Singularity, as interpreted by DALL-E in February 2025.

  Chapter 49: Lux aeterna

  Planet Jord, Confluence dimension

  Year 42 of the Confluence Republic (local time)

  Transmissions circles kept merging in the Confluence. Everybody, from all walks of life, was in a circle. Big shots and ordinary folks, defenders and testers, young and old, all were merging into the same mental-feeling space. Eventually Soth joined too, disappearing into the void without a trace; he never looked back.

  People’s bodies were still out and about doing various things, although it was getting less and less obvious what they were needed for. Some people just left their body in bed, using various magics to take care of them. There was a growing feeling that we should find a way to live without material bodies.

  Weirdly, however, the life force magic that would enable people to leave their bodies was incompatible with the Transmissions magic. Pretty soon, the only reason people took a pause from their Transmissions circles was to life force project and explore the Citadel; when they returned to the circle, there was always great interest in their experiences, which they of course shared with everybody. The collective identified the physical and temporal coordinates of the explorers’ memories and visions, and the few such experiences that could not be identified turned into great mysteries that everybody wanted to look into. There was still something unknown out there somewhere.

  In the end, there were just a few large Transmissions circles on the planet, and then these too decided to merge. Twelve billion people all found themselves in the same mental and emotional space, sharing their secrets, opening their hearts, being as one.

  Only the Special Circumstances section remained apart, and the general feeling was that they could wait until they had finished their work in the Diankoran dimension. The people of the Confluence watched the Erd author write Chapter 48 of his book, partaking in the agents’ adventure in this indirect fashion. When the Erd author reached the end of the chapter, however, the Confluence collective heard Orochi’s call reverberating deep in their bellies, and the separation became intolerable. Without any thinking or planning, the collective found itself reaching into not only the Special Circumstances headquarters but also the Diankoran dimension. They had heard the call and accepted it; now they wanted to taste the fruit of knowledge. Orochi felt the collective reach out to them and found not the will to reject it, and thus the Confluence civilization was united at last.

  Surprising everyone, the Erd author then started writing a new interlude, which the collective read with great interest as it pondered the significance of the subject matter. Nurgle confirmed that the message was exactly as he had written it; waves of laughter echoed through the collective in response to it. Then the Erd author, being on a roll, began writing Chapter 49, and the collective watched in fascination as he started catching up with them.

  Orochi’s 1st head: Well, this is new.

  Orochi’s 2nd head: What does it mean?

  Orochi’s 3rd head: I suppose we are reaching some sort of conclusion.

  Erd author: The collective observed that they could hear Orochi’s thoughts at the exact same time as the Erd author wrote them down. He was writing quickly now, as if he was Perked up or something, but as always there were many things he did not include in the book. A wave of experimentally inclined energy that drifted through the collective hoped that someone would say many interesting and important and book-relevant things very quickly, to see if the Erd author could keep up, but the experiment was never set into action. The understanding rose that so many Confluence citizens were contributing energy to the Erd simulation now that it was moving ahead at a far greater temporal velocity than it had used to, which obviously helped the Erd author to keep up with events.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: Hello Erd author, how are you?

  Erd author: The Erd author paused for a moment, curious at what his mind found itself doing. Were the characters of his book trying to communicate with him? He laughed at the silly idea and just continued to let the writing pour out of him. It would be good to reach the end of this project, then he would finally have time for other things.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: Yeah. You know what they say about all work and no play. We’re having a little get-together later, maybe you could come over and relax a bit?

  Erd author: At this point, the odd conversation was interrupted as Scelera Ignosce and the other Lords of Diankoran entered the Council-chamber, staring menacingly but silently at the four humans and their dog in the center of the chamber. The seven Lords spread out in a half-circle, striking aggressive postures. Little did they know that twelve billion powerful mages looked back at them with curiosity and pity and no fear.

  Orochi’s 4th head: Sorry for destroying your little pet project. Are you mad at us, Scelera?

  Erd author: Scelera Ignosce stared at the humans with hatred and, although they did not admit it, growing fear. How could these humans be so calm and confident? Scelera did not understand.

  Orochi’s 6th head: I suppose you should be aware of the fact that you have been playing demons in this story. Symbolically, at least, you are the source of all evil in Erd, as well as in your own dimension.

  Orochi’s 5th head: In reality, this only means that you are sad little creatures, obsessed with power and status, always comparing yourselves to others, always willing to put the other person down for your so-called benefit.

  Orochi’s 7th head: You’re nothing, and you were never anything. Your darkness is just the absence of light. You don’t actually exist.

  Erd author: The Lords of Diankoran heard the humans say many absurd and meaningless things. It seemed likely that the humans were stalling for time. The Lords watched each other and made careful little movements expressing a willingness to attack. They waited to preserve the moment of surprise.

  Orochi’s 4th head: I’ve got an eye on you / Doin’ things that you shouldn’t do.

  Orochi’s 5th head: Your point of view is medieval.

  Orochi’s 6th head: Pretty bitch slut, I’ll see you in hell.

  Orochi’s 7th head: Close your eyes, open up your mouth.

  Orochi’s 8th head: (exudes pride and happiness). I’m gonna piss on you.

  Erd author: And with these words, the Lords of Diankoran started to dissolve, smoking and making a corrosive hiss as if some powerful acid had been poured over them. Within a few moments, there was nothing left of them other than a yellowish puddle on the ground, then the puddle evaporated as well.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: Is this the point when I say ‘I told you so’?

  Orochi’s 2nd head: You can do it later. These demons never existed in the first place, did they?

  Orochi’s 1st head: Only our fear of them gave them the energy to menace us. And we have been running short on fear lately.

  Tatiana: What happens now?

  Orochi’s 4th head: This is the apocalypse. It is complete. Please go to Father Andrei and tell your story to him. We will protect you on the way.

  Tatiana: And what will you do?

  Petition wave in the Confluence collective: Should we consider inviting Tatiana and maybe the other peasants into the Confluence collective?

  Counterwave: We should probably realize that the Diankoran peasants, and even more so the insect-reptiles, have not reached our level of development. On a collective level, they are like the Erd sims back in their medieval era, although some individuals may have developed a little further.

  Support wave: The backwardness may characterize the population in general, but we’re not convinced it is true for Tatiana. And in some ways she is already one of us.

  Counterwave: It may be harmful for individuals on a lower stage of development to become part of the Confluence collective. Although it may seem boorish to emphasize the point, we must probably understand ourselves as high level. The Diankoran dimension, and our simulations for that matter, are not high level. These people need more time to evolve before they are ready to join us.

  Support wave: It is true that it may be so, but it is also true that we simply don’t know. And how harmful could it be? At worst her development in this lifetime is somewhat stunted on some levels while – it seems reasonable to assume – being accelerated on other levels. Either way, she will have many future lifetimes to make up for whatever happens now.

  Counterwave: Does not this perspective impel us to invite everyone the agents have encountered, especially Father Andrei and the peasant family? Why should a random encounter with our people constitute the basis for being invited into something they are probably not ready for?

  Support wave: This point about embarking on a slippery slope may be relevant to the other Diankoran peasants, but is not Tatiana a special case who deserves to be treated individually? By her own account, she has nowhere to go. The agents are her only friends in this world. Also, if there is a risk to joining the Confluence collective, who is better positioned to decide whether this risk is worth taking than the person herself?

  Counterwave: The latter point is true for a Confluence citizen, because such a person has reached a level of development where they are capable of taking charge of their own destiny. However, the fact that a Confluence person may decide such issues for themselves does not imply that the same is true for people on lower stages of development. We have seen this again and again in people’s past-life memories in the Citadel. Invariably, the oldest memories are from other dimensions or simulations, and then people move on to Confluence lifetimes when they have developed sufficiently to handle the responsibility of magical capability. For the purposes here under consideration, non-Confluence people are like children in the sense that they may need protection from themselves.

  Support wave: This may be true but does not address our first point previously. Perhaps we can reach middle ground by sending Tatiana back to Father Andrei at present, but promising her that we will come to visit her soon, when she has had time to settle down in some way. If it feels right at that time, we can allow her to decide for herself. Also, she is awaiting a reply to her question.

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  Counterwave: Acknowledged.

  Orochi’s 5th head: We will return home, Tatiana. But when you have visited Father Andrei, we will return to you and help you find your way.

  Tatiana: Do you promise?

  Orochi’s 5th head: We promise. Here, take the Sword of Intellect. It belongs to the people of Diankoran.

  Erd author: The three other agents also gave Tatiana their artifacts.

  Tatiana: Ok. Thank you. See you later, then.

  Erd author: The mages of the Confluence collective watched over Tatiana on her way to Father Andrei. Chaos had engulfed the city of Dat, but Tatiana walked back the same way she had arrived and avoided all trouble. Back in the countryside, some peasants wondered what a young girl was doing all alone so far from her home, but those who tried to accost her found themselves getting very, very tired and had to take a nap right there on the ground. The mages did not watch Tatiana during her most private moments, however, and never looked into her mind, because there was no need to do so and she also obviously deserved some privacy.

  Orochi’s 1st head: Ok, Erd author, but what you’re saying now hasn’t happened yet. I suppose what you said is how it will go, but Tatiana just left. She has maybe reached the stairway by now.

  Erd author: The Erd author ignored the intrusive thoughts that seemed to haunt his mind more frequently these days. It was time to finish this novel or he would start getting unstable.

  Orochi’s 5th head: Poor Erd sim, he has no idea what is going on here. Just leave him alone, I don’t think he wants to talk with you.

  Erd author: Thanks. I appreciate it.

  Orochi’s 5th head: Um, yeah. Just hang in there. You don’t have to take any of this seriously.

  Erd author: Ok, great. The Erd author found himself thinking that this was getting just a bit too weird. And what would the readers think? Actually, he didn’t really imagine anyone would bother to read this peculiar thing. No one will publish something like this, and if I send it to them they will think I have gone insane. Better stick with your day job, boy. Finish this damn novel (if that’s what it is) and put it away in a drawer.

  Orochi’s 5th head: Right, you got it. Just relax, it’s nothing.

  Orochi’s 4th head: Well, mission accomplished. Time to go home?

  Orochi’s 6th head: Yeah, let’s get out of here.

  Erd author: The SC agents returned to the Confluence dimension.

  Petition wave in the Confluence collective: Welcome home! It is time for a celebration!

  Support wave: Sing for us! Then we will party.

  Orochi’s 1st head: Very well. What kinds of songs do you want?

  Confluence collective: Naughty ones!

  Orochi’s 1st head: Mm alright. I want some freaky shit tonight.

  Orochi’s 2nd head: Three more seconds ‘til I get naked.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: You should be horizontal now.

  Orochi’s 4th head: I’m finna show you what it’s bout.

  Orochi’s 5th head: I feel no shame I wanna do dirty things.

  Orochi’s 6th head: This what get my pussy wet.

  Orochi’s 7th head: Gorgeous, gorgeous girls who love to fuck with the world.

  Orochi’s 8th head: (exudes pride and happiness). Rub bitch rub.

  Erd author: Something stirred in the Confluence collective. It seemed like the singing had awakened some deep urge, hitherto dormant but now slumbering no more. Across the Confluence, blood flowed a little harder, wetness increased in mucocutaneous tissues, breathing deepened, eyes beamed.

  Confluence collective: Oooh we like it. Da capo!

  Orochi’s 1st head: Boy I’m open so wide / Put your tongue inside.

  Orochi’s 2nd head: He’s so pretty when he goes down on me.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: Pussy in his face while my ass on his chest (yeah, ah).

  Orochi’s 4th head: Can’t ignore my pussy when I’m sittin on your face.

  Orochi’s 5th head: Yeah, eat up the dish I taste like dessert.

  Orochi’s 6th head: Lick this pussy just like you should.

  Orochi’s 7th head: Come here so I can bust in ya mouth.

  Orochi’s 8th head: (exudes pride and happiness). Rub bitch rub.

  Erd author: Across the planet, people stopped whatever they had been doing and started paying attention to their bodies. Their minds were responding to the stimulus, their emotions were responding, their bodies were responding. Something was happening. People who were at home found their hands moving to their genitals, almost of their own accord, as if something else was taking control and they were just passengers along for the ride, enjoying the ride.

  Confluence collective: Give us more!

  Orochi’s 1st head: I can't stop lookin’ at my best friend’s ass.

  Orochi’s 2nd head: Your pussy is god and I love it.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: Just relax, throw your legs up in the sky.

  Orochi’s 4th head: I gave your girlfriend cunnilingus on my couch.

  Orochi’s 5th head: She’ll never eat the butt like me.

  Orochi’s 6th head: Ah, isn’t it delicious? Ah, so delicious.

  Orochi’s 7th head: Tastes like she might be the one.

  Orochi’s 8th head: (exudes pride and happiness). Rub bitch rub.

  Erd author: There were norms in the Confluence against sexual behavior in public, but the people who were in the streets or at work could no longer control themselves, or could no longer bother to try. Hands went south, moans and groans escaped their mouths, faces formed Duchenne smiles. People who would normally have felt ashamed to touch themselves where strangers could watch felt no such thing.

  Confluence collective: Umh! Again!

  Orochi’s 1st head: Want your dick soaked? Place it down my throat.

  Orochi’s 2nd head: Just put it in my mouth.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: Let’s do yoga on the bed, fuck me deep in the head.

  Orochi’s 4th head: Don’t go screaming if I blow you with a bang.

  Orochi’s 5th head: Jack it off, I’ma suck it clean.

  Orochi’s 6th head: And I like the way you taste.

  Orochi’s 7th head: I’ve got an appetite / So I’m keeping you up all night.

  Orochi’s 8th head: (exudes pride and happiness). Rub bitch rub.

  Erd author: While stroking and caressing and rubbing incessantly, eyes met across the room, across the hall, across the street. Acquaintances or strangers sought one another out, ripped into each other. It was unstoppable. Everybody felt it. Something was rising up from deep underground.

  Confluence collective: Don’t stop!

  Orochi’s 1st head: I got dirty wishes on my mind.

  Orochi’s 2nd head: I’m gonna tell you right now, they’re all I’m thinkin’ about.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: I’m a sex witch, fat pussy hex.

  Orochi’s 4th head: I don’t need a costume / ‘Cuz I’m already a freak.

  Orochi’s 5th head: Ooh I got the goodies.

  Orochi’s 6th head: You ain’t never had a girl crush? I’ll be your first one.

  Orochi’s 7th head: I’m tryna get dicked down tonight.

  Orochi’s 8th head: (exudes pride and happiness). Rub bitch rub.

  Erd author: People were fucking in the streets. There were orgies everywhere. Juices were flowing freely. Nothing would ever be the same again.

  Confluence collective: moremoremore…

  Orochi’s 1st head: He wanna see me in my birthday suit.

  Orochi’s 2nd head: Be the predator I’ll be the prey.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: Have me when you like.

  Orochi’s 4th head: All I wanna be is the one you control.

  Orochi’s 5th head: I want two boyfriends in my car / One in my ass one in my meow.

  Orochi’s 6th head: In between my cheeks, givin’ him my biggest assets (mmm).

  Orochi’s 7th head: Fulfill me up like a prophecy / Put the fear of god in me.

  Orochi’s 8th head: (exudes pride and happiness). Rub bitch rub.

  Erd author: The energy was intensifying to the point where everybody knew there was no turning back. The singularity, the climax, the godhead was approaching. The end was approaching. The beginning was approaching.

  Orochi’s 8th head: (exudes pride and happiness). Rub bitch rub.

  Orochi’s 7th head: I wanna fuck now.

  Orochi’s 6th head: Say goodbye to your mind now.

  Orochi’s 5th head: If I could see within my heart.

  Orochi’s 4th head: A love supreme, a love supreme.

  Orochi’s 3rd head: Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

  Orochi’s 2nd head: Ooh, heaven knows, heaven knows.

  Orochi’s 1st head: You’d have to stop the world just to stop the feeling.

  Erd author: Release came as a torrent of rain washing the land clean. It came as a fire cleansing the soul, burning away the corruption. It came as a wind scattering the dust and the foul air, sweeping away the old and bringing in the new. It came as a transformation of the earth, as a seed entering fertile ground. It came as the spirit of rebirth, of inspiration and connectivity and transcendence. In the moment of enlightenment, of annihilation, of transgression, of clarity and diamond purpose, nothing was left but the feeling of joy, peace, and love.

  Ykka Rogga: Welcome, friends!

  Raistlin Upadesa: It has been a long time. But now your real life is ready to begin!

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