Liam exhaled slowly, his heart racing as the notification window flashed in front of him.
Ding!
[Quest: This Is The Path I Walk. Not You Or Anyone Can Change That]
[Bonus Objective 1 Complete: Eliminate three key Klan leaders responsible for your family's murder]
[Reward: Super rare Gold-Tier Item Sanctuary Dimension Expansion]
Sanctuary Dimension Expansion:
For every 5 MP permanently sacrificed from your own magic core or storage, your Sanctuary Dimension gains an additional acre of land.
Liam clenched his fists, a cold fire igniting within him. The weight of his family's brutal murder still haunted him, and now the Klan leaders responsible for that atrocity were no more—three more lives, snuffed out like dying embers.
The weight on his shoulders didn't lift, but it shifted, morphing into a deep, cold satisfaction. He had paid part of the blood debt that had haunted him for so long.
Liam's mind raced. Every acre of new space would cost 5 MP, which would weaken him in the short term. But the potential… The power of the Sanctuary Expansion was tempting, and the possibilities were endless.
He could create a hidden sanctuary, fortress, or even a small city—untouchable by outside forces, floating in its own dimension. And the more it grew, the more powerful he would become.
This wasn't just a refuge. It was a kingdom in the making.
Liam walked to the wardstone, his fingers tracing the runes etched into the ancient artifact. His connection to the Sanctuary Dimension thrummed in the back of his mind like a second heartbeat. It whispered promises of power and growth, of a realm that could be molded to his will.
With a sharp inhale, Liam offered up the 50 MP magic core from the B-Rank Klan member he had in his storage, and allowed it to bleed into the wardstone.
Ding!
[You have sacrificed a 50 MP magic core. Sanctuary Dimension has expanded by 10 acres.]
The entire dimension pulsed, responding to Liam's will. The air shimmered as invisible boundaries expanded outward, revealing new stretches of fertile land. The possibilities stretched out before him like an open canvas: a serene lake reflecting the distant horizon, fields ready to bear crops, and pens for livestock, all waiting to be brought to life under his command.
Liam's grin widened as the vision took form in his mind. This wasn't just a sanctuary—it would become a self-sustaining domain, one that could support him and his growing plans indefinitely. Food, resources, and labor—all within reach, under his control.
He turned to the homunculus named C2, her glowing red eyes flickering with the faintest trace of readiness as she awaited further instruction.
"C2."
Liam ordered, his voice steady.
"Prepare the estate. We're expanding the grounds to cultivate crops and raise livestock. Start construction for fields, animal pens, and the necessary infrastructure."
She gave a sharp bow.
"As you command master."
"Also."
Liam added, narrowing his eyes.
"Collect every piece of Stryker's notes—anything on agriculture, livestock care, or food production. We'll use them to maximize efficiency on the land."
C2 straightened and immediately relayed his commands to the other homunculi and they scattered without hesitation, their movements fluid and mechanical. Like clockwork, they began repurposing the estate's resources, shifting earth, assembling structures, and organizing tools.
Hours later, the estate's transformation was already underway. As farmland stretched out, Liam's vision started to take shape. The homunculi worked tirelessly—without the need for rest, food, or hesitation.
Soon, fields of wheat, corn, and vegetables would sway under an artificial breeze. Pens filled with livestock—cows, goats, and chickens—would provide milk, meat, and eggs. The lake, deep and still, would serve as both an aesthetic centerpiece and a source of fresh water and fish.
All this was possible thanks to Liam purchasing the seeds and animals from his Merchant System.
---------------------
Liam's jaw clenched as the grim reality sank in. The underground laboratory was a horrific fusion of science and magic, filled with cold, sterile equipment juxtaposed against arcane symbols etched in blood.
Each step deeper into the lab revealed cells filled with dismembered corpses—their bodies once brimming with magical potential.
His stomach churned. These children, torn from ordinary families unaware of their offspring's latent abilities, had been harvested like cattle to power Skyler's twisted ambitions.
Their lives had been snuffed out so that he could assemble a company-sized force of homunculi—artificial soldiers bound to his will.
C2, the lead homunculus escorting Liam, remained emotionless, its glowing amber eyes reflecting neither guilt nor sorrow. These creations were born from atrocity, and yet, they seemed utterly indifferent to it.
Tables were stacked with grim tools for dissection—knives enchanted to isolate veins of magic, soul siphons that captured fragments of consciousness, and dark glyphs scrawled across notebooks documenting horrific experiments.
Jars filled with suspended organs and magical core fragments lined the walls, labeled meticulously with names and ages.
Wards of containment hummed from the cells. Liam peered into one—inside lay the dismembered body of a young boy, no older than ten, his limbs carefully severed and laid out as if waiting to be pieced together into something new. The sight sent a wave of revulsion crashing through him.
Liam flipped through the lab's notes, trying to suppress the rage bubbling beneath the surface. From the detailed records, it became clear:
1: Target magical children from non-magical families, ensuring no one would come looking for them.
2: Extract their cores and magical essence to craft obedient homunculi soldiers.
3: Build a massive force, not just for personal defense, but for conquest—an army hidden from prying eyes, growing underground.
It was a system built on ruthlessness and cunning. And it had succeeded—until now.
Liam's fists clenched tight enough for his nails to dig into his palms. Skyler wasn't just another monster to be put down. No, he had been systematically destroying lives for power, and these homunculi—though powerful—were born from that innocent blood.
"How many kids?"
Liam muttered, his voice low and dangerous, though he knew the answer from the notes he skimmed. Dozens—maybe hundreds.
C2's glowing eyes flickered for a moment.
"Approximately 130 were used to maintain the first wave of combat models."
She stated in a neutral tone, as though reading off a mundane grocery list.
C2 awaited his orders, her unwavering loyalty now tied to him through the wardstone. With the estate—and the abominable force Skyler had created—now under his control, Liam faced a dark choice.
These soldiers were built from tragedy, but they were powerful—capable of annihilating armies if used correctly. The knowledge in Skyler's notes was enough to grow even more soldiers, faster and more efficiently.
But could Liam allow these abominations to continue existing? Could he turn them into his weapon to tear down the monsters of the world, or would doing so make him no different from Skyler?
Liam resolved to utilize them, to maintain control over the homunculi and harness their knowledge to create additional soldiers if needed. Born from tragedy, Liam saw the potential to transform them into a force for good, seeking justice for those who had endured suffering.
Yet, this path was fraught with peril, teetering on a razor's edge, threatening his very soul and moral compass. If he chose to obliterate everything, to raze the lab and the remaining homunculi, he could end the malevolence once and for all, sparing any more children from anguish.
The very existence of the homunculi was marred, and employing them would implicate Liam in Skyler's misdeeds. Nonetheless, this would entail forfeiting a formidable ally that could shield him from adversaries yet to come.
Liam stood in the center of the grim laboratory, breathing heavily. The air was thick with the weight of decisions and consequences.
C2 tilted its head.
"Awaiting further instructions, Master."
She said calmly.
Liam looked down at the tanks creating more homunculi. He knew that whatever choice he made would define him—and change the course of everything that followed. But still to use them.
Back in the underground laboratory sometime later. C2 oversaw the meticulous collection of Stryker's research. Every book, scroll, and experimental log on farming techniques and animal husbandry—alongside more obscure knowledge like enhanced crop growth spells and alchemical treatments for livestock health—was gathered and stored.
Stryker's horrific experiments had yielded a treasure trove of knowledge, now being turned toward something far greater.
Liam browsed the first few volumes, absorbing key concepts quickly. Arcane irrigation systems, are designed to keep crops hydrated without manual labor. Potions to boost animal growth, ensuring faster production cycles. There were even alchemical techniques to modify the soil and make it more fertile—something he could apply to his new realm.
"This knowledge will finally serve a purpose."
Liam muttered under his breath, his fingers tracing the edge of an old parchment. No more suffering—just creation.
As the land grew and took shape, Liam knew this was only the beginning. With every expansion, every addition to the dimension, his power and autonomy would increase. There would be no reliance on outside sources. This was his world now, and in it, he would control every element down to the last grain of soil and blade of grass.
C2 returned and gave a brief nod.
"The notes have been collected, Master. We have begun construction of the lake and crop fields. Shall we begin acquiring animals from the outside world for domestication?"
Liam smiled.
"Yes. But we'll do it selectively. Only the healthiest and most productive stock."
He paused, thinking of the future expansion plans.
"And start work on underground storage vaults for surplus resources."
C2 bowed.
"At once."
The hum of the wardstone's power resonated through Liam's very being, filling him with a sense of satisfaction. Every acre he added to the dimension was another step toward a future where he alone dictated the rules. No more depending on the broken systems of the outside world.
This was his sanctuary. His empire. And it was just getting started.