Power of Creation (1)
In the sci-fi world, how are avatars contracted with constellations treated? In a world where science and technology have advanced so far that the threshold for abilities is incredibly high, and the existence of monsters and superpowered individuals is taken for granted. Yet people still idolized avatars.
Constellations that could only be opposed by the pinnacle of science—warships or planet-destroying weapons—and the avatars who contracted with them to become superpowered beings. They weren't enhanced humans, cyborgs, or chimeras, but they soared through the skies or wielded bizarre abilities. If compared to 21st-century Earth... it would feel like a mix of celebrity and elite special forces operative. They were already famous like celebrities to begin with. And now, with the astonishing feat of throwing themselves into danger to save the planet's citizens, it was the perfect situation for a new hero to be born.
After passing out for days due to the aftermath of using my power, Yuna woke up in the hospital today—just like her.
"...Huh?"
Whispering Star Cluster asks if you've finally woken up.
She'd just slept and woken up, but suddenly she was a mega-star. Wasn't it a situation that suited her perfectly? Yuna, with her disheveled face hooked up to all sorts of machines, opened her eyes to see herself on the TV in her private hospital room.
"Y-yes. Ah... I killed the space parasite insect... Thank you. My Lord Constellation."
Whispering Star Cluster praises the potential of its first avatar.
"Without you, My Lord Constellation, I would've died to the space parasite insect too. Thank you once again."
Yuna carefully pulled down the blanket covering her and looked around. A one-person room that felt excessively spacious for just her. The faint scent of incense, a monitor displaying vital signs. And finally, her terminal flooded with new notifications.
Screeech. "...You're awake! Avatar Yuna!"
"Y-yes. Uh. Um. Hello?"
"Oh my god! No time for that. Hold on."
Fwaaah— A woman in nurse attire entered and extended her hand, using a superability. A healing ability that had been used on the unconscious Yuna multiple times. An avatar invited by the Ratan Planet government to treat her.
"Healing ability?"
"Pretty good, right? Our Lord Constellation grants abilities specialized in soothing and healing superability overloads."
"Ah..."
"More importantly, is it true your contracted constellation is a Galaxy Spirit? Do they message you often? Rumors say the finisher that crushed the space parasite insect's head was a technique summoning a localized galaxy from another dimension..."
Only then did she realize the situation. The planet government had chosen to elevate the hero who single-handedly defeated the space parasite insect rather than cover it up.
Whispering Star Cluster says it's a relief you've regained consciousness.
"Th-that... My Lord Constellation... is watching right now?"
"...Gasp! S-sorry!"
Once you're famous, everything you do gets praise. This principle of the world doesn't change no matter the era, it seems. The treatment of Yuna, who became Ratan Planet's hero overnight, was that of a total superstar.
"Your test results are excellent. Avatars who exhaust themselves from typical superability overloads often need months of rest, but Miss Yuna's body seems to be... adapting—no, evolving, shall we say."
"Evolving?"
"Yes. Avatars often experience this. Their bodies grow tougher even without using abilities."
According to the planet-assigned doctor—or body analyst—for avatar-exclusive care, she was fit for daily life with no injury aftereffects. As she left the hospital after hearing that...
"Wh-what is this...!"
"Eeee! Sis! You're out!"
"Avatar Yuna! About that final strike that felled the space parasite insect..."
"Thank you for saving us!"
"Rumors say your other-dimensional constellation is a Galaxy Spirit—any comment...?"
A massive crowd had gathered upon hearing the hero who killed the space parasite insect was being discharged today. If not for the government security personnel controlling the masses and setting up barricades, she would've been buried in the throng.
"Avatar Yuna, we'll escort you home."
"Y-yeah... But what about in front of my house..."
"Of course. We're controlling the crowds nearby as well."
Whispering Star Cluster congratulates its avatar on the fame.
"H-ha... But this is too much..."
Surprise. Gratitude. Embarrassment. Overwhelm and faint joy. I quietly watched Yuna's incredibly complex expression. Her face flushed like a ripe persimmon. She hurried along, occasionally covering it with her hands. That down-to-earth, human side only stirred the crowd's cheers louder.
If she's my avatar, she'll get used to this treatment someday.
ㅡㅡㅡ
Finally home, Yuna frantically pulled out her terminal. She rejected scout offers from other planets. Expressed intent to attend the joint funeral for space parasite insect victims. Contacted worried acquaintances. After handling the backlog, she flopped onto her bed clutching the terminal, staring blankly.
"My Lord Constellation... What now? Everyone's pretty much convinced you're a Galaxy Spirit."
Whispering Star Cluster says it doesn't matter.
That figures. Yuna's final strike was quite the topic not just on Ratan Planet but across the Super Galactic Empire Federation. You could tell just from the terminal she was fiddling with.
Combined with the repeated failures of the descent ritual, people were now convinced I was a Galaxy Spirit. Though the Federation and Ratan Planet hadn't issued official statements, the internet was abuzz. The meme of Yuna killing the space parasite insect while floating in midair had long gone viral, and there were even posts analyzing my temporary humanoid body.
"...Ugh. Sorry. It seems my lack of power exposed your identity, My Lord Constellation..."
Whispering Star Cluster says it truly doesn't matter.
They hadn't even faced my true body, so what did it matter? The Federation brass might be a bit flustered, but they'd handle it. More interestingly, the origin of those monsters.
I pulled my attention from that dimension for a moment and looked at my right hand again, like last time. That slime-like something I'd accidentally made and then it burst. It definitely fell into the monster category. So, were monsters created by divine beings? Their behavior hostile to all lifeforms, from aliens to humans... It seemed just like something an Outer God from that dimension might make for fun, but... probably not.
She hadn't seemed all that interested, and when we met, she hadn't mentioned monsters even once. She'd just said observing trivial things was her greatest joy lately. If an Outer God wasn't interested, it wasn't made by her subordinate Galaxy Spirits either.
ㅡ■■■
Letting thoughts flow, I tried practicing creating lifeforms. If I kept making lifeforms like this, maybe I'd uncover my own origins someday. As expected, another amorphous something formed. Another space slime? Watching it burst again brought one idea.
Instead of creating life from bare ground, first create the environment it would live in, then make the lifeform within those parameters? Better to transfer seawater to a bucket before jarring it directly.
ㅡ■■■!
Then, a galaxy. Create a galaxy for that lifeform to inhabit. A galaxy is a celestial body where stars and interstellar matter clump together via gravity. First, generate gravity in my palm to draw in celestial bodies... then infuse a part of my body—or cells, I suppose.
Hmm. Like this? Something's clumping, but not sure if I'm doing it right. After a bit of time—mere fingernail-sized relative to my main body—a galaxy formed. A beautifully shining barred spiral galaxy. The starry glow that Yuna, my first avatar from that dimension, had partially recreated in her Cosmic Power overload.
I hadn't noticed when it was just floating dust around me. But zooming in and focusing, it was quite the sight. A shame it's smaller than my fingertip, but still an excellent toy. As I admired the freshly made galaxy...
A shocked voice echoed.
Galaxy Spirit. Naiserria, was it?
W-what...! What have you created?! Th-that... that's...!
Come to think of it, for a galaxy, it's a bit large.