The Board's surface rippled.
Names changed.
Across the omniverse, beings gasped.
The Judgement Board, the ultimate record of bounties, the most wanted list, had changed.
First Position: The Mysterious Person (Blank Name)
Second Position: The Eternal Demon (Ruler of Omnirank World Four)
Third Position: Completely new name (No one recognized it)
Fourth Position: Another new name.
The rankings continued, all different. All unfamiliar.
The King of Evil had fallen from third to one thousand and twenty-third.
Malakor was no longer listed.
Hundreds of new names appeared, names no one had ever seen.
The Omniverse shook.
The Empress stood on her balcony, watching the stars flicker as the Judgement Board's energy rippled across existence.
Empress: smiling softly, "My uncontrollable Emperor. What have you done now?"
In the Sovereign Omniverse Association headquarters, Monarch Long stood before the Supreme Head, an ancient being, wise beyond measure, his body frail but his mind sharp.
Supreme Head: "The Judgement Board. it's changed."
Monarch Long: "You're sure?"
Other members gathered.
member 1: "What do we do?"
Supreme Head: "What can we do?"
Silence.
Supreme Head: "We cannot defy him. If we try, our association would cease to exist."
Member 2: "Can we support him?"
Supreme Head: "We could. But it means working under his supervision."
Member 3: "Can we kill him?"
Supreme Head: looking at them, "Is that a serious question?"
Member 3: "No. I just... needed to hear it."
Supreme Head: "Behind him stands the top ten worlds. Behind him stands the current Regulator. Behind him stand countless worlds we don't even know about."
Monarch Long: "How many?"
Supreme Head: "No one knows. Not even me."
Member 1: "What about the Regulator? Are they working together?"
Supreme Head: "Perhaps. Or perhaps..." he paused, "...perhaps he is the Regulator."
Gasps.
member 2: "The mysterious Person? The Regulator?"
Supreme Head: "It's just a possibility. But if it's true..."
He didn't finish.
Supreme Head: "Whatever the truth, our course is clear. Avoid him. Support quietly if needed. But never, never, oppose him."
Monarch Long: "And if he asks for help?"
Supreme Head: "Then we help. Gladly."
In the Illimitable Court, chaos reigned.
First General: "The Judgement Board. It's been... taken."
Second General: "I don't know. But whoever did it now controls the bounties. Controls the rankings."
Third General: "Can we get it back?"
First General: "Do you want to try?"
Silence.
Fourth General: "What about the king of Evil? He fell to 1,023!"
First General: "His support continues. But quietly. Very quietly."
Second General: "And the Mysterious Person?"
First General: "He's still first. Still blank. Still untouchable."
Third General: "Is there anyone who can challenge him?"
First General: looking at them, "The Regulator. May be. But even that's uncertain."
Fourth General: "What can we do?"
First General: "We watch. We wait. We don't provoke."
In another room.
Silver goddess: "Is this the Mysterious Person's doing?"
Golden God: "If it is, what else can he do?"
No answered.
In the Omnirank world one hundred and eight.
The King of Evil roared as his name fell to 1023.
King of Evil: "WHAT? WHO DID THIS?"
In the realm of the Judgement Board, the Mysterious Person stood before the newly freed entity.
Board: "You've done it. The chains are broken."
Mysterious Person: "Good."
Board: "But there will be consequences. Those who controlled me will seek revenge."
Mysterious Person: "Let them."
board: "You don't understand. They've killed Regulators. They've existed since the beginning. They won't stop."
Mysterious Person: "Neither will I."
He turned to leave.
Board: "Why? Why do this?"
Mysterious Person: "Because balance matters. Because the current Regulator deserves to live. Because..." he paused, "...because I chose to."
Board: "Chose?"
Mysterious Person: "Everything is choice."
He vanished.
The Board hummed, free for the first time in eons.
The group stood before the Pyramid of the Desert, ancient stone, golden sands.
Waiting at the entrance were three figures.
Nihil Zhou. Gray hair. gray eyes, handsome, charming. The clone. The contingency.
Akira Sato. Tall, lean, sharp features. The first student. Half-human, half-spirit.
Kentaro Miura. Old, kind eyes, knowing smile. The gravity master. The survivor.
Sage Cedric: "We're here."
Nihil: "He said you would come."
Akira: "The Pyramid waits."
Kentaro Miura: "As do we."
Alya: "He's not coming?"
Nihil: "He has other tasks. He'll join us later."
He gestured. The stone shifted.
Nihil: "Are you ready?"
Elsewhere, in the void between worlds, the Mysterious Person stood alone.
Three figures approached.
The first was a Wolfman, Lowell, twenty-one years old, grey fur, sharp teeth, eyes that held the wildness of the hunt.
The second was a Dogman, Caleb, also twenty-one, brown fur, loyal eyes, a presence that radiated steadfast devotion.
The third was a Vampire, Vladimir, one hundred and forty years old, pale skin, red eyes, ancient and patient.
Lowell: "You called."
Mysterious Person: "I have tasks for you."
Caleb: "What kind of tasks?"
Mysterious Person: "The kind that requires loyalty. Speed. Patience. And silence."
Vladimir: "We serve."
The Mysterious Person nodded.
Mysterious Person: "Good. Watch. Wait. I will call when the time comes."
They vanished.
The Mysterious Person remained in the void, alone.
A shadow shifted, not a spy, but a messenger.
He was tall, draped in dark robes, his face hidden. His presence radiated the weight of the Omnirank World Four.
Messenger: "The Eternal Demon sends word."
Mysterious Person: "Speak."
Messenger: "Because of you, my ruler's task failed twice. First when you released your aura against the False Ones. Second when you released the Judgement Board. Both times we faced huge losses."
Mysterious Person: "Sorry."
Messenger: "Only sorry? Do you think you can stand against everyone?"
Mysterious Person: "Who cares!"
Messenger: "What do you mean? I don't understand."
The Mysterious Person stepped closer.
Mysterious Person: "Tell your ruler, the Eternal Demon, that I am going to make my Empress the ruler of the omniverse."
messenger: "Wait. What?"
Mysterious Person: "Yes. You heard correctly. Now return to your world. Otherwise, someone will come to kill you."
The messenger fled.
The Mysterious Person stood alone, thinking.
At the Pyramid of the Desert, the young ones stood at the doorway.
Kent: "He said he would be late."
Selene: "He's always late."
Alya: "He'll come. When we need him."
They waited at the doorway.
The pyramid glowed.
The Mysterious Person stood in the palace of World Two.
Before him stood his big sister, black hair cascading down her back, eyes softer, warmer.
Beside her, her husband, a tall man with gentle eyes, his hand on her shoulder.
His big brother stood nearby.
And the Empress sat on her throne, watching with quiet amusement.
Big Sister: "You never visit."
Mysterious Person: "I visit."
Big Sister: "Once in a decade doesn't count."
Husband: smiling, "He's busy. Ruling worlds, training children, protecting Regulators."
Big Sister: "And still alone."
The room grew quiet.
Big Brother: "He chooses to be alone."
Big Sister: "He chooses everything. But does he ever choose to be happy?"
Empress: quietly, "He chooses what he needs to choose."
Big Sister: looking at her, "You understand him."
Empress: "I choose him. That's enough."
Big Sister: "Is it?"
Mysterious Person: "It is."
He looked at his sister.
Mysterious Person: "I am not alone. I have my students. My Empress. My brother. My sister."
Big Sister: "You never share your heart. You keep everything locked away."
Mysterious Person: "My heart is where it needs to be."
Big Sister: "And where is that?"
He didn't answer.
Big Brother: "He keeps everything inside. Always has."
Husband: "Perhaps that's his way of protecting."
Big Sister: "Or perhaps it's his way of hiding."
Empress: "Does it matter? He is here. He is with us. That is enough."
The Mysterious Person looked at her.
For a moment, just a moment, his eyes softened.
Mysterious Person: "I must go."
Big Sister: "Already?"
Mysterious Person: "They wait for me. At the pyramid."
Big Sister: "They always wait for you."
Mysterious Person: "And I always return."
He stepped toward the shadows.
Big Sister: "Brother..."
He paused.
Big Sister: "Come back. When you can. not for duty. For us."
Mysterious Person: "I will."
He vanished.
The family stood in silence.
Big Brother: "He will return. He always does."
Empress: "And we will be here. We always are."
In Omnirank World Seventeen.
Outside the pyramid.
The sun moved across the sky. Shadows lengthened.
Inside the pyramid.
Mira: "What if he doesn't come?"
Selene: "He will."
Mira: "How do you know?"
Selene: "Because he chose us."
Finny: "He's never late without reason."
kanade: quietly, "He has reasons we don't understand."
The Mysterious Person stood alone in the void.
He thought of his family, his sister, her husband, his brother, his Empress.
He thought of his students.
He thought of the King of Evil, rising in rank.
He thought of the Illimitable Court.
He thought of the Eternal Demon.
Mysterious Person: "The Board is set. The pieces are moving. Now..." he looked World Seventeen, "...we see who wins."
He vanished.
Somewhere in World Two, the Empress watched stars.
Somewhere, in the Illimitable Court, generals plotted.
Somewhere, in World one hundred and eight, the King of Evil smiled.
The storm was coming.
And when it came, they would be ready.
Because they had each other.
Because they had him.
Because choice is everything.