The Morals of Creation

'H-h-hello?'

Damon was frightened as he heard a voice resound in his mind.

Watching Damon stumble backward in surprise, Hero frowned. "What is it?"

"I think the plant just talked to me!" Damon said as he looked towards the basil plant.

"I did tell you that creatures created with balance would have a consciousness" Hero said. "Now you normally wouldn't be able to understand it, but since your soul awakened, you can communicate through the spiritual realm."

Even though he was weirded out, Damon forced himself to ask. "Does this mean that every creature can now speak to me through the spiritual realm."

"Well did any of the creatures who you fought talk to you?"

"No."

"That's because you don't have a connection with them. You gave this plant life and thus tied yourself to it. That's why you two can communicate via the spiritual realm." Hero explained.

"Will I have to deal with this for all of the creatures I create? I don't think I could handle this." Damon asked.

"You need to refine your mindset. Use your resources to deal with the problem. Afterall, I won't be here forever." Hero reprimanded.

Although annoyed, Damon understood and quickly focused.

'What could stop all of these thoughts from intruding into my mind?' He wondered.

Looking at his own home, Damon realized the perfect solution.

"A mental wall should work." Damon thought aloud as he imagined a dome of steel encasing his mind.

Hearing this, Hero smiled.

After a moment of struggle, the steel walls surged upwards and covered his mind in a seemingly impenetrable dome.

Seeing that Damon opened his eyes, Hero said. "You should start scouting out the surrounding areas using your little owls. We need to spend more time on acclimating you to your new role."

"Let me make a few changes to the owls first, then we can do that while the owls are working."

"Sure." Hero agreed.

Calling the owls down to him, Damon decided to make them conscious.

He had previously only given them the proper wings and eyesight but had left out talons in order to save energy. As he remedied this, the owl's eyes shone brighter.

Although it cost almost a third of his reserves, Damon was satisfied.

He also decided to add some special effects in order to make sure that the owls were as efficient as possible.

Damon made a reward cycle that would help keep the owls alive and at maximum efficiency. This system required the exploration of ten miles of land before the owls could hunt. The owls who documented the land the best, would get a boost of dopamine at the end of the day.

This boost of dopamine would occur when the owls touched the new artifact he intended to make.

Although it seemed cruel, it didn't cause any excessive suffering and it would keep the owls physically and mentally engaged.

Damon felt a bit guilty as he released the two owls but quickly shook the feeling away.

'I'm a god now. I will need to see things differently and act accordingly. I'm destined to manipulate life and some bad things may happen out of it but I'll learn.' Damon thought as he struggled with his actions.

"I understand what you're feeling, Damon. All of us have struggled with it but there is no true correct answer. Do what aligns with your beliefs. Not what is set by the beliefs of others." Hero said as he sympathized with Damon.

"I understand." He responded as they flew away from the manor.

"Now I need to test your combat skills. Personal strength is the universe's great prerequisite." Hero said as he drew his sword.

Damon smiled at the challenge as he drew his own sword. "I'm quite interested to see how the great Hero stacks up."

Without an instant of delay, Hero dashed forward in a golden beam of light.

Damon's eyes constricted as he saw the light rapidly approach.

He barely had enough time to strike the golden beam before he was sent flying.

Using his thrusters to make a flip, Damon righted himself when...

SPLURT

Blood gushed out of Damon's chest as a sword of light rapidly exited it.

Having gotten used to grievous injuries, Damon quickly recovered and prepared himself.

Suddenly, the beam of light approached.

Activating his thrusters, Damon attempted to use his momentum to defend against Hero.

As they clashed, Damon was able to hold on for a moment before an overwhelming resistance formed on the golden sword.

WHOOSH

Damon was once again sent flying as blood continued flowing out of him.

"You need to learn to fight smart, Damon! You have the power of creation and destruction yet you are fighting me with a sword and even trying to win in a contest of strength." Hero's voice rang out.

Thinking fast, Damon prepared a steel wall and wielded a giant lightning bolt in his left hand. He also took this brief reprieve to close up his wound by imagining a thick gauze.

BOOM

The golden beam once again appeared and this time it was ascending from far below.

Channeling his bolt, Damon continuously sent out spears of lightning in order to funnel Hero.

The golden beam was already halfway to Damon when suddenly...

ZING

The whole sky was lit up with spears of lightning that quickly shot towards Hero.

This forced Hero to take the only path where the spears weren't summoned.

Straight to Damon.

Channeling his entire pool of essence, Damon created a massive beam of lightning and pointed it straight towards Hero.

THRUM

THRUM

THRUM

The beam was fully charged with lightning as Damon settled his sights on Hero.

With a final thrum, the beam shot forth.

BOOM

The entire sky turned bright gold.

The massive beam of lightning continued on...and on...

Realizing that something was wrong, Damon quickly looked around.

Hero descended from above, holding a massive greatsword of light.

Damon reacted too late, however, as his blade was almost instantly thrown to the side.

SHEEN

Damon's right arm flew into the distance along with his sword.

'He won't kill me. Right?' Damon thought as the greatsword's tip dug into his throat.