Morning sunlight streamed through the small gap in the curtains, casting lines across the cluttered desk. I rubbed the last traces of sleep from my eyes, my mind already racing with possibilities. The events of yesterday felt surreal, but the reality of my situation was all too clear. I had been given a second chance, and now I needed to make it count. The pocket universe, the gifts, and the strangeness of this new world presented both an opportunity and a challenge.
My first priority was building a foundation, financial stability and technological influence. The gaming industry here was underdeveloped, at least compared to what I remembered, and that was something I could exploit. With my enhanced mind, designing a game was well within reach. But before diving headfirst into development, I needed to ensure I had the basics in place.
After a quick breakfast, I opened the portal again, stepping back into the pocket universe. The familiar energy washed over me as I emerged into the tranquil landscape. I took a moment to appreciate the peacefulness, no noise from the city, no distractions, just pure, unspoiled wilderness. I would need to set up a base here, a place where I could operate without limitations.
I walked around the vast open fields, taking mental notes of the geography. There were several locations that could work for a base, but a spot near a river seemed ideal. The flowing water could serve as a natural resource, and the surrounding forest offered plenty of materials. I marked the location in my mind, already planning how I could build a small shelter and start experimenting with the mystical energy that lingered in the air.
Returning to the apartment, I got to work. The first step was to gather materials I would need for both my gaming project and the pocket universe base. I ordered several pieces of hardware and development equipment online, computers, monitors, specialized software, and some basic tools for construction. Thanks to the cash and cards in my wallet, I had enough to get started.
With that taken care of, I turned my attention back to the pocket universe. I needed to understand the properties of the energy that seemed to permeate everything here. I could feel it coursing through the environment, almost like a low hum that resonated in the background. It wasn't just in the air; the ground, the water, even the trees seemed to contain traces of it. There had to be a way to measure it, to harness it for practical use.
I began experimenting with simple tools, constructing makeshift devices using materials from both the pocket universe and the real world. A metal rod placed in the ground near the river acted as a crude conduit, while a small piece of quartz I had found during my earlier exploration served as a focus. When I ran a current through the rod, I saw the quartz emit a faint glow, confirming that the energy could indeed be harnessed and directed.
Encouraged by the results, I started mapping out the areas of the pocket universe with the highest concentrations of energy. I needed a system to quantify it, something that could be scaled up for more ambitious projects later.
For now, though, I had enough information to set up the basics for my base. I spent the rest of the day constructing a simple wooden shelter near the river, using the resources around me. It wasn't much, just four walls and a roof, but it was a start. I could expand it later, adding more rooms and storage space as needed. With my first steps in the pocket universe complete, I returned to the apartment, ready to focus on the next phase: developing a game.
The idea was simple: create a mobile game that was easy to learn but hard to master. Something that could attract a broad audience and generate steady income. I had a few concepts in mind, but ultimately settled on a physics-based puzzle game with addictive mechanics. I began sketching out the basic design, the levels, and the progression system.
With my enhanced mind, the coding process was faster than ever before. Lines of code flowed almost effortlessly from my fingertips, and I found myself lost in the rhythm of creation. The world outside faded into the background as I built the game's core structure, layering in unique challenges and features that would keep players engaged.
Days passed in a blur of work and short trips into the pocket universe for resource gathering and further testing. The game was coming together, and I could feel a sense of momentum building. Soon, I'd be ready to release a beta version and start generating buzz online.
However, there was still the matter of expanding my capabilities in the pocket universe. As I experimented more with the mystical energy, I began creating a rudimentary energy detector, which could help me find richer sources more effectively. I added this tool to my kit and ventured out into uncharted areas. During one of my explorations, I stumbled upon a small cave in a hillside. Inside, the air seemed thicker with energy, and faint light emanated from crystals embedded in the rock walls.
I carefully chipped away at one of the glowing crystals, planning to bring it back to the base for further analysis. If these crystals contained a more concentrated form of the energy, they could be key to unlocking even greater possibilities. I stored the samples in a small container and continued to explore the cave. Further in, I found a natural pool with water that seemed to shimmer with the same glow. I filled a flask and made my way back, already considering the experiments I could conduct.
Returning to the base, I ran some basic tests on the crystal and the water. The results confirmed what I had suspected: the materials from this cave held a much higher concentration of the mystical energy. They could potentially be used as power sources or even integrated into future projects. I decided to keep this location secret for now, understanding the need to control these resources carefully.
With the initial groundwork for both the game and the pocket universe laid out, I returned to the apartment to wrap up the last details of the game's beta release. I created a small website and a few social media accounts to promote it, targeting niche gaming communities and influencers who could help spread the word.
The beta version went live the next morning. Within hours, downloads began to trickle in, followed by the first wave of feedback. Players seemed to enjoy the game's simplicity and challenge, which was a promising start. I kept close tabs on the responses, preparing to release updates to improve the experience.
By the end of the day, I had made more progress than I expected. The game was generating a buzz, and I was steadily expanding my reach in the pocket universe. I couldn't help but smile as I glanced at the blue portal shimmering in the corner of my room. There was so much more to do, but I felt like I was on the right path.
As I prepared for the next steps, I knew the real challenges lay ahead. I would need to explore the pocket universe more thoroughly, find ways to tap into its full potential, and continue growing my influence in this world. But that was fine. I thrived on challenges.
This time, I was carving out my future, one step at a time.