Chapter Fifty-Four: The Gift of the Gods

Afterward, Harvey found a stone and sat suspended in midair. Wearing a robe woven from condensed magic, the extreme heat could not touch him in the slightest. The Mogrians watched in wonder as this man flew unaided, their curiosity piqued. Born immune to the desert’s heat, their stamina and endurance allowed them to run across the yellow sands for hours without fatigue. They had seen other visitors from distant worlds, arriving in powerful starcraft, marvels of alien technology. Yet never had they encountered one who could soar through the air without machines or technological aid.

“Warrior, may I ask how I should address you?” The mayor, Ricks, looked at Harvey with respect and inquired.

“My name is Kassadin,” Harvey replied. “I am simply here to fulfill a task for payment, and will soon depart. There’s no need to call me ‘warrior’.”

Ricks immediately raised his hand in apology, his manner cautious and deferential. “Please don’t misunderstand; I mean no offense. Might I be so bold as to ask you a question?”

Harvey considered briefly and nodded.

“Kassadin, you can fly, and you have slain the Desert Calamity that countless others could not. Are you... a god?” Ricks asked, his eyes filled with reverence.

The Mogrians had lived in this desert for generations, locked in a cycle of hunting or being hunted by sand-shelled scorpions. Sometimes they returned laden with bounty, sometimes they mourned their losses with rites and sand burials. But since the appearance of the Desert Calamity more than twenty years ago, countless clansfolk were swept away by sandstorms, lost in the deadly quicksand. At first, the king sought every means to deal with the calamity: sacrifices were made, temples restored, prayers sent to the gods. The disaster had shattered the balance between Mogrians and the sand scorpions, turning into an existential threat.

No matter how devoutly they offered food and rituals in ancient shrines, the gods never answered their pleas. In the end, the king was forced to seek help from extraterrestrials. Because of this, the elders and officials received universal translators. Over the years, Ricks had met many aliens and witnessed technologies he’d never imagined.

He had seen devastating bombs transform entire regions into radioactive wastelands. He had watched fleets of thirty starfighters sweep the desert with their deadly force. Yet none of these could overcome the Desert Calamity. Ricks had long lost hope of defeating it; he could only lead his people away, migrating toward safer lands as the calamity spread. Now, with the creature dead, he could only describe the slayer as a god.

“Yes,” Harvey replied, his eyes shining golden as he glanced at Ricks.

“Then you must have your own world and temple?” Ricks’ reverence turned to excitement, his words trembling. Legends of gods circulated on every world, and this one was no exception. Yet in two centuries of life, Ricks had never seen a true deity and had begun to believe they did not exist. Now, standing before a god—even an alien one—was itself a miracle.

“I come from the Void,” Harvey answered, seeing Ricks’ excitement but offering only the origin of his power. At this stage, his strength rivaled some lesser gods, so the title was not unfitting. But Harvey had no temple, nor a world of his own.

“For years, our people have prayed to the gods without answer. God of the Void, thank you for your arrival, for protecting the Mogrians. The five million promised to you will soon be delivered. May you grant us the chance to build a temple for you. If disaster strikes again, we shall offer tribute as you require. We beseech you to continue safeguarding our people,” Ricks said, prostrating himself in devout worship.

Mogrian technology was not the most advanced in the cosmos, but they had starcraft capable of interstellar travel. They could resist many disasters through science; yet for over twenty years, the Desert Calamity had defied all their efforts. Ricks knew this god was alien, that Kassadin of the Void had come because the king paid a great sum. As an outsider god, any protection would be an exchange for tribute.

Harvey heard their wish to build him a temple and, thoughtful, closed his eyes to survey the entire Mogri planet. Seeking traces of any deities, he saw temples scattered across desert, land, and sea—all ruined and abandoned. Though Harvey was no expert in archaeology, the state of these temples suggested at least a millennium without miracles; otherwise, they would have been better preserved.

Ricks lay prostrate, tense and expectant, awaiting Kassadin’s reply.

“If you wish to build me a temple, I can grant you a blessing. Should disaster strike again, you may call upon me,” Harvey said, seeing that this world was bereft of gods. His purpose in coming to the universe was to establish the Void Church, to draw more beings into the Void and harvest its energy. Since no gods remained here, he could safely recruit followers and let them flourish. Once his strength grew, he could bring the entire planet into the fold of the Void Church.

To establish such faith, he must bestow power. Harvey raised his right hand, and green life energy surged into Ricks’ body. Before the gathered crowd, Ricks’ white hair quickly turned red—the color of youth among Mogrians.

“Thank you, God of the Void Kassadin, for your gift,” Ricks said, feeling new strength coursing through his once withered hands, now strong and vital. Reverence filled his heart.

As he spoke, Harvey received an alert from his system: “Mogrian Ricks Mogri wishes to believe in and learn about the Void. Will you accept him into the Great Void?”

Harvey chose yes.

Ricks’ body rose into the air, wrapped in violet energy. The other Mogrians watched in awe, eyes wide at this marvel. Though they could not understand Kassadin’s words, their mayor’s speech was clear. Before them stood a god from the Void, who had responded to the mayor’s plea for protection.

After a few seconds, Ricks opened his eyes.

“Thank you for your blessing, O God. I will build your temple and devote my life to your worship until death,” Ricks declared, utterly convinced by the power of the Void God, kneeling in reverent gratitude.