Chapter 2- Our Little Game (Part 2)
Zephyr opened his eyes in a completely different world. All his knowledge was gone, and so were all his powers. While his wisdom and experience remained, he was now completely back to point zero.
It felt weird. But, also, it was nostalgic. Reminding him of his humble beginnings. Zephyr had to fight tooth and nail to reach the point he reached. From the weakest of the weak to the strongest God in the world. He and his wife had struggled far more than any other entity in the world to make it to their current position.
But, for the sake of his wife's entertainment, and also his, this was a good game.
"Hmm, it seems she had put me in a particularly weak body. Nice, Astra." He muttered.
"Hehe, do you like your current body?"
He suddenly heard a sweet voice speak in his head. Zephyr smiled as he shook his head. "You really want your husband to struggle?"
"You never struggle, honey. You aren't the strongest for no reason. This is a cakewalk for you."
"Yeah, yeah. So, what world did you send me to?" He asked as he looked around him. He was in a rather small, dilapidated apartment. His room looked messy, telling him a thousand stories about the owner of this body.
Zephyr walked to the window and opened it, revealing a nice view of a modern city. It was evening, so the night was barely visible in the sky.
"This is realm 22X7B, or as it is also known, 'Vicaria'."
"Vicaria, huh?" Zephyr said. "That is quite the peculiar choice."
"Hehe, while you don't remember everything about this world. I'm sure you will enjoy it a lot~"
"If you say so. So, shall we start?"
"Of course. Have fun~"
With that, the line was cut between the two. Zephyr figured it would spoil the fun if they remained completely in contact the entire time.
"... Good luck, Astra. You will need it."
With that, the journey began.
***
Vicaria was a rather simple world with a few billion people living in it. As all realms, it followed the Promordial Tenets applied to all realms. These tenets kept all these worlds functioning properly while giving them the ability to vary and differ wildly.
Vicaria was what is called a Lower World. A world that hasn't evolved yet.
However, while it was indeed a Lower World, it was still infested with monsters. Creatures that absorb Mana to grow and thrive, becoming dangerous to all people of all races. Only those who are called 'Awakened' and can control and evolve through Mana are capable of fighting them.
That was Zephyr's goal. To Awaken, kill monsters, get stronger, and avoid danger until he becomes the strongest.
He knew that the task wouldn't be easy since his wife would be planning things for him. But how could he not try his best to look cool in front of his wife? It would be a damn shame.
So, rapidly, a few years passed since that point. During which Zephyr spent that time awakening and growing rapidly. Since the moment he learned how to control mana, he was able to easily evolve after that. He was simply far too smart and cunning for a Lower World like Vicaria, even with all the limits imposed on him.
His wife threw all kinds of dangers at him. Monster Stampedes, dangerous encounters, enemies that want his demise, and many more things. Each situation was difficult, but not impossible to overcome.
So, Zephyr was able to learn and grow. Eventually, he figured out his wife's pattern. He killed every enemy he came across, and soon enough, he was one of the strongest Awakened in that world.
His enemies became more and more dangerous, and his encounters turned into entire wars. He was a demon, mercilessly slaughtering anything that tried to destroy him. His blade was covered in the blood of his enemies, and he left behind him large piles of corpses.
Zephyr… was a true monster.
***
"AAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
In a vast, empty plain, one where corpses and weapons mingled together, two silhouettes stood facing each other. One was standing casually, covered in blood from head to toe, his armor had cracks in it, and his left arm was injured while his right arm held a sword.
"YOU BASTARD!!!!"
On the other side was another man, completely covered in injuries. He rested his arms on his spear, breathing heavily as he glared at his enemy. His heart was burning with rage. His entire clan has been massacred and destroyed; he was the only one left.
This war… had eradicated every single person he knew, even those from his family. He had waged this war against this man for the Seal of Lacidonia, the strongest weapon in the world. Yet, he had completely underestimated how powerful his enemy was. He never thought one man could destroy all his army, singlehandedly.
It was a nightmare. A nightmare he wished to wake up from.
"I'm going to kill you!!!" He yelled as he picked up his spear and aimed it at Zephyr. The latter simply stared at him with a calm expression.
That same look seemed to never change. As if nothing in this world could impress him, as if he knew everything under the heavens. That nightmarish look that stole everything from him. He hated it to the point of insanity.
"You have murdered my family! You have taken what is mine! You have ruined everything!!!" He yelled. "You shall be cursed for eternity. Your life shall never see peace!"
His words shook the world around him. They were filled with so much rage and sadness that it would send chills down anyone's spine.
Zephyr stared at him for a second, then he looked down at his sword. "Sigh, can we get this over with now? You're wasting my time."
"..."
That was it. The man didn't sound impressed whatsoever. As if murdering his entire clan and massacring his family were nothing but a side quest for him. As if his entire life was nothing more than that of an ant in Zephyr's eyes. That was… simply incomprehensible. This man had changed the entire world, and yet he didn't seem to be fazed whatsoever.
"You fought well, Siegfried. I shall honor your life with a seamless death." Zephyr said.
"..." Siegried pursed his lips before he looked down, filled with pain. Mustering all his strength, he finally aimed his spear at Zephyr before he cried loudly.
"AAAAAAAAH!!!"
With that, he rushed forward, with every single ember of power left in his body. He had nothing left to live for and nothing left to lose. This was his way of going out, an honorable death in war.
Closing the distance in the blink of an eye, he slashed with his spear. However, before his weapon could hit the target, Zephyr disappeared from sight.
The next second, he appeared behind Siegfried as the man's eyes widened slowly. Then, his vision slowly started flipping upside down as his head fell to the ground, cleanly cut off his shoulders.
"Mons… ter…" He muttered slowly as his eyes started going dark. The last thing he saw was the cold eyes of Zephyr, staring down at him like a God staring at a mere mortal.
That was when he realized that… Zephyr had never even seen him as an enemy. He only saw him as a plaything, a pathetic ant to stomp on and move on.
Siegfried… died.
"..." Zephyr stared at the man for a few seconds, his eyes calm. Wind passed through the battlefield, carrying the smell of blood and death as it rustled Zephyr's hair. He looked down, then up at the grey sky.
"Well… That was certainly something, Astra." He said. "You really made it quite the challenge."
"..."
"Astra?" He said as he put the sword down and sat on the ground. "What? Are you a sore loser, honey?"
"Hmph."
"Haha, come on, talk to your husband. I miss you." He said as he wiped the blood off his face.
"This isn't fair!"
"Hm? How is it not fair?"
As Zephyr blinked, his entire environment changed, and suddenly, he was back in the Divine Garden, with his wife standing in front of him. He smiled before he hugged her.
"You are so unfair, my love~" She hugged him back. "I tried my best to throw things at you and you still won! How is that possible?!"
"Haha, I had to focus so I don't embarrass myself in front of you."
"Tsk, you were so cool…" She said.
"Mhm. Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Yeah, a lot."
"Good. Now, can I get my reward?" He asked.
"Ummm…"
"Astra?" Zephyr pulled back and stared at his wife. She had the same look she had when she told him about the game.
"Did you enjoy yourself, Zeph?" She asked.
"..."
"How about a best of three?! Let's just have more fun!"
"..."
"Pleeeeease~"
"You…"
"Please, please, please. I know you enjoyed yourself too~"
Zephyr was completely speechless. 'This woman.' He could only think. 'Is something else.'