Daoist21c7x2

Elliot Dawn never believed in fate—until he opened a mysterious book that shouldn't exist. Inside, it spoke of an apocalyptic world ravaged by mutations and war. Before he could understand more, Elliot found himself thrust into that very world, transmigrated into the body of the Porcelain General—a commander whose existence was never meant to be.

Now trapped in a timeline that wants him erased, Elliot must survive as the Porcelain Commander, a title that offers no respect but keeps him weak and controlled. Guided by a lazy sloth-like system and hunted by forces that want him gone, Elliot uncovers the truth behind a world torn apart by mutations, deadly crystals, and power struggles between humans, mutants, and zombies.

The one man who stands at the center of it all is Sahir, the Ancient Messenger, who was supposed to erase Elliot—but for some reason, he hesitates. In a war-torn world where survival is a gamble, Elliot must navigate this twisted fate, learn the truth of his existence, and decide whether to embrace the power he never asked for or risk everything to change the course of history.

Return at Dawn: Beyond the wall (Bl)

Outside, the camp buzzed with activity. Soldiers were securing supplies, beasts of burden were being prepped for long-distance travel, and a large caravan was being reinforced with defensive measures. The sheer scale of it made Elliot pause.

Aurelian, walking beside him, noticed his expression. "The Maw isn't close. It'll take about a month to get there."

Elliot almost tripped. "A month? On foot?"

Kieran, who had appeared silently as ever, corrected him. "Not on foot. We'll be riding. But even with mounts, supplies, and favorable terrain, the journey will still take time. The wastelands between here and the Maw are unpredictable."

Elliot eyed the beasts being saddled—large, reptilian creatures with thick hides and six legs. He grimaced. 'Well, at least it's not walking. But I swear, if these things try to eat me…'

[System Notification: Mount Assigned – Sandrunner (Name Pending)]

'Oh, I get a mount? Fancy. Wait, name pending?' Elliot groaned. 'Don't tell me I have to name it.'

[Would you like to name your mount?]

[Understood. Temporary designation: Sandrunner #4. How uninspired.]

Elliot rolled his eyes but focused back on the discussion. "So what exactly are we going to be dealing with on the way there?"

Kieran crossed his arms. "Aside from the usual dangers—bandits, rogue mutants, and weather anomalies—there's been recent reports of increased activity from the Corrupted. If they're spreading toward the Maw, we might run into them sooner than expected."

Elliot frowned. "Corrupted? I don't like the sound of that."

[System Notification: Corrupted – Former humans or creatures overtaken by the Black Tide. Highly aggressive. Evolving rapidly.]

Elliot inhaled sharply. "You know, I was hoping 'corrupted' was just a fancy way of saying 'really rude people.' Turns out, nope."

Aurelian exhaled through his nose. "Which is why we need to be careful. The longer the journey, the higher the risk of an ambush. We'll have guards rotating shifts, scouts ahead of us, and backup plans in case we need to change routes."

Elliot looked over the caravan, noting the heavy reinforcements, additional supplies, and multiple armored units stationed near the front and back. "You're preparing for a full-scale war."

Kieran gave him a sharp look. "Because that's what this could turn into."

Elliot exhaled, running a hand through his hair. 'Great. Not even a moment to breathe.'

A soldier approached, leading one of the Sandrunners to Elliot. The beast let out a deep, rumbling sound as it stomped the ground, its yellow eyes narrowing at him.

Elliot stared at it. It stared back.

"Uh. It doesn't bite, right?" he asked, glancing at Aurelian.

Aurelian smirked. "Only if you annoy it."

Elliot groaned. 'Fantastic. A month of traveling with a giant, scaly maybe-biter. My life is going great.'

[System Notification: Bonding with your mount can improve travel efficiency. Try offering it food or petting it.]

Elliot eyed the beast. It snorted, exhaling hot air.

"...Yeah, we're gonna work on that later."

With some struggle, he swung himself onto the saddle, gripping the reins tightly. The Sandrunner shifted beneath him but didn't throw him off. He took that as a win.

Aurelian and Kieran mounted their own beasts, their expressions turning more serious.

"Let's move out!" Kieran called, his voice carrying through the camp.

With a heavy lurch, the caravan began its slow march forward, the sounds of hooves, wheels, and distant chatter filling the air.

Elliot exhaled. A month-long journey through unpredictable wastelands, a looming unknown enemy, and a growing sense that something was watching them from the shadows.

'First, survive the journey. Then, deal with the rest.'

The long road to Maw