The next morning began with the sound of work echoing through the ruins. Hammering, the scraping of stones, the calls of men and women hauling wood and steel — it was the rhythm of survival, the rhythm of rebuilding.
The dome above shimmered faintly under the sunlight, a reminder that safety was temporary. Twenty-nine days of protection remained. After that, they would be exposed to the endless dangers outside.
At the heart of the settlement, the Cascading Starlight Fountain glimmered. Its waters sparkled as if pieces of the night sky had been trapped inside. Survivors often paused to drink in its beauty. It was hope made real. But for Zayden, it was more than hope. It was fuel. Power. A chance to build something lasting.
He stared at the holographic panel floating before him.
[Faction: Myth]
[Leader: Zayden]
[Vice Leader: Aiden]
[Generals: Isara, Tyrel, Amara, Dare]
[Population in Shelter: 497]
[Registered Members in Faction: 6]
[Faction Currency: 0 Credits]
[Territory Size: 1000m radius — Dome Protection Active (28 days, 19 hours remaining)]
Zayden's brows tightened. Out of nearly five hundred survivors, only six had joined the faction. Everyone else remained ordinary residents, basking in the safety they hadn't earned.
It couldn't continue.
He called for Dare first. Together, they had begun laying the foundation for the Credit System. The prototype bracelet, powered by Dare's nanomancy, was already strapped to Zayden's wrist.
[Name: Zayden]
[Faction: Myth Leader]
[Credits: 0]
[Position: Leader]
It worked perfectly. Now the challenge was scaling it.
But Credits alone weren't enough. To maintain order, they needed ranks — levels of authority that gave people goals to reach for, rewards to earn, and responsibilities to shoulder.
That was where Aiden came in.
Zayden called Aiden and Dare to the fountain. The three of them sat at its base, the sound of rushing water soothing the background of their discussion.
Aiden's sharp eyes scanned the faction screen once Zayden shared it. He frowned. "Six members in the faction? Out of five hundred?"
"That's why we're building one," Zayden replied calmly. "Dare has already created a way to track Credits and ranks. But we need more. We need layers of authority."
"Ranks," Aiden said immediately, leaning forward. "If we want people to respect order, they need to see where they stand. And they need the chance to climb."
Dare raised an eyebrow. "So, like a ladder system? From bottom feeders up to elites?"
"Exactly," Aiden said. "But it has to be fair. People should be rewarded for hard work, not just birth or position. We'll tie the ranks to Credits. You earn your place."
Zayden's eyes glimmered faintly. "Tell me what you have in mind."
Aiden began outlining the structure.
"Below the generals, there should be the Noirs," Aiden said. "Citizens with level 4 authority. They'll receive 1000 Credits every month just for holding that rank. They'll act as our elite class, second only to the core team."
He held up his hand, counting down as he explained.
"Below the Noirs are the Blancs. Level 5 authority. They receive 600 Credits a month. Trusted, but not yet elites."
"Then the Seniors. Level 6 authority. They'll get 400 Credits."
"Next, the Members. Level 7 authority. They'll be the backbone of the faction. 200 Credits per month."
"And at the very bottom, the Residents. Level 8 authority. Just 100 Credits per month. These are ordinary citizens. They benefit from safety, but little else."
Zayden nodded slowly. "So Members are the entry point for joining the faction. Residents start at the bottom. Advancement comes from contribution."
"Exactly," Aiden confirmed. "Complete missions, earn Credits, climb ranks. Everyone has the same path. No favouritism. No shortcuts."
Dare smirked. "Well… not quite. You can buy a rank increase with Credits, right? But make it absurdly expensive. That way, only those who've truly earned it could afford the jump."
Aiden nodded. "That works. It adds another layer of ambition."
Zayden considered it all, his gaze on the fountain. The nine-pointed star logo of their faction glowed faintly in his mind. Each point represented them, the founders. But now, beyond that symbol, a structure was taking form.
"Myth will not just be a shelter," he said softly. "It will be a society."
The Central Hub
"There's one more thing," Zayden said. "We need a place to centre this system. A place for missions, Credits, and ranks."
"The Faction Tower," Aiden suggested instantly.
Zayden looked at him, and Aiden explained.
"A building at the heart of the shelter. Tall, visible from anywhere inside the dome. It will house the main system interface. People can go there to check their ranks, claim missions, spend Credits, or report achievements. It will be the core of our society."
Dare chuckled. "So basically, a giant office. I can build that. With the fountain's energy powering the tech, the Tower can function as the central hub."
Zayden nodded once. "Then it's decided. We'll raise the Tower here, beside the fountain."
By afternoon, the survivors were called together. Nearly five hundred people gathered in the open square, dust still clinging to their faces from labour. Murmurs ran through the crowd.
At the front, Zayden stood flanked by Aiden and Dare. Behind them, the other generals watched silently — Isara with calm detachment, Tyrel with quiet pride, Amara with her usual darkness, and the others scattered nearby.
Zayden raised his voice.
"Everyone here fought, bled, or survived long enough to make it this far. You've found safety under the dome. But understand this — safety does not last forever. In twenty-nine days, the dome will vanish. And if we do nothing, so will we."
His words fell like stones, heavy and sharp. Murmurs rose. Fear flickered in tired eyes.
"That's why we've created Myth," Zayden continued. "Not just a faction, but a society. One built on fairness, strength, and survival."
He lifted his arm, showing the bracelet. Its faint hologram glowed for all to see.
"This is the beginning of order. From now on, this shelter will run on Credits. Work, and you earn. Slack, and you get nothing. No one eats for free. No one takes without giving back."
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Some faces lit with approval. Others darkened with suspicion.
Aiden stepped forward. "There will be ranks. Residents, Members, Seniors, Blancs, Noirs — each with their own authority and monthly Credits. Rise through effort, fall through neglect. Everyone begins as a Resident. Those who join the faction become Members. From there, advancement is earned."
He let the words sink in before adding, "Missions will be posted in the Faction Tower, which we will raise here at the fountain. Hunting, scavenging, farming, and construction — all will be rewarded. You will not be forced. But those who refuse to contribute will remain at the bottom, scraping by on the bare minimum."
Dare lifted a bracelet prototype for all to see. "These will be given to everyone. They'll track your Credits, your rank, and your membership. No lies. No cheating. Your work speaks for itself."
For a long moment, silence hung over the gathering.
Then the crowd erupted.
"This is good! Finally, some order!" one man shouted.
"So if I work, I get more food? More resources?" a woman asked eagerly.
"But what if I don't want to join the faction?" someone else called.
"You can stay a Resident," Aiden replied calmly. "But don't expect to live well."
"That's slavery!" a harsh voice rang out. A tall man shoved through the crowd, face twisted in anger. "You're forcing us to follow your rules! You're no different from dictators!"
The crowd stilled. All eyes turned to Zayden.
His gaze was calm, steady, unflinching. "You're free to leave the dome if you don't like it."
The man's mouth opened, but no words came. Outside the dome, death waited. Everyone knew it.
Zayden's voice cut through the silence. "This is not tyranny. This is survival. You contribute, you live well. You refuse, you scrape by. That is equivalent exchange. Fair, and absolute."
The man scowled but said nothing more. The tension slowly dissolved as others began to murmur approval.
When the meeting ended, the survivors scattered. Some discussed their new ranks eagerly. Others grumbled under their breath. But all understood one thing: Myth had rules now.
The bracelets began to be distributed, Dare's nanomancy working overtime to create them in batches. A central area was marked for the Faction Tower, and construction began immediately.
Zayden stood once more at the fountain, watching the work unfold. Aiden approached quietly.
"You know," Aiden said, "some people will resent you forever for this. They'll see you as a tyrant no matter how fair the system is."
Zayden didn't look away from the fountain. "Let them. Better their resentment now than betrayal later."
Aiden studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You're building something greater than survival. You're building a world."
Zayden's lips curved faintly. "Myth. A world worth living in."
And under the glow of the fountain, with the dome above and the ruins around them, the first order of the new world began to take shape.