Aegis looked at the miniature, two-headed serpent forming in his hand. One head was sky blue, the other fiery orange.
It was still in the larva stage, far from reaching its full potential. But still, it now counted as his follower.
[ Follower Gained: Dual-Headed Hydra (Larva) ]
[ Power Rank: Null (Potential: S) ]
[ Talents: Hydro-Fire Synthesis, Immortal Rebirth (Locked) ]
Looking at the Dual-Headed Chaos Serpent, the girls were mesmerized.
"It's very cute, Papa. You're awesome!"
Naida was also shocked speechless by his ability to create life from almost nothing. She truly could not fathom how the Sea God's Tower held something so heaven-defying. There hadn't been any similar reports about the previous Sea God's capabilities.
Aegis went to the edge of the Palace, his hand reaching for the water of the Aquabyss Domain.
"Are you going to release it, Your Grace?" she asked, coming closer.
"Yes. It needs to grow on its own, and give the essence of life to our Domain. And maybe one day, they will be called Ancestors of the whole Ocean."
"But I am afraid it would take too long. Maybe 100 or 1,000 years?" Naida worried, given the slow timelines of evolution.
"I know..." He wasn't so sure about the timeline either, but he was resolved to restore the Oceanic lifeforms little by little.
He then gently released the infant serpent into the water. It immediately dove forward, leaving trails of faint blue and orange energy behind it.
Aegis felt like he was watching his own son going for a long journey.
He didn't stop there. Gathering the stored genes of the Phoenixes, the base genes of the Seashell of Nirvana, and the newly available genes from Pyro (Volcanic lifeform), he began to create more Oceanic lifeforms, trying different combinations deep within the genetic structure using Hydro-genesis (Ultimate).
He focused on the base of the food chain: Phytoplanktons, Seaweeds, various Fishes, Crabs, Bacteria, and Fungi, ensuring a complete food web was established in the Ocean to make life thrive.
All Aegis had to do now was wait for them to grow. But if his Island somehow could have gained a Time Acceleration trait, this process could have been far easier and more efficient. He made a mental note to search for any item or ability that could manipulate time within his domain.
Meanwhile, the Global Chatbox spiraled into uproar once again after the Global Announcement rang all over the Eternal Sky Realm.
< Global Announcement! >
< Sky Lord Aegis completed a God-Tier Achievement: Primordial Life Synthesis. >
< Sky Lord Aegis Received Tier-5 Reward: 10x Sky Crystals + 1x Domain Portal Key. >
[DragonMaster] 10 SKY CRYSTALS! Damn! This is divine favoritism! If Aegis needs an army, I'm volunteering my entire Island and my life savings!
[TheArchitect]: The math doesn't lie. His Island can now reach Stage 3 immediately with those 10 Sky crystals. He would gain more powerful Traits from this upgrade while we still stuck at Stage 1. He is transcending the normal progression path.
[Firestarter]: @Holy_Emperor, your arrogance is over. Our Water Tycoon will soon be coming for your head.
[CunningMage]: @Aegis. Please, if you have time, share the genetic formula for anti-petrification bacteria. My whole village is petrified by the Elite Drake's curse!
[Survival_Mother]: I used the new Domain Map function. But I couldn't find Aegis' Island nowhere.
[IronCladMiner]: He has a Portal Key. That means he can go anywhere, instantly. The arrogance of the Holy Emperor thinking he can hold Aegis is laughable now.
[Holy_Emperor]: Pathetic weaklings! You're worshiping a coward! Come, @Aegis! Bring all of your Sky Crystals. Use your key! I have something here far stronger than your pathetic toys!
[DesertFox]: Lord Aegis, if you wish I can accompany you in war against Holy_Emperor.
[EternalWarrior]: @Holy_Emperor, I'm with you. Where are you Aegis? Come out!"
The figure of their conversations was currently not seeing their texts at all.
Aegis created a total of 15 Oceanic Lifeforms of different species using Hydro-genesis (Ultimate). And with this, the total number of his followers increased to 20.
That meant his Island was already ready for upgrade to the next stage.
Without hesitation, using 3 Sky Crystals from his initial 10, he pressed onto the Upgrade Option from his system panel.
Ding!
[ Commencing Upgrade.... ]
BUZZZZ!
Almost immediately,a tremendous shaking began at the core of the Aquabyss Domain. Its shockwave rippled across the entirety of the Sky Realm.
The Oceanic Island grew bigger, rich energy flooded each corner, and the very fabric of space and time around the Domain was warped and strengthened.
[ Domain Upgrade Successful! ]
[ Your Island has been Upgraded to Stage 3. ]
[ New Passive Trait Acquired: Time Acceleration 10x ]
The Time within Aquabyss Domain will be Accelerated by 10 times. Excellent for faster Growth, Control, and Efficiency. The Owner has full control over the Trait.
[ Domain Name: Aquabyss Domain (Divine) ]
[ Stage: 3 ]
[ Range: 20,000 sq. meters ]
[ Passive Traits: Hydro-Regeneration, Time Acceleration 10x ]
Aegis couldn't express the shock he received from this notification. He was just wishing for a Time Acceleration trait for his Domain, and he had gained it just like this.
He knew that this kind of trait couldn't be common for everybody. His Divine Rank Domain had a potential he hadn't uncovered yet.
Realizing this, Aegis felt a wave of relief wash over him. He might have to face challenges harder than anyone else, but he now wholly believed he could make it.
The effect of the trait was visible. The tiny lifeforms he had just created were growing at an astonishing rate.
The 10 times time acceleration meant that for every hour Aegis spent inside the Palace, ten hours passed within the Water of the Aquabyss Domain.
The Sea God's Palace could also be included under Time Acceleration if he wanted to. But what would be the point then? The time perception would be equal for him as well.
Nonetheless, the newly synthesized oceanic lifeforms were undergoing their entire larval stage in moments.
His eyes kept track of each lifeform's whereabouts within the water.
Within just 2 hours of the new Time Acceleration 10 times trait being active, the domain had advanced significantly:
The Dual-Headed Hydra Serpent passed larval stage, reaching the Juvenile Stage (F-Rank power).
Plankton/Bacteria were thriving and stable, rapidly forming the necessary ecological base.
Oceanic Crab swarm passed the egg stage, becoming Hatchlings (F-Rank).
Fishes devoured seaweeds, growing, Mating and Laying Eggs, forming schools and establishing themselves as the mid-tier food source.
The ecosystem was balancing itself at an astonishing rate.
The foundation of a self-sustaining Divine ecosystem was now almost complete.