Chapter 11 – Evan's Log Emporium
After dispatching the Drifters, Evan took a moment to assess his condition. He touched the bandage on his shoulder, wincing slightly at the stiffness.
"Well, that was a workout. Let's see what I can do now."
He swung his sword a few times, testing his range of motion and checking the blade.
"Not bad. Still got some fight left in me."
Resuming his journey, Evan navigated the mutated jungle, his energy ball casting a steady glow. The dense foliage seemed to close in, and every rustle had his senses on edge. Still, he pressed forward.
Eventually, the trees thinned, and a soft breeze hinted at a clearing ahead. As he stepped into the open, the sky was already awash in warm hues—sunset had arrived.
"Guess time flies."
The clearing was modest—just five meters wide—but compared to the suffocating jungle, it felt like a palace.
"Not the grandest spot, but it'll do for the night."
With a sigh, he sat down, letting the glow of the energy ball keep the dark at bay. The jungle's noise shifted into a nocturnal symphony, one part calming, one part unnerving.
"Rest for a bit, then face whatever comes next."
But as he glanced around the open space, a thought crept in—staying exposed could be risky. No walls. No roof. Just him and the wilderness.
"Building a tent, huh? I'm no expert… but trees might be the answer."
Then, with the gusto of a man who knew nothing about construction but everything about overconfidence, Evan decided to build a log house.
"Time to turn this jungle into Evan's Home & Log Emporium!"
Wielding his sword like a certified lumberjack, he approached a sturdy tree. With a few mighty swings, the tree toppled to the ground with a dramatic thud.
"One down!"
He turned to another tree, nodding as if addressing an old rival.
"You there! You're next. Hope you've got a good sense of humor!"
Hours passed in a blur of chopping, dragging, and stacking. The rhythm of his sword echoed through the jungle as log after log piled up. Occasionally, he muttered like a carnival auctioneer:
"And here we have the finest eco-friendly, jungle-chic log walls!"
At times, he laughed out loud at the absurdity of it all.
"Who needs a contractor when you've got a sword and a can-do attitude?"
~ 3 Hours Later
Night had fully fallen, but a small clearing now glowed with the soft light of his energy ball. In its center stood a quirky, lopsided log house—a monument to human stubbornness and cosmic improvisation.
"Behold! Evan's Jungle Bungalow—where even the trees want to join the party."
Just as Evan finished the final touch—a wonky leaf roof—a rustle behind him broke the peace.
Three Shadow Drifters emerged from the darkness, eyes glowing with malice.
"Really? Can't a guy build his log emporium in peace?"
Evan turned, sword already in hand. The energy ball overhead flickered slightly—his energy was running low.
"Great timing, shadows. Just when I was starting to feel like the king of the jungle."
The Drifters circled him, moving with eerie grace. Evan kept his annoyance dialed up to eleven.
"You shadows really know how to crash a log party."
He fought with precision, dodging and striking, but fatigue crept in. One Drifter clipped his back, leaving a fresh scratch.
"Oh, come on! That's a brand-new wound for my collection."
He needed a boost. Fast.
"Time to crank up the Evan factor."
Opening his status screen, he quickly allocated 2 points to Agility and 2 to Spirit.
A surge of energy hit him like a lightning bolt. His body moved faster, sharper. The energy ball above brightened and pulsed with renewed intensity.
"Ooh! Looks like my energy just got a recharge."
With a renewed burst of power, Evan became a blur. His strikes came faster, more precise, the energy ball now slamming into Drifters with cosmic fury.
"You call that an attack? This is a real swing!"
The tide turned. The Drifters faltered. Evan pressed the advantage.
"Time to wrap up this routine."
With a final flurry of glowing strikes, the Drifters fell one by one.
> [ You have killed Shadow Drifter (Level 10): +235 EXP ]
[ You have killed Shadow Drifter (Level 10): +235 EXP ]
[ You have killed Shadow Drifter (Level 10): +235 EXP ]
[ You have leveled up! ]
[ All Attributes +1 ]
[ Unallocated Points +2 ]
Evan exhaled deeply. He looked around—no loot.
"Well, no drops this time. Shadow Drifters must be minimalists."
He walked back to his newly christened log sanctuary and let out a chuckle.
"Who needs a castle when you've got Evan's Log Sanctuary?"
Inside, a bed of soft leaves waited. Evan sat, gazing at the glowing ceiling, thinking back over the madness of the day.
"So much has happened… Earth's Mutation, the system, monsters…"
He lay back, letting the energy ball cast a warm glow across the logs.
"One day in the cosmic jungle and I've already got my own fortress. Not bad, Evan. Not bad at all."
Before turning in, he built a makeshift gate from leftover logs, sealing off the emporium.
"No more scratches for me tonight."
With a grin and a weary sigh, he lay down on the leaf bed. The jungle hummed outside, but within his quirky log sanctuary, there was peace.
Tomorrow, the cosmos would throw something new at him. But tonight?
Tonight, he slept like the jungle king he believed himself to be.