<25 September 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+> [Theo] After Theo, Julia, and everyone else had returned, they were greeted by an excited Kreldar who had a slab of stone for them. They thanked him and told him they would process the ents in the morning.

Theo and Julia quickly went to sleep after eating dinner. Upon waking, they were joined by the others for breakfast. Then Theo opened his Dimensional Storage and, with the help of Renno, Fred, Joshua, Ordus, and Kreldar, pulled the bodies of the Ents and Lions out. Then he directed the Monster processor to help it move itself.

For the first time in a long time, Theo remembered how disconcerting the fleshy table with tentacles was. It took three openings of the Dimensional Storage skill to get the table out. When it finally settled into the dirt and its tentacles burrowed to hold it in place, Sarah happened to be walking by with Skully.

"What is that?" Sarah asked.

"That is quite interesting." Skully said, "Where did you get the Corrupted parts to make that happen?"

Theo quickly explained what the Monster Processor was, and even Identified the fleshy table for Sarah to see.

Identification of Target Subject: Flesh Warped Monster Processor Level: N/A Mana Density: A+ Class: N/A Special: Neuro-Spinal Interface Grid Species: N/A Other: N/A Description A grotesque fusion of living flesh, rugged stone, and embedded crystal veins, shaped by warped runes to break down monster corpses and extract usable materials. Charged with leftover System energies, it not only boosts material yields but occasionally produces rare, unpredictable byproducts or fragments of System essence.

Neuro-Spinal Interface Grid: Special Effect: When processing monster brains, spinal cords, optic nerves, and related neural clusters, the Processor will attempt to extract combat-related data and responsive motor sequences into one of the following:

Reflex Node: A crystallized motor impulse. Can be socketed into constructs, traps, or tools to grant instantaneous response behavior. Examples: Motor Node: A dense mass of neuro-muscular encoding. Used in crafting quick-reacting components for golems, automated defenses, or beast harnesses. Combat Tactic Node (Rare): Encapsulates the tactical behavior of the processed monster. Grants temporary knowledge or bonus performance against that species or subtype.

Value: 271G_62S_03C Status: N/A

"It looks slimy," Sarah said.

Theo chuckled, "It does, doesn't it?"

"Okay. I'm gonna go play now." Sarah said, nodding to no one in particular. "Come on, Skully. Bye, Mister Theo."

With that, the little girl skipped away, chatting happily with the skull that she never went anywhere without. A few moments later, Velna followed suit. Theo smiled at her. "Stuck on babysitting duty?"

Velna shook her head, "I am watching her for many reasons, but it was not long ago that I was simply waiting for death. Now I can keep up with a six-year-old child. The System is terrible, but amazing."

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The old woman smiled again and headed off after Sarah. Theo turned back to the monster processor, grabbed a Lion from the pile, and brought it over to the Monster Processor. The two large tentacles on top lashed out and started manipulating the corpse as Theo pulled out his master tool and triggered the process to speed up the work.

[Julia] Julia watched from a ways away as Theo, covered in blood and guts, worked his way through the third lion. She wondered what she should do, and decided that she wanted to take a look at her Skill combination token. She pulled the item out of her pouch and Identified it.

Identification of Target Subject: Skill Combination Token Level: 15 Mana Density: A+ Class: N/A Special: System Granted Token Species: N/A Other: N/A Description This Token is bound to, and only usable by, User Julia Sorrin.

This token, when used, will let the user select a Skill and be shown all possible skills that will combine with it. The user can then select up to five skills that will be combined into one skill.

Token will not be consumed until the combination is complete.

Value: N/A Status: N/A

Julia was intrigued, so she focused on the Token.

>Private Message: Please indicate which skill you would like to use as a foundation for the combination.

Julia immediately selected Bond.

>Private Message: Invalid Selection. >Private Message: Please indicate which skill you would like to use as a foundation for the combination.

Julia then did the only sane thing that she could, and tried with every one of her skills. Of her fifteen skills, five were not valid selections. She also noticed that while switching between her valid choices, some of the invalid selections were able to be combined into the new skill, but not as the foundation. Bond and Identify were the exceptions, remaining an invalid choice every time.

The most interesting combination that she found was based on her newest skill, Cradle of Currents, and combined Warmth of the Hearth, Hearthmade, Bound Teleport, and Hearthwarden's vigil with it.

The System did not give her any other information, but something about the combination felt right. Julia was tempted, but in the end canceled the combination. "I will talk it over with Theo first."

With that, she stood up and went over to help Theo, who was taking a moment to move materials from the Processor into his Dimensional Storage.

[Theo and Julia] As Julia approached, Theo smiled at her. "Hello, beautiful. Give me a kiss."

He then spread his blood-covered arms and made exaggerated kissing noises at her. Julia let out a playful sound of disdain, "Filthy man!"

They both laughed, and Julia quickly stepped in to help him. As they worked, Julia filled him in on what she had discovered about the Token.

"Well..." Theo said, schlepping the next lion into place, "...what do you want to do?"

"I don't know," Julia said as she moved processed meat from where the Monster Processor was depositing it into Theo's Dimensional Storage. "That's why I wanted to talk to you."

"Okay, well, do you think that it will be a good skill?" Theo asked, and Julia shrugged, "Well, we depend on your Ward and Retaliate skills more than anything else, other than Bond that is. But we also heavily rely on Warmth of the Hearth."

"That's what I was thinking." Julia said, "I am worried that I might lose the healing ability."

Theo was silent for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't know that it would be a bad thing. It might change how we have to operate, but it might be good for us in the long run, and good for everyone else too."

Julia nodded, considering what he had said, and the options before her as they worked, and the sun rose to its midday point.

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