If so-called civilization gods could truly absorb faith in the form of cosmology, then the structural gap between them and Star Gods would be small enough to be negligible.
The greatest difference between the two would only manifest in power scale.
And the so-called power scale difference was precisely transmutation theory's most obvious characteristic.
"If Star Gods are products obtained from unconscious worship by all intelligent life throughout the universe, and planetary indigenous gods are products obtained from unconscious worship by life within planets, perhaps such an enormous energy difference between the two can be understood?"
Herta murmured.
Among those primitive and ignorant civilizations that still treated their planet as the entire world, so-called planetary indigenous gods weren't lacking in scales comparable to their eyes' "world"—that is, planet-level scales, such as those Earth Mother goddesses.
Comparatively, Star Gods were merely beings at a scale matching the interstellar society's view of "world"—that is, observable universe-level scale existences.
Both matched the world's scale—just with different understandings of "world."
Conceptually speaking, there was no difference between the two.
"Planetary indigenous gods' power source is the planetary core—that is, the planet's own energy. Star Gods' power source is Imaginary energy, which is also the universe's own energy."
Ryuga continued speaking, further consolidating Herta's understanding.
"Their power difference largely stems from differences in stage size and the resulting differences in power supply methods."
Once so-called planetary indigenous gods learned to use Imaginary energy, the power chasm between them and Star Gods would greatly decrease.
For example, Artosh the War God, capable of easily destroying dozens of planets or even a small stellar system.
Of course, even Artosh couldn't truly reach a level matching Star Gods.
As Ryuga said before, his divine essence was too simple, at most in the state of primitive tribal gods. The gap in divine essence between him and civilization gods and Star Gods—who were embodiments of philosophical concepts—was extremely vast.
"That makes sense. If so, it not only perfectly explains Star Gods' birth origin but can also explain Star Gods' mode of existence."
Herta nodded like a pecking chick again.
If these hypotheses could be confirmed, it would be something capable of shocking the entire universe, even overturning the entire universe's understanding.
If she still had some uncertainty before, now she was almost completely convinced by Ryuga.
However, at the end, she still felt the need to confirm once more.
"By the way, Ryuga, besides these, do you have any other evidence to confirm this theory?"
Science generally emphasizes that isolated cases don't constitute proof. Although Ryuga's theory completely fit the real framework, precisely because it fit too well, Herta found it incredible.
"For example, using this theory to predict or explain Star Gods' other behaviors. You should know—theories capable of doing this are truly mature theories."
Herta stared at Ryuga unblinkingly, asking with anticipation.
Theories that could only explain known phenomena still lacked absolute persuasiveness in a realistic sense.
Just as theological patches could almost work on all mythological loopholes, these cure-all answers that could explain everything had no way of deriving new conclusions. No matter how well they were explained, they were useless embellishments.
Truly excellent theories must be able to explain and even predict unknown phenomena.
"Of course I do."
Ryuga nodded, not surprised by Herta's thinking.
Back then, the introduction of general relativity also didn't conquer the entire world from the start.
General relativity's widespread recognition was mainly established on three very famous experiments.
The first time explained the phenomenon of Mercury's perihelion precession of 43 seconds per century that Newtonian classical mechanics couldn't explain—this explained past phenomena that the system couldn't explain.
The second time predicted the bending angle of light in gravitational fields observed during solar eclipse phenomena—this explained phenomena that could only be observed in the future.
The third time predicted the gravitational redshift phenomenon, something other theoretical systems had never touched—this was an independent answer deduced from its own system.
With these three experiments, general relativity gained widespread recognition. Later verifications like cosmic expansion were just icing on the cake.
New systems wanting to replace old systems almost had to achieve these things. Later quantum mechanics similarly replaced relativity this way.
Similarly, if Ryuga's theory wanted to replace old theories, it must also go through these steps.
Now, Ryuga had already achieved the first step—explaining phenomena the old theory couldn't explain. But regarding the subsequent second and third steps—predicting future phenomena and deriving new results—Ryuga hadn't yet demonstrated sufficient evidence.
Of course, even just achieving this current step was a theory capable of shaking the entire universe's understanding, sufficient to match a Genius seat.
However, based on Herta's personal intuition, she believed Ryuga's limits definitely didn't stop here.
Therefore, she greatly anticipated Ryuga's answer.
"Didn't we mention a phenomenon before? Star Gods' explosive growth is highly correlated with stellar civilization's development."
Ryuga spoke thus.
"Yeah."
Herta nodded curiously.
"From a statistical standpoint, it is so. What about it?"
"Similar explosions are actually commonplace for planetary indigenous gods."
Ryuga explained with extreme calm.
"From indigenous gods to mythological gods, then finally to civilization gods—these three developmental stages of planetary indigenous gods aren't gradual progressions, but transformations accompanying geographical discoveries, civilizational conflicts, and even multicultural fusion and the establishment of international civilized societies."
Initially tribal gods, then with struggles and fusion between tribes and early civilization's formation, they finally fused into complex mythologies.
Different mythological faiths would also produce struggles and conflicting fusions. The final decisive victors became civilization gods.
"The birth of these planetary indigenous gods almost all explosively increased during periods of drastic civilizational change."
Greek mythology's pantheon basically all originated from tribal gods before city-state civilization. Christianity's Son of God was also born during the Roman Empire's expansion period around the turn of the Common Era. Its prototype was even closely related to campaigns against Egyptian civilization.
Overall, Earth mythology and Star Gods possessed very similar characteristics—both coincidentally experienced violent explosions during the same periods.
Hearing this, Herta nodded slightly.
"Similar, so similar! No wonder you made such an association."
"The civilizational fusion brought by ancient beast invasions is very similar to the stage where indigenous gods transform into mythological gods. Subsequently, the two great interstellar civilization booms brought by Akivili the Trailblaze are also closely related to Star Gods' birth."
"From this perspective, what Akivili the Trailblaze did is actually identical to geographical discoveries within planetary indigenous gods... According to this interpretation, the so-called construction of interstellar civilization and the so-called construction of international civilization within planets are actually so consistent?"
"Aside from Akivili discovering planets while geographical discoveries discovered land, there's almost no difference?"
Speaking to this point, Herta's tone became slightly dazed.
History was no longer a linear picture before her, but a cyclical nesting doll. After so many years of human development, so many years of interstellar civilization construction, aside from the stage being slightly different, what they did and the development the world welcomed were almost unchanged?
"The tribal indigenous gods of that time, after going through the establishment and fusion of international civilization, after elimination and evolution, finally became civilization gods within planets."
"And now, civilization gods within planets are disparaged as planetary indigenous gods. Accompanying interstellar society's establishment, through elimination and transmutation, they finally became Star Gods."
Speaking to this point, Herta let out an exclamation.
"Wouldn't the true meaning of so-called Star Gods be interstellar civilization gods? Aside from different stages, the development from indigenous gods to civilization gods is completely identical!"
Regarding Herta's surprise, Ryuga remained calm.
"What has been will be again; what has been done will be done again."
History always developed in spirals. As long as humanity didn't change, this framework couldn't change.
"What has been will be again..."
Herta repeatedly chewed on Ryuga's previous words, asking with some interest.
"Is this also one of the philosophical views contained in the mythology you mentioned?"
"You could say that."
Ryuga nodded.
"...You've thoroughly conquered me!"
After pondering for a long while, Herta looked at Ryuga with eyes faintly glowing.
By now, she had been completely conquered by Ryuga's theory and had no other doubts.
Truly effective theories should be this concise and aesthetically pleasing.
"But speaking of which, what about predictions? Weren't we discussing evidence?"
Coming back to her senses, Herta realized they might have gotten somewhat off-topic.
Ryuga's theory was indeed very convincing and had indeed conquered her.
But the most critical prediction and empirical parts—hadn't Ryuga not yet stated them?
Hearing this question, Ryuga smiled slightly.
"Speaking of this, isn't the so-called prediction already very clear?"
Seeing that Herta seemed not yet recovered from her shock, Ryuga didn't keep her in suspense and spoke plainly.
"Since Star Gods' birth is highly correlated with civilization's development, doesn't that mean we only need to observe civilization's development to observe Star Gods' changes?"
After pointing out this theoretical foundation, Ryuga slightly shifted his gaze, specifically looking toward Ruan Mei, who had been quietly listening to their conversation all along.
At this moment, Ruan Mei was also looking at him. The two made eye contact. The young woman's gaze was calm as water, showing no abnormality on the surface.
Just then, hearing Ryuga point this out, Herta slapped the table, finally comprehending Ryuga's meaning.
"That's right! Interference is mutual, which means... as long as we can observe interstellar civilization's development, we can predict Star Gods' existence!"
The young woman's eyes became completely excited.
Simulated Universe—how could it be as interesting as playing with the real universe!
If the theoretical foundation Ryuga gave was correct, then—
"As long as we can interfere with interstellar civilization's development, we might be able to interfere with Star Gods' own changes, and might even predict Star Gods' actions!"
"If this interference is strong enough, we could even—"
What Herta actually wanted to say was that they could even interfere with Star Gods and make them take actions they desired.
However, before these words left her mouth, Ryuga took them over.
"Even—create Star Gods!"
In the most bland tone, Ryuga spoke the most wildly blasphemous words.
Even someone as mad as Herta, suddenly hearing such words, couldn't help but be dumbfounded, her mind once again receiving tremendous shock.
At this moment, Ruan Mei, who had been closely watched by Ryuga's gaze, finally couldn't maintain her previous calm-as-water gaze. She suddenly stood up, her eyes stirring up monstrous waves.
What did Ryuga just say?!
Create... Star Gods?!
To be continued…