Building the Foundations

As they began their journey back to the territory, Zoren and his allies moved with a shared sense of purpose. Along the way, they gathered materials from the forest, stripping thick vines and cutting down sturdy trees. They worked together to collect as much as they could carry, bundling the wood and vines into manageable loads. They also foraged for food, picking wild fruits and berries, their arms quickly filling with the spoils of the land. When they came across a large hog, Zoren signaled for a hunt. The beast put up a fight, but they brought it down swiftly, adding its meat to their growing stockpile.

By the time they arrived at the territory, the BeetleFolk's eyes were wide with shock. The landscape was a vast, empty grassland, stretching as far as they could see. There were no structures, no shelters—just open land with untapped potential.

"Where are the houses?" one of the BeetleFolk asked, bewilderment in his voice.

Zoren chuckled, a confident smile spreading across his face. "We'll just have to build them," he replied, his tone laced with determination. "This is where it all begins."

Without wasting any time, the group split into two teams. One team, led by Zoren, focused on constructing the wall to protect their new territory. They lashed the vines around the thick logs they had gathered, trying to create a sturdy barrier. The other team, under the direction of Rashka, began preparing the food, setting up makeshift fire pits and roasting the hog they had hunted.

However, as the hours passed, it became painfully clear that construction was not their forte. The wall they built was crooked and uneven, the logs barely standing upright, held together by vines that were already starting to fray. It offered little in the way of real protection. The city hall, intended to be the centerpiece of their new settlement, was no better. It was little more than a wooden frame with a flimsy roof, offering scant shelter from the elements. The structure looked more like a poorly constructed shack than the heart of a kingdom.

Zoren sighed as he took in the sight of their efforts. "Well, it's a start…" he muttered, trying to maintain some semblance of optimism.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[MAIN QUEST 2 COMPLETE!]

[REWARDS: 1000 Points, Random Skill Card]

[Since you have a City Hall and a wall, new inhabitants may be drawn to your territory.]

Zoren stared at the system notification, his brow furrowing in disbelief. He couldn't fathom how the ramshackle wall and barely-standing city hall had been recognized by the system. "I can't believe it..." he muttered, shaking his head. The structures were crude, hardly fitting of a kingdom, yet here they were, earning them rewards and the potential for new settlers.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, pondering the next steps. "Where do I even use these points?" he wondered aloud, more to himself than anyone else. As if on cue, the system responded with another notification.

[Points can be used at the Points Store Shop.]

[Points Store Shop unlocks at City Level 3.]

"City Level 3, huh? Guess we'll have to hold off on that for now," Zoren said, his tone a mix of curiosity and determination. Without wasting any more time, he swiped the screen to reveal the Random Skill Card. "Might as well see what we get," he murmured, tapping the option to generate the skill.

The card spun in mid-air before presenting three choices, each one floating before him as if suspended by invisible strings.

[Diplomacy (Passive)]

Enhances relationships with other kingdoms and factions.

[Military Strategy (Active)]

Increases the effectiveness of troops in battle for 60 minutes.

[Architecture (Passive)]

Provides advanced knowledge for designing and constructing complex structures, optimizing resource use, improving building efficiency, and ensuring long-term durability and aesthetic quality.

Zoren scanned the options, weighing their potential benefits. "Diplomacy could be useful down the line, and Military Strategy would give us an edge in battle... But right now, we need something to help us build." His decision was clear; with a decisive nod, he selected Architecture.

As soon as he made his choice, a rush of knowledge filled his mind, the intricacies of construction techniques, resource management, and architectural design flooding his thoughts. The overwhelming sensation faded quickly, replaced by a newfound clarity and confidence.

"Let's start over," Zoren said, his voice filled with renewed determination. "We'll rebuild the wall and city hall, this time properly."

His comrades, though tired, saw the resolve in his eyes and felt their own spirits lift. Together, they began the task anew. Using the materials they had gathered—thick logs and strong vines—they worked under Zoren's guidance. The wall took shape first, each log driven deep into the earth, standing ten feet high. They encircled the territory, ensuring the wall was even and sturdy, using the shield dome as a reference point to place the logs with precision.

[City Wall]

[Bonus: +5% Defense, +2% System Recognize Territory Expansion]

Zoren's eyes widened in shock as the notification appeared before him. "I didn't realize infrastructure could provide bonuses like this," he exclaimed, astonished by the unexpected benefit.

Next came the city hall, now positioned at the very center of the territory. Zoren led the construction, his newfound architectural knowledge guiding their efforts. The structure was far more solid this time, with a robust frame, reinforced walls, and a roof that would withstand the elements. It wasn't just functional; it had a certain aesthetic quality, a small but significant step toward the grand vision Zoren held for his kingdom.

[City Hall]

[Bonus: +5% to All Stat]

As they finished, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across their completed work. Zoren stood back, surveying the new city hall and the towering wall that protected their fledgling settlement. It was still humble, but it was a strong foundation to build upon—a beginning.

A new message appeared before Zoren.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You are the first in your server to build a sturdy wall and City Hall.]

[You gain a Title: First to Build a Sturdy House.]

[Title: First to Build a Sturdy House]

- Your walls and infrastructure are more resilient to siege, providing a 10% defense bonus.

"Awesome!" Zoren exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face as he read the notification. The sense of accomplishment was overwhelming.

Suddenly, a loud, ominous noise echoed through the air, reverberating across the server like a death knell.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[YOU ALL SURVIVED FOR 1 DAY!]

[Out of 10,000 players in this server, only 2,300 died! Few compared to other servers.]

[All who survived, here are your rewards.]

A system notification appeared before Zoren, startling him out of his thoughts.

[Rewards: System Update, Random Game Info]

A brief pause followed, during which he could almost hear the hum of the system processing in the back of his mind.

[SYSTEM UPDATING…]

...

...

...

[SYSTEM UPDATED!]

Zoren wasted no time, immediately opening the updated system interface.

[KINGDOM OVERVIEW]

Kingdom Name: Kingdom_1270548

Server: 204 Power: 9,034 City Level: 1

[City Level Up Info] [Event Calendar]

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Kingdom Skills: Art of War (P), Polyglot (P), Architecture (P), Appraisal (A)

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Title: First to Build a Sturdy House (P)

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Population: 52

Race: (3) Human: 1, Kenku: 1, Beetlefolk: 50

Zoren's eyes narrowed as he examined the new layout. "Nothing major changed," he muttered. The only notable additions were the City Level Up Info and an Event Calendar. His curiosity piqued, Zoren quickly tapped the Event Calendar.

[Event Calendar]

[Lohar's Event Starts in 48:00:00]

"Lohar's Event?" Zoren echoed, squinting at the screen. He attempted to check for more details, but nothing was available yet. "I guess we'll find out in two days."

Next, Zoren turned his attention to the City Level Up Info.

[City Level Up Info]

[City Level Up Requirements: Wall, City Hall, Archery Range, Scout Camp, Population 100]

"So, we need to fulfill these requirements to level up?" he mused aloud. "Alright, that's a task for tomorrow."

Finally, he activated the Random Game Info.

[Game Info: You are on a continent shaped like a square, surrounded by large, unclimbable walls. The area of this continent is 3,700,000 sq mi. In summary, you are in a big box.]

"As big as China…" Zoren muttered, the enormity of their situation sinking in. They were trapped in a colossal arena, where survival meant navigating a labyrinth of dangers and challenges.

While he was still digesting this information, one of the guards stationed on the newly reinforced wall called out, his voice tinged with alarm. "Master, we have visitors!"

Zoren's gaze snapped toward the gate. There, a group of feline humanoids stood, their fur matted and eyes weary from what appeared to be a long and arduous journey. They looked utterly exhausted, their bodies bearing the marks of battle and hardship.

"What are they?" Zoren asked, his eyes narrowing as he observed the newcomers.

"They're Khajiit," Kaen, leader of Beetlefolks, replied. "Known for their agility, stealth, and natural talent in trade and thievery."

Among the group, one Female Khajiit stepped forward, clearly the leader. His features were reminiscent of a humanoid black panther, his fur a sleek obsidian, and his eyes glowing with a mix of desperation and hope. "Please, we seek refuge," he pleaded, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "Our village was attacked by a group of Hogfolk... and one of them—a human—wielded powerful magic. Many of our people were abducted. We are the few who managed to escape."

Zoren's expression softened as he took in their plight. He could see the sincerity in the leader's eyes, the unspoken plea for safety. "Let them in," Zoren ordered, his voice firm yet compassionate. "Make sure they get food and rest."

Relief washed over the Khajiit's face, her bright eyes softening as she bowed her head in gratitude. "Thank you. My name is Nyx," she said, her voice full of sincerity.

The Khajiit entered, their relief palpable as they were ushered into the relative safety of Zoren's budding kingdom. Corvus quickly moved among them, healing their injuries with his magic. As they were given food and drink, Zoren couldn't help but feel the weight of leadership settling on his shoulders.