Shelly, the Fusion Monster

Yin Shen placed his hand on the Fusion Monster's immense eye, as if touching a colossal, cold crystal.

His will extended through the pupil, and he spoke in a commanding tone.

"Shed your spiral shell and give it to me."

Tentacles stretched out from beneath the curled abdomen, gradually lifting the shell from its back.

The gigantic shell, even larger than the temple, was placed on the steps in front of the palace.

The Fusion Monster lay beneath it, as if presenting a gift to the God.

Yin Shen had originally intended to merely touch the shell, but upon contact, he discovered that it began to float.

With a thought, he made the shell levitate higher and higher.

He could control this object.

Yin Shen felt like he had found an immense toy. This was the first item he could touch and directly manipulate, as if it were an extension of his own body, moving wherever his mind willed it.

Yin Shen attempted to move other objects but found it had no effect.

The only thing he could move was this spiral shell.

Finally, following his will, the enormous shell continuously shrank.

When he held it in his hand, the shell resembled a horn.

It seemed that if blown, it could play the melody of life itself.

This was truly...

A miracle.

Yin Shen gained an initial understanding of this mythical creation: "It can be controlled remotely and change in size."

"Things imbued with my power no longer adhere to the laws of science."

Yin Shen speculated.

The power of the Trilobite Man was not limited to this; there should be more abilities and applications yet to be discovered.

However, Yin Shen still hadn't grasped the key to using his power to imbue other objects with mythical capabilities.

Imprisoned in the crevices of space-time, he could only rely on Redlichia the Trilobite Man and the Fusion Monster to maintain his anchor points to this universe. His preliminary plan was to create more Trilobite Men to see if he could form additional anchor points.

If he could regain a physical body, that would be even better.

This existence as a wandering ghost was truly terrifying.

Yin Shen stood up, holding the spiral shell.

He saw the Fusion Monster gazing at him. Without its shell, the Fusion Monster appeared even more horrifying.

Yin Shen looked at the Fusion Monster and mused, "Since you can alter your own form, why not change into a shape that's more pleasing to the eye?"

"Your current appearance is quite frightening, I must say."

Although currently, only Yin Shen was present, and the Fusion Monster couldn't scare him.

But still...

It was indeed a bit too unsightly.

The colossal Fusion Monster sensed Yin Shen's emotions. Its flesh-mountain body compressed inward.

Its size grew smaller and smaller.

Hundreds of eyes converged and twisted into its body, gradually transforming into a human shape.

The myriad tentacles retracted, becoming two legs like Yin Shen's.

The Fusion Monster transformed into a little girl wearing a white, gauzy cloak, with green eyes, brown hair, and bare feet with pink toenails.

The cloak was exceptionally flowing, tightly wrapping her petite frame.

Upon closer inspection, rather than clothing, it seemed to be a layer growing directly from her body, akin to a jellyfish's bell.

Having taken human form, it no longer felt like a mere object.

He had given the Trilobite Man a name, so naturally, he wouldn't show favoritism. He also prepared to give this life, born alongside the Trilobite Man, a name.

"Shelly," Yin Shen declared. "From now on, your name is Shelly."

The Fusion Monster, Shelly, sat beside the God, nestling against his stone statue. Having received a name, she didn't exhibit the same delight as Redlichia. Or rather, she didn't understand the difference between the terms 'Fusion Monster' and 'Shelly'.

As she swung her legs, her mouth emitted sounds like blowing bubbles.

"Gurgle, gurgle!"

Like a fish blowing bubbles while chasing after them, her vacant eyes held no sparkle.

The mythical spiral shell that Yin Shen called a biological tool was submerged in seawater, with only its top exposed, forming a reef rock.

Two figures, one large and one small, sat upon this reef.

Yin Shen's gaze watched the lives being born, gestating, and then quickly perishing within the shell.

The emotions in his eyes shifted from anticipation to excitement, ultimately turning to disappointment as the curtain fell.

Yin Shen spoke to Shelly, the Fusion Monster playing with water beside him, "Another failure, it seems."

"Shelly, you're simply a heartless lottery merchant," he remarked wryly. "The odds are far too low."

Shelly kicked her legs, splashing the seawater.

Without a command, it was as if she couldn't hear Yin Shen's words.

Even if she understood, she probably wouldn't grasp the meaning of terms like 'heartless', 'lottery', and 'merchant'.

Yin Shen continued to manipulate the mythical spiral shell, starting the next experiment and attempt.

One failed specimen after another was produced, turning into lifeless objects or mindless insects upon birth.

These things then transformed into nutrients, devoured by the spiral shell to begin manufacturing new Trilobite Man eggs.

Countless failures and innumerable erroneous methods were attempted.

The sun rose and set in an unending cycle.

The solitary island and ocean remained ever-unchanging, as if they would persist this way until the end of time itself.

Yin Shen finally succeeded. His success would shatter the stagnancy of this world.

On this day...

One transparent insect egg after another tumbled out from the immense spiral shell. They floated up from beneath the seawater, glistening like radiant gems under the sunlight's refraction.

This was the miracle of life, and the birth of a species.

"Gurgle, gurgle!" The Fusion Monster, Shelly, let out a cheer.

It was unclear whether it was due to sensing Yin Shen's elation or because of the Trilobite Man eggs on the sea's surface.

Redlichia, who had recently been carving stones and learning to use the language of the gods in the temple, also sensed the commotion and rushed to the ocean's edge.

Yin Shen stood above the island, gazing at the newly born life.

Redlichia stood behind him, staring in disbelief at the life floating on the ocean—they were Trilobite Men like him.

Yin Shen turned around, smiling at him.

"We succeeded, Redlichia," he said, his voice warm with satisfaction.

"You... have companions now."

Redlichia's eyes lost focus. He was no longer alone.

This feeling was extraordinary, a strong sense of being moved swirled within his chest.

"So this is what a species is," he marveled, his reverent tone colored with awe.

At the same time, Redlichia felt a bit at a loss.

"God," he began hesitantly, "now that I have a species, what should I do?"

His speech had improved.

Yin Shen smiled benevolently. "You are their king, Redlichia. You should lead them to multiply and thrive, ultimately establishing a grand civilization."

"A civilization belonging to you, to the Trilobite Men," he added, his words imbued with a sense of destiny.

Redlichia looked perplexed, his brow furrowing. "What is a civilization, God?"

Yin Shen gazed at the vast ocean, his voice taking on a philosophical timbre. "Possessing your own written language, your own art, the power to transform and understand the world. A collective condensed and created by a group of intelligent beings."

"It can be a city-state or a nation," he continued, his words painting vivid pictures in Redlichia's mind.

"As for how to go about it, that is for you to decide, O King," Yin Shen concluded, his tone both encouraging and challenging.

Redlichia looked at Yin Shen's back, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Won't you come and teach me, God? Why don't you establish this civilization yourself?"

"I will obey your every command," he added quickly, bowing his head in deference.

Yin Shen shook his head, his voice firm but kind. "I am the God who created you, Redlichia."

"But you," he turned to face the Trilobite Man, his eyes shining with faith, "are their king."