I spent almost a century slowly adjusting the mana in the universe. I chose to make mana an energy source, which would automatically recycle after use, and freely flow throughout the world. I then because to create areas and objects that naturally collected more mana than others. These would be mana blessed areas, such as creating a small seedling in the Elves' forest, for a tree that would have incredible mana collecting abilities.
Yggdrasil. The World Tree.
While Elves were still unaware, I sent a vision down to one of the elves nearby the seedling, and made sure they took care of the plant. Once they collected the tree, and planted it in the middle of their village, I began to work on the anatomy of Elves. I created the mana pathways inside the creatures, allowing some to be gifted in mana, and some weaker potential.
True equality was the killer of evolution. I made some to be made for being a mage, and others would have more impressive physiques. This would play into my System later, when I started working on it. After I finished introducing magic into their physiques, I tuned the Elves one last time to make them to have higher affinity with the World Tree, which in turn makes them exhibit greater strength with Nature magic.
I had created different types of magic, and began to letting different races have access to different magics. Some had higher natural affinity with different magics. I made Humans have no affinity, but they were able to use almost all types of magic. I took the ability to use magic away from almost all Orcs, except for the very rare case, creating Orc Shamans. I gave Orcs, however, incredible physical prowess.
I continued with all the races, before I started to make Magical Creatures. This was ranging all the way from Goblins to Unicorns. I created Dragons and then crafted Dungeons. Dungeons were my 'spawn points' for certain magical beasts, as I wanted them to never truly die out. I put them in different areas, and modified the Dungeons to have Dungeon Cores. After I finished creating the cores, I added the capability to create items for the different races who attack the dungeons.
I also added in the ability to have Dungeon Breaks. This would create the need to attack dungeons, and also naturally draw the sentient races into them. As the different races began to evolve, I began fleshing out my universe's system.
It was a simple system that used a level system, with experience. I began designing the entire system, from the introduction text, all the way to the different classes and stuff. I created the party system, and determined max levels and the meanings behind them. I had designed it so that if someone was actually able to reach the max level of the entire evolutionary branch, they could ascend to the level of a demigod. I then created a System for the Demigods to become Gods, who would then be able to bestow blessings to the lower beings.
A belief and faith system, while I designed another dimension in the sky of my world, where the Gods would reside. Inside I created clues to my existence, and I gave out visions to the different races. They began to build monuments of me, and churches. When they built a building I liked, I would bestow a blessing upon them, and when they built something I thought was ugly I just ignored it. They eventually came to the understanding that I like large temples. I began to create the concept of 'Priests' and 'Divine Power'.
Divine Power was another type of energy, different from Mana, however it was still easy to incorporate into the System.
Once I had finished my System, my world began to develop rapidly, and I was able to allow time to flow faster. I watched as the many races began to attack Dungeons, and fine tune everything. I would find the races fighting over the ownership of certain dungeons, so I began to spread them out more. Making them more plentiful, which solved the problem, but new problems kept arising.
However it got to the point where I was so mentally exhausted, I had to leave to go and sleep. I had spent a good portion of a few thousand years, actively watching, which really drained me. I had now experienced more than a thousand years while being awake.
I left Arsenia, and appeared back in my room. I looked at the clock and saw it was now almost 11 PM.
'If I am actively sitting through the years, the time difference to here is larger. I would need to pay more attention to how I am spending my time in Arsenia.'
At least these were my thought for a moment, before I began to think of a scary proposition.
'Why don't I just... Live in that world? I could stop caring about this one, and fully manifest into that world...'
"NO!" I shouted at myself.
I was from this world, and I can't forget that. I knew I had spent millions of years in that world, but I ultimately lived here.
I shook my head and decided I could really use a good night's rest. So I got into my bed and let myself drift away. I was hoping my thoughts would become clear by the time I woke up.
****
When I woke up I was feeling incredibly refreshed. I opened my new phone and noticed that I had slept for two whole days! I was surprised because while I had slept for really long periods of time before, I had never slept for two whole days. This worried me a bit, since I didn't know how to work around this variable. I decided I would have to find a way to get some passive income, or make enough money that I don't have to work anymore.
I manifested into Arsenia, just to quickly test out a theory I had, and do some maintenance. I firstly tried to will myself into the past, to be able to watch specific moments in history. To my surprise, it worked, allowing me to clearly see the planet moving in reverse.
[God Michelangelo has opened the ability to see into the past of all things.]
I was surprised it gave me a notification, seeing as how I already did it, but that made me think.
'Does this mean... I can see into the past of Earth?'
I would try it out when I finished here, but first I needed to do what I came here to do. I used my ability to watch the past few hundred years, and the races I placed were struggling with fighting off the monsters I created. This bothered me, as the monsters were created as a resource to promote growth. I realized the problem quickly.
'They're fighting monsters with their fists... This isn't a wuxia novel, it's a SWORD and MAGIC world. I quickly found a few pillars of each race, sending them visions of inspiration, to help them realize they are physically weaker than the monsters. That they should use magic to make up that gap, and I sent visions of weapons to talented blacksmiths.
I then added universal currencies to the system, as rewards for killing monsters and completing quests. I then created a shop feature for the system, promoting trade between different races, as I knew the Dwarves would soon begin a mass production of weapons and armors. With this, I left some other prompts for the system to reward skills to assist in their growth, and I exited Arsenia.
Once I was back in my world, I went to the fridge, and grabbed an egg. Holding the egg, I tried to will myself to see the past of the egg, and to my surprise it worked. I watched the process of the egg being laid, shipped to a grocery store, and then being bought by me. I reached for my phone and tried the same thing, however I was only able to see up until it fell of the back of the truck. Everything past that was... Blurry.
I wasn't even able to see a name on the side of the truck, not a single identifier I could use to track it down, which made me skeptical about if I received the phone by chance or if it was someone's plot. Either way, I was grateful. I decided not to think about it too much, as it wasn't something I could even investigate with my current abilities.
I came up with an idea of how to make some money though, and I left my apartment to do it. I first made my way to the bank I used, and waited in line until I could talk to a banker. Once I met with one, I went through the process of opening a credit line, and received a credit card with a limit of $3,000. I wasn't worried about the less than optimal interest rates, as I would be making it back very soon.
I then left and headed to the market. There was an area in the market, where many vendors would be selling 'relics' of the past, and while there were many scammers someone with a keen eye could find priceless treasures. Yes, it was essentially gambling, but I had a cheat.
I rode the bus, while watching the people on the bus, and the people on the street. It had become something I did instinctively, as I felt the distance between myself and people had changed significantly. I had watched the evolution of species that I personally created, and I spent thousands of years watching them grow. Watching the people around me worrying about getting to work on time... It all seemed so... Insignificant.
I watched as a group of thugs were sitting on the bus acting rambunctiously, disturbing everyone around them, but I knew better. I had already watched their pasts, and I knew the reason they acted the way they did. The things that made them who they are. I pitied them, even though I didn't condone their actions, I wasn't going to judge them.
I watched the people around the bus too, and I just spent the whole trip observing the different dynamics around me.
"Hey look at this kid. Hey kid, you got some nice shoes... Hand them over unless you wanna get hurt! Hahaha!" one of the thugs I mentioned earlier had made his way down the bus, bothering everyone along his way. He was standing before me, laughing with his buddies.
However I was simply staring at him. I knew his story.
Ryan Ruger, a child who's father abandoned him and his mother, who felt like he needed to help his mother provide. He wanted her to not be worried about him, and during his teenage years he met the leader of his little gang. His leader helped him get some easy money, to help his mom, and while Ryan didn't like his leader's methods he went along with them. For his mom.
"Huh, you deaf kid?" he then smacked my head and ruffled my hair, however my gaze didn't waver. I simply uttered a short sentence.
"Misty would be proud of you, if you stopped here, she would still be proud of you." I then went back to looking out the window.
Ryan froze in place for a moment, as Misty was his mother's name. He was worried because he didn't know the kid in front of him, and was confused how the kid knew his mother's name.
In a low voice, he bent over to talk to me.
"Are you.. .Threatening me?"
I turned to look back at Ryan.
"No, I am simply telling you the truth. You're free to take my shoes. They're just shoes. However I don't see how that is helping your mom out, even if you were to take them it wouldn't feed your mom. Your art. Perhaps that would be a better way to spend your time. Oh, this is my stop. Make a decision."
I then stood up and looked Ryan directly in the eyes. He also looked back, but he was scared at what he saw.
I wasn't aware, but my eyes had turned a deep purple hue. They were an endless ocean of knowledge, as if they had seen the creation of all things. Ryan was scared as it seemed like I was simply looking through him.
I knew he wasn't going to stop me, so I began to walk by him, but not before whispering one more sentence.
"I thought your art was good... The portrait you drew of your mother... It had soul. Do more of that."
With that I got off the bus, ignoring the jeers from his friends, and headed towards the street markets.
Ryan looked at my back, and took a moment to make a split decision that would change his life forever.
He jumped off the bus right as the doors began to shut. He ignored his gang leader's shouts, and ran after the boy who shook his core. Once he caught up to him, he grabbed the boy's shoulder, turning him around.
"Who-Who are you?! How do you know so much about me?! Huh?! You some kind of stalker? You stalking my mom? TELL ME!" he shouted, frantic and panicked.
I simply put my arm on his shoulder, and said, "Knowing the past of things and people is a wholly different thing than knowing one's future. You're able to create your own future. Come with me, you might learn a little more about yourself."
With that, I continued walking while inspecting antiques as I walked by. It wasn't for another five minutes before I found something. I squatted down and began bartering with the vendor.
"Oh, boy do you like this tea set? Its from the Ming Dynasty, used by the Emperor of the time to serve his various generals and trusted aides. But for you! I'll sell it for... $800. A good deal huh?" The vendor before me had a slimy smile, and that snake oil demeanor.
"That's bullshit, it's just a cheap ass tea set, you can buy something nicer at Bed Bath and Beyond for like 40 bucks." Ryan tried advising me. I looked over at him, and smiled.
I then looked back at the vendor and looked into his eyes for a moment. The vendor was obviously uncomfortable, and afraid that I would leave because of what Ryan said. His brain started arguing with itself, before he blurted something out.
"Two hundr-"
"I'll pay the $800." I interrupted.
Which surprised both Ryan and the vendor. Ryan was the first one to collect himself.
"Wait kid don't! He was just about to offer it for $200!"
"Hey! If he wants to pay $800 let him!" the vendor snapped back, upset that this kid kept getting in his way of closing the sale.
Before Ryan lost his cool, I stood up and placed my hand on his shoulder. He stopped talking, and shut his mouth. He looked upset, but he didn't press the issue any further.
I swiped my card on the vendor's POS, and dragged Ryan away. When we were a sufficient distance away, Ryan broke free from my grip.
"Why'd you let him scam you like that?! He's a slime-ball!" Ryan shouted, drawing a bit of attention towards us.
I took out a tea cup from the set, and showed it to Ryan.
"Look here, this is the original pattern from the Ming Dynasty, and the paint is the right age. If you look at the entire set, there is no sign of wear which means it's been kept in incredible condition. There is also this small, and faint, symbol on the bottom with is a signature of the craftsman."
Ryan's expression began to change.
"It's real. So he didn't scam me. While yes, he didn't know it was authentic, he didn't actually scam me. If anything, I got this for a crazy bargain."
Ryan looked down, but then looked back up at me in confusion.
"Wait, so you knew it was real, but why did you stop him from lowering the price?"
I simply smiled and pointed at the vendor. Ryan turned and saw the vendor closing up his shop while talking animatedly with a little girl.
"It's his daughter's birthday today."