The deafening cacophony that had once engulfed his senses began to dissipate gradually, clearing the fog from his perception and bringing the world before him into vivid detail. This experience felt akin to how once muffled and indistinct sounds suddenly sharpened and became apparent as if a curtain of fog had been pulled back to reveal the landscape beyond.
In the newfound silence, the voice of Gomona, gentle and comforting like the soft touch of a breeze over a calm lake, pierced the quiet, asking, âUsurper of Fire, what is your view of the world?â
Taking a moment to consider her question, Duncan repeated her words thoughtfully, âThe world in my eyesâŠâ His gaze drifted across his surroundings, taking in the sight of Gomona, who stood before him with a serene presence, the massive, lifeless body of the Leviathan Queen lying nearby, and the peaceful pond where a fish momentarily captured his attention with its graceful leap. This brief distraction led him down a path of introspection.
Turning his attention back to Gomona, â Duncan took a moment before offering his insight. âMy view of the world often diverges from that of others around me. The way I perceive things seems to alter them, and this alteration extends outward, influencing how others see them too. Navigator One describes this phenomenon as the power of the observer, but I feel⊠the truth might be more intricate than that.â
Gomonaâs ethereal form seemed to brighten with a smile at his response. âIt appears Navigator Twoâs evaluation was precise,â she observed. âThe civilization that stands by youâor, to put it more accurately, âtheyââhave already discovered that âanswer.'â
Pondering her words, Duncan mused, ââŠIf we consider âinformationâ to be the fundamental layer of existence, is it possible to preserve everything within the shelter while also âcompletingâ the Great Annihilation?â
âIf âinformationâ indeed constitutes the essence of all that exists, and we have the capability to rebuild the world from this basic level, then theoretically, any scenario is imaginable,â Gomona answered, her voice as soft as ever. âThe absolute âeverything.â Every possible and impossible scenario, every being that has ever existed or will exist in the universe, those that were eradicated, and those that survived the Great Annihilation⊠as long as âinformationâ can define them, they can be recreated in any form⊠even allowing for a rebirth after âdestructionââŠâ
Gomona then paused, her expression turning thoughtful as if she had reached the limits of her understanding. After a brief moment, she gently shook her head, conceding, âThat concept is beyond my understanding.â
After a short reflection, Duncan admitted, ââŠTruthfully, it seems beyond my comprehension as well, at least as the person I currently am.â
Gomonaâs face took on a thoughtful expression, her spectral features momentarily becoming less distinct, though the depth of her emotions remained as palpable as any humanâs. âYouâve previously mentioned that you possess âcomplete order.â Could you explain what you mean by that in more detail?â
A hush fell over the temple, encouraging a moment of deep introspection. Duncan seized this opportunity to carefully organize his thoughts, sifting through the extensive information at his fingertips. He aimed to explain his current level of self-awareness and the unique âstateâ that characterized his being. After a thoughtful pause, he broke the silence with a carefully considered explanation: âPicture a civilization at the pinnacle of order, capturing a 0.002-second snapshot of the universe at the precise instant it recognized the inevitability of the Great Annihilation. In a bid to conserve a pristine sample of their time, untouched by the looming disaster, they âslicedâ this moment out of the timeline, encapsulating it⊠This fragment, this âessence,â now exists within me.â freewebnĂžvel.com
Duncan elaborated, his explanation becoming more lucid, âFrom what I understand, this minuscule piece of the universe serves as the vital seed needed to birth a new universe⊠itâs like a âstart parameter,â a fundamental blueprint from which everything else can emerge.â
He paused, wrestling with the complexity of the idea, but Gomona quickly understood and expanded on his point: âA flawless blueprint, embodying âself-consistencyâ and âcompletenessâ!â
A spark of recognition lit up in Duncanâs eyes: âPrecisely, thatâs exactly it.â
For the first time, Gomona showed a level of excitement Duncan had not seen in her before. âThis is exactly what weâve been looking forâa pure, undamaged blueprint! Neither our allies nor the civilization that backs us have achieved this, which is why our creations were temporary, like waves in the ocean. But with a complete blueprintâŠâ
Time seemed to move faster, its passage marked by the accelerated trickling of sand in an hourglass. This sound gently pulled Gomona back from her excitement, reminding her of the need to preserve her limited âvitality.â
âWith this complete blueprint at our disposal, we have a real chance at constructing a tangible world,â she said, trying to remain calm. âOur previous efforts at âcreationâ were unsuccessful mainly because we lacked a comprehensive understanding of the cosmic order. If âinformationâ is the foundation of existence, then the universal order is the âformulaâ that allows all information to integrate flawlessly. Weâve never been able to grasp this formula, but you⊠you have itâŠâ
âBut merely having the formula is just the start,â Duncan added, âAs Iâve said before, I need resourcesâ and a lot of them. Just as a single seed cannot grow into a giant tree without soil, a blueprint by itself cannot create a house without bricks and mortar.â
âI believe we do possess the necessary resources,â Gomona confidently claimed.
A look of realization dawned on Duncanâs face, signaling a shift in his understanding.
Gomona, with a hint of reluctance, suggested, âWould our sacrifice be enough?â Her voice carried a blend of hope and uncertainty as if she doubted whether their collective offering would meet the requirements.
Duncanâs face took on a mixture of emotions, his voice reflecting a complex blend of feelings, âAre you seriously considering that?â
âWe hold a substantial amount of âinformationâ from the ancient world. Navigator Two had informed us of this. Its research, initiated by its creators long ago, is still incomplete. Yet, it has made strides towards the edge of understanding,â Gomona explained with a tone of solemnity. âIts findings suggest that the âinformationâ we carry exceeds our capability to wield or control. Its volume surpasses that of the Boundless Sea. Our failure to harness this information means we are wasting a massive store of âbasic information.â A small portion is used in constructing the shelter, but the rest deteriorates with us, unused and diminishingâŠâ
âBut your case is different, Usurper of Fire. Your civilization has reached such advanced levels that you might be capable of utilizing this power effectively. You could potentially orchestrate our âdetonationâ in a way that is efficient. Although we are just remnants of the old world, combining all pieces of the âexternal barrierâ could be enough to support the creation process at least onceâŠâ
She paused, the hastening flow of the sands in the hourglass marking a moment of urgency.
After a moment of silence, she continued in a gentler voice, âThis is something Salmir couldnât accomplish back thenâŠâ
Salmir, known as the Pale Giant King, had the ambitious goal of reconstructing the stars, but his attempt ended in failure as the stars collapsed under prolonged darkness, caught in subspace.
Duncan stayed quiet, his face revealing his reluctance to consider the Leviathan Queenâs âproposal.â
Both emotionally and logically, the idea of âdetonatingâ the Four Gods along with the remnants of other ancient deities as fuel for a âcreation blueprintâ was daunting. He questioned whether the explosion of information would be sufficient for such a grand plan.
Admitting this felt somewhat crude, yet Duncan couldnât ignore the thought that the âinformational contentâ these âgodsâ contained, including Gomona, seemed minor compared to the vastness of a complete universe.
These were âminor godsâ after allâa shipâs mainframe, a recorder of planetary histories, a marine leviathan in charge of a section of the ocean, and an ancient deity of death and sacrifice. Their collective knowledge and memories from the old world appeared too limited to draft a comprehensive map of the cosmos.
Despite his doubts, Duncan found himself unable to express his reservations aloud. The Leviathan Queen, positioned gracefully at the edge of the water, looked towards him with eyes full of hope. This being, though considered a âminor godâ in his eyes, firmly believed that her ultimate sacrifice could significantly contribute to the birth of stars in the emerging world.
After a notable period of silence, Duncan gave a subtle nod in acknowledgment.
Internally, he harbored skepticism, considering this plan to be fraught with uncertainty. He thought it wise to consider other options.
âWeâre running short on time,â Gomona reflected, then quickly added, âNaturally, a more reliable solution would be preferable. But should time become too pressing, rememberâŠâ she let her words linger, imbuing them with significance, ââŠwe will be here, ready for your decision.â
As the flow of sand in the hourglass increased, the reality of their limited time together became unmistakably clear.
âIt seems our time to part is imminent,â the ghostly figure of the girl remarked, as the immense, pale limbs in the backdrop slowly reached towards the waterâs edge. âBartok had mentioned that the remaining vitality in the hourglass would suffice for our essential dialogueâit appears our window for conversation is nearing its end.â
Duncan glanced at the hourglass, observing the dwindling amount of sand. He recognized the necessity of conserving âvitalityâ for that critical moment when he must return to provide Gomona with the final âanswer.â
âBefore we part, is there anything else youâd like to impart?â Duncan asked.
A brief silence ensued until a woman nearby, dressed in a white robe that evoked the semblance of clerical attire, approached to hand him something.
Duncanâs interest peaked immediatelyâit was a brass key, distinctly crafted for winding a doll!
âWhat is this?â His curiosity was piqued.
âThis is the ârouteâ to all the nodes of the entire external barrier,â Gomona explained softly, âNavigator Two was adamant that it should be entrusted to you during your visit here. In your hands, it will reveal its true nature, and you will naturally understand how to use it.â
The idea that the object would manifest its true purpose in his possession intrigued Duncan as he cautiously accepted the brass key.
The key felt cool and substantial in his hand. Unlike another key he was familiar with, which featured an âinfinityâ symbol, this oneâs handle was embellished with an intricate design, surrounded by a ring through which an arrow was threaded.
âI trust this will be of significant aid,â Gomona offered, her smile conveying hope.
Taking a moment to securely place the key on his person, Duncan confirmed, âThis will undoubtedly be invaluable.â
Gomonaâs spectral nod seemed to signify the end of their meeting: âWith that, we have addressed all that was necessary.â