Is this really a Game?!



"You could have killed him with that, you know?" A voice said as another hand appeared through the air. The two hands grabbed a side each before pushing the air aside, breaking through the void and creating a fissure in front of Cyrus.

"With you here, I knew that you would have stepped in if things went wrong, we both know that the danger was minimal while the benefits to the boy were great," Cyrus said as he stared at Raziel who walked through the fissure before walking toward him.

"How long has it been since the last time we saw each other?" Cyrus said with a calm expression as he walked toward Raziel. The air around them grew heavy from the tension as Raziel shrugged his shoulders.

"Quite a long time, can't exactly remember how much time passed though."

Suddenly, right as Raziel finished speaking, Cyrus was right in front of him, his arms spread out. With one more step, Cyrus was right in front of Raziel, and before the latter could do anything, Cyrus hugged him.

"It's good to see you again, brother," Cyrus said with a solemn voice as Raziel hugged him back, smiling merrily.

"It definitely is."

The two brothers hugged each other for a bit before letting each other go. Cyrus suddenly waved his hands and the surroundings changed, there was no more cave, the pillar of world energy was gone as well as the two now found themselves in a large hall.

The walls were decorated with splendid paintings and a mixture of silver and gold plating. Large columns could be seen around, each one milky white while the marble floor shone splendidly, allowing the two to even see their own reflections.

"The throne room, you preserved it?" Raziel asked Cyrus who nodded at him.

"I couldn't let it perish, not after everything we went through," Cyrus said with a heavy heart as he looked around the massive hall. 

"Even if everything else is gone, I wanted to save at least this one place."

The two brothers sat down on the chairs that Cyrus created before a table, as well as a teapot were summoned on it. Cyrus placed the teapot on what looked like a stove and made tea while Raziel closed his eyes and enjoyed the aroma.

"The Evergreen Leaves of Old Cain, I never thought I would smell them again." Memories flooded Raziel's mind, memories of a time long ago, back when he still had a place he called home, back when he was truly happy and at peace. 

An old man sat by a shack while Raziel, together with 8 other people, was sitting in front of him. Each one of them was dressed in suits that were decorated with golden threads, each suit being a powerful artifact that possessed incredible defense.

The memory left Raziel as quickly as it arrived, leaving him in a state of melancholy for a bit before he opened his eyes and took the teacup that Cyrus was giving him.

"I know you did, that was why I saved some of them, even created a little garden where they're still blooming." Cyrus said as he opened a small portal, showing the 'small' garden that he was talking about.

"Well, at least it was small, after such a long time has passed, it became like this.

An area larger than 6 football fields was seen through the portal, and the plant that was used to make the tea was spread around, occupying the entire area.

"Take some with you before you leave."

"Thanks, but, I'd rather not," Raziel said with a calm, yet seemingly sad voice before closing his eyes again and enjoying the tea.

"Raziel, how long has it been."

"I told you, I don't really."

"We both know you're lying, so just tell me, how long were you alone, just how much time has passed?" Cyrus asked Raziel with a serious expression as the latter sighed.

"What difference does it make if you know or not, the time that has passed has passed, there is nothing to be done about it."

"Because you are my brother, and I want to know just how many years, how many millions of years passed since that day because I wish to better understand what madness you are planning now, and why you haven't stopped even after so long," Cyrus said with slight anger in his voice while Raziel glanced at him before drinking the rest of the tea and placing the cup back on the table.

"A couple of eons, not sure exactly how much, time passes differently at where I was compared to here," Raziel said with a calm voice as Cyrus continued looking at him.

"Raziel, just what happened back then, everything now is so different, the system is everywhere, even when I finally managed to wake up, it was as if we weren't in the same universe anymore, so much has changed, so little remains, it's just …" Cyrus didn't even finish his sentence as he simply stared into the distance, reminiscing.

"What are you planning on doing with the boy?" Cyrus suddenly asked the silent Raziel who glanced at him.

"Nothing, I am simply looking after him."

"Yeah right, it's just a coincidence that he has the same true name as you, the one that nobody had gotten ever since you managed to reach the realm of a Transcendent, not to mention the Vajra ogre with him, alongside him being a Nephilim, just what are you planning?" Cyrus asked him as he stared at Raziel with worry.

"You don't have to worry about that, just focus on improving your strength, by the time everything is finished, I'm sure I can get you a true body once again, you won't be shackled to the planet anymore."

"I don't need it."

"Cyrus."

"I said I don't need it, we both know that it was because of me that everything started, it is my sin that started this, and this is my punishment, this is what I chose brother, I didn't ask you to bind my soul to the planet, and yet you did it, in order to let me survive."

"It was since then that I decided that I will act as the will of the planet, guarding it when you are not here, that is how it has been, and how it will be."

"Stop being so stubborn, it wasn't your fault, there was nothing you could have done to prevent things, even if you did things differently, the result would have been the same."

"I know, but it still doesn't change things, you have to stop trying to save everyone Raz, look at what that brought us," Cyrus said as he waved his hand, showing the planet as it once was.

Billions of people existed, and then one day, the sky went dark, Raziel's voice echoed through the world, telling them all of the danger that was coming. After that, everything went silent, and years passed, god knows just how many years passed. The people were all hibernating, waiting for Raziel to come back, but he never did, they all died in their sleep.

The planet became lifeless, a rock floating in space, hidden in a pocket dimension before finally being released, but that was just the start as eons passed before life once again bloomed, and during all that time, Cyrus was asleep, not knowing what was going on.

"I did that to protect them, to protect the planet, and save everybody."

"We didn't want that, every single person was ready to go with you, to face the danger, to help you, and yet you cast us all aside, not even bothering to check if we were fine with it!" Cyrus said, for the first time showing anger.

"There was nothing that any of you could have done, and you know it, at least with this, the planet and you were saved!" Raziel said as he stood up in anger.

"And so what, am I supposed to thank you, thank you for leaving me here, to continue living while knowing that every person I have ever known is gone?!"

"No, but you should at least understand why I did it!"

"I know it too well brother, that is why I am telling you to stop!"

"Everybody is gone, you can't get them back, nobody can!"

"So stop this madness, stop searching for revenge, it will do nothing good to you, it will only harm you, bring you closer to insanity!"

Raziel simply scoffed at Cyrus before turning around and starting to walk away.

"I am telling you this in order to protect you, why must you continue with this madness Raz?!" Cyrus asked as Raziel suddenly turned around.

"I don't need your protection, and need I remind you of what happened the last time you tried protecting me, need I remind you how you became the will of the planet?!"

"They are the ones that started this story, Cyrus, they are the ones that were playing with the lives of those we cherished, they are the ones that took them, and I will be damned if I simply let that go!"

"They might have started this story, but I, I will end it, and it won't be on their terms," Raziel said before waving his hand and disappearing from the spot, leaving Cyrus alone in the hall.