Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe

The old man was about to focus his attention on the failed experiment. He wanted to see what variable had arisen between the planet’s Firebearer and the little test subject, causing the experiment to fail before it even began. It had even alarmed the will of the Cosmic Country deep within the Tomb Star Realm—a will that was dead, yet might be reborn. Just then, he noticed several off-world visitors approaching.

’Interesting.’

’Truly interesting.’

’It seems it’s not just [Illusion] or [Shadow] who have come to my territory. Several other old friends are on their way as well. Heheheh. This New God Star hasn’t been this lively in a long time.’

’Have they also discovered that the dormant will of the Cosmic Country is showing signs of rebirth?’

’But a sign is just a sign. It might not awaken for ten thousand, or even a million years. Rather than place my hopes on something so ethereal and beyond my control, I’d rather find a way myself—find an opening and exploit a loophole.’

’Heh,’

’The recently born [Borer] seems to be quite adept at this sort of thing. A pity the Star Sea is so vast. I wonder which lucky little fellow obtained that numbered skill?’

The old man seemed completely unconcerned.

Honored guests were arriving.

He abandoned his plan to investigate the error with the altar’s succession, preparing instead to meet his old friends.

While research was interesting, it paled in comparison to meeting these old friends. Besides, the planet’s "King" was responsible for any variables that appeared at the altar. In this regard, he was like a lofty Master, and the students he had promoted, though lacking in strength, could still handle such troubles for him.

...

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Outside the planet known as New God Star, the figure of a misty woman took shape in the deep void. Beside her, stardust coalesced into a pattern, materializing into a woman wearing a Star Skirt.

"Mr. Kong."

the misty woman said.

"Heheheh, no need for such a formal name. This isn’t the Divine Council. Just call me Bertutan. To be able to see you two beautiful ladies again in between my studies of civilizations is truly an honor for an old man like me."

"Very well, Mr. Bertutan."

The misty woman’s face seemed to be veiled, revealing no expression; only her ethereal and lonely voice could be heard. On the face of the woman in the Star Skirt standing behind her, however, a barely perceptible trace of disgust appeared.

The pleasantries had not yet ended when more honored guests arrived in quick succession.

The new arrival was a projection.

The projection lacked any sign of life, instead exuding an aura of silent annihilation.

"Heheheh, old man, look at this trump card I’ve developed—a lifeless puppet of annihilation! When are we going to team up again to break the seal on the Tomb Star Realm and put our skills to the test exploring it?"

"Marvelous! This lifeless puppet can very likely circumvent the unique properties of the Tomb Star Realm perfectly, moving through it like a normal living being. It’s much more reliable than my Enlightenment Projection. But it has form without substance. Even if you see some treasure inside, what can you do? If you can’t bring it out, it’s ultimately a fruitless endeavor."

The two old men were subtly at odds the moment they met.

They had both survived for endless ages. In their solitude, a gathering like today’s was truly a rare and grand event.

And the grand event was not over yet.

A ripple spread through the cosmos, carrying with it the aura of fate. As the ripple of destiny pulsed, two giants stepped out from within. The one in the lead was powerfully built, with strong muscles and the face of a man in his prime—like a man in his thirties from Earth—but his body stood thirty meters tall. He was of the special race of Time Giants, and also a favorite of fate!

Following the Time Giant was a Six-armed Giant, about ten meters tall. He was the Sovereign of the Thirty-Seventh Cosmic Country, and a relatively well-known newcomer.

"Heh, Candela, why bring a junior to a gathering?"

The two ladies had also arrived as a pair, but Bertutan, the old man who controlled [Emptiness], had no objection. That was because they were on the same level—both were New Gods and well-acquainted. The only difference was their seniority. But for Candela the Time Giant to bring a Pillar Stone was a violation of the unspoken rules.

It was a private get-together, no strangers allowed.

Wasn’t that common sense?

"Hahaha, Mr. Bertutan, I didn’t expect there would be a a gathering here either! Besides, we’re all getting old. The future of the Star Sea belongs to the young."

The Time Giant Candela shrank his body to a height of two meters, and Ron, behind him, did the same. However, Ron did not retract his six arms. In the presence of these ancient predecessors, it was best to be open and present his true form.

Candela’s explanation seemed reasonable on the surface.

It was normal to mentor newcomers.

How many veteran "New Gods" like them were there in the entire Star Sea? It’s lonely at the top. Interacting more with the younger generation could also help one’s mentality stay young.

But only he himself knew the real reason for bringing Ron. As a Time Giant and a favorite of fate, he had sensed a vague opportunity connected to Ron—an opportunity related to the [Divine Rune]. Though he wasn’t sure what it was, there was no harm in bringing him along just in case.

’Old?’

The old man, Bertutan, chuckled.

If he wished, he could make himself look even younger than the two ladies.

It was just that, in his view of civilization, only a long-flowing river could accumulate profound heritage and wisdom. The state of a callow youth or a young man was synonymous with barbarism and ignorance.

"Mr. Bertutan, are we just going to chat out here?"

After going to all the trouble of gathering, they should have a more fitting venue. It didn’t have to be as magnificent as the Divine Council, but shouldn’t there at least be a few comfortable divine thrones?

"Since all of you are here, that old woman is most likely close by. Let’s wait a bit longer."

"True enough."

"Hm? She’s here."

All eyes turned toward a fluctuation in the cosmos. A faint light flickered, and with the sound of shattering space, a beautiful woman stepped out of a rift in spacetime. Her ankles tapped lightly on the void, and in a single step, she crossed a kilometer, trailing a miniature galaxy in her wake.

She rubbed her belly.

It was slightly swollen, seemingly carrying a small life within.

No one found this strange.

After the pleasantries, Candela the Time Giant slowly raised his hand and drew an incomplete circle in the air. His movement was deceptively simple, almost casual. Immediately, distorted rays of light appeared in the void. They followed a wondrous law, bending and intertwining, differentiating and evolving until an ancient Divine Hall rose from nothing. Five chairs grew from within the Divine Hall, each one completely unique.

One was inscribed with mysterious Runes,

one wavered between substance and illusion,

one was shrouded in mist,

one was purely mechanical, a stark contrast to the others,

and one was overgrown with vines that constantly bloomed with new flowers and bore new fruit.

"No wonder you still look like a man in his prime, Candela, completely unchanged. Even after all these years, you still can’t let go of the Divine Council."

"I’m simply reminiscing about the old days."

"Let us discuss the matter at hand! For the past year, the Tomb Star Realm has been experiencing constant anomalies. Perhaps, by combining the power of the gods, we can deduce whether the will of the Cosmic Country is truly being reborn. If so, how long would such a rebirth take?"

"As it should be."

The starry sky descended, draping a curtain over the illusory royal court.

New God Star twinkled in the distance. The unawakened beings on its surface could not possibly detect what was happening here. Even a Pillar Stone of a nation like Ron, watching from above it, could not perceive this scene.

These were the five most ancient "New Gods"—

The Light of Enlightenment, who commanded [Emptiness],

The Secret Walker, who commanded [Concealment],

Creator Uncle, who commanded [Annihilation],

The Time Giant, who commanded [Time],

And the Withered Queen, who commanded [Life].

Moreover, they were the New Gods who had reaped the first wave of "dividends" after the fall of the original gods.

Each of them possessed a divine authority seized from the gods of old.