Creation Talent
"What’s this, Jihun?"
Kim Jihun's parents stared in bewilderment at the sight before them. There stood the luxurious countryside villa he had contracted just a few days ago—a high-end property boasting a 1 billion won price tag.
The villa Jihun had purchased was now complete. The moment it finished construction, he brought his mother and father straight to Wonju to show them.
"This is the house I got for you as a gift, Mom and Dad. What do you think?"
Jihun grinned brightly as he spoke.
His parents could only gape in shock at the sudden gift. They never dreamed he'd present them with a house out of nowhere.
Staring at their son in disbelief, they said, "Jihun, what kind of money do you have to buy such an amazing place? It looks brand new—must've cost a fortune."
"Haha, my watches sold better than I expected, so I made a good chunk of change. Come on, let's head inside and take a look around."
Jihun beamed inwardly at their stunned expressions as he opened the mansion's door.
The interior was cozy, spacious, and airy. This two-story home with a large yard was meticulously designed with the residents' comfort in mind. A vast living room, warm interior decor, and top-notch amenities—it had everything.
Jihun began touring the new house with his parents.
They marveled at the snug, stylish space.
"Honey, look at this! The kitchen is huge!"
"The view is incredible. You can see the mountains so clearly. Feels refreshing just looking at it."
"And the yard's plenty big. Perfect for raising a dog."
Overjoyed by their son's gift, they eagerly explored every corner.
Jihun smiled softly watching them. After a lifetime in cramped, dingy quarters, seeing them enjoy this luxury filled him with joy.
They're so happy. Thank goodness, he thought.
He felt a pang of guilt for not treating them sooner, despite his abilities. He'd held back on using his powers to renovate their home, fearing exposure, all to uphold his principles. But now, with his newfound wealth, he prioritized them first.
Satisfied that he'd fulfilled his filial duty in his own way, Jihun felt content.
His parents moved to Wonju right away, settling into the house he'd gifted them. Jihun had already furnished it completely with high-end furniture and appliances, so they only needed to pack personal belongings—a quick and easy relocation.
They were profoundly grateful.
"Jihun, thank you so much. I never imagined enjoying such luxury in my lifetime."
"Of course—who's kid are you? We're so proud."
Having spent their lives in a tiny, rundown Seoul home, this magnificent mansion filled them with immense joy and gratitude.
As his touched parents beamed, Jihun handed over a card.
"Mom, take this."
It was a debit card loaded with cash, along with a bankbook.
They eyed it curiously.
"Go on, it's for living expenses—I put some money in there. Let me know if you need more."
In truth, the card held a hefty 100 million won. Jihun had set it aside specifically for them.
Assuming it was just pocket money, they accepted it. Jihun chuckled inwardly, imagining their shock upon checking the balance.
"We should have a housewarming party later."
"Sounds great to me."
"Building a house like this back in my hometown... it's a strange feeling."
Jihun's father's hometown was Wonju in Gangwon Province. He'd moved to Seoul in his youth and settled there, but his roots were in Wonju. That connection had influenced Jihun's choice of location.
With that, they finished touring the house contentedly and completed the move successfully. Now, Jihun's parents would enjoy a comfortable early retirement in their new Wonju home.
Jihun returned to Seoul with a proud smile.
...
"Now it's just me in the house."
In the silent home, Jihun stood blankly in the middle of the living room, murmuring to himself. His gaze fell on a framed family photo.
He loved his family dearly and wanted to stay with them. But he couldn't.
I need this bracelet to attend school.
Jihun glanced at the bracelet on his left wrist—Asrie's bracelet.
Fixed Coordinate Dimensional Gate Granted
Coordinates: Kim Jihun's House - Mid-level School 'Allei'
Usage: Infuse Creation Force
Indeed, the bracelet bore fixed coordinates. That's why he couldn't leave this place.
Of course, it wasn't just the bracelet. He still had strong ties to Seoul. He planned to take the college entrance exam next year, attend university, and stay close to his friends. Unlike his parents, he'd spent the most time here.
That's why Jihun stayed. He was young, with much left to do.
"What a stark contrast, though."
Shaking off his thoughts, Jihun surveyed his home anew. Dirt and signs of age were everywhere.
To reiterate, his house was an old, shabby little place. Compared to the luxury villa in Wonju, it was worlds apart—hardly livable.
This won't do. Once my body's fully recovered, I need to fix up the house first, he resolved inwardly.
When living with his parents, he'd avoided using his powers to renovate, lest they discover his abilities. But now that they were in Wonju, he could freely enhance it.
He eagerly awaited his full recovery.
...
"...You're still immature, Alquinoa."
Asrie sensed an impure energy approaching her divine realm—the insidious force bent on reducing all existence to nothingness. It was the power of the Void.
The dark energy that would erase all life and bring the universe's end. The foe of the cosmos, the gods' weakness, the ultimate destroyer.
Asrie rose from her seat to defend her realm—and Kim Jihun.
"...Hm?"
But the opponent was unexpected. It wasn't Alquinoa. The aura resembled hers, yet those who appeared to confront her were Ma-in—void-spawned mock lifeforms.
Ma-in: Artificial beings forged from void energy, driven by an instinctual hatred for all life, compelled to annihilate it.
Over 300 of them were advancing on her divine realm.
Asrie sensed something ominous.
This is dangerous.
Ma-in couldn't harm a hair on Asrie's head. Though their void power was vast, their output was too low for real damage.
Still, eliminating them perfectly would take time. Their immense void reserves demanded it.
But if something happened to Jihun while she dealt with them? She couldn't respond swiftly.
I hope nothing happens to Kim Jihun.
With that thought, she unfurled her hundred-winged feathers and began channeling her Creation Force and divine power.
...
Alquinoa looked down. Amid the vast galaxy floated a blue star: Earth.
The world Asrie—once her kin—had crafted with love and care. A place misunderstood by the gods for its unique management. And now, the target of her invasion.
Alquinoa muttered mechanically, devoid of emotion.
-Come forth.
Her voice carried void ripples. It echoed through the space near Earth, summoning dozens of Ma-in from around her—spares not sent to Asrie's realm.
-Destroy the barrier.
At her command, the Ma-in moved to shatter it.
Their method was brutally simple: charge and collide.
Composed of void, they could nullify Creation Force and divine power.
Dozens of black void tendrils streaked toward Earth like dark meteors, slamming into the atmosphere.
They met resistance.
-Boom!
Asrie's radiant golden barrier, woven from her holy power, blocked them.
The Ma-in crashed against it, gradually dissolving as void clashed with creation, annihilating each other.
-Barrier destruction in progress. Continue.
Dozens more descended, their black trails battering the golden veil. They sacrificed their bodies to erode it.
How many collisions later, the barrier finally shattered.
-Crack!
The sound reverberated through space. With the protective veil against cosmic anomalies gone, Alquinoa activated her authority to locate Kim Jihun.
Detecting him was easy—just sense the Creation Force and divine energy on Earth.
She pinpointed him instantly: the far edge of a continent called Asia, a faint creative aura.
Rousing void power, she intoned,
-Barrier destruction confirmed. Target location confirmed.
She glanced back to check remaining Ma-in: only two left. Most had been expended breaching that tiny planet's divine barrier.
Normal barriers fell to a handful of Ma-in. Earth's had consumed over 70.
Asrie was exceptionally skilled—and cherished this world deeply.
Alquinoa looked down at Earth again.
-Descending.
Her form plunged, drawn by gravity, accelerating toward the planet. She pierced the atmosphere as a black streak.
With the divine barrier destroyed, nothing could stop Alquinoa, infused with void essence.
Defying atmospheric friction, she landed on the surface.
-Thud!
Black wings fully spread, she touched down. Asphalt shattered beneath her feet; clouds parted, leaving a massive gap in her wake.
-Arrived.
Alquinoa murmured softly, surveying her surroundings. Panicked intelligent beings stared; metal vehicles dotted the area; towering skyscrapers loomed.
To capture Kim Jihun, she'd landed in Seoul, South Korea—right in the heart of the city, black wings unfurled.
-Commencing capture of Kim Jihun.
Alquinoa intoned.