The morning light, filtered through the shimmering canopy of Aethelgard, brought little comfort to Alex. His arm still ached from the Gloomfang Squirrel's claws, a raw reminder of the previous night's desperate defense. Elara, huddled within the Heartwood Sprout's protective roots, moaned softly in her sleep, her injured leg undoubtedly causing her immense pain. The small victory against the pack had secured them some raw food, but their long-term survival hinged on more than just hunting. They needed stable infrastructure.
Alex consulted his System UI, the blue interface a stark contrast to the organic green of their nascent settlement.
[Wood (Common): 9][Stone (Common): 11][Evolution Points (EP): 18.6][Food (Raw): 50][Glowmoss (Common): 10][Crystal Shard (Common): 5][Scrap Metal (Common): 10]
He had gained a good amount of EP from the battle and his previous scavenging. The Glowmoss, Crystal Shards, and Scrap Metal were new additions from his exploration of the Earth Remnant. Now, he had the blueprints.
He focused on the newly acquired knowledge:
[Blueprint Discovered: Basic Water Collector (Cost: 15 Wood, 5 Stone, 2 EP) - Gathers fresh water from ambient Aethelgardian humidity.]
[Blueprint Discovered: Basic Medical Kit (Cost: 10 Wood, 5 Glowmoss, 5 EP) - Creates rudimentary medical supplies for minor injuries.]
The Water Collector was critical. Dehydration was a silent, insidious killer. And the Medical Kit… that was for Elara. Her leg needed proper attention, not just crude bandages.
He quickly calculated the immediate needs. For the Water Collector, he needed 15 Wood and 5 Stone. He currently had 9 Wood and 11 Stone. He was short 6 Wood. For the Medical Kit, he needed 10 Wood and 5 Glowmoss. He had 10 Glowmoss, but if he built the Water Collector first, he'd be even shorter on Wood.
"Alright, manual labor it is," Alex muttered. The Heartwood Defender was steadily gathering wood at the Woodcutter's Hut, but its pace was slow. He couldn't wait.
He grabbed his makeshift club and headed out, focusing on every fallen log and large branch within the clearing. He also sought out more of the shimmering Glowmoss, noting its soft luminescence. He worked methodically, absorbing essence, feeling the familiar hum of the Genesis Core with each successful collection. The dull ache in his arm was a constant companion, but the thought of Elara's pain, and the growing hunger in his own stomach, pushed him onward.
He spent nearly two hours, pushing his body, until the System UI reflected his efforts.
[Wood (Common): 39][Stone (Common): 21][Glowmoss (Common): 12][Evolution Points (EP): 24.6]
Satisfied, Alex returned to the Heartwood Sprout. "Elara," he said softly, rousing her. "I've got something that might help with your leg."
Elara stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "Help?" she whispered, her voice raspy.
"First, water," Alex stated, focusing on the Basic Water Collector blueprint. He had enough resources now.
[Construct Basic Water Collector?][Cost: 15 Wood, 5 Stone, 2 EP]
He confirmed. The Heartwood Sprout pulsed, and from its base, new, pliable roots snaked out towards a slightly depressed area in the clearing. The roots rapidly wove together, intertwining with absorbed wood and stone essence, forming a shallow, bowl-like structure. As it solidified, the surface of the bowl began to shimmer, subtly drawing moisture from the humid Aethelgardian air. Within moments, a thin film of clear, fresh water began to collect at its base.
[Wood (Common): 24][Stone (Common): 16][Evolution Points (EP): 22.6]
"It's a Water Collector," Alex explained, dipping a finger into the cool, clear liquid. "Pure, fresh water." He carefully scooped some into his cupped hands and offered it to Elara.
She drank greedily, her eyes closing in relief. "Oh, thank the… thank you, Alex. That's… that's amazing." The simple act of drinking seemed to revive her slightly.
Next, the Medical Kit. Alex focused on the blueprint.
[Construct Basic Medical Kit?][Cost: 10 Wood, 5 Glowmoss, 5 EP]
He confirmed. The Heartwood Sprout pulsed again, and near the Water Collector, a small, intricate box-like structure began to form from woven wood and glowing moss. As it completed, a soft, green light emanated from within.
[Wood (Common): 14][Glowmoss (Common): 7][Evolution Points (EP): 17.6]
A new notification appeared:
[Basic Medical Kit Generated! Contains: 3x Healing Salve (Minor), 1x Splint (Basic).]
"Okay, this is for your leg," Alex said, carefully extracting a small, glowing green paste from the kit. It smelled faintly of herbs and something metallic. He also pulled out the basic splint – a rigid, bark-like construct.
"This might hurt," he warned gently.
Elara nodded, her jaw tight. "Just… do it."
Alex carefully applied the Healing Salve to the wound on her leg. As the green paste touched her skin, a cool, tingling sensation spread, followed by a warmth that seemed to seep into her bones. The raw, angry redness of the wound visibly lessened, and the bleeding slowed, then stopped. He then carefully, but firmly, manipulated her leg, resetting the bone with a soft click that made Elara gasp, before swiftly applying the bark splint and securing it with more vines.
[Elara's Injury: Severe (Broken Leg) -> Moderate (Healing). Pain reduced.][Elara's Loyalty: Low -> Moderate.]
Elara let out a long, shuddering breath. "It still hurts," she admitted, "but… it's not as bad. The burning is gone. Thank you, Alex. Truly." Her eyes, though still weary, held a deeper gratitude now.
"Good," Alex said, a sense of quiet triumph swelling in his chest. Her loyalty had increased. That was important. "Now, rest. We have food and water, and your leg is on the mend. We're getting somewhere."
He checked his UI again. With the Medical Kit and Water Collector built, his EP was at 17.6. He still had enough for one more significant upgrade. He looked at the "Basic Trap (Upgraded)" blueprint.
[Blueprint Discovered: Basic Trap (Upgraded) (Cost: 15 Wood, 10 Stone, 8 EP) - Improved capture rate and durability.]
He had 14 Wood and 16 Stone. He was short 1 Wood for the trap. But he had plenty of EP. The Heartwood Defender was still gathering wood, so it wouldn't be long.
"We need to improve our food source," Alex told Elara. "These basic traps are good, but an upgraded one will be more reliable. And we need to keep an eye on our resources."
Elara nodded slowly. "It's… a lot to take in. This world. But you… you know what you're doing, don't you?"
Alex looked at the Heartwood Sprout, its luminous pods glowing softly. "I'm figuring it out," he admitted. "It's like a game, but the stakes are real. Every decision matters." He paused, then added, "We'll make this work, Elara. We have to."
He spent the rest of the day absorbing more wood and stone, replenishing his dwindling reserves and preparing for the upgraded trap. By late afternoon, his resources were looking much healthier.
[Wood (Common): 30][Stone (Common): 20][Evolution Points (EP): 18.2]
He immediately built the Upgraded Trap, placing it near the first basic trap.
[Construct Basic Trap (Upgraded)?][Cost: 15 Wood, 10 Stone, 8 EP]
He confirmed. A new, more robust trap formed, its organic components thicker, its glowing vines more intricate and resilient.
[Wood (Common): 15][Stone (Common): 10][Evolution Points (EP): 10.2]
As night began to fall, Alex felt a cautious optimism. They had fresh water, a healing solution for Elara, and improved traps. The Heartwood Defender stood vigilant, a silent guardian. Their tiny settlement, the Heartwood Sprout, was slowly but surely becoming a true bastion of survival in the wild, unpredictable expanse of Aethelgard. The path ahead was still fraught with danger, but for the first time, Alex felt a genuine sense of control, a strategic mind finally unleashed on a battlefield that truly mattered.