A vast emptiness stretched endlessly in every direction. There was no sky, no ground—just an infinite abyss of darkness. Hollow's eyes slowly opened, his consciousness flickering back to life.
But something was wrong.
He wasn't **standing.** He wasn't **lying down.**
He was **floating.**
Suspended in the air like a ghost, he could feel no weight, no body—only the chilling realization that he was **no longer alive.** His hands, or what should have been his hands, were now **semi-transparent wisps of ethereal energy**. His body had no form, yet he was aware of himself. A soul. A drifting, lost soul.
He looked around, trying to understand where he was. The darkness here was different from night—it wasn't the absence of light but rather a **presence, something thick and alive**, pressing against his very existence. He felt as though something **was watching him.**
Then, a voice.
A low murmur, distant at first, like a whisper carried by the wind.
Hollow turned instinctively, his soul twisting in the air.
From within the endless abyss, a **figure emerged.**
A man—or something resembling one. His features were barely visible, shrouded in shadows darker than the void around him. The **darkness around him seemed heavier, denser, almost devouring the space itself.**
Then, he smiled. A chilling, knowing smile.
**"Hello,"** the figure said, his voice smooth yet carrying a weight that seemed to echo in the void. **"I am Kek, the God of Darkness. Nice to meet you."**
Hollow's eyes narrowed. **"Where am I?"** His voice felt strange, almost weightless, as if the words drifted away the moment he spoke.
Kek chuckled softly, stepping closer—though in this space, it was hard to tell if there was any real distance at all. **"You were about to be reincarnated, Hollow. But I… redirected your soul here instead."**
Hollow remained silent for a moment, processing the words.
**"Why?"**
Kek's smile widened, a glint of something unreadable flickering in his shadowed eyes. **"Because you are special."**
Hollow stared at him, unflinching. **"I doubt that. I'm just a killer."**
Kek let out a dark laugh. **"Oh, you are much more than that. Your soul, Hollow—it is pure black. Not a single trace of white, no hint of innocence or regret. You are a being of complete darkness, shaped by death and blood. A rare existence."**
Hollow tilted his head slightly. **"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"**
**"It's a fact,"** Kek replied. **"And I need your help."**
There it was—the real reason Hollow was here.
**"For what?"**
Kek's expression darkened, his amusement fading slightly. **"Vengeance."**
Hollow observed him carefully. **"Against who?"**
Kek exhaled, and for a brief moment, the entire space seemed to tremble. The surrounding darkness **rippled** like a living entity reacting to his emotions.
**"The Ancient Gods,"** Kek said, his voice carrying an edge of something deeper—rage, sorrow, hatred. **"They betrayed me, cast me into this prison of eternal void. Slowly, I am fading… but I refuse to disappear. I refuse to let them win."**
Hollow remained still, his mind absorbing every word.
**"And you want me to help you… how?"**
Kek's eyes gleamed. **"I will give you another chance at life. But not as a mere human. You will be reborn with my blessing, my power. And in return…"** He stepped closer, his voice lowering into something almost seductive. **"You will bring chaos. You will hunt down the gods' chosen avatars, tear apart their heavens, and spread darkness across every world you touch."**
Hollow considered this. He had never cared for gods, never even believed in them. But now, standing—or rather, floating—before one, he found himself intrigued.
**"And what do I gain from this?"**
Kek smirked. **"Besides the chance to live again? Power. More than you could ever imagine. And perhaps…"** He paused, as if weighing his words carefully. **"A chance to become a god yourself."**
Hollow remained silent, contemplating. A second life. A chance to become something beyond human. And all he had to do was **kill.**
Not much different from his previous life.
After a moment, he exhaled. **"Fine."**
Kek's eyes flashed with satisfaction. **"Good. Tell me, what powers do you desire besides darkness? You may choose two."**
Hollow thought for a moment before speaking. **"Devour and Merge."**
Kek's grin widened. **"Interesting choices. You truly are ruthless."**
He lifted his right hand, and the darkness around them **surged forward**, wrapping around Hollow's soul like a cocoon. The space trembled, the void itself pulsing with energy.
**"Then go,"** Kek murmured, his voice carrying an almost reverent tone. **"Tear them apart. Burn their worlds. Show them the wrath of the forsaken."**
With a final flick of his wrist, **Hollow's soul was launched into the abyss, hurtling towards an unknown world.**
As the last traces of his presence vanished, Kek laughed—a deep, sinister chuckle that echoed endlessly in the void.
**"All of you… just wait. I will kill you all."**
With those final words, he **descended into slumber**, waiting for the chaos to begin.