"Breaking through the layers of defense surrounding my palace and appearing directly before me—are you a god?"
Despite her inner shock at the sudden arrival of this enigmatic, handsome child, the empress kept her composure. Her voice remained steady and calm.
"You people and your calm demeanor make things so boring," Muria said, yawning lazily, disappointed that his presence hadn't caused more panic. "Why not try calling the guards to rescue you?"
"Since you've already appeared before us, I assume you've accounted for the palace's defenses," the empress replied. "There's no point in doing something futile."
The minister, Remi Locke, who had been subtly moving his hand toward an alert button, gave up the attempt. The intruder's words suggested a deep understanding of their security measures. Raising an alarm would only make him look foolish.
"Since you haven't resorted to violence, I assume you have a request for us," the empress continued, her voice measured.
"Indeed, there is something I wanted to discuss with you. But after overhearing your earlier conversation, I've adjusted my plans slightly," Muria said with a calm smile.
"You want to discuss cooperation with a god?" The empress' gaze sharpened as she looked at Muria, golden-red flames glimmering faintly in her eyes. This was the product of their civilization's advanced technology, capable of bestowing supernatural power to its citizens.
"Forgive me, but that notion was nothing more than idle fantasy—an impossible, worthless idea," she stated firmly.
"Oh? So you're mocking me?" Muria's voice remained calm, yet the atmosphere around them changed drastically. The air seemed to freeze, making the empress and her minister feel as though they were drowning, gasping for breath that refused to come.
"Your Eminence, we weren't aware of your existence before now. How could we possibly have mocked you?" Remi Locke struggled to speak, his chest heaving from the suffocating pressure. He was beginning to curse the misfortune of facing such an inexplicable crisis.
"Then tell me—why do you believe cooperation with a god is impossible?"
The empress maintained her composure, her eyes steady. "During our civilization's first and only attempt to establish cooperation with a god, we were met with utter humiliation. The envoy sent by the god mocked us, saying: 'A species wholly reliant on external tools, whose entire race can be crushed at a whim—what qualifications do you have to stand as equals with a god?'"
The empress' tone remained cold and factual. "Though the insult stung, our subsequent analysis confirmed the truth of their words. The gap between us and the gods cannot be bridged by technology alone. Thus, we concluded that the idea of cooperating with gods is a futile dream."
"You attempted cooperation with a god?" Muria raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And after one failure, you completely abandoned the idea? Isn't that a bit... premature?"
"We conducted extensive analysis. Unless we possess a means to inflict fatal damage on a god, true cooperation is impossible. So, would you kindly tell us your identity?"
"That's quite the topic shift," Muria chuckled, spreading his hands. "But fine. As I said earlier, I'm a god seeking to establish a partnership with you."
"Your Eminence, while we acknowledge your exceptional abilities in bypassing our defenses, that doesn't justify treating us like fools," Remi Locke said, producing a gemstone glowing with crimson light. His patience had run out. He hoped that by creating enough disturbance, the city's remaining defenses would respond, even if the palace guards had failed.
"You people are so difficult to deal with," Muria sighed. "I tell you the truth, and yet you still assume I'm deceiving you."
"We've had many encounters with gods and have learned much about them," the empress interjected. "Based on what we know, someone like you—appearing freely and without restriction—cannot possibly be a god."
"Not bad," Muria remarked, nodding approvingly. "You understand that gods are often limited by the constraints of faith. Impressive."
"Exactly," Remi said firmly. "So please, reveal your true identity. Otherwise, we'd rather take our chances than endure this mockery."
"Listen well, and remember this—I never lie," Muria declared. "I'll explain more clearly: I am not one of those gods bound by faith. I am a being who walks freely through the void, capable of choosing whether or not to heed the prayers of countless worlds. I am an epic."
"Epic...? What does that mean?" The empress and her minister exchanged confused glances.
"You may think of me as a god without restrictions or limitations," Muria clarified.
"A god without limitations? That's absurd!" Remi Locke's calm facade finally cracked. He waved his arms in disbelief.
The more a civilization interacted with gods, the more they understood how terrifyingly powerful those beings were. Yet they also knew that gods were constrained, able to exercise their full power only within certain domains. The idea of an unrestricted god was a nightmare beyond imagination.
"Why is it so hard to believe?" Muria chuckled softly.
"Enough, Remi Locke. Step back and maintain your composure," the empress commanded. Her voice was gentle but authoritative.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Reluctantly, the minister bowed and retreated to the side.
"Your Eminence," the empress began, her gaze locked onto Muria's golden eyes, "you claim to be a god beyond restrictions. If that's true, why would you seek to partner with us?"
Her question was sharp and probing. She had reached her current position not only through exceptional leadership but also due to her formidable strength, which placed her among the empire's elites.
"To be blunt, your civilization lacks the qualifications to partner with someone like me," Muria admitted, his tone casual. "However, you do have one crucial advantage—territory."
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