Kayl stared at the five peasants standing before him. They were eerily quiet, their faces devoid of expression, yet they moved with purpose. He wasn't sure what to make of them. They didn't speak, didn't seem to think for themselves. They simply existed, waiting for his command.

Summons. The word echoed in his mind, tied to the system's notification. I can summon people now?

The system interface appeared again, flashing in front of his eyes.

"Peasants: Basic unit. Can gather resources, construct buildings, and perform simple tasks. Weak in combat but essential for kingdom development."

Kayl exhaled slowly. Alright, I can work with this. He was still confused, but if this was how the system worked, then he had to adapt. He wasn't exactly building a kingdom yet, but he had five peasants, 50 gold, and enough wood and stone to get started. The system had also promised him a blueprint for a shelter after completing the initial resource quest.

"Tutorial Quest Complete: You have gathered sufficient resources. Rewards: Basic Shelter Blueprint, 20 Gold."

Kayl blinked as the blueprint materialized in his mind, a detailed layout of a small wooden cabin. It was nothing grand—a simple structure with one room, four walls, and a roof—but it was better than sleeping on the dirt. This will do.

He took a moment to gather his thoughts and assessed his situation. His arm was still aching from the Grifflet's attack, but the bleeding had stopped. For now, at least. He glanced at the peasants again.

Let's see how this works.

He focused on the blueprint in his mind, willing the image to manifest into something tangible. The system responded instantly, and a glowing marker appeared on the ground in front of him, showing where the shelter could be built.

"Would you like to begin construction? Required resources: 10 Wood, 5 Stone."

Kayl nodded, more to himself than the system. Yes.

The peasants sprang into action immediately. Without a word, they moved to the marker, tools in hand. Two of them began hammering stakes into the ground, setting the foundation. The others worked on chopping logs into usable planks, their movements quick and efficient. They didn't need direction—they already knew what to do.

Kayl watched them, a strange mix of amazement and unease washing over him. It was one thing to play a strategy game where units followed commands with precision, but to see it happen in real life, with real people—or whatever these summons were—was unsettling.

Still, this was what he had to work with, and if the system was going to help him survive, then he'd use it to the fullest.

Food. Water. Shelter. He mentally checked off the essentials. The stale bread and water skin in his pack would get him through today, but he'd need more soon. Once the shelter was up, he could start focusing on securing food sources.

The system chimed again, interrupting his thoughts.

"Emergency Quest Unlocked: Hunger. Find a sustainable food source within 24 hours. Failure to complete the quest will result in starvation penalties."

Kayl groaned. Of course.

He didn't know what "starvation penalties" meant, but it didn't sound pleasant. He glanced at the surrounding forest. There had to be food around here—maybe fruit trees, edible plants, or even small game. He'd have to figure it out soon, but first, the shelter.

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The peasants worked quickly, and within a couple of hours, the basic cabin began to take shape. Wooden walls rose around the foundation, and a roof was being assembled with thatch gathered from the nearby underbrush. Kayl pitched in where he could, hauling logs and watching over the progress.

By the time the sun had begun its slow descent in the sky, the shelter was almost complete. It wasn't much to look at, but it was sturdy. As the last planks were hammered into place, the system chimed once more:

"Basic Shelter Complete. You now have a safe place to rest and store resources."

Kayl exhaled in relief. One thing down.

The cabin was small, barely enough room for one person, but it was his. He ran his hand over the rough wood, feeling a sense of accomplishment despite the strangeness of his situation. This wasn't like playing a game where you could build a kingdom with a few clicks. This felt real—tangible. He had to earn every bit of progress.

He entered the cabin, stepping onto the dirt floor. It was basic, just four walls and a roof, but it was better than sleeping in the open, especially with creatures like the Grifflet out there. He still shuddered at the memory of its screech and the sharpness of its claws.

Kayl's thoughts shifted back to the Emergency Quest. He needed food—and fast.

He stepped back outside and surveyed the forest. Alright. Time to find something edible.

The Search for Food

Kayl made his way deeper into the woods, the light filtering through the trees casting long shadows across the ground. He kept his stone axe in hand, eyes scanning the underbrush for any sign of food. Fruit, berries, or even small game—anything he could get his hands on.

The forest was dense, the thick canopy blocking out most of the sunlight. Every sound seemed amplified—the rustling of leaves, the snap of twigs underfoot. He had no idea what kind of creatures lurked here, and after his encounter with the Grifflet, he wasn't eager to find out.

After a while, he came across a bush covered in dark berries. He paused, eyeing them warily. They looked like something he'd seen in the wild before, but looks could be deceiving. The last thing he needed was to poison himself.

The system chimed again.

"Berries: Edible. Can be consumed or used to supplement rations."

Kayl exhaled in relief and began gathering the berries into his pouch. It wasn't much, but it was a start. He'd still need to find more if he wanted to avoid the penalties from the quest.

After gathering as many berries as he could carry, he continued his search. The deeper he went into the forest, the thicker the underbrush became. His arm ached from the earlier wounds, but he pushed through the pain. He couldn't afford to stop now.

Finally, after what felt like hours, he stumbled across a small clearing. In the center stood a tree laden with what looked like apples. Kayl's mouth watered at the sight. He approached cautiously, eyes darting around for any sign of danger.

The system confirmed his hopes.

"Apples: Edible. Can be consumed or stored as rations."

Kayl smiled for the first time in what felt like days. Jackpot. He quickly climbed the tree, picking as many apples as he could reach and stuffing them into his pack. He'd have enough to last him for a while now, enough to complete the quest and keep starvation at bay.

As he climbed down from the tree, he noticed something strange in the distance—a faint, flickering light. It was far off, barely visible through the trees, but it was definitely there.

A fire? He wasn't sure. It could be another survivor, or it could be something far more dangerous. Either way, he wasn't in any shape to investigate just yet. He turned away, making a mental note to check it out later.

For now, he had food, and his first shelter was complete.

Back at the Camp

By the time Kayl returned to the shelter, the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting the clearing in soft golden light. The five peasants were still working diligently, gathering wood and stone without needing direction. They had already begun stockpiling materials for future construction.

Kayl dropped his pack and sat down on the ground, exhaustion washing over him. He pulled out a few apples and the berries he had gathered, eating slowly, savoring the taste of something fresh after hours of hard work.

The system chimed again.

"Emergency Quest Complete: Hunger. Penalties avoided. You have gained 10 Gold."

Kayl let out a breath of relief. At least he wouldn't be starving. He glanced around at the small clearing, the newly built shelter, and the peasants quietly working in the background.

Not bad for a first day.

But as he stared up at the darkening sky, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The Grifflet had been a warning—a sign that this world was far more dangerous than he had initially thought. If he was going to survive here, he'd need more than just a shelter and a few peasants. He'd need soldiers, fortifications, and a plan.

The system gave him the tools, but it was up to him to build something real. And if the flickering light in the distance was any indication, there were others out there—whether friend or foe, he had yet to find out.