Cosmic Spirit Body (2)
A blatantly playful intent emanated from that being.
How is the Cosmic Spirit Body (宇宙精靈體)?
How is the Cosmic Spirit Body (宇宙精靈體)?
Its origin was the same as mine. It had probably recognized me at a glance. Was this the feeling a mortal got upon encountering distant kin?
Is the avatar system something you created, after all?
Isn't it quite amusing? You seemed to be enjoying it quite a bit yourself.
Interfering in just a single galaxy... for fun?
Of course, a galaxy was vast. Tens to hundreds of trillions of stars, spanning hundreds of thousands of light-years. But that was by mortal standards. To my true body, galaxies looked like dust—surely the same for this Outer God. Yet it had set up a miniature garden in just one galaxy and meddled there? It was laughably trivial compared to the power and abilities at its disposal. Was it trying to preserve its humanity, like me...?
Hehe. You're still a young kin, aren't you?
...?
This dimension has already been destroyed and recreated dozens of times by me.
This dimension. Hundreds of destructions and recreations. Did that mean... it had already experienced everything?
Our minds are not infinite. We have egos and personalities. Not as much as those dust-specks living their lives, but over time, we erode bit by bit.
It made sense. Just like my humanity was fading, even Outer Gods couldn't endure endless ages unscathed.
To endure the long years, I tried everything.
Then...?
I gathered all the dust into mortal swarms, built palaces of mental pleasure for indulgence, dormant through time, lived mortal lives via incarnations with sealed memories, created kin...
She continued sending her will. An Outer God who had truly tried "everything" to avoid erosion.
When all that grew tiresome, I shattered the universe. Life would sprout anew. Enjoy it... shatter it again... But even that cycle reached its limit.
I see. So you're seeking new amusements.
Of course, it'd be best if the mortals kept me entertained. If I go mad from boredom, everything they've built crumbles, and it starts over from scratch. It's happened dozens of times already.
So vast. Not in power or size, but in perspective. Would I end up like that after endless years? Chasing amusement to preserve my ego until I snapped, then shattering everything in repetition?
But now that I've met you, that cycle's delayed considerably. Hehe.
Relief. Joy. Happiness. Pleasure. Emotions flooded in. This Outer God was delighted that encountering me—a fresh kin—had extended its time before erosion.
In that sense, you're quite impressive. When I was your age, I was too busy indulging in gluttony.
* * *
Indulging in gluttony?
A bit embarrassing to admit before kin, but yes. There was a time I devoured everything.
Along with it came emotions: faint embarrassment and clear goodwill.
At your age, it's natural to wander lost to power. Hehe.
The bizarre law spreading through this galaxy...?
She paused briefly, then sent a soft, gentle will.
I've tried most things you can imagine, but meeting kin like myself was something I hadn't achieved yet.
I see... That's why. A system beyond dimensional walls...
Did you receive my greeting last time? The name Whispering Star Cluster. I thought it suited you perfectly.
The lights on my body could indeed resemble a star cluster. But didn't she look the same?
When an entity beyond the info-bodies' detection appeared, I ordered my kin to find you...
No wonder. Federation councilors came calling, the Galaxy SpiritSilent Starlight was waiting. It had sent me straight here, as if I lacked the qualifications to chat with it. Must've hounded its own kin. Fair enough—I'd felt curiosity first upon hearing of kin myself. For someone who'd lived eons, it wouldn't want to miss this chance, especially across dimensions.
But why there, of all places? Countless races and galaxies, yet you chose that galaxy's humans...?
Do you know why that mortal swarm calls itself the Super Galactic Empire Federation? To them, "super-galactic" means countless specks—yet they live on just one.
I'd wondered about that too. The empire renamed itself the Super Galactic Empire Federation. Names carry weight.
She answered slowly.
I liked their nature: arrogant even before a Galaxy Spirit—a galactic deity—by mortal standards.
No matter how humans styled themselves overlords of the galaxy, demoting gods to spirits—even before the great Galaxy SpiritCarnos, they were nothing. The gap between us and him mirrored that between Galaxy Spirits and mortals: overwhelming.
Their desire to surpass the master of their speck someday... If it bears fruit, might they bare teeth at me one day?
Doubt it.
Ah. Haha! You'd change your mind seeing this.
Smoothly—the "intriguing mortal actions" that the Galaxy SpiritCarnos had reported to her. The memory flowed into my mind.
When the great Galaxy Spirit Body appeared, the empire was aghast. They dared not test planet-destroying weapons that could slay planet-ruling constellations. All constellations and mortals trembled, desperate not to irk it. The great god merely watched from the galaxy's heart.
"We must beg forgiveness at once! Don't you know how many constellations the empire has fought?"
"They might see us mortals as insolent!"
"Think of all the constellations we've erased. Rationally, between tiny bugs and puppies, which draws more affection?"
"The constellation world truly has no end. To think even galactic rulers exist... What about super-galactic or hyper-galactic dominators...?"
The empire's leadership fell silent. Long after venturing into the vast galaxy—downgrading deities to constellations—the universe remained too broad. Skies beyond skies. A fitting "heaven beyond heaven."
After prolonged silence, no one dared speak. Then the emperor—supreme over all—opened his mouth.
"We change the empire's course. Provoking it would be suicidal. We can't afford such folly."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"Send envoys to all constellations with interstellar pacts. From the federation's standpoint, not the empire's."
"A name change, sire?"
Abandoning the empire name from Terra Planet days for "federation" stirred unrest among the leaders. All this for one constellation—no, a god?
"Super Galactic Empire Federation it is... Someday, we'll stand equal even to the 'Galaxy Spirit Body...' "
"Sire, lumping even 'gods' under constellations could cause issues."
"Correct it, minister: 'Naturally Occurring Galaxy Spirit Body.' "
It was pride. Arrogance. Ambition. The empire's final dignity in demoting gods to constellations via mortal might. A mortal's vow to surpass divinity, and the rulers' decree over their stellar nation.
And naturally, the Galaxy Spirit Body knew all this. The Outer God with him as kin learned too.
Of course, that's not the only reason. There was the mortal admiral vowing to place the galaxy underfoot, the insolent one researching all deities...
Her will came vividly, but I felt a twinge of bitterness. Twisted thoughts. Forced emotions. Subtle madness. Who knew what fate awaited mortals who caught the eye of an eon-enduring Outer God? Did long life inevitably twist one halfway mad? Outwardly normal conversation, yet it felt like chatting with someone who'd lost and regained sanity countless times.
Periodically erasing my ego or memories grew tiresome too. Lately, observing the insignificant is most fun.
So your current pastime is that.
I haven't tried coupling with kin to bear offspring. What say you? You seem male, so when repetition bores...
No thanks. But I have a question.
Not bored to that degree yet.
You've lived far longer than me—you must know. That feeling where even slight movement might shatter the world.
Hm? Oh, your issue. You'll learn naturally after shattering it a few thousand times...
Now absurdities poured out. Learn after a few thousand shatters? No way.
Hehe. Kidding. I once cherished small things too.
One couldn't drift in void forever. A way to wield power without harm would be ideal.
We never reach true omnipotence, but we're awfully close.
Fix gaze upward. Open sealed mind. Embrace the knowledge flood—and maybe. But that risked my ego. Barely clinging via descents now; full openness would be irreversible.
Why had I first contracted Yuna? Purely human greed. Yet that intent faded.
Perception shifts were inevitable. Merely delayed.
Lost in thought, her voice pierced my mind.
You can manage it. Move naturally, without prejudice. For us, impossibility is rare.
Like a kind senior advising a junior. Naturally, without prejudice. Impossibility rare... I etched her words into my mind.
Then, couldn't I create an avatar contract system here too? Omnipotence impossible, but creation? Seemed feasible.