Cosmic Insect Swarm (1)
What if an ant appeared on the palm of your hand? Most people would probably freak out, brush it off, or squash it. But what if it were bacteria viewed under a microscope? Most would just think they need to wash their hands more often and move on. Someone might peer at their palm out of curiosity for a while. Why? Because they're barely visible to the naked eye anyway, and they pose no real threat.
That's exactly how I felt right now.
With focused concentration, tiny things squirmed into view. They looked just like bacteria living on the palm of my hand. But I knew full well they weren't bacteria. What kind of creatures were they?
—■!
I concentrated my mind a bit more. My skill at observing in detail seemed to be improving; the creature's form gradually sharpened. The words of that near-omnipotent Outer God from over there echoed in my head. The knack for finely adjusting my gaze flickered just within reach.
—■■■!
The creature I saw was a monster the size of a planet. Or should I call it a monster? It just looked like the bacteria or viruses I'd seen in my previous life. Anyway, some unidentified thing was devouring an entire star whole. Maybe that's what the planet-eating monsters from over there felt like. But why were planet-eating monsters on my body too?
No. Of course, when I first sensed the stars—or galaxies, whatever—teeming inside my body, I'd considered that lifeforms might be living there. Back when I was a mortal in my previous life, parasites and bacteria lived in human bodies too. But seeing monsters from that dimension here? Were they naturally occurring or something? It was just fascinating.
I watched it for a while as it grew by devouring planets and stars. Once it exceeded a certain size, it even started looking a bit cute. And that's probably why I ended up staring at it properly without thinking.
—!!
And just like that, the dust on my palm exploded.
Ah. I should've just left it alone.
My expression soured involuntarily, and my mood soured a bit. As my emotions flickered slightly, Naiserria noticed and raised her voice in alarm.
[Wh-what displeases you, O Great One?!]
[...No.]
[If anything bothers you even slightly, please tell me. If there's any way I can help...]
How do you explain the feeling of accidentally squashing a little bug you'd been watching with interest? Especially when that bug was big enough to eat planets and stars. But Naiserria might understand.
[Just... a bug I was interested in died.]
[Then... how about creating more of the same bug?]
[Create?]
[Yes. Even this lowly one finds creating lifeforms no difficult task.]
Me, personally creating a lifeform?
* * *
In the 21st century, from the memories of my mortal days, artificial life creation was a bit ambiguous. On one hand, it was seen as taboo territory; on the other, they modified microorganisms and cells. They'd even engineered bacteria with synthetic genomes for disease treatment or scientific advancement. But religious groups didn't like artificial lifeforms.
[I too have experience creating small things for amusement. If you're seeking something intriguing...]
Naiserria, the deity now under my command, was saying something, but I wasn't paying attention. Me creating a lifeform... That's the domain of gods. But isn't my current body a god? Most lifeforms would see me as one. A faint resistance stirred in a corner of my mind, but for some reason, curiosity won out. Was it boredom? Had this tedium changed me? I hadn't thought like this when descending beside my avatars over there. Maybe spending time here was making me accustomed to divine senses. I'm no longer human anyway. Does it matter?
Squeeze—
I clenched my right hand briefly while pondering. The countless creatures living atop my body, a star cluster filling cosmic space...
Ruuuumble—
A strange sensation gathered in the center of my fist. It felt like something forming that sucked in and held all matter, including light. What was this called again? A black hole? But the scale was a bit much. A gravitational singularity devouring galaxies that looked like dust.
[Hii... hiik. What are you...]
Naiserria's panicked voice leaked out. I slowly released the power in my hand and focused my mind, and it vanished.
[How do you create lifeforms?]
[...Pardon? Life is simply created whenever one desires.]
She sounded just like the Outer God from over there. Create whenever you want. Near omnipotence. Don't hold prejudices... Was I overthinking it?
I tried again, this time with a light heart, attempting to make something. A mortal with finite lifespan. A body that grows and develops... And.
Shwaa—
The power I'd named Cosmic Power swirled in my palm. Like when infusing it into my avatars—control it that way? No. Since I'm making a lifeform, I should put in a bit more.
Fwaaah!
Something was being created. Cosmic colors writhed and spread, shattering the celestial bodies caught in it. Wait, this isn't what I wanted. A lifeform... Yes, something worthy of being called that had been created. But I hadn't meant to make that amorphous mess. Isn't that just space slime?
Blub—
It even seemed unable to withstand its own power and burst right away. Creating life isn't easy, apparently.
* * *
I'd made something, but lacking fine control over my power, the slime burst immediately. Despite being galaxy-sized—not bad for dust—it couldn't handle Cosmic Power. I'd only put in a little more than for my avatars. I closed my eyes, thinking I'd need more practice handling this. (Whether I even have eyes is debatable, but anyway.) I blocked off my senses appropriately and turned my gaze to that dimension. I'd practice creating lifeforms slowly; for now, let's check on my avatars there.
"No way. The Cosmic Insect Swarm is coming again?! Ratan Planet's on the federation's outskirts, so it'll get hit hard."
"This is baaad..."
The info body provided by the AI showed Yuna staring seriously at federation broadcasts. And her friend Beira was there too.
Yeah. Looking down from a lowered viewpoint cleared my head a bit. Unlike earlier when I'd wielded divine power freely. It felt like changing masks—not bad at all.
Cosmic Insect Swarm? A horde of bugs that gnaw at space itself? It felt like a planetary disaster akin to a locust plague, but scaled up to cosmic levels—that escalated things. Do they even nibble at planets?
I drifted through space for a moment, imagining a swarm of locusts flying in. Then I messaged Yuna.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster asks about the Cosmic Insect Swarm.]
"Ehh? Constellation's here? Well, the Cosmic Insect Swarm is like a horde of bugs the size of a decent-sized city pouring down..."
"What? Constellation?! Hey! Wh-what are you doiiing!"
Unlike Yuna, who lounged obliquely on the sofa, Beira next to her jumped in shock.
"Hey! Hey! Constellation's here and you're still lounging around?!"
"Ah. Hiiiik!!"
Swoosh—
That area of Ratan Planet was in midsummer, and since she was with her same-sex friend Beira, she'd dressed casually.
"Yunaaa...!"
"Hik. Heok. No, Constellation. It's just..."
"Unlike our World Tree, Whispering Star Cluster is watching you with 50% probability... You should've sat up straight the moment the message came. Such rudeness..."
No. It's her own house—why can't she relax? I truly didn't mind at all. But judging by Beira's attitude, some constellations cared about that sort of thing.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster says it doesn't like excessive formality even at home.]
"Y-yes. Ye-yes?! "
"...What'd Constellation say? Super mad?"
I'd even told her during my last descent, but maybe because the time I could manifest at once was short? She'd said her dream was taking a photo with Constellation, boldly asking for just one shot back then.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster says to explain the Cosmic Insect Swarm.]
"Th-the Cosmic Insect Swarm is a horde of bugs that eat planets!"
"Haa... Who explains it like that?"
The black-haired beauty stammering nonsense, the elf sighing beside her, and even the announcer chattering about the Cosmic Insect Swarm on the hologram acting like a TV. Definitely... this side had far more life to it than the silent cosmic void I'd have to gaze at for eons.