POV: Statera Luotian
I heaved a great sigh as I finally allowed myself to relax slightly, sensing that the danger was not...immediate, per se, but still prevalent. It was hard to tell with the Void, because there was no sense of distance or time in there. Which made judging when the disaster would strike a real bitch. It could be in ten thousand years, or twenty million, I really didn't know. What I did know was that the Four Realms would be completely obliterated if it were to happen right now. Like reduced to the Void level of obliteration.
Which is why I forced the Four Realms to go back into a period of intense chaos, because that is when the greatest changes happen, all in preparation for this impending disaster. After a few more moments of staring at the Void I allowed by body to relax even further, content in the knowledge that whatever was going to happen wouldn't happen at least for the next ten or so thousand years. Hopefully we would have longer, but...well, we still needed to prepare. The mortals would be upset with me for a while for extending the chaos, but that is something I can live with so long as they all aren't completely wiped off of the face of the multiverse.
With a snort of defiance, because like I would let that happen, I turned my attention to my body, which had changed after my power-nap. It felt more powerful and more solid, and I could see more than I could before. It was...difficult to explain and even comprehend, because a whole new playing field had been laid out before me. Now I could actually see the tiny specks of Void floating within the Four Realms, ensuring that it wouldn't be all creation and only creation, among other things. My powers of prediction and seeing the future had strengthened exponentially also, allowing me to see farther into the future with greater ease and accuracy.
However what really caught my attention was twofold - one, my arm was finally fully regenerated from when the Paradox had eaten it. I flexed the limb experimentally, revelling in the feeling of finally having a left arm again, before focusing on the other part of me that had changed - the six balls of Primordial Chaos that floated perpetually behind me. They now were encased in a shell of Void, and had almost doubled in density. This was a major change, most likely representing my own advancements in understanding said Void.
With another sigh I closed my eyes, collecting my scattered thoughts and finishing categorizing all of my enlightenments within my mind, which should have been done while I was asleep. But being interrupted forced me to do it myself, though I did it very quickly, taking only a few seconds to get it all sorted out. Sleeping through it would have solidified my enlightenment more, which I'll have to do over the next twenty thousand years or so, but I just didn't have the luxury of being relaxed anymore. Things need to move now.
Then, finally, I opened my eyes again to deal with one more thing before I contacted my children and began to speak with them in length over what needed to be done and advanced, as I now had an even greater understanding of the changes I was trying to accomplish. And that thing was - dealing with the plethora of blue boxes that had appeared before me, notifying me of all that I had accomplished while sleep/meditating.
Sub-domain gained: Creation Congratulations! After learning one of the simple truths about creation, your insights into the process of Creation have reached the level of being a sub-domain.
Domain Update
You have reached a threshold in your understanding of your own domain, realizing that not all things are as separate as they seem. All things are a part of Balance, and in this meditation session you fully combined all of your other insights into your main domain, strengthening it and moving it into 'stage 2.' Sub-domains reset.
To earn more sub-domains, you will need to achieve a higher understanding in them than you did previously, though keep in mind that four is still the limit.
Main Domain: Balance
Sub-domains: N/A
Two million years...wow, kid. You're moving along pretty fast. Probably in the top five percent (elightenment wise) for most Origin Deities. Keep it up.
Danger!
Unexpected events have led to calamity approaching the Four Realms. Strengthen it with all your might, and you might survive. I will only minimally involve myself, because this event was indirectly caused by you and/or any of the other Origin Deities. Keep in mind that, on the cosmic scale, each of your respective universes are fairly close together.
When the danger starts getting really close, you will be able to speak with the other deities involved via a "chat room" that I will set up, allowing you to talk to one another and act in tandem with one another if necessary. Good luck.
My face paled at the last message, and I began cursing my luck. Of course this wasn't something that solely involved just the Four Realms - it had to involve multiple universes! That means that it's something very dangerous indeed, especially if Mr. Blue Boxes won't help much. But that also means that we should have a chance of surviving this, because we do still have that protection period going.
With a contemplative hum I sat down, expanding my senses and touching the Void, trying to feel out the strings of Fate as well as fate as I struggled to figure out what the disaster was, and how best to build up the Four Realms. There were multiple paths to take, with all of them involving the Four Realms growing bigger in size at the very least. The problem was focusing on a single path first, one that would help the "most," and focusing on the other paths on a later date. I didn't want the Four Realms to be specialized, but I needed to be more practical for the moment.
"Father!" "Mother!" My first four children cried, appearing around me in a circle with wild looks in their eyes. Apparently they could feel the danger as well -
"Grandpa!" Ah, and there's Kei.
"What's going on?" Alexander asked, his deep rumbling voice laced with concern. The others, Elvira, Keilan, Reika, and Kei, all shared his sentiment, looking at me expectantly.
"....I don't know. I was woken from my nap because of this intense feeling of danger, and as such am acting accordingly. The chaotic cycle will continue for at least the next ten thousand years, at which point things will need to settle down and stabilize. It may continue as I learn more about when this calamity will strike, but...well, I just don't know." I explained with a sigh. The five stared at me for a moment before turning their gazes heavenward, towards where I was looking. With a sigh I stood and gave my children a tired smile. "Two million years...this is a heck of a lot to happen in such a short time-frame." I stated, shaking my head once again.
Stolen story; please report.
"...so what now, then? Where do we start?" Reika asked, furrowing her brows. I smiled at her.
"First, I spread a few more Seeds. The current state of the Four Realms' Primordial Chaos is that its fit to bursting...it'll be good to get a few more Regions in the area. I'll also need to encourage the Dimensional Creators to build their new dimension faster...perhaps encourage a few other dimensions as well...hm...and I've got a few other things to get you guys started, but we'll talk about that in a bit." I explained with a shrug, feeling part of my consciousness pulling away to start assimilating my enlightenment. Ugh. This is going to be a pain.
POV CHANGE: Inesa
"So...she's a dryad?" I asked quietly tilting my head to the side. Tian nodded, scratching the corner of his eye and shrugging.
"Well, yeah. And a mortal, but -"
"She's a really interesting dryad," I interrupted. Tian nodded, and I hummed, wrapping my head around this and the way Tian had changed in the past ten years that I hadn't seen him. It wasn't that strange for both he and I to disappear for more than a hundred years while doing something or meditating, so I didn't think much of it, but this was surprising to say the least. Last I heard Tian was getting ready to ascend into becoming a deity, which I intended to watch or help with, if his enlightenment required me to (I wasnt really sure how the whole 'becoming a deity' thing will work...so I'm trying to avoid anything that would be detrimental...in essence, I was acting as per usual, because there wasn't much worrying could do about it.) Then, he reappears after a short ten years and says a few things about some incredibly young dryad with a really big heart.
And his aura was getting exceedingly close to that of a deity's. There only seemed to be one step left before he would become a deity...no, half a step at this point.
"...yes. Very much so. Doesn't really have an interest in cultivation, and has the biggest damn heart..." Tian trailed off with a sigh, shaking his head. "She even unknowningly pointed me in the right direction to become a deity. And Statera, being the troublesome person He is, just had to be a dick about showing her to me, too. Just dumped me in the middle of nowhere, expecting me to find her myself! When I didn't even know what I was looking for!" Tian complained, running one hand through his silvery hair. I giggled into one of my hands, looking at him in amusement.
"It still worked, didn't it?" I asked.
"...I'm still going to punch Him for it." Tian argued back.
"You were going to punch Her anyways." I countered, raising one eyebrow. Tian groaned and rolled his eyes theatrically, throwing his arms into the air in mock exasperation. I giggled again as he draped one arm over my shoulders, shaking his head.
"I came here to complain, Inesa, not have you tell me off." He whined. I laughed this time, giving him a quick hug.
"I do what I must," I told him. Then, a thought came to me. "How about we go visit Her, by the way? I heard the Creator woke up recently...that was what that bright light was."
"...so He was alseep," Tian grumbled. I looked at him in surprise.
"You didn't know? All the deities were told this about...oh, twenty thousand years ago. The whole thing with Kei's domain name was actually one big distraction to keep our minds off of it, apparently." I explained calmly. Tian shrugged again, the action feeling a little weird as his arm was sitll over my shoulders.
"Makes sense, I guess. It was certainly distracting enough. But still...figured I'd at least be told something." Tian grumbled. I gave him an apologetic look.
"Sorry. No one really thought about it, I guess, what with everything we've been doing. Renovating the Spirit Realm has been a pain..." I said with a sigh, shaking my head. Tian squeezed me in a one-armed hug, and I smiled at him. "So? What's your answer? Want to go see the Creator?" I pressed. I really, actually wanted to go to Statera's palace and see Her. I missed our little sessions, where we'd just sit and talk or read a book or something. She was such good company, now that I think about it, that I wonder why I was ever so intimidated by Her. Half the time She acts like a child anyways. A very whimsical child, with the power to create literally everything...
"What?" Tian asked me as I forcibly suppressed a shudder. That was actually a terrifying thought. If Statera was an actual child that create the universe? Good thing She's not.
"Nothing, just had a scary thought," I dismissed, shaking my head. Tian hummed, not pressing the issue, and looked away for a moment longer.
"I suppose we can go visit Him. I don't think I've even been to His palace before..." Tian said slowly.
"You'll love it. It's an amazing place." I assured him. Tian chuckled as we started to fly off, floating through the sky of the Mortal Realm towards where I could sense the Creator's palace.
"I'm sure it is," he said, smiling at me. I just smiled back, allowing myself to relax a bit as we continued floating forwards, Tian keeping his one arm wrapped around me in a comforting embrace. With a small sigh I leaned into his hug, a smile turning up the edges of my mouth, feeling content. We just floated through space for a while, taking our times, until Tian squeezed me tighter all of a sudden, embracing me in a full hug.
"T-Tian?" I squeaked out, suprised at his sudden display of affection. My face heated up for no apparenty reason as I squirmed a bit before returning his hug.
"Thank you," Tian breathed out, leaning back and giving me a quick peck on the lips.
"F-for what?" I asked, a little breathlessly. It was amazing how, after all this time, he could still leave me breathless with just a few simple gestures. He may not show it - ever - but Tian is a bit of a romantic sap.
"More than you know," Tian responded with a sincere smile that reached his eyes and made them gleam with happiness. Then he took a step back, breaking our embrace as golden light began to slowly filter out of his body, illuminating the immediate area. My eyes widened as the divine aura radiating from him continued to build, reaching a pitch before, suddenly...evening out, leaving Tian simply standing there, a pleased expression on his face. There was no great fireworks show, there was no loud announcement, it was here, on a walk with myself, that Tian quietly became a deity.
"Pretty ironic that he, the Deity of Conflict, had a noiseless ascent, isn't it?" A new voice asked from behind me, causing me to jump a little even though I instantly recognized who it was.
"So you're here, huh? 'Course you are." Tian drawled as I turned to look at Statera Luotian, or an incarnation thereof, as She floated in the sky behind us, looking and feeling far larger than She ever did before. With a soft chuckle She shrugged.
"Conflict?" I asked suddenly, looking back at Tian. That was...uh, how do I put it...a dangerous domain...?
"Not as dangerous as you think. 'Conflict is the spice of life, but War is born of hatred.' I believe you were the one who told me that, Statera." Tian explained as if he knew my exact thoughts.
"Indeed I did. And I was looking at this moment when I told you that, Tian. Although, not this moment exactly. Not even I am powerful enough to see millions of years into the future." The Creator said with a chuckle. I took a moment to think about Tian's domain, before deciding that it fit him perfectly. Quite literally, Tian now represents what it means to fight and struggle through all forms of life, not just through the physical act of fighting, in order to achieve something. He fought in a war, fought against his own personality, struggled against those who would condemn him for being who he was...yes, Conflict, as the spice of life and an instigator for action, is a perfect domain for Tian.
"How strong would you say I am now?" Tian asked suddenly.
"Put you at a low-end mid-tier deity," Statera responded immediately. "Not quite strong enough to punch me yet."
"We'll see about that," Tian replied, cracking his knuckles. I giggled and moved over to Tian's side, linking our arms and effectively stopping him from trying to assault the Creator of the entire universe. For the moment, at least. I'm sure he'll try again some other time. "...I suppose I wouldn't really get to hit you anyways. This is just another incarnation, isn't it?" Tian asked with a sigh, though his arm tightened around mine. I repressed the urge to giggle at him.
The Creator responded with a tired smile. "I'm afraid so. I'll be busy for quite a while, you see. Can barely spare the power to come see you two...this incarnation may very well disperse at the slightest touch. And now that you're a deity, Tian, you'll start getting really busy as well. Although, for the moment, I'll let you have your peace. You all were coming to visit me anyways, no? Let's go then! And along the way...perhaps I can answer some of your questions about that girl, Tian. Not to many though, I mean..." the Creator smirked at Tian, "Where's the fun in that?"