Chapter #10 — Something

The Divine Right of Kingship; the Heaven’s Mandate; the Right to Rule ordained by Divinity…

The monarchy and a region’s predominant religion were practically joined at the hip back on Earth, and such a system of governance was present everywhere, both the West and East included. Whether the so-called ‘Sons of Heaven’ were truly divinely ordained back on the blue dirtball I once to live on, I knew not.

What I did know for a fact was: Shittu was fated to be King, and that his right to Kingship’s as legitimate as could be. Unfortunately, it’s going to take more than that to convince the Pleigus, for infantile as their civilization, their people were a rather… Paranoid breed.

Considering the challenging and short-lived circumstances they faced, it was not unexpected. To persuade them, mere hearsays and words of mouth wouldn’t be enough. My son needed more… He needed miracles, and I was happy to help.

Hence, why I chose to grant certain boons to First’s wayward Incarnation.

Besides the improvement in physical ability and a minor buff to his CHA Stat, I also created a pseudo-spiritual organ in his body. A second set of nerves that’d allow Shittu to manipulate the metaphysical currents of Paradis…

In layman’s term: I gave the Incarnation Magic, which was also inheritable by his descendants. My hope was his children; their children and their children’s children would propagate the gene to the extent that every Pleigusean of the later generations would be able to manipulate the fabrics of reality for kicks and giggles. But in all seriousness, I did not make the decision lightly, but at the pace they’re going, Bäli and Næran’s ‘Aryan race’ would dominate Paradis alone;

Especially bow that they had had centuries to refine their Magic,

What’s more concerning was the ritualistic circles they were carving into the marble monuments they had littered Paradis with… Parasites which drained Mana and Life from the lakes, rivers, and the Crimson Sea. While I could strike them down where they stood, I’d admit, I was… Intrigued to see how far they’d progress with such significant advantages at their disposal.

And, unsurprisingly, the Sharrï did not disappoint.

They had skipped both the Stone and Bronze Age to go straight for the Iron Age, and were in the process of building monumental structures that would overshadow the Pyramids in term of scale.

Additionally, each of these monuments contained a piece of the Vault Crystal embedded within them, a type of unique resource located beneath Paradis, which steadily accumulated the energy released upon a creature's death and captured their Souls to facilitate their journey into the Great Journey, Paradis’ Cycle of Reincarnation.

For the Sharrï and everyone else at large, these crystals would continue to be a scarce commodity due to the fact that I had made it unfeasible to excavate below a specific depth.

Yes, I employed an invisible barrier(The Great Divide)… While not the most innovative or well-thought out choice, it’s the initial idea that came to me when the draft for Paradis began to take shape in my mind.

Every few centuries, the Universal Will would initiate a seismic shift to elevate the surplus Vault Crystals and establish a mine, thereby inducing an artificial scarcity. If it were capable of expressions, I was sure the Will would giggle gleefully at its own genius, ‘The warmongering pest…’

Right away, the sky boomed, almost as if the Will’s a way to let me know, ‘I heard that!’

“And?” Disdainfully, I snorted, arms crossed in front of my chest, “Bitch, I made you… Try me, I will pull the plug on your hardware.”

The Will shivered, obediently returning to its duties.

Despite the significant power of the Will, it was currently being overwhelmed.

This situation was not unexpected, as it’s not only burdened with a substantial workload while simultaneously facing challenges from the oblivious Sharrï who’re gleefully depleting its resources, thus diminishing its influence on Paradis considerably. This was partly why both it and I agreed it’s best to coronate Shittu.

In linking the Will to the prosperity of a species, it would enable the Universal Will to maintain a presence in Paradis, irrespective of the actions taken by the Sharrï within my sandbox.

Many people might say it’s favoritism, and they’re right. Sharrï were just too exceptional as a species, and it’s not like we didn’t reward them for all their hard work.

Merely not punishing them was sufficient in my view, however, due to their excellence, the average Sharrï was granted quite a substantial amount of Credits to acquire Traits in their next life.

Many had already lost their lives shortly after encountering the beasts and diseases which their bodies just had no resistance to, despite their relatively long lifespans. To put it simply, if Pleigus were students in Special Ed, then the Sharrï were the prodigies who had never once faced issues they couldn’t solve.

Even Næran and Bäli had chosen to utilize the  ever reliable strategy of ‘Watch-n’-wait’.

In their perception, given that I did not intervene, they might believe I didn’t have any objection to the Sharrï’s misuse of authority; however, I did have an objection.

If this behavior were allowed to continue, Paradis could potentially turn into an horrid wasteland with the sole inhabitable region being the Midland where the Sharrï’s First City was situated. “Sharru, if you keep abstaining, your Universe may genuinely get turned into a barren wasteland, Nyan~”

Lysara reminded, tongue running on her mouth as she stretched on my lap.

“So you say…”

However, it was clear this state of affairs wouldn’t be sustained for long as indications of societal fissures began to emerge.

In the absence of an adversary or insurmountable challenges, history had shown that societies’ struggle tended to turn inwards.

Eternity was an unattainable dream, save for discord, which reared its ugly head every chance it got. Presently, a distinct separation had developed between the two social strata in the societal structure of the Sharrï.

While there was no formal ruling elites, the Mages were considered the privileged class, leaving the non-magical with the more arduous tasks. Though the Mages also took part in the activities on occasion, the full extent of their involvement was only up to the point where they could declare their contribution with certainty.

The prevailing power imbalance stifled any opposing viewpoints, yet I anticipated this status quo to be temporary.

The less inherently talented Sharrï were beginning to realize inquiries regarding why they were required to exert themselves while witnessing others put forth minimal effort and reap greater rewards.

“Once one extreme has been reached, the pendulum will swing back. It is inevitable.”

Regardless of opinions on communists, they were accurate in asserting that class struggle is a perpetual conflict.

Still, I held the stance that it was conflict in general that’s everlasting, with class struggle being just one element within a broader spectrum. I shrugged, and the Feline Goddess promptly inquired, “Even if it does, how can the ordinary Sharrï confront their Magic-wielding Overlords?”

Smiling, I displayed my bicep and gestured towards the well-defined muscles.

“The Mages possess the ability to effortlessly levitate boulders three times their size, Nyan~ This is a discrepancy that mere muscles can’t overcome.”

Chuckling, I laughed as I stated, “All Paths lead to greatness.”

In a society governed by conventions, this greatness was typically measured by one’s popularity and wealth.

However, in a world where Magic was a fundamental force of nature, physical strength alone had the potential to form cataclysmic, humanoid weapons comparable in power to the Mages. Both the Universal Will and I were merely waiting for the right person to appear… One who’d brace all manners excruciating pain and tortures, if only for a chance to rise above his station.

Most of the Sharrï in Existence were essentially walking twigs, and they would stop working the moment they felt they had pushed their limits… As for the Pleiguseans, with all the competitions for food and dwelling out in the wild, it was a miracle if they even made it to adulthood, let alone spared the time to hone their physique to superhuman level.

Even Orion’s numerous beasts, diverse of a selection as they were, hadn’t made it to their next Evolution phase.

Actually, nobody had.

Even Shittu, who was basically designed to have the typical Pleigusean physiology but improved, hadn’t managed to access the highly desired Life Energy. Honestly, Life Energy was just another form of Ambient Mana.

When the Inner Mana and it merged, it resulted in the same energy that filled all of Paradis.

If Magic represented Yin, enabling the manipulation and creation of substances, including the fundamental Laws of Reality, then Life Energy was its counterpart, Yang, the force that fueled everything.

This wasn’t an RPG game, so there were no late or early level, but I reckoned at the later Ages of Paradis, when the power balance had fully taken shape, Fighters could kill a Mage faster than the latter could blink.

Okay, so maybe I was getting a bit carried away, but I was so excited just picturing it that I failed to even notice the annoyed glare I was getting from the Feline Goddess. “I don’t get it… Why the separation of the two, Nyan~?”

I blinked, “To prevent my Creations from besting me, why else?”

Considering the limited information provided, there's a high probability that one’s Creations would attempt to overthrow their Creator, a situation I aimed to avoid.

Targeted by Deviants; hounded by Voidspawns; and plotted against by our own progenies.

What challenging lives us Creators lived...! Not.

The Paradiseans were currently integrating the Laws and Concepts into themselves, evolving into something more than mere Deities…

They were becoming Embodiments, thereby securing their connection to Paradise for eternity.

This not only served as a significant power enhancement but also acted as a strategy to deter any future rebellions.

Once fully fusing with a Law, they would be forced to protect my Universe, else they too would be at peril, not that they realized what they were doing, of course. Who in their right mind would so… Foolishly ‘collar’ themselves, otherwise?

The only one who seemed unbothered with occupying a Law, or trying to create one was First himself.

Creating an Incarnation and instating it as a King might be anticipated to generate an impact, yet it seems that the concept of Kingship was too indefinite… Too vague for a Law to materialize.

“I am FORMLESS.”

A raspy voice suddenly tore through the silence. “The world remains incomplete and chaotic, wandering Souls pervade the lands. Through my Creations, I seek to rectify this situation and ease the burden on Father’s shoulders. Witness,”

The Heavens resounded with thunder as darkness materialized into a swirling mass above, out of which descended millions of cloaked, black skeletons onto Paradis, each representing a living being. “The Heralds!”

“Such cruelty.”

Although the act was accidental, Formless had made the Heralds of Death with a singular purpose in mind: To assist a Soul in navigating the Reincarnation Cycle. This served the Universal Will, but the Heralds were merely ethereal beings, existing only until the death of the living individual they were designated to. Upon the end of their existence, they’re to be enveloped by Formless’ flowing cloak…

It's a fancy way to say they’d get destroyed afterwards.

Still, the Universal Will didn’t seem concerned with the Heralds at all,

If anything, it welcomed them into the folds, before hurrying to relinquish its control over the Reincarnation Cycle to them.

“Slothful bastard.”

This, of course, mattered little to the Pleigus who perceived the changing winds the beginning of yet another storm.

In contrast, the Sharrï swiftly comprehended the situation by keenly observing the metaphysical currents, albeit without fully understanding the implications of Formless’ actions. With a howling screech, the Heralds departed, tailing the person they were literally born for. Everywhere they went, the Souls left behind scattered, fearful of the Demons Death himself had unleashed upon Paradis.

Regrettably, as one Law sought equilibrium, another emerged in the process.

The development of the Law of Undeath had been progressing steadily, though it had been largely disregarded by many, much like Death itself, which the Paradiseans had rejected due to its ugliness, had been claimed.

However, what truly intrigued me was the entity that embraced it.

It was not a Paradisean, but rather a nomadic Sharrï Soul who triumphed over and consumed a Herald.

A Soul that sought to overcome Death by consuming it, and in the process forever denied herself Reincarnation. She could feel neither pain, nor pleasure. She couldn’t sleep, eat or drink… Such a thing—neither alive nor dead—simply did not fit in anywhere. Even her appearance, which the God of Undeath had once prided herself upon, strikingly beautiful as she was, had vanished.

Her once luxurious and golden hair had transformed into a dreary grey hue devoid of vitality, while her once mesmerizing green eyes now appeared hollow and sunken.

Her skin hung loosely off her once svelte form, resembling that of a decaying corpse, with both her teeth and nails showing signs of decay.

Distressed, Häel emitted a piercing shriek that reverberated through the entirety of the metaphysical currents, alerting all nearby Sharrï of her presence. It didn’t take long for the travelling patrolmen to reach her position, where they promptly fired upon the Lich. As expected of the ‘Aryan race’, the Sharrï didn’t hesitate whatsoever despite the resemblances she bore to them.

In a seemingly effortless motion, Häel intercepted the bolts in midair, her eerie gaze fixated on the attackers with a chilling lack of emotion.

Contrary to my anticipation, the Lich unexpectedly pivoted and fled in haste.

While the state of Undeath may come with drawbacks, one undeniable advantage was the unparalleled stamina it conferred, allowing the Lich to outpace her relentless hunters within a mere hour.

Halting near an ancient and towering tree, she raised her skeletal hands. Being Undead typically dulled emotional sensitivity, but Häel could not escape the twinges in her chest upon beholding her hideous visage. “Looks pretty metal…”

Startled, the Lich spun around to discover me pulling a branch off the tree while already disguised as Sharrï. She inquired, “Who are you?” Her voice, worn and hoarse, also carried a hint of lightness which only served to make Häel all the more creepy.

“You may call me Sharru—Sharru the Scribe.”

The Lich inclined her head slightly, causing a piece of skin to slide off her face and land on the ground with a moist squelch. ‘Ew…’

“Do you know who I am?”

Her inquiry was not surprising.

Despite my use of her proper name, the Sharrï girl had relinquished her identity when she decided to consume the Herald of Death.

The figure standing before me was a combination of the two—both less and more… A merging of a mortal and a fleeting existence that was never meant to last. “I know what you are…” I emphasized, circling her with a frown.

“What am I?”

Curiosity piqued, Häel couldn’t stop herself from asking.

“A Lich.”

Upon hearing the name, the girl became still as it echoed in her mind.

Again, she inquired, “Are there others similar to me?”  

And once more, I responded with all the patience in the world, “I’m afraid not. You are the first of your kind—the pioneer.”

“Will there be additional ones in the days to come?’

To which I replied, “Only if you desire it.”

Her metamorphosis was triggered by the Law of Undeath.

Similar to Lilianna, Häel alone possessed the knowledge of the Ritual required to create more Undead.

“I… I remember houses—buildings which make me look and feel small. I remember being beautiful, courted by even the levitating people—”

“Mages.”

I helpfully added, but she didn’t seem to notice.

“I was,” She paused, a flicker of agony briefly crossing her face. “I was playing outside the settlement, and a beast came. Its claws hurt… Its fangs dug into my neck, and I—!”

Häel gasped. “What do I do?”

Smiling, I answered. “Whatever you want.”

“I want for nothing.” Was her reply.

“Everything wants for something,”

Us Gods wanted more Conceptual Energy, entertainment,…etc.

The Voidspawns wanted to replace us;

The Deviants, from what I had heard, wished for utter anarchy;

Paradis itself wished for growth, while the Law naturally sought equilibrium.

“I don’t.”

Turning away from her, I shook and gestured, “You just haven’t discovered it yet.”

Häel appeared thoughtful, then conjured Ambient Mana into a bolt which she launched towards me.

The energy dispersed harmlessly upon my skin as I questioned, “Why did you feel the need to do that?”

“I was curious to see the outcome.”

My throat filled with laughter at her innocent gaze.

“How adorably amusing you are.”