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With multicellular life firmly established, Aris felt the oceans of Aethel yearning for a new dimension: verticality. The flat seabed, while teeming, lacked the complex, three-dimensional structure that truly rich ecosystems demanded. It was time to build the planet's first great forests, not on land, but beneath the waves.
"Alright, Aethel, let's get some proper landscaping done down here," Aris resonated, focusing his will on the vast stretches of continental shelf and the shallower basins. "We need something tall, something swaying, something that provides ample hiding spots for whatever comes next. More tentacles and less gravity, as I like to say! I'm curious if the Kalas ever designed an underwater redwood forest."
He returned to the **Blueprint Library**, specifically to the section on large, marine photosynthetic organisms. He didn't just want algae; he wanted towering, kelp-like structures that could form dense, interwoven canopies. He also designed shimmering, bioluminescent algal blooms that would create ethereal underwater meadows, pulsing with soft light. Alongside these, he crafted early coral-like organisms, capable of slowly building calcified structures that would form intricate reefs.
"The key is structure," Aris mused, calibrating the **Creation Engine**. "These aren't just plants; they're architects of habitat. They'll provide shelter, nurseries, and new surfaces for other organisms to cling to. It's like building an underwater city, but with more photosynthesis and less traffic."
He began by seeding vast expanses of the shallower oceans with these diverse forms. The kelp-like giants grew swiftly in the simulations, anchoring themselves to the seafloor and stretching towards the sunlit surface. Their long, flexible fronds created a dense, swaying forest, filtering the light and calming the currents.
Beneath them, the bioluminescent algae spread, forming vast, glowing carpets that transformed the seabed into an otherworldly landscape, especially during periods of low light. The early coral-like organisms, though slow-growing, began to lay down the foundations for what would one day become immense, living reefs, teeming with life.
Aris meticulously observed the interactions within these emerging underwater forests using the **Ecosystem Modeler**. He saw small, early arthropods clinging to the fronds, grazing on the surface. He saw the nascent jellyfish-like creatures drifting through the swaying stalks, finding new hunting grounds. He ensured that the growth of these underwater forests didn't consume too many nutrients, maintaining a balance with the free-floating plankton.
"It's working!" Aris resonated with delight, feeling the subtle flow of energy through these new, complex biomes. "The water is clearer, there's more oxygen, and the sheer diversity of life is exploding in these structures. It's like they're building their own little underwater apartments."
The creation of these primordial forests was more than just adding greenery; it was a profound act of ecological engineering. They transformed the ocean's three-dimensional space, offering new niches, new opportunities for life to diversify and evolve. The silent, ancient seas were now alive with a new kind of beauty, a testament to Aris's vision and the boundless potential gifted by the Kalas. Aethel's depths were no longer just a soup; they were a vibrant, thriving world, ready for its next inhabitants.
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