As Yaxoc and Haven ventured into the forest, an unsettling realization began to creep over them.
"What's happening here?" Haven muttered, her gaze scanning the withered trees and lifeless ground. "It's like the plants just... gave up."
Yaxoc frowned, kicking at the brittle leaves beneath his feet. "Not just that. This place feels deserted—like something wiped out the life here entirely. I've got a bad feeling about this."
Haven nodded. "Who or what could've caused this? It's not like civilians would willingly destroy nature."
Yaxoc let out a dry laugh, turning to Haven with a smirk. "Oh, trust me, people have been stupid enough to destroy nature for centuries. Contaminating the atmosphere, dumping waste, burning fossil fuels... Climate change didn't start itself."
Haven rolled her eyes. "Sure, but even that wouldn't kill off everything this quickly. This feels… deliberate. Like someone pulled the plug on life itself."
They continued walking through the barren wasteland until Yaxoc suddenly froze, his nose wrinkling in disgust.
"Ugh, what the hell is that smell?" he groaned, covering his nose.
"Gross!" Haven said, doing the same. "It's awful—like something's rotting."
Yaxoc glanced around, his sharp eyes catching something in the distance. "Wait a second… this isn't our universe."
Haven blinked. "What? How can you tell?"
"Look at that flag over there," Yaxoc said, pointing to a charred and tattered version of the United States flag flapping weakly in the hot wind.
Haven tilted her head, confused. "That doesn't look right… Is that supposed to be the U.S. flag?"
Yaxoc nodded grimly. "It is—or it was. This must be some version of the United States. They were supposed to be one of the most powerful nations. But here, it looks like their strength led to their downfall."
"Do you think someone caused all this?" Haven asked, glancing at a series of torn posters on a nearby wall.
"Maybe it was the government or some dictator," Yaxoc said. "Either way, we're wasting time. Let's keep moving."
As they walked, the temperature began to rise noticeably, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
"Is it me, or is it getting hotter by the second?" Haven asked, wiping her brow.
"It's not just you," Yaxoc replied, scanning the horizon. "Someone's made the climate here unbearable. It's like they cranked the heat up to maximum and forgot to turn it back down. That would explain why the plants and animals are gone."
Haven frowned, worry creeping into her voice. "This is worse than I thought. What happens if it gets hotter?"
Yaxoc crossed his arms. "High temperatures kill off ecosystems. No new plants grow, and animals either die or migrate to cooler areas—if they can find any. This isn't just bad—it's apocalyptic."
As they pressed on, they came across a fast-food restaurant that, strangely, seemed intact. Inside, faint silhouettes of people moved about.
"Look over there!" Yaxoc said, pointing excitedly. "There are people inside! Survivors!"
Haven squinted at the building. "I thought everyone was wiped out. Let's talk to them."
The duo entered the restaurant cautiously. The people inside froze, their eyes filled with fear.
"Hey, hey! Relax," Yaxoc said, raising his hands to show he meant no harm. "We're not here to hurt anyone."
The tension in the room eased slightly, but the people still eyed them warily.
"Who are you?" one man asked, stepping forward. "And how did you survive out there?"
"I'm Yaxoc, and this is Haven Hight," Yaxoc said confidently.
The man frowned. "Those sound like fake names to me. Are you spies? Agents of the dictator?"
Yaxoc's expression darkened. "Dictator? What dictator?"
A woman stepped forward, her voice trembling. "The one who's ruined everything. They seized control, made life unbearable, and did nothing to stop the climate from collapsing. They're the reason we're all stuck here, barely surviving."
Haven's eyes widened. "That's horrible… What happens to people who try to fight back?"
The woman lowered her gaze. "They're executed. Publicly, to make an example of them. We've all learned to keep quiet—or die."
Yaxoc clenched his fists. "This dictator's gotten away with too much already. Where is he?"
The people gasped in unison, one man stepping forward in alarm. "You're not seriously thinking of confronting them, are you? That's suicide!"
"Damn right, I'm thinking of it," Yaxoc said bluntly.
Haven groaned, tugging on his arm. "Can you tone it down a bit? We're not here to scare them."
"Relax," Yaxoc said with a smirk. He turned back to the people. "Just tell me where this dictator is."
After a moment of hesitation, they pointed toward a distant building.
"You're insane," Haven muttered as they left the restaurant.
Yaxoc shrugged. "Maybe. But that dictator's about to learn what happens when they mess with nature—and with me."
They took off into the sky, the oppressive heat pressing down on them as they soared toward the dictator's stronghold.
"This is horrible…" Haven said, shaking her head. "Who gives power to someone like that?"
"The wrong people," Yaxoc replied coldly. "And now it's time for me to take it away."
They landed just outside the imposing building, ready to confront the one responsible for the devastation.
As Yaxoc and Haven stepped into the building, they were immediately confronted by guards, their weapons raised in warning. The tension in the air was palpable, but the duo remained unfazed, their confidence radiating like an unyielding flame.
"What the—" one guard stammered, noticing their lack of fear.
"Take me to your dictator," Yaxoc demanded, cracking his knuckles with a dangerous grin. Haven stood beside him, her expression torn between concern and anger. "I've got a word to share with him."
The guards hesitated, confused by their audacity. "You're just kids... Why do you want to see him?" one asked.
Haven narrowed her eyes. "Kids? Funny how you're suddenly concerned about us when you've been shooting civilians without hesitation."
"Those were his orders!" the guard stuttered, panic creeping into his voice.
Yaxoc scoffed. "Save it. Where is he?"
After a moment's hesitation, the guard relented. "He's in his office... top floor."
Without another word, Yaxoc and Haven strode past the guards. The air grew heavier as they climbed, and soon, they found themselves before an opulent set of double doors.
Yaxoc pushed the doors open, revealing the dictator standing by a grand desk, his back to them. He turned, his face a mask of irritation.
"What do you want, children?" he sneered.
Yaxoc didn't bother with pleasantries. He lunged forward, slamming the dictator's face into the desk with a sickening crunch.
"Let's cut to the chase," Yaxoc growled. "What the hell did you do to these people? Why the executions? Why didn't you fix the climate crisis? You think killing dissenters and hoarding power makes you important?"
The dictator groaned but managed a twisted grin. "Because they don't matter. Weaklings deserve nothing. This country belongs to me! If they can't help themselves, they're lazy parasites!"
Yaxoc's fist tightened around the dictator's collar. "You've got some nerve." He hurled the man across the room with enough force to send him crashing through the wall.
The dictator landed outside, groaning as he staggered to his feet. Yaxoc jumped down, landing before him like a meteor.
"Let's see if your so-called 'power' can back up that big mouth of yours."
The dictator's eyes glinted with malice as a red aura enveloped him. "Foolish child," he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. He moved with lightning speed, landing a devastating punch that sent Yaxoc crashing into a fountain.
Yaxoc groaned, quickly rolling out of the way as the dictator shattered the fountain with a single blow. Regaining his footing, Yaxoc counterattacked with a barrage of punches, landing a devastating strike that launched the dictator into the air.
The battle raged on, shaking the earth and tearing through the remains of the city. With every blow exchanged, the dictator grew more desperate, his attacks wilder.
"You don't understand my power!" he roared. "I've destroyed countless worlds. I've stood on the edge of the Void itself!"
"And yet, here you are, losing to a kid," Yaxoc shot back, dodging a swing and delivering a punishing kick to the dictator's ribs.
Their fight escalated into the stratosphere, then into space itself. Each collision sent shockwaves rippling through dimensions, shattering planets and breaking reality apart.
The dictator sneered, wiping blood from his mouth. "You can't stop me. My power is infinite."
"Funny," Yaxoc said, his fists glowing with an ethereal light. "I was just thinking about how I'm done listening to your bullshit."
He raised his hands, chanting in a low, resonant voice. Energy coalesced into a massive, radiant orb behind him.
"Dreams.
Lucid.
Pillars of Thought.
Shiny Ropes.
Hopes and Dreams.
Polarized Sleep.
Between Left and Right."
The orb exploded with unparalleled force, its light consuming the dictator and obliterating countless dimensions in its wake. The shockwave rippled back to Earth, shaking its very foundation.
Haven, standing on the ground, shielded her eyes against the blinding light and braced herself as the shockwave passed. "What is this?!" she yelled, struggling to stay upright.
Moments later, the chaos subsided, and the air grew eerily calm. Yaxoc reappeared before her, his expression tired but triumphant.
"Hey," he said casually. "Miss me?"
Haven crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Where the hell were you?! I've been running around in a literal earthquake looking for you!"
Yaxoc scratched the back of his head. "Oh, you know... just had a chat with the dictator."
Haven wasn't having it. "Do I look stupid? I know exactly what you did."
"Fair enough," Yaxoc admitted with a smirk. "Let's go. Did you find the portal?"
"Yeah. Let's get out of here before this whole place collapses."
Together, they stepped through the portal, leaving the ruined world—and its dictator—behind.
The dictator found himself in an unfamiliar, shadowy labyrinth. The walls twisted and turned with no end in sight, and an oppressive silence loomed. He glanced around, confusion etched on his face. "Where am I...?" he muttered, his voice echoing through the void.
A voice rang out, casual and tinged with disdain. "You're in the Negative Maze, guy."
The dictator turned to see a figure standing nonchalantly a few feet away. It was Xavy, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Who are you?" the dictator demanded.
Xavy chuckled. "That's none of your concern, idiot."
The insult made the dictator's blood boil. "Didn't your elders teach you respect?"
Xavy raised an eyebrow. "And who taught you that destroying a country makes you important? Dictators are all the same—useless egos wrapped in power trips. If I were in charge, I'd have fixed that country instead of wrecking it."
The dictator clenched his fists and stepped closer. "Who do you think you are? I am the destroyer of worlds!"
Xavy rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "And do you think I care about your 'destroying The Void' nonsense? If I wanted to, I could erase it with a thought." He waved his hand dismissively. "But here's the thing—you're powerless now. You're dead. Not exactly intimidating, is it?"
"Why, you—!" The dictator lunged, aiming to strike Xavy.
Before he could make contact, another figure materialized from the shadows—Atlan. His aura radiated authority as he stepped between them. "I think it's my turn to play," he said, his voice calm yet commanding.
Xavy smirked and took a step back. "Fine by me. Have fun." With that, he vanished into the darkness, leaving Atlan and the dictator alone.
Atlan stared at the dictator, a cold smile on his lips. "You remind me of a crybaby I dealt with once. Let's see if you're any different."
Without another word, he chanted, "Domain Expansion: Cemetery of the Smokey."
The environment warped and twisted, morphing into a ghostly realm. Tombstones stretched as far as the eye could see, shrouded in dense, rolling fog. The air was thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe, let alone think.
"The rules of my domain are simple," Atlan explained, his voice echoing eerily. "Each tombstone glows with a certain color. If you touch one—well, let's just say there's a chance you'll be erased from existence. Permanently. And with all this fog, you'll have a hard time avoiding them."
The dictator's confidence wavered as he looked around the eerie landscape. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "This atmosphere… it's impossible to focus."
Cautiously, he began navigating the maze of tombstones, the fog obscuring his path. His hand brushed against one tombstone by mistake. It began to glow with an ominous blue light.
"What… what is this?" he stammered, panic rising in his chest. Atlan's words echoed in his mind: If you touch one, you might be erased from existence.
"No… NO! THIS CAN'T BE!" he screamed as his body began disintegrating. His form crumbled to dust, his screams fading into silence. The dust swirled in the air before coalescing into a new tombstone, standing solemnly in the Cemetery of the Smokey.
Atlan approached the new tombstone, kneeling before it. He pulled out a small device and snapped a picture. "For the group chat," he said with a smirk, his tone as casual as if he were snapping a selfie.
With the dictator gone, the domain shattered, dissolving into the void. The labyrinth returned to silence.
Atlan stretched and cracked his neck. "Well, that was entertaining. Time to head out." In a blink, he vanished, leaving the Negative Maze empty once more.