NOVPUB"Segments?" Atticus asked.
"Think of it like a solar system," Whisker said. "Eldoralth, along with several other worlds, orbits one massive star. That's one segment. In another place, there's another star, another orbit, that's another segment."
"And these segments are divided by what? Boundaries?" Atticus asked.
Whisker nodded. "Your star is everything. It gives your world life. When it dies, so does everything else. But it also regulates your segment. Now, imagine four of these segments lined up horizontally. That makes up the lowerplane. Each segment has its own boundary, maintained by its star."
"And Eldoralth, the Zorvan world, and the others, they're all in the same segment?" Atticus asked.
Whisker nodded.
"Can we access the other segments?"
"Only if the stars allow it."
"What are the stars?"
Whisker grinned. "Good question." He paused, then added, "I don't know."
Atticus raised a brow, but before he could speak, Whisker continued.
"They've been there since the beginning of creation. We call them regulators. There are a ton of theories about what they are. All we know is that the stars are interconnected, and somehow… each has its own ego. That's why the planes are divided into territories."
Atticus exhaled, taking it all in. "So you're telling me… there might be other worlds in the lowerplane stronger than Eldoralth?"
Whisker nodded.
"Then why is everyone fighting so desperately over Eldoralth when there could be stronger or more valuable worlds?"
Whisker shook his head. "I get the confusion. The thing is… we can't access the other segments. In fact, the lowerplane is supposed to be completely inaccessible to the midplane."
Atticus didn't even need to ask. Whisker understood his look perfectly.
"As for how we got in…" Whisker continued, "we're still not sure. But centuries ago, my father discovered that the boundary in this segment had a hole. Something powerful made it. He didn't care who, only that it was an opportunity. The hole was healing, but with his power, he squeezed some of us through it, claiming we'd conquer worlds and ascend."
"Some?" Atticus asked. "You have more siblings?"
Whisker chuckled. "Of course. The man has so many wives it's basically an army. I've got a ton more."
"Great," Atticus muttered. "Where are they?"
"Some already rule planets as gods under the Nature faction. Others chose quieter lives. Only four of us came down here."
'The Spirit King must've found the hole too. That's why he targeted this segment,' Atticus thought. Still, another question nagged at him. 'Who made the hole?'
His best guess was the bastard who reincarnated him, but he had no proof. Still, he couldn't shake the question. What was that being's goal?
The words from that day still echoed in his mind.
'Entertain us.'
Even now, just remembering them sparked a flicker of rage.
But he pushed it down, focusing on the present. He turned to Whisker.
"You said there are other factions in the midplanes. Why are you and the Spirit King the only ones here?"
Whisker hummed. "Honestly? I don't know how the Spirit King found the hole. My father kept its discovery tightly sealed."
Atticus nodded slowly. "Can people from other segments access this one?"
"Only if the star allows it, and it almost never does."
"So… possible, but barely," Atticus muttered.
Whisker nodded.
Atticus fell silent for a moment, then asked the real question. "Do we need to go to other segments to reach the midplanes?"
Whisker shook his head, "No, no. After you become Eldoralth's god, and I give you the Zorvan core, even though their people are basically extinct, you should have enough power to take on the challenge to ascend."
"Of course there's a challenge," Atticus said, unimpressed. "What's the challenge about?"
Whisker shrugged, "I don't know. You'll find out when it's time, I guess."
Atticus sighed. "Alright, so why are you telling me about the other segments now? They're irrelevant."
They weren't going to capture any more worlds in the lower planes, nor was there any real chance of being attacked by worlds from the other segments. So why was Whisker speaking like they mattered?
Whisker only smiled. "Once more, good question," he said. "I'm just trying to prepare your mind for what you'll have to face before you ascend.
"From what I understand, one star alone can't take a world to the midplane. The stars have to reach an agreement and select one from their candidates."
"How is the one selected?" Atticus asked.
Whisker looked at him, "Easy. You play a game for it. And the winner gets to ascend."
Atticus frowned. "You mean I have to face other gods that are trying to ascend before I can reach the midplane?"
Whisker nodded. "You have to face them, and win."
"What if you fail?"
"You die. And your world gets absorbed. So just… don't fail, okay?"
Atticus exhaled heavily. Then he turned to Whisker. "You know, a part of me thinks you enjoy dropping a whole lot of information at once and watching me struggle to accept it."
Whisker chuckled. "Oh please. You call this struggle? Most people would still be denying reality after hearing all of this. But not only are you calmer than me, you've already started thinking of a way forward."
Atticus smiled. Whisker wasn't wrong. He had already accepted it. His will had grown past worrying over anything. He took things as they came, calmly.
He was already thinking of the next step.
Atticus turned away from Whisker.
"Tell me everything you know about the midplanes."
—
Some time later, after Atticus finished speaking with Whisker, they eventually separated. While Atticus headed back to the newly formed encampment, Whisker, as expected, had declared one of the most absurd things Atticus had ever heard.
"I need me a vacation. I've worked too hard. So, I'll find some chill spot on Eldoralth to relax. Oh, and yeah, I've dropped the remaining apex at yours. Also, when you need the core, just shout my name and I should hear you. Hopefully."
Atticus had only shaken his head and walked off without another word.
