Chapter 1: The Awakening
Darkness. Cold, suffocating darkness.
Water filled his lungs. A crushing weight pressed against his chest as he thrashed in vain, his limbs heavy, his thoughts slipping into oblivion. He couldn't see, couldn't breathe—just an endless abyss swallowing him whole.
Am I… drowning?
Panic surged through his veins like fire. He struggled against the unseen force dragging him downward, his black mask clinging to his face, its smooth surface untouched by the chaos around him. His vision blurred, his mind teetered on the edge of unconsciousness—until suddenly…
A blinding white light.
With a gasp, he lurched forward.
Gone was the suffocating weight of water. Gone was the fear of death. He found himself seated in an empty white space, an infinite void stretching in all directions. The only sound was his own ragged breathing.
Then, a message appeared before him.
"Congratulations, you are now the ruler of planets."
His heart pounded.
"What?"
He blinked, expecting the words to vanish like a hallucination. But they remained, glowing in the air with an otherworldly radiance.
Before he could make sense of it, another message followed.
"Please choose your planet type."
Beneath the text, a selection of planets materialized each one rotating slowly, displaying their unique landscapes. A fiery red wasteland, a frozen tundra, a gas giant swirling with storms… but then, his eyes landed on one.
A blue-green planet. Verdant forests, vast oceans, towering mountains—eerily similar to Earth.
Instinctively, he reached out, his fingers grazing the image.
"You have chosen an Earth-like planet."
The moment he made his choice, another screen emerged.
"Choose the power type for your planet."Options: Intelligence – Magic – Martial Arts – Superpowers.
He hesitated.
"This is absurd… but if this is real, then…"
His mind raced. Intelligence sounded tempting—he could create a civilization of brilliant minds. Martial Arts and Superpowers had their own appeal. But his heart knew the answer before his brain did.
"Magic."
The word left his lips, and the system acknowledged his choice.
"Planet creation successful."
At that moment, an overwhelming sensation crashed into him.
He could feel everything.
The rustling of leaves, the distant cries of birds, the trembling of the earth itself. Every living thing on the planet—its breath, its heartbeat, its existence—was laid bare before him. He was not just an observer; he was connected to this world.
"I… I really am the ruler of this planet."
A surge of exhilaration coursed through him. This wasn't just some dream or simulation. This was real.
But what now?
As if answering his thoughts, a new system prompt appeared.
"Loading complete.""You have 5 Creation Points."
A menu unfolded before him, listing various options. He scanned the list, curiosity bubbling within him. One particular option caught his eye.
"Primitive Settlers – 1 Creation Point."
He considered it. A planet meant nothing if it was empty. He needed life—intelligent beings that could grow, evolve, build civilizations.
"I'll start with this."
He selected the option.
"Where would you like to place them?"
The system displayed a miniature model of his planet. His gaze swept across the terrain, searching for the perfect location. Then, he spotted it a vast landscape with a flowing river, a dense forest, and towering mountains in the distance.
"This is the perfect spot."
With a single thought, he placed them there.
The instant he did, something shifted.
The world trembled.
A blinding pulse of energy erupted from the chosen land. In mere moments, a group of peopledozens of them—appeared out of nowhere. They stood in awe, their primitive clothing made from animal hides, their faces filled with wonder and confusion.
But then… something strange happened.
One of them—a tall man with piercing eyes—lifted his head directly at him.
His gaze was locked onto the young man, as if he knew someone was watching.
A chill ran down his spine.
"Can he see me?"
Before he could react, the man dropped to his knees.
Then, one by one, the rest of the settlers followed.
Their voices rose in unison, chanting a word he had never heard before—yet somehow, he understood.
"God."
And in that moment, he realized
He wasn't just a ruler.
He was a deity.
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Kneeling figures. Whispered prayers. Eyes filled with reverence.
He hovered above them, unseen yet undeniably felt. The primitive settlers, dressed in rough animal hides, knelt before the empty sky, their faces filled with awe. They had no temples, no scriptures, no knowledge of the being watching over them—yet somehow, instinctively, they knew they were not alone.
The weight of realization settled over him.
"They think I'm their god."
A shiver ran down his spine. It was one thing to be called the ruler of a planet, but to be worshipped? That was an entirely different level of power.
But before he could dwell on it, a new system message appeared.
"Primitive Settlers successfully placed.""Your guidance is needed."
Another menu unfolded before him, revealing a list of potential actions.
Bless them (1 Creation Point)Grant them Knowledge (2 Creation Points)Leave them be (Free)
He hesitated. He had started with five Creation Points, but after purchasing the settlers, he had only four left. Every action counted.
"If I do nothing, they'll develop naturally… but at what pace? Years? Decades? I need them to advance faster."
His eyes landed on the second option. Grant them Knowledge. It was expensive, costing nearly half his remaining points, but if he wanted them to build something great, they needed a foundation.
He selected it.
The moment he did, a golden light descended upon the settlers. It wasn't something they could see, but rather feel—a warmth blooming inside their minds, filling the gaps in their primitive understanding.
One of them—a man with sharp eyes and a determined expression—suddenly jerked upright. He looked at his hands, flexing them, as if some new realization had struck him. Then, without hesitation, he picked up a nearby rock and began to shape it.
The others watched in fascination.
Within minutes, the crude stone had become a primitive tool.
And just like that, the first sparks of civilization had ignited.
"Basic Tool-making Unlocked."
A rush of satisfaction filled him. He had done it. He had set something in motion.
But the system wasn't done yet.
"Your presence is stabilizing. Additional features unlocked.""You may now communicate with your people."
His breath caught.
"Communicate?"
A new icon flashed before him: Divine Whisper.
He hovered over it, curiosity burning inside him. If he used this, would they hear his actual voice? How much control did he have over their thoughts? The possibilities were endless.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then, with a deep breath, he activated it.
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Down below, the settlers were still marveling at their newfound understanding. Some were crafting more tools, others experimenting with sticks, stones, and even the bark of trees. But all movement ceased when a voice—deep, powerful, and absolute—resounded in their minds.
"Rise."
Every single one of them obeyed. Their bodies stiffened, their heads snapping upward. Eyes widened in terror, in awe, in something far greater than simple understanding.
For the first time, they had heard the voice of their god.
The young man exhaled, gripping the empty air around him as if it could steady his thoughts.
"I have their attention… now what?"
He needed to be careful. One wrong word, and he could send them down a path of blind fanaticism. He had no desire to create mindless zealots.
So he spoke again.
"Use the gifts I have given you. Learn. Build. Thrive."
Silence. Then—understanding.
One by one, they began to move. Not in fear, not in hesitation, but in purpose. They were no longer wandering primitives. They had been commanded to create, and so they would.
A flicker of excitement ran through him.
"This is insane."
With just a few words, he had set an entire civilization into motion. He could feel their ambitions taking root, their minds whirring with newfound ideas. They weren't just surviving anymore—they were advancing.
And he wasn't done yet.
Another system message appeared.
"New Mission Available."
His interest piqued. He opened it.
Mission: Lay the FoundationObjective: Guide your settlers to establish a permanent village.Reward: 3 Creation Points.
His heart skipped a beat.
"A village… That means houses, organization, maybe even a social structure."
He didn't even hesitate. He accepted the mission.
A new feature appeared on his interface: Blueprints.
He opened it, revealing a selection of simple structures—huts, wells, storage pits. He could use his Creation Points to instantly place them, or…
His eyes flicked down at the settlers.
They were already gathering materials.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"I don't need to do everything for them. I just need to guide them."
With that thought, he activated Divine Whisper once more.
"Build a place to call home. Shelter from the rain, warmth from the cold."
The settlers immediately acted. Some began weaving together branches to form walls, while others stacked stones into crude foundations. It was rough, primitive, but it was happening.
For hours, he simply watched.
Watched as the first huts were built.
Watched as fire was discovered, as the first meals were cooked over flames.
Watched as the first bonds of community took shape.
Then—
"Mission Complete.""You have gained 3 Creation Points."
His body tingled with excitement. This was it. The beginning of something massive.
He pulled up his interface again, scanning his options. With his new points, he could purchase something valuable—maybe agriculture to speed up their food production, or writing to preserve knowledge.
But before he could decide, a system message interrupted his thoughts.
"Warning: External Threat Detected."
His stomach dropped.
"Threat?"
Another screen popped up, displaying a section of the planet far beyond his settlers' territory.
There, moving through the dense forest, was something large. Something that wasn't human.
Its eyes gleamed under the moonlight.
And it was heading straight for his people.