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Transformed into Cosmic Horror in a Sci-Fi Universe – 20

EP.20 The Beginning of Civilization

I've created their forms, and now it's time to imbue them with genetic traits and characteristics.

As they are, they're just physical dolls.

The rotational period is 36 hours by Galactic Union standards, and the orbital period is 4 years… Time on this planet is about 6 times that of the Galactic Union's standard.

If I set their lifespan to about 100 years by this planet's standards, that's a whopping 600 years by the Union's standards!

For reference, the 36-hour day is just an adjustment because I increased the planet's size.

Well… it doesn't really matter.

With the increased size, gravity is also a bit stronger, so I'll make their bodies out of lightweight materials but ensure they're highly durable.

I'll increase the strength and elasticity of their bones and the density of their muscles to make them strong enough to withstand several times the current gravity.

Just like humans, secondary sexual characteristics will begin at 12-14 years old, and adulthood will be at 20 years old.

By Galactic Union standards, that's 120 years.

They'll be capable of reproduction from the onset of secondary sexual characteristics, and hormones will encourage them to find mates and reproduce around adulthood.

They'll love forests and nature, have relatively peaceful dispositions, but possess the decisiveness to kill enemies without hesitation when in danger.

I don't want them to wage war against each other, so I'll make their bonds with fellow Elves very strong.

In fantasy settings, Elves are often depicted as having strong bonds within their race and being quite exclusionary towards other races.

This is a faithful representation of that concept.

They'll have strong concentration and vision, be sensitive to environmental changes like wind speed and humidity, and be genetically specialized for long-range weapons like bows.

They'll have high intelligence and a strong curiosity and desire for progress, enabling them to quickly reach advanced technological levels by utilizing resources.

Hmm, what else is needed?

What else is characteristic of Elves?

Elemental magic?

How should I implement that?

I'm debating whether to cover it with scientific technology or to imbue them with abilities akin to magic, like the Meias race.

Honestly, even without such abilities, if they develop their scientific technology well, they could become incredibly powerful, like the Lubaran race, which creates phenomena on par with magic through science.

I could create entities like spirits in the universe.

But then, should they be confined to the Elf planet or spread throughout the universe? That's another issue.

There's also the problem that this power might not remain exclusive to the Elves.

If energy beings like spirits spread into the universe, they might grow uncontrollably.

Spirits would need to be energy-based life forms without physical bodies, like me, but imagine them spreading into the universe.

A supernova spirit absorbing supernova energy, a black hole spirit absorbing gravitational waves from a black hole, or a bizarre entity spirit turning everything it touches into bizarre energy and decomposing it.

Just imagining it conjures up cosmic horror-like monstrous entities.

A planet-sized giant monster would be preferable since physical attacks would still work on it.

…Yeah, let's not create spirits.

It could lead to troublesome situations, and I'd have to create and manage an entire new race of spirits, which would be a hassle.

Alright, let's settle with this.

The Elves are complete!

Let's see… Handsome and beautiful beings with alabaster skin.

They have the stamina and mental strength to stay active for up to a month without sleep, with a 36-hour day.

Extremely strong bones and muscles.

A lifespan of 600 years by Galactic Union standards.

Strong bonds within their race and the decisiveness to kill enemies without hesitation when in danger.

High concentration and vision, sensitive to environmental changes.

High intelligence.

A strong desire for progress.

These are all just the basic options.

…Wait, as I was creating them, it seems like I've made a superhuman race that can do everything.

No, no! That's how Elves are supposed to be!

In fantasy, they are depicted as a very noble and powerful race.

In some other universes, they are even one of the strongest races that dominate the cosmos.

Yes, yes.

Look at the Lubaran race of Ubbo-Sathla.

They started with strong vitality, long lifespans, an abundance of resources in their star system, and high intelligence and civilization.

In comparison, I'm starting them off in a mere forest, so I'm being more ethical.

…Well, it's a forest overflowing with resources, but still.

Ah! I forgot something.

There are plenty of edible resources, but I didn't include any animals.

My Elves are omnivorous, so I need to include animals that can be domesticated… and to add some challenge, I'll also include some strong predatory carnivores.

Animals similar to tigers or bears?

But since Elves are inherently strong beings, I'll make these predators somewhat monstrous.

Not unbeatable, but at a level where early on, the Elves would need to avoid them or hunt them in groups for survival.

However, when they do manage to hunt them, they'll get useful materials like tough hides or strong claws and teeth as loot.

Wow, this feels like I'm creating a game from scratch, and it's quite fun.

I'll add herbivores, small carnivores, omnivores, and smaller animals and insects accordingly.

I'll also include aquatic life in the seas and freshwater bodies!

...

Phew, I got carried away and added quite a bit.

By adding a variety of life forms, I've created an ecosystem as diverse as ancient Earth's.

Now, it's a planet teeming with life.

So… should I release about 1,000 Elves at each key point?

That should be enough for them to multiply on their own, not too many, not too few.

In ancient Earth, humans built villages with only about a hundred people in good locations, so 1,000 is quite a number.

Given the strong bonds among Elves, they shouldn't fight amongst themselves.

With abundant food and water resources, there's no reason for conflict.

Instead, they'll need to band together to protect themselves from the fearsome predators around them.

Haha, I haven't set the difficulty so high that they can't survive, so let's see how well they do.

Srrr—

I distribute 1,000 Elves at each of the 30,000 pre-identified survival points.

The initial population of Elves is 30 million.

Now… let's see how quickly they multiply.

Or, they might initially decrease in number due to survival competition.

But I believe in them.

As the strongest race I've created, they'll overcome everything and dominate the entire planet, becoming a great civilization.

Not only that.

Once they've conquered the planet, they'll expand into space.

Go, Elves!

To the universe, Elves!

#

A female Elf slowly opened her eyes.

Consciousness returned.

She was a living being of this planet.

And those who look similar around me are my kin.

It's a comforting forest.

I like the forest.

But who am I?

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure, but there's one thing I know for certain.

"..."

There's something else in the forest besides us.

And those things are targeting us.

With highly sensitive senses, I could immediately perceive this.

It seemed my kin also noticed it.

We must survive.

A thought that burned intensely in my mind.

I must survive with my kin.

With that thought, the 1,000 Elves quickly gathered closely together.

By staying together, the enemies wouldn't dare attack easily, and even if they did, this would reduce the chance of being individually targeted, moving instinctively.

We must defend against the enemies.

Who we are, where we are.

Those things can be figured out later.

Can we win?

Against the unknown entities in the forest?

How?

We have hands.

We can hold things.

If we hold something, we can attack farther and stronger than with bare hands.

Realizing this, the female Elf hastily picked up a sturdy branch from the ground.

A branch as thick as her slender forearm.

It looked quite heavy, but she lifted it more easily than expected.

Her body was remarkably strong.

Seeing her actions, the other Elves began to imitate her.

Some picked up branches like the female Elf, while others, finding no branches, picked up nearby stones.

And during this time…

"Grrr…"

Five large quadrupedal animals, similar in size to the Elves, appeared.

They had long snouts and sharp teeth.

Drooling as if looking at prey, with fierce eyes.

Their bodies were covered in fur, and their paws had tough, sharp claws.

These were creatures their creator had envisioned as 'wolves.'

But the newly created Elves had no knowledge of their names or characteristics.

However, they instinctively knew that these were 'enemies' viewing them as prey.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

The female Elf who had first opened her eyes seemed to have an idea and began gesturing wildly at the Elves holding stones.

Since they had no language system, she was explaining with her body.

She made a gesture as if to throw the stones by swinging her arm.

"…!"

"Ugh!"

Fortunately, the Elves understood, and those holding stones threw them with all their might at the predators.

The explosive strength from their strong bones and muscles, combined with their high concentration, sent the stones hurtling towards the predators at incredible speed.

Thwack!

"Yelp!!"

The hundred or so stones that flew struck the wolves on their heads, legs, and bodies.

The stone-throwing was stronger than expected, causing some legs and bodies to fracture slightly.

"Yelp! Yelp!"

The five wolves, severely injured, fled, and the Elves cheered in triumph over their victory against the predators.

"Woo!!"

"Oooo!"

Though they had no language, it was clear they felt joy and satisfaction.

They looked at the female Elf who had first picked up a branch and taught them to throw stones.

The Elves realized that she was the smartest and most proactive among them.

They hoped she would continue to lead them as their leader.