Defiance of the Fall

Well yes . So I suggest you improve your outpost as much as possible in order to have a chance at survival . - Abby nonchalantly explained , as if risking life and limb fighting demons was completely normal .

Well shit . So what do you suggest I build? - Zac hoped to get some guidance in order to create a good foundation for the outpost .

I’m sorry I am not allowed to guide your choices of buildings , building a proper base properly is also a test from the system . I am only allowed to provide information . The system doesn’t want to give too much direction or tips to newly initiated civilizations , as it wants to test their ingenuity . -

Yeah , the system is a real asshole , isn’t he? - Zac muttered . Abby’s pupil enlarged and looked around nervously . Apparently speaking ill of the system seemed like some sort of blasphemy , which Zac guessed made sense as the system essentially was a god . Maybe speaking ill of a being that could spawn portals which puked out demons was a bad idea after all he reflected and vowed to try to keep a lid on his mouth .

Err . . . Anyway . If you imagine the words - Outpost base’ a menu will appear with your options . Most of the options are unavailable at the start , but more and more gets unlocked as your outpost grows into a town and further . You use the Nexus coins you have to buy the upgrades , and you can get more coins from various sources . Nexus coins are the official currency of the multi-verse , and the only one used when trading with the system . - Abby said , seemingly eager to change the subject .

This answered the question Zac had about the coins in his status screen . He still wasn’t sure why he had 5100 of them though .

Wait , is there some connection between Nexus Coins and Nexus Crystals? - Zac asked , remembering the rewards from his quests .

Not really . Nexus Crystals are a cultivation resource in the multi-verse . Both cultivators and mortals can absorb cosmic energy from them . The higher grade the more energy it contains , and the faster you can absorb it . -

Well at this time I would normally have time to answer some specific questions about the different buildings , but we’re out of time . Good luck Zac . If you somehow survive this remember me when you create your town! - It seemed the time for the outpost tutorial was coming to an end . Abby seemed to hesitate a bit but then apparently came to a decision .

You… You should really try to complete the quests within a month , or at least within two months . That would… - She didn’t get any further before a heavy pressure suddenly bore down on the camp . Abby’s pupil dilated and red squirming veins appeared all over the eye . And suddenly she was gone .

Zac wasn’t sure , but it didn’t feel like this was how she was supposed to disappear , as she appeared completely without him noticing . He had been able to sense something that could almost be anger in the pressure that descended . Had Abby been punished for what she said at the end?

Complete the quests within a month… - he mumbled , trying to glean any hidden meaning . Something obviously happened because of those sentences . If the system punished her for lying it could only mean Abby wanted him to run to his death like an idiot . But if it was for unduly helping it might be an important clue to help him stay alive . That meant something likely happened to the world or the incursion after a month had progressed . Something that was bad for him .

He just couldn’t figure out why the Stargazer would just help him like that , even risking the wrath of the system , as she had already explained it didn’t like her giving undue guidance . Zac couldn’t figure out any real reason for that yet , and could only put it aside for now . Instead , he followed her instructions and mentally thought - Outpost base’ .

Suddenly a new window popped up in front of him . But while it still had the blue background and white borders , it rather reminded him of a web store than an old school RPG game . There were multiple categories of buildings and add-ons to choose from to the left and a seemingly unending number of products in the main window .

Zac took a bottle of now tepid water from the cooler the demonling had been rummaging through earlier and retreated to the camper . The suns were starting to set , which was a relief to Zac , as it proved that at least the daily cycles remained in the world , giving some normalcy .

Unheeding of the bloody mess inside , he cracked open a tin of beans from the cupboard . Luckily they had stocked the camper well before the trip , as they had planned to spend a week on the road , and most of it was non-perishables . He still had food and water for at least two weeks unless he gorged himself .