Kai focused briefly—and saw time in his inner world speed up. Centuries passed in seconds. Civilizations rose from camps to cities. He reversed a zone overrun by a wildfire, rolling the blaze backward. His eyes widened.
"...This is actual time manipulation
---
> [Faith Absorption] — Rank A
Absorbs generated faith from worshipers to increase inner energy and divine authority.
He glanced at a panel.
> Faith Generated: 72,391 (per hour)
Faith Pool: 4.2 Million
Conversion Rate: 1 Faith = +0.02 All Attributes (Capped by Level)
"…So just existing to them makes me stronger."
> "Indeed. The stronger they believe, the faster you grow."
---
> [Soul Link: Inner Civilization] — Rank A
Direct link between creator and his universe. Emotional, cognitive, and sensory feedback available. Allows Kai to feel the rise and fall of civilizations as if they were extensions of himself.
He tested it—and immediately felt hundreds of thousands of flickering emotional strands. Joy. Curiosity. Discovery. Pain. Struggle.
He gasped and cut the link quickly. "That's… overwhelming."
> "It takes time to master, Creator."
---
> [Minor Omnipotent] — Passive
Not Limited reality-bending authority in your universe. Can impose laws of nature, dictate physics, even bless or curse specific zones.
Kai held up his hand. A new law bloomed in his mind: no bloodshed within sacred grounds.
He applied it to one of the elf cities, and the moment he did, he felt a divine ripple. He'd created a sanctuary.
---
> [Minor Omniscient] — Passive
You can access all information within your universe—what every being thinks, does, believes, remembers—at will.
He opened his mind again.
He knew the name of every tribe leader. Every song sung around every fire. Every ancient word carved into stone. Every child born in the last ten seconds.
"...That's terrifying."
> "And yet, it is your right."
---
Then came the final window.
> [Updated Status – Kai]
Race: Origin (Primordial Godseed)
Level: 1
Strength: 5,000
Agility: 5,000
Defense: 5,000
Intelligence: 5,000
Vitality: 5,000
Perception: 5,000
Willpower: 5,000
Divinity: 5,000
Luck: 5,000
Faith Accumulation: Active
Title Bonuses: [+100% Civilization Growth], [+Soul Link Stability]
Kai blinked. "Wait… 5,000 across the board?"
> "Correct. The average human is between 1.0 and 1.2 in most stats," Ema replied.
Kai's jaw dropped. "I'm not just strong... I'm inhuman."
> "You are no longer bound by their limitations."
He leaned back, finally letting the weight of everything wash over him.
"Ema... I think I'm mentally exhausted."
> "Understandable. You've created a universe, met your children, and bent time itself."
He chuckled softly, closing his eyes. "Wake me up if the world ends."
> "Of course, Creator."
---
As the lights dimmed and Kai drifted off to sleep, Ema stood beside him, watching silently. The once synthetic system now wore a gentle, almost human expression—compassion, curiosity… and something deeper.
She leaned forward.
Softly, reverently, she placed a kiss on his forehead.
> "Rest well… Creator."
The sunlight spilled through Kai's window, washing over his sleeping form. He stirred, rubbing the last remnants of sleep from his eyes. It still felt surreal—the divine status, the powers, the universe within him.
But now, he had to act like a normal student again.
School.
Ugh.
"Ema?" he muttered.
> "Good morning, Creator. I will continue to monitor the inner realm in your absence."
"Thanks," he mumbled. "Let me know if anything explodes."
He got dressed and left the house, hood up, earbuds in, posture relaxed but alert. He was cautious by nature. Now, he had a reason to be even more so.
As he walked past a bus stop, he saw a man standing alone, sipping coffee.
Without thinking, Kai activated his Appraisal Eye.
---
> Name: James Knoll
Race: Human
Bloodline: None
Physique: None
Strength: 90
Agility: 80
Mental Power: 180
Mana: 150
Ability: Mental Manipulation
Threat Level: Moderate
---
Kai's eyes widened slightly, though he kept his expression neutral. That's an awakener... right there in the open.
Mental manipulation?
He could be influencing people walking past him without them ever knowing.
Kai picked up his pace, subtly blending into a group of students heading his way. His mind raced.
"Note to self," he muttered, "never let your guard down. They're everywhere."
---
By the time he reached school, Kai had put his expression back in place—neutral, unreadable, disinterested.
He walked past the school gates.
And immediately, whispers started.
"Who's that guy?"
"Is he new?"
"Is he a model transfer or something?"
"...Why do I feel like I've never seen him before?"
Kai sighed internally. His evolution from awakening had clearly made his features sharper—his height, physique, and presence had changed significantly.
Still, he brushed them off with a casual wave.
"I'm Kai. Been here the whole time."
He headed straight to class, slipped into his seat, and ignored the stares.
---
First period was math. Boring.
The teacher droned on about differential equations. Kai tapped his pen idly on his desk, trying to look engaged.
Then he got an idea.
Let's see what I'm really surrounded by…
He activated Appraisal Eye again—quietly, subtly. Names, numbers, and stats flickered across his vision as he scanned the class.
Then he stopped.
Sophie Silver.
Top student. Untouchable. Always composed, always alone.
Everyone knew her name. Everyone respected her distance.
But no one really knew her.
Now, Kai did.
---
> Name: Sophie Silver
Race: Human (Awakened)
Bloodline: Anok
Physique: Heavenly Flame Physique (Partially Sealed)
Strength: 500
Agility: 450
Defense: 430
Mana: 600
Mental Power: 380
Ability: Solar Flames
Threat Level: Very High
---
Kai nearly choked on his own breath.
She's stronger than that guy I saw earlier by a huge margin...
That physique—Heavenly Flame? And it's sealed? She's not even using her full potential?!
He lowered his eyes quickly, wiping the display from his sight.
"She's sitting five feet away from me," he thought. "She could vaporize half the class if she wanted to."
Suddenly, his boredom vanished.
---
Meanwhile—on the roof of the school—two students stood, watching the yard below through the railing.
One wore a blazer with the school badge half torn off, the other had bandages wrapped around his forearm, glowing faintly.
"He's definitely different," one said. "I felt a ripple yesterday. Barely noticeable, but not normal."
The second nodded, chewing gum. "Physical-type, maybe? New awakeners sometimes give off unstable pressure when their bodies adjust."
"Could be. But his mana signature is... nothing. It's like he doesn't exist."
They both looked down at the boy walking through the gate earlier.
Kai.
"He's hiding something."
"Should we report him?"
"Not yet," the first said, narrowing his eyes. "Let's watch first. If he's awakened, he'll show signs eventually."