Chapter 140: Divine Revelation

Hearing Navali’s words, the man tilted his head and spoke calmly:

"A god? That requires an inquiry into the definition of a god... In some systems, a god is an omnipotent existence that manipulates the past, present, and future, capable of creating a universe with a single thought. In other systems, gods are merely humans who are slightly more powerful, capable of spitting fire and water, or triggering earthquakes and tsunamis. Using the former definition, I have not yet reached the level of such a god—at least not yet, though I believe I will one day; after all, the power of exponents is infinite. But by the standards of the latter, my power has long surpassed the upper limits of such deities. So, if you consider me a god, that is perfectly acceptable. In fact, I considered myself a god even when I was far weaker.

"As for 'Tezcatlipoca,' I am aware of it. It is the Smoking Mirror, the god of Aztec belief, correct? Well... in a sense, I am Him, or rather, He is a part of me. Everything is information. I am currently backtracking through all the information on Earth; every god, religion, and faith is contained within it. This is a function I discovered only recently.

"Scientific theory suggests that a 'singularity' is the convergence point of all things, an infinite collapse—the inverse process of the cosmic expansion. By falling downward along my own singularity, I can reach the past of this universe through it. Because my current power is still somewhat weak—barely more than the total mass of the solar system—I can only trace the past within the solar system, and only back to within the last hundred thousand years. Furthermore, I can only transmit information. But that is fine; the vast majority of faith and spiritual attachment from the Earth era originated within this period. Therefore, I have already become Allah, God, the Buddha, Odin, Hel, and the master of the Eastern Celestial Court. Tezcatlipoca is also a part of me. Nuwa and Fuxi were the ones who completed the first rituals of their lives under my guidance."

The man’s words were difficult to fathom. Although his voice reached Navali’s ears in a very authentic Mexican accent, every word seemed to carry layers of hidden meaning, and Navali had to struggle to capture even a sliver of the information.

He strained his eyes, looking at the man with reverence:

"Lord Tezcatlipoca..."

The man smiled and swiped his hand across Navali’s head. Navali recoiled in fear, only to realize the man’s palm had passed through his body like a phantom.

"Now, kid, do you know why I came to find you?"

The man stared at him with a smile. Navali, feeling a feverish heat throughout his body, shook his head.

"Then let me be clear—my power is gradually expanding, and my consciousness is becoming increasingly vast. Although I maintain the mentality of a normal human—though perhaps that is only my own perception of normalcy—I require a powerful information integration capability to organize the massive, complex, and myriad data around me. Think of it like an infinitely complete biological quantum computer. To use Asimov's terminology, the information integration capacity I require must reach the level of a 'Galactic Model' or even a 'Mind-Lord,' so that I may fully utilize every piece of information and every shred of power to break through the membrane of this universe and reach a new world. Although my own intelligence grows exponentially every day, having a dedicated information integration capability would certainly be better.

"—So, I scanned the existing—well, for you, they would be future—humans across the entire Earth. I found approximately 17,341 targets who, if I triggered a biological leap in them using the Blood of Evolution, would likely awaken branch abilities linked to computation and data. Among these 17,341 targets, I narrowed it down to 95, and finally determined one person—a person who, if he were to absorb the Blood of Evolution in the future and successfully awaken his ability, would have an ability that hits the bullseye perfectly, without a single hair's breadth of deviation, exactly what I require. And that person is you, Navali."

The man smiled. Although Navali remained bewildered by the words, for some reason, an indescribable, burning fervor began to stir in his heart.

Navali stammered, excited as he addressed the "Tezcatlipoca" before him:

"Then, what can I do, Lord Tezcatlipoca?"

The man chuckled, tapping Navali on the shoulder with a finger that existed only as information:

"Go and meet the challenges, child. Do not stay in this place. I have discovered that the initial nature and strength of an awakened power are determined by two factors: first, one’s innate endowment and obsessions; second, the shaping of one’s environment. For those who do not lack the first point, the second is especially crucial.

"Oh, and by the way, after our conversation concludes, most of your memory will fade away. This is normal, so do not worry. However, I will leave behind a single thread of information. At the very least, you will remember that you once had a conversation with a god and were given such a revelation."

The voice dissipated into the air. The man’s figure vanished completely.

Just as "Tezcatlipoca" had said, as the man disappeared, most of the memory of their conversation was quickly forgotten. Yet, a small amount of substance remained, causing Navali’s eyes to widen as his entire state of mind underwent a cataclysmic transformation.

A creaking sound came from behind him.

Turning around, Navali saw his grandmother’s stern expression and the face of Estrella.

His grandmother pushed the door open and stood just inside the threshold. The woman—or rather, his "mother"—stood behind her, lifting her chin slightly, looking at Navali with a scrutinizing gaze. Her eyes were gloomy, as if carrying the sharpness of blades.

"—Navali."

His grandmother looked at him with profound eyes:

"Your mother wants to take you to the United States. Are you going?"

Navali opened his mouth. Looking at his grandmother’s conflicted expression, he instinctively wanted to refuse. But at the same time, the god’s revelation flashed in his heart, causing the words he intended to speak to change the moment they passed his throat:

"...I, I will go."

And so, his grandmother’s disappointed gaze dropped, while his "mother," arms crossed, wore a relieved and arrogant smile as she nodded at Navali for the first time. The image of the two women, one behind the other, became Navali’s first and most indelible memory of his departure for America.