Lex disappeared from the Origin ocean and appeared in the void of the universe, his eyes scanning the endless space around. He was searching for the ideal location to create the realms.
The most logical choice would have been in the vicinity of the Cosmic Millstone, where the concentration of Origin Energy was higher. A location such as this would provide a near-limitless and potent energy source for the realms.
But Lex didn't like this idea. The Cosmic Millstone was an important construct, and it was too close to the Origin Ocean, a place of overwhelming concentration of Origin Energy.
This energy is so powerful that even the Primordials, beings created entirely from it, wouldn't be able to endure it or even get near its surroundings.
For most of them, their bodies would disintegrate, and their essence would disperse. Only a rare few might adapt, evolving into something much stronger, although the process is fraught with uncertainty.
Now, he found himself in a difficult position. He had imagined the realms to overflow with energies, an essential element for their purpose.
But to achieve that easily, the realms would need to be near the Cosmic Millstone, the only known source of such energy except the origin ocean.
The problem was that the place was far too unstable and dangerous for most living beings.
He thought about the problem for seconds, going over every possible solution he could think of. Each one had a flaw. There had to be a way to make his idea work without putting everything at risk.
Then, a new thought came to him.
"What if the realm didn't have to be close to it at all?"
"What if I create something—a cosmic construct that could draw Origin Energy from the Origin Ocean and send it directly into the realms, no matter where they were?"
"It is possible but not easy." Lex thought as he immediately waved his hand, and a massive network of giant pipe-like structures began to materialize.
They stretched from the depths of the Origin Ocean into the empty void. Their exteriors were smooth, and metallic, and their surfaces glowed softly with runes carved into them.
The pipelines moved like snakes across the empty void, like veins of the universe, their segmented joints reinforced with powerful origin law runes.
These runes served a dual purpose: stabilizing the flow of Origin Energy and refining it into a state safe for use in the realms.
Unrefined Origin Energy surged from the depths of the ocean, flowing through the enormous pipes. The origin energy moved like a vibrant, glowing stream, visible through crystalline panels along their length.
Each section emitted powerful pressure, a clear sign of the immense power being carried within.
Lex watched the vast pipelines crisscrossing across the void, their translucent forms glowing faintly as they transported refined Origin Energy.
While the sight of the energy flowing through them was mesmerizing, he knew their visibility posed a risk.
These pipelines were connected directly to the Origin Ocean, the most sacred and also the most dangerous source of all energy in the whole universe.
If anyone discovered them, it could lead to disastrous effects.
"I cannot leave them exposed like this,"
He extended his hand, his fingers tracing powerful law runes in the air.
The pipelines glowed as he began etching additional laws onto their exterior.
Among these origin laws, the Space Law played a pivotal role.
As the runes engraved themselves onto the pipelines' surfaces, their forms began to distort, folding inward as though being pulled into another dimension.
One by one, the pipelines vanished from sight, banished into one of the deepest layers of space, a hidden realm unable to be reached by most of the creatures.
This deep, isolated, and fortified layer of space would shield the pipelines from prying eyes and interference.
The void around him grew still, lacking the once-visible network. Lex smiled satisfied with the work he had accomplished.
The pipelines still operated seamlessly, siphoning Origin Energy from the depths of the ocean to the realms, but now they did so in absolute secrecy.
"This way, no one will find them. The power of the Origin Ocean is too great to be accessed by anyone." Lex thought.
"Now that the pipelines are hidden and secure," Lex turned as he murmured " I should begin the creation of the realms."
There was still much work to be done, and the next step required his full focus.
Now, standing in the first layer of space, Lex stretched his hand, he controlled the energy around him easily.
Slowly, and gradually a floating landmass took shape; this continent was barren, and its size was small, but as he injected energy into it, it expanded rapidly; it was expanding one light-year, two light-years, and its size grew at an astonishing rate.
Every minute, its horizon stretched further, consuming the surrounding void. "That was faster than I expected," Lex thought as he stopped what he was doing after the continent expanded up to two hundred light years.
This was just the smallest continent for Lex; this continent was not that immense, but for mortals, it would be like a small universe.
Next, he envisioned the second continent. It was a continent made of floating vast islands that were interconnected to each other. With a wave of his hand, islands began to form, each unique in design.
Some of these islands were immense, spanning ten light years, vast enough to support civilization on their own, and others were smaller, around one light year, but even one light year was enormous compared to the rocky planet he had lived on in his previous life.
As the islands increased in numbers, their collective distance grew until they covered a staggering ten thousand light years in total area.
The islands floated in harmony, connected by a gravitational force. Lex observed the two landmasses: the first continent, was vast and grounded, and the second, was a network of floating islands.
They were only part of the creation of realms, as more was about to come.
He waved his hand and the laws of the universe followed his, and in the endless void, two more continents began to form. Their sizes rivaled each other, but they were slightly smaller than the sprawling island continent he created.
These continents took shape effortlessly and they floated calmly in the void.
With a subtle motion of his hand, he moved this continent slowly into a circular formation. They glided gracefully, their immense forms aligning with perfect symmetry.
At the center of this formation, however, lay an empty void, a blank space waiting to be filled.
He stretched out his hand, and a continent began to form, expanding at an alarming rate, far faster than the others had. Its size was staggering, and so immense that the previous continents seemed like mere islands in comparison.
He created the continent so vast because he planned to connect one of the Origin pipelines to it, turning it into a central hub of power and influence for mortals.
The land expanded steadily, its edges stretching farther and farther until it filled the surrounding void.
"It's time to instill laws into them," Lex said as he looked at continents. "After all, a proper realm needed its own rules to function."
He waved his right hand, and the barren land transformed instantly. Plants sprouted from the ground and grew at a speed visible to the naked eye; their roots dug deeper into the ground, and their leaves unfurled in a vibrant burst of life.
Mountains erupted from the ground, their peaks rising in jagged, zigzag patterns. Some of these mountains were so colossal that they dwarfed others, their summits piercing the heavens.
Lex instilled more laws into the realm, one of them being the law of water. Rivers sprang to life, carving their paths across the land, twisting and turning like serpents.
Some areas of the continent were swallowed entirely by water, forming vast seas. The world was taking shape, its features diverse and breathtaking.
"The only remaining thing to perfect these realms are living beings," Lex thought as he smiled with satisfaction but his smile slowly faded as he now faced a new dilemma.
"Should I let life evolve independently, allowing nature to take its course over eons? Or should I create life, shape it according to my vision while I remain behind the scenes?"
He stood there, contemplating the choice. If he let life evolve naturally, it would be unpredictable, unique, and genuinely independent. But it would also take an unimaginable amount of time.
On the other hand, if he created life himself, he could ensure it thrived and adapted to the world he had built. Yet, that would mean his influence would always be a part of it, whether directly or indirectly.
Lex weighed the options carefully. He could feel the weight of responsibility pressing on him. This wasn't just about creating a world but about shaping its destiny. After a long moment of thought, he decided on a middle path.
"First I would create the first forms of life, and set the foundation, but then I would step back and let nature take its course. This way, the world would have a starting point, but its future would be its own" Lex thought.