THIRD PERSON POV
What was death in the game? For others, it was something different dependent on what had been done in their universes. For Hildelith it was simple. Death was a chance for a new life. A new story. A new and clean sheet. When she'd made each of the realities she'd done it in a way that each complimented the other. Yet it never occurred to her just how much they did.
The emphasis though lay with the Spirit Realm and the 8th Ring. The spirit realm was a Nexus point for all souls to be made, sent out, and returned. It was the Samsara of her Universe.
The 8th Ring was different. Where the spirit realm stood for new stories and new changes. The 8th Ring stood for finality. For the utter and complete end. It was no surprise that this was Freyr's Source Point.
While the Primordial children didn't need these points they were like birds. Exhibiting more finesse and power in the sky.
The 7th Ring was completely different. Taking the advice from her fans, the need for Tora to have mystical energies, and also keeping in mind that Vaustaris could and would use the energy granted for themselves, Hildelith knew she didn't want another situation with Molliwag.
Which was why she decided to beat the game. Aether had shown her she could create things without the template. Astronomical matter creation and hammered the fact home.
Utilizing materials she knew to have effects she would need was simply all about imagining and working out what she wanted. The dangerous part of the game was how to create and generate the very energy she desired.
Then she remembered. Mirror of Nothing reflected what her universe was capable of. Yet she wasn't just her universe. Her universe was her. Didn't that mean the reflection went both ways? The mirror after all only shows you what it sees.
Of course that didn't just mean she expected something magical to happen. Unless there was something she had that had universe didn't.
The One -Spark.
She didn't know what it was. Or what it was there for. It barely had any notifications that applied to it. But, she remembered what it could and had done at the very beginning of time.
What else to do if not to reenact the Dawn Bang?
It had been more difficult than just stuffing the plate into her chest though. She'd actively channeled Divinity to it. Aether to it, Even the Primordial Chaos she'd had less to no manipulation overacted.
And just like she suspected the One spark acted. Repeating the actions of the Dawn bang it stabilized all the energies running rampant in her. But this time the energies weren't just her universe or her. It was on the disk.
The rest was something Hildelith realized to be a bloody chance. While the energies were stabilized the One-Spark seemed capable of realizing that the Plate was somehow not a part of its body.
So it shared itself. Transforming the plate into a source point of itself. Hildelith quickly grabbed and took out the Plate. But that was where she'd made her first mistake. The One Spark wasn't just helping to guide and orient the energies on the plate. It has essentially been making it one with her.
In essence, body, soul, and energies were shared with the plate. And she just pulled it out. The One Spark snapped.
The energy build-up exploded. Hildelith and the One-Soark worked together somehow to drain and regulate the energies running rampant while the Bands of the Star Rings along with the rivers did their part too.
When the implosion took place the One-Spark tried drawing the energy back into her. Hildelith grasped at the connection with the plate and with all the focus she could bear snapped it.
The backlash was cataclysmic. Her Form of Nothing absorbing the damage shattered like glass. Reverting to Godform to avoid death the leftover damage quickly ravaged her body while she fought to heal herself with Divinity.
Simultaneously, the plate now free from the One-Spark connected to all and everything. Like a mind of its own, it spread its tendrils trying to learn and understand. First, it sorted itself out and understood its purpose and its it's existence. Next, it grasped at the very bands that held it in place and melded into it.
The rivers roared as the energy intruded. The Rings knew its task. An automated machine that did its work. So when it detected a new energy, one both diffused into the bands and the river it was torn. Yet it knew its job.
The Energy was carried through the river and into the other realities. Yet unbelievably the energy wasn't even waiting for the river. It ripped through the bands, like currents conducted through iron it roared through the rings.
The Moment it connected to the abstract it was like the energy found water. And then it connected to Sol and the entire Rings quivered. If possible the rings glowed even brighter. The Waters becoming even more colorful and faster.
On the Sol, Haero opened his eyes. Silver orbs locked on the very surface of his Sol Bond as he felt a new and powerful force integrating itself with the sun. Yet even as he proved he didn't detect any malicious intent or something not nice.
"Feels like mama". He shrugged and shut his eyes returning to his art. The other babies unbothered by the ripples ignored and continued their antics.
For the mortal realms, it was a very different effect. Unlike the other realities where the energy was simply connected by the rings and rivers, it did something different.
The Tapestry was bound to the bands of the Star Rings. As such once the energy met the tapestry it simply overflowed. Like a waterfall of energy, it poured into the Mortal plains.
Through the rivers, it flowed into the reality unseen yet present.
Back in its source the Circular plate now completely different than before unleashed a plethora of lights and soft noises. Then a tiny mirage formed above it. Suddenly it split and began forming more mirages rushing in all directions. Like a tidal wave, it unleashed these forces.
Their ages followed the paths the energy took which was everywhere. Like an army of insects, they flooded all realms and realities. Even the rivers were unspared.
Finally, a single mirage formed. This one was larger and more physical than the other translucent and smaller mirages. The size of a tiny being not even the length of a baby's arm it floated to the prone form of Hildelith.
The little thing was visibly similar to the Creator on the ground. Same features and looks yet tinier. It floated closer and seemed bothered.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
"Oh dear". Turning around in alarm it wondered what to do. Just at the moment the energy finally exploded beyond the binds of the Rings. Rushing outwards they swept through the nothingness and saturated everything they found. Behind it, an army of pests followed the mirages. Flooding even into the Lunar palace and up to the very last border of the universe.
The tiny being snapped its fingers as it saw something. A crib floating in space. Its memories and the knowledge it had gotten from its maker told it who the baby was. With an effortless hand swish, a query was sent through the army of mirages.
Like a switch was flipped a section of the mirages floated aimlessly now in the nothingness surrounding the Crib. Baby Tora herself eyes wide and cooing at the mirages grasped for them.
A few flavored into her grasp while some just floated around her.
The little being then sent another query. This time a mirage floating right on Tora's arm waving melted into her. Like a jolt of electricity knowledge bloomed into her mind.
It was a single strand but held a massive amount of knowledge. Enough to turn the barbling brat into a wise brat. It was like sentience finally came. Eyes cleared from some babyish confusion and Tora could see existence for what it was.
Yet her mind focused on one crucial piece of information. 'Mama needs me'.
****
HELEN'S POV
I woke up to a slew of notifications coating my vision. Annoyed I willed them to be sent into my mind. And they were. I sprang up from both surprise, alarm, and joy.
[Feat - Source Point Creator]
You have formed a source point on your own despite the use of system-generated materials.
+10 to Focus
+10 to Abstract
[Please name Source Point - ]
[General Skill - System Creation - gained]
You can create and develop a system that works on specific rules and regulations for either worlds, groups, or specific individuals.
[FEAT - Striking out]
You have attempted to create on your own without the aid of The Will. You have achieved success while also facing danger. Insight - Spark - gained. +20% increased chances of success when performing tasks without Templates. +20 to Focus and Physicality]
[Insight - Spark Splitting]
You have watched and seen the One-Spark work. Its use and power still elude you yet you gain a simple inkling of basic knowledge. Splitting a spark will disengage a tiny single tendril of the One-Spark for your immediate use. Applications are left to you for discovery. Watch your head]
[Cooldown - 24 Star Rings Days]
[General Skill - Soul Erasure Resistance - gained]
You dabbled with a power best left alone and barely survived. Nullifies all Soul damage for 60%. Here, a gift. Try not to be so reckless]
[Soul Arts/15%]
[Your soul was damaged and mended back. Your soul power increases by 15%]
[Mirror of Nothing -> Mirror of Self]
You have seen your reflection from both sides. Now you know both angles and both stories.
[General Skill - ?????? Generation]
You now generate and form the new energy which permeates all of reality.
[Please name new energy - ]
[General Skill - Mystical energies Generations]
Your new energy has begun tabulating and recording all sights and events in your words. Gaining access and connecting to every single subatomic matter in your universe. Each reverberation and concept has been tabulated and various forms of energies created for it]
[PERK - ???????]
You have formed the first hive and system of knowledge in the Multiverse. As the first to exist your ?????? may randomly spawn knowledge about an unknown knowledge not from your universe.
[Please name new Hub of Information - ]
[Racial Skill - Spell Casting Unlocked]
[General Skill - Balance Magic - gained]
Hildelith rubbed her face from the vast list in her mind. Slowly she began sorting through them. Things like the name for the Hub of Information or Library were things she'd already decided.
'Credit to whom credit is due'. With a thought, the name was slotted in. Next came the naming for the energy generated. Hildelith was tilting toward Mana since it was something the mortals would also use and the term might be familiar with players.
"Who am I kidding". She didn't care for anything old. She was a Creator and new things were what she stood for. Besides, mana was almost an insult to what the energy was.
It was more manage knew it. Something not only generated by her but also somehow drawing from the One-Spark. She could feel the importance and power it radiated. Her power. And yet more.
"Akasha". She didn't know why she liked the name but it stood out to her. She could already see players using it while battling. Mages channeling Akasha into their spells and manipulating Akasha.
"Oh thank goodness. worried there you'd go with the mana thing".
Hildelith blinked as she realized she was not alone. Floating in front of her was a tiny fairy-like creature. Looking closer Hildelith couldn't help but feel that it was creepy for the thing to look quite like her. 'Is this due to being taken from me?'.
"Yes". The creatures chirped and twirled.
"You can read minds. Of course you can read minds, I created you that way". She shook her head and then sighed before looking around. The first thing she noticed was Tora.
A toddler Tora. 'The Hell'.
"Careful Miss. With the Primordial Psionics formed from the creation of the mirror dimension within the dream realm and also the divinity within it, any thought and desire with so great an expression could very well be given physicality".
Her head snapped back to the Fairy. Her brain cresting a noise similar to static. "Sorry I think I misheard you. You said the Dream Realm did what exactly?".
"The Mirror Dimension you created within the Dream Realm is a pseudo-reality of reflections and inner self. Those who dream find themselves here. Their dreams forge an illusionary world within the realm for them. Here comes the Mirror Dimension. Beforehand the Divine energy was enough to grant physicality to the dreams but seeing as there were no criteria it would have been any dreams. Luckily you are yet to have mortals. Unfortunately by crafting the Mirror dimension you created... a door per se. A window through all entities' souls into the dream realm". The fairy being stopped to see if the Creator was following.
Her gaze was blank, eyes fixed on her. 'Good enough'.
"So when you dream all wish for something quite strongly the dream realm receives it via the mirror dimension".
There was silence. Hildelith kept blinking. No one knew what her thoughts were.
"Does this apply to all beings?".
'From theorized calculations, yes. It is yet to be seen how it would affect both Divines and mortals.' the fairy looked away sheepishly.
"What are you not saying?". Hildelith asked. The Fairy made is a show of picking an inexistent nose before answering.
"I've calculated and theorized that since Divines possess will even from a tender age as your memories show, their dreams and desires can and may be controlled. Of course, this does not mean all is safe with them. Just their chances of not creating something truly hellish are lower. For mortals I doubt".
Hildelith made to question her but paused as she realized the answer herself.
"Mortals need to grow their Abstract or master it to unlock the Akasha. Which means their Abstract is technically weak or non-existent". The fairy nodded continuing.
"Such tests of Abstract will be triggered when awake or when asleep during times of severe stress. For those awake, the chances of creating such Nightmares are close to zero given they'd need to be psionics to connect to the dream realm before manifesting such nightmares. But for those who accidentally activate their Abstract test while asleep, it could lead to dangerous results. When and if such mortals dream and fail their Abstract manifestation or connection their dreams or in this case nightmares will be granted physicality'.
Hildelith shivered.
'I had the feeling that was not a good thing'. The fairy added. She nodded in response.
"All is not lost though'. Regaining the Creator's attention she continued.
'During Creation, the Rack of Life's energy spread through all your universe. And upon reaching and noting the severity of what had transpired in your Dream realm formulated a calculation'.
"Calculation?".
'Yes Creator. Dreams. The antithesis of Nightmares. Just like light repels the darkness so too will dreams chase away the nightmares '.
"And how do I go about this?".
"By granting those who succeed in awakening their Abstract while asleep a Dream".
"I'm getting the idea you mean something like the nightmare but good". The fairy nodded excitedly.
"Okay. I can see how that could help".mentally she thought. 'This could also be a good storyline for players'.
'I can read and listen to your thoughts Creator. If I may. What is a game? And how are we in one?
'Oh shit'.
'That too. What does a mortal waste excrement have to do with my question and even better why would it mean something else when it is something else".