Slain Quagxyte lv 1 x 20,894

20,894 syscred and 2,696 exp awarded

Slain Water Elemental lv 25 x 4

100 syscred and 323 exp awarded

Strength + 36

Constitution + 44

Dexterity + 40

Intelligence + 68

Wisdom + 16

Will + 28

Charisma + 8

Skill level up, Teach 32 > 36

Skill level up, Visualization 56 > 57

Skill level up, Mana Sense 41 > 42

Skill level up, Scrimshaw 24 > 33

Level 25 threshold breached

Skill level up, Mana Manipulation 62 > 63

Skill level up, Interpret Design Plans 11 > 14

Skill level up, Spatial Intuition 9 > 12

Spell mastery rank up, Shrink Touch Early > Basic

Spell mastery rank up, Will-o'-Woe Basic > Intermediate

Another week flashes by; with 7 more fabricated Core-9000s in my Vault, we continued our project, massacred more Quagxytes and completed my weekly devour quota as usual. The massacre part was very apt as I stopped doing it myself; opting instead to upgrade my trusty old massacring Spell; Will-o'-Woe. Like its sister Spell, Weal, I implemented a greater form. Though this one is less about size and more about quality; remaining the size of a tennis ball, this one takes on the form of a western dragon—I absentmindedly tickle the cute, very tiny dragon sleeping on my left shoulder; it's one shade of pitch black.

Regarding the method in which this little fella easily ended the life of tens of thousands of Quagxytes, and as much as hundreds of them at a time, is by multi level slaying. One dragon attacks one enemy, killing and analyzing their vulnerabilities, then giving birth to more Woes—which will follow its lead and carry on with their killing and birthing spree. Rinse, repeat, things eventually escalate from there on. Once all enemies are slain, the numerous regular Woe-Lifes will come together to form a Mana Core while the one Greater woe returns onto my shoulder. All 49 Core contains not much more than 100 mana, so taking inspiration from how we combined multiple parts to form a whole bone. I combined all 49 Mana Cores into a Core-4073, at the same time noticing that there was a bit of a decrease in the total mana, which is perfectly fine for me. On that note, Shrink Touch may now be locally applied on only parts of an object instead of the whole, greatly decreasing its mana cost.

More Teaching happened, as did passive Skills going up in numbers, beside Interpret Design Plans or Harvest Flora and Fauna as the two are stuck on their Threshold. In regards to Scrimshaw; when hundreds of people got the skill and experienced rapid growth. Someone cracking the Threshold is bound to happen, she magnanimously spread the information and now most people involved with the chassis have managed to do the same. The Threshold is all about understanding our material more, by thoroughly using all our Senses to understand a bone, we'll start getting mysterious hunches of its properties and ideal usage. Like most after integration stuff, it's awesome!

Knowing more means getting more done faster. The Torterrene bone is approximately 45% bone, 30% stone and 25% metal, this knowledge allows us to better manipulate the substance. Thus, in this week alone, we managed to produce two more turtle legs. And the last leg, we managed to craft and assemble within the next two days. Yes, all four legs are of a similar design.

—

Saturday

11 june 2044

11.52 PM

"We're not gonna make it in time." Henry concludes calmly. The event, we all agree has a weird name, is about a mere 9 days away by his count. Not enough time is left for us to finish our vehicle turtle who also has not been named; we're working on it.

"Does it matter?" Ardi Tenolo asks.

"Not one bit." The huge Tinknomagus answers, comically sitting besides our twiggy Atech. I still ain't pryin'!

"We do not know how long the event is going to last for, how it's going to happen, who; though I assume at least everyone on the planet, and what will happen during. We do not even know where it will be run." Henry explains, "which means our work will be put on hold for an indefinite amount of time. And we should prepare for that. Tools are safely turned off, materials are stored properly—the unassembled bones too, all our Territories secured, and plenty other responsibilities."

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"Ah' suggest we deploy ahtomatic defenses like Tail Tawn's ward'en." Atech chipped in.

"I believe that is a well thought out idea." Tinknomagus opinionated. I caught Ardi rolling his eyes exasperatedly, not that the idea itself is bad, just that our newest couple have been acting a wee bit out of their age group these days. It is true that Attributes and levels have changed our standards regarding age and a person's wellbeing. Still, I cannot help but chuckle remembering their hilarious antics these few days.

"I'll investigate our options regarding that." Henry agrees with a very neutral expression, such good poker face! He's only mostly involved with planning in regards to our project, since he also have a whole city sized Territory to run. But he could probably make time to browse The System shop.

"That is it for tonight, thank you all for attending." The night's briefing was kept brief and people started leaving; alone or in groups. I relocate my Blink's exit to the workshop and stepped through. Planning to continue working for now and nap later, perks of having high Constitution—or not, depends on who you ask.

Consulting the plans for my next item, I got to work. Having multiple minds working on one item allows me to notice multiple details at the same time. I like how this considerably speeds up the work and greatly cuts down on my tendency for human error. The torso's chassis, seen from above, is like a H with an O in the middle, slightly disproportionate in the way the O is much larger but the H feets are much thicker. Needless to say, it is obvious where we plan to attach the 4 legs and where its shell will be located.

The straight parts are simple, very much like the legs. The chassis that will support the shells on the other hand, required me to be very meticulous in making sure that all the various joints are facing the right direction and are angled perfectly. My Spatial Intuition Skill and Henry's Meteran Spell came in handy this time. Very handy! The final product will be like those expandable and deflatable toy balls that are made from multiple sticks, just much much larger, better fitted to be rounder, and infinitely sturdier… and with the 4 leg slot. My proficiency and Skills are definitely getting a workout!

My focus was broken when multiple numbers of people entered the range of my Mana Sense; which is a little further than 600 meters currently, soon the noise they made reached my sensitive ears—is it… morning already!? Both Sensing and physically looking at my surroundings, there are hundreds; maybe a little less than 180, of the required parts scattered on the floor. Each calculated to near perfection and etched with their respective identifiable markings to indicate their position. I got so into this I forgot to sleep and worked through the night.

"Judging from that stupid look on your face; you didn't notice the sunlight coming in from the windows, nor the time in your VICOS. Go get some sleep." Agus approached and commandeered me. As I finish up to do just that, he chuckles and says. "Happens to all of us."

"Okay. See you later." And by us, he meant crafters, believe me I asked. So I napped for 15 minutes, grabbed something to eat while I inhale a lot of coffee and fabricate another Core-9000, before returning to continue making turtle parts.

The sunday soon comes to an end; whatever happened last night had given me a boost to my Torterrene bone shaping efficiency—so much so that more people are now tasked to collect more bones rather than make things following the blueprint, at this rate, we might be able to finish this early. Once again, my inhuman ass worked through the night. Only stopping to nap before the people come to begin work in the morning. Only, today, a surprise was dropped on all of us, by The System no less. A ding and an interface pops onto your face the moment anyone wakes up, mine happened at 04.37 in the early morning. The exact moment my consciousness returns from dream land.

Opened doors, Closed doors.

Compliments to surviving thus further yet. The 183rd day of System Integration is nigh. Natives of the Milky Way Galaxy notwithstanding, only a limited number of slots were available and fully accounted for. Billions of individuals, millions of different sects, academies, corporations, clubs and much more—be they small, medium, large, or everything beyond shall be present. Where upon all manners of equivalent trade shall be made available to all in attendance, under authority and moderation of, The System. Henceforth, rules in regards to outside intervention shall be further relaxed. A door can not only close nor open, for they may also be a bit of both, or both together.

Attend Opened doors, Closed doors?

Y / N

I cannot begin to imagine an event big enough to accommodate billions—the population of earth is in the billions, so maybe I can imagine it as if the whole planet is partying? Awesome, I grin. Even the number of organizations involved is in the millions, getting to know them all would take years! Which means the event is probably less; everything is meticulously scheduled, and is instead more; you are free to roam and find whatever attracts your fancy. Or The System pulls some strings attached to the fabric of reality to bend both time and space, making everything a possibility.

"Zen! There you are!" Tiffany yelled at me, "everyone's looking for you! Come join us for breakfast and sunrise!"

"Hi, ci Tif!" I Blink to her side and we walk to breakfast together. "Why didn't anyone text me?"

"... uh," her mouth was open and closing like a fish. "We forgot."

"I figured," grinning as I reply, also knowing that this breakfast doubles as a casual meeting of sorts to discuss The System's latest interface-bomb.

"Dere he is!" Atech yelled at the sight of me, sitting besides everyone-knows-who. "Bout time yeh join us, Zen! Bet'er get out s'more and get yerself a galfriend, eh!"

I refuse to argue with my elders. I refuse to argue with him. He's an elder and I respect him. A little less so, but I think I still respect him… Opting instead to ignore the stupid couple, I sit with Tiffany and my parents. Mini is smiling mischievously at me, "I think you also need a girlfriend acek Zen."

"Uh?" I am truly flabbergasted.

Who taught a 4 years old ab—the cheeky kid leaned to the side, where my own mother sits and whispered. "Gramma, what's a girlfriend?"

She probably heard Atech speaking—he was loud, noticed my nonexistent poker face at the mention of it and concluded it's a word she can use to tease me and occupy my attention. Leaving all the explanations to my mother, I take a seat and begin integrating myself into the conversation. Between my dad and Tiffany, "so will you be attending? What about mini?"

"I will be dad, and so will she. The System allowed me to decide for her." Following that answer, my dad started giving her tips about how to behave in order to keep themselves safe, then my mother followed suit, their nagging went on for quite a while... Soon, everyone finished eating and started leaving for work. I, on the other hand Blink into an empty seat on Henry's table with a happy grin. I had forgotten how satisfying it was to watch the look on her face as my parents nagged at ci Tiffany, this one was almost as bad as when she had her first boyfriend.