Clover stood alone in a broken husk of a city. Ravens flew through the air, darting from one collapsed building to another, and fires raged in the distance, reducing crumpled cars to charred husks.

Despite the ominous atmosphere, he couldn’t stop smiling because, in this dream, his legs worked. Nights like these were his favorite - where his freedom of movement was returned to him. He smiled as he took a step. Soon, this dream would become a reality.

Clumsily, he walked down a cracked asphalt road, exploring the ruined city. In the ways that dreams usually do, it mirrored reality in a twisted sort of way. He passed buildings and street signs he recognized – he had seen them earlier today. However, they were different – more weathered and ran down. Not like the originals. Some were even the wrong color.

Clover paused as he noticed something strange. A jagged patch of what looked like TV static floated in the air, blocking most of a withered tree from view. The gray patch buzzed, giving him a headache just from looking at it. In the distance, he saw similar chunks of static slowly rolling down the street, encroaching on his position.

A trio of ravens with blood-red eyes crowed from atop a huge outcropping of pure white bone. Not far away, more pillars of bone imposed themselves on the city’s skyline, looking like the ribcage of a fallen giant.

Slightly freaked out, he continued his walk. He reassured himself that this was a dream and that he couldn’t be hurt for real. Even if this recreation of a city was incredibly lifelike and a tad bit scary, it still wasn’t real. It was just his body's way of processing the day’s events.

Eventually, the road he followed led him to a plaza with a tall clock tower in the center. The structure's gray stone exterior was riddled with cracks; it was a minor miracle the thing was still standing. The minor marvel of architectural engineering was probably the least weird thing he had seen in this dream, so he pushed it to the back of his mind.

With a full moon hanging high in a cloudless sky, the clock struck midnight, ringing out a deep foreboding sound. He recognized the sound; the same clock had rung out earlier in the day, dispersing the Bone Rats and Deep Ants.

Called upon by the note, pale wisps of light rose out of the ground, forming many ghostly figures. They hurriedly moved about, passing through Clover as if he wasn’t there. Some gathered around him - they were trying to tell him something, but their words were jumbled and distorted.

Out of the ground to his right, another figure rose up. Large parts of its appearance were hidden by static, but from what he could see, Clover could only describe this new arrival as a monster. Ten feet tall, covered in a suit of bone armor, and a wicked set of claws, it was the stuff of nightmares. Literally.

He blinked, and suddenly Clover found himself two hundred feet away, on the other side of the plaza. Before he could react, the creature covered in heavy bone armor lunged at him.

Clover tried to dodge, but he wasn’t fast enough. It felt like he was moving through molasses; his body wasn’t listening to his commands. Usual for a dream but still highly annoying.

He tried to wake up. Clover's consciousness remained in the plaza.

The monster’s sharp claws pierced through his chest, destroying his heart. He stood still for a moment, processing what had happened, then his mouth opened in a silent scream of pain. The wound hurt - it hurt more than anything he had ever felt before.

What the hell is happening? The monster ripped its claw from his chest in a spray of blood and then pounced toward the ghosts, hungry for more violence.

Without anything to help hold him up, Clover’s legs gave out on him, sending him crashing to the floor. His chest burnt in agony as blood pooled around him in a puddle on the floor. I want to wake up.

He stared up at the cracked tower in the center of the plaza as his vision darkened. Its hands jittered slightly, frozen in place, refusing to tick past midnight.

A fire burned in his chest, making his skin crawl.

As he took his last labored breath, the heavy bell rang out once more, and suddenly he was launched from his body, taking on a ghostly form. He rocketed towards the moon, leaving his body behind. It felt like he had been shot out from a catapult at a thousand miles per hour. His ghostly body gave out on him, fading away to small sparks of light.

Relentless the bell continued to ring, refusing to stop. The notes faded into one continuous sound; midnight would not come to pass. The pain stayed constant. He lost consciousness.

Clover woke up in a cold sweat in the factory, his heart racing. He tore the sheets off himself and looked around in a panic, searching for the monster that had killed him, earning a few odd looks from those around him.

Eventually, he had to accept that everything was fine. It had been just a dream. He was safe.

He took a deep breath, calming himself. Despite his rude awakening, he felt great – better than he had in years. Clover didn’t have a fever, and he didn’t feel like throwing up. His lungs itched, but that was a drastic improvement compared to before.

He smiled; the risks he had taken had been worth it. He was now a step closer to his goal than before.

Clover opened his [Status Screen], checking over his improvements. To say the least, he could beat the crap out of the him of 24 hours ago.

Status Screen:

Name: Clover Hills

Class: Blank Lvl 8 600/900 Exp

HP: 200/200

SP: 100/100

MP: 210/210

Strength: 3

Endurance: 1

Recovery: 1

Vitality: 10

Regeneration: 1

Dexterity: 2

Agility: 1

Perception: 7

Intelligence: 6

Mana: 10

Magic: 11

Myth: 3

Stat Points: 14

Skill Points: 7

General Skill: (3/8)

-Track Lvl 7 (Common) – Cost 5 SP

Follow your target's tracks to the ends of the Earth. Current range limit: 70 meters. Track Clarity depends on the quality and recency of the trail.

-Sculpting Lvl 10 (Common) -

A simple sculpture can be worth more than its base materials. Passively increases sculpting ability.

Sub-Skill: Hardening Lvl 3 (Common) - Harden your sculptures. Max size small. 5mp for small.

Driving Lvl 2 (Common) -

The need for speed. Passively increase handling and efficiency while driving.

Class Skills: (2/8)

Mana Bolt Lvl 13 (Common) - 5 MP

Fires a ball of Mana out of your hand. Deals 75 Base Damage.

Sub-Skill: Barrage Lvl 2 (Common) – Unleash multiple attacks at once. Increase Mana Cost with each additional Bolt. Current limit: 3

Golem Creation Lvl 5 (Uncommon) - 25 MP

Create and control a maximum of 0/6 Small Golems within a range of 60m. For the cost of 5 Small Golems Slots, a Moderate Size golem can be created.

Sub-Skill: Golem Control Lvl 5 (Uncommon) - Lead your golems with a deft hand. Passively grants more control over your golems.

Sub-Skill: Golem-Link Lvl 2 (Uncommon) – 5 Mp, 5 Sp. Track the ephemeral tether to its end, gaining insight into your golems surroundings. Passively grants more awareness of what travels through and along the tether.

He was satisfied with his progress, but more importantly, while looking over his Skill’s he realized he could now make a Moderate Sized golem. Bigger was always better. At least that’s what they said in Texas. They didn’t have an excellent record of being right over there, though, so he didn’t put too much stock into the idea. Whatever the case may be - it couldn’t hurt to try making the next size up of golem.

Bob the Elephant would definitely be more imposing if he was larger. A tinge of sadness struck him. He knew they were just lumps of clay, but he missed his golems. He’d have to remake them – Bob the Elephant and Mr. Cat wouldn’t stay dead for long.

He had plenty of time to do so. Based on the clock hanging on the factory wall, it was nearly night time, so he wouldn’t be going outside anytime soon.

He grabbed one of the last sculptures he had made yesterday and activated [Golem Creation]. It bothered him that all his resource pools were full – that meant he wasn’t working at full efficiency.

Clover observed as the System cast the spell, taking notes. Now that he had [Golem Link], it was much easier to see the inner workings of the Skill. Like usual, the System constructed a series of pictures within the tether – a story depicting an average dog. Kind, loyal, and kind of smart. However, with the extra clarity, he could now see that the System had arranged the pictures in a specific structure.

Before he could understand how the System had intertwined the images, the compressed packet of information began its journey down the link. Corrupting sheets of ice attacked, but most couldn't infiltrate the airtight structure. Those that did were quickly dealt with.

After a ten-second wait, a small dog-golem came to life in his hands.

Congratulations! Golem Creation has reached Level 6.

Congratulations! Golem Creation has reached Level 7.

Congratulations! Golem Link has reached Level 3.

Despite its lack of direct usefulness in combat, [Golem Link] was already proving its worth. With the Skill’s assistance, he could glean much more information from the System’s usage of [Golem Creation] than he normally would have. Now, he had plenty of ideas on how to recreate and improve the process on his own.

Not wanting his Sp to sit at full, he used [Golem Link]. Through the tether connecting him to the golem, information flowed, providing him a map of his surroundings. It wasn’t a picture – something he could interpret with his vision. Instead, it felt like he was touching the golem’s surroundings with ten pairs of hands, feeling out the placement of objects near it.

This new sense would take time to get used to, but he had a feeling it would grow to be quite useful. Especially, if he used [Golem Link] on multiple golems at once.

The Skill’s effect faded, and the flow of information slowed. After a minute or so, the ten pairs of hands felt like they had been reduced to two. With less to focus on, he noticed that the tether penetrated into the sculpture's body, branching off into multiple complex lines of energy. They were cold and electric – filled with possibility and wonder. It couldn’t be anything other than magic.

Using [Golem Link], he traced the wires of Mana lining the inside of the golem.

Congratulations! Golem Link has reached Level 4.

Reluctantly, he stopped his inspection of the Mana pathways – the dinner line was nearing its end. For once, he was hungry – immensely so. His stomach felt like it was trying to eat its way out of his chest. He didn't want to miss his chance to eat.

With a wrecked sleep schedule, Clover climbed into his wheelchair. He took his meager belongings with him and rolled down the hallway towards his meal. Right now, there was an abundance of food, but, in the future, Clover knew that would change. It would be best to eat his fill while he had the chance.

On his way, he searched the factory for Claire. He didn’t find her, but he wasn’t too concerned. Before he went to sleep, he had seen her join the lunch line with a small brown-haired kid. She should be fine.

On a similar note, the old man who slept on the bed next to his had gone missing. Which was strange. Stav was asleep when he left, and he hadn’t been part of the rescue group that went to the other half of the hospital. That didn’t leave a whole lot of places for him to be.

Still, he wasn’t too concerned. Clover hadn’t seen Stav, but he hadn’t made a concerted effort to look for him. He was probably off in some corner of the factory doing old person things – talking to birds or doing crossword puzzles - something of that sort.

As he traveled down the large factory, he noticed how it had changed. For starters, it wasn’t so empty anymore. People from all over the place had traveled here, seeking safety. If he had to guess, there were more than a thousand people here. Though there were probably thousands more who hadn’t yet made the trip.

Beds had been dragged in from nearby stores, and additional curtains had been put up. The factory was large enough that it didn’t feel crowded. Though it did feel a bit more cramped than before. If it ever became an issue, there were other buildings attached to the factory that could store more people.

Really, the factory was in the perfect location. Lodged ten feet underground, it was almost impenetrable as long as the main gate wasn’t opened. And with all the random buildings close around it, there was plenty of room to expand.

Clover quickly went through the food line and wolfed down his meal in under a minute. With a full stomach, he thought about his plan for the night. It wasn’t complicated. All he wanted was to remake his original golems, Level his other Skills, and finish a few Paths. If he did that, he would be well-positioned for tomorrow.

With his surplus of Skill Points, he opened his Path Screen and decided to get a jump on completing one. Though before he started, Clover noticed he had made a mistake. He was wrong in his initial assessment; he still gained Skill Points from leveling Sub-Skills - just less frequently than from the Parent-Skills. That would explain where all his extra Skill Points came from.

Clover shrugged and selected the Path he had unlocked for pushing [Golem Creation] to Level 5. It looked the most useful. Especially with the reconstruction of Bob the Elephant and Mr. Cat in his near future. Plus, it only cost 5 Points. It wasn’t a major investment.

Spot the diamonds in the haystack. It is impossible to make a good decision without first having adequate information. +3 Intelligence, +2 Perception.

Skill Unlocked:

Golem Inspection Lvl 0 (Common) – 5 Mp

Inspect the troops. Reveal the Quality of a golem alongside its durability.

**Notice. Due to an unexpected synergy with [Golem Link], [Golem Inspection] will undergo an evolution.**

**Calculating**

Golem Inspection --> Golem Status Screen Lvl 0 (Uncommon) – 5 Mp

Link your creations more deeply to the System. Create a rudimentary Status Screen for a golem, displaying its Quality, Durability, and Stats.

Clover looked over the blue screens, rereading the text. The Golem Creation Path was strange. Unlike all the other Paths he had unlocked from a Skill reaching Level 5, it did not provide 2 options. Additionally, the one option that was forced upon him had undergone an evolution.

Not that he was complaining. [Golem Status Screen] looked extremely useful. He couldn’t wait to try it out. Still, it broke the pattern that all the other Paths before it had set. It was something to pay attention to. He only understood a fraction of what the System had to offer; it would pay to not get overconfident.

His gaze wandered.

Off to the side, Clover spotted the pale child who had copied him in making sculptures yesterday. The kid worked diligently, though to no apparent success. A frown marred the child’s face.

Clover wheeled his way over.

“Check this out,” Clover said, interrupting the pale child’s sculpting. With a little help from Clover, the dog-golem jumped onto the child’s bed.

“Wow, is that [Golem Creation]?” He paused, tapping his head as if he had forgotten something. ”Oh, I’m Adam, by the way.”

Whatever anxiety he had about the conversation faded away as he realized Adam was as weird as him.

Clover smirked as he demonstrated the golem’s abilities by having him jump onto the kid’s shoulder and then walk onto his head. Adam laughed a little – easily entertained as most kids his age are. “Yup, are you trying to unlock [Golem Creation] as well?”

“How did you make an Uncommon Quality sculpture?” he asked, the question rapidly flowing from his mouth. He cut himself off, tapping his fingers against the sheets. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. That was rude of me.”

Clover glanced at the collection of inanimate sculptures lying next to Adam. A tree, a wheel, a sword - they weren’t bad. Though they lacked an element of style. Still, they interested Clover. He had never considered making anything other than animals.

“Don’t worry about it.” Clover looked at the small child – Adam reminded him of himself when he was younger. At that age, he always wished someone would come and save him from the constant hospital visits. No one had come to help, but he could change that for Adam.

Part of him wanted to greedily hoard his secrets, but he labeled that concern as irrational. There was no reason not to share. He had completed the Quest in a couple of hours. Other people would eventually figure it out. Giving a sickly child the ability to cure himself - there was no way that could be the wrong decision.

Besides, [Golem Creation] wasn't especially dangerous. It wasn't like he was giving Adam step-by-step instructions on how to build a nuclear bomb.

Clover explained how he had completed the Quest as Adam listened with rapt attention. At the end, Adam nodded and promised to complete the Quest. “How far can the dog run before it gets tired?” Adam asked one last question before Clover left.

Really, it was the type of question only a child could think of.

Clover shrugged and sent his golem off, running down the hallway. Partly out of curiosity, he had the dog continue running as it neared the edge of his range.

The second it left his range, the magic animating the golem dissipated. The golem's clay legs flew apart, unable to handle the motion now that it was just a normal sculpture, and its top section collapsed.

Congratulations! Golem Control has reached Level 6.

“Well, that answers that. 70 meters or so.”

Clover said his goodbyes and settled in for a long night of work.