The scenery before El was an endless white expanse that stretched in every direction with no end in sight. There were no walls, no ceiling. Only scattered white pillars stood throughout the space, supporting nothing at all.
A few meters ahead of where El emerged, floated two enormous white clouds. They drifted lazily in the air. Lying atop each cloud was a small figure, almost doll-like in appearance. Their eyes were glued to a glowing tablet they held, completely absorbed. (Yup they are floating on Nimbus Cloud)
The Grand Minister appeared silently behind El but made no effort to speak. He simply stood and waited, his hands clasped in front.
Minutes passed in silence.
Then, without even glancing up or acknowledging their presence, one of the small figures pressed a button on the tablet. It vanished in a shimmer of light.
"My Ascendant lost again." he said with a disappointed sigh.
"He was quite strong though." said the other, sounding almost sympathetic.
"And lucky," said first.
"And cunning." added another.
"And he even drew a Unique-grade ability from World's Memory." both of them added together, nodding in agreement.
One of them leaned forward slightly, looking thoughtful. "Still… I'd call him unlucky. That pirate world is no joke to conquer."
"You're right. He was too hasty," the other said, pausing before adding with a small blush, "...and way too horny."
"Greetings, Your Majesties." The Grand Minister's voice cut through the casual conversation. "As per your instructions, I have brought the newly ascended mortal."
Both small figures perked up immediately, their eyes lighting up like children who'd just been handed a new toy.
"Oh! He's here already!"
"Wait—why is there only one?" the other asked, tilting his head. "Didn't you say there were three?"
"My apologies, Your Majesties." The Grand Minister bowed deeply, his entire demeanor resembling a perfectly obedient butler. "However, I thought it would be unwise for them to meet each other so early in the game."
"Hmm… if you say so." one of them mused, waving a tiny hand dismissively.
"Doesn't matter. We were getting bored, and something interesting is finally happening after such a long time."
The second figure nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
Both of them floated down from their clouds toward El, moving with an almost playful grace. As they descended, two tall bodyguards materialized silently from the white floor behind them, following at a respectful distance.
The childlike rulers circled El slowly, their eyes filled with an eerie, curious intensity. After a full rotation, they stopped directly in front of him.
"Hello, El! You can call me Xeni 1." the first one said cheerfully.
"And I'm Xeni 2. It's nice to meet you!" the second added with equal enthusiasm.
El steadied himself and bowed slightly, placing one hand behind his back and pressing his other fist against his chest—a formal gesture of respect from his world when greeting someone of higher authority.
"I am El, from planet Earth. It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesties the Omni Kings."
"I assume the Grand Minister explained everything to you already?" Xeni 1 asked, tilting his head.
"And he didn't threaten you, right?" Xeni 2 added quickly.
"Yes, yes—you agree to play this game willingly, correct?" Xeni 1 continued without waiting for an answer, bouncing slightly in midair.
El took a breath and spoke clearly. "Yes, Your Majesties. I am willing to become an Ascended. The Grand Minister did not threaten me and I chose this path to fulfill my own selfish desires."
He answered as truthfully as he could, meeting their gazes without flinching.
"Hmm… I like him!" Xeni 1 declared suddenly, clapping his small hands together. "He'll join my team!"
"That doesn't matter, you idiot!" Xeni 2 shot back, floating closer. "Did you forget? There are three mortals who have ascended this time!"
Both of them extended their tiny hands toward El at the same moment, grinning with childlike excitement.
"You may take their hands," the Grand Minister instructed calmly from behind.
El hesitated briefly before placing his fingers around their small palms. The moment their skin met, the world around them shifted.
When the distortion settled, they arrived where it could only be termed as nothingness.
All around them was nothingness, only darkness but suddenly a huge light bulb the size of El's previous worlds Sun lit up into the sky and illuminated the world around them.
"We call this place Null Realm." Informed Grand minister.
"I'll explain first," Xeni 1 interjected, and the Grand Minister withdrew bowing.
Soon Xeni 1 frowned, tapping his forehead as if struggling to recall something important.
They really do act like children, El thought.
'You'll understand soon enough.' the Grand Minister's voice echoed in El's mind.
"You are not a true Conqueror yet," Xeni 1 said in a serious tone. "At present, you are only an Ascendant. To earn the title of Conqueror, you must first conquer the planet assigned to you—one that we will create for you here."
"Once you succeed." he continued, still smiling as if discussing a board game, "we will move you to the outer universe. There, you will meet other Conquerors and finally experience what it truly means to hold that title. But you don't need to concern yourself with that right now. First, you must conquer this planet."
"Hm hm…" Xeni 2 hummed in agreement.
"I understand," El replied, even though something about the explanation felt wrong—off, in a way he couldn't fully put into words.
"Good," Xeni 1 said suddenly, his tone sharpening. "Now listen carefully."
"I will explain how this game works."
At once, golden light flooded the Null Realm.
Cards materialized out of nothing—massive golden cards, each the size of a New York City Central Park. One became ten. Ten became hundreds. Hundreds became tens of thousands.
Soon, well over a hundred thousand cards floated before them, their backs all facing El. Every single one was identical, yet each seemed to call to him differently.
Xeni 1 began to explain.
"First, we will decide the format of the game and the conditions you must fulfill to earn the title of Conqueror."
"Next, we will choose the world into which you will reincarnate."
"After that." he said, eyes gleaming, "you will draw a power of your choosing from the World's Memory. That will be our parting gift to you."
He floated a little closer and looked at El expectantly. "You may ask questions now—or we can proceed with the draw."
El thought for a moment, carefully processing everything he had heard.
"I will ask my questions after each draw," he said at last.
"Ohh i forgot to mention the most important thing." Suddenly Xeni 1 recalled and explained hurriedly.
"These cards." he said, gesturing toward the sea of gold, "contain the memories of worlds that once existed and the act of drawing them is not random."
"You may set conditions—conditions for the type of game you wish to play, the kind of world you want to reincarnate, and the nature of the power you wish to obtain."
"The cards that most closely align with your conditions will respond. They will highlight themselves, allowing you to choose from among them."
"If more than one card answers your call," he finished, smiling, "you must choose between them."
His voice hardened slightly.
"Remember this—we are unable to interfere with the World's Memory. That is one of the rules we agreed upon to maintain the transparency of this game."
Xeni 1 spoke casually, but El could sense the weight behind those words. A brief frown flickered across the Grand Minister's face—gone in an instant. Whatever this rule represented, it was not something meant to be discussed lightly.
The golden cards shifted.
Rows upon rows of them arranged themselves neatly before El, stretching endlessly into the distance.
Whenever El's gaze lingered on a card, it drifted slightly forward—inviting, yet still concealing its details.
'Turns out it is not that difficult, but my condition must be unique and most specific otherwise there is a chance of drawing the incorrect card.' El thought and imagined the conditions in his heart.
'Show me a game that does not require me to become the strongest, yet still give me a fair chance of winning and becoming a Conqueror.'
The thought echoed clearly in El's mind.
"Draw."
By choosing not to pursue absolute strength, El believed he had filtered out the most dangerous games. While victory was far from guaranteed, his logic was simple—if the game itself was easy, becoming the strongest within it would also be easier.
Almost immediately, the Null Realm reacted.
As if an invisible command had been issued, the countless golden cards shimmering across the void trembled and one after another, their light dulled, fading away as they failed to meet El's condition.
The remaining cards began to shuffle and rearrange themselves.
When the process ended, only around fifty golden cards remained.
Each one pulsed faintly, calling out to El in its own distinct way.
So much for randomness.
El closed his eyes and reached forward, selecting the first card in front of him.
As if understanding his intent, all the other cards lost their glow. The chosen card floated forward and flipped over, revealing its contents.
[Congratulations. You have drawn a game from the World's Memory.]
[Game Name: "Collect Them All"]
"Congratulations, El!" one of the Omni-Kings exclaimed excitedly.
"Congratulations," the Grand Minister added. "You have drawn a relatively easy game. It seems fortune is with you on your first draw."
"Can you explain the rules of the game?" El asked, turning toward the Grand Minister.
"We cannot reveal everything at once," the Grand Minister replied calmly. "That would spoil the experience. However, we will provide a brief overview."
"Please look at the card you have drawn."
As El's attention returned to the golden card, the previous message faded, replaced by new text.
[Summary:]
Seven Dragon Balls will be scattered throughout the world you draw next.
Collect all seven to summon the Omni-Kings into your world.
WhosoeverSuccessful summons Omni Kings will complete the game and gain the title of Conqueror.
[Difficulty: Medium]
"Oh, this sounds like a fun game," Xeni 1 said cheerfully.
"Yes," Xeni 2 added. "We'll be waiting for your summon, El. Do your best."
"May I ask what Dragon Balls are?" El asked.
The Grand Minister raised a hand.
Seven orange spheres appeared in the air around him, each about the size of a fist. Red stars were embedded within them, ranging from one to seven.
"These are the Dragon Balls," he explained. "Each is distinguished by the number of stars it contains."
"I know what your next question will be," he continued. "You need not worry about finding them. Despite their size, locating them will not be difficult."
"However," he added, his tone growing slightly heavier." Taking and keeping possession of them will be the true challenge of this game."
"And although they may appear ordinary," the Grand Minister said as the spheres vanished, "they are far more than simple shining objects. As for what they do… that is something you must discover for yourself."
He had answered three of El's unspoken questions—one of which El himself had not fully formed yet.
"Thank you for the information." El said. "I would like to use my next draw."
The moment he spoke, a deep hummm spread throughout the Null Realm.
This time, all the remaining cards darkened—turning from radiant gold to silvery black. An eerie atmosphere washed over the void, the light growing cold and oppressive.
"World's Memory," El said calmly.
"A world capable of granting me enough power to fulfill my wish."
The condition was simple. Not excessively greedy. More than anything, El wanted to see how World's Memory would respond to a vague request so that he could frame his most important draw carefully.
The moment his words settled, four cards drifted forward from the silvery-black sea. Each one glowed with a different light.
El barely hesitated.
He reached out and selected the card that resonated with him most.
The card flipped over.
[Congratulations. A world named 'Black Clover' has been selected from the World's Memory.]
"Congratulations, El." the Grand Minister said smoothly.
"Congratulations!" The two Omni-Kings echoed at the same time, their excitement unusually obvious.
The text shifted once more, revealing details about the chosen world.
[World Overview:]
A land of many kingdoms and continents, shaped by diverse cultures.
All share one defining trait—the ability to wield magic through Grimoires.
A fragile peace persists, threatened by demons sealed deep within the Underworld, waiting for the chance to plunge the world into chaos, bloodshed, and despair.
El took a moment to absorb the information. The structure of the world was clear enough: magic-driven, divided, and balanced on a knife's edge.
He chose not to ask further questions.
This was not the most important selection but what comes next.
Seeing that El was ready, Xeno 2 hummed thoughtfully.
"Hmm… hmm… now do the same thing," he said. "Think of the ability you want for your reincarnation. Something close to it should respond."
This time, the silvery-black cards changed.
They turned pure white, glowing softly like moonlight. The oppressive weight of the Null Realm eased, and the air itself seemed calmer.
El closed his eyes and carefully formed his desire.
"Grant me the most powerful and versatile ability in your arsenal." he said silently.
"An ability not bound to a single function—one that can attack, defend, support, and adapt. An ability with endless possibilities… like a World's Memory itself."
Unlike before, the response did not come immediately.
The entire Null Realm trembled.
All the cards vanished.
In their place, a single card appeared.
It looked no different from the others, yet something about it felt wrong. An indescribable pressure radiated from it.
With no alternatives presented, El reached out and chose it.
The card flipped over.
[Congratulations.]
[Ascended has drawn a Unique-Grade ability from World's Memory.]
[Ability Name: Multiverse Records.]
The text shifted again, revealing further details.
[Ability Description:]
The Ascended will receive missions from the Omni-Kings like any other Ascended or Conquerors,
However, rewards may include not only Xeni Coins and artifacts, but also ability cards originating from other Conquerors containing their single ability.
[Rules:]
• The first activation of any acquired ability card is free.
• Reuse requires Xeni Coins, with the cost determined by the card's rank and each subsequent activation increases the cost for the cards.
• To Permanently acquire an ability You have to fulfill the condition set by the original Conqueror.
The light flickered.
Then the tone changed.
[Error: The drawn ability has disrupted the balance of the selected world and game system, Corrective limitations are being applied.]
Ability cards may occasionally fail to activate. (Xeni Coins spent on such cards cannot be refunded in any circumstances.)The Ascended will lose all memories of his previous world. (Memories of events and conversations since his summon to Xeni Space will remain intact.)Only seven abilities can be made permanent until Ascension to Conqueror Rank.Reincarnation location has been set to the most chaotic region of the planet.
(Removable at the Omni-Kings' discretion.)
"Multiverse Records…" El murmured, slowly processing the implications.
I'm completely screwed.
"Why," El asked flatly, lifting his gaze to lock eyes with the Grand Minister, "did no one mention this balance thing?"
Xeno 1 blinked and Pinched his forehead in a cute manner. "Oops, I Forgot."
Xeno 2 burst out laughing.
'I don't think the previous Ascended died because he was too Ho**y but because he was on the wrong team.' El thought dryly, fully aware the Grand Minister could hear every word.
"The displayed information is not exhaustive," the Grand Minister said calmly, unfazed. "Multiverse Records is among the most unpredictable systems in existence."
He paused briefly.
"If used wisely." he continued, "it can serve as a shortcut to power."
"Unfortunately," the Grand Minister concluded, "that is all I am authorized to disclose at this moment."
"Let me break it down with an example," the Grand Minister said.
"Say you clear an A-Rank mission given by the His Majesties. This is the kind of reward you'd get."
As he spoke, a white card materialized in front of El, glowing faintly as lines of text etched themselves onto its surface.
[Card Rank: S]
Ability: Summon Mahoraga
Original Holder: Ryomen Sukuna / Zenin Clan (Ten Shadows Technique)
Effect:
Summons Mahoraga, the Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General—a cursed entity that adapts to any attack or phenomenon it survives. With each rotation of its wheel, Mahoraga evolves resistance and eventually counters even overwhelmingly superior foes.
Weakness:
The entity may prioritize killing its summoner.
Condition to Copy:
Tame Mahoraga by defeating it solo during its summoning ritual. No outside assistance permitted, except the Multiverse Record.
Time Limit:
Until Mahoraga or the summoner is killed.
El exhaled.
"Nobody said anything about ability cards having weaknesses. I guess this is the thrilling unknown you were talking about," El said, briefly tempted to redraw another ability.
"Sadly, that isn't an option," the Grand Minister replied, shutting down the thought before it could fully form. "If anything, you can only blame your own greed for setting those conditions."
"Very reassuring." he replied, his tone laced with unmistakable sarcasm and focused on the other questions in his mind.
"What happened to that world?" El asked, his tone steady, "the one previous Ascended failed to conquer?"
"The One Piece world?" the Grand Minister replied without hesitation. "It ceased to provide sufficient entertainment after its final conflict."
"That's why we erased it." Xeno 1 added cheerfully. "It'll stay erased until another Ascended draws it from the world's memory."
El swallowed and drew a slow breath, So that was the price of failure.
If he disappointed them, his new home would share the same fate.
"Can other Ascended see me." El asked, "or is this space limited to us?"
"Other Ascended cannot," the Grand Minister explained. "Conquerors, however, can. They may even intervene if they choose to help you in hopes of recruiting you after your ascension."
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"Though I doubt many would volunteer. Assisting you would cost them a hundred times more than what you must pay to World's Memory."
Shouldn't that have been disclosed earlier? El thought sharply.
A familiar voice echoed in his mind.
'Where's the fun in explaining everything? You should savor the thrill of the unknown.'
El sighed inwardly.
'I've feared the unknown my entire life', he replied silently, before voicing his next question.
"What exactly are Xeni Coins?"
A golden coin materialized in the air. It looked ordinary at first glance, except that one side bore Xeni 1's face and the other Xeni 2's.
"It is the universal currency among Conquerors," the Grand Minister said. "Used to exchange information, artifacts, and far more. Earn and save as much as you can. They are typically rewarded through missions, scaled to difficulty."
Xeni 1 leaned back, eyeing El with interest. "You know, other me, these restrictions are pretty harsh."
"But interesting." Xeni 2 replied. "Removing them would ruin the fun."
Xeni 1 snapped his fingers. "Then why don't we give him our blessing?"
"And throw in a few Xeni Coins," Xeni 2 added, ever the more generous of the two.
"I agree." Xeni 1 said immediately.
Before El could respond, Xeni 1 reached forward and tapped his forehead.
For a brief instant, an unfamiliar rune formed between El's brows, pulsing with alien power—then vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Until you receive your Grimoire, this blessing will protect you from any life-threatening danger." Xeni 1 said lightly. "Since you'll be starting without memories, we are also giving you ten thousand Xeni Coins to begin with."
El inclined his head. "Thank you… Omni Kings."
"And one more thing," Xeni 2 added, grinning. "Try to conquer this world within the first twenty years of your life. We have an incredible Tournament of Power planned—one that only comes around every hundred years."
El straightened but decided to not ask about it.
"I thank you for giving me a chance to undo my mistakes, Omni-Kings… Grand Minister," he said sincerely.
"Go," one of the Omni-Kings said, floating higher alongside the Grand Minister. "Make this Ascension the most entertaining of them all. We're looking forward to it."
"Yeah." the other added with a laugh. "You can do it."
With that, their figures blurred and vanished from the Null Realm.
Left alone, El closed his eyes.
'Remember this,' he told himself quietly. 'The wish you seek is already reserved—for something greater. Don't waste this life. Live it to the fullest.'
The space beneath him shifted.
A massive sphere of blue emerged, far larger than Earth. Its surface unfolded rapidly, time accelerating thousands of times over.
Oceans surged into being. Mountain ranges rose. Towers, cities, and palaces were built and destroyed, layers of history forming in the blink of an eye.
A world was being born.
As El watched, a deep drowsiness washed over him, pulling at his consciousness.
The last thing he felt was the sensation of falling, as his soul descended toward a new beginning.
***
Author Note: I had to do a lot of brainstorming to make the Game System (First Draw) and Abilities (3rd Draw) fit into the story I had planned.
I know it might feel a bit complex at first, but as you read on, it should start to make sense. Also, what I've explained about the abilities is only part of it—there's more beneath the surface than it seems.
As always, feel free to share your thoughts, whatever they may be.