The Third Incarnation - (6): Luck Boost and the Status Window
A few years ago by Federation standard time, these were the top two powers that incarnations most wanted from their Constellation—Luck Increase and Status Window.
It was a topic that came up inevitably on the internet, Galaxy Tube, and variety shows alike. A VS showdown that set the entire galaxy ablaze.
"Now for today's special guest!!! We've invited Sirian Incarnation, who's applied to the planetary pioneer forces and explored dozens of planets!!!"
"Ah, haha. Hello, I'm Sirian."
"Today's topic is simple. It's about that power heating up the Federation—the battle for first and second place between Luck Increase and Status Window, the ones everyone wants from their Constellation..."
No one knew who started it, but the VS debate that raged for months ended with a tale from a certain Planet Spirit.
It was impossible to wield something like luck manipulation or receive an all-purpose power like Status Window. Planet Spirit Constellations couldn't handle fate-like abilities in the first place.
And yet...
"...Status Window?!"
Power manifestation. Status Window.
"A real status window? Like the ones in games?!"
"Wow. Wow... How enviable that is~!"
The other incarnations, who had bodies near invincibility or summoned beasts that warped through space, watched in awe.
Right now, before Vivian's eyes, there it was—a clear Status Window.
Knowledge flooding her mind. A translucent blue glow. A window displaying her stats.
But it wasn't just visible to her—it appeared for the other incarnations nearby too. Apparently, it could be toggled on or off in others' views.
Shrrk—
"Ah."
"Ack."
"This is my personal information. Please don't look."
She set her Status Window to invisible mode and slowly examined her new power.
A power bestowed by a Galaxy Spirit Constellation, no less. To manifest a Status Window from an RPG game in reality...
The window listed her gender, name, age, and most everything else. She could even check her vitals or use + buttons to boost her stats.
The contracted Constellation was listed as Whispering Star Cluster, though the text beside it was hard to make out. Probably the Constellation's true name, she guessed.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster welcomes the third incarnation.]
"Thank you, Constellation! To grant such an incredible power, letting me view objective data on myself..."
* * *
Judging by Vivian's repeated thanks, she seemed quite pleased with the power.
Yuna handled physical prowess, Beatrix covered summoning. For my third incarnation, Vivian, I wanted to give her something special.
"Goodness. A Status Window—never thought something from games would leap into reality~."
"Do you play games too, Beatrix Incarnation?"
"I've personally experienced the cultural pastime of my planetary subjects~! And now that we're all incarnations, speak freely~."
"Sorry, but formal address is more comfortable for me."
She was brilliant enough to rise to director of the Central Avatar Research Institute. She'd surely make good use of the Status Window I gifted her.
The third incarnation, Vivian, looked to the sky and asked me a question.
"Star Cluster. I have a question. About the power you granted me."
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster harbors a question.]
"In this power you gave me, your name appears in two forms. The first is your Constellation title, Whispering Star Cluster, but the other is hard to see."
My name—not the Constellation title—was illegible?
Even for a power that displays information, as a growing rather than complete ability, it had limits early on.
As for the name... it probably failed to parse part of my essence.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster speculates it may be part of itself.]
"I see. If I develop the Status Window you gave me, maybe someday I'll be able to see it."
Vivian reached into empty air, manipulating it. Fascinated by her new power, she poked around.
"Hmm. 'Innate Ability' means talents possessed from birth, and 'Acquired Ability' means powers gained through contract with a Constellation."
"Explanations of statuses appear beside them~?"
"Yes. When I think to view details and focus... Ah, then could I look at the Constellation's name right now...? Nghhh?!"
Vivian suddenly foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
Cold sweat poured from her body, her eyes rolled back, whites showing.
"What?! What's happening all of a sudden~! Pull yourself together~!!!"
"Wh-what?! Power overload?!"
"I don't know~! We need to get her to a hospital fast...!"
What the heck did she do to pass out?
Unlike with Yuna, I'd properly refined the Cosmic Power into data form this time.
Did I botch mimicking that other Outer God's AI data method?
* * *
A divinity's true name is its essence.
Humans in this sci-fi world had forgotten due to Avatar Contract Law, but Constellation titles weren't gods' true names.
The Sky-Supporting Great Tree's obsession with its "Planetary World Tree" species name was similar.
The true name embodies a divinity's will, meaning, essence.
'...Where is this?'
Vivian, hurtling somewhere at speed, desperately pieced together her thoughts.
While confirming her power after contracting with the Galaxy Spirit, Whispering Star Cluster—
Focusing on the Status Window, meanings of terms flooded her mind.
She remembered trying to glimpse the Constellation's partially obscured name...
'No matter how I look, this is outer space. Ugh, too fast. Nauseous.'
Sudden vision blackout. When consciousness returned, she was racing through space.
Stars and planets whipped by. Her viewpoint kept rising, planets shrinking from sight.
'If this is reality, I couldn't survive. Probably just my mind traveling. Did trying to see the Constellation's name cause this?'
Vivian's guess was spot on.
The power granted her, Existence Measurement Codex—Status Window—was no ordinary ability.
It couldn't let her fly and slay city-sized space bugs like Yuna, nor summon horror beasts like Beatrix.
But the Cosmic Power bestowed on her was in no way inferior.
Instead of infusing directly into her body, it formed as data.
Thus, this 'Status Window' possessed faint intelligence.
A god's true name is its essence itself.
Apostle Vivian sought her god's true name via the Status Window.
The 'Status Window' detected her intent to reach the god.
The 'god' had created the Status Window with favor for its apostle.
So, couldn't it show a glimpse of the god's essence? Through the apostle's mind.
Let the favored apostle confront a sliver of its great creator.
Just a tiny fraction—but the apostle would be satisfied.
'Mental translocation? Feels like a mental attack. Close to power overload.'
Of course, Vivian was going mad.
It felt like minutes had passed already... Her "body" accelerated further.
Extreme vertigo. But proving no physical body was present, no urge to vomit.
'To think trying to peek at a hidden name with an info-based power would trigger this...'
Fortunately, her mind's hurtle through space halted.
Vivian sighed in relief. A thought flashed: she'd touched the Constellation's essence.
She turned her head. Gazed upon her contracted god.
And—perception expanded by transcendental force.
Vast planets. Vaster star systems. Vaster star clusters.
Stars, dark matter, dark energy overflowing the universe... All one being.
Too immense. Surpassing the ever-expanding horizon of perception.
Her mind felt ready to burst, yet her power, the Status Window, pushed perception further, as if far from done.
■■■■!!!
No words could capture this vastness.
Knowledge burrowing into her psyche. In human terms, all this was less than dust from the god's pinky nail.
Stop. Please stop.
Did her desperate cry reach? Vision shifted abruptly.
"...Hah! Heok. Haa..."
"Whoa! You scared me!"
Not the endless nightmare void of space, but a pristine white ceiling.
Yuna and Beatrix with worried faces. Faint medicinal scent. Hospital?
She lay in bed under covers. Had she passed out?
"You okay, Vivian sis? They said minor power overload."
"Overload, you say?! Just now... that was..."
"You suddenly lost consciousness, so we rushed you here~."
The memory of swimming space was vivid. 'Minor' overload? Unbelievable.
Cold sweat dripped from her forehead, her spine. Her trembling body mirrored her shattered psyche.
What was that just now? Circumstantially, a minuscule fragment of the Constellation's true body.
As a favored incarnation with a powerful mental ability like Status Window, she'd survived.
If she'd seen it all... she might not have returned.
[Constellation, Whispering Star Cluster worries for the third incarnation.]
"...Status Window."
Contracted Constellation: Whispering Star Cluster/■■■■
Looking again, the Status Window's contracted Constellation entry had changed slightly.
As if she weren't yet worthy to view it.
'Was that the true form of Whispering Star Cluster? But less a galaxy, more the universe itself...'
A faint doubt began to settle in Vivian's mind.