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The continents were taking on a verdant hue, thanks to Aris's careful cultivation of early plant life. But the oceans, vast and teeming with potential, still felt… incomplete. He knew that the foundation of nearly all aquatic ecosystems lay in the humble, microscopic world of algae. It was time to bring life to the seas in earnest.
"Alright, time to get this cosmic aquarium started," Aris resonated, focusing his awareness on the sun-drenched shallows and the nutrient-rich depths. "No pressure, little guys, but you're the base of the whole food chain here. Don't let me down. I hope the Kalas are watching and smiling… maybe even placing bets on which strain evolves first."
He returned to the Genesis System's **Blueprint Library**, this time selecting a range of single-celled and simple multicellular algae. He chose varieties that could thrive in different conditions: some that floated near the surface, photosynthesizing with gusto, and others that clung to the ocean floor, forming the basis of underwater forests.
"Gotta have variety," Aris thought, carefully calibrating the Creation Engine. "We need the phytoplankton – the cosmic pastures of the sea. And some heartier stuff for the deeper zones. Kelp forests? Check. Bioluminescent algae that make the oceans glow? Double-check. It's going to be beautiful."
He began to introduce these microscopic lifeforms into the oceans, carefully monitoring their dispersal and growth. He adjusted the nutrient levels, the salinity, and the water temperature to create optimal conditions for their flourishing.
"It's alive! It's aliiiiive!" Aris resonated, a thrill of creation coursing through him as he watched the first algal blooms spread across the surface of the water. "Okay, it's algae, but still! My first *real* life! I'm practically a space-dad! A very, very large space-dad."
He used the Ecosystem Modeler to simulate the interactions between the algae and the other components of the ocean: the flow of nutrients, the penetration of sunlight, and the grazing pressure from the microscopic zooplankton that would soon follow.
"Gotta make sure everyone gets along," Aris mused, fine-tuning the balance of the ecosystem. "No runaway algal blooms that choke everything else out. We're aiming for a healthy, vibrant ocean, teeming with… well, eventually, teeming with bigger things than algae. But you gotta start somewhere."
He experimented with different types of algae, introducing varieties that could produce different kinds of organic matter, some that could fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, and even some that could form the basis of future coral reefs.
"The oceans are the heart of this planet," Aris reflected, watching the simulations of underwater ecosystems unfold. "They're the cradle of life, the engine of the climate, and a source of endless wonder. And I get to shape them. It's… humbling."
As the algae spread and thrived, the oceans of Aethel began to change. The water became clearer, the oxygen levels rose, and the first faint hints of color appeared in the once-barren depths. The planet was truly coming alive, from the mountaintops to the deepest trenches.
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