On the third day after the space stabilized, Higashino Makoto began his "filling" plan.
He stood on the terrace of the Seventh Floor of Novas Etier, looking down at the sea of clouds below.
The morning light spills over from the eastern horizon, turning the edges of the floating islands gold.
The clouds in the distance flowed slowly in the breeze, like a slow-moving river.
Tingyun stood behind him, holding a cup of hot tea in her hands, her Kohaku eyes looking at him.
The fox tail swayed gently behind her, and her dark green hair shimmered softly in the morning light.
"My lord, what are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about how to fill that space with water."
Tingyun's fingers paused for a moment.
"Water?"
"Yes, the seawater in this world is actually freshwater."
Higashino Makoto turned around, took the teacup, and took a sip.
"That space was mostly empty; it was just a shell, a very large, very empty shell. I needed to fill it."
"Then... where do we get it from?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"From here, in the sea."
He spoke calmly, as if he were simply remarking on the pleasant weather.
Tingyun's fox ears perked up.
"Sir, when you say 'from the sea,' do you mean the sea of this world?"
"Right."
Higashino Makoto put down his teacup, walked to the edge of the terrace, and looked down at the sea of clouds below.
"This world has oceans, vast oceans that cover more than 70% of the planet's surface. Because the rules of this world are rather peculiar, taking away a portion of it will most likely not cause a significant impact."
Of course, even if there is an impact, I can still protect the northwest corner of the mainland.
As for other places, well, they can only hope for the best.
"But--"
"No buts."
Higashino Makoto repeated it, his tone flat.
"I will only cause the sea level to drop by about... one meter."
Higashino Makoto wasn't entirely sure either, but he set a limit for himself.
If the sea level drops by more than one meter, stop immediately.
If this were Earth in its previous life, it would lead to drastic short-term geographical changes, ecological collapse, severe economic damage, and chaos in almost all coastal human activities.
However, the rules of this world are very strange. For example, seawater is freshwater, and the rules of wind resistance, gravity, and physics are different from those of the previous world.
According to calculations, this will not lead to a major disaster.
Tingyun looked at him, her Kohaku eyes flashing with complex emotions.
Higashino Makoto turned around and walked towards the terrace.
"Let's go, it's time to get to work."
He raised his hand and made a light sweeping motion in the air.
A pitch-black spatial rift appeared silently before the two of them.
Through the other side of the crevice, one could see the azure sea, white waves, and the distant horizon.
Higashino Makoto stepped into the rift. Tingyun took a deep breath and followed.
The rift closed silently after the two passed through, leaving no trace.
To the southeast of the Dolor Desert, beyond the borders of the Slane Theocracy and the mountains of the Dragon Kingdom, lies a vast sea.
It has no name.
Or rather, it doesn't need a name.
The world's largest, deepest, and oldest ocean.
It slept peacefully, like a gentle giant.
Even today.
Higashino Makoto hovered above the sea, his golden eyes gazing down at the boundless blue expanse below.
Her long, silvery-white hair fluttered in the wind, and her grayish-white skin was covered with faint ripples.
He raised his right hand, and a small, jet-black ball appeared in his palm, expanding with his will.
He connected the space created by the "Creator" with this world.
Then he opened the door.
The seawater is starting to disappear.
The part connecting to the smaller world resembles a giant leak.
A large expanse of seawater vanished into thin air, leaving a huge depression on the surface. The surrounding seawater surged in, filling the depression, and then was swallowed up again.
The depression is getting bigger and deeper.
The seawater surged in faster and faster, and the waves grew higher and higher.
The entire sea was trembling, as if being stirred by an invisible giant hand.
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes, sensing the changes within the Creator's Space.
Seawater surged into the space, like an inverted waterfall cascading down from the void.
They filled the bottom of the space, forming a vast ocean.
The seawater tumbles, swirls, and settles in space, eventually calming down and transforming into a tranquil expanse of azure.
Although it only filled a small part of the microcosm, the presence of the ocean made it seem more alive.
The amount of seawater was just enough to fill the bottom of the space without causing too much impact on the world.
When he opened his eyes, the sea had returned to calm.
But the sea level dropped by about one meter, just as planned.
Not too much, but enough for creatures living in coastal areas to feel the change.
In the distance, a giant sea turtle surfaced, its murky eyes staring at Higashino Makoto.
Its back is covered with barnacles and seaweed, and its shell has countless scars, marks left by its long life.
Higashino Makoto stared at the sea turtle in silence for a moment.
"Feel sorry."
He said it very softly.
But I need these.
The sea turtle stared at him for a long time.
Then it sank into the water and disappeared.
Higashino Makoto turned around and flew in another direction.
Tingyun followed behind him, her fox tail fluttering in the wind.
She glanced back at the sea; the water was still there, and apart from the huge waves, nothing seemed to have changed.
Northwest Continent.
Higashino Makoto stood at the northwest corner of the continent, looking down at the vast land beneath his feet.
This is his back Garden.
Holy Kingdom, Slane Theocracy, Dragon Kingdom, Re-Estize Kingdom, Baharuth Empire, Elf Kingdom.
Six countries, tens of millions of people, countless lives.
He loves this land.
Not just because it's his, but also because it's beautiful.
Green forests, golden wheat fields, and blue rivers.
The city shimmered in the sunlight, while smoke rose from the villages as dusk fell.
Everything was peaceful, serene, and beautiful.
But he needs to protect it.
In a way they might not understand.
"Tingyun."
"Exist."
"What do you think is the greatest threat to the humans living in the northwest corner of this continent?"
Tingyun thought for a moment.
"A demi-human? True Dragon Lords? Or that empty world on the other side?"
"Maybe."
Higashino Makoto shook his head.
"In short, I've decided to first address some of the threats posed by the demi-humans and alien species to the humans in the northwest corner."
Tingyun was taken aback for a moment.
"Threaten?"
"Yes, a threat."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"I can handle the True Dragon Lords. The players are currently just Ainz and me, so it's not a big problem. Their biggest threat is the demi-humans and alien species."
He paused.
"So, I decided to surround them."