Universe -The Star Rings
Third Sphere - Nothingness
Location - The Lunar Palace
The prone and unmoving form of the Creator jerked and gasped. Her eyes flew open as she scrambled off the throne of stalactites. Her heart even in this form beat harshly and hard. The first was unlike anything she'd felt. The sense of hopelessness, and lack of faith in anything. It felt like, the end.
"What was that?".
'Everything reacts in some way to everything'. Akasha buzzed around her head in fairy mist form. Two palms touched her cheeks. 'I believe that by making the Homunculi for me you did something. Connected something we don't yet understand'. The fairy looked halfway to tears. A quick link showed Hildelith what she thought and a sigh.
Pushing the dread and feeling gotten from that emotion aside Hildelith picked up the fairy and hugged her to her chest. "I've told you never to feel bad for something you didn't do. Like I told you before it's not your fault, and it's not something you would have expected".
'But it's what you made me for. To expect the unexpected'.
" No. I made you to keep an eye on the universe for me ànd make sure nothing goes out of our purview".
'And even that I failed at'. She looked down.
"I'm the one with the dread feeling here champ. You should be consoling me". She snapped with a grin. The fairy made to move when Hildelith stroked her hair. "Listen. No one can do what you do. Remember that. When you don't get something right, take a step back and take a breath. Or in your case calm yourself. Then start again".
Akasha looked up at me. 'You're really not mad'.
"Self-blame and rage is something I'm way past now.'. She smiled at her force. "Now. We do have to figure this out".
"Check your notifications. When your skill activates whether you know it or not it shows the record. See which skill was used".
A quick check showed exactly which skill was used. Hildelith had more confusion than understanding from seeing it.
> [Eye of Fate - Activated]
> [Eye of Fate - Deactivated]
'How?'.
It was one thing for the game to see her fate in moments during a fight. Hildelith was certain it had to do with the game making the right calculations and simulations using everything the image had in her arsenal. Just like Akasha had done to see the calculations for the nightmare. But all of it depended on the game having all the mysteries to the puzzle.
" No way it would know what would happen in the future. That would mean it could see into the future in a game. A game's future is not set or anything so that's as impossible as the fact that a game system could even look into the future ".
'I can't do that'.
" Exactly. That's cause it's impossible to". Hildelith looked around while walking up and down. Yet another puzzle to be solved.
'What if it did have all the puzzles? It doesn't technically need to see the Future just calculate a probability and make it fate. When you were attacked by the hidden unknown it was fate that you changed or could have'. Hildelith stared at the fairy.
'What if it knew? This is a game. No matter what you do everything has a record. Especially what you did down in Vaustaris '.
" I made you. With a template. A template the system surely has access to". She whipped out the template to read it once more. She didn't think there was anything on it that could create such a calculation.
Akasha didn't seem to agree though. 'I don't think that line was there before'.
** Homunculus Template for the Akashic Force of the Creator**
- **Name: [The Akashas]
- **Type:** Divine Organic Construct
- **Appearance:** A tiny, fairy-like humanoid with iridescent wings, ethereal golden skin marked with glowing runes, and a crystalline divine core that serves as a connection to the Golden Rose.
- **Might: 2
- **Mobility: 18
- **Physicality: 2
- **Foxus: 50
- **Akasha: #####
** Racial Perks
1. **Akashic Aura**
The Homunculus emits a soothing aura imbued with Akashic energy, providing protection to itself and mimicking energy that heals its allies.
- **Effect:** Increases the defense of all allies within a 5-meter radius by 10% and gradually heals them for a small amount of health over time.
2. **Ethereal Agility**
- **Description:** The Homunculus moves with supernatural speed and grace, making it difficult to hit and allowing it to perform acrobatic maneuvers with ease. It can appear and vanish into mystical energies of all origin.
- **Effect:** Increases evasion rate by 25% and grants a 15% increase in movement speed and 50% acceleration effect.
3. **Akashic Force/Knowledge**
- **Description:** Connected to the Akashic Force, the Homunculus has an innate understanding of the universe's workings and the force flowing through its body. This grants it foresight and enhanced perception as well as the capabilities to wield and use the mystical energy
- **Effect:** Grants a 10% increase to critical hit chance, improves detection of hidden enemies or traps, allows the Homunculus to identify the weaknesses of its foes, and uses Akashic energy for magical benefits and spells.
**Racial Abilities
1. **Divine Core**
- Unlike all life forms, the Homunculus is attached and connected to its core. The Golden Rose. From here it draws power and life.
- **Effect:** Channel divine energy from the Golden Rose
- **Cooldown:** none
- **Akasha Cost:** [10/min]
2. **Healing Light**(Optional)
- **Description:** The Homunculus releases a burst of healing energy, mending wounds and purifying negative effects on nearby allies.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
- **Effect:** Heals [specific amount] of health to all allies within a 10-meter radius and removes one negative status effect.
- **Cooldown:** 20 seconds.
- **Akasha Cost:** [150AP]
3. **Divine Smite**(Optional)
The Homunculus calls upon divine retribution striking down enemies and transgressors. While aiding allies.
- **Effect:** Reduces 70%/50%/20% of enemy health 5/15/30 levels above her within a 10-meter radius. and removes one negative status effect.
- **Cooldown:** 20 seconds.
- **Akasha Cost:** [150AP]
**Utility
1. **Transmutation**
- **Description:** The Homunculus can transmute one type of material into another for a short duration.
- **Effect:** Transmutes a small amount of one material (e.g., lead to gold, iron to silver) for 5 minutes.
- **Cooldown:** 30 minutes.
- **Akasha Cost:** [1000AP]
**Legend and Lore
- **Creation:** Forged from the divinity within the golden rose that grew from the ground where the Creator's divine blood spilled, this Homunculus embodies a fragment of the Creator's power. Its fairy-like form allows the Akashic force to be present everywhere, both in spirit and in physical form.
"I'm suddenly more interested in how you have optional racial Perks I don't remember making so". She turned to eye the Fairy that tweedled her thumbs. Hildelith rolled her eyes and focused on the line that Akasha had pointed out for her.
"I think that's it". She paused. "No, wait. Yes, it's obvious why that's a reason to calculate that with the golden rose dying you'd all die. I also see how the golden rose would give someone power. Immortality. But the arm that grabbed the rose and sword were black and had red veins. Is there anything in my universe that would create such an effect".
Akasha blinked and then frowned.
"Crap. I guess that covers that then". It was clear how the game fate system worked now. Calculations. This calculation had led to a very dangerous possibility that could create some monster that even beings outside of Vaustaris would be unable to fight or something.
"Wait I just realized something. Transmutation?. Since when?". She gave the fairy a look. The fairy gave her a titled head gaze and Hildelith sighed. "She couldn't figure out Primordial Ice yet until she got to Glacial's surface so she found another workaround didn't she. Changing the states and complete make-up of all things". She blew a breath.
'This is the feeling parents have when their children are geniuses. You don't have to ask. It isn't. Hildelith glared at the fairy but internally chuckled. Her inner happiness vanished the moment her eyes graced the template again. Sigh.
"But why did it even show me such a scene?. I mean it activated my Eye of Fate". Akasha sighed as well.
'The Universe is you, just as you are the Universe'.
"I don't like that phrase ".
'If Eye of Fate would show your Kidney getting impaled then think of Vaustaris like a kidney. It's going to get impaled'.
"Still the probability of someone, NPC or player finding whatever makes them have red veins, then learning somehow about the rose and finally getting it and what the hell even was that Black sword. I don't think there's anything or anyone with a sword like that. So where did it even get that one.". Hildelith sighed.
She knew it didn't matter. The sword was somewhere or the calculation was sure the sword would end up somewhere for this arm figure to get. It didn't matter. What mattered was how to stop this or avert this.
That was the moment something quite crazy happened. Hildelith had never questioned her Balanced aspect racial ability. It was quite clear enough after all. Her ability to control all energy made it more that clear. Which was why the next words confused her greatly.
> [Balanced Magic - Activated]
> [Eye of Fate has shown you a terrible event destined to occur. Chaos looms and yet you desire to bring order. As a Creator and a being of balance, dabbling excessively on one side is frowned upon by you. To avert this calamity, you have the choice of using Balance Magic to set chaos straight. To gain a spell you must spin the Primordial Order Roulette. This will grant you a spell that will significantly impact both your universe and yourself. Be mindful of your choice, for tipping the scales too far towards Order or Chaos will alter the fabric of your reality.
> [Primordial Order Choices:
> [Primordial Order: Celestial Harmony
> - Effect:Aligns the user with celestial forces, enhancing control over Order. Increases stability and structure within the universe.
> - Physical Impact: Luminous aura, heightened resilience.
> - Mental Impact: Increased focus and clarity, but reduced spontaneity and lessened emotional setting.
> [Primordial Order: Eternal Stasis**
> - *Effect: Freezes certain aspects of the universe in a perfect, unchanging state. Greatly enhances Order but risks stagnation.
> - Physical Impact: Silver, crystalline skin, invulnerability to change.
> - Mental Impact: Perfect recall and strategic thinking, but aversion to change and anything strange or not similar
> [Primordial Order: Divine Judgement**
> - *Effect: Calls down a powerful force of Order to cleanse chaos and restore balance. Significantly enhances Order, but risks overcorrection.
> - *Physical Impact: Radiant, angelic wings, increased physical strength.
> - *Mental Impact: Unwavering sense of justice, but reduced empathy for anything not order.
> [Primordial Order: Timeless Wisdom
> - Effect: Bestows ancient knowledge and foresight, greatly enhancing Order. Increases foresight and predictability within the universe.
> - Physical Impact: Glowing eyes of infinite depth, enhanced intelligence, but mindless application.
> - Mental Impact: Deep wisdom and understanding, but detachment from present events.
> [Primordial Order: Sacred Barrier
> - Effect: Creates an unbreakable barrier of Order, protecting against all chaos. Greatly enhances Order, but limits freedom.
> - Physical Impact: Aura of invulnerability, increased defensive capabilities.
> - Mental Impact:Strong protective instincts, but decreased adaptability and sense of self
> [Select a Spell to determine your fate!
Hildelith felt immense desire at that moment. It was clear that these spells were game-system spells. She'd never had a game system spell. It was deeply enticing, especially with the descriptions. Yet each time she was done with reading one description its effects would pour ice-cold water into her mind. Next to her Akasha remained silent evidently in the know of what she had just received.
Hildelith was torn.
She could have the spell. It would make her even more powerful and more lethal. Her universe could wait till she got another spell of chaos to tilt the favor back to neutral. Or was that even how it worked?
"Aish". She swore. It was clear that the choices given were very dramatic and their effects very powerful. She couldn't see herself being emotionally absent, she was no ice queen. And what was the point in lacking her sense of self?
Hildelith once more read through the entire notifications from the first to the last word. Looking for anything and any way to get herself out of choosing one of these. She expected to be at this for a long time. Fortunately, she didn't have to.
"I have the choice". She murmured a line a grin stretching her lips to the side. That was it. She had the choice and it had become clear. Choices always came one with another. In this notification, she might have been confused with the spells being the choice but the wording made it clear that choosing to even use the spells was allowed.
'But what's the other choice'.
The notifications vanished and a new prompt instantly appeared.
> [Balanced Magic - Deactivated]
> [Eye of Fate has shown you a terrible event destined to occur. Chaos looms and yet you desire to bring order. As a Creator and a being of balance, dabbling excessively on one side is frowned upon by you. To avert this calamity, you were given the choice of using Balance Magic to set chaos straight. You chose inaction setting you on the path of neutrality.
> - From here all spells gained under the Balance Magic racial Perk will have a 20% order or chaos efficiency.
> - From here all spells under the Balance Magic racial Perk will have a 91% The Gray efficiency.
> - As a being of neutrality (The Gray) you will choose a way to settle all matters and disputes within your universe without tipping the scales.
"That was the initial idea". She frowned. But still, she didn't like that the system didn't give her any ideas or ways to solve this problem.
'I think the idea is you solving it yourself '.
"Well of course I'm the one to solve it. The question remains as. How?".
> [Quest assigned]
> [Eye of Fate]
> Eye of Fate has shown a future of possibilities. As a being of The Gray, you have chosen to solve matters without tilting the scale. Your universe remains unchained and unheld. Your world's fate is in the hands of none. Will the Gray persevere or will your worlds burn from the inability to select chaos and order?
> Solve Fate or Destiny happens.
> [Rewards - 1000,000 MVC, 1000 ORP, Random Universe Mystery Box]
> [Failure - Destiny]
She didn't need to check twice to understand what the failure meant. The rewards though were another matter. Ignoring the MVC, just the ORP would let her have even more levels. The things she could also buy from the system shop now.
Hildelith had been a pauper in the game. She figured it was the same for the other creators. The game seemingly refusing to let the Creators armor up themselves to survive anything. It was annoying but still, a good way to make them do things in their way.
All in all, Hildelith was tempted. She could already see things she could buy. Things she would need. There was a blur of unfocused images shooting down her mind's eye. Nothing was clear but she just knew she could buy a lot.
"Snap out of it". Akasha thumped her head. She felt nothing but it still did the job.
"Akasha. Time to think deeper. Outside the box. We need to stop Destiny. How?".
The fairy gave her an eye. Hildelith wasn't even looking. Her greed had sent her mind down into a spiral of possibilities. " Destiny is not literal or physical so no killing it. Makes me wonder if I should just you know make Destiny a force so I can do that when I need to".
Akasha froze. Hildelith paused. Both looked at the other.
"Nah".
'Too much work'.
Both knew the amount of work they had ahead of them. While this was something they knew might be good it had no plans no forethought. Nothing. It would fail if they rushed it. So it was pushed to the side.
'We need to stop fate? How would you stop someone you knew would kill another person when you couldn't kill them either'.
"Arrest them. Have them locked up".
Akasha poured. 'Translate that to here. What's the definition of getting arrested here?'.
Hildelith frowned her mind all over the place. It was something that only this game could do. Make her think more than the number of brain cells she had let her.
"Here, it would be the same. But since Destiny is not physical, applying it to Destiny would mean holding it in one place. To make sure that Destin never moves".
'How would we make Destiny stay in place?'.
Hildelith shook her head. " We don't. I doubt destiny moves. If Vaustaris Destiny is to burn then with everything that allowed that we are the ones running to Destiny". She looked at Akasha. At this point, she was already walking up and down inside her Great Hall. The Throne to her side.
'Then we arrest something else. Something that leads to Destiny. Prevents that Destiny'.
She shook her head at Akasha's words. " No, criminals always find a way to get out of jail'. She paused. "Say, if we saw a killer kill someone. We would try to change the events right'.
Akasha nodded. ''I calculate a less than 50% chance of that being effective'.
"Why?". Hildelith stopped walking up and down to focus on the force.
'Because the means and the way is only part of the bigger picture of the murder. If you hated someone so much that killing them was a must. Having your sword broken or your bow string cut wouldn't stop you'.
"Cause. Akasha will have to mend the chase. Arrest the cause. We need to find the cause and if that is hard. We need to stop the process. Like you said. It's 50-50. If we can't stop the cause then we stop the means. A cut string, a broken sword, and a weaponless murderer make killing less easy. Especially when your victim has fangs and claws and fights back".
Akasha could already see where this was going. They had to stop the cause if impossible then make sure the events that led up to the disaster were averted.
"But. How do we arrest a cause?".
'I might have an idea'.