Chapter 3: primordial time and the first cause
Lin Yun's consciousness was assaulted by a massive influx of information, as if countless books were simultaneously opened in his mind.
Those fragments were clearly every version of greek mythology he had encountered in his twenty-five years of life.
From the Homeric Epics to Hesiod's *Theogony*, from the creation fragments of Orphism to the regional legends of various City-states.
It even included a revised manuscript of the Dionysus legend by 16th-century humanists, which he had only seen last week in the library of Humboldt University of Berlin.
"This is the 'Primordial Timeline'."
The voice of the light and shadow rang out again.
"It carries the threads of all potentially existing myths."
"What you call 'version conflicts' are merely different manifestations of myth across different Universes."
"In some Universes, chaos is the Primeval God. In others, Nyx is the Origin."
"However, in the System corresponding to the Divinity you inherited, Chronos is the sole first cause."
Lin Yun's consciousness gradually calmed down.
As a scholar researching the evolution of mythology, he had once proposed a bold hypothesis in a paper.
"The diversity of myths perhaps implies the diversity of the Universe—each mythological version could be the creation narrative of an independent Universe."
What was a conjecture hastily proposed at the time merely to answer his Advisor's inquiries had now become the reality before his eyes.
Looking at the flickering fragments on the Primordial Timeline, he suddenly understood why he was so obsessed with the question of whether Chronos or chaos was the primeval god.
That wasn't academic nitpicking, but an instinctive yearning in the depths of his Soul for "Multidimensional Possibilities"... "So, I can... create these Universes?"
A trace of anticipation, mixed with an inexpressible dread, arose in Lin Yun's consciousness.
Creating Universes, a conceptual term previously only found in mythology and science fiction, was now so close to him.
"More than just creating, you can grant them the Foundation of existence, arbitrarily shape their attributes, and compose the myriad colors within them."
The light and shadow moved forward slightly.
"The 'primordial time' Authority you inherited allows you to weave all Timelines."
"The essence of the 'first cause' allows you to set the initial rules for every Universe."
"But remember, once a Universe is born, it will possess the logic of self-evolution."
"Even you cannot arbitrarily interfere with the Trajectory of Destiny within it."
"Otherwise, that Universe is likely to... Self-destruct!"
Lin Yun fell silent.
He recalled a line of poetry from Earth.
"You have your Bronze Branches and Iron Trunks, like knives, like swords, and like halberds; I have my Scarlet Flowers, like heavy sighs, and like brave torches."
Different existences have different forms, and different Universes should have different rules—perhaps this is the essence of myth... Lin Yun tried to mobilize the power originating from the Divinity, imagining aether.
The pure aether that constituted the sky in the eyes of the Ancient Greeks.
Imagining chaos.
That primordial chaos.
These two concepts revolved in his mind, carrying the cold definitions recorded in documents, yet gradually becoming vivid under the impetus of the Divine Authority.
"aether... Chaos..."
He silently recited them in his consciousness.
Then, the moment his fingertip descended, something miraculous happened.
In the Void Realm before him, a wisp of extremely faint, almost transparent glimmer appeared out of thin air.
This light carried a warm and pure aura; it was the physical manifestation of aether.
It was not a physical entity, yet it possessed a flowing texture, seemingly the source of all light and space.
Every "breath" expanded outward, filled with the tension of "existence" itself.
Lin Yun could "perceive" its attributes.
It was pure, light, and eternal, the basis for forming the sky and Stars, containing not a single trace of Impurities.
On the other side of the glimmer, a heavy, turbulent mass of thick fog slowly rose.
It emanated primal and chaotic power; this was the form of chaos.
It was deep purple, yet constantly shifting its own hue.
Sometimes it merged into the dark nothingness, sometimes it shone with a metallic luster.
As if containing all possibilities yet to be defined.
It had no fixed shape, yet one could feel the immense Energy contained within it.
That was the potential for Creation, the beauty of Chaos before the birth of Order.
The glimmer of aether and the thick fog of Chaos repelled yet attracted each other.
The glimmer attempted to illuminate every corner of the thick fog, while the thick fog sought to devour the glimmer's boundaries.
Under Lin Yun's conscious control, they maintained a delicate balance.
Like night and day, meeting at the border of dawn, both conflicting and coexisting.
Lin Yun "watched" the scene before him, his consciousness deeply shaken.
This was not the cold textual description found in documents, nor the static restoration models in museums.
This was the most fundamental Element constituting the Universe, created by his own hands.
He could feel aether's "craving."
It wanted to extend infinitely, filling all the nothingness.
He could also feel chaos's "restlessness."
It wanted to break all restraints and nurture new forms.
"These are... the initial Materials for Creation?"
This thought arose in Lin Yun's consciousness, carrying a hint of unbelievable excitement.
He tried to use his Mind to push the glimmer and the thick fog closer.
The moment they touched, instead of Annihilation, countless tiny specks of light burst forth.
Like fireworks, they blossomed in the nothingness, then quickly extinguished, returning to their respective forms.
He understood that aether and chaos were not opposing poles, but two complementary sides of a single entity.
Without the Order of aether, chaos would forever remain confused, self-revolving.
Without the Vitality of chaos, aether would only be a dead Void Realm.
Only when the two combined could true existence be nurtured.
At this moment, Lin Yun completely accepted his new identity.
He was no longer the Graduate Student Lin Yun, trapped in a library on Earth, endlessly debating mythological versions.
But Chronos, the Primordial God of time, the starting point and possibility of all myths.
He could "see" the fragments on the Primordial Timeline trembling violently due to the appearance of aether and chaos.
As if anticipating being granted existence.
He could "hear" the faint calls of the sleeping Deities within the fragments, awaiting the command of Creation.
He could further "perceive" that the flowing primordial time Authority within him was becoming more active.
Like an awakening Dragon, ready to breathe the flames of creation at any moment.
Therefore, Lin Yun slowly "raised his hand," a thought flashing through his consciousness—Creation.
The glimmer of aether and the thick fog of chaos seemed to receive the Instruction.
They began to rotate and interweave according to a mysterious Rhythm.
Their Energy fused and transformed, gradually condensing into a vague outline.
That was the Rudimentary Form of the cosmic egg in myth