Reality is not a fragile thing. It could be described as the original enchantment, the very oldest of magic. The first creation, forged by the omnipotent Creator. It is the crucible which holds all times and places, the wall separating what exists from what does not. In it are forged the rules of the universes, and through it flow the twin streams of life and death. And to many, it had been considered unbreakable, infinitely potent. Those people were proven wrong when, a few years ago, large holes began opening in reality. It wasn't really a problem, until the holes starting spreading far and wide. Connecting all that never was, the holes spat out beings from a universe that never existed, a timeline that ran directly parallel to that of this Multiverse.
Of course, that was simply the beginning.
Reality cracked, as once more a sledgehammer of unspeakable might slams into it. A very universe trembles, as thin lines appear, connecting the many White Holes. The air seemed to burn, the water seemed to speak, the very skies seemed to fall. Blazing, the many worlds united, as the fabric of reality bent outwards under the force. And then, with a sound much like the instant combustion of gasoline, reality itself fell to pieces, blasted outwards from the centre.
Standing among the shards, which slowly rotated through the newly opened void, was a figure. Smiling, he stepped forward. Pieces of time, frozen forever in place, floated past him, compressed into a mere two dimensions. Pieces cracked off the side of the physics-defying hole, a planet dropping down into nothingness, dissolving.
The Void had broken through. And as he stretched out his hands, he could feel the very streams of life and death submitting to him. He stepped forward, and he stood in the icy world of Tsubasa. Mithias twirled, and Alice balked. For in that instant both knew that, a thousand times over, they were outclassed. Bug simply stared, before dropping down to his knees. Ozzy stepped forward, before simply evaporating into a thin red mist. Not with an attack, but rather a whim. A glance and a thought being enough to wipe him out, to destroy him on a cellular level.
For there stood the man that could not be defeated. One of the few Bug had known to fear. Clad in a purple robe that faded into nothingness at the end, merging with the very universe. Royal attire lined with Chaos Gems, Bob's immortal soul screaming in vain as it attempted to escape it's arcane prison. Eyes glowing purple with power. There stood the God Emperor Matt, the Lord of Creation, the Devourer of Universes. And any who looked upon him, would know him to be their lord. For no arrogance, no confidence, no sense of justice or self sacrifice, could possibly compensate for the sheer overwhelming, terrifying aura of power he emmitted. The presence of a God, justified merely by his own omnipotence.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it? I feel like everyone's grown a bit lax in my absence." And none dared oppose his word, for to do so would be to incur not his wrath. But the mildest hint of disapproval.
And in that moment, his powers spread through this universe, remaking everything in their wake. Rebuilding the planets, people, and very souls of those it touched. "You see, I've always considered myself somewhat of a perfectionist. And after my untimely demise, I had a long time to figure out what I did wrong." The very fabric of reality was reshaped, the rules upon it rewritten, the streams redirected. "And I discovered that I never truly did live up to my name. I was a ruler, a warrior, a conqueror. And I was a devourer." The chains of power reached through the existing Multiverse. The Realm of the Forsaken, the broken down kingdom of the Dragon Emperor, Ozzy's personal Hell, the Coffee Lounge itself.... everything was touched, and all was altered. "But I was never a God. Not truly. For while I ruled that which I saw, I never truly mastered it. So allow me to remedy. Allow me... to become God." And even as far as Alpha herself did the chains stretch, flowing around her. Her omnipotent might flared, dissolving God Matt's power, only to power the Plot Hole further. And as it emerged, it ripped into the omnipotent creator, devouring it, dissolving it.
"Allow me to step beyond God, even. Allow me to become.... the GM."
This universe was soon to be, and would have been. Had it not been for a single outcry that rang true amongst the chaos. The tiny daughter of Drac, alone and abandoned amidst a firefight. Next to her stood Cosmos, who smiled, as he ran his power through her. "Looks like time has run out. But perhaps..... we can make a little time for ourselves." And as he did so, the very universe shuddered. And even as they were enveloped in the reality-altering force of God Matt's powers, the world itself dissolved. With a screech like that of metal on metal, time itself was dragged to a halt. And it was dragged backwards, falling to pieces. The half-formed world was stuck in between possibilities, hinged between two options. Nailed in place, unable to continue.
It was in this broken world, that the characters of HCL would find themselves. Walking amongst the broken-down ruins of time itself, attempting to collect the pieces. And it would be their actions that determined the final fate of the Multiverse.
