Ben carefully picked up the spider egg. It was surprisingly light, the silk wrapping feeling smooth and strong. He prioritized its safety, returning to the temple and placing the egg gently on one of the crystalline pedestals in the control center. He then returned to the broodmother's corpse. He activated his Salvage skill. He didn't know if it would work on such a large creature, but it was worth the attempt.The broodmother's body disintegrated into particles of light, then reformed into distinct materials.
30 Veilspinner Chitin Plates 10 Silk Threads 8 Leg Spines 10 Fangs
Ben's eyes widened. This was far more than he had expected. The chitin plates had a glassy, rock-like appearance, strong and translucent. The silk threads were fine but incredibly resilient. The leg spines were sharp and pointed. The fangs, hard and black. With his Craft skill now unlocked at level 10, he could create new equipment. Perhaps even armor. He gathered the materials and carried them back to the temple.He then turned his attention to the eyeless lion beast. He activated Salvage again. The corpse disintegrated, reforming into:5 Batches of Duskmaw Fur 1 Duskmaw Heartstone
The fur was thick and dark, almost black. The heartstone pulsed with a faint inner light. Ben realized that combining the Duskmaw Fur with the Veilspinner Chitin Plates could enhance the camouflage properties of any armor he crafted. It would give him a significant advantage. He smiled.He then noticed the gemstone from the Duskmaw's heartstone. It was larger than the ones from the Chitranids, about the size of his fist. It pulsed with the same shifting colors, but the light was more intense. He pocketed it quickly.He gathered the Duskmaw Fur and the Heartstone, carrying them back to the temple. The centipede could return at any time, and Ben doubted it would appreciate him taking its prize. Welp. Not anymore, he thought to himself. The resources were his now.Scene: Temple Control Center.POV: 3rd Person/1st Person (Alternating for emphasis)Ben surveyed the gathered materials, spread out on the floor of the control center. Veilspinner Chitin Plates, Silk Threads, Leg Spines, Fangs, Duskmaw Fur, and the pulsing Heartstone. He then accessed his status. "Status."Bennet WellsLevel: 19 Class: Recycler (Stage 0) … (Previous skill information)
Stat Points: 90
Strength: 28 + 3
Agility: 57
Endurance: 36
Vitality: 23 + 5
Magic: 0
He had 90 stat points available. He considered his options. He decided on a balanced approach, distributing 60 points and saving the remaining 30. It's always good to have a reserve, he thought, just in case.He allocated the points: +15 to Vitality, +15 to Strength, +15 to Agility, and +15 to Endurance.The status screen updated.Bennet WellsLevel: 19
Class: Recycler (Stage 0) … (Previous skill information)
Stat Points: 30
Strength: 43 + 3
Agility: 72
Endurance: 51
Vitality: 38 + 5
Magic: 0
He felt the familiar surge of energy as the changes took effect. His body felt stronger, faster, more resilient. He moved, testing his increased agility. His movements were fluid and quick. He clenched his fist, feeling the increased power in his muscles. He took a deep breath, noticing the improvement in his stamina.The remaining 30 stat points provided a safety net. A reserve for unexpected situations. He didn't know what dangers lay ahead, but he was determined to be prepared for them.Ben reviewed his class skills. Now that he had reached past level 10, the Craft skill had unlocked.Craft (Beginner): Create simple tools, weapons, and armor.He then noticed something else. His Class Awakening Stage 1 was now available. He tapped the notification. Immediately, a wave of drowsiness washed over him. He stumbled, his vision blurring. He collapsed onto the floor of the control room, unconscious.He found himself in a vision. He was transported to a different time, a time of advanced technology, unlike anything he had ever seen. Structures of metal and crystal soared into the sky. Vehicles moved without wheels, propelled by unseen forces. This was a civilization at the peak of its technological prowess. Or rather, it had been.The vision shifted. He saw scenes of destruction: crumbling cities, shattered landscapes, the remnants of a world-ending disaster. Then, he saw a figure. The first Recycler.This figure moved through the ruins, scavenging pieces of advanced technology. He saw the Recycler use skills similar to his own: Salvage, Repurpose. He watched as the Recycler transformed broken machinery into functional tools, weapons, and even shelter. He was rebuilding, reshaping the remnants of a fallen society.The vision focused on a specific moment. The Recycler stood before a massive, broken machine, its purpose unclear. Using only salvaged components and his own ingenuity, the Recycler managed to reactivate the machine. A surge of energy pulsed through it, and the machine began to function once more, performing some unknown task.The vision ended abruptly. Ben was left with a powerful sense of purpose. A clarity he hadn't felt before. The memory of the first Recycler resonated within him. He understood now. His ability to recycle and repurpose wasn't just about making do with scraps. It was about something more. It was about reviving lost technology, about rebuilding shattered worlds. It wasn't just improvisation, it was revival. It was a higher calling.When Ben regained consciousness, a holographic screen updated before him.Bennet Wells Level: 19Class: Salvager (Awakening Stage 1)
Class Awakening: Stage 2 (Required Level 20)
Class Skills
Inventory (NEW!) – Store items into your personal subspace (Tier 1 – Medium Sized Room)
Salvage (Tier 1: Novice) – Salvage items directly into your inventory.
Repurpose (Tier 1: Novice) – Adds 1 more option and reduces resource requirements by 5%.
Craft (Tier 1: Novice) – Resource efficiency increased by 10%.
Fusion (Required: Level 20) –Fuse different pieces of tech and craft hybrid items.
Chrono Craft (Required: Level 150 and Final Stage Awakening Completed): Access Ancient blueprints to craft forgotten legendary tech. Can recreate powerful artifacts or relics of long lost civilization.
Repository of Knowledge (Tier 1): Access the vast library of hidden knowledge from millions of fallen civilizations across the galaxy. (Required Level 20 and Stage 2 Awakening Completed)
Stat Points: 30
Strength: 43 + 3
Agility: 72
Endurance: 51
Vitality: 38 + 5
Magic: 0
Ben's attention focused on the new skill: Inventory. He activated it. A small, shimmering portal appeared in front of him. He cautiously peered inside. It was exactly as described: a medium-sized room, seemingly existing in a separate space. He could see the far wall, the floor, the ceiling. It was empty, waiting to be filled. This is… useful, he thought. No more carrying around bulky materials.He then reviewed the other skills. Salvage now directly deposited salvaged materials into his inventory. Repurpose offered an additional crafting option and reduced resource costs by 5%. Craft's resource efficiency had also increased by 10%.He noticed another important change. His Magic stat was no longer locked.He had 30 stat points remaining. He decided to allocate 20, leaving 10 in reserve. He knew 10 points wouldn't make a significant difference in a dire situation, but it was a matter of principle. He preferred to have something rather than nothing.He allocated the 20 points to Magic.The screen updated.Bennet Wells Level: 19 Class: Salvager (Awakening Stage 1)Class Awakening: Stage 2 (Required Level 20) … (Previous skill information)
Stat Points: 10
Strength: 43 + 3
Agility: 72
Endurance: 51
Vitality: 38 + 5
Magic: 20
He felt a subtle shift within him, a new sensation he couldn't quite define. It wasn't a physical change like the increase in Strength or Agility. It was something… internal. A connection to something beyond the physical realm. He didn't understand it yet, but he knew it was significant.Ben examined the gathered materials: Veilspinner Chitin Plates, Duskmaw Fur, Leg Spines, Fangs, and the various Heartstones. He then checked his status. The updated stats and skills scrolled across the holographic display. He focused on the Craft skill.Craft (Tier 1 Novice) – Resource efficiency increased by 10%.He walked over to the chitin plates and placed two batches of Duskmaw Fur beside them. He activated the Craft skill. Nothing happened. He reread the skill description. It mentioned "imagination." Right. He closed his eyes, visualizing a light but durable armor with camouflage properties. He focused on the image, the details, the desired function.A holographic screen appeared.Veilshroud Armor Armor +70Agility +15
Skill: Shift – Activate to change your armor's color to match the immediate surroundings.
Materials Required: 5 Veilspinner Chitin Plates 2 Batches of Duskmaw Fur 1 Heartstone of any kind.
Ben retrieved a Chitranid Heartstone from his inventory and placed it with the other materials. He tapped the Craft prompt on the holographic screen. The materials glowed brightly, then coalesced, transforming into a sleek, black armor. Crystal chitin plates reinforced key areas, while dark fur formed a hood and integrated robe.Ben's eyes widened. The armor looked far better than he had imagined. He put it on. It felt light, yet sturdy. He moved, testing its flexibility. It provided a noticeable boost to his agility. He pressed himself against the temple wall and activated the armor's Shift skill. The armor, the robes, the hood—everything shifted color and texture, blending seamlessly with the temple walls. A few small areas remained uncovered, but the overall camouflage was effective. He could blend into his surroundings with ease.He then approached the remaining eight spider legs and two fangs. He activated Craft again, this time visualizing a small, curved scimitar, designed for quick strikes.Another holographic screen appeared.Veilspinner Fang ScimitarATK Damage +85 (Effect: Momentarily blinding the opponent for 5 seconds with each strike. Stackable.)
Critical Damage +300% ATK damage if the opponent is unaware.
Agility +10
Skill: Veilblink – Blink through the shadows and instantly appear behind the target.
Mana: 15 Mana
Cooldown: 22 seconds
Range: 12 meters.
Materials Required: 1/4 Veilspinner Spider Leg 1 Veilspinner Fang 1 Heartstone of any kind.
Ben retrieved another Heartstone, this time from a Cave Scuttler, and placed it with the spider leg and fang. He tapped the Craft prompt. The materials glowed, transforming into a sleek, black, curved scimitar. A pearlescent green hue shimmered across the blade as Ben turned it in his hand. He tested its sharpness on one of the remaining spider legs. It sliced through the leg with minimal resistance. Perfect. He was pleased with his new equipment.