The morning air was crisp as Sincere moved through the forest, his serpent fang knife ready in his hand. His base was secure for now, but his dwindling food supply and the lingering need for strength pushed him to explore further. The thought of summoning a golem gnawed at his mind—150 mana was a steep cost, but he was determined to reach it. First, he needed to level up.
As he stepped over a cluster of roots, a rustling sound caught his attention. He froze, crouching low. Through the thick underbrush, he saw it—a boar-like creature rooting in the soil. Its tusks were long and jagged, its hide a mix of bristly fur and tough skin. It snorted as it foraged, oblivious to Sincere’s presence.
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UNLOCKING IDENTIFY
Sincere studied the boar, his eyes narrowing as he observed its movements. Its bulky body hinted at strength, but its cautious steps suggested it wasn’t overly fast. As he analyzed it, the System chimed softly, a new notification appearing.
New Skill Unlocked: Identify (Level 1)
Effect: Allows basic identification of creatures, objects, and resources.
Excited, Sincere focused on the boar, activating the skill. A translucent window appeared.
Creature: Wild Boar
Level: 5
Health: 100/100
Description: A medium-sized herbivore with aggressive tendencies when threatened. Known for its powerful charges and tough hide.
Experience Reward: 100 XP
Sincere’s heart quickened. The boar was the same level as him, and defeating it would push him to level 6. He couldn’t waste this opportunity.
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PLANNING THE ATTACK
He retreated a few steps, his mind racing as he crafted a plan. The boar’s health and level were on par with his own, but its brute strength meant a direct approach was risky. Instead, he would rely on his agility and precision, wearing it down with quick strikes before it could retaliate.
Sincere scanned the area, noting a cluster of trees and rocks that could serve as obstacles. If he could bait the boar into charging, he could use the terrain to his advantage.
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THE BATTLE
Sincere stepped out of the shadows, his knife gleaming in the sunlight. The boar immediately noticed him, its snorting growing louder as it pawed the ground. With a bellowing squeal, it lowered its head and charged.
Sincere darted to the side, the boar’s tusks missing him by inches. He slashed at its flank as it passed, drawing a shallow line of blood. The boar squealed in pain, turning to face him again.
The fight was intense, each move calculated. The boar’s charges were relentless, but Sincere used the trees to block its path, landing precise strikes whenever he could. After a grueling few minutes, the creature staggered, its health bar dwindling.
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With one final lunge, Sincere drove his knife into the boar’s side, piercing its heart. The creature collapsed with a thud, and the System chimed.
Enemy Defeated: Wild Boar
+100 Experience Points.
Level Up!
Current Level: 6.
Attribute Points Gained: 3.
Skill Points Gained: 2.
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UPGRADING ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS
Sincere let out a breath of relief, his body aching but victorious. He opened the Attributes Menu, immediately allocating all three points to Intelligence, bringing it to 11 and raising his mana to 110.
He then accessed the Skill Menu, unlocking Knife Wielding (Level 1) to improve his combat effectiveness. The skill promised increased precision and damage with bladed weapons. He poured both skill points into it, raising it to Level 2.
Knife Wielding (Level 2):
* Bonus damage with knives: +10%.
* Increased critical hit chance: +5%.
Satisfied, he dragged the boar’s carcass back to his base, the weight of it testing his stamina.
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A NEW THREAT AT CAMP
As Sincere reached his camp, he set the boar down near the fire pit and began carving it with his knife. The savory smell of meat filled the air as he cooked the first batch of boar strips. His stomach growled in anticipation.
Suddenly, a blur of motion caught his eye. A squirrel-like creature, larger than any squirrel he had ever seen, darted from the shadows, its sharp claws gleaming. It hissed and leaped at him, teeth bared.
Sincere reacted instinctively, his knife flashing upward. The creature collided with him, its claws raking across his arm, but he twisted and drove the blade into its side. It let out a shrill screech before falling limp.
Enemy Defeated: Shadow Squirrel
+50 Experience Points.
Sincere frowned, inspecting the small creature. It was quick, but fragile. If not for his upgraded knife skill, it might have caused more damage. He added its meat to his growing pile, making a mental note to watch for smaller, sneakier threats.
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REALIZING THE BASE'S POTENTIAL
As he sat by the fire, tending to his wounds, the System chimed again, highlighting a feature of his base he hadn’t noticed before.
Base Effect (Level 1): Hostile creatures are 10% weaker within base boundaries.
The discovery made him sit up straighter. “So the base isn’t just shelter—it’s a tactical advantage.”
The idea sparked a new strategy. If he could lure enemies to his base, they would be weaker, giving him the upper hand in fights. The System also displayed a list of potential upgrades for the base, ranging from improved defenses to resource management tools.
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A NEW STRATEGY
As the night settled in, Sincere leaned back against the wall of his shack, staring at the flickering fire. The hunt had been a success, and the base was proving to be more valuable than he initially realized.
“I’ll need to focus on upgrading the base,” he thought. “It’s my safest bet for survival—and for testing out what that golem can do when I finally summon one.”
The smell of roasted boar filled the air as he made his plans. He was no longer just surviving; he was adapting, evolving, and building toward something greater. The question of what a golem was and how it could help still lingered, but for now, he was ready to face whatever Aeros threw at him.