The morning mist clung to the village like a second skin. Hammer strikes echoed from the guild hall's construction site, while birds scattered from rooftops as Uther pinned a new notice to the central board.
> [EXPEDITION NOTICE – Rank: C+]
Destination: The Forgotten Quarry
Objective: Harvest Rare Materials, Investigate Anomalies
Rewards: System Credit, Guild Rank Advancement, Resource Bonus
Status: OPEN (Party Required)
He stepped back, arms folded, watching as the village stirred. Only a handful of people so far, but already, something had changed. The System was evolving — and so was the land around it.
But unknown to Uther, far beyond the borders of the forest, whispers had already begun to spread.
---
Rumors from the Wilds
Three days prior, a cloaked traveler stood on a distant ridge, overlooking the valley where the village now thrived. His eyes narrowed beneath his hood. What should've been a wasteland — long since abandoned — was now a glowing pocket of activity.
Houses.
Smoke from chimneys.
A mana pulse detectable even from a distance.
He reached into his satchel, removing a strange communication crystal. After a short incantation, he whispered:
> "Reporting in. The ruins of Eldervale… are alive. Buildings. People. There's even a functional System. I saw the construction magic with my own eyes."
The voice on the other end crackled. "Impossible. Eldervale was purged."
"I saw a board. Recruitment. Guild formation. This isn't just some squatters. Someone rebuilt the village."
The connection broke.
But the message had already been delivered — straight to the royal capital, and more worryingly, to other kingdoms and factions interested in forbidden magic and lost Systems.
---
Back at the Village
Uther didn't know it yet, but eyes were now turning toward him.
As he reviewed the supply list near the inn, footsteps approached — steady and confident.
The first was a tall man with silver-streaked hair and a long, well-worn spear. His armor bore no crest, but his stance screamed soldier. The second was a woman in soft leather, a hood casting her sharp green eyes in shadow. She moved like the forest itself — fluid, silent, watchful.
"Name's Kaelen," the man said, eyeing the board. "Heard rumors there was a village out here. Couldn't believe it till I saw it with my own eyes."
"I'm Lira," the rogue added, soft-spoken. "I follow ruin trails. Something about this place feels… different."
Uther studied them both. The System pinged immediately:
> [New Recruits Detected – Potential Party Members]
[Class: Spearman (Elite), Scout/Rogue (Specialized)]
[Do you wish to form a party?]
He nodded. "We leave in one hour. You're in if you can keep up."
---
The Quarry Path
The journey east took them through twisted terrain. The deeper they traveled, the more corrupted the land became.
"Smells like iron," Mara muttered. "And something else. Decay."
"Corruption," Kaelen replied coldly. "This quarry isn't just dead. It's angry."
By late afternoon, they reached the Forgotten Quarry — a massive crater of collapsed ruins and broken machines. Crystal veins lined the walls, flickering with unstable mana.
> [System Notification: You've Discovered a Forgotten System Site.]
[Warning: System Fragments Detected – Corruption Level: Moderate]
[Threat: Active. Proceed With Caution.]
Uther's interface flickered.
> [Core Protocol // Reconnect… // ERROR]
[Fragment Detected – Reclaim or Isolate.]
Before he could react, the ground shook.
They were not alone.
---
Ambush
Twisted figures emerged from the quarry's depths — humanoid shapes with crystal-veined bodies, eyes glowing like dying stars.
"System-warped," Lira hissed. "Failed users, maybe. Or protectors of something ancient."
"Let's clear them out," Uther commanded.
Steel flashed. Kaelen fought like a tempest, cutting down creatures in controlled arcs. Lira slipped through shadows, striking at vital points. Mara rained arrows from above, and Uther channeled System energy through his blade — the new Blade Channeling skill activating for the first time.
When the last creature fell, Uther approached a glowing shard embedded in the ground. It pulsed like a heartbeat.
> [Rare Material Acquired – Corrupted Core Crystal.]
[System Fragment Node Now Accessible.]
---
The Decision
A shattered System terminal flickered under the rubble.
> [System Fragment Detected. Integrate to Unlock New Village Functionality.]
Choose One: A) Combat System Upgrade – Grants Advanced Combat Mechanics and Auto-Adapt Skills
B) Village Core Enhancement – Boosts Growth Rate, Resource Output, and Autonomous Management
C) Secure Fragment – Lock for Future Use. Unknown Effects.
Uther stared at the choice, each option heavy with consequence.
Kaelen spoke first. "War is coming. You'll want stronger weapons."
Mara shook her head. "We need to grow faster. Build defenses. Feed more people."
Lira remained quiet, her eyes locked on the shard. "Sometimes the right choice is waiting. Systems have secrets they don't reveal all at once."
Uther took a deep breath.
"I choose…"
---
To be continued.