off, her face pale. "They're not themselves. If they find you now…"
The lantern flickered, plunging the room into darkness for a heartbeat.
Zerich felt the weight of her words like a knife at his throat. This wasn't just a war—it was the end of everything as they knew it.
And Team Kima was still out there.
Epilogue: The Calm Before the Storm
As the three gods vanished into the cosmic rift, the Domainverse trembled—not in fear, but in anticipation.
Somewhere in the shadows, Zerich cracked his knuckles, his grin wild and untamed.
And in Krelious's kingdom, the war drums began to beat.
The storm was coming.
And no one would be spared.
To Be Continued.