Wizard: Starting with Symbiosis with Algae

Specifically, this is what happened.

Small, original blue-light algae, and that thing in the water whose color is still indistinct, and even sulfur algae and red winged algae—four kinds of algae—are all tangled together because of the high-energy soil.

High-energy soil contains a lot of nutrients, and normally there would be a competition to determine which species would monopolize the high-energy soil.

But Lynn usually manages to ensure that the three types of algae on his body develop in a relatively harmonious way.

As a result, the particles that shimmered with a dim glow became sticky like melted sugar in the humid environment. Originally floating independently, they gradually became inseparable.

Lynn was completely dumbfounded.

Following pleasure, smoothness, arrogance, and a slight stagnation, the symbiotic flying stick was the fourth distinct emotional fluctuation he experienced.

Shock.

The reaction happened too fast. Lynn started it before he even checked for new algae.

[An irreversible change is underway. Is it permissible?]

No, buddy.

That's a bit too fast.

Aren't you going to give us a transition period?

Irreversible change.

The gigantification of blue-light algae occurred through irreversible changes, which greatly benefited Lynn.

It seems that changes in organisms are not simply a matter of becoming stronger.

For example, as his physical strength increases, his oxygen consumption will also increase.

This change requires a degree of appropriateness.

Lynn looked at the word "permission" and thought to herself.

However, he is able to retract the blue algae into his body and cut it off whenever necessary.

He has a way out, so there's no need to overthink it.

He silently said to himself: Permission.

New algae began to form after he gave his permission.

Its color is darker than blue-green algae and deeper than red-feather algae, somewhere between the dark green of pine needles and the emerald green of lake water. It is smaller than giant blue-green algae and breathes at a leisurely pace.

Lynn looked up, temporarily shifting his gaze from the algae, and let the worms come over to drink some water.

The water near the lake shore was shallow, barely reaching the base of the worm's abdominal legs. The surface was calm, and upon closer inspection, tiny ice crystals floated on the water. Slender, sharp white crystals swirled slowly in the water.

The worms probed their mouthparts into the water, and ice crystals touched their mouthpart teeth.

The crisp sound continued.

Lynn exhaled a breath of hot air, watching the white smoke slowly rise.

Even though it's not far from the test station, it's much colder here than at the test station.

That's really strange.

Lynn remarked with emotion, observing the changes that were taking place.

The first characteristic of the potentially soon-to-be-generated [Tetraphyta (a mixture of four algae named by Lynn)]

[Cold resistance: Reduces one's metabolic rate, but maintains a higher metabolic rate in cold conditions.]

Ordinary blue-green algae do not have cold-resistant properties, and the other two types usually live in hot springs, so they naturally do not spend nutrients to maintain cold resistance.

This must be a characteristic of the new algae.

Lynn looked at the algae in the lake.

It has no name, and apart from being cold-resistant, there's nothing particularly noteworthy about it.

[Magic Breathing] does exist, but its efficiency is much lower than that of Blue Light Algae.

That's normal. Blue-green algae are the most abundant and dominant species in the water, far more so than a stray dog ​​that just happens to come along the roadside.

However, the slightly frozen ice surface served as a reminder to Lynn.

On the planet Dune, the temperature is very uneven.

It's possible for the sun to shine in the east while it rains in the west, or for there to be hail in the northeast while the west is sunny.

While the temperature at the experimental station has warmed up to slightly below the comfortable level for humans, the lake here is already almost frozen over.

This is neither good nor bad news.

The bad thing is, they might encounter even worse weather.

Fortunately, if they get too cold, they can moisten up and perhaps migrate in different directions.

Following this thought, Lynn looked further north.

The water there reflected the gray-white sky, making it impossible to tell whether it was water or ice.

Based on experience, there are few windless places on the planet, and the lake there is almost still, without even a ripple, so it is most likely ice.

The worm's abdominal legs made a rustling sound as they stepped into the muddy ground by the lake.

Lynn had no intention of staying.

Shouting

"I'm gone."

He continued to ride the flying rod, which propelled the worm northward.

He took a breath of oxygen as soon as he got on the bus. He'd forgotten to keep his skin moisturized.

In this kind of environment, it's somewhat difficult to move around freely or run. Normally, Lynn's movement speed isn't considered fast.

Fortunately, the worms' speed made up for this, and the worm car fleet's propulsion efficiency did not decrease too much due to the thin air.

Lynn used the symbiotic connection to direct the flying rod to adjust its direction.

In terms of mobility, he was no longer limited to following the river, and finally gained a certain degree of freedom.

...

To obtain the academy's magic stones,

Settlements and habitats suitable for biological survival are of utmost importance.

Apart from the narrow alluvial belt along the coast, all that remains are the interiors of the various caves.

The soil near the estuary is the most nutrient-rich, but the further inland you go, the less fertile the soil becomes.

Furthermore, it should be understood that while the ocean certainly has its inlets, not every place has one. If there are no rivers along the way, the nutrients along the coast are only slightly more abundant than those on land.

Lynn observed that the distribution of the fungal carpet was uneven, and thus concluded.

He thought he would go back and make some notes on how to draw to scale.

They continued north.

Several relatively shallow lakes are scattered across the reddish-brown plain.

Lynn stopped in front of a lake that worms could not cross.

This lake is larger and deeper than the previous ones.

Only part of the lake shore is a gentle sandy beach; the larger structure is a steep, deep red cliff.

Between the cliffs, at the very bottom you can see black rocks.

He recognized the rocks; they were exactly the same as those on the islands by the sea.

It must have been caused by geological activity.

The water was squeezed into a narrow channel between two cliffs, flowing extremely fast and splashing white foam on the black rocks.

Lynn glanced at it from a distance.

He wouldn't go to the shore; the red sand is extremely prone to collapse, it's too dangerous.

Even he would most likely not survive being swept into such lake water.

The worm couldn't get through, the flying stick couldn't get through, and neither could he.

Therefore, this path is not viable if we want to develop further and continue exploring northward.

Further north, Lynn also saw several hot springs on the coast.

White steam rose from the spring, condensing into thick columns of vapor in the cold air.

Where there are hot springs, there is temperature; where there is temperature, there is life.

This direction has value, so let's explore it further later.

After finishing his recitation, Lynn drove the buggy back around.

The flying rods circled twice on either side, herding the straggling worms back into the group, then followed behind the insect cart on either side, ensuring that none fell behind.

Lynn walked halfway.

Without warning, it got dark.

The rain hadn't even started when the thunder began.

Thunder rumbled and trembled.

Then, it started to rain.

Lynn patted Flying Stick on the head.

Joyfully watching the lightning in the sky

"They're here!"