*Notes:

I'm new to writing but I figured I'd give it a shot. I plan to do one chapter a week and they will most likely be a bit longer than this. Tips are more than welcomed as I'd appreciate any help to improve my writing.

- BTW anyone knows how to get a picture to set into the cover... I can't seem to put it in even when the picture I have should be the right size and the file shouldn't be too large...

The Biomes

The story begins in a world with a plethora of life and magics that very few have explored to its depths. The planet could be said to be large but at the same time small. The planet is approximately 50,000km in diameter from east to west and around the same from north to south. There were five continents on this planet surrounded by vast amounts of crystal clear green waters.

The continents take up around thirty-five percent of the world. In the second largest of the continents known as Althora, there are scattered countries of varying races who are constantly fighting among themselves. Battles spurred on by conflicts of all sizes lead to wars that covered the land in blood and ruins. Alliances are built and torn down constantly as everyone vies for profit and dominance.

The lands in Althora are for the most part barren wastelands. A number of metals and other such commodities are scarce, which helps fuel the conflicts. There is one answer for this lack of resources, though, which in itself could be considered a resource. The inhabitants call them "Biomes". This doesn't mean the general term biome, but a separate pocket born in the world by unknown means. The inhabitants classify them by their size and potential. The land outside might be desolate, however inside the biomes are completely different ecosystems.

Inhabitants have tried to figure out Biomes so that they could perhaps control them and possibly create their own. Sadly they have failed to glean the information they seek. The only thing they know is that a Biome is separated from their world. They sent scouts to search and categorize these biomes. Settlements were created for promising biomes to collect the resources inside and fuel their countries economies.

Biomes themselves range in size and diversity. When they are born they can be as small as a square foot. As they grow they can become worlds unto themselves. The inhabitants don't know what causes the biomes to grow but they occasionally come across things that hint at intelligence. The way some biomes develop shows that it creates obstacles for sentient intruders such as mazes, tests, abnormal creatures and more.

Some inhabitants believe their gods sent the biomes to help temper their people and also as a way to survive. Others think it as an anomaly that was birthed by the world. Either way leads people into depending on them further. Countries take control of the areas that hold large biomes and monitor them fiercely. A biome can grant the resources to expand their populations and power but if they aren't strong enough to hold onto such a treasure they might perish in their greed.

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In an unknown location surrounded by chaotic space, an anomaly manifests itself. A small pinprick in reality slowly starts to revolve and turn into an insignificant bubble. The bubble gradually starts to absorb mana from the chaotic space and slowly a consciousness is born with but one thought "hungry". After five years the consciousness forms more awareness of itself and instinctively wants to expand its territory. After a dozen more years, the entity feels like it's missing something to sate its hunger. Over the years, it has expanded to 500 ft squared, but that still isn't enough.

The entity starts consuming mana in a more rapid manner, faster than ever before in an attempt to find whatever it's missing. As it grows, it starts to get a sense of what's beyond its bubble of influence.

The entity feels something close, but at the same time out of reach. It doesn't understand that something is blocking its way. A barrier of sorts is keeping it from something, and the entity starts putting pressure on it. The pressure builds, and the entity begins actively attacking the obstacle in its way, feeling that whatever it desires is on the other side. Slowly, the barrier starts to crack and give way after years of assault, to create a hole. The hole leads somewhere new, and unlike the entities birthplace feels rich in mana. Running on instinct, the entity doesn't even hesitate before it plunges through the hole and into the new world.

The entity is bombarded by the new rich mana infused atmosphere and starts to devour like it never has before. It begins to have more complex thoughts than before. The entity finds itself in an area surrounded by energy, but this energy is different. Instead of the effortlessly absorbed energy it's used to, this energy is confined and locked together which baffles the entity. It tries to absorb the energy but has difficulty doing so.

The entity tries a new approach, and instead of directly absorbing the energy, brings it into its territory. After bringing in the new energy, the entity feels like it should line its space with this new "material" and starts to dump it neatly inside.

It then continues to comfortably eat mana and bring in the material at a consistent pace. Soon, however, the entity breaks out of its surrounding material and into something different. Something the entity has never encountered until now fills its senses with brightness and warmth.

Stunned, the entity carefully observes the new area as light shines down on the hole the entity dug. Expanding its sense outside the hole, the entity is captivated by finding life forms rooted in the material. Due to the entity's sensitivity toward mana, it can sense that these lifeforms are absorbing a small bit of the material all around it, and is also using the light as a catalyst. What alarms the entity, though, is that it finds other mobile lifeforms eating the rooted ones. Feeling intimidated the entity stops advancing toward the "outside" and keeps to itself, absorbing the new rich mana.

While it was digging its hole the entity discovered that when he had his territory open in order to bring in more material, the free mana flooded in at a rate much faster than it can absorb. Attempting to store mana for future consumption, the entity decides to leave its territory open and let mana store naturally inside.

At present the hole the entity dug out for itself is relatively small by only being around 2 ft wide. A few days after the entities emergence, a small furry animal makes its way toward the entrance as if drawn subconsciously by the ambient mana. Uncertain about its safety, the creature takes its time and slowly feels out the area for danger while inching toward the entrance. After a while, the creature's curiosity takes precedence and it takes its first step into the hole...