C10 Chapter 9 – A Better Home
The sun slowly disappeared behind the western sea.
Aiden returned to his shelter with a bundle of logs on his shoulder.
His Woodcutter profession had made gathering resources much easier.
More importantly...
He no longer felt lost.
Every day, he woke up with a goal.
Every evening, he returned a little stronger than before.
As he placed the logs beside his shelter, he looked at the small lean-to.
"It protected me for one night..."
"But it won't survive a storm."
The roof had several gaps.
The support poles leaned slightly.
If heavy rain came, the shelter could collapse.
"I should improve it before anything else."
Aiden opened the Blueprint Menu.
---
Known Blueprints
✓ Simple Lean-to Shelter
✓ Stone Axe
Upgradeable: Yes
Requirements:
- Wood ×30
- Stone ×12
- Plant Fiber ×15
Reward:
Basic Wooden Hut
Protection: Better
Storage Space: +10 Slots
Comfort: Improved
---
"A Wooden Hut..."
"It'll be much safer."
He checked his inventory.
Wood: 48 ✔
Stone: 16 ✔
Plant Fiber: 19 ✔
"I have enough."
But before choosing Build, he hesitated.
The last time he built something, the System only showed him the structure.
The actual work had been done by his own hands.
He smiled.
"I guess it's time to work again."
---
A blue outline appeared over his old shelter.
The System highlighted weak points in red.
"The roof first..."
For the next two hours, Aiden worked without stopping.
He replaced thin branches with thicker logs.
He reinforced the walls with extra supports.
He tied every joint carefully using strong fiber rope.
Then he covered the roof with broad green leaves.
The hut looked much sturdier than before.
Just as he finished...
Ding!
---
Construction Complete!
Basic Wooden Hut
Rank: F
Durability: 150/150
Comfort: +10%
Weather Resistance: +15%
Storage: +10 Slots
---
Achievement Unlocked!
First Home Upgrade
Rewards:
- Survival Points +25
- Builder EXP +20
---
Aiden stepped inside.
The difference was obvious.
The walls blocked the wind.
The roof no longer leaked sunlight.
It finally felt like a place where someone could live.
Not just survive.
He smiled quietly.
"This..."
"This feels like home."
---
A few minutes later...
A new notification appeared.
Profession Available
Builder
Requirements:
- Build or upgrade five structures.
Current Progress:
1/5
Reward:
Passive Skill:
Stable Construction Lv.1
Effect:
- Buildings lose durability 10% slower.
"So every profession has different requirements."
That meant he couldn't become a Builder overnight.
Just like the Woodcutter profession...
He had to earn it.
---
The sky slowly turned orange.
Aiden walked outside and looked around his camp.
Shelter.
Campfire.
Wood pile.
Stone pile.
The place looked much better than it had on the first day.
Still...
Something felt missing.
"I need a place to store resources."
He didn't want wood, meat, stone, and bones scattered everywhere.
He searched through the Blueprint Menu again.
Nothing.
"No Storage Box."
"So I'll have to discover that blueprint later."
---
As he sat beside the fire, a strange smell drifted through the air.
It was sweet.
Almost like honey.
Aiden immediately remembered the Iron Stinger Bee hive.
"The wind is blowing from that direction."
His eyes narrowed.
"If I can get honey one day..."
"It could become food... or medicine."
He made another note in his Survival Journal.
---
Survival Journal – Day 2
- Better shelter means better survival.
- Every profession must be earned.
- Some resources are too dangerous to collect immediately.
- Patience is also strength.
---
He closed the journal.
Writing everything down helped organize his thoughts.
Maybe one day...
These notes would become useful to someone else.
---
Suddenly...
Rustle...
Aiden looked toward the bushes.
He quickly grabbed his Stone Axe.
A small figure slowly stepped into the firelight.
It was the same Forest Hopper he had seen earlier.
The peaceful creature carried a bright red fruit in its tiny paws.
Instead of running away...
It carefully placed the fruit on the ground.
Then it looked at Aiden.
Its ears twitched once.
Before Aiden could react...
The creature hopped back into the forest and disappeared.
"..."
Aiden slowly approached the fruit.
It looked fresh.
A System notification appeared.
---
New Resource Discovered
Sweet Berry
Quality: Common
Effects:
- Restores a small amount of Stamina.
- Safe to eat.
Collection Book Updated.
---
Aiden looked toward the dark forest with surprise.
"It..."
"It gave this to me?"
Or perhaps...
It was simply sharing something it had found.
Either way...
This was the first time a living creature had approached him without fear or hostility.
He carefully stored the Sweet Berry.
"I won't forget this."
High above the island...
The invisible System silently recorded another entry.
Observation Complete.
Player chose gratitude over greed.
Hidden Talent Synchronization: 3%
Far away, beyond the endless ocean...
A loud explosion echoed across another island.
Someone had chosen a completely different path.
While Aiden was building a home...
Another player had begun building an army.
The future of humanity was already starting to split into different destinies.
