Chapter 25 – "The Birth of a World"
Floating in the vastness of space, Soma gazed at a massive star — larger and brighter than before — burning brilliantly at the middle of space.
Around it, nine planets orbited slowly, tracing glowing paths across the blackness.
Soma tried to speak. Where are we?
But from his mouth, no sound came.
Beside him, Alex floated quietly, her gaze fixed on the blazing sun.
> "The twin stars have merged flawlessly," she said softly. "From their scattered debris, gas, and dust, nine planets have coalesced — forming a magnificent new solar system."
She observed the orbits for a moment, then turned toward Soma.
> "We are standing above the third planet. It lies within the star's habitable zone. If given time and resources, this world can sustain life."
Soma focused on the third planet below. Its surface was a chaotic mix of blackened rock and glowing rivers of molten lava that twisted like ribbons across the land. In a few places, vast bodies of water shimmered — but they boiled continuously, releasing heavy clouds that burst into storms. Each rainfall hissed against the fiery ground, only to turn back into vapor moments later.
> "How many years will it take for the surface to cool down enough to sustain microbial life?" he asked.
> "A few millions years more," Alex replied instantly.
Soma nodded and closed his eyes. The Rune appeared in his mind, and he summoned the Genesis Ring.
---
SOUL STORAGE
1. Soul Fragments: 709,000,270
2. Awakened Souls: 16,007,090
3. Intelligent Souls: 118
4. Transcendental Souls: 0
5. Immortal Souls: 0
6. Divine Souls: 0
---
He focused on the Creation tab.
HIGH HEAVEN
> A thousand-square-foot area, unaffected by time and space.
Required 130,000 Awakened Souls.
Yes / No
After selecting "Yes," Soma turned his attention to the Third Ring — Chronos. The fourth symbol was still spinning. He realized it had remained active for over a week.
He focused on it, and new glowing text appeared:
> Requires 1,000 Awakened Souls to activate.
Yes / No
When he selected "Yes," he opened his eyes and found himself standing on a vast, flat white surface — silent and still.
When he looked down toward the solar system, the planets moved as if time were in fast-forward.
Soma smiled faintly, gazing at the dark planet. "It will take time…"
He turned toward Alex. "Hey, help me build a house."
With Alex's guidance and the Rune's power, Soma constructed a home that resembled his grandmother's — simple, warm, and familiar.
When it was done, he sat at the edge of the glowing platform, gazing at the world below. The once-fiery planet was cooling — its surface darkening, oceans beginning to form. Blue patches spread across the continents.
> "Now," Soma said softly, "it looks more like Earth."
He examined the planet further.
To the south lay four continents; from east to west, three more — seven in total, stretching like a vast cross surrounded by shining oceans.
> Looking toward Alex, Soma asked, "How big is this planet?"
Alex analyzed briefly.
> "It's about 2.7 times larger than Earth. The central continent alone is bigger than Asia and Europe combined."
Soma gasped. "Really?" He smiled, satisfied.
Then, using his Void Walker ability, he descended toward the planet's surface in a blink, slipping through space like a beam of light.
He appeared above a vast ocean. The air shimmered with heat, but as he approached the water, he saw — floating just below the surface — thin, hair-like green strands.
> "Hey, look!" Soma called. "There are already plants here!"
Alex hovered beside him, observing carefully.
> "The world is ready to sustain life now," Alex said. "We should begin planting the tree seeds."
Soma nodded and closed his eyes. Moments later, countless seeds materialized in the air around him — swirling like dust in sunlight.
Alex enlarged her form, enveloped the seeds, and began to scatter them like gentle rain.
---
Gazing toward the vast continent, Soma thought, Days and weeks have passed — and we've barely covered half of the main landmass.
> "Creator," Alex said patiently, her voice like wind over glass, "you don't need to plant trees everywhere.
Once they take root and new seeds emerge, the wind and air will spread them naturally."
Soma exhaled softly, his eyes still on the horizon where blue oceans met molten-red cliffs.
"You're right. It'll take hundreds of years for everything we've done to take full effect," he said quietly. "We should head back soon."
Alex hovered beside him, her glow dim and thoughtful.
> "Before we leave," she added, "the Creator should release souls into this world."
Soma frowned slightly. "Why?"
Alex turned toward him, her light pulsing faintly as if reflecting distant stars.
> "I've been researching souls," she explained. "When a living being dies, its soul separates from the body.
If it doesn't find a suitable vessel, it begins to fragment — and from those fragments, smaller life forms are born.
In other words, souls are the building blocks of all life.
If you release a large number of them here, intelligent life will evolve far faster."
Her tone shifted, clinical yet reverent, as she continued:
> "We currently have six known soul types:
100,000 Soul Fragments = 1 Awakened Soul
1,000 Awakened Souls = 1 Intelligent Soul
10,000 Intelligent Souls = 1 Transcendental Soul.
The remaining two types — Immortal Souls and Divine Souls — remain beyond our current understanding.
Based on my calculations, a single Intelligent Soul can give rise to nearly 100 million microbial lives.
As those organisms evolve, their soul quality increases — eventually merging into higher forms of existence."
Soma listened, eyes wide, a quiet awe settling over him. "That's… incredible."
He closed his eyes, summoning the rune once more.
Gazing at the seven glowing rings, Soma hesitated. "But… I don't know how to release them."
For a moment, only silence filled the air — the distant hum of ocean waves, the faint molten scent rising from the ground beneath his feet.
Then an idea came to him.
He whispered mentally, Release all souls.
The Rune began to hum — low, resonant, alive.
In the display before him, the numbers in the Soul Storage began to drop rapidly, vanishing one by one.
Then he felt it — a rush of warmth in his chest.
He opened his eyes.
Countless radiant orbs poured from his body, drifting gently into the newborn world below.
They spread like fireflies scattered across a dark sea, fusing with wind, water, and earth.
Some fell into the oceans, glowing faintly before dissolving into the waves.
Others sank into the soil, pulsing softly beneath volcanic plains.
The air shimmered with quiet light — a celestial snowfall of souls.
Soma watched in silence, an unexplainable peace blooming in his chest.
"It feels like… the Rune understands me," he murmured.
Alex floated beside him, her form reflecting the endless shimmer below.
Neither spoke. The moment itself was sacred — too vast for words.
Then Soma exhaled slowly, closed his eyes, and focused on the Closed Eye symbol.
Light folded around him — and the world fell silent once more.
---
Opening his eyes, he let out a long yawn, stretched his arms lazily, and dragged himself downstairs.
"Grandma?" he called out once.
Silence.
He frowned and tried again, louder this time. "Grandma?"
Still nothing.
"She didn't come back yet…" he murmured, a small crease forming on his forehead. The house felt a little too quiet — the kind of silence that made you notice your own heartbeat.
Then the phone buzzed.
He picked it up. "Hello?"
> "Hey, man! What's up? How's your lockdown life?"
Dev's voice came through the line, cheerful but slightly muffled.
Soma smiled faintly, rubbing his eyes. "Nothing special. Reading manga, wasting time, you know — the usual."
> "Ugh, same here. I'm dying of boredom. Tina went with my dad to her uncle's place, so it's just me and Mom stuck at home. I swear, I've watched every movie on X-flix twice."
Soma chuckled, leaning against the wall. "We'll rematch in that game once this lockdown's over. You better be ready to lose again."
> "In your dreams," Dev snorted, then hesitated. "Hey… did you see that sky thing? The blackout?"
Soma's tone shifted, careful. "Not really. I was in my room when it happened."
> "Dude, it was insane! Mom and I were in the car on the way to the mall — and then boom! The sky just turned black. Every car stopped, people got out with their phones, filming everything. It looked… unreal. Like something straight out of a sci-fi movie."
Soma stayed quiet for a beat, imagining it through Dev's words.
> "Bro, it felt like… I dunno, maybe one of those 'dungeon gates' finally opened. Just like in those manhwas you love."
Soma laughed softly. "You've been reading too much fantasy, man."
> "Hey, I've even got a recording! I'll send it to you later."
"Sure," Soma said, smiling. "I'll check it out."
> "Alright. Don't vanish again, okay? Talk soon."
The call ended with a beep.
Soma stared at his phone for a moment, Dev's words echoing faintly in his mind.
"Dungeon gates, huh?" he muttered, half amused, half thoughtful.
He shook his head, pushing the thought aside.
Later that night, after dinner, Soma lay on his bed. The fan spun lazily above him, creaking every few seconds. His eyes followed its slow rhythm, the steady whir filling the silence.