The village had changed again. In only few weeks, Itsuki could feel the rhythm of life shifting. The fields outside the walls had begun to sprout green shoots. The forge clanged day and night, filling the air with smoke and sparks. And for the first time, laughter echoed freely at night, as though the people had forgotten how to fear the dark.
But Itsuki hadn't forgotten. He stood at the edge of the village one evening, staring into the endless forest. Beyond those trees lay bandits, monsters, and other kingdoms. Sooner or later, one of them would notice this growing light in the wilderness.
We need more than walls and weapons, he thought. We need real progress.
The Idea
The next morning, Itsuki gathered the council in the central hall. Lyra, Elara, the smiths, and the elders.
"We've built walls and homes," Itsuki began, spreading a rough map across the table. "But if we want to survive long-term, we need more than defense. We need systems water, light, energy."
The smith frowned, scratching his beard. "You speak of things beyond our reach. Our forges can shape iron, but what is this 'energy' you speak of?"
Itsuki's lips curved into a small smile. "Electricity."
The word hung in the air like a spark.
The First Steps
Using his Creation ability, Itsuki fashioned crude copper wires, magnets, and a hand-cranked dynamo. The villagers gathered to watch as he assembled them in front of the forge.
At first, the device only groaned and whirred. But then, as he turned the crank, a small bulb of glowing crystal fashioned from his Creation power lit up, casting pale light across the smithy.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Children cheered, reaching for the glow. Elara's amber eyes widened with awe, while Lyra crossed her arms, smirking despite herself.
"You can summon light from stones and iron," Lyra muttered. "Is this magic, are you a wizard.
Itsuki chuckled. "Not a wizard.And it's not magic.its something else, it's science"
[System Notice: Village Advancement – Energy Systems Unlocked.]
Lighting the Night
Within days, Itsuki worked with the smiths and artisans to create crude street lamps powered by his crystals and small generators. Wooden posts lined the main road, each topped with a glowing orb that bathed the village in soft light.
For the first time, the streets were alive even after dusk. Children played tag by lamplight, artisans worked into the night, and guards patrolled with confidence, no longer fearing the shadows.
Elara walked beside Itsuki one evening, gazing up at the lights with wonder. "It's like you've pulled the stars down from the sky," she whispered.
Itsuki smiled faintly. "This is just the beginning. With power like this, we can build machines, pumps, maybe even defenses the world has never seen."
Her cheeks flushed as she looked at him. "You don't just building walls, Itsuki… you building dreams."
A Glimpse of Tomorrow
Later that night, Itsuki sat alone by the forge, sketching crude diagrams in the dirt. Water wheels, pipes, mills, even the idea of running water inside homes. His Adaptation power filled in gaps in his memory, sharpening his knowledge into something usable.
Lyra approached, leaning on her bow. "Even when the village is sleeping, you're working," she said softly.
"I have to," Itsuki replied without looking up. "Every day we grow stronger, but so do the dangers around us. If we want to survive, we need more than swords and bows. We need to advance."
Lyra studied him for a moment, then gave a rare smile. "Then advance. And know this, that no matter what we will always be with you and support you.
Her words warmed him, and for a moment, Itsuki allowed himself to believe it—that maybe, just maybe, this village could become more than a refuge.
It could become a beacon.
[System Notice: Village Reputation Increased. Foreign Interest Detected.]
The forest whispered in the distance, as though warning of what was to come.