Chapter 3: The Weight of Leadership (edited)

The village was no longer just a village.

It was a fortress.

Thick wooden walls surrounded the settlement, standing tall and firm like silent sentinels. Inside, the once-simple huts had been reinforced, and the first crops had begun to sprout in the fields.

But none of that mattered if they couldn't defend themselves.

The recent battle had proven that others existed—other people, other tribes, other threats. And those who had attacked them weren't the only ones out there.

Which meant one thing:

They had to become stronger.

High above, the young man scrolled through his interface.

"New Civilization Milestone: First Battle Against Humans!"

"Unlocking Additional Features..."

New options appeared.