Now looking every inch the part of someone undertaking a dangerous adventure on a magical planet, Nick made a brief circuit of his new base, surveying the other half-dozen hills scattered throughout the region. Although he carried his sword with him, he wasn’t too worried that he would be forced into another fight this day. Nothing dangerous should be laired anywhere near the pack’s former den, and most of the island’s predators would be returning to their shelters until the sun rose tomorrow.
By now, Nick’s shadow was long, and the light was beginning to fade. So, he walked back to his cave, got dressed, and finished repacking his gear. As he had expected, his toolbelt was still in tatters. He would have to adventure without the belt hugging his hips until its modification restored the accessory, which he hoped would take a few days at most.
While there was still enough light to see, he walked over to the tree line and dragged out a few big branches that had fallen during the storm. When they dried, he could strip their needles and use them for bedding, although he wouldn’t be able to light a fire tonight.
Nick intended to build a series of defenses around and within the cavern over the next two days, but he only had enough time to construct the first layer now. While he went inside to retrieve his pack, he considered the cavern that he had risked his life to claim. If he had intended to use this place as a permanent shelter, the lack of a bolt hole or concealed entrance would have been a serious liability. But he only needed somewhere safe to sleep for the next thirteen days. A place where he could acquire some genuine rest and recover from his multiple ordeals.
While he pondered the days ahead, Nick reached into his pack, pulling out his dagger and the ball of twine that had come with his toolbelt. Then he withdrew a modest pile of swordclaw shells—little pieces of chitin that he had collected while cooking up the crabs. He took his dagger and pressed the point into the middle of each bit, then turned the hilt between his palms to create a crude drill, bearing down until there was a hole in each jagged fragment. He took out a spear to measure the height of the cavern’s entrance, then marked the length by notching the shaft with his dagger.
Straining to see in a world that had become a shadow-ridden realm of monochrome, Nick bent down and unrolled the length of twine. He slid each bit of shell onto the string in turn, then tied a knot beneath it to hold it in place until the entire line was covered. Once the first strip was finished, he cut the twine and then moved on to the next until he had six strands in total, enough to cover the entrance with only a few inches of open air between them.
Nodding in satisfaction at his handiwork, Nick walked over to the branches he had gathered and broke off segments of sticks to use as stakes. He wound the twine around the wood and then hammered each line into the cavern’s raw earth ceiling using the pommel of his dagger.
When he was finished, he stepped back to examine his construction—a shell-encrusted curtain that ran from the top of the cavern’s mouth all the way down to the ground. A screen that made a fair bit of noise when disturbed, even when he tried to pass through as quietly as he could.
Nick had never been a heavy sleeper. He was certain that the noise would be loud enough to wake him if anything tried to enter the cave while he slept. Barely able to keep his eyes open, he curled up in the cleanest, driest part of the cave with his sword propped up beside him, where he could see the entrance and anything lurking outside.
With a mighty yawn, Nick set his head against his pack, spreading out his new, self-cleaning cloak to keep his freshly washed clothing from becoming soiled again. Then, filled with a buzz that was equal parts satisfaction and exhaustion, he closed his eyes and let the sandman carry him away to the land of dreams.
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He awoke late the next morning, having needed a few extra hours of shuteye given his emotional and physical expenditures the day before. Although he had slept on bare earth, he felt remarkably refreshed. Despite its lack of amenities, sleeping in the cavern was a considerable upgrade from slumbering sprawled out along the branches of the great tree. After relieving himself and burying the waste, Nick drained the water from his canteen and ate the final strips of dried crab sitting in his bag, ready to face the day and the challenges it would bring.
Nick needed to construct the rest of the defenses he had devised to guard his shelter, but before that, he wanted to restock his supply of food and visit the obelisk. He had high hopes that his efforts had netted him another level, and he had a pile of knowledge points that needed spending regardless.
While he was thinking things through, he found the canister that had housed his pollen bomb sitting in the far corner of the cavern. Although one end sported a massive dent, the lid still fit tight, and the container remained serviceable. Nick thanked the tool for its service and then stored it inside his pack.
Before he got to work, he took out his toolbelt, pleased to discover that a portion of the damage the alpha had inflicted had already been repaired. Within another day or two, the belt should be back in pristine shape—a magical phenomenon that Nick found absolutely fascinating to watch. But for now, he would have to keep the mangled toolbelt and the items it contained stored safely in his pack. It was strange to think that the thick strip of leather was the only reason that he was still breathing. The alpha would have gutted him like a fish had the belt not been in the way.
He still had plenty of water in the husks he had set out to collect stormwater after cleaning out the cave, so Nick skipped stopping by the spring as he made his way to the coast. Although he felt safer with the alpha out of the picture, he moved through the forest with caution. While he was confident that he could avoid any komos that crossed his path, the lurk was still somewhere out there, as well as a final cruncher he had yet to confirm was dead. Not to mention, he had no guarantee that the giant spiders wouldn’t decide to encroach on his domain, with the pack no longer serving as a deterrent.
But today, Nick saw nothing of the sort. The only creatures he encountered were the non-beast animals that inhabited the island, along with an occasional lemur, although he didn’t catch sight of Bandit or the Elder. Before long, the isle’s western shore came into view, and soon after, his gaze landed on the familiar profile of the obelisk, the stark lines of its majestic silhouette contrasting against the deep blue sea.
He wondered if it had been built by the natives of this planet or if the System had placed or grown it for Nick to use during the tutorial. If it had some symbolic meaning or was purely utilitarian in function. Not that it mattered in the end.
He crossed the sandbar with a surge of anticipation, then walked up to the pillar’s base and activated the display mounted on the side, grinning at the notifications that awaited his perusal. As Nick had hoped, he had gained a level from his showdown with the bonecruncher pack and improved his skills in the process.
Congratulations. You have accumulated enough experience to reach Level [5].
As a reward for reaching level [5], you have been awarded a bonus free attribute point.
You have two free attribute points awaiting allocation at your discretion.
Through use, you have improved the following skills:
Size Up has increased from [6] to [7].
Wand has increased from [2] to [3].
Well now. That’s a pleasant surprise. A bonus for hitting Level 5. Nick was thrilled that he had been awarded an extra attribute point and wondered if there were other level-based bonuses in store for him later. He supposed that he would find out whenever he hit Level 10, as it was a prime candidate for another reward.
He was eager to start improving himself, but before Nick decided how to allocate his free points, he was going to spend his knowledge points, finally unlocking the primer on Mind so that he could make a fully informed decision.
But first, it was time to redeem the voucher for a free, high-value KP unlock.