C4 Trash Cave

Eddie eventually found the exit into the main trash area. Miles and miles of scattered things. To the right of him was the dungeon with the red boundary clearly showing on his map. It was full of different areas. He didn’t fancy walking into it- especially after encountering the Omega Mini-Boss. The loot may be better, but the grey hairs had already started growing on his weak stubble. To his left was a more traditional trash pit. It was loose and not as segregated or compacted as the dungeon floor. It was, however, still housing monsters but lesser ones.

His eyes scoured the endless horizon for an exit, but the air was foggy and polluted. He scrunched up his nose to the air to find it not as disgusting as it once was. It was almost pleasant, like his gran’s house. Fair enough, the toilet had crap stains, but at least she sprayed febreeze.

Nice! You have discovered a trait of the Trashmancer class!

The smell of trash no longer smells… Like trash.

Eddie moved his head backwards, flaring his nostrils like a dog to breathe in the no-longer pungent smell. “Hey, this isn’t so bad,” Eddie contemplated. “No, Eddie! Think, you’re stuck in a god-damn trash pit and you’re somewhat enjoying yourself. You need to get some more weapons, armour, spells and leave this place. But it’s kinda cool- stop, Eddie! Stop!”

After finishing his argument with himself, he brought out the make-shift club and headed left into the fields of trash. He needed all sorts, mainly the workshop to work on the golem properly. He started walking through, his feet leaving flat footprints in the loose trash. The boots were more than handy and he was glad he chose them. He saw a few trash pandas on his map, they were highlighted amber. He guessed that it meant aggressive when attacked but he still kept his distance

His Trashman’s Sense was more than useful. Wherever he walked he kept finding things that glowed a soft purple and revealed themselves on his map. He was surprised at how many non-broken items were thrown away. He found whole dining room sets, rugs, cutlery and-

“Tools!” Eddie exclaimed as he spotted the purple glowing tools. It was easier to find things like himself- a tool.

{Metal Wrench}

Grade: Crude

Durability: 7/9

Description: It’s a wrench!

{Crude Metal Spanner}

Grade: Crude

Durability: 6/9

Description: It’s a- ha, no I’m joking, it’s still just a spanner.

They were slightly rusted like his own tools at home. He picked them up and commanded them inside his inventory. They disappeared in a flash and the Trashmancer continued his scavenging trip into the trash pits of Arindought.

After an hour of looting, he had found more than he had hoped, and almost completed his checklist.

{Small Mana Fridge}

Grade: Crude

Durability: 13/19

Description: Wondering how this works will give you a headache- so don’t. This fridge only requires you to turn it on- oOoOo MaGic FrIDgE.

Increases the expiration time of items by double. (ETx2)

{Mana Drill}

Grade: Crude

Durability: 9/12

Description: A cordless drill which runs off~ MaGic.

{Mana Buzz Saw}

Grade: Crude

Durability: 4/11

Description: A cordless Buzz Saw… Also MaGicAl.

They looked like ordinary items from the real world with a dash of fantasy. He had taken apart the fridge out of curiosity to study it- even though the system advised against it. He had found a tiny crystal that looked similar to the golem core he had.

{Passive Mana Absorption Crystal}

Grade: Crude

Description: I told you not to do it and you still did it! Nice. This item passively takes in mana in the surrounding areas. It can also work as a battery if transmuted. (For the dummies out there- it’s free electricity; screw you Elon.)

It was exactly like a powersource. Small copper wires were wrapped around it which fed the other various hardware a fridge would need with magical electricity; AKA, mana. Eddie was not a fan of the fantasy aspect of crafting but he had to admit that it was going to be useful and creative. He had also picked up metres of the copper wire. He had found lights with tiny light crystals inside of them which he would need for the building he was making. He had found dozens upon dozens of metal sheets and bars he could use for the door and other stuff. There was so much; by the minute, Eddie was getting angrier and angrier at the people above. All the good wasted materials and items just chucked down into the trash pit needlessly. It was a game, but he thought that morals transferred over- apparently not. Last but not least, he found a workbench. “Ah, you beauty!” Eddie exclaimed joyfully.

{Workbench}

Grade: Crude

Durability: 43/66

Description: A bench that enables one to work. It is limited to Uncommon items.

+2% Increased EXP from making things.

It was exactly what Eddie needed. He squeezed it into his full inventory and decided to head back to his trash-land. Along the way, he started scooping up everything he could carry in his hands. He looked like a monster as he trudged slowly up the hill; banging pots against his body, rotting meat hooked off his dirty trousers and a creaky bed placed precariously on his head. He had to use the map at some points to see where he was going.

Eventually, he found himself back in his little cave system and dumped(get it?) it all out- inventory included. His belly rumbled- realism is the major selling point. He frowned, knowing the only food he had was the trash panda meat. “Oh, fudge it. I’m playing a game- can’t be that bad,” he remarked, already jinxing himself without realising.

After setting up a small fire, he skewered the meat on a metal rod and placed it over the fire to cook. Eddie then went about setting up the workbench, along with the tools, fridge and lights. It all looked dashing and gave the cave some character about it.

Eddie smiled as he took a step back to admire his interior designing work. His ex-girlfriend hated his style but he liked it- a complete and total mess of second hand with Ikea- hence; character.

He brought out all the metal sheets and beams and went to work making the door. “A door,” Eddie said to himself. “Can’t be that hard.”

Three hours later, Eddie had crafted a door.

Great job! You have crafted a (Barely) Small Metal Door.

+5 EXP

{(Barely) Small Metal Door}

Grade: Crude

Durability: 55/55

Description: This looks like it belongs in Fallout 4.

Ding! Ding! Ding! You have learned T1 Passive Skill Metalworking!

You just nailed a few pieces of metal together and Voilà.

T1 PASSIVE SKILL- Metalworking Rank I

Work 5% faster when working with metal.

Note: This is NOT a profession. It is a skill. When this skill reaches Rank X, you will not be able to level it past T1 or gain any other skills from it unless you have the profession(which is hard to get).

“Nice,” Eddie mused, reading the notifications. He was glad there was a dopamine rush for making things and the skill was amazing- his third ever skill. Even if it was passive he was still going to treat with all the the love and care a dinosaur dad would give to his non-binary son(I went to far).

He attached the door onto the opening into his small cave system and started to drill metal sheets around the sides to hold it in place while acting as a wall. The 5% increased speed wasn’t as noticeable but he could still feel his hands moving faster. After he had finished, he took a step back while slapping the shards of metal off from his hands- which didn’t hurt thanks to his skills. “Good job, Eddie.”

WOW! I am genuinely impressed. You built a workshop, bedroom and- where’s the toilet?

“Wait, I need to ship in this game? Ship?! Ah, fudging fudge. Poo- do I need to poop in this game?”

Yeahhhhhh, just dig a hole in the corner or something… Anyway!

You have created a T1 House fit with a T1 Workshop and soon to be T1 Toilet!

+150 EXP

You have received the title: Homeowner.

Eddie was happy with his efforts. He still needed 200 more EXP to reach level 2 but the gains he was getting were good. He was proud of himself. While others cultivated their skills and honed their magic- he was going to build a house- in a trash dump, surrounded by monsters he was too scared to fight properly.

“Right,” Eddie puffed, hands on his hips. “The golem.”

He dragged the metal corpse next to his workbench and hoisted it up on chains. He patted the golems' chest caringly. “You’ll be mine soon,” Eddie said quietly. “And then we can explore the dungeon together.” He hadn’t realised just how lonely he had been. Eddie didn’t have many friends in the real world either but being alone in a trash dump really plucked his social strings.

“Let’s find out how you work first. System, play Eddie’s Epic Montage Mix #1.”

“Sorry, did you say ‘songs to cry to after a break up’?”

“What?! Not even close.”

“Sorry, did you say ‘Eddie’s Epic Montage Mix #1’?”

“Yeahhhh,” Eddie said slowly, furrowing his eyebrows. He could swear that the system was playing mind games with him. Soon though, the thoughts vanished as his music blared through his mind.

(https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3DMhpZCqoTG8wdEL6uQkC7?si=60c59ea3f6a746f2)

Eddie spent the next 10 minutes dancing awkwardly and singing poorly to his heart's content. He then realised he was building a golem and went back into work mode. Spinning the wrench around his fingers a few times for good luck, he started removing all the rusted pieces of metal that acted as armour. It revealed the skeleton of the golem. Eddie kissed his teeth, noticing dozens of areas of improvement. He was not a genius of moving parts but then again he didn’t need to be to spot obvious flaws. He started removing the body parts and placing them on his workbench for modifications and revampment. Eddie loved doing this sort of stuff, anything to get his mind working overtime. He loved how joints clicked into place and the sounds of machines whirring.

As he was taking apart the pieces, he noticed the same copper wires that the fridge had. They act as veins which ‘apparently’ let the golem move on its own. It made no logical sense but it didn’t need to- this was a game and so Eddie was in the same mindset. He pried apart all of the copper veins and worked on an arm. He wanted something life-like. He could make omni-directional joints for the golems fingers and arms but felt that would be almost wrong. So he decided to give it a basic human look- above 6ft however- he wasn’t evil.

Limb by limb, he corrected everything about the golem. It’s joints were looser, rusted pieces of metal were switched out with less rusted pieces of metal. The copper wires; he coated in a black liquid that acted as an insulant to protect from malfunctions and jolting force. He worked on them for hours- it was what he loved to do; make things.

He shook his bony bum as he sang along and worked on his first ever masterpiece in game.

“🎧We’Re tHe Kids in AmeRica🎧”

After Eddie had crafted the limbs to near perfection, the next task was the head, core, and face. The core acted as the main power source. Like the small mana crystal in the fridge, it acted as a battery but with extra steps. It could control the ligaments as it acted as a brain yet also acted as a heart for the golem. He knew it should be the most protected area so he started designing a thick chest with multiple layers. He even crafted his own signature key that he used for his own house so he could access the core easily. He spent at least an hour designing it. Eventually, the torso skeletal golem was now a thick torso skeletal golem. He slapped it twice as he bounced his head along to the music.

Eddie’s next task was the face and… Eyes? Eddie pouted, looking up at the golem’s dimed eyes. All of a sudden, he broke into song.

“🎧DoN’t stOp, belIEving🎧 HOld on TO thAt feeling🎧”

He was in his groove with not a care in the world. Nothing could stop those terrible vocals and dance moves- not even a god. He was truly in his happy place. Shaking his hips strangely, he placed a small screwdriver in his mouth and stood on an old fruit crate; he started working on taking the face apart.

He squinted his eyes as he took the metal skin of its face. It exposed two red crystals that were attached to copper wire. He pried them off and identified them.

{Sensor Crystal}

Grade: Crude

Durability: 3/4

Description: These crystals allow a machine to see, hear and feel.

Though, it is only an input sensor. The power of these sensors is that of an ordinary person.

Mana usage: 0.05 M/s (Max)

“Ok,” Eddie said, thinking about how absurd it was. It was like a camera that fed the golem core information. As it was only an input sensor, it meant it couldn’t speak. Eddie wanted it to speak, even if it was robotic. He rattled his brain to try and think how he could find something to allow it to speak. Just in time when he was about to give up thinking, his stubby fingers felt up a crystal in its metallic neck. He managed to pull it out.

{Vibration Crystal(Double meaning?;))}

Grade: Crude

Durability: 4/5

Description: Allows a machine to move this crystal minutely to produce a sound(voice)

Mana usage: 0.07 M/s (Max)

Eddie nodded his head approvingly. At least it was going to allow the golem to speak. Though, voice boxes were fairly simple. One’s voice required a resonator and a vibrator(hmm)- minus the energy side since he could just connect it with copper wire. He tried pressing his finger into it and saw his mana slowly tick down. Sure enough, the crystal vibrated. It was deep and tinny- he didn’t like it. Switching out different materials, he found that perfect one that was smooth yet a few hertz higher. It was going to have to do since he didn’t want to spend all his time working on it.

Like he did with the limbs, he did with the neck and head. Cutting a perfect-ish face with his magical buzz saw and making sure the copper wires were coated and in the safest of positions. It didn’t look too bad once he took a step back- he wasn’t an artist per say but he had to pat himself on the back- which he literally did.

After another crazy dancing fit, he thought about what weapons it could use. Then all of a sudden it hit him. He had been thinking this entire time that he was able to control them, but he didn’t have the profession or the class.

“Oh, fudge!” Eddie exclaimed.

He brought up the requirements for the profession.

(Profession) Golemancy

Description: A sub-skill of the engineering skill. You create golems.

Requirements:

-Engineering Skill

-Have worked on a golem for more than 5 hours

-Possess a golem core

-100 mana

“Wait, I can do that. That’s easy- the mechanical engineering skill thou-”

I was going to wait after your little dancy-crafting session but here you are-

Congratulations! You have learned T1 Passive Skill Engineering Skill!

T1 PASSIVE SKILL Engineering

Work 5% faster on machines.

Note: This skill encompasses all fields that relate to engineering. This skill is also limited to T1 Rank X. It will help you gain other, more specific fields of engineering as a profession or skill.

“Yes! I can ge-”

Congratulations! You have learned T1 Passive Skill Golemancy!

T1 PASSIVE SKILL Golemancy

Work 5% Faster on Golems (Note: this stacks additionally)

You are now able to control 1 golem. Levelling this skill will allow you to control more.

However, to unlock full potential with golems, you must acquire the Golemancer Class.

“Woohoo, go Eddie- go, go, go Eddie, go, go, go Eddie!” he sang, swirling his hips in a figure of eight. He could now fully craft a golem, and use it. “Oh, thank you system!” he prayed; hands together, pointing to the sky.

Grabbing his tools, he went back to work.

A few hours later, his masterpiece was complete. He was about to pop the golem core in when a notification popped up on his screen.

WARNING! You have been playing for 18 hours. You must log off for at least 6 hours each day for rest. If you have the Bronze Soldier Bundle, you may sleep in game and only log off an hour to eat and drink. If you purchased the Silver Knight Bundle (which you haven’t), one of our teams will come round to your house and set up an IV drop for nutrients so you never have to log out.

“What?!” Eddie shouted. “I have to pay more to sleep in a damn video game?!”

I don’t know why you’re having a go at me, I don’t make the rules.

Time before forced log out: 1:59s

1:58s

1:57s

Eddie started panicking as he shoved the golem core inside the holder. He slammed it shut and a notification appeared.

Congratlations! You have crafted a Trash Golem, Level 8!

+100 EXP

You may choose what personality your Golem has along with its name.

Please type or think of what your Golem’s name and personality will be like.

Limit: 200 Words

It will then be processed by the system.

Note: This will take time, unless you have the Silver Knight Bundle.

Eddie swallowed the lump in his throat; sweat dripped down his oil stained face. He had to come up with a name and personality in a minute. He exhaled, cracking his knuckles hastily.

“Uhh- ok, ok. He’s a friend- yeah, a friend. I made him though, master- oh! Butler, he can be a butler. Names for butlers- Alfred- no copyright, can’t be getting striked down. Ahhhh, cool names for butlers. Google- System search: good names for Butlers.”

Top names for butlers

Reginald Jeeves

Lynn Belvedere

Hobson

Alfred Pennyworth

Benson DuBois

Geoffroy Butler

Carlo Carson

“NO! NOT COPYRIGHT! DAMN STUPID THING. SEARCH COOL NAMES- AH SCREW IT. JEFFERY- NO, NO. ALISTAR, NO. FRANK- YES, I LIKE FRANK. SYSTEM. HIS NAME IS FRANK.”

Please describe his personality... Calmly.

“He’s a butler; English. Yeah, yeah, butlers are always English. He speaks posh, eternally loyal yeah? Yeah, eternally loyal, and he’s really cool. Like- really cool. Jason Statham; level cool. Ooooooo, he says cool catchphrases too.”

Is that all?

Time before forced log out: 0:11s

“Uhhhh- uhhhhh- AHHHHH. He has- urm I don’t know, an-”

Force Log Out Initiated.