The Avatar Challenge - (6)
The temporary vessels of Constellations are extremely weak.
After all, they're false bodies that can be destroyed without consequence. If they break, they can simply be regenerated. Since Silent Starlight had prohibited the direct exertion of divine influence, there was no need to use power in the Material Realm.
Some gods created temporary vessels as massive as mountains, while others descended in bodies like iron golems... but such trivial physical strength was nothing compared to the true Authority of divinity.
Strictly speaking, they did have the ability to make stronger temporary vessels. The correct interpretation would be that they simply didn't feel the need to put effort into creating them.
The Constellation I was watching, Master of the Blue Breath, was the same. A hastily created temporary vessel meant only for communication. That's why she nearly fell victim to those tentacles just now.
However, one question remained.
"Are you Whispering Constellation's Avatar? I owe you my thanks."
"It was nothing! More importantly..."
It's only natural that damage to a temporary vessel wouldn't affect a deity's true form. A manifestation of a monster god hostile to all living beings would surely know this.
So why did she confidently extend her transformed right arm?
"A deformed body that emits divine rank by targeting a single object. It must be a fragment bestowed by at least a Planetary Spirit Entity or higher...!"
"A Planetary Spirit?! Ha! Is that all you could come up with? The one I serve is far greater."
"...I wondered what was happening when Constellations suddenly severed their contracts with Avatars."
The conversation between the angry blue dragon and the deity descended in a temporary vessel. The Avatars took combat stances while I interpreted their words from above.
"I simply felt the power of a truly great being and received enlightenment."
"You must not be in your right mind. Has your consciousness been... contaminated?"
"Hehe... With the power bestowed upon me by the great one, it's simple."
Surprisingly forthcoming. The great one. Enlightenment. Bestowed power.
Jaag-Nakril? That Mortal was probably just bait. Manipulating or brainwashing a single Mortal's memories and infusing them with power is an easy task.
Constellations suddenly disconnecting from their Avatars? They probably descended in temporary vessels, were ambushed, and had their minds contaminated.
A method to brainwash gods who descended in temporary vessels? Entirely possible with a fragment of divinity that influences hundreds of star systems.
Using the mental connection between a Constellation's temporary vessel and true form. A technique that travels back up that connection line to exert influence. Simpler than I thought.
"Do you think you'll get away with this? Turning numerous deities against you alone... no matter who this 'great one' you serve is, they cannot face everyone."
"Hmm? Did I say the one I serve is alone?"
"What?"
Of course, this would only work on single-planet restricted spirit entities considered half-wits in the world of divinity. Even then, if they were vigilant or resistant with their true forms, the mental contamination would weaken. It seems like it can only target one subject at a time...
The very fact that it works on gods speaks to the danger of that right arm.
The deity manifested in that Avatar form is probably planetary spirit level. And whoever could bestow those purple tentacles upon such a being...
"Our kind and yours have been in conflict since our origins, and I'm merely the vanguard."
They have a being they believe in.
* * *
Even a weak god is still a god. Those who have reached the lowest ranks of immortality. There's only one way to instantly contaminate the mind of a single-planet restricted spirit entity descended in a temporary vessel.
It's possible with a fragment from a deity of higher rank.
As he said, it was possible because this "great one" transformed his right arm into purple tentacles.
"A vanguard, you say. Then is Jaag... that Mortal your underling?"
"That worm makes excellent bait. I planted a tantalizing scent, and the gods walked right into it. Hehe."
"So you waited for the moment when they approached in temporary vessels to examine potential Avatars!"
But if a Galaxy Spirit Entity-level being had appeared, Silent Starlight would surely know... which means there must be an exceptionally powerful entity among the Planetary Spirit Entities.
From a mortal's perspective, the galaxy is vast, so there's plenty of possibility for such things to emerge beyond the Federation. Like the traces of that Cthulhu thing I saw before. Those purple tentacles were somewhat disgusting.
While feeling slightly, very slightly uncomfortable, the monstrous deity in the temporary vessel looked at Beatrice and Lee Yuna.
"Hmm... I was just wondering how to approach you. Are you apostles of a Galaxy Spirit Entity visiting from another dimension?"
"...?"
"Our goal is this galaxy. There's no need to fight with powerful deities from afar... You must be watching through that information entity..."
The man with the nauseating smile looked up at the sky diagonally. Coincidentally, his gaze met with my view through the artificial intelligence information entity.
"How about joining us, or forming a non-aggression treaty? Out of respect for your rank, we won't touch your apostles."
Beatrice and Lee Yuna's faces hardened.
Their eyes trembled, and small anxieties settled on their faces. Probably worried about my change of heart. They must be wondering how to act if I really sided with the other party.
Watching Avatars agonize is cute and amusing. But isn't a god who fails to give believers faith without purpose?
[Constellation Whispering Constellation asks the first Avatar to convey his words.]
Lee Yuna's face brightened upon receiving my message. With a more comfortable mind, she spoke boldly toward the hostile Constellation.
"...Huh. Stop talking nonsense!"
"Oh?"
"...That's what our Constellation told me to tell you..."
She shrank dramatically after receiving the divine light, but she still said what needed to be said. That's good enough. She's changed a lot.
What he did was contaminate Constellations' minds using a mortal as bait. The purple tentacles resembled the monster deity fragment provided by World Tree that Upholds the Sky.
I've obtained all the information I needed.
"Hehe. Then I have no choice. Since you seem quite fond of these worms, I'll have to kill them all until you promise to withdraw from this dimension..."
[Constellation Whispering Constellation commands you to attack the monster god from outer space!]
"Tear him apart!"
"...Yes!"
Crack- Splat!
As expected of someone who infiltrated in a temporary vessel, his head flew off instantly. He doesn't resist using his right arm. Perhaps he doesn't care if it becomes a sacrificial piece.
The false body collapsed lifelessly on the ground.
Yet the right arm made of tentacles continued to writhe.
* * *
The terrorist attack on Planet Gaiyana was quickly suppressed.
The full story behind the sudden contract terminations of two Constellations was revealed, with testimony from me and other Constellations.
"I am truly ashamed! To think what you conveyed last time was the truth..."
A man prostrated himself before me, who had temporarily descended for a detailed explanation. The Strategic Staff Officer of the Special Ability Defense Command, was it? Perhaps he was the one who received the report about the purple tentacles before.
After listening halfheartedly, I waved my hand and dissolved the temporary vessel. I've explained enough. Master of the Blue Breath would handle the rest.
As I disappeared, scattering golden dust, the man carefully rose and proceeded with the meeting.
"As I just explained to Whispering Constellation, I am Staff Officer Liu Wei from the Federation Special Defense Command. I would appreciate if you could compile and share all the information you've gathered so far."
"That person called Jaag-Nakril was bait. We found traces of Ash Blade descending in a temporary vessel to seek him out separately, and that malicious Constellation approached while hiding its identity..."
"Detailed examination of Mr. Nakril revealed confusion in his memories, internal mutations caused by special abilities..."
"I thought he was the most suspicious, but he turned out to be a thoroughly exploited victim."
Other Constellations' Avatars, Gaiyana planetary government officials, Lee Yuna, Beatrice, and many others wore serious expressions in the meeting. I glanced at them briefly and fell into thought.
All Mortals have the potential to reach divinity. Ash Blade, who fell victim to the monster Constellation, was originally a mortal, and Master of the Blue Breath ascended to dragonhood through cultivation.
"We're investigating how the victim could pass through the special ability detector. Since it's an ability not registered in the database, it will take some time..."
"The missing Constellations were likely mentally contaminated by the power of a stronger Constellation."
"My Constellation, Silent Guardian, also believes this is highly probable."
Only divinity can stand against divinity with individual power. So...
"In the end, our god was right. We should have been more cautious."
"You weren't thinking much about it at first either..."
Avatars whispered in one corner of the conference room.
Like Nyseria, my first Servitor and a Galaxy Spirit Entity, making those cute apostles into gods would make things safer.
Let's put that on hold for now.
They're already evolving into higher species in exchange for receiving fragments of my body.
Evolution happening gradually, like paper soaking in moisture, since sudden changes lead to death.
"I'll report this to the higher-ups as is. The Federation is going to be in quite an uproar again..."
"It's as if something is about to happen these days, hmm."
However, if the maintenance of that cluster called the Federation becomes endangered, I will forcibly elevate my Avatars into gods.