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    could use skill tomes for study, but on the other, without them automatically granting the skills, he didn''t really think they''d be as helpful as pre-system books for him personally.


    The Total Outdoorsman Manual, which covered both hunting and a fair amount of survival skills. He traded this for the hunting book he had before.


    The Ultimate Survival Manual: 333 Skills That Will Get You Out Alive sat only a few books away. 333 skills was a no-brainer in this situation, though Levi had little hope that they''d all translate as such in the system. But he also felt like he''d be able to intuit which would and wouldn''t. Most of the content should be helpful in some way or another. And having access to that many potential skills to reset Parched Soul was nice.


    The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency, and had to grab that too.


    ''Crap,'' Levi thought. Out loud, he said, "I need to get out of here before I try to take the shelf, too."


    didn''t ask," Levi countered.


    because Grace was so rough around the edges that she was able to connect with him.


    and Profession," Grace insisted.


    good Witch, but rather good at being a Witch... this entire conversation is why.


    Exactly," Levi answered with a grin, glad to finally feel like he was winning.


    Ding. Enriching Experience has reset Parched Soul of the Sage.


    Parched Soul of the Sage has been paused for 36 hours.


    here a single conversation granted him more than he''d expected with all the work he had planned.


    SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT


    The final person has arrived in the safezone. 150/150


    ...yada, yada, yada...


    Adapt and survive. Grow and prosper.


    ''Feeed me, feeed me,'' on repeat.


    ''Fuck talking to the goats,'' she thought.


    ''Cows it is,'' Paige thought.


    ''She doesn''t have any more food. Let''s go.''


    "Relax, babygirl, you are trying way too hard." A voice said. Paige couldn''t quite locate it, but as soon as she felt something brush against her leg, she no longer had to.


    male calico cat. A healthy looking one, as far as Paige could tell. That was beyond rare. Borderline impossible.


    "Indeed, I am a specimen to behold. And the pleasure is all yours."


    "Well aren''t you as sharp as my dullest claw. Yes. I''m talking. That''s okay though, I don''t need my ladies smart anyway," the male calico said, as he rubbed against Paige''s other leg.


    "Hey, sweet thing, I''m trying to help you out." The cat added a flick of a tail. "Chill baby."


    with a broken spine." Paige paused to take in a calming breath.


    "Well, I guess I''ll throw you my best guess. You''re trying to use your Ability on domesticated animals. That''s like trying to give catnip to a hamster. Sure, it will probably eat it, but it won''t appreciate it quite the same.


    As far as me being such a smooth talker, your guess is as good as mine. I have no memory of even thinking about speaking before that Ability touched me."


    "Oh honey, no one responds to anything quite like me. And the Ability is called Beastspeak? I like that... I just FEEL it... you know," the calico said with another flick of his tail. "But based off my feeling, your best bet would be that old billy goat over there. He''s so horny, he may as well be feral."


    "Sweetheart, I kill three times more than I eat per day, for the fun of it. My reaction time is faster than anything I''ve ever faced. I can take care of myself. And if you were smaller or we were bigger, you''d be on the menu. We cats are simply smart enough to know what is good for us. If you need to call that domesticated to feel better, I won''t stop you."


    "Don''t touch me you filthy whore."