He vividly remembered having a body like someone who had lived for a thousand years. With a gray beard almost reaching his chest, unkempt white hair, sagging skin, and weak muscles.
However, it was as if staying awake for several days had restored Lucas to his prime condition.
He felt like a teenager again. His shoulders were more upright, his hair returned to black, and his body's muscles tightened (in a far more impressive contraction than what bodybuilders typically possessed).
[As an Overseer, you are no longer bound by a physical body]
[Your true form is a cluster of pure energy that can manifest into any shape.]
[The form you currently have adjusts to the most optimal physical condition for a current lifestyle]
Is that a jab at how unhealthy my lifestyle had become?
It was then Lucas heard a sound from the control room, almost as loud as a warning alarm.
What's happening?
Lucas looked at the control room's broadcast, which was displaying a danger signal. The vision presented the reason clearly.
The oxygen production process had become so intense that the gas was now saturating the atmosphere.
Having been used to the nearly oxygen-free air of Antroseda for decades, his floating home now perceived oxygen as an unknown substance.
Lucas turned off the warning alarm and started to observe the outside world.
Time had advanced several tens of millions of years, and now green algae had begun growing in the deepest oceans.
This discovery made Lucas feel excited. The presence of algae signified one thing:
It meant the possibility of life emerging on land.
And sure enough, it didn't take long for the first plants to cling to the shores. Formed as a result of repeated tidal waves on a massive coral rock, moss had begun to grow there.
Its size soon increased and spread. Initially, it was only on that rock, but then it crept along the coastline.
Meanwhile, several organisms were also developing in the dark ocean depths. Supported by a thriving ecosystem, types of life that would become the foundation for both terrestrial and marine life began to form.
So, when time finally advanced another four hours, the land had already been 'invaded' by amphibious creatures with hard exoskeletons, resembling scorpions.
The process was so calm and peaceful that it made Lucas feel drowsy.
Wait, wasn't he just pure energy now?
Why am I still getting sleepy?
Could it be that when manifesting a physical form, biological needs still had to be met? Wouldn't that be inefficient?
Lucas wondered whether he could still die in this form.
However, the temptation for self-destruction no longer seemed appealing, especially after witnessing this treasure trove of knowledge.
The once desolate Antroseda had now become a thriving prehistoric world.
More complex plants, such as mangroves, coconut trees, and banyan trees, filled most of the beaches Lucas was directly observing.
Perhaps there were other varieties of plants in different parts of the world, but by covering his floating home with black energy, Lucas had limited several of its features.
It shouldn't be a problem if I lift the dark energy veil. Even if my body becomes more vulnerable, Antroseda's current state is more than capable of sustaining life.
As the black energy ceased to cover his floating home, Lucas activated the comprehensive observation feature.
It was a function that visualized Antroseda as a miniature globe. If Lucas touched any part of it, the view would instantly zoom in and display a live feed of the location he touched.
Lucas tapped on a section halfway around the planet from his current position.
The visual shifted to reveal rich biodiversity.
That region was now dominated by various species of giant reptiles. Dinosaurs. Lucas recognized them immediately.
If you look at prehistoric history, dinosaurs would eventually go extinct due to some unknown catastrophe.
Would that happen here too?
Yet, unlike usual, the system refused to answer.
Does that mean I can trigger the evolution of one of these creatures to reach advanced intelligence?
There were several species with the potential for interesting development:
A tetrapod amphibian with a complex nervous system, some carnivorous mammals, and even a species of dinosaur Lucas believed could rival human intelligence: Troodon.
I guess I've made my choice.
[You cannot trigger the evolution of Troodon]
What? Do I have to wait longer and let it happen naturally?
[Alternative evolution triggers are not yet available]
[To create life with modern intelligence, you must create a custom species]
That means...
[Please configure the anatomy for this species.]
"No, wait, wait." A new species? "What do you mean?" If, in the end, the species destined to become the dominant life form was not part of the complex natural evolution here, then what was the point of all this?
The system remained silent.
Lucas then recalled how this system first appeared.
I was chosen as the new Overseer of this universe.
That means there was a previous Overseer.
And if this power existed long before humanity began, even before life itself was created, does that mean humans were inherently special beings that just appeared out of nowhere?
Was everything about the theory of evolution wrong?
Had modern biology been mistaken?
"Tell me… were humans… created the same way too?"
A long, silent pause followed.
[The answer to that question remains classified]
"Okay, next question. Who was the previous Overseer? And where is he now? Was he human, or a completely different species?"
Another long pause.
[The Overseer is simply the Overseer]
[Who or what they were is entirely irrelevant]
[The continuation of the cycle of life is the top priority]
Such a safe answer. So safe it felt almost irresponsible.
However, Lucas decided to set his curiosity aside for now.
"Well then, let's continue creating this random species."
The previously simple notification board expanded into a larger rectangular panel, displaying the outline of a body.
The body closely resembled a basic human design: one head, two arms, and two legs.
[This is the anatomical sheet you can customize as you wish.]
[Click on any part to add details.]
Lucas began working on his vision.
Scales as skin so the new humans would resemble reptiles, a personal act of defiance against the system's refusal to trigger Troodon's natural evolution.
He even designed the form to resemble the dinosaur, with a crocodile-like snout filled with sharp fangs.
As for the rest...
Lucas felt no need to add extra limbs since efficiency was crucial for future evolutionary processes.
Besides, they also had to adapt to the Magic Seed.
Thus, after working for several minutes that felt like hundreds of thousands of years in normal time, Lucas finally completed his design.
On that day, after a series of events spanning billions of years in geological time, the 'new humans' were born.