Chapter 9:
Smoke curled from the remnants of their campfire.
Leo sat beside the flickering embers, legs crossed, eyes closed. Tarra stood nearby, motionless, scanning the perimeter with silent vigilance. The forest had grown quieter—but not in peace. The silence felt watchful, like a held breath.
They'd set camp in a mossy alcove shielded by thick roots and glowing mushrooms. Safe, for now.
Leo opened his status window with a sigh.
---
> [LEVEL UP COMPLETE – Current Level: 7]
[You have gained +15 stat points and +1 skill point]
---
Unallocated Stat Points: 15
He thought back to the last fight with the Wargs. Speed and mana control had been key—but raw intelligence was what let him coordinate with Tarra, aim the Aetherpulse Rifle, and manage the system's feedback.
"Alright... more INT, a bit of AGI, and some VIT to endure."
---
> [Allocating Stat Points...]
+8 Intelligence
+2 Agility
+5 Vitality
---
[Leo Makjin – Status Window]
Race: Human
Class: Golem-Mancer
Title: Golem Maker
Level: 7
HP: 160 / 160
MP: 140 / 140
Strength: 10
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 22
Vitality: 15
Luck: ?
Unallocated Stat Points: 0
Skill Points: 1
Skills:
Survival Instinct
Golem Crafting (MAX)
Golem's Dimensional Pocket (Lv.1)
Summon Golem (Lv.1)
Golem Enhancement (Lv.1)
Golem Repair (Lv.1)
Artifact Making (Lv.1)
Enchantment (Lv.1)
Repairing Artifacts (Lv.1)
---
Leo swiped to the skill tab.
"One more thing... let's try it."
> [Skill Activated: Summon Golem (Lv.1)]
The glyph on his palm began to pulse with a deep cerulean glow.
---
> [Initiating Dimensional Channeling Protocol…]
[Searching for Compatible Construct Across Bound Paths…]
[Golem Signature Located – Syncing Core…]
---
The forest wind stilled.
A brilliant column of light shot up from the mossy ground as mana from Leo's Golem Pocket mixed with a distant echo—something ancient, something waiting. Dirt and mineral fragments floated, pulled into shape by unseen hands.
The light flared—and then, it stood.
A broad-shouldered, towering warrior-shaped golem, about seven feet tall. Its body was forged of dark bronze-hued earth and layered quartz plates. Its arms were reinforced with embedded fossil stone and its eyes glowed a steady amber.
---
> [New Summon Created: Granek, the Earthbound Warrior]
Level: 10
Designation: Vanguard Golem – Close Combat Type
Skills: Ground Slam, Fortify, Earthen Guard
---
Leo stared in awe. "...You're definitely not standard issue."
The golem thumped its chest once and knelt before him, one arm across its chest in silent oath.
Tarra tilted her head. "Combat potential: Moderate. Loyalty matrix: Active."
Leo smiled. "Welcome to the team, Granek."
The night deepened around them, but for the first time, Leo felt like they weren't just surviving anymore—they were building something.
Still, as he leaned back and stared at the stars peeking through the canopy, a quiet ache stirred in his chest.
"...Kind of miss Earth sometimes," he murmured. "Even just fast food."
Tarra blinked. "Is that a monster?"
Leo laughed. "Sometimes, yeah."