Steve woke up refreshed, the furnace still faintly warm. He immediately rushed over to check his output.
All twelve blocks of Iron Ore had been successfully smelted, yielding twelve gleaming Iron Ingots.
They were heavy, cool to the touch, and represented a massive leap in his technological progression.
He could make tools, weapons, or armor. But before diving back into the dangerous depths of the earth, he chose a critical quality-of-life upgrade: water management.
An infinite water source inside the base was the ultimate form of self-sufficiency, negating any need to expose himself just for a drink or to fill his canals.
He retrieved his Crafting Table and the Iron Ingots.
He arranged three Ingots in a shallow 'U' shape in the 3 \times 3 grid. The output box presented a simple, smooth metal container: Bucket (1).
He had nine Ingots remaining, plenty for an initial tool set later.
He took the Iron Bucket and opened his fence gate, stepping out onto the newly cleared path.
He headed straight for the water canal he had dug near his wheat field. He held the Bucket and focused his intent on the flowing water.
[WATER SOURCE: RIGHT-CLICK]
He mentally "right-clicked"—a focused, definitive mental action. The sound of running water instantly ceased.
The bucket felt heavier, and the water in the canal, though still flowing, now had a distinct block missing, a small, cubic void where he had scooped the source block.
[Bucket of Water (1)] appeared in his inventory.
He returned immediately to his base, locking the door behind him.
He needed to create a 2 x 2 block area of open space inside his compound, away from his chests and bed.
He used his shovel to quickly clear a small dirt pit.
He now had one Bucket of Water.
To create an infinite source, he needed two source blocks, placed diagonally or in an L-shape, which would then replenish the third block endlessly.
He needed a second bucket of water. He was the only one Ingot away from crafting a second Bucket, but he didn't want to waste the valuable Iron.
He decided on a simpler method: creating a temporary second source nearby.
He briefly considered scooping a second bucket from the canal, but he didn't want to disrupt the flow to his farm.
Instead, he crafted a second Bucket with three more Ingots. He returned to the canal, scooped the second block of water, and then immediately filled the emptied space in the canal, allowing the water flow to remain intact.
He returned to his base with two Buckets of Water, leaving six Ingots remaining.
Inside his base, he placed the two water blocks in opposite corners of the 2 x 2 pit. The water immediately mingled, forming a perfectly still, deep pool in the center.
[Infinite Water Source Activated] flashed briefly in his peripheral vision.
He dipped an empty bucket into the pool. It filled instantly. He dipped it again. It filled again.
"Perfect,"
Steve sighed, placing his Iron Bucket into his storage chest. He had conquered thirst, eliminated exposure for water collection, and secured his farm.
With the storage solution implemented, Steve could finally move on to the fun part. The six remaining Ingots were dedicated to upgrading his main tools.
He took the Ingots to the Crafting Table.
Iron Pickaxe: Three Ingots across the top, two Sticks down the middle. This left him with three Ingots.
Iron Axe: Two Ingots across the top, one in the second row, two Sticks below.
This left him with zero Ingots.
He had enough for the two most critical harvesting tools. He materialized the Iron Pickaxe and the Iron Axe.
They were sleek, heavy, and gleamed with a cold, intimidating efficiency far beyond the crude Stone versions.
He tested the Iron Axe on a remaining patch of oak.
THWACK!
The wood dissolved in two quick hits—half the time of the Stone Axe.
He tested the Iron Pickaxe on his old Cobblestone wall.
The stone cracked and broke almost instantly. The difference was phenomenal.
"Right,"
Steve declared, his voice firm.
"Now we mine for real."
The Stone Pickaxe and Axe were retired to a 'museum' corner in his storage chest. With his new Iron tools, the next layer of the world's secrets—and resources—were finally accessible. He knew that Iron was simply the gateway to the next tier.
The true prize lay deeper.
He picked up his Iron Pickaxe, checked his torches, and looked at the smooth stone floor of his base. Time to dig down again, this time with true purpose.