If youâre a fan of magic, mystery, colorful characters, found families, fantastical fight scenes, tragic backstories, and some good old-fashioned angst, then this is the story for you!
From August 2020 to June 2026, I worked on this light novel based on an original script by myself and my co-creator and best friend, @ask-chaosatem
Each chapter is only a few pages long and accompanied by at least one original illustration by yours truly. This has truly been a passion project and one I will never forget, and I thank everyone who has shown their support over the years. đđ
Click below for the full list of chapters, and happy reading!
 I ask you then, if what youâve witnessed in this text doesnât define what a Creator is capable of, what does? Their skills, their talents? Perhaps, but if you want to know my opinion, what truly makes a Creator is their unwillingness to back down in the face of adversity. The determination to see something through to the end. To Create without fear, and to love every moment of it.
On the outside, Straus and Red are huddled together in the epitome of sweet warmness and comfort. But it seems internally, their minds have linked for the night. Perhaps due to Blazi helping in the final fight, or due to the bond Red and Straus have made together. Either way, theyâre enjoying this shared dreamscape theyâve come across. The sky is an ethereal dark blue, and theyâre surrounded by crimson roses. They lie among the roses and justâŚtalk.
âSo, itâs all done.â, Red starts.
âMm?â
âI mean- all of our problems. Theyâre resolved.â
âI guess you could say that.â
ââŚWe came a long way. From Gaia to Synthis, Venus and Crescent, JupiterâŚFerosâŚthen Vyz. Itâs crazy back then how many people wanted to kill us, but now some of them agree with usâŚâ
âI have a way with words, I suppose.â
âYou donât say~⌠I donât know if I ever properly thanked you for your help on the day we met.â
âI might have forgotten if you did.â
âDâoh-â, she pouts, âHm- well, we are dreaming. I wonder if we can look it up somewhere.â
Sure enough, a screen appears and begins to play exactly that: a memory of their first meeting. Straus helped Red when she was injured, they chatted about life, escaped from the sisters, and he offered her a home with him.
âWow, I really got to the point.â, says Straus, slightly embarrassed.
â(Someone clearly wanted a girlfriendâŚ) Even then, I never said thank you⌠You know what.â, she rolls over and looks him in the eyes, âIâm gonna give you a reward thatâs long overdue.â
âEh?â, he blushes.
âYou remember that little moment we shared before we fought Jupiter?â
âYeeeeah?â
She doesnât say another word, just nuzzles into his face and gives him the best kiss heâs ever gotten. He gives in and just about goes limp inside and out, but returns the affection accordingly.
Red breaks the kiss after a few moments, âYâknowâŚbelieve it or not, I started liking you after we defeated Synthis.â
Straus shakes his head to refocus, âOhâŚâ
âI just couldnât say it at first because there was so much happening⌠you gave me everything when I had nothing leftâŚyou saved me.â
âItâs the least I could do, I just wanted to help.â
She hugs him, âWell, thank you⌠I love you for doing that.â
He hugs back and says, âI love you too.â
Well, thatâs that. The end of Strausâ story. You have seen his highs and lows, his passions and regrets. I ask you then, if what youâve witnessed in this text doesnât define what a Creator is capable of, what does? Their skills, their talents? Perhaps, but if you want to know my opinion, what truly makes a Creator is their unwillingness to back down in the face of adversity. The determination to see something through to the end. To Create without fear, and to love every moment of it.
The celebration continues back and Straus and Kotoâs Space. Everyone begins to return to their correct Worlds as the last voidlings disappear. Some may not even remember that this happened in the long run. But for now, everyone can rejoice knowing that they just saved- well- everything. Kotoâs parents watch as she gleefully prances around, fully enraptured by joy, and the Worlds she and Straus made orbit her in tandem.
âShe looks so happyâŚâ, Lazuli observes. She and Kilgore beam at the sight.
Pandora looks down at Straus, who is currently lying down and wrapped up in a blanket, and gently pets his head.
âWe havenât seen her smile like that in ages, your boy is something else.â, says Kilgore.
âOh, undoubtedly! Heâs my son, after all!â, Zeus answers proudly.
Red scooches over and gets herself in the blanket with Straus. The Lightverse Incarnates meet up and join them all. DarkClaw and Ex sit down to participate in the conversation while Uriel jumps over to Koto and joins in their merriment. Castor, however, remembers something, âI should head home. Delta is probably worried.â DarkClaw nods and smiles, âGo for it, kiddo.â He watches as Castor walks over to Uriel and Koto, who stop their romp for a moment to let him go home.
           Itâs nighttime in the city, and Delta is in bed holding his walkie-talkie. It hadnât gotten any clear messages in a while, but he still held onto it just in case his heroic buddies needed his help. Just as heâs about to drift off, a signal comes through, and the tiny device sparks awake.
BZZZzzztttâ âHello? Delta?â
Delta immediately sits up with excitement, âCastor?! Castor is that you?â
âYeah, itâs me. Good thing this thing still works.â
âWhere are you? Iâm at home with Mom!â
âFinally home too. The problem has been resolved. Sure, there might be some things that still need to be done, but Iâm home.â
âYay!!â
Delta hears his motherâs voice through the door, âFelix? Are you asleep, or are you talking to that âmister heroâ friend of yours again?â
âN-No Mom!â, he quiets down a notch, âEheh- Iâll see you tomorrow, ok?â
Castor tries to make sure a slight laugh doesnât go through, âAlright. Gânight.â
âGood night!â
Castor clicks his radio off and lays back in his bed. It really is over now; and he played a part in it! Even though he didnât have the best start, he feels pretty sure heâs a hero now. Or at the very least, someone who can keep up with his allies. He thinks about everyone who has helped him. No matter what they all face together in the future, thereâs no way it could compare to this. If this is the worst that this world can offer, everything else will be a cakewalk. He sleeps peacefully that night knowing this.
           At the same time, the Wanderers also return home. Night has also fallen here, so Luna can join Nova and Azura as they make their way back to the house. They open the door, quietly sneak in, and all slump down as it closes behind them. Victor comes running down the stairs and looks into the living room, âThere you are!!â, he cheers, âTheyâre back, guys!â Phoenix comes down next and helps them get up and move to the couch, âGood to see you all made it back in one piece. Had us all worried there.â Next is Arin, âAh-ha! We almost got our butts handed to us, where were you guys that whole time?â Azura grumbles in response. âOnly helping to fight the big bad, thank you very much!â, Nova retorts. âMm-hm!â, adds Luna with a confident nod. Amber comes down and starts healing their wounds, âIâm just glad youâre all safe! Thank goodness!â Seeing that sheâs ok, Azura hugs her tight and quickly wipes away some rogue tears. Finally, grouchy Zack sees the madness and simply smiles. Azura, Nova, and Luna joyfully hug each other.
           Nathaniel and Kali return to their castle and make haste towards their beds. Upon seeing hers, Kali tumbles into it and sleepily stretches, âI donât wanna fight anymoreâŚor at least until the next loop.â âI agree.â, says Nathaniel, âIâve had my fill for now.â Kali snores as she instantly passes out. Nathaniel, amused but not surprised at all, tucks her in; and then comfortably retires to his bed.
           Melanie and Amadi lay on a patch of grass in an open field for a change. People are either asleep or still hiding in their homes, so they figure they can treat themselves to a view of the stars tonight. âIt feels good to save people, donât you think so Brother?â, asks Melanie. âMm-hm.â, Amadi nods, âItâs pleasant.â
           As everybody settles in, Koto is the only one left awake. She flicks through different views of the Worlds to ensure everyone is secure before heading off to sleep herself. When sheâs done, sheâs just about to lay down before her eyes are drawn to StrausâŚand she gets an idea.
Illumi notices and tries to stop her from staying up later, â(Alright, Mistress. Itâs time for you to rest as well-)â
â(Nope- idea.)â
â(Oh stars, please tell me this wonât take long.)â
â(Itâll only take a few minutes!)â Koto readies her creation magic and begins to sketch something, â(Just gotta make a quick blueprint so I rememberâŚ)â, She makes a rough drawing of a girl walking through snow. She wears clothes appropriate for the weather and has short, curly, burgundy-colored hair.
â(Who is this, Mistress?)â, Illumi wonders.
â(OhâŚjust a thought. Iâll talk it over with Straus in the morning. âNight, Illumi!)â, and just like that, Koto yawns and goes to sleep.
Vyz has the quintet on the ropes. As much effort as theyâve been putting into this fight, he just hasnât slowed down! Itâs impossible, itâs overwhelming!
Koto gulps down a trickle of her blood as she hovers in the air, âI donât know⌠how much longer I can do this, guysâŚ!â Divine Illuminer begins to fail her as she falls backward. âKoto!â, Straus dashes under her to catch her and drops to his knees. Vyz growls, âBurning out already, are we?â Straus grits his teeth and hangs onto Koto, âNever⌠Iâll never stop!â But Divine Paranormatrix seems just about drained as well. DarkClaw yanks Vyz back and uppercuts him, âItâs ok! Red and us can handle him!â
Vyz turns and slashes at him, âYou canât handle the darknessâŚâ
Red appears and blasts fire at his back, âTry us, then!â
âIâve already died once âcause of you.â, says DarkClaw as he taunts Vyz by holding his arms out, âI ainât scared of it anymore. And I ainât scared of you, pal!â
Vyz glares at them, âHow unfortunate for you.â With a precise strike, he knocks them away and chases after them. Leaving Straus and Koto to try to recover while the others keep him busy.
Straus, for the first time in this fight, really considers if this is it⌠at this rate, everyone will perish, or be stuck fighting forever. âIâŚI canâtâŚâ
Koto breathes heavily, âBrotherâŚthereâs stillâŚ!â                Â
â(MistressâŚ)â, Illumi interjects, â(IâŚdonât know if Para and I have the energy left for that.)â
Para agrees, â(Sheâs right. Iâm out of steam, Straus⌠I canât keep up with thisâŚ)â
The siblings give each other a frightened look, â(We have to do SOMETHING!)â, they both think.
In a blink, both Paranormatrix and Illuminer shut off completely, and the scales tip again. Our heroes across the vast Multiverse begin to get overwhelmed. Straus stops himself from swearing under his breath as he punches the ground. âNoâŚâ, Koto whimpers. Straus watches his friends try to keep themselves up, then looks at Koto as tears fill her eyes.
â(ParaâŚis there really no way we can do that fusion thing again?)â
â(It can buy us time, but it wonât be enough to win⌠Iâm sorry, Straus.)â
âŚSo, is that it, then?
âŚ
Well, would we be here to tell the tale if it was?
Straus locks eyes with Red and hears a new voice. â(Iâll offer you all my energy.)â, says Blazi, â(Just make sure you win this.)â
Red holds out her hand, giving whatever bestial power she has left at that moment to Straus, Koto, Para, and Illumi. As she powers down, she falters but can conscious. Itâs a good thing too; because she wonât want to miss what happens next. Vyz is completely oblivious as Straus feels his power return to him, âThis⌠is enough! Koto, Para, Illumi letâs do it!â He and Koto stand up, and she holds his hand, âThank you⌠thank you all for your help! Weâll take it from here!â They close their eyes as the fusion commences, and the scales tip one final time. A blue light, brighter than any seen before, shines through the cracks and ravines, through every part of the Void, stretching far and wide across the Multiverse. It is strength, it is perseverance, it is divinity in every sense of the word.
It is Creation.
Vyz shields his eyes, âWhat the-!? How can this be!?â
Amadi points towards the lightâs source, catching a glimpse of their silhouetted form, âLook!â
Urielâs eyes light up, and she flashes a wide, toothy smile. âItâs them!â, she yips, âTHIS FIGHT IS STILL OURS!â
âHERE COMES THE PAIN!â, shouts Nathaniel as the party gets a boost in power.
            Redâs eyes sparkle as she watches the fusion finish, âWowâŚâ Exisite is silent, but his astonishment can be felt through his expression. âHAHA! YUS!!â, DarkClaw laughs.
âWe see it now.â, says the benevolent figure as they lightly float midair.
Vyz rolls his (many) eyes, âWho is this now? Or you Straus or Koto?â
âYes.â
âWhat are you, some sort of smart aleck?â, Vyz throws his hands back and fires a strong beam of dark energy at them; Which the mysterious being holds their hand out and catches, disintegrating it into nothing, ââŚYes.â
Vyz chuckles, albeit losing whatâs left of his patience fast, âHmhmhm⌠pull whatever cute tricks you want. But I know you can do NOTHING to stand in the way of-â
âHAH!â, he is swiftly interrupted by a fist meeting his face and making him do a triple somersault into the floor. âWeâre not ready to give in yet!â
Vyz grips at the broken ground under him, âThis is garbage! You will not stand in my way, whoever you are!â
âBut everyone knows who I am. Iâm why Jupiter lost! Oh- and call us Paralluminer by the way.â, they wink.
âHow adorableâŚyou will fall under that name.â
DarkClaw shakes his arm a bit as his Kuro form shuts down, âHoo⌠weâre all outta juice here.â
âItâs up to you now.â, says Exisite, also powering down.
Red looks up and pleads with Paralluminer, âPleaseâŚcome back to us!â, to which they smile and give a thumbs up before flying down at Vyz, grabbing his shirt, and tossing him upwards. The force shatters the sky above them, breaking through into the upper layer of Voidverse; where the others can now witness the grand finale on full display. Even the Stygians momentarily slow their assault to watch their master be thrown around like a toy. However, Vyz soon regains himself and breaks away from Paralluminer. He too starts to float in the air. And as the two stare each other down, the final clash begins.
           It truly is a sight to behold. Those unable to see it in person could feel it all around them, the Multiverse at any moment could be split apart. And yet, it was being held together by the smallest threads, people who would not let their home and the lives of everyone be lost forever! Voidverse is being torn asunder, if not for their friends being there, Paralluminer would surely destroy it from the inside out. Itâs not like Vyz cared at this point. He could just rebuild it after all, once these pests were dead and gone! Theyâre locked in on each other, and this one on one is finally an even matchup. Everyone holds their breath as the image of the two titanic forces clash and fire and punch and kick; itâs dizzying just how fast theyâre going. Their afterimages appear and disappear as explosions of color and erasure dance along in the air above them. Itâs not long until the voidlings get their stamina back and keep up the pressure.
âOof, itâs a bullet hell up there!â, Ex observes.
âDonât give in now, everyone!!â, calls Uriel as she shoots lightning.
Nova charges a laser and fires, âNone of us will!â
âOUR FAITH WILL NEVER FALTER!â, declares Azura.
           Paralluminer looks down for a moment. As Vyz charges at them once more, they catch their fist and use their other hand to make them look down at the battlefield below. âSee all this teamwork happening? It was earned through love, appreciation, and friendship. You just sat there, hating, fueled by anger and revenge. And what has that darkness brought you!? Nothing but fear and loneliness! We want to help you start anew!â
Vyz watches as the very last of his servants begin to die off one by one. He roars and forcefully breaks away from them, âYou canât fix the broken! You delude yourselves thinking the world is great, but itâs all black and white!â
âItâs more than that! The world is made of so much more, canât you see it?â
He holds his head in anger, âThe rules of fate decide what we are the moment weâre born. And if weâre made to be different, we suffer the consequences. Because that is the fate of those who are unique, like Straus and I. And YOU of all people should have seen that! But I am different! I will make those who destroyed me suffer the same fate! And if Straus wonât join me, then heâll suffer the same fate he was given all those years ago! Why canât you just accept that this is reality?!â
Paralluminer sighs, ââŚWrong answer.â
âStop talking and fall!â
âNever.â
âIâll teach the whole Multiverse how wrong itâs been to us! Once I get my hands on all of creation, those stupid fools will be punished!â
           The battle continues, but as Vyz is further consumed by his rage, Paralluminer canât help but feelâŚconcerned? Apprehensive? Regretful? What is this feeling, exactly?
â(Are we really going to have toâŚkill him?)â, asks Koto.
â(HmmâŚ)â, Straus thinks on it. Will they have to? â(Heâs about as corrupt as it getsâŚ)â
Thereâs absolutely no way they can make him change his mind, so whatâs left? How can they defeat them without breaking their one rule? Theyâve tried everything, havenât they? Well, thereâs one more thing. Either way, it will end his suffering; itâs just a matter of how much it could hurt.
           On the outside, everyone is unnerved to see Paralluminer zoned out. Now?! Of all the times to be lost in thought, NOW? Vyz seizes the opportunity to grab their head and do the opposite of what they did to him: slamming them back through the floor, back to the lower layer. As their face creates a crater in the dirt, Vyz leans down and hisses, âYouâŚwill learnâŚ!â
Paralluminer points upwards, and says muffled, âI think I finally know what to do!â
â-?!â
Without another word, Paralluminer grips Vyzâs arm, while casting the Purify spell.
Vyz backs away immediately. He looks to his arm and sees that where the spell landed now glows with white light, and begins to crack. ââŚWhat- what did you do-!?â
Paralluminer sits up, âYou seem to be fighting yourself more than youâre fighting me⌠call it a hunch, but I donât think you ever wanted any of this.â
âYou donâtâŚâ, his face begins to crack now, âYou donât know what I want.â
They stand up, and go to him, âI can still help you; you know.â
âGet away! Donât even touch me!â
ââŚWe may not entirely get it, but a part of us can kinda sympathize with you. Life is full of unwavering cruelty that can break anyone during their early stages. Some are deserted to be left alone because people thought they werenât good enough. Or perhaps, a loved one had to let them go because someone else wanted to exploit them. Or⌠they simply die with their family, because their killers saw them as a monster. Some of us have already died once⌠so please, quit this so no one else has to.â
Vyz is shaken by their words, he takes a deep breath and thinks hard before continuing, ââŚThe thing is, I know youâre correct.â, his body cracks more, at least the spell is silencing the noise in his mind, âBut even if I were to agree, I wouldnât even be around. What you just did has left me with very little time.â
âBut we can change that.â
âIâŚwouldnât bother. I think Iâm ok with this⌠I spent so much time being angry and wondering if I could share that hate with someone else. But now⌠I realize I no longer need to⌠I think⌠I can make peace knowing you and your friends will aim to make the Multiverse a better place. So, thank you.â
The Void begins to lose its ground, it sinks back into itself and begins to fade. Paralluminer looks up at the many stars and Worlds shining down on them, and they smile. ââŚThe world isnât all black and white, itâs colorful too.â
âI guess Iâve realized that too lateâŚâ, Vyzâs entire body now glimmers, and his legs start to dissipate first. âJust do me a favor.â
âHm?â
âTake care of this home of yoursâŚâ His torso and arms are gone now. âMake it into something I always wanted to see âŚâ. Vyz closes his eyes, and the rest of him vanishes. All thatâs left behind is a small, fiery white soul that drifts off into the ether.
âWeâll do the best we can.â
Paralluminer unfuses; and Koto spins around to a stop, âWhew⌠soâŚtired. Ugh.â, she flops over and lays down. â(Very good job, Mistress. You can rest now.)â, reassures Illumi. Straus also collapses and starts catching his breath. Everyone else runs up to congratulate them.
Uriel waves at them happily, âKoto! Straus!â
Koto greets her dizzily, âOoh! Heyyy Uriiiii!â
DarkClaw helps Straus sit up and hugs him, âYouâve done good, kid.â
Everyone celebrates the victory. Kotoâs parents hug her tight, Red and Straus share a kiss, itâs love and glory throughout the group.
âI just have one more questionâŚâ, asks a sleepy Koto as happy tears fall down her face, âCan we go home now?â
âOf course, ya lilâ goof.â, says DarkClaw. Everyone laughs and continues to revel in the victory as they return to the surface and meet up with the others.
