A Solitary God In A Dark Multiverse

They ruminated in my head and before long I made a decision. It was time for me to gain the first tier of influence over the domain of the stars. But first, I wanted to do one thing. Ask questions.

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"I"m going to go ahead and acquire the first tier of influence over the domain of the stars." I, the real me that was currently relaxing in my water temple, said. I was conversing with the system, a few hours after I successfully led the once enslaved victims of the Ardor family to their new home.

"I was wondering if there was anything I should know before I went." I inquired, curious to know more about the strange destination I was going to be heading towards. I was sending a message to the system.

[So you"re finally going into s.p.a.ce huh? And to the sun no less. Wow.] The system exclaimed a few moments after hearing my initial statement.

"s.p.a.ce? That"s a new term." I muttered, both aloud and in my mind, to the system. I heard an almost robotic chuckle come from the system itself.

[The term "s.p.a.ce" in the context of the cosmos is often part of a larger term. The term "Outer s.p.a.ce" is used to refer to the s.p.a.ces between celestial objects. The domain of the stars is one of those domains with more expansive powers and affiliations than one may realize at a glance. The domain of the stars governs stars, a type of celestial object, astronomical objects, and also powers related to outer s.p.a.ce itself.] The system explained.

This new knowledge filled me with excitement. It also explained why the domain was considered one of the greater domains.

[The domain of stars is... an enormously powerful domain. Those who use it and master it gain the ability to form whole new galaxies over the span of a few heartbeats. They gain power that allows them to destroy entire solar-systems in the blink of an eye.] The system revealed, speaking reverentially of the power I would soon have one tier of influence over.

[They can increase or decrease the distances between celestial bodies, which in and of itself can cause unparalleled destruction by changing the effects gravity has on objects or increasing or decreasing the temperatures of worlds.] The system told me, speaking softly.

[In addition to that, the domain of stars grants those who use it some of the mightiest powers granted by any of the domains aside from the domains of life and death. With the domain of the stars and the physics domain, being utilized together one can form event horizons, a part of black holes, with such immense gravity that not even particles or light can escape from their pull.] Said the system, revealing some of the incredible powers I might one day possess.

[Superma.s.sive black holes exist that form the center of many if not most of the largest galaxies. There will come a day when you can create those types of black holes.] I heard the system say, and that almost floored me. It was a sign of how incredible my powers were and would become if I dedicated myself to gaining more knowledge and more power.

I began to ready myself for my journey, thinking that I already had everything I needed, when the system decided to tell me one more useful tidbit.

[There is also radiation in s.p.a.ce. I actually recommend that you go ahead and grab the first tier of influence over the radiation subdomain before you venture off into the cosmos.] My companion suggested, causing me to pause and ask it a question of my own.

"Am I vulnerable to radiation?" I asked curiously. The system chuckled and replied to me a few moments later.

[No you"re not. That said, gaining the first tier of influence over the radiation subdomain before you go into s.p.a.ce will allow you to absorb the ambient radiation you fly through while in s.p.a.ce which you can then use freely when you return.] The system explained, shortly before my minimap abruptly lit up.

[I"ve done you a favor and updated your minimap to display locations where radiation can be absorbed ambiently. If you go to those locations you"ll be able to fulfill the requirement to gain the first tier of influence over the radiation subdomain once you"ve sat in them for a few minutes.] The odd ent.i.ty explained.

I grinned and teleported to the closest location that was illuminated on my minimap.

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Whenever I teleported somewhere my body automatically adjusted to fit whatever circ.u.mstances I found myself in. I learned this during the days I was practicing my powers, and it was handy because on more than one occasion I had teleported myself into lava or other uncomfortable places.

That strange ability of mine was used once more when I teleported to the nearest source of radiation. My corporeal form vanished when I teleported, and I found myself existing as an incorporeal specter with a vague, vaporous appearance of the corporeal form I had had underwater.

I found myself inside a layer of solid stone beneath Puerto Rico. I chuckled and waited for a few moments. Within a matter of heartbeats, I felt a wave of heat wash over my incorporeal form. It was surprising but not uncomfortable and once I adjusted to it mentally I just had to wait for a minute before I received a pleasant notification.

[Radiation subdomain details:

The subdomain of radiation is the subdomain that governs radioactivity, the process by which the nuclei of unstable atoms lose energy by emitting particles of ionizing radiation. This process is dangerous to many types of objects and living beings.

Radiation occurs throughout the universe and in virtually every other universe. By gaining power over it you gain access to a number of strange yet powerful abilities.

At your first tier of influence over this subdomain, you don"t gain the power to induce radioactivity but you can manipulate existing sources of radiation. You can absorb radiation and expel the radiation you"ve absorbed.

By utilizing the subdomain of radiation you can control battlefields, power machines, and certain types of constructs, as well as eventually manipulate all matters of radiation. To master the subdomain of radiation, you must absorb a total amount of radiation that is... gargantuan. It will take a long time.

Radiation subdomain pa.s.sive powers:

Radiation absorption: You can absorb any and all radiation. You were already immune to any damage radiation could do, but now you can absorb and store radioactive energy within yourself to unleash at will.

There are different types of radiation. The types of radiation you absorb will be used to power your abilities.

Radiation detection: You can detect radiation. It shows up on both your mini-map and your not-so-mini-map.

Radioactive aura: You can wrap yourself in an aura of radiation. This aura weakens solid objects and sickens living creatures.

Radioactive blast: You can unleash a blast of radioactive energy from your palms provided you have radiation stored within you.

Radioactive breath: You can expel a devastating burst of radiation from your mouth.

Radiation glare: You can emit stored radiation with a simple glare.

Radioactive malleability: Absorbed radiation can be shaped into other things, such as wings or armor that you can graft onto yourself.

Radiation subdomain active powers:

Radiation-power: You can use the radiation you"ve absorbed to power an object or construct that requires external power. This is a once a day power at the moment.

Radiation-immunity: You can grant someone immunity to the harmful effects of radiation. This power is currently a once a week power and is permanent until you decide to remove it. Someone immune to the harmful effects of exposure to radiation is instead healed by exposure to radiation.

Radiation blessing and curse details:

You cannot bless someone with this subdomain at the moment.]

I chuckled as I read through the powers, and was suddenly keenly aware of the changes my mini-map was undergoing. It was steadily revealing to me the locations of the closest cl.u.s.ters of radiation.

I smiled and teleported myself up out of the depths of the planet I was and into the sky high above Puerto Rico.

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An instant later I found myself high in the early morning sky. It was actually almost chilly for a second before my temperature manipulation power made me feel quite warm. I was keenly aware that this high in the sky it was actually quite cold though.

I was above the highest clouds I could see, and if I looked down I saw them, while if I looked up I could see the sun shining down on me. I oriented myself in the right direction and then shot upwards, propelling myself in the general direction of the sun. I didn"t take off at my maximum speed though, I wanted to appreciate this portion of the journey.

I felt the subtle pull of Torus" gravity, attempting to drag me back to the surface of the planet. Or maybe it was my own body somehow wanting to go back to the planet"s surface. I considered activating my powers over gravity but realized that it wasn"t necessary. I could easily ignore the pull without the help my power would provide.

I sped through the sky, sailing further upward every second and as I did so I gained valuable knowledge curtesy of the system.

[You are currently in an outer layer of the atmosphere. Atmospheres are layers of gases that surround planets and are retained by the gravity of the planets they surround. Torus"s atmosphere is divided into six primary layers and a number of secondary layers. You are currently in the thermosphere, which is the second-highest layer.] My companion whispered into my mind.

[As atmospheres are made up of gases you will one day get to create and control atmospheres, once you"ve gained more control over the subdomain of air and gained more elemental overlord powers.] The system revealed, giving me further glimpses into the power I would one day wield.

[Atmospheres help control planetary temperatures, create pressure to allow liquid water to exist, and even absorb ultraviolet solar radiation thereby reducing its impact on planetary life.] The system told me, happy to educate me as to the impact of the atmosphere. I was just happy to be learning more.

I felt appreciative of the knowledge I was receiving and when the system was done talking I quietly thanked it and focused on my journey.

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It took me less than a minute to escape the atmosphere and enter outer s.p.a.ce. I felt myself escape the gravitational pull of Torus indirectly. It wasn"t like I was suddenly free to go wherever I wanted, but more like the pull that was trying to suck me back to Torus was gone.

I took a moment to properly study my surroundings. If I turned around I could see Torus. I wasn"t very surprised to see that it was mostly water, with four large landma.s.ses visible from s.p.a.ce taking the portions of its visible surface that wasn"t water.

Most of the rest of what I could see was s.p.a.ce filled with tiny particulates, and what appeared to be clouds of fine, silvery dust. I couldn"t see radiation, but I was keenly aware that I was absorbing it. I felt it seep into my skin, harmlessly.

[What you"re feeling is solar radiation. It"s some of the energy ambiently produced and released by the sun.] The system explained.

Now that I was outside of Torus I could see the moon off in the distance, spinning away from me. It was a large, gray sphere that was moving away from me at a surprising speed. A part of me wanted to explore it, but I quickly decided to focus on my main mission.

I turned and faced the sun. It loomed larger than ever in the distance and I closed my eyes and teleported to it.

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In an instant I found myself only a few hundred kilometers away from the sun. Up close to it I could feel the immense heat of the sun, as well as observe it.

The sun was an unbelievably ma.s.sive sphere of elements in their plasmic state. It was so incredibly hot that even I, a literal G.o.d, could feel its heat. It didn"t hurt me, but it was so immense that my ability to regulate my temperature was pushed into overdrive and I could only barely cool myself down.

At the moment I was floating in the sun"s corona, one of the layers of the sun"s own version of an atmosphere. I felt their immense heat surround and embrace me. This heat was minuscule compared to the heat of the sun itself so I shrugged it off. I floated freely in s.p.a.ce for over a minute, before I realized something odd: I hadn"t yet gotten the notification that would inform me that I had successfully acquired influence over the star domain.

"Hey... Why haven"t I gotten my notification? I"m here, at the sun. Isn"t that where I am supposed to be?" I asked the system, annoyed that I was still here and not back on Torus.

[You haven"t gotten close enough silly. You need to at least reach the photosphere, the sun"s outer sh.e.l.l.] The system explained. When I heard this I sighed and grumbled inaudibly, before going ahead and getting on with the travel I needed to do.

This time I sped up and traveled at my maximum speed. Moving at the speed of light allowed me to easily reach the photosphere, the odd "surface" of the sun. Up close the heat of the sun felt even more intense but was still not painful.

I didn"t set foot on any area of the sun, partially because there was no solid surface for me to do so when I finally received the notification I wanted to receive. It filled my vision and brought a grin to my face.

The photosphere of the sun was a strange place of reddish-orange light that completely surrounded me. I was deep inside of it when I got the notification, and in every direction, I looked all I could see was that same eerily colored light. I stood in it for a few moments, before teleporting myself back to Torus. As I vanished from the sun"s "surface" I read over the notification I had just received.