The clock was ticking.
> Tournament of Builders – Deadline: 6 Days Remaining
Aric stood in front of a holographic projection of his planet, spinning it like a basketball. The Syrup Citadel shimmered at its core, surrounded by half-formed structures, magical scaffolding, and duck-related debris.
> "Alright," Aric declared, "Let's design a realm so ridiculous and powerful that the system questions its own sanity."
Lysara groaned. "You already did that when you made the sky rain glitter every time you said 'epic.'"
---
[Unlocked: Architect's Interface – Advanced World Editing Tools]
The system chimed.
> Construction Upgrade Unlocked
- Realm-wide Terrain Shaping
- Magical Aesthetic Filters
- Structure Blueprints (Rarity D to EX)
- Defense & Illusion Grid Planning
- 'Aesthetics vs Absurdity' Score Modifiers Enabled
New menu tabs unfolded in front of Aric's eyes:
Build (Structure, Zone, Wonders)
Summon (Guardians, Servants, Mascots)
Enhance (Fusion, Power-Ups, Themes)
Flex (Public Showcase, Brag Mode, Realm Music)
> "I can literally change the planet's theme song now...?"
He clicked 'Flex.'
> ♫ Welcome to Syrup Planet, where ducks explode and dreams are sugar-coated ♫
"I'M KEEPING IT," he yelled.
---
[Summoning Rework: Resource & Slot Balance]
Aric's system pinged.
> Note: You currently have ∞ summon slots due to unique cheat code trait. To prevent imbalance, new system introduced:
Servant Summon Cost (after first summon) now scales with:
Rarity of Talent (F- to EX)
Size of Domain (Inn < Village < Town < City < Kingdom < Empire < Continent < Planet)
Unique Realm Energy
Event Tokens
Summons over limit require special Summon Crystals, Soul Fragments, or Divine Wills.
Aric raised a brow.
> "So I can still summon infinite units... if I pay the infinite taxes."
Lysara: "System finally learned to nerf without directly nerfing you. Clever."
---
[Quest Received: Cradle of Forgotten Time – The Mystery Egg]
The moment he confirmed his entry in the tournament, a hidden quest emerged.
> You have received a unique world artifact: Mystery Egg of the Epoch Before Time
Rarity: EX+ (??? Hidden Trait)
Status: Dormant
Requirement to Hatch: Unknown
Location: Floating above your core city. Pulsating. Judging you.
The egg looked ancient—smooth, with a pattern resembling stars orbiting a black hole. It pulsed every few seconds with a chime that made lesser creatures pass out from existential dread.
Aric stared at it.
> "What if it hatches into something cool?"
Lysara replied, "Or what if it erases you from existence because it remembers the beginning of time and hates you?"
> "Either way... content."
---
[System Expansion – Visitors, Allies, and Global Diplomacy]
Trade requests began piling up.
A Void Goblin wanted to rent a room in Aric's volcano.
The Galaxy Bakers offered him a Cake Golem in exchange for his Realm Music rights.
A talking tree from the 12th Root Realm offered friendship... and cursed soil.
Then came an invite.
> You've been invited to join the Alliance of Unreal Kings
Status: Top 10 Faction
Led by: Player "King Absolute"
Requirements: Own at least one Planet-class realm or destroy three in combat.
Aric declined and made his own faction instead:
> Faction Created: THE PANCAKE DOMINION
Motto: "We rise together."
Alignment: Chaotic Delicious
First Member: Driplord the Duck
---
[Meanwhile – Selene, and the Whisper in the Code]
Selene Voss stood within her realm's main hall—a cathedral made of starlight and fractal logic.
As she planned her entry for the tournament, something whispered to her.
Not a system voice.
Something older.
> "...You are not alone, Dream-Walker... The egg stirs. Its kind was sealed. You would do well to stop him before he breaks it."
Selene's hand tightened into a fist.
> "Aric Myles... you may be funny, clever, and infuriatingly powerful. But I will not let you awaken a cosmic horror for clout."
---
End of Chapter 6