Chapter 824 Sight of Arrogance (1/2)

From the moment of birth, Extraordinary civilizations face a question: why should Extraordinary individuals be concerned with the continuation of civilization?

That very question sounded callous and illogical, but it was indeed as the question puts: Setting aside the emotional portion, the most powerful Extraordinary individuals simply did not have to be concerned over the prolonging of civilization. Their very existence was equal to or perhaps superior to an entire civilization, while their might and wisdom could crush the composite of billions of normal individuals.

A point in case were Legendary champions.

Each of them has the individual ability to destroy Starfall Era Mycroft. As long as other Legends did not act, they would easily subjugate the world and turn all civilization into their plaything—even William the Mind Lord, the one who had the least capacity for physical destruction could turn billions into his puppet through widespread brainwashing.

The way they saw the world, the speed of their thought, their knowledge of all things and their thinking were all far beyond human. Against champions who could directly observe electromagnetism of all wavelengths, manipulate gravity, electromagnetism, atomic force and control the tune of mana and ether as if playing a piano, rare geniuses amongst the millions would never compare: as such people experimented to prove their theory and verified models, the champions had already invoked reality to see through the true nature behind it all.

Their mental process and calculation were unimaginably powerful as well. Within a minute, Joshua's own processing core could handle more information than all life on Mycroft would produce, and Joshua could create dozen thousands of such cores in the blink of an eye.

They were the very pinnacle of civilization, the composite of boundless power and intelligence, having already secured a place on top of the world even as mortals. Legends were even a different species—they have refined themselves into a greater, more unbelievable existence, and they were inhuman. If not for the influence of memories and emotions, they simply have no reason to help the ordinary people who were once their peers.

According to their survival instincts, they would wander the Void alone, and only then could they have a greater chance of obtaining resources and living on… but intelligent life were ultimately not merely life: They had another purpose beyond staying alive, for emotions and duty kept those champions believing that staying together and moving forward was the right path.

Therefore, the acknowledgment of emotion and culture was the bond between Extraordinary individuals and civilization.

But one must be aware that such bonds are never eternally realistic.

Civilization must never stay reliant of that facet. If it acted as mere earth where champions were nurtured but could not aid them moving forward, the single-sided contribution from the champions would even leave Legends in occasional loss.

Joshua knew one such example: a few years ago, the Nature's Magister had exhausted all efforts for the elves, striving to adjust a greater Nature's Path so that the elves would improve and adapt to the world, and yet the elven tribes did not agree. All they wanted was for her to hand over and share the World Tree Seed with all the tribes—a relic given by Father Nature that was incompatible as an embodiment of Nature's Path and contained nothing other than nostalgia.

They simply did not comprehend the Nature Magister's effort, merely following their lamentably foolish thinking in demanding… herself at a loss, if not for Joshua's presence to affirm her, she might have doubted her own effort and her purpose to strive for the elves.

Single-sided things never last. It had to be a mutual victory to keep such bonds eternal.

Hence, we return to the fundamental aspect of the question: how could a mutual victory be truly maintained when a civilization could do nothing by themselves, and are forced to rely on Legendary champions on every turn?

Quit with the jokes.

Civilization could create champions and depend on them, just as they could aid civilization… but what if the day comes that they became unwilling to help? While such outcomes appear unthinkable now and nigh impossible, the disaster civilization only ever faces were, in fact, the infinity of impossibilities.

Someone must consider such questions and prepare—before such disasters occur.

***

Joshua believed that the present issues in Mycroft had yet to deteriorate to the point where life and death hang in the balance and the Legendary champions did not have to make a move. Like how children take a fall as they play around in the mud, they could be aided with bandaging, disinfecting and a warm bath, not chemotherapy, amputation or cloning a new body where their mind could be translated…

Another simile would be that Mycroft had presently arrived before a ditch. They could cross it by building a bridge, so why would they need an invincible tractor such as Joshua who would directly flatten the ditch along with the mountains and the world itself?

While the tractor would not tire, it was not the case for ordinary people. In fear, they would mutter to each other to be cautious against people of such power and the tractor itself… And it would be no foolery. It might sound mindless, there would be those who—indeed, many of those who thought along those lines.

Be that as it may, after learning that the problems could have been caused by an Evil God, Joshua had informed the other Legends to be cautious as they handled various issues. Meanwhile, he would head to another world and search for possible information about an Evil God.

What was being responsible if all these were considered being a bystander and doing nothing? Should they lead civilization by the hand, teach them how to walk? Tell a player how they should play a game, acting as the father of every human in civilization, telling them how to live?

Even the gods would be knocked off their pedestal beneath the rage of the masses if they acted so arrogantly.

Joshua said nothing; the God of Life was silent as well.

Both beings were simply not creatures of many words, and not giving each other silent treatments. Just as Zelma looked on beside them, imagining that the two profound beings were in a standoff, both were incessantly exchanging through Steel Strength and divine power, entering a duel of ideals on the spiritual plane a through supremely efficient communication.

Just like that, time flew amidst indescribable silence. It was after a long time that the God of Life appeared relieved and spoke in admiration, ”You answer well and not out of instinct, Radcliffe—you have certainly thought about the question. We imagined that one who is simple-minded such as you would never have thought about things so extensively.

”Even Extraordinary civilizations must never excessively interfere with its own growth through supernatural powers—such was the path we had once taken.”

A hollow voice resounded throughout the Void: it was not soundwaves but an undulation of information. The God of Life did not have to open its mouth, its powerful spirit would directly affect the souls of intelligent beings around it to conjured the illusion of 'hearing', even as the deity quietly murmured, ”When Extraordinary individuals supply power and skill to mortals without restraint, it would form a powerful but malformed civilization… it was what the Sage had once done, his kindness grasping all of civilization in his palm, keeping it safe from everything without seeking anything in return.”

”He aided and freed countless people from torment, gifting salvation to those despairing in abysses, aiding and supporting civilizations while willingly instructing learners in the very root of his own power… in the end, the Glorious Era that appeared immeasurably prosperous remained an ancient feudal society in essence, albeit with supreme technology.”

”Nobles, knights, mages, old lieges, kings, deities, priests, churches, and their many devotees… Even the laziest of farmers would reap bountiful harvests, and all was well in our world thanks to Extraordinary power… but what about the world? It was only because a powerful shepherd is ruling over his flock of fat and naïve sheep.”

”Arrogance blinds one's vision, keeping them from seeing future and the path ahead.” The God of Life laughed happily even as it stroked the skull in its hand. ”Joshua van Radcliffe—you declare yourself prideful and yet is much humbler than others, and you are aware that there was a price that makes people flinch behind the beautiful painting of 'taken for granted'.”

The God of Life spoke mildly and intimately. For the first time its voice was fettered, instead of its usual calm and flatness as if stagnated water. ”There are innumerable advantages in leaving civilization's path to Extraordinary individuals to break through the calamity before us, just as there are infinite disadvantages… Even the Sage who had assumed that path believed himself to have failed, that his Order was mistaken. Still, he knew all along that he was not Truth eternal, and in fact, by the end of the Glorious Era, he thought about how civilization could advance further, earning a different, better and stronger Order.