As I delved into the depths of my newfound abilities, intricate details of the Necro Engineer class skills materialized within my mind. The Summon Skeletons skill revealed its mystical workings: a 10-second casting time and a mana cost of 100 at level 1. Channeling the incantation bestowed upon me, I initiated the enchantment, enveloping myself in an aura of darkness. With each uttered word, the energy surged into the earth before me, birthing a mesmerizing sight. Two skeletal figures materialized, emerging from the ethereal depths, a haunting manifestation of the underworld itself, now standing steadfastly before my very eyes.

The knowledge I gained about the Soulbound Construct revealed that I currently lacked the means to activate this skill. Constructing a mechanical body for the construct was the first step, but without any tools, I faced a challenge. Moreover, I only had access to wood, stone, and plant fibers at this stage.

In addition to building the mechanical body, I needed to capture soul essence and transform it into a soul crystal. The skill provided me with the incantation for this process, yet I lacked a suitable soul. Once the soul crystal merged with the mechanical construct, the Soulbound Construct would activate, forging a life force link between us. This link would enable the construct to draw energy from me, granting it the power to function.

Through this life force connection, the construct and I would synergize. The skills and knowledge acquired by me would be shared with the Soulbound Construct, fostering our mutual growth and development.

My engineering prowess extended beyond creating constructs. With my skills, I could diligently maintain and upgrade the materials of my creations, ensuring their longevity and enhancing their capabilities as I acquired superior resources. Starting with a humble construct made of wood and stone, I envisioned a future where I could elevate its form and function, but I knew that the acquisition of a soul crystal would be a pivotal step in unlocking such advanced possibilities.

I delved into the information I acquired regarding the Necro-Coding skill. Prior to using this skill, my summoned skeletons had limited modes of operation: aggressive, defensive, and passive. When set to aggressive mode, they engaged in combat, actively seeking out targets. Defensive mode restricted their attacks to self-defense or in response to threats against me. In passive mode, the skeletons obediently trailed behind me but refrained from taking any action beyond following my lead.

With the first level of Necro-Coding, I gained the ability to program fundamental commands and behaviors into my minions. These commands can be activated through mental focus or simple voice commands. For instance, I can assign a task for my minions to collect specific materials, such as wood, and bring them to my current location. However, complex programming beyond these basic tasks is not yet within my reach at this level. As I progress and my Necro-Coding skill advances, I will unlock more intricate functionalities for my undead creations.

Empowered by my two loyal skeletal minions and a burgeoning mastery of my necromantic abilities, I turn my attention to the Quest Log, yearning for a clear direction amidst the uncertainties of my newfound existence. I seek guidance from the system, hoping it will illuminate a path forward, sparing me the arduous task of trial and error in my quest for survival.

[Quest Line: Survival on the Tropical Island]

[Quest 1] Gathering Resources

Objective: Collect basic resources to kickstart my survival journey.

• Collect 10 pieces of Plant Fiber.
• Gather 5 stones.
• Obtain 3 Sturdy Tree Branches.

Rewards:

• 25 experience points.
• Recipe: Plant Fiber Cord (allows binding materials together).
• Recipe: Stone Knife (basic cutting tool).

My anticipation swells as I immerse myself in the immersive quest line entitled "Survival on a Tropical Island." Fully aware of the vital role these initial tasks play in securing my existence, I recognize the value of efficiency. With a mischievous grin, I tap into my budding Necro-Coding skill, capitalizing on the abundant resources of plant fibers, stones, and trees that surround me.

Harnessing the simplistic power of Necro-Coding at my level 1 proficiency, I deftly program one of my unwavering skeleton minions to perpetually gather plant fibers, its obedient nature ensuring an unending stream. For the task of acquiring stones, I entrust a second skeleton with the mission, its skeletal form tirelessly fulfilling the requirement.

Seeking respite beneath the gentle shade of a nearby tree, I revel in the serene ambiance of the beach. Harmonizing with the rhythmic cadence of the lapping waves, I patiently observe my faithful skeleton minions toiling diligently, amassing the necessary materials with unwavering dedication.

As I indulge in the tranquility of the beach, I watch with intrigue as my loyal skeleton minions carry out their resource-gathering tasks. They appear as ordinary, unadorned skeletons going about their work. Their bony frames move with a sense of eerie coordination, deftly navigating the terrain and effortlessly collecting the required materials. Their movements, while lacking in complexity, exhibit a surprising efficiency and purpose, each skeleton executing its assigned task with mechanical precision. Despite their mundane appearance, there is an undeniable fascination in witnessing these skeletal beings silently and diligently fulfilling their designated roles amidst the tropical island landscape.

As the skeleton obediently collects the required 5 stones, I shift my mental command towards gathering tree branches. Strewn across the ground, the fallen branches present an abundant resource. Within a mere 20 minutes, my diligent skeletons have amassed enough materials to fulfill the quest. I marvel at their efficiency, realizing that the tasks would have been immensely time-consuming and exhausting for me given my low physical abilities. The assistance provided by the skeletons proves invaluable, allowing me to complete the tasks with remarkable ease.

With the gathered materials strewn at my feet, I focus my attention on the quest completion button within my mind. As I press it, a surge of satisfaction washes over me, signifying the successful conclusion of the task. The completion rewards me with valuable experience points, bringing my level progress to 25 out of 100. Additionally, I unlock two valuable crafting recipes: Plant Fiber Cord and Stone Knife.

Plant Fiber Cord (allows binding materials together)

• 10 Plant Fiber

Stone Knife (basic cutting tool)

• 1 Stone
• 1 Sturdy Tree Branch
• 2 Plant Fiber Cords

With the first quest completed, the next quest in the quest line appears before my eyes.

Quest 2: Crafting Tools Objective: Create essential tools for gathering and crafting.

• Craft 2 Plant Fiber Cords using the recipe.
• Craft a Stone Knife using the recipe. Rewards:
• 25 experience points.
• Recipe: Stone Pickaxe (tool for mining resources).
• Recipe: Wooden Spear (basic weapon for self-defense).

I do some quick mental math and figure out that I need 10 more plant fibers to complete the next quest. With a mental nudge, both skeletons wander off to gather more plant fibers.

While the skeletons diligently gather resources, I follow suit and collect the materials they have gathered, carefully transferring them into my system inventory. With the resources now in my possession, I access the Crafting Recipes section within the System Interface.

Adjacent to the Plant Fiber Cord recipe, I notice the number 1 in parentheses, indicating that I have enough materials to craft a single Plant Fiber Cord. Curiosity piqued, I press the craft button, causing the plant fibers in my inventory to vanish. To my surprise, a progress bar materializes at the bottom of my field of vision, indicating that the crafting process will be completed within 1 minute.

A sense of appreciation washes over me as I realize the system has provided a convenient method for crafting, recognizing that not everyone possesses the same crafting abilities. While I assume that more complex or class-specific recipes might require manual execution, it remains a mere conjecture for the time being.

As the progress bar reaches completion a minute later, a precious Plant Fiber Cord materializes within my inventory. Recognizing the importance of plant fibers in future recipes, I allow the diligent skeletons to continue gathering the essential resource. Within about five minutes, they have collected enough plant fibers to craft a second cord. I secure the gathered fibers into my inventory and initiate the crafting process by pressing the craft button, eagerly anticipating the completion of the second cord a minute later.

Having gathered all the required materials in my inventory, I find myself ready to embark on the crafting process for a Stone Knife. With a confident tap on the craft button, the inventory items—1 stone, 1 sturdy tree branch, and 2 plant fiber cords—swiftly vanish, initiating a progress bar that materializes at the bottom of my vision. The bar indicates a time estimate of 5 minutes, during which the intricate crafting procedure will take place.

After a mere 5 minutes, the Stone Knife materializes in my inventory, a testament to the swift progress made by my diligent skeletons. During this time, they have also collected approximately 10 additional plant fibers, further expanding our resource pool. With 2 plant fiber cords and the newly crafted stone knife in my possession, my quest completion button, once grayed out, now beckons me to finalize my achievement. Without hesitating, I mentally hit the button to complete the quest and my experience points raise to 50/100 of level 1. I also gain the following two general crafting recipes.

Stone Pickaxe (tool for mining resources)

• 2 Stones
• 1 Sturdy Tree Branch
• 4 Plant Fiber Cords

Wooden Spear (basic weapon for self-defense)

• 1 Sturdy Tree Branch
• 2 Plant Fiber Cords

Upon the successful completion of the second quest, the third quest materializes before my eyes, inviting me to embark on the next stage of my journey.

Quest 3: Resource Harvesting

Objective: Expand your resource collection to progress further.

• Collect 40 pieces of Plant Fiber.
• Gather 20 Stones.
• Obtain 10 Sturdy Tree Branches.

Rewards:

• 50 experience points.
• Recipe: Stone Axe (tool for chopping trees and obtaining wood).
• Recipe: Level 1 Basic Shelter (Four walls and a roof, what more could you ask for?).

Equipped with the newly crafted stone knife, the task of gathering plant fibers becomes more efficient for my skeleton minions. Utilizing my Necro-Coding skill, I deftly program the skeletons to utilize the knife for harvesting the plant fibers. Passing the knife to one of the skeletons, I set it off on the assigned task, while the other skeleton diligently continues collecting stones and sturdy tree branches. Finding solace in the tranquil ambiance of the beach, I allow myself a 30-minute respite, immersing my gaze in the rhythmic dance of the waves, observing with contentment as my dedicated minions carry out their resource-gathering duties.

Waving my arms over the resources that the skeletons have gathered over the past 30 minutes, they disappear into my inventory. As the last stone enters the inventory, the button to complete the 3rd quest becomes clickable. Without any hesitation, I submit the quest to receive the quest rewards.

With the acquisition of an additional 50 experience points, my total reaches the required 100 points, allowing me to ascend from level 1 to level 2 as a Necro Engineer. This advancement grants me a significant boost in my capabilities, as my hit points increase by 25 and my mana pool expands by 50. Leveling up reveals a welcome surprise: all my attributes receive an extra point, and I now possess 4 free points to allocate as I see fit. Choosing to enhance my Perception and Wisdom, I raise them to 10, mirroring my existing Intelligence and appreciating the harmonious balance. The remaining free point is dedicated to bolstering my Endurance, solidifying my resilience. Satisfied, I survey my updated System Interface, ready to embark on my continued journey.

[System Interface]

Name: Max Parker

Age: 22

Class: Necro Engineer Level: 2

Experience Points: 0/200

[Ability] Assimilation Intellect - SSS Rank

Health: 150 points

Mana: 300 points

Strength: 5

Agility: 4

Endurance: 5

Intelligence: 10

Perception: 10

Wisdom: 10

Satisfied with the surge of increased strength, vitality, and intelligence coursing through my body, I take a look at the two new recipes I received upon completing the 3rd quest.

Stone Axe (tool for chopping trees and obtaining wood logs)

• 2 Stones
• 2 Sturdy Tree Branches
• 3 Plant Fiber Cords

Level 1 Basic Shelter (Four walls, a door, and a roof, what more could you ask for?)

• 20 Stones
• 10 Sturdy Tree Branches
• 8 Logs
• 15 Palm Fronds
• 6 Plant Fiber Cords

This Level 1 Basic Shelter is designed to provide a small, single-person survival space with adequate protection from the elements and a basic level of comfort.

With a sense of accomplishment and efficiency, I marvel at how swiftly I progressed through the quests. A fleeting wave of sympathy washes over me, considering the plight of those who lack the invaluable assistance of skeletal minions, serving as a dedicated workforce. However, there is little time for indulging in such thoughts as I turn my attention to the next quest, eager to embark on the next phase of my journey.

Quest 4: Shelter Construction

Objective: Build a basic level 1 shelter for protection.

• Construct a basic shelter using the provided blueprint.

Rewards:

• 50 experience points.
• Recipe: Flint and Tinder (to start fires).
• Recipe: Campfire (for cooking food and providing warmth).
• Recipe: Basic Fishing Net (for catching fish)
• Water Filtration System (to purify water sources).