Speaking of the shard, it was time to do some planning. I had seeds to plant and plants to identify. I focused on the dimensional shard and disappeared. I realized I forgot Thor and Loki outside. That wasn’t very nice of me, so I transferred back outside and called them to me. With that taken care of, I went back inside and began planning.

I had all those seeds I scavenged from the grocery store. I needed to make areas for that. I went through my list. I had mangoes, apples, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, bananas, potatoes, onions, strawberries, bell peppers, coffee, mushroom and rice.

It was an eclectic mix of plants. But I was confident I could figure something out. I assessed the space within the dimensional shard, and envisioned the best way to allocate areas for different types of plants. I decided to divide the garden into sections based on the plants’ needs in terms of sunlight, water and soil type.

The first area I created was the fruit tree area. The mangoes, apples and bananas went in here. I ensured they had enough space for their canopies to expand and roots to grow. Mango and apple trees were planted with ample space between them, while banana plants, which require more humidity, were placed in a slightly more sheltered spot.

I created raised vegetable beds for the tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, onions, and bell peppers. Tomatoes and bell peppers, which need more sun, were placed in a sunnier part of this section. Root vegetables like carrots and potatoes were planted in deeper beds, while onions and lettuce, which have shallower roots, were given less deep beds.

For the strawberries, I created a special berry patch with soil rich in organic matter and slightly acidic, ensuring they had room to spread.

I created a shaded and moist area for the coffee and mushrooms. I ensured the coffee plants had enough vertical space for growth while the mushrooms were placed in a small grotto that was damper and cooler.

For the rice, I used the magic of the shard to create a small, controlled paddy field for rice cultivation.

I used my magical abilities to enrich the soil, ensuring it had the right balance of nutrients for each plant type. I also set up a magical irrigation system that could provide the right amount of water to each section. This was when I ran into another problem. I couldn’t create minerals out of the thin air. I could do a lot of things with mana, but creating out of nothing seemed to be a barrier I couldn’t not breach at this time. I received a prompt that I would be required to provide the base minerals before my plans would work. If I continued with my plan, my mana would be used but I would receive sub-optimal results. I put this on my list of things to do. I would figure something out.

As I went along, I created pathways using flat stones, allowing easy access to all areas of the garden for maintenance and harvesting. These pathways were lined with small, flowering plants to add beauty and attract pollinators. Which after I did it, I realized was another problem. I had no pollinators. Right, so bees and or beetles went onto the list.

Lastly, I imbued the garden with a gentle, sustaining magic, ensure the plants would grow healthily and be protected from pests and diseases. I wanted to place magical wards but I didn’t know how to do that.

As I was finishing up everything I realized a major problem. This was a magical place, where did the sunlight come from. Did I make it somehow with my mana? How exactly did it work? Did it use ambient mana? Would I give my position away by the constant drain of mana on the surrounding area?

I didn’t know. All I knew was that at the moment, I needed to provide the mana myself. I needed a better option than being a giant mana battery.

It occurred to me that this was probably why the goblins were living in a cave system. It was less technically complex to create a cave ecosystem than it was to create an open area.

It also occurred to me that I haven’t been using the help function at all. Maybe I could find something there.

[SYSTEM ALERT: SUNLIGHT GENERATION IN DIMENSIONAL SHARD]

Sunlight Source: The Luminar Core

Your Dimensional Shard is equipped with a 'Luminar Core', a magical construct that simulates natural sunlight. This core is essential for the photosynthesis of plants and the overall health of your shard's ecosystem.

Working Mechanism of the Luminar Core:

Energy Absorption: The Luminar Core absorbs ambient magical energies from the environment and your own mana when necessary.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Light Emission: It converts these energies into a full spectrum of light, mimicking the natural sunlight required for plant growth and other life processes.

Regulation: The core automatically adjusts the intensity and duration of light to simulate natural day and night cycles, ensuring a balanced environment.

Mana Usage and Efficiency:

Initial Activation: Setting up the Luminar Core requires a one-time significant mana input to initiate its operation.

Self-Sustainability: Post-activation, the core functions on absorbed ambient magical energies, minimizing the need for continuous mana expenditure from you.

Efficiency: The core is designed for high efficiency and low maintenance, making it an ideal solution for long-term ecological sustainability within the shard.

Benefits of the Luminar Core:

Consistent Growth Conditions: Provides stable and optimal light conditions for plant growth and ecosystem health.

Customizable Cycles: Allows for customization of light cycles based on specific needs of different plant species or desired environmental conditions.

Eco-Friendly: The core’s operation is harmonious with the natural balance of the shard, ensuring a thriving and diverse magical ecosystem.

[Please Note]

Regular monitoring of the Luminar Core is recommended to ensure optimal performance.

Should you wish to modify or upgrade the core’s capabilities, additional mana investment or magical components may be required.

[Press 'OK' to Acknowledge and Continue]

I nodded my head as I read about the Luminar Core. This dimensional shard was amazing. The more I found out about it, I realized how much of a coup it was to find the goblins and defeat them. How did they have it? Why were they so easy to defeat? I can control who comes in and out of the shard, but the goblins couldn’t keep me out. I need to do more research about this. Not knowing felt threatening to me.

I received a quest prompt. I could improve the dimensional shard. I pumped my hand in the air in an affirmative motion. I was so going to rock the apocalypse.

[SYSTEM ALERT: NEW QUEST - ECOLOGICAL ENRICHMENT OF DIMENSIONAL SHARD]

Quest Title: Enriching the Ecosystem

Objective: To upgrade the Dimensional Shard and enhance its capability to sustain a thriving magical ecosystem, collect and introduce essential elements and organisms into the shard's environment.

Required Elements for Collection:

Minerals: Source various minerals to enrich the soil, contributing to plant health and growth. Look for quartz, limestone, and other nutrient-rich stones.

Fertilizer: Gather natural fertilizers to nourish the plants. Organic compost, manure, or magical growth enhancers are recommended.

Water: Collect water from different natural sources. Magical or enchanted water sources are particularly beneficial.

Sunlight: While the Luminar Core provides light, capturing the essence of natural sunlight can further energize the shard's environment.

Required Organisms for Introduction:

Pollinators: Introduce bees, butterflies, or other magical pollinating creatures to aid in plant reproduction and biodiversity.

Soil Enhancers: Earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms are needed to maintain soil health and structure.

Small Creatures: Small birds, insects, or magical fauna can contribute to the ecological balance, assisting in pest control and seed dispersal.

Quest Rewards:

Enhanced Shard Capability: A more efficient and powerful Dimensional Shard, capable of growing rarer and more potent magical plants.

New Abilities: Unlock potential new abilities or enhancements related to ecosystem management and magical plant cultivation.

Increased Mana Capacity: Successfully enriching the shard's ecosystem will result in a more harmonious connection with it, leading to increased mana capacity.

Completion Criteria:

The quest will be considered complete when all elements and organisms have been successfully introduced into the Dimensional Shard and a self-sustaining ecosystem has been established.

[Press 'OK' to Accept the Quest and Begin Your Journey]

Wait a second. I forgot the most important thing. My weed. I didn’t plant it anywhere in the shard. I needed to approach this the same way I approached the other plants and vegetables in the shard.

I didn’t have much selection for what I was going to grow. It was whatever I found at the store and what was still viable.

I designated a specific area for the special plants. I placed them off to the side and ensured they would receive plenty of sunlight. I was running low on nutrients for the shard. I checked on the source of the previous nutrients the shard how and discovered where the goblin bodies went. They were recycled into the shard.

This is where I discovered another function of the shard. The recycletree was a magical plant. It was used to process and recycle various materials, transforming them into inputs for the Industree to use in its crafting process. I couldn’t believe I missed something this important. I wondered if the recycletree was a normal part of the shard or was the shard shifting to be more compatible with my magic. Did the goblins have similar functions? I would never know. I may have explored much of the shard when it was a goblin cave but I didn’t take note of recycling or production facility.

I had much to do when I woke up tomorrow. Satisfied with my work, I fell asleep and slept deeply for what felt like ages.