Jarek stood in his tower, staring out at the red haze of Redstone. The Dustwalkers moved below, their short lives ticking away under the weak sun. The screen on the wall buzzed with voices from other rulers, their words sharp and fast.
"—millions of planets? I'm done. I'll just bow to the Star League and hope they don't crush me," one said, laughing nervously.
"You? Bow? Weren't you bragging about your fancy spirit race five minutes ago?" another shot back.
"Doesn't matter. The Star League hates anything that's not human. They'll call you a freak and burn your whole world to dust. Ever hear of a Purge Order?"
Jarek's gut tightened. A Purge Order. He'd seen the term in old games and stories—total wipeout, a planet's worth of life snuffed out with one big weapon. The Star League sounded like trouble, and Redstone wasn't ready. Space was huge, sure, but he knew they'd cross paths eventually. If the Dustwalkers stayed weak, they'd be ash before they could fight back.
"If only they could live longer," Jarek muttered, running a hand through his hair. Twenty-five years wasn't enough to build anything big—not a fleet, not an empire. "Flesh just holds them back."
Right then, a new voice broke into his head—calm, mechanical, different from the one before.
"Host detected in need. Activating the Forge System."
Jarek blinked. "Forge System? What's that?"
"Forge System online. Binding complete."
"Your strength will grow with your world's power. The stronger Redstone becomes, the more you can build—faster, bigger, better."
"New ruler bonus unlocked: Starter Pack."
"Open it," Jarek said, his pulse picking up. This could be the edge he needed.
"Starter Pack activated. You've gained the 'Steel Path' option."
"Steel Path: Your people can shed their frail bodies and become machines—strong, endless, alive forever."
"Warning: This choice is final. No going back."
Jarek didn't hesitate. The Dustwalkers were dying too fast—flesh was a chain, not a gift. Machines didn't tire, didn't crumble under the sun. "Steel Path," he said firmly. "Let's do it."
A hum filled the air. Outside, the ground shook as strange, sleek structures rose from the dust—tall rigs and glowing pods, sprouting like metal trees. The Forge System at work. Jarek stepped to a console, its screen flashing with a broadcast option. He hit it, his voice booming across Redstone.
"Dustwalkers, listen up. Our lives are short, cut down by this sun's curse. You feel it—every year, every crack in your skin. That's the weakness of flesh." He paused, letting it sink in. "But now, we've got a way out. We can leave our bodies behind and become steel—unbreakable, undying. Like me, you'll live forever. No more fading in the dust. We'll rise, build, and take the stars. Flesh fails. Steel endures. Who's with me?"
The response was instant. Across the city, the Dustwalkers cheered—hoarse, cracked voices rising into a roar. They'd lived with death too long; this was hope. A few held back, unsure, but most rushed to the new rigs. Over weeks, the change swept Redstone. One by one, they stepped into the pods—flesh traded for circuits, bones for metal. When they emerged, they gleamed: tall, sharp figures of steel, eyes glowing red in the haze.
Jarek watched from the tower, a grin tugging at his lips. The Dustwalkers were gone. In their place stood the Steelborn—immortal, fearless, ready. The screen flickered with chatter from other rulers:
"—my people just built a ship in a day. What's happening?"
"Mine turned into robots. I'm freaked out, but they're strong!"
"Star League's not gonna like this. They hate machines almost as much as aliens."
Jarek didn't care. Let the Star League come. Redstone wasn't a weak speck anymore—it was a spark, growing hotter. The Steelborn could work forever, build forever, fight forever. He named this year the First Forge, the start of something unstoppable.
Outside, the wind howled, but the Steelborn stood tall, their metal bodies shining in the dim sun. Jarek clenched a fist. The galaxy was waiting, and he'd make it his.