I've improved and scaled up my temple.

I learned from becoming an Annihilation Maw that it's possible to convert space itself into raw energy, which, I've determined is Mana. Mana and energy are the same thing? Weird.

This does cause the universe to shrink. However, that destructive process can be halted by allowing the expended Mana sufficient time to ease back into space.

Balancing the spatial deficit with available Mana creates a natural cycle. We expend less Mana than we get, yet there's no waste product. It's basically free energy— the universe does all the work. It can only function for inscriptions, of course, since otherwise this magic would damage space.

Like I do.

Once the longstanding Mana deficit was taken care of, Temp was able to put all of his newly invented inscriptions onto himself. He supposedly made himself smarter, too, which made me concerned. Except... It affects me, as he's part of my Origin, and I don't feel any smarter. I don't know what to say. Good job?

As a result of his other inscriptions, even my smallest dragons are pushing 200 meters tall. We're becoming a proper society of draconic titans. Dracosect and Kaliwot lead the pack at an astonishing 3,305 meters and 1,317 meters, respectively. I think Temp favors Dracosect more than I do— he wasn't originally over double Kaliwot's height.

Naturally, a 300 meter tall, 6 kilometer square temple— it isn't even close to enough anymore.

Ridiculous as that sounds.

Rather than destroy what I'd already so lovingly built, I came up with an idea. Why not normalize everyone's size in the Chronometric Temple, then build a Chronovoid Temple around it?

It doubly works because metric means to measure, whereas the void can expand as much as it pleases. Oh, and the temple WILL expand. Automatically, and as much as is needed. I'm glad it was built next to the ocean.

Those inside the Chronometric Temple will be able to look out of its skylights and doors. Rather than seeing the sky or the horizon, they'll witness our draconic glory, and be able to worship us as the gods we are.

I've already used Causal Conduit to ensure every dragon's perfect form is immediately viewable to all. Unfortunately, once we get big enough, our size creates an obnoxious lag effect due to the speed of light. No longer shall any dragon worry that anyone can't see and worship them immediately. No matter how powerful they become.

Indeed, my new temple shall be a dragon's greatest paradise!

Well... Except for Pride and myself.

Pride was unhappy that I so quickly outgrew him, suggesting that I shrank him in order to become stronger. He wasn't wrong— so I gave my dragons their power back.

Aside from eating so much of the universe, I also 'expanded' by about 30% when I consumed the Abyssal. Meaning, I ate about 30% of the universe. Oops. Adjusting my dragons' sizes accordingly placed Dracosect and Kaliwot at 4,297 meters and 1,712 meters, respectively. I'll bet Dracosect never imagined he'd be over four kilometers tall.

I mean, I shrank the meter itself, technically, but who's counting? Not me. My dragons are bigger and stronger than ever— which could never bother me in the slightest.

I modeled my new temple after the original but changed its artwork and symbolism. I like the hourglass motif but wanted a simpler concept. More void-ish. So, the floor layout of the Chronovoid temple doesn't have any stairs or seating. Nor any internal pillars.

It's one huge dragon marble room, lined with huge strips of solid obsidian. Then, it has an immense infinity symbol on the floor, but stylized like my spiky annihilation maw. In black diamond, of course!

Though the infinity symbol is a real slab of black diamond, I used some spatial trickery to make it turn to 'face toward' the viewer— no matter where they stand in the temple. Then, for an extra effect, if you stare at it? It'll seem to come alive and rise from the floor, growing ever larger and more imposing until you look away.

It's not really changing at all; spatial magic can do all kinds of fun stuff. After all, I needed some way to symbolize my Annihilation Maw form. This is the right way to do it.

I bet the dragons will challenge each other to see who can stare at it the longest. All you have to do is turn toward the wall to break line of sight, no matter how big it looks. It's safe and fun.

I expanded the original underground portion to fill the Chronovoid Temple's new larger footprint. Now there's the original 20 meter rooms and new expanding Void rooms. Though my hardworking dragons rarely use it, and they definitely don't need a hideout anymore, at least they'll always have a place to call home.

In the very center of the infinity symbol, nestled amongst its immense black diamond slab, is the Chronometric Temple.

image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/144.png]

image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/144b.png]

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image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/144c.png]

Above it, then, is the new ceiling. It's fairly similar to before, but there's only one artwork.

image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/144d.png]

It's a simple black dragon marble square surrounding a skylight. The warm white enchantments around the square make the night sky outside look exactly like a portal to the void. The light pillar from the Chronometric Temple's central skylight then beams directly into said void.

This represents the care and safety I provide to my followers; dragon, or otherwise. It does have a vaguely menacing feeling to it as well, but!

That's intentional.

There's been several dragons who've tried to commit severe crimes. Of course, I stepped in at the last moment and stopped them. It's not a thought crime if they had to be stopped by god himself. Or voidgod, I suppose.

I learned my lesson from Unlo. My dragons are far too powerful to be left unchecked. Still, I must give them as much freedom as I can. There's no point in having power which can't be used.

The exceptions, of course, are when they try to maim or kill someone without a valid reason. There's a couple of dragons who have nasty attitudes... But, they haven't gone too far, so I've let it be. If rude words are all they've got, and they're not abusing the power I've given them... I'll chastise them. Being rude isn't a crime. Though, threats do count.

Words may not be crimes themselves, but it's the intent which matters. Other criminal systems tend to waffle over intent— I can read my dragons' memories. Trying to extort someone under the threat of violence means lockup plus compensation for the victim. Said compensation is paid from the offender's own hoard, of course.

Again, my dragons have immense power. Plus, they could literally ask Temp for whatever they're pining for and he'd tell them how. Which means it's totally pointless to behave in such a way. Most of them seemed to agree with this view— thus I'd have expected crimes to become exceedingly rare.

That's not what happened.

Unfortunately, most of the severe criminals were suffering from the same flickering memories as Unlo. I hate to say it, but I may... Be driving some of my beloved dragons insane. It's weighing heavily on my nonexistent heart; I've not been able to figure out what to do.

I told Temp to monitor for these so we can take action proactively. For now, I'm putting the ones who are least affected under watch. The worst three are in lockup. None have transformed like Unlo, but I'm not willing to attempt any experimentation unless and until they do.

As for the opposite side of that coin.

"Hey, Dracosect. Kaliwot."

"Yes, my god?"

"Yes, god Chronovoid?"

"A lot happened, sorry for the delay. I want to congratulate you two with a reward for your combat yesterday."

They both kneel.

Oh, right. The new temple has inscriptions to silence everything which impacts the floor, walls, and ceiling. Just like the void. Just like my body! I thought it was my talents doing that, but it turns out my body itself began eating sound at some point. Odd, but I actually like it.

Though, hopefully I won't become invisible.

It's so ironic. I was an Abyssal black, overwhelmingly loud dragon. Now? Hraw.

"First, Dracosect. I owe you much and always seem to keep owing more. You did an amazing job during your fight with Kaliwot, yes, but stepping up to manage my temple during my recent absence was above and beyond what I require from you. Moreover, you did so flawlessly. Perhaps better than I could've."

"Thank you, my god!"

"I'll be giving you enough power to reach eight kilometers. It's just a drop in the bucket but almost double your current strength. Once you acclimate, we'll double it again. I plan on continuing this from now on until you reach the stats of a Rank one god."

I may have to move my temple into outer space; I guess Pride would like that. The two of us are already so much bigger than the rest, hreh. Parsecs versus kilometers is a huge gap.

"Thank you, my god! You are eternally gracious! I merely seek to replicate your behavior!"

And my form it seems. I spy a bit of crystalline growth atop his black spikes. He's not becoming an annihilation maw, but he apparently likes visually mirroring my evolutions. Or, at least... I hope that's what he's doing.

I put my clawed hand on his chest while standing at the same height as him. I watch his form scale up, noting the appearance of more and thicker crystalline spikes. Then, I notice his body start to internally split similar to how my annihilation maw unfolds. Hey, what are you...

Temp, is that what Dracosect wanted?

"Yep, my god!"

Sheesh. Really? Alright, Dracosect. You asked for it. I send way more power; his body scales up and morphs quickly.

"Ohh! Thank you so much, my god! I feel myself becoming more incredible than ever!"

I mentally map his changes in my mind, and thus see that his splits are a bit different from mine. Rather than mirroring my annihilation maw, he's giving himself the shape of a crystalline dragon head; gullet, tongue, ridged maw roof, and so on. Two of his other form's 'horns' are his Mana rockets. These horns are off to the side of his face, so both rockets retain their propulsion ability.

Your body is art, Dracosect. Art that doesn't imitate life, but becomes a work of living art all its own. I wonder if he's doing this make me feel like less of a freak.

I push in even more power to ensure there's enough Mana density for the changes being done. Normally, this is definitely too much at once, but Temp can handle it. If I go too lightly, it might take several sessions. Breaking apart a strong dragon's body is no easy feat.

"Wahhhohohoho! My god, Chronovoid!"

Hrahra, I know you like it.

I taper my transfer of power as he reaches 10km. His changes slow to a halt and stop. I look around at the temple, which has grown to suit Dracosect's new size. Sweet, it worked.

"My god, thank you! But, you went 2km further than you initially said! Is this okay?"

"I wanted to ensure Temp had enough Mana given the extreme changes you asked for, and also... Well, as thanks for being there for me once again. I wasn't going to leave you half-modified when you went so far out of your way to make me feel better."

He smiles a big toothy dragon smile.

He knows exactly what I mean.

I give him a toothy smile.

"Hraw, I'mma dragon!"

He... Opens up.

#RAAWR#

"Thanks Dracosect. You really didn't have to do so much."

"Heh! This much is nothing, my god!"

"It's something. I really appreciate it."

He 'bites' my shoulder.

"Rrr!"

"Hrahra!"

I tackle Dracosect in his dragon head form.

"Grah!"

"Rhawh!"

We tussle, as dragons do. He always knows how to make me feel better.

"Rrgrh!"

"Hrwha!"

"Grwar!"

...

...

...

After a few minutes, he ends up on top of me, but my legs block his advance.

"Rahwh!"

"Grrah!"

Admittedly, I could force a victory by kicking him to the ground, but we're just having fun. Not every battle must have a clear winner.

"Dracosect, I'm going to reward Kaliwot. Let's call it here."

"Of course, my god!"

He transforms into his proper dragon form and jumps off to the side. I get up from my temple's floor.

Fooling with the fundamentals of draconic anatomy out of the way...

Dragons do as dragons please, I suppose?