Symbiotic: Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Bright and early, (Some time before noon), Sara awoke and dragged herself out of bed and down to grab a bite of breakfast.

She stretched and admired her form as her body, newly enhanced from overnight growth energy improvements from her stored Crustal Devourer sample, hummed with eager power.

Core Stats (Commander Bonus 400%)

• Body: (39) 156

o Force: 39 (Effectiveness 400% = 156)

o Speed: 45 (Effectiveness 400% = 180)

• Mind: (35) 140

o Thought: 41 (Effectiveness 400% = 164)

o Knowledge: 35 (Effectiveness 400% = 140)

• Soul: (40) 172

o Self: 43 (Effectiveness 400% = 172)

o Sum: 43 (Effectiveness 400% = 172)

[Free Stat Points for allocation: 7]

Physical Defense 156 (+20 Armor +20 Shield) = 194

Mental Defense: 140 (+20 Armor +10 Shield) = 170

Soul Defense: 172 (+20 Armor +10 Shield) = 202

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Knowing there was more to do to make the Valley safe before she could think of exploring the valley or leaving to find more fun, Sara reaches out to Tas.

Sara closed her eyes, focusing her mind on her goal. She no longer needed to walk to the well or touch the Control Crystal directly. Through her Territory Authority link, she reached out, and Tas answered instantly.

The small green spirit shimmered into view in her mind’s eye, bowing with practiced grace. “Viscount Sara Bloom,” Tas said, voice soft and resonant. “You wish to review construction options for Haven Valley and its linked Territories.”

Sara nodded. “Yes Tas. Thank you for waiting.”, she said in part apology for shutting her off last night to relax. Immediately, the System prompts unfolded across her vision like a glowing lattice of choices:

[Territory Build Options – Haven Valley / Crystal Cavern Mines]

Village Improvements:

• Housing Expansion (Common) – Increase population capacity.

• Granary (Uncommon) – Boost food storage and reduce spoilage.

• Market Square (Uncommon) – Enables trade routes and merchant stalls.

• Workshop (Uncommon) – Basic crafting and repair facilities. Further details on options available.

• Temple / Shrine (Rare) – Provides morale and Soul stat boosts to inhabitants.

Resource Enhancements:

• Irrigation Channels (Common) – Improve farm yield.

• Ranch Pens (Common) – Increase livestock growth and stability.

• Timber Mill (Uncommon) – Refine wood into construction materials.

• Quarry Upgrade (Uncommon) – Boost stone output.

• Crystal Refinery (Rare) – Enhance crystal purity and yield.

Defensive Structures:

• Palisade Walls (Common) – Basic perimeter defense.

• Watchtowers (Uncommon) – Early threat detection.

• Militia Barracks (Uncommon) – Train and house defenders.

• Defensive Barrier Node (Rare) – Integrates with Control Crystal for Territory wide shield.

• Offensive Emplacement Node (Rare) – Integrates with Control Crystal for anti raid / anti siege weaponry.

• Gatehouse (Uncommon) – Control access to village center.

Advanced Options (Locked – Require Exploration/Resources):

Tas folded her hands, luminous eyes steady. “Recommendation: Begin with the Granary and Palisade Walls. Food stability ensures growth, and defenses ensure survival. Once secured, a Market Square will open trade routes, increasing resource flow. Lastly on the list of initial recommendations… It’s better to have Offensive capabilities BEFORE you need them than after, I would recommend acquiring Offensive and Defensive Nodes when possible. These are the standardized priorities for a developing Territory.”

Sara smirked faintly. “Practical. Food, walls, then prosperity and defense. You sound like a practical one.”

Tas tilted her head, a faint smile flickering across her glowing face. “I sound like you, Viscount. I am your extension.”

Sara exhaled, gazing at the shimmering prompts in her mind.

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Sara leaned back against the wall of the tavern, closing her eyes to focus on the mental tether. “Tas. What are the costs for the Granary, Walls, Market Square, and the Nodes?”

The green spirit shimmered into view in her mind’s eye, bowing slightly before answering.

[System Notification: Construction Costs – Haven Valley]

Granary (Uncommon): 5 TAP / 2,500 SC

Palisade Walls (Common): 3 TAP / 1,500 SC

Market Square (Uncommon): 6 TAP / 3,000 SC

Defensive Barrier Node (Rare): 10 TAP / 5,000 SC

Offensive Node (Rare): 12 TAP / 6,000 SC

“As for amounts”, Tas continued, “To fortify the valley entrance itself you will likely eventually need around 12 walls and at least two of each Offensive and Defensive Node, as well as the Reinforced Gatehouse. I know it’s a lot. But, eventually, it will become necessary. It always does,”, Tas says almost sadly.

Tas folded her hands, luminous eyes steady. “Your additions of the Tidal and Devourer Shards, combined with your personal 25% Commander bonus, have increased your TAP generation from 0.01 per hour to 0.3 per hour. In the last twelve hours, you have earned 4 TAP, bringing your total to 54.”

Sara’s brows rose. Tas continued, voice calm and precise:

“Estimated TAP gain: 7 per day while you remain in Haven Valley, or 5 per day if you depart. Resource gathering has also begun. At current rates, you will earn 8,000 SC per day while present, or 6,000 SC if absent. All numbers are expected to grow as improvements are made.”

Sara exhaled, considering the glowing menu of options. Expansion meant food, trade, and growth. Defense meant safety, shields, and deterrence.

Tas tilted her head, her voice soft but firm. “The challenge before you, Viscount, is simple: do you expand first… or defend?”

The Control Crystal pulsed faintly in her vision, as if waiting for her choice.

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Sara leaned back in her chair, the glow of the Territory prompts fading as the numbers settled in her mind. Nineteen TAP spent. 21 left. SC down to 129,000. The valley was already shifting. Walls rising and the gatehouse reinforcing the Valley entrance, the granary and market square foundations humming with System energy. The offensive and defensive nodes pulsed faintly in her vision, like guardians waiting to be tested.

She exhaled and reached through the mental tether. “Tas. Other than finishing off the walls at the valley entrance, is there anything I’m overlooking that would benefit the village most?”

The green spirit shimmered into view, bowing before answering.

[Territory Assistant Advisory]

Current Priority Achieved:

• Food Stability (Granary x1)

• Trade Potential (Market Square x1)

• Defensive Perimeter (Palisade Walls x4 + Gatehouse x1)

• Node Integration (Offense x1 + Defense x1)

Tas lifted her glowing hands, weaving new prompts into Sara’s vision.

“Recommendations, Viscount Bloom:”

• Housing Expansion (3 TAP / 1,500 SC): “Your population is already nearing one hundred. Growth will strain current housing. Expansion ensures morale and productivity.”

• Workshop (4 TAP / 2,000 SC): “Crafting and repair facilities will allow villagers to refine resources locally, reducing reliance on trade imports.”

• Watchtowers (3 TAP / 1,500 SC): “Early detection of threats at valley edges. Complements your walls and gatehouse.”

• Shrine or Temple (Rare – 7 TAP / 3,500 SC): “Provides morale, Soul bonuses, and strengthens loyalty. Villagers thrive when they feel spiritually anchored.”

• Irrigation Channels (2 TAP / 1,000 SC): “Improves farm yield. Food surplus can be traded or stored.”

Tas folded her hands, luminous eyes steady. “You have secured the basics. What you lack now is capacity and identity. Housing will allow growth. A shrine will bind loyalty. A workshop will empower self sufficiency. These are the next steps if you wish Haven Valley to flourish.”

Sara exhaled, considering the shimmering list. Expansion or defense had been the first choice. Now the challenge was subtler: growth or cohesion.

Sara leaned into the mental tether. “Tas. If I build a workshop, does a crafter just… appear?”

The green spirit shook her head gently, glowing spores drifting. “No, Viscount. The System provides the structure, but not the skill. Crafters must already exist among your people, or be recruited.”

Sara frowned. “So… do any of the villagers have crafting skills worth building for?”

Tas bowed slightly. “Yes. Haven Valley has a blacksmith of modest skill, capable of forging tools and weapons. In addition, two others show potential: a leatherworker and an engineer. Each would benefit from a dedicated workshop.”

System prompts unfolded in Sara’s vision:

[Workshop Options – Haven Valley]

• Blacksmith Forge (Common) – Supports weapon, armor, and tool crafting.

• Leatherworking Hall (Common) – Produces armor, clothing, and trade goods.

• Engineering Workshop (Uncommon) – Enables construction of mechanical devices, siege engines, irrigation systems, offensive and defensive upgrades, etc.

• General Workshop (Uncommon) – Multi-purpose crafting and repair facility.

• Alchemy Laboratory (Rare) – Enables potion brewing, reagent refinement, and advanced alchemical research.

• Enchanter’s Studio (Rare) – Supports magical item enhancement and rune inscription.

• Artificer’s Foundry (Rare) – Advanced mechanical and magical constructs (requires rare resources).

The list of Workshop options rolled on, but Sara interrupted with excitement as her eyes lit up at one entry. “Alchemy Laboratory… oh, yes. That’s the one. Tas, how do I learn Alchemy?”

Tas folded her hands, her glow intensifying. “If you ask the System, you will see that you have one Crafting Class slot available at Level 3. You may learn Alchemy immediately. Provided you have both an Alchemy Laboratory and an Alchemy Skillbook.”

Sara leaned forward, excitement bubbling. “So I could start brewing potions right away?”

Tas nodded. “Correct. The Novice Alchemy Skillbook is available in the System Shop for 1,000 SC. Once purchased and studied, you will unlock the Alchemy Crafting Class. From there, your skill will grow with practice, experimentation, and refinement.”

Sara smirked, already imagining shelves of glowing vials and bubbling cauldrons. “Alchemy it is. Finally, something that feels like magic I can shape with my own hands.”

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Sara’s mind filled with System prompts as she confirmed her choices. The green spirit Tas shimmered beside her, glowing brighter with each expenditure.

[System Notification: Construction Queued]

Workshops Established:

• Blacksmith Forge – 2,000 SC

• Leatherworking Hall – 2,000 SC

• Engineering Workshop – 2,000 SC

• Alchemy Laboratory – 2,000 SC

Total: 8,000 SC

(Around the village of Haven, three craftspeople paused in their normal morning routines as they received notifications that their workshops were being built. There was startled wonderment, confusion, then proud and eager cheers of excitement.)

Skill Acquisition:

• Novice Alchemy Skillbook Purchased – 1,000 SC

• Crafting Class Slot (Lv.3) Assigned: Alchemy

Upgrade Skillbook Path Displayed:

Journeyman Alchemy – 10,000 SC

Alchemist – 100,000 SC

Advanced Alchemist – 1,000,000 SC

Sara winced at the escalating costs. “That’s… steep. But at least I can start brewing now.”

Tas inclined her head. “Alchemy is a discipline of refinement. Each tier multiplies your potential, but also your investment.”

The prompts shifted again:

Improvements Scheduled:

Housing Improvements – 3 TAP

Irrigation Channels – 2 TAP

Improved Farmstead – 2 TAP

Total TAP Spent: 7

Remaining TAP: 14

The valley shimmered in her vision. New homes rose at the village edge, irrigation lines glowed faintly as water flowed more efficiently, and the farmsteads pulsed with healthier soil. Crops gleamed brighter, promising surplus yields and better trade value.

Finally, Sara confirmed the last addition:

Watchtower Constructed – 1,500 SC

Function: Early threat detection, aerial defense bonus

Above the valley entrance to the south, a tall wooden tower manifested on the western side, its crystal bound beacon scanning the skies. Villagers pointed upward, murmuring with relief. Better to know what was coming than to be surprised.

Tas folded her hands, her glow steady. “You have invested wisely, Viscount. Haven Valley now has the foundations of growth, defense, and craft. Surplus food will bring trade. Workshops will empower your people. The watchtower will guard against unseen threats.”

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