Amidst the destruction caused by the battle between Aegle and Erebos, Exafanos remained still. He sat upon a flat stone floating among the shattered fragments of reality. Beside him sat a man with ten dark wings stretching gracefully. He was Ares, the entity of destruction. The two of them sat in silence, their eyes fixed on the battle that was devouring dimensions.
There were no words. No pressure. Just two entities, different in nature but equal in their calm demeanor as they witnessed the unfolding catastrophe.
Not long after, a rift opened in the tattered sky. It wasn't like any ordinary crack; it flowed with a light that defied logic. From it emerged a figure in a long white robe, with silvery hair and eyes that shone like the universe itself. He was Gordos, the creator of the entire multiverse.
His steps were light, yet each one echoed across the dimensions. He saw Exafanos and Ares sitting casually amidst the chaos and approached them without haste.
Ares stood up and bowed slightly as a sign of respect. Though he was an entity of destruction, he still held reverence for Gordos as the creator. Meanwhile, Exafanos simply lifted his head slightly, gazed at Gordos with a neutral look, then returned his eyes to the ongoing battle.
"What are you doing here, Gordos?" asked Exafanos, his voice light yet sharp, like thin air atop the highest peak.
Gordos watched the battle, then replied, "I've come to stop this. If not, reality will collapse far deeper than we can handle."
"Why stop it?" Exafanos asked again, his eyes never leaving Aegle and Erebos.
"They're too powerful. If they keep fighting, they'll scramble the order of everything. I can't let reality fracture completely just because of the egos of two high-level beings."
Exafanos nodded slowly. No comment. He simply received the information, analyzed it, and let it pass.
On the other hand, Ares, who stood beside Gordos, watched in disbelief. He saw how calmly Exafanos spoke with the creator of the multiverse. There was no fear, no humility, not even awe. Just the impression that they were equals—or perhaps more.
"Who is he really...?" Ares whispered in his mind, his eyes still locked on Exafanos.
But before he could unravel the mystery, Gordos had already floated high into the air. His hands gathered dozens of pure concepts: time, space, will, destruction, and even destiny. He fused them together and released them toward Aegle and Erebos.
Instantly, the two battling beings began to weaken. Their energy faded. Their attacks slowed. Within seconds, the titanic battle came to a complete halt. The two stood frozen like scolded children, not daring to protest.
Gordos then began to mend reality. He smoothed out tangled time, rejoined shattered space, and erased the lingering residue of destruction. The dimensional shards floating around were fused back together, forming a whole sky. Time became stable once more.
Meanwhile, Exafanos remained silent. His eyes watched from afar, observing without expression. Ares finally excused himself.
"I must go, there are other matters I need to attend to," he said.
Exafanos gave a slow nod. Ares turned and dashed away, but as he left, Exafanos raised his hand slightly.
In that instant, all memories of Exafanos vanished from Ares's mind. Every interaction, impression, and understanding about him—gone. As if Ares had never met him at all.
Then, with a single breath, Exafanos manipulated distance. He used the "Supreme Vanish"—his ability to render distance meaningless. In a blink, he was already on planet Wallbert.
He stood before his simple wooden cabin. Dust covered the windows, weeds had grown tall, and the plants in his garden had ripened, some even wilted. A year had passed without his realizing it.
Calmly, he began cleaning his cabin. He swept the floor, tidied the table, washed the utensils, and pulled out the wild grass. After everything looked neat, he stood in the middle of the yard with a satisfied gaze.
The next day, Exafanos returned to the market. He walked along a small path lined with red soil. He bought carrot and corn seeds from an old farmer who recognized him.
"Carrots and corn, huh? Not your usual," said the seller.
"Easier to grow," Exafanos replied briefly, then paid and left.
Once back at the cabin, he donned farmer's clothes: a straw hat, long-sleeved shirt, and loose pants. He began tilling the soil, hoeing, and making straight rows for planting. Then he planted the corn and carrots one by one.
He watered them with water from the well, then sprinkled his own homemade organic fertilizer. After everything was done, he sat on a wooden chair on his small porch. The evening breeze gently brushed his face.
Days passed. The corn sprouts began to appear, their leaves a bright green. Exafanos tended to them with care. He plucked pests, watered regularly, and occasionally checked their growth.
That evening, he sat on the porch reading a novel he bought from the market. The story was simple, about a boy who dreamed of becoming a great painter. He read with focus, occasionally turning the pages gently.
On the small table beside him was a cup of warm tea and a plate of pastries. He sipped the tea slowly, enjoying the rare serenity.
Silent. Peaceful. And for a moment, the world felt perfect.
...
To be continued.