The Betrayal

I stand there for a moment, blinking in disbelief at the unexpected sight. These beings look like they are on par with Valerian, if not even more powerful. I feel a mixture of shock and concern as I wonder what they are doing here, and what they want with me.I take a cautious step forward, my body tensing as I prepare for the worst. I take a deep breath and speak, my voice firm yet wary.

"Who are you?" I ask, my eyes darting from one being to another. "What are you doing here?"

I turn my gaze towards my parents, and see that they are standing there looking scared and confused. They seem to be unsure of what to do or say in this situation. I feel a pang of concern and worry for their safety and well-being.

I turn back to the group of beings, my eyes narrowing in suspicion and determination. I speak firmly but respectfully, my voice filled with caution and authority.

"What do you want with me? And my family?

The beings look at me with calm and collected expressions, their eyes studying me intently. One of them speaks, his voice deep and measured.

"We've been waiting for you," he says, his tone smooth and controlled. "We have information for you, and a proposal to make.

I eye them warily, my mind racing with questions and suspicion. I gesture for them to continue, my hand clenching into a fist as I brace myself for whatever news they have to deliver.

Another one of the beings speaks, her voice soft yet firm.

"We are aware of your recent dealings with Valerian," she says, her words chosen carefully. "We know about the challenge and the power she has given to you.

I raise an eyebrow in surprise, my eyes flicking from her to the others. How do they know so much about what happened in the Otherworld? I remain silent, listening intently, my body tense and still.

As my half of my void aura lurks out and exudes a cold and ominous presence, the beings in the living room take note of it. They look at me, their expressions neutral yet analyzing, as if they are observing my power and considering its implications.

One of the beings, a particularly old and imposing one, speaks up, his voice deep and contemplative.

"Your power is strong," he says, his words measured and deliberate. "But it is not yet fully developed or mastered."

As I glare and the room starts to transform into the void, I can hear the beings in the room exclaiming in surprise and shock at the change in scenery. The room is suddenly enveloped in blackness, the only source of light coming from my half-out void aura.

I speak coldly, my voice laced with a hint of menace and warning.

"Explain yourselves," I say, my eyes narrowing as I look at them. "Who are you, and what do you want from me?"

The beings are visibly taken aback by my sudden display of power and hostility. They exchange glances, as if deciding what to say next. One of them, the tallest one, steps forward, his eyes fixed on me.

"We are the celestial Guardians," he says, his voice deep and serious. "We are the keepers of the balance and order in the universe. We have been watching you for some time now, observing your actions and abilities."

I listen intently, my mind buzzing with questions and suspicion. The Guardians? I have never heard of them before. Why have they been watching me? And what do they want with me now?

The tall Guardian continues, his gaze locked on me.

"We have noticed the power you have gained from Valerian," he says, his tone firm but neutral. "We know that this power is both a gift and a burden, and that it comes with great responsibility."

I side eye the Guardians, and correct them, my voice cold and matter-of-fact.

"You're mistaken," I say, my tone firm and confident. "I did not get my power from Valerian. I absorbed the absolute void, the very essence of nothingness."

The Guardians look at me, their expressions a mix of surprise and intrigue. A murmur of discussion breaks out among them, as they seem to consider this new information.

The tallest Guardian speaks again, his gaze still fixed on me.

"You have absorbed the essence of nothingness?" he says, his tone filled with amazement and awe. "That is a feat beyond anything we have ever seen or heard of before."

I take a moment to analyze the Guardians, my mind processing the information I can glean from their auras and presence. I sense their limitless power, and recognize the absolute control they have over the entire infinite multiverse.

I feel a mixture of awe, astonishment, and a hint of fear at the realization of their power and authority. These beings are far stronger and more powerful than I could have ever imagined. But why have they come to me, and what do they want from me?

The tall Guardian speaks again, his voice firm yet respectful.

"We have come to offer you a proposal," he says, his tone serious and earnest. "We recognize your power, and your unique role in the universe. We would like to offer you the opportunity to join us, and to help us maintain the balance and order of the multiverse."

I side eye the Guardians, a look of confusion and disbelief crossing my face at their proposal.

"What?" I say, my voice laced with surprise and bewilderment. "You want me to join you? And help maintain the balance and order of the multiverse?"

The tall Guardian nods, his gaze never leaving mine. He speaks with a firm and confident tone.

"Yes," he says. "We believe that your power and potential could be of great use to us, and that your unique perspective and abilities could help us better understand and manage the endless variations and possibilities of the multiverse."

As I imagine the work and responsibility that comes with joining the Guardians, I feel a sense of overwhelm and boredom wash over me. The thought of doing endless work, and the responsibility of maintaining the balance of the multiverse, threatens to suffocate me. I can't help but feel the urge to leave everything behind and escape this burden.

I look at the Guardians, my expression conflicted and uncertain. On one hand, joining them and helping to maintain the balance and order of the multiverse is a noble and important task. But on the other hand, the thought of sacrificing my own desires and freedom for the sake of duty and responsibility is a heavy one.

I look at my family, and the thought of leaving them behind again, of abandoning them once more, fills me with a sense of dread and regret. I think back to the last time I left them, and how much pain it caused all of us. Memories of our reunion and the reunion of my parents flood my mind. I can't imagine putting them through that again.

I take a deep breath, and shake my head, speaking firmly.

"I... I can't," I say, my voice filled with resignation and regret.

The Guardians look at me, disappointment evident in their expressions. The tall one speaks, his voice firm yet understanding.

"We understand your reasons," he says, his tone gentle yet regretful. "It is a heavy and difficult decision to make, and we do not blame you for your choice.

The other Guardians nod in agreement, their eyes silently studying me. I can feel their disappointment and regret at my decision, but also their understanding and respect for my reason and my attachment to my family.

As the void gradually dissipates and the room returns to normalcy, the light and color begin to return. I look around, taking in the familiar sight of my living room, my parents standing there looking a little shaken and confused.

I run to my parents and hug them tightly, feeling a flood of emotions overwhelming me. I pull them close, feeling their warmth and comfort, and I speak, my voice cracking with emotion.

"I missed you guys," I say, my voice filled with sincerity and longing. "I don't want to leave you again. Ever.

My parents hug me back, their arms wrapping around me tightly. I can feel their tears on my shoulder, as they respond to my words with their own.

"We missed you too," my mother says, her voice choked with emotion.

"We were so worried about you," my father adds, his voice thick with relief and love.

We stand there for a moment, holding each other tightly, our emotions and reunion overflowing. I feel a sense of belonging and love, and in that moment, I know that I would do anything to keep my family safe and together.

Just as suddenly as the moment of reunion, I sense something off. My instincts kick in, and I quickly push my parents away from me. In the blink of an eye, a dimensional trap appears, quickly capturing the celestial guardians within it, trapping them.

As the celestial guardians struggle against the dimensional trap, my mind races, trying to figure out what's happening. I look around, my senses heightened, trying to determine if there is any further threat. My parents are looking at me, confused and alarmed at the sudden turn of events, but I gesture for them to stay back and be quiet.

I narrow my eyes, my senses on high alert. As I look around, I notice that one of the Celestial Guardians is not present at the scene, and I can sense something off about him. With a hint of suspicion and a growing sense of unease, I approach the remaining guardian, my voice dripping with caution.

"Where is your fellow guardian?" I ask, my tone sharp and demanding.

The guardian looks at me, and a sly, almost evil smile spread across his face. I can feel the malevolence emanating off him in waves, and my suspicions are confirmed. It's clear that this guardian is not who he seems, and he is up to something sinister.

The sinister guardian chuckles at my words, his smile growing wider. He takes a step forward, his confidence and arrogance on full display.

"No," he says, his voice cold and sinister. "I am not one of the Celestial Guardians. I am something far more powerful.

I watch him carefully, my senses heightened and my body tense. I can feel the power and malevolence emanating off of him, and I know that this is a dangerous enemy. My mind races, trying to figure out what his intentions are and what his next move will be.

The guardian lets out a sinister laugh, and his form shimmers and transforms before my eyes, revealing his true identity, I am Zachary the Unbound Lord he said. 

Zachary steps out from the shadows, his figure imposing and threatening. The air around him crackles with energy, and his eyes burn with a cold, malicious fire. I can feel the presence of his power, and the weight of his evil intents press down on me. I know that I am up against one of the most powerful and dangerous beings in the multiverse.

Zachary, his voice low and menacing, speaks up, his words dripping with confidence and arrogance.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here." He says, his eyes fixed on me. "Mona, is it?"

I glare back at him, my body tense and ready for action. I can feel the power and menace emanating off him, and I know that I am facing a formidable enemy.

"Yes," I reply, my voice firm and resolute. "That's right. And you are Zachary, the Unbound Lord, correct?

Zachary chuckles, his smile growing wider at my recognition of him. He takes a step forward, closing the distance between us.

"So you've heard of me," he taunts, his voice dripping with mockery. "I'm honored that my reputation precedes me.

I take a step forward as well, facing him head-on. A small grin spreads across my face as I respond to him, my voice confident and defiant.

"Your reputation is well known," I say, my tone cool and unwavering. "But I'm not afraid of you."

My words seem to anger him, and his smile disappears, replaced with a snarl. Zachary takes another step towards me, his eyes burning with anger and malevolence.

"You're cocky," he sneers. "You think you can take me on?"

I smirk wider, my confidence growing. I meet his gaze evenly, refusing to back down.

"I'm not cocky," I say coolly. "I'm just confident in my abilities. And I'm not afraid to take on the likes of you."

Zachary's aura explodes outward, powerful shockwave of energy that rocks the universe and beyond. I can feel the earth trembling beneath my feet, and I can sense the fear that his power invokes in others. But I remain undaunted, my own aura flaring in response to his, shielding me from his power.

I speak up, my expression showing a hint of disappointment.

"Is that all you've got?" I say, my voice steady and unflinching. "I was expecting more from the Unbound Lord."

As Zachary's aura subsides, he looks at me, his expression a mix of frustration and anger. He had clearly expected his power to intimidate and dominate me, and my casual response has gotten under his skin. He grumbles, his fists clenched at his sides.

Zachary mutters a spell under his breath, and reality trembles and distorts around us. The world shifts and blurs, and a new reality takes shape. The surroundings change, and we find ourselves in a new, unfamiliar location.

Zachary looks around at the new reality, taking in his surroundings with a smug expression. He turns to me, his voice full of mockery.

"Impressed?" he jeers, his eyes fixed on me.

I can't help but roll my eyes at his showboating. I stand there, my expression cool and unruffled. I'm not impressed in the slightest. His attempts at intimidation are falling flat.

Zachary, seeing my unimpressed demeanor, grows frustrated. He expected a more extreme reaction from me, and my lack of fear or awe is clearly getting to him.

Zachary's frustration quickly turns to anger, and he takes up a battle stance, his body tense and ready to attack. His eyes lock onto me, and a dangerous aura emanates from him. It's clear that he is serious and means to destroy me.

Zachary snarls, his voice cold and menacing.

"I'm going to destroy you," he says, his jaw clenching. "You have no chance against me."

A grin forms on my face as an idea pops into my mind. I see this situation as an opportunity to test the limits of my own abilities, especially those related to the void. The idea of pushing the boundaries of my power and knowledge is intriguing, and I can't help but feel excited at the thought of testing my abilities against Zachary, the Unbound Lord.