Cronus' system: Against the gods

Rex froze, stunned. Cronus rarely intervened, his sentient system and guardian was more of an enigmatic observer than a helper.

If anything, Cronus found amusement in Rex's struggles, often tossing out cryptic remarks or even outright chuckling at his misfortune. Help was a rarity, and Rex knew it.

"Why'd you help me, Cronus?" Rex whispered, his voice tinged with both curiosity and suspicion. His breath caught in his chest as he awaited an answer, the Sphinx's fiery gaze still locked on him.

Cronus's voice echoed in his mind, a low, rumbling tone laced with irritation and something almost resembling concern.

"Harbinger, these questions are not of thy time. They are relics of an age thou cannot comprehend. Even with thy wit, thou wouldst fail without my aid."

Rex's lips twitched in a faint, incredulous smirk. "Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence," he muttered under his breath, casting a sidelong glance at the towering Sphinx.

He inhaled deeply, forcing his pulse to steady. "Wait a second," Rex muttered, narrowing his eyes as realization struck.

"If this thing knows stuff from an ancient era… just how old is it? Or is this all part of this simulation crap you keep tossing me into?"

Cronus's sigh resonated through his mind, like a weary teacher dealing with a particularly dense student. "The Sphinx is ageless, harbinger. It has endured nearly five millennia, transcending mortal concepts of time. Immortal in essence, unyielding in purpose."

Rex tilted his head, his brow furrowing as he absorbed Cronus's words. Five thousand years. He let out a low whistle, his mind racing as he tried to fathom what it meant to have lived for so long. To see the rise and fall of civilizations, to hold knowledge older than the stones beneath his feet.

But then a shiver ran down his spine. Five thousand years of riddles… and it still hasn't been bested? He glanced at the Sphinx again, its fiery eyes narrowing, its massive wings shifting as if sensing his thoughts.

"You're really something, aren't you?" Rex muttered, his voice low, a mix of grudging respect and simmering frustration. "Ancient, immortal, and still out here playing trivia games. Must be nice to have that kind of job security."

A guttural laugh echoed in his mind, Cronus clearly amused. "Harbinger, thy humor is ill-timed. Focus. Thy survival hangs by a thread thinner than thou can fathom."

Rex clenched his fists, forcing a deep breath to steady himself. "Yeah, yeah. I got it, Big C. Don't get all dramatic on me now," he grumbled, his voice masking the flicker of gratitude stirring in his chest.

"The answer is Mountain!"

The Sphinx almost stumbled over as he heard the reply. "I...I...Impossible!!" It growled out, smashing it's paws furiously at Rex. "H...how....how are you getting my answers correctly! You're only a mortal and this is a god-level riddle...How can you!!!?!!"

Rex stepped back as the Sphinx threw its colossal tantrum, its claws carving furrows into the ground like a petulant child denied dessert. Dust and debris flew everywhere as its thunderous growls echoed, causing Rex to cover his ears.

"Hey, hey! Chill out, Fluffy! I just answered the riddle. No need to demolish the landscape!" Rex shouted, his voice barely audible over the racket.

The Sphinx snarled, its blazing eyes narrowing at him. "This is impossible! A mere mortal cannot outwit me.....ME, the Keeper of Divine Secrets! You must be cheating!" Experience more content on empire

Rex smirked and crossed his arms, finally gaining a little confidence. "Oh, come on, big guy. Don't be a sore loser. Maybe your riddles just aren't as tough as you think." He paused, raising an eyebrow. "Or maybe you've been using the same ones for the last five thousand years. Newsflash—Google exists now."

The Sphinx froze mid-swipe, looking genuinely bewildered. "...Google? What manner of sorcery is that?"

Rex blinked. "Wait. You don't know what Google is?" He tilted his head in mock astonishment. "Wow. For someone ageless and wise, you're kind of behind the times.

Cronus's voice boomed in Rex's head, barely hiding its amusement. "Harbinger, mocking an ancient guardian is unwise. Thou treadest a dangerous path."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

But Rex couldn't resist. He grinned up at the Sphinx, ignoring Cronus's warning. "I bet you'd love the internet," Rex said, feigning sincerity. "Endless forums, trivia quizzes… you'd finally have a new audience to test your riddles on." He paused, cocking his head. "Or maybe you'd just get outsmarted in five seconds flat."

The Sphinx snarled, its fiery gaze narrowing as its massive wings rustled in agitation. "Thou mockest me, mortal! But surely, I shall see if thy supposed sorcery will sustain thee through the questions to come!"

Rex smirked, his confidence growing. "Bring it on! Google has the answers to everything you can throw at me!" He spread his arms wide, daring the Sphinx with a dramatic wave of his hands.

The Sphinx tilted its head, its deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. "I was once alive, but now am dead. I can fly without wings and cry without eyes. I am always hungry and devour all things. What am I?"

Rex scratched his head, feigning deep thought, before slapping his palm theatrically. "Ah, time to unleash the power of my sorcery! Behold… FUGAKAZAM!" He yelled, gesturing grandly like a wizard casting a spell.

In the depths of his mind, Cronus's voice erupted in laughter, a rare moment of unrestrained amusement. "Didst thou truly need to be so dramatic, Harbinger?"

"Well, yeah!" Rex shot back mentally, grinning. "I told him it's sorcery, gotta keep up the act. What's the point of magic without a little flair?"

Cronus sighed, though Rex could sense the smirk hidden in his tone. "The answer is the wind."

Rex turned to the Sphinx, his grin widening. "The answer is the wind!"

The Sphinx recoiled slightly, its massive claws kneading the earth in frustration. What manner of mortal is this?!

Each question, each riddle, it felt as though the answers already danced on his tongue before they were even spoken. The creature's fiery eyes burned brighter as it rumbled, "What is this… Google you speak of? Some forbidden sorcery?"

Rex's grin only widened. "Oh, Google? It's the modern-day equivalent of your riddles, except it's way faster. Anyone can find the answers in seconds."

The Sphinx froze, its mighty form trembling with disbelief. "Blasphemy! Such a power cannot exist!"

"Oh, it exists." Rex reached into his pocket and pulled out his battered phone. He held it up triumphantly, its screen glowing faintly. "Wanna see for yourself? I could even show you a cat meme while we're at it."

The Sphinx blinked, the fiery glow in its eyes dimming with unspoken confusion. "...Meme? What is this sorcery thou speakest of now?"

Cronus groaned in Rex's mind. "Harbinger, thou art a fool."

"Yeah, but I'm a living fool," Rex shot back, grinning as he wiggled the device at the massive beast. "Alright, Fluffy, here's the deal. I'll introduce you to the wonders of the internet if you stop trying to smash me into paste."

The Sphinx hesitated, its colossal head lowering closer to the strange device, curiosity flickering beneath its divine indignation. The faint glow of the communicator cast shifting shadows on its leonine features. "Thy strange artifact… it holds the wisdom of the ages?"

"Well," Rex quipped, "it holds a lot of cat videos. Same difference."

For a moment, an almost fragile silence hung between them, the tension dissipating like mist in sunlight. The Sphinx tilted its head further, visibly intrigued. But then, as if snapping out of a trance, it reared back, letting out an indignant roar. "I shall not be tempted by thy sorcery! My riddles are supreme! Thou hast merely been lucky thus far, mortal. The next three will bring about thy doom!"

Rex sighed, slipping the communicator back into his pocket. "Guess the saying about arrogance taking down the mighty is more literal than I thought."

The Sphinx growled, unfazed by the remark. It leaned forward, fire brimming in its eyes. "They are strong, yet not stone. They are fast, yet do not move. They can die, but not be killed. What are they?"

Rex didn't even blink. "The stars," he answered, his voice steady and sharp as a blade. There was no room for hesitation now.

The Sphinx's wings flared in frustration, its tail lashing against the ground. "Two more questions remain, mortal! Thy tricks shall not save thee!"

It hastily unleashed the next riddle, desperation lacing its words. "I can run, but I cannot walk. I have a mouth, but cannot speak. I have a bed, but never sleep. What am I?"

"A river," Rex replied smoothly, his tone unwavering.

The Sphinx froze, a tremor running through its frame. Its claws dug into the ground as it glared down at Rex. How could this mortal unravel riddles crafted to confound even the wisest of gods? What force stood behind him?

The final riddle loomed like a thundercloud, its weight pressing on the air itself. The Sphinx's voice was a deep, resonant growl, echoing with ancient power. "What is it that has no beginning, no end, devours all who face it, yet gives birth to life eternal?"

Cronus's laughter rang in Rex's mind, rich with amusement. "Harbinger… Harbinger! Surely, even thou canst see. The answer is time!"

Rex straightened, a confident smirk spreading across his face as he shouted, "The answer is time!"

The Sphinx recoiled, its leonine muscles coiling like springs, before letting out an earsplitting roar. "Thou cheatest!" The sound cracked the air like a thunderclap, and a torrent of wind followed, slamming into Rex with the force of a tempest. He was hurled backwards, skidding across the ancient stone until he came to a breathless stop.

"Ugh…," Rex groaned, pushing himself up onto his elbows. Dust swirled around him, the air heavy with tension. He spat out grit, glaring at the massive creature. "Hey, what gives?! I got it right!"

The Sphinx's golden eyes narrowed into slits, glowing like molten metal. Its hissing breath was a furnace, plumes of fire puffing from its nostrils. "Enough of this! Riddle or no, I shall not tolerate such insolence!"

It lunged forward, claws raking the ground with a sound like jagged steel against stone, leaving deep furrows that radiated menace. The earth seemed to shudder beneath its weight, each step echoing with the promise of destruction.

Rex's pulse hammered in his chest as he instinctively stepped back, his arms raised defensively. "Whoa, whoa! I played by your rules! Back off!"

The Sphinx's lips curled into a cruel smile, baring rows of dagger-like teeth. "Who said I would free thee, even if thou answerest my riddles?" The words dripped with venom, and a lick of flame escaped its maw, lighting the shadows that danced in its wake.

Rex's heart sank. Of course, the mythological guardian wasn't bound by any sense of fairness. His mind raced, weighing his options as the oppressive heat of the creature's rage bore down on him.

In the depths of his mind, Cronus's voice returned, low and calm but edged with warning. "Harbinger, thou hast two choices: outwit the beast again… or prepare to fight."

Rex straightened, brushing dust from his clothes, and glared at the Sphinx. "Well, isn't this just great. You're not just bad at losing—you're a sore loser and a cheat."

The Sphinx snarled, its wings unfurling, casting massive shadows over Rex. "Choose thy next words carefully, mortal, for they may be thy last."