Arsere hovered above the newly revealed plate, arms folded, expression twisted somewhere between awe and irritation. She had expected something mysterious… but not this.
Below her stretched a world beyond anything Crevalis had ever naturally produced — a continent wrapped in shimmering forests, mountains crowned with crystalline peaks, lakes glowing with soul‑energy, rivers that seemed to flow through both space and time. The air tasted different here, heavy with power she recognized instantly.
Her own.
"This plate…" Arsere muttered, eyes narrowing. "It's using all four of my primal energies. Soul, time, void, space… That's cheating."
Virex whistled softly. "It's enormous. Bigger than three hell plates combined."
"More like four," Xian corrected, equally stunned. "And… are those creatures?"
There were billions. Tiny jelly‑creatures drifting like floating lamps. Great lumbering beasts with shell‑covered backs. Sleek forest hunters with crystalline horns. A perfectly self‑sustaining ecosystem — born from nowhere, yet thriving like it had existed for ages.
But that wasn't the strangest part.
Near the center of the plate, in a vast clearing beneath the world tree's roots, an entire group of the twin‑pupil elves gathered. They raised their hands toward the sky, forming a circle of glowing symbols.
And then—
A giant marble statue of Arsere erupted from the ground.
Life‑sized? No. It was mountain‑sized. Majestic. Perfectly sculpted. Even the expression captured her usual "I'm surrounded by idiots" look.
"They're worshipping me," Arsere said flatly.
"Already!?" Xian's jaw dropped.
The elves continued bowing, chanting her name in unison, their dual pupils spinning like cosmic wheels.
Arsere stared at them, speechless.
"I didn't introduce myself," she finally said. "I didn't even show myself. So how do they know who I am?"
Xian nodded slowly. "Yeah… you didn't even leak your profile here this time."
Virex crossed his arms. "Then who told them?"
Arsere sighed deeply and rubbed her temple.
"I did."
Both Virex and Xian froze.
"…Huh?" they said together.
Arsere looked up at the world tree towering above them, its leaves glowing with energy.
"When I created Crevalis," she explained, "I used a part of my soul as fuel for the tree. So the world tree is technically… a fragment of me."
Xian blinked. "Meaning…?"
"Meaning," Arsere continued, "the tree has its own thoughts. It sees me as its 'master.' Like a child trying to impress a parent."
Virex stared at the glowing plate. "So… the world tree secretly created an ENTIRE plate just to make you proud?"
"That's exactly what happened."
"And the creatures here worship you because—?"
"Because the tree told them," Arsere groaned. "It literally whispered into their newborn souls: 'That's your creator, Arsere, go worship her.'"
Xian burst into laughter.
"You've accidentally become a natural religion!"
"I didn't ask for followers!" Arsere snapped. "And why is the statue THAT big!?"
The elves cheered louder, as if praising her frustration.
Arsere sank into a squat on the floating platform, staring blankly at the glowing land.
"And because the tree used my own primal energies to shape the plate, these elves can wield them too," she continued. "Meaning they can manipulate one of my four powers."
Xian's eyes gleamed. "That's amazing."
"Amazing? It's terrifying!" Arsere shouted. "I just became guardian of a race that can bend space, time, souls, AND void. I'm going to have work now."
Virex smirked. "Congratulations. You're a guardian deity."
"I didn't apply for the position," Arsere muttered.
Below, the elves erupted into another round of chanting.
Ar—Se—Re!
Ar—Se—Re!
Virex whispered, "At least they're enthusiastic."
Arsere dropped her head in defeat.
"I swear… Crevalis just speed‑ran mythology."
She sighed, stood back up, and took one last look at the plate.
"Fine. If this is my responsibility… I'll handle it. But seriously—no more surprise children."
The world tree rustled.
Arsere's eyes narrowed.
"Don't you dare."
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