Point of View: Genesis
My mind had not known peace for days.
The core pulsed before me—slow, steady… too steady.
"Why is it taking so long?" I muttered as I watched it. "This makes no sense."
Frustration built up inside me like unbearable pressure.
"What troubles you, Host?" Elena asked, her usual calm tone bordering on irritating.
"Explain everything again," I ordered. "Energies, runes, laws, rules… and how planets ascend."
"Yes, Host. To alter or impose changes upon reality, energies are used. All energies exist at the same hierarchical level. Above them are runes, which are combinations of energy and an incomplete fragment of a law. Some races use incomplete laws directly instead of runes."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Above that are complete laws, and above all of them, rules. This is the absolute hierarchy. Each level possesses power that is qualitatively superior to the one below it."
"And planets?" I asked.
"Planets are not living beings; they lack souls. However, they can create life through the rules upon which they are constructed. Every planet possesses three fundamental rules."
"Tell me."
"Rule one: the planetary core can generate a type of energy and create life. It cannot attack. Its only defense is a barrier that protects the core. The strength of this barrier depends on the planet's level of ascension."
I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
"An absurd rule. It turns us into cosmic punching bags… and resource farms. We depend on our inhabitants to survive, yet they can abandon us whenever they wish. It's injustice."
"Rule two," Elena continued without reacting, "to ascend, a planet must gather sufficient energy, and one of its original inhabitants must surpass the planetary core by at least one ascension level. Each individual ascension produces a stimulus within the core, increasing its capacity to generate energy. This process allows the planet to meet the energy requirements for future ascensions."
"More garbage," I growled. "After the first ascension, I can only rely on external stimuli while my own reserves are constantly drained by my inhabitants."
"Rule three: after each ascension, the planet may create one enlightened race and slightly modify its laws to improve the habitat. This can only be done once per ascension."
"Garbage again," I concluded. "Enlightened races only seek their own benefit. These rules claim to protect my inhabitants, yet they can flee whenever they want. Leeches."
Silence followed for several seconds.
"That concludes the requested information, Host," Elena said. "What is your doubt?"
My anger finally erupted.
"My doubt is simple!" I roared. "Four days have passed since Sylvanas' ascension, and there has been no stimulus!"
"You may absorb the energy present in space and convert it into origin energy," Elena replied.
"That's not the point. I can only do that because I am a living planet… and because you are bound to this core. That is the only thing separating me from becoming the universe's first crippled planet."
I scoffed bitterly.
"If I relied solely on passive absorption, it would take thousands of years to ascend… slower and slower each time. If planets could speak, they'd call me Genesis the Cripple."
I tried to calm myself. It didn't work.
"What am I supposed to do? Wait until I grow a mouth and start devouring planetary cores drifting through space like candy? That's impossible!"
My rage gave way to something else—confusion.
"Elena… what is happening to me?"
She took a moment before answering.
"There are only two explanations. One good, and one bad."
"Which do you wish to hear first?"
"The bad one."
"A powerful existence is targeting you, Host."
Fear pierced through me.
"Probability?"
"Almost zero. If that were the case, you would already be dead… or something worse."
I released a long breath.
"Then the good one."
"It is the universe."
"The universe is alive?"
"No. It is similar to planets, but infinitely more powerful."
"Then I'd say it hates me deeply."
"The universe does not possess emotions, Host."
"Of course…" I replied with sarcasm. "Then explain why this is good."
"One of the universal core's rules is equivalent exchange. If the universe removes something, it must compensate with something of equal value."
"Probability?"
"99.99%. Only a rule can alter another rule, and the universe is capable of doing so."
"Can it do it again?"
"No. Only once per race. In your case, it affected only you, as you are the sole member of your race: a living planet."
Indignation burned within me.
"So what do I do now?"
"Analyze your core. If something was taken, something must have been added."
I focused inward. I searched.
And then I felt it.
"You were right… it was the universe."
"What changed?"
"If one of my created inhabitants reaches the same rank as me, I can modify the planet's laws. Not as much as I would like compared to what I lost—but far more than I should possess at ascension."
Elena fell silent.
"What are your plans, Host?"
I observed my creations.
"Tell me, Elena… do I have enough energy to ascend to Grade Two?"
"Yes. It will consume 90% of your reserves."
"Then all that's needed is for one of them to reach Level Two."
"Correct."
I smiled, resigned.
"The energy problem will be the concern of future Genesis. The current Genesis has work to do."
I observed the planet for hours.
At last, I made a decision.
"It's time those freeloaders started being useful."
"To whom do you refer?"
"The beasts and the plants."
"Eliminating them would damage the ecosystem."
"I don't plan to kill them. Primordials are the only ones truly useful right now… but the rest consume my energy without contributing anything."
"Then what will you do?"
"I'll turn them into enlightened races. Upon reaching Level One, Genesis Records will grant them intelligence and basic knowledge. At Level Three, they will be able to adopt humanoid forms."
"That does not exist in the universe."
"I don't care. My planet. My rules."
"This will create chaos."
"Exactly. Without chaos, there is no growth. And when they face other races, they will need experience. War drives progress."
"And essential resources like food? Or do you intend for enlightened races to kill each other to eat?"
"They won't be barbarians… even I have limits."
I remembered something and smiled.
"I'll take the solution from my time as a human… games."
"Games?"
"Dungeons and Abominations. I will create the Law of Dungeons and Abominations. They will appear across the planet, mostly near populated areas. The greater the population, the more dungeons and abominations will emerge. They will serve as controlled enemies for the enlightened races and as a source of resources."
"Why do this?"
"Because they need an enemy to grow, and I refuse to designate one of my created races as cannon fodder to strengthen the others. They have another purpose. I created them and nurtured their growth so that when a real invasion comes—or when we invade—they can fight united."
The planet would change.
If they wanted my origin energy…
They would have to earn it.
And if even this failed to drive their growth…
Then I would already be doomed, ruling over such useless beings.