Bloom

I am much better now, at forging a world.

Time’s Shadow is such a cheat, combined with my own Flame, the whole process is a snap!

Like before I separate out materials, iced water here, rocky stuff there, silver here, gold there. Each material gets their own little Bubble of time appropriate to the portion size. Within the bubbles I ensure that my Dao of Flame keeps everything running smoothly.

The only real important material that I have to focus attention on, is the gold.

Forging Chaos Gold isn’t as difficult as before though, and my mastery over runes is much, much, much higher this time around.

After only ten days, a sparkling new world with a chaos gold core at its heart is placed gently in the leaf I have prepared for it.

I send a portion of my consciousness into the newly formed world to take care of the flora and fauna. Since I don’t really feel like working hard, I cheat and copy most of the stuff from Vespar over to the new world.

The last piece of Worldheart energy that I had kept for a private project, I use to send myself back through the oceans of eternity. I’m searching for a very specific thing, the first dungeon core I encountered in my life.

After a few days of negotiation we come to an agreement, and I use the last fraction of power to pull the Core into my new world.

As part of the agreement, this dungeon Core will be the sole dungeon of the new world, and in exchange it will work towards a pet project of mine.

Connecting to the Labyrinth.

The Labyrinth is something I learned about from previous dungeon cores before the jump into the Shattered God’s Prison.

To put it into simple terms, the Labyrinth is like an underground series of paths that flow throughout the Multi-Universe. It can only be accessed by high level dungeon Cores, and is the source of almost every ‘dungeon shop’ that cores are able to access.

If the new dungeon core, who names himself ‘Core’ is able to connect to it, the possibilities are fantastic. I could use the Labyrinth like a set of waypoints traveling from one world to the next. The benefits are very good, for instance, most places with a connection to the Labyrinth have high levels of magical, technological, or even previous unimagined civilizations.

Those worlds can serve as a food sources if they are not advanced, or trading stops if they are good enough to work with.

I wipe my imaginary drool as I think about all the delicious meals that Wen could make from such places.

Tastyness is justice.

Once everything is finished up, I moved into the Voidship and pull the humans from it into the new world I’ve created.

Vex moves up with her three companions to stand alongside the ship.

As agreed, she will depart on her own path, I’m a bit sad to see her go, but I’m also a bit happy that she won’t be around to influence Dryad anymore.

Without humans inside the Voidship, I spend a portion of my power to rework the internal structure. Slotting myself into the ‘command seat’ I’ve created, which makes me look like a smaller Tree within a much larger one, I smile.

Space rips open outside the ship, as we jump into the Void between worlds. I spare a last glimpse at Vex as she leaps into the rift, and departs on her own path.

Within the Void, I open all my Soul Seals, causing the Rune in my trunk to darken.

My senses spread out around us as I search for possible weak points in the fabric around us through which we can jump through.

This time I am aiming for someplace with an advanced civilization. Someplace that has something useful.

Like a computer.

I really want a computer.

Or a supercomputer.

I’ll even stoop down low and accept an AI, if I have to.

Ah, it isn’t that I want to slack off and hand the mundane tasks off or anything.

I just feel my time is better utilized on my own interests, and having fun.

Yeah, that’s it.

This logic is perfect!

As such, a non-biological slave, er, employee is required!

I’ll push all the boring stuff off to them, heh.

Moving through the Void is a lot like swimming in a sea of darkness.

If it weren’t for sensing the opening and closing of various spatial tears in the fabric of the Void around us, I wouldn’t think we were even moving.

The entire Rune circle structure is actually functioning effectively, processing Void energies into useable types that are then fed into the chaos gold world cores.

At a much lesser degree, these same runic circles also allow me to derive a small amount of pure Chaos to continue my growth.

Since things seem to be working just fine, I think I’ll take a small nap!

Setting automatic defenses up, I remove the major portion of my consciousness from the ship and proceed to sleep.

If anything important happens, I’ll wake up and take care of it then.

***

Doctor von Gelert stared out at the control room, and further out at the plastiglass window showing the upper level of the experimental chamber, the Pit. He knew what they would accomplished here today would go down in history as mankind’s greatest achievement. Although the doctor had many detractors, none could gainsay the fact that his advancements in genetic research hadn’t helped billions of people worldwide. As such, his own looks were definitely on the upper end of handsome due to his personal skills. If it weren’t for the cold expression he wore frequently, he’d likely make more money as a model than a scientist.

Tens of personal sat at their stations, each one connected to a specific channel of the labs central AI. The hushed whisper of sub-vocalized commands ran throughout the room as checkpoints were constantly updated.

Placing his hands on the railing above the pit of frenzied activity below, the doctor smiled.

“Ah, such a creepy smile. It always makes me wonder if my money is truly being well spent!” A fat merchant man in a well-tailored suit said, as he joined the doctor on the viewing platform.

Doctor von Gelert managed to bite back the first response he thought of, merely saying, “The billions of credits spent will finally see return. With the ability to generate limitless energy from the Zero Point, you will be able to rule the power sector with unmatched prices.” As the doctor finished speaking, he turned to greet his primary donor with a handshake. “I’m sure no one will be able to compete with you as the new energy overlord, Herr Victor.” He’d always attempted to get Herr Victor to do a bit of genetic work, at least remove some kilos and add a bit more muscle, yet was shot down every attempt. It irked the doctor that his greatest donor looked like nothing so much as a rather lopsided meatball, especially when it would be easy to correct such an appearance.

“Hah! Exactly! Finally those pompous fools will understand that the Dyson Sphere project is merely a shadow of the Zero Point possibilities!” Herr Victor said, as his pudgy stomach rippling with laughter. “I’ve long wanted to see the faces of those bastards that kept me from being elected to the position I rightfully deserved. A few mere billion credits is worth it, if I can wipe the smug aristocratic smiles off their faces!”

Although he detested working for the man, Doctor von Gelert had to admit the energy merchant prince had never stinted him in research funds. It was only through the wealth generated through an entire two continents that he’d been able to make a breakthrough in current theories. The cost of this research would have crushed a lesser merchant, but Herr Victor had paid for it as if gold was water.

“We are merely minutes away from commencing, is there anything I can do for you at this time, Herr Victor?” the doctor said. “Perhaps a bit of bodywork in celebration of the upcoming success story?”

Herr Victor waved a single hand as he turned towards the plastiglass window in the distance. “Nein, you never give up do you? As long as this experiment is successful there is no limit to the amount of money you can get for research. I’ll fund your craziest theories for as long as you live, Doctor. Just as long as you stop trying to get me in that horror shop you call a gene laboratory.”

Such a generous offer made the Doctor slightly happy, even though he wasn’t happy at being refused again. Besides, if the experiment was a success all those peers who spat in his face dismissing his theory of the Zero Point would have to beg as his feet for research information. The feeling of vindication would probably be strong enough to float him into the stratosphere.

“Are we…safe…at this distance, Doctor?” Herr Victor said, his tone questioning.

“Of course. The actual experiment is taking place almost two kilometers below in the Pit. As you know the pit is several tens of kilometers wide, and protected by the very latest in nano-metal technology walls. There are also multiple layers of containment between us and the actual Z.P.E. generator.” Doctor von Gelert said, snapping the fingers of his right hand.

Without delay, a holographic viewscreen appeared in front of the two men.

“With this we can watch in absolute safety, without worry.” Doctor von Gelert said, as he adjusted his glasses.

“Hmph, you understand if this experiment doesn’t work what will happen right?” Herr Victor said, his tone dark.

Doctor von Gelert ignored the implications of the implied threat. It wasn’t the first time someone had doubted him, nor would it be the last.

As long as he was funded properly, there was no end to the miracles he’d created.

Of course, the filthy World Government had confiscated most of his previous genetic research claiming he was delving into insanely dangerous things. Strange how immediately after his almost completed research was placed under lock and key, a new company entered the international beauty market. However, his screams of outrage had fallen on deaf ears, and he’d been hunted down by corporate goons looking to close the loose ends off.

If he hadn’t been on the run, and been lucky enough to meet Herr Victor at the time, it was likely he’d now be nothing more than a pliable mind-wiped drone. The World Government had more corruption than cash in his opinion, a recipe for instability. If this project worked at even 10% of what he calculated, Herr Victor would easily be able to run all his competitors out of business. At that point, asking for a favor, such as clearing the good doctor’s name, would be a breeze.

Herr Victor was a merchant to the core, and for a golden goose, he could easily flip the world with a single palm. Especially if said goose laid golden eggs that allowed him to create monopolies on essential products, like power.

It was even better, because according to Herr Victor, a monopoly on power generation couldn’t be proven. After all, is it one companies fault if they are willing to sell for less? Of course not!

Both men stared on the holoscreen at the spinning generator at the heart of the Pit as a soft AI generated countdown started.

“Three, two, one….”