Chapter 5: The Path Humanity Must Take
After the descent of the Star Father, the entire Starbestowed Tribe erupted in fervent faith. Primitive humans, now equipped with language and skills, as well as devotion to the Star Father, began to expand relentlessly, spreading his worship across nearly the entire supercontinent.
“The Star Father once said, the land beneath our feet is called the Firmament. Born of the same continent, we all ought to honor the Star Father!”
The day of the Star Father’s descent was established as the Day of Divine Arrival, for among the knowledge imparted by the Priest was the division of time itself.
The human leader, Ancestor Zu, decreed that the day of the Divine Arrival would be the first day of the first year of the Firmament Calendar—henceforth, every New Year’s Day would be celebrated as the Festival of the Star Vault.
It was on this day, when the unique galactic river of the Firmament Star appeared, that the faithful would gather for night prayers, seeking the Star Father’s guidance, protection, and blessing.
As for the galactic river itself, it was, of course, the celestial display crafted by Shen Xing upon his descent. Since humanity regarded these stars as his blessings and signs, he did not mind arranging his spectral avatars into formation each year.
Thanks to the knowledge bestowed by Shen Xing, it took only several millennia for primitive humans to enter the Neolithic era.
With the passing of Ancestor Zu, the once-unified human tribes began to fracture. Countless new ideas arose, and humanity soon embarked on a path it was destined to travel: war.
Humanity’s foes shifted from the forces of nature to their fellow man, and conflicts of various scales erupted among the tribes.
Yet Shen Xing did not intervene. This was the inevitable course of human history, the catalyst for civilization’s growth.
Only through struggle could humanity break the old order and forge new systems.
Though Shen Xing had created the humans of the Firmament, he would not overly interfere in their development. They could not become hothouse flowers, sheltered from adversity.
All that was necessary to experience, they must experience. Shen Xing was not a caretaker of civilization, but a deity observing from on high.
Only the victorious would continue to grow.
In the century that followed, society advanced rapidly. Guided by the knowledge tablets left by Ancestor Zu, humanity leapt into the Bronze Age.
Society divided into three great nations, each ruled by centralized authority.
Their names were Starbestowed, Starvault, and Stargrace.
—
The Nation of Starvault
Located in the eastern region of the supercontinent, with fertile soil and proximity to the sea, the Starvault Tribe established their nation here a century ago, giving rise to the most prosperous society on the continent.
Year 3111 of the Firmament Calendar, the Day of Divine Arrival
The entire nation of Starvault rejoiced together, awaiting the descent of the galactic river and preparing for a night of prayer beneath the stars.
The King of Starvault, Rockpeak, was at that moment kneeling in devout worship before the Star Father’s temple, surrounded by countless offerings laid before the statue.
After the ceremony, Rockpeak rose slowly, murmuring, “May the Star Father above watch over us.”
He turned to the respectful assembly behind him and spoke solemnly:
“The Star Father is merciful—he bestowed upon humanity the spark of civilization. Our ancestors of the Starvault Tribe founded this nation here, raising it from nothing with the toil of countless generations.
“In recent years, the nation of Starbestowed has repeatedly invaded our borders. Our people suffer endlessly—some even seized to serve as slaves.
“We have endured and endured, but now, on this Day of Divine Arrival, how can I stand silent before the Star Father, watching our people endure the horrors of war?
“We are all children of the Star Father. The nation of Starbestowed claims descent from the Ancestor, yet they have forsaken the guidance of the Star Father, plunging this land into the flames of war!”
When he finished, Rockpeak led the way out of the temple. Once outside, he drew his bronze sword and pointed it toward the nation of Starbestowed.
“With the Star Father’s blessing, today we march straight for the capital of Starbestowed!”
That night, as the galactic river faded from the sky, the warriors of Starvault prayed earnestly to the Star Father. Then, with purpose in their hearts, they marched westward to war.
—
Shen Xing watched the conflict unfold below him. Warfare in the Bronze Age had achieved a certain scale; the fields would soon be awash in blood.
“The Star Father is above! Charge with me!”
Rockpeak cried, raising his arm, then led his warriors toward the capital of Starbestowed.
Inspired by their leader, the warriors shouted in unison,
“The Star Father is above!”
“The Star Father is above!”
“The Star Father is above!”
Unflinching in the face of death, they charged with reddened eyes and furious roars.
In war, victory is decided by more than numbers—it is morale and unwavering faith that tip the scales.
Without question, fortune favored Starvault. In just a few hours, the defenses of Starbestowed collapsed. The warriors of Starvault stormed the capital, fighting their way into the royal palace itself.
Rockpeak drew his bronze sword and pressed it to the king’s neck.
—
“It is over, Thundercloud.”
Thundercloud paid him no heed. His face was etched with desolation, his gaze lifting slowly, empty and defeated, to the heavens as he murmured in despair,
“Star Father, are we not your children? Are we not the faithful upon whom your blessings rest?”
Shen Xing, of course, witnessed all this and heard Thundercloud’s desperate question.
To him, it was a trivial matter—Thundercloud was but one among the masses. In truth, Shen Xing had watched everything unfold since the founding of the Starbestowed nation.
Faith in Starbestowed had grown thin. Even the king no longer visited the Star Father’s temple, and the rot among the nobility displeased Shen Xing deeply. Even the priests in the temple grew increasingly irreverent.
Perhaps it was his own thoughts influencing him, but Shen Xing could not abide any weakening of the Firmament Humans’ devotion.
“It seems I have grown somewhat selfish myself.”
Shen Xing laughed self-mockingly, then waved his hand. A bolt of lightning split the palace roof asunder, scattering stones across the floor—several striking Thundercloud’s head.
Blood began to seep from Thundercloud’s brow, his face twisted and wild.
“How dare you utter such blasphemy! You have defied the divine!”
Shen Xing himself was unbothered, but Rockpeak’s eyes blazed with fury at the words and the lightning—a sign, he was sure, of the Star Father’s wrath. With a single stroke, Rockpeak severed Thundercloud’s head, then raised it high and roared to his warriors,
“Blasphemer! Hang his head above the city gate for three days, then cast it into the sea!”
On the Firmament Star, it was customary to bury the dead. Casting a body into the sea was a mark of utmost contempt—the harshest punishment imaginable.
As Thundercloud’s remains were so defiled, all who were kin to him in Starbestowed were wild with grief and rage, venting their powerless fury.
“People! The Star Father has abandoned us! He is no longer worthy of our faith!”
Thundercloud’s brother broke free from the guards’ hold, shouting as he ran for the gates—only to be cut down by a Starvault blade.
“People! The Star Father has abandoned us! He is no longer worthy of our faith!”
After her husband’s death, Thundercloud’s wife also cried out as she tried to flee, but was likewise beheaded.
Thundercloud’s kin continued to spread words of blasphemy, driving Rockpeak into a lion’s rage. He began a search for every remaining relative of Thundercloud within the city, determined to purge every last blasphemer.