The morning sun bathed the horizon in gold as Damian rode toward his new land. Behind him, Selena trailed quietly, her carriage carrying supplies she insisted on bringing. The roads grew wilder the further they traveled, until finally, the hills opened to reveal the frontier of Asterion.
What stretched before him was rugged and untamed—dense forests, wide plains, rivers flowing freely. It was beautiful… but scattered ruins and the faint scent of monsters in the wind made its dangers clear.
AI:
"Scanning territory. Estimated population: sparse. Local settlements—abandoned. Monster density—above average. Conclusion: stabilization required before development."
Damian stood at the ridge, arms folded, the wind ruffling his black coat.
Damian:
"So this is Asterion… my land."
Selena stepped forward beside him, her expression both cautious and hopeful.
Selena:
"It looks… wild. But it's fertile. With the right hands, it could become more than even the capital expects."
Damian (half-smiling):
"Then let's make it happen."
He raised his hand, and with a surge of mana, runes flared across the earth. The ground shook as stone walls began to rise, shimmering with magical enchantments his AI calculated and guided.
AI:
"Enchantment ratio optimal. Durability—high. These walls will repel monsters up to C-rank efficiently."
Selena gasped, watching the colossal structures rise higher and higher, enclosing the first perimeter of what would be his city.
Selena:
"You're… building a fortress. No—an entire city."
Damian:
"Not just a city. A foundation. One day, Asterion will be more than a frontier post. It'll be a home."
Soon, word spread. Farmers, merchants, adventurers—people seeking new opportunities—began to arrive. Damian welcomed them, assigning safe zones within the new walls. He conjured tools using his knowledge from Earth: plows of steel, reinforced carts, even basic water pumps powered by mana.
The people marveled.
Villager (whispering):
"Lord Damian… he's building things we've never seen before."
"Maybe this frontier won't stay wild for long."
Selena watched quietly as Damian directed workers, her admiration deepening. Unlike other nobles, he worked alongside the settlers, sleeves rolled up, even helping carry beams into place.
At dusk, Damian climbed atop the half-built wall, overlooking his land as lanterns flickered below.
Damian (to himself):
"This is just the beginning. Asterion will rise, no matter what it takes."
The AI's voice hummed in his mind.
AI:
"Prediction: Growth trajectory promising. Probability of Asterion becoming central power in the region—85%."
Damian smirked, the glow of the horizon in his eyes.
The Baron of Asterion was no mere title—
It was the seed of something far greater.