Chapter Fifty-Seven

Noelle had wrapped tighter around him as if giving him a warm embrace. After a while, he was done, wiping his eyes, he told Vivienne to banish the memory. Then he teleported to the glade. Work was still well underway, but a lot of progress had been made.

Several houses were already built, made from dark wood and darker metal. Streets were being paved onto the island, made from slick gray stone.

“Hey! Mr. Ambrose!”

Jenny waved at him; eyes bright. A blanket had been laid out on a large part of the glade that still had grass and flowers. Jenny, Darren, and Andrea were sitting on the blanket, eating food that had been saved from the earlier spread Vivienne had set out.

“Come here, Mr. Ambrose! Come eat with us!” Jenny giggled.

Sunlight played across the town, and a slight breeze stirred the grass, flowers, and tree leaves. Ambrose walked to the group, and the scent of earth, grass, and trees filled his nostrils.

“Do you like all the stuff Daddy built?” Jenny asked as Ambrose sat down.

Darren nodded at him, and Andrea gave him a small smile.

Jenny offered him a wooden plate with bread and cheese.

“I haven’t seen you eat anything in a long time, not since those awful caves.”

Ambrose took the offered food, smiling at her gently.

“With the System, there isn’t a lot of need to eat once you get to where I’m at.”

Jenny wrinkled her nose,

“But what about all the good things? Like ice cream, or pizza! Or apples!”

Ambrose shrugged, and Jenny shook her head.

“Even if I get a class and stuff, I don’t want to change so much I can’t have that stuff.”

Darren reached over, ruffling her hair.

“You’ll still be able to have that stuff, sweetie.”

Andrea smiled,

“I certainly have no plans to give it up,” she waved to the growing town around them.

“Well, Ambrose. What do you think? It’s coming along, yeah?”

Ambrose nodded,

“It is. You all have done good work. That’s what I’m here about. I’m about to use the System seed.”

Jenny piped up,

“Seed? Is the System like a plant?”

Ambrose smiled,

“No. Think of it like an item that makes our town official. Easier to manage.”

Darren picked Jenny up and put her in his lap, kissing her hair. She giggled, snuggling into him. Ambrose looked away, taking the seed out of his bag.

A familiar prompt appeared.

[System Seed]: System seeds allow users to establish an area as a System-recognized town. Typically, these seeds are handed out to forerunners, but they can be claimed if the forerunner who is connected to them is slain.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Would you like to establish the surrounding area as a System-recognized town? Note that you must clear your world's Incursions to grow your town into a city.

Y/N?]

Ambrose willed an affirmative to the System, and the seed floated in the air, light shining from its center. It began to spin, like a top, faster and faster it spun before it settled back into Ambrose’s hand.

[The area has been recognized as a town by the System. Would you like to name your town?

Y/N?]

Ambrose willed the name to the System

[Town name ‘Avalon’ accepted. Find and access a merchant to purchase town amenities and defenses. Clear your world’s incursions to upgrade town to city.]

Ambrose looked at the others.

“It’s done. We are an official System town. If we want to upgrade, I need to clear the Incursions.”

“How many of those are there?” Andrea asked, sipping her water.

Ambrose frowned,

“Vivienne, I need you.”

“Yes, dear Knight?”

“Jesus! That woman is like a walking jump scare! Warn a girl!” Andrea yelled.

Ambrose ignored Andrea’s wide eyes and startled yell.

“How many Incursions does the world need to close?”

Vivienne cocked her head, eyes going distant.

“One has already been closed; that leaves three more. One to the far south, another to the eastern part of the world, and one deep to the west.”

“What are these Incursions for? Are they other races, or?” Darren asked.

Vivienne flicked her eyes to him,

“They’re chances for other races of the multiverse to claim the resources of this newly Integrated planet. As well as an opportunity for the newly integrated races to advance by closing them.”

“Will these other races leave if the Incursions are closed?” Andrea interjected.

Vivienne shook her head,

“No, not unless they go through the portal beforehand. However, defeating them will cut off any true threat they may offer.”

Darren looked at Ambrose, hands giving Jenny a squeeze. She had fallen asleep, snoring softly in his lap.

“Looks like you have more work ahead of you, Ambrose.”

He snorted,

“No, I don’t. I don’t care about the incursions; I have my own goal.”

“Yeah, what exactly is that tough guy? You haven’t been upfront about that.” Andrea took a bite of bread, eyebrows raised.

Ambrose looked at Jenny’s sleeping form, his jaw clenching as his face hardened into a stony mask.

“I have something I need to do. That’s all that matters.”

“I think we’ve earned an answer from you,” Darren rumbled.

“Have you? No, I don’t think so. I’m the reason you’re safe. I am the reason your daughter is safe. I don’t owe you any answers. In fact, you owe me. That’s why you’re even here.” Ambrose didn’t put any heat in his words, but he was firm, meeting the other man’s gaze.

Darren’s dark eyes kindled into dark fire for a moment, but he looked away first.

Andrea glanced between the two men.

“Ookay. Is the testosterone fest over? Good. Whatever your goal is, Ambrose, you should consider closing the Incursions.”

He looked over at her, crossing his arms.

“Why?”

Andrea rolled a finger around them,

“Many reasons. Think it through, big guy. You need this place, right? You won’t have it if some army comes along and destroys it. Secondly, whatever you need to do, you’re going to need power to do it, yeah? Otherwise, you would have done it already instead of going off and training or whatever it is you did. Closing Incursions are sure to offer rewards that would be useful to you.”

“Remarkably well reasoned for a human,” Vivienne murmured.

Andrea glared at her, brows furrowing toward her nose.

“I can hear you.”

Vivienne smiled at her.

Ambrose bowed his head, thinking. She wasn’t entirely wrong, he did need power. Since cleansing the island, he hadn’t gained many levels. The levels he had gained came from Annie. It’s not like I can do much here, anyway, he thought to himself.

“How far away is the nearest Incursion, Vivienne?”

“Some days to the south, Sir Knight.”

Ambrose bit his tongue, nodding and taking a deep breath.

“Fine. I could close at least one. First, I need to handle the merchant situation and my progression. We need to address some plans before I leave, however.”

Andrea raised a hand,

“I’m your girl, then. Planning is my job.”

Ambrose flicked her an acknowledgement.

“Alright, give me your hand then. It’s time we wake up the merchant.”