[300 Years Later]
The night breeze stirred Elion's long hair, making it flow gracefully. His muscles tightened, veins visible on his arms, and beads of sweat fell, soaking into the sand as he swung his sword vertically with both hands.
SLASH!
The moonlight reflected off the blade as it sliced through the air, generating powerful gusts and splitting the waves at the seashore.
"4997... 4998... 4999..." His breath came out in steady puffs as he counted, and with the next move, he tightened his grip, swinging the sword lightly while whispering, "5000."
A fierce, thunderous sound echoed as he swung, creating a massive, sharp line that split the waves and the sky, slicing through the Gulf of Mexico and reaching parts of Mexico itself across from Clearwater Beach.
When two massive walls of water collided from the path of Elion's swing, causing a powerful tremor, the system's voice suddenly sounded in his mind:
[Why are you training so hard in the middle of the night? You'd be better off just going to sleep.]
Elion gazed at the hundred-meter-high waves surging toward him, then raised his hand, activating his [Levitas] skill. Instantly, the towering wave froze, as though time itself had stopped. In one smooth motion, he lowered his hand, and the massive wave collapsed, merging back into the sea.
[Skill: [Sword] has leveled up] [Lv. 3998 → Lv. 4000]
[Skill: [Levitas] has leveled up] [Lv. 1498 → Lv. 1500]
"I just felt like it," Elion replied after glancing at the system messages hovering in the air. Sheathing his sword back into his inventory, he continued, "Besides, I don't need sleep anymore, and training my skills is the best way to keep my mind sane."
[Well, suits yourself then,] the system replied, watching Elion in silence.
Elion exhaled heavily, gazing up at the bright moon in the dark sky, as though it symbolized loneliness, just like him in this world, and asked,
"When will that damn Dred come to find me?" His voice was hoarse, hiding a quiet hope.
Another three hundred years passed. During that time, Elion trained his body and mind, strengthening every skill he had. He sharpened his combat techniques, bolstered his mental resilience, and practiced every ability he had acquired over the centuries.
But even as his power grew, the Dred he was waiting for never showed up.
[Don't worry too much; it'll come back eventually,] the system tried to console him.
Yet, behind Elion's question lay a hope the system didn't understand—a hope not for revenge but for connection. After 600 years alone, the void within his heart grew larger—an unshakable fear of solitude and isolation.
Centuries had washed away Elion's anger toward the Dred that once killed him. Now, he only wished to meet it again to escape his loneliness.
"I don't know about that anymore," Elion sighed deeply, then decided to check the results of his training. "Status window," he called out.
In an instant, a familiar screen radiating light appeared, hovering in the air.
[STATUS WINDOW]
NAME : Elion Viro
LEVEL : Lv. 79,000
AGE : 624 Years (+100)
HP : 7,900,000/7,900,000
IP : 7,900,000/7,900,000
Strength : 752,625
Intelligence : 851,536
Stamina : 751,680
Agility : 755,010
Skills : [Creation Lv. 10] [Inventory] [Taekwondo Lv. 2000] [Karate Lv. 2000] [Sword Lv. 4000 (2↑)] [Dragon Breath Lv. 3500] [Endless Tentacles Lv. 2000] [Celestial Torrent Lv. 2000] [Blazing Fire Lv. 1000] [Levitas Lv. 1500 (2↑)] [Press to view more ↆ]
Now, with his power, Elion could easily destroy the earth. Even with just a snap of his fingers, he could do it. However, after growing endlessly stronger, he began to wonder if there was any limit to his power's growth.
And now he realized why he could never reach the maximum level: because there simply wasn't one.
"Like an imagination that has no bounds, my power seems to have no limits either," Elion muttered, completely unenthusiastic.
[You're right,] the system replied. [Your power comes from unlimited imagination. And imagination, like the universe, keeps expanding endlessly.]
Hearing that, Elion smiled bitterly. "So, I'll keep growing and never be able to stop?"
[That's the nature of imagination,] the system answered. [And that is your blessing and your curse.]
Elion began to feel a void that was increasingly gnawing at him. The life he led was full of battles and power but without emotional depth.
Without any other purpose, he felt incredibly lonely.
Suddenly, Elion realized that there was one skill he hadn't honed for years: [Creation]
In the past, he had underestimated this skill. He considered this skill not very efficient to use in battle because it required time and high concentration to turn imagination into reality.
And in the middle of a fight, if the enemy didn't give even the slightest opportunity to think, then this skill was useless.
Like when he fought the Dred that managed to kill him.
But now, in the midst of such piercing loneliness, Elion began to think that he could use Creation to create something that could drive away his loneliness.
He opened his status again and stared at that skill.
[Creation Lv. 10]:
[Description: Able to create living beings, such as animals and humans, with complete functional abilities.].
[Limitation: creating humans or living beings with emotions is still impossible.]
After reading the information displayed on the floating screen before him, Elion muttered, closing his eyes, "What's the point of creating a human without any emotions?"
He wanted to create a human companion to fill the loneliness within him, but if the human he created had no emotions, wouldn't it be just like talking to a robot?
Even so, he still decided to try it. Creating a human.
After deciding, he stood on the beach facing the vast ocean. With a long breath, Elion began to focus his mind on the [Creation] skill.
His hand slowly raised, and energy began to swirl around him. In his mind, he imagined a figure—a perfect human figure.
But there was one thing that Elion couldn't imagine, and it was impossible for a creation to think about it. That is, how to create an emotion.
The energy of Imagination Point began to gather before him, forming a figure that physically looked like a human. Straight black hair, tall body, handsome face, and beautiful eyes.
And after a moment, Elion finished his creation.
The figure stood there, its body perfect, moving as if alive, but there was no light behind its gaze.
Elion stepped closer, staring at the figure. "Walk," he ordered.
The creation began to walk, but its steps were stiff, directed, and entirely mechanical, without feeling or emotion. It behaved like a puppet on strings, only doing as instructed and not making its own decisions.
Elion looked at his creation with mixed feelings. He had created a figure that looked perfect but was far from what he had hoped for.
No life, no soul. Like a robot that could only move according to its creator's command, without desire or consciousness.
"Useless," Elion muttered in a low voice, disappointed. "Although its form is perfect, without a soul, mind, and emotions, this is no different from a robot."
He lowered his hand and looked at the sky, feeling that this achievement, although great, did not bring the happiness he sought.
All his power and abilities couldn't create what he needed—a friend, someone he could talk to, share feelings with, or just keep him company in his loneliness.
The system's voice suddenly sounded in his mind, calm but firm. [Don't be too disappointed, kid.]
Elion sighed, staring at his creation standing still in front of him. "How can I not be disappointed? I thought, after all I've been through, I could create something more than this. Something... alive. But this is nothing more than a soulless doll."
[You can't create creatures with any emotions, not because of your lack of power but because of the skill level limitation.]
The system's voice became softer, trying to calm his thoughts.
"What? So if I increase the creation skill level, I'll be able to create real living beings?" Elion asked with sparkling eyes.
[Of course, but from here on, increasing the creation skill level will be far more difficult than you can imagine.]
Elion chuckled, not taking the system's words seriously. However, this would have a big impact on Elion's entire life in the future.
"I don't care. The important thing is there's hope for me." Elion said with a face full of new hope.
As Elion was in his own world, the system's voice appeared again in his head.
[But, when you can create humans completely, with soul and emotions, you're no longer just a creature, kid. You'll become the creator... a god.]
Elion suddenly fell silent, thinking about the system's words. A god. That word created a dilemma in his heart. Such a very heavy word.
"A god, huh?" he muttered with a bitter smile. "I don't even want to be like that. I just want... a friend. Someone who can understand my feelings. Everything I feel."
[I know, kid,] the system answered gently. [I know.]
Elion stared at the vast sea in front of him, his thoughts drifting far.
He had lived for six hundred years, and although he had incredible power, he felt increasingly small in the midst of this vast universe.
The stronger he became, the more isolated he felt from everything.
-----
[400 Years Later]
[Status Window]
Name : Elion Viro
Level : Lv. 220,000
Age : 1024 years (+100)
HP : 22,000,000/22,000,000
IP : 22,000,000/22,000,000
Strength : 1,036,625
Intelligence : 1,135,536
Stamina : 1,035,680
Agility : 1,039,010
Skills : [Creation Lv. 10] [Inventory] [Taekwondo Lv. 5000] [Karate Lv. 5000] [Sword Lv. 7000] [Dragon Breath Lv. 6500] [Endless Tentacles Lv. 4000] [Celestial Torrent Lv. 7000] [Blazing Fire Lv. 5000] [Levitas Lv. 5500] [Press to view more ↆ]
A thousand years had passed since Elion rose from his second death.
After waiting endlessly, that day finally came.
Elion stood on the beach, gazing at the horizon, when suddenly the sky turned dark. The wind that was previously gentle turned into a great storm, and the air felt heavy with frightening energy.
[Elion, he's coming.]
"I know," Elion answered with a calm demeanor.
Elion didn't need to be told twice. He could feel it. The vibration of energy was so strong, stronger than he had ever felt before.
That Dred was back.
From afar, a large and dark figure appeared in the middle of the cracking sky. The creature now looked bigger and more terrifying than before.
Its evil face grinned, and the smile that once killed Elion was now seen again.
"We meet again, Elion," the creature greeted. Still with the same voice, low, hoarse, and glitchy.
Elion's long hair waved erratically as the storm raged. He looked up, his eyes fixed on the Dred with golden eyes standing majestically in the air, looking so grand and full of power.
Now, there was no more fear or anger controlling Elion. Instead, he feels strangely happy to see that Dred once again.
Only two things in his mind: calmness and determination to finish what he started a thousand years ago.
Their eyes locked, each carrying a different meaning.
As Elion took his fighting stance, ready for battle, the Dred stepped forward in the air, spreading darkness.
A wide grin formed on Elion's face.
"Oh, boy," Elion muttered. "I will make you regret showing up now."