Mario.exe

After his conversation with Toad, Luigi looked around at the seemingly normal environment of the 12th Dimension. The Mushroom Kingdom here was vibrant and alive, untouched by the chaos and destruction that had consumed countless other worlds. It felt almost surreal, like a fragile oasis in the midst of an endless storm. Luigi couldn't help but voice his confusion.

"But if Xeno Mario has taken over and destroyed millions of worlds... why hasn't this dimension been affected?"

Toad, who had been pacing nervously, stopped and turned to face Luigi. His expression was a mix of weariness and resignation.

"That's easy... Xeno Mario is the spirit of Mario, but he knows far too much—perhaps more than anyone in this dimension. This dimension is the highest of the lower planes, the point of balance and the starting point for infinite dimensions above it."

He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, then continued.

"And also, Xeno Mario wouldn't destroy this dimension specifically. It's already within his control... Who knows? Maybe this dimension is the safest place that exists right now."

Luigi's heart sank at the thought. If even this dimension was under Xeno Mario's control, was there truly no escape? Before he could dwell on it further, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Welcome, Luigi... I expected your arrival."

Luigi turned to see Princess Peach approaching, her demeanor calm but her eyes filled with a deep sadness. She looked as regal as ever, but there was a heaviness to her presence that hadn't been there before.

"Oh... hello, Princess," Luigi stammered, bowing slightly. His voice was tinged with guilt, as if he didn't deserve to stand in her presence.

Princess Peach sighed, her gaze softening as she looked at him.

"Toad has probably explained everything already... and what you've caused. Right now, most of our counterparts in the multiverse and across timelines are dying or suffering... But this isn't the time to blame anyone."

Her words only deepened Luigi's regret. He clenched his fists, his mind racing with images of Mario falling into the lava, of the countless worlds that had been destroyed because of his mistake. He wanted to say something, to apologize, but the words caught in his throat.

Princess Peach reached into the folds of her dress and pulled out a piece of paper. She unfolded it carefully, revealing a detailed analysis written in elegant script.

"It's been two years since you disappeared, Luigi. We don't even know how you're still alive, especially when there were witnesses who claimed you... died."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly before she continued.

"But according to the analysis we've conducted here, Xeno Mario is a multidimensional spirit... and we have no chance against him. None at all."

Luigi's eyes widened in desperation.

"But surely there must be a way to defeat him in the end—"

Before he could finish, Toad interrupted, his voice rising in panic.

"He's an omnipotent entity!"

Princess Peach nodded solemnly, her expression grim.

"And beyond that, he's omnipresent... He's... like a god."

Suddenly, red words began to form in the air, glowing with an eerie light. The same bloody script that Luigi had seen in the void appeared once more, spelling out a chilling message:

"Haha! It's delightful to see fear creeping into your hearts... This place is but a small part of my domain... It has expanded... to infinity."

The words hung in the air, their presence suffocating. Luigi felt a wave of madness wash over him, his mind teetering on the edge of collapse. Around him, the inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom—Toad, Princess Peach, and others—clutched their heads in agony, as if the words were physically tearing into their minds.

Just as quickly as it had begun, the pain subsided. The red words faded, leaving behind an unsettling silence.

Princess Peach straightened, her voice steady despite the lingering fear in her eyes.

"Don't worry... If Mario wanted us dead, we would have died a long time ago."

The Illusion of Safety

As the atmosphere returned to normal, Toad turned to Luigi, his voice low and somber.

"As you can see, Luigi... this dimension is completely safe—as long as you abide by Mario's will. From here to the infinite dimensions above, this is one of the few safe places left."

Luigi looked around at the vibrant Mushroom Kingdom, its beauty now tainted by the knowledge that it was nothing more than a gilded cage. He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He couldn't accept this. He couldn't live in a world where Xeno Mario's shadow loomed over everything.

But for now, he had no choice. He would bide his time, gather his strength, and find a way to confront the monster he had helped create.

To Be Continued...

The screen faded to black, leaving only a single line of text:

"The game is far from over..."