chapter 308 part 1
Chapter 306 Du Wa: I Have Never Seen Something So Imaginative
Author: Great Demon Spirit
A combination that had never before appeared in canon emerged: the imagination of the Fifth Dimension and the connective power of a quantum deity. This was a union of higher powers from two different world systems.
While Mister Mxyzptlk was still chattering away, immersed in the horror story he had fabricated to frighten others, Doctor Manhattan had already begun to fully deduce the existence of a Tenth-Dimensional Being.
Within the higher-dimensional space-time of the Fifth Dimension, two powers of imagination—of turning the illusory into the real—collided and combined violently. Imagination was reality; imagination was the result.
At this moment, the entire Fifth Dimension, constructed from imagination, was swept into this storm. While the gazes of all beings were fixated on the Main Universe, monitoring every change in the Otherworld, an unprecedentedly terrifying storm erupted within the Fifth Dimension!
With Mister Mxyzptlk and Doctor Manhattan at its center, a terrifying hurricane formed out of thin air. From the very beginning, it madly extracted all the imagination from the Fifth Dimension itself. This power, which should have constituted a higher dimension, was now being drained and consumed in massive quantities, poured into Doctor Manhattan's thoughts and imagination.
"Wait, what are you doing? How can you shake the vast Fifth Dimension with a mere act of thought? You're not the King of the Fifth Dimension!" Mister Mxyzptlk finally realized something was wrong, staring dumbfounded at the terrifying storm sweeping through the Fifth Dimension. At this moment, the Fifth Dimension itself seemed to be on the verge of collapse, its fundamental components surging toward his and Doctor Manhattan's position.
Mister Mxyzptlk was drenched in sweat, a look of intense terror on his face. He knew he had messed up, messed up big time. But... why? Why was this happening?
He had only told a fake ghost story, so why could this Doctor Manhattan create such a massive disturbance?!
"What have you done? Stop, stop it! You're destroying the Fifth Dimension!! Imagination is the source of energy for all Fifth-Dimensional Beings, and it's the Fifth Dimension itself! Whatever you're doing, stop it now!!" Mister Mxyzptlk shrieked, trying to stop Doctor Manhattan.
But when he tried to use his imagination to stop space-time and imprison Doctor Manhattan, this power used to alter reality instantly became part of the storm.
Mister Mxyzptlk was powerless to stop this change. He could only let out a despairing wail, kneeling on the ground with tears streaming down his face.
The Fifth-Dimensional Kingdom, which ruled the Fifth Dimension, immediately sensed that something was amiss, instantly realizing that this dimension was being destroyed.
"What's going on? When I try to imagine, I get a sluggish feeling. My energy is draining away!"
"Has some terrifying entity attacked the Kingdom? Who could it be?"
"Mister Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite aren't in the Kingdom. Maybe they know who's doing this!"
A group of Fifth-Dimensional Beings flew out of the Fifth-Dimensional Kingdom in a fury. Gazing at the visibly decaying Fifth Dimension, their eyes nearly splitting with fury, they felt their entire worldview being overturned.
The Fifth Dimension was supposed to be a transcendent world, one that could naturally overlook all the changes in the Multiverse and, to the greatest extent, avoid the conflicts of the various worlds within the Sphere of Gods.
Many past major events, even reboots, had little to do with the Fifth Dimension. This had allowed the residents of the Fifth-Dimensional Kingdom to live in peace for so long that they had completely forgotten the meaning of the word "disaster."
Several hundred Fifth-Dimensional Beings swarmed out. Their initial fury turned to stunned shock after they personally experienced the apocalyptic scene of their imagination draining away madly. Fear flooded their hearts; their abilities, their pride and joy, were now utterly useless.
For the first time, the Fifth-Dimensional Beings collectively felt their own weakness.
"All of you, go back. The Kingdom is the strongest fortress in the Fifth Dimension. Even if the Fifth Dimension is truly destroyed, the Kingdom will surely be the last place to fall."
Amidst a group of cartoonish imps, a tall and mighty man—importantly, one with normal bodily proportions—stepped forward, gleaming in gold.
The golden S-emblem on his chest was so reassuring in the face of this terrifying, all-devouring storm.
"Clark, you be careful too!"
"I remember now! Clark is not only a Fifth-Dimensional Being, he's also Superman! He doesn't rely too heavily on imagination!"
"We're leaving everything to you, Mr. Superman! You must save the Fifth-Dimensional Kingdom, just as you've saved the world from so many crises in the past!"
In an instant, the group of Fifth-Dimensional Beings found their pillar of support. They all gathered around Golden Superman, chattering away, creating an exceptional clamor.
Golden Superman was originally a relatively powerful version of Superman from the Multiverse. After diving into the Sun and slumbering for over ten thousand years, he emerged in a gleaming golden form and subsequently became a resident of the Fifth-Dimensional Kingdom.
As more time passed, the Fifth-Dimensional Beings could clearly feel their power weakening. Their various omnipotent abilities became incredibly sluggish, and even their brains grew muddled.
"Clark, be careful..." a golden Lois said, looking worriedly at her love.
After becoming a Fifth-Dimensional resident, Golden Superman had also transformed his beloved Lois into a golden form, granting her the abilities of a high-dimensional being and immortality.
"Don't worry. I will find the origin of this crisis. Something like this would never happen to the Fifth Dimension without a reason," Golden Superman comforted her.
"Everyone, return to the Kingdom! No one is to leave without my command! Clark, it's up to you now. Among us, you are the most special... I sensed Mister Mxyzptlk's presence earlier. Perhaps he knows something about the cause of this crisis."
A Fifth-Dimensional Being dressed in magnificent royal robes, holding a staff, and wearing a crown issued the command to all the residents.
Golden Superman nodded with a solemn expression. "Your Majesty, the King, while I am away, I'll need you to maintain order in the Kingdom. There must be no chaos. That would give our enemies an opening. An enemy that absorbs imagination will not spare so many residents who use it as their source of energy."
After speaking, Golden Superman charged resolutely into the heart of the storm. His immense power allowed him to easily tear through the chaotic imagination, plunging ever deeper.
"Something isn't right. If the imagination has become so chaotic, why don't I see it manifesting as all sorts of strange things? There's only pure imagination." Golden Superman grew more and more alarmed, a strong sense of foreboding washing over him.
The imagination of the Fifth Dimension also connects with the life forms of the lower dimensions. It's impossible for the billions of lives in the lower dimensions to not be thinking of anything.
It was just like how The Dreaming and the Nightmare World, built by Dream in the Sphere of Gods, could converge with the dream realms of all life forms in the Multiverse.