Chapter 2: The First Step
The morning sun crested the horizon, painting the violet sky with streaks of amber. Kael El lounged on the porch of his newly minted lodge, one leg propped on a stack of wood, a waterskin dangling from his fingers. His dark eyes scanned the plot—10,000 seedlings sprawled across the dirt like a green carpet, glinting faintly with unreal energy. A smirk tugged at his lips. Day 2, and I'm already breaking this world's rules.
He took a slow sip, unfazed by the absurdity of his loot. Back on Earth, he'd grinded games where a single rare drop took weeks. Here? One swing of an axe, and he was drowning in resources. Guess I'm the glitch they didn't see coming.
A soft ding broke his reverie, the system panel flickering to life.
"Day 2 of 7-Day Peace Period. Territory Progress: 550/1,000 Resources Gathered. Reminder: Secure a summon method to advance."
Kael's smirk widened, a flirty edge to it as he muttered, "Don't rush me, sweetheart. I'll get there when I get there." His confidence wasn't shaken—not by the ticking clock, not by the wilds beyond his plot. Pressure was just fuel to him.
He stood, stretching with a lazy grace that belied the steel in his gaze. The Mastercraft Axe gleamed in his hand as he sauntered toward the forest. Mana Crystal's the key. No altar, no summons. No summons, no kingdom. Simple math. His mind, sharp and strategic, churned through options. The 100 Wood and 50 Stone for the Summoning Altar were easy—he'd chop and quarry that by noon. The crystal? That'd take some hunting.
The forest loomed, its gnarled branches clawing at the sky. Kael stepped in, axe swinging with casual precision. Each tree fell in one hit, wood piling up as the system chimed relentlessly.
"Resource Gained: 20 Wood. SSS Talent: Additional Drop – 1 Vine Fiber. EX Talent: 10,000x Multiplier Applied. Quantity Enhanced: 10,000 Vine Fibers."
A tangle of shimmering vines spilled around him, enough to weave a small army's worth of rope. Kael chuckled, kicking a bundle aside. Overkill's my middle name now.