“…Enter the sandbox.” As the words faded, the space around Rex began to distort.
The air trembled.
The sky rippled as if it were a fragile surface being disturbed by an unseen force.
Before Rex even descended- The world below reacted.
Animals grew restless and birds fled the skies.
The winds shifted direction without warning.
A strange pressure descended upon the land.
It was not visible.
Yet- Every living being felt it.
An uneasiness spread across the entire empire.
People paused in their work.
Warriors instinctively reached for their weapons in fear.
Scholars looked up from their scrolls.
Even children stopped playing.
Something was coming.
Something… beyond their understanding.
Then- The sky darkened.
At first, people thought clouds had gathered.
But within seconds- They realized the truth.
It was not cloud but a shadow.
A shadow so vast that it covered cities, rivers, and mountains alike.
People raised their heads.
Their expressions slowly shifted from confusion… To fear and disbelief.
“That… what is that?” “It’s covering the sun…” “No… it’s moving…” Panic began to spread.
Some fell to their knees, some screamed.
Some tried to run, though they did not know where to go.
Others stood frozen, unable to move.
Inside the great hall of sages- The historians of the Dawn Empire trembled.
For years, they had debated the existence of the giant described in ancient records.
Some believed, but most did not.
They called it myth, a symbolic story.
They thought of it as an exaggeration created by early humans.
But now- As they looked at the sky, their beliefs shattered.
“This… this cannot be…” “It’s real…” “It was never a myth…” At the center of the empire- Inside the palace- Aren slowly stood up.
His body had grown old, his hair was white.
His steps were no longer steady.
But the moment he felt that pressure- His heart trembled.
He walked out slowly.
Step by step.
Ignoring the servants who tried to support him and the guards who called out to him.
He walked until he reached the open courtyard.
Then- He looked up and froze like a sculpture.
Behind the palace he had built… Beyond the city he ruled… Beyond the mountains that defined this world – Stood a figure, a colossal being.
Its body stretched beyond the limits of imagination.
Its presence alone made the land feel small.
Even the tallest mountains- Looked insignificant beside him.
No- Comparing mountains to this being, felt like an insult.
For mountains belonged to the earth.
This being… Seemed to stand above it.
Aren’s eyes trembled as tears formed slowly.
His lips parted.
His voice, hoarse and weak- Yet filled with something deeper- “…So… you came.” Rex stood silently.
His gaze moved across the land.
The reactions below were varied.
Fear, Awe, Reverence, Fanatic devotion.
Some worshipped, some wept, some collapsed.
Some stared in silent admiration.
He observed them for a moment.
Then- Looked away.
None of them mattered to him.
His gaze fell upon a single figure.
Aren.
The boy who had once stood before him without completely breaking.
Now- He was old.
His body carried the marks of time.
His face showed the burden of a ruler.
But his eyes- Had not changed in the slightest.
They were still searching.
Still questioning and still… defying.
“You shouldn’t look for me.” Rex’s voice echoed across the land like distant thunder.
It was calm, yet carried an overwhelming presence.
Aren blinked slightly as confusion appeared on his face.
“But…” His voice trembled.
“You still came.” Rex remained silent for a brief moment.
“My arrival has its own purpose.” “…You are not the reason.” The words were simple, yet distant and cold.
Almost indifferent, but even as he said that- His gaze lingered on Aren just a moment longer.
Then- Rex raised his hand.
The ocean responded instantly.
Waves rose violently.
the waters twisted unnaturally.
From the depths- A massive creature emerged.
A giant shark-like beast.
It’s was body enormous.
It’s movements were powerful.
It struggled fiercely as it was lifted into the sky.
But it could not escape.
Rex held it effortlessly in his palm.
Of course, this was possible with the help from the system.
The people below gasped in shock.
“This… this power…” “Is he controlling the sea itself?” “Is this the will of the heavens?” Aren stared in disbelief.
His breathing grew heavier.
“…Are you immortal?” Rex looked at him.
“For you and your people…” “…I can be considered one.” Silence fell.
Aren clenched his fists.
His voice grew stronger, “Can we… become like you?” Rex did not hesitate.
“Not now, your species has not yet reached its true potential.
But in the distant future…” “…after countless generations…” “…you may walk that path.” Aren’s expression changed.
It was filled with disappointment and frustration.
Then- Defiance, as if it was his natural instinct.
“I don’t want the future.” His voice grew louder and stronger.
“I want it now.” The entire courtyard fell silent.
“I don’t want to accept death like this.” “I don’t want to fade away like this.” “I want to live, to reach that path.” His words echoed.
Not just as a request- But as a challenge.
He had previously asked the system and it replied that his blood has the ability to extend the life of the creatures in the sandbox but the probability is not huge and has huge risk.
Rex looked at him deeply.
For a moment- There was silence.
Then- A faint glow appeared at Rex’s fingertip.
A single drop of blood formed.
It floated in the air.
Small, yet carrying an indescribable aura.
The space around it seemed unstable.
“This is… Chaos Blood.” Rex’s voice was calm.
He came up with a name on a wimp and said in a monotonous tone.
“If you survive…” “It will extend your life.” “If you fail…” “You will perish.” He did not explain further, did not warn again.
He simply released it.
The drop floated toward Aren.
Then- Rex disappeared.
The sky returned to normal as the pressure vanished.
The wind calmed down.
But the people- did not move.
They stared at the empty sky.
Unable to process what had just happened.
Aren stood alone.
The drop of blood floated before him.
His hand trembled.
His breathing was uneven.
Yet- His eyes were steady.
“I will not die like this…” He reached out and took it.
Deep within the palace- In a hidden chamber known only to him- Aren sat alone.
The drop hovered before him.
The room was silent.
His thoughts were clear.
No hesitation remained.
“If this is the only way…” “…then I will take it.” He consumed the blood.
Then Pain.
It came instantly, not gradual or mild.
It was overwhelming.
His entire body ignited from within.
His veins felt like they were tearing apart, bones cracked, muscles twisted.
He fell to the ground.
His body convulsed violently.
But- He did not scream.
He clenched his teeth as he held on with his will.
Time passed, every minute felt like a year in torture.
The pain only grew stronger.
His body broke- Then reformed, repeatedly.
Until- Slowly- The pain faded.
Aren opened his eyes.
His breathing steadied.
He lifted his hand only to see it was no longer wrinkled, No longer weak.
His body- Had returned to its prime.
But this time- It was stronger, far stronger.
His senses sharpened, strength surged.
His very existence felt different.
That day- A legend was born.
The king who returned from death.
The ruler who defied time.
Aren ruled once again.
But this time- He was different.
He no longer relied on armies, no longer feared beasts.
He hunted alone.
A massive creature resembling a Brachiosaurus- A beast that required over a hundred elite warriors- Fell before him in moments.
The empire grew stronger under his rule.
And in secret- He searched.
Not just for power.
But for the path, the path to immortality.
Fifty years passed.
Time moved forward.
Unstoppable like a raging river.
Even with extended life- Aren aged once again.
At the age of 148- He stood once more at the edge of death.
His body weakened, his strength faded.
But his eyes- Still searched the sky and waited.
Still hoped for the giant to come.
“…Come back…” But- The sky remained silent and the giant- Did not return.