Keshav's POV
The next day dawned bright and golden.
Students gathered once again inside the Academy's colossal lecture hall.
This time, the atmosphere was heavier — filled with anticipation and a little nervousness.
Today wasn't about just creating a World.
Today, they would give birth to Life itself.
Keshav sat among the others, his terminal gently floating beside him like a loyal pet.
The 3D projection of his world hovered above his terminal — the planet rotating slowly, bathed in the golden light of the Artificial Star he had installed.
Around him, students whispered excitedly:
> "What kind of life should I start with?"
"I'm thinking plants first... something simple."
"No way! I want beasts — fierce and strong!"
Some were cautious, others ambitious.
Keshav remained quiet but alert, taking it all in.
---
Soon, Master Vallin once again entered the hall, this time accompanied by floating golden crates.
> "Today," Vallin spoke, "you take your next step toward godhood.
The birth of Life — the creation of true believers, ecosystems, civilizations — starts from a single seed."
He gestured, and the golden crates opened.
Inside were shimmering motes of light, each no bigger than a fingernail, but radiating power far beyond their size.
> "These are Life Seeds," Vallin said.
"Not mere DNA. Not just flesh.
Each Life Seed is a fusion of three things:
Law Fragments — The rules that shape reality itself.
World Will Threads — Raw strands of the world's consciousness.
Primal Soul Embers — Proto-souls capable of evolving naturally."
The students gasped softly.
> "When planted," Vallin continued, "these seeds will grow under your World's unique conditions.
They will mutate, evolve, adapt, or die — depending on your World's environment and your own guidance."
He paused meaningfully.
> "You will not create a species.
You will create an ecosystem."
---
Keshav's Turn
One by one, students were called to select their Life Seeds.
Some chose seeds designed for hardy plants.
Others picked seeds specialized for aquatic life.
A few dared to pick dangerous seeds meant for predatory creatures.
When Keshav's turn came, he selected a balanced Life Seed — one suited for starting simple plant-like organisms capable of surviving on his barren world.
As he touched the shimmering mote, it fused into his terminal, linking to his World Interface.
> [Life Seed Acquired.]
Following the process taught by Vallin, Keshav visualized a lush plain near one of the rivers in his World.
He 'planted' the Seed into the very foundation of the land.
At first, nothing happened.
Then...
Tiny green sprouts burst from the dry soil.
Roots spread rapidly, digging deep into the earth.
Leaves unfurled, absorbing the golden sunlight.
A primitive ecosystem was beginning.
> [World Update: First Life Form Planted.]
Keshav felt a strange emotion — something close to parental pride — as he watched the first verdant field grow under his golden sun.
---
System's POV
Meanwhile, deep in Keshav's mind-space, the System was working furiously.
It had secretly activated maximum [Scan] on the Life Seeds distribution and planting process.
Even though it couldn't understand laws yet, it could still record patterns, energy fluctuations, and construction sequences.
> "Interesting..."
"Laws, Soul Embers, World Wills...
If I had enough Energy Points and understanding, I could mass-produce these 'Life Seeds' in the future."
System quietly stored every bit of gathered data.
But for now, it could only observe.
On Keshav's World:
Sprouts grew steadily.
A self-sustaining cycle of photosynthesis and soil enrichment had begun.
Basic herbivore-compatible conditions forming.
---
System's Observation: Unconscious Soul's World
And in the chaotic World of the unconscious soul?
System's calculated sub-process observed something staggering:
Proto-life forms were spontaneously appearing without any Life Seeds!
Flickering trees that grew in moments and then collapsed into dust.
Mist-like creatures swirling in the dense fog, only to dissipate moments later.
Landscapes transforming and reverting endlessly.
Even without a conscious will, the anomalous world was creating chaotic, unstable life forms, as if reality itself couldn't settle into a final shape.
System observed:
> "Unstable Proto-Life...
If I can harness this chaotic evolution properly, it might surpass even the Academy's methods."
The Proto-Sun of that world had stabilized slightly too, shining a flickering light across jagged landscapes.
And again, System thought smugly:
> "Both worlds are mine to harvest.
I just have to make sure Keshav never realizes."
-------
Keshav's POV
Just as the students were admiring the tiny ecosystems forming in their Worlds, Master Vallin raised his hand, silencing the hall.
> "Listen carefully.
You have now created basic Life.
But true civilizations are born not just from plants and animals — they come from intelligent species."
He smiled meaningfully.
> "Starting tomorrow, you will begin the process of designing your World's first intelligent race."
A ripple of excitement and nervousness spread through the students.
> "But you will not do it alone.
Each of you will now gain access to the Creation Website — the greatest knowledge repository of our civilization."
He tapped on his terminal.
WHOOM — A wave of golden light descended from the ceiling.
Every student's personal terminal glowed brightly as it connected to a vast, unimaginable database.
---
System's POV
System observed the scene greedily.
As soon as the Connection was established, it tried to [Scan] the "Creation Website."
But the moment its scan touched the Network's outer layers...
> [ERROR: Access Denied.
Requirement: Law Understanding Level 1.
Energy Cost to bypass: 1,250,000 EP]
System's consciousness trembled.
> "One. Million. EP?"
"Forget it... for now."
Instead, System focused on what Keshav could see through his terminal.
Because if Keshav browsed something, System could observe it too — indirectly gathering information at zero cost.
> "Heh. Work, little host.
Learn everything for me."
---
Keshav's POV
Inside the Creation Website...
Thousands of templates for species design were available: humanoids, beasts, elementals, even pure energy-based lifeforms.
There were evolution paths, civilization structures, cultural templates, language blueprints, and even World Lore Frameworks.
A pop-up appeared on Keshav's terminal:
--------
> [New Assignment:
Design Your World's First Intelligent Race.]
Requirements:
One sentient species.
Initial society blueprint.
Basic language structure.
Mythology or belief system (optional bonus).
> Deadline: 30 Days
-------------
Keshav's mind raced.
'What should I create?' he thought.
He could feel the weight of destiny on his shoulders.
He would not just create life — he would create a civilization that would worship him as God.
---
System's Private Thoughts
Meanwhile, System smirked inside Keshav's soul.
> "Good. Very good.
You will design your believers...
and through them, you will evolve into a true God."
And secretly, System already started planning:
How to harvest Faith Energy.
How to accelerate World Growth behind Keshav's back.
How to secretly replicate World-Building Techniques for its own hidden purposes.