Elmore, with the final details of his throne in place, stepped back to admire the structure one last time. The massive rib bones gleamed in the sunlight, and the skull of the SwineLord loomed over the fire pit. He had shaped the throne with care—carved from the hooves of the beast, the seat was a strange fusion of nature and power. The stairs made from the ribs were sturdy beneath his feet as he ascended.
At the top, he paused for a moment, his breath heavy from the effort but filled with a sense of accomplishment. Slowly, he lowered himself into the throne, feeling the carved bone seat contour perfectly to his body. As he settled in, something strange occurred. A faint hum filled the air, and a hazy screen began to materialize in front of him, spider-webbing into existence, its edges shimmering and unstable like threads of fog.
The screen was murky at first, but soon words began to form, woven out of those same shimmering strands of light. At the top of the screen, bold letters read:
Throne Properties:
- Land Ownership: As long as Elmore or one of his direct descendants lived, the land within a one-mile radius was now his. The boundaries stretched from his valley home all the way to the outer edges of uptown. The implications hit him hard. That included the valley’s farmland, forests, and even parts of the town itself. About 300 people lived within this zone, and according to the screen, they were now considered his "subjects."
The realization was staggering. Elmore wasn’t just a man living on his own little plot of land anymore—he was a landowner in a more profound, almost medieval sense. A strange sense of authority washed over him as more text began to unfurl on the screen.
- Laws: A tab dedicated to laws appeared, glowing softly. Elmore could now set laws governing his land and the people within it. A simple click would allow him to write and enforce his own rules.
- Taxes: Another tab. He could set taxes for those living on his land, though the thought of doing so made him uneasy. The system was giving him power far beyond anything he’d imagined.
- Land Changes: A final tab that allowed him to make changes to the landscape itself, altering the environment, though at the moment, this feature appeared limited.
Elmore scrolled down the screen with his thoughts, his eyes catching another section titled "Population". It simply stated: "300 Subjects". However, there were no detailed descriptions or individual profiles—just a number representing the people living within his new domain. The screen allowed him to access different aspects of his territory, such as laws, court cases (which he presumed would involve disputes or legal matters within his land), and resources. Each of these was its own tab, ready for him to explore and modify.
But one tab stood out more than the others, shimmering at the bottom of the screen:
Upgrade.
It was currently greyed out and flickering, clearly not ready to be accessed yet. Elmore guessed that this would come into play later, possibly allowing him to improve the power or influence of his land. But for now, it seemed glitchy, incomplete, much like many of the Nexus’s strange screens.
Leaning back in the throne, Elmore let the weight of his newfound responsibility sink in. He was no longer just a man protecting his family and carving out survival in this strange, evolving world. Now, he had authority over land, over people, over laws and resources. He could feel the energy of the throne beneath him, connected to the earth, pulsing with dormant power.
The weight of the SwineLord’s skull loomed above, casting a shadow over the throne. Elmore closed his eyes for a moment, processing everything. He now had a domain. His family’s land had expanded in a way he could have never anticipated. The old world was changing, and with the power of Aither growing, so was he.
The thought brought him back to the present. For now, he wouldn’t rush any decisions. His first task was to spend his points . He would explore these new abilities.
As Elmore relaxed back into the throne, feeling the pulse of power beneath him, he decided to pull up his stats screen. The familiar spider-webbed lines reappeared, knitting themselves into place until a new set of numbers materialized before him:
---
Level 3: Chief Elmore
- Strength: 10/30
- Endurance: 5/30
- Dexterity: 5/30
- Agility: 5/30
- Intelligence: 20/30
- Resistance: 8/30
- Vitality: 10/30
- Aither: ???
Points Available: 20
---
Elmore stared at the screen, pondering his next steps. Twenty points to spend. That felt like a lot, but he knew he needed to be strategic. He needed to shore up his weaknesses, but also, as the SwineLord fight taught him, he couldn’t ignore his physical limits anymore.
Strength (10/30):
His strength had come a long way since his journey started, but he could still feel the strain of lifting heavy objects, especially when it came to handling the SwineLord’s remains. The physical exertion of combat, whether swinging an axe or firing a shotgun, took its toll on him. More strength would give him that raw power in a fight, let him deal more damage, and help in practical tasks like carrying supplies or building structures.
_“I could throw some points here, get it up to 15. That should make me stronger, maybe strong enough to handle future fights a bit better.”_ He knew he couldn’t ignore strength, but part of him hesitated. More raw power wouldn't fix everything.
---
Endurance (5/30):
Endurance was glaringly low. The fight with the SwineLord had laid that bare. He had been thrown around, battered, bones broken. He'd survived, but it was almost pure grit that carried him through. His endurance was tied to his stamina, and in longer battles or taxing tasks, he had run out of steam too quickly. Not only would more endurance give him the ability to last longer in combat, but it would also help with daily physical tasks.
_“I should definitely raise this,”_ he thought, rubbing the sore spot on his ribs where the SwineLord had broken them. _“It’ll help in the long run. I don't want to get winded as fast next time.”_ Elmore made a mental note to add at least 5 points here.
---
Dexterity (5/30):
Dexterity had always been an afterthought for Elmore. He wasn’t exactly aiming for finesse in his fights—he relied more on brute force and instinct. But as he mulled it over, the memory of Brett’s nimble movements against the SwineLord flickered in his mind. Having better dexterity meant faster, more precise actions. He’d be quicker in combat, more accurate with a gun, and it might even help with his woodworking or any fine crafting.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
_“I’m not the most graceful, but maybe a few points here could help. It wouldn’t hurt to be quicker on my feet and sharper with my aim.”_ Still, it wasn’t as urgent as the others. A small boost, but nothing major.
---
Agility (5/30):
Agility wasn’t just about speed—it was about reflexes, dodging, and positioning. He hadn’t been fast enough to dodge all of the SwineLord’s attacks, and he had definitely paid the price for it. Agility would help him in dodging blows, avoiding danger, and moving more swiftly in both combat and everyday situations. Elmore saw it as a necessary companion to endurance. Without better agility, he’d still get hit, even if he could last longer.
_“Maybe five points here too. I can’t keep taking hits like I did in that fight.”_
---
Intelligence (20/30):
His intelligence had always been his strongest suit. Elmore knew that his sharp mind was often what kept him alive, and it had gotten him out of more than one tricky situation. The Nexus and the strange magic that seemed to govern this world had already shown him how much power intelligence held. His high intelligence was what allowed him to process the SwineLord’s movements and adapt so quickly. It connected him to the Aither and likely would continue to be critical as the world grew more unpredictable.
_“I’m already smart enough for now. I could push it further later, but for now, 20 is probably good. Maybe It’s where I should be focusing less until I hit some physical limitations.”_
He decided to leave it as it was, for now. Intelligence was his safety net, but he needed his body to catch up with his mind for one level.
---
Resistance (8/30):
Resistance was vital for withstanding getting broken and whatever strange powers or magic lay in wait for him. With more people awakening to their powers, Elmore knew that eventually, he'd be dealing with threats beyond just physical attacks. His resistance would be his safeguard against the unknown, protecting him from the weird and unpredictable powers of Aither.
_“This is one of those stats I can’t ignore for too long,”_ he considered, _“but I’m not there yet. Maybe just a few points here to keep me ahead of the curve.”_
---
Vitality (10/30):
Vitality had saved his life more than once. It was what allowed him to heal faster than others, to endure when his body should have collapsed. He was already seeing the benefits of high vitality with how his wounds from the SwineLord fight were healing. But more vitality would mean even faster recovery. The difference between life and death could easily come down to this stat.
_“Maybe another five points here. If I’m going to keep fighting these monsters, I need to be able to heal quicker and withstand more damage.”_
---
Aither (???):
The final stat was still a mystery. Elmore had no idea what Aither would affect or how to unlock it. He suspected it was tied to the Nexus system in some deeper way, something he hadn’t quite tapped into yet. For now, it was a placeholder for the future.
---
Laying Out the Points:
Elmore stared at the screen, mentally running through the possibilities. With 20 points to spend, he needed to be careful.
- Strength: +5 (To bring it up to 15/30)
- Endurance: +5 (To increase it to 10/30)
- Dexterity: +2 (A small boost, bringing it to 7/30)
- Agility: +3 (Just enough to make a difference, bringing it to 8/30)
- Resistance: +2 (To push his defenses against anything in his way, bringing it to 10/30)
- Vitality: +3 (For quicker recovery , bringing it to 13/30)
Elmore sat back on the throne, fingers drumming on the tusks that formed the armrests. His mind was wrestling with the same decision he’d pondered so many times before. Should he max out his intelligence now, ensuring he stayed ahead mentally, or finally round out his body, making himself stronger, faster, and more durable?
His intelligence was already towering over his other stats, and it had gotten him this far. But he had nearly died during that fight with the SwineLord, and it wasn’t his brain that had saved him—it was his ability to take a beating and keep going. He needed to survive physically.
_“If I reach level four,”_ he reasoned to himself, _“I'll pump all 20 points into **intelligence** to keep up, but for now, I need a body that can carry the weight of everything I’m trying to do.”_
The decision made, Elmore began allocating the points he'd been saving. Each stat felt like a foundational piece falling into place, stabilizing the structure of his body:
As soon as he made his final decision, he felt the changes immediately. His muscles swelled under his skin, hardening and tensing. His skin took on a tougher texture, almost as if it had thickened slightly, making him feel invincible. Each breath he took filled his lungs with more air than he had ever felt before, and the strength in his limbs was palpable. Every fiber of his body seemed to hum with vitality, and for the first time in a long while, he truly felt powerful.
Just as the transformation ended, Ash rushed out of the house, holding Edward in her arms. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the throne. She paused for a moment, then smirked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Of course you did," she said, eyeing the massive skeletal throne.
Elmore raised an eyebrow. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
Ash glanced at Edward, who was babbling happily in her arms, before looking back at Elmore. "I got a notification. It says I'm now a subject under your chiefdom."
Elmore chuckled, trying to hold back a grin. "Well, you're my queen, aren't you?"
Ash gave him an exaggerated sigh. "I wasn’t ready to be a queen, Elmore." But before she could say another word, her expression changed. She blinked, then let out a surprised laugh. "I just got another notification. It says I’m now the 'Chieftain's Right Hand.'"
Elmore laughed and shook his head. "Looks like the system agrees with me."
As he savored the moment, something in the corner of his vision caught his attention. A small speaker icon in the top left of his peripheral vision pulsed softly, almost as if waiting for his attention. When he focused on it, the webs of light expanded slightly, and he understood instantly—he could use this to speak to everyone under his chiefdom at once.
He clicked the icon and, to his surprise, he felt an almost instinctive connection to everyone within his newly claimed territory. His voice reverberated through his thoughts and, he presumed, into the minds of every one of his 300 subjects.
“Everyone,” Elmore began, his voice calm but commanding, “I need you all to come to my house. We need to talk about what’s happened. I’m assuming you all got the notification.”
Ash looked at him, eyes wide with surprise. “I heard that... in my head. Did you just...?”
He nodded. “Yeah. It seems like I can talk to everyone in the chiefdom like this.”
Before long, people began to gather outside Elmore’s house. They moved with a mix of excitement, curiosity, and confusion, and as they arrived, a few of them threw some meat on the grill, a gesture that made the gathering feel less like a serious meeting and more like a community event. Elmore watched from his throne as the crowd swelled. His people—the ones who lived within the mile radius of his new territory—were here to hear him speak.
As everyone settled in, Elmore stood from the throne, wincing slightly from the residual pain in his body but feeling stronger than ever. He looked over the faces of his subjects, a sense of responsibility settling in. This was something far bigger than just him or Ash or their small homestead.
Clearing his throat, he began. “I know you all have questions. I do too. But I think it’s clear now that things are changing fast. Powers, abilities, strange notifications—these are just the beginning.” He gestured to the throne behind him. “The system has recognized me as a leader, a chief, and you’re all under my care now. That means this land, this valley, is ours.”
There were murmurs in the crowd as people exchanged glances, but no one spoke up.
“The system says I can set laws, taxes, even change the land. But right now, I want to make sure we’re all on the same page. We’re not just individuals anymore. We’re a community.” He looked directly at Ash, standing near the front with Edward in her arms. “And that means we have to stick together, protect each other, and help one another grow.”
Elmore paused, letting the words sink in.
“This won’t be easy, but we have a chance to make something great here. Our land, our home, is ours to shape. And I’m going to need all of you to help me make sure we get it right.”
Laws
Elmore leaned back on his throne, listening to the hum of conversation around him. The crowd, now somewhat comfortable with the idea of being part of a new "chiefdom," began tossing out suggestions for laws and regulations. At first, the topics seemed basic—**murder, theft, adultery, marriage, and drugs**—but the discussions quickly revealed how complicated things could get.
The first suggestion was straightforward: **murder**. Naturally, no one wanted outright murder to be allowed, and Elmore agreed. However, some people spoke up about exceptions—self-defense, war, or extreme circumstances. After some back and forth, Elmore made his first firm ruling: **citizens are not allowed to kill one another under any circumstances, except for duels, which may be allowed as long as they are witnessed by at least two third parties.**
The crowd murmured in approval. It was a fair compromise, and it allowed some level of personal justice while preventing outright chaos.
Next came **adultery**, a hot topic. Elmore could see the discomfort on some people’s faces as it was brought up, but after a few tense moments, it was decided that **adultery would be outright forbidden**. The crowd agreed, murmuring that marriage should be sacred and protected.
**Marriage**, too, was discussed in more detail. Someone raised the question of what happened to property in marriage—who owned what, and how could it be split in case of a separation? After considering it, Elmore declared that **marriages are permanent. When a man and a woman marry, their possessions become shared. All that is his is hers, and all that is hers is his.** It was a strong stance, but it seemed to reflect the seriousness with which people already viewed marriage in the valley.
Then came the more difficult topic: **drugs**. This one sparked a lot of debate. Some in the crowd wanted to outright ban everything, while others were more lenient. After hearing both sides, Elmore ultimately decided on a more flexible approach: **the legality of a drug would be determined by public opinion.** This way, as the views of the community evolved, so would the law.
With those main points settled, they moved on to **theft**. Elmore didn’t hesitate much on this one. **Theft would be defined as the taking of a possession of another citizen by another citizen.** For citizens, punishments would be severe but fair. However, Elmore made a special point to add that **if someone who wasn’t a citizen stole from one of them, they would face much harsher penalties.** This resonated with the crowd—people were eager to protect their own.
Then, Elmore made a bold proclamation: **anything within 500 yards of his throne could only be entered by someone explicitly permitted by him, and this law could not be changed by anyone but Elmore—not even future rulers.** This caused some confusion and raised eyebrows, with people wondering why such a specific rule was needed. But Ash stepped in gracefully. With her silver tongue, she explained that the rule was simply to protect the sanctity of the chief’s personal space, ensuring that no one could simply barge in and disrupt the leadership. Her soothing words eased any concerns, and soon, no one was questioning the decision.
By the end of the evening, a simple set of foundational laws had been established, and the crowd was starting to feel like a real community with shared values and rules. They still had plenty to figure out, especially around **land ownership** and other important issues, but Elmore announced that they would discuss those topics at a later meeting—specifically, in one week.
He also decided that **weekly meetings** would be a tradition. Each meeting would feature food, music, and time for everyone to connect and share concerns or ideas. It was a way to build unity and foster a sense of belonging.
As the night wore on, the mood shifted from serious discussion to celebration. People began enjoying the food, sharing stories, and playing music. Elmore stayed on his throne, watching his people, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.
When the evening finally came to an end and people started to filter out, he was left with Ash and Edward by his side. It had been a long day, but it was a good one. They were building something here—something real.