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Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: I turned out to be an SSR

He needs many things, and with the snow blanketing the ground, it'll take time to clear everything up. In the meantime, Ethan Drake refuses to stand idle. He recalls the advice Sam had given him earlier: "Don't forget to check your stats and play to your strengths."

Standing still by the shimmering surface of Mirror Lake, Ethan experiments, trying to access the mysterious property panel Sam had mentioned. With a simple thought, the translucent screen appears in front of him, hovering in the air like a hologram only he can see. He glances at the barbarian elder standing nearby, testing whether the old man can perceive it. Confirming he cannot, Ethan dives into the panel's details.

Name, gender, and age? Useless. His focus shifts to the attributes section:

Bravery: ★★☆

Intelligence: ★★★☆

Spirit: ★★★☆

Endurance: ★★☆

Command Rate: ★★★★★ (Recommended)

Talent: Ruler

Skills: None

Warfare: None

Population Under Rule: 34

Settlements: None

His eyes narrow at the final line—no settlements. No place to call home. He looks over his ragtag group, busy with tasks, then grits his teeth. This wouldn't change until they built something permanent.

The attributes intrigue him next. The star ratings are a mix of black and white, black representing his current level and white his potential. His gaze locks onto the five white stars under "Command Rate." The upper limit is strikingly high.

"Didn't expect to have hidden talent," Ethan mutters, running a hand through his hair. He's spent countless hours playing strategy games, but it never occurred to him that a knack for leadership might translate into real life. An SSR leader in the flesh.

Excitement surges through him, his pulse quickening. Then, he catches himself. "Calm down. Focus. Build, not boast."

The development route unfolds in his mind. His endurance and bravery growth are mediocre—long-term assets, but not immediate. Intelligence and spirit will have to lead in the early days. By late-game, he'd transition to leveraging his commanding talent.

Next, his attention falls on "Ruler." He selects it, and a detailed description pops up:

Ruler: As a natural leader, your civilization is fortified. Population loyalty defaults to +10, civilization development speed increases by 20% (10% × 2), and military strength under your command rises by 20% (10% × 2). (Bonuses scale with Command Rate.)

"Scaling with Command Rate," Ethan muses. The loyalty boost explains why his people are so willing to follow him. Development speed and military bonuses? Not bad at all.

Just then, two barbarians return with vines and stones. Ethan pats one on the shoulder, the man visibly puffing up at the praise. "Good work. I'll need both of you for something else now."

They nod eagerly, following him to the icy edge of Mirror Lake. Ethan gestures. "Drill a hole here. One works the stone, the other keeps watch. Don't slip."

The two begin hammering at the ice as Ethan's thoughts shift toward crafting. Fishing would be crucial. He calls over three women from the group, explaining his plan to weave a basic fishing net. Using a stick, he sketches a rudimentary design in the snow. They nod in understanding, setting to work with the tree vines.

Meanwhile, he rounds up a few children, handing them sticks. "Dig around the snow for worms. We'll need bait."

Tasking everyone, Ethan takes stock of their labor. Thirty-four people seemed like plenty at first. Now, stretched thin by responsibilities, it's not enough. Sitting down, he contemplates their next steps, sharpening a flat stone into a spearhead. Using strips of animal hide for bindings, he ties it securely to a stick. The spear feels solid in his grip.

The system chimes in:

Congratulations! You've created a "Crude Stone Spear," earning 5 Civilization Points and 3 Military Points.

Your civilization has entered the Stone Age. Civilization Points: +500.

Ethan's chest swells with pride. He waves the spear experimentally, feeling an unfamiliar strength in his movements.

But his triumph is short-lived. A scout bursts through the camp, breathless and wide-eyed. "Chief! Trouble! We ran into another tribe—they're trying to steal our game! It's already come to blows!"