102. Stream
Let’s consider the image of the existence that people think of as a god.
Sometimes they are infinitely merciful, but occasionally they exercise destructive power, bringing divine punishment to the earth and caring for all things on earth.
Of course, there may be differences based on various perspectives and cultural backgrounds.
Depending on the image, they can vary greatly.
However, there are several characteristics that anyone would commonly think of when calling them gods.
Omniscience and omnipotence.
There exist alien concepts unique to them that can only be found in gods, concepts that all on earth would look up to.
Han is a god.
He had eyes that could see all things in the world, a library, and a system.
But that alone was not the entirety of a god.
That is a power limited to omniscience.
***
Han joined the channel.
A vast universe.
In that place with a backdrop of red and blue stars flowing like meteors and a silent vast universe, countless large and small beings are visible.
They are all gods.
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[Channel 001.]
[Current participants 32/100.]
[Anonymous032: Ugh. Those darn orcs. Why did they have to detonate a nuclear bomb in my territory? I’ve been pitying them as they were on the brink of extinction, but I can’t take it anymore. You all are going extinct. Die, divine punishment.]
[Anonymous276: hahahaha, good luck. That’s just their species’ nature. They fight to the death. That’s why you need to manage well so they don’t get their hands on interplanetary destruction weapons. Otherwise, they’ll keep looking over others’ lands.]
[Anonymous032: Ugh. It’s driving me crazy. The surface is so irradiated it’s visibly boiling. This is irreparable. Damn terrorists.]
…
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Currently, Hani’s body was still tied to the earth.
However, here, in the Great Universe, he was, like others, a complete entity.
It was just like when he accessed the previous library.
He looked around at the users.
There was no commonality in their appearances.
Some were as small as humans, while others had horns or wings above their heads, and still, some were as huge as the surrounding planets.
The only thing that was unanimously the same was that their forms did not have clear distinctions.
However, observing the conversations among the gods, one could realize that, in many ways, they were not so different from humans as one might think.
Their thoughts were ordinary, they cared about earthly beings, and occasionally harbored minor grievances.
The case of Anonymous032 was a perfect example of that.
[Anonymous032: Using Creative Mode might make recovery possible somehow, but… it will still take a long time. It’s tricky.]
[Anonymous094: It might take hundreds of years. After all, radiation needs to interact with the planet’s purification process.]
“Creative Mode?”
As he was browsing through the channels.
He suddenly noticed something eye-catching.
[This mode allows direct customization of the natural environment on Earth. From simple land modifications to more proactive alterations of the planet’s surface.]
“Such a thing existed?”
It was a sound he had never heard before.
“Can I use it too?”
[It is possible.]
“But why wasn’t I informed about this until now?”
[The existence of this function can only be passed down through the oral tradition of other divine races. In other words, it means the function remains locked until heard of.]
“…Oral tradition?”
When Hani expressed doubt about this unfamiliar mention, the system responded.
[Oral tradition holds special power for the gods. The sacred power and abilities you currently use in reality are all based on it.]
“What? What does that mean…”
As he questioned the incomprehensible statement, Hani’s voice became blurred.
Wait. Just a moment.
Something was clicking.
-Thank you, my Lord…
Suddenly, he recalled the times when elves prayed.
“No way?”
“That ‘no way’ is the power of oral tradition.”
He had seen it several times before.
It was just that recognizing it was difficult.
“Whenever the elves prayed, a golden light would inevitably flow. That… was the power that was being transmitted to me?”
[That’s correct. Similarly, the transmission of this Creative Mode is the same. The oral tradition of other divine races flowed to you.]
So, it was the power of the gods.
Well, the function of channeling surely wouldn’t exist without reason.
Just like the Akashic Records, there must have been a reason for its existence.
Suddenly, feeling nervous, he asked,
“System.”
[Please speak.]
“Are there more things like this?”
[…]
Silence.
However, the answer was sufficient.
***
Released the channeling.
Ring!
[“From now on, as a genuine ‘transcendent’ being, you can proceed.”]
[“Manipulation of the natural environment is possible.”]
[“Creative Mode will be newly added to the status window!”]
Indeed, alarms popped up consecutively as the system had mentioned.
“…Manipulation?”
[“A kind of creative mode, or a deity mode. You can create rivers, carve mountains, dig deep into the earth. As you grow, you will be able to manipulate various terrains like clouds, volcanic landscapes, seas, and so on.”]
Oh my god!
His mouth fell open involuntarily.
The realization hit him immediately upon hearing it.
“Isn’t this something from a construction simulation game?”
[That’s correct.]
Certainly, there had been some signs of this before.
For instance, the sun was one of them.
Other facilities, such as fountains and streetlights, also had their own relevance.
It wasn’t entirely out of the blue.
‘…Perhaps all of these were clues for the present moment.’
[Would you like to confirm the terrain manipulation function?]
“Of course. Show me quickly.”
In response, a list of various terrain features appeared in front of him.
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[River creation is possible.]
[You can dig or elevate the terrain.]
[To select the type of brush, please click on this list.]
[Massive rocks, mountain ranges, and soil alterations are possible.]
[To choose the type of rock, please click on this list.]
[Precise terrain changes are possible according to your manipulation.]
[For each unit area of 100 square meters, 100 points (Pt) will be consumed per terrain manipulation.]
────────
“Ah.”
At that sound, his mouth fell open instantly.
“Is this also a point?”
[That’s correct.]
“…Darn it.”
It takes a full hour to fill up with just 100 points.
So, even if you spend a whole day, you’d only be able to touch an area equivalent to a mere 2,400 pyeong.
Of course, it’s undoubtedly a vast expanse, but that’s just talk from someone who doesn’t know this place.
At least it was ridiculously low.
Even just considering the square footage of this plaza, it has already expanded to a point where the end is out of sight.
It might require tens of thousands of points, or perhaps even more.
“It’s too short of points than I thought. I believed there was some leeway.”
[That’s correct.]
…Well, alright.
When you think about it, everything starts somewhere.
Even if it may seem like this now, who knows what it will turn into later.
Have points not always been insufficient until now?
“At first, it’s about creating a strong current.”
I know what is most urgent.
“It’s urgent to establish an ecosystem. Currently, this forest relies solely on the World Tree and the sunlight above the sky.”
Certainly, the endless power source was never going to run dry.
But strictly speaking, this land was still not much different from a barren desert.
Although the forest had grown lush with flowers, grass, and trees, one of the most crucial elements, water, was limited.
Of course, water did exist.
Deep within the frozen permafrost, there was still an abundance of nutrients and moisture.
However, that was not the portion granted to Han.
All residents of this plaza depended on the water flow from the fountain.
In hindsight, it had been quite useful.
It served as the elves’ source of drinking water and domestic water.
It was an essential resource vital for their survival.
“But honestly… it’s quite inconvenient to have to fetch water from the fountain every time it’s needed.”
While the residents had adapted to their current lifestyle, upon closer examination, it was clear that it was a time-consuming process.
Furthermore, there were issues with the forest.
Upon reflection, the forest had a somewhat abnormal structure.
From the smallest flowers and trees to the tiniest grass.
They all relied entirely on the blessings and nutrients of the World Tree.
If anything were to go wrong with the World Tree tomorrow, it would spell disaster for the entire place.
Although the World Tree was indeed crucial, Han needed another self-sufficient water source that could sustain them closely in case of any mishaps.
Yes, a water source.
Suddenly, memories of a small stream trickling down the mountain that they used to follow with their parents in their childhood came to mind.
Among the rocks in the stream, Han spotted crayfish and small minnows that had been hiding underneath.
“Yes, this is it.”
As a limited being, Han couldn’t transform a vast area into a river.
So, what if he tried to make it thin and long?
Like the small stream he had seen in his childhood, flowing gently.
By doing this, he could create a huge river in just a few days.
A smile crept onto Han’s lips.
“After all, water is the source of everything.”
Simply circulating along the long riverbed was enough.
It would serve as a source of vitality for many small and large creatures and play a role in the circulation system.
I don’t really think I can create a huge lake or sea.
At least, for now, there were certainly limits for Han.
However, creating a river flow at a level where the ecosystem could circulate was definitely achievable for him.
“A riverbed that I create myself.”
Exciting.
There’s truly no feeling like becoming a god.
It felt like playing black and white in childhood.
As Han gazed down at the ground, a message from the system popped up.
[Would you like to start creating a river flow?]
“Of course.”
Thud!
Indeed.
With a light touch from Han, the ground cracked deeply.
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At that moment, a powerful vibration spread across the ground.
– “What’s happening?!”
– “An earthquake?!”
The elves looked around in astonishment.
For Han, it was just a simple gesture, but to them, it felt like a strong earthquake.
But Han was skilled.
He had accumulated experiences until now.
He gently began to dig into the ground with his fingertips, avoiding them.
Just lightly teasing the fingertips caused the surrounding environment and terrain to be excavated, revealing a path.
Rumble.
Below the long-formed path, a stream that had appeared from somewhere began to fill in.
It was a fascinating sight.
“Oh, wow…!”
It was the moment when the first stream was born.