Chapter 55: 55. The Heart of The Omniverse
Hello, this is my first time writing a fanfiction. If you notice any errors, please feel free to give me constructive feedback. English is not my first language, so if you notice any mistakes, please mention them in the comment section at the end of the chapter. Let's begin the story!
Word Count: 3890 Words
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World watched him go, her eyes twinkling with quiet amusement.
He moved with the exaggerated caution of someone stepping into a trap. The normally composed man seemed comically over-prepared, a testament to his over-cautious nature.
The air around the staircase pulsed faintly, as though alive, and a peculiar hum began to fill the silence.
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Moreover, the temple itself seemed to awaken. As if, welcoming Bruce.
Walls once still now thrummed with energy, their surfaces shifting subtly as if responding to Bruce's presence. Faint glyphs glimmered in the dim light, their alien script unreadable yet deeply unsettling.
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Seeing as Bruce descended the stairs, World's gaze was drawn to another set of giant doors on the opposite side of the staircase. The Giant Doors had laid shrouded in Grey Mist, until Bruce descended. Only to allow itself to be gazed at by World. As of welcoming her.
A strange pull, she could not explain.
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The massive doors were shrouded in a thick, grey fog, much like the mist that blanketed the staircase below. The fog permeated the entire temple, obscuring not only the stairs' depth but also the true nature of the temple itself.
Her curiosity tugging at her, World stepped through the doorway Bruce had left behind, moving past the staircase and deeper into the unknown. While Bruce likely fought his demons below, she felt compelled to explore the secrets behind the shrouded doors.
With a gentle push, she opened the enormous doors, their sheer weight sending a low rumble echoing through the temple. The sight that greeted her beyond froze her mid-step, her breath catching in her throat.
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"The Sefirah Castle?"
World's words barely escaped her lips as she gazed at the giant grand hall stretching before her. It bore an uncanny resemblance to the Sefirah Castle from The Root, though something about it felt... different.
Massive pillars lined the sides of the hall, their presence both majestic and purposeless, as there was no roof to support above them. Instead, the hall seemed to float in a cosmic abyss, suspended in an infinite void of glimmering stars and swirling nebulas.
Her gaze was drawn upward, where two stars shone brighter than all others. They radiated an otherworldly brilliance, almost as if they were housed in some higher dimension, their infinite size defying comprehension. The two stars weren't just celestial bodies; it was as if they were presences, forces that seemed to observe rather than be observed.
The hall mirrored the meeting place of the Tarot Club from Lord of Mysteries more closely than it did the Sefirah Castle built in the. Root. Yet, despite its similarities, she was certain this wasn't the same place. This replica, or whatever it was, held a unique identity. Though she wasn't certain of it, yet she knew; this wasn't the Sefirah Castle in the Lord of Mysteries Verse.
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Descending the few steps into the hall, World turned back to glance at the doorway she had just entered. The grey fog beyond had thickened, blinding her to anything outside. Even the ground below the hall remained hidden beneath the fog, concealing the bases of the table and chairs.
Approaching the enormous table at the center of the hall, her fingers trailed along its surface. The craftsmanship was impeccable, far superior to anything in The Root. It bore the unmistakable touch of an omnipotent hand. 'Could this be the work of ROB?' she wondered.
The ornate chairs surrounding the table caught her attention. There were twenty-two in total: ten on either side and one at each end. Each chair was unique, with intricate carvings on their backs representing symbols of the Tarot.
Her gaze was drawn to the largest chair, which could be mistaken for a throne, at the head of the table, its grandeur unmistakable. The symbol of The Fool was etched onto its back, its design exuding authority and mystery.
Circling the table, she examined each chair, taking in the carvings that marked them. When she reached the chair at the opposite end, she paused. It was larger than the others, though not as imposing as the one with The Fool. On its back was the symbol of The World.
Leaning against it, a faint smile tugged at her lips. 'Could this chair be for me?' she mused.
The thought amused her, and with a casual confidence, she settled into it. The moment she did, the grey fog thickened around her, and a sudden burst of light illuminated the hall. Above her, the symbol of The World projected itself into the starry expanse, blazing brilliantly.
Her breath hitched as one of the countless stars above seemed to move. A singular star, shimmering with unparalleled brilliance, fell from the heavens, streaking across the nebula-filled void like a shooting star.
Now, only one star remained brighter than the rest, its radiance commanding attention.
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World's gaze remained fixed on the celestial display, her thoughts racing.
'Does this star represent me?' she wondered, her mind searching for answers. 'If so, does the other giant star belong to S? And perhaps… the rest represent the entirety of life within the Overlord Verse? Or could it be more than that? Could these stars symbolize the lives of the Omniverse itself? If this is ROB's work, it's only fitting to hold it in the highest regard.'
Her thoughts were interrupted as the fog around her thickened again, obscuring everything beyond a meter's distance. Yet, to her relief, the stars above continued to shine, their light cutting through the veil.
As her eyes adjusted, she noticed something descending toward her. Narrowing her gaze, she followed the object as it floated gently onto the table before her.
It was a card.
Curiosity piqued, she reached for it, turning it over in her hands. The card bore a single word, inscribed with an elegance that sent a shiver through her.
Softly, almost reverently, she read aloud: "The World."
Her voice, though barely a whisper, echoed through the grand hall, resonating as though the stars themselves were listening.
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Moreover, the hall seemed to respond to her voice. The fog pulsed with energy, the nebula above swirling in a slow, deliberate dance. The stars shimmered more brightly, as though acknowledging her presence.
The card in her hands glowed faintly, its warmth spreading through her fingers and up her arm. She couldn't help but feel that this moment was more than symbolic—it was a declaration, a recognition of her place in the vast tapestry of this space.
Her gaze returned to the stars, and for the first time, she felt truly small. Being the creation of ROB, she herself had questioned it a lot of times. If questioned, though the logic behind her thoughts puzzled her. If she had pick sides, she would easily choose Bruce or S.
Despite being his creation, similar to the Omniverse, her loyalty to S, shined brighter than for ROB. Her thoughts about HIM, left her conflicting. Her thoughts filled with apathy towards HIM.
'May be, he doesn't deem me useful or I am, may be, insignificant to him.'
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She remained seated, waiting—hoping for something, anything to happen. Yet the hall, the stars, and everything within it returned to their tranquil state, just as they had been when she first entered.
Her gaze was drawn upward once more to the single, brilliant star that shone alone in the celestial tapestry. It stood as a silent sentinel, a luminous reminder of all that had transpired.
The card remained clutched tightly in her hands, its surface cold yet comforting. Its material was unlike anything she had ever encountered. It defied explanation, and its craftsmanship was far beyond mortal comprehension—perhaps even divine. Yet, it carried a resonance, a faint echo of her own presence, as if it were an extension of herself.
In that moment of quiet reflection, the truth dawned upon her. The creator of this marvel was unmistakable. ROB.
Everything—every step, every choice, every revelation—had been preordained, strokes of a masterful brush painting a grand canvas. Bruce, too, was a figure moving within this intricate design, his actions dictated by the silent hand of ROB.
And yet, despite these realizations, one question lingered in her mind: 'What purpose does this hall serve?'
Rising from her chair, she let her fingers trail along its edges. The texture, cold and smooth, carried the weight of its mystery. With quiet resolve, she turned and walked toward the far end of the hall, moving away from the doors through which she had entered.
The grey fog loomed ahead, enshrouding the boundaries of the hall and cutting it off from the outside world.
Stepping to the edge of the hall, she peered downward. Stars glimmered above her, but the void below was vast and unyielding, a black abyss that devoured all light. The curiosity of what lay beneath gnawed at her mind.
Staring into the void, she saw nothing—no ground, no form, no substance. It was a stark emptiness, a great nothingness that seemed to pull at her thoughts, beckoning her toward oblivion.
Though it could not affect her, she felt its presence. Through her instincts, she analyzed it, piecing together its nature.
"This is nothingness," she concluded, her voice a whisper in the silence. "Anyone who falls into it ceases to exist. They are erased entirely—reduced to nothing."
Satisfied with her observations, she turned and walked back to the table. The mystery of the hall still tugged at her thoughts, compelling her to explore further.
She began testing the other chairs. Each time she attempted to sit, she was met with resistance—a forceful rejection that pushed her back. Yet, through her connection to ROB, she was able to override the hall's restrictions.
Seated briefly on several chairs, she mused aloud, "It seems only S and I can sit in any of these chairs. The hall recognizes us through our link to ROB. But who are the others meant to be? Who will fill these seats?"
Her thoughts churned as she walked behind the other chairs, running her fingers across their emblems. A sudden idea struck her, and she stopped before the chair bearing the Tower emblem.
Pressing her hand against the carved symbol, she reached out with her connection to Bruce, mimicking his presence to fool the hall.
Above her, a star flickered. Her gaze shifted to the vision it revealed: Cath Palug sleeping peacefully on a lush green hill, surrounded by Bulbasaur, Rowlet, and Turtwig.
The sight stirred her curiosity further. Still maintaining the link to Bruce, she directed her focus to the flickering star.
Through their shared bond, she could sense him still navigating the staircase below, unaware of the hall's secrets.
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Her fingers tapped the star lightly, and her perception expanded, flooded with an influx of information that left her momentarily dazed. She saw the great star—her own—reappear, its brilliance restored after she left her chair.
"So, only two great stars exist," she whispered to herself. "They are the exceptions. They represent us."
Turning her gaze to the countless stars above, she felt the weight of realization settle over her. The stars weren't random—they held meaning.
"Each star represents a Verse within the Omniverse, with the two great stars representing us, an exception." she surmised. "By tapping a star, a door to that Verse can be created."
However, the hall did not grant her free rein. Only stars linked to the chairs or visited by Bruce were accessible to her.
Still, the purpose of the hall eluded her. Her grip on the card tightened as questions flooded her mind.
Her musings were interrupted by a shift in the hall's energy. Turning toward the doorway, she saw a familiar figure step into the room.
"S, you're back."
Bruce nodded in acknowledgment, his movements uncharacteristically stiff, almost robotic. His expression was blank, devoid of the curiosity she had expected.
He approached her with slow, deliberate steps. Stopping before her, he tilted his head slightly, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that was almost unsettling.
"You saw it, didn't you?" he asked, his voice low and steady.
World nodded. "Yes, I saw it. I didn't expect this."
Bruce returned her nod, then turned to gesture toward the door with a mechanical motion. His gaze never wavered from hers as he spoke again.
"Why is Cthulhu sleeping in the basement of this temple? Did I just... kidnap Cthulhu from the Nasuverse?"
His words hung in the air like a question mark, an absurd yet chilling possibility that left them both in stunned silence.
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Having taken his seat, Bruce turned to World, who sat across from him, her regal presence accentuated by the faint glow of the World emblem on her chair.
"So," Bruce began, his voice carrying a mixture of disbelief and resignation, "did I just kidnap a Beast and two Eldritch Gods from the Nasuverse?"
World, ever calm, nodded. "It seems so."
Bruce let out a long sigh, his gaze drifting toward the stars above. "So, my Reality Marble just absorbed the city of R'lyeh. And as part of the 'package,' I got Cthulhu along with it. Did the Root just dump two Eldritch Gods onto me to free itself from their chaos? Curse you, Root."
World studied him intently, her eyes sharp yet tinged with amusement. Her silence unsettled him. "What's up, World? Something on your mind?"
She smiled faintly. "I was just thinking about a Fool who played the fool to cheer up his companion."
Bruce arched an eyebrow, his expression softening. "Are you suggesting—"
"Yes, Mr. Fool," she interrupted, her tone laced with playful sarcasm. "Let's leave it at that. You've changed. You're still that overly cautious man who leans a bit too much on ROB's suit, but you've grown. You've become more patient, less rigid. You're not the same as you were during the Joker days. Back then, you were too stiff. Remember your gaming days?"
A nostalgic smile crept onto both their faces as they recalled their journey.
"Well," Bruce began, "watching someone die in agony after getting hit by a missile at point-blank range tends to make you reflect on life. That experience changed me. I didn't want my existence to end on Earth without purpose. Even in Yggdrasil, I lost the drive to reach level 100 first. I was obsessed with being first in everything—until then. And moreover, I had a vision while climbing the stairs."
World's expression grew serious. "Sha Naqba Imuru. So, the war approaches."
Bruce nodded, his tone somber. "Yes. I saw myself in battle, fighting what I believe was the Platinum Dragon Lord. I haven't used the ability yet, and I didn't want to risk disrupting my life in the Nasuverse. I was hoping ROB created a way for me to return to the Overlord Verse. Knowing the future, I didn't want to make a mistake that could trap me there."
His body relaxed as he leaned forward, resting his head on the table. "It's exhausting, trying to keep everything balanced."
"Knowing ROB, that's entirely possible," World mused.
Bruce chuckled at her remark, letting his gaze wander around the grand hall. The overwhelming presence of Cthulhu lingered in his thoughts, dampening his mood. "World, what is this place?"
Smiling, she began to recount all she had discovered about the hall. Her voice carried an almost melodic cadence as she detailed its mysteries and connections.
When she finished, the card she had been holding began to glow. It shimmered, then transformed before their eyes, solidifying into a metallic, stamp-like object. Both Bruce and World stared at it, intrigued.
The card had become an emblem—a representation of the World card, and by extension, her seat. It felt as though it had been waiting for her to uncover the hall's secrets and deliver its purpose to Bruce. As though it were part of her destiny, and her duty.
Holding the emblem, she marveled at its craftsmanship. Its material was unidentifiable yet carried a sense of power.
Bruce froze, his mind grinding to a halt as he processed what he was seeing. World noticed his reaction and smiled. "I believe, we have found the piece."
He watched as World, walked over to him. Standing beside him, she placed the emblem in front of him.
Still in a daze, Bruce extended his hand toward the table, summoning a golden portal. From within, he retrieved a grand book—an artifact gifted to him by ROB. Its cover bore a circular indentation, a space that had eluded comprehension until now.
Placing the emblem into the circle, they watched as it clicked into place, a perfect fit. It was as though the puzzle had finally found its missing piece.
Bruce's gaze lingered on the book, specifically the remaining empty spaces within the circle. Then, his eyes shifted to the twenty chairs surrounding the table, each linked to a Tarot card.
His thoughts crystallized, and his expression grew resolute. "My journey to becoming the Ruler of the Omniverse has now truly begun."
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???
The Grand Temple,
Worlds from the Dreams of the Fool
Seated in his chair of power, Bruce gazed thoughtfully at World, who stood poised beside him—his loyal companion.
"So, World," he began, his voice both casual and curious, "should we get started on this? Although I'm not quite sure whom to summon. As you mentioned, there are already three others who've received the card—Tower, or Cath Palug, Sakura, and Kai. Still, don't you think we should add more to the team?"
World sighed, shaking her head gently at his eagerness. She turned, making her way back to her seat with measured steps. "I was just praising your newfound patience not long ago. It seems I spoke too soon."
Bruce chuckled at her playful jab. "World, the allure of becoming the strongest in the Omniverse is a powerful temptation. You know this. But you're right; haste and recklessness is not always the answer. Still, we can't delay this indefinitely, can we?"
"True enough," World replied as she settled into her chair. Her tone shifted, lightening the mood. "I was merely teasing you. After all, you are my Master, and I am here to serve as you please." She punctuated her words with a dramatic flair, her lips curling into a smirk.
Bruce laughed at her theatrics. "Surely you jest," he said with a smile. His gaze drifted upwards to the stars, their brilliance undiminished, their presence serene yet commanding. "By the way, does this place have a name? Since you haven't mentioned one, I assume it doesn't. Considering this hall is connected to the entire Omniverse, how about calling it The Heart of the Omniverse?"
World nodded approvingly. "A fine suggestion."
At her words, the stars seemed to brighten, as if acknowledging the name. The giant star representing Bruce streaked across the void, a majestic comet carving its mark in the darkness. His eyes widened as a card materialized before him, suspended in the air. Yet unlike World's card, it didn't transform into an emblem.
Taking the card in hand, Bruce felt a sudden influx of knowledge coursing through him. His vision blurred momentarily as information about The Heart of the Omniverse flowed into his consciousness. World joined him in processing the newfound revelations, both silently absorbing the intricate details of their domain.
After a long moment of contemplation, Bruce sighed, setting the card down. "So, World," he began, breaking the silence, "it seems I'm only allowed to summon someone after contributing something meaningful to any world's story." He leaned back in his chair, piecing together a plan from the insights he'd received. "Let's use the summon I earned from my time in the Nasuverse."
"Hmm!," World nodded, as she continued analyzing the information, her expression contemplative yet calm.
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Bruce's gaze lingered on World briefly before drifting once more to the stars above and the endless void below.
"This is it," he murmured, a smile tugging at his lips. He could feel it—the tangible beginning of his journey as the Fool, the first steps toward becoming the Ruler of the Omniverse, the strongest being across all existence. The weight of his ambitions filled him with both excitement and a profound curiosity.
"I wonder who I'll summon," he mused aloud. His voice carried a tinge of restrained eagerness. He tapped the armrest of his chair. "The probability of drawing any specific Tarot card is roughly 0.0588—or one in seventeen. What do you think, World? Which card will it be?"
World rested her chin in her palm, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "The real question isn't about probability. It's whether the person you summon will accept you as their God. That's what truly matters, isn't it?"
Bruce let out a soft laugh, nodding. "You're right. Let's just hope for the best."
World smiled at his words. "Indeed. And if it doesn't work out, we still have the Void below us."
Bruce shot her a wry look before gazing upwards, his thoughts drawn momentarily back to the unresolved mysteries. "Are you still thinking about Cthulhu and that unknown Eldritch God in my necklace?" World asked, her voice gentle but probing.
He nodded, then shook his head as if trying to dispel the weight of the thought. "Enough of the boring talks," he said, straightening in his chair. "You know, this kind of reminds me of my childhood. Back when I used to play Pokémon Fire Red. I'd replay it over and over, trying to catch Pokémon, speedrun the game, and collect gym badges." His expression softened with nostalgia. "Now here I am, years later, collecting people instead. Summoning them here feels oddly similar to catching Pokémon. And those emblems—they're like badges in a way, aren't they?"
"Quite the comparison," World remarked with a faint chuckle. "Are you planning to also pull them now?"
"Yes," Bruce replied firmly. "But first, I'll summon someone new. As for Cthulhu, let's let him sleep for now. I'll wake him when it's time to deal with the War of the Continents."
Tapping the table lightly, Bruce watched as five stars emerged, floating just above its surface. Each one represented a current member registered within The Heart of the Omniverse. With another tap, a lone star rose in front of him.
Reaching out, Bruce tapped the star. A radiant light erupted, filling the hall and illuminating its grandeur.
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Moreover, the light seemed to resonate with the stars above, intertwining with the void below in a symphony of cosmic harmony. The Heart of the Omniverse felt alive, as though it awaited the next chapter of their story. Bruce's anticipation grew as the brilliance began to coalesce into a form, signaling the arrival of the next piece in the grand tapestry.
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**The End**
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