Alex Stuman was the name of the old man who died after being transported to Sphera, but now all that's left of him are two remnants of his existence.
I, his flesh, was named Chaos whilst Simon Rainglow was named Harmony.
I've been watching Harmony for ten years as he grew up through the Overseeing Mirror in Enigma's Mystic Realm without any shifts in expression.
He played around, living a peaceful life that was safe from the savagery and irrationality of the world... but what made me uncomfortable was his eyes.
Within those eyes, I no longer see any traces of the former man 'we' were before being transported into this world. All that's left of that 'dead' man is knowledge and experience of war.
Has he forgotten who 'we' are?
"What are you thinking about?" Asked the outline of a man who was wearing a well-crafted formal suit. He was making sure to tease me as always...
Since we had nothing to do until our bodies fully stabilised, the only thing we could do was master our godly powers and spy on Harmony in order to relieve the boredom we felt.
"I feel as if Harmony is forgetting about 'me'." I unhesitatingly answered.
"You? He hasn't even met you. There's nothing for him to forget~" Enigma shook his head upon hearing my answer; not understanding my point.
"We are the same person so there's no way he doesn't remember our former life as Alex. As a 'heroic' soldier." I emphasised Harmony's hypocrisy with a deeply sarcastic tone of voice...
"Such sarcasm... I've already read your former life through searching Harmony's memories. I don't find any of his actions to be THAT bad." Enigma shrugged as he ignored my complaints.
"Who cares if you've 'read' about my past? What I care about most is what 'he' is thinking!" My said irritatedly while trying to keep myself under control. Unlike Harmony, I was only left with anger management issues in my head instead of any knowledge...
"Okay, okay, calm down... Why are you so displeased with how he's living?" It looked like Enigma couldn't take my bickering any longer as he directly asked why I disliked Simon so much.
"..." I couldn't answer for a long moment... not because I didn't want to reply but due to the fact that I couldn't find the right words to explain it...
I didn't hate Harmony for living his life freely. If fact, what I focused on was something else, and that was the fact that he seemed to have forgotten 'me'.
I am no inferior reincarnation of Alex Stuman, I am Alex himself! A man who had not been tainted by the Swordwick Household's peaceful atmosphere...
When I first 'awakened' into this hideous form, I found that the only thing I could remember about myself was my name, and that was only due to the fact that I could write my personal signature using my finger with what was ingrained into my body.
Having no memories of my past left behind in my mind, the only thing I could rely on to deduct my own identity was my tempered heart and the words of this faceless freak named Enigma.
"You definitely insulted me in your mind just now..." Enigma suddenly reacted out of nowhere and seemed completely certain of his deduction...!
"Why are you only so strangely sharp about insignificant things?!" My mind blanked for a second before I almost flipped the table between us in anger!
"Trust me. I'm the one who inherited the foulest mouth among us. Think carefully before I truly lose my temper..." I shut my mouth since I was the one who begged him to not swear when he's annoyed or agitated since his words could corrupt a person's ears...!
How bad was Enigma's foul language?
Well... One could say that even the devil himself would bow before Enigma when it came to his sheer intricacy and ingenuity when it came to cursing.
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Maybe this has something to do with how he inherited the Dark God's memories. After all, Enigma had already revealed to me the true reason the Dark God had a falling out with the Light God. If I was to consider what he said to be the truth, then it looks like he inherited his gentlemanly demeanour from the Light God. Even though it doesn't explain his facelessness...
I've personally met and have seen the appearances of a small portion those who think of themselves as 'True Gods' of Sphera... and all of them had regular faces unlike Enigma's uncomfortably illogical lack of features. How does he even talk or see without actual senses?
"Fine, okay... I get it. Don't you dare curse!" I said in fear. There's no one masochistic enough to want to hear this God of cursing and vulgarity!
I guess only a guy like this could keep me in check. How nauseating that is...
"Why isn't that Death God here yet?" I leaned back on my chair and asked.
Coincidentally, right after the words left my mouth, the space near us distorted, and two more chairs positioned themselves on both sides of our round table. The figures that appeared on them chairs were mystical beings that emitted a divine pressure.
"Seems like we're popular among you abominations." A womanly voice answered in Enigma’s stead with a tone of ridicule. My eyes turned cold as the volatile anger I usually displayed in front of my dear ‘brother’ subdued, an unfathomable coldness appeared in my eyes and caused shivers to run down the two ‘guests’ that we invited.
Even if they were ‘True Gods’ who had created their own forms of life on Sphera, that didn’t mean I would be respectful to those undeserving of my kindness. They are arrogant, but so am I. What are they going to do about it?
"Wood Goddess, did you come here to make a deal... or not?” My malicious voice seethed in rage as I glared at the beautiful woman in wooden clothing.
Her face paled at my direct threat. She was definitely used to her position of superiority among Gods, but my words seemed to strike a cord as she lowered her head. I then shifted my gaze to the Death God sitting on the other side of the table. His face also glowed with transcendent beauty but his gaze was as lifeless as his name entitled.
Compared to the arrogant yet oddly straightforward Wood Goddess who had immediately revealed her true nature without hiding her feelings, it seemed like the Death God was willing to put his disgust for us to the side in order to negotiate with us properly.
"Please don't take my wife's words seriously. I apologise in her place." The black-haired man bowed his head and sincerely asked us for forgiveness.
Urgh... I hate guys like this, they are too sincere. It would be easier to keep a grudge if the Wood Goddess didn’t have such a capable husband...
"Enough. Let's just quickly talk about the transaction." Enigma accepted his apology by nodding his head. I also retracted my menacing gaze since it was better to respect the Death God.
As for the Wood Goddess, she may be considered the most popular God of Sphera considering the benefits she shares to all races but I wasn’t interested in socialising with someone so narrow-minded. It’s not like Enigma and I asked to be ‘born’ this way... We were all victims of circumstances...!
The Wood Goddess probably understood her place in the conversation and lowered her head upon hearing her husband’s words.
Well, it looks like she isn’t all bad... At least she knows when to stop talking.
"We are willing to make an alliance with you, the 'Fake God', in order to survive against the upcoming Celestial War. I and my wife are willing to make a Divine Vow with you in order to prove our sincerity." The man covered in a miasmic air emotionlessly voiced without a change of expression.
"We agree to your alliance." Enigma didn't even hesitate to accept the Death God’s proposal. It was clear that he and the Death God had already talked it out before this gathering. I couldn't help but feel that Enigma was hiding some sort of terrifyingly dark secret after hearing how they weren’t discussing terms. Why was I the only one left out?
Even that idiotic Wood Goddess was in the loop! Why wasn’t I informed?!
"Brother, explain." I sharply glared at Enigma as my mouth voices two words.
Although I rarely had this kind of forceful attitude towards Enigma, it was natural I wouldn’t be able to fully trust him after he purposely kept their negotiations a secret from me...!
I’ve always wondered: Who among the Light God or Dark God were dominant when Enigma was created? Was he as demonic as the Dark God or was he as chivalrous as the Holy God? Why is it that I can feel he’s planning something big despite telling me that he only wanted to live his eternity peacefully?
He’s just too damn suspicious!!!
"It's nothing. Just like how you inherited some of the memories of your previous incarnation, I too inherited their will and power, understand?" He smilingly said without blinking. The fact he had no facial expressions made it impossible for me to figure out what he was thinking while saying that.
Enigma was the full incarnation of two Gods who had abilities that were on the opposite side of the spectrum like the Death God and Wood Goddess I had just met. The only reason he was considered a Fake God was due to how he was created out of two Divine Swords rather than from nothingness.
The True Gods who now ‘rented’ lands on Sphera wanted to drag us into their Celestial War. We have no obligation to accept their terms even if they do try ganging up to kill us...! So why are you scheming behind my back? Didn’t you say that I could trust you, ‘brother’?
I felt alienated from this Enigma that seemed so secretive and sharp-witted.
However, after thinking about his circumstances, my heart calmed.
Well, I can't expect him to tell everything to a troublemaker like myself, I'm sure I wouldn't have even let this stupid woman enter this domain after seeing her disdain.
"Fine. I'll do as you say." I wasn't going to argue with Enigma's decisions since out of all of us, he is the one that wants to keep us four siblings safe the most.
A few Spell Circles that was made out of the fusion of both the Death God’s and Wood Goddess’ energy covered our bodies before dissipating into this world without light or shadow.
"Now then: As agreed, we'll now cooperate in order to help you two heal from your injuries. Chaos is the rash and fiery part of us Fake Gods, so don't mind him. We've already gained your cooperation so I'll gladly exchange it for the coordinates of a Realm that is the residence of an Absolute God. Be sure to not antagonise that person by harming the realm itself." Enigma specifically glanced at the Wood Goddess, who, in turn, nodded in agreement. Even she wouldn't be stupid enough to antagonise a God that has already reached the peak of power.
"I'll be leaving then." She didn't make any small talk and quickly left after understanding our intentions. Not that she would’ve stayed if there was another matter we HAD to talk about.
"Death God, although I've given your wife the coordinates of Earth within the Gaia Realm, I am unable to give you permission to go there as well. The best way for you to regain your health would be to stay here instead. I'll even allow you to watch over her through my Overseeing Mirror." The Death God who sat besides us nodded before closing his eyes, seemingly going into a kind of hibernation. His body was motionless without a trace of life.
"Chaos." Enigma called out seriously.
"Just say what's on your mind." I didn't bother arguing with him and got straight down to the point. There was no need us to beat around the bush!
"I want you to go back to him. Protect Harmony and yourself." His calm words didn't really make much sense to my ears since he already established that I was unable to leave his personal dimension. I looked at him in confusion and was about to respond but he didn't give me time to think...!
Two crystals that radiated the Mana of a someone familiar to me shot out of his hand and embedded in my chest, a door appeared out of nowhere before opening below my chair. Enigma’s speed in his own mystical world was so fast that I didn’t even have a chance to see his afterimage before he threw me out of his personal God Domain.
You damn scheming mot-!