Barney Senior stepped toward the battlement, his gaze distant. He stood there, unmoving, so Jack, unsure what else to do, walked over and joined him. They stood together in silence for a while, the wind tugging at their sleeves.
Finally, Senior spoke. “The stone’s voice…” He paused. “Most people think building is just stacking rocks. But real stonework—it starts with listening.”
He nudged the wall beneath their feet with the toe of his boot. “Every stone has a mean...
2025-10-20 17:43:49 +0000 UTC
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The reveal phase began.
His opponent had played a card in their defensive lane. It flipped, shimmered, and the hologram of a sea otter sprang to life. The creature stood upright, wearing a necklace made of shells and holding a rock in one of its paws. Water dripped from its sleek fur.
On the other side of the board, the other otter units perked up. They raised their heads and squeake...
2025-10-17 15:54:02 +0000 UTC
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After jogging all the way from the Masons’ Association to the house being renovated by the Barneys, Jack arrived flushed and eager, ready to learn how to make mortar.
Junior spotted him rounding the corner and waved from the scaffolding before hopping down with surprising agility for his size.
“You sure are a fast runner, young man. How’d it go at the association?”
“Everything went smoothly,” Jack replied, catching his breath. “I showed them your token, and the...
2025-10-15 18:00:05 +0000 UTC
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As Jack approached the two bickering men, the sharp clink of trowels against stone grew louder. Now that he was close, he could get a better look at what was going on. The pair of masons was working on an older building. Like the rest of the city, it was made from dark volcanic stone, neatly cut and tightly fitted. Scaffolding clung to its face, where the younger man was methodically smearing mortar into each joint.
“What do you mean you didn’t pack extra, Junior?” the older man s...
2025-10-14 08:19:36 +0000 UTC
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Back home, Jack finished wrapping a length of grass cord around the section of the metal axle where the cylinder would sit, then dabbed it with glue. The twine added friction; the glue would lock everything in place once it set.
Jack lined up the cylinder and guided it down the shaft. It slid smoothly until it reached the twine and caught. He pressed down, holding the cylinder in place while counting under his breath. The scent of the glue, tangy and acrid, curled up from the joint. Aft...
2025-10-13 08:32:52 +0000 UTC
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The snakes crawling up and down the walls of Viper’s castle reared their heads and hissed challengingly at Deckard.
But Viper’s [Nest of Snakes] didn’t go unanswered.
Deckard’s own landmark, [Harmonious Island], emerged gently from the space just before the castle’s walls, the sound of crashing waves blending into the game’s soundscape. The contrast between the two landmarks couldn’t have been sharper—surf against hiss, calm against menace.
His opponent’s e...
2025-10-12 12:20:36 +0000 UTC
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Heat shimmered against the kiln’s glass at Ashengate’s Pottery Association. Jack kept a close eye on the clay barrels inside.
The yellow bars hovering above the ten clay cylinders in the kiln were almost full. He only needed four barrels per pot bot, but he’d made extra, just in case. It was better to have spares than come up short.
Making the cylinders had been simple enough. First, he’d created a perfectly flat piece on the wheel, then cut it with a string at the bottom,...
2025-10-08 18:00:06 +0000 UTC
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The Pot-Bot recipe was by far the longest he’d ever seen.
Recipe for: [Pot-Bot]
Ingredients:
Pot
2x [Medium Axles]
4x [Medium Wheels]
1x [Large Gearbox]
4x [Conveyor Belts]
4x [Logic Gearboxes]
1x [Large Crank]
1x [Toy Claw]
10x [Gear Wheels]
18x [Spring Clamps]
…
He kept scrolling. And scrolling. And scrolling.
The recipe sprawled across sections. “Mechanics… Logic...”
But then came the part that ...
2025-10-07 18:00:07 +0000 UTC
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It was the third round of vase-boosted toy assembly. The XP bar inched forward, little by little, until the system chimed in celebration.
Congratulations! You’ve reached Level 6 in Tinkering.
Bard and Tinkering synergize.
You've learned a new melody: [Plushy Cacophony].
“Yes! Another synergy!”
Skills and recipes unlocked through synergy were the most valuable. Although Tinkering was starting slowly, at leas...
2025-10-06 18:07:38 +0000 UTC
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The final card on Deckard’s side was revealed.
From the waters surrounding his castle, a deep ripple surged outward. A shadow stirred beneath the surface—then the [Turtle Mother] rose. Her barnacle-studded shell broke the water with a slow, deliberate roll. Water streamed down her massive form as she gave a deep, resonant grunt, then lumbered into position on Deckard’s defensive lane.
Jack quickly found a guide that explained everything Marty hadn’t. It had been put together by a generous player who’d laid out a step-by-step walkthrough for assembling the toy mouse. A series of screenshots illustrated exactly what to do.
“Thank you, InspectorGadget. You deserve a medal,” Jack muttered. “Okay, let’s see here. Step one: Secure the gearbox to the baseplate.”
The gearbox was barely larger than a die, with fine grooves etched into its sides and a faint...
2025-10-02 07:18:37 +0000 UTC
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Hello everyone!
This week has been packed with exciting news—I’ve got not one, but two new audiobook release dates to share! 🎧✨
📘 2025-10-02 07:14:08 +0000 UTC
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Hi friends,
Jack has given the VRX helmet back to José.
Which leaves him with two choices: return it or use it and join the gaming scene. Which would you like to see happen the most?
Best regards,
Cássio Ferreira
2025-10-01 14:32:54 +0000 UTC
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Hello friends,
Union 4 is Out! 🎉 And that means the celebration is officially underway!
📚 Hidden Class: Pacifist is on promotion all week—grab these while they last:
🗓️ Sept 30 – Oct 6: Books 2, 3, and 4 are on Kindle Countdown deals (ep...
2025-10-01 14:21:40 +0000 UTC
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The two deliverymen came downstairs, dusting off their hands as they entered the kitchen.
"All done," one of them said. "Capsule's installed, power's hooked in, diagnostics are clean."
"Thanks," Jack replied. "Appreciate it."
The second man handed over a slim, laminated folder. "Just a few reminders. The capsule lets you dive longer, but Nexus Co. strongly recommends stepping out at least once every forty-eight hours and staying out for at least an hour."
Jack nodded. ...
2025-10-01 14:17:13 +0000 UTC
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Jack had returned to his house. It still felt like an alien thought—his house.
The vases were untouched, just as he’d left them, and so was the legendary item resting near the door to the back patio.
Splitwood Rod (Legendary)
A rod fashioned from a piece of Scindere Acacia, a tree species that has gone extinct. It releases a vinegar-like scent that mysteriously influences bees.
Durability: ∞
...
2025-09-30 15:07:12 +0000 UTC
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Deckard put away the sandwich wrapper as he walked back to his house.
He usually tried to eat more healthily than this, but his conversation with Nevan had stretched well into lunchtime. Before he knew it, his stomach was growling, and he ended up getting a chicken sub.
Now, he walked the streets, stepping on dried leaves with a satisfying crunch. Something childish, he knew—but he still liked the sensation.
He’d had a good time chatting with Nevan. However briefly they...
2025-09-26 18:20:35 +0000 UTC
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Jack sat cross-legged on the wide plank floor of the treehouse, scrolling through potential bushcraft upgrades.
He pulled up the details of the item they'd earned as a reward for completing a full Breach run.
Golden Village Creation Cube (Legendary)
His Majesty, the King of Eternia, no longer wishes to remain confined within the twin-walled Rings. He has declared it time to reclaim the lands beyond—and has entrusted a select few with the authority ...
2025-09-25 15:29:07 +0000 UTC
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Jack studied the girl as he approached.
What is she—fourteen? Thirteen? he wondered.
Her gear was impressive. Every piece shimmered with a thick blue aura.
She’s fully covered in mid-imbued gear! He gulped. How much did this loadout cost?
She stood still, hands folded in front of her, glossy black hair falling in a neat curtain short of her shoulders. Her skin looked pale against the glow of her armor, and her wide eyes tracked the ...
2025-09-23 21:11:55 +0000 UTC
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Greetings, friends!
How are you all doing? Mondays can be tough, but hang in there!
I’ve got some exciting news: Book 4 of Hidden Class: Pacifist will be out in audiobook format next week! 🎧
To celebrate, I’m running...
2025-09-22 09:56:30 +0000 UTC
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Author's note:
Hello friends! I hope you had a nice weekend.
I mentioned in Book 4 that Jack used the scrimshaw technique while crafting. After some thought, I’ve decided to turn it into its own upgrade instead. This opens the door for some fun developments later on. Earlier references will be adjusted accordingly. Happy reading!
******
Jack scratched his chin as he considered his options. There were so many things he could...
2025-09-22 09:40:22 +0000 UTC
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Senn hesitated one last time before taking a deep breath.
“T.H.E.I.,” he said. “It’s an acronym—Transgenic Hybridization and Exploitation Initiative.”
“W-what now?” Deckard frowned. All this time, he thought Ronan had just been being ominous—they this, they that. Turns out, he’d been saying T.H.E.I. An actual organization.
Senn let out a deep burp—Zulmerian, apparently, for either frustration or a grudging confirmation.
“They...
2025-09-19 13:52:41 +0000 UTC
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Jack barely noticed the miles slipping by. His thoughts were too loud—his father’s condition, his mother's tears, and the ticking clock pressing down on him.
Stacked on top of that were schemes for earning coin and leveling up at record speed, each idea more reckless than the last.
Part of him wanted to be outside the game, beside his parents. But what good would that do if he couldn’t fix anything? He needed results. He needed a way to save his father.
The urgency mad...
2025-09-17 12:02:12 +0000 UTC
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Jack’s avatar materialized in the Vulpine Woods.
Pale moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting a mottled glow on the forest floor. Night birds called in the distance. The tall silos of the Agropastoral Institute loomed in shadow—dark silhouettes against the sky, unmoving and eternal.
Just before the Breach run, he and his team had carried that egg through here, ducking branches and dodging frenzied foxes like fools. It felt like another life, one that had been carefree, ...
2025-09-16 10:02:39 +0000 UTC
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Jack walked down the corridor. Even after washing his face, he still felt groggy. The dive had been long, and the battles grueling. But it was all worth it. They’d beaten the Breach. Earned legendary gear. And somehow, they’d managed to take down the Slayer too.
After a night like that, everyone had agreed: today was a rest day.
He started down the stairs, wondering if his mom was making pancakes. He could already picture the day ahead—a jog, a stop at his favorite café, ma...
2025-09-15 11:01:30 +0000 UTC
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Deckard had subconsciously wandered back to the NPC he’d spoken to earlier—Janine.
“Hello,” he said.
“StubbornTiger!” she greeted him with a warm, genuine smile. “Glad to see you back. You’ve made quite a name for yourself—seven wins in a row? That’s impressive.”
“Thanks,” he replied, a little guarded.
“We like to keep exceptional players motivated,” she continued, reaching behind the counter. “Here’s a little something we give to thos...
2025-09-12 12:55:59 +0000 UTC
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Author's note:
Hi everyone!
This is the second of two chapters about the Breach written from the bees' perspective.
I hope you enjoy it
********************
The hive had known hardship, and it had known cold. But now, it knew strength.
The storehouses brimmed with honey—thick and golden—the fruits of countless flights and tireless labor. Comb after comb gleamed under the gentle, warm breath of thousan...
2025-09-10 13:12:26 +0000 UTC
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Notes spilled out of Jack’s time field, rippling outward like water disturbed by a pebble. Inside the bubble, the melody sounded normal—steady and controlled. Outside, it probably came through like a lullaby on fast-forward. Or so Jack guessed.
Marie’s accelerated damage output and Jack’s incoming debuff caught the Slayer’s attention. Even while locked in a stun, his eyes flicked toward them, nostrils flaring like a bull who’d seen a red cloth.
If he could hear it...
2025-09-09 10:58:58 +0000 UTC
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Author’s Note: You might notice the chapter number looks a bit higher than expected. That’s because I'll squeeze two bee chapters into Book 4.
Welcome to a brand-new arc! Here’s the opening chapter of Book 5: The Tinkering Mason.
*********************************
Jack grimaced. The whiplash from triumph to dread hit like a punch to the gut.
They’d fought so hard, becoming the first in the game’s history to beat the ...
2025-09-08 07:29:51 +0000 UTC
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Deckard glanced at his opponent. Even though he couldn't see her play, he could still read her expression.
She was torn—caught between awe and excitement. Awe, because she was facing someone whose very first move had been to drop a Legendary. Excitement, because she had a solid board presence: two creatures down and a trap armed and ready.
Deckard, on the other hand, had only a Landmark in play.
She’s definitely going to pile on the offense, Deckard thought, adj...
2025-09-05 12:12:52 +0000 UTC
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<...
