He concentrated his energy facilities and spiraled them to full power, sucking the last quantum of pure energy from every available atom, even stripping binding energy, and poured it all into his utilization of the two dimensions. Dalen was a young god and a strong god, and it was utterly inconceivable that any god could stand up against that enormous combination of power.

By now the entire IV Universe knew that he and Mogar were fighting it out. Tightness pervaded Dalen’s thought-force which was flung out along the edge of the galaxy. The mighty power of the two dimensions swirled together and lashed out across the interstellar void, gathering momentum as it traveled in ever-increasing spurts.

Perhaps the very first tongue of this energy touched Mogar, when unexpectedly his chuckle⁠—a little forced, it seemed to Dalen⁠—rolled back across the void. He said, as if amused:

“Where do you propose to hold this experiment?”

Dalen relaxed gratefully and allowed the controls to ease from his mind-centers. So Mogar had enough. Mogar had backed down. Only an old god of long seniority could do that without losing face, and also, Dalen understood, that was Mogar’s only way out. Dalen knew now that he would have broken through, and in a way he wished he had. It would have eliminated Mogar’s future unofficial opposition. But Mogar had chosen to break the deadlock, and that was Mogar’s right, so Dalen accepted the gesture.

“I intend to develop a new solar system, to be known as the XXXVI , out on the fringe of the galaxy, and attached for administrative purposes to my home Constellation Hercules. I will choose one of those planets, sire, to be populated.”

Mogar snorted so loudly it could be heard in the VIII Galaxy. “It will take you two billion years to get a biped. I say give the planet a shower of