Lucas and the wolf stood in a tense standoff. The wolf, five times the size of an average one, had paws large enough to easily cover a human’s head. Its claws and teeth, massive and sharp, were the ultimate weapons in this deadly encounter.
As the wolf circled, looking for an opening, Lucas remained bewildered by its intimidating size. Then, the usual notification interrupted the moment, shifting the mood entirely.
[Player in Combat Detected. Entities such as monsters are attracted to your core within your chest. If the core is destroyed, the entity will be rendered inoperable.]
"Well, that makes sense," Lucas thought. "If monsters are drawn to me, then going outside the dungeon could be dangerous. No—being me is dangerous. They’re attracted to the core for a reason. The dungeon core must be a tasty snack for them."
Despite the threat, Lucas’s focus sharpened. 'I just need to survive this.'
Slowly, Lucas began to circle the wolf, trying to keep a close eye on its movements. I need a weapon—something, anything. He scanned the surroundings, hoping for a stick or stone, but the wolf was a relentless predator, and Lucas had no chance of defeating it without help.
The wolf, sensing Lucas’s vulnerability, lunged forward, claws aimed directly at Lucas’s chest. Upon impact, the automaton’s chest shattered, releasing a strange, watery liquid that resembled a rainbow-like glow—most likely from the core.
Lucas’s vision blurred as he lost connection with the automaton outside.
"What the—? I was killed?" he thought in a panic. "No—wait, my avatar was destroyed. I should’ve run sooner!" The shock of the wolf's sudden attack left Lucas in a state of fear and confusion. This was a fight he couldn’t win.
Anger bubbled up within him. Damned wolf. Sooner or later, I’ll make you pay. He called all his automatons back to the core chamber, thoughts now consumed with revenge.
The events unfolded so quickly that Lucas momentarily forgot he had just been reincarnated. First day, and I already have a rival. He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
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After some time, Lucas finally compiled a list of preparations for his revenge. However, there were things he lacked. Weapons, for one—he couldn’t take down the wolf with bare hands. But before acquiring weapons, they needed to know how to make them and decide which ones to craft.
Damn it, I haven’t even thought that through. The only materials we have are rocks and sticks. Let’s try making a spear. With its length and a sharp point, it might be enough to stab an animal.
Determined, Lucas used his Possess ability on one of the automatons. "The rest, follow me," he commanded.
The group of automatons marched out of the core chamber and made their way to the cave’s exit.
Upon arrival, Lucas frowned. It was already dark—night had fallen. This is a bad time to go outside, especially in a world like this.
"Dammit, I don’t want to lose another automaton," Lucas muttered. He quickly turned around and commanded the others, "All of you, return to the core chamber." He ceased his Possess ability, leaving the lone automaton at the doorway to stand guard.
Wait, he thought, can I summon another automaton? It says 9/10, so maybe I can. Let’s give it a try. He whispered, “Summon.”
[Summoning Failed: Lacks Biomatter.]
"Biomatter?" Lucas was confused. "What’s that?"
[Player Thought Detected. Biomatter is required to create another form of life. Biomatter can be acquired by absorbing/consuming any matter that has a biological origin.]
I see, Lucas thought, so I can’t just spam summons. I guess that’s to keep things balanced. I could gather plants outside and bring them back here. Plants are living, so they should count as biomatter.
For now, though, Lucas decided it was best to wait for daylight. It’ll also give us time to gather sticks for making spears.
As the hours passed, Lucas reflected on how to create weapons. While it seemed simple to a modern man, he had no knowledge of ancient crafting techniques. After some thought, he decided that wooden spears would be the best choice. Sharpening the ends would be easy, but whether they’d be effective against the wolf was uncertain. Still, any weapon was better than none.
This is maddening, Lucas thought. Staying in one room without moving—this must be why dungeons in novels and games attract people. But I don’t want to kill anyone. I still have a human heart.
Unable to bear the boredom any longer, Lucas decided to check on his automatons. By using Link, he could see what they saw. Unfortunately, the rest of his automatons were inside the core chamber, so there was little to observe that would ease his frustration.
He transferred his consciousness to the automaton stationed at the cave entrance. The view was shrouded in darkness, only faint moonlight illuminating the surroundings. It was beautiful. The sight made Lucas forget his boredom entirely.
He stayed transfixed on the view for the rest of the evening, until the first signs of dawn began to appear.
