< The world of Asteria is empty. Shape it as you wish, oh dear Great One. >
< Begin the creation?... >
Seeing the new pop-ups, Kyle looked more than just confused—not because he couldn't understand the words, but because, to his understanding, This was clearly a world-building game. What made him wonder, however, were the prior events and how his phone showed nothing other than this interface.
As the son of one of the most influential figures in the country and the heir to the long-standing Mercer Clan, he had seen his fair share of wonders—but nothing came close to what he had just experienced.
Putting those thoughts aside, he was more curious about what would happen next, so he clicked on the "Begin Creation" option on the screen.
< To begin creation, 100 Demios are required. >
"I knew it… it's like one of those paid world-building games where every little thing requires money."
He wasn't saying this out of pure suspicion, but because of what the screen showed next.
< 10 Demios = 20 Zenith >
Kyle narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So it's using real-world currency…?"
Well, what could he say? If there was anything he was short on, it was definitely not money.
So he didn't care and bought Demios.
< 10,000,000 Demios credited >
He bought enough, thinking he would just try what this game was all about. After all, he couldn't just waste money like this, right?
With that kind of thinking, Kyle resumed his exploration.
< Would you like to begin the creation? >
< Yes > < No >
He readily pressed "Yes," eager to see what would happen next.
< 100 Demios spent. Creation begins. >
< Would you like to strengthen the core of your world? >
< Yes > < No >
< 200 Demios required per strengthening of the core >
< Proceed? >
Kyle didn't hesitate even a bit and spent the Demios.
< 200 Demios used to strengthen the core >
< 200 Demios used to strengthen the core >
< 200 Demios used to strengthen the core >
< 200 Demios used to strengthen the core >
....
Kyle continued strengthening the core until the option was greyed out.
< Your world has entered infancy. Observe it carefully, and shape it with your will. >
As this pop-up appeared on the screen, the display started to change rapidly.
"Wait… this is more fun than I imagined. This really isn't your average game—just look at the graphics and environment," Kyle said.
As he spoke, he saw the world slowly build itself on the screen. The world grew out of nothing—the sky, sea, and land taking shape one after another. The entire scene looked almost like a dream.
But while everything was being formed, the world felt a little empty.
The land had no trees or life. The sea had no fish or movement. The sky had no clouds or sun.
Only vast lands stretched endlessly, and oceans flowed with silent, empty water. The only remarkable thing about the world was its sheer size.
Thinking of this, Kyle started exploring the screen to see if there were any other options available—and surely there were. However, many of them were greyed out, with even their names showing as "Locked"
But there, at the top-right corner of the screen, was an icon shaped like a hammer.
Seeing it, Kyle simply clicked on it.
Letters appeared the moment he clicked the icon.
"Begin Creation: Create whatever you can to fill your world."
"Oh… so this finally lets me create things, Well then… let's see what I can create."
"Available Options:
World Tree Seed — 80,000 Demios
Name Unknown — 100,000 Demios
Small Fish — 50,000 Demios"
"Why would a small fish cost this much? Isn't it too expensive compared to the others?"
These three were the only options Kyle considered—not because he didn't have other choices, but because the rest were cheap items worth only 10 to 100 Zenith.
And if there was one thing Kyle never did, it was buy something cheap.
But what he wondered was the basis for these prices.
The World Tree might actually be worth it—he had read about such things in novels before. And the "Unknown" option could also be something extraordinary, as things labeled unknown were usually… Super crazy things.
But what he couldn't understand was why a small fish would be in the same price range as a World Tree seed.
"...That doesn't make sense."
After a moment of thought, he still selected it—out of sheer curiosity.
After the purchase, for a moment nothing happened.
But a few seconds later, a sudden ripple appeared at the center of the world.
The ground began to tremble slightly, as if something beneath it was awakening.
Then—
A golden seed appeared, floating in the air.
It slowly descended toward the ground, and just like a stone sinking calmly into the sea, the seed passed through the surface and settled at the very center of the world.
In the next moment—
A small root emerged within the empty world of Asteria.
That was probably the World Tree seed.
At the same moment the World Tree took root, a small red fish also appeared in the world.
But to his surprise, the fish didn't appear in the water—
It was in the air.
Swimming…
—or rather, floating.
"...Now that's weird… though, considering its price, maybe that's not so weird."
After all, to Kyle, even if it was floating—or swimming in the air—it was still just a fish.
Which only made its price still the weirdest part.
"Well… that's two out. What about the other one?"
Just as he said that, the northern part of the world—more specifically, a large section of land—suddenly separated itself from the rest.
Kyle's eyes narrowed.
"...What now?"
The screen shifted on its own, focusing on that isolated land.
At first, nothing seemed different.
Then—
A thick layer of fog began to spread across the entire region.
Slowly… steadily… it covered everything.
The once empty land was now hidden beneath a deep, silent mist.
The atmosphere changed.
Even though it was just a screen, Kyle could feel something was off.
"...This feels different."
At the very center of that land, something stirred.
A faint shape… barely visible through the fog.
It wasn't clear.
It wasn't defined.
But something was there.
Something… was being born.
The fog grew denser.
The air around it seemed heavier.
And then—
< First Continent Created >
< Name: Unknown >