I selected [Creating], and a new interface opened.
_____
Creating:
[Overview]
[Construction]
[Inanimate Objects]
[Living Beings]
[Completion]
________
The overview was essentially a map of the entire space. Since it was currently empty, I could only see a blue dot in the center. This blue dot moved with me as I moved.
Under [Construction], the same interface as before opened up, and the [Inanimate Objects] and [Living Beings] sections were also available.
The [Completion] option was new, allowing me to mark the Floor as finished. This meant that I couldn't edit it any further, and the Dungeon would have its first Floor.
With this mechanism in place, it seemed I needed to create a self-contained small world. It wasn't easy to quickly build a Floor just for the sake of having one; it needed to be well thought out.
As I pondered this and realized the vastness of a single Floor, I surmised that Dungeons wouldn't have many Floors.
Furthermore, an idea started forming in my mind about how I would design it.
I decided to construct a massive island, divided in the middle by a large river, surrounded by an ocean.
The interesting thing was that in the construction menu, I could use my thoughts to create and transform the necessary materials and beings, which was quite convenient!
"Alright then," I said, "let's get to work!"
I navigated to [Inanimate Objects] and searched for a suitable base material.
The [Space-Hardened Stone] seemed perfect for this purpose and was even cheaper than soil due to my [CS]. It was ten times stronger than regular stone and had the ability to create its own veins of ore at a specific depth. Additionally, it was heavier and doubled the gravity throughout the Floor.
I created a substantial amount of this material and used it to construct a cylinder in the center of the map. The surface had a radius of 5000km, and it was 40km high, resulting in a volume of 3.1415926536•10^9 cubic kilometers. Quite a substantial amount.
This endeavor cost me a whopping 60 [EC]. However, I now had an area that was ten times larger than Australia.
"Unbelievable!" I exclaimed, astonished. It struck me that each subsequent Floor would be at least 20 times larger!
I gathered my thoughts and continued my work. I removed approximately 11 million cubic kilometers by creating a river in the center.
This river was roughly 11000km long, 10km deep, and 100km wide.
Since the entire floor was currently white, I created a 1km thick ground layer using [Time Sand], a type of sand that could momentarily double time within a 1-meter radius when it moved and came into contact with other grains.
Under high pressure and over a long period, this sand could potentially transform into stone. Although this transformation hadn't occurred yet, it remained a speculative possibility.
Once this was done, I filled the Floor with [Aqueous Space], a turquoise-blue water that had the ability to stretch the space within it.
Essentially, a liter of this water could theoretically hold two liters of normal water. This watery expanse reached up to 50m below the top of the islands.
Even though these were the most cost-effective materials, I was nearly broke. I glanced at my status to see how much [EC] I had left.
______
Age: 0 Years 0 months 0 weeks 0 days 21 hours
EC: 4/150
• 1 EC per hour is regenerated.
_______
Since I still had a bit of [EC] left, I decided to add some finishing touches. I made the coastline more natural, eliminating the perfect circle.
I added cliffs, some steeper and some gentler, large beaches, coves, and seemingly eroded caves.
Additionally, I adjusted the shoreline waters, gradually deepening the ocean. Some areas got deeper more quickly, while others did so more gradually.
I also adjusted the surface; one island had gentle hills and large open areas, with its coastline smoothed out to 90% to make room for natural beaches.
The highest point on this island was just 500m above sea level. It was crisscrossed by several small streams and rivers, and dotted with small lakes, none deeper or wider than 1km.
The second island was more rugged, as I planned for a large mountain range here.
I raised the island by an additional 1km in most areas, placing them well above sea level.
The cliffs at the shore were high and harsh, with individual steep mountains emerging from the water, their bases lapped by foaming waves.
I created many large and small caves that appeared eroded by the sea. But very few places offered safe and easy access to the sea for creatures.
I started the mountain range with the tallest peak, a smooth 88480km high – ten times taller than Mount Everest! I placed it not in the center but closer to the edge, furthest away to the first island.
From there, I constructed several mountains, some smaller and some larger. I almost worked blindly, allowing randomness to dictate the beauty and ruggedness of the mountains.
This created valleys, plateaus, ravines, and rocky slopes – a grand display of mountainous terrain.
The mountains gradually tapered, eventually becoming hills and flat land, similar to the first island's landscape.
Crossing the river, which separated the two halves, and then climbing the steep cliff, one could finally catch a breath.
With my remaining [EC] and the newly regenerated energy, I added more caves, rivers, deepened valleys, mountain lakes, and so on.
Having finished, I was now out of [EC].
_______
Age: 0 Years 0 months 0 weeks 0 days 22 hours
EC: 0/150
• 1 EC per hour is regenerated.
_______
"Wow, considering that time here moves 20 times faster, and I've regenerated 2 [EC] throughout the entire time I've been here, I guess I spent around 40 hours working. Incredible! I didn't even notice, and I'm not even tired."
I was quite surprised, which I acknowledged in my self-talk.
"I know these self-conversations are a bit strange," I grumbled, "it became a habit when I used to lie alone in bed for extended periods without anyone to talk to. I've been trying to get rid of it, though. Man!"
Since I wanted time to pass more quickly, I set the work on hold and teleported back to the [Control Room]. This kind of rapid travel was very convenient, and I was glad that setting up the first Floor had unlocked this mode.
Upon returning to the [Control Room], I reconsidered the work and realized that I had only created the basic layout. Despite that, it had already been incredibly costly!
"Unbelievable!"
There was still a layer of soil and humus needed in many places.
Additionally, there were no living beings or plants on the island or in the sea yet.
Till now it's just Stone, Sand and water.
Luckily, the sky came with the appropriate weather, which didn't exist yet, and the walls and ceiling were still white.
Mana also didn't exist at this point since each Floor was akin to the start of a new world, and therefore, no mana had accumulated.
Assuming that mana was like a molecule or atom, I planned to establish a 'Mana Cycle' so that its concentration and quantity would steadily increase.
A similar cycle existed in my previous world – the carbon cycle. But the overall quantity there does not increase.
_____
The carbon cycle is a natural process in which carbon circulates in various forms through the atmosphere, Earth's surface, oceans, and living organisms. It involves several steps:
1. Atmospheric Carbon: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a significant greenhouse gas present in the atmosphere. It is released through processes like the combustion of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and gas) and respiration of living organisms.
[…]
_____
I wanted to create something similar for mana, ensuring that its concentration and quantity would continually increase. However, for that, I needed to understand what mana was made of.
I shifted my focus back to the Dungeon Core, as within it, I could think and contemplate without moving around.
"This should really become a habit," I mumbled, "I spent so long lying in bed, only able to think out loud."
So, I began thinking.