Chapter 3: A Cosmic Bet
Picture an office floating in space. Weird, right? The walls glow, and there's no shadow anywhere. In the middle sits a desk that keeps changing, showing different worlds and universes.
Behind this super-desk is Khaliq, the big boss of creation. His golden eyes, usually friendly, now look serious as he reads report after report. Something's wrong in a place called Universe X, on a world named Naaim. Humans there are having a tough time. Other, meaner creatures are pushing them around.
"Boooring," a lazy voice cuts in.
That's Iblis, Khaliq's brother. He's sprawled on a black couch that seems to eat light. Where Khaliq is all neat and tidy, Iblis is a mess waiting to happen. His skin shimmers like an oil slick. His hair? It moves on its own, a dance of shadows and fire. His eyes blaze like stars about to explode.
Iblis waves a finger, and poof! A tiny galaxy appears. He spins it, watching stars crash and planets crumble.
"How do you stand it, bro?" Iblis asks. His voice makes the air shake. "All this order. These little lives running around, thinking they matter."
Khaliq sighs. "Every life matters, Iblis. Each one's special."
Iblis snorts. It sounds like far-off thunder. "Save the poetry. Look at Naaim. Your precious humans are getting crushed like bugs." He sits up, eyes blazing brighter. "Let me destroy it. Start over. It'd be a mercy, really."
"Destroying isn't the answer," Khaliq says calmly. "There's potential there."
"Potential?" Iblis scoffs. He stands up and looms over Khaliq's desk. "I'll show you potential."
With a wave, Iblis makes a vision appear. It shows Naaim - cities in ruins, fields destroyed, humans hiding from monsters.
"Look at them," Iblis whispers. "Weak. Pathetic. Let's end it and make something better."
Khaliq studies the images, then makes them vanish. "And then what? Create and destroy, over and over? That's not growth."
Iblis throws up his hands. "Growth? Evolution? We're gods! We should be reshaping reality, not babysitting!"
"And yet," Khaliq says softly, "these 'specks' have done amazing things. They create and destroy, just like us."
Iblis stops pacing. A sly grin spreads across his face. "Creation and destruction, huh? Let's test that."
Khaliq raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"A bet," Iblis says, eyes gleaming. "On Naaim. We each pick champions from human history. Give them some of our power. Let them loose and see who wins."
"And the stakes?" Khaliq asks.
Iblis grins wider, showing star-sharp teeth. "If I win, I destroy Universe X. Wipe it out and start fresh."
Khaliq thinks for a long moment. Finally, he nods. "If I win, you leave Universe X alone for an eon. Let it grow without your meddling."
"Deal!" Iblis claps. The sound booms like thunder. "This'll be fun. Chess to seal the deal?"
Khaliq waves his hand. The desk clears, and a chess set appears. But these aren't normal pieces. Each one is a tiny world, a window into different realities.
As they sit down to play, Khaliq holds up a hand. "Let's be clear. How many champions each?"
Iblis moves a pawn. It screams as it slides across the board. "Seven," he says. "We'll pull them from all of human history. First side to take over Naaim wins."
Khaliq nods slowly. "Agreed, with one change. I'll only choose six champions."
Iblis's eyebrows shoot up. "Only six? Why handicap yourself?"
A small smile plays on Khaliq's lips. "My seventh will be a wildcard. A random mortal from Earth, chosen when the game starts. Someone with... potential."
Iblis throws back his head and laughs. It sounds like galaxies shattering. "Oh, Khaliq! Always the optimist. Fine, have your wildcard. It'll make winning even sweeter."
And so, they play. The chess pieces move on their own, acting out the gods' plans. Worlds live and die with each move. Entire civilizations rise and fall as the game goes on.
"You trust these mortals too much," Iblis says, sacrificing a bishop that wails as it's taken. "They're broken. Their history is all violence and betrayal."
"And yet," Khaliq counters, moving a pawn that sings with joy, "that same history has courage, sacrifice, and love beyond reason. Yes, they're flawed. But overcoming those flaws makes them great."
Iblis snorts. "Great? They destroy everything they touch. They're an accident waiting to happen."
"Or," Khaliq says softly, "they're the universe's way of knowing itself. Through their ups and downs, existence gets richer."
The game goes on, creation and destruction dancing across the board. Finally, with a move that reshapes reality, Khaliq wins.
Iblis stares at the board. His face changes a thousand times before settling on frustrated respect. "Well played, bro. But remember, the real game's just starting."
Khaliq nods and makes the chess set vanish. "Indeed. Shall we choose our champions?"
A wicked grin spreads across Iblis's face, his eyes blazing. "Oh yes. Let the game begin."
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