The morning after Marcus's arrival brought a tangible shift in the atmosphere of the Heartwood Sprout. The air, usually heavy with the quiet hum of the Genesis Core and the rustle of alien leaves, now carried the faint, rhythmic clink-clink of Marcus meticulously inspecting the generator piece he'd brought back. This piece, a salvaged remnant from Earth, had been pried loose by Marcus using a crude, bent crowbar he'd managed to find and adapt from the industrial wreckage. Elara, though still confined to the shelter, seemed more at ease, her gaze often drifting towards the new arrival. There was a subtle, almost imperceptible lift in the collective mood.
Alex, however, allowed himself only a brief moment of contentment. He had secured two crucial allies and automated his primary resource gathering. This was progress, significant progress, but Aethelgard was a world of relentless threats. He glanced at his System UI, processing the overnight gains from the Heartwood Defenders' tireless work. The Woodcutter's Hut and Stone Quarry had been busy, steadily accumulating materials. Food reserves had also been maintained, thanks to the traps and careful rationing, despite the increased consumption from three individuals.
"Marcus," Alex called out, approaching the engineer who was now examining the Stone Quarry with a critical eye. "Excellent work on the quarry. The output is impressive."
Marcus straightened, wiping grease from his hands with a torn piece of cloth. "Just getting a feel for it, boss. This organic tech is… something else, but the principles of extraction are universal. I think I can optimize this further." He moved towards the structure, his eyes already scanning the rock face, clearly enjoying the tangible results of his work.
"Good," Alex murmured to himself. "Now, defense."
He walked to the perimeter of the Heartwood Sprout, his gaze sweeping the tree line. The attack by the Gloomfang Squirrel pack had been a close call. While the Heartwood Defenders had proven capable, two units were not enough for sustained defense against a larger, more organized threat. They needed a more robust barrier.
He opened his System UI, accessing the available blueprints. The Palisade Segment blueprint, a basic defensive wall, was already listed under the Heartwood Sprout's available constructions, a fundamental Tier 1 defensive option.
[Palisade Segment (Cost: 15 Wood, 5 Stone) - Basic defensive wall segment.]
A palisade. Simple, but effective. He needed a lot of them to encircle the entire Heartwood Sprout. He quickly calculated: to enclose the current clearing would require roughly 10 segments. That was 150 Wood and 50 Stone.
He checked his current resources against the requirement for the segments. He had ample Wood (Common) and Stone (Common) to construct all the necessary segments. His Evolution Points (EP) were currently at 9.2.
"The wood and stone are looking good for the segments," Alex muttered, a frown creasing his brow. "We can get the wall up quickly." The automated production was good, but he knew he needed to accelerate it to ensure they had a surplus of materials for repairs or further construction.
"Heartwood Defender 1," Alex commanded, directing the unit from the Woodcutter's Hut. "Focus on rapid wood extraction. Prioritize quantity."
The Heartwood Defender at the Woodcutter's Hut shifted its stance, its luminous orbs focusing intently on the trees. The subtle energy pulse it emitted seemed to quicken, and Alex internally noted the increased efficiency.
"Marcus," Alex called out again. "Once you get a feel for the Stone Quarry, I need you to push its output as much as possible. We're building a wall, and we need a lot of material, fast."
Marcus, already absorbed in his task, gave a thumbs-up without looking away. "Understood, boss. More stone coming right up." Alex knew Marcus's engineering expertise would likely boost the quarry's output beyond the Heartwood Defender's standard rate.
Alex spent some time scouting the immediate vicinity, making sure no new immediate threats had appeared, and absorbing any stray resources he found. He focused on finding materials that yielded higher EP, like Crystal Shards, whenever possible, as EP is crucial for unit generation and Core evolution.
Upon his return, he checked his UI. The automated production had continued during his absence, and his own scavenging had added to the EP. He now had a substantial amount of wood and stone, more than enough for the palisade segments.
He then began to drill the two Heartwood Defenders. He didn't have a training ground blueprint yet, but he could instruct them on basic maneuvers. His own makeshift club, which he had initially fashioned from a sturdy branch and reinforced with absorbed wood essence, was a testament to the basic crafting he could perform even without specific blueprints. The Genesis Core allowed for rudimentary shaping and strengthening of common materials, a skill he practiced with every swing, making his club more resilient, its grip more secure.
Alex spent the rest of the day overseeing and actively contributing to resource gathering and defender training. He moved from one end of the clearing to the other, tirelessly absorbing stray logs and rocks himself, adding his own efficiency to the automated processes. He focused on absorbing materials that yielded higher EP, like Crystal Shards, whenever possible. Marcus, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of focused activity at the Stone Quarry, his engineering mind clearly finding ways to extract stone at an accelerated pace.
As the sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of deep violet and orange, Alex surveyed his growing settlement. The Heartwood Sprout glowed with renewed vibrancy. The Woodcutter's Hut and Stone Quarry were humming with steady production, their output now visibly faster thanks to the combined efforts. The two Heartwood Defenders stood ready, their presence a solid reassurance.
He walked over to Elara, who was now propped up, watching the activity with a thoughtful expression. "We'll have a palisade up soon," Alex told her. "It will make us much safer."
"It's incredible, Alex," Elara said, her voice filled with wonder. "Just yesterday, I thought I was going to die alone. Now… now we have a place. And these… these plant-things. They're like silent guardians."
"They are," Alex agreed, a faint smile touching his lips. He sat beside her, looking out at the twilight forest. "But Aethelgard is vast. And dangerous. We've only seen a tiny corner of it. There are other creatures, stronger ones. And other survivors from Earth, other Ascendants. Some might be friendly, some might be rivals."
He thought about the Earth Remnant, the Industrial Ruin, and the hulking Automaton within. He had a growing sense that these were but minor threats compared to what truly lurked in the deeper, unexplored reaches of Aethelgard. He felt an instinctual dread, a primal warning of ancient, powerful entities and corrupted zones that lay hidden, waiting.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Alex also considered the next major step for his settlement. The upcoming horde would provide a massive influx of EP if they could defeat it. That EP could be the key to evolving the Heartwood Sprout into a Heartwood Village (Tier 2 Settlement), unlocking more advanced structures and units, and significantly boosting their overall power. The palisade was essential for immediate survival, but the evolution was crucial for long-term dominance. He needed to balance immediate defense with future growth.
Suddenly, a new, urgent notification flashed in his System UI, cutting through the quiet evening air with a sharp, insistent chime. It was larger, more prominent than any previous message, its text glowing with an ominous red hue.
[Impending Regional Event: Minor Monster Horde Detected!][Estimated Arrival: 3 Days.][Threat Level: High - Prepare Defenses!]
Alex's breath hitched. Three days. His gut clenched, but his strategic mind immediately snapped into overdrive. This wasn't a random pack. This was a "Regional Event," a System-declared threat. It meant a larger, more organized assault than anything they had faced so far.
He looked at the partially gathered resources for the palisade, then at the two Heartwood Defenders, then at Elara, still recovering, and Marcus, busy with the quarry. Three days. It was barely enough time.
"Elara," Alex said, his voice low, filled with a new urgency. "We have a problem. A big one."
He knew what he had to do. Every moment counted. The palisade had to be finished. More defenders had to be generated. This wasn't just about building a settlement anymore; it was about preparing for a true test of their survival. The unknown was no longer just a possibility; it was coming for them. And Alex, the Ascendant Sovereign, had to ensure his nascent empire was ready.