He eventually gave up as there was no way in either heaven or hell that he could win this argument.
He wasn't about to preach God to the Eldritch being. However, everything had a creator, and that much was obvious.
The precision of the Universe suggests that there is an intelligence behind it. Only a fool would deny that, but this was a being that doesn't follow normal conventions.
By human standards, Taaia here was a god. It could speak to your mind and live for only God knows how long. If it didn't want to believe then only God himself could make it believe.
[You don't seem all that different from others; your quantum field is just as stable; it seems whoever brought us here has more power than we initially thought] Taaia said after it was done with the scan.
Time passed after that as the two simply stood and waited for something to happen.
Looking around, they saw more people appear within the space. At first glance, one could see several thousand if not millions of people, all standing in wait as well.
[We, the God Council, welcome you all]
A loud voice was heard startling all who were there, many immediately began to look around for the source of the voice
[With everyone accounted for, may this Cycle's God Council begin] the voice said again.
This time, as soon as its voice fell, Richard felt a massive quake in the area. The ground didn't crack open or anything
None of the people standing here had fallen, the situation was weird as usual as they continued to look on.
They all saw the skies open as what could only be decided as a pillar was thrown to the ground
The ground shook violently, throwing many of them, Richard included, to the ground.
'This is truly far beyond me'. Richard thought.
Never taking his eyes off the 'pillars', its true form was finally revealed: it was a leg. A giant leg that may eclipse a planet.
"Shit!" Richard cussed.
He didn't know what this was, but something was telling him that this was far beyond what he expected it to be; the stakes of whatever this thing was had just tripled.
About thirty minutes later, the full form of this giant was revealed; it could be seen wearing a fancy toga decorated in gold and with multiple subtle jewelry.
The crown on its head shone brightly and with blinding light, almost as though it was the sun.
With its full form revealed, Richard noticed the skies open up even more as more and more giant people stepped out.
However, unlike the first, they remained floating in the air behind the first. Their presence, however, wasn't any less majestic.
Their auras alone commanded respect, forcing him to kneel, but a man kneels to no one except his God and his parents.
These may be Gods, but they weren't his God, nor were they his parent. Just looking at them made everything in him want to kneel.
Turning around he saw many of the people around him had all taken a knee.
Taaia, however, didn't have a knee and, just like him, was staring directly at these giant people.
[They are Gods, aren't they?] Taaia suddenly asked
"Yup," Richard answered before giving a bow out of respect, as Taaia followed.
They were within the Giants Court.
The Bible may demand that we don't worship any God apart from He, who created us but it never denied the existence of other gods.
The same Bible also said to give respect to whom it is due, 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's'.
In this situation, that was a greeting.
[You may all rise] the giant said with a gesture forcing them all to stand.
Following its words, they all stood up and continued looking up straight at them.
Richard didn't know why but looking at the beings before him, he felt as though he was staring at the entire Greek Pantheon.
He didn't know if it was because of the Toga or just that most of their jewellery matched that from said region.
[You have all been called to this council for a single purpose, to serve your universe. If you are here it means that you are from a Genesis Cradle, a new and young universe] The giant began
[A threat or a test cometh and you are called upon to defend your worlds]
Hearing it, several images blasted their way into Richard's mind. Each one showcased and explained all he had said.
From it, he could grasp the meaning of a Genesis Cradle… It was exactly what the title said; it was a universe where new life was still being born and nurtured.
Everything in this universe was still new, and it was still very young, with many of them only having one race sentient enough to create civilization.
As for the threat or Test, as he called it, there was no definition, but he saw the Earth explode into nothingness but dust, the sun extinguished, and that was enough for him to understand what sort of threat this was.
[You may not be your Universe's best, but you have been picked for a reason, prove to your patrons that they are correct for picking you] The Giant said.
[Now your tests shall begin] The giant continued before vanishing
The other giant gods behind him, too, vanished as well, leaving them just as they once were.
Richard couldn't wrap his head around what was happening at all, but he was already in such a situation, and if there was anything he knew about power.
It was that, when one is in a position of power, they do not need to lie to you. When the power gap is as overwhelming as it was between them and these beings, then there was even more reason to just lay it out as it is.
"Do you think they are telling the truth?" Richard asked
[We have no way of knowing until it's too late but I support your idea as well, they have no reason to lie to us] Taaia responded
"As expected, so we just have to play their game then" Richard replied
Finally, focusing on the new addition to the area, which were several floating arrows.
They looked like they were made from some magical cardboard and on them were some drawings. The one before him had some carvings on it