On that bitterly cold morning, the snow-covered landscape of Everest stretched out before Cole, Stella, and Kenneth like an unforgiving canvas of white. The air was heavy with an otherworldly force, its intensity pressing down upon them like a physical weight. The snow around them quivered and trembled, as if it too felt the dread that gripped their hearts.
The-void, an entity shrouded in mystery, emerged from the frozen vastness. Its dark hooded cloak billowed behind it like a dark cloud, obscuring its face and leaving only a sliver of its features visible. Cole, Stella, and Kenneth stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the approaching figure with a mix of fear and fascination.
As The-void drew nearer, its presence suffocated the trio, making it hard to breathe. Cole's hands began to glow with a faint red light, a futile attempt to defend himself against the unknown. The-void loomed closer, its gaze fixed on Cole with an unblinking stare. Cole's fist hovered mere millimeters from The-void before it struck, sending him flying across the snowy expanse until he crashed into a mountain with a dull thud.
The-void continued its relentless approach, its gaze fixed on Stella, who knelt helpless, her leg trapped in the snow like a prisoner. With a mere touch, The-void left a mark on her shoulder, and she winced in pain.
Kenneth, standing at a distance, harnessed his lightning manipulation powers, his eyes blazing with determination.
Transforming into a being of lightning, Kenneth appeared above The-void, crackling with energy. His lightning-charged fist struck The-void with incredible force, but a woman's cry pierced the air - Stella, now standing where The-void once was, bore the brunt of Kenneth's attack. The mark on her shoulder seemed to have switched their positions, leaving her stumbling backward in confusion.
Just then, a blazing red beam tore through the landscape, destroying everything in its path like a fiery scythe. The trio hurtled towards The-void at breakneck speed, their bodies propelled by an unseen force. Cole launched a fiery kick at The-void, but it effortlessly caught his leg, extinguishing the flames with a mere touch.
What in the world...?" Cole muttered, stunned, as he found himself hurtling through the air, slammed to the ground, and then tossed about like a rag doll. The-void gazed down at a glass-like object on the ground, its attention fixed for a moment before turning to face Cole. But Cole was prepared; he had set a trap. A red rod exploded behind him, sending The-void stumbling backward, off balance.
"Construct reality: crimson cosmos," Cole declared, joining his hands together with a small gap between his thumbs. A red light burst forth, traveling at incredible speed, but The-void was ready. With a swift motion, it threw the glass object, intercepting the attack. The construct reality rebounded, sending Cole, Kenneth, and Stella tumbling into Cole's own dimension.
As they opened their eyes, they found themselves in a realm unlike anything they had ever seen. The sky was a deep, fiery red, and massive rocks floated through the air like celestial bodies. Planets and moons hung in the sky, and the atmosphere was thick with an otherworldly energy. Cole collapsed, overwhelmed by his own creation.
"What just happened? Where are we?" Kenneth asked, bewildered, as Stella helped him take in the apocalyptic landscape.
"We're trapped in Cole's construct reality, that's what happened," Stella explained, her voice laced with concern. "And to make matters worse, Cole is trapped here too. We can't escape until he wakes up. And what in the world is that?" she pointed, her eyes fixed on a colossal, glowing red eye ball hovering in the distance.
"Oh no," Stella whispered, scooping up Cole's limp form as the eye ball unleashed a fiery laser beam. They sprinted across the rocky terrain, dodging flames and leaping over chasms. A shadowy creature emerged above them, pounding the ground with blazing red fists. Stella and Kenneth raced on, their hearts pounding in unison.
"So this is Cole's construct reality, he is something else too," Stella panted, her eyes darting about the surreal landscape.
"David Richardson's glass dimension... I should have known. Why must he always stand in my way?" The-void's voice echoed through the air, its presence a constant threat.
The-void gazed down at the broken glass path, a hint of surprise flickering across his face. "I underestimated the young lad. And that woman with them... her presence was unsettling. Why didn't she fight me? I sensed something unusual about her." He shrugged, tucking the glass into his cloak. "No matter. I'll be on my way. As long as they don't bother me for a while, I have no concerns."
As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, Sir David Richardson stepped outside, his routine relaxation time punctuated by a sense of unease. He approached the glass formation surrounding his home, only to find it disarrayed. "What's this?, The glass formation is been altered" he muttered, his eyes narrowing.
David Richardson, a seasoned warrior in his 70s with a snowy beard and hair, blended with the glass formation. His fighting prowess remained formidable, despite his age.
The-void emerged from the shadows, his voice low and mysterious. "How are you, old friend, David Richardson? It's been a long time."
Sir David's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
"A little chat, if you please," The-void replied, settling onto a snow-covered rock. Sir David followed suit, his gaze never leaving The-void's face.
The-void began, his words laced with a hint of bitterness. "What's more unfair than preaching balance, only to eradicate entire races for the sake of others? And yet, the goal of balance remains unachieved, with no regrets from those who committed the atrocities."
Sir David's expression turned thoughtful. "Are you speaking from experience, The-void? Was your race eradicated unfairly?"
The-void's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity. "You're getting it, Richardson. The uneven race still thrives, while the eradicated race must be replaced. If not, the consequences will be dire. And if nothing is done, it may be too late to stop the impending doom."
Sir David's face set in a defensive expression. "Your purpose may seem fair, but I think you've got it wrong, The-void. What makes you believe the Izigans are the uneven race? We have nothing to do with this."
The-void's voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "Ten thousand innocent lives were taken in a single day. My people, the first people that ever walked this universe, were sentenced to death by those who came after us. I believe what I need is with you, Richardson... the girl. I say no more. I've been reasonable enough. Give me the girl, and no one has to die here."
"I'm afraid I can't comply with your request, The-void," Sir David said, his voice firm and resolute. "And to be honest, I think you're out of your mind. Perhaps your people were slaughtered for a reason, and they made a grave mistake by sparing you, the sole survivor."
The-void's eyes blazed with fury as he lunged at Sir David, his hands grasping for the older man's chest. But Sir David was prepared. With a sly smile, he revealed his glass clone, the real Sir David having switched places with his glass duplicate earlier. The-void's attack was thwarted, his hands sinking into the glassy chest as if it were molten lava.
As The-void struggled to free himself, he found his movements restricted by a mound of broken glass encircling him, trapping him from the legs to the chest. The chair Sir David had been sitting on was, in fact, a trap, designed to immobilize The-void.
"What is this power?" The-void growled, his eyes darting about in frustration. "I can't move!"
Sir David stood tall, his eyes gleaming with a hint of triumph. He raised his hands, forming a peculiar gesture with his fingers. His thumb held his ring and middle finger left his pinky and index fingers straight, creating a small hole through which he gazed at The-void.
"You fiend, not that technique again!" The-void bellowed, recognizing the setup for Sir David's construct reality.
You should have stayed hidden, The-void," Sir David said, his voice a cold whisper. "Now, you'll be trapped forever, a prisoner of your own reflections."
Sir David's voice was cold and calculated. "I spent fifteen years perfecting this technique, The-void. This time, you won't escape. Prepare to face your doom."
"Construct reality: infinite reflection," Sir David declared, his voice echoing through the air.
The atmosphere began to distort, as if reality itself was bending to Sir David's will. The-void's eyes widened in terror as he realized he was about to face a never-ending labyrinth of reflections, a prison from which there was no escape.