Chapter 8: Ch 8 : Trading Platform

It had been two and a half hours since Veridia first sparked into existence. The passage of time, though still disorienting, had become a comfortable rhythm for Sunny. The planet, once a simple water world, was now a dynamic, thriving ecosystem. The initial oxygen crisis had been a sharp, painful lesson, but its resolution left the aquatic life stronger and more resilient. The enhanced algae, a product of Sunny's divine nudge, had not only replenished the atmosphere but had also become a foundational part of a more robust food web, contributing to a rapid, steady increase in his Faith points. With the immediate crisis averted and the next misfortune still a distant threat, Sunny had time to focus on long-term development. His current Faith points were steadily climbing, indicating a healthy and burgeoning life-force on Veridia. He knew he needed a significant investment to push Veridia's evolution to the next stage. He opened the System Shop, his gaze lingering on the new items. The Microbial Diversity Pack was tempting, a proactive shield against unforeseen biological threats. But his eyes were drawn to a different item, one that promised to accelerate the expansion of his terrestrial ecosystems. [Basic Hydrological Cycle (D-Grade): Establishes or enhances a planet's water cycle, promoting rain, rivers, and diverse water bodies on land. Cost: 20 Faith] The landmasses were a vast, untapped potential. While some plants had already colonized them, they were still desolate compared to the teeming oceans. A proper hydrological cycle would create a network of rivers and freshwater lakes, carving out diverse biomes and providing new evolutionary pathways for life to explore. It was a strategic choice to invest in the land, a move that would set the stage for more complex life forms down the line. Sunny settled into a quiet vigil, watching his world and his Faith counter. As the minutes of his perceived time passed, his Faith points ticked upwards, each one a testament to a life lived and died in his thriving world. He had started the hour with 20-ish Faith, and now it was steadily approaching the 20 mark again. He needed to reach that threshold to make his desired purchase. While waiting, he spent the time studying the God Chat, absorbing every piece of information he could. "Anyone want lizards?" typed Kairos, with an attached image of a sleek, agile creature, unmistakably a lizard. It was far more complex than any lifeform Sunny had on land. "Bigshot is boasting again," typed another God, praising Kairos. The familiar sycophancy that followed Kairos's every boast filled the chat. "Bigshot! Can you trade one pair of lizards in trading platform?" typed another God, trying his luck. "Some Gods are trading fruits in the trading space for 1 faith point," typed a more practical God, relaying information that immediately piqued Sunny's interest. "As a God, we naturally don't need to eat anything. Why waste 1 faith point?" chimed another God, downplaying the importance of such items for their divine forms. Sunny quietly closed the Chat panel and opened the Trading Platform. It was just as the name suggested: a vast, ethereal marketplace where Gods could trade through barter or straight-up buy using Faith points. Sunny scanned the listings. Most of them were algae of different kinds with varying quantities. He didn't need algae; his world was teeming with them. He even briefly considered selling some, but decided against it, not wanting to reveal his specific ecosystem's strengths or needs. His gaze finally settled on something intriguing: a fruit with an apple-like shape but a vibrant yellow color. There were 100 of them listed, for 1 Faith point each. "What an easy way to earn Faith points," Sunny grinned. He immediately understood the market. It was a clever way for some Gods to generate Faith by cultivating these basic 'food' items. He bought the fruit to see if he can get some seed from it. He scrolled for a while longer, but found nothing else that interested him at his current Faith level. He closed the trading platform and glanced at his Faith points. [Faith points: 24] "Finally" Sunny exclaimed and opened the System shop to Buy the Basic Hydrological Cycle (D-Grade). "Purchase Basic Hydrological Cycle," he commanded. [Confirm purchase: Basic Hydrological Cycle for 20 Faith Points?] "Confirm." [Current Faith: 24 -> Remaining Faith: 4] A surge of divine knowledge flowed into Sunny, not just about water, but about the fundamental forces that govern it. He focused his will on Veridia. Beneath the surface, the planet's core began to stir, a slow, gentle hum that wasn't a precursor to disaster, but to creation. A small portion of Veridia's ocean water was drawn into the atmosphere, forming the first true clouds. Over the exposed land, these clouds condensed and released their precious cargo as rain. The rainfall was light at first, then steady, carving out small channels in the soil. Over time, these channels deepened, becoming rivulets that fed into nascent streams, and eventually, into winding rivers. Freshwater lakes began to form in low-lying valleys. The formerly uniform land was now a mosaic of biomes, with moist riverbanks, serene lake shores, and lush valleys providing fertile ground for new life. The terrestrial evolution, already accelerated, was now supercharged. Sunny leaned back, his remaining Faith a mere sliver, but his satisfaction was immeasurable. He had successfully navigated a misfortune and made a major investment in his world's future. He had come a long way in just two and a half hours.