Xu Zhi watched the Three Witches' astonishment with quiet satisfaction. He had thoroughly shattered their understanding, igniting their ambition while dispelling lingering fear. What came next was no longer his concern; his role was simply to plant the seed, sparking bold inspiration to push civilization forward.
After all, progress depended on audacity rather than contemplation alone.
In Xu Zhi's view, a true witch was someone who embraced knowledge to reshape reality—a scholar of equivalent exchange. He was merely defining that concept, offering them a clear path forward. If they failed to grasp it, that was due to mortal limitations—not because he'd misled them.
Medeia finally broke the silence, her voice trembling slightly. "Great God Hermes, compared to your power, how mighty was Gilgamesh truly?"
Xu Zhi considered the question before responding with calculated arrogance, "Gilgamesh possessed the strength of a demigod—but before me, he was utterly insignificant."
He let the statement hang in the air, aware it might sound absurd, yet unconcerned by the implication. The witches stared at him in reverent awe, unable to challenge such bold claims.
Satisfied, Xu Zhi descended from his perch and began teaching. First, he imparted the basics of meditation, combining Western yogic visualization techniques with Eastern Daoist internal practices. This would serve as the foundation for their cultivation of spiritual power.
Next, he revealed alchemy, adopting the ancient Western alchemical doctrine—the famed Trinity Formula—as the fundamental lore for their new civilization. Whether or not they could truly master this wisdom was left entirely to them.
Finally, he briefly touched upon sorcery, reciting mysterious principles drawn from Earth's most ancient grimoires. Each word was uttered clearly, infused with a mystic authority that echoed throughout the misty grove of Amia Pool and beyond.
Having planted these seeds of truth, Xu Zhi abruptly departed the sandbox world. His raven form dissolved silently into mist, vanishing completely as he logged out. The role of this strange avatar had ended; it had served perfectly as a one-time divine messenger.
In reality, everything he'd taught had historical precedent in Earth's esoteric traditions—meditation, alchemy, and sorcery had all existed in human myths. Perhaps such sparks of transcendent wisdom had briefly emerged in Earth's history, only to fade away as technology rose and curiosity waned.
"The seeds of theory have been sown," Xu Zhi murmured to himself. "Whether they blossom into a truly powerful civilization remains to be seen."
Back in the world of Babylon, the raven suddenly dropped lifelessly from its branch. The witches stood in reverent silence before cautiously approaching the fallen form, confirming Hermes had truly departed.
"What a magnificent being," Medeia whispered, awe evident in her gaze. "A formless, timeless consciousness capable of inhabiting any vessel… Hermes embodies pure wisdom and eternal truth."
Returning to the tribe, the witches began eagerly practicing the meditation techniques Hermes had taught. They also examined the raven's corpse, horrified to discover its anatomy defied every known evolutionary lineage. It was wholly unlike any creature native to their world—truly alien and enigmatic.
"Could it have come from somewhere else?" Medeia wondered aloud, deeply unsettled.
Cersei, still shaken by the encounter, added softly, "History records that Gilgamesh once sent legions across this entire world—yet found no unknown lands. Perhaps…this creature descended from the heavens?"
All three sisters turned their gazes upward toward the endless azure sky. The Great Flood itself had descended from above; could there exist floating continents or celestial realms teeming with unimaginable life?
They stood transfixed, awed and afraid.
Back in his quiet study, Xu Zhi exhaled slowly as he removed his VR headset. "Finally done," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "Reciting all that mystical nonsense was exhausting—especially since I'm nothing more than a mortal pretending to be divine. If not for curing my cancer, I'd never waste my time preaching to them."
He reflected momentarily on Gilgamesh's extraordinary strength—capable of surviving kilometer-high falls—but also recognized the witches' formidable psychic powers, forged through relentless sacrifice. Despite their might, Xu Zhi felt no shame in manipulating them; he was simply an ordinary man leveraging extraordinary means.
He rebooted the mini-sandbox. Within moments, the one hundred beta testers were back online, cursing vehemently:
"Damned devs! Another sudden maintenance?!"
"Stop wasting my gaming hours, you useless dev team!"
They railed bitterly even as they dove eagerly back into the game, immediately evolving new creatures to populate Xu Zhi's tiny sandbox.
Xu Zhi observed their complaints with detached amusement. His true ambitions stretched far beyond their trivial schemes. His ultimate goal was straightforward: simulate civilizations within the sandbox until he discovered an alchemical cure for his terminal cancer.
Alchemy—the art of transformative elixirs—was undoubtedly the most elusive pursuit. Yet meditation and sorcery, he knew, were achievable. Meditation practices already existed on Earth, and sorcery's foundation rested firmly upon psychic energy itself.
"The groundwork is set," Xu Zhi thought calmly, watching the players' chaotic evolutions. "Now we wait for real breakthroughs... though I doubt anyone here will deliver."
Standing up, he changed into fresh clothes, preparing to accompany Chen Xi to the class reunion in town. As he stepped outside, tiny inhabitants of the sandbox scattered in frantic panic once again:
"Earthquake!? No, he's moving!"
"Run! Hide and evolve quickly!"
Countless minuscule creatures scurried beneath his towering footsteps, resembling panicked ants fleeing a giant's approach. Xu Zhi merely smiled to himself, ready for whatever came next.