"I think I've got it!" I exclaimed.
I wasn't sure how much time had passed, but it was worth it.
The idea had been haunting after some time. What if plants here didn't make food the same way they did on Earth? What if, instead of sugar, they created something else—something far more powerful?
On Earth, it was simple: carbon dioxide plus water, mixed with sunlight, gave glucose. But the plants I could create looked different, the description hunted to something.
I started to wonder—what if, in this world, the process had shifted? What if light didn't just create food… but mana?
It made sense, at least in my head. Plants couldn't survive without water and light. If those were constants, then they must also be the foundations of mana. The more I followed that thought, the more everything around me seemed to fit into place.
Water was everywhere. It wasn't just rivers or clouds. It was inside us, too—seventy percent of a human body, ninety-seven percent of a cucumber.
If light could change water into mana, then of course the things filled with water would also change. Of course life itself would be steeped in magic.
And then there was the form mana took. That fascinated me the most. Water exists as gas, liquid, or solid depending on how tightly its molecules cling together. Mana seemed to follow the same principle.
In the air, it was thin and diffuse, like vapor. When gathered, it could flow thick and heavy, almost liquid. And sometimes—rarely—it hardened into crystal, dense and radiant. Its very state depended on its concentration, just like water.
The more I thought about it, the more it reminded me of something else—Einstein's idea that mass and energy were one and the same, two sides of a coin.
Could mana be that bridge?
Both energy and substance at once?
That would explain why it could power a spell one moment and solidify into a gemstone the next.
I almost laughed when I realized it.
"Because Where is all that energy stored?" I asked myself aloud.
The answer was obvious, blindingly obvious.
"In light!"
I grinned, my chest buzzing with the excitement of discovery. "Of course—it's in the light!"
(A/N: I hope I have conveyed the theory clearly. Just remember: Plants convert water (H2O) and light energy into a new atom and the known element, mana.)
Whether the theory was correct or not would be revealed over time. At least, this was a starting point for my "Mana Cycle."
I glanced at the clock, or rather my age, and saw how much time had passed.
______
Age: 0 Years 0 months 0 weeks 2 days 7 hours
EC: 28/150
• 1 EC per hour is regenerated.
_______
"Umm... a long time, but it's impressive how much I can think when I don't get tired. It didn't even feel that long... HAHA... all that lying around and doing nothing seems to have paid off!" I said aloud, then covered my mouth as I was irritated by my own habit.
I was still alone for now, but hopefully that would change soon with the completion of the first floor.
As my cycle plan wasn't fully refined yet, I decided to take a break and resume thinking.
Before that, I created a notebook and a pen, both of which didn't cost much to create.
I didn't even know if you could call it that, because I couldn't create something proceeded so I improvised by creating two plants that could be blinded into some kind of notebook.
I also didn't even notice a change in my [EC] count. It didn't matter. Time to get to work!
Three days later, I was finished. I thought the plan wasn't entirely complete yet, but I could perfect it as I tested it on the first floor.
______
Age: 0 Years 0 months 0 weeks 5 days 7 hours
EC: 100/150
• 1 EC per hour is regenerated.
_______
For the initial phase, I needed proper light. The white magical light wasn't appealing, and having a weather cycle would provide rain as well.
_________
[Weather]
[Seasons]
[Time]
[Cycle Creation]
______
I clicked on [Cycle Creation] and began creating my own cycle. Similar to the other functions, my [CS] played a significant role here, and the settings related to it were more cost-effective.
The creation process was like shopping. You added items to your cart and paid for them later. After some searching, my cart looked like this:
________
/Your Cart:/
• [Time Seasons]
---> Spring: Time is 5% faster / Summer: Time is 10% faster / Autumn: Time is 5% slower / Winter: Time is 10% slower
---> Affects only non-living things
• [Day]
---> A typical sunny day, perhaps occasionally cloudy, with sunsets and sun rises
• [Time Rain]
---> When consumed, time for organisms passes twice as fast.
---> 1 Drop (1ml) = 10 minutes duration
---> Various intensities of rain, from drizzle to heavy rain
• [Space Storm]
---> A regular storm with varying intensity. From a gentle breeze to a level 9 storm
---> The stronger the storm, the higher the chance of space rifts forming, sucking in air from the surroundings for a period.
---> Starting from storm level 9, large rifts can form, pulling in objects and living beings. Each rift closes on its own after a certain time.
• [Snow]
---> Effect depends on the rain type; [Time Rain]
---> When in snow form, it slows time for covered objects and living beings by half.
---> When it melts, it becomes regular water.
• [Mist in the Space]
---> If mist occurs, it depends on the source of water.
---> [Time Rain]; The denser the mist, the more distorted your sense of time.
---> [Aqueous Space]; The denser the mist, the more distorted the space.
• [Beautiful Night]
---> Causes a transition between day and night.
---> Has no special abilities.
---> The moon has a cycle from full to new moon, and the night sky is adorned with stars. A violet belt of stars stretches across the night sky.
• [Location-based and Logical Weather]
---> As the name suggests, weather is partially determined by the location.
---> Weather occurs logically, as in the real world.
_____
Total Price: 28 [EC]
____
I was quite satisfied with this setup for a start, so I proceeded to create it. If I found anything missing later, I could always add it afterward.
[Successfully Created]
Once this was successfully completed, I witnessed a beautiful blue sky, sunshine, and a few small white clouds that enhanced the sky.
"Ah... how wonderful!" I said, savoring the sun's rays for a moment.
I stood on the island, a gentle breeze caressing me. I rested my hands on my hips and turned my face toward the sun, eyes closed.
"This is it," I said. "Just like back then, when I returned to Earth after three years in the space!"
I couldn't help but briefly reminisce about the past; the sensation was similar to what I was feeling now.
I felt a sense of happiness in achieving something and returning to where I felt most comfortable.
The biggest factor, however, was the weather. When I left the rocket and removed my helmet, the sun's light momentarily blinded me, and a breeze finally tickled my face again. I felt happy.
I shook my head and said, "Enough of that; that was nearly 100 years ago now!"
With that, I started my second phase of construction.
______
Age: 0 Years 0 months 0 weeks 5 days 8 hours
EC: 73/150
• 1 EC per hour is regenerated.
_______
The next step in the mana cycle was plants!
On the flat half of the island, I first created fertile soil as described in the textbooks.
1. Humus -> [Space and Time Humus]
2. Topsoil -> [Space and Time Topsoil]
3. Weathered rock fragments -> [Space and Time Weathered rock fragments]
4. Bedrock would have been here, but that's already covered by the [Space-Hardened Stone] that the entire island is made of. With some rain, groundwater would form, and the natural development process would begin.
The whole procedure cost 2 [EC] as it was a ordinary task.
Since this was the most cost-effective option, that I could afford at the moment, it could store only three times more nutrients and water, and helping decomposers break down dead matter more quickly.
Additionally, it would aid plant growth.
Due to the various abilities, plants wich reach an additional layer, with their roots, would grow twice as fast as they could reach. Per layer.
To make the most of this and save [EC], I decided to start by creating only the seeds of the plants.
My goal was to create vast expanses of lush grass with scattered trees.