Creation God - (3)
They seem to call Cosmic Power "Aether." From the scattered words I could piece together, the mortals knew that this ability they dubbed Aether—this Cosmic Power—was spread across the entire planet. Of course, with their medieval-level civilization, they probably thought this planet was the whole world.
They also showed signs of worshiping multiple gods. An early faith system like Greek or Roman mythology, with a chief deity and lesser gods beneath. There's no way Shub's children would take an interest in that planet, so it's just primitive superstition. They might believe in some transcendent being that granted them this power. The term "Creation God" often floated by in their chatter.
They appear to worship a transcendent divinity they presume created them and this world. But it meant nothing to me. Even if I'd heard that temples were built in my honor back in that other dimension, with followers springing up, it would've been the same.
"Tooru makh'el 성에서 zhaar veki 온다."
"괴수들은 Kalet thuun zhaan vek’ra"
Just quietly observing the planet's inhabitants was its own kind of fun. It felt like playing one of those idle tycoon games from my past life. No, more like a civilization-building sim.
I couldn't survey the entire planetary surface, but the nations scattered across the continents shared common traits. They called the things that dimension labeled "space monsters" simply "beasts," and they fought them. They also stored Cosmic Power in their bodies and used it. Cosmic Power corresponding to mana—that is, Aether. Space monsters corresponding to monsters, called beasts there.
A class-based society determined by martial prowess. There were rulers like kings in the power structure. Not much different from the medieval fantasy worlds in subculture media? Kings and nobles as the elite. Warriors who honed their Cosmic Power fought like knights.
Their food consisted of grains and fruits grown on the planet, or meat from animals. Medieval era. Medieval era, huh... Do mortal civilizations all develop in similar ways?
No. No, that's not it. It's because of those things they call beasts—space monsters. But that other dimension had space monsters too. How did they manage to venture into space?
I wanted to know the trial and error that led to a unified empire advancing technology enough to conquer the planet. Hmm... Guess I should take a quick look at that dimension's history.
As a Galaxy Spirit Body constellation operating in that dimension, I turned my gaze there. My first incarnation, Yuna, was sleeping. My third, Vivian, was deep in research. So I called the relatively idle one—Beatrix.
The constellation Whispering Star Cluster takes interest in its Second Incarnation.
"Ah! It's been so long, my Lord—wa yo!"
Beatrix, beaming with a smile mid-internet search. Yeah, it's been a while. I'd been focused on checking on Vivian lately, so I hadn't paid much attention here.
I sent a casual status message inquiring after her well-being, chatted lightly, then got to the point.
The constellation Whispering Star Cluster is curious about the history before the Terra Empire.
"You mean before the Federation ventured into space—wa yo?!"
Humanity in that dimension originated from a place called Terra Planet. I knew space monsters appeared endlessly in their history, and there were even specialists who dealt with them. But were there no records of development from primitive or medieval eras?
After hearing my supplemental explanation, Beatrix tapped at her terminal.
"Before the Terra Empire... The records aren't all that accurate—wa yo... Parts have been erased from history, and nations have fallen to monsters impervious to physical attacks—wa yo!"
Ah, right. Unlike this dimension, humans there can't use Cosmic Power. That ability comes only through contracts with constellations. So how did they handle incorporeal monsters immune to physical attacks?
"It's said that groups like the Papal Court worshiping certain Single Planet Restricted Spirit Bodies now classified on Terra Planet, or secret societies like the Disaster Management Bureau, have handled those—wa yo!"
Beatrix held out her terminal into the air. A blurry black-and-white photo. People standing before a monster corpse in what looked like the Second Industrial Revolution era.
Apostles contracted with constellations—or rather, gods? They'd been the ones dealing with monsters and anomalies?
"Terra Planet hosts seven Single Planet Restricted Spirit Body gods—wa yo! That's unusually many for a single planet..."
An urban fantasy world... No, a modern fantasy one that even ordinary folk knew about. At least the elites were fully aware of gods and superpowers.
Seven constellations on one planet.
The constellation Whispering Star Cluster expresses thanks to its Second Incarnation.
In that dimension, apostles contracted with divinities had slain space monsters. That's how they bought time to build an SF civilization and scientifically analyze gods and superpowers.
But the lifeforms I created directly would be different. Even with a medieval civilization, the inhabitants of this fantasy world who wield superpowers wouldn't fall easily.
They had two hearts. Cosmic Power storage organs in their bodies. And overall physical abilities far superior to the Homo sapiens sapiens I envisioned.
Bodies different from humans—no, superior. This gave them the strength to fight space monsters even without a divinity's favor.
Yet why hadn't the mortals fully colonized the planet? The humanoid territories covered less than half the surface.
Why? As I blankly gazed at the planet, accelerating time, I soon understood.
Because things like that showed up periodically.
GRAAAAAA—!!!
Adjusting my view slightly, I spotted a monster roaring on one side of the planet. A serpentine lizard hybrid. Black body, bulky frame. Red flames spewing from its maw... Not your average beast—a mutated variant.
Cosmic Power adaptation wasn't limited to ordinary mortals. It looked like a black dragon or dragon straight out of a movie.
But that's no dragon. Worlds apart from the Owner of the Blue Breath, who ascended to constellation status after a millennium of cultivation. The aura was different. The feel was different. Instinct over reason. The alien instinct to hostile the world.
Its size rivaled a Single Planet Restricted Spirit Body, but the power gap was clear. If it faced the Owner of the Blue Breath, this black dragon pretender would die in seconds.
But to mortals, it was apocalyptic.
Thud!
Thud!
The black lizard lumbered toward a nearby mortal settlement. The panicked lifeforms fled in haste, but it was too late. The thing was continent-corner sized. Was this the initial stage of a planet-devouring monster?
No mere mountain or island scale. A colossal space monster visible from orbit.
Yeah. That's why. Periodic outbreaks like this stalled civilization. Even accelerating planetary time left them at medieval levels.
Did it periodically wipe civilizations? The lifeform population was plummeting.
The black dragon-like monster's rampage continued. Far larger than islands or nations, it shattered mortal civilizations in moments.
GRAAAAAA—!!!
KABOOM!!!
"Tohru zhak-nari… 거대 괴수가 K’thaa!!"
"이런 미친 Korel… korel!? Vuri-naki 피난 dro’shul!"
"Sha’lorak 싸울 수 veyn-thu… 당장 diiwooop!!"
Lifeforms trampled and dying by the giant beast. They swung metal-forged weapons, drew Cosmic Power to resist—but futile.
This monster dwarfed the Cosmic Insect Swarm my first apostle Yuna faced. Even if my apostle went berserk at death's door, she couldn't win. One-on-one demanded a divinity.
KABOOM!!!
BOOM!!
The earth quaked. Mortals' civilizations crumbled swiftly. Like an anteater invading an anthill.
Helpless slaughter. They were lifeforms I created myself, intelligent beings wielding my Cosmic Power—a part of me. Pity stirred.
Not to the level of my apostles Yuna or Beatrix dying, but irritating. Unpleasant. Enough to make me want to just kill it. A tiny bit...
This wasn't like watching a movie from another dimension. This was mine. My domain. A dimension where I could project my full power.
Even Shub overseeing this galaxy was my creation. No reason to hold back. And I could kill it effortlessly. Like squashing a crawling bug with a finger.
Irritation at the thing smashing my cultured amoeba colony manifested as will.
Will. The expression of intent divinities used casually. Like a human's annoyance at a cockroach made manifest.
But expressing that feeling as an Outer God. An immature one poor at power control...
The thought flashed—too late to rein in the emotion.
—■■■■■■!!!!!
The giant beast gleefully demolishing medieval civilization died on the spot. Every lifeform on the planet followed.
And it didn't stop there. The leaked killing intent swept part of Shub's galaxy. One star system turned into a zone of death.
Nearby, a divinity fled in panic, hiding among the stars. Bemused divine intents poured in; even Shub sent flustered will.
[Ah. Daddy?]
Ah. Mistake.