Chapter 1001 Whimsical Beast Part Two (1/2)
Question: If a champion could create millions and billions of creatures that possess intelligence, independent personalities, and are completely identical to naturally born creatures but are more perfect, more beautiful than those natural creatures without any consequences…
Would such a champion still need a burden like civilization?
In other words, if he already possesses such profound power to split out billions of thinking minds, he would certainly be able to break through defects including perspective impediments easily without the help of others at all. In fact, creating intelligent life to support him was in itself unnecessary.
Even so, a certain warrior who was fighting Evil Gods at the moment would not concern himself with that question. He looked forward to the futures of civilization, just as he looked forward to powerful unknown enemies.
Though able to move forward alone even without civilization, he actually took offense and disliked it despite not being affected at all…from a certain perspective, he might perhaps be colder than the Imperator.
That was because to Imperator Amos, the answer to that question was 'of course it is needed'.
”I really like all of you.”
The Golden Stormeye said nothing, and yet his words had no elements of deceit at all. ”How could I have no feelings after raising the Amoses for so long? Even if a tool of convenience is broken, I would at most withdraw them instead of throwing away or destroying them. You can be at ease—I will not sit and watch as the Amoses go extinct at the hands of the Ultimate Virus, and before that, I will collect some valuable Amoses for safekeeping.”
”Probably Commander-class would do…haha. It really is different from back then—indeed, perhaps development would progress quicker after most of the inferior population has been eliminated.”
”That said, it is truly troubling that the Takur mongrels are really not weak at all. It has been years, but I cannot break through their seal upon the Infinite Divine Energy Converter Source, and now that the Ultimate Virus has caused unrest amongst them, the Amoses are infected too.”
As the Golden Stormeye stared at Elma who in turn was left speechless, he reminded her, ”Tell this to that Mycroftian. I can leave a message if you can't.”
It was simply impressive that he now used both Elma and Creed as tools to communicate with Joshua.
”Imperator…”
Elma's mind was now a mess. She had guessed and known it definitively, but was still unable to accept it upon hearing Imperator Amos' personal admission. Even if anyone—Amos or human—believed themselves able to endure such terrific shock, they would only realize how weak the defense of their hearts were in the face of the actual situation.
”Get a hold of yourself, Elma!”
By luck, Creed, who was inside Elma's body, realized that she was about to collapse under the Imperator's unconsciously emanating might and her own self-torment. He hence hastily charged his power, stimulating her to clear her head.
”…Thanks.”
Though Creed's ability was not actually considerable, but through the buff of the Crisis Handling System, a bizarre Extraordinary power actually revived Elma from her muddle-headedness. She gratefully glance at the sighing human captain, before looking up to find a thoughtful stare from Imperator Amos.
”That's the power of that Mycroftian? Interesting structure…truly interesting. Though weak in strength, its prioritization is high—so, he has actually found an end to that path? As expected of the Forerunners who have come from the Lost Galaxy. It does give me some inspiration.”
Imperator Amos gave Joshua a fair appraisal and commended the warrior's exquisite art, at once bringing him joy and a fine mood. The giant eye even swiveled, indicating his delight.
Meanwhile, Elma's mind flickered with a single simple thought as she watched the greatest champion who stood above the Court itself.
”What could have happened in his past that he would become like this…”
”Surely even the Imperator would have a weak moment…”
However, the answer to that was no.
The Golden Stormeye graciously overlooked the random thought of his subject, even providing an answer thanks to his good mood.
I was born powerful.
When I was born, the mana and ether I commanded far surpassed my own father.
He had tried to kill the infant me then but failed, and was killed instead by the recoil of my innate ether-bounded field.
Then, by the third day of my birth, I learned the language of the Amos, their present political standings, and assumed control, ready to conquer the weak around me.
”I was never weak, Elma. Only the weak would be weak…the strong would always be powerful.”
Beneath the Golden Stormeye, a tentacle composed of etheric flow reached out—it was thin yet massive. Even if it could not be thinner to the massive eye, yet, it was over eighteen kilometers thick to Elma, and was collapsing towards her like a wall.
However, the tentacle gently touched Elma's warship form, just like how a human would gently stroke a bug when in a good mood—they would do all they could to be careful and refrain from crushing them, curiously and pleasantly poking at their shell.
Even the gaze on the giant eye was gentle.
”I could tell that you are enraged and upset, because you believe that my attitude is negligent and discriminating. Even so, it is normal—it would be a great oddity and really bewildering if I treated the Amoses as equals instead.”
”I can be angry, calm, cherishing, or serious as I go about doing something—but that is only against champions who are able to fight me as an equal. I will only feel purpose in life because they exist… while the Amoses are life that I have created as eye candy and to kill time when I'm not in search of other champions.”
***
Humans needed legacies, organizations, teamwork, and procreation because humans would die.
Because they would die, they needed heirs.
Because they would die, they needed to gather together so they would not die due to unexpected circumstances.
Because they would die, they needed to communicate, work together, divide labor, and create a greater and more stable collective that would not fall so easily.
Such was civilization.
The collective progress was the path towards the goal called undying. Still, as the development of civilization made 'not dying due to unexpected circumstances' increasingly simpler, the objective of civilizations thus moved on to a 'better life' or 'a life with greater purpose', even reaching the state of seeking individual existential meaning or seeking the unknown and Truth.
Nonetheless, it was the same with pyramids built upon a wide base—the bottommst and greatest objective was to 'survive'.
”Humans need legacy and heirs because they die and are not immortal.”
The Golden Stormeye patiently described his thoughts as an individual. Though he would not ask of a creature who could not achieve the state of undying to understand him, who would not muse to themself? Moreover, the little bug was quite interesting—she actually doubted, resisted, and had wanted to betray him.
By the skies, it was simply novel, and it was as delightful as finding a shining diamond in a pile of pebbles.
Truly, it had been dozens of millennia since there was such a fascinating fellow.
”Even so, I don't need it. To me, a so-called civilization is simply a placenta that ensured I gestated, birthed, and grew smoothly. Since I am now mature and have become complete, the placenta is to be disposed of.”
”As I've mentioned before, I like the Amoses for I cherish the old times too.”
The ultimate being was immortal and invincible, holding great power and mindset. He alone was complete and embodied everything, and was able to devour galaxies and destroy worlds with a single thought—he certainly would not need burdens such as a collective.
Selfish, egoistical, and yet selfless and charitable—he could destroy billions of worlds for himself and sweep away other civilizations and intelligent life like refuse. Likewise, he could protect an entire race over dozens of millennia simply because he was in a good mood and thought that they look good, even permitting them to live in his own body…as if allowing pets to climb over himself.
Doing and claiming everything he desired with no one to stop him—concepts like good and evil, which describes humans, could not be imposed on such beings by force, for they were without restraint.
For their name was immortal, whimsical beasts.
***
Elma was dumbstruck. She understood Imperator Amos with growing clarity thanks to Creed waking her, and suddenly felt that she had been so ridiculous—that her accusations against Imperator Amos was amusing and sickening.
That being said, the Amoses were even funnier. They had actually coexisted with such a profound being, even developing such an advanced civilization—bahahaha! The Amoses should really have sincerely offered their gratitude and apologies to him, for he had so generously offered his shell to insects like them as their capital for such a long time.
The Imperator was such a nice person.