The buzzing hum of the game pod echoed in Eren’s ears as the system calibrated. It felt so familiar, like returning to an old friend—but there was something surreal about this moment. His heart pounded as the countdown appeared in his HUD.
"Welcome to Eternal Dominion. Initializing your character..."
This was it. His second chance. A chance to undo the mistakes he had made in his previous life. A chance to rewrite his story.
---
Before the Beginning: One Week Earlier
Eren stretched in his chair, glancing at the faint glow of his computer screen. The memories of his previous life weighed heavily on him. He had been a top-tier adventurer in Eternal Dominion, but his choices had left him bitter and regretful. He had ignored opportunities to build something lasting, choosing fleeting glory over substance. Worst of all, he’d squandered his relationships and lived a life of solitude until his untimely death in a tragic accident.
But fate—or some twisted sense of humor—had decided to grant him a do-over. Eren now found himself back in time, a full six months before Eternal Dominion’s launch. He was a freshman in college again, surrounded by familiar faces, and for the first time, the weight of future knowledge burned brightly in his mind.
This time, he wouldn’t make the same mistakes.
Present Day: Game Launch
As Eren stepped into the game world, the vibrant landscapes of Aldara unfurled before him. The Ashveil Highlands, a harsh volcanic region with jagged peaks and fiery skies, stretched out in every direction. Most players avoided starting here due to its difficulty, but Eren knew better. Hidden opportunities littered this unforgiving terrain, waiting for someone with the knowledge and will to claim them.
He glanced at the system prompt hovering in his field of vision:
Choose Your Starting Role:
1. Adventurer: A free-spirited explorer with access to diverse quests and skills.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
2. Lord: A ruler of a small village, responsible for managing resources, NPCs, and military forces.
Eren smirked. In his previous life, he had chosen Adventurer, chasing glory while dismissing the responsibilities of leadership. He had watched other Lords build empires, while he remained a wandering blade. Not this time.
"Lord."
The system chimed, and a new interface appeared, detailing his starting position.
Starting Village: Gravemire
Population: 15 (Malnourished)
Resources: Minimal
Status: Vulnerable
---
Gravemire: A Muddy Beginning
Eren’s boots sank into the muddy ground as he entered the dilapidated village. Shacks leaned precariously, and a broken well sat at the center, surrounded by a handful of downtrodden NPCs. Their gazes were hollow, but Eren knew better than to judge them by their current state. Gravemire would become the heart of an empire.
He approached the village elder, an aging man with a bent back and sunken cheeks. The elder’s voice trembled with weariness as he greeted Eren.
“Milord, you’ve come to lead us... though I fear there is little to lead.”
Eren nodded solemnly, scanning the status window for Gravemire. He already knew the layout by heart: a small iron deposit hidden beneath the northern cliffs, a nearby pack of aggressive wolves that would become early recruits with proper taming, and a broken forge that could be restored with minimal effort. These were his building blocks.
“Fear not,” Eren said, his voice firm. “We’ll rebuild this village, brick by brick. But first, we need to defend it.”
He opened his inventory, where his starting resources gleamed. 50 Gold Coins, a Basic Sword, and a Lord’s Starter Kit. While most players would squander these on cheap weapons or food, Eren had a different plan.
---
A Beastly Start
Eren’s first task wasn’t to build or recruit—it was to tame. He left Gravemire’s boundaries, climbing the rocky slopes of Ashveil’s foothills until he reached a secluded den he remembered from his previous life. Inside, the snarling growls of Dire Wolves echoed.
Eren crouched behind a boulder, peering into the den. A pair of wolves, their eyes glowing faintly red, guarded the entrance. In his past life, he had fought these creatures, killing them for their pelts. But now he knew better. Dire Wolves were among the best early-game mounts, fast and fierce with sharp instincts.
He pulled out a piece of Raw Venison, a low-tier taming item he had prepared before entering the game. Slowly, he approached the den, tossing the meat toward the wolves. Their ears perked, and one of them stepped forward cautiously, sniffing the air.
“Easy...” Eren whispered.
When the first wolf began eating, Eren activated the Tame Beast skill granted by his Lord class. A faint golden light surrounded the wolf, and a system message appeared.
Taming Progress: 40%... 70%... 100%.
You have tamed a Dire Wolf (Tier 2).
The wolf’s eyes softened, and it padded toward Eren, nuzzling his hand. A grin spread across his face as he mounted the creature, feeling the surge of exhilaration as the wolf bounded forward. He repeated the process with the second wolf, securing a pair of loyal mounts.
---
Returning to Gravemire
The villagers stared in awe as Eren rode back into the village on the back of a Dire Wolf. He dismounted, gesturing for the wolves to sit at his side.
“These are our first defenders,” he announced, his voice carrying authority. “With their help, we’ll protect Gravemire from threats.”
The villagers murmured in amazement, and their morale increased slightly, as noted by the system notification. Eren immediately set tasks for his villagers:
Repair the Well: Access to clean water would stabilize the population.
Clear the Forge: Essential for crafting weapons and tools.
Scout the Northern Cliffs: Locate the hidden iron deposit.
Eren knew this was just the beginning. He opened the World Map and traced his finger across the volcanic region. Gravemire would grow into a capital, a beacon of strength and resilience. But first, he had to secure its foundations.The sound of an alarm jerked Eren from his immersion. The game pod hissed open, and he groaned as reality intruded. It was time for his morning martial arts class, a promise he had made to himself to stay sharp in the real world.
His roommate, Tommy, leaned against the doorframe, grinning. “You’re up early. Don’t tell me you’re finally taking the real world seriously?”
Eren smirked, grabbing his bag. “Something like that. But trust me, the real fun is happening online.”
As he left for class, Eren’s mind raced with plans for Gravemire and the challenges ahead. This time, he wasn’t just playing the game. He was rewriting history, one step at a time.