God of hope clashed with the mysterious man once more. But this time, the fight was no longer just about swords or physical strength—the forces of darkness and light collided, shaking the surrounding space.
Beneath the mysterious man's feet, a large red ring appeared. Dark energy surged outward, dominating the area and turning the battlefield into a realm of shadows. The very air of emptiness was suffused with a sinister aura, lashing toward God of hope.
But God of hope did not retreat. He released a Sacred Boundary, a glowing aura of light surrounding him at full power. The wall of darkness began to crack, as the forces of shadow and light clashed directly.
God of hope sheathed his sword. His hands glowed with energy as he formed the Bow of Hope. A shining arrow streaked toward the mysterious man.
The mysterious man tried to block the arrow but could not. The arrow pierced through his blade and struck his body. Yet no blood spilled; his body transformed into a viscous, liquid-like substance, revealing that he was no ordinary being.
The mysterious man let out a deafening roar that echoed through the Void. His body mutated into a colossal monstrous form. God of hope watched him before letting out a deep breath.
From his back, six wings sprouted. His hair grew longer, his golden eyes transformed into a radiant glow, and his cloak extended and fluttered majestically. He rose into the air and shouted with all his power:
"Let us end this battle!"
The mysterious man's body seemed to respond to his words. The two forms surged toward each other, colliding with the force of heaven and earth. Dark and light energies crashed violently, shaking the ground and sky… until…
Amid the fierce battle between God of hope and the mysterious man with short purple hair, a new figure appeared. It was impossible to tell whether this figure was male or female. Its face was featureless—no eyes, no nose, no mouth. Long blue hair was neatly tied, and it wore a light blue kimono while holding a black umbrella.
The moment the figure appeared, the fight between the two halted immediately. The border of clashing light and darkness vanished, leaving only empty void as before.
God of hope and the purple-haired man returned to their normal forms, falling from the sky.
"Ugh!" God of hope cried out, looking up at the empty sky, where the tall figure hovered.
Both God of hope and the short purple-haired man glanced at each other, thinking that this might be another opponent. The tall blue-haired figure slowly descended, merely watching them.
The figure lifted its shoulders slightly, and a sinister smile began to form on its otherwise featureless face.
Both combatants quickly stepped back, preparing to fight—but the figure appeared directly in front of them, motionless.
Their bodies could not move. Then, a faint voice echoed in their minds:
"I do not wish to harm you. I only wish to speak."
Confusion and wariness gripped the two warriors. They could sense the immense power emanating from this mysterious figure, yet they could not gauge its true intentions.
The bodies of God of hope and the mysterious purple-haired man could move, but they were completely unable to use any of their powers.
God of hope reflected on the immense strength of the tall, blue-haired figure, and a sense of fear began to creep in. The figure observed his reaction and emitted a voice—without using a mouth. The sound seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"I must… apologize for frightening you. I am The Creator, the one who creates."
God of hope shivered at the sheer presence and magnitude of this being. He recalled an ancient legend: a race that stood at the pinnacle of all races. They numbered only ten, yet these ten could rise above all others—humans, beasts, monsters, gods, demons, beings of time, and the embodiments of destruction.
The purple-haired man remained calm outwardly, but his mind was in turmoil. The Creator was the highest being, incomparable to anything. Yet he wondered: if The Creator consisted of ten individuals—Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Light Green, Light Blue, Blue, Pink, and Purple—then who was the tenth?
He pushed the thought aside and focused on the present situation. Observing the figure's kimono and hair color—blue—he concluded that this must be The Creator known as Blue.
The Creator's gaze lingered on them, noticing their lack of reaction. He spoke again:
"I have revealed my identity. And what about you?"
A tense silence filled the void. Both God of hope and the purple-haired man realized that their response could determine not only the outcome of this encounter but also their survival.
The short purple-haired mysterious man spoke with calm composure:
"My name is Lensin, and I am the King of Monsters. I once ruled over the monster clans, though I no longer hold that position…"
His expression remained serene and emotionless. God of hope was stunned—the one he had been fighting was a ruler of monsters. It no longer surprised him why Lensin's power was overwhelming. Even during the battle, he could sense the aura of monstrous essence surrounding him.
At that moment, The Creator turned their attention toward him.
"And you… who are you?"
God of hope, lost in thought, felt the voice resonate in his mind, making him startle. He quickly gathered his words:
"My name is Sentrie. I am the God of hope, guiding people and all living beings toward hope. I am the embodiment of hope itself. Even though the embodiment of hope has changed across ages, I am still counted as God of hope."
After speaking, Sentrie let out a quiet sigh. Lensin reflected inwardly: this God of hope—or Sentrie—possesses extraordinary power, comparable even to a king of monsters like himself.
The Creator nodded in acknowledgment. The strength and presence of both beings filled the space with a solemn silence and an air of respect.
The Creator hovered above the ground, his tall figure regal and godlike. His long blue hair was tied into a ponytail, and although his face lacked features, his presence radiated a power that seemed to perceive everything around him. He studied Sentrie and Lensin with unwavering interest.
"Both of you… your power is extraordinary," the voice resonated directly in their minds, not from his mouth, yet echoing as if it came from the very air around them.
Sentrie felt the immense pressure, yet he did not succumb to fear. He stood firm, gripping the Sword of Hope tightly.
Lensin, even as the former king of monsters, sensed the overwhelming supremacy of The Creator. A slight shiver passed through him, but he maintained his composure.
The Creator hovered above the ground, his presence as imposing as ever. Though he had no eyes, every movement and gesture of Sentrie and Lensin was fully perceived by him. He gazed at them for a moment, the air thick with tension.
Lensin, feeling uneasy, spoke softly, almost as if to himself:
"And why have you come to this place?"
The Creator listened, nodding slowly, then answered in a calm but weighty voice:
"I have come to find you."
The words were short, yet they struck both Lensin and Sentrie with surprise and unease.
Lensin began to understand. He himself had arrived in this dimension without knowing how or why—but The Creator had entered effortlessly. This revealed something crucial: The Creator was not the originator of this dimension. If he were, the dimension's confinement would not apply to them.
Lensin realized further that The Creator did not intend to harm them. He possessed the power to easily destroy them or escape the dimension at will—but choosing only to "seek them out" did not indicate benevolence. Lensin's caution increased, his mind alert.
Sentrie, on the other hand, felt a tinge of relief. He thought that perhaps, with The Creator's power, he could also leave this place easily. Though not as cautious as Lensin, he remained wary, refusing to fully trust the being before him.
The Creator asked softly, his voice calm yet full of authority:
"And why have you come to this place?"
Lensin and Sentrie paused. Both tried to recall their memories, searching for the reason that brought them to this dimension.
Lensin furrowed his brow, struggling to remember. His mind felt empty, as if something had been erased. Yet he refused to give up, pushing himself to seek answers.
Sentrie adjusted his stance and closed his eyes, attempting to connect with the essence of hope within him. He pondered once more why he had arrived here, why he appeared in a dimension where light and darkness collided. He could feel a mysterious force drawing them in, but the vision and the reasoning remained blurred.
Both stood still, their hearts racing. Anxiety filled their minds, mingled with a deep curiosity. The Creator watched them calmly