Chapter 714 - Book 6, Chapter 106 – The Divine Matrix (2/2)

He had to admit, it was a tempting thought. The gods were a powerful and mysterious race, always an enigma. If there was a way to give Cloudhawk a glimpse into their world, it would be a huge benefit.

To prepare for this, Cloudhawk brought the Cloud God back to Greenland. More specific, to Wolfblade. There he discovered that it had been Wolfblade’s intention to guide him through this process at some point.

“My plan was to try this at a later time. However, it appears we must move the timetable up.” Wolfblade brought his two visitors to a scryspire amplifier[2]. He turned to Cloudhawk and explained. “Under normal circumstances, it is impossible for an outsider to invade the divine matrix. However, there are always exceptions. You and the Cloud God are special cases – and the two of you together could work wonders.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have a tenacious mind, capable of passing through the channel. Anyone else would not survive, no matter how strong their psyche.” Wolfblade knew everything there was to know about Cloudhawk. After all, it was not incorrect to say that the man was a product of Wolfblade’s hard work. “In addition, the Cloud God’s talents lay in mental power – one of the best of his species. He has enough strength to disguise your mental signature and, essentially, upload you into the matrix.”

“Too complicated and not worth the time. Can we just get it started?”

Wolfblade had prepared two scryspires. Cloudhawk and the Cloud God took positions on either one. As they did, Wolfblade offered warnings. “You must be careful. Once you enter the matrix, there are many dangers. This is our first attempt, so do not be hasty. If anything feels wrong, return immediately.”

For Wolfblade to underline the dangers it meant this really was a risk. But Cloudhawk was not dissuaded. War with the gods was inevitable and he had to know his enemy. What other method was more effective? Whatever the dangers, it didn’t matter. He had to try.

He was ready.

Wolfblade nodded to the Cloud God.

Extending his hands, the god’s body began to glow. Lights flickered behind his eyes like a brewing storm. A vast flood of mental energy filled the space like a burst dam.

Cloudhawk shut his eyes, pushed his senses aside, opened his mind. And waited.

It didn’t take long for him to feel it, a sickening sinking sensation like he was being drawn into some imaginary place. He opened his eyes but there was nothing to see. Darkness, everywhere. Everywhere except for one single point of light far in the distance that led into the unknown.

Was that the way into the divine matrix…?

Cloudhawk followed the unspoken directions of the Cloud God and moved toward the light. Slowly he floated forward from the eternal darkness, drifting toward the channel.

Upon drawing near he was swept up in a storm of energy. It wrapped him up from all directions, pulling him toward the light. It was the Cloud God, helping him along. It felt like time was warping.

The closer he got to the channel the more its power suffocated him. Exhaustion came in waves, even dimming the Cloud God’s considerable power. But Cloudhawk knew he couldn’t stop. The only way was forward or he would be lost forever.

Struggle. For what felt like ages he fought against the fatigue before coming upon a gate.

It had to be more than thirty meters high, tall and imposing. Beautifully carved statues, too many to count, stood vigil around it. Something inside Cloudhawk told him that he was looking at a projection of his own psyche. The psychic world and the physical world were exactly opposed. The physical universe was about conservation and stability. The psychic world was unsteady and changeable.

Nothing existence in the normal sense. Symbolic expressions, that was all.

Cloudhawk put his arms against the gate and pushed. A hundred thousand beams of light were cast out in reaction to his touch, so bright he couldn’t look directly at it. It took him a moment to adjust, and when he did an entirely new reality unfolded before him… white-capped mountains, grand palaces, impossibly tall towers. The breathtakingly beautiful sight stretched out before him at a scale he could not fathom – enough buildings to fill ten Skyclouds.

He didn’t doubt that this place wasn’t real. This magnificent place was the divine matrix, where all the minds of the gods converged. Perhaps it was fair to say that this was the real Mount Sumeru.

Everywhere Cloudhawk looked he saw vast castles and lofty mountains… but not exactly. Just as the images became concrete they would change, shifting to something else in the blink of an eye. It was all just a fluid representation.

Am I in the realm of the gods? But why don’t I see any?

Entering this strange place, Cloudhawk discovered that he did indeed appear to be alone. Not a single other living thing was visible, a fact he found puzzling. Shouldn’t it be that all the gods – no matter their station – were all connected to this place?

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.