Chapter #8 — Oblivion Awaits!

So began the First Murderer’s search for atonement. Most Paradiseans lived far apart from mortals. The closest was a the Dream Moth that visited and skinny-dipped in the Crimson Sea about once every year. While the rest of the 100 Paradiseans scattered over Paradis were busy producing species, she was one of the few who were experimenting with the natural environment. Her efforts had borne fruits, for she had discovered yet another Minor Law—the Law of Detachment.

It’s the most suitable for a Flesh-Flayer, whose hunger stemmed not from the stomach, but the mind, hence why I decided to point Lilianna to her.

With any luck, she would find peace there, but I doubted it.

Atonement wasn’t going to come so effortlessly. ‘At least she’d be put on the right Path.’

The procedure would be excruciatingly painful and difficult, and as much as I sympathized with her position, for hunger was a terrible opponent to battle, I couldn’t forgive her either.

If someone committed a crime, they must serve do the time, not to mention Lilianna’s conditions were partially her own fault… He hadn’t planned it, but First had unintentionally linked the necrosis to her guilt.

Lilianna’s affliction would continue to ail her as long as she still felt guilty, and her remorse would never go away as long as she continued to crave the raw flesh of mortals.

She could make masks to disguise her shame, but it would remain until the end of days, or until she discovered another Path ahead.

Sighing, I resurfaced back in the Heavens just in time to hear the continuous Declarations of Creation echoing all at once. “Damn. Did these kids plan this?” I hadn’t paid much attention on them, too preoccupied with First and his antics. Then, with a crooked smile visible on my lips, I held back a curse as the Law of Plague silently inserted itself into Paradis…

It’s under the illusive, infantile Major Law of Calamity, because of course it was. “What the fuck are these kids doing?”

I told them to create, and the first thing their mind thought of was, ‘Let’s make harmful bacteria’?!

“It’s spiraling already.”

I heard a soft giggle, and threw Lysara off, who landed with a swagger to her steps. “Scared already, Nyan~?”

“Irritated.”

I responded curtly, tapping the Winged Formation Quill against the Table of Creation in annoyance.

“You are not the first to consider establishing an unchangeable Paradise.”

Her tail flickered in clear irritation. “Many of your predecessors attempted the same thing but failed due to various reasons. I even know a Creator faced by one of her smiling Creations pleading for True Death… It crushed her heart to grant his Wish.”

By Creators, I was very certain she meant herself.

Lysara mewled once, her sadness seemingly infectious.

Lifting my head, I glanced at the freshly crowned Deity of Illnesses and grimaced.

He had certainly taken the brunt of my imagination, for he resembled a dirty, swirling mop collapsing into itself, with no discernible characteristics other than a single toxic green eye in the center of that sloppy mass. He was even emitting super germs by simply standing motionless, eager to share his Creations to all.

“Life is meaningless without death; health is unappreciable without illness. I, Baræque, thus announce Bacteria’s!!! In spite of their small size, they are constantly evolving and hardy. Father, I pray that you bless my creation!”

He asked—nay, commanded. Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I groaned and was ready to refuse his plea when the Universal Will showed me a series of glimpses regarding Paradis’ probable destiny. It was one of never-ending turmoil; a future in which battles would break out among all species as less and fewer livable regions were discovered.

Under the repeated ravages of war and bloodshed, the Universal Will weakened until its budding pseudo-consciousness faded away. With it gone, the many Laws swiftly collapsed into a cocktail of conceptual energy that folded back into the original Creation Seed I had used to construct Paradis, except damaged, its light fading. “You realize I can just expand Paradis, right?”

It shivered once, making my brows furrow in perplexity. “What do you mean I shouldn’t?”

Then it explained to me how Infinities function.

Each Creation Seed was a Singularity with an infinite supply of energy—a perpetual and inexhaustible engine, but there was a limit to how much it could generate based on Grade. According to my prior comparison of the three lines: A, B, and C might all expand in width.

Simply put, if Universes B and C attack a larger Universe A, the inhabitants and even the Universal Wills may engage in a battle to determine the winner, who would absorb the loser to grow bigger and stronger, allowing the Seed to strengthen existing or replicate even foreign Laws previously alien to the winner.

The upgraded Seed would produce also Conceptual Energy on a larger scale, which we Creator could then direct to either enhance our existing Seeds or create new ones... In other words, there were two Paths I’d now explain in capitalist’s:

1)   Concentrate all of one’s savings on a single firm that has the potential to grow significantly and generate an enormous stream of revenue, which I named the All-In approach or…

2)   Splitting one’s lifesavings in many enterprises for admittedly smaller revenue streams. It’s less profitable, certainly, but safer. For example, if a single investment fell short of expectations, there’d be other sources of avenues to rely on.

In this scenario, the firms represented the Universes, and the Creation Seeds represented my funds, which would not increase or decrease in value if left alone. Now, if I invested all three of my savings accounts (Seeds) in one Universe to enlarge and strengthen it, I’d have nothing to fall back on in the event of an emergency. “What happens if a Creator lost all their means to create?”

Lysara—ever the helpful Goddess she was—responds. “Weakness, sluggishness, forced hibernation, and faulty abilities. If you are unable to reach Omnipotent City in time, you may get eaten by a Voidspawn or converted into a Nascent Seed by a traveling Deviant, Nyan~ I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“Can’t we just teleport directly to Omnipotent City?”

“There’s a reason I mentioned ‘malfunctioning powers’, Nyan~!”

Tucking her tail between her paws, she explained arrogantly, nose upturned. “Even if you could somehow think properly afterwards, your powers will become uncontrollable without the Creation Seeds to stabilize them.”

“I totally forgot…” We might be almighty within the limits of our Universe, but we were not actually omnipotent, not when confronted with the Void or inside a City built by and for us law-abiding Creator Gods. “Wait… Can Deviants pretend to be normal Creators and infiltrate Omnipotent City?”

“Yes,”

“Then what’s the point?” I interjected. Were the Creators so bored they’d create a society with no functions?

“If a fight breaks out outside the Coliseum, FSM will immediately teleport the initiator out of Omnipotent City immediately.”

Lysara yawned. “They will then be… ‘Awarded’ a ban based on their criminal history and the time between their last and recent fight. I’m not aware of the specifics, but supposedly some pricks got banned indefinitely for ganging up on a visiting Fledgling once.”

“Damn…”

“Omnipotent City is declared a safe-zone for a reason, Nyan~ Attacking Voidspawns and Deviants will be chased off by all of us, and the ones who snuck in would get thrown out the moment they dare make a move.”

The Feline Goddess gave me a disapproving glance and said, “Just remember not to accept any battle to the death like an idiot. That’s legal in the City. The grumpy ol’ man and I will not be able to help you, Nyan~”

Call me delusional, but I sensed a tale here.

Lysara went on to say, snuffing disdainfully, “The last 3 Fledglings I brought back were battle-maniacs who immediately accepted the challenge because of…” She shivered before continuing. “Ego.”

Dramatic much?

“Didn’t end well for them, did it?”

“It did not.”

She sighed in exasperation, and elaborated. “One’s hibernating at the moment, the rest are dead, Nyan~”

“Don’t worry. Do I look like a battle-maniac to you?”

I chuckled, only to catch the Feline Goddess’ skeptical glance. “Normally, no, but in the heat of the moment… I don’t know, Nyan~”

Lysara hummed, making me sweat. “What do you mean?”

“You were quite enthusiastic earlier when you killed the Voidspawn. Don’t think I didn’t notice that horrible grin of yours, Nyan.”

Lysara’s look pinched me on the spot, and my thoughts raced to change the subject.

“Oh, wait, how come Baraeque hasn’t said anything?” I gestured at the still clouds, unchanging winds, and immobile people— the Paradiseans included—whistling innocently. “I don’t remember making that happens…”

Fortunately, Lysara took the bait.

“You’re adapting well, Nyan~”

The Goddess perched above empty air, and looked into my eyes. “Isn’t it just like breathing? Although we can’t freely employ our powers in the Void, it’s a different story when we’re in our Universes. A thought can alter the trajectory of everything.”

I closed my mouth and squinted my eyes. “What if I accidentally, irreparably change Paradis?”

“Just be more conscious, that’s all.”

I scratched my chin and divided my thoughts into two, ten, hundred, thousand, million, and so on.

Half of them were overthinking every action I had ever taken in my life, both mortal and Divine, while the others were going over every bit of information the Will had received from Paradis to forecast what would happen next.

‘There is a 100% chance of rebellion at the anticipated time…’

‘Chances of Cataclysm—99%...’

‘Chances of…’

Such trains of thought raced through my mind, and I began to overanalyze even the blades of grass on the ground, the leaves on the trees, and the grains of sand on the beaches.

I could feel my EQ falling every instant I was in this situation, so I wisely turned it off. “Father!”

A mournful voice resonated across Paradis, understood by only me, the Paradisean, and, surprisingly, Lilianna, whose body a tiny strand from the Law of Murder had burrowed into like a egg sac of parasites when I was not looking. “Interesting…” Most mortal species had a hard cap to their Stats,

Setting aside my thoughts about the Progenitor of the Flesh-Flayer, I turned my attention to the Father of Plague and Ailmens...

“Father?”

Despite the frightening Aspect that the Paradisean embodies, he sounded quite innocent. “Have my Creations displeased you somehow?!” Baraeque pleaded.

I coughed, and the Heavens thundered.

Although I did not approve of Baraeque’s Creations, because they were necessary for the success of Paradis, I may as well embrace them rather than risk destroying our parent-child relationship.

“I, Orion, see that the world lacks variety! I hereby announce the Land Animals! Although their intelligence is lacking, they have been compensated with claws and fangs that will allow them to defend themselves! Father, I beg you to stand witness to this monumental moment!”

Did they really plan this?

And why did they all use the Substitution rather than Essence-Merging—the intended method?!

Instead of sacrificing a limb, Orion chose to create a swarm of monsters by peeling little parts of his own skin and claws.

The majority of the result resembled Earth animals with a few additional features—an extra eye or two, or three, or four; an added pair of ears; horns; scales;...etc. With a clap, Orion scattered the different species across the landmass, kneeling all the while. “Ambitious of him, Nyan~”

Each of the species had 100 members exactly, just like the Paradiseans.

“Approved.”

I said, but it was the wrong move since Baraeque immediately bristled, resentful of the attention I delegated his brother.

Before he could finish his thoughts, another voice echoed, “I, Inana, announced the Creation of Detachment. As long as someone has desires, they will suffer. Let it be understood that genuine freedom occurs when one has neither wants nor needs! All mortals who want to escape the Eternal Cycle can worship me as their Teacher and study the Path of Ascension! From henceforth, all who followed my path will now be known as a Celestial!”

“The fucking Celestials also constitute a species?! Shouldn’t it be a Status Effect or Multiplier?”

I pondered, using my Administrator Right to contact the Universal Will, who explained that while Ascension didn’t change the appearance of a mortal, it did cause a significant shift in a mortal’s biology;

However, because those who climbed the ladder could also be demoted, Celestial-Hood was both a Status and a separate species entirely. “That’s just needlessly complicated.”

With a flap of her wings, the Dream Moth swept the dusts from her wings throughout all of Paradis, engulfing all mortals in a dream of Paradise, but, of course, every action and belief system would face opposition, and thus a second voice echoed just a minute later.

“Life without Death is pointless; health without illness is undervalued; existence without desires or needs is one of emptiness and purposelessness! All things have two sides: Water and Fire; the Heavens and the Earth! The World is Duality; endeavor not to empty oneself, but rather to enjoy all the worldly joys our Father, the Creator, has bestowed upon us!”

Call me a deadbeat dad, but when did the Paradiseans start creating factions and opposition? Sure, I knew this was bound to happen, but this early?

“I am Besotte, the Ancestor of the Path of Obsession! Those who seek delights beyond the imagination may find me on the Far East Mountain!”

“Has none of them ever heard of middleground or compromise?”

I sighed as I pinched the bridge of my nose.

It was unfortunate that they both felt they were carrying out my will.

It’s also, well, amusing.

Even on Earth, I was never a firm believer in the Jedi or Sith, especially since Revanchrist and the Grey were a viable alternative… Both Light and Dark sucked on their own, but it was the combination of the two that produced the finest of Humanity.

As a wiseman once said: ‘The truth usually resides someplace in-between.’

A primal craving—all of the primal cravings—suddenly overtook the mortals, jolting them out of their Enlightened State and driving them to homicidal rage. As Besotte’s Aura eclipsed her, the Dream Moth trembled, scattering more of her dusts. Caught between the two Auras, the mortals kept switching States until blood began to trickle from their every pore. I was going to speak out when First took the word right out of my mouth. “ENOUGH!”

“You two are Paradiseans,”

First glanced between the two. “The original lifeforms and closest to our Father… Do you not feel embarrassed about acting like petulant children?”

Besotte snorted. “I’m obviously in the right here! What is the point of Life without Passion and Obsession? How can they appreciate the beauty of Father’s grand design without needs or wants? Would they even know the meaning of beauty?”

“Passion clouded rationality. Beauty may be seen regardless of feelings or ties.”

For someone who preached Detachment, Inana sure enjoyed having the perceived upper hand. I could even feel a tinge of rage and irritation building beneath her skin before the Law of Detachment crushed those feelings. “Being able to tell something is not the same as knowing them! Reason is dull and tasteless! How different are we from the simple, cellular entities Baraeque created back then?”

“Would you rather we allow mere instincts to dictate our actions like Orion’s lowly Beasts?”

‘Ah…’ Is this the infamous ‘Caught in the Crossfire?’

The two parties who were summoned out immediately entered the combat. What was once a rather reasonable conflict devolved into chaotic combat; “Father has already approved of my Creations! At least I produced my own stuff, unlike you annoying fools who only know how to take other people’s work! Baraeque, back me up here!!!”

The Plague Father’s split eye contracted with displeasure. “Are you poking fun at me?”

“No, I was just-“

I must confess, witnessing them free-for-all was entertaining—it made the sadist in me trill really, but if this continued, they might actually come to blows. First observed on the sidelines, looking every bit the frustrated older brother he was, as the younger ones engaged in a war of words. “You’re all children...”

“Shut up!”

Orion shouted, “Your Creations are terrible! They are foolish. They are prone to blunders. They lack both physical and mental strength! Their bodies can’t even handle the pure Water of Life Father gave to us all! If I were you, I’d have buried myself under the earth and saved myself the embarrassment.”

“What did you say to me, you little—!”

“You were born nanoseconds before us. I suggest you drop the high-and-mighty façade, First.” Inana admonished, yet in spite of the dagger embedded in her every word, her voice was mild, artificial, and garbled, similar to the free AI software I had played around with back on Earth. ‘Oh… Right in the feel.’

I hissed. Those might be elementary schoolyard level insults, but it hit every insecurity First had.

Besotte was the first to flare her Aura which drove All of Existence into a state of agitation, followed the King of Beasts’ wild, untamed one which blanketed the entirety of Paradis, driving them in a bloodrage.

Interestingly, Besotte’s and his Auras perfectly complemented each other.

They were a couple made in Heavens, or rather, Hell based on most of Earth’s cavalcade of religions. Baræque’s and Inana’s, on the other hand, conflicted quite a bit, since despite the simplistic nature of bacteria, virus and the likes, they still had the desire to evolve beyond their means, the desire to survive and spread. Still, as the circumstances had put them in the same basket, they had no choice but to suck it up.

Their Auras alone threatened to collapse Paradis, while the other 96 erupted to stabilize the vibrating landmass. “Brothers, sisters, we are of the same flock. Why fight?”

“Ain’t your business, Næran!” Orion snarled, gigantic ape-like form tensing in anger,

And Bäli greeted him with the same energy. “Talk to her again, and I’ll have your hide.”

“Try me.”

With a click, I stopped all of their Auras, my own pressure snuffing out theirs. “Cease your fighting this instance!”

“But Father!” Besotte objected.

“Enough!” I warned, glares stabbing into her torso. “Are you defying my orders?”

Cowed, the Mother of Obsession back away, head bowed so deeply I should not have been able to see her face, but within Paradis, how could anyone hide anything from me? I caught the tension etched into her features still. Yet, I said nothing, turning to all the Paradiseans. “During the Age if Creations, you shall not try to inflict harms upon one another. If you wish to convert your siblings’ Creations to your Cult, you must do so using words and wits, but most importantly, this must be done by a follower of yours—a mortal follower.”

I clarified, slowly turning to Inana.

“All forms of open conflicts are forbidden until the Age of Creation reaches its end. If you defy me,” Pausing for dramatic effect, I ended with a chuckle. “Oblivion awaits.”

I threatened, using the classic fadeout again. “That ought to get them back on track.”

Taking a step forth, I looked at Lysara and smirked. “How was that?”

“The fadeout might get a bit old if you did it every time, Nyan~”

“Oh, c’mon! You loved it earlier!”

“I’m a fickle Goddess.”