There was no real path to follow. The only guide he had was the faint memory of where he had discovered the AI and the reactor core, and the fact that he had to stay alert—
He didn't want to think about the possibilities—the machines, the reactor, the possibility of being buried alive again—but that didn't stop the fear from creeping in.
Then—
A faint blueish-green hue creeping out of the cracks in the walls. The first thought that crossed his mind was that it was moss, but it didn't look like anything he had ever seen. The color was too vibrant, almost unnatural. He stepped closer, inspecting it carefully.
The moss seemed to pulse ever so slightly, as if it were somehow alive. As his hand brushed against one of the strands, a wave of coolness washed over him, a stark contrast to the unbearable heat of the wasteland outside. He froze, feeling something stir deep inside him—hope.
Could this be it?
He remembered the system's notification about biomass—the missing ingredient for creating soil. He didn't have the slightest idea of how to turn this strange moss into something usable, but it was a start.
Taking a deep breath, he knelt down and gently dug around the base of the moss, pulling a small patch free. It felt delicate in his hands, but it wasn't fragile. The strands clung together, sticky and almost resilient.
He stood, holding the moss in his palm. This was biomass.
System Update: New Resource Detected.
Analyzing…
Mutated Biomass Identified – Processing Viability…
The next message sent a jolt through him.
Terraforming Feature: Soil Formation – Efficiency 8%.
It was working. The system was responding. Without wasting another second, he activated the feature. He felt the familiar surge of energy as the system processed the information, and within seconds, the dirt beneath his feet seemed to shift. A faint tremor ran through the ground, and before his eyes, soil began to form.
It was subtle at first, but as he knelt down to inspect it, the changes were undeniable. The once barren sand had transformed into dark, fertile earth. His pulse quickened. The system had done its part, but this was only the beginning. He had just unlocked a vital step toward reshaping this desert into something that could sustain life.
As he stood there, staring at the newly formed soil, an idea began to form. He needed to plant something. If he could create soil, then he could grow. And if he could grow, then he could feed himself. The thought of not having to rely on the limited water he had for survival was liberating. He could begin building.
The moss was the obvious choice. He had already discovered its potential, and if it had survived in such harsh conditions, it might be the key to unlocking more sustainable growth. But before he planted it, he needed to know more about its properties. Could it thrive in the soil? Would it flourish like other plants, or would it fade just as quickly as everything else in this dead world?
He sat down cross-legged in the newly formed soil, looking at the moss in his hands. His fingers were still trembling from the excitement, but now a new sense of responsibility filled him. The stakes were higher than ever. This moss wasn't just a plant. It was a test. If it grew, if it flourished, then he would have a chance at making this wasteland into something more than a desperate survival. It would become a place of life.
His thoughts drifted back to the ruins, to the strange blue glow that filled the chamber. He could almost feel the weight of the past pressing down on him. Someone had once tried to do the very thing he was attempting now—terraform this world, restore it to something habitable. And they had failed.
But he had something they didn't.
The terraforming system.
If he could unlock its full potential, he might succeed where they had faltered.
He pressed the moss gently into the soil, the dampness of the earth seeping into his palms. Carefully, he buried the edges, making sure it had enough space to root. He covered it with a thin layer of dirt.
A new notification appeared.
Initiating Growth Viability Scan…
He watched, waiting. Hoping. But the system remained silent. It might take time.
For the first time since he had woken in this desert, he felt a connection to this place—a strange bond between the ruins, the past, and his own future.
As the night fell and the wind howled across the wasteland, he lay down in the dirt, eyes trained on the spot where the moss had been planted.
Tomorrow, he would know.
But for now, he closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep with the faintest sense of hope stirring in his chest.