"I am not.. NO matter which version of the story you choose to believe."
"Though I would love... for all of you to understand something clearly," Razealās voice cut through the silence, low at first, but carrying a sharp, freezing edge that seemed to settle over everyone like frost, "That.. This is none of your business," he continued, his crimson eyes moving from one face to another Sofia, Maria, Levy, Aurora, Yograj each glance deliberate, each one colder than the last.
"So stop trying... to look at me like that," his tone hardened further, "those pity-filled... sorry-filled eyes," he said with faint disgust curling at the edge of his expression, "I am not someone who should be looked at with such low... insignificant emotions," and then, quieter, but somehow heavier, "it disgusts me," and the final word didnāt need to be loud it landed with enough force to make the air itself feel tense.
Sofia inhaled sharply through her nose, her jaw tightening as she looked at him, frustration rising almost instantly, Why does he always do this...? she yelled internally, her thoughts sharper than her outward expression, Why does he always twist everything like this? because she could see it clearly now, more clearly than ever this wasnāt anger at them, not really, it was something else entirely, something deeper and more fractured, and it made her chest tighten with a mix of irritation and something far more painful; to him, any softness, any concern, any emotional response that wasnāt strength or indifference... became weakness, became insult, became something he rejected, as if being cared for meant being looked down upon, as if sympathy meant he was lesser, broken, vulnerable in a way he refused to accept, and she could feel how wrong that was, how much he was misunderstanding everything, and it frustrated her, deeply, He doesnāt even let anyone be human toward him... she realized, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched him, He pushes everything away...? and then blames others for trying, and the more she thought about it, the more it irritated her not just because of what he said, but because of what it revealed
It was like he had built invisible walls around himself thick, impenetrable walls made of pride, pain, and control and the only emotions he allowed through those walls were ones that matched his strength, his intensity, his dominance, but the moment someone tried to step closer with something softer, something genuine... he shut it down, immediately, aggressively, as if protecting something fragile he refused to acknowledge even existed.
And now... the atmosphere in the room shifted completely, tightening into something heavy and suffocating, no one speaking, no one moving, just watching him, absorbing the weight of his words, because there was no easy response to that, no simple way to counter it without escalating things further.
Yograjās gaze flickered briefly toward Levy and Aurora, the three of them exchanging silent looks, not confused, not entirely but cautious, measuring the situation without stepping into it, while Maria... remained still, her eyes fixed on Razeal, but unlike before, there was no shock in them now, no confusion only emotion, deep and raw, her expression softening in a way that directly contradicted his words, Heās hurt... she realized, the thought forming clearly in her mind, Heās not rejecting us... heās rejecting what it makes him feel, and that realization didnāt push her away it pulled her closer, emotionally, because now she understood just how deeply everything had twisted inside him, just how broken the concept of care had become for him; the silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable
Until suddenly.. cough a sharp, weak sound broke through it, cutting across the tension like a crack in glass.
"Cough... cough!!" Nancyās body jerked slightly as the sound forced its way out of her, her breathing uneven, fragile, her condition visibly worsening by the second, and that single interruption snapped everyoneās attention away from Razealās words and back to reality.
Razeal blinked as if pulling himself out of whatever mental space he had slipped into, his gaze dropping immediately to Nancy, and the sight of her pale, barely conscious, her body struggling to hold itself together was enough to ground him, to redirect his focus entirely, and without hesitation, he turned, his expression returning to something far more composed, far more controlled, as he looked directly at Riven.
"Heal her," he said, his tone firm, not aggressive, not emotional just direct, as he gestured slightly toward Nancy.
And.. Riven tilted his head slightly in confusion at that.. his expression shifting into something almost curious and amused expressions.. as if he hadnāt expected that request not at all..
And definitely not from him.. Razeal? asking for help.. especially from him? Woow!! Riven was surprised even though Razeal tone sounded more like an order then request.
Riven simply looked at him, silent, analyzing.
And the tension lingered in that pause, subtle but present, until aben Aurora stepped forward slightly, her voice gentle but quick, cutting into the moment before it could stretch further, "Let me help," she said, her eyes moving between Razeal and Riven, clearly aware of the underlying tension.
"I can do it... itāll only take a minute," she added, offering a solution that would avoid any unnecessary friction.
Aurora who had been observing the situation unfold, sensed the tension in the air intensifying obviously. The atmosphere felt dangerously heated, especially considering the way Razeal was looking at him.. Now sounding so challenging to the very person he had called a Supreme God only minutes ago. She couldnāt help but think that this was not going to end well.
Her tone was careful, measured not challenging Razealās decision, but providing an alternative, one that kept things stable, because right now... stability was the only thing needed to hold this entire situation together.
Aurora hesitated for only a fraction of a second before stepping forward, her instincts pushing her to act, to diffuse what was rapidly becoming a volatile situation, because from her perspective this wasnāt just about healing Nancy anymore.. it was about preventing something far worse from unfolding.
No unnecessary conflict with a divine being... that should be the priority so she told herself, her mind moving quickly, calculating outcomes, risks, consequences, and the conclusion was simple.. intervene early, solve the problem, and avoid escalation; "Let me.." she began, her tone calm, controlled, already moving into position to help, but she didnāt even get to finishz
"No." Razealās voice cut through her words, firm and absolute, and what made it more striking was that he didnāt even turn to look at her, didnāt acknowledge her presence beyond stopping her, his gaze fixed entirely on Riven as if nothing else in the room mattered.
Aurora froze mid-step, her brows knitting slightly as she processed that response, her eyes shifting toward him, trying to read whether this was just stubbornness or something more deliberate.
"Heās the reason she got hurt," Razeal continued, his tone calm but edged with something unyielding, "So heāll be the one to heal her," and there was no room left in his voice for negotiation, no uncertainty, no softness.. just a decision already made
Auroraās lips parted slightly as if to argue, "But.." she started again, but the moment her eyes met his, the intensity there sharp, unwavering told her enough, and the words died before they could fully form, This dumbass is serious... seriously... does he even think? she muttered internally, a flicker of frustration rising despite herself.
She thought, the judgment sharp and sudden.
It was strange. Not even half a day had passed, and she was already questioning her husbandās decision to bring them.. to work under this man. And already, it felt like trouble. Not small trouble, either.
Like literally.. they just got here and heās already escalating things with a god? She had truly underestimated her bossās remarkable ability to attract problems... or perhaps create them.
Nancy, still barely holding onto consciousness, could only watch from the ground, her vision blurred but fixed on Razealās back, the way he stood there unmoving, unyielding and even in her weakened state, something about that presence anchored her, even if she couldnāt fully understand why..
Riven, on the other hand, looked genuinely taken aback for a brief moment, his brows lifting slightly as he studied Razeal, as if reassessing him entirely, Is he... ordering me? the thought lingered, not offensive exactly but intriguing, unexpected, and then, slowly, a smile spread across his face, amused, almost entertained by the audacity of it.
"Oh... really?" he murmured, his voice low, carrying a hint of laughter as he looked directly into Razealās eyes.
"Yes." Razeal didnāt hesitate, didnāt waver, and then he stepped forward.
And that single movement was enough to shift the entire atmosphere again, the tension snapping tighter, sharper, and almost instantly, everyone else reacted.
Levy, Aurora, Yograj they aml stiffened there gaze sharpened.. Even Sofiaās breath hitched slightly, and even the air seemed heavier, because they all understood the same thing at the same time.. this could turn into a fight, and not just any fight, but one involving a god.. A Supreme fucking god? and the realization alone was enough to make sweat bead subtly on their foreheads, their instincts screaming caution.
Everyone... except Maria.
She just stood still, her eyes fixed entirely on Razealās back, her expression unreadable at first glance, but her thoughts far from calm, Heās... standing up for her? she wondered, her gaze flickering briefly toward Nancy before returning to him, Against a god...? and something about that didnāt feel simple to her, didnāt feel like a straightforward act of justice, Is she that important to him? the question lingered, but then another thought followed immediately, Or is this just... his pride? his refusal to bow? his need to confront anything that challenged him it all fit too.
And she couldnāt separate the two, couldnāt tell which it was, and strangely enough, despite understanding the danger, despite knowing she was probably the most vulnerable person there at that moment more than anyone except maybe Nancy Ofcourse.. But weirdly enough she felt no fear, none at all, and that absence itself felt unnatural, unsettling.
Weird... she thought faintly, almost detached. Why am I not scared...? She didnāt have an answer. Maybe it was because she had already died once. Maybe something in her had changed after that.. Because of her evolution or something? Or maybe.. Actually she had no answers..
Oh, other side... now Razeal was literally grabbing Riven by his neck, which Riven seemed to be allowing him to do so.. As just smiling while looking at him.
"Make me," Riven said, his voice light, almost playful, leaning slightly forward into the grip rather than away from it, as if inviting more pressure instead of avoiding it.
"Iām curious... what exactly can you do... to make me?" his tone carried a subtle challenge, but no fear, no concern, as if the idea of being threatened by Razeal simply didnāt register as something serious.. More like funny to him.
Razealās grip tightened slightly, not enough to harm but enough to assert control, his crimson eyes flaring briefly, glowing deeper, sharper, as something darker flickered through them, "Iām not joking," he said, his voice low, dangerous, each word measured, "And if you push this... you might actually regret what I might do," and for a split second, the intensity in his gaze was enough to make the space around them feel unstable, like something unseen was stirring beneath the surface; but Riven... didnāt change at all.
"And I said..." he replied, his smile never fading, his eyes meeting Razealās without the slightest hint of hesitation, "...make me," and even as Razealās hand held his neck, even as the tension reached its peak, he leaned in slightly, almost provocatively, as if the threat itself was nothing more than a curiosity to him, something to observe rather than fear.
"You have ten seconds..." he began, each syllable slow, measured, like a countdown already ticking in his mind, "Or next time," and as he leaned slightly closer, his crimson eyes locking onto Rivenās with an intensity that felt suffocating, his lips curved into a sharp, vicious smile that held no humor, only intent.
"Iāll be visiting your home,"
"And Iām sure your mother would love to hear..." his voice softened, almost mockingly gentle now, "That the child in her womb was killed or erased.." he tilted his head slightly, as if considering the words before delivering them with precision.
"Then taken over... by some old wandering soul with mission," and then his smile widened just a fraction, darker, sharper.
"And then born as her son... That what she gave birth to... wasnāt her son at all, but a Man... an existence older than her entire bloodline combined." And that was the moment it hit Rivenās expressions finally broke.
The smile that had been unwavering until now vanished completely, not fading, not softening shattering, his eyes widening just slightly before tightening again, his pupils trembling in a way that hadnāt happened once since the moment Razeal had grabbed him, and for the first time, there was something real there not amusement, not curiosity but something closer to shock... and something even deeper beneath it.
"No..." Rivenās voice came out lower than before, less composed, less certain, "...you wonāt," he said, but there was a hesitation now, a crack in the confidence that had defined him moments ago, "And... I didnāt kill her son," he added quickly, almost defensively, his words coming faster than usual as if trying to correct something before it could solidify, "it wasnāt like that... it was a different process... I was the one who was meant to be born," he insisted, his gaze locked onto Razealās as if trying to push back, to reclaim control of the situation.. but Razeal didnāt cared.
Instead, his smile deepened, subtle but unmistakable, as if Rivenās reaction had confirmed exactly what he needed it to.
"Iām sure..." Razeal replied softly, almost amused now, "Theyāll believe me.. and thats all i need." and the way he said it wasnāt a question, wasnāt even a challenge it was certainty, the kind that didnāt need validation
And at that Rivenās jaw tightened, his expression hardening again, but not fully returning to what it had been before..
"You wonāt do that," he repeated, more firmly this time, though the earlier hesitation hadnāt entirely disappeared, and Razeal leaned in just slightly more, his voice lowering again, becoming quieter but infinitely more threatening.
"I will," he said, and there was no exaggeration in it, no theatrics just a statement, plain and absolute..
"Believe me," he continued, his gaze unblinking, "Iāll tell your mother... your father... your elder sister..." he listed them slowly, deliberately, "And even that lover of yours that you cant have..," and at that, there was a faint shift in Rivenās expression again, subtle but visible, "Iāll tell them all,"
"That youāre nothing but a lie... an old fox hiding inside a shell that was never yours,"
"Iāll tear your all family apar limb by limb... if I have to.. If that is what it takes to make you not listen to me now."
Riven didnāt respond immediately this time, his expression shifting into something colder, more serious than before, his silence heavier than any words he could have spoken, because now now he understood this wasnāt just provocation, wasnāt just empty threats, this was something Razeal was fully willing to act on, and for the first time since this encounter began... Riven hesitated, truly hesitated
And Razeal noticed it.. and that was when his expression twisted slightly, not into anger, but into something far darker, something that resembled satisfaction more than anything else,
"And if that still isnāt enough..." he added, his voice dropping into something almost chilling, "Then Iāll kill every single person youāve ever cared about,"
"And you know... You canāt do a damn thing to stop me," Razeal said full of evil voice.
And that was the moment everything shifted completely
Rivenās pupils trembled again, more visibly this time, his breath catching ever so slightly not enough for most to notice, but enough to be real, enough to break the image he had maintained until now, because this wasnāt about power anymore, wasnāt about dominance or control it was about something far more personal, something he couldnāt simply dismiss or outplay, and for the first time... no words came from him, no rebuttal, no challenge, no smile just silence, as he stood there, looking back into Razealās eyes, and in that silence... there was something unfamiliar, something rare.. hesitation... and perhaps.. A trace of fear?
āā