Shinon stood at the edge of his makeshift base, looking out into the forest with a frown. Kira's sudden appearance had worried him to no end. Although it hadn't even been a day since he got there, he was concerned about the state of the place.
He had been so focused on finding food and water that he hadn't really taken the time to fortify his surroundings. Now that he had a moment to breathe, he realised just how vulnerable he was.
He thought about the lack of defences around his base. There were no walls or fences to keep out zombies or other dangers. Hell, he didn't even have a single trap set up to take down the threats that might come knocking on his door.
"How did I even manage to sleep in such a place without any fears..." Shinon sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
He knew he needed to do something to protect himself if he wanted to survive in this world. But that would require resources, which he did not have. Still, a plan began to form in his head.
First, he would need to build some sort of barrier around the perimeter of his base. He could use fallen trees and branches to create a crude wall that would at least slow down any approaching threats.
He would also need to dig a trench around the outside of the wall to deter any zombies from climbing over. Thankfully, he had all the water he needed to completely fill the channel.
Secondly, he would need to set up some sort of watchtower or lookout point. He could use a nearby tree and build a platform high enough to give him a clear view of the surrounding area. From there, he could spot any incoming threats and prepare for them accordingly.
Thirdly, an emergency escape route would help him make a quick escape if things went wrong.
Lastly, he would need to set up some sort of alarm system. He could use bells or chimes tied to strings around the perimeter of his base. If a zombie or other danger tripped the lines, Shinon would be alerted and could prepare for an attack.
As much as Shinon wanted to replicate the security systems the Phoenixes possessed, he knew it wasn't possible. After all, they possessed more people and resources than he did.
That said, living alone had its positives as well. Shinon was free to move away from the burden of helping others and making sacrifices for them. But more importantly, he wouldn't have to answer to anyone.
Unfortunately, it also meant he won't be able to get more information about the world like he did from Selena.
"I'll think about all that later. First, I need to start gathering resourcing and raising defences, starting with the fence."
Shinon nodded to himself, feeling a sense of relief that he had a plan in place. He knew it would take time and effort to implement, but it was necessary to survive in this world. He grabbed his sword and got to work, determined to make his base as secure as possible.
***
Shinon had been working tirelessly for hours, cutting down trees and hammering wooden planks together to create a sturdy perimeter around his small base in the forest. Sweat dripped down his face as he laboured, his muscles aching from the effort.
He knew that without proper defences, his base was vulnerable to attack from the zombies that roamed the surrounding area. The wooden walls would serve as a first line of defence, hopefully buying him enough time to fend off any attacks and escape if necessary.
As he worked, Shinon couldn't help but once again think about how vulnerable he was in the middle of the forest. He was utterly alone, with no one to watch his back or support him. But he refused to let fear control him. He was a survivor, and he would do whatever it took to stay alive.
"If I have time to think of useless things like that, then I have time to fasten my pace."
Finally, after several hours of hard work, the wooden perimeter was complete. Shinon stepped back to admire his handiwork, nodding in satisfaction at the sturdy walls that now surrounded his small base.
But he knew that this was only the beginning. He still had much work to do if he wanted to make this place truly safe and secure. He needed to set up traps, fortify the walls, and stock up on supplies.
But for now, he allowed himself a brief moment of rest. He sat on a nearby log, wiping the sweat from his brow and taking a long swig of water from his jar of water.
As he sat there, looking out at the peaceful forest around him, Shinon couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had built something here, something that was entirely his own.
His talent of [Mastersmith] had finally begun to reveal its colours. Even though Shinon only created two things, the water jar and the barricade around the base, he knew both things had something special about them.
"Maybe I should give it a try?"
The legend of the Mastersmith was well known within the Flintlock family. As such, he had some ideas about the skills a Mastersmith possessed. One of which was the [Observation] skill.
According to the stories, it was a skill that allowed the Mastersmith to view some hidden information about his creations, such as special abilities and prominent 'options'.
These 'options' separated the craft of a Mastersmith from an ordinary blacksmith. It could be said these options were hacks to make a creation stand out.
Without any delay, Shinon picked up the water jar and peered deeper into it. Soon enough, a prompt appeared before him, with all the information about the water jar written over it.
[Creation: Water Jar
Durability Points: 100/100
Owner: Shinon Flintlock]
[Description: This water jar possesses unique abilities that allow it to purify and enhance the quality of water stored within it.]
[Options:
1. Water Purification: The water jar has the ability to purify any water stored within it, removing impurities and harmful substances. The purified water is safe for consumption and has been known to have healing properties.
2. Water Enhancement: The water jar can also enhance the quality of water stored within it, making it more refreshing and rejuvenating. The enhanced water boosts energy levels and improves overall health and well-being.]
Shinon's eyes widened in surprise as he read the system information about his water jar. He knew there was something special about the water, but he could have never predicted that the simple water jar would be the reason behind the quality of the water.
But he wanted to test the ability just for the sake of it. He immediately tried the water purification ability, pouring some murky water from the stream.
To his amazement, the water transformed before his eyes, becoming crystal clear and free from impurities. He took a cautious sip and was surprised at how fresh and clean the water tasted.
He could feel a refreshing sensation coursing through his body as he swallowed the water. He took another drink and felt a surge of energy as if he had just consumed a powerful tonic.
Shinon was thrilled with the abilities of his water jar. He knew that clean, pure water was essential for survival, and the fact that the jar could also enhance the quality of the water made it an invaluable tool for his survival.
"Now for the barricade-"
[Creation: Wooden Barricade
Durability Points: 500/500
Owner: Shinon Flintlock]
[Description: This wooden barricade is made of reinforced wood planks and has been strategically placed at the entrance of the Safe Zone to keep out zombies and other dangers.]
[Options:
1. Reinforced Wood: The barricade is made from specially treated wood, making it much more robust than typical wooden barriers.
2. Alarm System: The wooden barricade has a simple alarm system that alerts the survivors of any attempted breaches. The system consists of old discarded metal cans that ring loudly when the barrier is tampered with, allowing the survivors to quickly respond to any threats.
3. Self-Repair: The wooden barricade can repair itself over time, restoring its durability points. This is a slow process and can only restore a maximum of 50 durability points per day.]
Shinon's eyes shone brighter than the sun. If he unknowingly managed to imbue such effects on his creation, he could only imagine what other things he would accomplish once he understood his abilities more.