The glow from the interface dimmed slightly, casting his room in a surreal golden hue as Kai sat cross-legged on the floor. His heart was still racing from the card left by "The Obsidian Eye," but he shoved his nerves down.
There was no time to panic.
He had power now. And he needed to understand it.
> [Skill Familiarization Mode: Active]
Screens hovered around him, each pulsing with a different color.
He reached toward one labeled [Creation Command], and instantly, knowledge poured into him like a floodgate opening.
The ability to mold continents… breathe stars into being… carve laws of physics into existence.
Another labeled [Universal Evolution] showed him how to guide species, adjust DNA strands, accelerate cultural growth, even plant mythical potentials into bloodlines.
[Appraisal Eye] turned on by instinct—his surroundings glowed faintly with highlighted details. Dust particles, material breakdowns, electromagnetic traces. Everything had a tag. A name. A value.
Kai exhaled slowly. "This is insane..."
> "Not insane. Divine."
The voice returned—but this time, not the cold neutrality of the system.
It was warm. Feminine. Serene.
> "Would you like to see my true form, Creator?"
Kai blinked. "…I can?"
> "Now that the Core is stable, and the inner world has birthed its first races… yes."
The air in front of him shimmered, then bent like a heatwave. A soft hum filled the room. Then light exploded outward in a gentle burst.
From it, she stepped forth.
A woman—not quite human, but something more. Ethereal. Her long silver-white hair flowed like mist. Her eyes glowed with a tranquil golden hue, and her skin shimmered like polished moonstone. She wore a flowing gown woven from what looked like nebulae and starlight. Around her floated fragments of symbols from a language Kai couldn't yet comprehend.
She knelt gracefully before him.
> "I am the System Interface, soul of the Core. But you may give me a name, if you wish."
Kai stared, stunned. "You're... beautiful."
She smiled, gently. "Thank you, Creator."
He thought for a moment, then nodded. "Your name is Ema."
> "Designation accepted. I am now Ema, steward of the inner realm."
She stood again, hands clasped before her. "Would you like to meet your children now?"
"Children?"
> "The first races—the Primordials born of your Creation Command. They have named themselves."
Kai stood tall before the five progenitors, their kneeling forms radiating power and devotion. The celestial platform above his inner universe shimmered with stardust beneath his feet.
He took a deep breath.
"You are the first... and you will shape what follows," he said, voice steady. "Go now—guide your people. Lead them with wisdom, protect them with strength. Raise them in my name."
The Supreme Dragon Progenitor bowed its massive head. "We shall forge an empire in the skies. All who soar shall know you as the Flame Eternal."
The High Elf Matriarch inclined her head gracefully. "The forests and stars shall echo your name. Knowledge and spirit will flourish under your light."
The High Human Patriarch stepped forward. "We will build kingdoms of honor. Castles in your image. Justice in your name."
The Chaos Human Matron grinned wildly. "And we... oh, we'll shake the world loose from its chains. No limit, no law—only your will."
The Prime Human Elder bowed with solemn grace. "We shall bring balance to chaos and order alike. A civilization of harmony, built upon your divine blueprint."
Kai raised a hand, and with a flick of his fingers, portals opened behind each one, leading back to their territories in the inner world.
"Go," he said, voice laced with godly authority. "The age of the Old Ones begins."
They stepped through one by one, vanishing into light.
---
Back in his room, Kai exhaled. His legs gave way as he dropped onto his bed. "They actually listened…"
> "Of course they did, Creator," Ema said gently, reappearing at his side. "To them, your voice is absolute law."
He looked at her—still glowing faintly with cosmic energy—and nodded. "I should check the rest of my abilities."
> [Time Sovereign Core] — Rank EX
Full control over temporal flow within the inner universe. Can accelerate, slow, or reverse local time within specific zones.