4 Dead Yet? (4)

Hey all, bored High God Andy up in hell... I mean heaven calling in to report!

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Did I leave off with Crus inviting me to his universe? Yes? Alright, we'll start there.

After Crus asked me if I wanted to see his universe after I returned his hand to him I stared at him for a solid minute. I looked back at him for a solid minute. Before looking down at my watch. I was up for exactly 25 seconds before being called to the dead mean (First God). After which, I had a quick info dump of exactly 4 minutes and 35 seconds. Which means 5 minutes had passed. I spent 3 seconds getting my bearings, 2 seconds afterwards for Crus to pop in. Afterwards, 30 seconds have passed. Meaning that only 5 minutes and 5 seconds have gone by for my daily routine. And because I consider being a High God as a job, interacting with other High Gods means interacting with other co-workers, which I only do during work. Which means my high five to Crus was already a violation of my daily routine.

"No thanks, I still need to get used to my strength, maybe later?" I say, shaking my head. I would push Crus out but I'd probably break his back or something.

Crus nods in understanding, cradling the remains of his hand, Crus retreats back through the portal back to his universe. I look back down at my watch. Still time before my shower. Looking back around, there are four more portals than there are High Gods. I suppose these portals lead to High Devils? What happened to dimensional barriers being hard to penetrate? But enough of that.

Gods and Devils. What's the difference?

I know they're supposedly ruling species. But that implies that both evolved to such a stage, but how did that evolve to that stage? I know Gods are tied to what they rule over. Their strength increases as the power of the citizens of their domain increases. But what sets Devils apart from Gods? I have absolutely no information regarding Devils. Gods too for that matter.

This is why dreams you have no control over suck. You have no information to begin with. Because you didn't make it. I lean back against my throne, willing a footrest into existence and relax. I close my eyes, and smile. Mentally keeping time, I still have 9 minutes before I have to actually get up and take my daily shower.

I feel as though the other High Gods aren't as powerful as I am. Well, it's not really I feel, it's more of a fact. I'm stronger than a High God who took down 3 other High Gods when I only conquered 2. No wait, my second one is still alive! Glancing over to my tree, I look at the shriveled body underneath and search for a heartbeat. Yep, still going strong. Could they be contributing to my strength? So does that mean prisoner High Gods benefit my own growth? I suddenly have the urge to take down the remaining High Gods and force them into my universe. And while I'm at it, I can also take in some High Devils. I still have yet to see one, even if I have only been a High God for a few days. But seriously, there's a portal right there, wouldn't one get curious and take a peek? Ah, well, Crus was curious enough to take a peak.

Turning my attention to my original creation, which I'll call the Triad because there's three of the, they've begun making small little huts and wooden stakes facing outwards. It's seems that they're very good at working together? Even though they have no language... Taking a glance at the new additions, they seem to be ostracized and aren't included with the building of the new town. The residents from the Tree universe are hiding out in the forest, while the giant landmass universe residents are just sleeping under the wide sky. Instead of ostracized, it's more like there isn't any motivation to interact with others? Well, if they aren't fighting, I'm not paying attention.

I mentally calculate the time and I still have 8 minutes before my shower. But since there's nothing to do, I'll get onto that now anyways.

After taking my obligatory extra 8 minutes to shower, three minutes of brushing my teeth and contemplating why I'm having such a bizarre dream that's been going on for a few days I will myself to one of the portals. If I recall correctly, this should lead to Crus's universe, sticking a hand through nothing happens. Shrugging, I will myself in. There's a moment of silence before a roar is heard and I'm suddenly in a new universe. Glancing around, it seems pretty generic. Except that the galaxies are giant mushrooms, and the spores they release are solar systems. There are four such mushrooms, all placed in separate corners. I suppose it's reasonable that Crus ate a large portion of his universe before realizing it wasn't food? I'm not sure what to say really... Taking another glance around, I don't see Crus around, I suppose that means he went off to visit the others? I don't think he would mind if I took a small part of his mushroom kingdom right?

Sneaking over to one of the mushroom galaxies, I grab a handful and quickly retreat back to my own universe. But where should I put it? I'll just place it on my tree. It doesn't really stand out and it fits with the tree. So it's all good.

Hmm? My universe didn't halt this time around, was it because the part I took back was too small? Probably. I suppose I should properly do my job of... Maintaining my universe? Should I trim my tree or something? Although if I trimmed the tree wouldn't that destroy a couple hundred solar systems...? I suppose that for now I'll continue to laze around until something comes up... Getting a grip on my strength so far has been useless. Regardless of how gentle I try to be I end up using way too much strength.

Sighing, I wander next to a random portal. Well, I suppose I'll go see where this one leads to, right? Holding my breath, I stick my head through. The very first thing I notice is hideous shrieking. The second thing I notice is Crus fighting... Something. Turin is floating around throwing fireballs. And Kai is holding their own head, trying to attach it. As bizarre as that sounds... Taking another glance around, I notice that there are significantly more portals in this universe. 40 of them in fact. I suppose that means as High Gods we're outnumbered? What happened to working with Devils?

"Andy? Get over here and help!" shouts the dismembered head of Kai after they notice me. Taking a look at what they were fighting, the... I'll call them the Third Party for now because I'm not really sure what's up. Taking a quick count, there were 45 Third Parties and the number was rising. No dead bodies as of yet. Looking at the 33 portals, I could see other beings struggling to enter, I'll take care of those first. Floating to the portal, I smashed any of the Third Party that attempted to hinder me into pulp. After reaching one portal, I slapped the hand that was grasping out, before sticking my head through. What awaited me was an army of Third Parties.

I stared. They stared. Their leader stared. I punched their leader. I watched as the leaders face with three eyes stared at my punch, before four arms came up to block the punch. His six legs spread out to support him. But none of that helped. My punch landed on his arms and turned them into a mist of blood and my fist landed on his face. I watched as his three eyes burst open and his crab shaped mouth broke into pieces. Chaos erupted. As one wave, they leapt at me, but I quickly retreated and slapped the portal close. One down, 32 portals to go. Looking at the mass of bloody pulp made from my trail, I quickly gathered up those remains and threw them at my own portal. My universe can process them. Probably.

Looking to my right, Kai has reattached their head and has resumed fighting. Up above, Turin is burning any Third Parties that get near him and Crus... Well Crus is a nightmare of legs. Just imagine being impaled a couple hundred times as you get stomped over.

Shrugging, I float to the being struggling through the white canvas of the portal. Giving the neck a quick squeeze, I quickly squash their body and enter the portal. This time there is no army awaiting me. Interesting? It doesn't matter, heading back out, I slap this portal close as well. The situation doesn't seem quite as hectic as it was before. I suppose the three were actually doing a good job of holding on, they just didn't have anyone available to close the portals then?

Seeing as the Third Party was only a rising ruling species, I suppose its understandable that three High Gods were able to fight more than ten on one?

Since they don't need help, I'll focus on closing portals. And like so, one by one, portals were slapped close, and any who got in my way were turned to pulp and returned to my universe for processing. As I reached the last portal. I particularly large hand came out. This seems like the leader figure that I had fought before in the very first portal I had closed? With a mildly thundering roar, the boss stepped out. Although the boss isn't very intimidating. Considering that my own body was growing in size, density, and strength as I continued to fight, my own body dwarfed this boss. When he stepped out he actually paused before a moment as he had to crane his neck to look up at me.

I grinned at him. He shrieked in fear and I stomped him to pulp. Yet another mass of flesh for whatever my universe does with it. Tossing it into my universe casually I turn to the other High Gods. Turin is still a ball of light, although they are shining brighter, and the heat they're emitting has risen. Crus has grown a couple hundred more legs. And Kai... Kai hasn't really changed. I mean, Kai also grew in size, I think? I myself grew quite a bit after all. But that doesn't matter.

"When did you guys start fighting?" I ask as I float closer to the group.

"I was invaded about a minute before you showed up, Andy," said Kai as they nodded in my direction, "thanks for the assist by the way".

"Not a problem. This Third Party doesn't really seem like much though." I say as I scrape the remaining bloody remains of the boss off my left foot.

"It must be because they're still a rising species and haven't established themselves yet," said Turin as I threw the bloody glob into my universe, "as a ruling species I think we start off at a higher power level".

Taking the time to look around, Kai's universe seems trashed. It seems Kai went the same route as me, as there are humans it seems, except there's only one galaxy in a corner. And scattered stars in the other three corners. I suppose those galaxies were destroyed?

"That aside," said Crus, "I remember that you said you did not get invaded by other High Gods, Andy?"

Ah, the awaited question.

"Ah well, that is true" I nod.

"I'd like to know how you were able to overpower so many of this Third Party then" said Turin, as I assumed his eyes shifted to me. Kind of hard to tell when he's just light.

"Well, most of my universe is focused of physical strength you know?" I say, shrugging, "honestly, the first kill was a fluke, and after killing him, I felt some sort of boost and killing the rest turned easier and easier". The vaguer I am, the easier it is for others to relate and fill in the facts themselves.

Kai nods, which means they felt something similar as they killed. Crus frowns. And I still can't read Turin.

Ah crap, I know why Crus is frowning, earlier, he had seen my universe. But just a quick glance at my universe couldn't have revealed anything. A short, few, tense seconds later Crus also nods.

"Do you guys know when the next invasion will take place?" I ask.

"No," responds Turin, "But I think it'll happen soon. I mean, if you're fighting with large numbers against a smaller, more powerful force, wouldn't you keep going until you tired them out?"

What Turin says makes sense.

"But we don't have any method of communication," Kai butts in, "the only reason why I'm still here is because Crus happened to be coming to visit and had dragged Turin with him. How did you know to come Andy?"

I run my hand through my hair and say, "I honestly didn't know. I decided to take a peek out of curiosity. You know, to see how going through a portal felt like."

The two I can read begin to frown, probably thinking of how to resolve this communication issue. Taking the time, I look at Turin. He's pulsing at a slower interval than when I saw him initially. I suppose he's also thinking?

Breaking the silence, Crus say, "If I may be so bold as to suggest. What if we gather in one universe at a set interval? When one of us fails to appear, we will know they are being invaded. All in favor say aye?"

Three ayes soon follow.

"So this interval... Kai, if I may be so impolite as to ask, how long do you think you could've held on when you were being invaded?" Crus continues.

"Probably an hour? My regenerative and physical defense are quite powerful. But I can probably last longer, I felt the same as Andy. My body grew more powerful with each kill."

Crus nods and says, "Then we shall meet every two hours". Hmm? What about sleep time then? If I am unable to complete my daily routine because of overtime I will not be happy.

"What do you guys say to making the interval every 8 hours?" I ask.

Kai thinks for a bit, almost as if they agree, but they eventually shake their head, "while meeting every two hours seems like overkill, but 8 hours is also pushing the limit." The smile I've kept up almost drops but I hold on.

"Why don't we hold patrols instead, every 8 hours. One of us makes rounds across the four universes, excluding the High Devils. This way, when an invasion happens, it'll be possible to alert the remaining to easily." I propose.

"That's a good idea, but you've neglected our allies, the High Devils" responds Crus.

I look at him and give him the 'really?' face. "Your own plan only involved us four meeting at a set interval. And our supposed allies provided no aid. I'm sure they can handle the trouble on their own."

Crus pauses for a moment, contemplating what he said before and sighs, before saying aye.

Not soon after two more ayes are heard.

"So with that down, who wants to take the first 8 hour patrol?" says Turin with an oddly cheerful tune, before continuing on to say, "I'll do it".