POV : FORT BONE
After the Red Fairy left with her usual flourish, Atlas wasted no time. There was always something requiring his attention, and he had spent way too much time already. The Leadership Council had taken over the integration of the new refugees, a task that required patience and diplomacy. They were also overseeing the induction of the 30 surviving Chinese soldiers into Fort Bone. While the council handled that, Atlas had more pressing matters.
He moved swiftly toward the settlement kiosk, its soft blinking light beckoning him. It had been too long since he last checked, and the notification about the new structures was beginning to bug him. As he reached it, he let out a breath, eager to see what had been unlocked.
Like a man hitting refresh on a website, he mentally selected achievements, to bring up the notification again.
‘‘ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED:‘‘
‘‘TITLE: WORLD CONQUEROR ‘‘
‘Description: Ooh, look at what you've done. Smashing a whole continent? Good job, boy. Next, you’ll be taking over the whole world!‘
‘‘BONUS:‘‘ As the first person to take over a continent, you'll receive walls across all your territories. Extra perk….they come with watchtowers.
‘‘‘
‘Watchtowers and walls, yes please,‘ Atlas thought, excitement creeping into his chest. ‘Continent-wide walls. An enormous structure, protecting everything he’d built and everyone who lived under his rule.‘ The thought of this pleased him greatly.
There was a prompt allowing him to teleport to the exterior of Fort Bone’s territory. He didn’t hesitate.
In a flash, the air around him shimmered, and the world warped before snapping into place.
BRZERP!
He found himself standing before the colossal barrier, his eyes widening at the sheer scale. The walls towered above him, a towering testament to his growing empire. They were level 2, just one step below his castle, which was now level 3. Each stone, each brick, seemed to hum with power, strong and unwavering. He reached out, running his hand along the cool, solid surface. It felt almost alive with potential.
He looked down the length of the wall. It stretched as far as the eye could see, a seemingly never-ending boundary that marked the edge of his domain. He squinted, spotting the watchtowers in the distance. They were spaced about an hour apart, tall and proud, watching over the land. Currently unmanned, it didn’t do much to prevent attacks but the potential was there.
‘Impressive,‘ Atlas thought, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. This was more than just protection; it was a symbol of his growing power.
The system had designed it well. He could traverse the walls on foot if needed, but the real genius lay in the teleportation system. Small groups could be teleported between the watchtowers with ease, creating a rapid response network that could cover vast distances in no time.
Atlas’s mind raced with the possibilities. If he stationed soldiers in each watchtower, they could teleport to the adjacent ones at will. Each tower could hold up to 60 men, meaning he could create a powerful rapid response force in any location within moments. Add some roaming patrols, and his entire continent would be nearly impenetrable.
He exhaled, the weight of defending his empire no longer seemed as tough. This was security, not just for him but for everyone who lived here. The refugees, the soldiers, and the civilians—they would all be safe behind these walls.
‘But,‘ Atlas realized, ‘I’ll need more men to guard it.‘
The refugees that had come in were plentiful, especially with the 800 new arrivals that had portaled in, and the 30 surviving Chinese soldiers added to his forces, but he still needed more. The walls, the watchtowers, and the lands in between required manpower. His current forces weren’t enough to cover such a vast territory.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. This wasn’t just about having walls—it was about maintaining them, and filling them with people who would protect the empire from whatever threats may come.
‘Time to run a recruitment campaign,‘ Atlas thought, feeling the familiar tug of leadership. He would need to mobilise resources, reach out to the refugees, and offer them something worth fighting for. There were plenty of able-bodied men and women among the new arrivals. They just needed direction, purpose.
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This task wasn’t one he could handle alone. He needed people he trusted to organize it, to make sure the recruits were trained and properly stationed. His mind immediately went to Isabella. She had proven herself time and again as the head of security for Fort Bone. Now, it was time for her to expand that role.
Isabella would be in charge of the security of the entire empire.
With that thought, Atlas took one last look at the walls stretching into the horizon. He could almost see the future—the towers filled with soldiers, the walls unbreakable, and his empire thriving behind its protective barrier.
But there was still much work to be done. These walls were a beginning, not an end. His empire was growing, but it was far from complete.
Atlas realized the immensity of the project he was about to hand off to Isabella and decided to see if Amber could assist her in it as well. Together, they would oversee recruitment, training, and the distribution of forces. Atlas had confidence in them. They had never let him down.
He opened the teleportation interface in the watchtower and went back to Fort Bone.
BERRZOP!
‘‘‘
Isabella was hunched over a table in the Wasted Tavern, carefully reviewing the latest adjustments to her restaurant plans. The sketches for a new wing that would serve as a private dining area were scattered across the table, along with some notes for Barbara on possible menus.
She was mid-thought when Atlas strolled in, catching her attention with a knock on the doorframe.
“Isabella, I need to tell you something about the new walls,” Atlas said, his tone casual but firm.
Isabella straightened up, wiping her hands on her apron. “What about the walls?”
“We've got them—new ones. Full upgrades for the entire empire, plus watchtowers. It’s part of the reward for the last conquest,” he explained.
Isabella’s eyes lit up. “Watchtowers? That’ll make a huge difference for security. I’ve been meaning to suggest something like that for ages. When does it start?”
“The walls are up already. But the important part is how we use them,” Atlas said, stepping into the room. “With all the new potential threats popping up, we’ll need to rethink our defense strategy. I need you to make sure your security team is ready.”
Isabella nodded, already mentally preparing the adjustments she'd have to make. “I’ll handle it. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll shift the patrols to cover the watchtowers. This is exactly what we needed.”
Atlas smirked. “I figured you'd appreciate it. It’s all coming together.”
Isabella chuckled, rolling up the plans on the table. “Finally, some good news. I’ll make sure we’re ready for whatever comes next.”
‘‘‘
POV : MOHAMMED TRAVELING
The trio gathered in the serene environment of a Celestial Empire tea house. The room was softly lit by paper lanterns, casting a warm glow on the delicate wooden carvings lining the walls. A quiet hum of chatter filled the air, mixing with the soft clink of white and blue porcelain teacups. Outside, courtesans in flowing robes fluttered between customers, offering smiles and grace as they poured tea.
Mohammed leaned back, his eyes tracing the detailed architecture of the building, but his mind was far from calm. The possibilities of their plan hung heavily between them.
“We’re standing on the edge of something massive,” Mrs. Harrington said, swirling her cup of green tea. “America United is rough, sure, but that’s what makes it ripe for control. These cowboys play by frontier justice, and that’s something we can use to our advantage.”
She placed her cup down gently, her fingers drumming against the table in thought. The structure of power in America United was clear—those with the most force ruled, and with her business acumen and Mohammed’s wealth, they could easily become the ones calling the shots.
Victoria, always calm and calculating, nodded in agreement. “Celestial Empire is more…delicate. But it’s already built on a stratified system of courts and power brokers. If we infiltrate that system, if we play our cards right, we won’t need to strong-arm our way in. We can maneuver through the bureaucracy. And once we’re in, we’ll have full control.”
Mohammed’s mind raced. ‘They’re both right‘. Each town had its own potential, and with the power vacuum in both, they could set themselves up as shadow rulers of not just cities, but entire continents. ‘Fort Bone on one continent, and America United and Celestial Empire on two others? Those could be ours. Money has no barriers.‘
“The Red Fairy’s tax exemption gives us the perfect launch window,” Mohammed said, his voice laced with excitement. “A month without taxes means these towns will be thriving. We can funnel our mana coins into setting up arenas in both places. We’ll have a big stake in the economy before anyone realises what’s happening.”
Mrs. Harrington smirked, her fingers still lightly tapping the table. “Frontier Justice in America United, with its cowboys and saloons. Stratified courts here in Celestial Empire, all playing their roles in some power game they don’t even realize they’re part of. And us? We’ll be the puppet masters pulling the strings from behind the scenes.”
Victoria sipped her tea, her eyes focused and unblinking. “Each continent will be a base, like Fort Bone is for Atlas. Three continents. Three empires. And we’ll control them all.”
Mohammed nodded, his heart beating faster as the vision of their future took shape. “One month. That’s all we need. We’ll set up the arenas immediately, make sure the coins flow, and then…we gain economic control.”
The plan was ambitious, but Mohammed knew they had the resources to make it happen. His mana coins could fund the entire operation, and with the experience Mrs. Harrington and Victoria brought from their time in the corporate world, they’d know exactly where to push and pull to get what they wanted.
With that, the three finished their tea and stood, their mission clear. They would build an empire spanning continents, with arenas fueling their power and wealth.