“Why is it s-s-so c-c-cold.” I shivered while rubbing my arms, trying to warm myself up. The sun had set while I tried to sneak my way out of the mass of feeding Pals. The fox-like ones seemed to be literally on fire, while some adorable puffy penguins enjoyed the feast. Until one of them got too close caught on fire, starting a brutal battle I wanted no part of.

“Why does it hurt!” I start to sprint uphill, trying to get my slowly freezing body moving. “I need a fire!” I shout at the Paldex. A red error flashed across the device.

[Missing the required materials, please gather more.] The soft voice from the Paldex reminded me of my stupid decision to turn all my resources into arrows.

“AH!” I shouted out in frustration while sprinting towards the faint light source at the top of the hill.

“Mewoh…” A bush shakes before me as a sleeping Pal rolls over. I jump over it and roll on the ground before continuing to get up the hill as fast as I can.

“I can’t…” I start huffing hard as the cold starts to exert a physical press on my body. “Breathe… well…” My breath billows from my mouth like thick fluffy nimbus clouds. I struggle to pull myself up the rocky slope before collapsing near a crackling fire.

“Why is it so cold?” I struggle to sit up, my limbs are numb with a bluish tint slowly fading as the fire warms me up. “Uh, hello?” I stare at the cook while he just lifelessly stirs a now empty pot. “Paldex, maybe you can help me out.” I tap on the band, “Why is the night so cold?”

[Certain Pals require a certain climate to exist. These day and night cycles emulate the appropriate conditions for said Pals to thrive. While in some extreme areas, the Pals have evolved to adapt to these conditions and formed new variants.] The Paldex’s information was nice, but still not what I wanted. [Some of these conditions are lethal to Mort-.. Humans and as a countermeasure, the Pal Tech was created to help survive these conditions.] The Paldex opened up the Tech menu and highlighted a certain selection.

“What is this?” I clicked on it and was met with the info screen. “Palbox?”

[Palbox, this device is the core of your Base, and power. It will set up a field around itself to allow you to use the Tech you unlock and will aid in your survival. The most important part is the fact that it is the only device to store and exchange your Pals from, while acting as a spawn anchor. Building one should be your top priority.] The Paldex highlighted the crazily high material cost of this device for me.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“Uh… I’m so broke it's not funny, wait, what’s that about an anchor?” I narrow my eyes at the device on my arm.

[Here is the gift you were bestowed, be thankful.] The Paldex sounded a bit flustered, but the flashing screen in front of me took my full attention.

“Seriously?! That cheap?! Hell yes!” I lifted my now thawed out arms up in joy. The price for that Tech was massively reduced enough I could easily scavenge for it in a day. “Now, where is a safe spot to build a base at?” I stared into the distance as the darkness slowly grew stronger.

Colorful glows and lights began to populate the landscape. A light show of stunning proportions unfolded before my unmoving eyes. “Woah…” I just stared at the sight for a long time, before my yawn broke the moment. “So tired, night weirdo, please don’t kill me in my sleep.” I laid down by the warm fire and closed my eyes.

“Gaugh!” A creepy cry snaps my eyes open. “Rouh!” A rumbling gruff roar echoes over the islands.

“How do you sleep here?” I tried to cover my ears and close my eyes, but the feeling of being watched grew to the uncomfortable point that I couldn't close my eyes. “Why can’t I just sleep…” I complained as I watched some glowing forms wander the fields below.

[Due to the danger of the Nocturnal Pals, it is highly recommended to build the Bed. The Bed of Pal Tech not only blocks the mental and psychic attacks of Dark Pals, it helps increase the natural healing rate of all Mor…Humans.] The Paldex brought up the info screen of a bed. [The Bed must be built under a roofed structure to gain functionality.] The voice informed me.

“Wait, are you telling me I can’t sleep because I’m being attacked?” The lights I thought were pretty, were actually Nocturnal Pals that could affect the minds of weaker beings. “By ghosts?” I pulled out my club, knowing it wouldn’t hurt a ghost, but I needed something to feel better.

[Dark Pals are beings that excel at mental and psychic-like abilities, while some are able to physically manifest the element of Dark to attack with.] The Paldex informed me.

“How are the other Pals able to sleep through this?” I shivered not from the cold, but some unknown fear, like I was just told the scariest ghost story before bed and I just knew a monster was lurking under my bed.

[Pals enter a form of meditation like hibernation which gives them a resistance to the mental passives of the Nocturnal Pals. Nocturnal Pals are non aggressive to other sleeping Pals within their territory. They have a symbiotic ruling system amongst themselves.] The Paldex explains for me as I watch the glowing forms move around the sleeping Pals, leaving them be.

“I’m guessing they would be highly aggressive towards me?” I stare into the fire, trying to calm myself down. Even though I now knew this feeling was caused by these Pals, it felt impossible to escape it. “How do I resist these mental attacks?” I tightly gripped my hands together.

[Get stronger. Kill. Capture. Train. Breed. Use the Pals to grow your own power.] The Paldex calmly stated.

“So these level ups?” I stare intently at the device.

[A measurement of your soul’s power capability. The higher it is, the more power you are able to wield.] The sweet voice of the Paldex just gave me a goal.

“Step one, wait for the sun.” I say while looking out at the nocturnal landscape while popping a berry into my mouth. “Step two, get a base. Step three, make better food.”

“Bwa!” Trouble chirped from behind me in agreement.