Rex stood outside the sandbox, his figure silent yet imposing, his gaze fixed on the world below.
To Aren, nearly fifty years had passed since his last meeting with the giant.
To Rex- It was nothing more than a fleeting moment.
A passing moment in the blink of an eye.
Yet within that brief span, everything had changed.
The once fragile humans had grown into a civilization.
Cities had risen and kingdoms had formed.
Knowledge had spread.
But along with it- So had greed and ambition.
Now… destruction.
Aren stood atop the highest platform of his palace, his aged eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for something that had long since vanished.
The giant.
The being who once descended from the heavens.
The one who held the power of life and death.
The one who denied him.
Deep down, Aren knew the truth.
The giant would not come again.
Not unless- Something major happened.
And so… He decided to create that “something.” What began as a desire for strength slowly twisted into obsession.
Obsession turned into madness.
Madness turned into purpose.
For ten years- The empire changed.
No longer was it a land of growth and unity.
It became a machine, a machine built for war.
Aren trained his soldiers day and night.
Children were taught to wield weapons before they learned to write.
Blacksmiths forged weapons endlessly.
Commanders were promoted based on brutality, not wisdom.
Hunters were sent across every region- Forests, mountains, rivers and oceans.
No place was spared.
At first, it was justified.
“For survival.” “For dominance.” “For the future of humanity.” But slowly… The truth revealed itself.
It was never about survival.
It was about power.
Creatures began to disappear, entire species vanished.
Many went extinct and some species were on the edge of extinction.
Forests thinned.
Rivers ran red.
The oceans, once teeming with life, turned silent.
The balance… was breaking again.
Outside the sandbox, Rex watched everything unfold.
His eyes narrowed.
A cold light flickered within them.
“Alice,” he called.
[YES, HOST.] “What are the stats?” A brief pause.
Then- [THE HUMANS HAVE ELIMINATED APPROXIMATELY 70% OF ALL LIFE WITHIN THE SANDBOX.] [IF THIS CONTINUES, THE SANDBOX WILL RETURN TO A DEAD STATE.] Silence followed.
The atmosphere felt heavy and oppressive.
Rex’s gaze darkened.
“That much… in just a few decades.” His fingers curled slightly.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen.” But it did.
Again.
Meanwhile- Not everyone followed Aren.
Far from the capital, at the place where the giant had first appeared- There stood a forest.
An Ancient and unyielding aura filled the air.
The trees were massive; their trunks dense and solid like metal.
Blades could not cut them.
Fire could not burn them.
Time itself seemed to respect their existence.
This place came to be known as- The Shade of Heaven.
Here, a group gathered.
They were not warriors or conquerors.
But those who chose to resist.
They believed and remembered.
They believed the giant was real, not a myth or a legend.
But a being beyond their understanding.
A protector and watcher.
Leading them- Was Archon.
He was the second son of King Aren.
Unlike his father, Archon did not seek power.
He sought understanding.
He had seen the destruction, the empty lands and the dying creatures.
The fear in the eyes of his own people towards it’s ruler.
And he knew- This was wrong.
“They call this progress…” one of his followers muttered bitterly.
Archon stood silently beneath the towering trees.
“This is not progress,” he said quietly.
“This is destruction.” “They say the giant is our enemy,” another spoke.
Archon shook his head “No, He never attacked us, never ruled us.” “He only… watched.
And when he acted…” His gaze hardened slightly.
“It was to restore balance.” Silence fell among them.
A heavy understanding settling among them.
Back in the capital- The final preparations were complete.
Thousands of soldiers stood ready.
Armored from head to toe and armed.
Relentless in their belief.
At their head- Aren.
His once aged body now carried a terrifying presence.
The greed for immortality had twisted him.
Strength beyond reason and power beyond control.
He raised his sword toward the sky.
His voice thundered across the land.
“Today- ” “We challenge the heavens!” The soldiers roared.
The ground trembled.
The air itself seemed to recoil.
Outside the sandbox- Rex’s expression finally changed.
Anger…..a never before seen anger.
“Alice.” [YES, HOST.] “…Enter the sandbox.” The moment the words left his lips- Reality distorted.
Inside the sandbox- The sky darkened.
Not by clouds or the setting sun, but by a shadow.
A massive shadow that covered the entire land.
The people froze.
The soldiers trembled at it’s presence.
The air grew heavy and breathing became difficult.
Then- He appeared.
Rex.
His figure towered beyond imagination.
Mountains seemed insignificant in comparison.
His presence alone pressed down upon the world.
“It’s him…” Voices trembled.
Fear spread like wildfire.
Aren looked up.
His grip on his sword tightened.
“You finally came.” Rex’s gaze fell upon him.
His eyes were cold.
“While there is still time… stop your actions.” His voice echoed across the world.
Mountains shook and the ground itself cracked.
Some soldiers collapsed instantly.
Blood flowed from ears and noses.
But Aren- He did not kneel.
Instead- He pointed his sword at Rex.
“You refused me.” “Then I will take it myself.” Rex’s eyes narrowed.
“I told you before, humanity is not ready.” “You destroy the very world that sustains you.” His voice turned colder.
“What is the difference… between you…” “…and the species I once erased?” For a moment- Aren hesitated.
Something stirred within him.
A fragment of clarity appeared.
A memory lost in time.
But it was crushed, by greed and obsession.
“Enough!” He roared.
Dark energy surged around him.
The Chaos Blood ignited within his body.
Even his sword trembled under its power.
A trump card he created by using Chaos Blood to forge the sword.
“I will surpass you!” And he attacked.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
His figure shot forward like a streak of destruction.
Rex watched Silently.
Then- He raised his hand and pushed.
Nothing flashy or grand.
Just- A simple motion.
[BOOM.] The world trembled.
Aren’s body slammed into the ground and a massive crater formed.
Dust and debris filled the air.
Silence followed.
Then- Coughing sound came from the crater.
Aren lay at the center of destruction.
Blood poured from his mouth.
His body- Broken and battered.
The Chaos Blood had consumed him from within.
What strength it gave- It now took back.
His vision blurred.
For the first time in decades- Clarity returned to his eyes and senses.
He looked up at Rex.
A faint, bitter smile appeared.
“You win…” His voice was weak, but calm.
“I never intended to defeat you…” “…only wanted to reach you.” Rex remained silent.
Aren coughed violently.
“Answer me…” “…as a dying man’s final wish.” Rex gave a slight nod.
“What… are you?” “Are you only… a keeper of balance?” “Why… could I never find you?” Rex looked at him.
Then spoke- “Would you allow one child… to destroy another?” “As for why you couldn’t find me….
I stand beyond what you see” The world fell silent.
The meaning- Clear and realization struck their brains like war hammer.
He wasn’t a watcher or a guardian.
He was- The Creator.
Shock spread across the land.
Aren laughed.
His laughter was forced and self- mocking.
“So that’s it…” He closed his eyes briefly.
“I…pointed the sword towards my own creator.” Guilt and regret could be seen on his eyes.
But it was too late.
Then- “What will you do now?” Rex was silent for a long time.
He remembered a legend from his previous life where God drowned the world in flood.
Then- He spoke.
“I will erase 90% of life.” The world froze at his words.
“I will bring down the heavens.” “…and drown this land in flood.” Silence…..absolute silence.
Even the wind stopped.
Time itself seemed to hesitate.
Then- Hoofbeats.
A figure rushed forward on a horse galloping madly.
His face was anxious.
Falling to his knees before Rex immediately as he left the horse.
“Great One!” “This humble being, a mere dust among your creations, I beg you- !” Rex looked down.
“Speak.” “I am Archon… second son of Aren.” “My teacher… opposed the king’s way.
When the commander came to force him to follow he gave up his life rather than follow this path.” “Please… grant us a chance.
For the sake of my teacher who only longed to follow the path the great one showed.” Rex watched him carefully.
No fear or greed was visible in his eyes, it was filled with sincerity.
After a moment- He spoke.
“You will build an ark, from the trees of the shade of heaven.
Take two of every species and preserve what remains.” Archon trembled.
“There is still… hope?” Rex’s voice echoed.
“That depends on you.” The wind began to stir.
The sky rumbled faintly.
“The flood will come.
After you build the ark.
But….it doesn’t mean you can delay.” And with that- Rex disappeared.
Leaving behind- A world that is going to face the heaven’s punishments directly ordered by their newly known creator.