Chapter 2: Hello. World! (2)

Chapter 2: Hello. World! (2)

Like augmented reality, a search box appears in a floating square window before my eyes.

But without a keyboard or mouse... what am I supposed to do with this?

The cursor is blinking in the search box area, but... it's not like it's going to read my mind and automatically type for me.

Is there some kind of brainwave input feature? Should I search with a brainwave input device?

Just as I think this.

[Brainwave input device]

The words automatically appear in the search box and the search results show up.

Hmm. Maybe...

Search TreeWiki.

[TreeWiki]

Indeed, this is how it works.

Scrolling up and down adjusts automatically based on where I look. Closing the window also happens when I think about it disappearing...

It might be better than I thought. This thing.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com

It can useful for killing time or searching for various knowledge when needed.

Well, it's only for reading, but that alone is very precious to me right now.

Having somewhat understood the second bonus, knowledge about the third bonus now pours into my mind.

The power to freely control time. The power to speed up, pause, and reverse the flow of time.

The way to use this power... was to materialize a small pocket watch.

The pocket watch, connected by a thin chain, displayed not only the current time but also the year, month, and day.

However, everything is currently set to 0, and both the hour and minute hands are stopped at the 12 o'clock position.

There's also a ▶ symbol displayed on this strange watch.

On the edge of the watch, there are two buttons and a dial that can be turned, a curious device.

Is this how I control time? I cautiously press one of the buttons on the watch.

Tick.

As the sound of the winding spring stops, everything comes to a halt.

The slight breeze no longer blows. The dust stirred by my footsteps doesn't settle. Nothing can move.

A scene where time has frozen. Instead of the [ ▶ ] symbol, a [ II ] shape now appears on the watch.

I press the button again, and the paused time starts to flow once more.

Indeed, this is how it works. But to include such a cheat-like ability as a bonus... what was it thinking?

Well, how could I possibly understand the thoughts of that god? I might spend a lifetime thinking and still not understand.

Putting aside the thought of that god, a zero-productivity task, I continue to investigate the watch.

I carefully turn the dial attached to the top. If I'm right...

The flow of air speeds up significantly. The sun in the sky starts to move at a visible speed.

The pocket watch, which disappears when it leaves my hand and can be summoned again at any time, must be a power bound to me.

Now, it's time to test the most important bonus, the first bonus, the power of creation.

The ability to create anything I desire.

The ability to fill this world, which has no living beings except for some plants, with new life.

What should I create with this ability?

Humans? In a world with nothing? That's unreasonable.

Humans are at the top of the food chain. Without enough creatures below them, they would starve to death.

Should I start by creating basic life forms? But that feels a bit daunting.

Or... maybe it's better to create a bunch of primitive single-celled organisms and induce their own evolution?

It would take a lot of time, but time isn't much of an issue for me, who can change its flow as I wish.

The downside might be that there's no guarantee the evolution of life will go as I want.

Ah, no. Maybe I can create them with a direction for evolution?

For example... creating them so that mutations occur more frequently, more abundantly.

I'm not well-versed in biology, but if I create a bunch of creatures with such characteristics, scatter them across the world, and accelerate time... they should evolve and thrive on their own, right?

There's a possibility that some bizarre creatures might emerge... but I can tweak that a bit.

If I don't use this method and create everything directly... it seems like it would take a very long time. Let's just do it this way.

If something goes wrong... I'll handle it myself.

After all, I am a dragon, so I should have that much ability, right?

Ah, speaking of which, as a dragon, shouldn't I also use magic? I need to think about magic too.

Hmm... can I create magical power? Or do I need to create something imbued with magical power?

Well, either way, I'll just do it. The ability to create anything truly is omnipotent.

I stretched lightly and stood up, then used the first bonus, [Creation].

A translucent window appears before me. A window that allows me to make detailed settings about what to create.

Let's see... First, a creature. As simple as possible. High vitality, good environmental adaptability. Lifespan... maybe about a year.

Since I'm going for something simple, let's reference single-celled organisms. A creature so resilient that even if split in half, both parts would remain alive.

As for food... hmm... photosynthesis? No, no. There should be consumption and predation.

They might end up eating each other... but since it's the first attempt, let's go with this. They might nibble on abundant leaves or something.

Increase the mutation occurrence rate and frequency... Genetic mutation? What's this... hmm... let's include it!

Those well adapted to the environment will survive, and those that aren't will die.

Speaking of which, that person is really cruel. Why did he include plants but not animals? Sigh.

Oh, wait. Should I also create bacteria or viruses? Or has god already made them?

Hmm, I'm not sure. Well, if there's a problem, I can just rewind time and do it again.

Thus, I was able to create a creature that would become the common ancestor of all life.