Chapter 64: Layers
The Lord’s expression shifted, surprise evident in his eyes. "Max, why would you choose Earth over Coelus? The knowledge and resources there far surpass those of Earth. This decision is perplexing, to say the least."
"I don’t understand why you don’t see the reason, which is clear to me," I responded, frustration edging my tone.
But then anger surged within me, and I declared, "I refuse to be led by the nose any longer. You must explain to me why the cluster would experience starvation, or I won’t provide assistance, no matter what."
I had a feeling that he would make me help them even if I didn’t want to.
The Lord glanced briefly at Therion, who wore a somber expression, then shifted his gaze back to me and sighed. "Max, you may have already experienced some of it — the COVID, the global warming, an issue that Earth citizens perceive as their fault, and it’s half-true. The higher rates of mental and health problems, these are all interconnected."
With sadness in his eyes, he said, "Quantum Pathogen," and continued with visible disgust, "I told you before that The Zytherians are already making progress. They want to take over all the clusters, and they attacked our and the Ulthar’s cluster with an unpredictable pathogen."
I pressed further. If he was lying, maybe I could make him stumble, "Tell me... what is this Quantum Pathogen? What does it do?"
The Lord began to explain confidently, with his deep voice, "We haven’t precisely determined its effects. At the very beginning, it appeared to induce rapid and unpredictable quantum mutations in the genetic code of viruses, bacteria, and living organisms across the affected universe. It resulted in new, highly virulent strains of diseases and unpredictable changes in the behavior of various life forms."
"Our cluster’s civilizations lean heavily upon stable and predictable agricultural systems to feed their people. The pathogen disrupted crops and agricultural organisms, causing mutations that rendered some of them toxic or inedible."
"Until a couple of years ago, its influence stopped there. However, in recent times, it has extended its influence to non-living elements. Soil composition, water quality, and even atmospheric conditions changed."
"Currently, it affects the quantum structure of the entire universe", he concluded.