"Power systems, like those in movies and novels? You mean magic, cultivation, martial arts, and all of that?" A genuine grin started to show itself on his face for the first time in forever.
He still remembers the VR games that were available in the orphanage: Cultivation World, Rise of the Martial Master, Dragons and Wizards.
They used different power systems and different energies, but they had one thing in common: they all gave the player the opportunity to increase their strength, a fool-proof method of getting instant dopamine releases.
"I want to keep some Mynt just in case I need them for something. What power system should I start with?"
"It is correct to think about saving some Mynt, even if just to survive. I would recommend keeping 5 and using the rest to fill your world with a functional ecosystem, as well as a race capable of utilizing the power system you want to introduce.
"Power systems are separated by grade and level. The grade is an indicator of how difficult it is to reach the peak, while level determines the potential of said path."
Mitch felt excitement bubbling within him, threatening to burst out. Yet he restrained himself. Now was not the time to jump to conclusions.
"You mean to say that I can add more power systems to my world by using Mynt? What about the things from murim and cultivation stories?"
"Martial arts is about Grade-C Level 4, and cultivation is around Grade-A Level 9. There are also variations to most paths. However, most iterations within the same family usually share the type of energy used."
"As for which power system to use, the only power system available to newborn Khads is the Devouring—Body Strengthening power system, a Grade-E Level 1 power system. You also lack the time and Mynt necessary to gain access to any other power system."
Although information heavy, the explanation only drove Mitch to feel more and more excitement.
"Grade-E Level 1, huh? Doesn't sound too strong, but I assume the simplicity is because you only have to eat. Amazing! To think something like this exi-"
That's when Mitch finally noticed the inconsistencies in the situation.
"Wait, why am I excited all of a sudden? I have just found out that my entire life was fake, and that the world I lived in was a simulation. It has barely been ten minutes and I'm for some reason ready to accept my circumstances! Why do I not even feel a smidgeon of sadness or rage anymore?!"
"Calm down Mitch, this is a normal process for every Khad. You are born with knowledge about the simulation already implanted into your subconsciousness. If anything, you are the oddity for taking so long to adapt. Your mind has already accepted the your new reality."
It took some time for him to register what she meant, but Mitch soon felt annoyed that he was being treated like an edge case.
"I am not trying to invalidate your emotions, but in the grand scheme of things, the feelings you felt for Tellus were just a remnant of your thoughts as a human."
The shock and disgust he felt were enhanced several-fold. No matter what he tried, he could not muster the rage that he felt previously.
Subconsciously he had already accepted his situation and moved on, leaving only his human mind in a state of denial. Even weirder, the only emotion he was still able to feel just happened to be the sadness he felt when Theodor died.
"What do you suggest?"
"Finish creating your world and then gather your thoughts. Design the dominant species and leave the rest to me. After all, that is what I'm here for."
"Very well, I will trust you this one time. You deserve that much, at least."
He started thinking about how he could utilize this opportunity in the best way possible. He wanted a creature that had infinite potential—one that could rival the best of the best in this new reality of his. He wiped his eyes and face clean, and then focused.
"Use the human anatomy as the baseline, but give them cockroach-like endurance. I also want them to have two pairs of arms. Is it possible to make them the only species able to use the {Gene Tree} skill, but locking germline mutations? Additionally, give them telepathic antennae."
"You lack the Mynt to implement the last part, but the rest is easy for me to implement. The resulting world should be similar to Tellus, the only difference being that these anthropomorphs have replaced humans. What would you like to call your new creation?"
"I want to turn them into my personal army, so the name should be symbolic. How about calling them 'Legio'?"