His steps were heavy, with the whistling wind brushing against his pallid shoulders. He had quickly dismissed Kan, who had gone on to continue his assigned tasks. At no point had he allowed that old man to glimpse his desolate expression.
It wasn't a matter of trust, it was the crushing weight of responsibility! Men, women, and the elderly were now under his charge in this ashen world. He could push against the waves, defy them; but life itself wasn't something he could dictate.
He was merely a landowner of iron rank, the humblest class in the countless realms. An unknown potential, a known strength.
Without further ado, he wandered until he finally reached his town hall, his new home. He had inherited basic construction plans for free, including blueprints for housing, a well, and tents. To build a basic home, capable of modestly accommodating four tenants, he needed 100 units of wood, 100 of sand, and 50 of stone.
On the other hand, the town hall could easily house seven people. It was a humble structure of wooden beams and stone slabs, yet it was considerably large. What stood out was that it could be upgraded, raising his landowner rank to the next level.
In the distance, his subjects worked diligently, their assigned tasks carried out with discipline, spurred by his modest praise and polite words. He had decided not to partake in the hard labor, still recovering from his previous physical and mental strain.
Fortunately, the scattered stones and sparse sand surrounding the river could be used as resources. But the process of gathering them was magical in its resemblance to video games. Those sent to collect wood came and went tirelessly, led by Iván, the axeman. With a single swing, he could gather between one to three logs, which were directly added to the system before being distributed among his companions for transport.
On average, a mature tree could yield two to three hundred logs, a quantity sufficient to build several rudimentary houses.
As the sun began to set, they worked with fervor. Sweat trickled freely down their foreheads and hands, while he busied himself with providing instruction. His next steps were uncertain, so he reflected on them as well.
He needed to provide stable housing, sustain the food supply, and achieve sustainable development. He had no soldiers, logistics, or machinery, forced to live like a savage.
And his face darkened further every time he checked his personal status, the window that displayed his personal background.
[Name: Alexander]
[Identity: Petty and wretched Lord]
[Life expectancy: 17/80]
[Profession: Lord]
[Kingdom: None]
[Talent: Grade B, Loyal Summoning]
[Luck: Bite my hand]
It wasn't his identity or his luck, a cruel joke in itself, that bothered him, it was the functionality of his talent. Grade B was considered mid-tier, capable of commanding respect and even establishing a renowned family.
But his talent had no apparent practical use, allowing him to summon an individual who had once sworn loyalty to him, once per day. The problem was that no one had ever sworn loyalty to him in his entire life.
His only chance at excelling had slipped away. He was resigned to building an ordinary lordship, struggling to survive each winter, a vision he outright despised, one he couldn't even entertain.
It wasn't pride or insecurity, it was simply the desire to prosper. To provide his people with what they deserved and, in the process, achieve his own prosperity. Something so simple, who wouldn't understand that?
But his musings held no weight against time. Soon, his citizens gathered enough resources to build three basic houses in total.
Gathering his population, he was finally ready to execute the "divine" construction. The resources had already been allocated within the system: 300 units of wood, 300 of sand, and 150 of stone.
"It wasn't yesterday, nor tomorrow, but today that we claim our grace and consecrate ourselves alongside the divine, taking our first step toward glory". Alexander declared fervently, stirring emotion and admiration among a few.
Raising his left hand vertically, like an emperor proclaiming his truth.
Sacred flames flew from him, swirling across the open sky before descending back to the ground, where they formed three houses out of nowhere in a precise arrangement.
Gasps and expressions of awe spread across the crowd. They had never heard of such miraculous actions, not even from the legendary ethereal immortals of old tales.
A floating cloud castle could be built, a bridge extended from the noblest rainbow; but the right over creation itself was unheard of, a power reserved for nature.
Seeing their reactions brought him an internal smile, but he didn't dwell on it. The sun dipped below the horizon, sinking into the misty depths.
"Dedicate the remaining time to dividing into households. This will be where, and with whom, you rest. You're no longer obligated to tasks for today, but remember, the future has no horizon". He stated before walking away.
His final words added another layer to the frenzy sparked by his incomprehensible action. To wield the fires of creation was a feat that weighed heavily on their hearts.
Before bidding the day farewell, he called on one of the farmers to follow him. As they walked, he noticed the moon, now occupying the sun's throne, shrouded by a silvery-blue halo.
"Apologies for the trouble, but as you can see, I'm incapacitated in one arm. I need a small favor."
"Of course, my lord! I am at your complete disposal!" stammered the farmer, startled.
"Don't be so stiff, I'm not asking for a sacrifice. Just move that rock out of my way," he said with a touch of humor.
The farmer, a strong man in his mid-thirties, quickly complied, flashing a flattering smile rather than making any demands.
"You can go now". He said monotonously, taking a seat on the rock that had been moved to the pale edge of the protective barrier.
The peasant departed without question. None were needed; he only needed a recognizable face.
Soon, a mournful wail echoed; a chilling, gut-wrenching sound that transported one to a lake of pain and supplication.
From the depths of the earth came screeching noises, accompanied by a transparent purple mist rising with the night.
Strange shadows darted overhead at great speeds. As the mist grew denser, the abyssal cries intensified.
Hairy creatures emerged from the most hidden caves of nature. Among the monsters inhabiting the noble, desolate night were those that mimicked birds, reptiles, and even humans.
But in the distance, he spotted the outline of a beast unlike any he had known. With developed muscles, it walked on all fours and had three heads. It had no eyes or nose, only an irregular slit bristling with jagged teeth and spasmodic bones.
A deadly tail swayed behind its massive back...
But his attention was drawn to another sound; one that resonated with his spirit.
[Ding: Full focus achieved]
[Divine Conquest System awakened: Are you a lord? Modest, small, and servile? You're unfit—you're trash. But fortunately, with the Divine Conquest System, you can reincarnate across countless realms, gaining experience and combining infinite energy systems. At the end of your temporary stay, you can exchange your performance for various products in your kingdom. Don't waste this one-of-a-kind opportunity!]
What the hell is this small-time announcement?