67 Chapter 55: The floors of the Astaltower
-... but how is that even possible? I am not even close to hitting my natural body limits.- I think to myself staring down at the ax in my hands. Feeling a sudden increase of mana I am suddenly unsure of that statement. As sudden as the mana increase happened even faster vanishes it into oblivion.
Fleeing the stench of blood on the street I enter the Tower. Moving inside I find two locked and unmoving elevators to each side of the portal. Searching for a torch to ignite the room beyond the entrance suddenly lightens up. Looking at the light source I find it to be huge opulent, entirely crystal clear chandelier.
Checking out the room beyond the entrance I am immediately greeted by huge rows of bookshelves. Walking to a railing in front of me I instantly, shockingly realize the truly infinite scale of this library. Looking down I am unable to see the bottom of the bookshelves. Looking up I realize that the sealing from which the chandelier is hanging from is just an illusion seeing that otherwise, the shelves would not be able to even extend into infinity. Looking left and right I am happy to not see an infinite number of shelves but instead the very real and very ordinary grey walls of the tower.
Two stairs to the left and right of level I am standing on the lead down to another level which contains four exquisitely made iron bridges connecting the level with four different rows of bookshelves. Going down the stairs to my left I see two bridges directory connecting to the first set of bookshelves while the other two are connecting ones further to the left or right of the first ones. In the absolute center between all bridges on I find a lectern with what seems to be an old black leather bound journal.
Flipping it open I begin to read.
- Creation Day 1:
I created 'heaven' and 'earth'. 'The heavens' referring to everything beyond the 'earth'. The earth is made but not really formed in any specific way, just to ensure the presents and structural integrity of space. I then invented light and it existed. A small side effect of me just willing it to be I also create darkness. Separating the light from the dark I create a cyclical exchange between the light and the darkness, calling them 'day' and 'night' respectively.-
Laughing out loud by reading this protocol of this Universes Genisis, I instantly remember the time when I created this universe. Reading my own words now I can do nothing but laugh about it. Now in retrospect, it took me away to long to figure out how to will thoughts into the higher plane of reality.
Looking at the infinite number of books now, a cold shudder assaults me. -Are all these books think I have forgotten?-
There is nothing a being like my former self fears more than developing senile tendencies. Looking up from the research journal I see a set of stair leading up to the next level.
Crossing over the infinite canyon of bookshelves I walk up to the next floor. These stairs are made out of aged well taken care of wood and every step creates groan and moan noises from its aged structure.
Reaching the top ones again chandeliers start to illuminate the entire floor. In contrast to the infinite grandeur of the ground floor, the first floor is rather ordinary looking. Housing a highly advanced smithery, an alchemistic laboratory, an enhancement altar, and tailor shop this floor is the ultimate Workshop for all crafting professions.
With every workstation situated in one of the rooms four corners, there is even enough room for a fifth one to be in the center that is currently occupied by six rows of tables displaying all kinds of creations.
Walking through the center lane of table rows I take a look at the walls and find very familiar looking runic array circles on every one of the four walls.
Looking at the array between the smithery and the enhancement altar I loosely translate the runes as. -Energy is form.-
Checking out the one between the smithery and the tailor shop it reads. -Mater is form.-
Looking at the one between enhancement altar and laboratory it translates.
-Energie is spirit.-
Checking up on the last one between tailor shop and Laboratory it reads.
-Mater is spirit.-
Walking over to the one reading Energy if form, I feel the familiar sensation of creating something. Touching the runic array circle I see feel information poor into my mind.
-An array of Elemental Creation, capable of creating any matter in this universe. 'Matter is form'!-
Reading this specific wording I find it even more familiar as if these words are written by me a long, long time ago. Letting go of the array the information of it just slips out of my mind.
Contemplating for a minute I come to the conclusion that these arrays are pretty similar to the prototypes I used in the past to create universes. Like this one is able to create pure elements, the others they are capable of creating biological structures, forming souls and consciousness.
-If I am guessing correctly whoever is created this workshop had the same goal as I did have so many years ago... The goal of creating a being inferior but totally similar to myself.-
Thinking like that all creations displayed on the table get a whole new meaning. Checking them again I notice a few crude but definitely worthy to be further looked into products like the code first attempt of a soul, a very basic prototype of a four-legged skeleton and the bad first attempt of creating a mind.
-Who created all this? Another fragmented version of myself without the proper knowledge but with the power to create?- asking myself that I spotted a secret staircase behind the -Mater is form- array.
Taking a last look back I think to myself that this place could be very useful in my quest to reclaim godhood.
Climbing up these time marble stairs I reach the Astraltowers second floor. Once again the place is instantly illuminated the moment I set foot into it.
This time contrary to the previous two floors I am assaulted by the stench of blood and decaying flesh. With the place as bright as the day I instantly make out corpses piling up in the corners of the spacious but not infinite room.
Every any kind of being imaginable with the potential of sentience lies here as a rotting corpse. From plant-like creatures to scale growing creatures, they all show signs of having been dissected in one way or another. Centered in the center or the room I find a familiar looking spider like a corpse. Walking around it I find what is supposed to be its head.
-No, this can't be him...- I think incapable of believing my eyes.
''... this can't be the Great One!'' I scream looking at the giant spider with a torso that looks like a brain littered with eyes.
-... He is like me a remnant of the godly me. He couldn't have just died or be killed!...-
Hitting and kicking the rotting corpse I scream. ''You were omnipresent for god's sake. You were literally capable of looking through time and space!''
-How could you let this happen to yourself!- I question the corpse in my mind finding several of its eyes either removed or penetrated by iron needles.
Checking out the body closer I can feel the physical scars of a very very crude and underdevelopment technique to remove souls. Checking the other copses for similar scarring I find them present on most corpses.
-Did someone really try to extract a soul from its body? Does this very underdeveloped and clumsy technique even work on remnant souls like mine and that of the Great One?- Asking myself that I am disgusted by this floor and begin looking for a way up to the second floor.
Thanks to pure luck I am able to find the staircase by just moving through an illusionary wall that is suspiciously clean looking.
Going this time up a metal more lead I swiftly reach the third and hopefully final floor.
On this floor, I find a wide open space empty except for a slumbering female form sitting on a chair, the clock-face of the Astralclock behind her. Behind the central glass panels, I can see a person floating in what I assume is a liquid.
The woman wears a leather a tricorn style hat, pendant/necktie, undershirt, skirt, caplet, as well as knee length knotted boots. Most of her clothing is made from high-quality fabrics, like knits, silks, and faux leather.
Dressed like an empress and looking the part, having struck one leg over the other. Cradling a familiar looking sword and dagger hybrid weapon the woman looks like a deadly combination of style and high-class taste.
Walking to the woman I am deeply attracted to her sword.
Wanting to grasp it the woman suddenly awakens and clutches my outstretched hand.
Pulling me closer I look into my own pair of eyes.
