Chapter 46: The End is nothing but the beginning

Darius stood at the threshold of the Land of the Endless, his form casting a long shadow across the otherworldly landscape. The realm was a reflection of infinity itself—a place where time had no meaning and the boundaries between reality and dream were blurred.

It was a place where each of the Endless ruled their respective domains, yet it was also the place where they all came together under the watchful eye of their eldest sibling—Darius.

With a wave of his hand, Darius summoned the other Endless, feeling the fabric of the realm ripple as they answered his call. The sky darkened, and one by one, the seven siblings appeared, each bringing with them the aura of their dominion.

The first to arrive was Dream, his presence as ethereal as the dreams he commanded. His cloak billowed like mist, his eyes holding the weight of a thousand dreams.

Next was Death, her calm and kind demeanor contrasted by the haunting inevitability she represented. Her gaze met Darius's with a knowing smile, a trace of their ancient connection lingering in the air.

Then came Desire, the embodiment of all that was craved and coveted, sauntering in with a seductive smile. Their golden eyes sparkled with mischief, and they wasted no time in sidling up to Darius.

"Well, well, well," Desire purred, their voice a tantalizing melody. "If it isn't our dear Darius. To what do we owe the pleasure of this little family reunion? Finally grown tired of playing house on Earth?"

Darius smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Jealous, Desire? Don't worry, I'll always have time for my favourite troublemaker."

Desire's grin widened. "Flattery will get you everywhere, darling. But really, what brings you back to our humble abode? Did you miss us, or is there another reason?"

Darius's expression softened, though it didn't lose its edge of playfulness. "I thought it was time to remind you all of the importance of family. And perhaps to see how you're all doing in your respective domains."

Despair appeared next, her hunched form radiating sorrow. She glanced at Darius, a flicker of relief passing over her face at his presence. He had always been a steadying force, even for one such as her.

Delirium followed, her ever-changing form reflecting the chaos she embodied. Her mismatched eyes darted around, landing on Darius with a wide, childlike smile. "Oh, Darius! I was just thinking about you! Or was it a fish? No, it was definitely you."

Darius chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Delirium's hair, which changed color under his touch. "Always a pleasure, Delirium."

Destruction, the one who had long since abandoned his role, arrived last, his towering form exuding power and peace in equal measure. He nodded to Darius, who returned the gesture with respect.

As they all gathered, Darius took a moment to look over his siblings. Though they were embodiments of eternal concepts, they were still a family, bound by ties that transcended time and space.

It was in these moments of togetherness that Darius felt his role most keenly—not just as their elder, but as their guide, their teacher.

"Now that we're all here," Darius began, his voice carrying the authority of the eldest sibling, "I think it's time we had a little chat. I've been observing things from Earth, and I believe it's time we refocused on our roles and our purpose. The balance of the multiverse depends on it."

Desire rolled their eyes but didn't argue, knowing better than to challenge Darius when he was in this mood. Delirium twirled around, humming a tune only she could hear, while Death remained calm, her presence a grounding force in the midst of their varying energies.

Dream spoke next, his voice soft but resonant. "You've always been our anchor, Darius. What is it that you see that we might have missed?"

Darius's gaze swept over each of them. "I see that we are all caught up in our own domains, sometimes forgetting the larger picture. There are forces at work—both known and unknown—that could disrupt the balance we maintain. It's important that we are vigilant, and that we remember why we exist."

Desire leaned closer, their tone dripping with curiosity. "And what exactly do you propose, dear brother? A grand plan to unite us all? Or perhaps a little chaos to keep things interesting?"

Darius's smirk returned. "A bit of both, perhaps. But more than that, I want to ensure that we're all on the same page. We've seen what happens when we let our differences drive us apart. I won't let that happen again."

The air grew thick with tension, each of the Endless contemplating Darius's words. It was rare for them all to be in one place, and even rarer for them to discuss matters as a family. But Darius had a way of bringing them together, reminding them of their shared origins and responsibilities.

Finally, Death broke the silence. "We trust you, Darius. Whatever you need from us, we're here."

Despair nodded, her voice quiet but firm. "Yes, we are a family. We should act like one."

Delirium giggled, spinning around in circles. "Family fun time! I like it!"

Desire's smile was sly. "You always did know how to get what you want, Darius. I suppose we can play along... for now."

Darius grinned, his eyes flashing with that familiar mischievous spark. "Good. Because I have a feeling that things are about to get very interesting."

...

As the conversation among the Endless began to wind down, the tone became more somber. Death, who had been silently contemplating, finally spoke up, her voice gentle yet tinged with concern.

"There's something we should discuss—your sister, Life," she said, her gaze shifting to Darius. "She's been… active lately. More than usual. I'm not entirely sure what she's up to, but it's something we need to be aware of."

The room grew quiet, and a heavy tension settled among the siblings. Life was a powerful force, as unpredictable as she was nurturing. Her actions, though often well-intentioned, could have far-reaching consequences.

Darius's expression remained calm, though a flicker of worry crossed his eyes. "Life has always had her own way of doing things, but if she's up to something big, we need to understand why."

Dream, leaning back in his seat, frowned thoughtfully. "Life's actions are often beyond our comprehension. She operates on a level that even we sometimes struggle to grasp. But if she's causing a stir, there must be a reason."

Desire sighed, their playful demeanor momentarily subdued. "She always did like to keep us on our toes. But whatever it is, it sounds like it could shake things up."

Darius nodded, deep in thought. "I'll look into it. I can't let anything destabilize the balance we've worked so hard to maintain. If Life is involved, it could be… complicated."

With a subtle gesture, Darius activated his omniscience, his mind stretching across the fabric of the multiverse. His vision expanded, reaching into the farthest corners of existence, searching for the threads of Life's actions. What he found made his eyes narrow.

A great convergence of negative and chaotic energy was brewing across multiple realities, an ominous gathering of forces that sent ripples through the very essence of the universe. The source? A series of villainous figures—some of the most chaotic and dangerous beings across the Marvel and DC universes—all recently freed and set loose by Mr. Nobody.

The chaos was spreading like wildfire, and the energy they generated was unlike anything Darius had seen in eons. It wasn't just the actions of these villains that concerned him—it was the sheer scale of the disruption. The universe itself seemed to be reacting, as if these chaotic forces were being drawn together by something far greater.

Darius's thoughts immediately turned to Life. Could she have orchestrated this? And if so, to what end? He knew his sister well—her actions were always driven by a purpose, often one that was hidden beneath layers of intention. But this? This felt different.

"What do you see, Darius?" Death's voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present.

Darius blinked, the vast knowledge of the multiverse still swirling in his mind. "There's a great disturbance—a convergence of chaos and negativity spreading across the universe. Mr. Nobody has released some of the most dangerous and unpredictable villains, and the energy they're generating is… unnatural. It feels like something—or someone—is guiding it."

Despair shifted uncomfortably, her face reflecting the unease that now filled the room. "Could it be Life? Could she be behind this?"

Darius's jaw tightened. "It's possible. But if she is, then this is far bigger than we initially thought. We need to figure out her intentions—and fast."

Desire leaned forward, their curiosity piqued. "And what will you do, dear brother? Confront her? Stop her?"

Darius met Desire's gaze with a determined look. "First, I'll need to understand her plan. If she's playing with forces like these, it could have catastrophic consequences for the multiverse. I'll need to tread carefully, but I won't let anything threaten the balance."

Delirium, who had been silently watching, finally spoke, her voice a soft murmur. "It's like a game, isn't it? A really big, important game. But it's scary, too."

Darius nodded, giving Delirium a reassuring smile. "Yes, it's a game—but one we can't afford to lose."

==

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The room, still heavy with the weight of Darius's revelation, was suddenly filled with an unexpected burst of energy as Delirium spoke up. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and a wide grin spread across her face as an idea popped into her mind.

"You know what we should do?" she said, practically bouncing in her seat. "We should hold a tournament! A big, wild, galactic tournament! Heroes versus villains, chaos versus order, good versus bad! It would be so much fun!"

The other Endless turned to look at her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement. Delirium's ideas were often as unpredictable as she was, but they could also be… intriguing.

"A tournament?" Dream mused, raising an eyebrow. "And what, exactly, would be the purpose of this… spectacle?"

Delirium giggled, her colourful hair shifting like a kaleidoscope as she explained. "The purpose? Oh, who needs a purpose! It would be pure madness! Imagine it: all the heroes and villains, pitted against each other in epic battles across the cosmos. The chaos, the excitement, the stories that would come out of it! And we could set the rules, make it so that no one really dies—just, you know, loses in spectacular fashion."

Despair chuckled softly, a rare smile tugging at her lips. "You sound like you're cheering for the bad guys, Delirium. I didn't know you had a favorite."

Delirium shrugged, her grin widening. "Why not? They always have the most fun. And besides, we're not exactly saints ourselves, are we? We're the Endless—chaos and order, life and death, dreams and destruction—it's all part of us. I just think it would be a blast to see how it all plays out!"

Darius watched his sister with a bemused expression, but he couldn't deny that there was a certain appeal to her idea. The multiverse was already on the brink of chaos, and if Life was behind the current disturbance, a controlled environment like a tournament might be a way to channel that energy without letting it spiral out of control.

Destruction, who had been silent until now, suddenly leaned forward, his eyes glinting with interest. "A tournament, you say? I like it. A chance to see what these so-called heroes and villains are really made of. It would be… entertaining."

Darius raised an eyebrow at Destruction's enthusiasm. It wasn't often that his brother showed such eagerness, but when he did, it usually meant things were about to get intense.

"Of course you would like the idea," Darius remarked, smirking. "But it's not just about entertainment. If we do this, it has to serve a purpose—like containing the chaos that's already spreading."

Dream nodded thoughtfully. "A tournament could provide a controlled outlet for the conflict. But it would require careful management to ensure it doesn't spiral out of control. And we'd need to make sure that the participants understand the rules—no permanent damage, no lasting harm."

"Just a lot of fun," Delirium chimed in, twirling a strand of her multicolored hair. "And think of the possibilities! We could have different arenas, different challenges, and the winners could get something special—maybe a wish, or a chance to change their fate. It would be like one big, cosmic game!"

Desire chuckled, leaning back in their chair. "Leave it to you, Delirium, to turn something as serious as a multiversal crisis into a game. But then again, that's why we love you. I must admit, the idea does have a certain… allure."

Despair looked at Darius, her expression softening. "You would be the judge, of course. The arbiter of this tournament. After all, judgment is your domain, isn't it?"

Darius sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Seems like I don't have much of a choice, do I? But if we're going to do this, we do it right. I'll oversee the tournament, make sure everything stays within the bounds we set. And if anyone tries to break the rules… well, they'll regret it."

Destruction grinned, his excitement barely contained. "Then it's settled. A tournament of heroes and villains—battles across the cosmos. I can't wait to see how it unfolds."

Delirium clapped her hands in delight, practically glowing with excitement. "This is going to be amazing! I'll start thinking of ideas for the arenas—oh, and the challenges! This is going to be the most fun we've had in ages!"

The other Endless exchanged glances, a mix of amusement and anticipation in their eyes. The idea was unconventional, but then again, so were they. And in the grand scheme of the multiverse, sometimes a little chaos was exactly what was needed to restore balance.

Darius nodded, his mind already working through the details. "Alright, let's do this. But remember—this isn't just a game. We're dealing with forces that could tear apart the fabric of reality if we're not careful. We need to be ready for anything."

Desire smirked, their gaze lingering on Darius. "Oh, we're always ready, brother. Let the games begin."

With that, the Endless set their plan into motion, the cosmic tournament now more than just a wild idea. It would be a test of strength, wit, and will—a clash of forces that would determine the fate of the universe.

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