Let’s go back in time, couple centuries back precisely. The location was thousands of feet under the Pacific Ocean. Within the dark depths of the abyssal waters was a gigantic bubble illuminating like a blue star in space. Inside this bubble were two islands, one floating above the other. On the upper island was a silver palace surrounded by a golden wall.

“Come on, we’re gonna be late.”

On the palace grounds, a pair of young twins were running with smiles on their faces. They held hands and ran past adults, greeting them. They ran through the yard and stopped once they reached a garden filled with silver and blue flowers.

“Daddy, we’re here!”

The boy shouted.

“I’m over here.”

A voice answered him and he pulled his sister as he ran towards the voice. They ran past some hedges and spotted a man sitting on a tree branch.

“Were you sleeping again, Daddy?”

The girl asked. The man jumped down and landed before them. He picked them up and held them in his arms.

“What do you mean again? I’ll have you know I work through the nights so there’s nothing wrong with sleeping in the day.”

He rubbed his cheek on theirs causing them to laugh.

“Anyway, it’s time for class, Zagon, Kelz.”

The twins smiled.

“Yes, Father.”

Minutes later, the twins were sitting on a blanket while the man stood before them.

“Today I’m going to teach you some techniques that’s been passed down in our family. One of you will become the next Lord after I’m gone. I don’t know who it will be, so I’m teaching you both.”

He lifted his hand in front of him.

“Are you two able to sense the God Essence in your body?”

The twins looked at each other and shook their heads.

“I see, but don’t worry that’s normal. Only with intense training can you sense it. However, it’s important you learn to sense it in order to reach another realm of power.”

He clenched his fist.

“Once you’re able to sense it you’ll be able to circulate it, and even—”

The twins’ eyes widened as a blue glow appeared around his fist.

“You can even project it.”

“Woah!”

The twins’ eyes sparkled.

“Once you can project your God Essence you’ll be able to do a lot of cool stuff. For example….”

He gently punched out and the air shook with a boom. A fist mark appeared on a tree trunk meters away.

“Your attacks will become strong enough to shake the world. You can also boost your strength and healing powers using it.”

“Woah!!!”

The twins couldn’t contain their excitement as they sprung to their feet.

“What else can you do, Daddy?!”

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Kelz asked. Their father smiled and a blue glow covered his skin. The blue glow spread and covered the entire garden.

“I can observe my immediate surroundings from a Birds Eye view. Also-”

The blue glow disappeared and a light spread across the earth with him at the center. The light stretched beyond the eye can see in an instant.

“While not as accurate, I can observe the entire island and its people.”

“Amazing, Daddy!”

“You’re really like a god!”

The twins clung to their father. He happily rubbed their heads.

“These powers will be easier for a Lord but it should be possible even if you’re not one.”

(Although, only a few has ever been able to replicate a Lord’s power. Even then, they were still inferior.)

“Then we both can be Lords?”

“Of course.”

He stooped and hugged his children.

“You’re both special, so the two of you can easily do it.”

He stood up and looked down on them.

“However, being a Lord isn’t just about power. You need to be able to guide and protect your people. You must learn to put their welfare above yours if needed, alright?”

“Yes, Father.”

Decades later, the twins stood on a platform side by side. Behind them were thousands of people; some weeping, others praying. In front of them was a golden coffin with a dragon engraved on the sides with blue gems. The twins held each other’s hands and stared at the coffin. There were no tears in their eyes, just a stern expression.

“Lord Zyon has crossed over to be with our Gods and the Lords before him.”

The High Priest stood at the centre of the stage as his voice projected to the sea of people.

“Today we don’t mourn him, today is the day we celebrate a great leader, a father, a god among men!”

He slit his hand and lifted it towards the sky.

“Let us bleed for our brother and see him off to the heavens!”

Everyone in the crowd lifted their hands with blood flowing down them.

“To the heavens!”

They chanted while the twins continued to stare at the coffin. They stared at it whole day even as it was sealed into the Royal Crypt. Later that night the High Priest brought the two of them to the underground ritual site.

“As tradition, the ancestors will choose the next Lord.”

“What about our Uncles? Why aren’t they here?”

Zagon asked.

“After the passing of Lord Zyon, they’ve all decided to go into their final hibernation. They wish to pass quietly on their own terms. After all, their life force was weakening because of age.”

“I see. So it’s just us.”

“Yes, as your cousins weren’t able to show any potential as Lord.”

The High Priest pointed at the altar. The two held hands and slowly walked up the steps. They stood on the altar with their hearts racing. Blue flames surrounded them and a light shone down on Kelz. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She felt Zagon let go of her hand and turned towards him.

“Praises be to the Lord.”

He kneeled with his hands cuffed in front of him. The sight of her brother kneeling in front of her stirred negative emotions in her. She pulled him to his feet.

“None of us are allowed to kneel before the other.”

She gripped his hands tightly. Zagon could feel them trembling.

“The two of us are equal, one in the same. Didn’t Father always say that?”

Tears finally flowed down her face. Zagon smiled and wiped the tears away.

“Yeah, Father is right.”

He rested his forehead on hers.

“We’re one and the same. It doesn’t matter what titles we have.”

He gently pulled her in his arms and held her.

“We’ll always be together.”

These words played in Kelz’s mind as she held onto the bloodstained blade embedded in her stomach. She looked at the wielder of this blade in the eyes. There wasn’t any hatred or anger in them. They were the same eyes she had known since the day she was born. It was the same gentle gaze full of love.

“I won’t ask forgiveness nor do I want it.”

As Zagon pulled out the blade, her strength drained out of her along with her blood. Her body swayed and was caught by Zagon. He held her in his arms and rested his forehead against hers.

“I just want you to know one thing.”

His voice began to fade and so did her consciousness. Yet, his words thumped in her head.

“You did nothing wrong.”

“…….”

Present time, Zagon walked down the halls of his palace with his hands in his pocket.

“You did nothing wrong, huh?”

He mumbled before letting out a low chuckle.

“If so, why did you betray her? The one person who should always be on her side betrayed her, and yet she did nothing wrong?”

He burst out laughing.

“Even you have a hard time believing that, so how the hell could she possibly?”

He continued to walk until he arrived at the main entrance of palace. He looked at the scenery before his eyes. The tall buildings, strange flying vehicles, the clothes that he and everyone wore.

“You defiled the sacred land your ancestors created, the land your father preserved. You invited strangers into your home and with them betray your family. Everything has changed, this is no longer the promised land because of you.”

He stretched his hand towards the sun shining down on him.

“Why did you do it, Zagon Tiama Octivinus?”

He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.

“To survive!”

He brought his hand down.

“Pride can be regained, tradition can be remade, honour can be earned. All is possible as long as we’re alive, as long as my people live.”

He spread his arms.

“I will do anything to protect my people, even decimating the outside world as long as they live!”

His voice echoed across the lands drawing the attention of all in the vicinity.

“Come, My other half! Let’s decide who is truly right!”

A huge grin appeared on his face.

“It will be our first and last sibling squabble!”