Unbeknownst to Arin, Kal-El already knew.
Far away, in the crystalline chambers of his royal room, Kal-El's golden eyes glowed faintly, casting an ethereal shimmer across the vast expanse of his throne room.
The golden god sat on his throne of light, his form beautiful and impenetrable, emitting a power capable of crushing whole multiverses with a single thought.
He sat back in his seat, his golden eyes narrowing as he summoned the boundless streams of knowledge that ran through his omniscient mind. His body stayed still, but his thoughts traveled between realms, capturing every minute of Arin's awakening. Kal-El listened every word the System spoke to the boy as if he were standing next to him.
Moments earlier, He had just been somewhere else, in the shelter of a pocket realm he had created—a isolated place decorated with soft, glowing light and a serene ambiance that represented his omnipotence.
Elara slept in that heavenly atmosphere, covered in velvet blankets on an exquisite bed, her breathing gentle and even. Her golden hair reflected the ambient radiance, giving her the appearance of being molded from holy light itself.
Kal-El stood on the side of the bed, his attention fixed on her serene figure. Elara was an exquisite possession to him, a mortal raised to divine proximity at his will. Her beauty, her submission—everything about her reflected his power and dominance. But, while he observed her, his mind was far from pleased with this intimate time.
…
With a casual step, the pocket realm shimmered and dissipated, folding neatly into nothingness as he returned to his royal room in a burst of golden light. His transformation was smooth, as if moving between realms took no more effort than breathing. Kal-El returned to his shining throne and focused his thoughts to the kid.
"So, the System has chosen him," Kal-El murmured, his voice low and thoughtful. "A desperate, broken child clinging to hope he cannot comprehend. How predictable."
A low chuckle escaped his lips, reverberating like a deep, resonant melody against the crystalline walls.
"The Multiverse Simulation System," he murmured, the amusement evident in his voice. "A tool meant to create challengers, yet it operates in the shadow of my will."
Kal-El leaned back, his expression a mixture of curiosity and amusement. To him, the System was no mystery. He had known of its existence long before it bound itself to Arin.
In fact, its activation had only occurred because Kal-El had allowed it. After all, the multiverse and all its mechanisms were threads woven into the grand tapestry of his dominion.
"And now, it chooses this one," Kal-El said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "A boy fueled by desperation, anger, and a heart too fragile to bear the weight of his ambitions. Does he think that the System will grant him the strength to rise above me?"
He chuckled again, deeper this time, the sound carrying an edge of mockery. "Let him believe it. Let him crawl through simulations and clutch at fragments of power. Let him fight, struggle, and burn himself out trying to grasp what lies far beyond his reach."
Kal-El's gaze turned toward the infinite expanse of the multiverse, his mind moving effortlessly across realms, watching Arin's every action unfold in real-time. He had already seen the System guide countless beings like Arin—hosts who had all strived to challenge the divine. And yet, none had ever risen beyond his shadow.
"They always forget," Kal-El mused, his voice a whisper that seemed to echo across the cosmos. "The System operates within the framework of the multiverse. And I…"
His golden eyes flickered with an otherworldly light, a reminder of his immeasurable power. "…am beyond it."
He leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm, as if pondering a particularly amusing game. "Still, this boy has spirit. A rare defiance burns within him, even if it is pitifully misplaced. Perhaps I'll allow him to play his little game for now. After all…"
His smile widened, his eyes gleaming with cold amusement. "…what's the fun of ruling if there are no fools to challenge the throne?"
Kal-El's thoughts drifted briefly to the System itself. A creation so complex, so grand in scope, yet one that remained a mere cog in the multiversal hierarchy he ruled. He chuckled softly at the irony.
"The System thinks it's found a loophole. That it can mold this boy into a threat against me. How foolishness."
He observed the boy stumbling through the activation of his System, watched as he raged at his own misfortune and swore vengeance with unearned confidence. The corners of Kal-El's lips quirked upward again.
"Such a fragile flame," he said, his voice laced with condescension. "Will it burn brighter, or will it snuff itself out? Let's see how far your resolve carries you, boy."
...
The activation of the Multiverse Simulation System was no accident. Kal-El had felt its awakening the moment it occurred, like a faint ripple in a vast ocean that was entirely under his dominion. He had allowed it, of course. Every detail, every decision, had unfolded precisely as he had anticipated.
And now, the boy—Arin—believed he had been selected, that he had the opportunity to defy the omnipotent. The entire idea delighted Kal-El to no end. He chuckled quietly, the sound rich and resonant, bearing both contempt and a sense of levity.
"Let him dream," Kal-El said, his voice tinged with amusement. "Let him believe that power lies within his reach. It will make his failure all the more satisfying to witness."
With another wave of his hand, Kal-El summoned a shimmering projection of Arin. The boy appeared before him, his form flickering with every action he took under the guidance of the System. Kal-El observed him stumbling through the activation process, his emotions a volatile mix of hope, anger, and desperation.
The golden god's lips curved into a faint smile. "Struggle, boy. Rage at the heavens and grasp at the straws of power the System dangles before you. It will make no difference in the end."
Kal-El's gaze turned distant, his thoughts momentarily returning to the pocket dimension he had left behind. The warmth of Elara's presence still lingered faintly in his mind, but it was an afterthought compared to the grander schemes unfolding before him.
The multiverse itself was his game to control, and Arin's involvement was a mere ripple in a vast and unending current. Kal-El rested his chin on his hand, his golden eyes narrowing as he continued to observe.
"Should he rise, I will be waiting. Should he fall, the System will find another host. It matters little." His voice dropped to a whisper, cold and absolute. "For all paths lead to me."
With that, Kal-El's projection of Arin faded into the air, and the god allowed himself a moment of silence. The game had begun, but the outcome, as always, was already decided.
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To Be Continued...