The Nebula's Civilization

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"That’s impossible!” Ion screamed.

Ion wasn't the only one. Employees of the Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency and all associated organizations and sub-agencies also cried out in alarm. The reason was simple. The Pantheon had just ordered the immediate construction of a space station in Avartin's orbit.

Therefore, a massive emergency meeting of all the space agency's employees was held.

“To meet the target, we need to increase our current rocket payload tenfold every month or launch ten more rockets.”

“We haven’t even gotten to reliable manned rocket flights yet. We stopped using Sepi as a test subject just two months ago. There are too many risks involved.”

“There’s also the issue of the asteroid's orbital path. We can’t use several launch sites for the next two months. It might be better to build new ones.” 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝓫𝓷𝓸𝒗𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝓶

“New launch sites? Do we even have any potential locations left?”

“Sure, if Night Sky floats an island in the sea for us.” joked a secularist, eliciting laughter from the crowd.

Initially, the discussions were nearly all shouting, but as the hours-long meeting progressed, other possibilities began to emerge.

“Speaking as a representative of the astronauts, we've already written our wills. We’re ready to give our lives for the night sky.”

“That doesn’t make our jobs any less stressful, you know!?”

“Please just think of it as launching cheerful fireworks.”

“Someone, please stop her!” someone yelled as Ramin was dragged away.

Meanwhile, the space agency employees started discussing more productive ideas.

“I’ve talked with the high priest. Since it’s a direct request from the Pantheon, they said substantial support could be possible.”

“A miracle? They’re just going to perform a miracle for us? How much can they do?”

“There’s a casebook on miracles.”

“Really, there’s such a thing?”

“Well, you're a secularist... If you look at the casebook and request a similar miracle, the Pantheon will do what they can.”

“How thick is this casebook?”

“Around 230 volumes.”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, hold on... Yes, the temple will be sending direct support. High priests who’ve memorized the entire casebook will come. But we’ll still need the books, right?”

“Absolutely. Our division will check it out. Let's see how well our Pantheon priests have compiled the list. Surely, they haven’t just crammed everything in chronological order... It is digitized, right?”

Another idea followed.

"Have you heard about the project the Itimo Group is preparing?"

"What was it again? Something about...electricity? The one that Simo is working on?"

"I think it involved launch vehicle research as well.”

"I know about it! It’s actually about accelerating warheads using electromagnetic induction.”

"Is it efficient though?"

"Well, even if it isn’t, with the Itimo Group’s financial backing, they can compensate for inefficiencies, right? I heard they are building a massive power plant for this project.”

"I also heard about something else. I heard about the pension for the Chosen Ones provided by the Itimo Group. Is it related to that?"

"...Can someone bring back the person who was dragged out earlier?"

The conversation progressed.

"Who has the updated list of weapons offered by the Empire’s Army?"

"The head of the logistics division had it last...”

"Where are they?"

"In the medical wing, knocked out on an IV drip."

"Oh. They’re from the logistics division? I checked the list of items we were promised this quarter, and there was something strange on it. That's not a clerical error, is it?"

"It's exactly as listed."

The conversation then took a different turn, focusing on perspectives other than the scientific one.

"Can we connect this with the project planned at the Vaseniol Magic Tower?"

"The Magic Tower?"

"They've helped us before, right?"

"We are grateful for that. Without their help, we would have been shot down again, and we will need their help in the future too. But apart from that, magic is, after all, based on mystical truths that cannot be scientifically proven..."

"Let's just focus on its utility.”

"...Utility, as in?"

"I've heard of a few grand magics. They take time to prepare and consume significant resources, but they could mitigate or eliminate some of the obstacles we need to overcome."

"Okay, let’s keep an open mind. Tell us more. Specifically, what obstacles can they eliminate?"

There were also leads on actual plans.

"Does anyone know about the secret project at the Rasdasil Ruins?"

As the meeting progressed, several people shared their plans through cell phones, landlines, and the Sky Net. The Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency didn’t even need to make the first contact as a state of emergency had been declared for all organizations involved in the moon-facing plan.

The Imperial Aeronautics and Space Agency wasn’t the only one seeking help. Everyone needed each other's assistance.

Sung-Woon watched all this unfold with satisfaction.

***

For Sung-Woon, the start of the moon-facing plan was not a single event that occurred two years ago. Sung-Woon's moon-facing plan was a simple measure derived amidst solving a bigger, more complex and absolute problem.

‘This isn't a game.’

If it were a game, Sung-Woon could have excelled, as games always came with rules that could be mastered and skillfully manipulated. But a situation without apparent rules wasn't a game, and Sung-Woon couldn't excel in it.

‘Alone, it would have been impossible.’

Therefore, Sung-Woon accepted that all this wasn't a game and assigned tasks to people better suited for them. Luckily, they were competent, cooperative, and very sharp.

Sung-Woon's moon-facing plan began decades ago, before the battle against Hegemonia, rooted in the belief that they would one day face a formidable enemy. It started during the creation of the Sanctuary and was now nearing its conclusion.

In the center of the Sanctuary, the second Apostle of the Pantheon, Kyle Lak Orazen, sat in a lotus pose. Kyle, the designer of the Sanctuary, had access to all the computers within it and had simplified the interface over time. Now, Kyle could intervene and control all the complex programming of the Sanctuary with his will and voice alone.

Kyle, with eyes closed, said, "Now I can access the entirety of the security system."

Someone entered the sanctuary.

“Security system... I don’t like that term.”

Walking through the computers of the Sanctuary was the third Apostle of the Pantheon, a grand Wizard who had risen to unmatchable heights.

Kyle, eyes still closed, called out the name, "Mazdari."

"We're crossing a gate. There are actual gatekeepers with hundreds of eyes scrutinizing every crevice of the gate."

"Terminology isn't important.”

Mazdari, now a Garuda with white, puffed-up feathers that made his already large physique appear even more massive, laughed.

‘Perhaps because his essence has grown.’

Kyle visualized Mazdari without opening his eyes.

Mazdari continued, "I know."

"You seem to be in a good mood.”

"Does it appear so?"

"Did you see Ravina?"

"You can't be fooled."

"If you want to keep her close, call her to the Pantheon.”

"That's rude. After the tuning was completed, I decided not to manipulate anything anymore. And I like it this way now. Occasionally seeing her face, saying greetings, asking how she is, and parting ways."

"If that's your will," Kyle responded, smiling slightly.

Mazdari's reason for not manipulating anything was because, conversely, if he wished, he could now control almost everything under the Pantheon's command. His magic had reached a level known as ‘tuning’. Even the greatest Wizards of other worlds would only see him as mystical. Mazdari had reached a level untouchable by most Apostles and even players of the Pantheon.

‘Perhaps he's the most dangerous entity in the Pantheon.’

But Kyle knew Mazdari posed no threat.

Kyle, with his eyes closed, looked into Mazdari's soul, something Mazdari himself couldn’t be aware of. Mazdari was no longer an entity that could be simply summarized by an individual’s History, which a player could call up. His past, filled with vigor, hatred, thoughts of revenge, and the instability of a Wizard, had all been dismantled and reassembled into the grand Wizard he was now.

Mazdari brushed his lower beak lightly. "Is it starting now?"

"If He wills it, we can start immediately."

"Is accomplishing the moon-facing plan it for now?"

"Yes." Kyle continued, "There's more we could do, but there's no rush."

Kyle saw Mazdari's inner world pulse rapidly with countless possibilities as he mentioned there being more to do. But when Kyle said that there was no rush, Mazdari's consciousness halted and returned to its original state.

Once Kyle finished speaking, Mazdari remained in place.

Kyle thought, ‘He is a fearsome being.’ freewebnov(e)l

Mazdari said, "You are a truly fearsome one."

Kyle opened his eyes to see Mazdari smiling. The Sanctuary's designer and the Wizard of Tuning trusted each other immensely, yet maintained a balance of checks. If one falled, the Pantheon would reach for new possibilities.

"Ready?"

Both turned toward the voice. Sung-Woon was standing there. It was unclear how long he had been there or if he had just arrived.

Neither showed surprise or awkwardness as they had experienced similar situations very often.

Kyle answered, "Mazdari finished first, and I am also ready."

Sung-Woon walked toward the two and said, "Let's begin."

"As you wish.”

Two flat stones were set up next to the rock where Kyle sat. Mazdari and Sung-Woon took their seats behind these stones, also sitting with their legs crossed.

Sung-Woon fell into contemplation for a moment.

'It's a simple logic when you think about it.'

Long before the moon-facing plan, even before the discovery of the second moon, a question had persisted in Sung-Woon’s mind: Was this world, Avartin, a game?

'There are many differences between Earth and Avartin...'

On Earth, only Humans existed, but Avartin was home to many species. Earth didn’t have magic, but Avartin had Wizards. Earth had no Divinity, but Avartin had gods. The system existed only in games on Earth, but in Avartin, it was more tangible. Thus, Avartin felt like a game.

'Is it really so?'

In reality, that wasn’t the case. Avartin and Earth had more similarities. Both were the third planets of their solar systems, at nearly the same distance from their suns. They resided in the Goldilocks zone, optimal for carbon-based life. Many life forms exhibited convergent evolution. Although Avartin's Humans were genetically different from Earth's, functionally speaking, they were nearly identical. The same went for other species.

The stages of civilization and the degree of intelligence developed were also remarkably similar. They were more alike than different. If they were truly distinct, players wouldn’t have understood Avartin and played effectively. Because of the similarities, as if the creatures from Earth's dreams were transplanted there, players could comprehend and adapt to Avartin.

'If numerous stones look alike and are neatly placed, one would think someone found and placed them there.'

Sung-Woon's question stemmed from a simple and clear premise.

'There is intent.'

Sung-Woon unfolded his logic.

'If there is intent, there must be someone who intends it.'

Sung-Woon had no doubt about winning the game. If this was a game, winning wouldn't be hard for him. The question was what would happen after winning. It wasn’t about complying with the rules, but questioning the rules themselves.