Wizard: Starting with Symbiosis with Algae

As instructed by Ruby, the mycelium resources near the experimental station need to be managed in zones.

During non-thunderstorm weather, it is best to graze livestock outside the experimental station as much as possible.

Moreover, it cannot be eaten all at once; an area must be left for the fungal carpet to recover.

Because the number of worms had been reduced by more than half, Lynn took special care of each one. He labeled each worm and herded them in batches according to how much they had eaten.

With intensive cultivation, the yield of worms can be slightly higher, but only slightly higher, and cannot break through the limitations of quantity and resources.

In agrarian civilizations, this practice has a very trendy name: involution.

Lynn touched the "blue light algae" that was changing on his body. As long as high-energy soil was placed next to the blue light algae, the blue light algae would also enter an excited state as if it had seen lightning.

It's like a famous game where you use items to evolve your pet.

Meanwhile, Ruby seems to have discovered other uses for high-energy soil.

Before leaving the house, she was shaking the test tube and dripping some high-energy soil extract onto the test strip.

"Flying rods can detect worms, and worms can also alert each other. Maybe we can wait and wait for them to come to us."

"This extract can help you quickly capture worms."

Lynn neither confirmed nor denied this, saying that it's all up to people, and one shouldn't stay home just because there's danger.

He kicked one of the worms that was clinging to the other hard. After being kicked apart, the two worms wriggled a few times and then quickly tried to get back together.

After completing their submission to Lynn, the hierarchy within the worm also underwent subtle changes.

They are redefining ranks, then allocating food, and finally determining body size.

This process, which might take weeks in nature, was compressed into half an hour on Lynn's leash.

Farmers, when looking after chickens, naturally don't want to raise a single, dominant chicken. The ideal situation is for all the chickens to eat and grow rapidly, laying eggs in abundance.

He raised his hand and said:

"Entwined by vines."

Green vines sprouted from the mud, coiling around the two closest worms and pressing each onto a new piece of fungal carpet.

Lynn walked over and tapped the head of one of the animals with his finger: "You all better behave yourselves. Eat, eat as much as you can."

He straightened up, looked at the dozens of worms lying on the fungal carpet, heads down, feeding, and carefully counted them.

From the time they are caught until they are ready to eat, it takes six to twelve days for them to grow a full round of meat while grazing.

This is under ideal conditions with sufficient mycelium and favorable weather. If there is heavy rain or disturbance from flying spores, the cycle will be longer.

This output is far too inefficient for two adult humans who need to replenish protein every day.

"It takes six to twelve days for the livestock to grow a full roll of meat."

"Isn't there thromborosione for worms?"

...

One hour and 15 minutes later, after meticulous processing of the worms.

Lynn arrived at the cave he had planned to explore before yesterday's downpour.

Lynn wrapped the rope around his hand, summoned all the worms to his side, and locked them to the stone pillar at the entrance.

Then look towards the entrance to the cave.

According to Ruby's experience, these caves have a relatively high oxygen content.

Lynn took the oxygen tank and went straight inside.

Lynn walked about twenty steps into the crack, and then the space suddenly widened.

Before us was a new cave. The ceiling was not high, only about three meters, but the area was not small, about half the size of the cave at the experimental station.

The air inside the cave was humid and hot, completely different from the dry red soil wasteland outside.

A strong smell of sulfur mingled with the steam, so thick it lingered in the nostrils for a long time. The underground river at the bottom of the cave made a turn here, its waters converging into a shallow pool in the center of the cave. Bubbles were rising and churning on the surface of the pool, and rhythmic currents pushed the water upwards from the bottom.

"This is a hot spring."

A stone pillar, about the thickness of a person's embrace, rises abruptly from the center of the hot spring, extending from the bottom of the pool to the top of the cave. The surface of the stone pillar is covered with a thick layer of algae.

The algae were pale yellow in color and emitted a faint glow in the dark cave, clearly visible even in complete darkness.

Lynn covered her nose and approached. The smell of sulfur was even stronger, making her eyes sting.

Pale yellow algal filaments drift slowly in the steam rising from the hot spring. Unlike blue-green algae, which require sunlight, or creeping algae, which need organic matter, these algae feed on chemicals brought up from deep underground by the hot spring, such as sulfides and possibly other substances, like the magical crystals that don't catch rainwater after it falls.

That's very good.

There were several dead worms by the pool.

The body had turned white and swollen from being submerged in the water. There were no signs of struggle around the body, as if it had died the moment it touched the water.

One of the corpses was closest to the stone pillar, and a few strands of light yellow algae were still stuck to its body wall.

This algae contains toxins that terrify worms.

Lynn took a step back.

The toxins were just what I wanted.

"It's poisonous. Next time it attacks with flying sticks, it can fight back on its own even if it gets hit."

Blue-light algae need sunlight or the magical crystals brought by heavy rain for photosynthesis.

When the sun is partially shining and partially overcast, the algae filaments shrink; on cloudy days, their efficiency is halved; and at night, they hardly work at all.

But geothermal activity never stops. Whether it's sunny, pouring rain, or a thunderstorm outside, the geothermal activity continues.

If symbiotic algae can fix geothermal energy, then it is an uninterrupted energy source.

[A symbiotic target has been detected. Sulfur algae.]

[Observed characteristics. Geothermal fixation: Absorbing geothermal energy and sulfides, converting them into bioenergy. Conversion efficiency is positively correlated with hot spring temperature and the amount of chemical substances in the water.]

[Observed characteristics. Sulfide toxins: Secretes potent sulfide toxins, which have a repellent effect on invertebrates.]

[Other minor characteristics: Immunity to sulfide toxins.]

After establishing a symbiotic relationship, the host's skin needs to be regularly exposed to hot springs or sulfurous water.

[Should we choose symbiosis?]

Lynn dipped his hand into the hot water at the edge of the pool. The water was about forty degrees Celsius, just a little warmer than body temperature.

The hot spring water flowed gently, causing his fingers to sway slightly.

【confirm】

Between Lynn's fingers, blue-light algae and sulfur algae began to compete.

Lynn had a thought

"Peaceful coexistence, my symbiotic life!"

The blue-green algae and sulfur algae stopped their restless activity and tied themselves together.

His fingers gradually grew yellow down, absorbing nutrients from the hot spring.

Not long after, the first notification sounded.

[Endurance +0.03]

Lynn's gaze narrowed slightly.

"So fast!"

After some hesitation, Lynn made the most risky decision of his life.

He took off his clothes and jogged a short distance along the shore to warm up, then simply lay down in the hot spring.

Soon, the second and third prompts sounded in succession.

[Endurance +0.03]

[Endurance +0.03]

The body's strength is surging up continuously.

"This feels so good!"

..

Meanwhile, Ruby at the experimental station finally completed the breeding of the worms.

Inside the experimental station, I received a new letter from a senior student.

She wiped her hands, explaining that the experimental station was currently unable to initiate communication due to limitations at the station.

"Ruby, we'll be here in eight days. Me and three other level 2 wizard apprentices."

"We'll bring enough food and fuel. Just wait for us to rescue you; don't make any sudden movements."

Ruby covered the communicator

"Okay, I understand. Your landing site should ideally be in a plain. Although our base is only a few kilometers from the mountains, the terrain difference is not small."

"In addition, please note that we have encountered a new creature attack. It is roughly at the level of a level 1-2 wizard apprentice, with a high magical content, small size, and can fly. When it uses magic, it looks like a flying stick... Please take precautions."

On the other end of the communicator, Ruby's senior snorted.

"No problem, we've brought our best."