1 The Future

[Evolution. What exactly comes to mind when that term is mentioned? Typically, it's used to refer to "growth". An alternative would be "experience". The undeniable truth is, overcoming hardships grants experience, but also consumes emotions. The more hardships you experience and overcome, the more your emotions will be affected and drained. In a nutshell, evolution is created by the reduction of human emotions. Taking that context into consideration, have I reached the peak of evolution?]

I commenced my monologue on top of a gentle hill. I sat, mimicking a mediating pose. However, even at the height of these clouds, peace and quiet could not be found. I heard a familiar dragon fly past me, and gently landed beside the hill I was on.

A visitor? That's unusual.

I peaked out one of my eyes, showcasing my plain silver pupil and iris.

"Kashiro! It's me!"

An echo from below reached my ears, complemented by a familiar tone. It was none other than Irie, the Goddess of Heaven. Gods that solely own a title are known as Entitled Gods. In her case, she's the sole owner of Heaven, thus the Goddess of Heaven, an Entitled God. An ironic example would be me, the God of Everything yet I don't hold all the titles. However, it is a fact that I'm the God of Gods, thus the soul and pinnacle of peace amongst Gods.

Billions of years ago, when there wasn't a thing known as the God of Everything, Gods fought amongst themselves to prove their strength, in hope of being seen as the best. Since there wasn't any official title that they could flaunt to prove this, they had no other choice but to show their superiority via violence, which obviously created a bloodshed everytime Gods crossed paths.

This is a similar scenario to a city without any government, King, or Queen. If there's nobody ruling above, people would sought superiority. Of course, like the present, we get things known as "rulers", and I'm merely the ruler of the Gods. Well, actually I'm the ruler of every living being considering Gods are beyond humans and other races.

Hmph, well I'm one to talk. After my reign, majority of the Entitled Gods died. Due to my prior close relationship with Irie, she was one of the handful survivors. She would've been the sole survivor if it weren't for two stubborn Entitled Gods that were on par with my strength.

"Heyyyy, Kashiro!!"

Ugh, time continue to flow despite my compulsory explanation.

I reluctantly stood up and jumped off the hill.

"Irie..."

I examined her empty hands and pockets. I created a fake puzzled expression which didn't complement well with my silver eyes that had no light-- simply put, dead. My white hair blew in my eyes due to the strong wind the flap of the dragon's wings created. I used my hand to maintain my bangs to the back.

"What do you want?"

I asked after carefully examining every spot there was for her to hold something. I found none, and grew intentionally curious of what she needed me for.

"I found something that might interest you for real, for real."

She said it twice to emphasize the fact that I fake my emotions and reactions because I legitimately bear none due to my chaotic past. It's the main reason why I went on a blind rage and destroyed about 90% of the Gods, and all of the Entitled Gods other than 3.

"Even I can't think of something that could realistically make me interested. Well, I have nothing to do so I'll humor you."

"In that case, let's enjoy the ride."

I sighed at her inefficient proposal. Her speed was faster than that of a mere dragon, much less she had the ability to teleport. I had deduced it was an attempt to spend more time with me, in a petty throwback of my consent to humor me.

"You're wrong, Kashiro. I just like to ride these dragons, although I want to ride you more."

A Goddess throwing a lewd joke. As the ruler, don't I have the authority to punish her for sexual harassment? No, no, that's not the point here. Despite me being void of emotions and facial expressions, she still managed to grasp my thoughts. This gives an idea of the intimacy between Irie and I. That's 10 billion years for you. Can't I die already?

She jumped on the dragon, and patted the saddled seat behind her, motioning me to hop on. I guess I should humor her as well, literally.

"I guess you like it slow, huh."

She responded with a giggle.

"Lewd jokes doesn't suit the current you, Kashiro."

The dragon began to fly to our destination. I looked up and thought to myself [Current me, huh...]

"I'm kind of unsatisfied, Kashiro."

"Unsatisfied about what?"

"I'm supposed to be sitting at the back. When the strong wind hit from the speed of the dragon, I would cling onto you and gain love points."

I sighed. What is this? A clichéd romance novel? To begin with, why is the holiest of them all, making lewd jokes and flirting with someone that literally destroyed billions of galaxies? If I wasn't the God of Hell, I would've had Satan kiss my shoes for all the bad things I've done.

"Stop spouting such nonsense. You know I'm incapable of loving. But well, I think it's kind of interesting to have a kid or more to see whether they can inherit my Eye Powers."

Eye Powers are precisely what the name states. However, these powers are literally one of a kind. There are a handful of them, and only one of each. In this present, I have them all.

"Oh? That's interesting, but let's put that aside for now. We're here."

An unfamiliar planet yet gave the aroma of nostalgia.

"Ta-dah! What do you think, Kashiro?"

"Is this a Planet Noose reference? Did you create this Planet?"

The longer I remained on this planet, the sharper the chills over my body pricked me. Planet Noose is dear to me, so I knew that these mental reactions weren't altered by a fake mechanic. It wasn't created by Irie. I knew that, yet I still asked. It was an alternative for "tell me this is a lie".

Knowing that it was an rhetorical question, Irie didn't answer directly.

"I found it while roaming. It have humans, and consist of many low-level beings," she said.

"Just like Planet Noose..."

"That's right. However..."

"It isn't Planet Noose," I continued her sentence.

Well, nothing would've changed even if it was. The people on Planet Noose are all dead. However, this sensation makes my 10 billion years of nothingness really simple.

The silence. The noise initiated by the strong, agressive wind. The rise of my emotions, altering my nonchalant and stoic thoughts. I've decided...after sitting on the throne for 10 billion years, I've finally decided to take a step, whether it was back down or an invisible step above the peak. I...took that step.

"Irie."

"I predicted this, Kashiro. As a matter of fact, you could say that I manipulated you to do this. Save yourself, Kashiro. You've suffered long enough. Just a bit more and you'll finally be free."

She placed her palm on my shoulder, and moved her lips to my ear. She whispered:

"Do not repeat YOUR mistakes. Look back and correct YOURSELF. I fell in love with you at first sight, so ask for MY help without hesitation, o-kay?"

There was no meaning behind her words. It was as blunt as it could be, but I still interpreted her words differently.

["Save yourself by dying so I can also die."]

Despite being capable of dying, she remained with me until I was capable of doing the same.

I distanced myself from her, and turned my back towards her teary face.

"Alright then, see you on the...bright side. Timer-Eye: Timeline!"

I used my Timer-Eye to create a portal that led to a specific timeline.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot," I said.

"What do you mean? You have nothing here, Kashiro."

"I forgot to say thank you. Irie, thank you."

"Hmph! Just go already before you think about how much you'll miss ME."

I said nothing further, and stepped into the portal.