Three days had passed since the catastrophic event that had torn Phoenix away from his old life. Now, in the midst of the ruinous city, he scavenged through the rubble, his mind still processing everything that had happened. The once-familiar world of office work, mechanical and civil engineering degrees, and comfortable routine felt like a distant memory. Here, he was nothing more than a survivor—alone in a harsh, unfamiliar world.
As Phoenix sifted through debris, his eyes finally caught something buried beneath the rubble—a single can of food. His heart raced, and he grabbed it eagerly, brushing the dirt and dust off. Finally... something useful.
He sighed, momentarily relieved. But his peace was short-lived.
From behind, a low growl echoed through the air. Phoenix froze, his heart racing. A creature, looking like a large, rabid dog, had noticed him. It crept out from behind the wreckage, its glowing eyes fixated on him. He stepped back slowly, trying to avoid drawing its attention. But it was too late. The creature's ears perked up, and with a snarl, it charged at him.
Phoenix quickly pivoted, ducking beneath the dog-like creature's snapping jaws. He barely avoided the creature's sharp teeth, but in doing so, it scratched him across the arm, leaving a stinging gash. Phoenix hissed in pain but didn't have time to dwell on it.
He scanned his surroundings quickly, his mind racing. His hand brushed against the ground, and his fingers wrapped around a sharp shard of glass. With a desperate yell, he lunged at the creature, plunging the jagged glass into its side. The creature yelped, but Phoenix didn't stop, his mind purely focused on survival. He twisted the glass shard, causing the creature to whimper and stagger back.
With one final thrust, the creature collapsed. Phoenix stood panting, blood dripping from his wounds. It was over.
A holographic panel popped up in front of him, its display shimmering with text.
Killed Scavenger Jackal
EXP +1
EXP Bar: 1/100
Level 0
Reward: Roll for Skill
Phoenix blinked in surprise, his hands still shaking. What's this?
Without fully understanding it, he pressed the roll button. The panel began to spin, and after a moment, it stopped.
Skill Acquired: Dismantle and Assemble
Skill Rating: S
The description appeared beneath it:
This skill allows the user to deconstruct objects or dead creatures and reassemble them in different ways. The ability to break down and reconstruct materials grants versatility, enabling the creation of useful tools and resources.
Phoenix stared at the panel in disbelief. I can do this?
He touched his arm where the wound had been, and though it still stung, he quickly ignored it and thought about what he could do next. A tool... or something that could help me...
He sat down, his back leaning against the rubble of a nearby building. The pain from his cuts reminded him that he needed to rest. He pulled out a few rags from his bag and tied them around the cuts on his body. As he did so, he realized how much his life had changed in just a few days. This world was unforgiving, and yet, his new skill gave him hope. Maybe this is what I need to survive here.
After resting for a moment, Phoenix decided to keep going. He stood up slowly, still feeling the strain from the fight, but determined. The sun was low in the sky as he moved deeper into the ruins. He needed more tools. More materials.
His hands brushed against the wreckage as he explored the decaying city. Suddenly, he felt something metal beneath his fingers. A piece of scrap metal?
A holographic panel emerged as his hands touched it.
Dismantle?
Phoenix blinked in surprise. Dismantle? He hadn't expected this, but the word instinctively came to his mind. Without second-guessing, he pressed the button on the holographic panel.
"Dismantle."
The moment he spoke the word, the metal object before him began to crumble and break apart. Phoenix watched, wide-eyed, as the object fell apart into raw materials.
[Metal Shards x10 Obtained]
His heart raced. This is incredible. This skill really works.
Phoenix couldn't contain his excitement. I can break things down into raw materials. The possibilities were endless. He quickly began touching other objects, and each time he did, they disassembled, leaving behind useful raw materials—metal shards, wood, wiring, gears, and more. He gathered them all eagerly, storing them in his communication watch's spatial storage.
He wasn't sure exactly what he could do with these materials yet, but his mind was already racing with ideas. I've got the knowledge from my degrees, now I just need to figure out how to apply it here...
The thought crossed his mind: Could I assemble something useful?
He nodded to himself. With his skill and his knowledge of mechanical and civil engineering, he had the potential to create all sorts of tools and structures. But he would need to be careful. He remembered what the system had said: If I don't understand the basics, my creations will just fall apart.
Phoenix sat down on a nearby piece of debris, focusing on what he needed. He gathered wood, metal shards, and a few other materials and began to think through the process of making something simple. His eyes scanned the materials before him. An axe. That would be a good starting point.
Taking a deep breath, Phoenix thought about the mechanics of an axe: a sharp metal blade and a sturdy wooden handle. With that in mind, he focused again, this time speaking his skill's name aloud.
"Assembly."
The materials shifted, reformed, and clicked together before Phoenix's eyes. In moments, a fully formed axe appeared in his hands, its metal blade gleaming under the dim light of the setting sun.
Phoenix's breath caught in his throat. "It worked... It really worked."
He tested the weight of the axe in his hands, swinging it gently. It was perfect—a tool he could use to survive. This is my chance.
Phoenix wasted no time. He ventured into the nearby forest and began chopping down trees. His movements were swift, each strike of the axe cutting into the bark. He worked tirelessly until he had a good amount of wood, then dismantled the logs and used his skill to reassemble them into wooden planks.
[Wooden Planks x5 Obtained]
With the planks in hand, Phoenix smiled, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. But the work wasn't over. He had a shelter to build.
He looked around for a moment, considering the environment. He needed to camouflage his shelter to keep it hidden from any wandering monsters or other survivors.
The dead trees around him caught his attention. They were dry and brittle, their branches broken and scattered. Phoenix moved quickly, gathering up the dead wood and leaves from the surrounding area. He stripped the trees of their remains, creating a thick layer of camouflage material.
Using his wooden planks, Phoenix assembled a small shelter that could fit just one person. It was basic, but sturdy enough to keep him safe. Instead of using nails, he fused the planks together using his assembly skill. It was efficient and seamless, leaving no trace of construction materials.
When it was finished, he covered the frame with the branches and dry leaves, making it nearly impossible to see unless you were standing right next to it.
He stepped back, taking in his work. The shelter was nearly invisible in the midst of the broken forest. Phoenix felt a sense of pride in his small creation.
"This will do," he muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "It'll keep me safe."
He crawled into the shelter and lay down on the rough ground. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Phoenix knew that he had to keep moving, keep surviving—but for now, he had a small sanctuary. A place where he could rest and recover before facing whatever came next.
"I'll survive. I'll make this work."
The wind rustled through the trees, but inside his shelter, Phoenix closed his eyes and allowed himself to rest, ready for whatever challenges Monster Terra had in store for him next.