Adam stood looking out over the sea. Sharky was definitely bigger. This was the outward observation that he had made on reaching the shore and receiving the updates. The overpowered beauty that was Sharky had defeated over forty creatures the day before. Earning himself one hundred and fifty exp and Adam thirty. A rush of notifications had updated once the link with Sharky was established. The experience allocated Sharky jumped from level two to level five. Sharky was epic thought Adam. A pulse of pride came down the link from Sharky as Adam thought this; at the same time Adam swore he could sense Sharky wagging his tail. Dismissing this for now Adam decided to check his follower and quest lists.

Followers: (Sharky update) Followers Level Attributes Class Sharky 5 HP 250/250; Stamina 100/100; MP 0/0; SP 4/6 Scout Ma 1 HP 30/30; stamina 40/40; MP 1/1; SP 2/2 Please allocate* *can only allocate secondary classes Quests: (new completion) Quests Complete? Exp Explore Mine, entrance 1% 50 Explore Forest, outer 0% 50 Explore Mountain, slope 1% 100 Convert vermite 16% 30 Explore the seabed along Coast 100% 15* Clear Coast of threats 100% 25* Upgrade outer fence 50% 10 Collect exp 40 Y/N

Great. Adam collected the 40 experience. If Sharky received the same amount then he would have seventy exp and almost half way to level six. Was Adam just slow or Sharky awesome? Before he could do anything else Person waved to get his attention, drawing it to a flashing symbol on his tablet. Concentrating on the symbol caused another menu to appear.

Class: (upgrade Scout) Class Class Benefit Skills Level Cost Exp needed to level God - level 3 (hidden) You are a God Inspect 3 0.025mps 80 Discern 3 1mp 80 Transfer 3 2gp 80 Gain ten levels in current skill(s) to unlock next skill. [Creation] Scout - level 2 Improved vision and recall of surroundings /messages stealth 2 (5)*

4sp to activate

2sp/hr

40 Gain five levels in current skill(s) to choose next skill. Options: [report]; [eagle eye]; [survey]; [beacon] Builder Ability to create structures; increased building stability [fence] 1sp Create five structures to unlock next structure [hut] Gatherer Ability to identify and forage edible wild plants; Please select initial skill. [find]; [examine]; [light load]; [duplicate] *Max follower level in brackets Current exp available 74

"That's pretty clear, thanks Person." Adam said. Person beamed back at him, obviously proud of their new role helping work the system. "Did you label the updates as well? Because those are handy too." Person took a mock bow and blew kisses to an imaginary audience in response to this praise. "Is there anything else I need to look at?" Asked Adam. Person shook their head and went back to bowing and blowing kisses. Adam rolled his eyes and got back to looking at the choices available to him.

He thought about the skills available to a scout and what would be most useful both now and in the future. Once he had unlocked the second skill; would a new scout be able to choose from both as their starting skill or need to start with stealth and work up? Not being able to tell without choosing something; making another scout and then seeing if they could develop either skill Adam just had to pick. Given the range Sharky could cover and the difficulty of his link as a follower needing Adam to be close by the obvious choice was [report] - Allows the user to remotely share information with reporting officer. He then checked the skill entry.

Skill Level

Cost

report 1 (1)*

n/a. Can target assigned officer only

Having made his choice Adam looked at the updates to his map that had appeared with quest completion. He could now make out the seabed of the whole coastal area starting at the shipwreck to the North down to the jagged rocks by the cliff to the South. Initially depth of the sea slowly changed until it reached the edge of the map where an abrupt underwater cliff appeared. It was here that Sharky had stopped his exploration with only vague impressions of the depths beyond on the map. This cliff stretched from the South all the way up to the point where the forest started on the land; at this point the cliff rose to a plateau that stretched underwater away to the North with a bank of seaweed mimicking the forest above water. At the point to the South where the cliff met the jagged rocks visible above the water Adam saw something on the map. He zoomed in to discover another shipwreck, this one sunken to the bottom of the sea.

Adam could tell through the link that Sharky was waiting patiently to be told what to do next. When he concentrated on the three areas available the sunken ship was definitely the one that interested him the most. He could tell from Sharky that this was also the most dangerous area. The artificial surfaces of the wreck making homes for smaller fish that in turn drew in bigger predators from the deep water. Knowing how eager Sharky was to please him, Adam didn't want to risk sending him somewhere too dangerous. Keeping this in mind he set two objectives and watched Sharky make his choice before swimming off to the North.

Quests: (update marine quests) Quests Complete? Exp Explore Seaweed forest 0% 10 Determine threat level of sunken ship 0% 10

Waving to Sharky's rapidly shrinking shadow in the water Adam looked at the only other safe quest on his list and headed to the forest to collect wood. He had some fencing to do.

Once he arrived at the forest he collected the nuts as usual, picking them out from the surrounding ground easier than normal due to the new Gatherer Profession. He was happily collecting wood from the ground when he realised he now had a hatchet that could be used to speed up the process. Picking a thicker branch than he had been choosing so far he swung the hatchet at its base. After three strikes the branch fell from the tree causing a *ping* noise. Adam considered this for a second, trees didn't make a ping noise. He checked with Person who pointed out a new entry.

Profession Benefit Skills Level Cost Exp needed to level Woodcutter Ability to chop wood; increased strength Please select initial skill. [summon axe]; [plank]; [fell]; [firewood]

It was early evening by the time Adam had finished the fence. He noticed that he found the task easier than the day before due to his Builder Profession. It was hard to determine how or why; just that the skill took less effort and he could make minor corrections without concentrating as hard. Finally done he took a step back and completed the associated quest. Eighty-four experience in hand he decided that levelling Transfer would be more helpful than Inspect or Discern.

Class Skills Level Cost Exp needed to level God - level 3 (hidden) Inspect 3 0.025mps 80 Discern 3 1mp 80 Transfer 4 2gp 160 Creation 0 - 10 Gain fifteen levels in current skill(s) to unlock next skill. [Elemental manipulation]

Damn, he had forgotten a new skill required ten experience to unlock the first level. Also [Elemental manipulation] - The ability to use mana to control the elements. Just as he got something cool to play with the system dangled another treat in front of him. As before the limiting factor was experience. Person bounced into view doing a shark impression. Of course, Sharky. Adam concentrated on the link and the report skill. Did he need to wait for Sharky to give a report or could he activate the link from afar?

An update sprang directly into Adam's mind. Similar to the disorientation when he had first linked to Sharky, but Adam was better used to the feeling now so adjusted quickly to the dizziness it brought on. Sharky had already explored the Seaweed forest, taking down four crabs, six eels and another shark to do so. Good Sharky. The link hummed as Sharky basked in Adam's gratitude and then faded on completion of the report. Twenty-six experience gained, including the ten from completing the quest.

Adam hit unlock on the skill and then instantly upgraded it to level two using all thirty experience. He could sense the power within and looked around for a suitable target to practice on. Having finished the fence; there was little wood around so he concentrated on the concept of wood and activated Creation.

As he held the skill a pile of wood started forming from nowhere in front of him. The branches were straighter and more uniform than those he had been cutting directly almost as if designed for construction rather than grown naturally. Adam chuckled and pushed more mana into the skill; watching as the pile grew. His watch beeped as his mana dropped below 0.1 quickly snapping him out of the raw excitement of this new power. He looked at the pile of wood in wonder. It was easily enough to double the fencing around the camp.

It was only when he turned that he saw the vermite had woken and left their burrow for the evening. They too were stood looking at the pile of wood in awe. Ma standing to one side of the others pointed up at him and squeaked "He Big Boss."