Chapter 4- 99 Lives
The third world Zephyr was transported to was a completely different one from the one before. It was way brighter, with a more welcoming atmosphere than the grim one he had been in.
However, it had a twist: this world was submerged in oceans. People lived on islands or in cities under the water.
This was a particularly brutal detail because of the nature of the environment. Monsters were mostly aquatic, and they had a massive advantage in that place. Zephyr was quite apprehensive about his chances in such a place.
But, surprisingly, he was able to survive for quite a long time. He adapted to the world of aquatics, learned how to swim, and hold his breath for long periods underwater. Even manipulate mana to make him breathe underwater for certain periods of time.
He joined a group of people called Hunters to fight these aquatic creatures and get stronger. His wife kept putting him in increasingly more and more dangerous situations.
He almost suffocated or was dragged into the depths of the endless ocean to be eaten. But Zephyr was able to survive through it all and eventually… He became the strongest hunter in that world.
***
"Haha, now whose win is this?"
Zephyr looked at his wife with a smiley face. He was completely amused by her pouty look. She sat there, her arms crossed as she looked away.
"I was so close! I was so close to getting you! AAAAAGH!" She grumbled with a frustrated look. "You were one second away from drowning!"
"Well, tough luck, my love. I'm tenacious." He winked at her.
"That you are…" She muttered. "Ok, a deal is a deal, you won, so you can get whatever you want."
"Hmmm, let me think." He said as he put his finger on his chin. Then, his eyes lit up as he thought of something.
"... What is that look, Zeph?" Astra asked. "D-Do you want my body?" She asked jokingly with a dramatic tone.
"I always do. But I wasn't thinking about that at the moment. Well, to be quite honest." He said. "This has been way more fun than I ever thought. It is actually a good insight into how the realms are operating and what these people living within them are like. I've had a lot of fun."
"Oh yeah? Hehe, I'm glad to hear that! My ideas are always brilliant!"
"So, how about we postpone the reward for later? Let's play some more. I'm starting to figure out how to win." He said. "Let's say… Best of 99?"
"... 99 lives?" Astra asked, completely taken by surprise.
"Yes. 99 lives. So, the first to 50 wins is the winner." He said.
"..."
Astra seemed completely surprised and taken aback. Then, she smiled and jumped on her husband, hugging him tightly. "I love you!! I love you! I love you so much, Zeph!"
"Haha, come on now." He giggled as he hugged her back. "I want to try more stuff."
"Mhm! I want to play more with you too."
The two stared at each other before they leaned in for a deep kiss. They stood there, for a long while, sharing their love. Even though they have been together for eons, and even though they knew everything about each other, inside and out, their love only seemed to grow every single moment.
This particular game, however, only seemed to make it grow faster and faster.
***
With that, the Divine Game of the two gods continued. One life after the other, Zephyr found himself in all kinds of places. Worlds that he knew, but still felt amazed to witness all over again. Magnificent realms filled with mysteries and things to do.
Realm: Malakia
Result: Astra wins
Realm: Vereon
Result: Zephyr wins
Realm:...
Result:...
They kept going back and forth, each one winning a realm and losing another. The battle was very close and almost equal. Neither could get a streak of wins. The most they could do were two wins in a row before the other would win two times, making it equal again.
The sheer number of ridiculous situations they experienced was nothing short of insanity. Zephyr faced deaths he didn't even fathom, while Astra was constantly shocked by how slick and cunning her husband was, outsmarting her in ways she couldn't predict.
Nobody in these worlds knew what the two were doing, and that they were playing this odd game. However, the fun they experienced that entire time was unlike anything before.
The number of realms went from three to 10, then 20… Then to 50. Years passed like a flash, and before they knew it, five hundred years had passed since they started that game.
The results… 98 realms explored and 49 wins for both. They were perfectly equal, and the last world was going to determine who was the winner of this cosmic struggle.
***
"49… We are so close!" Astra kicked her feet. "This was amazing! It felt like such a nice challenge!"
"It is," Zephyr said as he looked at his wife. "It's nice to finally move my muscles a bit and get some thrill in."
"Mhm! Haha, every time I remember how you died by riding that vehicle into a volcano… I can't breathe! Hahaha!" Astra laughed.
"Or how I was able to escape that bomb you dropped right on the house I was living in. It was surprising, though."
"Tsk, ok ok, that was pretty smart of you. Mr. Know-it-all." Astra rolled her eyes playfully. "Ok, but this time, it is going to be my win. You won't be able to take this win, Zeph. I'm aiming for that reward."
"Mhm, mhm, whatever you say." He nodded. "Let's make this one the most fun, ok?"
"Of course. Have fun, darling." She smiled softly at him.
"You too, Astra. Let's make this one memorable." He licked his lips.
Staring at his wife, the environment started shifting slowly as Zephyr found himself disappearing from the Garden. This was the last one… But, for some reason, and for a fleeting moment before he vanished… Zephyr felt that something was off.
His gut feeling, honed by thousands of years of experience, told him that this one wasn't going to be the same. However, with no reason to be worried or suspicious, Zephyr simply focused on the game.
'I want her to enjoy this one.' He smiled as he closed his eyes and opened them again.
***
The moment Zephyr opened his eyes again, he blinked and then frowned. He was in a dimly lit, albeit luxurious room. The curtains covered the massive glass window and made it barely possible to see the world around him.
However, Zephyr didn't care about any of that as he instantly noticed something off. "Hmm?"
His knowledge, the one that Astra kept restricting every single time before sending him to these worlds… Wasn't restricted. He remembers everything, and he carries all the knowledge he has of everything.
"Astra? Did you forget to restrict my knowledge?" He asked. It was odd for his wife to forget since she is physically incapable of forgetting, but he still decided to ask, thinking it could be one of her little tricks.
However, for several seconds, nothing happened. He didn't receive a reply.
"Astra? Are you there?" He called again as his frown grew deeper. "What is happening? Astra, I'm being serious. Reply to me."
…
Nothing. His wife's voice, which he adores so much, didn't come back as usual. Zephyr stood there, confused and a bit worried. The feeling of unease he experienced earlier came back to him, and he found himself thinking deeply.
'Maybe she is playing some sort of prank? No, Astra would never take it this far. What is happening?'
"Astra. Imminent." He said. "Imminent." He repeated.
This was his password, the one that would send him back immediately as they agreed. He said it twice out of worry. However, much to his dismay, he didn't find himself back in the Divine Garden.
That was it. That was the moment he realized that something deeply wrong had happened. His wife's not replying was very alarming.
'Why wouldn't she reply?' He asked himself. The options were few, but each one sounded more ridiculous than the other. The first one was, naturally, this being a game which was immediately nullified when Zephyr said the password. Astra is a serious person when the situation requires being serious. The second possibility is that Astra has deliberately sent him here and robbed him of his powers, and then cut off the connection.
'Astra would never do that. It's out of the question.' He shook his head.
That woman adored him more than anything else in the world. She would never betray him in such a manner. Especially since they have been married for eons.
That left one last option… One that filled Zephyr's heart with deep unease.
Something wrong happened to his wife. One bad enough for her to lose connection with him in this world.
"..." The man immediately calmed his nerves. This wasn't the first time something wrong had happened.
"Astra should be able to deal with it, no matter what it is. There aren't many things in existence that could truly do bad things to her." He muttered. "I should wait and see."