Underworld

"Haha, I've finally made a good house; what do you think?" Ria asked in a comment, sporting a smug smile.

She felt proud after constructing a house using wood and cobblestone.

It had taken her half an hour to grasp the basics of the game.

In that time, she mined numerous cobblestones, crafted weapons and tools, and dispatched zombies and skeletons with them.

However, she steered clear of spiders and especially creepers.

Creepers were akin to nightmares for Ria, having caused her demise several times.

But after thirty minutes of relentless effort, she had managed to gain a foothold in the game and erect a house.

"It's good."

"Ria, you should consider making glass for windows; leaving holes in the house seems odd."

"Ria, you need to make a bed."

"Yeah, if you can get leather from pigs and cows, you should be able to obtain wool from sheep; you could make a bed from that."

Upon reading the last comment, she recalled the sheep behind her house.

Venturing there, she spotted a few sheep grazing.

Dispatching them with her stone sword, she collected their drops.

Immediately after, a 'New recipe unlocked' notification appeared on the screen.

Opening the recipe book, she found the process for making a bed.

A minute later.

"What the hell? Why can't I make a bed with different colored wool? Why does color matter?" She grew frustrated, realizing there were no more sheep left.

People were enjoying watching Ria's livestream; the game's appeal captivated viewers. As more people discovered and shared the game, her livestream gained popularity.

With this rise in popularity, more people became acquainted with the PC game.

People adored the game, and as its fanbase grew, numerous new streamers tried their hand at it.

Similar to Ria, many streamers found themselves hooked initially because it was akin to playing with Lego bricks. However, they soon discovered the game's deeper essence.

As a result, the game's popularity surged, and even mobile players began to take notice.

Leo's devoted fans rejoiced at the game's newfound popularity.

Within the next hour, Ria mastered the game, understanding its dynamics, albeit unaware of the bosses.

Since the game lacked achievement features, players remained oblivious to the wither and ender dragon.

Nevertheless, the game's allure was enough to keep them hooked for hours on end.

With its survival mechanics and player freedom, there was ample content to ensure prolonged enjoyment.

With all that, Leo began working on the next update.

This upcoming update would introduce the multiplayer mode along with all the existing features of the game. Additionally, he planned to release the global version simultaneously.

Within this update, players could expect a plethora of new features, enabling them to fully explore the game.

To implement the multiplayer mode, Leo recognized the necessity of servers. He envisioned two types: player-owned and business-owned.

Player-owned servers required payment to establish expansive spaces accessible to all players.

Conversely, business-owned servers, such as Leo's Peak Pixel server, served as the game's official hub. Here, players could develop their own virtual homes and interact with others. Leo intended to oversee this server personally.

In the multiplayer environment, server hosts wielded significant control, managing various aspects like time settings, player teleportation, and world spawns. Additionally, they possessed the authority to adjust mechanics, introduce commands, and enforce restrictions.

Leo understood the importance of maintaining order on the main server, ready to ban rule-breakers promptly.

Each multiplayer server boasted unique rules and objectives, offering diverse activities including player versus player combat and different gameplay modes.

However, as Leo delved deeper into development, he encountered a significant challenge: managing a server, particularly one as expansive as Peak Pixel, was resource-intensive and time-consuming. Despite financial resources, Leo lacked the time to oversee everything single-handedly.

Recognizing the need for assistance, Leo contemplated hiring managers, developer assistants, and artists. However, he grappled with concerns about maintaining secrecy and protecting sensitive data.

Nevertheless, Leo prioritized game development, intending to enrich the Peak Pixel server with numerous minigames, maps, and mods. Leveraging advanced technology, he ensured robust security measures against potential threats.

The server would feature various amenities, including individual player islands connected to a central hub area. Within this bustling virtual city, players could access hospitals, shops, auctions, and engage in various jobs.

Additionally, players could import items obtained in single-player mode to trade within the multiplayer environment, although prices would be steep, requiring dedicated effort to afford.

Leo also planned to introduce customizable skins and clothing, including a VIP card offering exclusive access to special items in the VIP store.

With meticulous attention to detail, Leo meticulously planned each aspect of the game, even as its popularity soared with increasing downloads.

Developers were astonished by the unexpected popularity of a pixel art game. They found themselves at a loss, unable to comprehend the phenomenon or its underlying reasons.

Why would players opt for a sandbox game over high-graphic alternatives on the market?

They all sought to unravel the mystery behind the game's sudden rise to fame.

As for imitating the game, such a notion didn't even cross anyone's mind. With the game's mechanics still a mystery to them, how could they replicate it?

And even if they attempted to copy it, what exactly would they be replicating? A block? A square sun?

Besides, replicating an entire world was out of the question; they might even run into copyright issues if they tried.

While the developers struggled to grasp the essence of the game, players were thoroughly engrossed in it.

The game had captivated players to the extent that they spent hours immersed in its world without getting bored. An online community sprung up around the game where players discussed its intricacies and uncovered its secrets. The influx of new players seeking to understand the game only fueled the growth of the community, which in turn assisted newcomers in acclimating to the game.

In one such gaming community, a particular post caught everyone's attention and quickly rose to the top of the search list.

Apparently, there existed an underworld within the game.

The post showcased different worlds where lava cascaded from above, creating a darker, more ominous atmosphere than the main world. New flora and fauna inhabited this underworld.

Moreover, the post revealed the method to access this hidden world: by creating a blue portal that served as a gateway.

Comments flooded the post, expressing disbelief and excitement. Just as players were grappling with exploring the existing world, news of an alternate realm left them astounded.

"What? I've only just built my wooden house, and now you're saying there's another world?"

"Wow, this is incredible!"

"So we can find unique items that aren't available in the main world?"

"But why does it look so ominous? It's so much darker."

Within minutes, the news spread like wildfire across the gaming community, reaching the majority of its members.

Among them was Ria.

Currently, she had a substantial number of viewers tuning in to her stream. Being one of the earliest streamers of Cave Craft, her viewership showed no signs of waning.

As she was reading through the comments, one particular message caught her eye.

"Ria, there's a different world in Cave Craft."

Confused, Ria reflected on her gameplay over the past few days; she hadn't encountered any such world.

"What do you mean? A new world? I haven't seen anything like that in the game. How could there be a new world?"

Another comment caught her attention, utilizing an expert chat function to ensure she saw it.

"It's true; people have tried it out after seeing the post."

"Yeah, Ria, I just checked it out; it's amazing."

Surprised by the revelation, Ria decided to search the internet for information about the new world. After finding the post, she learned how to access this hidden realm.

In-game, she used the obsidian she had stored in her chest to construct a rectangular structure and ignited it with flint and steel.

In an instant, the flames vanished, giving way to a portal.

"Wow! It's real."