Chapter 9 - Loss

Now then, let's move on to the next galaxy's Artifact: the Delta Galaxy, also known as the Cultivation Galaxy.

Most of the novels I've heard read out loud are about people wanting to attain immortality. This can be... really annoying. They strive for immortality, whether they're good or bad. But what's so great about it? Yes, you'll live forever. Yes, you won't die. But you'll lose everything dear to you: your loved ones, your friends, everything. Time takes away everything, whether you like it or not.

Even the old Universe succumbed to time; otherwise, it wouldn't have wanted to give up and choose someone new. So, even I, who can control time for myself, will someday perish. Whether it’s in millions, billions, or even trillions of years, time always wins, even if you're immortal. So why fight fierce battles for something that's more like a curse?

Since cultivation involves techniques, mantras, or whatever, let's create an artifact representing that. But I'm not sure what a cultivation technique is... No matter! I'll make one anyway.

“Use Major Skill: Creation to create a giant stone tablet.”

Instantly, a stone tablet appeared without sound. This one was giant, as I wanted it to be. Its height reached a couple hundred thousand kilometers, and its width an astonishing 50 thousand kilometers. The stone tablet was plain and flat, without any bumps or carvings. Made of normal stone, but because it was made by me, it was different. Even if my Blessed Body punched it lightly, it might not even make a small crack. A full-power punch might shatter it, but not turn it into dust. The mountain in the Abyss had similar characteristics, but it wasn't as hard as this stone tablet. Perhaps I'm adapting to this power?

Since it's a stone tablet, I'll need to engrave it. But what should I name it? It has to be related to cultivation. How about the Tablet of Immortality? Since cultivation aims to reach immortality, that should work. Yes, I'm bad at naming, no need to remind me. Naming it like this will probably influence the Delta Galaxy, but I don't care about your opinion.

“Use Minor Skill: Modify, to engrave the Tablet of Immortality with a cultivation technique according to my clone of Blessed Body's standard.”

Instantly, screeching sounds echoed as millions of tons of stone were hacked off. Tens of millions of words appeared on the front and back of the tablet. Within seconds, the tablet was covered with words, giving off an incredible presence. Oddly, I didn’t have to do anything, as if I unconsciously knew what would be written. Since I don't know what's on it, I might as well read it.

--A few hours later, or around 120,000 years later--

I'm finally done reading! I don't think I've ever read this much in my life, even at 50,000 words per minute! The whole text is about cultivating. It describes different stances for attacking, using stealth, fighting while flying—thousands of stances for practically everything, even walking. Why? Well, I probably won't understand since I'm not knowledgeable about cultivation. Once people start cultivating, their knowledge becomes mine, so I don't have to do much to learn.

There's still something to fix. The energy in Delta Galaxy is much denser and purer than in the Abyss. I want both sides to start fairly. Wouldn't it be unfair if one side had an advantage? I want the Abyss to be the enemy of Delta Galaxy, and probably Magia Galaxy too, since it's incredibly big. But it's not even close to the scale of the Realm of Gods and Demons.

I create a crack in space leading to Delta Galaxy and transport the Tablet of Immortality through it. There are many planets and worlds in this galaxy compared to the Realm of Gods and Demons. I find a reasonably sized planet—a million kilometers in radius. Since it's so big, I thought, why not place the tablet here? There's plenty of space.

“Use Minor Skill: Modify to let the Tablet of Immortality absorb all spiritual energy within the Delta Galaxy, and release it at the same pace as the clone of Blessed Body.”

Instantly, not a single ounce of spiritual energy was left in Delta Galaxy. Gradually, the stone tablet began to emit the pure and dense energy it had absorbed, but thinly, allowing it to preserve the energy. Since it had absorbed an entire galaxy's worth of energy, it had tons for later use as well.

Well then, on to the last of the four galaxies... the Magia Galaxy.