Why's this card so shiny? It's still SUR, right?"
"The most desired card of all cards. I know a few gods who would commit divinity fraud just to get that one. Congrats, kid. You finally got what you want." The God clapped.
"What I want?"
"Yeah, when I said there's a (Become a God) card, this is what I meant."
"But this says True Dragon?"
"True Dragons are gods, and sometimes more. It's the species of the One Who Created All." He explained patiently, then added, "A powerful human-looking being isn't always a god, kid. Sometimes it's a dragon, sometimes it's a cosmic bird. The Creator just made humans to have the most convenient body. That's why even we gods borrow the design when we need to poop."
"Okay, but how can you make me something more powerful than you?"
"That's a lot of questions, kid. You're lucky I'm obliged to answer. It's evolution. We surpassed the Creator a long time ago. He gave us the ability to evolve for that. You humans are the proof of evolution."
"Yeah, like how humans created AI, and now it's smarter than us."
"That isn't what I meant, but you're not wrong." The God pinched the bridge of his nose, debating whether to laugh or cry.
"Any more questions?"
"No, thank you," Aziel replied.
"So, abandon or keep?" the God asked.
"I'll keep it."
"Good choice, kid."
Aziel watched as the God started warming up and stretching like he was about to box Mike Tyson.
The card disintegrated into shimmering particles and merged into Aziel's body.
"It's been a while since I did this. You ready for a ride, kid?"
"Ride?"
"I call this the Punch of Destiny." He stepped into a boxing stance and whacked me.
Boom!
I flew away, leaving a sonic boom behind. I think I broke the speed of light and several human rights.
"Knock out!" was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.
"You fu—"
----
Veldanava, the all-powerful, once-omniscient being, created the multiverse out of cosmic boredom. To spice things up, he ditched omniscience. It worked—he found entertainment but also discovered loneliness. Deep, aching loneliness. Like finding out your MMO friends logged off for the night and forgot you.
He looked around his creation and saw two fairies splashing each other at a waterfall.
He pouted. "They're enjoying my universe more than me." Determined to make actual friends, he approached them.
"Hello!" He smiled kindly.
The fairies froze midair, then immediately kneeled. In midair.
"Greetings, Lord Veldanava," they said in perfect harmony.
"I—"
"Please excuse us! And feel free to use the waterfall anytime!" They blur-ran away at Mach 10. Even so, Veldanava still heard echoes.
"Kyaa~ Lord Veldanava is so majestic!"
"I know, right?! I'm telling the whole clan!"
Veldanava's aura dimmed to grayscale. He knelt dramatically. "Please come back... I just wanted friends."
After wallowing for a moment, he perked up. "If only I had siblings too. Wait..."
He stood as a divine knowledge struck. "That's it! I'll create siblings!" He looked proud of himself, thinking he was still smart even without omniscient.
"Hey Voice, what do you think?" he asked the empty air.
{Do you mean creating more True Dragons equal to your power, my Lord?} a feminine robotic voice replied, unseen but present.
"Yeah, my beloved siblings! I already miss them."
{They don't exist yet, my Lord.}
"Tsk, always such a killjoy." He rolled his eyes. "Anyway, what do you think?"
{Creating a True Dragon shouldn't cost too much, but since you said siblings, I assume you plan to create more than one.}
"Smart thinking."
{It will cost you, my Lord. Something that makes you... you.}
"Like what?"
{Your omnipotent power.}
"..."
{So—}
"Pfft."
{Huh?}
"Hahaha, that's rather cheap!"
{But my Lord, it's impossible to create something on your level.}
"Don't worry. By then, I'll probably be weak. Their equal. Their big brother."
{If you want family affection, you could just adopt someone—}
"Nah, I'm too young for that."
{...}
"Anyway, let's begin!"
In exchange for his omnipotent power, Veldanava created four True Dragon Eggs. Each embodied an element and held sovereignty over it.
The eggs were colossal—fifty meters tall each.
"Should I sacrifice my last power to hatch them faster?"
{Please do not, my Lord. I beg you.}
"Just kidding. If I'm too weak, they might not even accept me as Big Bro."
{I'm glad you understand.}
"Anyway, let's continue with what we were doing while they hatch."
{Are you finally going to create the Heaven and Hell you talked about, my Lord?}
"Good guess. Bye-bye Velgris, Velzard, Velgrynd, and Veldora! Big Bro's got a universe to architect."
{You've already named them, my Lord?}
"Of course. What kind of brother do you think I am?"
----
I asked a Fairy once, after overhearing her boast about her flawless wings.
"What do you think about scars?"
The Fairy paused, as if the question itself offended her. "They're hideous," she replied, nose crinkling. "I'd die before letting a scar ruin my face."
You are wrong.
I didn't say it though. I simply nodded, letting her believe I agreed. But I didn't.
Scars are beautiful. I've witnessed their truth.
Once, I watched a mother deer defend her fawn against a predator. The fight was brutal. Flesh torn, blood painted across her trembling body. Yet she stood. Unbroken. Unmoving. Unafraid.
The predator fled—not because of fear of her strength—but because of what she had become. A being that did not fear pain. A creature too resolved to kill.
Weeks passed.
I saw them again—the fawn taller, stronger. The mother's wounds had become scars, carved like history onto her hide.
"Look, sis. That deer is ugly," my sister scoffed.
I wanted to correct her. To tell her how wrong she was. Those scars were the map of love. The testament of sacrifice.
But I stayed silent.
Because no one else saw what I saw. Not the Fairy. Not my sister.
Only me.
----
A/N: I know I changed a lot, like the true dragon egg bs but let me cook
since veldanava is canonically dead, I'll js write him as a overly clingy big brother that loves his siblings so much