Defending What’s Mine

I lean against a tree, arms crossed, watching my two workers continue their tasks. The goblin still looks irritated, but it doesn't complain—just snaps off more Etherwood and tosses it onto the growing pile near my feet. My stone worker moves in its usual slow, mechanical way, methodically stripping bark and stacking resources like a machine.

I check my system.

Current Gold: 117

At my upgraded 9 gold per minute generation rate, I'll need nearly thirty-two more minutes before I reach the 400 gold required to recruit my first Guard Unit. That's too damn long.

Something about this world feels off. The air hums faintly, like it's charged with unseen energy. The forest beyond my claimed territory is still and silent, almost unnaturally so. I don't trust it.

I scan the tree line, my instincts kicking in. If this place has a day and night cycle, then there's a good chance that predators come out when it gets dark.

I tighten my grip on my spear. I can't afford to wait. I need to speed up my income and get that guard.

Turning to the goblin, I gesture toward the trees. "Faster."

It scowls but obeys, yanking down larger branches. My stone worker doesn't react—it just keeps going, steady and predictable.

Gold increased to 124.

Better, but still not enough.

Then I hear it.

A snap.

Not from my workers. Not from me.

From the trees.

I whip my head toward the tree line, lowering my stance. The goblin freezes, ears twitching, eyes narrowing. It heard it too.

Something's watching us.

I scan the shadows just beyond my claimed land. The forest is dense, but I feel it now—that weight in the air, that electric tension.

Then—movement.

Bushes rustle, and I see glowing yellow eyes peering out from the darkness. Not one pair. Not two. Three.

A notification pings in my system.

[Foreign Entities Detected]

Threat Level: Low-Medium

Possible Actions: Defend, Evade, Engage

Before I can react, the creatures lunge from the underbrush—three wild hounds.

They're bigger than I expected, their thin, matted fur stretched tight over wiry muscle. Their eyes gleam with unnatural light, and their teeth drip with something black. Poison?

I don't wait to find out.

"Spear up!" I bark, planting my feet and aiming forward.

The goblin worker doesn't cower—it growls. It grips a thick branch like a club, its red eyes locking onto the oncoming threat.

The first hound lunges for me.

I thrust my spear forward, and the stone tip pierces into its shoulder. It yelps, snapping its jaws at my weapon, but I twist the spear, shoving it back before it can latch onto me.

The second hound charges my goblin.

The little creature dodges with surprising speed, rolling aside before swinging its makeshift club into the beast's ribs. The hound yelps but doesn't stop.

The third hound leaps for my stone worker.

I grit my teeth. "You idiot, it's not a fighter!"

The hound bites into the stone unit's leg, but my worker doesn't even react. The beast might as well be chewing on solid rock.

I don't have time to focus on that—I have my own fight.

The first hound snarls and lunges again.

I sidestep, letting it pass me—then bring my spear downward, slamming the shaft against the back of its skull. The beast collapses, stunned but still alive.

A chime sounds in my mind.

[New Combat Achievement: First Strike]

+10 Gold Bonus!

I don't have time to celebrate.

The goblin is struggling. The second hound has pinned it down, jaws snapping inches from its throat.

I react.

Yanking the goblin dagger from my belt, I hurl it toward the beast.

The blade sinks into its side.

The hound yelps, jerking away from the goblin—just in time for my stone worker to swing its massive arm.

The impact sends the hound flying.

It doesn't get back up.

The last hound realizes it's alone now. Its glowing eyes dart between me, the goblin, and the unmoving corpse of its packmate.

Then it does the smart thing.

It runs.

I let it go.

I exhale, gripping my spear with sweaty hands. That was too close.

A notification pings.

[Battle Complete!]

Enemies Defeated: 2/3

+30 Gold Earned

I pull up my gold count.

Current Gold: 164.

Still not enough for a Guard Unit.

I curse under my breath. I need 400 to afford one, and at my current rate, that's still over twenty-six minutes away.

Unacceptable.

I turn to my goblin, who is still breathing heavily, and point at the fallen hound. "Strip it down."

It blinks, confused.

I point again. "Fur. Bones. Anything valuable."

After a moment, the goblin grumbles and kneels beside the corpse, pulling out my dagger and getting to work.

A notification pops up.

[New Resource Acquired: Wild Hound Pelt]

+20 Gold

[New Resource Acquired: Sharp Bone]

+10 Gold

[New Resource Acquired: Poisoned Fang]

+15 Gold

I grin.

That's an extra 45 gold. If every corpse nets me this much, then combat isn't just a threat—it's profitable.

I quickly check my total.

Current Gold: 209.

Better. But still not enough.

I need to push my workers harder.

Turning to my stone unit, I gesture toward the trees. "Collect more."

A notification pings.

[Passive Income Increased: +11 Gold per Minute]

At this new rate, I'll reach 400 gold in just under eighteen minutes.

Still too long.

I roll my shoulders, breathing deep. I can't afford to be defenseless for that long.

My eyes flick to the darkened forest. The hounds weren't the worst thing out there—I know that much.

I grip my spear and step closer to my goblin, who's still working on the corpse. "Faster."

It glares at me but obeys.

I glance up at the night sky. The stars here don't match Earth's. They burn brighter, shifting like living things.

This world is alive.

And it's only a matter of time before it tests me again.

I need that guard unit.

Soon.