The cavern, now known as "The Barricade," was alive with a new, alien sound: productivity.
Weeks had passed since the K'lix-ThraFormians had tested their wall. Weeks of agonizing, crippled, pained, itchingexistence for Klik, and weeks of unprecedentedgrowth for his tribe, the Klik-Kin.
His 35 Intelligence had, as commanded by the System, imposedLogic upon the Chaos.
The Great Cavern was now a functioning, proto-village.
In the center, the bonfireburnedeternally, tended by a newly-formed[Fire-Tender]caste (Lvl 3 Goblins) who fed it charred roach-husks and dried fungus-stalks.
In one corner, Grik (now a stout, proud Lvl 10) ran the Workshop. He screamed and smacked his team of twelve[Primitive-Crafters] (Lvl 4-5) as they churned out[Shoddy-Shivs (Junk)], [Fungal-Rope (Junk)], and [Woven-Baskets (Junk)]. They were terrible at it. But they were learning.
In anothercorner, a [Primitive-Cooking]team (Lvl 4s) smoked[Cave-Rat]meat over a lowfire, tended by [Primitive-Skinners] who stripped the hides and sinew—all materials for Grik'sworkshop. The [Larder] was full.
By the Main Tunnel, Bruk (Lvl 10) sat. He was a monster of scar-tissue and fused-armor. His left arm was a melted, uselessappendagefused to a [Melted-Chitin-Shield]. His body was a patchwork of horrific, blackburn-scars. But his right arm... his good arm... was thicker than Klik'sentiretorso, his 7-STR basegrowing with his levels. He was the King's-Guard, and his job was simple: Sit. Watch. Hitanythingthatwasn'tgoblin.
And everyday, Snarl (Lvl 19) led her [Hunting-Party]into the [Fungal-Caverns].
She was Lvl 19.
She was one levelaway from the cap. Onekillaway from Evolution.
The entiretribeknew it. The [Catalyst]Klik had given her thrummed with a faint, greylightbeneath her tatteredhides. Shewas the Chosen.
And Klik…
Klik sat on his slag-craterthrone, covered in his stitched-on[Fused E-Rank Armor]. His paindebuff[-2 STR, -2 AGI] was permanent, a constant, burning, itchingfury that fueled his 35-INTmind.
He was not a King. He was a Master-Artisan.
He worked.
He took the [Junk]Grik'steammade. He [Refined] it.
He took the [Common]materialsSnarl'shuntersbroughtback ([Hides], [Bones]).
And he crafted.
He crafted[Chitin-Spears (Common)] for his Hunters. He crafted[Iron-Caltrops (Common)] for the Barricade. He crafted[Leather-Sacks] for storage.
His Lvl 10 [Field Scavenger]skillswerehonedto a razor'sedge.
Today, he was working on a masterpiece.
Snarl needed that lastlevel. She needed a betterweapon.
He took the [Iron-Tipped Spear (Common)]shehadlooted from the Formian.
He took the [Hardened Bone-Handle (Common)] he had[Refined] from a [Cave-Lizard Femur].
He took his [E-Rank Chitin-Shiv] (his scalpel).
He activated[Weapon-Tinker (Lvl 1)].
His raw-pink, scarredhandsmoved with inhumanprecision. He didn'tjustbindthem. He carved a socketinto the bone. He set the iron-tipdeep. He used[Cured Sinew-Cord]towrap the join.
And then… a flash of 35-INTinspiration.
He took a [Volatile Acid Gland (Damaged)] from his [Roach-Queen]loot.
He [Refined] it, extracting a single, tiny[Acid-Crystal (Common)].
He carved a tinysocketin the ironspear-tipitself. He set the crystalin.
[Improvise (Lvl 2) Check (Int 35) vs. Difficulty (15)... CRITICAL SUCCESS!]
[Junk-Tinker (Lvl 1) + Weapon-Tinker (Lvl 1) Check... SUCCESS!]
[You have created a [Goblin-Forged Acid-Tip Spear (Common - High)]!]
[This weapon will degradeafter100strikes.]
'Appraisal!'
[Goblin-Forged Acid-Tip Spear (Common - High)]
Rank: F-Rank (Peak)
Description: A masterpiece of goblin-craft. A Formianiron-tip, socketedin a hardened-bonehandle, and embedded with a [Roach-Queen]acid-crystal.
Effect: Inflicts [Piercing (High)] damage. On a Critical-Hit, shatters the crystal and inflicts[Acid (Moderate)]damage (Single-Use).
He held it up. It was beautiful.
He felt his skilllevel.
[...SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Class Skill [Weapon-Tinker (Lvl 1)] has reached 100% proficiency!]
[...SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Class Skill [Armor-Tinker (Lvl 1)] has reached 100% proficiency!]
[Host must complete [Class Evolution Quest] to unlock [E-Rank Class] and continue progression!]
Klik snarled. Finally.
"System," he hissedout loud. "Give. Me. The. Quest."
The golden-windowappeared as if waiting.
[NEW QUEST (CLASS-EVOLUTION)]
QUEST: "The Logic of Creation"
Description:You are aKingofTrash. You havemasteredthe[Junk]and[Poor]. YouseetheLogicinChaos. ButTinkeringisnotCreation. ToevolveyourClass, youmustcreatesomething... fromnothing. Youmustcreateyourown[Forge].*
---
Objective 1: [Build a Furnace]
Crafta[Primitive-Furnace (Junk)]capableofreachingsmelting-temperatures. (Requires:[Bellows (Junk)], [Fungal-Charcoal (Poor)], [Clay-Lining (Common)]).
Objective 2: [Smelt Ore]
FindandHarvest[Iron Ore (Poor)]x 10usingyour[Analyze Structure]skill.
Objective 3: [Forge an Ingot]
Successfullysmelttheoreintoone[Iron Ingot (Common - Low)].
---
Rewards for Completion:
1) [Class Evolution]!AChoicewill begranted: [Artisan-Tinker (E-Rank)], [Trap-Master (E-Rank)], or[Alchemist-Scavenger (E-Rank)]
2) [Class Lvl 10 Cap]removed.
3) +2to[Intelligence]and[Perception] (Permanent).
Klik's 35 INT devoured the text.
Forge. Bellows. Charcoal. Clay. Ore.
His [Analyze Structure]skillhadalreadytold him wheretofind[Clay] and [Iron Ore (Poor)]—in the new[Fungal-Caverns].
Bellows? He couldmakethat. [Rat-Hides]. [Bone-Nozzles]. His [Junk-Tinker]skillwasready.
But [Fungal-Charcoal]... Woodwascharcoal. Funguswasfungus.
No.His 35 INT saw the answer. The [Tar-Cap Fungus] he hadusedfor his bombs. [Hydrocarbon Base].
If he bakedit... slowly... withoutair...
He couldmake[Coke]. [Fungal-Coke].
He hadaplan. He knewwhere the [Tar-Caps]grew.
He neededSnarl to huntforhim.
"KING-GOD!"
The shouttorehim from his reverie.
Snarl (Lvl 19) burstfrom the [Fungal-Cavern]tunnel, herhunting-partydraggingamassivecorpse.
It wasn'tarat. It was big. Lvl 8. A [Giant-Rat-Matriarch].
Thiswasit.
[Subject [Snarl] has led a successfulhunt!]
[Tribe has gained 50 EXP!]
[Subject [Snarl] (Lvl 19) has slain [Giant-Rat-Matriarch (Lvl 8)]!] [EXP Gained: 30 EXP!]
[Subject [Snarl] (Lvl 19) -> (Lvl 20)!]
[WARNING! Subject [Snarl] has reached the [Level 20 Cap] for 1st Evolution!]
[All future EXP gained by [Snarl] will be WASTED until [Evolution] is complete!]
[Subject [Snarl] has consumed the [Evolutionary Catalyst]!]
[HOSTILE-ESSENCE DETECTED! [Snarl] has consumed: 80% [Canine-Carrion], 15% [Insectoid], 5% [Goblinoid]!]
[Calculating Evolution Paths...]
[EVOLUTION-CHOICE IS NOW AVAILABLE!]
Snarl dropped her spear.
She screamed.
It wasn't a scream of terror. It was agony.
She fell to her knees, convulsing. Greyenergy, the color of the [Catalyst], began to pulseoff her.
The tribebacked away, terrified.
Klik hobbledforward.
Hecouldseeit. A [System Menu], glowingonly for him and her.
Grik and Bruk watched, their eyeswide with jealousy and awe.
This was the prize.
[CHOOSE YOUR 2ND EVOLUTION PATH (SNARL)]
1. [Grave-Stalker (E-Rank)]: (Based on 80% [Canine-Carrion Essence]). You are ahunterof thedeadand thedark. Youtrackbysmell. Youcrushbone. Youmoveinsilence.*
[+2 AGI, +1 STR, +1 STA per Lvl]
[Gains Skill: [Lesser-Stealth (Passive)]]
[Gains Skill: [Bone-Crushing-Jaw (Active)]]
[Upgrades Skill: [Lesser Scent-Hunter] -> [Scent-Hunter (E-Rank)]]
2. [Chitinous-Skulker (E-Rank)]: (Based on 15% [Insectoid Essence]). Amismatch. Yourbodywillgrowaweak, brittleexoskeleton and resisttoxins. Adead-endpath. Sub-Optimal.
[+1 AGI, +1 STA per Lvl]
[Gains Skill: [Lesser Toxin-Resist]]
3. [Goblin-Pack-Alpha (E-Rank)]: (Based on 5% [Goblinoid Essence]). Amismatch. YourejectyourotherEssencestobecomealeaderofrats. Yourbodywillgrowlarger, butyourhuntingskillswillatrophy. Sub-Optimal.
[+2 STR, +1 STA per Lvl]
[Gains Skill: [Lesser-War-Cry (Active)]]
Klik's 35 INT saw the choice.
It was obvious. Path 1.
He looked at Snarl. She was thrashing in the dust, her 4-INT mindoverwhelmed by the System-Choice.
She couldn'tchoose. She didn'tunderstand.
"Snarl!" Klik roared, his voice a command.
She looked at him, her eyeswhite with pain.
"HUNT. SMELL. BITE."
He spoke the threewords. Hunt. Smell. Bite.
He pointedat the firstoption.
Snarl's 4-INT mindlatchedonto the words. Hunt... Smell... Bite...
Yes.
ThatiswhoIam.
She focused her will.
She CHOSE.
[Path [Grave-Stalker] selected!]
[EVOLUTION BEGINNING!]
Snarl screamed as the grey-lightimploded, suckinginto her.
Her bonessnapped.
Her jawunhinged, poppingoutward, re-forming.
Her musclestwisted and writhedunder her skin.
Her green-hideshifted, paling to a mottled, grey-green.
Her Lvl 20statusshattered.
Her green-hideshifted, palingto a mottled, grey-green, perfectforcave-camouflage.
Her Lvl 20statusshattered.
[EVOLUTION COMPLETE!]
[Subject [Snarl] (Lvl 20, 1st Evo) -> [Snarl the Grave-Stalker] (Lvl 1, 2nd Evolution)!]
[All Base-Stats Doubled! New Level-Cap: 50!]
Snarl collapsed, gasping, covered in sweat and evolutionary-slime.
She lookeddifferent. Sharper. Morepredatory. Lessgoblin.
She pushedherselfup.
She felt… powerful.
[Name: Snarl the Grave-Stalker] [Lvl: 1, 2nd Evo] [Rank: E-Rank (Lower)]
[STR: 18] [AGI: 28] [STA: 20] [INT: 4] [PER: 24]
[Per-Lvl Gain: +2 AGI, +1 STR, +1 STA]
[Skills: [Scent-Hunter (E-Rank)], [Lesser-Stealth (Passive)], [Bone-Crushing-Jaw (Active)]]
She wasE-Rank.
She wasKlik'sfirsttrueWarrior.
The tribebowed, terrified and awestruck.
Klik watched, his 35 INT gleaming. Itworked. Histribecouldevolve. Hecouldbuildanarmy.
He wasjustabout to savor this triumph...
To giveSnarlhernew, Acid-TippedSpear...
To beginhisownQuestfortheForge...
THUDOOM.
The entirecavernshook.
A cloud of dustraineddownfrom the Barricade.
Bruk roared a warning.
"ANTS! KING-GOD! ANTS!"
THUDOOM!
Anotherimpact. Harder.
The [Common-Grade Barricade]splintered. Rockstumbleddown.
Klik hobbled to the peep-hole he hadbuilt.
He lookedthrough.
His bloodran cold.
It wasn'tthreescouts.
It wasn'ta dozen.
It was twenty.
TwentyFormian-Skirmishers.
And theyhadabattering-ram. A massive, sharpenedlogcarried by six of them.
They were nottesting. They were notpatrolling.
They were breaching.
The leader, a newone[Lvl 15], chittered a command.
Skrak-click-THRA!
(Translation: "...TheHiveishungry. Breakthewall. Takethemeat...*")
THUDOOOOOM!
A massivecrackappeared in his wall.
The Siegehadbegun.
The System, right on cue, flashed a new, blood-redQuest.
[NEW QUEST GENERATED (TRIBE - URGENT)!]
QUEST: "Defend the Lair!"
Description:TheK'lix-Thra Hivehasjudgedyouweak. Theyarebreachingyourhometoharvestyourtribeforfood. DoNOTlet them.
Objective 1: [Repel the Assault]
HoldtheBarricade. KilltheFormianBreaching-Party. (0/20 Killed).
Objective 2: [Protect the Tribe]
Suffernomorethan10Goblincasualties.
---
Rewards for Victory:
1) [Tribe Skill: Courage (Lvl 1)] (Yourtribegainsa[Lesser-Battle-Frenzy]whendefendingtheir[Lair]).
2) 1,000 EXP (Tribe)
3) [Formian-Technology-Schematic (Random)] x 1
Rewards for Failure:
1) Total-Annihilation.
2) YoubecomeAnt-Food.
Klik looked at his Lvl 15, crippledbody.
He looked at his one, Lvl 1 (E-Rank)Warrior.
He looked at his one, Lvl 6 (F-Rank)Cripple-Tank.
He looked at his twenty-nineLvl 3-5[Primitive-Crafter]idiots.
He clutched his [Volcanic Gastropod Core]bomb.
This... wasthetest.