The glory of the weak

Even with the plethora of intelligent species that littered the known universe, none seemed to possess spaceships like those imagined in the massive stories of space that humanity created. Every species had rudimentary, basic vehicles. Most did not carry weapons, for any weapons created outside the blessings of heaven were next to useless against another species, as if the universe was subtly telling everyone to use only the powers it provided.

Humanity progressed far, but also regressed in the time since they were driven from their planet. Their technology was allowed to catch up to the previous discoveries of their ancestors, yet it was nearly neglected when they comprehended their own blessing. It was because they experienced the disdain of the universe. Technology not comprehended from the heavens seemed to be blocked at every turn. Scientists would try to bring to life things seen from the most famous of literature, such as sabers made of light, or blasters that shot beams of extreme heat. However, these creations would never work. The science seemed to shift around them. When they had assumed they had found the right combination of materials and molecules to maintain enough heat for a saber with enough heat to melt through any material, it would cease to work the very next day. It could be any number of problems, lack of heat, a self-destruction that would almost harm whoever turned it on, the shape unable to be held and wavering away. Through this humanity was forced to turn to their blessing for power and survival.

In lieu of these limitations on technology, the universe provided in other ways. People quickly discovered that when they comprehended a blessing, that the universe would allow them to enter the playing field of giants. Gigantic towers, known only as portals emerged on humanities decrepit planet. They littered this replacement world, and people quickly discovered that through this portal, they could teleport to the many other worlds in their galaxy. Cities were built around these portals, as they were the life and blood of any species that fought for dominance or survival in the known universe. Without their portals, a species was dead in the water, only able to wait for another to come and rain extinction down upon them.

Yet, a question one might ask is how was a race supposed to expand outside of their galaxy? How were they supposed to wage war upon their neighbors for resources? This is why all species' reached the limit of technology at crude and primal spaceships. Even further, as though the heavens knew that these spaceships could take millions upon millions of years to even reach the next galaxy through the emptiness of space, what might seem the lifetime of a star to reach another galaxy, took only hours. As though the universe was actively shrinking the distance between galaxies whenever a species showed intent to travel to another galaxy not their own. Humans further discovered, that once they took another galaxy outside of their home galaxy, massive swirling black holes would emerge, like another portal to these conquered galaxies.

Every race, every species, does not know why the universe allows these things, or restricts technology. However they know that no matter if there's a wider conspiracy, if they're merely the entertainment of greater beings, they will fight for dominance. After all, every intelligent species that reaches the top of their home planet desires to rule over all. What better throne than the entire known universe.