Four rivers flowed down the slopes of Mount Ancapian, each thick and mighty with droplets splashing over their banks. The sound of their roaring waves could be heard throughout the entire think-of-a-better-name mountain range, yet at the snowy peak of Mount Ancapian, highest in the planet, large enough that time warped around it, it was barely audible to the most sensitive of ears. The four springs that began those rivers could be seen from that peak, serene as the wind through the leaves of the iron-barked trees. Yet their water did not flow down out of submission to mere gravity, but for the pressure emanating from the man who stood at the summit, meditating while standing on one foot and only switching feet every five thousand years: Ver Lux.

Ver Lux opened his eyes and looked. With his Veil Piercing Sight, every location, angle, dimension, atom, and each of every string of fate on the planet of Sheng Jen Fi was within his view.

And it was good. Satisfied with this, Ver Lux shut his eyes and brushed his blonde hair, but a mere instant later, he tensed up. His eyes shot back open and sharpened ahead of him as his hand rested on the hilt of his longsword. Something – someone was approaching fast.

Flying past him like a bolt of lightning, a figure wrapped in a dark cloak crashed into the snow-covered stone of the terrain – on the next peak over. His impact formed a crater in the snow and ground alike.

The cloaked figure stood up out of the snow, a small groan of pain coming from them. Throwing off his hood revealed a brown haired male. His expression an odd mix of confusion and being pissed off, he scratched the back of his head and looked around.

“Where in the heck am I…” He muttered with a prominent frown. The boy suddenly turned around, locking gazes Ver Lux. “Maybe I don’t know the where… But what about The Who?” He rose a brow, narrowing his eyes.

“I should be asking you that. From my point of view, you’re an invader of my planet.” Ver Lux retorted. “But if you must know, I am the Sage of the Unholy Heaven, Warden of the Mountain of Four Frozen Springs on the Mountain of Fractured Time, Protector of the Nine Ancient Kingdoms and Five Sovereign Treasures, Ver Lux. Defender of this planet. You?”

“I’m Ace…” Ace responded, his face contorting in deep thought before he sighed. “I don’t remember… But I come from Fodderia. I promise, I come in peace,” he said with a smile, raising his hands in a sign of surrender.

But he couldn’t have done anything worse. On his left wrist was a dark mark, a symbol of the letter ‘K.’ Instantly, Ver Lux’s eyes locked onto it. “Hah… sloppy,” he said.

Then at speeds faster than information could process, he appeared in front of Ace. Grabbing the boy’s face, he threw him through a portion of the mountain – really more of a large hill, only a measly 274,379,371,917,170,715 light years in size. That small fraction of the hill was utterly destroyed, reduced to less than subatomic elementary particles through the inhuman force of Ver Lux’s throw.

Refusing to give the boy the chance to recover, he leapt into the air and dropped his leg down in an axe kick. “Falling Star: Burning Brilliance!” He exclaimed, a light blue flame covering his leg as he descended rapidly.

Ace dumbly stared up at this ‘Ver Lux’ who had suddenly attacked him. While he didn’t want to fight, he at least needed to dodge. He would recognize that blue flame from anywhere. The flames born in the planes of nothingness, where multiverses- entire metaverses are broken down every instant.

Calming his mind, Ace’s body vanished in the unchanging moment before the kick had made contact and erased him.

He reappeared a few feet away, panting and staring ahead at the warrior. “Please! Wait, I don’t know why you’re fighting me but we can talk!-” His pleas were cut short by a blade being drawn and placed under his chin during the exact same instant.

“Cut the frogshit. You’re a minion of Kira. That mark on your wrist says it all. It’s even got a horrible aura surrounding it. You can’t just fake that.” Ver Lux explained, pushing the blade dangerously close.

“No! No! I swear! Look, okay I’ll tell you. Before I came here, I got attacked by Jed. He destroyed my home universe. But before that happened, my father used some ability; I don’t know what it was. But this appeared on my arm. Then I just got suddenly thrown through space, and landed in this reality. That’s it!” He said, attempting to maintain a strong stand, to keep his voice from quavering, despite how easily the warrior could strike him down.

Ver Lux went silent for a few moments, his body not moving an inch, nor his eyes. Finally, he let out a sigh and moved the blade, placing it back within its sheath. It made a shiiiiing noise at it disappeared into it.

“Your father is a fool. He used the Gulag Protection on you. For the gift of not being able to die, at least by any means in this world, you have become a possession of Kira.” He took a few steps back, examining the brown haired boy. “Though, I don’t know all the details of what it means. But it’s bound to be a fate worse than death. A curse as well as a gift.”

“Haha. Yeah, that’s reassuring.” He muttered with a deep sigh. But quickly cheered up, even if slightly. “Well, that doesn’t matter right now. What does matter is me trying to figure out where Jed is. I’m certain he’s coming for me. He doesn’t like to leave anything unclaimed.” He clicked his tongue.

“Ah, yes Jed. A few warriors of his tried to raid this planet before. They were swiftly dealt with. If you wish, I’ll allow you to stay here for a while.” Ver Lux smiled, leaning against the side of a boulder.

“That would be wonderful! Thank you!- Um… Ver Lux, what’s that?” Asked Ace, staring up at the sky; a sky that darkened to a deep black.

Turning his head up, a small smirk spread across Ver Lux’s face; replacing his smile. “Enemies.”

Landing on top of Mount Ancapian, where Ver Lux had previously been standing, was a silk lavender-haired beauty, standing at six feet with a tanned complexion and a sizable bust; front and back. She wore a black bodysuit with a red fur-lined cloak over it.

“To be specific, one enemy. A general of Jed’s horde. Anastasia Wolfheimer,” Ver Lux said, leaning up from the boulder and beginning to walk towards the rapidly approaching dark force. The aura of the enemy covered not just the sky of Sheng Jen Fi as a normal person would assume, but the entire multiverse the planet was located in.

Anastasia held her chin up and looked down her nose at Ace. “The chosen Shikkan wielder… You survive Jed’s wrath and you merely go a few realities over?” Her mature and almost motherly voice spilled out, a devious smile on her lips. “Though I suppose I should thank you. Those multiverses did make a nice mid-flight snack.”

She laughed, taking a few steps towards him. Her movements were graceful as if practiced for years but similarly done without effort. Her eyes quickly snapped away from Ace to the still smirking Ver Lux and widened.

“L-Luxie? Wait, out of the infinite ass-fucking multiverse, I end up in this shithole?” Anastasia clicked her tongue, a glare with the literal power to drill piercing holes in timelines. But despite her best wishes, nothing had happened to the warrior who was currently laughing.

“Hahahaha, I was wondering how long it would take you to realize. Did you miss me, honey?” He rose a brow, grinning widely as he stretched out his arms and walked close to her.

Transcending the need for speed, Anastasia merely swung her arm horizontally in a casual manner, but the shockwave produced reduced Ver Lux to a level beyond nothingness. Yet the glare she held remained.

In a display that nothing but shocked Ace, the warrior reformed, molecule by molecule in under a femtosecond. Even after being destroyed, his grin didn’t leave.

“Did you forget? Shijarians like me have the best healing factor in every reality.”

“Oh, I didn’t forget. Trust me. I just wanted to see you in pain.” She winked with a smile full of hatred.

“U-Um.. I don’t really get what’s going on, but did you just call her honey? Who is she?” Ace asked, trying to get a grasp of the entire situation.

“She is my wife. Well, Ex-Wife. The fact that she was a mass murdering psychopath was kind of a deal breaker. Though I can’t say the crazy wasn’t appreciated in bed.” He flashed a smug grin.

The space around Anastasia was both literally and figuratively warping through sheer hatred and anger. “Yes, sure. Killed a couple realities here and there. Who hasn’t!” She rolled her eyes with a scoff.

“I… I haven’t.” Ace said softly raising his hand.

In under two yoctoseconds, Anastasia flash stepped in front of Ace; unleashing hundreds of trillions of distinct abilities. Each with the concentrated power to devastate entire Metaverses. Ace was no more; to be finally forgotten for good.

But as if just a mere day dream, she stood back where she was before launching her assault. “W-What the hell? I could have sworn that-”

“Killed the boy? Yeah, you did. In another one of the endless possible outcomes of that scenario.” Stepping towards her slowly, Ver Lux extended out his hand. “But did you forget? My ability. Kūkyona hōyō. The power to ‘ban’ or erase anything I wish within this world. Including the action of trying to hurt someone.” He laughed, the air of confidence around him more prominent than ever. “You could give up now and leave with your life. But if you continue to be stubborn…” He swiftly unsheathed his longsword, Ashbringer. A guardless sword with a blade as black as midnight, three red gems placed going down the center. “I’ll have to kill you.”

Staying silent for a few seconds, she suddenly started laughing; a big smile stretching across her face. “Oh sweetie. All those times we sparred, I was holding back so I didn’t hurt you. Do you really believe your own hype that much?” She asked, a flood of energy surging out from her; shaking the entire mountain.

“Bitch, I am the hype,” he retorted.

“Then, I suppose we’ll have to change that. Valkyrie Spear!” She exclaimed, crimson energy forming into the shape of a javelin in her hand that she then threw. The javelin warped space and time while also erasing the concept of distance to hit the target faster than a literal instant, an infinite number of times.

But Ver Lux, who should have been dead countless times over, was nowhere to be found. The attack that was meant for him traveled off the mountain, destroying billions of light years worth of Sheng Jen Fi. Reappearing behind her, he swung his sword horizontally with enough power to destroy even the infinite realms of nothingness. The mountaintop was shaved clean off, the surface of the stone now smooth like glass.

Anastasia had not been lucky enough to completely dodge, evident by the deep cut across her back that went straight through her cloak and jumpsuit. Leaping backwards, she gritted her teeth. “This world is much too small of a sandbox for us… Another shall suffice.” She said quietly, snapping her finger.

The scenery suddenly shifted. They stood in an endless field of white roses, each petal containing an infinite array of metaverses. She reached behind, touching her back and feeling the blood. “That blade… What is it? The force that wasn’t nearly enough to even scratch me let alone do this.”

“Ah, yes. My personal creation, Ashbringer. It was forged from essense of Death itself. All things can and will be destroyed by the blade. It can even shatter the Midnight Clock, reducing their time to nothing.” Ver Lux mused, spinning the blade in a masterful manner.

“I can’t say I’m not surprised.” She laughed, raising both her hands to the sky. “So what do you say we end this now? I never was a fan of drawn out slugfest. Everything we have, right now.”

“I can get on board with that I suppose.” He responded, shooting a glance at Ace who had been watching the whole time; worried. “Set up your best barrier. Don’t step out until everything is over.”

“U-Understood.” The boy nodded, concentrating for a few moments before a thin white veil formed around his body. While this barrier was active, nothing physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, conceptual, or higher dimensional could affect him in a harmful way. Not even the flames from the pit of volcano Mu.

Now that everything was in place, Ver Lux and Anastasia could battle without restraint.

“Forgive me oh kind lord, for thou art my merciless shepherd. Leading this stray child through the cruel rails of fate. Forgive me. Amplectuntur Amatores Nocte!” Anastasia’s chant rang loudly. Aiming her hands forward, a beam of shadows, formed from the tears of dying Omnipotent beings, fired off. Filling the entire dimension in complete, eternal darkness.

She was sure she had defeated her ex-lover once and for all. But fate had other plans.

“Mugen no kaimamiru.” The voice of Ver Lux pierced the endless darkness, and in a sudden moment light poured back into the dimension. But that was less surprising than the scene that lay in front of Ace and Anastasia.

Ver Lux. But not one Ver Lux, or two, or even five. An infinite number of the warrior filled every spot in the dimension beyond the concept of size. They were pulled from every future, past, present, possibility, impossibility, every lie, every truth, every idea.

A Ver Lux that wielded two Ashbringers, gripping them with his fingers.

A Ver Lux that wielded a spear, to fill his enemy with fear.

A Ver Lux that was a woman, with cosmic entities to summon.

A Ver Lux that was a little boy, playing with weapons like toys.

A Ver Lux that was a little girl, with her hair in cute little twirls.

A Ver Lux that was a little girl with parts that no little girl should have.

A Ver Lux that was an angel, with power extremely baneful.

A Ver Lux that was a demon, with ungodly screaming.

A Ver Lux that was God, with a ripped, swole bod’.

A Ver Lux that was Satan, to destroy the God one’s creation.

A Ver Lux that was a universe, with every blessing and every curse.

A Ver Lux that wasn’t Ver Lux, and this one gave no fucks.

A Ver Lux that was a giant robot piloted by two unknown beings, neither of whom could believe what they were seeing.

A Ver Lux that brought with him an infinite army, with grins sarcastic and smarmy.

A Ver Lux that was riddled with scars, wielding eight metal bars.

A Ver Lux wearing stunning, stainless armor, who was born just a simple farmer.

A Ver Lux specifically made to deal with Anastasia, and let’s just say, her shit was fucked.

In the endless space, Ver Lux stood. Ready for battle. “Goodbye, Anastasia.” Each of the Ver Luxes transcended all dimensions and concepts, using this power to draw all of creation within them. Every atom, every planet, every star, every galaxy, every Universe, every Multiverse, every Metaverse, every Hyperverse, every Outerverse. Then, the power from each of these structures was released in a devastating outburst.

Once again, the dimension was filled in the blinding light of all creation. When the flash subsided, Ver Lux stood in the center of the roses with a weakened Anastasia in his arms.

“Ver Lux…? Did you win?” Ace asked, dropping his barrier and taking a few steps over.

“Yes. It’s over.” Ver Lux responded, but it was clear that it wasn’t meant for Ace but rather the girl he was holding. Brushing a strand of her purple hair aside, he gave her a gentle smile. “Rest now, among your garden of serenity.” He whispered, Ashbringer forming in the hand he wasn’t using. Gently yet swiftly, he slid the blade into her chest.

Gasping sharply, her body jerked upwards. The pale flowers that lay around suddenly blossomed into a passionate crimson. All the while Anastasia’s body began breaking down into imaginary particles, returning to the land of dreams.

Once she was completely gone, her dimension started to crack and break down like glass. Standing up properly, Ver Lux grabbed Ace’s shoulder, warping both of them to safety back on Sheng Jen Fi.

“Now, with that all over. How about we go get some drinks? We’ll talk and figure out where to go from here.” Patting Ace on the back, Ver Lux smiled as leapt off the now glassy mountain top.

“O-Oh! Yeah, um, I’m not old enough to drink…” Ace mumbled, leaping off alongside Ver Lux.

“Jeez… what a kid.” Sighed the warrior.