Caelen swatted sweat off his forehead as he drove the last wooden board home. His improvised bathroom wasn't much thinner than a closet with some piping but at least he would not have to squat to relieve himself anymore. Small victories.
He let the hammer fall with a sound of relief. "One problem solved."
Sitting on a log nearby, he tapped his temple. Time for another check-in with his reliable Googel Brain.
Search (1/20): Googel, where am I, exactly?
The glowing words replied.
[Area: Forgotten Forest]
[Danger Level: High]
[Nearby Life Forms: Orcs, Goblins, Wolves, and more]
Caelen blinked. "Monster habitat? Of course, Im in fantasy Australia."
Sparkfin, his faithful bird friend, sitting on a beam above, chirped softly as if to say, Well, duh.
Caelen got up and brushed himself off. "Fine. So I'm in Monster Central. Perfect. Time to get started."
He approached his newly constructed bathroom, then hesitated and scratched his chin. "You know what? I need more equipment."
He stood outside, looking down at the ground under his feet. He was becoming accustomed to digging; it was the only thing that occupied him for the time being.
He tapped on his temple again.
Search (2/20): Googel, can you sense metals in proximity?
[Yes. Found: Copper – 10 meters below your position.]
Caelen smiled. "Copper? Behind the bathroom? Well, if that isn't the most convenient thing ever."
Sparkfin chirped in approval, as if to say, Go ahead, dig to China.
So he did. Digging through the soft earth wasn't enjoyable, but it was necessary. Minutes passed into hours as he slowly removed the earth, hearing the staccato ring of his pickaxe hitting rock.
And then…
Clink.
There it was. A glint of reddish-brown ore.
[Resource acquired: Copper Ore x8]
Caelen let out a victorious yell. "Yes! Finally!"
He hauled the copper back to his furnace. It took a lot of firewood and careful monitoring, but eventually:
[Smelted: Copper Ingot x4]
A little dirty, a little tired, but fully determined, Caelen grinned as he wiped his hands on his pants. "Alright, let's get serious."
He dug through his inventory for the materials he needed.
[Crafted: Copper Shovel]
[Crafted: Copper Hammer]
[Crafted: Copper Nails]
"Those should function much better than those wooden ones," Caelen grumbled, pleased with his new creations.
Standing in the center of his little, creaky cabin, Caelen couldn't help but feel a little proud of himself. The space worked, but it was small. And miniscule. And sort of… cramped.
He rapped his temple once more.
Search (3/20): How to build a second floor?
[Answer: Strengthen base, add support beams, then construct stairs and flooring.]
Caelen rubbed his head. "That doesn't seem. so difficult, does it?"
Well, after procuring more wood and copper, he set out to slowly expand. He constructed support beams underneath the current framework, installed stairs, and, after what had seemed like eternity, laid flooring for his new second floor.
It groaned. It tilted slightly to the left. But, temporarily, it would have to do.
[Construction Complete: Second Floor Built]
[Stability: Questionable. Style: Rustic Adventurecore.]
Sparkfin fluttered about, examining the new room with what could only be termed bird approval.
Night Falls
The sun set, giving the towering Forgotten Forest trees an orange hue. Caelen stood on his newly acquired second-floor balcony overlooking the forest. It was serene now, but he knew it could turn quickly.
He touched his temple a second time, wishing to double-check his area.
Search (4/20): Anything around?
[No imminent threats found within 1 km range.]
Caelen sighed in relief, relaxing his shoulders. "Okay. Tonight's safe, I guess. But. I know better than to get too relaxed." He gazed out at the forest again. "Tomorrow, I begin constructing traps and improved defenses. This area might be peaceful for the time being, but it's still Monster Central."
Sparkfin landed next to him, chirping softly as he puffed out his feathers.
Caelen smiled. "At least I've got you. And a second floor. And copper tools. Things are looking up."
He walked inside, closing the door to his new second floor behind him. "Let's just hope tomorrow's discoveries aren't as terrifying as the ones I've already made."