The Touch of Abundance

 

-Artwork by Shenjudongmandabanban-

It was as if the world itself were wrapped in song, Sihan embraced by the reverberations he helped give rise to. He and many others filled the space of hallowed temple walls with choir—the space returning their song back in earnest echo. White walls and black tiled roofs riddled the large expanse of the metal temple, with traditional wood carvings of his group's deity, Yaoshi, adorning every other row pillars within. The structure was a testament to an ancient devotion.

It all made Sihan feel so small, but a part of something greater. That greater purpose had called out to him years ago upon being welcomed into the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus after the death of his parents. He had always felt as if he were sleepwalking through life, drenched in the bureaucracy of his job at Xianzhou Luofu's research division. The floating world within a ship he existed on was a tiresome routine of overbearing structures and constricting order. All he cared for were his parents; all he worked for and existed for was for them. And once they had perished, he had nothing of worth to dedicate himself to.

At that point he realized he had never truly lived for himself. So much time had been wasted, time spent on a system that he felt didn't make enough of the time he had. He'd often look at long-lived species amongst the populous and grow envious of them and the time they had. He wished he could live as long as them, and that his parents could have as well. He often imagined all he could do with his extra time. But it was a pipedream. That was until he was approached by someone with a keen eye in his department.

Through them he was told of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, a group dedicated to the Aeon of Yaoshi, an entity that his society was vehemently against. They were a god not to be named essentially, directly opposed to the beliefs of The Hunt the Loufu followed. Sihan's world, as long as he had lived it, was very strict in its teaching on the path of Abundance being one of a cursed existence, and that the blessings of Yaoshi brought nothing but pain through eternal life. He knew of the fates of those who lived too long, the mara struck, a parasitic plant-like state taken on by living creatures who’d lived too long under the influence of the abundance. They were supposedly killed in mercy, said to have lost their minds to time. He also knew such fates apparently awaited the many long-lived species on the Loufu. They were often used as an example to explain why long life was not worth the journey, many of them having grown forlorn through their long existence.

Sihan couldn’t care less, though. All he could feel towards those who had lived long without much worry for disease or loss was jealousy. Which made him even more receptive to his co-worker whispering into his ear. He was told that Sanctus Medicus was in direct service to Yaoshi's will, away from the prying eyes of the Loufu. They were defiant in their worship, truly of the belief that even those who were mara struck were but ones who had been made closer to Yaoshi themself. He was promised a fate of eternal life in the comfort of Yaoshi's gaze should he consider joining.

For Sihan, it took not a second thought.

And so there he was, after years of rigorous practice and devotion to Yaoshi, earning a seat at this temple laboriously built in secret. He had earned his place at last, at the foot of Yaoshi. Today was the day he would be blessed.

Sihan couldn’t help but reminisce as the collective song stopped and silence fell upon the crowd of hundreds. The leader of their sect stepped forth onto the elevated platform before them all and began to speak, his voice carrying the sweetness of honey, as every word delivered comfort in their cause and what was to come. It didn’t matter if it were true or not. It rang true for them.

“The nurturer of all beings and the Aeon of paradise, Yaoshi welcomes you!"

The crowd remained silent, but one could feel the cheer spread through the room through the various smiles and agitated motions of the disciples.

"Ask with sentiment, and you shall receive. And we have. Yaoshi is the nurturer of the people, the god of peace. THEIR presence ensures the existence of life!"

Sihan began to sweat. It was really going to happen. At last!

"Just like us, Yaoshi cannot bear to see death and the pains of illness. That is why they have left it to us to seek refuge in them. They may not be able to reach us so easily, but we can reach out to them. And so we gather here today to do so once again. Several of our disciples here today have earned their way at Yaoshi's side."

After a few further niceties it was time. Sihan knew they would be called upon soon, their knees shaking in anticipation. He was not the first to be called up however. Another lucky individual stepping before his fellow people to drink of the elixir of Abundance used to gift followers passage to eternity. It was a simple process, all things considered. The man drank of it and was gripped by a powerful sensation. Before the very eyes of everyone, branches bearing golden leaves sprouted all around from his body, and he was ferried away by other members of the heads of Medicus once the process had finished.

Sihan thought the man’s face looked as if it were in a haze, eyes filled with gold staring off into what he assumed was a vast, vibrant reality before him. It must feel so overwhelming, he thought, to know you have all of existence before you. The man was quickly ferried away by some of the heads of Medicus, and it was time for the next to be chosen.

“Sihan.”

His eyes widened. It took him a moment to rise, time to process. It wasn’t until his name was called again that he finally stood up, fighting back an unsightly smirk. It was really happening.

He walked with great pace to the platform where the other man who had been blessed stood moments before. With few words he was handed the elixir. It felt warm in his hand. Popping the cap, the scent of it lingered distinctly amongst the damp, empty air of the temple. Earthy, woody scents filled his nostrils as he raised the vile to his lips. It was like taking in all of spring in one instance, a dew of life lingering upon his very soul as he drank to the last drop.

A warm fog quickly filled his mind shortly after, memories and thoughts disjointed. Amongst the chaos, there was a rush. A rush of euphoria as dazzling golden light filled his pupils. Through the chaos, he was drawn to that feeling, that lingering thread of gold that grew into a pathway before him. He began to walk it, heading towards a voice slowly rising in the distance.

"The flowers share their petals without care, waiting for their inevitable withering destiny. The birds fly high in song, moving toward their inevitable crash and death. The streams flow rapidly with life, in a direction where they inevitably run dry. I shall be the cure to the disease known as finality.”

Sihan’s blackened mindscape suddenly opened up, showing what looked like the cosmos itself surrounding him. He walked on air above the empty void, glimmering with stars and golden specks of light. He had been pulled into this world by the words from before that had surrounded him from all sides like the songs of his people. Except those words felt like actual truth, ones that there could be no doubt in. After all, he knew of the one who spoke to them.

“Yaoshi…”

They emerged, like a shining idol from the blackness of space. They were so large they literally consumed all sight in front of Sihan.

“Yaoshi?”

He was still in disbelief. To be before an actual Aeon, to have it speak to him was an honor few had ever had. Their presence was overwhelming, like a pleasant pressure was bearing down on their body like a more extreme form of gravity.

Sihan had heard descriptions of Yaoshi, but even they paled in comparison to what he saw before him. A giant figure covered in silken veils that looked neither fully man nor woman, but was elegant in shape, with six arms and very pale skin. Their hair resembled that of a magpie’s feather, and they possessed antlers resembling branches sprouting from their head. Slits of red beaded eyes with black sclera covered various parts of their body, most prominently the palms of their hands.

After what felt like ages spent admiring their form, Yaoshi spoke to Sihan once more. Only now in fragments, as if only the most important words were filtering through to his ears. His senses blocked out all else.

“Growth…”

Sihan understood. Yaoshi was communicating its mission of spreading life across the cosmos.

“Chosen…”

Yaoshi used one of their long fingers as they spoke to lift a large, red bead from inside a dark cut within their palm. They lowered it down towards him, the orb as big as his body.

Sihan understood. He had been chosen by Yaoshi for something of even greater importance than mere ascension into long life.

“Touch… Fill…”

Nothing more needed to be said; every inch of Sihan's being was soothed by the words of his Aeon. Approach the red bead, touch it, and embrace whatever was next. There was nothing more to it.

So he approached. So he touched it. So he was filled… filled by Yaoshi.

“AAAAAAAGGGGHHHNNNN!!!!”

Sihan shouted in both agony and bliss. His clothes were blown asunder, and his body trembled as if cut through by an earthquake across every limb. The very air surrounding him began to distort, the light refracting in multiple directions. The giant form of Yaoshi itself was wobbling within this distortion. Slowly sinking and drawing themselves into the reverberating field around Sihan, as if they were merging with it.

The barrier between human and Aeon was breaking down, Yaoshi forcing themself into the small, fragile man’s body. It was far too much for the man’s mind, the infinity of existence itself experienced by Yaoshi bearing down on it. Yet the man embraced it, his mind sweeping in and out of an endless sprawl of golden light and warmth. No matter the excruciating onslaught his body felt in that moment, the pleasures of abundance itself entering him were more than worth it.

“HYOOOOOOOOOOH~!!!”

Sihan’s wails turned to overwhelmed moans, all that could escape him being the celebration of life rooting itself within him. Within this embrace he no longer had to worry, no longer even think. All he needed to do was grow and spread this power to every reach of space. And to do so, they needed to be a gateway for their blessed Yaoshi to emerge.

The barrier shattered.

“GYAAAAHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

The human’s voice faded into a loud hum, light spilling from their eyes and mouth as their body overflowed upon Yaoshi’s full entry. It was like a chime ringing out, echoing in several directions at once. Golden light enveloped the space, spreading with the sound until Sihan’s mindscape was completely consumed.

“What! What is happening!?” shouted the medicus leader.

Back on the plane of reality, Sihan’s body was convulsing and stumbling upon the platform, golden light pouring out of every orifice. The humming sound from his mindscape spilled forth from his mouth and reverberated through the temple. While its intensity sent many in the congregation reeling, there was no doubt a soothing property to it that many were beginning to take to.

Before anyone could react much to the sudden display, Sihan’s body began to elongate in the torso. His belly stretched like taffy, slimming in its shape as it did towards a more androgynous form. His body struggled to keep its balance the longer it became and eventually stumbled to all fours, his frame still stretching and now widening as well. The tender shape of his torso was growing in size while the rest of him kept its shape, making his limbs and head look ill-fit for its form.

The first to follow in his torso’s growth were his hips and pelvis, pulsating like crazy as they burgeoned forth, desperate to match the still growing body they were attached to above. Everywhere his body grew became softer in its complexion, the pale color of Yaoshi’s skin painting itself onto his flesh.

The crowd of people who hadn’t started to run from the temple stood in awe at what was happening. As bizarre and horrific the process of Sihan’s growth looked, they could tell his body was enjoying it. His dick, growing alongside his lower frame, was at full mast, and jettisoning endless wads of thanks out from his warmed, churning balls. The spunk itself looked almost like nectar, doused in its own golden glow.

A sudden flurry of flexes rippled through Sihan’s transforming body, and his muscles softened. The stockiness of his frame was fading even further into androgyny, more feminine allure mixing with masculinity. One of the places most noticeable was in his ass, both cheeks enlarging and creating a firmer, lifted shape. They kicked as they expanded, one of the cheeks even hitting the leader of Medicus, who was now trapped behind the growing body. Once knocked to the ground, though, he saw an opening and crawled under the now 15-foot body, ripped clothing raining down on him as he made his way off the stage. Once he had some distance, the leader turned back to look.

Just as it appeared Sihan’s limbs might buckle under the new weight and size of his inner body, they were finally blessed with their own growth. Arms and legs stretched unnaturally, the joints bending at awkward angles as bones broke and reformed. Slender slopes emerged on the lengthening limb, filled by Yaoshi’s elegance.

Through the horror, something beautiful was clearly emerging, and it was that beauty that was keeping so many still to stare at the unfolding transformation. The only explanation to them was that this was some gift bestowed by Yaoshi. And judging by the song-like wails and violent, neverending release from Sihan’s cock, it was a transcendental gift.

One after another, his arms, then his legs, shot out with tremendous length. The fingers on Sihan’s hands became more spindly and elegant, nails growing longer and sharp. In the throes of their growth, they dug into the metal surface of the temple and dragged streaks across the floor. The nails on the man’s foot did the same as his large feet kicked behind him.

At last it had seemed Sihan’s body had achieved some relative balance, everything properly proportioned to each other. However, his limbs wouldn’t let up, and soon enough they were out-pacing the growth of the rest of his body. To everyone's surprise, the man’s growth was not over, even after taking up the entirety of the temple’s large platform. His arms seized as they swelled in girth and further length, shooting out several feet with each expansion. As they did, they went careening into the seating areas of the temple, sending onlookers scattering. They were as heavy as massive logs, knocking away anything in their path.

While more of the congregation fled from the latest development, the most devout stayed, determined to see the entire process through. They neatly wedged themselves between the massive, flailing arms. Each one was stretched at least 40 feet and far too heavy for Sihan’s current body to lift.

Back inside the mindspace of Sihan, all that had once actualized as himself had been completely consumed by a bright light. His self-actualized form was a gold silhouette undulating in chaos upon its edges while growing in size. Bigger and more defined it became as it rapidly rose to the height and splendor of the Aeon that had stood before it but moments ago. Just like in reality, more arms sprouted forth, nails grew sharper, and hands longer. A slenderness befell his form, its shape no longer adhering to one specific sex.

For what sliver remained of Sihan within the endless noise of abundance, he could do nothing but moan in bliss as his mind was washed away for good. It may as well have felt like he had ascended into pure energy, a mere speck that was the building block of what made Yaoshi Yaoshi. His body was the shell that his Aeon could wear—there was no need for his trivial human thoughts. So he fell into slumber, knowing his job was done.

Out in reality, this crumbling into acceptance by the body’s original host caused a ripple effect. Sihan’s body, their dick, trembled in bliss as if feeling a last, thunderous orgasm. The dick, which had remained of similar size much of the time to the body, suddenly underwent an obscene growth spurt. It elongated 5 feet further and fattened up, veins pulsating at a maddening pace. It was backed up like a clogged pipe, the shaft rumbling and allowing only a faint trickle out at the tip.

With the growth of the cock came further growth in the body, the torso elongating even further towards the proper portion with the limbs attached. It was starting to become cramped for the transforming form of Sihan, the large, expansive hall having no chance to contain him should he stand up. The body simply hunched over, having devoured almost all sight of the ceiling above the onlookers, a deep, dark shadow cast upon them all. And yet it still grew.

The Medicus leader and other onlookers gawked at the sight. They wondered what further blessings could still await this body. To see such primal joy being experienced through the cock, and the sheer size of it now—it was the pure personification of both might and arousal. Some couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the thought of experiencing the same fate. The Medicus leader, though, was more fascinated by what the vocalization coming forth from the changed man’s mouth meant. It was light, yet sonorous, seemingly indecipherable. However, he could hear the gradual formation of human speech the longer the transformation went on.

“OOOOOOUUURTOOOOORRRRAAAAALLLOOOOOO.”

Nurture all. That is what the leader thought it said. The idea then stirred within him that this could possibly be Yaoshi themself trying to speak through one of their faithful. If that was the case, this was a glorious occasion! It’d make sense that no mere human form could channel the words of an Aeon after all.

“OOOOOOROOOOOWWWOOOOOOOOFIIIIIILLLLL.”

Yes, that had to be the case, he thought. He was witnessing the emergence of an Aeon before his very eyes. A smile of child-like joy crossed his face. All the sacrifice and toiling away towards his cause, for which he was shunned so often by the world, had paid off. He was finally going to meet his Aeon!

SPLUUUUUURTT!!!!

In the blink of an eye, the cork popped on the emerging Aeon’s cock, the last testament to Sihan’s mortality emptying itself of all its worth as his ego inside experienced euphoric death. A flood of golden nectar rushed out of the bloated, 10-foot rod. The congregation and its leader were quickly swept beneath the raging river.

Shouts of fear rang out but were masked under the echoes of the all-encompassing wails from the Aeon who had released the last of its humanity. Many members of the congregation crashed into the walls of the temple, while others hung on to the pews rolling along the river of nectar like rafts. Mercifully the rapids subsided quickly, everyone gasping for breath and trying to find their way to their feet. They were all drenched, many of them tasting the expelled nectar on their tongues. It was sweet to the taste and warm on the skin, pleasant in spite of the sudden terror moments ago.

The Medicus leader gazed upon his soaked flock, feeling the warmth upon his own skin as well, a warmth that seemed to permeate even beneath the skin, deep down to his bones. He felt shame over it, but he was even growing erect. Was this the love of his Aeon he was feeling?

He looked back towards the Aeon, still moaning in bliss. The cock that had nearly drowned them all was now gone, leaving only a smooth, almost porcelain-looking expanse between the legs. It only made sense: Yaoshi was a being that transcended sex. They were the potential of abundance without the need for reproduction or human desires. Oh if he could only feel the clarity of such a being.

“W-Wuuh? Uhn. Oooh…”

He grew weak suddenly, nearly falling to his knees. His dick began to cum desperately, racing to empty his balls, a gentle voice in the back of his mind whispering that it was of no need. He gazed around at his congregation, curious as to whether others were experiencing the same building bliss. What he saw was a mix of shock, discomfort, and joy. Several were clutching their heads, hunching over as if succumbing to great pain. The others huffed and moaned, confused smiles plastering their faces as they experienced immense pleasure.

Suddenly, another burst of warmth traversed his body, and the medicus leader nearly passed out. He kept his eyes from rolling into the back of his head, trying his best to focus on his Aeon towering above him. They were surely over 100 feet tall now, their backside grazing the ceiling of the large temple, knocking rubble to the floor below. It seemed as if they had stopped growing, but their transformation was not finished.

“GIIIIIIIIVE IIIIIINNNN.”

The colossus spoke to their followers, their words causing every member to tremble as if they could feel the words of their Aeon existing as an instinct within themselves, permeating their minds like lost memories resurfacing.

A smile crossed the Aeon’s face as their still masculine face finally began to change. Their jaw sharpened and nose slimmed, eyes becoming sharper and more alluring. A greater air of femininity molded itself onto their face, yet it did not leave all masculinity behind. Like the rest of their body, it was now something removed from either gender, a blend of the two, face framed beautifully by the cascading, pale blonde hair that began growing past each cheek.

“GIIIIIIIIVE IIIIIINNNN.”

The medicus leader moaned in agony, the pleasure ever intensifying. He could feel his body slimming and his dick receding along with his balls. Encouraging words continued to ring out within his head, telling him this was okay, telling him that this was the love he had earned. He knew it was his Aeon speaking to him, so how could he not view such words as the truth?

So he let it happen. He let his Aeon’s love continue to enter him, to take over.

“GIIIIIIIIVE IIIIIINNNN. ROOOOOOOOOAAAAHHH!!”

The Aeon wailed after delivering yet another command, their body shaking once more, gripped by change. Giant nubs under their armpits and on their upper back began to thrash about and grow until hands tore free from them as if from a cocoon. New arms grew from the wounds, long and slender like the originals, with nails as long and sharp as claws. They crashed into the walls of the temple for support, causing the entire structure to quake. The Aeon Yaoshi now possessed all of their 6 arms, their emergence nearly complete.

“GIIIIIIIIVE IIIIIINNNN…. TOOOO ABUUUUNDAAAAANCEEEE!!”

This command sent all the afflicted congregation reeling, including the medicus leader who was now falling into a blinding haze of ecstasy. Before his vision succumbed to the blinding glow of euphoria brought upon by the Aeon’s energy flowing through him, however, he gave one last look upon his flock. It was then he made a final observation. Those wracked with pain were sprouting golden flowers while their bodies degenerated into more monstrous forms. All indicative of the mara struck. The others, such as himself though, were growing more lithe and androgynous, with humps that would soon bear more arms also emerging. They were becoming lesser beings built in their Aeon’s image. All those blessed to be one with their Aeon were those who had undergone the ritual.

Within the fading light of his own mind, as he sunk into the vast, overwhelming gold of his Aeon, he felt a twinge of guilt that he could not bless all of his congregation with the same fate as his own. But then again, perhaps their fate too was ultimately abundance given form. Anyone touched by Yaoshi would become a testament to eternal life. Who were they to question the nature of it? To belong to abundance in its interior, was always their goal.

All at once, the leader’s mind was snuffed out alongside his congregation, both mara struck and Aeon blessed crying out alongside Yaoshi. The blessed had their minds fuse with the essence of Yaoshi themself; individuality was no longer needed. Yaoshi themself was Abundance in its purest form, the means of gifting all those who sought it.

The blonde hair of the giant Aeon spilled onto the floor of the temple like water, snaking around the many smaller Yaoshis finishing their transformation, as well as the many mara struck individuals groaning like beasts. The poisoned ones’ eyes were sunken, their bodies almost like rotting tree bark. Yet beautiful golden life still sprouted from their forms as flowers, abundance persisting on.

Yaoshi had finally been given flesh, yet their body was still unfinished. The last of their changes came as their consciousness fully awakened within their new form. All the little Yaoshis too experienced the last of their changes in harmony with their Aeon. Glowing, ragged deer horns sprouted from their heads. The longer they grew, the more they twisted unnaturally into that of tree branches, with the occasional white flower blooming along their length. Long cuts appeared all over the limbs of the Yaoshis, opening wider in several spots to reveal red marble eyes. Three more slits, lined up vertically, appeared on their flat chests as well. The opening of these scars felt like a final release for Yaoshi, their wails subsiding as they rose to a more relaxed posture on their knees, their horns crashing through the ceiling of the temple. As they pushed themself upwards, some of their hands also shattered the large windows. The beautiful temple built towards the worship of them was now destroyed, having served its purpose as the womb for Yaoshi’s creation.

The many Yaoshis filling the room all calmed down, with the same content look on each of their faces. Even the mara struck seemed to quiet down over time, even their warped hearts somehow finding a sliver of harmony in the moment. Every being in the temple stood before the presence of the Aeon of Abundance with nothing but joy directed at them, their creator.

They watched in silence as a glowing prism materialized above Yaoshi’s head. It radiated the same golden glow as the nectar that had changed them. It was a small reminder of their illuminating power and its source of long life for everything it touched. Even Yaoshi’s branch-like horns began to glow with the same soft fervor.

Suddenly, the temple shook yet again. Everywhere Yaioshi’s hands were touching, roots began to sprout. They grew to colossal sizes, eventually twisting out like vines that wrapped around the temple inside and out. At the same time, a golden reef of wheat formed from air behind Yaoshi’s head, creating a halo shape behind them. It was a symbol of the abundance they were destined to bring.

Outside the temple, nearby onlookers who had witnessed the destruction and booming sounds of falling rubble all gathered near the entrance. They were quick to flee, though, once Yaoshi’s massive form burst through the roof completely, sending the walls of the temple tumbling down. From the billows of smoke that were sent out from the collapse came the mara struck, driven by madness to chase down the fleeing folk.

Despite the fear of the masses playing out beneath them, Yaoshi simply held firm with their soft, wide smile. The prism floating above them began to shine even brighter, as if their immense power were churning in preparation for something.

“Rejoice,” Yaoshi said, their voice carrying a wide resonance, drawing the attention of many who resided in the even farther quarters of the Luofu. “I have reached you all from across the boundless oceans.”

Their words carried sincerity in them—no doubt their love for the small beings before them was genuine. And they showed that love through sending streams of golden beams out from the prism above their head. It scanned across the down, slicing anyone it touched with the warmth of the Abundance. New mara stuck and small Yaoshi-blessed bodies began to emerge at seemingly random, regardless of whether the individual took part in any Medicus ritual. Their blessing had become more refined now, given better shape within this physical body than any outlier influence from across the stars could manage.

All that dictated the form now was what lay in the hearts of those blessed. If one embraced the call of abundance with all their being, they were given blessed forms. If one were weary of walking the path, they would not be left behind either, given bodies devoid of doubt but still able to live in abundance. This was the proper course towards Yaoshi’s ideal.

Slowly but surely, screams and moans danced a waltz across the expanse of the Luofu, every citizen meeting the golden touch of the great Aeon. Little it mattered, but Yaoshi continued to drip words of encouragement towards the beings beneath them.

“May you give up your burdens, be removed from the cycle of being, and set yourself free from suffering.”

Abundance was now free to spread its roots across every corner of the universe.