POV : FORT BONE
After handling the issue of the walls, Atlas sought out Alexander. He found him near the training grounds, watching over a group of soldiers who were sparring in the dirt.
While it seemed like the soldiers of Fort Bone and the Portal Crushers were always stronger than the rest of the people arriving in the wasteland because of natural luck, that wasn’t the case. Talent was great, but hard work would always beat it. In the case of Atlas and the Portal Crushers, hard work plus talent was what made them so unstoppable.
Alexander was always calm under pressure, his ever-present John Deere hat tilted slightly as he studied the fighters, arms crossed, already thinking three steps ahead like a chess master on the battlefield.
Atlas approached with purpose. “Alex, I need you to get back on those dungeon hunts,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of urgency. “We’ve got to get the Faith settlement’s dungeon under control. I don’t think anybody’s in charge of it right now, and the last thing we need is a dungeon horde spawning out of nowhere.”
Alexander nodded, brow furrowing. “Yup, can’t have no dungeon spittin’ out critters in the middle of all this. Would be a real mess.” He tipped his hat up, his gaze meeting Atlas’s. “No problem, boss. I’ll get my boys on it right quick.”
Atlas felt a weight lift from his shoulders, but only slightly. “It’s not just that Faith dungeon. With all the marching between settlements, and the work on the walls, we’re spread thin. I don’t want to be blindsided by a monster explosion inside the empire.” The thought gnawed at him—monsters creeping out of the wilderness, unchecked, while his forces were occupied elsewhere. The whole system was like a delicate balance, and one wrong move could tip the board.
Atlas thought to himself that it was a good thing that, in this timeline, Alexander hadn’t been killed in a failed ambush and was now helping him lead the soldiers of Fort Bone.
Alexander spat into the dirt, then turned back to his men. “I’ve got about 200 good men at my disposal. I’ll split ’em into groups of 30. Mix of medics, porters, and warriors in each—cover all our bases. We’ll start mapping the area around the old Faith settlement and spread out from there.”
Atlas nodded. He trusted Alexander implicitly. The man was a natural leader, born with a sharp mind for tactics. “Make sure to keep me updated. If anything looks out of place—anything at all—I want to know about it. We can’t afford to take risks with this.”
Alexander gave him a lopsided grin. “You got it, boss. Just think of me as your safety net. Ain’t no dungeon beastie gonna catch us off guard.”
Atlas couldn’t help but smile, if only for a moment. Alexander had a way of lightening the mood with his rural charm, but Atlas knew the danger was real. There was too much at stake. Fort Bone was growing, new settlements were forming, and now with the added responsibility of the walls, the pressure was mounting. Any breach in security could unravel everything.
As Alexander turned to gather his men, Atlas’s mind raced with all the moving parts. Dungeons were unpredictable. One moment they were dormant, the next they could spew out horrors no one was ready for. And the Faith settlement was remote—far from the core of the empire, which made it even more vulnerable.
But with Alexander on it, there was no better man for the job. His 200 men, divided into small, nimble groups, would sweep through the wilderness, hunting for signs of the dungeon’s entrance and mapping every inch of the terrain around the cave. Each team had a blend of medics to tend to the wounded, porters to carry supplies, and warriors to handle any threats that emerged. It was a sound strategy, but even the best-laid plans needed flexibility. Atlas would make sure he was ready to support them at a moment’s notice.
As Alexander walked off, shouting orders to his men, Atlas felt a mix of relief and tension. The hunt was on, but the threat of dungeon spawn were always lurking, seemingly waiting for the perfect moment to strike. For now, he could only trust in his people and hope they would stay ahead of whatever dangers lay hidden in the shadows.
‘‘‘
POV : MOHAMMED TRAVELS
The group parted ways. Each had a task to complete before their empire could truly rise.
Mrs. Harrington headed back to America United, her face set in determination as she prepared to deal with the unruly cowboys. She would establish the first arena there, using the rough and tumble nature of the frontier town to her advantage. The cowboys respected power, and Mrs. Harrington knew how to show it.
Victoria, serene as ever, returned to the Celestial Empire. The task here was more intricate, requiring careful navigation through the court system. She knew this would take time, but once she secured alliances with the right officials, the town would be theirs to control from the inside out.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
As for Mohammed, he returned to Fort Bone. His task was to manage the logistics—moving the mana coins, setting up resources for the arenas, and ensuring that both towns were prepared for their rapid rise to power. He’d be the one orchestrating everything behind the scenes while his partners dealt with the front lines.
‘‘‘
The sun hung low in the sky by the time Mohammed arrived back at Fort Bone. The familiar cracked walls and bustling streets greeted him, but this time, he wasn’t returning to feel out of place. He was returning with plans that stretched far beyond this place. ‘Fort Bone is just the first step. They don’t even know it yet, but while they’re playing their little war games, I’m building an empire that’ll span three continents.‘
His first step was to talk to the leadership of Fort Bone. After gaining entry at the castle he walked in, escorted by two guards.
The council meeting was already in session when Mohammed entered. Atlas sat at the head of the table, looking as detached as ever, surrounded by his team: John, Isabella, Alexander, Amber, and Barbara. They were deep in discussion about some dungeon hunt on the eastern front. ‘As if that matters.‘ Mohammed kept his expression neutral. ‘Let them keep their focus on fighting for scraps. I’m after the real prize.‘
"Atlas," Mohammed began, his voice steady. He wasn’t here to beg for anything. If Fort Bone wanted in on his plan, fine. If not, he didn’t need them. "I need a word with the council. I’ve got an opportunity."
Atlas turned slowly, giving Mohammed a half-hearted glance. "What kind of opportunity?"
"An expansion," Mohammed said, not bothering to hide his confidence. "America United and Celestial Empire. Two cities ripe for the taking. If we make the right moves, Fort Bone’s influence—‘and my influence‘—will spread across three continents."
Atlas raised an eyebrow, but Mohammed could tell he wasn’t all that invested. ‘He’s barely interested in this. Fine by me. I don’t need him to care. I just need him to not get in my way.‘
"And why should I care about that?" Atlas asked, lounging back in his chair.
"You shouldn’t," Mohammed replied bluntly. "But I’ve got people on the ground already—Mrs. Harrington, Victoria. We’re setting up shop, and it’s going to be big. With or without Fort Bone."
Alexander leaned forward, grinning. “Sounds like a real home run, but what’s your angle here, Mo? What’s in it for us?”
Mohammed smirked. “I’m offering a partnership, not a handout. The arenas I’ve been building will pull in crowds like you’ve never seen. Mana coins will flood in, and we’ll be talking about serious growth.”
Isabella, ever sharp, narrowed her eyes. “And if we don’t bite?”
“Then I go it alone,” Mohammed replied easily. ‘It’s not like I need Fort Bone’s blessing. This is bigger than them.‘
Atlas sighed, leaning forward just enough to show a flicker of interest. "You’ve already got people in these cities. What’s the endgame, Mo? You aiming to replace Fort Bone?"
Mohammed smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Not replace. Expand. I’m building something that stretches beyond borders—something that’ll reshape how power flows. And Fort Bone can benefit from that, or it can keep fighting over territory like it always has. Your call."
John, always the pragmatist, spoke up. “You’re talking about big risks here. What happens if this expansion backfires?”
“It won’t,” Mohammed said confidently. “Because this is about economics, not war. America United is lawless—perfect for setting up shop. The Celestial Empire is steeped in tradition, but tradition bends when the right amount of coin is involved. I’m going to make it work because I have the vision to see past just one continent. I’m building something global.”
The council exchanged glances, clearly divided. Amber’s brow furrowed with doubt, while Alexander’s grin only widened. Atlas, however, still looked as if he couldn’t care less.
"You do whatever you want," Atlas finally said, waving a hand dismissively. "Just don’t screw up the mana economy with your teleportation fees. The rest doesn’t really matter to me."
‘Of course it doesn’t,‘ Mohammed thought. ‘All you care about is keeping things running here, but you’ve already lost the bigger picture.‘
“If you’re not interested, I’m fine with that,” Mohammed said, his voice casual. “But when this all takes off, don’t expect me to circle back. Fort Bone can stay as it is, and I’ll keep pushing forward.”
Atlas gave a lazy shrug. “Go ahead. It’s your gamble. The Fort Bone empire has never stood in the way of business. We won’t stand in your way now.”
The meeting wrapped up quickly after that, with only Isabella giving Mohammed a quick look on her way out. “You sure you know what you’re doing, Mo?”
“I always know,” he replied with a sly smile. ‘And when I don’t, I figure it out.‘
As he left the council room, Mohammed’s thoughts raced. ‘Let Atlas sit back and play at being a leader. While he’s worried about dungeons and skirmishes, I’ll be pulling in the real money. Mrs. Harrington, Victoria, and I—we’re going to be running this wasteland, and Fort Bone will just be another outpost under our banner.‘
‘‘‘
Watching Mohammed leave, Atlas furrowed his brow, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. He understood Mohammed's ambition, but spreading their influence across three continents seemed like an overwhelming task, especially with the skeleton hordes rearing their bony heads.
"Sure, Mohammed's idea has merit, but I wanted our economic power to radiate from Fort Bone," he muttered to himself. "We need to focus on consolidating our strength, not stretching ourselves thin."
He glanced at the map spread across the war room table, lines and markings indicating areas of interest and concern. The skeleton hordes were encroaching, and the last thing he needed was to divide their attention further.
Isabella spoke up, her swords gleaming with promise.
"What’s bothering you, Atlas?" she asked, her keen eyes assessing him.
"It's Mohammed's plan. Spreading our influence across three continents feels... ambitious. We’ve got enough on our plates with the skeletons, and I worry about overextending ourselves," he replied, rubbing his temples. "I’m glad he’s doing his own thing. We need to strategize carefully, making sure Fort Bone isn’t fighting on too many fronts."
Isabella nodded, her expression serious. "We can reinforce Fort Bone first, then build from there. A solid foundation is key."‘
"Exactly. We can’t let the skeletons catch us off guard. Our focus needs to be on strengthening our defenses and uniting our allies," Atlas said, his determination hardening. "Let's get to work on a plan that keeps our home secure before we consider expanding elsewhere."
With renewed resolve, he turned back to the map, ready to plot their next moves against the encroaching threats.