The Heartwood Sprout pulsed with a steady, rhythmic thrum, a comforting presence at the center of the clearing. The newly constructed Woodcutter's Hut and Stone Quarry stood as testaments to progress, their organic forms blending seamlessly with the alien flora. The lone Heartwood Defender, a towering construct of woven roots and glowing moss, stood sentinel by the Woodcutter's Hut, its luminous orbs fixed on the surrounding forest. The steady increment of "Wood (Common)" in the System UI was a satisfying sight, a tangible sign of automated production.
Alex felt a surge of quiet satisfaction. Wood generation was finally underway. The immediate crisis of raw materials was easing, though food and fresh water remained critical concerns. Elara rested within the shelter, her pained breathing a constant reminder of her vulnerability and the urgent need for further development.
"We need food, and we need it fast," Alex muttered to the air, his gaze sweeping the clearing. The "Minor Terraforming" ability of the Heartwood Sprout was slowly expanding a patch of fertile ground, but it wasn't ready for cultivation yet. He needed a more immediate solution. Hunting, perhaps? But he had no hunting tools, and the creatures of Aethelgard were far from ordinary prey.
He consulted the System UI, searching for options related to sustenance. A new notification flickered:
[New Blueprint Discovered: Basic Trap (Cost: 10 Wood, 5 EP) - Simple device for capturing small, passive Aethelgardian fauna.]
"A trap!" Alex's eyes lit up. This was a viable option. It didn't require direct confrontation, and it could provide raw food. He checked his current resources, noting the modest amounts:
[Wood (Common): 9][Stone (Common): 11][Evolution Points (EP): 7.1]
To build a single trap, he needed 10 Wood and 5 EP. He was currently short on wood. To build three traps, as he intended for better chances, he would need 30 Wood and 15 EP. And to generate the Heartwood Defender later, he'd need an additional 5 Wood and 5 Stone. This meant a significant amount of manual gathering was still required.
"Looks like I'll be gathering manually for a bit longer," he informed Elara, pushing himself to his feet. "We need more wood and stone before we can even think about traps, let alone another defender."
"Be careful," Elara warned, her eyes still on the dark forest beyond the clearing. "Those… things are still out there."
"I know," Alex said, grabbing his makeshift club. "But we can't starve. And we need to get more defenders up."
He spent the next few hours tirelessly absorbing wood essence from every tree and fallen branch, and stone essence from every rock he could find within the safety of the clearing. He pushed his physical limits, driven by the hunger gnawing at his own stomach and the need to provide for Elara. The Genesis Core hummed with each absorption, its light a steady companion. He focused on finding larger, denser logs and heavier stones, maximizing the EP gain from each absorption.
As he worked, the "Wood (Common)" count in his UI slowly climbed, thanks to the Heartwood Defender's diligent work at the hut, while his "Stone (Common)" count increased only from his own efforts. He kept a mental tally, watching the numbers rise.
After what felt like an eternity of repetitive work, he finally had a sufficient stockpile. He checked his UI:
[Wood (Common): 55][Stone (Common): 35][Evolution Points (EP): 15.6]
He now had enough for three traps and a Heartwood Defender, with some left over.
"Okay, now we can do this," he announced, returning to the Heartwood Sprout. He initiated the construction of the first Basic Trap.
[Construct Basic Trap?][Cost: 10 Wood, 5 EP]
He confirmed. The Heartwood Sprout pulsed, and a small, intricate network of glowing vines and hardened wood formed in a designated spot near the edge of the clearing, blending almost perfectly with the undergrowth. It was subtle, designed to ensnare.
He immediately initiated the second and third traps, strategically placing them along the game trail he had discovered earlier.
The EP was significantly depleted, but he now had three traps ready. He could only hope they would yield results soon.
As the light began to dim, indicating the approach of Aethelgard's night, a new, unsettling sound reached the clearing. It was a low, guttural growl, not singular like the Gloomfang Squirrels, but multiple, echoing through the dense foliage. It was accompanied by the distinct rustle of many bodies moving through the undergrowth.
Alex tensed, his hand instinctively gripping the makeshift club. He moved to the edge of the clearing, peering into the deepening shadows. The Heartwood Defender, sensing the change in atmosphere, shifted its stance, its luminous orbs glowing brighter, radiating a faint, protective energy.
[Warning! Threat Detected: Gloomfang Squirrel Pack (Moderate Threat)!][Estimated Strength: 5-7 Juvenile Gloomfang Squirrels.]
"A pack?" Alex muttered, a cold dread creeping into his stomach. Five to seven of those things? He had barely survived one juvenile. He quickly checked his EP: [Evolution Points (EP): 0.6]. Almost zero, meaning no "Basic Repulsion" at the moment.
"They're coming!" Elara cried out from the shelter, her voice laced with fresh fear.
Alex had to think fast. He couldn't fight them all head-on. He had one Heartwood Defender, a sturdy structure, and three traps.
"Heartwood Defender!" Alex commanded, his voice sharp and clear. "Position yourself at the shelter entrance! Protect the core!"
The plant-based construct lumbered with surprising speed, positioning its large, root-bound form directly in front of the Heartwood Sprout and the shelter opening, its powerful limbs ready.
The growls intensified, closer now. Several pairs of glowing yellow eyes appeared at the tree line, then more. Five, six, seven… a full pack of the mottled grey-green creatures, their barbed tails twitching, their needle-sharp teeth bared in silent snarls. They moved with a predatory coordination, fanning out to surround the clearing.
"They're trying to flank us," Alex observed, his strategic mind kicking in despite the fear. He had to funnel them.
He remembered the traps. They were along the game trail, which led directly into the clearing. "System, activate traps!" he commanded, hoping for an immediate effect.
[Basic Trap 1 Activated!][Basic Trap 2 Activated!][Basic Trap 3 Activated!]
A series of sharp clicks and rustles echoed from the forest edge as the traps sprung. A high-pitched shriek of pain erupted, followed by furious thrashing.
[Gloomfang Squirrel (Juvenile) Ensnared by Basic Trap 1!][Gloomfang Squirrel (Juvenile) Ensnared by Basic Trap 2!]
Two of the creatures were caught, their struggles audible but contained. That left three to five. Better.
The remaining Gloomfang Squirrels, momentarily startled by the fate of their packmates, hesitated for a fraction of a second. But their hunger and aggression quickly returned. With renewed snarls, they surged forward, aiming for the most direct path to the Heartwood Sprout.
Alex grabbed his makeshift club. He positioned himself strategically near the Woodcutter's Hut, aiming to intercept any creature that tried to bypass the Heartwood Defender.
The first Gloomfang Squirrel, a blur of grey-green, lunged at the Heartwood Defender. The plant-based construct met it head-on, its powerful root-fist swinging in a wide arc. CRUNCH! The creature was sent flying, hitting a tree with a sickening thud before collapsing motionless.
[Gloomfang Squirrel (Juvenile) Defeated!][Evolution Points (EP) +5.0]
"One down!" Alex yelled, a surge of adrenaline coursing through him. He quickly checked his EP. [Evolution Points (EP): 5.6]. He now had enough for "Basic Repulsion"!
Another two squirrels, emboldened, tried to dart past the Heartwood Defender, aiming for the less protected sides of the sprout. Alex moved, swinging his club at the lead creature. It was faster than he anticipated, dodging his clumsy blow, and its claws raked across his arm, tearing his sleeve. A sharp, stinging pain flared.
He ignored it, spinning and bringing the club down on the second squirrel. This time, he connected. The creature squealed, its movements becoming erratic.
Meanwhile, the Heartwood Defender was engaged with a third squirrel, its root-fists methodically pounding the creature into submission.
[Gloomfang Squirrel (Juvenile) Defeated!][Evolution Points (EP) +5.0]
"Yes!" Alex saw his EP count at [Evolution Points (EP): 10.6]. He immediately activated "Basic Repulsion," aiming a burst of green energy at the squirrel he had struck, sending it tumbling away from him.
[Evolution Points (EP) -2.0]
The creature, already injured, lay stunned. Alex didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, delivering a final, decisive blow with his club.
[Gloomfang Squirrel (Juvenile) Defeated!][Evolution Points (EP) +5.0]
The clearing was quiet again, save for the heavy breathing. The two ensnared squirrels in the traps thrashed weakly, their struggles fading. The Heartwood Defender stood motionless, its luminous orbs scanning the perimeter.
"Is it… is it over?" Elara asked from the shelter, trembling.
"For now," Alex replied, his arm stinging. He looked at the defeated creatures, then at the Heartwood Sprout, still pulsing with its steady, vibrant light. The battle had been fierce, a desperate struggle against overwhelming numbers, but they had won.
He walked over to the ensnared squirrels in the traps. They were still alive, but barely. He dispatched them quickly, feeling a grim satisfaction as the green mist rose from their forms, absorbed by the Genesis Core.
[Gloomfang Squirrel (Juvenile) Defeated!][Evolution Points (EP) +5.0]
[Gloomfang Squirrel (Juvenile) Defeated!][Evolution Points (EP) +5.0]
A substantial EP gain. This was how he would grow. By facing threats and overcoming them. He checked his final EP count: [Evolution Points (EP): 18.6].
He looked at the defeated Gloomfang Squirrels. They were a source of EP, but also a source of something else crucial: "Food (Raw)." He approached one of the defeated creatures.
[Gloomfang Squirrel Carcass Detected. Absorb for Food (Raw)?]
He confirmed. The Genesis Core hummed, and a faint green light enveloped the carcass. It didn't disappear, but it seemed to… condense, its essence drawn into the Core.
[Food (Raw) +10]
He repeated the process for the other defeated creatures. After absorbing all five, his food count was: [Food (Raw): 50].
"Food," Alex breathed, a wave of relief washing over him. It wasn't much, but it was a start. He now had the means to sustain himself and Elara.
He returned to the shelter, his arm throbbing. Elara looked at him, her attention fixed on his torn sleeve. "You're hurt."
"Just a scratch," Alex dismissed, though it stung more than he let on. "But we have food now. And the Heartwood Defender proved its worth."
He looked at the Heartwood Sprout, then at the vast, alien forest. The victory was small, but significant. It proved that his strategy, his Genesis Core, and his own adaptability could work. The first threat had been overcome. Aethelgard was a brutal world, but he was learning its rules, and he was ready for the next challenge.