Creation Talent
"It's been a while since I've come here."
Kim Jihun stepped into his Jihun's Subspace and murmured as he looked around. It had changed a lot from the early days. For one thing, there was now light. The small light orbs he'd created back then now illuminated the vast expanse of his subspace in full.
And then there were the buildings scattered everywhere. Regardless of type, these were the fruits of Kim Jihun's tireless efforts in material creation training. Towering office skyscrapers, European castles, famous landmarks—they all adorned his subspace, replicas he'd crafted one by one.
"Alright, time to get some Creation Force practice in!"
Jihun headed straight for the workshop he'd built. His subspace held all sorts of structures—castles, high-rises, landmarks, you name it—but if he had to pick the most useful one, it was definitely his workshop.
Kim Jihun's workshop wasn't your typical artisan's shed. It was massive, like an entire steel mill transplanted wholesale.
Well, there's plenty of space to spare.
In truth, Jihun didn't really need a dedicated workshop. Anywhere with his calculation aids and Creation Force could serve as one. But his subspace was enormous, so he was making the most of it—building a needlessly gigantic workshop in the process.
"Okay, let's get started."
Jihun approached his workshop and sat in a suitable spot. He began circulating his divine power and Creation Force. They blended seamlessly through his veins, achieving perfect balance.
Unlike his low-level god days, they now flowed fluidly at his command. His recent promotion to mid-level god had clearly sharpened his control over both.
Closing his eyes, Jihun kept circulating them.
It's definitely improved from before. But it's still not satisfying.
He could feel it clearly. Compared to his low-level god phase, efficiency had skyrocketed. His handling skills had advanced, and his divine circuits had evolved, yielding greater output with less effort.
Yet it fell far short of his goals. A thirst for more power gnawed at him.
How much more practice do I need to create with total satisfaction? Do I have to reach high-level god? Or general god?
Truth be told, Jihun's progress was astonishing. Most Creator Gods didn't hit true mastery until high-level god status, but he'd already perfected material creation and had hands-on experience with soul manipulation in bio-creation. And he'd only awakened as a god less than three months ago.
Still, the thirst persisted. A hunger to grow.
"Effort never betrays. Time to train."
Finishing his self-reflection, Jihun opened his eyes with a serious expression. He pondered what to practice.
More artifact creation? Or dive deeper into bio-creation?
Artifacts would prove useful in mid-level school and daily life. Bio-creation, on the other hand, would push him toward high-difficulty feats beyond his current reach.
After a moment's thought, he decided.
"Let's make more artifacts."
He remembered how his artifacts had effortlessly felled low-level gods during the promotion battle. He trusted them—they'd saved him multiple times.
Thus, artifacts it was.
"All things exist."
A noble divine utterance slipped from his lips. His hand glowed brightly.
As a mid-level god, Jihun's Creation Force was stronger, purer. It responded keenly to his will, crafting artifacts faster than ever.
Flash!
How much time passed? Not long, probably. His new artifact was complete.
◈ Effect: Generates a barrier
◈ Usage: Automatically activates barrier in crisis situations
Jihun gazed at the necklace he'd made. It was stunningly beautiful. Not too large or heavy. The gem was no bigger than a thumbnail, yet the intricate engravings within were exquisitely detailed. They sparkled with every ray of light, positive and negative reliefs dancing, while the central gem radiated ethereal allure.
That gem, in particular, shimmered with a luster unseen on Earth—dreamy, hypnotic, exuding luxury that would captivate anyone.
The overall design was breathtaking, princess-like elegance fit for a fairy tale, blending beauty and sophistication. Any expert would empty their coffers for it.
But Jihun's face soured with regret.
"I made it too feminine..."
Indeed. He'd gifted a similar necklace to his mother before. This time, his subconscious had recreated that feminine style—despite intending it for himself.
He set it aside in a corner and started over. Artifacts began piling up around him.
...
"Mm..."
Alquinoa—no, now called Asria—opened her eyes. She tilted her head.
"Where am I?"
She remembered consuming void essence and being swallowed by immense power. But after that, her memories were fragmented, like torn film—disjointed scenes only.
Propping herself up in bed, she slowly pieced together the past.
Half of Seoul... gone.
The low-level god staring at her in terror, Kim Jihun. He dropped his sword limply, kneeling in despair as he gazed at the half-vanished megacity.
I knew you'd reflect once you grew up, Asria.
Farewell, my sister. May the Great Law guide you...
Her sister—Asrie—from long ago, pushing her relentlessly. Truly furious now, she'd shed her leniency and struck with Creation Force-infused fists. Vision shook violently.
Alquinoa, do we have to kill her?
The once-despairing low-level god halting Asrie. He pulled a white orb from his subspace and, with Asrie, fed it to her.
The orb melting smoothly in her mouth—that was her last memory.
Reviewing it all, she realized.
"I've been captured..."
She examined her body. Intact as always—flawless skin, no wounds, clothes fine, no restraints.
Asria smirked.
"Idiots! Capturing me and not even bothering to restrain me properly. I'll graciously escape as thanks."
Whatever happened, they'd subdued her without proper bindings. Leaving her this unguarded was practically begging her to flee. If they wanted her gone that badly, who'd refuse?
Sneering inwardly at Jihun and Asrie, she summoned void power to bolt.
But she couldn't.
No response from her wings.
"...?"
Asria flinched. The reliable void power that always enveloped her—gone.
She tried again. Nothing. Dead silence from her wings.
She got out of bed and instinctively glanced at the wall mirror.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Is that... me?"
Her face was unchanged—the familiar beauty mirroring her sister's, delicate features intact. But her wings and long hair behind her—they were gray.
Gray!
In her endless life, she'd never seen gray wings on gods or Ma-shin. Always white or black, never this murky gray.
"No way..."
A hazy image flashed: just before blacking out, the low-level god Kim Jihun pulling out that white orb from his subspace.
How about this?
She knew now. They'd fed her a divine power essence. Used that precious thing to strip her void power!
"Ahh!"
Her strength failed; she collapsed to the floor. No void power, no divine power—nothing stirred.
She thrashed desperately with her senses. Not even a twitch.
She was now some ambiguous, powerless being—neither god nor Ma-shin.
Asria knew it instinctively.
"All my powers... gone?"
Despair crashed over her. The perfect loss of what had been her very breath. It had shielded her, eased her life, enabled her missions—now vanished.
Her body was little more than an ordinary intelligent being's.
"..."
She sat blankly on the floor, staring into space. Robbed of her everything, she couldn't snap out of her daze.
Drip.
Tears streamed down her cheek. Loss of power brought real tears—rare for her after eons without true weeping.
Fallen to the bottommost rung, she sobbed in self-loathing, on the verge of madness.
"Ah, you're awake."
How long had she sat there, lost and crying? A voice suddenly spoke.
One she knew well—the wretch who'd been her goal, who'd toppled her. Kim Jihun.
He'd just exited his subspace, looking at her.
Asria unleashed her fury.
"Grr, you bastard!"
Spotting his face, she lunged in rage. But Jihun, facing her wrath calmly, offered a glass with a smile.
"Here, have some of this and calm down. Thrashing around won't change anything."
She eyed the glass. Fizzing black liquid inside—cola.
I actually really love cola!
Next chapter coming right up!