The portal shimmered behind them like a veil of liquid light, and as Leonel stepped fully through, a quiet pop signaled the transition.
Then silence.
A wide-open grassy plain stretching out in every direction under a perfectly square sun.
A newborn world.
The servants stood frozen, overwhelmed. Even Liora, who normally held herself with calm dignity, looked around with widened eyes.
"…It's empty," she whispered.
Leonel nodded, taking a deep breath—not disappointed, but exhilarated.
"This is perfect."
One of the servants swallowed. "Young master… what do you plan to do in such a barren realm?"
Leonel turned toward them.
"We build."
...
Leonel walked toward the nearest tree—a cube of oak, rough and simple. He placed his hand on the bark and pushed.
The block dissolved into floating particles and dropped into his inventory.
Gasps erupted behind him.
"Young master… the tree simply—vanished!"
Leonel smiled.
"Everything here follows rules. Efficient ones."
He opened the crafting interface—something only he could see. A translucent grid floated in front of him, visible only to his eyes.
Crafting: Wooden Planks → Crafting Table
The crafting table materialized in his hand, and he placed it down. It thudded softly against the ground.
"This," he announced, "is where everything begins."
...
Leonel gestured to the nearest servant.
"Cedric. Try harvesting a tree."
Cedric approached nervously, pressed his palm against the block, and—
pop—
It dropped neatly as an item.
His eyes widened.
"I… I did it!"
Leonel nodded. "Good. That means others can learn too."
Next, he instructed:
"Four planks make a crafting bench. Like so—"
He formed a second crafting table and handed it to Cedric.
"This world allows creation through intention and structure. Learn the pattern, and the world responds."
The servants eagerly practiced, slowly gaining confidence.
By the time the square sun reached its midpoint in the sky, Leonel had taught them to create:
✔ Wooden axes✔ Pickaxes✔ Shovels✔ Logs → Planks → Sticks
Liora watched everything, eyes glittering.
"You're teaching them as if… building an order. A system."
Leonel chuckled. "Not just building. Civilizing."
...
Leonel gathered everyone.
"Night will come soon. In this world, darkness may spawn danger."
"Spirits?" one servant whispered.
"Monsters," Leonel corrected. "Hostile ones."
Fear flickered across their expressions, but he raised a hand calmly.
"That's why our first goal is a house."
He began outlining a simple rectangular layout using dirt blocks. Not grand—not yet—but functional.
Walls rose block by block as servants chopped wood and brought planks, following Leonel's instructions.
Some placed blocks awkwardly, others misplaced planks or built uneven heights—but Leonel never scolded.
Mistakes were part of learning.
Liora worked beside him, her movement graceful and focused. At one point she paused, unable to hide a small smile.
"It feels… strangely peaceful," she murmured. "Like playing."
Leonel smiled back."That's how building should feel."
Together, they raised the final plank as the sky darkened into pixelated twilight.
The servants stepped back, exhausted but proud.
A small, simple but sturdy shelter stood before them.
Not much.
But it was theirs.
...
Inside the new shelter, Leonel placed a torch—crafted from coal found in the first exposed rock vein and wood from earlier.
Warm light filled the small space.
The servants stared at it with reverence.
"A flame… without oil…"
"A cultivation treasure?"
Leonel laughed softly. "No. Just technology."
Once everyone was settled, he turned toward a section of the dirt floor.
"We need stone. Tools must evolve."
He swung his wooden pickaxe.
Crack.
A block disappeared and left behind a hollow space.
A tunnel began.
Leonel called out:
"Tomorrow, we begin systematic mining. I'll teach you patterns to ensure safety and efficiency. No collapse, no wasted energy."
The servants nodded eagerly—their exhaustion overshadowed by excitement.
Liora leaned against his shoulder quietly.
"You look alive, Leonel," she whispered. "More than since we arrived in that broken exile territory."
Leonel looked toward the dim hallway of stone.
"This place… is a chance to start again. To build—not just with resources, but with people."
She smiled softly, fingers intertwining with his.
"And we will build it together."