Chapter 22: Base-Building

Chapter 22: Base-Building

Toms approach was cautious and measured, as he ventured deeper into the small, mountain-like structure through one of the three unnatural, cavernous openings that hed noticed earlier. His [Elfinclaw Bone Shield] was held forward and Tom was primed to swing at the slightest hint of movement for if anything was still in there, it was not his friend.

Crystalline coating on the exterior, jagged, fragmented edges forming the cave interior. Tom couldnt make heads or tails of it, but whatever it was it wasnt his problem.

The passageway turned out to be even smaller than hed expected, as all three cavernous openings led to a grotto more than a cavern he supposed, for it seemed to be intentional. There was no big surprise waiting for him, the cave barren except for dozens of animal bones scattered across the cold stone rather untidily. He also noticed strands of [Elfinclaw] fur and the whole skull of a [Symiril Tusker], but besides that there was nothing else of note.

The cavern was empty.

Tom exhaled a long sigh in relief, the strength in his legs giving out as he let himself crumple onto the ground. He just spent the next ten minutes resting, letting his SP replenish itself. Instead of plotting his next move, Tom cleared his mind of peripheral thoughts, of matters beyond his control and of the future.

Deep breaths, happy thoughts.

That might be his new mantra. Because he was going to need a lot more happy thoughts to keep the crushing absurdity of it all from sinking in.

He was on an alien planet. He had magical cards that could do all sorts of bizarre things. Nobody knew, or most likely, even cared where hed run off to besides that old man. who couldnt even track him. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

When Tom had inwardly wished for a fresh start. This wasnt quite what he had in mind.

He wasnt depressed, though. It was more amusement, or perhaps bemusement at the nonsensicality of it all.

Everyone hed ever known was essentially dead to him.

A morbid thought. But then again, truthfully, it wasnt as if Tom had cared about a lot of people, let alone loved.

Well, I suppose Ill just have to keep going, Tom muttered to himself as he got back up, giving his half torn pants a good dustoff.

First, he began to unload all the pelts hed amassed from killing the ankra beasts, symiril tuskers and even the elfinclaw. They formed a small pile on their own, letting out the smell of rotting meat, but somehow worse.

Egh, Tom winced. That would need some cleaning. Hed still have to wait for his SP to recover first though.

Then, Tom went outside, taking in his surroundings. Nothing looked off to him, the half eaten symiril beast carcass still lying where it originally was. The Elfinclaw pelt hed tossed still lay on the grass as well. Hed retrieve that in a bit.

Thankful for [The Shadows] ability to let him see in the dark, Tom began to collect dried branches and dead leaves from underneath the canopy cast by the wide trees. Another twenty minutes passed by as Tom went through the motions, making the originally mundane task a calming one instead.

It was rather ironic how he went from dreaming of a life full of action to yearning for peace.

It really is greener on the other side, he grunted under his breath as he bent over to collect another branch.

That should do it, Tom smiled, as he deposited the last branch in his soon-to-be campfire.

He then proceeded to gather small stones, forming a circular periphery around the firewood, preferring to err on the side of caution.

The next step actually required some effort, as Tom cut down two thick branches from one of the trees, expending more effort than hed thought it would take.

He dragged them back to the purported safety of his cave. Well, it made him feel safer, so it counted for something, and began to carve away at them with his [Ankra Bone Dagger].

Tom didnt particularly care for the durability of the knife, because he had recieved two more in his hunt. Of course, it would be ideal if the knife didnt get chipped, but if it did, the cost was a worthwhile one.

Half an hour later, he had wet, but somewhat less filthy hides. Using [The Flame] card to light the campfire again, he began to dry the hides one by one. The entire process took around four hours, but Tom persevered.

Once he was done, he folded them into neat piles and took them back into the cave. Next, he repeated the process for the sinew hed cut out from the [Elfinclaw], cleaning and drying it out.

There was, of course, a reason behind his actions. As Tom sat before a pile of hides and dried sinew a plenty, he sighed.

It was time to sew.

Crude was a bit of a compliment to the end result hed received for his efforts. First, he cut out a portion of the hides according to his specifications, usually into rectangles. His [Ankra Bone Dagger] was used to punch holes into the hides with the tip, and though it was painstaking work, the sinew was needled through the holes with his bare hands, surprisingly firm yet stringy.

The end result was the most hideous shirt hed seen, a patchwork of multiple different hides. Making a pants or shorts was too much work, so he ended up settling for a kilt, that was far easier to make. He looked like a tribal chieftain at this point, but it was better than running around in just his underwear. He discarded his messed up convenience store outfit with some melancholy, for it was truly the last item he had left marking his Earth-en heritage.

Well, except for his underwear. That. didnt count.

[The Flame] card was withdrawn as tom ignited his torn clothes outside the cave, a sort of tribute to the old world and the person he used to be.

His cheap outfit burned quite fast, and Tom couldnt help but feel a little mirthful about it.

Cheap corporate bastards.

He grinned, and then went back to work after shaking his head once there was nothing but embers left.

Back in his cave, he withdrew the [Symiril Tusker Bone Marrow Extract] from his inventory, playing with the glass vial in his hand.

The [Divine System] hadnt misled him so far, and from his shoddy understanding of biology, bone marrow extract shouldnt be some toxic slop that would kill him with a swig.

Ready to spit it out at a seconds notice, Tom finally caved in. If the [Divine System] wanted him dead, there was little he could do to fight it and so far, every item it had deposited in his inventory had played a pivotal role in his survival.

Not to mention, it had welcomed him to Artezia, so whatever it was. It was watching.

Tom took a light, tiny swig. The liquid that flowed into his mouth was so unexpected. Cool, refreshing and slightly sweet, it was almost intoxicating. If he had to draw a parallel, the closest one would be coconut water from back on earth, except this was purer.

He gulped the swig down and immediately felt his thirst beginning to satiate.

Another swig followed, and soon, hed downed the entire glass vial.

[You have consumed Symiril Tusker Bone Marrow Extract x1. Your organs have been revitalized. You will no longer feel thirsty for the next 48 hours.]

Tom raised his glass vial to the skies as a toast, quite surprised by this turn of events. Pity the vial was too small and too fragile to store water, but it could still be useful so Tom threw it back in his inventory.

Receding back into the cave, his hunger and thirst both satiated, Tom stretched out the remaining hides across the floor. Hed already made a makeshift blanket too, for if/when it got colder. A bed, blanket, food and water supply he knew how to procure them all.

Tom chose to lay down for a few minutes, his cards kept next to him. Not requiring sleep didnt mean his body couldnt do with some rest. Or maybe it did mean that but Tom still wanted to cling to his human sensibilities a while longer.

His first day in Artezia had been an experience, to say the least. But it was no longer hopeless.

The next thing on the agenda was building defenses, but after that Tom had no clue what to do except hope hed stumble on civilization.