Third Incarnation - (2)

Truth be told, I don't have sky-high expectations for us mortals. That notion only deepened after I created a galaxy rivaling the Super Galactic Empire.

Of course, my apostles—my incarnations—help slow the erosion of my humanity. Watching them makes me think I won't cross any truly irredeemable lines. At least I won't go mad like that other Outer God and flip the universe upside down.

But still. Can a mere mortal dwelling in a single galaxy truly inspire my creations? Even if this Vivian is some kind of genius, isn't that a tall order?

So I put it up for auction across the entire federation. The bid? Information that catches my fancy. The prize? The honor of becoming an Outer God's third incarnation, despite being a mere mortal.

"Whoa... the bureaucrats out there are at war."

"It's only natural-wa yo. Becoming a Galaxy Spirit's incarnation? The whole universe would take notice-wa yo!"

"It's only this bad because the Constellation said he doesn't like rude folks."

"Which is why we'll be crashing at Yuna's place for a bit-wa yo!"

"......"

Thanks to that, GalaxyTube, the federation's public broadcasts—everything was in an uproar. There'd already been that noisy announcement about the Galaxy Spirits, and this was like pouring fuel on the fire.

Yuna's fingers, tapping away at her terminal, clicked on the post with the most comments and views. Why everyone was swarming to become a Galaxy Spirit's incarnation.

"Seeing it laid out like this... our Constellation really is impressive."

"Hmph! My GalaxyTube subs didn't skyrocket for nothing-wa yo!"

"But Beatrix, since when did your hunting hound get that big?"

Come to think of it, the hunting hounds she handled were only a bit bigger than a person. But in that photo of her, it looked massive.

A corner of my mind supplied the knowledge. The true form of those rift-dwelling hunters isn't that. They're far stronger, seen as objects of mortal terror.

"Indeed-wa yo. Timeline-wise, around when Yuna took down the space bugs? It suddenly grew then-wa yo."

"It grew when I was fighting the space bugs?"

Beatrix claimed it had grown abruptly around the time Yuna battled the space bugs. Maybe natural growth, or perhaps when I poured power into Yuna, some leaked to Beatrix too? Power transmitted through the AI info-body conduit. A bit diluted, maybe.

"Hmm. Let me show you-wa yo! Come forth, Kaiser!"

"Hey! Wait—!"

BOOM!

CRUNCH.SMASH!

The moment Beatrix finished speaking, the summoned hound answered the call. Filling Yuna's living room on Ratan Planet completely.

Grrrrowl?!

"Yaaah! What are you summoning something this big indoors?!"

"Wha—what?! Kaiser seems even bigger now-wa yo!"

"Why does it keep growing? What are you feeding your summon?!"

"I don't know-wa yo! Must be a growth spurt-wa yo!"

The summoned hunting hound, frustrated, flailed its limbs. Even a casual swipe shattered living room furniture, kicking up noise.

CRASH! SHATTER!

"YAAAAH!!!"

"S-sorry-wa yo! But last time I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠summoned it, it wasn't this big..."

"Everything okay in there?!"

Even the guards rushing in, thinking it was an intruder.

Watching all this... it naturally helps preserve the humanity that's wearing away bit by bit. Can't stop the change entirely, of course.

* * *

A flood of mail poured into Yuna's home on Ratan Planet. Only two known Galaxy Spirit incarnations in the Super Galactic Empire Federation—obvious why everyone was clamoring.

Shuffle.

The incarnations sifted through stacks of documents. No complaints despite the sudden workload. A twinge of guilt on my part, but they just said it was natural, that the favors they'd received far outweighed it.

"Oh, docs from the outer space survey team Eclipseon. Shadow-based lifeform found in a dark zone... a monster? Self-generating wave organs inside its body..."

"I'll set that aside then. Next... from the alien environment survey squad's vice-captain. A lifeform that detects and adapts to gravity distortion fields itself."

"I found something good-wa yo. Docs on plant-type lifeforms that feed on neutrinos..."

"Gene-mutant monster sightings are spiking lately? So much new data."

Messages and research from across the federation. Yuna and Beatrix filtering first, then showing me. I figured non-contracted folks would jump at the chance, but surprisingly, traces of the incarnations pulling strings for friends and family everywhere.

Lots of cases where relatives or acquaintances wanted in and got help. Even fools trying to butter up Yuna or Beatrix. Some mortals aiming for fourth or later slots, building ties.

Poor incarnations stuck sorting it all.

"Offering a whole planet's governance rights just to get a closer look? What?"

"The universe is vast; plenty of idiots-wa yo."

"Even shady unknown groups? 'Two-Species Liberation Army'? What's that?"

"Ah, report that to the federation-wa yo."

Think they can just catch my eye and call it even? Tit for tat, I guess.

If someone truly sparks my inspiration, an incarnation contract is nothing. I can contract more mortals as time goes on anyway. And for me, time is infinite.

"I-in-carnations! You need to come out here!"

"The Constellation is here!"

Yuna opened the door, puzzled by the "Constellation has arrived" claim. Her eyes fell on an old man surrounded by guards.

"...Huh? Beira?"

Pointy-eared, pale-skinned elf-like aliens. Holstered mini-guns at their waists, scanning surroundings. Per the AI info-body, all contracted incarnations.

And the old man... mossy tangled hair. Beard flowing like white roots past his chin. Slightly hunched back sprouting branches. Wrinkled face like tree rings, bark-cracked skin.

"Gr... he-llo? Th-this is our Constellation, the Sky-Supporting Great Tree..."

"Kuhuhum!!! You're the apostle from before. Mind if we come in?"

"Yes? Oh, hello. How did you get here...? The Constellation welcomes you too."

"Greetings-wa yo, Constellation. I am Beatrix-wa yo."

The planet-spanning world tree, Sky-Supporting Great Tree, sent an incarnation to see me.

— — —

The Great Tree waved his hand, shooing the incarnations inside. Yuna, knowing his temperament, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dragged Beatrix along; the Tree's guards encircled the house.

"Ahem. Honored to meet the great one again. I trust you're watching from on high."

Why had the Sky-Supporting Great Tree come? No other planet-trees found yet, no reason to cross to this planet.

"Heh heh heh. This old trunk may have answers to the info the great one seeks. From the broadcasts, your apostles mentioned lifeforms surviving hostile environments, yes?"

The world tree reached into his bosom and pulled something out. Small enough for a human palm. A tiny wriggling leg?

"The pinnacle of loathsome things that cling to life amid universal hostility—isn't that what you seek?"

The confident elder placed it on the table.

Hostile to the whole world yet surviving? Only space monsters came to mind.

But this was odd. Squid? Octopus-like purple tentacles. Common space monster corpse chunk.

But something inside... My thoughts aligned, and I manifested in human form to inspect the leg.

"...Space monsters can ascend to divinity too?"

"As expected, you see it. My apostles brought it from outer space. Something beyond the federation's edge—surely the answer you want?"

The severed purple tentacle was undoubtedly divine. Not Galaxy Spirit level, but far beyond typical Planet Spirits.

In this dimension... space monsters evolve into Cthulhu-like beings?