The mischievous gamer God

As Tet lay upside down on the couch in his living room, his head hanging off the cushion, he let out a loud sigh and muttered, "Ugh, I'm so bored. It's still going to be a couple of days before I meet Hermes to send Luke off, and I can't start messing with Percy and Annabeth until the main story kicks off. Especially since things would get boring if I made them overpowered before the fight with Kronos."

He lazily rolled onto his side and continued, "Same deal for Jason, Leo, Piper, Hazel, and Frank… Can't mess with Ares until after the Quest for the Lightning Bolt. Ugh." He flopped onto the floor dramatically, groaning.

A moment passed, then he stared at the ceiling and mumbled, "Part of me just wants to go and get rid of the Fates… but I can't do that until I can establish a system that gives people free will without consequences. Hm… how'd the biblical God do it again?"

Then his eyes lit up with a mischievous gleam. "Oh, wait—I'm a genius!" Tet declared, snapping his fingers. He sat up with a grin. "The Old God asked me to mess with—I mean—help some other universes, right? So… let's do that!"

---

Elsewhere, on another Earth…

Chuck sat alone in his study, watching through his omniscient view as Sam and Dean cleared out yet another vampire nest. He sighed, leaning back in his chair with a bored expression.

"Boring…" he muttered. "Oh well. Guess I'll just have to be patient until they finally meet me."

Just then, a soft crunching sound broke the silence.

Chuck furrowed his brow and turned around, only to find a child sitting on his couch. The boy had snow-white hair, one glowing blue eye, and one shimmering gold eye. He was casually munching on chips, legs crossed, staring at Chuck as if he were the one intruding.

Snapping instantly into his "Chuck the author" persona, he smiled wide and friendly. "Hey, kid. How'd you get in here?"

Instead of answering, the child simply tilted his head and said, "So this is what it's like to observe from the outside... Huh. Damn. I was having a similar conversation with myself earlier."

He blinked, then frowned dramatically. "Ewww. Does that mean I think like you? Am I evil?"

He paused, tapping his chin with exaggerated thoughtfulness. "No… maybe I'm just chaotic. After all, I've never intentionally hurt anybody. Yet." He emphasized the word with a chilling grin, voice dripping with layered malice.

Chuck stood up slowly, confused and slightly unsettled. After getting a better look, he asked, "What are you?"

The boy smirked and stood up, stretching his arms lazily. "I'm what you pretend to be… only I have the power to back it up."

Chuck's friendly mask fell away, replaced by a hard glare. "I'm a writer," he growled.

Tet chuckled. "You're as much a writer as I am an actor. You don't even make a good god. So I guess you needed something to fall back on."

Chuck's face twisted with rage. "How dare you talk to me like that! I'm a great author!"

"And that's what you focus on?" Tet raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You don't even deny you're a shitty god."

Chuck clenched his fists. "I don't have to be good at being God. Because at the end of the day, the people on this planet? They dance to my tune. They do what I command. I don't have to be good at anything, because if I don't like something—" he held out his hand "—I just change it."

He narrowed his eyes, fingers primed to snap. "And I don't like you."

Then he snapped his fingers.

Nothing happened.

Chuck blinked. Confused.

Tet gave him a slow, mocking clap. "Amazing speech," he said with a sly grin. "Too bad you don't have the power to back it up. Just like I said."

"I… I don't understand what's happening," Chuck stammered.

Tet stepped closer, eyes glowing faintly. "Simple, kiddo. You just tried to murder a god that's way stronger than you. Now, originally, I was just going to play a little game with you—your universe as the prize for my victory. But now? You crossed the line."

His voice dropped, low and sharp. "You went straight to murder. And that's boring. Honestly, it pisses me off that a god in charge of an entire universe would resort to murder as his first reaction to something he doesn't like."

Tet's tone shifted, calm but cold. "I at least give people I don't like a chance to better themselves. So I guess I am better than you parasite."

Chuck's expression twisted with anger. "You call me a parasite?"

Tet nodded, eyes glowing brighter. "Yes because You built your universe right next to what we multiversal gods call the DC Multiverse. You're a stone's throw away from the Presence. One of the most powerful beings in the multiverse. Eventually, your universe would've drifted close enough to one of his for him to notice—and oh boy, he would've destroyed you."

Tet folded his arms. "But I'll tell you what—I'll give you and your sister one chance. Run. Run to the furthest corner of infinity. As far away from me as you possibly can. If you're still here in the next two minutes…"

He grinned.

"I'll destroy you."

Chuck glared. "No. I'll just go get my sister. Then the two of us will take you out."

Tet's eyes flared like twin suns. "Wrong choice," he whispered.

He snapped his fingers.

Chuck and Amara were gone. Erased from existence like chalk wiped from a board.

---

Somewhere in Hell, the demon Cain looked down at his arm and saw the Mark vanish. He stared blankly and whispered, "What does this mean…?"

All across Earth, Heaven, and Hell… everyone felt it. A shift. Something had happened.

But no one knew what.

---

Tet stood alone, his arms crossed. "This trip was far more unpleasant than I thought it'd be," he muttered.

He waved his hand. Instantly, the room transformed into a luxurious dining hall. Another wave of his hand summoned a lavish table for two—gold-trimmed, elegant, with a decadent meal already laid out.

He sat in one of the chairs, leaned back, and waited.

A blinding golden light filled the room.

When it dimmed, a man who resembled Dennis Haysbert stood across from him, radiant and calm. His presence was overwhelming—powerful, ancient, and yet deeply kind. He took his seat with divine grace.

In a voice both mighty and soothing, The Presence said, "Well… that's one way to get an audience with me. I felt the shockwaves of that all the way over in my multiverse. And thank you—for treating me to a meal."

As they began to eat, the Presence asked, "So what is it you want, God of Games?"

Tet smiled. "I want this universe. I know it technically falls under your jurisdiction, but I'd like to take it for myself. So that I can begin building my own multiverse."

The Presence nodded thoughtfully. "I don't mind. I was going to give it to one of my children after dealing with that charlatan, but… I'll give it to you instead."

Tet raised an eyebrow. "In exchange for…?"

"A favor," the Presence replied, calmly.

Tet leaned in. "And what favor could I do for someone as powerful as you?"

The Presence smiled gently. "As you know, once a god ascends to the multiversal level, the concept they embody becomes entirely theirs. Any other god wishing to use that concept must ask permission."

He sipped his drink, then continued. "I've become… interested in those keys you make. In the future, I'd like you to present one to my son. And I'm sure you know which son I'm talking about."

Tet blinked. "That's it? One of my keys… in exchange for an entire universe? That feels a little unbalanced."

The Presence chuckled, eyes gleaming. "And yet… it's all I want."

Tet shrugged and said with a grin, "Yeah, no problem."

When the meal was finished, the Presence opened his palm, revealing a glowing blue and green chess piece with Earth delicately engraved on it.

Tet took it and examined it. "A chess piece?"

The Presence nodded. "That chess piece is this universe. Once you absorb it into your being, you will become its god. I made it look like a chess piece… for fun."

Tet smiled and absorbed the piece. Instantly, he felt it.

The thoughts. The feelings. The entirety of Heaven, Earth, and Hell surged into his mind.

It overwhelmed him.

His body trembled. His vision blurred.

The Presence stood, gently placing a hand on Tet's shoulder. "Focus," he said. "Focus on your thoughts alone. Reel your consciousness back to yourself. If you don't, you will remain lost in the sea of voices until you find yourself again. Focus… on my voice."

Tet squeezed his eyes shut… and focused. After a moment, he gasped—and pulled himself back.

"That was… overwhelming," he said, panting.

The Presence nodded. "And this is only your first universe. I assume you've yet to claim your home universe?"

Tet chuckled weakly. "It's on my to-do list. I mean… I don't particularly have anything against chaos."

The Presence shook his head. "Chaos is gone. What remains is merely a final gasp… a last breath. Why do you think so many horrible things happen there? There's no one at the helm. No one steering the ship. That universe will continue to spiral until it collapses—unless you step in."

Tet stood and nodded seriously. "Okay… I'll look into it."

The Presence smiled kindly. "Farewell, God of Games. Until we meet again."

Tet waved as the golden light began to shine. "Enjoy retirement."

The Presence disappeared in a flash of divine radiance.

Tet turned, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Now…" he said, smirking, "let's go look for some fun. Who should I approach first? Sam? Dean? Bobby? Or maybe Castiel? Ooh, I'm so excited!"