The sun rose over Sincere’s camp, the faint morning light casting long shadows across the fortified clearing. Despite the aching soreness from the previous day’s battles, Sincere felt a sense of accomplishment. His traps, the base’s Zone of Weakness, and his growing combat skills had turned the once-vulnerable shack into a tactical stronghold.
As he stretched and prepared for the day, a faint rustling in the forest reminded him that Aeros was never still. Monsters lurked everywhere, and Sincere had one goal: lure them in, take them down, and keep leveling up.
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THE BASE AS A TRAP
Sincere crouched near the perimeter of his camp, resetting traps and sharpening stakes. The Base Effect, which weakened hostile creatures by 10%, made it an ideal battlefield. He considered it his personal arena, a place where he controlled the terms of every fight.
The Base Menu displayed potential upgrade options:
* Zone Expansion: Increase the weakening radius.
* Trap Reinforcement: Enhance trap durability and effectiveness.
* Shelter Fortification: Add defensive bonuses to the base structure.
He didn’t have enough resources to afford upgrades yet, but the base’s existing effect was already proving invaluable. If he could continue luring monsters here, leveling up would be more efficient—and safer.
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DRAWING THE FIRST MONSTER
Sincere pulled a fresh piece of boar meat from his stash, skewering it on a wooden stake near the edge of the camp. The smell of roasting meat drifted through the air as he ignited the bait with a small flame. He stepped back, retreating into the shadows of his base to wait.
The first response came quickly. A Clawback Raptor, a small dinosaur-like creature with razor-sharp claws, emerged from the trees. It sniffed the air, drawn to the scent of the meat.
Creature: Clawback Raptor
Level: 6
Health: 90/90
Weakness: Exposed flanks during movement.
As the raptor entered the camp, the Zone of Weakness triggered.
Clawback Raptor (Weakened): Health 81/81, Strength -10%.
Sincere observed the creature carefully. The raptor moved cautiously, its sharp eyes scanning for threats. It stepped onto a tripwire, triggering a hollow log filled with rocks to crash down, stunning the creature. Seizing the opportunity, Sincere dashed forward, his knife flashing as he slashed at the raptor’s exposed side.
The creature screeched, whipping around to claw at him, but the weakened strength of its strikes made them easy to dodge. A second well-placed strike to its neck finished the fight.
Enemy Defeated: Clawback Raptor
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+150 Experience Points.
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A NEW CHALLENGE: FLAME BEETLE
Satisfied with the success of the first lure, Sincere reset the traps and moved to the other side of the camp to create another bait site. This time, he made more noise, clanging stones together to draw attention.
A glowing orange light appeared in the distance, flickering as it moved. Sincere’s eyes widened as a Flame Beetle emerged from the underbrush. Its carapace glowed like molten lava, radiating heat waves in the cool air.
Creature: Flame Beetle
Level: 7
Health: 130/130
Ability: Heat Aura (Damages enemies within close range).
The System alerted him to the beetle’s unique danger.
Flame Beetle (Weakened): Health 117/117, Aura Damage -10%.
The beetle’s heat aura was still a threat, even weakened. Sincere decided to rely on ranged tactics. He grabbed a burning branch from his fire pit and threw it at the beetle, the flames making it recoil. As it hesitated, he activated a spike pit trap. The beetle stepped onto the hidden spikes, its legs pierced by the sharpened stakes.
Using his knife, Sincere darted in for quick strikes before retreating to avoid the heat aura. The fight was grueling, but the traps slowed the beetle enough for him to land the killing blow.
Enemy Defeated: Flame Beetle
+200 Experience Points.
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WAVE AFTER WAVE
The day continued in a steady rhythm. Sincere’s base became a magnet for monsters, the scent of bait and the noise of his traps drawing them in. Each creature presented new challenges, forcing him to adapt his strategies and improve his skills.
* Shadow Lynx: A stealthy predator that relied on ambushes. Sincere used his traps to expose its hiding spots, finishing it with a critical strike to the heart. (+150 XP)
* Rock Crust Crab: A heavily armored creature. Sincere had to lure it onto a rockfall trap, crushing its shell before delivering the final blow. (+180 XP)
* Spined Mole Rat: A burrowing creature that attacked from below. Sincere tracked its movements by watching the shifting dirt, countering with precise stabs when it surfaced. (+120 XP)
Each battle brought him closer to his goal. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, he had reached a new milestone.
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LEVELING UP
The familiar chime of the System echoed in his mind as he sat by the fire, catching his breath.
Level Up!
Current Level: 8.
Attribute Points Gained: 3.
Skill Points Gained: 2.
He opened the Attributes Menu and allocated his points:
* +2 Intelligence: Increasing his mana pool to 150—finally enough to summon a golem.
* +1 Vigor: Boosting his health to 80.
Next, he turned to the Skill Menu. He invested both points into Knife Wielding, raising it to Level 4.
Knife Wielding (Level 4):
* Bonus damage with knives: +20%.
* Increased critical hit chance: +15%.
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REFLECTION AND STRATEGY
As the campfire crackled, Sincere reviewed his day. The base had proven its value, turning the tide of every battle. The traps, the Zone of Weakness, and his growing skills were a powerful combination. But his success only highlighted the dangers of this world.
He stared at the Golem Creation skill in his menu. With his mana pool finally reaching 150, he was ready to test it. Tomorrow, he would summon his first golem and see if it was the ally he desperately needed.
For now, he leaned back against the wall of his shack, exhaustion pulling at his eyelids. Aeros was a hostile world, but Sincere felt a flicker of hope. He wasn’t just surviving anymore—he was building a system, a strategy, and perhaps, a future.