Ariana’s problem with the massive number of fish had been partially resolved. Even if not in the way she had originally planned, that creature was clearly helping to control the excessive life in the sea. Still, Ariana did not believe it alone would be enough to maintain the balance of Arcadia’s entire ocean.

  Because of that, she intended to create another lifeform—one that fed directly on fish.

  She thought of sharks.

  Ferocious marine creatures, natural predators of the oceans. In her previous life, she had often heard that sharks attacked humans, but rarely with the intent to feed. They were efficient hunters, guided more by instinct than cruelty.

  Without overthinking it, Ariana stepped forward and gathered energy in the palm of her hand.

  The water around her began to float, slowly rising and spinning until it formed a familiar silhouette. A long body, sharp fins, visible teeth. A shark took shape.

  Then another.

  And another.

  One after the other, until five fully formed sharks appeared before her. In the next instant, they dove into the sea, disappearing beneath the surface with quick, precise movements.

  Ariana watched the waters close over them again and let out a soft sigh.

  “That should help…” she thought.

  The sharks would feel hunger. They would naturally hunt the massive schools of fish, gradually reducing their numbers. Alongside the great white whale, the balance of Arcadia’s sea would begin to stabilize.

  Time passed, and all Ariana did was wander through Arcadia, observing its creatures. She loved watching how they adapted and how they evolved in each environment. From time to time, she transported a pair of a certain species to another region of the world, intending to expand the territory where that species existed.

  While resting atop a tree, Ariana decided to open her system interface.

  [Goddess: Ariana]

  [Title: Creator of Arcadia]

  [Divine Classification: Lesser Deity]

  [World Under Control: Arcadia]

  [Divine Level: 2]

  [Faith Accumulation: 685]

  [Registered Inhabitants:]

  – Kon (Unique Entity – Active Evolution)

  – Aeralith (Mythical Entity – Celestial Leviathan)

  – Registered Common Species:

  ? Recycling insects

  ? Terrestrial and aerial birds

  ? Fish (Tidefin and variants)

  ? Bovines (oxen and cows)

  ? Sheep

  ? Chickens

  ? Pigs

  ? Rabbits

  ? Wolves

  ? Sharks

  ? Unicorns

  [World Status:]

  Ecological Stability: Stable

  Mana Flow: High

  Mana Core: Active

  Ariana observed the data for a few moments. Seeing the number 685 in faith accumulation reminded her of the moment when she had advanced Arcadia five years into the future. It was during that period that she had received more than six hundred faith points at once.

  “So that’s how it works…” she murmured.

  Curious, she decided to open the system shop to see if there was anything interesting she could purchase now.

  [x1 — Generate Life]

  [Cost: 25] (Cost reduced due to Level 2)

  [x1 — Create Multiple Lives]

  [Cost: 150] (Cost reduced due to Level 2)

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  [x1 — Time Acceleration]

  [Cost: 250] (Price increases with repeated purchases)

  [x1 — Biome Creation]

  [Cost: 150]

  [x1 — Natural Law Creation]

  [Cost: 250] (Price increases with repeated purchases)

  Her eyes quickly passed over the options, but eventually settled on the ability she had used before to advance Arcadia by five years. The idea of seeing what the world would look like another five years into the future was tempting.

  Still, something else caught her attention.

  “Natural Law Creation…” she murmured.

  Ariana frowned slightly and decided to ask the system.

  “System, what exactly is this ability? What does it do?”

  The response came shortly after.

  [It is not a skill or a direct power.]

  [It is a gift granted to your world.]

  [It allows the creation of a natural order.]

  [Something that becomes a pattern in Arcadia and will always occur.]

  The explanation made Ariana frown even more.

  She still didn’t fully understand.

  “A… natural order?” she murmured, confused.

  The system remained silent for a brief moment, as if adjusting its response to something Ariana could better comprehend.

  Then the interface reacted again.

  [Natural Law Creation does not alter the world directly.]

  [It defines an inevitable behavior.]

  [A Natural Law is a fundamental pattern that comes to exist in Arcadia independently of your future will.]

  Ariana frowned faintly.

  “Inevitable… how so?”

  The system responded in greater detail.

  [Until now, Arcadia has functioned through spontaneous interactions.]

  [Climate forms.]

  [Life evolves.]

  [Mana moves.]

  [Everything reacts emergently.]

  [A Natural Law does not react.]

  [It imposes.]

  Ariana fell silent.

  [Examples of Natural Laws:]

  [Every living being is born, grows, and dies.]

  “So if I create a law…”

  [It will exist forever.]

  Ariana remained quiet for several moments, still staring at the Natural Law Creation option on the interface. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she had no idea what she should create.

  She slowly closed the interface and sighed.

  “System…” she called, resting her elbow on her knee as she sat on the tree branch. “Even with that explanation, it’s still not clear to me.”

  The wind gently passed through the leaves.

  “You said it becomes a world pattern… a natural order…” she continued. “But I really don’t know what kind of law I should create right now.”

  She ran a hand through her green hair, thoughtful.

  “Do you have any suggestion? Something Arcadia truly needs at this moment?”

  The system took longer than usual to respond.

  [Processing suggestion compatible with current world state.]

  Several lines appeared before Ariana’s eyes.

  [Priority suggestion detected.]

  [Recommended Natural Law: Cycle of Reincarnation.]

  Ariana blinked.

  “Reincarnation…?”

  The interface expanded slightly, displaying new information.

  [Currently, every lifeform that dies in Arcadia ceases to exist permanently.]

  [No spiritual instance is preserved.]

  [Result: absolute loss of vital potential.]

  Ariana felt a small ache in her chest as she read that.

  She had always known it. But seeing it written so plainly made it heavier.

  “So when a creature dies…” she murmured. “That’s really the end.”

  [Correct.]

  The system continued.

  [Implementing a Cycle of Reincarnation would allow the creation of a soul flow.]

  [Each creature would gain a basic spiritual instance.]

  [When the body perishes, the soul is not destroyed.]

  [It returns to the world through a new birth.]

  A chill ran down Ariana’s spine.

  “They… would be born again?” she asked quietly.

  [Yes.]

  [Not necessarily as the same species.]

  [The soul returns to the cycle and may be reborn as another compatible lifeform.]

  It took her a few seconds to process that.

  “So Arcadia wouldn’t just be creating life…” she murmured. “It would be reusing it.”

  [Appropriate definition.]

  The system continued, impassive.

  [With a functional cycle of reincarnation:]

  [Extinction rate decreases.]

  [Evolutionary adaptation accelerates.]

  [Population growth becomes more stable.]

  [Arcadia would recycle life.]

  The word echoed in Ariana’s mind.

  Recycle.

  She closed her eyes for a moment.

  Images passed through her thoughts—Kon. The rabbits. The wolves. The marine creatures.

  “That means…” she began, opening her eyes. “Even if something dies, it isn’t truly the end for it.”

  [Correct.]

  [Existence becomes transition.]

  “…Yeah,” she murmured. “That really does sound like a natural order.”

  She took a deep breath.

  “A world where life isn’t wasted…” she thought. “It just changes form.”

  Her gaze returned to the invisible interface before her.

  “If I create this law,” she asked, “will it become a permanent part of Arcadia?”

  [Yes.]

  [Natural Laws cannot be removed once implemented.]

  Ariana fell silent.