Resting his back against the rocks outside the mine; Adam checked through the updates he had been ignoring up until now. Notifications: Additional Quest: Defeat all Spiders = 100 exp You defeated Cave Spider - Level 2. You gained 10 exp. Staff Wielder Class Unlocked You defeated Queen Cave Spider - Level 3. You gained 40 exp. You defeated Cave Spider - Level 2. You gained 10 exp. You defeated Cave Spider - Level 2. You gained 10 exp. You defeated Cave Spider - Level 2. You gained 10 exp. You defeated Cave Spider - Level 2. You gained 10 exp.

At least the risk had been worth it. Adding in the collection of quests he had collected almost two hundred and fifty exp. Plus he had gained both a class and profession in the process. Maybe Sharky wasn't overpowered but had just been taking the risks that Adam had avoided until now. Adam spent sixty experience levelling Creation before pausing. His goal was to unlock Elemental manipulation but if he did so there would be another skill to get up to level four before his God Class increased. He needed to work out the best way of doing this before rushing forward. First, he double checked the current skills once more:

God Class: Class Skills Level Cost Exp needed to level God - level 3 (hidden) Inspect 3 0.025mpps 80 Discern 3 1mp 80 Transfer 4 2gp 160 Creation 3

0.8mpps

80 Gain fifteen levels in current skill(s) to unlock next skill. [Elemental manipulation]

That meant it would be 240exp to get to level four and then an extra ten to purchase Elemental manipulation. 250exp total. Alternatively he could use 160exp to level two of the skills to four then ten to purchase the next skill. It would then take another 140exp to get to level four. 390exp total. Either way he would have to get and use the experience eventually the difference was whether he increased his level or got magic first. Given his current rate of gaining experience magic was too good an offer to wait.

Adam used 160 of his remaining 200exp to level Inspect and Creation once more. Only needing ten exp to complete his goal Adam crossed his fingers and linked with Sharky via report. This time the information was a bit crisper and clearer. He could better tell that Sharky had been cautiously eliminating creatures from around the sunken ship while cloaked in stealth. A level five Octopus and level six Shark had both been defeated gaining Sharky forty experience and Adam eight. Sharky was in quite a bad state having taken on two strong foes. He was down to around a third of his normal HP; stamina and SP were both running low too. Adam could relate to the exhausted feeling coming across with the report balanced with Sharky's desire to do anything needed to complete his quest. Despite wanting his two experience to complete his goal - Adam used the link to suggest Sharky rest for the day to recover.

Frustrated at how close he was to unlocking the skill, Adam turned his attention to his other prize from the fight. A new Class.

Class Description Skills Scout Unlocked by exploring surroundings. Increased proficiency in gaining information about surroundings and hostile forces. An auxillary Class not designed for direct combat.

[stealth]; [report];

gain ten levels in current skills to unlock next skill: [eagle eye]; [survey]; [beacon]

Staff Wielder Unlocked by defeating two creatures with a Staff-type weapon. Increased proficiency with Staff-type weapons. Combat Class suited best to defensive positions.

Please select initial skill: [short staff]; [sweep]; [balance]; [shield]; [thrust]

Adam rubbed his hands together gleefully as he explored the options.

Short staff - Allows the use and increases the proficiency of a one handed short staff alongside two handed weapon.

Sweep - Creates a wave of energy sweeping out from the user pushing back multiple enemies depending on size; 1sp.

Balance (passive) - Increases the user's balance and agility.

Shield - Creates a shield by spinning the staff quickly; can deflect incoming projectiles. Skill broken by movement of user; 2sp.

Thrust - A powerful attack with staff that pushes back individual enemy; 1sp.

Each skill had its advantages and Adam imagined how he would have used them in the fight with the spiders. Any passive skills would be ideal for him as it seemed he could take on multiple classes. Or was it more important to consider his followers and what skills would benefit them? Also [thrust] would have been useful against the Queen spider and [sweep] against the group of smaller spiders. Ultimately Adam decided to be selfish. He justified it to himself as a reward for unlocking the class. He chose [balance]; this would give him the best advantage and as any followers unlocked further skills the next Staff Wielder after would be given more choice.

It was subtle but he could tell the difference as he tested his new ability by hopping around between rocks outside the mine. His balance was even better when he used the staff to help. Satisfied with his choice he set off back to camp.

It was dusk by the time Adam returned. He was greeted by the vermite fighting over the last few nuts that he had collected the day before. Adam held out his hand in their direction and to the delight of the group apples started appearing in mid-air. Once each vermite had managed to snatch an apple he redirected the skill to make a small pile by the entrance to their burrow instead. They sat noisily eating as he made his way over to the tent and removed his pack.

Ti was the first to approach him; squeaking excitedly. The link translated the squeaking into her mission to find her own apples so he would be proud and not need to provide for her again. Having shared this, she disappeared out of the camp in the direction of the Orchard. Ma glanced with concern; blocking the way as Ti tried to leave on her own; fretting that she would not be safe. Ma pointed to the rest of the pack the meaning obvious that they should stay together.

Adam walked over to intervene and was struck once again how the link with the vermite did not foster the obedience it had with Sharky.

"No alone." Said Ma, pointing at Ti.

"Go. Apple. Apple!" Came the chatter from Ti in reply. Adam could feel Ma's frustration and worry. She knew there were foxes and owls that prowled the night and might see a lone vermite as easy prey. Within this he knew Ma also wanted to let her follow her desires.

"Why doesn't someone else go with Ti?" Adam asked; gesturing to the rest of the vermite. Ma pondered this for a moment before pointing at one of the vermite.

"Rai; go." She ordered. The third female of the group left the rest of the pack to stand beside Ti. Adam was almost sure he saw Ti roll her eyes as Rai came to join them.

"No Rai. Me. Alone." She said. He could tell through the link with Ma that Rai protected the pack. She and one of the male vermite paired together to defend them in times of need. He felt a tug from Person who pointed at his staff. Adam nodded and used Transfer on Rai. Checking the link to make sure Rai had the personality that Ma had conveyed he allocated her the class Staff Wielder. He searched the reduced pile of wood for a suitable piece and found one about the same height as Rai and handed it to her. They all watched as she twirled and swung the branch that Inspect now upgraded to Basic Wooden Staff. With the increased balance from her skill Rai was quite adept at the movements twirling the staff with increasing complexity. Getting overconfident she tried to spin the staff around her neck and ended up throwing it backwards at the fence instead.

"They will be safe." Said Adam to Ma with a confidence that he didn't one hundred percent believe himself as Rai collected her staff. Despite an inner conflict he projected the idea of Ti and Rai's safety down the link. Ma nodded, satisfied that what Adam said must be true. Adam felt a little guilty before remembering that the Orchard was the lowest level area and felt completely safe to him. They would be fine.

Pa came up to him next; pointing at the reduced pile of wood and squeaking before walking away in the direction of the river outside the camp. Adam followed and noticed that there were now two new fences parallel to the outer fence and a third in line with the outer fence at the end making a small enclosure. The fences were about two metres high and three metres long with a gap nearest to the camp fence allowing Adam to enter the enclosed space.

He blushed as Pa pointed at the bushes; squeaked a lot and then showed Adam the deep hole that had been dug within the enclosure. Pa had created a latrine and even given Adam the privacy needed to use it. The gesturing to show Adam the need to throw dirt in the pit after using it was too much and he had to leave in embarrassment as Person squatted over the pit to pretend they were using the toilet.

Despite preferring to imagine the vermite had not noticed his use of the nearby bushes as a toilet he was actually very grateful for the upgrade. Adam used the link to express his thanks. With the connection came notifications:

Update: Builder Pa completed fence x 3. You gain 3 x 2 exp. Special building [latrine] unlocked due to Builder ingenuity. Pa unlocked [hut]. Complete five more structures including one [hut] to unlock [field]

Adam whooped with joy; picked up the startled Pa and swung him around in a circle. Six experience meant he could unlock Elemental manipulation. Pa was caught up in the excitement but for a different reason. He grabbed Adam's hand and pulled him to a spot opposite the burrow on the inside of the fence. Adam quickly understood that Pa wanted to build a hut here. Pa then gestured to the pile of wood indicating that he needed more. Adam considered what materials he might need but realised that randomly generating wood of varying sizes probably wouldn't be that helpful. Turning his awareness to the system he could feel there was a blueprint for the hut that Pa had unlocked. After seeing this he noticed the rather frustrated form of Person dressed as a construction worker who had been waving a blueprint at him all along. Rather than using Creation alone focused on the blueprint and linked this to the skill. Fifteen mana was instantly drained and building materials appeared. Along with the wood was a pile of thatch that Adam had completely forgotten identifying several days before - good job the system remembered things.

Feeling tired from the adventures of the day Adam decided that he would save magic for the next day. Like knowing it was the night before his birthday or Christmas. He left Pa co-opting the other two male vermite into helping him build the hut and Ma supervising them all and got into his tent. He would get a good night's sleep and in the morning - time to do some magic.