Another milestone: 50 power stones. Here is an extra chapter to celebrate!
"Aaron Hayes, you have been selected by us due to your achievements, knowledge, and traits. You who wish to save the people of your planet with all your heart are deserving of this opportunity."
"What…" Aaron said while looking around and seeing nothing but some dark blue lines flowing around, forming something like massive statues in front of him. "Who are you people? Where am I?"
"We are the aspects of the universe, and we control the laws that exist in the physical plane of existence."
The first voice was a bit rough, but the second was a bit softer but more imposing. When he looked around, Aaron couldn't tell who was talking, but he could see countless beings around him.
"Aspects?"Aaron furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Do you mean that things like gravity have a conscience or have been created by you all?"
"We were born the exact moment the universe came to be and we rule it's aspects, that is why we are called Aspects."
Aaron heard the voice of another woman and he felt like sighing… it would be easier to hold a conversion if they don't take turns talking like that, it was also pretty annoying.
"You wish to save your species because you believe that the human race is an important part of the planet itself. Even though you all have also caused harm to it. Still, not everyone should be held accountable for the crimes of the majority or of those in their pasts."
"I don't agree with that. The vast majority didn't cause that much damage," Aaron interjected. "Scientific progress and in other fields are only natural given the nature of our world and our limitations. I only think that what we created that is truly harmful are the weapons of mass destruction. There are enough in the hands of a few that can destroy the world, after all, with everything in it. As for the other issues, they are things that humans can solve given enough time. When we start to feel truly cornered, it is when we show what we are capable of."
"You make a fair argument, but that doesn't change the fact that human hands affected your world in a negative way. Even the actions that you call unharmful made such things possible. You should know that Earth is pretty much an organism, and many of you are acting like a virus."
"I beg to differ; we are only able to do so much; we can only operate based on the realms of our possibility and surroundings," Aaron said after he crossed his arms. "If reality were a bit more fair, we would be able to act the way we truly want instead of just adapting to what a few want when they have the upperhand against us. If you claim to be what you truly are, you should know that better than anyone."
"... Either way that isn't something we need to talk about now. We have an offer for you. If you wish to save your planet or at least buy enough time for your plans to show any results, you should accept it."
"I am listening," Aaron said after he furrowed his eyebrows.
It seemed that those guys didn't want to argue with Aaron. He was pretty good at making people shut up with his arguments, after all. It was one of his few qualities… or perhaps it wasn't a quality.
"There are some other planets like yours that are on the path of destruction, and we want you to judge if those places should continue existing or if they should be restarted from scratch. We want you to be our judge. In exchange for your services, we will help you buy time for your planet. Even if you just alert your people, that should be enough if you buy time for them."
"I find that hard to believe. I am a scientist, you know. You won't convince me that there are other intelligent life forms out there with only your words," Aaron said. "Even now, I am still trying to understand if this conversation is real or if I am imagining you all since I haven't slept or eaten anything in three days. Give me some scientific proof."
In the next moment, the darkness around Aaron vanished, and then he saw himself flying in the sky. Perhaps he was not flying, but he was in the sky, and he wasn't moving. When he looked below, and then saw two armies of people fighting against each other… they looked a bit different than humans, one army had dog ears and tails, while the other looked like fish who had legs and arms… that wasn't important. What was important was what happened next.
The atmosphere darkened, and the air crackled with energy. A vortex of brilliant light and arcane symbols materialized above the battlefield, signifying an immense energy being harnessed.
The gathered energy was released in a cataclysmic burst. The energy radiated outward in expanding concentric waves of destructive power, enveloping the targets in a brilliant explosion of energy.
The damage inflicted by whatever the hell that was was substantial, affecting all people within its range. It pierced through defenses, bypassing armor and shields. The energy began to expand after it turned green thanks to some sparkless in the air, and then Aaron was pushed backward and eventually left the planet.
Aaron saw the attack expanding endlessly until it eventually took over the entire world. The atmosphere prevented the energy from escaping, so it looked like everything in there had been burned to a crisp. That kind of process was supposed to happen for days, but Aaron only saw it happening for a couple of seconds on a planet similar to Earth.