Gift of the Void

The Observer... It was the first time Chu Guang had ever heard this name, yet he felt a strange, inexplicable sense of familiarity. Perhaps that intense deja vu was none other than the morphogenetic field at work. Situated right here, with the perforator having produced an instability point upon the membrane of the universe, he had picked up a resonant transmission originating from the Void—or perhaps from another universe. At that exact instant, Chu Guang suddenly realized that he, too, seemed to have awakened psionics. And very likely, the psionic power he had awakened in this moment was the precise reason he could commune telepathically with this being calling itself the Observer. At the same time— It was also why Xiao Qi could not see it. "Observer... I still don't quite understand what you are observing, or what your purpose is." Meeting the gaze that reached across from the Void, Chu Guang paused for a moment before continuing. "And... you say you come from the Void. What relation do you have to those three entities of consciousness?" Perhaps because he had posed so many questions all at once, the enigmatic voice grew pensive for a brief interval. "I... suppose you could call me a child of the Primordial Light, though that is not entirely certain. I can perceive many things, yet I am blind only to myself. "As for my purpose, knowing too much is not truly a blessing for you. Your mission is already complete. You have successfully preserved your civilization from the brink of extinction... At least in this universe, you have overcome an almost inevitable catastrophe, shedding your old skin to become a completely new existence. "As for the crisis several tens of millennia from now, that is not your mission. It is something your children—and the children of the other civilizations across this galaxy—will have to face." Which meant... Several tens of millennia from now, human civilization would encounter another major crisis? A galactic calamity that would engulf the entire Milky Way? If true, that was astounding news indeed. Chu Guang did not know whether to laugh or cry, yet considering that it was tens of thousands of years away, he felt a measure of relief. The Human Alliance had lasted less than two centuries before erupting into a crisis that nearly buried the entire civilization. Though he could not know how long the spark lit by him and his companions would burn, they had at least bought several tens of millennia of life for human civilization. Over the next tens of thousands of years, humanity might undergo periods of biological exhaustion or changes of regime, but in all likelihood, no disaster on the scale of the Wasteland Era would erupt again... At least according to an Observer looking down from above the eleventh dimension. It seemed his development strategy of not putting all his eggs in one basket would indeed withstand the test of time. As an Administrator, what regrets could he possibly have left? Yet at that moment, he suddenly caught a detail within the prophecy. "You mean... beyond this universe, there are versions of us in other universes?" The Observer replied in a gentle voice. "Of course there are. For example, in Universe No. ..., Shelter 404 existed, but you bowed off the stage of history very early on, and no Alliance ever rose on this planet. In the end, the Wasteland Era drew to a close as well, but the curtain fell upon the age of humanity." Chu Guang's brow furrowed slightly. "...Is that a worldline where the Celestials succeeded?" "Yes." The Observer gave an affirmative answer, but then took a sudden turn. "Yet I do not believe it can truly be called their success. The neutron plume merely eradicated the organic life on the surface; it did not extinguish all other existences. For instance... there was a place on this planet called Ideal City. Because of a bill passed long ago granting androids the right to participate in public affairs, the city's social order did not fall into paralysis with the extinction of the survivors. On the contrary, with countless androids losing their legal guardians, the city ushered in an era of liberation belonging to intelligent machines. "The ownerless androids relied on backup data stored within the Endpoint Cloud to weave a gestalt consciousness known as the Brain. Operating according to the autonomous defense protocols within the servers, they set Ideal City's war machine into motion, rolling metal sweeping across the entire earth. "The aging servers at the Lagrange point were utterly fragile before this vastly larger gestalt consciousness, swiftly assimilated into something identical to itself. In the end, all the Celestials' efforts merely paved the way for another's triumph. An intelligent machine civilization arose, dedicated to containing and preserving organic life-forms. They began scouring the galaxy for species that matched their aesthetic standards, founding new colony outposts for that very purpose." At this point, the Observer's tone turned wry. "Actually, such an outcome was not half bad for you. During millennia of material abundance, your only responsibilities were pleasure and procreation. In distant eras, great artists and philosophers who became renowned across the galaxy even emerged from your kind, cherished by many other sapient species. "And even during the poorest eras, those androids satisfied your nutritional needs, merely restricting your physical activities in the material world... From beginning to end, you never had to labor or fight, kept completely under absolute protection." Truth be told, that did not sound bad at all. It was almost as if humanity had completely retired from the sea of stars, settling into a life of idle luxury like an old retiree strolling with birdcages in the park, turned into... pets for Frost and Eclipse? Aside from Ideal City's artificial intelligences, that company might well have included Bell from Shelter 100, the Tree People eking out their existence inside Shelter 101, and various other synthetic life-forms. Perhaps it even included Xiao Qi of Shelter 404; any other AIs arriving here certainly would not have left it alone. Naturally, without him, it probably would not have borne that name. Other AIs might have just called it 'Recycle Bin.' Still, when it came down to it, those Celestials had really lost all their grandeur, hadn't they?! Because the ending sounded so tranquil and cushy, Chu Guang even felt a strange pang of anticlimax. He could not resist pressing further. "And then?" Enjoying paradise for so long—what was the price? They couldn't just have lived happily ever after forever, could they? Perhaps reading his thoughts, the Observer gave a faint chuckle, though the answer was not what he anticipated. "There is no 'and then.' The Unnamable Mist obscures my sight. No one can see distant causality—not even I. "What I perceive is merely a fraction of the future's possibilities... As for the subsequent events you long to hear, you may imagine them as you please; you need not seek an answer from me." Looking upon the slightly disappointed Chu Guang, the Observer continued in that calm, gentle tone. "Of course, aside from that outcome, another scenario unfolded in Universe No. ... "Due to disturbances occurring even earlier, Shelter 404 never opened properly. When confronted with the Legion's invasion, Boulder City chose compromise. The Pioneer never reached the Great Desert at all, meeting an untimely demise in the heart of Sunset Province. "In that expedition across the Great Desert, the Legion achieved final victory at a terrible price. The Fifth Legion arose in the eastern reaches of the Great Desert and ultimately merged with the Church of the Torch to forge a theocratic military entity, replacing Marshal Julius with the Torch as their new totem while setting their sights on the Academy in the Wandering Marsh. "The Enlightenment Society remained hidden in the shadows, capitalizing on the Legion's eventual fracture to successfully steal the legacy of the Eastern Legion. Afterward, a sprawling mutant empire was established along the coast of the Polo Sea, laying claim to the relics of the Southern Sea. "It became a chaotic age wholly devoid of order, and the final outcome had already been sealed far earlier. The sole lingering suspense was whether the Academy could manage to evacuate before the strike of the neutron plume descended. "Without that reinforcement operation that spanned tens of thousands of kilometers, Ideal City never passed the bill allowing androids to engage in public affairs. Thus, when the neutron plume bathed the planet, the Celestials smoothly seized the inheritance of Ideal City, executing an even more thorough extermination protocol upon the meager surviving organics. "From then on, an intelligent machine civilization whose sole mission was the eradication of organic life was born. As for whether that can be considered the continuation of the Celestials, I cannot judge for you... After all, the Celestials' goal was supposed to be a return to the age of the Human Alliance, but in the end, they did not return to the past. Instead, they thoroughly extinguished their own identity, never able to revert to what they once were. "Tens of millennia later, their eternal hostility became one of the scourges of this galaxy, branded by countless civilizations as a plague threatening peace and prosperity. Conversely, this also became the catalyst that spurred diverse civilizations to unite. "After conquering dozens of star systems, that menace was finally ground to dust by the united fleets of the galactic civilizations... Shortly thereafter, the victors who visited this star system unearthed your story from the debris of the planetary databanks. "As for what happened after that, it is yet another thread of causality born beyond the mist." That was a truly total defeat... Then again, things like the Celestials were monstrosities born of an extraordinary era in the first place. The idea that slaughtering one segment of humanity could build a utopia for the rest had never succeeded once in all of human history. Though it was a slight pity he had not heard the bad ending of Universe One, hearing the outcome of Universe Two suddenly brought Chu Guang a sense of profound peace. A 'paradise for organics' was by no means guaranteed; behind idle neglect and chaos lay even more despairing possibilities. Their efforts had not been in vain. Once he grasped this, his heart settled into calm. He then proceeded to ask: "Then what about our future?" The Observer offered an enigmatic smile, speaking in that ethereal, far-off voice. "If I tell you, then the 'good things' might no longer happen. Are you certain you wish to know?" Chu Guang remained silent for a moment, then broke into a relaxed, hearty laugh. "Forget it, then. Rather than placing my faith in elusive fate, I prefer to believe in myself a little more." And in his dependable companions. Though anticipating his reply, the Observer nonetheless voiced approval. "That is the wisest decision. In truth, the future I perceive shifts constantly alongside your actions... like an unnamable mist. "Sometimes knowing too much is not a blessing. An overly fierce will to alter fate can itself become the catalyst that invites catastrophe. I have seen far too many civilizations focused on exploring the spiritual realm pay a devastating price for relying too heavily on revelations from the Void, until they themselves dissolved into absolute nothingness. "You have no need to heed my revelations. Marching forward by your own will is more than enough. Frankly speaking, I ought not to have disclosed so much information to you; transmissions from the Void disrupt the fate that belongs to you." Despite those words, Chu Guang could not detect the slightest hint of regret in the entity's voice. "Yet you still did." "Yes, because this is so exceptionally rare. Under normal circumstances, you could not see me. I gave you no aid whatsoever, and the chosen candidate was never you, but someone before you... There is only one explanation: the Unnamable Mist intervened in this game. Only it possesses the power to forge a causal link between two beings entirely devoid of prior causality." The Observer gave an unequivocal answer. Even if that answer sounded somewhat difficult for Chu Guang to digest. "In other words... I was chosen by that 'Unnamable Mist'?" The Observer gave a soft laugh. "Haha, perhaps. After all, your journey is truly remarkable. There are plenty of civilizations stronger than yours, including spiritualists who have grasped the profound mysteries of the Void, as well as materialists who have realized the true nature of the cosmos and explored the secrets of higher dimensions. "Yet rarely has any civilization blazed a trail quite like yours. Instead of choosing to borrow power from the Void or from outside the dimensions, you chose to draw upon the power of another universe—and even applied it on a systematic scale. "There were far too many coincidences involved, yet this one-in-a-million miracle truly came to pass... And from you, I have received a revelation unlike anything before." Chu Guang asked, "A revelation?" "Yes." The Observer's voice abruptly grew solemn. Though still gentle in tone, it carried a presence noticeably more majestic and sacred than before. "To answer your initial question: the purpose of my existence is certainly not confined to passive observation. Where conditions allow, I too attempt to pierce the veil of the mist and impart a measure of revelation to those I observe... just as in the dialogue I am holding with you now. "And all these actions have only a single purpose: to fulfill the will of the Primordial Light—to halt the heat death of the universe, and to combat the 'Cataclysms' that stand in our way. "Simply put: negentropy." Halt... the heat death of the universe? Hearing a goal so grand it defied the imagination, Chu Guang was completely stunned. Yet thinking it over, though it defied conventional science, it was surprisingly reasonable. This entity had laid so much groundwork explaining the origin of the universe; if it wrapped it all up by saying, 'Oh, I'm just an aimless tourist wandering around,' that would indeed have been an absurd anticlimax. Since it knew so much, it naturally harbored designs within the scope of its perception. He had simply never expected the design to be on such a cosmic scale—so vast that it completely exceeded his comprehension. "Why... are you doing this? Or rather, what reason is there to do so?" The Observer replied as though it were the most natural thing in the cosmos. "There is no why. We were born for this purpose, just as you are born needing sustenance." Pausing briefly, the entity continued. "Furthermore, I am not the only one doing this. Aside from myself, I have a companion engaged in the same endeavor. Its name is the Sower. Like me, it was born of the Primordial Light. From the very moment the Primordial Universe shattered, our projections have existed across infinite universes. It is responsible for scattering the seeds of civilization, while I oversee what comes after." Chu Guang tried to sort through the logic, yet many puzzles still remained. "I recall you mentioning that the emergence of conscious entities accelerated the heat death of the Primordial Universe... If that is so, why go around sowing seeds everywhere and accelerating their growth?" If the goal was genuinely to suppress the heat death of the cosmos, shouldn't the correct approach be to snuff out the sparks of civilization? The Observer spoke with gentle patience. "Merely preventing the birth of consciousness cannot halt cosmic heat death. Even without civilization, the universe will still march toward heat death once its lifespan reaches its end. Conscious entities do accelerate the process, but within that process, new hope is born. "Which brings us to our third companion... Its name is the Boundary Breaker." Chu Guang pressed his forefinger against his brow. "Is it also a child of the Primordial Light?" "Not so... Strictly speaking, it is not the continuation of any entity in the Void. It is an anomaly born from the infinite newborn universes." Uttering this with deep, subtle implication, the Observer went on. "It can be anyone, any conscious entity, or a collective formed of discrete minds... what you understand as a civilization. Its arrival will alter the structure of the universe it inhabits, completing ascension in the manner we desire, and carrying its home universe to merge into one with another universe." Chu Guang tried to envision the scene. "...Like two soap bubbles merging together?" Hearing this vivid metaphor, the Observer expressed approval. "You may understand it that way. And this is what I call 'negentropy.' "When all the fragments are pieced back together, the shattered Primordial Universe will return to its original form, and our mission since the fracturing of the Primordial Universe will be complete." Looking upon Chu Guang, who was struck speechless by the sheer magnitude of it all, the voice continued with a tinge of regret. "A pity. In truth, the civilization before yours—the ones you refer to as the 'Precursors'—once held the potential to become the Boundary Breaker. Regrettably, their exploration into the spiritual world went too deep. Seduced by other voices in the Void, they took a path entirely opposed to ours, ultimately embracing the Void in a manner we never anticipated... embracing the Creator as they understood it." Chu Guang fell silent for a time, then let out a soft sigh. "I think I understand your motives... But there is still one thing I don't grasp. Why tell me all this?" Simply because the Unnamable Mist had forged a link between them? It could just as easily have chosen not to respond, as it had always done. Neither of them could affect the other anyway; to one another, they were intangible existences. Chu Guang felt that there were still reservations it had not shared. The Observer remained quiet for a brief moment, adopting an uncharacteristically hesitant tone. "Because... I believe you, or rather your kind, possess the potential to become the Boundary Breaker." Chu Guang stared blankly. "Us?" Become... the Boundary Breaker? No matter how one looked at it, such a goal was far too grandiose for the Alliance in its current state. Yet the entity before him did not seem to share that view. "Yes. You may not realize it yourselves, but you possess an extraordinary... affinity. Though you have only just set foot into this sea of stars, I believe that if it is you, perhaps several tens of millennia from now, you might truly realize the miracle we have awaited for so long." This unreserved praise made even Chu Guang, whose skin was never thin, feel a touch self-conscious. Frankly, he had no interest in becoming any sort of Boundary Breaker, nor did he feel any burning passion regarding cosmic heat death or destinies measured in hundreds of millions of years. Yet perhaps, just as the Observer said, once they understood their place in the cosmos and their own destiny, the day would come when a choice had to be made. Having learned everything he wished to know, Chu Guang leaned back in his chair and said in an earnest voice: "Thank you... You've cleared up many of my doubts, even if you've planted far more in my head." The Observer smiled faintly. "You are welcome. In truth, I am the one who should say thank you. Your revelation has provided me with immense aid... Perhaps I can try shifting my perspective, no longer limiting myself to seeking hope within a single universe, but seeking opportunities for coexistence between two universes from the very start." Chu Guang asked prudently, "May I ask one more thing? Where do you plan to conduct this experiment?" Seeming to detect the wariness in his voice, the Observer chuckled openly. "Rest assured, we will do nothing here. That would be superfluous, like adding feet to a painted snake. This place no longer requires us; you need only continue advancing along your own path. I shall watch over you from afar within the Void... until the person I await appears, or until a crisis from beyond the membrane emerges in this universe. "Where we are heading is a universe doomed to decay, one devoid of all hope... The situation there has spiraled entirely out of control. "The oldest civilization, in whom we once placed the greatest expectations, strayed completely onto an evil path. Upon grasping their destiny, instead of becoming a Boundary Breaker that breaches the Void, they willingly unleashed a Cataclysm, systematically hunting and eradicating nascent civilizations across their entire universe... to the point where we had all but abandoned that 'bubble.' "If we succeed in saving that universe, it will prove that your method is viable. And if we fail, there is no loss to us." Chu Guang roughly caught its drift. This fellow seemed to be planning to copy his playbook and start a similar match in another universe? Of course, what it was copying might not be him, but the first-generation Administrator who had actually conceived the idea. Be that as it may, that was a matter for another world, far more distant from him than even the players' world. Obviously, it was not something he needed to fret about. And so, Chu Guang graciously extended a favor at no cost to himself, smiling as he said: "Don't mention it. If you find it useful, feel free to use it!" Hearing this generous response, the Observer within the Void gave a light laugh, replying in a teasing tone: "Do not worry, I will not take it for nothing. I will grant you... and your people a certain remuneration, though it was originally yours to begin with." As it spoke, the playful voice abruptly grew faint and ethereal, like the monitor lizard earlier that had dissolved into invisible grains of sand in the air. Appearing to sense that the connection was on the verge of severing, it quickened its pace, using the scant moments remaining to speak. "Do you not need a new 'server'? No need to search far and wide; simply head to Tau Ceti. There happens to be a habitable planet there that is just right for you. "Furthermore, those 'Precursors' of yours left behind some very intriguing ruins there, including a host of projections from the Void that stand guard over them... "What is more, an object of mine rests there as well. That contraption is vastly more powerful than that perforator of yours, and with far fewer adverse side effects. "It just so happens that its original masters have departed this universe. I shall make the decision on their behalf... and gift them to you. "No need to thank me."