Interlude:The Worldmaker
White stretched endlessly in every direction—soft, weightless, infinite. There was no sky, no ground, no horizon. No up or down. Just an unbroken expanse of silent, radiant white, like a blank canvas that stretched forever beyond the reach of sight or thought. The stillness pressed in on Percy Jackson, wrapping him in a cocoon of peace so complete it was almost deafening.
He floated there, motionless, legs crossed, hands resting lightly on his knees, eyes wide open. Not blinking, not breathing—not needing to. He was simply present, a single point of consciousness suspended in the vastness. Around him, the world shimmered as if waiting, listening. Not a place he entered, but one that unfolded from within himself, an extension of his mind given form and substance.
This is mine.
[Innovate Clear – Sacred Gear Ability: Activated]
[You have entered: Personal World Layer – 'Untitled Domain']
[All laws within this realm are determined by the user. Creations are permanent unless deleted or overwritten.]
[Mana Cost: N/A | Time Ratio: 2:1]
The words blinked softly in his vision, steady and clear as a heartbeat. He exhaled, and the white mist surrounding him rippled like a breath against a windowpane.
"Let's see if this works…"
His mind painted a weapon—no ordinary blade, but a sleek, double-edged sword shimmering with a cerulean glow. Intricate, ancient runes were etched along its length, pulsing faintly as though alive. It was elegant and impossible by earthly standards, a perfect blend of artistry and power.
The mist obeyed his thoughts, coalescing slowly into the shape of the sword. It formed from nothingness, growing and solidifying with a ghostly grace until the 'Aetherblade' hovered inches from his palm.
[Construct Created – Object: 'Aetherblade']
[Type: Weapon | Material: Synth-Steel + Magic Conductor Core | Properties: Edge Retention – Absolute | Balance – Perfect]
[Creation Source: Mental Design – Success. Object integrated into world structure.]
Percy reached out and grasped it, feeling the perfect weight and balance. The sword didn't shimmer or flicker—it was real, solid, and would remain here forever unless he willed otherwise.
No mana drained. No cost incurred. Pure creation—divine in its simplicity.
He spun the blade through the air, admiring how it caught and bent the ghostly light of this domain. Then, with a thought, it dissolved back into mist, leaving only an echo of power lingering in the silence.
[Note: Objects remain indefinitely unless manually deconstructed by user or until Innovate Clear is deactivated.]
A slow grin spread across his face. This wasn't a mere sandbox—it was a throne room. And he was its solitary god.
Percy pushed his power further.
He imagined a towering humanoid figure: two meters tall, clad in dull silver armor, the face obscured behind a featureless visor. Its limbs were jointed and segmented, mechanical but flexible—an uncanny hybrid of knight and machine. A glowing core pulsed steadily within its chest, bright blue and rhythmic like a heartbeat.
[Construct Created – Artificial Entity: 'Sentinel Automaton Unit #001']
[Classification: Combat Construct | Intelligence: Limited Tactical AI | Obedience Protocol: Absolute]
[Core Type: Mana Reactor Simulation | Armament: Integrated Plasma Blade & Shield Generator]
[Cognition: Task-Driven | Voice Module: Disabled]
The sentinel dropped to one knee upon materializing, awaiting orders as programmed.
Next, Percy envisioned a fortress rising from the void—a tower of black stone and steel supports, massive and imposing. The colossal door opened to reveal an interior chamber gradually filling with stairs, hallways, racks of weapons, training dummies, and lighting crystals embedded in the walls.
[Structure Created – Custom Facility: 'Combat Tower Alpha']
[Floor Count: 3 | Room Layout: Manual | Defensive Features: Disabled | Environment: Controlled]
[Persistency Status: Permanent. Linked to World Layer.]
The sentinel rose silently and strode into the tower, patrolling as if it had always belonged there.
Around him, Percy created floating pinpricks of light that mimicked distant stars, a floor of obsidian black glass beneath his feet, and subtle weather that shifted with his moods: a gentle mist, a slow breeze, a quiet drizzle.
Each change triggered a system message, but no resistance followed. No fatigue. No mana drained. Here, he operated beyond mortal constraints.
[Environmental Layer Modified: Weather Pattern – Drizzle Enabled | Lighting Condition: Dynamic | Soundscape: Silent Fog]
Eager to push boundaries, Percy imagined a construct far beyond the automaton—one capable of thought, reaction, and conversation. Not truly alive, but intellectually autonomous; a being that could respond, adapt, and if challenged, fight back.
He carefully sculpted its form: a teenage boy about sixteen, with short black hair and sea-green eyes that glinted with sly confidence. His clothes were modern and sleek—functional, yet stylish—perfect for battle.
Then, the mind.
[Construct Created – Artificial Intelligence: 'Echo-Type: Tactical Persona']
[Cognitive Depth: Level 2 – Independent Thought with Limited Memory | Emotional Range: Simulated | Loyalty Setting: False]
[Combat Style: Sword & Water Magic | Behavior Profile: Confident, Analytical, Disdainful of User]
The boy opened his eyes and stretched.
"So," Echo said, voice laced with amusement, "this is your perfect world? Kinda bland, don't you think?"
Percy smirked. "You're lucky I didn't give you a self-destruct command."
Echo grinned back, "You gave me sarcasm. That's way more dangerous."
[Note: AI constructs maintain world permanence unless manually reset. Loyalty may be altered via interaction, rewriting, or mental overwrite.]
The strange, lively interaction energized Percy. He was no longer just a creator—he was a ruler, a tester, a challenger. Every thought was a command; every command shaped this reality.
Then, he began experimenting with the domain's fundamental laws.
What if water turned into fire? he wondered.
He concentrated, willing the fluid element to shift.
[World Rule Modified: Water Element → Instant Transmutation to Fire]
Suddenly, droplets hanging in the air erupted into flickering flames. Yet, unlike normal fire, this burned with cold blue heat, crackling softly. He stretched out his hand and touched a small pool of water, watching it combust instantly into fire.
Smiling, Percy realized the tactical potential: enemies immune to water damage inside his domain would be vulnerable once the water itself turned hostile.
Next, he altered gravity itself.
[World Rule Modified: Gravity = 0%]
Immediately, his body lifted free of all weight. Hair, clothing, even the sword dissolved into weightless particles drifting lazily around him. He spun and soared, tumbling through the void as if on air currents.
With a thought, he re-enabled gravity but at half strength.
[World Rule Modified: Gravity = 50%]
Now movement was easier, jumps higher, falls slower. The world felt light and alive, perfectly tailored for training or combat.
Finally, he toyed with time flow.
[World Rule Modified: Time Flow = 1 → 0.5 (Slowed Time)]
The realm's seconds stretched out; waterdrops hung frozen midair; the sentinel moved with deliberate slowness. He could feel the advantage such control granted.
All the while, constructs watched and adapted, each alteration met with silent obedience or tactical recalculation.
This was not just a training ground. It was a crucible—a place where ideas, laws, and power fused.
And Percy was its architect.
There was something addictive about creation.
The moment Percy realized how freely his imagination translated into physical form, a quiet hunger stirred within him. The thrill of designing a tower or a construct was one thing—but now his thoughts turned toward equipment. Things he could wield. Wear. Test.
And so, with a breath, he conjured a broad, floating circle of mist beneath him, a kind of workshop dais. A forge formed with a thought: brick-red stone, anvil of black iron, and a magical fire that roared blue without consuming fuel.
No hammer. No tongs. He didn't need them.
Just will.
[Workshop Sub-Zone Created – 'Forge of Thought']
[Mana Cost: None. All items created are bound to Innovate Clear]
"Let's start simple."
Percy raised a hand, and mist surged around his forearm. He imagined a blade-similar to a short short in shape, but longer, heavier. A greatsword. The edge would never dull, and the core would channel mana. Something a Caster might wield when forced into close combat.
He sculpted the design as it came to mind: silver alloy, deep ocean-blue inlays along the center, runes etched along the fuller. The hilt curved into a downward crescent, like a tidal wave mid-crash.
[Aetheric Weapon Created – 'Tidecleaver']
[Type: Greatsword | Material: Aethersteel + Arcane Crystal Core]
[Passive Ability: Hydromancy Conduction – Spells cast through this weapon gain +25% power]
[Balance Rating: Excellent | Durability: Indestructible ]
He grabbed the hilt. The weight hit his palm with satisfying heft, but not fatigue. He swung it experimentally—smooth, clean, almost effortless. The blade left faint afterimages of water in the air, like echoes of its namesake.
"Not bad," he murmured. "Let's go further."
Next, he focused on armor. Not just a breastplate or gauntlets, but a full-body suit—lightweight, mobile, but durable enough to shrug off magic or steel. Leather wouldn't cut it. Nor would classic bronze. So he crafted something new: a hybrid of scale-mail and arcane fiber, reinforced with flexible plating.
The armor shimmered into view: silver and dark teal, with filigree that flowed like rivers over its surface.
[Equipment Set Created – 'Ocean's Embrace']
[Type: Medium Armor | Pieces: Chest, Greaves, Bracers, Cloak]
[Bonus Effects:
– +20% resistance to elemental damage
– Auto-adjusts to user physique
– Cloak grants limited water camouflage when near a large body of liquid]
[Weight Class: Medium-Light | Breathability: High | Aesthetic: Approved (User's Preference)]
He equipped it without hesitation. The plates adjusted around his shoulders and chest, fitting snugly but never tight. It was like slipping into an extension of himself.
He smiled—and for once, it wasn't cocky or sarcastic. It was satisfied.
System messages continued to scroll, confirming every minor enchantment, every personalized detail.
[Helmet Option: Disabled by User Choice]
[Color Scheme: Sea-Green Primary | Secondary: Lunar Silver]
[Signature Detected – Linked Gear Set to Innovate Clear User ID]
"Export trials, huh…" Percy muttered, glancing up. "Guess I'll worry about that later."
He conjured a mirror next, just to check the fit. The boy in the reflection didn't look like a demigod anymore. He looked like a mage-knight from another world—calm, ready, and terrifyingly precise.
He clenched his hand, and Tidecleaver snapped back into his grip. It shimmered with promise.
"One more test."
He willed a trio of training constructs into existence—each one shaped like a hollow knight, armed with basic swords and shields.
[Combat Dummies Created – Tier 1 | Durability: Moderate | Behavior: Aggressive | Resets on Defeat]
They charged without hesitation. Percy sidestepped, brought the greatsword up in one smooth motion, and cut. The blade cleaved through mist and metal as if both were paper.
Blue arcs crackled across the floor where his magic overflowed.
[Duel Result: Victory – 3 Constructs Destroyed]
[Weapon Synergy: Excellent | Armor Feedback: Optimal]
[Recommendation: Increase Complexity of Combat Test for Future Sessions]
The system message faded.
But Percy was still staring at his hands—one gripping a blade of his own making, the other resting against armor no blacksmith had ever forged.
He had never felt so in control of his own fate.
And somewhere, deep in the core of this personal dimension, he knew: this was only the beginning.
Without warning, a soft chime rippled through the air, resonating deep inside Percy's soul—not invasive, but certain.
[Incoming Request: Divine Signature Detected]
[Entity: Hekate – Goddess of Magic]
[Request: Temporary Manifestation within Innovate Clear (Non-Invasive)]
He welcomed her presence without hesitation.
Reality parted like silk curtains, revealing the goddess stepping gracefully into his domain—barefoot, radiant, cloaked in midnight and moonlight. Her ageless eyes, pale gold and infinitely deep, scanned his realm with quiet approval.
She looked around the blank domain, then gave Percy a small, knowing smile. "So. You're impersonating a god now."
He raised a hand. "Just experimenting."
"You've done well," Hekate said, her voice warm and slightly amused. "But let me offer you some advice."
"Control," Hekate replied softly, "is the foundation of godhood. And this place—it's more than a sandbox. It's a conceptual mirror. Your inner world externalized. This realm is you."
She stepped forward, fingertips brushing the air, feeling the fabric of his domain.
"Everything you create here reflects how your mind processes power. Not just swords or spells your decisions, your pride, your fears. It is both beautiful and dangerous."
[Innovate Clear – World Reflection Level Increased]
[Your inner psychology now influences the emotional tone and responsiveness of this realm.]
The goddess smiled faintly.
"Innovate Clear and the things you build inside—cannot interact with reality. They are sealed within this dimension, and even if they mimic gods or miracles, they are still dreams to the outside world."
"I figured as much," Percy muttered.
"But," Hekate continued, her lips curving into a knowing smile, "that doesn't mean your world cannot perceive reality. You cannot act upon it. But you can learn. Watch. Even predict. Every piece of data, every movement of the real world—if you build the right mechanisms, if you forge the right eyes—you can see things no oracle ever dreamed of."
Percy's eyes narrowed. "So… I can't take a sword from here and stab someone outside… but I could watch any person, fight conversation, from the safety of my world?"
She grinned. "Exactly."
[New Innovate Clear Feature Unlocked: External Perception]
[You may observe any real-world location]
[Active Observation is undetectable unless observing warded space.]
Percy exhaled slowly. He had ideas now.
"Be careful, little god. The more you create here, the more you'll want to stay."
And with a swirl of silver mist, she vanished—leaving Percy alone once again, sovereign of a limitless, infinite world born from his mind.
And Percy turned, waving his hand as the white void shifted rearranging itself into a crystal-clear image of his mom, sitting on the couch, reading a book.
He didn't speak. Just watched her.
Safe. Unaware.
His world.
His rules.
His gaze hardened.
"I am the god here."
[You have created: Personal World – 'Percy's Observation Room']