Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

If you are reading this, it means either I have failed, or calamity is upon us once again. Regardless, this book contains some of my past experiences and advice. I hope it is of use to you.

1. Understand why you want to save the world. Is there someone you’re trying to protect? Or something? Both? Whatever it is, keep it in your heart at all times.

2. Understand that the world is bound to end. Accept this, and then reject it.

3. Understand why the world is ending. This may take both time and research, especially if your discovery of the apocalypse is unexpected and confusing. Nevertheless, you can use that confusion to your advantage. Where did you make the initial discovery? Why are your calculations seemingly off? 

4. Research the esoteric, the cyclical, and the forgotten. An apocalypse is not dissimilar to the fall of an empire, just on a larger scale. See what those before you have attempted in order to preserve what is dear to them, and learn from their mistakes. If you’re reading this, then you’re already part of the way there.

5. Get help, if possible. Most people will not understand the severity of the situation, nor the true depths of the abyss, but worry not about such things. Everyone will be saved in the end regardless.

        a. As an aside, minimize danger to yourself and others as much as possible if disaster is not imminent. Risks should be calculated and generally discouraged. Even if desperate acts have gotten results before, they may not in the future. 

6. Appreciate who you have. Do not forget who you have lost. Remember if you do not act then you will lose more than you already have.

7. At this point, you will hopefully have enough information to begin formulating a plan. Take into account your resources, any roadblocks, and the amount of time you have left. 

        a. If the apocalypse is rapidly approaching, feel free to place bets on calculated high-risk high-reward actions since you’ll have limited time to plan and execute more balanced long-term strategies.

        b. If the apocalypse is a ways off, create plans and structures that can be carried out in your absence. This is generally advisable regardless of timeframe, but the more time you have, the larger of a scale you can work on. If you have anyone you trust completely, ensure they know the full extent of your operations so they can act in your place if necessary. 

        c. If you’ve uncovered any (or several) secrets about the nature of existence, consider incorporating them into your plan. 

8. If it’s advantageous to you at this stage, disregard your humanity. Ideally, this will help you avoid the constraints of mortality, and grant you powers usually only attainable to gods. 

        a. If this fails, you will hopefully have created failsafes. It’s not like this is your first brush with death, nor with transcending humanity.

        b. Trust that it will be worth it in the end. 

        c. Trust that it was not all for nothing. 

        d. Trust that it’ll work out.

        e. Trust in

Chapter Text

1. Don’t panic, even if it’s really easy to.

2. Don’t panic.

3. If you are trying to create a god from scratch, I cannot help you. If you have no prior knowledge regarding the esoteric, nor prior experience with transcending the human form (successful or unsuccessful), I cannot help. Look elsewhere, or don’t look at all.

4. If you have failed to make a god, or you know someone who has failed to become a god, you will   have to attain that position yourself. 

5. Creating humans from nothing is sin. Creating humans using human knowledge can only be achieved by gods. Creating a god, then, is an act of godhood in and of itself. 

6. Humanity, neohumanism, divinity, and transcendence are not the same. I hope you know this. 

7. Don’t let it stop you. 

8. Don’t look back. 

9. Don’t worry if this is blasphemous. 

            The heavens don’t matter right now -- it’s technically their fault, anyways

10. Don’t worry if this would be blasphemous to him. 

          If he’s gone, then that won’t matter either

11. Even if He was always the one working miracles. Just… consider it repaying the favor.

          Would it even be a proper repayment?

          Can you even repay that?

12. Don’t worry if this is blasphemous. If you don't have a god yet there's no point in following the doctrine of a being who cannot answer your cries.

            Even if you got a response when you cried before

            Even if it was simpler then

13. There’s no point in dwelling on illusions.

14. Remember that if this fails it will all have been for nothing.

15. Do not worry if it is folly to restore what was lost.

          The nature of this world is loss, and that never stopped the two of you from attempting to defy that, did it? 

16. It is not lost. It is not lost yet.

          Don’t stop now, of all times.

17. An act of preservation no matter what is just following his doctrine to the letter.

18. Remember that if this fails it will have all been for nothing.

19. You cannot live with nothing

20. You can rebuild from loss

      You can. 

      You can!

      Right?

21. Right.

22. Get something dearest to both of you

23. Ideally, something emblematic of your ideals

24. Ideally, something you will miss

      Something you already miss

25. Use it as your his the cornerstone.

26. Don’t forget your notes! You can’t have come here completely unprepared, right?

27. To create a god requires acute knowledge of the esoteric. Your memory should be good enough to remember it, right?

          He always had the better memory

          And the keener eye for detail

28. Remember that creating a god requires two steps: Body and mind.

29. Remember that a newborn god is actually remarkably fragile

30. Please do not curse him out for being a fool and giving himself away like that

31. Please do not give up if you fail the first time. 

      You will fail the first time.

32. It’s ok if he says nothing at first. You can always try again.

      His voice is still in your memory anyways.

33. Remember: It is ok to disregard doctrine if your end goal is achieved

34. Remember: Lies are the foundation upon which truth is created

35. Remember: Please remember.

      Please,
                  please remember.

36. Creating a god is hard. It is not a matter of skill, but a matter of perseverance 

37. Do not forget other failed experiments 

38. Do not forget to learn from your mistakes

39. Do not forget

40. Do not forget

      Do not forget

41. Do not forget

42. Please don’t forget.

43. Please.

44. Please.

      Please.

45. Please

46. Please

      please

      Please

      please

47. please

      please

      please

48. pray.

49.

50. 

51.

52. 

53. do you remember how it felt when you were younger?

54. when devastation and tragedy were your closest companions?

55. before you were introduced to Him by those aforementioned mutual friends.

56. with Him at your side instead, you felt like it might be possible to live without them. 

57. even though they’d been your only constants in life.

58. maybe He could be a new constant, to take their place?

59. holding His hand was 

        a. Gentle?

        b. Safe?

        c. Comforting?

        d. Sacred?

60. It was everything.

61. it sheltered you from the flashing lights

62. it led you away from the raining bombshells

63. away from the echoing steel

64. from the rising tides

65. from the biting sand

66. from the end of the world itself

      and into the mouth of a beast

67. you did not hold His hand when your forsook your humanity

        a. maybe you should have.

68. no matter how many times He called you an idiot

69. you know He

70. Appreciated it?

71.

72. He made you into something else

73. not quite a God

74. (Not yet)

75. but close enough

it takes a god to rebuild a God

so if you must be a god,

(even if you always thought of yourself as more of a messenger)

(someone whose sole duty was to remember Him)

Then you will be a God.

Even if it is blasphemy

To place yourself higher than Him.

76. Resume where you last left off

77. Do not worry about any water stains on the documents 

            Why are you still writing?

            The audience is long gone.

            Stick to logs, next time.

            At least that way, you won’t mess up any more of His…

78. Do not forget to place your sacred item at the epicenter of your God’s world

79. Remember to follow the instructions

80. Do not forget the orthants

81. Repeat as many times as you need. You will have more than enough time in the new world. It’s not like you can die, anyways.

82. Once you have successfully stabilized both body and mind, do not forget to destroy any documents that may not align with the memories

            Does that include this one?

            At this rate… In such bad condition, I don’t know if it’d even…

83. Let Him think the process was a complete success. Do not leave Him any room to believe in failure.

84. Do not be disappointed when you look into His eyes and do not see Him. It is still better than nothing. It is still close enough. 

85. You will meet again in the new universe and the sea of tranquility.