The game began long ago, yet no one has made their move
In an unknown realm within the 4th layer of space, reality seemed to bend and shift—where nothing was solid, yet everything existed in a state of paradox. Shapes distorted, as if the boundaries between anything and everything had blurred, and at the same time, everything felt like nothing.
Amid this strangeness, a lone figure sat in the corner of the realm, legs and arms crossed, eyes fixed on a floating screen that resembled a TV. The man was Thraxis, fully absorbed in the screen, which displayed a battle between two beings. Their movements were so fast, so incomprehensible, that to anyone below Thraxis's realm, it would appear as if nothing was happening at all, not even a blur.
Time passed, and the realm continued its strange cycle—until a disturbance rippled through it. In an instant, the realm split in two. One half began to condense while the other expanded, distorting reality even further.
Snap!
Suddenly, something snapped. The realm, once fractured, abruptly restored itself to its surreal normalcy. The space around turned kaleidoscopic yet frozen, graduating yet overwhelming... it was somehow normal.
Particles began to converge, each one aligning with precise intent. Slowly, a figure started to take form.
A majestic presence emerged, radiating an overwhelming aura that seemed capable of dwarfing entire stars. From its back, flowing wing-like extensions of pure energy or light spread out, moving with a grace that was both mesmerizing and terrifying. Each ripple in the wings felt like a shift in reality itself.
The upper half of the figure was shrouded in impenetrable darkness, hiding its true form. Meanwhile, the lower half was bathed in a cosmic radiance, so brilliant it would blind any who dared to look upon it. The contrast between light and shadow made the figure both ethereal and otherworldly, a being of unimaginable power.
(Image of the figure in the comments and in my discord server!)
Thraxis, catching a glimpse of the figure out of the corner of his eye, leaned back slightly. His expression was calm, his voice casual.
"How unusual of you," he mused, his tone indifferent. "You drained nearly every last drop of energy to escape the system, just to show up here? What do you want, Eleis?"
Without even looking fully at her, Thraxis shifted his attention back to the chaotic battle unfolding on the screen. Despite Eleis's presence—Eleis, the creator of the 'Anomaly System' and, paradoxically, its prisoner.
Thraxis remained unfazed, treating her arrival as little more than a minor distraction but in truth, he was keeping tabs on Eleis's every move, even the smallest and most insignificant.
"Your realm is as annoying as ever," Eleis said, her voice regal and authoritative, far removed from the lazy tone she often took with Ken.
"Well, thank you," Thraxis chuckled, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I like to keep it as unmanaged and chaotic as possible."
But he sensed that Eleis wasn't in the mood for his games.
"Give me the key, and I'll leave," she demanded, her voice sharp and cutting. The wing-like extensions on her back flickered, sending ripples through the realm.
A chill ran through Thraxis at the sound of her tone. It brought back memories he'd rather forget. 'That sharp tone... sigh, her era might be long over, but she's still alive... Oh Ken, do something to keep her down... I don't want to deal with her all over again,' He thought to himself. Outwardly, however, his expression remained unchanged.
"Hmm? Weren't you enjoying yourself by annoying Ken?" Thraxis asked with a sly smile, finally turning to face Eleis, who looked both displeased and indifferent.
"Do you really want to mess around?" Eleis replied sharply.
Thraxis shrugged and, with a flick of his hand, pulled a cube from thin air, like a magician revealing a trick. As soon as the cube appeared, it vanished again, reappearing in front of Eleis, who was now ready to leave.
But Thraxis had one more thing to ask. "Hey, I've got a question."
Eleis paused, her gaze locking onto him. "What?"
'What's with the attitude? I already gave you what you wanted. Couldn't you be a little less aggressive?' Thraxis thought but kept those words to himself. Instead, he voiced the question that had been curious about. "If given the chance, would you kill Ken?"
Eleis considered for a moment, then replied, "It depends. His affinity with the source of his anomaly is overwhelming. I'd rather keep him to myself, but if he becomes an obstacle, I have ways to deal with it."
Thraxis's eyes widened, surprised by her answer. 'Her first instinct isn't to eliminate him? Looks like this is no longer just a game between Ken and me... it's turning into a three-way, with Eleis right at the center if she fully manifests. No, it would make little difference, she has already used the majority of her power, if anything this is good...'
"Why do you ask this now? Have you changed your mind about the game you wish to play with him?" Eleis questioned, but with her, every word creaks soundlessly began to appear in the realm.
Thraxis, unfazed, merely grinned. "Are you upset about the game ending too soon? I admit it was fun while it lasted. But no," he said, his eyes gleaming with both mockery and sincerity. "Unlike you, I plan to take my time with Ken. I want to watch him develop first. I want a fair game."
His tone was mocking, but the seriousness beneath it was undeniable. Thraxis was being honest, and Eleis knew it. But her reaction caught Thraxis off guard as she suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha! YOU BRAT! DO YOU THINK I'LL JUST LET YOU DO WHATEVER YOU WANT? I MAY BE BOUND TO THE SYSTEM AND KEN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M HELPLESS! I DIDN'T JUST RULE THE WORLD—I PLAYED IT! YOUR LITTLE GAMES MAY BE FUN, BUT YOUR PRINCIPLE OF FAIRNESS WILL BE YOUR DOWNFALL!"
Eleis laughed, her voice shaking the realm with such force that even the creaks, which spread like a spider web, throughout the realm.
Thraxis, however, remained neutral, silently absorbing the weight of her words. 'You haven't changed… not even a bit, he thought. But after being bound to Ken, you've already wasted too much of your power. If it weren't for Ken's anomalous nature, I would've eliminated you long ago...'
A mocking smile tugged at his lips. 'Soon enough, you'll drown in Ken's affinity, unable to break free from him... or he'll kill you himself. And then it'll just be Ken and me left to play the game, but it makes me wonder what would a game with me, you, and Ken be like. A neutral existence that seeks nothing but entertainment, the balance that wishes chaos, and the anomaly that wishes for balance?'
Thraxis laughed, finding a three-way game fascinating. "I must say! Things are getting exciting! But let's spark it up a bit more~!" Thraxis suggested as he stood up, catching Eleis's full attention.
"You should know by now, Eyrluna the embodiment of his affinity that we see is just a cover to hide what his true anomaly nature is! But... Did you know that Ken preserves that cover, Eyrluna, as an actual existence? Not just in BlueVail but also in Earth and more!?" Thraxis revealed, sparking Eleis's interest, "Slowly, his perception of Eyrluna turned into an obsession to know what or who Eyrluna is for his subconscious, becoming a hunger that influences his conscious self."
Thraxis tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as a wild idea took root. His expression twisted into something crazed, his fist clenched. "How about this...?" he suggested, the madness clear in his voice. "Eyrluna is a formless existence, merely a figment in Ken's mind. But what if you became Eyrluna?"
The suggestion made Eleis pause, deep in thought. Her mind swirled with possibilities, one thing standing out. 'There's a catch... If I become Eyrluna, I'll be bound to Ken forever. But... his anomaly nature... I might get close to understanding it, maybe even control it.'
She sighed, fixing Thraxis with a glare. "Bastard... I'm fortunate you're one of the true omnipotent beings; otherwise, I'd use everything at my disposal to rid myself of you."
Thraxis chuckled softly. "Perhaps not yet fully omnipotent, but in a limited sense, I am, and..."
WHHISSSSSSSSS!
A sudden whistling sound filled the air, and a small glowing ball materialized in Thraxis's hand. "Since it was my idea, I'll provide you with the means to take on the form of Eyrluna," he said, holding the glowing sphere between his fingers. "This contains all of Ken's memories and desires for Eyrluna. Take it." He offered and immediately the glowing orb was in Eleis's grasp.
She observed the orb for a second and decided, "Fine, I will play this game, just know that I don't plan on ever letting you off," Eleis huffed and disappeared leaving a laughing Thraxis behind.
"Excellent! This is excellent!" Thraxis exclaimed, clasping his hands together, his excitement and anticipation mounting as his desire to begin the game ignited.
"The game began long ago, yet no one has made their move. So, I shall be the first," he declared, and as his words echoed, the realm reverted to its untamed and chaotic state.