The morning sun crested the horizon, painting the violet sky with streaks of amber. Kael El lounged on the porch of his newly minted lodge, one leg propped on a stack of wood, a waterskin dangling from his fingers. His dark eyes scanned the plot—10,000 seedlings sprawled across the dirt like a green carpet, glinting faintly with unreal energy. A smirk tugged at his lips. Day 2, and I'm already breaking this world's rules.
He took a slow sip, unfazed by the absurdity of his loot. Back on Earth, he'd grinded games where a single rare drop took weeks. Here? One swing of an axe, and he was drowning in resources. Guess I'm the glitch they didn't see coming.
A soft ding broke his reverie, the system panel flickering to life.
"Day 2 of 7-Day Peace Period. Territory Progress: 550/1,000 Resources Gathered. Reminder: Secure a summon method to advance."
Kael's smirk widened, a flirty edge to it as he muttered, "Don't rush me, sweetheart. I'll get there when I get there." His confidence wasn't shaken—not by the ticking clock, not by the wilds beyond his plot. Pressure was just fuel to him.
He stood, stretching with a lazy grace that belied the steel in his gaze. The Mastercraft Axe gleamed in his hand as he sauntered toward the forest. Mana Crystal's the key. No altar, no summons. No summons, no kingdom. Simple math. His mind, sharp and strategic, churned through options. The 100 Wood and 50 Stone for the Summoning Altar were easy—he'd chop and quarry that by noon. The crystal? That'd take some hunting.
The forest loomed, its gnarled branches clawing at the sky. Kael stepped in, axe swinging with casual precision. Each tree fell in one hit, wood piling up as the system chimed relentlessly.
"Resource Gained: 20 Wood. SSS Talent: Additional Drop – 1 Vine Fiber. EX Talent: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quantity Enhanced: 10,000 Vine Fibers."
A tangle of shimmering vines spilled around him, enough to weave a small army's worth of rope. Kael chuckled, kicking a bundle aside. Overkill's my middle name now.
Three trees later, the ground trembled faintly. A glint caught his eye—a jagged Mana Shard poking from the soil, pulsing with a soft blue glow. His pulse quickened, but his expression stayed cool as ever. Jackpot.
"Ding! Resource Gained: 1 Mana Shard. SSS Talent: Additional Drop – 1 Elemental Dust. EX Talent: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quality Enhanced: Mana Shard upgraded to Mana Crystal."
The shard in his hand morphed, swelling into a fist-sized Mana Crystal, its glow intensifying until it hummed with raw power. Kael whistled, tossing it lightly. From trash to treasure. That's my kind of upgrade.
He strode back to the lodge, loot in tow. The forest had given him 60 Wood, 10,000 Vine Fibers, and the crystal—more than enough for the altar. His hands moved with practiced ease, the Mastercraft Tools turning raw materials into structure. Wood slotted into a circular frame, stone formed a base, and the Mana Crystal crowned it, locking into place with a resonant thrum.
"Ding! Summoning Altar Constructed. Territory Progress: 750/1,000 Resources Gathered. Summoning Unlocked: 5 summons/day (Territory Lv. 1 limit)."
Kael stepped back, admiring the altar—a sleek stone circle etched with glowing runes, the crystal pulsing at its center. Time to build my crew. He pressed a hand to the altar, voice smooth and teasing. "Alright, let's see what you've got for me."
The air shimmered, and a figure materialized—a woman, lithe and fierce, with crimson hair and eyes like embers. She knelt, voice steady. "Lord Kael, I am Lira. Perk: Blaze Crafter – +50% crafting speed, fire affinity."
Kael's grin turned flirty, his tone playful yet commanding. "Lira, huh? Pretty name for a pretty flame. Welcome to the team." She blushed faintly but held his gaze, a spark of defiance in her eyes. He liked that.
Before he could summon again, the system blared.
"SSS Talent Triggered: 100% Drop Rate. Additional Summon: 1 Subject. EX Talent Triggered: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quantity Enhanced: 10,000 Subjects."
The plot erupted in light. Figures winked into existence—thousands upon thousands—spilling across the land until the horizon blurred with bodies. Men and women, each with a unique Perk, stared at Kael in awe. A burly man with "Stone Shaper" stepped forward, then a girl with "Swift Farmer," then dozens more—builders, gatherers, warriors. The air buzzed with their murmurs.
Kael's laugh rang out, deep and unshaken. Ten thousand from one pull? This is why I don't play fair. He raised a hand, silencing them, his presence radiating cool dominance. "Listen up. I'm Kael El, your lord. You're mine now—my hands, my eyes, my strength. We're building something bigger than this world can handle. Got it?"
A chorus of "Yes, Lord!" rolled back, fierce and loyal. Kael's chest swelled—not just pride, but a protective edge. These weren't just pawns; they were his. He'd shape them, shield them, make them legends.
"Alright," he said, voice calm yet resolute. "Lira, take fifty builders. Start a granary. Stone Shapers, reinforce the lodge. Farmers, plant those seedlings. Move."
They scattered, purpose igniting the plot. Kael watched, leaning against the altar, unflappable as ever. Day 2, and I've got an army. Six more days to prep. Then we hunt.
The violet sky deepened. Kael's smirk held. Let the lords chatter. Let the Empress watch. I'm just getting started.
POV Shift: Lira
She hammered a plank into place, flames licking her fingers as she shaped it with her Perk. Her lord's voice still echoed in her mind—smooth, teasing, unshakable. He's no ordinary man. The sheer scale of his summons—10,000 souls from one call—sent shivers down her spine. She'd served no one before, but his cool confidence, that "don't mess with me" glint in his eyes, hooked her. I'll prove my worth. He'll see.