Azure takes a moment to catch his breath, still staring at the thriving miniature world unfolding before him. Nexus, ever calm, interrupts his awe.
"Host, now you must create life."
Azure blinks. "Right... and how exactly do I do that?"
The system responds without hesitation. "Simply sprinkle some of your blood inside the miniature world. To populate the waters, gather the blood of animals and sprinkle it in the ocean you have created."
Azure's eyes narrow in confusion. "Wait—what? That's it? Blood? Shouldn't it be a little more… complicated to create life?" His voice drips with skepticism.
"Host, I have already constructed a functioning miniature world. Creating life from blood does not need to be complex. The essence of life is contained within the blood, and the system will take care of the rest."
Azure runs a hand through his graying hair, glancing back at the shimmering, perfect little mountains and rivers he'd helped form. He can't help but feel like this is too easy, too simple for something so monumental.
"Alright," he mutters. "Fine, I'll give it a try. Just… wait here."
He straightens up slowly, his joints protesting from hours of crouching and digging. The thought of hunting makes him groan inwardly. He hasn't done that in years. But he needs animals' blood, and this island has more than enough wildlife to spare. Pushing past the aches and weariness, Azure heads toward the denser part of the island.
The sun is low by the time Azure spots movement in the underbrush. His hands grip the handle of a makeshift spear he had fashioned from a fallen branch and an old hunting knife tied with twine. He feels a mix of frustration and nostalgia—he used to be good at this. Years ago, when he was younger. Now it just feels like a grim chore.
After an hour of stalking through the forest, Azure finally catches sight of his target: a rabbit, nibbling on some grass. He takes a deep breath, steadies his shaking hands, and hurls the spear.
It strikes true.
The rabbit gives a brief twitch before falling still. Azure grimaces as he approaches, feeling a twinge of guilt, but reminds himself of the task at hand. He crouches down, carefully retrieving the animal and slinging it over his shoulder. He still needs more blood.
By the time Azure returns to the miniature world, the sky has darkened into twilight. He's managed to catch a few small animals—rabbits, squirrels, even a fox. His body feels heavier than ever, but the weight of the task keeps him moving.
"Alright, Nexus," he says, wiping sweat from his brow. "I've got the animals. What next?"
"Drain their blood into the ocean you created."
Azure sighs, muttering to himself. "Sure, just casually drain some blood into a tiny ocean…"
"Now, Host, your own blood. Sprinkle it over the ocean again."
Azure nods, already too deep into this strange ritual to question it further. Using his knife, he pricks the tip of his finger and lets a few drops of his blood fall onto the ocean. The moment the crimson liquid touches the water, the ocean boils slightly, a subtle vibration running through the ocean.
He steps back, watching intently. The world within the dome seems to shimmer again, the air thick with anticipation.
"Is that it?" Azure asks, breathless, half-expecting the entire island to explode or for something equally dramatic to happen.
The Nexus responds coolly, "The process of life creation has begun. Now we wait."
Azure watches the miniature world, waiting for some immediate change, some spark of life to appear, but nothing happens. His shoulders sag a little with disappointment.
"Now we wait? How long are we talking here?" he asks, exasperation creeping into his voice.
The Nexus, ever calm and detached, answers, "Host, I will accelerate time within the miniature world. I have set it to progress at a rate of 1,000 years per second. By tomorrow, there will be some form of life evolved. You can rest for now."
Azure blinks, caught off guard by the revelation. "Wait, you can just… fast-forward time? Just like that?"
"Correct. The world inside the dome operates on a different temporal flow; it is already an entirely separate world. By the time you wake up tomorrow, life will have already developed."
Azure rubs his face, suddenly aware of how heavy his eyelids feel. The day's labor and the emotional rollercoaster he's been on are catching up with him. He lets out a long breath and glances one more time at the miniature landscape. The thought of an entire millennium passing in seconds within that dome is staggering.
"Fine," he mutters, fatigue taking over. "Guess I'll see what kind of world I wake up to tomorrow."
He turns and walks back toward the small cabin he calls home, his tired steps crunching softly on the dirt path. The island is quiet, the stars just beginning to dot the night sky. As he reaches the porch, he pauses, glancing back one last time at the glowing dome in the distance. A thousand years per second. The idea is absurd, yet, after everything he's witnessed today, it almost feels normal.
Azure jolts awake to the sound of an alarm echoing inside his head. The noise is sharp, insistent, pulling him out of his deep sleep. For a moment, he lies still, confused, his mind trying to reconcile the unnatural ringing with his surroundings. Then, the familiar voice of the Nexus cuts through the haze.
"Host, wake up. The first lifeform of the miniature world is about to be born."
He groans, rolling over in bed, rubbing his eyes. "Oh, goodness," he mutters under his breath, "this system even knows how to set an alarm clock." Despite the grumbling, excitement stirs in his chest. The prospect of witnessing life in the miniature world is too enticing to ignore. With a huff, he swings his legs out of bed and stands, stretching his stiff body.