Master of Time

Chapter 122: World Creation

Eliana Shadowsong isn't as helpful as I have initially hoped.

While she does know about the monster cores, she knows as much as I do, which is barely anything at all, to be honest.

Apparently, the magical knowledge belonging to an Archmage isn't really as great as it seems despite their heralded and feared status on Azula and in the mind of the Azulian.

The term Azulian refers to the native inhabitants of Azula.

It is really a general term for all the people living on the planet, not just the humans.

That means the elves, the dwarfs, the werebeasts, and so on. There are actually a lot of different races on Azula. And not all of them are living on the surface, where Legion can see them from orbit.

In retrospect, the people of Earth are called Terran. And I do say people instead of humans only.

As long as they are born on Earth – any version of Earth – they are called Terran.

This is just a note for the future and what I have in mind.

Nevertheless, it is not a complete waste of time since Eliana did confirm some of my speculations and assumptions from what I have been able to witness myself.

Monster core exists in all monsters, but it can only be harvested when the monster is still alive. If the monster is killed before the core can be harvested, the core simply shatters, releasing the essence into the surrounding.

If no one is around to absorb that monster essence into their magical core or pathways or circuits, the essence will be absorbed into the environment instead. This happens very slowly over time, and it can cause magical contamination since monster essence is inheritably tainted.

It is called monster essence for a reason.

In addition, if a mage takes in too many powerful monster essences too quickly, it can cause corruption within their magical core.

Or worst, it can cause monsterification.

That is to say, the mage essentially transforms into a monster, usually an exceedingly powerful one thanks to their magic.

Several powerful mages have inadvertently turned themselves into monsters throughout the history of Azula. It usually happens when their magical core is unable to purify an extremely powerful monster essence.

Taking in powers that exceed one's own strength will only result in one's own demise.

That is a good lesson to learn when studying magic.

And it did take an awful amount of Azulian lives to stop and kill these monsterified mages. Luckily, the sacrifices weren't a completely loss, as the monsters did reveal the existence of the Arcane Realm.

The Arcane Realm is a realm with unlimited magical power.

If a mage manages to connect their mind and spirit into the Arcane Realm, they will be blessed with near limitless magical energy.

However, there is a great price to be paid, mostly in the form of insanity.

Insane mages are as dangerous as monsterified mages. Maybe even more so since they can still think somewhat logically instead of going on a rampage, destroying this and destroying that.

Oh. There is still a lot of destroying things going on with insanity, especially when they have unlimited magical power at their fingertips.

But why let a little insanity stops progress, huh?

The danger obviously didn't stop the countless human mages from trying to form a mental or spiritual connection to the Arcane Realm, all in order to attain that sweet limitless power.

Some mages are even trying to create a dimensional rift into the Arcane Realm, so they can go there physically or let out unimaginable horrors into the mortal realm.

Yeah, humans are humans everywhere.

Their curiosity and greed will be their undoing in the end.

And absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Being corrupted by tainted essences isn't the only way to become monster, Eliana tells me.

Monsters can be created when people are subjected to prolonged and extreme traumatic experiences or being taken over by overwhelming negative emotions, such as hatred and despair.

But only in the presence of magic.

Health potions is apparently magical enough.

It has been demonstrated by Nairam Oxford. Since her malicious essence can be absorbed and locked into the monster core, she is – by definition – a monster.

A monster of my own making.

That makes me excited.

Very excited!

Without the presence of magic, people become murderous psychopaths instead when they are being subjected to such traumatic experiences and tortures, emotionally or physically.

Those festering negative emotions just get bottled up in their mind instead of being personified in the real world as actual monsters.

Didn't that already happen so many times already?

Every day, somewhere in the world, a psychopath is born.

A monster of circumstances.

Like me.

"Interesting. I wonder if that is why monsters exist in Azula?"

I comment while examining the monster core in my palm. It is very precious to me since it is the first monster core I have managed to create, even if on accident. I will create thousands more in the future.

Eliana obviously doesn't know the answer.

This is way too philosophical for her. And probably for me too.

"I do not know, Master. Monsters have always existed since the time of creation, and they have always been attracted to negative energy, especially the unintelligence ones. The intelligence ones are more dangerous and cunning. Some even blend in with societies, using disguise and subterfuge."

Eliana answers while examining the cold and empty corridors around us.

Everything is as grey and metallic as far as the eyes can see.

We are actually being surrounded by unfathomable numbers of micromachines.

In fact, the entire spatial dimension within the ring is filled to the brim with micromachines, and they are replicating at an exponential rate, all just to give me that little extra computational power.

I have shitloads of simulations to run and things to accomplish, so it cannot be helped.

But with their current number, planets and moons and even stars themselves can be disassembled by Legion within a matter of hours for raw materials and energies.

The reverse can also be true, but there isn't a need for that to yet.

The universe is filled with so much junks just waiting for me to disassemble and reassemble into useful things, such as Dyson spheres. Well, Dyson swarms is more correct.

And if it wasn't for the orbital stability of all the planets within the solar system, I would have dumped a few new habitable worlds here and there.

It is not impossible to create new planets from scratch, especially with my power and the seemingly endless amount of micromachines at my disposal. It just takes time and patience, and I have plenty of time and patience.

"Your world is very grey and dark, Master."

Eliana points out.

I chuckle at the comment and then put the monster core away. I will do some experiments on it later, just to see how it tick.

"We are actually underground, Eliana. And my world isn't as grey and dark as you have said, but I will let you be the judge of that one day. Let heads up to the surface, shall we?"

Eliana nods in agreement.

And the moment Eliana did, the ceiling opens up, forming a perfect squared shaft, leading all the way to the surface.

The ground beneath us begins to ascend, accelerating each passing second.

Since we are actually several hundred thousand miles below the surface, it will take a while.

"While we wait, do you know any curses that can kill plants and only plants?"

I question.

This is about the decaying curse that another reality is currently suffering from. Everyone in that reality is already dead, but dead is relative to me.

Unless their souls get destroyed somehow, I could always bring them all back. But without a solution to the curse plaguing them, they would just suffer and die again.

I already know about magical curses and their nemesis, blesses or blessings.

This is thanks to the Heavenly Path to Basic Magic. Sadly, the book did not tell me more than just basic information.

"Curses, Master? Yes. There are quite a few. Which plants are you trying to target?"

Eliana questions.

"All type of plants at once. And everywhere at once."

I response.

That shocks Eliana. I have already expected as such.

Mages are powerful, but they aren't all that powerful in the grand scheme of things to be honest. They are nothing compared to a God, let alone a Primordial or an Aspect.

Hell, in the right condition, a Hydra assault team can assassinate Eliana without breaking a sweat. They might be in a fight for their lives if they expended the element of surprise and have to fight her head on.

"I am sorry, Master. I don't know any curses that can target all type of plants at once. And everywhere at once? That will require an unimaginable amount of magical energy. It is only within the domains of Gods."

And that answers my question. Whoever is doing this is either a God or beyond. I do not think I am at the level of taking on Gods head on yet.

"I see. In any case, I would like you to impart all the curses and blesses you know. They might be useful to me in another way."

I tell Eliana, and she acknowledges my request.

While Eliana didn't know many curse or blessing runes, she does know some that I do not know at the moment. It is too to compile every rune in existence.

It is language of the Gods, after all. I might need it to speak on terms with Gods.

And once we are nearing the surface, sunlight could finally be seen.

It is not natural sunlight coming directly from a huge compressed ball of burning hydrogen and helium and other elements, but it is still as good and sufficient for what I needed.

In fact, it is actually better than having a giant sun in the sky.

The surrounding walls that made up the elevator shaft also changes from metallic grey to stone layers, consisting of all manner of rocks and ores. This is to simulate the mantles and crusts of a planet.

As that is the case, we still have several thousands of miles to go until we reach the surface.

Eliana gasps when we finally emerge from the ground and into a very dense forest. It is not the dense forest that surprises her. It is the lingering magical energy that surrounds the forest.

That magical energy feels very familiar.

"Master. Where is this? This place feels like…"

Eliana utters.

"Yes. It should because it supposed to. As for where this is, you could say this is my world. A world of my own creation."

I point out and look up at the clear sky overhead. It stretches for billions of miles in all directions and more with each passing second. Space is constantly expanding within this spatial dimension.

Outer space is not beyond that blue and sunny sky.

Aside a burning wall of flames, countless layers after layers of micromachines greet whoever tries to fly more than a 100 million miles up there. That distance is roughly about the same distance between Earth and the Sun.

"A world you created, Master?"

Eliana is in awe. Even if she couldn't see it, she could feel it. This world is enormous. It definitely much bigger than Azula, which is roughly the same size of Earth.

"Yes. I am your God after all, and if I cannot do something like this, I do not deserve your worship and affection."

Eliana immediate bows.

"You are my God, Master. My one and only."

I chuckle and tell Eliana to get up. There is no need for that really. Most of what she is seeing is merely an experiment.

It is one of many experiments I am conducting.

I am always conducting experiments now days.

"Oh, by the way, Eliana. Please tell me if you have made any progress with the elders? Are your people willing to forsake their belief and take up my offer?"

Eliana lowers her eyes at the question.

"I am sorry, Master. I am trying. Please give me more time. Your offer is very generous. I am sure that they will see my way soon."

I nod in understanding.

It actually isn't that long since I last saw her, relatively speaking.

As a matter of fact, it is fairly difficult to keep track of everyone since I am all over the place.

"There is really no need to apologize, Eliana. I know that you are trying your best, and it is all that I can really ask. Would you like to join me for a bath? It has been a long day for me."

Eliana is happy to. She is always happy to serve her God.

Ah. This is the life.

And with I wave my hand just for effect, the trees are forced to part and a hot spring to form. The sky finally changes, shifting from daytime into nighttime with beautiful simulated universe above.

That is just good timing since it takes about 10 minutes for the light from above to reach the surface, but it brings this sense of reverence within Eliana.

She keeps staring at the sky, seeing the countless of moons and stars, all in different colors. Since it is not real, they move and dance across the sky majestically.

"Ahem."

I cough and gain her attention.

I am now standing at the edge of the hot spring, where steamy fragrant entice me to take a dip.

A skinny dip with a hot elf. Alright, a very hot elf!

"Are you going to let me stand here like this, Eliana?"

I question.

"Please forgive me, Master. I am just in awe at your creation. Please allow me to service you, with my mind, body and soul."

Eliana apologizes and immediately undresses me gently. My shirt goes off first then my pant. My pant takes a while since she didn't know how to undo my belt.

Her puzzlement brings a smile to my face. There is this unique charm to her innocence. She will be in a shock of her life when she finally visits my world.

A world of technology instead of magic.

For now, I just want to enjoy a relaxing bath with her.

It brings a lot of good memory to my mind.

And let just say my junior is far more than happy to be free of the confine in more than one way.