August stopped next to the furnace and busied himself with making sure it was as structurally sound as he could make it. He checked the bottom layers for cracks, filled them in when he actually found some, and then restoked the fire inside for what must have been the millionth time in a row.

Once he’d exhausted what he could do for it other than wait for the top layers to dry, he turned and sat down beside the still regenerating [Efkini Core]. A check of his mana showed that he was only a few minutes away from being able to analyze it. Once it made it over the threshold, he placed his hand against one of the many protrusions in an attempt to try and double-dip on his mana usage—[Analysis].

The [Efkini Core] must have picked on some of the mana in the skill because the outer shell began to really take form for the first time until there were three distinct holes on one side, ready for the chain spikes to be loaded through. Once it had stopped regenerating again, he turned his eye back to the result of his skill usage and expanded the menu entirely to its uncondensed form.

Level 8

Inactive

MP – 0/3

EXP – 4/800

*

P. ATTACK – 60

M. ATTACK – 5

P. DEFENSE – 5

M. DEFENSE – 5

AGILITY – 27

Danger – Sense hostile intent from nearby creatures.

Variation E1726926, designation ‘Efkini.’ It subsists on the existing ambient mana within the environment; they are known to kill creatures, including each other, for sport. A portion of their internal mana reserves is converted into iron production, which is then used to construct, lengthen, and repair the appendages they use to traverse their environment.

It was almost identical to Ladybug, with the exception of [Level], [Agility], and its trait, [Danger]. Ladybug’s Agility had been rising at every level, but whatever mechanism was being used to decide how much it went up was beyond his ability to discern, and that was probably going to be the case with this one, as well.

The earlier discussion with Rittan regarding trying to break the chains off had him reconsidering the summary at the bottom of the window and the line regarding ‘construct, lengthen, and repair the appendages.’

While breaking off the chains seemed like it would be a good way to farm metal, there might actually be a better way. If he could locate and learn the specific runes that referred to ‘internal mana reserves is converted into iron production,’ then there might be a way to simply grow metal into predefined shapes. Not that he was even really sure how to go about making that happen in the first place, but he was almost ready to start testing that out.

Unable to bury any of the logs by himself and unwilling to rush the others, he set about attempting to make himself feel busy. He removed the remaining palm leaves from his inventory and began cutting them into equally sized squares. He took some time to make some more twine, fingers moving quickly to build what he needed; between the blueprint knowledge and several days of practice, he was starting to feel pretty adept at the process.

“You’re going to need a name,” August murmured to himself. “I’d ask Rittan, but he’d probably give me something like Manbug.”

Following the pattern he’d used three times before, he soon had all of the component pieces for a pair of leafy clothes, and all that was left was to actually assemble them. He cut the twine into the correct lengths, tied all of the leaf sheets together, and then threaded the longest piece through the vest.

Once it was finished, he set the new set of clothing aside and turned back to the [Efkini Core], placing his hand against the outer shell and dumping his full bar of mana into it. He felt the moment his mana stopped vanishing into the shell and pulled his hand back as it began to rapidly restructure itself.

The shell encircled the cube entirely, with two stubby legs bulging outwards at the bottom. The red fur he was used to seeing on Ladybug washed over the outside, covering the black mud-like flesh of the monster completely. There was a series of metallic clicks as the chain spikes reseated themselves into the holes, leaving a spiky red and black-furred ball sitting on the stump. August waited a moment, a bit of unease in his chest as the monster shook itself out and then turned around to face them. There was no pain, no attack, and no aggression—the unnamed Efkini trilled, and then Ladybug trilled back in response.

August sat back on his hands as the two monsters interacted with each other without any sign of discomfort or unease. He tilted his head up to look at the moons hanging above and tried not to think about how it was a mirror of what he’d seen earlier between the four Voithos. The mess he’d attempted to distract himself from found purchase inside of him again.

“I suppose I’ll need to find Neptune a friend next,” August said before sighing. “This sucks.”

“I’m not sure exactly what you’re referring to, but it certainly sounds miserable,” Haiko said from somewhere just outside of his range. “Would you like to talk about it?”

August closed his eyes at the voice, having missed the approach entirely through the noise of the two Efkini now trying to decide who got to keep the high ground and who had to stare up at the stump with envy. Maybe upgrading [Predator] again was a good idea, after all, at least to avoid having people sneak up on him while he was moping.

“Not even a little bit,” August admitted, pushing himself to his feet. “I made a set of clothes for Boko if you want to take them over; I figured he’d be getting a bit awkward being the only one without something to wear.”

He handed the [Leafy Shirt] & [Leafy Pants] over without really looking at her and was relieved when she took them without resistance.

“I’ll make sure he gets them,” Haiko said, amused. “We have perhaps two hours left before nightfall. Shall we prepare for the dark, or will we continue our construction efforts?”

August glanced around before spotting the disturbed water where he’d last seen Neptune and decided they may as well cut their losses before it got too much darker. He still needed to make a second campfire inside the other [A-Frame Hut] as well, considering he didn’t really want to sleep without it again.

“No, you’re right; we should pack up now,” August said, rolling his shoulders back in an attempt to shake himself free of the melancholy. “I’ll go see if Neptune wants to find us something to eat again.”

“Very well,” Haiko said, clapping two of her hands together. “I shall deliver your gift, restoke the Kiln, and then pack up, as you say.”

“Thank you,” August said, “I’ll just—yeah.”