Eren stood at the heart of Gravemire, watching as the village stirred to life in the early morning light. The scars of the previous night’s raid were still evident: bloodstains on the dirt paths, splintered barricades, and the tired but determined expressions of the villagers. Despite the hardships, there was progress—a hint of resilience in the air.
He opened his Village Status Menu, reviewing Gravemire’s current state.
[Gravemire: Tier 0 Settlement]
* Population: 15 (2 Wounded).
* Resources:
* Wood: 45.
* Stone: 20.
* Iron: 30.
* Food: Stable (Enough for 3 days).
* Morale: Encouraged (+20).
* Structures: Palisade (60% Durability), Forge (Functional), Resource Depot (Missing).
Eren exhaled sharply. A single raid had pushed Gravemire to its limits. Without swift action, the next assault would shatter what little progress they’d made. He needed more hands, better materials, and skilled workers.
“I know where to find them,” Eren muttered, the memories of his past life sharpening into focus.
Eren summoned the villagers for a morning meeting, standing on the crude platform that served as the town square’s focal point. The villagers, weary but hopeful, gathered in a loose semicircle, their eyes on their Lord.
“The bandit raid proved one thing,” Eren began. “We’re vulnerable. But we’re not helpless. Gravemire survived because of your efforts, and now we’re going to rebuild—better and stronger than before.”
He gestured toward the distant northern cliffs. “There’s iron beneath those rocks. Enough to forge weapons that will arm every one of you. There’s wood in the western grove, stone in the riverbed, and game in the highlands. We’ll need it all.”
A few villagers murmured nervously. “Milord, we’re just farmers and smiths,” one said. “What if the bandits return while we’re out gathering?”
Eren raised a hand, his voice calm but resolute. “Shadow and Fang will patrol the area, and Torvald will oversee the forge while I scout for reinforcements. Trust me—Gravemire isn’t just surviving. It’s growing.”
The villagers nodded, their fear giving way to determination. The system chimed:
[Village Quest Updated: Rebuilding Gravemire.]
* Objectives:
* Gather 50 units of wood (0/50).
* Gather 30 units of stone (0/30).
* Gather 40 units of iron (0/40).
* Recruit skilled NPCs (0/3).
* Defend the village during resource expeditions.
As the villagers dispersed, Eren approached Torvald, who was already inspecting the salvaged bandit weapons near the forge.
“Torvald,” Eren began, “start reforging these into something usable. Focus on spears and arrows. We’ll need them soon.”
Torvald nodded, setting to work with a hammer and tongs. Eren’s gaze shifted to the path leading out of Gravemire. He knew exactly where to find the people and resources Gravemire needed—it was just a matter of reaching them.
In his previous life, he had ignored many of the hidden opportunities around the Ashveil Highlands, chasing short-term gains and glory instead. This time, he wouldn’t make the same mistake.
THE NORTHERN CLIFFS (IRON VEINS)
Eren led a small party of villagers to the northern cliffs, where he had already scouted a rich iron vein the day before. The Dire Wolves, Shadow and Fang, padded silently at his side, their glowing eyes scanning the surroundings.
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“Stay alert,” Eren said as the villagers unpacked their tools. “Shadow, Fang—patrol the perimeter.”
The wolves vanished into the underbrush as the villagers began mining. The rhythmic clink of pickaxes echoed against the cliffs as chunks of iron ore broke free.
Eren joined in, using his pickaxe to strike a large deposit. A system notification appeared:
[Resource Collected: Iron Ore (5 Units).]
“Good pace,” Eren said, nodding at the workers. “Let’s keep moving.”
Shadow returned with a low growl, his ears flattening. A system alert chimed:
[Hostile Creatures Detected: Cave Crawlers (Level 4, Tier 2).]
From a nearby cave emerged three spindly, insect-like creatures with jagged mandibles and glinting carapaces. The villagers froze, their tools clattering to the ground.
“Stay behind me!” Eren shouted, unsheathing his sword.
Shadow and Fang lunged at the creatures, their snarls filling the air. Shadow sank his teeth into the neck of the first crawler, snapping its spine, while Fang darted around another, biting into its legs and toppling it.
Eren charged the last creature, dodging a swipe from its serrated limbs before driving his blade into its thorax. Green ichor sprayed as the crawler writhed and fell still.
[XP Gained: Eren (Level 7 → Level 8), Shadow and Fang (Level Up).][Loot Acquired: Chitin Carapace, Venom Sac.]
The villagers cheered nervously as the last creature fell. “Back to work,” Eren said, wiping his blade. “The more iron we gather, the safer we’ll be.”
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THE WESTERN GROVE (WOOD SUPPLIES)
Eren returned to Gravemire to swap teams, sending a group of villagers westward to harvest lumber. He knew the grove well—it was home to a cluster of Twilight Oaks, prized for their sturdy, fire-resistant wood.
Shadow remained on patrol while Eren worked alongside the villagers, wielding a borrowed axe. The grove was quiet, save for the rhythmic chopping of wood and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
A notification appeared after a particularly large tree fell:
[Resource Collected: Twilight Oak Wood (15 Units).]
“Good haul,” Eren said, resting his axe. “We’ll need more for barricades and the resource depot.”
The last part of Eren’s plan was to recruit capable NPCs to strengthen Gravemire’s defenses. His first target was Zeyra, a reclusive beast tamer known for her ability to control monsters. He led Shadow and Fang to a hidden outpost in the highlands, where Zeyra lived among her trained beasts.
The outpost was modest—a wooden cabin surrounded by pens holding a variety of creatures. As Eren approached, Zeyra stepped out, her piercing green eyes locking onto him. Her black hair was wild, and she carried herself with confidence.
“You’ve got guts, bringing Dire Wolves here,” she said, nodding toward Shadow and Fang. “Taming beasts like those takes skill.”
Eren dismounted, meeting her gaze. “Gravemire needs someone with your talents. Join me, and I’ll make sure you have the resources to tame and train beasts from every corner of Aldara.”
Zeyra raised an eyebrow. “And what makes you think I’ll work for you?”
Eren smirked. “Because I know about the Ashveil Predator that’s been stalking your outpost. Let me take care of it, and then we’ll talk.”
Zeyra studied him for a moment before nodding. “Fine. But if you fail, don’t expect me to clean up the mess.”
Eren tracked the Ashveil Predator to a nearby ravine. The sleek, catlike creature emerged from the shadows, its metallic fur glinting in the sunlight. Its amber eyes locked onto him, and it let out a low growl.
“Shadow, Fang—flank it,” Eren commanded.
The wolves obeyed, circling the predator as Eren drew his sword. The battle was swift but brutal. Shadow leaped onto the predator’s back, sinking his teeth into its neck, while Fang darted in to cripple its legs. Eren delivered the finishing blow, driving his blade into the creature’s chest.
[Enemy Defeated: Ashveil Predator][XP Gained: Eren (Level 8 → Level 9), Shadow and Fang (Level Up).]
Eren skinned the predator, collecting its valuable hide and fangs before returning to Zeyra’s outpost.
Zeyra greeted him with a satisfied smile. “Not bad, Lord of Gravemire. I’ll join your cause—but I’ll need a proper taming pen and a steady supply of food for my beasts.”
“You’ll have it,” Eren promised.
By nightfall, Eren returned to Gravemire with Zeyra and the gathered resources. The villagers stared in awe as Zeyra led a pack of smaller, tamed wolves into the square.
“Gravemire isn’t just surviving,” Eren told them. “It’s growing. This is just the beginning.”
The system chimed:
[Gravemire Progress: Tier 1 Village Achieved!]
* New Structures Unlocked: Taming Pen, Resource Depot, Guard Tower.
* New NPC Recruited: Zeyra, Beast Whisperer.
* Morale Increased (+30).
Shadow and Fang howled, their cries echoing across the highlands as Gravemire took its first steps toward becoming an empire.