The faint glow of the World System interface illuminated the expanse of the empty plane. Leopold stood at its center, the vast emptiness around him only broken by shimmering streams of light that twisted and turned like rivers in the sky. The air felt neither warm nor cold, existing in a perfect, neutral state. It was calm—eerily so.
Beside him, his companion hovered, her petite form exuding an air of intelligence and charm. Her crimson eyes sparkled with curiosity as she adjusted her round glasses, observing Leopold with a mix of amusement and expectation. Despite her composed appearance, a playful energy radiated from her, as though she were holding back from saying something mischievous.
Leopold, still adjusting to his newfound reality, let out a slow breath.
"Alright," he muttered, breaking the silence.
"What's next?"
"Next?" the companion repeated, tilting her head.
"Master, before we dive into the fascinating process of creating a world, don't you think there's something missing?"
Leopold raised an eyebrow.
"Something missing? You're going to have to be more specific. I've just been reincarnated as the spirit of a planet, so forgive me if I'm not catching on."
The companion's lips curled into a teasing smile.
"Oh, come on. You've been calling me 'Companion' this whole time. Don't you think I deserve a name? Something elegant, something fitting for someone as indispensable as me?" She adjusted her glasses for emphasis, her tone a perfect blend of humor and expectation.
Leopold blinked, then sighed.
"Right. A name. Because why not add that to my to-do list?" He crossed his arms, studying her.
"Fine. Any preferences?"
"Oh, no," she said with a mock pout.
"I wouldn't dare influence your decision. This is all on you, Master. Choose wisely. After all, I'll be stuck with it… and so will you."
Her teasing tone made Leopold smirk despite himself. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his analytical mind kicking into gear.
"Alright," he said slowly.
"Let's go with something simple. Something elegant." He studied her, noting her scholarly air and playful demeanor.
"How about… Faye?" he finally said.
"Short, easy to remember, and it suits you."
The companion's eyes lit up, and a warm smile spread across her face.
"Faye?" she repeated, testing the name.
"I like it. It's lovely. Elegant, even. And it sounds... special." She clasped her hands together, leaning toward him slightly.
"Thank you, Master Leopold. Or should I call you Leo? We're on a first-name basis now, right?"
Leopold chuckled, shaking his head.
"Leo is fine. Just don't get too comfortable. I'll be holding you to high standards, Faye."
Faye adjusted her glasses with a playful flourish.
"High standards? Oh, I wouldn't expect anything less. But don't worry, Master Leo. I'll make sure I exceed your expectations—and remind you if you ever slack off."
Her crimson eyes glinted with a mix of mischief and determination.
Leopold felt a small smile tug at his lips. In the overwhelming vastness of his new reality, Faye's presence was grounding. Annoyingly so, perhaps, but grounding nonetheless.
"Alright," he said, straightening.
"Let's get to work. What's the first step?"
Faye's playful demeanor shifted, becoming more focused. She gestured toward the glowing interface hovering nearby.
"First, Master Leo, you need to select your Gift Box. It's your starting toolkit for building your world."
Leopold raised an eyebrow.
"Gift Box?"
"Think of it as a starter pack," Faye explained, stepping closer to the interface. Her movements were precise yet graceful, her finger tracing glowing lines of text in midair.
"The system offers you several themes to choose from. Each one contains resources, templates, and tools tailored to a specific kind of world."
She flicked her wrist, and several options appeared on the interface, their descriptions shimmering in ethereal light:
Magic Gift Box: A world built on mana and spellcraft.
Cultivation Gift Box: Rooted in qi, martial arts, and spiritual growth.
Fantasy Gift Box: Featuring mythical creatures and diverse magical species.
Technology Gift Box: Advanced civilizations and industrial revolutions.
Wildcard Gift Box: Randomized elements for unpredictable results.
Faye glanced at Leopold, her expression expectant.
"So, Master, what'll it be? Each choice will shape the foundation of your world, so pick something you're comfortable with."
Leopold's gaze lingered on the options, his mind racing. His fingers itched with excitement as he read the description of the Cultivation Gift Box. A world of qi, martial arts, and spiritual growth—it was like stepping into one of the novels he used to devour during his rare moments of downtime.
He glanced at Faye, a small grin playing on his lips.
"Cultivation. Let's go with that. It sounds... familiar. And exciting."
Faye clapped her hands together, her enthusiasm palpable.
"Excellent choice! I had a feeling you'd pick that one. After all, who wouldn't want to create a world full of powerful cultivators and mystical beasts?"
Leopold smirked. "I'll admit, the idea of designing a cultivation-based world sounds pretty fun. What's in the box?"
The void shimmered as the Cultivation Gift Box fully materialized before Leopold. Its ethereal glow cast a soft light over the plane, reflecting in Faye's crimson eyes. The box hovered just above the ground, its edges outlined with intricate designs that pulsed gently with energy—a mixture of ancient symbols and flowing, rune-like characters.
Leopold tilted his head, studying the gift box with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"Do I just… open it?" he asked, gesturing toward the glowing artifact.
Faye's lips curled into a small, teasing smile.
"It's a box, Master Leo. Surely someone as brilliant as you can figure it out."
Leopold rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a faint smirk.
"Alright then, let's see what's inside." He reached forward, his hand brushing the surface of the box. As soon as his fingers made contact, the box reacted, unfolding itself in a seamless motion. Panels of light peeled away, revealing its contents in a dazzling display.
A rush of energy surged outward, enveloping Leopold and Faye in a warm glow. The interface in front of him updated instantly, displaying the items and resources he had just unlocked:
Qi Energy Reservoirs: Streams of glowing energy flowed across the screen, forming rivers and lakes of vibrant qi.
Basic Cultivation Manuals: Texts floated midair, their covers shimmering with ancient, golden characters.
Spirit Beast Templates: Holographic projections of majestic creatures—from qilins to soaring phoenixes—appeared briefly before vanishing.
Mystical Herbs: Plants of various shapes and colors materialized on the interface, their auras radiating an unmistakable vitality.
Elemental Zones: Regions of fire, water, earth, and air biomes took shape as models on the display.
Foundation Realm Cultivator Template: A figure resembling a meditating human appeared, surrounded by concentric rings of glowing qi.
Leopold let out a low whistle.
"Not bad," he said, his mind already racing with possibilities.
"This is more material than I expected."
"It should be," Faye replied, stepping closer to him. Her tone shifted to something more serious.
"The Cultivation Gift Box isn't just a starter pack. It's the foundation for a world that thrives on balance and growth. Qi is a resource, but it's also a burden. Too much in one place, and you'll create chaos. Too little, and nothing will flourish."
Leopold nodded, appreciating her insight.
"Balance. Got it. Let's start with the basics."
He swiped his hand across the interface, zooming in on his barren world. The planet rotated slowly, its surface nothing but featureless land and empty seas. It was a canvas waiting for his first brushstroke.
"First," he muttered to himself,
"let's lay down the qi energy reservoirs." He tapped on the option, and the interface displayed several configurations. Rivers of qi, lakes of pure energy, and even subterranean veins that pulsed beneath the surface.
"What's your plan?" Faye asked, leaning over his shoulder, her glasses catching the glow of the interface.
"Rivers of qi," Leopold replied.
"They'll act like lifelines for the land, spreading energy evenly across the terrain. I'll also add a few concentrated nodes where cultivators can gather and practice."
Faye clapped her hands together.
"A solid start. Practical and efficient. Though," she added with a playful smirk, "don't forget to make it pretty. A world should inspire awe, after all."
Leopold rolled his eyes but took her advice. With a few gestures, he crafted rivers of glowing qi that meandered through the barren landscape, their luminescent streams casting a soft light on the desolate plains. At key intersections, he placed nodes of concentrated qi energy, which pulsed like radiant heartbeats.
"Next, the biomes," Leopold said. He selected the Elemental Zones from the interface. Four shimmering spheres representing fire, water, earth, and air appeared before him.
"You'll want to place these carefully," Faye advised.
"Elemental zones don't just define the land's nature; they influence the types of cultivators who will arise from them. Fire zones will foster aggressive, passionate types. Water zones? More thoughtful and adaptive."
Leopold nodded, dragging the fire zone to a mountain range he had just sculpted. The peaks erupted in a cascade of glowing magma, the land beneath them shifting into a vibrant red hue. He placed the water zone near a winding river, its banks transforming into lush wetlands that shimmered with ethereal blue light. The earth zone settled in a vast plateau, its rocky surface exuding a grounded strength, while the air zone found its place atop a series of floating islands suspended in the sky.
"This is starting to look like something," Leopold remarked, stepping back to take in the changes. His once-barren world now shimmered with the beginnings of life and energy.
"It's beautiful," Faye said softly, her gaze lingering on the floating islands.
"But we're not done yet. You still need life to populate it."
Leopold tapped on the Spirit Beast Templates. A series of holographic creatures appeared, their forms majestic and otherworldly.
"Let's start with something simple," he said, selecting a deer-like creature with antlers that glowed faintly with qi.
He placed the spirit deer in the water zone, watching as they materialized in herds along the riverbanks. The creatures moved gracefully, their presence bringing a sense of vitality to the land. Next, he introduced a predator species: spirit wolves, their sleek forms rippling with energy. He placed them in the fire zone, where they prowled the volcanic terrain with fierce intelligence.
"Not too many predators," Faye warned.
"You want balance, remember?"
"I know," Leopold replied, adjusting the population ratio.
"I'll keep them in check."
With the foundation set, Leopold took a step back, surveying his creation. The rivers of qi flowed smoothly through the land, feeding the elemental zones and the life forms that now roamed the surface. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
"Not bad for a first attempt," he said, folding his arms.
Faye beamed. "Not bad at all, Master Leo. You're a natural."
Leopold allowed himself a small smile. For the first time since his reincarnation, he felt a flicker of pride—and a spark of excitement for what lay ahead.