Fortress Gate (Nightfall)
Aiden wiped the blood from his blade, standing among the bodies of the defeated slavers. The battlefield had finally fallen silent, with only the soft crackling of dying campfires and the distant sound of fleeing survivors breaking the stillness. He sheathed his sword, exhaustion settling into his bones. They had won, but the victory felt hollow. The memory of the mysterious figure who had killed the slaver chief still haunted him.
As the group prepared to head back to the fortress, Aiden stole a glance at the remaining villagers. Bloodied, bruised, but alive. They had fought bravely, but the price had been steep. Several had fallen, and the looks in their eyes told him they had seen enough death for a lifetime. They deserved peace. He hoped this victory would give them some of that, if only for a short while.
With a heavy sigh, he led the survivors back home.
Fortress Courtyard (Night)
The fortress gates creaked open, welcoming Aiden and his battle-worn team. As they stepped inside, Aiden could finally breathe again. The weight of the night's battle still hung over him, but at least they were safe—at least for now.
The fortress stood resilient, though scars from past battles remained. The old stone walls, weathered by years of conflict, still held strong, but Aiden knew they wouldn't withstand the storms to come unless he made changes.
Kellan's face etched with concern as he scans the walls of the fortress, already thinking about repairs. The blacksmith's gruff voice carried over the courtyard, giving orders as if nothing had happened, but Aiden could see the fatigue in his eyes.
Kellan: (gruffly) "We lost good men out there, but at least the bastards are gone. They won't be coming back for a while."
Aiden only nods, his mind elsewhere. His side still stings from the slaver chief's dagger, but it's not the physical pain that gnaws at him.
Aiden: (quietly to himself) "We survived today, but how many more times can we fight like this?"
He felt the weight of leadership settling on him once again. The battle had weakened them, and he had to know exactly where they stood.
Assessing the Damage
Later that night, Aiden moves to the command room. The map of the fortress and surrounding territories lay before him, along with a detailed report of their remaining forces.
Commander Marius, the highest military officer, steps forward, his expression hard as stone.He exuded strength and authority, his battle-worn armour and deep scars testament to countless victories. With piercing blue eyes and a commanding presence, he was both a feared opponent and a respected leader among men.
Marius: "We held the line while you were gone, but the cost was high. Nearly a third of our trained soldiers were lost when the slavers first attacked. The villagers fought bravely, but we can't rely on them to defend the fortress. They lack proper training."
Aiden listens carefully, his eyes flicking over the numbers Marius presents on the parchment. It's worse than he expected.
Manpower:
Soldiers: (archers and foot soldiers) 25 —and of those, many are injured, some critically.
Villagers: Depleted, some severely injured, many reluctant to fight again.
Armoury: Swords 47 , Bows and Arrows 19 (rusted and broken) , some wooden shields left
Defencive Equipments : 4 ageing Ballista at each fortress gate
Aiden clenched his fists. They had started with a small garrison of trained soldiers, but after the attacks and the recent battle, those numbers had dwindled dangerously low. The villagers had stepped up when needed, but they were not soldiers—and he couldn't rely on them for much longer. They needed proper reinforcements.
Aiden: (thinking) "We can't afford to face another raid in this condition. The walls are holding, but barely. If we're hit again, we'll be overrun. I need to find a way to make this place stronger."
Aiden: (grimly) "What about the defences? The walls? Supplies?"
Marius: "The eastern wall took the most damage. It'll hold for now, but another attack and we could be in serious trouble. We have enough food and supplies to last for a few weeks, but without reinforcements or stronger defences, we're vulnerable."
Aiden: "So, let's first–"
(Bang)
With the loud bang of doors, the Vice Commander entered the meeting. A tall, lean figure, the young warrior strides in with an air of unmistakable arrogance. His sharp gaze sweeps over others, eyes gleaming with the confidence of someone convinced of his own superiority. His chin tilts slightly upward, an unspoken dare flashing in his half-smile. A finely crafted sword rests at his hip, polished and pristine, as though untouched by real battle—yet he carries it with a sense of entitlement, as if his mere presence is enough to command respect.
Marius: (furiously) "Conan!! Behave, what kind of behaviour is this? Apologise to the Lord this instant!"
Conan: (arrogantly) "Apologies, Commander! I never imagined his Lordship would deem us worthy of his presence."
Marius: "My apologies, my Lord, for my subordinate's lack of manners." he bowed his head, his expression sincere, as if he genuinely sought forgiveness.
His gaze flicked briefly towards Conan, as if asking him to also bow. Conan straightened, his posture rigid and unyielding, exuding an air of barely concealed arrogance. It was clear to all present that the officer's loyalty lay not in respect, but in protocol alone.
Aiden: "There is no need for that, Marius. It wasn't that big of a deal to begin with."
Conan: (murmured) "Tsk" clicked his tongue " As if you could do anything in the first place" Even though his quiet murmur went unheard, his face was as readable as a book, each flicker of doubt plain to see.
Marius: "Understood. But what about reinforcements? Even with upgrades, we're stretched thin."
Aiden: "I'll leave the recruitment of the soldiers to you, Marius. Later I'll tell you about the criteria standards " Marius nodded, his expression unreadable, though a flicker of doubt lingered in his eyes. Whether the Lord truly understood the intricacies of selecting capable soldiers—or if this was yet another task the Lord wished to delegate without grasping its significance.
Aiden leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
Aiden: (thinking) "Twenty men isn't enough. We need more. And not just bodies—we need to strengthen the fortress itself."
His mind raced with ideas. They needed better defences, stronger walls, more advanced weaponry—and perhaps, new recruits. But all of that required resources, resources he didn't yet have.
Aiden: (thinking) "Even my years of gaming knowledge aren't coming in handy, nor is the System doing much to help me. Even those Base Management abilities of mine require resources to be of any use." he let out a long sigh "If only I had played in this role, it wouldn't have been this difficult."
"Imagine if I'd actually paid attention in History class—maybe all those boring books and tests would've made some sense for once!" he chuckled while thinking about his home earth.
The Stellar Earrings
As his thoughts drifted, Aiden felt a soft pulse against his chest. He reached inside his tunic and pulled out the Stellar Earrings, his reward for defeating the slaver chief. They gleamed in the dim light of the room, an otherworldly glow radiating from them. Slowly, he placed them in his ears, and as they settled, a wave of energy washed over him.
System:
[Stellar Earrings (Immortal-Grade) Equipped → Partial Curse Relief Initiated]
[Curses from the Shadow General Reduced → Time-Related Fatigue and Status Abnormalities Eased]
[Stellar Earrings Equipped -> Curses Reduced by 20%]
He felt the oppressive weight of the Shadow General's curse begin to lift—just slightly. The heaviness in his limbs eased, and the constant haze clouding his mind cleared a little. It wasn't enough to free him completely, but it was something. He could feel the potential of the earrings, a power waiting to be unlocked.
System:
[Stellar Earrings are Upgradeable → Further Enhancements Locked Until Requirements Met]
[Stellar Earrings -> Current Tier: 1]
Aiden: (thinking) "So they're upgradable. But it doesn't seem like much for immortal grade equipment ."
He closed his eyes, focusing on the earrings. He could sense their connection to the stars above, like a conduit for celestial power. The possibilities were endless, but upgrading them would take time and effort. He would need to seek out rare materials, ancient knowledge, perhaps even venture into dungeons or far-off lands to unlock their true potential.
Aiden: (thinking) "These could be the key to overcoming the curse… and maybe more."
For now, though, he would have to be patient. He couldn't afford to chase every lead. The fortress needed his attention first.
Formulating a Plan
As dawn approached, Aiden rose from his chair, his mind already turning to the future. He needed to build up the fortress—make it a stronghold that could withstand whatever threats came next. But he couldn't do it alone.
Aiden: "Okay, now these will be the basic steps. Let's see."
Step 1: Reinforcements
Aiden knew they couldn't rely solely on the villagers. He would need to recruit more soldiers—mercenaries, perhaps, or travellers seeking refuge. There were always wandering warriors in a world as chaotic as this, and Aiden had ways of persuading people to his cause.
Step 2: Upgrading Defences
The walls were still strong, but they needed to be fortified. He would task Kellan with forging new defensive structures—perhaps ballistae or traps along the perimeter. He also needed better training for his soldiers, perhaps even hiring a seasoned drillmaster to whip them into shape.
Step 3: Resources
He needed to expand his resource pool. More food, more weapons, and materials for crafting. The nearby forests and mines were untapped potential, but they would need to be secured from bandits and beasts.
Step 4: The Relic
He hadn't forgotten about the Base Keeper's Relic—the dormant artifact hidden in the depths of the fortress. As the base grew, its powers would begin to manifest. He needed to uncover its secrets, and soon. That relic could turn the tide in their favour.
Aiden's eyes drifted back to the map. There were so many challenges ahead, but he relished the thought of overcoming them. This fortress would not fall—not while he was in charge.
As the sun began to rise, Aiden stepped out onto the battlements, gazing out at the horizon. The fortress stood strong against the backdrop of dawn, but the weight of what was to come hung over him like a shadow. There were still enemies lurking in the darkness, unseen forces plotting his downfall. But for now, he would allow himself a moment of peace.
The battle was over, and for the first time in days, Aiden could breathe.
End of Episode 10.