Putting aside my thoughts, I turned my attention toward the last reward the one I had been looking forward to the most.
[Talent name: Talent Upgrade (B)]
Effect: Raises the grade of all organisms' talents below B-rank by one tier.
E.g. (D) → (C)
[Note 1: This also affects the god, raising all talents below B-grade by one rank.]
At first glance, I couldn't help but feel a bit underwhelmed. Compared to the near-limitless potential of the Staff of Knowledge, this talent seemed almost simple, almost dull. Yet the more I thought about it, the more I realized how deceptively powerful it was. If even one of my creatures possessed a rare but low-ranked talent, this ability could immediately elevate them to something extraordinary. A simple "Venom Resistance (D)" could become "Venom Resistance (C)," a tiny step that might mean survival in a hostile world.
And the fact that this also affected me that part was easy to overlook but potentially game-changing. If i obtained low grade talents in the future they would automatically be boosted by a grade making their effects more potent and useful.
With the completion of all the rewards, I could finally take a proper look at how my planet had developed while I'd been competing. I focused on the familiar blue sphere before me, and the view shifted until I was hovering over the dense forests of my one and only island.
What I saw left me speechless.
The species that my champion had originated from had changed drastically in the short time I'd been gone. They were now nearly twice the size, easily over a meter in length, with their armour like plating now spreading to their backs and necks. Their eyes seemed sharper, their movements more coordinated evidence that they were evolving intelligence at a steady pace. (Picture in comments)
But that wasn't all. Deep within the forest, a new apex predator had emerged. At first, I thought they were simple insects, but when I zoomed in, I realized they were far more dangerous. They resembled colossal ants, each around ten centimeters long massive when compared to the environment around them. And they didn't just hunt in small packs; they operated in coordinated swarms of tens and sometimes hundreds.
Their teamwork was extraordinary. I watched as they surrounded a large lizard, biting through its unarmored joints, dragging the still-struggling creature down into the soil where others waited. Within moments, the prey was gone consumed and carried into the labyrinthine tunnels below.
These ants had hollowed out vast underground networks, spanning kilometers beneath the forest floor. The ground above was unstable and riddled with weak points, collapsing occasionally under the weight of heavier creatures. It created an unpredictable and dangerous ecosystem where even the top predators had to tread carefully.
Despite the chaos, life flourished. The flora had undergone dramatic growth as well towering trees with thick, twisting roots now covered large parts of the island, drinking deeply from underground water veins exposed by the collapsing soil. Mosses and vines draped the fallen trees, while coral-like plants had started to form near the coastlines, creating a bridge between land and sea life.
Even the underwater regions had begun to evolve complex ecosystems, filled with new species that thrived on the nutrients spilling from the island.
My world was growing and for the first time, it truly felt alive.
Pulling my attention away, I remembered all the divinity I had earned from the competition. The thought alone made my excitement spike like a child entering a candy shop with a pocket full of coins. I immediately opened the system shop, ready to spend my hard-earned rewards.
The familiar screen flickered to life, its golden glow illuminating the endless darkness around me. My eyes immediately locked onto the two items I'd been waiting to buy since the moment I first saw them.
[Common Blessing (C)]
Cost: 15 Divinity
Effect: Bestows a random basic blessing upon the inhabitants of the god's planet. The duration of the blessing may vary depending on the blessing granted.
[Talent Appraisal (A)]
Cost: 100 Divinity
Effect: Grants the god the ability to analyze and determine the talents of individuals on their planet.
Just reading their descriptions filled me with anticipation. The blessing could drastically alter the growth of my world, and the appraisal would finally allow me to understand the deeper mechanics behind my creatures' strength.
Without hesitation, I selected the first item the Common Blessing. A brief flash of radiant golden light appeared before me, engulfing the void in a soft, divine glow. A series of system notifications soon followed.
[You have purchased a Common Blessing]
[Choosing random Common Blessing...]
[Blessing selected]
[Blessing name: Intelligence Boost]
Blessing effect: The development of intelligence in your lifeforms will be doubled for the next three days.]
As the notification faded, I felt a faint pulse of energy radiating from my planet. I focused in and could almost sense the subtle hum of thought a quiet whisper of awareness beginning to spread through my creatures. Their eyes seemed more alert, their actions more deliberate. It was a strange but satisfying feeling.
Looking back at the system shop, I noticed that the option to purchase another blessing had disappeared entirely. The entire spot where rhe blessing was lisyed simply seizedto exist, confirming my suspicion these were most likely one-time purchases. Each god could only buy them once.
Turning my focus to the second item the Talent Appraisal I wasted no time. I clicked the purchase button, and once again that golden light filled the void. This time, however, there was no accompanying notification. Instead, I simply felt a shift in my perception as if an unseen veil had been lifted from my mind.
Suddenly, I could feel the presence of my organisms more vividly than before. If I focused, I instinctively knew I could examine any of them in detail and learn innate talent.
Curious to test it, I quickly focused on the largest, strongest-looking lizard among my creatures one that had clearly been dominating its surroundings. A translucent system window appeared before me.
[Species: Armoured Lizard]
[Name: None]
[Talent: Strength (D)]
A small grin formed on my face. So that's why it stood out among the rest. Its strength wasn't just from luck or chance it was built into its very being.
Wanting to compare, I turned my gaze to another lizard nearby.
[Species: Armoured Lizard]
[Name: None]
[Talent: Strength (E)]
And another.
[Species: Armoured Lizard]
[Name: None]
[Talent: Speed (E)]
A few more glances confirmed the pattern. Most of the population had talents ranked at E, with a rare few at D. I even found one unfortunate creature with an F-ranked talent almost pitifully weak compared to the others. And this was after my new talent had taken effect meaning before now it's talent was only ranked G.
But even so, this was valuable information. Knowing which creatures held greater potential meant I could nurture them, guide their evolution, and eventually form the foundations of something far greater perhaps even the first civilization.
Satisfied, I closed the system window and let out a small breath of relief. The appraisal tool might seem simple, but in the grand scheme of things, it could change everything.
If more competitions were to come, then this information would become my most valuable weapon.