The Creation (Part I)

I closed my eyes and focused my thoughts on envisioning a simple object. A white ball.

 [Path of Elation grants you 2 Soul XP.]

I'm 0.02% closer to my goal of Soul Rank 1. Something is better than nothing.

*Thud*

I opened my eyes and spotted a white ball resting on the floor. Picking it up, I inspected it thoroughly. "Pretty solid."

Taking a glance at my Status, I noted a significant decrease of 3 in my energy bar, leaving it at 12. Twenty percent energy for a single ball. Damn, was my energy stat weak as fuck!

The chill of the morning hours bit at my skin as I took a seat before the computer on my desk. The next creation couldn't be left to my imagination alone. A hasty Google search and a few clicks later, I was greeted with high-resolution images of ornate katana. A sharp katana was a perfect gift for Saeko to cut down the horde.

One katana caught my eye instantly — a striking violet blade that held an unearthly glow along its honed edge, slightly straighter than a traditional katana's curve. Its futuristic design, clearly inspired by science fiction aesthetics, was a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, much like my architectural style. The hilt showcased complex, intricate patterns that made my fingers itch to trace them.

Yeah, I'm making it for the crazy.

As I set about bringing this beauty into the world, I lost myself in the meticulous details — envisioning the size, the feel of the material, the texture of the hilt under my hands, the sharpness that could slice the air, and the rhythm of the patterns on the handle. It was more than simple imagination; it was an architect's focus translated into a different medium.

I failed a couple of times, getting too brittle of a weapon that cracked upon manifestation or lacking any sharpness. In my third attempt, the katana came out in its most perfect form. The sunlight pouring in from the window bounced off the newly manifested katana lying on my keyboard. My heart pounded with a mix of awe and exhilaration as I held up the result of my third attempt — the embodiment of perfection in my hands. The sense of achievement was overwhelming.

It was so freaking beautiful!

As its creator, I couldn't help but puff my chest. Truly the joy of creation was cut above everything else in the world, except for yandere. They are the peak of perfection.

[Path of Voracity grants you 4 Soul XP.]

Even Ego acknowledged my obsession. I chuckled and checked my energy bar again, which had now fallen to a mere 1 out 15.

I sat down on the bed and thought about the best weapon in my hands. In a world where each choice could mean the difference between life and death, I went back and forth between the baseball bats and hammers — easy head smashers for beginners like me. Yet, the idea of getting covered in blood and facing the undead at close range was anything but appealing. Also, they don't look cool, and looking cool was important.

If Ego was right about my adaptability, I could essentially pick up and master any weapon. In practicality, spears could be decent against zombies. One, zombies wouldn't dodge attacks aimed at their heads. Two, a spear had pretty nice range compared to other melee weapons. I'm definitely not biased towards spears since I liked Scathach — the spear wielding badass godslayer.

Once I get enough strength, I'll definitely visit the Type-Moon Verse and summon Scathach as well as Mama Raikou. Having a doting yandere mommy and a Godslaying Sensei by my side was an absolute must.

I once again reached for Google-Sensei's help in giving me a few pointers on a new spear. I immediately found one that struck my chords. In no time, a beautiful polearm was conjured into existence. Its silver spearhead was marked with delicate bronze etchings, bound to the cobalt blue shaft with elaborate bronze fittings. The spearhead could easily act as a dagger with its size. 

The moment I held it, a surge of appreciation filled me. It was lightweight, yet reassuringly robust. Swinging it around with my 15 strength was a breeze. The bedroom was big enough for me to swing it around, getting ahold of its weight and the force required to stab and slash.

Soon the world will face an apocalypse. I had to spend as little stamina as possible to avoid a meaningless death.

The word 'apocalypse' reminded me of the Fallout games. I could craft energy weapons from that world if I put my mind to imagining a valid structure. Powered by fusion cells, these energy weapons were not as loud as your typical guns and didn't have the same ammo weakness of normal guns.

Then again, revealing those items at my level would be suicidal. For now, they would remain a blueprint in my arsenal, waiting for the right moment to be brought into reality.

[Path of Elation grants you 2 Soul XP.]

"Ego, can you add an HP, Stamina, and energy bar at the corner of my sight? You know, like a game's HUD but less distracting?"

 [Yes.]

A translucent overlay flickered into existence at the edges of my vision. Sneaking a glance at the interface, I saw my energy stat was utterly depleted, and even my stamina had lost a fourth of its original value.

The Power of Creation truly drained me.

Deciding on a moment of reprieve, I took a rejuvenating shower, the cool droplets of water washing away my fatigue, then I waited for my energy to recover. By the time I was dressed for school, roughly twenty minutes later, I felt my energy back to its maximum capacity. Ready to dive back into crafting, I materialized the typical appraisal glass you'd find in any high fantasy game.

Identifying Glasses.

I used the magnifying glass over the katana, and the information poured into my head. Thrillmaker also showed it as a system prompt for convenience's sake.

 [Item Name - Steel Katana

Description: Ever wanted to roleplay as a space samurai? Now's your chance! Crafted by a master blacksmith who was obsessed with science fiction, this katana is so sharp it can slice through flesh and bones without breaking a sweat. The entire blade is forged from high-carbon steel, so it's as durable and sharp as it can get in the 21st century.

PS: Don't fight a dragon with this, and don't bring this to a gunfight.

Type: Physical two-handed weapon

Weight: A meager 1.6 kg, probably lighter than your laptop but way cooler to carry around.

Enchanted Skill: None.

Bonus effects - None.]

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Jesus, these descriptions are really something else."

Aside from the hilarious description, the weapon was nothing special. Then again, a non-magical weapon lacked any interesting information in the first place.

"Ego, can I make magical weapons like Excalibur?"

 [Your current energy reserves and Architect skill aren't sufficient to materialize Noble Phantasms.]

Expected as much. Even if I somehow made a Noble Phantasm, I was far too weak to wield them. Basically Skill issue. Kind of like handing Rhongomyniad to your average man. They wouldn't be able to make use of its magical powers.

As an architect, I'd absolutely try to create the ridiculous Noble Phantasms like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and Vimana. Flying fortresses tickled my fantasy itch.

I tried the Identifying Glasses on my spear.

 [Item Name - Titanium Spear

Description: Are you tired of your weapons breaking mid-battle like your grandpa's leg? Look no further! The Titanium Spear combines ancient craftsmanship with modern materials. With a design inspired by ocean waves and crafted from tough titanium alloy, this weapon will outlast your third marriage!

PS: It's not Poseidon's Trident. Don't try to stop ocean waves with this masterpiece.

Type: Physical two-handed weapon

Weight: A manageable 2.8 kg, or roughly the weight of two chihuahuas. Perfect for carrying around without breaking your back.

Enchanted Skill: None.

Bonus: None.]

Nothing useful so far. Still, the glasses would be very useful in the future when I can create some complex items.

What should I create next for my loadout? Healing items? Yeah, let's go with that. Imagining a vial filled with health recovery liquid did the trick.

A vial filled with tomato red fluids. I put it under the scope of my Identifying Glass.

 [Item Name - Low-Tier HP Recovery Potion

Description: Tired of groaning in pain or bleeding out in the rain? Good news! With a dash of Bloodroot, a sprinkle of Crystallized Honey, and a splash of water, we've brewed the perfect "No death today' card! Say goodbye to paper cuts, stubbed toes, and the whip cuts given to you by your wife!

PS: Keep your head on your shoulder or it won't work! Also, it doesn't have enough magic to restore missing organs. 

Type: Consumable potion

Weight: 0.2 kg—feather-light, so no excuses about not having room in your backpack.

Enchanted Skill: HP Restoration (HP +150), Improved HP Recovery (1.25 x HP recovery)

Bonus: None.]

Restoring more than three times my HP — yup, I made something ridiculous in my first try. One wasn't enough in an apocalypse, so I made a couple more. Over time, I discovered a fascinating aspect of my ability. The energy cost of creating items and the time it took to manifest them decreased significantly after the first couple of attempts. It was a neat feature of my ability.