Prologue | Meet Jump-chan

>An all-encompassing dread was your only friend.
>The dark void ahead, the only sight you found familiar.
>Darker, yet darker.
>Your SOUL shattered, your body succumbed, yet your hopes and dreams shine on despite it all here in eternity.
>”How pathetic. Yet inspiring nonetheless.”
>The first foreign intrusion in what felt like forever.
>A cruel laugh echoed through the roaring wind.
>You felt your palm spring to life, glancing down as a form of shadows took hold.
>Wait a minute. Felt.
>You had a body once more. Birthed from shadows, given life by the roaring ambient light of the geyser that soared from the ground.
>Without much else in the way of direction, you approached the way you thought the voice came from.
>To your surprise, when you arrived at the geyser’s footsteps you were greeted with none other than the most pretty sight.
>A tall, blonde, humanoid teen girl. Dotted with dimples on her cute cheeks. Her silhouette illuminated by the geyser’s light. Her stature towered over you.
>”A pleasure to meet you, Chara Dreemurr.”
>How did she know that name? You freeze, muscles tensed.
>Considering the nature of this strange realm, however…
>That was certainly the least of your worries.
>Recalling your mother’s manners, you politely get to the point.
>”Greetings, I presume I need no introduction.” Clearing your throat, you ask. “What is your name?”
>”Not important.”
>”What is, then?” You raise an eyebrow, guided by your twisted curiosity.
>”The deal I’m proposing.”
>Hilarious.
>You laugh, wiping your lips with your arm.
>”If it’s a SOUL you want, I’m afraid I can’t help you there, pretty devil. I already gave mine away. Cross my heart, hope to die.”
>Rich.
>”Oh, you silly undead human.” She laughed and it sent shivers down your spine. “I couldn’t care less for your soul.”
>Oh? Then what was her angle? Not like you had much else to part ways with.
>”Entertainment!” She spreads her arms wide, a twisted smile dawning across her lips.
>The audacity. What a jaw-dropping reveal.
>”Oh, don’t worry. I’m not here to torture you.”
>She floated through the air, caressing your cheek playfully.
>”You’ve subjected yourself to enough of that to last a lifetime, Dreemurr.”
>Cold, like her otherworldly ethereal touch.
>”My idea of fun is bringing you to life as my champion, allowing you to tour the endless abyss of the multiverse, for my mere amusement, of course.”
>She batted her palm, proving just how rhetorical her question was. “Of course, you could decline. But you’d just go back to being a ghost.”
>She flashed a snarky smirk, “And just where is the fun in that?”
>Nothing. None. She had a point. Even if she was a psychopath.
>It was a tempting offer.
>Almost as tempting as the implied opportunity to return to your homely void, the sweet solace of death.
>It’s what a failure like yourself deserves anyways.
>Hero of legend, my ass.
>”Hello? Earth to Chara?” She fruitlessly waved her hand through my eyes. “Alright then! If that doesn’t sell it for you, how would you feel about a chance to see them once again? To bring back the dead?”
>Your heart jumped, the percussion reverberated through my head.
>”Really? Please, I’d love to see them again!”
>A hearty mocking chuckle left her lips.
>”You think I’d just give that away? Foolish brat.”
>Your heart dropped to the wind, the soulless pit inside felt deeper.
>Gritting your teeth, you roll your eyes. Hands curled into fists.
>”The offer still stands, y’know? Just a quick existential journey across the multiverse and you can see all your precious friends again!” She walked around you with such nonchalance, she might as well be walking all over you.
>But as long as you live, you’d have a chance to see them once again.
>The chance to see your brother again fills you with determination.
>”Yes, I would like to be sponsored by you.” You grit through the shadowy bile piling up past your lips.
>”Wonderful, wonderful, and such a performance of false defiance.” She leaned down to meet your height, pinching your cheek. “What a little diva we have here!”
>Oh, brother. Life better give you a break.
>She released her hold over your cheek, causing you to scoff and turn away.
>”With a sour face like that and your absolutely diva attitude, you’ll have no trouble keeping me entertained.”
>”Keeping you entertained?”
>”Of course! After all…” Her lids covered her eyes as she glanced down, a shadowy depth hiding them, “If you fail to entertain me, you lose. Which means back to the graveyard with you.”
>A chill ran down your spine but she was already moving on, acting like that wasn’t the second most dread-inspiring moment you’ve ever experienced.
>”Time for the paperwork!” She spun with such a joyous twirl, before suddenly having a materialized stack of paperwork and a pen for you to sign with.
>”Let’s get started, shall we?”