Legend:
'Single quotes' = Main Character's thoughts
No quotation marks = Narrator MC speaking, describing, explaining, or narrating events
This means that the narration shifts between the MC's internal thoughts ('like this') and the part of him that connects to his nigh-omniscient powers to speak, observe, describe, and narrate events (unquoted text).
MC POV:
Returning to spiritual consciousness while still not being physically conscious is... uncanny.
'So, I'm being fused with the concepts of — and embodying — Nothingness, Nonexistence, Antimatter, and Matter…
And while this happens, I'm "awake" but my body isn't…
Makes no sense, but I'll take this chance to prepare and plan.
Although I don't know what timeline or universe I will be linked to, I do know who I will be, and what my main duties are.
Alright Narrator Me, what do you think I should do?'
Well, Main Me, let us establish primary responsibilities:
1. Protect your Primordial Void Energy (Inescapable Lost Zone), or risk succumbing to your omnipotently imposed obsession — spiraling into a mindless rampaging that would summon The One Above All or The Living Tribunal. Neither outcome being acceptable.
2. Create a test with an impossibly small chance of success — satisfying the omniverse's sense of 'balance' (or whatever passes for it). To avoid giving The One Below All an excuse to intervene and curse me in some way.
3. Choose Champions, and call them something else — also possibly have them become a part of you and an integral part of the test.
4. Ensure the balance is kept in your universe, to avoid setting off The One Below All.
'I think that should be all, right, Narrator Me?'
I do believe that is all, Main Me.
Well... there are definitely things missing... like your body.
Which is the Mirror, Negative, Distorted, and Inescapable dimensions themselves, and how to deal with them, among other things.
Nevertheless, the four listed above are the main ones — aside from those additional concerns — that would attract the attention of the Living Tribunal, and by extension, The One Above All and The One Below All.
'Alright, so for number one, I can probably encase it within a defensible structure.
The structure would actually house multiple other dimensions between its entrance and the Inescapable Lost Zone.
While the structure itself would become the core of the Distorted World — a realm I'll design similarly to Giratina's Distortion World.
Hopefully that should be enough defense, right?
After all, I'd be encasing myself — or my being — within a nigh-impenetrable structure at the core of my realms.
And it'll be hidden between my other two realms, so… that should be good enough, right???'
Perhaps so. Now that the external defences — your realms — are planned for, what is this building going to be modeled after?
'The Great Tomb of Nazarick — but it's too small..., maybe Castle Aincrad?'
Then perhaps a Great Tomb of Nazarick — scaled to the size of Castle Aincrad?
'Explain.'
Alright, so you prefer The Great Tomb of Nazarick — and we need to name it something else. I do not want to keep calling it that.
'Alright, it'll be called, uh... I don't know, man. The end? Just call it The Tomb for now.'
Acknowledged — The Tomb is preferable and also aligns with Oblivion's and Giratina's aesthetics better than the Castle.
In that case why not simply make the Tomb, BE the same size as the Castle? With as many realms — but with aesthetics and domains that match The Tomb instead?
'That. Is. GENIUS! And it'll be guarding the Inescapable Lost Zone — or Oblivion's origin — in the same way that the Sanctum Sanctorum protects Earth from dimensional threats.
Thus, in honor and remembrance of the origin and inspiration behind it, the Tomb shall henceforth be known as "The Oblivion Sanctum."
What do you think, Narrator Me?'
Quite marvelous Main Me. I could never have come up with such an incredible name all by myself. TRULY, you are the gift of God to all who have no naming sense such as myself...
'I see what you are doing... and it is NOT funny.'
On the contrary Main Me, you SEEnothing — as you are currently locked within your own mind by the powers that be.
And will continue as such until you are completely one with the Primordial Void Energy and your realms...
'Prick.'
You are aware I am yourself, right?
'Doesn't make you any less of a prick.'
Alright, so the floors or realms should each be a trap, maze, or psychological horror — alternatively, it could be all of the above.
'Yes, and they will be called "The Maze to the Lost," which, if you somehow miraculously finish, leads to...'
.
.
.
To...?
'I don't know man, I'm making this up as I go! cut me some slack!'
Fine. So, what are you going to call it?
'After finishing the Maze to the Lost, the trial-goers will find themselves in...
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.
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The Dread Realms!!!' Dramatic lightning strikes in the background.
How did you pull off the lightning FX?
'We're in my mind remember!' Main Me says while thinking of making a smug grin appear on his currently non-existent face.
'Oh, come on! Move on, will you! What else are we missing?'
Well, we can detail the Maze to the Lost later, but these Dread Realms seem oddly important, so what do you wish to make of them?
'They obviously are important, after all, these realms alone are the answer to priorities one through three!'
How come?
'How come what?'
Well, how come you managed to make a single item in our brainstorming list manage to accomplish three of the checklist's goals? And on a slightly more serious note, how did you come up with it?
After all, as much as I enjoy making fun of you... us — you know what I mean — I also know you wouldn't joke about this type of thing.
'You are literally me, with the sole purpose of being my version of a Devil's Advocate... which will need a new name as I have no need nor desire to summon that thing here.
AAANND Socratic Foil it is, you are — from now on — my Socratic Foil.'
Acknowledged — And as your Socratic Foil, it is literally my JOB to question you, forcing you to develop things better to not wreck yourself by checking yourself first.
.
.
.
'Fine, so while we were arguing I thought — what if the Maze was sentient? Then what if the Dread Realms were sentient?
After that, I thought — how should I distinguish my Champions from everyone else's champions?
And THAT was when it hit me like a truck! The Monarchs and Rulers from Solo Leveling, but different, and made to actually help me rule, instead of just being a fighting show for my amusement.
All my realms will be slightly sentient. But the Dread Realms will be living realms — fully sentient, similar to Dormammu, but better in every way.
These Dread Realms will be living conceptual realms and also... the TRUE bodies of my Dreadlord Champions — or what can be categorized as my enforcer-type champions.
So they will have their will and minds guarded and intact, but their spirit, body, and thus soul will be fused to — and become — an extension of myself.
This ensures they are more powerful than they ever could have been. Their bodies, like my own, will be an avatar of their designated realms, housing only a part of their true forms.
And as they are immortal, given you cannot kill them without destroying a realm that, by definition, does not actually exist... but does...
So yeah — immortal bloodhounds ready to hunt and rip apart anyone who dares to seek my precious Inescapable Lost Zone...'
Alright, I am going to cut you off right there. It seems like the fusion is going along faster than I thought — and changing you already. That took a rather dark turn by the end there buddy.
'Huh? What dark turn?'
Oh, you know — the part where you suddenly shifted from respectful, close employer and benefactor to insidious dark hunter, sending his mindless bloodhounds after prey that's very much not an animal.
'Oh, I said that?'
Yeah… let's change the subject before I am affected any more than you already are.
So — what's the other type of Champion you forgot to mention?
'Huh, there was another type? Oh — ohh, yeah, there was. Or is.
So basically, the enforcers will be called Dreadlords, and the advisors will be called Archons, who instead of-'
Alright, hold on a second. They already have a name?! Never mind the name — they have a designation already? You skipped way too much.
'Uh, stop interrupting me Narrator Me. Geez, this is why I'm making the Archon Champions. Sure, you are reliable, but you piss me off too much — and these guys won't dare insult me like you do!'
Says the unintelligent Main Me, thinking he will someday be rid of me — he will not — and thinking he will find someone who can give him better advice than me — which, to be fair, might actually happen.
'Excuse you, that is very smart, you unapologetic prick.
Whenever you think you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room — and setting yourself up for failure.
Meanwhile, unlike my brother who made this omniverse, I don't know everything about it.
Nor did I study anything related to large-scale management projects like overseeing a universe and maintaining its balance… until your brother's evil half decides he's had enough and destroys it!'
Actually, you are right — and I applaud you for recognizing your own faults and shortcomings, as well as already planning to receive counsel. That is very humble of me.
Smirking with his nonexistent face again, Main Me proceeds to say. 'Well, in the words of a very wise man — "I, too, am extraordinarily humble."'
Manifesting a deadpan emoji in the mindscape I reply. You kno- never mind. Who's the prick now?
'I never said I wasn't.' Dramatic Lightning goes off in the background.
Anyway — how did you set up the Dread Realms to cover all three points? You never finished, and you've cooled down enough.
'Well — number one, they're part of the building used to house and protect the Inescapable Lost Zone.
Two — they are the test, and someone can only pass said test by earning the Dreadlord's recognition, pity, or by passing their individual trials.
Three — they are my champions, or at least one of the champion types I'll have.
And surprisingly, four — as it is incredibly
—and by incredibly, I mean the only mortal capable of passing these realms and their tests is probably Jesus Christ pre-resurrection—
hard — but not impossible — to pass and reach the Inescapable Lost Zone... it'll technically be balanced and require no intervention from TOBA. On that end, at least...
So I was actually wrong — it solves one through three, and partially solves four.'
Saying this, I started feeling a heavy pressure settle on my consciousness, while at the same time feeling lightheaded, as if I was stretching and growing.
Yawning 'Hey, Narrator, what is... hap-happening to m-me?' yawn
Well, Main Me, it seems that since you are being fused with the Primordial Void, and are one of the few beings it cannot assimilate — no doubt thanks to your parentage — you are the one who is assimilating it instead.
Nevertheless, the low amount of light you possess is taking considerable time to expand and assimilate the properties and traits of the Primordial Void Energy.
But after consuming and compacting the area surrounding and inhabited by this omniverse — thus becoming its Primordial Void — you should have regained at least half of your light.
Still somehow yawning uncontrollably, 'THAT MUCH?!'
That seemed to get your attention — but yes, it is the most destructive force in and out of existence for a reason.
The fact that a whole lineage of beings is powerful enough for all of them — even the weakest members — to survive being assimilated by such an energy, is honestly baffling.
'Well technically ther-nah, you know what, you're right. And I'm dead tired… but the fourth prio-'
Sleep, Main Me. Do not be concerned. I have taken the liberty of connecting to the powers already being granted to you, and I will awaken you once the process is finished.
Shock coursed through me at the revelation — it had been a little while since I last had to divide my train of thought while speaking to Narrator Me.
I tried to mutter 'WHA-'
—but was cut off, and once more lost consciousness.