A profound silence fell over New Dragon's Rest, broken only by the crackle of the newly-lit campfire and the rhythmic, disciplined breathing of one hundred Spartan Hoplites. They stood in perfect formation, their bronze armor reflecting the flickering flames, their presence an immovable bulwark against the darkness of the forest. The air itself felt heavier, charged with the promise of violence and the iron will of the ancients.
Leo met the gaze of the Spartan Commander, a man introduced as Stentor. The helmet obscured his face, but the eyes that gleamed from within the shadowed slit were flinty and assessing. The [Imperial Eye] provided a stark readout.
[Stentor - Commander of the Spartan Century - Loyalty: 50/100 (Conditional)]
They obey, but respect must be earned. Sun Tzu's warning echoed in Leo's mind. These were not automatons. They were the spirit of a warrior culture given form, and they would judge their new lord by his every action.
"Commander Stentor," Leo began, his voice cutting through the quiet. He gestured to the crude stone barricade. "This is our foothold. Your first task is to make it impregnable. I want a wooden palisade encircling this outcrop by dawn. The timber is here." He pointed to the stack of 100 units of wood, which had materialized as uniform, seasoned logs.
Stentor's gaze swept over the terrain, the rock face, the gathered civilians, and the dark tree line. His assessment was swift and brutal. "The ground is defensible. The wall is a child's pile of rocks. The timber is sufficient for a basic perimeter. It will be done." He turned and barked a single, guttural word in ancient Greek. "Etoimastite!"
As one, the century broke formation. With an efficiency that was mesmerizing, they divided into squads. Some began using their short swords to sharpen the logs into points. Others, using their own shields as makeshift shovels and rams, started digging a trench and setting the posts with a rhythmic, pounding force that echoed through the night. There was no wasted motion, no conversation. They were a machine.
Project Started: Wooden Palisade. Estimated Completion: 6 Hours.
Workforce: 100 Spartan Hoplites.
Resource Cost: 100/100 Wood.
"Their discipline is… formidable," Sun Tzu observed, standing at Leo's shoulder. "But their loyalty is a blade that can cut both ways. A defensive victory will bind them to you. A defeat, or even a perceived weakness, will see that loyalty crumble."
"Then we'll give them a victory," Leo replied, his eyes on the working soldiers. He opened his [Imperial Domain] interface. The changes were immediate.
[Imperial Domain: New Dragon's Rest]
Level: 0 (Village)
Population: 105/100 (Overcrowded - Minor Morale Penalty)
Morale: Poor (-10% to Citizen Actions)
Resources: 0 Wood, 10 Stone, 0 Food, 0 Water (Water source identified)
Structures: Crude Stone Barricade, Campfire
Defenses: 15 → 45 (Rising)
Upkeep: 105 Food / Day (Critical Deficit)
The numbers were a cold splash of reality. They had an army, but they had no food to feed it. The overcrowding penalty was a minor issue, but the food deficit was a ticking clock. They had maybe a day before hunger would begin to cripple them, and the Spartans' conditional loyalty would surely plummet if they weren't fed.
"We have solved one problem to uncover a greater one," Sun Tzu murmured, reading the same data. "An army marches on its stomach. Ours has not yet marched, and its stomach is empty."
As if summoned by the thought of food, a new, soft chime sounded in Leo's mind. A different kind of notification, not from the System, but from his own class.
[Cosmic Emperor's Insight Unlocked]
Your connection to the legends of history allows you to perceive latent potential and hidden synergies.
Available Insight: [Ben - Lv. 1 Rogue] possesses an untrained aptitude for [Trapping]. His [Keen Eye] skill can be used to identify game trails and nesting sites.
Leo turned. Ben was huddled by the fire, looking small and insignificant next to the hulking Spartans. "Ben," Leo called.
The boy jumped up, scurrying over. "My Emperor?"
"Your [Keen Eye] skill. Can you use it to find animals? Game trails? Places where we could set traps?"
Ben's eyes widened. "I… I don't know. I've only used it for resources." He closed his eyes, concentrating. The faint glow returned. He scanned the tree line, his gaze lingering on specific, invisible-to-others points. "I… I see things. Faint paths. Scratches on the bark over there. A burrow entrance near the stream bank. It's like the world is drawing me a map!"
"Good," Leo said. "That's your new priority. At first light, you will find us food. We need meat. Understood?"
"Yes, my Emperor!" Ben said, his voice filled with a new sense of purpose.
The night wore on, punctuated by the relentless sounds of construction. Leo assigned Sarah and the twins the task of creating water skins from the flexible bark of a non-glowing tree identified by Sun Tzu, and making repeated, guarded trips to the stream to fill them. It was tedious, vital work. The presence of the Spartans kept the wolves at bay, but the feeling of being watched never fully abated.
A few hours before dawn, with the palisade halfway complete, the feeling intensified. A new notification, red and urgent, flashed.
ALERT: Hostile Presence Detected.
Scouting Party: [Goblin Skirmishers] x5.
Approaching from the South-West.
Intent: Reconnaissance/Resource Theft.
Leo's head snapped up. He looked at Sun Tzu, who gave a slight, grim nod. He had seen them too.
"Stentor!" Leo commanded. "Hold your position. Do not engage unless they breach the perimeter. Let them see our strength, but do not reveal our full capabilities."
The Spartan Commander grunted in acknowledgment. He hissed another order. The working Spartans immediately downed tools and retrieved their spears and shields. In seconds, the half-built palisade was manned by a solid line of bronze and determination. They became statues, their presence hidden in the shifting shadows of the twin moons.
Leo, Sun Tzu, and Sarah moved to a vantage point behind the wall. Peering through a gap, Leo saw them. Five small, hunched figures with sallow green skin and beady red eyes, clad in ragged leathers. They carried crude clubs and stone knives. They were sneaking through the undergrowth, their movements furtive but clumsy.
[Goblin Skirmisher - Lv. 2]
[Goblin Skirmisher - Lv. 2]
...
They were low-level, a scouting party as the System said. But their presence confirmed Sun Tzu's earlier sighting of smoke. There was a settlement nearby, and it was goblinoid. A cold fury settled in Leo's gut. These creatures were a direct threat to his people, to his territory.
The goblins reached the edge of the clearing, their eyes widening at the sight of the partially-built palisade and the campfire within. They chattered to each other in their guttural tongue, pointing. They had not yet seen the Spartans, who were holding their position with preternatural discipline.
One of the goblins, bolder than the rest, crept forward, its eyes fixed on the stack of remaining stone. It was going to try to steal.
"They test us," Sun Tzu whispered. "A single, overwhelming response will make them fear. A weak response will invite a full-scale attack."
Leo understood. This was more than a defense; it was a message. And it was a perfect opportunity.
He looked at Stentor and made a single, sharp gesture: Engage.
Stentor didn't shout. He didn't roar. He simply leveled his spear.
From the silent line of Spartans, a single squad of ten broke off with choreographed precision. They didn't run; they advanced at a quick, relentless march, their shields locked, their spears a bristling wall of bronze-tipped death.
The goblins froze for a second, stunned by the sudden, silent appearance of the professional soldiers. Then, they shrieked in terror.
It was not a battle. It was an execution.
The advancing Spartan line ignored the goblin's wild swings with their clubs. Stone knives scraped harmlessly off bronze shields. The Spartan spears, in contrast, stabbed forward with brutal economy. Thrust, withdraw. Thrust, withdraw. Each movement was a killing blow. In less than ten seconds, four of the goblins were dead on the ground, their red eyes dimmed.
The fifth, the bold one near the stones, turned to flee. A single Spartan broke from the line, took two running steps, and hurled his spear. It took the fleeing goblin in the back, punching straight through its chest and pinning it to the earth. The goblin let out a final, choked gurgle and was still.
The squad reformed, collected the thrown spear, and marched back to the palisade without a word, resuming their positions as if they had simply taken a brief stroll.
The entire engagement had taken less than thirty seconds. The forest was silent once more.
A wave of notifications flooded Leo's vision.
Your forces have slain [Goblin Skirmisher] x5.
Domain Morale has improved! [Poor] -> [Neutral] (No bonuses or penalties)
New Blueprint Unlocked: [Basic Watchtower] - Cost: 50 Wood, 20 Stone.
Loot Gained: 5x [Crude Iron Daggers], 12x [Stringy Goblin Meat], 7x [Gold Coins].
But the most important one was a personal message for Leo.
Spartan Century has witnessed a successful defensive action.
Demonstrated: Resolve, Tactical Superiority.
Loyalty of Spartan Century has increased! 50/100 -> 65/100.
Leo let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He looked at Stentor. The Spartan Commander gave a single, slow, respectful nod. The message was clear: This, we approve of.
"The first blow has been struck," Sun Tzu said quietly. "They now know we are not soft targets. They will return, and in greater numbers. But we have bought time and, more importantly, solidified our foundation." He gestured to the Spartans, whose postures, while still rigid, seemed slightly less alien, slightly more a part of New Dragon's Rest.
As the first rays of the alien sun began to paint the sky with hues of orange and purple, the final log of the palisade was hammered into place. It was a simple, sturdy wall of sharpened timber, encircling the base of the rocky outcrop and incorporating the stone barricade into its gatehouse. It was not a grand fortress, but it was a border. A statement.
Structure Completed: Wooden Palisade. Domain Defense Rating: 45 -> 150.
New Dragon's Rest is now a [Fortified Village].
Leo stood atop the outcrop, looking down at his domain. The palisade stood strong. His citizens—Sarah, Ben, the twins—were sleeping fitfully by the fire, exhausted but safe. Below, one century of history's most legendary soldiers stood guard.
They had shelter. They had water. They had a defense force. The immediate threats of exposure and beasts had been mitigated.
But the goblin scouting party had clarified the next, more complex threat. Rivals. Other sentient beings who also sought to claim this world. And the gnawing problem of food still remained, a quiet crisis waiting for the sun to fully rise.
The empire had weathered its first night. Now, it had to learn how to feed itself, and how to face the neighbors. Leo's education as an Emperor was just beginning.