Kael woke with a start, his body still aching from the brutal battle with the Dire Shade Wolf. His side throbbed painfully, a constant reminder of how close he had come to dying. He leaned against the crumbling stone pillar, gripping his spear tightly as he surveyed his surroundings. The ruins of the shrine loomed around him, bathed in the faint light of the glowing moss. The pedestal was empty now, the golden orb gone, but the System notification still echoed in his mind.
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New Skill Acquired: Domain Seed (Unique).
Description: Grants the user the ability to begin constructing an inner domain. Followers and believers placed within the domain will increase the user's power over time.
---
The words lingered in Kael's thoughts as he tried to make sense of them. What did it mean to construct an "inner domain"? And why was it tied to "followers and believers"? The System hadn't provided any further explanation, leaving him with more questions than answers.
He opened his status page, exhaustion making even the simple action feel like a chore.
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Name: Kael Ardyn
Level: 3
HP: 5/100
MP: 20/50
Stats:
Strength: 13 (+3)
Agility: 13 (+3)
Endurance: 12 (+2)
Intelligence: 13 (+1)
Wisdom: 12 (+1)
Charisma: 9
Luck: 8
Skills:
Skill Replication (Unique)
Body Double (Rare, Tier: Grandmaster)
Improvised Weaponry (Basic)
Spear Proficiency (Basic)
Swordsmanship (Basic)
Predator's Reflexes (Basic)
Domain Seed (Unique)
---
His HP was critically low, and his MP wasn't much better. He needed a way to heal, fast. But the ruins around him offered no immediate solutions—no herbs, no potions, nothing he could use to recover. His inventory was equally empty of anything that could restore his health.
Kael grimaced. "If this domain skill is going to be useful, now's the time to figure it out."
He focused on the new skill, willing its description to expand. A more detailed explanation appeared in his mind.
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Domain Seed (Unique):
Allows the user to create a personal domain, an independent space where time flows differently and resources can be stored. Placing individuals within the domain as followers increases the domain's growth and provides power to the user. Initial construction requires 10 MP.
---
Kael's heart raced. An independent space? If he could create something like that, it might solve some of his immediate problems. He could have a safe place to recover, to store items, and to strategize. But with only 20 MP left, activating the skill would leave him with barely anything.
"Better to take the risk," he muttered. "I won't survive out here like this."
Kael activated the skill, feeling a sudden pull in his chest as energy drained from his body.
---
-10 MP
MP: 10/50
Domain Activated: Inner Sanctuary (Tier 1).
Time Dilation: 1:15 (1 minute outside = 15 minutes inside).
Current Size: 10m x 10m.
Current Energy Capacity: 10 Units.
---
Kael staggered as the air around him shimmered. A glowing doorway appeared in front of him, pulsating with faint blue light. His instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but he stepped forward anyway, curiosity overriding his fear.
The moment he passed through the doorway, Kael felt a strange sense of calm. He stood in a small clearing surrounded by mist, the space barely larger than a modest room. The ground beneath him was soft grass, and a single glowing orb hovered in the center of the space, radiating a gentle warmth.
"This… is my domain?" Kael whispered, his voice echoing faintly. "It's smaller than I expected."
He moved toward the orb, reaching out to touch it. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, a new interface appeared in his mind.
---
Inner Sanctuary - Tier 1
Time Dilation: 1:15
Size: 10m x 10m
Energy Capacity: 10 Units
Stored Resources: None
Stored Beings: None
Sanctuary Benefits:
- Accelerated recovery for HP and MP.
- Basic shelter and protection.
---
Kael leaned back against the glowing orb at the center of his domain, his mind racing with questions. The System had mentioned "Energy Units" several times, but he had no clear understanding of what they were or how to gather them. Focusing on the interface, he willed it to provide more details.
---
Energy Units:
Energy Units are the fundamental resource required to expand and enhance your domain. They can be obtained through the following methods:
1. Followers and Believers
- Energy is generated passively by individuals placed within the domain. The amount produced depends on the number of followers and their level of devotion.
- Passive Energy Generation Rate: 1 unit/day per follower (basic devotion).
2. Resources
- Specific resources (e.g., magical plants, rare minerals) can be placed in the domain to generate energy over time. The resource type determines the rate and efficiency of energy production.
- Example:
- Low-Grade Mana Crystal: Generates 2 units/day for 5 days.
- Rare Resource Node: Generates 5 units/day indefinitely (requires installation via expansion).
3. Monsters and Beasts
- Capturing or placing monsters and beasts inside the domain allows for energy extraction. More powerful creatures produce more energy, but maintaining them in the domain may require additional costs (e.g., food, environment compatibility).
- Example:
- Weak Creature: 1 unit/day.
- Mid-Tier Creature: 3 units/day.
- High-Tier Creature: 10+ units/day (with risks of escape or destruction).
4. Direct Offerings
- Energy can be manually added by offering items with intrinsic energy properties (e.g., enchanted weapons, high-grade crystals). This is a one-time addition and does not replenish over time.
- Example:
- Basic Offering: 5 units (e.g., Minor Healing Potion).
- Advanced Offering: 20 units (e.g., High-Grade Mana Crystal).
---
Kael's mind raced as he read through the information. The interface gave him a clearer picture of how energy could be gathered, but it also raised more questions. He didn't have any followers, nor did he have magical resources or creatures to place in the domain. Direct offerings were an option, but his inventory was almost empty.
"This is going to take time," Kael muttered, pacing the small space. "I'll need to find people, resources, or something else that can keep this domain running. Otherwise, it's just a fancy hiding spot."
He opened the Domain Expansion menu again, re-reading the options and their costs.
---
Expanded Domain Mechanics with Energy Costs
1. Increase Domain Size
- Cost: 5 Energy Units.
- Expands the domain's physical area by 5 meters in all directions, providing more space for resources, followers, and facilities.
2. Enhance Time Dilation
- Cost: 10 Energy Units.
- Adjusts the time flow within the domain, increasing its efficiency. At 1:30, one minute outside equals 30 minutes inside, allowing for faster recovery and training.
3. Resource Nodes
- Cost: 8 Energy Units.
- Adds a random resource-producing feature to the domain, such as a mana spring, fruit-bearing tree, or mineral vein. Resource nodes generate energy or physical resources over time.
4. Follower Benefits
- Cost: 12 Energy Units.
- Enhances the domain's effects on followers, providing them with increased healing rates, faster stamina recovery, or minor buffs while inside.
5. Upgrade Energy Capacity
- Cost: 7 Energy Units.
- Increases the maximum energy the domain can store by an additional 10 units, allowing for larger-scale expansions and upgrades.
---
Kael felt a flicker of hope as he studied the options. They were expensive, but they weren't impossible. If he could find a way to gain even a small amount of energy, he could start building the domain into something far more useful.
He shifted his attention back to the interface and explored another section labeled Energy Logs. It seemed to track all energy-related activities within the domain.
---
Current Energy Balance: 0 Units.
Recent Activity:
- Domain Seed Activation: -10 Units.
- Initial Energy Reserves: +0 Units.
Potential Sources:
- None detected.
---
Kael frowned. His domain was empty, lifeless. Without followers or resources, it would remain that way. Still, he knew what he needed to do. Finding a settlement or group of people was no longer just about survival—it was about unlocking the full potential of his domain.
Kael paced the small domain, using its accelerated recovery to regain his strength. As his HP climbed to 40, and his MP* began to refill, his mind wandered back to the System interface. Energy Units were critical to improving this space, but without followers, resources, or captured creatures, he had none.
After hours inside, Kael exited the domain, stepping back into the eerie stillness of the shrine. The System chimed with a new quest.
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New Quest: The Path Forward
Objective: Explore the forest and locate a settlement or source of information.
Reward: Increased domain energy and experience points.
---
Kael adjusted his grip on his spear, his resolve hardening. A settlement meant hope—a chance to learn more about this world, gather resources, or even find potential followers.
The hours that followed were tense. Kael avoided open areas, keeping to the shadows as he moved through the forest. Growls and rustling in the underbrush sent chills down his spine, but each time, the threats faded into the distance.
Just as the sun began to set, Kael spotted faint plumes of smoke rising above the treetops. His pulse quickened. Smoke meant fire, and fire meant people—or something capable of making fire.
He crept closer, his movements slow and deliberate. As the trees thinned, Kael found himself at the edge of a small camp. Several tents were arranged in a rough circle, and a fire crackled at the center. Around it sat three figures, their shapes silhouetted against the flames.
Kael crouched low, observing them from the shadows. They weren't goblins; their bodies were too tall and lean. One of them shifted, and Kael caught a glimpse of pointed ears.
"Humans?" Kael whispered, his voice barely audible.
The System chimed again, offering a brief description.
---
Forest Outcasts
Faction: Independent
Description: A small group of exiles surviving on the edge of the forest. Neutral toward outsiders unless provoked.
---
Kael exhaled slowly, relief washing over him. They weren't immediately hostile, which was better than he could have hoped for. But approaching them carelessly could still be a mistake. He needed a plan.
As he debated his next move, one of the outcasts stood, their voice carrying through the quiet night.
"We know you're out there. Come out now, or we'll assume you're an enemy."
Kael froze, his grip on the spear tightening. He hadn't realized how loud his movements had been—or how sharp their senses were. With no other choice, he stepped out of the shadows, raising his hands to show he wasn't a threat.
"I don't mean any harm," Kael said, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest. "I'm just trying to survive."
The three figures turned toward him, their faces illuminated by the firelight. They were rough-looking but not unkind. One of them, a tall woman with dark hair and a bow slung over her shoulder, stepped forward.
"Surviving out here alone isn't easy," she said, her eyes narrowing. "You're either incredibly lucky or incredibly stupid."
Kael let out a dry laugh. "Maybe a little of both."
The woman studied him for a moment longer before nodding. "Alright. You can join us—for now. But try anything, and you won't live long enough to regret it."
Kael nodded, lowering his hands as he stepped closer to the fire. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt a flicker of hope. He wasn't alone anymore.