Cael's eyes flicked between the screen and the world unfolding before him. His mind was a tangled mess of questions, but one kept rising to the surface.
What have I done?
He watched as the figures in the world around him continued to move, their fates dictated by the [system] he had designed. He saw a man sitting alone by the side of a dirt road, clutching his chest as his clothes grew tattered from the harsh winds of misfortune. Beside him, a group of merchants set up their carts with elaborate displays of goods, their faces smiling with wealth, unaffected by the chaotic randomness of luck.
A part of Cael wanted to help them, to fix this disparity, but another part of him wanted to see what would happen next. The Genesis Protocol had warned him that every system had consequences, but this was something else entirely. Was this really the right thing to do? Was he supposed to just watch as lives were upended by chance?
The woman weeping near the stone pile caught his attention again. She was young, with dark hair, dirt on her hands, and eyes that spoke of a silent desperation. Cael zoomed in on her, focusing on her despair. She was searching through a pile of broken stones, hands trembling as if she were looking for something vital—her [luck] had failed her. But for some reason, Cael couldn't look away.
"[What is she searching for?]" he asked quietly, half to himself.
"[She is searching for something she has lost, Architect.]" The Genesis Protocol's voice answered as if it had been waiting for him to ask the question. "[Her fate has been altered by the system you designed. In this world, luck determines all. Her misfortune is her own, but the reasons for it are dictated by the randomness you introduced.]"
Cael felt a knot tighten in his chest. He could feel her pain, her hopelessness, and it made him question everything he had just created. Had he really thought this through? He had created a [system] to govern an entire world, to distribute wealth and resources based on [luck], but had he considered the consequences for those left behind?
He turned his attention to the floating panel in front of him again. It was alive with data—graphs, charts, and statistics that shifted like a living organism. Every new event in the world seemed to be reflected here: the number of prosperous individuals, the number of destitute ones. But there was something else—something hidden beneath the surface of the [system].
"[Your creation is evolving, Architect.]" The Genesis Protocol spoke again, its tone detached and impartial. "[The world will adapt. It will continue to change, and the people within it will react to the [system] you have set in motion.]"
Cael's gaze drifted over the data, and something unsettling appeared: a warning indicator. A small flashing light in the corner of the interface. It was almost imperceptible, but Cael couldn't miss it. His stomach dropped as he read the notification.
[System Error: Excessive Luck Distribution Imbalance Detected.]
What did that mean? His [system] was breaking? Was he really just a bystander in his own creation, powerless to stop the chaos he had unleashed?
He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He had wanted to create something interesting, something that would test the resilience of its inhabitants. But now, he was unsure whether he had created something that was sustainable. These people weren't mere programs or NPCs—they felt real. Their pain, their struggles, their hope… it all felt too real.
"[You are experiencing the consequences of your actions, Architect.]" The Genesis Protocol's voice interrupted his thoughts, its calmness almost taunting. "[As you alter the foundations of reality with your [system], the balance will shift. The world will adapt, but so will the people within it. There is no turning back.]"
The words rang through him like a verdict. There was no way out. The people in this world, the world itself—everything was now bound to the [system] he had created. He was not just a creator; he was a god of fate, bound by the laws of his own design.
And just as he began to process the weight of this power, something else happened.
A ripple spread across the world, an almost tangible wave of energy that swept through the air, affecting everything in its path. The fields seemed to tremble. The trees, the villages, the people—everything shifted.
The farmer from earlier, the one who had been sitting by the side of the road, suddenly stood up. His face, once filled with defeat, now twisted into an expression of surprise. He looked at the world around him as though he had just received a divine revelation.
"[What is it? What's happening?]" Cael whispered to himself, his eyes wide. His hand hovered over the interface as he watched the farmer.
Then, without warning, the farmer's clothes shifted, as though the [system] itself had intervened. The tattered fabric transformed into pristine, new clothes, woven from fine cloth. The sack he had been holding was filled with gold coins, which gleamed in the sunlight.
"[He has been favoured by the [system]]" The Genesis Protocol's voice sounded almost… amused. "[The imbalance you introduced has triggered a cascade event. The [system] is compensating for the luck deficit by bestowing an abundance upon him. But the consequences for this action will unfold soon.]"
Cael's breath caught in his throat. A cascade event? Was that what this was? A ripple effect caused by the [system] compensating for the imbalance? What did it mean for the rest of the world?
As the farmer looked at the gold in his hands, his eyes widened with disbelief. He was rich now—rich beyond his wildest dreams. But then, as Cael watched in horror, the gold began to glow with an eerie light, and the farmer's expression twisted into one of terror.
"[What's happening to him?]" Cael's voice was frantic now.
"[He is being consumed by his own fortune, Architect.]" The Genesis Protocol replied. "[The [system] does not give without taking. In a world governed by [luck], the riches are always accompanied by consequences. The wealth will bring him more than he bargained for.]"
And as the farmer's body began to convulse, a terrifying realization dawned on Cael: the [system] wasn't just distributing luck—it was playing with lives. It was twisting fates, and no one was safe. He had created something powerful, but in his pursuit of balance and fairness, he had unleashed a force that was far beyond his understanding.
He stared helplessly at the screen as the farmer's body seemed to break apart under the weight of his newfound wealth. The world around him trembled again, and Cael felt a chill run down his spine. This wasn't just a simulation. It wasn't a game.
He had created a reality.
The ripple effect continued to grow, spreading chaos across the world as people's fates began to change, and the [system]'s influence rippled outward, beyond his control.
Cael's heart pounded in his chest. What had he done?