C9 Chapter 8 – The First Profession
The morning passed quietly.
Aiden returned to his shelter carrying fresh logs on his shoulder.
Although his body was tired, his heart felt lighter than before.
He now had a proper Stone Axe.
More importantly...
He had learned another lesson.
Not every battle should be fought.
The Iron Stinger Bees were a perfect example.
If he had attacked them out of curiosity, he might not have survived.
---
After stacking the logs beside his shelter, Aiden looked around.
The small camp was beginning to take shape.
A shelter.
A campfire.
A pile of wood.
A small collection of stones.
It still looked simple.
But compared to his first day...
It was real progress.
Aiden smiled.
"Slowly..."
"One step at a time."
---
His stomach suddenly growled.
"I should cook before doing anything else."
He took out one piece of Fang Rabbit Meat from his inventory.
The meat looked fresh.
Apparently, the System Inventory preserved food.
"That's useful."
He sharpened a thin branch into a skewer and placed the meat over the fire.
The smell slowly spread through the air.
His mouth watered.
After several minutes, the outside turned golden brown.
Aiden carefully took a small bite.
The meat was a little tough.
There was no salt.
No spices.
But...
It was warm.
And filling.
Ding!
Daily Mission Completed!
Cook Your First Meal
Rewards:
- Survival Points +15
- Cooking EXP +10
"So even cooking has experience."
This world rewarded every useful action.
---
After finishing his meal, Aiden stood up and picked up the Stone Axe again.
"There are still six trees left."
The Woodcutter Profession required ten.
He headed back toward the forest.
This time, every swing felt smoother.
The axe no longer felt heavy.
His breathing remained steady.
One tree after another fell.
Three...
Four...
Five...
By late afternoon...
Only one tree remained.
Aiden wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"This is the last one."
He raised the Stone Axe.
Thud!
Thud!
Crack!
The young tree slowly tipped over before crashing onto the ground.
Ding!
A bright golden light surrounded Aiden.
Several messages appeared together.
---
Profession Requirement Completed!
Trees Cut:
10/10
Profession Unlocked!
Woodcutter
---
A second screen appeared.
---
Congratulations!
You have obtained your first Profession.
Profession: Woodcutter
Rank: Beginner
Profession Bonus:
- Strength +1
- Stamina Consumption while cutting trees -5%
Profession Skill Unlocked:
Efficient Swing Lv.1 (Passive)
Effect:
- Increases Woodcutting Speed by 10%.
- Slightly improves accuracy while using axes.
Profession EXP:
0/100
---
Aiden felt a gentle warmth flow through his arms.
It wasn't painful.
It simply felt...
Natural.
He picked up the Stone Axe again.
It was strange.
The handle felt more familiar.
His posture adjusted instinctively.
"So this is what a profession does."
"It doesn't make me an expert overnight..."
"It helps me improve."
He liked that.
The System never handed him free mastery.
It rewarded practice.
---
Curious, Aiden opened his Status Window.
---
Player: Aiden
Level: 2
Profession:
Woodcutter (Beginner)
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Stamina: 86/100
---
Attributes
Strength: 6
Agility: 5
Vitality: 5
Intelligence: 5
Spirit: 5
Luck: 1
Free Stat Points: 5
Passive Skills:
- Efficient Swing Lv.1
---
Aiden stared at the five unused Stat Points.
"They're still here."
He could finally feel the temptation.
Adding them now would make him stronger immediately.
But...
He remembered the hidden chest.
The Monster Core.
The mysterious cave.
"I still don't understand enough."
"I'll save them."
---
As he prepared to leave...
A faint sound echoed through the forest.
Tap...
Tap...
Tap...
It wasn't an animal.
It sounded like something striking stone.
Aiden frowned.
He slowly moved toward the sound.
Each step was careful.
The forest became denser.
Sunlight barely reached the ground.
Finally...
He hid behind a thick tree.
About thirty meters ahead...
A small creature was using a stone to break open nuts.
It stood on two legs.
Its body was covered in brown fur.
Its long ears twitched constantly.
It looked similar to a rabbit.
But unlike the Fang Rabbit...
Its eyes were calm.
There was no hostility.
The creature noticed Aiden almost immediately.
For a few seconds...
Both sides simply looked at each other.
Then the small creature picked up its nuts...
And calmly walked away.
No attack.
No fear.
Only curiosity.
Ding!
New Creature Discovered
Name:
Forest Hopper
Rank: Common
Level: 1
Danger:
None
Description:
A peaceful creature that gathers food and avoids conflict. It often remembers safe places and hidden fruit trees.
Aiden watched it disappear into the bushes.
"So..."
"Not every creature is a monster."
That discovery was more important than any reward.
It meant this world wasn't built only on fighting.
There were peaceful lives here too.
Perhaps...
One day...
Some of these creatures could even live beside people.
As Aiden returned to his shelter before sunset, one thought stayed in his mind.
"If I want to build a civilization..."
"I need to understand this world's living creatures..."
"Not just kill them."
Far above the island...
The unseen System silently recorded another observation.
[Knowledge-Based Behavior Confirmed.]
[Hidden Talent Synchronization: 2%]
The message faded away before anyone could see it.
And somewhere beyond the endless sea...
Another player had just unlocked the Warrior profession.
Without knowing it...
The race to build humanity's future had already begun.
