In a lush forest that extended from south to north, a steep slope emerged at a certain point. The trees became sparse, and the undergrowth thinned out as the terrain suddenly rose, revealing the earth beneath. At the end of this steep slope was a towering cliff, adorned with rugged and peculiar rocks.
On the peak of the cliff stood yet another expanse of emerald-green forest, extending far into the distance. As for what lay beyond the forest's edge, human resources and capabilities hadn't yet been able to explore, leaving room for speculation and conjecture. This was the current understanding of the world's appearance for the survivors of the research institute.
A child's drawing was quite intriguing. In art class, he depicted the world as a staircase emerging from the sea, with layers beneath the ocean's surface and layers above it. Layer upon layer, each tier teemed with strange creatures and plants. Most of the people from the research institute resided somewhere between the first and second tiers of this staircase world, currently situated atop the cliff.
After more than a year of construction, the base on the cliff had taken shape. Led by the scientific team, the highly skilled individuals had pushed the boundaries of stone and wood development technology to its zenith. Although they hadn't located any metal ore deposits, their proficiency in stone and wood manipulation was unparalleled.
The group was rich in scientists and technicians, distributed according to their respective specialties—construction, production, daily life, education, and even weapons manufacturing.
Prominent on the cliff were flat, well-constructed stone structures, housing both large and small buildings. These stone-and-mud structures were sturdy and comfortable, suitable for both work and gatherings. The largest among them was the administrative center, where people from various groups hurried in and out, bearing plans, implementing results, and seeking wisdom and solutions from the team to address their many questions and needs.
The smaller structures encompassed centers for various forms of production and processing, as well as classrooms. Individuals in charge of different tasks worked within these centers, engaging in food processing, clothing production, tool crafting, weapons development, and education and training.
Each morning, those living in the cliffside caves traversed spiderweb-like walkways to reach their respective work areas. There, they spent their entire days working, eating, and resting, returning to the cliff's interior for rest in the evening. This routine repeated ceaselessly.
The entire base resembled a massive, well-oiled machine, operating in harmony. New caverns were continuously excavated, and new buildings constructed. Like ripples spreading from the original administrative center, the base expanded gradually along the periphery of the cliff. The forward scouts in charge of communication often remarked that upon returning, they could see the base from even farther away, a clear indication that the base was indeed growing larger.
At present, the inhabitants of the base no longer lacked food and clothing. Due to their tiny stature, similar to ants, their needs for material goods were minuscule. The forest provided abundant resources year-round. In this temperate climate, the people of the region enjoyed an endless supply of vegetables, fruits, eggs, and even meat obtained from birds. They also had a considerable stockpile of preserved food.
The most pressing concern was advancing their technological level. The current state of the base resembled a medieval city. Linen clothing, though dyed, still retained a somewhat coarse texture. Even though paper existed, it bore a faint yellow hue. While the primary food supply met demands, the variety and quality of snacks were lacking and couldn't be improved in the short term. Even tableware couldn't be further refined.
To the eyes of these shrunken humans, these disparities were even more conspicuous. People could discern finer details—large holes in coarse cloth garments, intricate veins on leaf-made items. These disparities were beyond change without access to metal ore deposits.
At the end of the third floor of the administrative center, a small office was partially concealed by a half-closed door. Inside, the furnishings were simple—wooden desks, benches, cabinets, and a couch cushioned with cocoon-derived fluff. This type of fluff, taken from cocoons, adorned long benches and beds, providing softness and comfort. It was an essential item in every office and home, and a significant source of clothing material. The forest was teeming with these cocoon-bearing insects.
At this moment, an individual named Jin sat at the desk, engrossed in writing or calculating something. He dipped a pen made from a tree branch into black ink and scribbled on a pile of thick yellow paper. Occasionally, he would nod or pause, furrowing his brow in contemplation.
The windows of the office were crafted from wood and embedded with dried, translucent leaves. These leaves allowed light to filter through, creating intricate leaf-vein patterns that projected onto the room's interior. Each window was unique.
On the balcony of the office stood a young woman. She leaned against the balcony's railing, her long hair billowing in the wind. Clad in a light green dress that accentuated her youthful figure, she presented a graceful silhouette in the gentle breeze.
Her profile resembled that of a graceful princess, with her long eyelashes fluttering delicately. She seemed like the beloved daughter of a king from an ancient castle in China, gazing into the distance. Her casual manner attracted countless gazes.
"Father, have you made up your mind?" "I haven't, let's not talk about it." Old Jin didn't even lift his head.
"Why?" Jun Ya grew a bit unhappy.
"It's the same reasons as before. Don't dwell on it. I won't agree unless you run away." Old Jin still didn't raise his head.
Contrary to the anticipated dramatic turn, Jun Ya wasn't about to act like a capricious princess from a fairy tale, stamping her foot in discontent and storming off. Our Jun Ya loved her father dearly, and she was a modern, responsible young woman. She walked over from the balcony and made a face at her father.
"How long will that take? And absolute safety? How much longer do I have to wait before I can go on an adventure?"
"It's still early. We need a method to control large creatures at the very least."
"But haven't we already got that? Liu Xing said we have poisoned darts that can be launched from a distance and crossbow arrows for individual soldiers, effective within three seconds against giant rats."
"It's not enough. We don't know enough about the region's wildlife. So, we can't take the risk. There might be other species that can attack humans. We can't take chances!"
"Fine, I understand!" Jun Ya was sensible. The danger posed by a single giant rat resulted in heavy losses. What other creatures might be lurking remained a mystery.
Jun Ya might look like a delicate and headstrong princess on the surface, but her intelligence wasn't something those ornamental vases could compare to. As Jun Ya grew up, Old Jin often discussed various matters with her, such as the past incident with the giant rats. Once the dust had settled on the matter, people began contemplating the anomalies within it.
First, why couldn't giant rats be seen now? It couldn't be that they only existed as isolated individuals.
Second, why was the variety of creatures encountered so limited—just insects, birds, trees, and flowers?
Thirdly, hardly anyone ventured deep into the forest on the cliff. Yet, one could hear the cries of flying eagles and the roars of giant beasts, sounding somewhat like squirrels. However, those creatures never ventured to this side. It was as if the cliff served as a dividing line, a boundary that the living beings on either side dared not cross. Once a creature crossed over, like the giant rat from the last incident, it would be snatched away by an eagle.
The scientific team had pondered this for a long time without reaching a conclusion. Meanwhile, Old Jin had taken an interest in a child's drawing. It depicted the world as a staircase. Each tier had its own inhabitants, and the tiers were connected yet separated by the cliff.
"This drawing is quite interesting and brimming with imagination," Old Jin remarked, looking at the colorful illustration. Now there were sufficient art supplies, and educational materials were adequate for basic instruction.
Jun Ya leaned her pretty head closer. "The child's drawing has a unique quality. Look, he used steps to divide the world into levels," Jun Ya explained. "Is this bottom level us?"
"I believe so," Old Jin said, gazing at the bottommost step. "This part portrays the base on the cliff, which should represent us."
"Above us are many more tiers of steps, leading directly into the clouds. What's most fascinating is that we're not on the bottommost tier. Earth is," Jun Ya pointed to the picture of the obvious final tier. It depicted flowers, buildings, and skyscrapers. Next to it was a label indicating the original world—Earth!
"The most astonishing thing is the name of this painting," Old Jin pointed at the bottom corner of the drawing, where the caption was written: "Promotion."
"Who is the child who drew this? Did an adult teach them?" Jun Ya was beginning to realize something.
"I just received this painting this morning and immediately sent people to find out," Old Jin explained calmly. "However, no one admitted to being the author of this painting, and none of the school teachers had assigned such a drawing task."
"So, what's going on?"
"This was discovered among the collected assignments during class. The teacher stumbled upon it while grading. We can now confirm that it's an extra piece of work with an unknown author."