Chapter 2

Translator: D4sk

Hailan didn't know how to code, and Jiang Qiao was equally clueless when it came to programming.

Fortunately, Hailan didn't need complicated code to modify the world's rules. She had her own methods to implement the core game system.

"The most interesting thing about a game world is that it's simpler than the real world," Jiang Qiao, an experienced gamer, began explaining to Hailan how to transform her overly realistic world.

Hailan stepped forward, rising slightly on her tiptoes, and suddenly pressed her fingertip against Jiang Qiao's forehead.

"Human communication is too primitive and inefficient. I'm going to unleash my power and enter Creator Mode," she said. Golden, intricate patterns began to glow on her pale cheeks, and a bright light shone from her pupils.

"In Creator Mode, all your thoughts will manifest. This world will become exactly as you envision it, including any creatures, cities, or people you imagine. I will arrange everything in the most optimal way and present it to you, creating a new world."

"So, is this your second personality?" Jiang Qiao asked, noticing Hailan's hair gradually turning a pure gold, and her voice losing its human warmth.

"Yes. Close your eyes and experience what it feels like to be a creator." As soon as Hailan finished speaking, she tapped Jiang Qiao's forehead again, and in the next moment, he felt an extraordinary power bloom in his mind.

It felt as if his intelligence had multiplied a thousandfold. This overwhelming flood of consciousness was so intense that Jiang Qiao completely lost his sense of self.

Hailan began rapidly reading through Jiang Qiao's thoughts, drawing from the creatures and ideas that existed only in his imagination, and started performing high-dimensional calculations.

"Detected 377,000 types of imagined creatures. Based on Jiang Qiao's combat power as a reference, materializing these would require 177.23 million units of energy. Energy reserves insufficient… commencing construction of selected lower-level creatures."

"Wait, wait, wait! We're creating game mobs here, not building an entire ecosystem! And shouldn't slimes be at the bottom of the food chain?"

Jiang Qiao's voice suddenly took over, replacing Hailan's cold, mechanical tone. A flicker of surprise appeared on her previously expressionless face as she heard him.

She hadn't expected a human to be able to withstand the mind of a god.

"There's no need for a reproduction system or a reincarnation system. Mobs don't need to eat, and their behaviors don't matter either. Just treat these 'creatures' like machines that react to stimuli. Never mind, I'll handle it myself!"

"Constructing map structures… detected 73,800 types of imagined buildings and landscapes. Beginning optimal arrangement in the current world: Lionheart City, Fallen Gorge, Black Gold Tomb, Skywatching Behemoth, Tower of Ascension… connecting world lines… constructing quest system… main quest constructed… side quests constructed… world boundaries reached… expansion halted… unable to continue materialization."

Two hours later, Hailan's muttering finally stopped. Her golden hair slowly reverted to its original deep blue, and she jerked her hand away from Jiang Qiao's forehead as if shocked.

"W-where am I?" Hailan asked, looking around in confusion. Just moments ago, they had been standing on a grassy plain, but now they were in a city with wildly diverse architectural styles.

"Isn't this something you created yourself?"

Jiang Qiao rubbed his forehead and swayed slightly. The two hours of mental overload had given him a taste of omniscience and omnipotence.

Honestly… it wasn't a pleasant experience. If his thinking hadn't been so unconventional, he probably would've ended up brain-dead by now.

"I was reading your consciousness! And… I can't retain any memories from Creator Mode," Hailan admitted, biting her lower lip. She added something she found a bit embarrassing, "Also, you'd better make sure this world transformation was successful! I don't have much energy left for major modifications!"

"So that's how it is. Don't worry, the creation of this game world was a huge success."

Jiang Qiao looked at the interface that had appeared in his field of vision. In the upper right corner, there was a translucent display showing his health, mana, and level.

A prominent "LV1" indicator was the only other thing on the screen.

Jiang Qiao raised his hand and swiped through the air. A semi-transparent menu popped up in front of him, displaying various options like character stats, inventory, and skills.

After browsing the main menu, Jiang Qiao opened the character stats window, which listed an array of data.

Name: Jiang Qiao

Class: Game World Creature Stat Template

Level: LV1

Constitution: 10

Strength: 10

Agility: 10

Wisdom: 10

Willpower: 10

Luck: 10

Character Notes: To prevent you from forgetting, here's a reminder: the combat power of all creatures in this world is based on you as the reference template. For example, if a monster has 20 strength, its combat power can be described as 'two Jiang Qiaos.' Explore further for more details. Also, I've placed a class change book and a name change item in your inventory. Enjoy exploring the game—Creator Jiang Qiao.

"Why do I kind of dislike my creator persona?" Jiang Qiao muttered as he opened his inventory.

"I dislike it too!" Hailan chimed in next to him.

"…."

Jiang Qiao ignored her and pulled out one of the only two items in his inventory: the class change book.

After all, Jiang Qiao couldn't exactly play this game with a class called "Game Reference Template," could he?

The class change book was as heavy as a dictionary. When Jiang Qiao opened it, a flood of text floated out as holographic images in front of him.

Warrior, Mage, Assassin, Cleric, Gunner, Knight, Priest...

"It actually worked," Jiang Qiao marveled at the hundreds of scattered classes. This had always been one of his ideas when he played games: a unique class system.

This unique class system was reflected in the concept of "class evolution."

At levels 25, 50, 80, and 100, each class would go through a class change, an awakening, another class change, and another awakening.

For example, a Warrior could class-change into a Magic Swordsman or Heavy Swordsman at level 25. But if this Warrior favored using hammers before the class change, there'd be a chance for a mutation, turning into an Armorbane or a Giant Hammer Berserker instead.

This mutation would sacrifice a regular Warrior's agility bonuses in favor of more strength and armor-piercing abilities.

This was just one example, but Creator Mode Jiang Qiao had actually managed to implement such a complex class and skill system.

Just from the class and skill systems alone, Jiang Qiao could tell that, while this was still a game world, it had evolved beyond the scope of just a game.

"I'm pretty impressive, aren't I?"

Jiang Qiao didn't rush to choose a class. He closed the skill book, but as he did, a line of translucent text floated in front of him.

Current world level cap: 50. Game world size: 240 kilometers, equivalent to three GTA V maps. This has consumed 80% of Creator Hailan's energy. Note: Please expand the game world size and energy reserves as soon as possible.

Jiang Qiao read the message aloud and then looked at Hailan. Her expression seemed to say, Are you blaming me for making the world too small?

"Let's talk about how we can expand this game's content... er, I mean, how we can enlarge the world and deal with the energy issue."