The Arbiter's voice rang out across the ruins of Earth, a melody of chaos and harmony, pulling together remnants of existence itself. For humanity, the announcement was a spark of hope in the darkness; for the Zeros, it was an insult to their supremacy. The first chapter of this cosmic battle was about to be written.
---
The Void Council, the ruling body of the Zeros, convened in their grand citadel—a massive, crystalline construct suspended in the endless black of the Void Nexus. Twelve figures, the strongest and most revered among the Zeros, sat in judgment. At the head of the table stood Alpha Prime, his form glimmering like liquid silver under a storm of flickering energy. His crimson eyes scanned his kin.
"This Arbiter," he growled, his voice like the grinding of tectonic plates, "dares to challenge our conquest? It suggests humanity, those fragile insects, could match us in combat?"
The council murmured in agreement, their disdain for humanity evident.
Voidcaller, a towering figure with swirling black holes for hands, leaned forward. "This is a waste of time. Let us destroy the Arbiter and the Earth together. Why play its game?"
Alpha Prime's gaze darkened. "The Arbiter is no ordinary being. Even I cannot comprehend the extent of its power. If it wishes for a battle, we will oblige. We shall crush these humans and show them the futility of their resistance."
A shadow flickered at the far end of the table. Chronos, the manipulator of time, spoke with deliberate calm. "Very well. Let the twelve strongest among us be chosen. Victory is inevitable. Humanity's champions will serve as nothing more than our entertainment."
The Zero Twelve was finalized: twelve warriors who had never tasted defeat, their names alone enough to inspire terror.
---
On Earth, amidst the rubble of what was once New York City, humanity's surviving leaders huddled in a ruined bunker. They were powerless, yet the Arbiter had given them one last chance. Before them stood the creature itself, its form an ever-shifting mosaic of light and shadow.
"You cannot choose," the Arbiter said, its voice like a thousand whispers converging into one. "I shall select humanity's champions from across time. The strongest, the most cunning, the most fearless. They will fight for you, for this planet's survival."
With a wave of its hand, twelve figures began to materialize in the center of the room, their forms flickering like holograms until they became solid.
First was Leonidas, his bronze armor gleaming, his spear in hand. His eyes, fierce and unwavering, scanned the room as he stepped forward. "A battle worthy of Sparta? Count me in."
Next came Joan of Arc, her figure bathed in golden flames. She knelt, crossing herself. "If it is God's will, I shall fight for my people once more."
Then appeared Nikola Tesla, his mind racing as arcs of electricity danced across his fingertips. "A battle of strength? Or a battle of intellect? Either way, I am intrigued."
One by one, humanity's champions emerged: warriors, thinkers, visionaries, and revolutionaries, each carrying the weight of their history, their triumphs, and their failures.
The Arbiter stepped between them, its gaze unreadable. "You have been chosen not only for your strength but for your legacy. I have granted each of you the power to reach your full potential. The rest lies in your hands."
---
The Arena
The Arbiter's voice echoed across the newly-formed battleground, a shifting expanse of environments that blended deserts, oceans, forests, and void-like chaos. The Zero Twelve and humanity's champions stood on opposite ends, their forms silhouetted against the surreal landscape.
The first combatants stepped forward.
From the Zeros, Titanus, a hulking figure of obsidian with arms like mountains, stepped onto the battlefield. His footsteps caused the ground to quake, his deep laughter echoing ominously. "I am Titanus, the breaker of worlds. Which of you insects dares face me?"
From humanity, Leonidas emerged, his spear glinting in the ethereal light. He smirked, his voice calm but laced with resolve. "A monster, huh? I've slain plenty of those. Let's see what you've got."
The Arbiter raised a hand, its voice thunderous. "The first battle: Titanus of the Zeros versus Leonidas of Sparta. Begin!"
The arena shifted, morphing into a rocky battlefield surrounded by lava flows. The two warriors charged, their clash marking the beginning of a war that would decide the fate of Earth.
And so, the first battle of Zero Hour began.