Evan sat there, spraying his new watering can. After leaving a very angry earthen giant near the entrance of his grotto, he'd left for the center of his cave and planted the bush in the center. Luckily the grasshopper's body from before was waterproof; perfect for a new watering can. Evan kind of botched his first three tries, mainly because of his unruly fingers, but on the third try he'd made something that would work as a watering can, for now.

Since Evan didn't have any other water available, he decided to use the mana-rich pond water from the mana spring, and watered the bush bit by bit, in the hopes of keeping it alive.

Let's hope this bush is resistant to this mana-radioactive water, and doesn't die from it. Come on bushie, you're my golden ticket to my first subject! Let's hope this drake cares enough about these berries.

As he waited for the bush to recuperate and settle into its new home, Evan meditated and used his sense skills. This went on for a few hours.

Congratulations! Attunement has risen to 0.43 (from 0.258)

Congratulations! Corruption has risen to 0.52 (from 0.315)

Evan once again felt the now familiar stat drop, which seemed to happen after each long meditation session. Another thing he'd noticed by heading into the valley previously, was that there was barely any mana over there, other than the mana around the trees, which wasn't as pure, nor as thick as the mana in his cave. On top of that there was literally NO corruption outside of the cave. Evan assumed that the red hay, as he called it, was the source, and that it might be pretty rare. All those factors combined convinced Evan that making this cave system his home was the best idea in the long run. His stat gain would drop significantly outside of it.

Well, since I've decided, I might as well make this place a bit more homely. This center cave with the plants will be the living room, the mana cave and my nest will be for meditation and rest respectively, and the grasshopper cave is my hallway. I wonder what's in that last entrance that I collapsed though. A new bathroom perhaps?

In his curiosity, Evan decided to excavate the entrance to the final unknown cave of his home. He traveled through, and followed the now familiar winding pattern of each cave entrance. After a while he entered a cave, with no other exits or plants. Instead, the walls, ceiling and floor were sparkling. Each part shined differently, some with a golden luster, seemingly metal, others more bronze or silver colored. A few gems were dotted in between the mineral nodes. They reminded Evan of gems on earth, some with color of topaz, sapphire and even emerald.

This is perfect! A royal treasury befitting of my name! Truly, Satan gave me quite the starting cave! he was so generous.... I was just too blind to see it. I wonder if I can use these metals for anything though. They're useless to me if they're stuck in the walls. Can I dig them out, maybe?

Evan reached out to one of the bronze-colored patches of metal. Instead of digging it out however, he received a notification.

Congratulations! You have found your first metalnode! (Ancient copper).

Ancient copper (tier 3 metal)

Effects: Provides a powerful physical defense, far surpassing both tier 1 and 2 metals. It is, however, prone to bending on impact, due to its elasticity, which is higher than most other metals.

This metal absorbs mana to repair itself, due to it's title 'Ancient'.

Most metals are divided into tiers by the system, signifying their worth. Tier 1 are normal metals like copper and tin. Tier two are stronger metals and alloys, like bronze or iron. The moment a certain metal reaches a certain age, or absorbs some foreign power, it can transform into a stronger variant. Those are called tier 3 variants. Even the weakest tier 3 metal is said to be twice as strong as the strongest tier 2. Tier 4 metals are safeguarded in the royal treasury due to their value and rarity, and tier 5 metal is said to be a legend, hidden from the public. ~Erusko Narpka, famous freelance smith, baro continent.

(Ancient copper) can be assimilated. Would you like to assimilate?

Assimilated? What does that mean? Like.... absorb it? I guess there's no harm in trying...

Ancient copper has been assimilated. (25%)

Congratulations! Requirements for the skill upgrade of the skill 'tough armor(lvl2)' have been found.

Requirements: Assimilate with a metal, reaching 100% assimilation.

Evan waited for the assimilation to finish, and saw a change on his arm. It was no longer the murky gray from before, now light gray with a tint of copper brown mixed in. Only his right arm had this evolution though, the rest of his body remained unchanged. Luckily for him, there was more ancient copper around the room, and after assimilating another 3 times, he received another notification.

Congratulations! Skill tough armor(lvl2) has reached the requirements to evolve. Would you like to spend a skill point and evolve the skill? YES/NO

Congratulations! Skill though armor(lvl2) has evolved into ancient copper armor(lvl1).

Ancient copper armor(lvl1) (passive)

Effects: Decrease all incoming physical damage by a flat (10) damage points, increase by 5 per skill lvl. Decrease all incoming physical damage by (0.4%), increase by (0.2%) per skill level.

Because of your species, you are born coated in a weak, fragile layer of metal armor. The metal slowly increases in quality and rarity as you grow up. Certain conditions can be fulfilled to influence this process. (conditions: ???)

Upgrade 1: You have taken the first steps of a proper amrorling, and increased the quality of the metal coating your body. Your body will retain the metal's toughness and special properties upon your next skill evolution.

Ancient copper armor special properties: Mending: your armor now mends itself by absorbing the ambient mana around you over time. This property will be retained upon your next skill evolution.

Evan's new armor was now completely bronze colored, and very shiny. He examined himself, and decided to test his new regenerating property. He slammed himself into a wall as fast as he could. The outer armor on his shoulder bent inwards, and squished Evan's shoulder.

Warning! You have been attacked by 'stupid choices'. You have taken 11 damage. (-10 due to ancient copper armor)

Fuck.... maybe that wasn't a very smart idea... still, no risk no gain am I right. I don't want to test my new armor for the first time against that drake, I would rather do it here.

Evan sat down, and saw his wound heal visibly. His internal damage was also healing, but not as quickly as his armor. Along with it he saw that the wound he got from the hound in the first fight was also healing. It was only a scratch, but that scratch had remained there until he absorbed the new copper.

I'm finally back in pristine condition. But the metal I absorbed doesn't seem to be the most valuable in the room... I wonder if I can upgrade again right now.

Congratulations! Host has found 'eternal silver'. Warning! cannot assimilate tier 4 metals until host lvl 25.

Congratulations! Host has found 'Arch-gold'. Warning! cannot assimilate tier 5 metals until host lvl 50.

Level 50? That's gonna take decades! I guess gold is really only for the most hardworking kings huh... At least the gold is not gonna run away.

Feeling a little dejected, but also hopeful for the future, Evan returned to his living room, where he found the bush, now seemingly thriving in the center of the grove. The bush had grown over the 1 meter tall mushrooms, and was establishing its presence as the dominant plant in the room.

Good, good! I see this plant has the right idea! I could get along with it, if was a little more talkative. The berries seem bigger than before as well. Maybe the mana-water helped out with that.

'Rumbleeeee.....'

Oh dear, it seems the turtle drake is getting antsy. I guess I should start the negotiations. I'll craft that shell from the bedbug into a berry-basket, and try te tempt him with it. It's not like he can come in here to get the berries himself, in the future he'll have to rely on me for his grub.

Evan did as was foretold, and carried a basket of basketball sized mutant berries over to the turtle, still stuck in his entrance. Evan was a little surprised by its patience; it had been sitting there for more than 12 hours now.

"You see this, turtle? Berries... your favorite kind. Ripened to the perfect sweetness. Now sit down and stop growling if you want them."

Evan tried to say that to the turtle, but remembered he had no mouth. In the end, he just waved at the turtle making hand signs to try and get it to submit.

I really need some kind of telepathy skill... at this rate I won't even be able to express myself to my future subjects!

As expected the drake didn't show any signs of submitting, or even understanding Evan. It tried to reach out towards the berry-basket, but Evan just dodged him, and retreated a bit.

Congratulations! For interacting with another monster, you have gained the mana speak skill!

Mana speak(lvl~) (active)

Effects: This skill allows the user to send out mana waves, containing specific structure. These waves are accepted as the general language of the dungeon, and can be used by any half sentient creature.

The creatures of the buried continent were always treated like monsters and brutes, until a monster tamer developed the mana speak skill. By interacting with the higher leveled monsters, we surface dwellers found out that each major dungeon species with intelligence had underground communities. This allowed for better communication and trade between the surface and the buried continent. A true goldmine of resources and wealth for some, a harrowing idea, for the more religious kind. Just means less competition in my eyes though. ~Rando Kri, owner of an intercontinental trade empire, the 'Free Will merchant group', operates across all continents.

Oh...now I should be able to talk. It kind of feels natural all of a sudden...

[Hey turtle! If you want food, you have to submit to me first!]

Surprisingly the turtle actually answered.

[GIVE ....... BERRIES!]

[I will, once you submit.]

The turtle turned his head sideways, the way dogs do sometimes, and looked at Evan inquisitively.

[What ..... submit?]

[It means you promise to do everything is say, until the end of time.]

The turtle snorted, and looked away. It clenched its imaginary teeth, and forced irself to continue negotiating.

[ What .... do?]

[You have to help me fight, and help me build a kingdom worthy of my name!]

The turtle looked hopeful, and asked like a little kid for his candy.

[Then..... you give berries?]

[I'll give you as much berries as you can eat big guy, after you submit to me.]

[GIVE...... BERRIES NOW!!!]

The drake stomped the ground with one of its tree-trunk sized legs, and a row of earth spikes roughly 2 meters tall each, erupted from the ground, heading towards Evan. The attack was so unexpected that he got hit by one of them, despite dodging the rest.

Warning! You have been attacked by Earthen drake(lvl26), using earthen spike-rupture. You have taken 58 damage. (-10 due to copper armor)

Warning! Critical damage! You have taken 58 Dp, leaving you at 7/65 Hp.

Holy shit that turtle is strong! I thought that it's level was just for show at this point. If that attack dealt the much damage, wouldn't I have died to its charge attack if I didn't dodge?

Evan rushed back to his living room, feeling like he hadn't done anything but run since he came to this world. He really had to develop some attack skills soon.

Congratulations! Ancient copper armor has grown to (lvl4), giving a 25 flat damage reduction.

Well at least something good came from that whole ordeal. I should regenerate first, before I try anything new.

Evan rested for a few hours, recovering his health, bit by bit. The spike had impaled his chest, narrowly missing his eye. Evan thought about leaving the drake alone for now, and giving up on taming it, but that would leave a significant danger right outside his house. His corrupted breath also didn't work, since the drake could just escape underground. Evan didn't even know whether the drake had to breathe, or had any weak spots.

That turtle will come around; he likes berries too much. Let's see how he likes not eating berries for a week....

Evan followed his plan, and meditated and rested for what felt like a week. He quit when both of his growing stats, now advancing slower and slower, reached a value of 1. After that he decided to try the cardio skill, to increase his agility. He rolled, waddled and tumbled through his cave for several day straight, before finally reaching an acceptable level. His agility seemed to increase the speed of his levitation as well, and he would be able to fly higher up with his defy gravity skill; it wasn't a useless stat at all.

Congratulations! The attunement stat has reached a value of 1! You can no longer increase this stat through a skill.

Congratulations! The sense mana skill has grown to (lvl10)

Congratulations! The corrupted stat has reached a value of 1! You can no longer increase this stat through a skill.

Congratulations! The sense corruption skill has grown to (lvl10)

Congratulations! The agility stat has reached a value of 1!

Congratulations! The cardio skill has reached (lvl6)

Congratulations! You can now evolve the sense mana skill! Use a skill point to evolve? YES/NO

Congratulations! You can now evolve the sense corruption skill! Use a skill point to evolve? YES/NO

Congratulations! The sense mana skill has evolved into the manipulate mana skill(lvl1)!

Congratulations! The sense corruption skill has evolved into the imbue corruption skill(lvl1)!

Manipulate mana(lvl1) (active + passive)

Active effects: Allows for the shaping of mana. Particularly useful for crafting and developing new mana based skills.

Passive effects: Mana bends to your will more easily now. Resistance against pure mana-base attacks + 30 flat reduction + 5% total reduction

Imbue corruption(lvl1) (active + passive)

Active effects: Allows the caster to corrupt an object or creature. Useful for crafting corrupted items, or combining corrupted skills.

Passive effects: The caster is immune to the corrupted ailment, and receives a 33% total reduction to all resistance based incoming damage.

....

You now have 0 remaining skill points. Level up to gain more.

.....

I guess it's about time to check up on my rocky friend. I haven't been able to level up since he came here, and he should be pretty desperate right about now. Now that I know he can raise spikes, I should be able to dodge in time. Let's just hop he doesn't pull any other tricks.

Evan gathered the now giant berries in his basket and left.

As Evan arrived near the entrance, he found the turtle, still right there. If that turtle had any good qualities, it would be the fact that he was patient. And probably very hungry.

Sure enough, there he was, lying down on the ground like a deflated balloon.

The turtle looked up, exasperated, and asked for mercy.

[....give..... berries ..... please....]

[I will, after you submit.]

[ ..... I ..... sum bit...]

[Its pronounced submit you dumb turtle..., I guess that's good enough.]

Earthen drake(lvl26) proposes to become one of your bound creatures. Do you accept? (Warning, you can only have 3 bound creatures at any given time.) YES/NO