The morning sun cast long, golden rays across the camp as Sincere sat cross-legged near his fire, staring at the Golem Creation skill in his menu. His heart thudded in anticipation. After days of struggling to gather enough mana, he finally had the 150 required to summon his first golem.

  “Time to see what you’re all about,” he muttered.

  He opened the Skill Menu, selecting Golem Creation (Level 1). A new interface appeared, detailing the rules of the skill.

  

  
1. Mana Cost: 150 per golem.


  
2. Material Requirements: Must use local resources (Stone, Wood, or Clay).


  
3. Instruction Limit: At Level 1, a golem can receive only 1 instruction.


  
4. Skill Progression: Each level increases the number of instructions a golem can follow.


  
5. Tracking: Summoned golems appear on the System map and can be tracked remotely.


  

  Golem Status:

  

  
• Duration: Permanent unless destroyed.


  
• Strength: Dependent on material quality and skill level.


  

  Sincere closed the menu and stood, stretching out his arms. He surveyed the camp, searching for the best materials. Stone seemed like the most durable option, and there were plenty of rocks scattered around the area.

  He began collecting, piling smooth stones near the center of the camp. The System chimed as he worked.

  Materials Acquired: Stone (10).

  Quality: Basic.

  The stones weren’t perfect, but they’d do for now. He placed his hand over the pile, activating Golem Creation. A faint blue glow enveloped the stones, and the System interface prompted him.

  Summon Golem from Stone?

  Mana Cost: 150.

  Sincere confirmed, feeling a surge of energy leave his body as his mana drained. The stones lifted into the air, spinning in a tight vortex. A bright light pulsed, and the stones began fusing together, forming a humanoid shape.

  The glow faded, leaving behind a rough, stone figure about six feet tall. It had thick, blocky limbs, glowing blue eyes, and a faint hum of energy surrounding it. The System chimed again.

  Stone Golem Created.

  A new prompt appeared in the interface.

  Assign Instruction (1/1 Available):

  At Level 1, Sincere could give the golem only a single instruction. He thought carefully. What was the most practical task for his first creation? Combat? Resource gathering? Patrol?

  “Let’s keep it simple,” he decided, typing in his command.

  Instruction: Guard the base and attack any hostile creatures that enter.

  The golem’s blue eyes flared briefly, acknowledging the instruction. It moved with surprising fluidity for something made of stone, taking a defensive position near the edge of the camp.

  Sincere stepped back, watching the golem adjust to its new role. To test its effectiveness, he reset one of the meat baits on a wooden stake and retreated to the shack. Within minutes, rustling in the bushes signaled the approach of another creature.

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  A Spined Mole Rat emerged, its sharp teeth bared as it scurried toward the bait. The golem reacted instantly, moving with a surprising burst of speed. It raised a stone arm and slammed it down on the mole rat, crushing the creature with a single blow.

  The System chimed.

  Enemy Defeated: Spined Mole Rat

  +80 Experience Points.

  Sincere grinned. The golem wasn’t just effective—it was a game-changer.

  As the mole rat’s body went limp, Sincere opened the Map Menu to test another feature of the skill. A glowing marker representing the golem appeared on the map, positioned at the camp’s center. The tracking system provided real-time updates on its location and status.

  Golem Status:

  

  
• Material: Stone


  
• Condition: 100%


  
• Instruction: Guard the base.


  

  He realized that with more golems, he could create a network of guardians and scouts, each trackable and capable of following unique instructions. The potential was enormous, but at Level 1, he was limited to a single command per golem.

  Sincere leaned against a tree, pondering how to expand the skill. The ability to give only one instruction was a severe limitation, especially if he wanted his golems to handle complex tasks. At higher levels, he could assign more nuanced commands, like patrolling specific areas, assisting in resource gathering, or even working alongside him in combat.

  The System provided a brief preview of the skill progression.

  Golem Creation Skill Levels:

  

  
• Level 2: Two instructions per golem.


  
• Level 3: Three instructions and increased golem durability.


  
• Level 4: Golems gain basic problem-solving capabilities.


  
• Level 5: Specializations unlocked (Combat, Utility, Scouting).


  

  The cost to level up the skill was steep, but it was clear that improving Golem Creation would be key to his survival—and his long-term strategy.

  As the day progressed, Sincere watched the golem in action. Its presence made him feel safer, freeing him to focus on other tasks without constantly scanning for threats. He started repairing traps and planning new upgrades for the base, confident that the golem would handle any intruders.

  But the creation of the golem also raised new questions.

  “What are the limits of this skill?” he wondered. “Can I make golems out of rarer materials? Metal? Crystal? What happens when they’re destroyed? Do I get any resources back?”

  The System offered no immediate answers, but Sincere knew the only way to learn was through experimentation. For now, he was content with his stone sentinel, guarding his camp with unwavering vigilance.

  As dusk settled over the camp, the golem stood motionless near the fire pit, its glowing eyes scanning the forest. Sincere sat by the shack, eating roasted boar and reflecting on the day’s progress.

  Suddenly, a low growl broke the silence. From the shadows, a Two-Tailed Lynx emerged, its sleek black fur rippling as it moved. Its yellow eyes locked onto the bait near the camp’s edge.

  The lynx crouched, preparing to pounce, but the golem reacted immediately. It charged forward, slamming its massive fists into the ground. The shockwave startled the lynx, but it twisted in midair, claws outstretched, and landed on the golem’s back.

  The creature raked at the stone with its claws, but the golem’s tough exterior absorbed the attack. With a low hum, the golem reached back, grabbed the lynx, and hurled it to the ground. Before the creature could recover, the golem delivered a crushing blow, ending the fight.

  Enemy Defeated: Two-Tailed Lynx

  +120 Experience Points.

  Sincere stood, impressed. The golem’s durability and strength made it an ideal defender, and the Base Effect had weakened the lynx enough to make the fight one-sided.

  As the night deepened, Sincere stared at the flickering fire, his mind racing with possibilities. The Golem Creation skill was a turning point—a tool that could change the balance of power in his favor. But its limitations were clear, and leveling it up would require careful planning.

  He opened the Skill Menu, reviewing his progress. His next goal was clear: level up, improve Golem Creation, and unlock more instructions for his creations. The potential was vast, and Aeros had no shortage of challenges to test his growing abilities.

  For now, he allowed himself a moment of rest, the stone golem standing sentinel as he drifted into sleep. Whatever the future held, Sincere was ready to face it. With his first golem at his side, he was no longer alone in this hostile world.