Alexander Maxwell opened his eyes to a blinding light. The world around him felt... wrong. The air carried a strange heaviness, the ground beneath him unfamiliar and uneven. He pushed himself up, blinking rapidly as his surroundings came into focus.
He stood in the middle of a vast, open plain. The grass stretched endlessly in every direction, its vibrant green hue almost surreal. In the distance, he could see rolling hills and a dark line of forest hugging the horizon.
"What is this place?" Alexander muttered, his voice low and steady despite the whirlwind of confusion in his mind.
A faint shimmer appeared before him, and suddenly, a translucent panel blinked into existence.
[Welcome to the World of Origin]
Player: Alexander Maxwell
Starting Territory: None
Initial Tools: None
Alexander frowned, his dark eyes narrowing as he read the words. His mind raced, piecing together fragments of memory. He had been on Earth—walking home after a long day—and then... nothing.
"Is this a dream?" he murmured, reaching out to touch the panel. His hand passed through it effortlessly, the text shifting slightly before fading away.
The First Steps
The system chimed softly, displaying a new set of instructions:
[Objective: Establish Your First Territory]
Gather Resources: Wood (20), Stone (10).
Craft a Basic Territory Marker.
Alexander's lips pressed into a thin line as he scanned his surroundings again. No tools, no supplies—nothing but himself and the wilderness.
"Starting from nothing," he muttered. "Fine. I've done worse."
He removed his long coat, the crimson stitching catching the sunlight as he folded it neatly and slung it over his arm. Practicality first. Style could wait.
The next few hours were spent gathering what he could find. He used sharp stones to cut branches, stacking them into a crude pile. Sweat dripped down his face as he pried loose rocks from the hard ground, his muscles aching with the effort.
By dusk, he had enough materials to fulfill the system's requirements.
[Objective Complete: Gather Resources]
New Task: Craft a Basic Territory Marker
The system provided a glowing blueprint, and Alexander followed it meticulously. Using the sharpest stone he could find, he carved symbols into a sturdy branch, binding it with strips of bark to a flat rock base. The process was tedious, and his hands were raw by the time he finished.
When he planted the marker into the ground, the air shimmered faintly, and a small boundary line appeared around him.
[Territory Established: Level 1]
Territory Radius: 50 meters.
Features Unlocked: Resource Collection, Basic Shelter.
Alexander straightened, his dark hair damp with sweat. He glanced around the modest area he had claimed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"It's not much," he said quietly, "but it's mine."
The Stone Spear
The first night was restless. The open plain offered little protection, and the rustle of grass in the dark kept Alexander on edge. By dawn, he decided that his next priority was a weapon.
Using the remaining stones and branches, Alexander fashioned a crude spear. The shaft was sturdy, though the stone tip lacked the precision of a true blade. Still, it was better than nothing.
He tested its weight, twirling it experimentally. The balance was off, and the stone tip seemed like it could snap with one bad thrust, but it would do for now.
"Not ideal," Alexander muttered, his dark eyes scanning the horizon. "But it'll have to work until I can find something better."
The system chimed softly, interrupting his thoughts:
[New Objective: Expand Your Territory]
Explore the surrounding area to locate key resources.
Reward: Unlock Path of Exploration.
Alexander read the message carefully, his brow furrowing. The system was guiding him toward exploration—but it wouldn't give him the buffs for free.
"So, I need to earn it," Alexander said quietly, gripping the spear tighter. He adjusted his coat, slinging it over his shoulders, and stepped beyond the boundary of his small territory.
The vast plain stretched before him, the grass swaying gently in the breeze. Somewhere out there, his next step awaited.
"Time to see what's out there," Alexander muttered, his dark eyes narrowing as he moved forward.