Alex was quite surprised that one of the most asked questions, how the universe came to be, had already been answered. But despite his surprise, he wasn''t too fazed by this information.


    He was just asking this question to satisfy his general curiosity.


    Besides, with the integration of the System and the Primordial Expanse into the livelihood of everybody in the universe, people were asking questions more profound than things like ''How did the universe start?'', since they were far more interested in the System, which seemed like it had real intelligence behind it.


    Many races actually revered it as a god, even some of the most advanced races in the universe, technologically speaking.


    This wasn''t too farfetched either, since the System really was like a god, and it was basically the only real, solid evidence out there to prove the existence of a god like being lording over the universe and beyond.


    Though, the question of whether the System actually was its own being had still yet to be answered.


    To Alex, with the System at the top of the food chain, practically lording over all of existence, the mere idea that there were people or beings out there whobelled themselves as ''gods'' despite how much power they may hold, was ridiculous.


    While the definition of god differed across races and cultures, it still generally boiled down to one simr concept: an omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient – all the omni''s, basically – being.


    With this definition in y, if the System imed to be the second strongest in all of existence, then nobody had the right to im first ce.


    Hence, the idea that there were ''gods'' running around somewhere in the universe, or the Primordial Expanse, wasughable to Alex. In fact, he wondered why the System hadn''t done anything to these beings yet, since they were practically guilty of stolen valor.


    Though, that was none of his business. Perhaps the System saw them as just the same as all the other unending amounts of sentient beings in existence, since Alex had no doubts that they would be just as weak and vulnerable to the System''s power as everyone else, should it suddenly decide to turn on everyone one day.


    ''Maybe… Maybe the system tolerates them because it isn''t actually all powerful, like implied!''


    The thought stuck to Alex''s mind like glue the moment it came to fruition, but he was too afraid to let it leave his mind.


    Leaving aside whether it really was all powerful or not, the fact that the System was always watching and listening was still very real. Alex didn''t know what the system would do if he began to question the nature of its existence.


    It had already shown that it was willing to mess with him for the fun of it in the past, so Alex wasn''t willing to test his luck by tempting the System''s bottom line.


    ''But… maybe the system tolerates these ''gods'' because they really might have some amount of power, no matter how small, to resist it…?''


    The thoughts were extremely addictive.


    Still, despite his scepticism and fear, Alex couldn''t help but feel a sliver of intrigue whenever the concept of ''gods'' popped up.


    Not because he believed they existed in the traditional sense like the ancient religions described, but because in a universe so vast and chaotic,bels like god, legend, or myth were often just ceholders for the unexinable.


    Andtely, there had been a lot of things he couldn''t exin.


    The System, for one.


    Then there was Mikhail.


    The legendary smith whose very existence had been almost wiped out from the cultural memory of the Primordial Expanse.


    Then there were these beings who silenced Mikhail, the ''gods'' who hunted him for his strength.


    Mikhail wasn''t just impressive – he was borderline sacrilegious.


    And yet, here Alex was. Hunting down this very smith''s forge in hopes that it held the answers he was looking for – even though he didn''t know what they were either…


    He didn''t have any answers for these unknowns, yet, but he was getting closer.


    Step by step.


    ''Well, whatever. All of this is beyond me right now.''


    Alex shrugged the thoughts off.


    ***


    Alex rxed his posture as he stood in the middle of the Grand Cartographer''s chamber, staring at the projections of the conve staring back at him.


    "So, what''s your point by showing me this?" He asked with knitted brows as he eyed the projection of the universe surrounding them all.


    One of the elder Sri, stepped forward in their projection, as they didn''t seem too happy with Alex''s nonchnce towards them.


    "Our point." the elder spoke in a tone devoid of patience.


    "Is to remind you of scale."


    The projection zoomed out.


    Stars copsed into spirals, gxies into mere specs beyond even Alex''s eyesight at this point.


    Still, at the centre of it all stood that bright shining dot that seemed to stay the same size despite the scale being increased even further.


    "The centre of the universe." Alex stated, looking at that bright light once more.


    "What''s so special about it? Why do all the powerful civilisations seem to vie for control of territories surrounding it, or snatching a part of the main gxy itself? What''s the point of it all?"


    The elder sri''s projection remained silent for a long moment, letting Alex''s words echo across the chamber before dying out like a fart in the wind.


    Then, finally, he spoke again, this time much calmer.


    "It''s not about power." The elder said. "Well… not in the way you''re thinking."


    "The truth is… there''s nothing special about the ce." The elder suddenly revealed, suppressing his awkwardness from showing on his face.


    ''Huh?''


    "What?" Alex blurted.


    "It isn''t the centre of the universe that is valuable in some way to everyone. It''s the proximity to other strong beings." The elder exined, looking exasperated by this point.


    "Ah." Alex instinctively let out.


    ''Is the answer… really that simple?''


    Alex wasn''t stupid, he knew all too well how sinister the System was with its rules.


    The logic of those fighting for a spot in the centre was sound when taking that into consideration.


    Killing those of their own race was useless in improving their strength, so they naturally had to turn to those of other races as a source to increase their power.


    And where was better than a ce where all of the strongest beings congregated?