Chapter 21: The Fracture of Realities
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The Calm Before the Storm
The multiverse was still, for the moment. After the destruction of the Anomaly, the team had returned to their base, a hidden sanctuary outside of time and space. The Multiverse Chat Group had quieted down, its glow dimming as the energy from their battle began to subside.
For Kaito, the victory against the Anomaly had been a hard-earned one. Yet, despite the triumph, something nagged at him—a deep, unsettling feeling that lingered in the back of his mind.
"Something doesn't feel right," Kaito muttered to himself, staring at the screen of the Multiverse Chat Group in his hands.
The group members had dispersed, enjoying a well-deserved break. Goku and Naruto were eating, of course, Ichigo was meditating, Saitama was napping, and Rimuru was discussing strategy with Zamasu. But Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that something was still out of balance.
"What are you sensing?" Rimuru's voice cut through Kaito's thoughts, and he turned to see the slime standing beside him, his blue eyes filled with concern.
"I don't know," Kaito replied, his brow furrowing. "But something about that fight... it wasn't just the Anomaly. There's a deeper force at play. We've only seen the surface of it."
Rimuru nodded, his usual calm demeanor faltering slightly. "The multiverse has layers. Even after the Anomaly's defeat, the fractures in reality may have left something behind—something we can't quite see yet. And if it's hiding, we won't be able to stop it unless we find it."
Kaito looked at the Multiverse Chat Group, still silent. It had been a powerful tool for them, enabling them to grow stronger, recruit powerful beings, and face down existential threats. But there was still so much about its capabilities that Kaito hadn't unlocked yet. He couldn't help but wonder if the group itself held the key to understanding the true threat that loomed.
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A Message from the Void
Just as the team was preparing to settle into a temporary peace, the Multiverse Chat Group flickered, its light pulsing erratically. Kaito, Rimuru, and the others gathered around, sensing the shift immediately. This was no ordinary disturbance—it felt like a summons.
A new message appeared on Kaito's screen. The language was unfamiliar, and it radiated a cold, malevolent energy.
"Kaito, owner of the Multiverse Chat Group," the message began. "You have unwittingly opened a door to forces beyond your comprehension. I am known as Oblivion. I am the herald of a new age. The fractures in your reality are only the beginning. Prepare for the true end of all things."
The message sent a chill down Kaito's spine. "Oblivion?" he whispered, the name carrying a sense of foreboding with it.
"What is this?" Ichigo asked, stepping forward, his sword drawn instinctively.
"It's a warning," Kaito said, his voice grave. "We've been through a lot, but this... this is different. Oblivion isn't just another enemy. It's something much more dangerous. We need to prepare."
The words on the screen flickered again, before another message appeared.
"The boundaries of the multiverse are breaking. Only those who can transcend time and space will survive. I will be watching."
"It's a challenge," Naruto said, grinning. "One we're definitely up for!"
"Naruto, this isn't just about strength," Kaito replied. "We've dealt with powerful enemies before, but Oblivion's threat is something else. We need more than just power—we need understanding, strategy, and unity."
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The Hunt for Answers
As the team set out to investigate the origins of Oblivion, they traveled across the multiverse, to the farthest reaches of space and time. Kaito had a sense that Oblivion was connected to the deeper, hidden layers of the multiverse. It was more than a physical force; it was a force of entropy itself, aimed at erasing the very fabric of existence.
"I've been doing some research," Rimuru said, his voice tense. "I've found some records from ancient realms. There's a name that keeps coming up—The Endbringers. A race of beings that exist to bring about the dissolution of all realities. Oblivion might be one of them."
Kaito frowned, his mind racing. "Endbringers… that sounds like exactly the kind of thing we're dealing with. But why would one of them show up now? What triggered it?"
Before Rimuru could answer, a sudden surge of energy rippled through the multiverse. The team felt it immediately—a massive shift in the fabric of reality. Space twisted around them, the very stars beginning to dim as if being swallowed by an unseen force.
"It's happening!" Zamasu said, his voice filled with alarm. "The boundaries are collapsing!"
Kaito gripped the Multiverse Chat Group tightly. "We have to act fast. Oblivion isn't just sitting back. It's accelerating the decay of reality. If we don't find a way to stop it, we won't just lose this universe—we'll lose every universe."
Rimuru stepped forward, his eyes glowing. "We need to find the source of this power. If Oblivion is truly an Endbringer, it may be the catalyst for this collapse. But we'll need to track it through the rifts in reality."
Kaito nodded. "Let's move out. We'll find Oblivion before it's too late."
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A Clash with the Harbinger of Oblivion
The team ventured deeper into the heart of the disturbance. They found themselves in a realm that defied all known laws of physics—a place where time and space warped endlessly, and reality itself seemed to fragment.
"This is it," Kaito muttered, the weight of their mission pressing down on him. "Oblivion is somewhere here, hiding in the cracks of reality. We just have to find it."
Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook, and a voice echoed in their minds, cold and chilling.
"You are too late," the voice intoned. "The multiverse is already mine. The end of all things is inevitable. You cannot stop the destruction of existence. This is the beginning of the end."
A dark, monstrous figure appeared before them, its form shifting and distorting, made entirely of shadows and void. It radiated a terrifying aura, one that seemed to drain the very light from the surrounding space.
"Oblivion!" Kaito shouted, stepping forward. "We won't let you destroy everything. The multiverse is ours to protect!"
Oblivion's form swirled, its face barely visible. "You do not understand," it hissed. "The multiverse is a disease, a flaw in the natural order. I am the cure. You are the last vestige of resistance. You will fall, and everything will fade into nothingness."
Without warning, Oblivion unleashed a blast of pure destructive energy, ripping through the very fabric of the universe. The team scattered, barely avoiding the onslaught.
"We need to counter it!" Rimuru shouted. "We can't let it overwhelm us!"
The team gathered their strength, channeling their powers into a unified attack. Goku's Kamehameha, Naruto's Rasengan, Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho, and even Saitama's casual yet powerful punch—all combined into one massive energy wave that slammed into Oblivion.
For a moment, it seemed as if the attack had no effect. Oblivion's form shimmered, its presence undeterred by their combined power.
"You cannot defeat me," Oblivion said, its voice deepening, growing more threatening. "I am not bound by your laws. You are nothing in the face of true destruction."
Kaito clenched his fists, a spark of realization lighting up in his mind. "It's not about power alone," he muttered. "It's about the will to fight. We fight for everything that exists. For our friends, our worlds, and the multiverse itself."
With a fierce roar, Kaito summoned the full power of the Multiverse Chat Group, unlocking a hidden potential within him. The group's collective will surged through him, amplifying his power and that of his allies.
"Multiversal Convergence—Final Stand!" Kaito shouted, releasing a massive surge of energy that enveloped Oblivion.
The figure let out a final scream, its form destabilizing as the combined strength of the team tore through the dark void. With one last explosion of light, Oblivion was consumed by the power, its presence fading into nothingness.
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End of Chapter 21