There were still three living beings left for Ariana to create before she could finally complete the mission. She already had a clear idea for the next one. It wouldn’t be grand or eye-catching, but it would serve a fundamental role in Arcadia’s balance—at least, if everything worked as she envisioned.

  She decided to create small insects.

  The idea came after she visited the area where the sheep and cattle spent most of their time. The pasture remained green and healthy, but the ground was littered with piles of waste scattered everywhere. Rain helped mask the issue, but Ariana quickly realized it was only a fa?ade. Water didn’t truly clean it—it simply spread the remains further across the soil.

  That was when something clicked in her mind.

  Life produces waste.

  And waste, if ignored, leads to imbalance.

  Until then, Ariana had focused on creating visible, active forms of life. Now, however, she understood that not every creation needed to be grand to be essential. Sometimes, the most important ones were nearly invisible—working quietly, unnoticed.

  This time, the creation was different.

  There was no hesitation.

  No heightened emotion.

  No prolonged contemplation.

  Ariana didn’t shape detailed forms or dwell on appearances. She defined only the function. Small beings that would feed on waste, organic remains, and dead plant matter—returning everything to the soil in a natural cycle.

  The creation was not glorious.

  It was fast.

  Precise.

  Functional.

  The moment she finished, the system reacted.

  [Functional creation detected.]

  [Ecological efficiency increased.]

  Ariana watched the ground for a few moments. The insects were already there, almost imperceptible, beginning their silent work.

  She let out a slow breath.

  “Not all life needs to be seen to matter…” she murmured.

  The world was adjusting itself, small pieces falling into place where gaps had once existed.

  Even so, something still bothered her.

  She observed the pasture from a distance. The cows and the ox remained calm, grazing without concern. There was no fear. No tension. Nothing pushed them to move, to spread out, to choose their ground carefully.

  “It’s… too calm,” she murmured.

  Ariana wasn’t thinking about violence. This wasn’t cruelty. But she remembered her old world well. Places without predators quickly spiraled out of control. Vegetation vanished. Some species multiplied too much, while others never had a chance to grow.

  Balance wasn’t just life.

  It was limits.

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  She walked through the denser forests of Arcadia, feeling the wind weave through the trees. Everything there was too quiet. No watching eyes. No warning sounds. No presence that inspired caution.

  “Something is missing here…” she thought. “Someone who makes others move.”

  The decision came naturally.

  Ariana knelt among the trees and placed her hand on the soil. This time, she didn’t draw solely from earth or plants. She envisioned something agile, alert, and social. A being that hunted not for pleasure, but for necessity. One that kept numbers in check.

  Something she knew well from her past life.

  “Wolves…” she murmured.

  The energy responded immediately.

  Divine light spread across the forest floor—but it didn’t explode. It flowed, contained and fluid, shaping form after form as they emerged one by one. Strong bodies. Steady limbs. Watchful eyes. Thick fur, adapted to both cold and heat.

  When the glow faded, three figures stood there.

  Two larger.

  One slightly smaller.

  They rose cautiously, sniffing the air, alert to their surroundings. There was no fear. No uncontrolled aggression. Only instinct.

  The largest lifted its head and let out a low, resonant howl.

  The sound traveled through the forest.

  A shiver ran through Ariana.

  The system responded almost immediately.

  [Creation complete.]

  [Social species detected.]

  [Behavioral influence on ecosystem activated.]

  [Name: Arcadian Wolf]

  [Classification: Common Terrestrial Predator]

  [Average Level: 1]

  [Attributes:]

  Strength: 14

  Agility: 12

  Vitality: 13

  Intelligence: 8

  Mana: 0

  [Description:]

  A social terrestrial predator that hunts in coordinated groups and plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. Displays strong territorial instincts and adaptive behavior, influencing the movement patterns of herbivorous species. Highly resilient and efficient when operating as part of a pack.

  The wolves slowly moved away, disappearing between the trees. They didn’t attack anything. They didn’t hunt. They simply moved—exploring the territory that now belonged to them.

  Ariana was tired.

  Creating the insects had barely strained her, but the wolves were different. That creation drained more than she expected, leaving her body heavy and her mind slightly sluggish.

  She sat atop a tall tree.

  It was night.

  Her long green hair swayed with the gentle breeze flowing through the forest. From above, Ariana watched Arcadia in silence. Shadows moved among the trees, and distant sounds echoed across the world she herself had created.

  She never imagined she would be in a situation like this.

  At times, it all felt like a game—one of those where you build a small world and watch it run on its own. But Ariana knew it wasn’t. This was real. Every decision carried consequences.

  She had already died once.

  And she had no intention of dying again.

  Only one creature remained.

  Just one more, and the mission would be complete.

  The wolves now existed—but they would need food. Even with cows and sheep in Arcadia, their numbers were still small. They needed time to multiply. Ariana needed something different.

  Something that reproduced quickly.

  That was when she thought of rabbits.

  In her past life, she remembered them well. Rabbits multiplied at an alarming rate—large litters, one after another. In some places, they were considered pests.

  Ariana hesitated for a moment.

  “This could be dangerous…” she murmured.

  But she took a deep breath. If something got out of control, she believed she could deal with it later. For now, what mattered most was creating a stable food source for the wolves and further energizing the ecosystem.

  She waited a few days.

  She let her body recover fully, feeling her strength gradually return. When she sensed her ability was available again, she didn’t hesitate.

  This time, the creation was simple.

  Several rabbits appeared among the forest vegetation. Small and agile, with long ears and alert eyes. The moment they materialized, they began moving almost immediately—hopping across the grass and vanishing into the undergrowth.

  Ariana watched carefully.

  “They’re so cute…” she thought, unable to suppress a faint smile.

  She hadn’t created them randomly.

  Ariana had chosen their location carefully, placing them near the forest where the wolves had last been seen. Not too close—but close enough that, in time, their paths would naturally cross.

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