Through the black plains of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow, three figures cut through the night—a horse, a large-horned bull, and a white wolf. They raced eastward, their strides carrying them through the chilly breeze that characterized the region’s darkest hours.
The unusual convoy included not just the quadrupedal beasts but also their companions: a human, a hen, and an eagle. Two rode atop their mounts while the eagle soared overhead, its keen eyes scanning their path toward the Eternal Village. The animals showed signs of exhaustion from their round trip, while Jonn, though physically intact, bore the weight of mental fatigue from the day’s events.
An unseen threat lurked in the shadows of his territory, and Jonn knew he needed to prepare for potentially devastating losses. The loss of seven points was far from trivial—to Jonn, it signaled an alarming risk of casualties and possibly a catastrophic end for his people.
The only thing that gave him hope was that the quest was still progressing above zero. Had it been otherwise, his concern would have morphed into outright desperation.
In Jonn’s judgment, should the mission ever plummet to 0 out of 20, it would almost certainly herald the village’s complete annihilation. The thought sent a chill through him that had nothing to do with the night air.
His mind raced with preventive measures to implement at dawn. The situation demanded immediate action!
We must speed up our population growth, he concluded grimly. Nothing else I can do will have a greater impact on our survival.
The weight of the problem bore down on Jonn, manifesting as a dull ache in his temples. But he had no doubt—population growth was the village’s lifeline. He understood that Eliot and Elia couldn’t transform into formidable mages overnight, nor could he himself rapidly ascend to a level capable of single-handedly thwarting threats. The village, however, could undergo swift and significant changes with new inhabitants.
More people means more potential. We’ll have increased chances of awakening new mages, and a larger pool from which to draw and train dedicated warriors.
It’s settled. Once we complete the eastern expansion of the village, I’ll redirect all our builders. They should focus on recruitment efforts!
Jonn was aware of the risks of this strategy. Yet, he saw no alternative that offered a better chance of survival and prosperity for his people.
+1 progress point on the [Magic Farm] quest!
Quest completed!
Congratulations, you’ve earned 1 attribute point!
Congratulations, you’ve earned the Skill: [Commander]!
Congratulations, you’ve earned 1 Immortal Fragment!
Jonn’s vision was suddenly filled with a cascade of system prompts, accompanied by three small boxes with glowing plus signs in the upper corner of his field of view. Without hesitation, he allocated the acquired attribute point to [Endurance], causing one box to fade away. He then focused on the second box, deciding to leave the new [Commander] {Skill} for later examination. His curiosity was piqued by the mysterious [Immortal Fragment], prompting him to study further.
[Immortal Fragment].
Immortal Fragment—Animal Food
You’ve built a complex and rich animal community to feed and nourish not only your people but also enrich the soil with nutrient-rich feces and pure mana. Well done. Continue on the path you’ve started and take your magical animals to the next level, feeding more than just your small village. Save this world from starvation with your nourishing food!
Description: The Animal Food Fragment increases the productivity of the holder’s animals by 50%, increasing their magical growth rate by 20% and their [Race] bonus by 30%. The fragment’s holder will have a 100% chance of obtaining beasts from crossing their animals. The holder will have a 50% greater chance of finding animals willing to join their domain peacefully. The magic mark of the holder’s animals is decreased by 50%.
You have 1 of 5 Immortal Fragments. Gather 5 fragments to save the world and open the Dawn Gates!
Jonn’s eyes widened as he absorbed the means of the system’s message. The Animal Food Fragment wasn’t just a powerful tool—it was a piece of a greater puzzle, one with world-altering potential.
That… That good?
He marveled, his mind reeling from the sheer magnitude of the gift.
As if in response to his thoughts, Jonn felt a sudden surge of energy course through his companions. Windy nearly lost control, her newfound speed threatening to leave Roulf in the dust. Only Ice, with his natural swiftness, managed to keep pace.
Jonn witnessed the immediate effects of the increased [Race] bonuses from the Animal Food Fragment.
The boost in speed, a product of enhanced [Agility] and [Endurance], was evident in both Windy and Ice. Meanwhile, Roulf, though not as swift, had undoubtedly gained in combat prowess, his [Strength] and [Constitution] likely bolstered by the fragment’s effects.
Yet, it was the fragment’s other benefits that truly captured Jonn’s imagination. The prospect of 50% increased productivity and a higher chance of recruiting animals to the village was a game-changer. The bonus of concealing the animals’ magical signatures and speeding up their growth was icing on the cake!
These enhancements promised not just more food for the village, but also a faster path to building a formidable corps of protective beasts. Jonn’s earlier worries melted away, replaced by a surge of excitement for the future.
As he reined in Windy to allow Roulf and Veris to catch up, Jonn noticed a sparkle in his animals’ eyes. They seemed to process their sudden power-up, their gazes sharpening with new awareness.
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Only Veris, the level 2 eagle, appeared unaffected by the changes, merely noting the group’s increased pace as they approached their home on the horizon. It imagined that these creatures were speeding up because they were finally close to home.
Eager to understand the full extent of his new abilities, Jonn prompted the system to reveal details about his ultimate reward from the [Magic Farm] quest.
[Commander].
Commander
As a leader of a squad of beasts, you have the power to command them and strengthen them, as long as you are by their side. The {Skill} gives you the ability to raise the morale of your animals, make them understand you more easily and follow your commands more accurately. While using the skill, your animals will have a 10% bonus to all their attributes and the user can induce a berserk state in them, strengthening them by 100% for 1 minute.
Note 1: The bonus on attributes and the berserk state are limited to magical beings weaker in level than the user.
Note 2: The limit on the number of animals affected is 200% of the user’s [Mana].
Jonn’s brow furrowed as he processed this new information.
200% of my [Mana]? This must mean I can affect several animals whose combined [Mana] equals twice my own.
His gaze drifted skyward to the eagle accompanying them, and his mind leaped to the dinosaurs in Cecys’ group. A smile played at the corners of his mouth as he considered the implications.
This is a potent skill, he mused. While I may not bolster a vast army, I can double the strength of creatures with [Race] bonuses that already rival or surpass my own abilities. On a battlefield, that could be devastating!
Jonn’s respect for beast cultivation levels had grown significantly since he’d come to understand the influence of [Race]. He knew that even a mana-less Triceratops could pose a serious threat. The potential of commanding a group of level 1 Triceratops, enhanced and organized by [Commander], struck him as an awesome weapon against enemies.
It seems the system is grooming me for combat, he reflected. This is my first skill not directly tied to study.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he noticed a pattern emerging. He pieced together the origins of his skills.
[Analysis] and [Essence of Life] came from the system’s awakening, tied to Grandpa Hewet’s mission to understand the Celestial Magnifying Glass. [Projection] and [Arcane Sight] were rewards from the [Save the Eternal Village] quest. I created [Universal Breath] myself, and now [Magic Farm] has gifted me [Commander], a beast-related skill that aligns perfectly with the quest’s focus.
His eyes widened with the realization.
I see… The {Skills} are directly correlated to the missions. My study-related {Skills} stem from activities where my study prowess is crucial. This combat skill emerged because [Magic Farm] centered on managing beasts!
“Hmm, I see… I see,” he muttered, the pattern crystallizing before him. I can infer that the same principle applies to the Immortal Fragments… The fragment from [Save the Eternal Village] will likely offer bonuses related to study, governance, or perhaps village defense and territorial control.
But there are three more fragments to come… I wonder what the system is preparing me for. It seems the fragments are tied to quests, but quests only materialize when something truly critical—something that could impact the village—arises.
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him. “No, that’s wrong. It’s not just about the village—it’s about Valorian!” Jonn exclaimed, the pieces falling into place as he connected the descriptions of his system-granted abilities with the broader reality.
The village is merely the beginning. Ultimately, the system wants me to use the village as a stepping stone to ensure Valorian’s continued existence!
As if responding to his revelation, the system chimed in.
You’ve completed a hidden quest!
Distributing [Celestial Artifacts I] quest bonuses…
Congratulations! You’ve earned a {Spell}: [Flame Avatar]!
Congratulations! You’ve earned 50 attribute points!
A smile spread across Jonn’s face as he thanked the system for its generosity. It was clear it was indeed a tool aimed at facilitating Valorian’s salvation, and it wasn’t hindering his progress towards that goal. While he needed to carry out quests and perceive reality for himself, the system was undeniably generous in its support.
While happy, Jonn opted for a different distribution strategy for his attribute points. Instead of bolstering his physical attributes, he allocated 20 points to [Intelligence], 15 to [Wisdom], 5 to [Charisma], and 10 to [Luck].
[Flame Avatar].
Flame Avatar
Description: The user can manipulate their mana to generate flames and create an avatar—a version of themselves made of mana and fire—capable of fighting in their place. The avatar has enough combat intelligence to fight without being directly commanded, but without the user’s commands, it is like an instinctive animal. The avatar can generate different forms of attacks, depending on the user’s creativity.
Type: Fire spell, 4 levels.
Costs: 70 mana per second.
Duration: Indefinite.
Range: Undefined.
Cast Time: 4 seconds.
Cooldown: Undefined.
Jonn’s eyebrows rose as he processed the information. [Flame Avatar] was unlike any {Spell} he had encountered thus far. Its continuous mana expenditure set it apart, and the cost was far from negligible.
70 mana per second… That would be enough to deplete my reserves in less than a minute!
Yet, he didn’t underestimate [Flame Avatar]’s offensive capabilities. His instincts suggested that this {Spell} could easily engulf a small battlefield in flames. It wasn’t just powerful on its own—Jonn felt it could synergize perfectly with [Meteor] and even [Air Palm], opening up a world of possibilities.
As the Eternal Village came into view, a smile played on Jonn’s lips. He was eager to test the new {Spell} at the earliest opportunity, perhaps the very next day. Additionally, he looked forward to studying how the Animal Food Fragment affected his beasts, particularly in terms of milk and egg production.
Upon reaching the village, Jonn first tended to his animal companions, ensuring they were settled in their appropriate areas. He took a moment to introduce Veris to the other beasts, watching as the eagle integrated into its new home.
Entering the walled area of the village, Jonn found the guards—Petyr, Wy, and Asher—waiting anxiously for news. Their tense expressions spoke volumes about the fears he had inadvertently stirred earlier.
“We’re fine for now,” Jonn assured them, visibly easing their concerns. “I’ve struck a deal that’s given us insight into their plans and problems. Be prepared, though—we may soon face more powerful animals near the village. Unlike our recent visitors, these might not be open to communication.
“Anyway, I’m going to rest now and tomorrow we’ll talk about what we can do. Stand by for now. We’ll have new orders by next evening.”
Jonn headed home under the gaze of the village guards, commanding respect and obedience from these armed and attentive men.
They would never disrespect the Village Elder’s well-deserved rest and soon did as commanded, returning to their posts while Jonn locked himself in his house, exhausted after a long day of travel, negotiations and discoveries.
Tomorrow begins our preparation. For better or worse, we will grow stronger and faster from tomorrow!