Chapter 13: Forest’s Whisper
After a few swings of his shovel, Ace earned a new passive skill.
[You have obtained a new passive skill—Excavator (I)]
[Excavator (I)—Passively improves digging speed and efficiency, allowing you to move earth and excavate materials with less effort.]
The dirt seemed to melt under Ace’s boots. In no time he was so deep his crew had to lean over the edge to spot him. Using the packed walls for footholds, he climbed out and looked around.
"Not bad," he said. "We’ll carve out enough room for all of us to crash underground. While I keep digging, a few of you grab thick branches and leaves."
"Got it, Don Capo!"
Ace thought about building a ladder but ditched the idea. A simple dirt staircase would do and cost everyone less sweat.
Branches and leaves soon piled up beside the pit. Ace vaulted out and waved the crew closer.
"To hide our scent and stay outta sight, we need a solid roof. We’ll weave the branches, smear wet dirt over the gaps, then cover everything with leaves. One hole in, one hole out—simple."
None of the guys knew knots, so Ace gave a quick lesson. They lashed the branches into a rough lid full of gaps. Ace grinned, scooped a shovel of soil, and splashed some drinking water on it.
"Stream water’d be better, but the other team’s still out," he said, kneeling to mix the mud.
The others followed his lead, slapping mud over the lid until it blended with the forest floor.