The feast had been a roaring success. The sounds of celebration had finally faded, replaced by the deep, contented silence of a sated and secure clan. The last embers of the great fire pit glowed like fallen stars, and the scent of smoked meat and pine needles hung sweetly in the cool night air. Ray "Thorzen" Silver stood on the stone steps leading up to his fortress, looking down at the sleeping village. The barracks were full, the storage house was stocked, and a sense of collective purpose had settled over his people like a warm blanket.
It was a good start. But the memory of the protective barrier's 30-day timer was a constant, silent tick in the back of his mind.
"Athena," he thought, the communication instant and seamless. "Status of the protective barrier."
A translucent display, visible only to him, materialized in the lower right of his vision.
[Protective Barrier Integrity: 97%]
[Estimated Duration: 28 Days, 14 Hours, 32 Minutes]
"Thank you, Athena. Please alert me when there are 24 hours remaining."
"Acknowledged, Ray. The alert has been scheduled."
A day's warning. It was enough time to prepare, but not enough to become complacent. His gaze swept over the slumbering forms of his clan, then up to the star-dusted sky, visible through the gentle blue shimmer of the dome. This was his to protect. The thought was no longer daunting; it was a catalyst.
He descended the steps and walked to the center of the clearing, near the now-cool fire pit. The six Sentinel Generals, who required less sleep than the others, stood or sat in a loose circle, their enhanced forms watchful. Zog was sharpening a dagger, Hector was polishing his horns with a rough stone, and Wan was simply watching the entrance to the cave, his metallic scales reflecting the faint light.
"It's time," Ray announced to them, his voice low but carrying. "The feast is over. The building has begun. Now, we train. Now, we grow. Now, we learn the full extent of our power."
He didn't need to elaborate. They all felt it—the connection to him, to the strange, vast power he commanded. They nodded, their expressions grim and determined.
"Gather around me," Ray commanded. "All of you. Prime, you as well."
The massive Shield Guardian stomped over from his post near the cave, the ground trembling slightly with each step. The Sentinels closed in. Ray placed a hand on Prime's stone leg and stretched out his other arm to encompass the group.
"Athena, we are entering the Void Realm."
"Affirmative. Transporting designated individuals."
A brilliant, silent flash of white light consumed them. The sensation was not of movement, but of displacement. The world of Azeroc—the sounds, the smells, the very air—vanished, replaced by a profound and absolute stillness.
They stood in a place of soft, grey light, on a smooth, featureless plain that stretched into an indistinct horizon. Above, there was no sun, no sky, only a uniform, luminous grey. The air was still and temperatureless. This was the antechamber, the entry point to the domain that was now an extension of Ray's soul.
"Welcome," Ray said, his voice echoing strangely in the immense silence, "to Aethelgard."
He had decided on the name during the feast. It meant "Noble Sanctuary" in a tongue he'd plucked from the Knowledge Seeds of the gods. It was the name of the cradle continent on Azeroc, and now it was the name of his personal dimension—a sanctuary for his people and a forge for his future.
Before them, the realm began to resolve. A path of dark, polished stone appeared, leading towards a cluster of distinct, shimmering structures.
"This is the heart of our power," Ray explained, leading them down the path. "Here, one week passes for every single day in the real world. We have a resource more valuable than gold: time."
Their first stop was a vast, open-air plaza surrounded by ethereal, floating orbs of light. In the center stood a single, magnificent tree whose leaves seemed to be made of liquid silver. At its base, the earth was divided into neat plots, and from these plots grew not plants, but softly glowing seeds of various colors and patterns.
"The Seed Garden," Ray said, his voice filled with reverence. He pointed to a plot where a seed pulsed with a familiar, fiery red energy. "That is Torac's Life Seed. And there," he gestured to a larger, darker seed thrumming with immense physical power, "is Hector's. This is where your essence is preserved, where you can be reborn. It is also where I can combine seeds, creating new forms of life, new potential for our clan."
The Sentinels stared, a deep, primal understanding dawning on them. This was the source of their second chance.
Next, he led them to a colossal, circular structure of white marble—the Coliseum.
"And this," Ray said, a predatory grin spreading across his face, "is where we will get strong. Fast."
He pushed open the giant bronze doors. Inside was a perfect replica of a grand arena, with tiered seating that could hold thousands, all empty. The sand of the arena floor was pure white.
"Athena, run the tutorial," Ray commanded.
A holographic image of Athena, clad in elegant Greek robes, appeared in the center of the arena. "The Aethelgard Coliseum is a training simulator. Here, you can face any creature, any opponent, whose pattern Ray has assimilated. The combat is real. The pain is real. But if your HP is reduced to 1, you are instantly healed and ejected. There is no permanent death here. Furthermore, all experience gained within the Coliseum is doubled."
A wave of excited murmuring passed through the Sentinels. Double experience? No risk of true death? It was a warrior's paradise.
"Your first training rotation begins now," Ray declared. "Zog, Guy, Fan—you're up first. You will face a simulated troop of ten kobold warriors. Your objective is to defeat them without any of your HP dropping below 50%."
The three Sentinels nodded, their eyes alight with battle-lust. As they stepped onto the sand, ten shimmering forms of kobolds materialized across from them, weapons raised.
"Athena, manage the training sessions. Cycle the others in. I have other matters to attend to."
"Of course, Ray. I will oversee their progress."
Ray left the Coliseum, the sounds of clashing steel and shouted spells already echoing behind him. He walked further down the main path, the Sentinels who were not in the first rotation following him.
He showed them the Laboratory, a place of crystalline tables and strange, humming apparatuses where he could one day experiment with spellcraft and alchemy without risk. He then led them to a stunning, white-marble manor house that seemed to glow with its own internal light, a gift from Zeus himself.
"This is my command center," Ray said, entering through large oak doors. The interior was opulent, furnished with pieces that wouldn't have been out of place on Mount Olympus. He led them to a specific room, its walls covered from floor to ceiling in what appeared to be liquid mercury.
"And this," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, "is how we will never be blind again."
He placed his hand on the wall. "Athena, show me the cave entrance to our village."
The mercury-like surface rippled and then cleared, becoming a perfect, real-time window. They were looking out from the perspective of the guard post Ray had built. They could see the black-scaled kobold guard, whose name Ray now knew was Zug, leaning on his spear, yawning. They could see the pre-dawn light beginning to tinge the sky outside the barrier.
"By the gods..." whispered Torac, the orc Sentinel, his single eye wide. "You can see everything."
"Not everything," Ray corrected. "Yet. But any place I have been, any place I can visualize clearly, I can now see. And I can grant access to this room to my subordinates." He looked at each of them in turn. "This is our strategic heart. From here, we can watch our enemies, plan our attacks, and protect our home."
Finally, he took them to a simple, nondescript door at the end of a hall. "This is the Void Vault. It is my personal storage, accessible to me from anywhere. Only Athena and I can enter. For anyone else..." He opened the door and gently pushed Wan inside. The troglodyte Sentinel vanished. A moment later, he reappeared in the hall, looking confused. "...they find themselves in a secure holding cell. A useful feature for unruly prisoners."
The tour was complete. The Sentinels were left in a state of awe, their understanding of their chief's power—and their own potential—expanded exponentially.
"Your training rotations will be six hours inside Aethelgard, followed by six hours of rest or duty in the real world," Ray announced. "This will be our standard operating procedure. We will maximize our time."
Over the next two days in the real world—a full two weeks within Aethelgard—the clan underwent a transformation. The Sentinels trained relentlessly in the Coliseum, their levels climbing at an astonishing rate. Ray joined them when he could, testing his new elemental spells against ever-more-dangerous simulated foes, leveling his Flame Strike and Wind Blade spells through constant, safe repetition.
During his rest periods, he focused on his other responsibilities. With Athena's help, he formalized the clan structure. He named Zek the Clan Steward, responsible for day-to-day logistics and resource management in the real world. Zel was appointed Head Hunter, leading all foraging and scouting parties.
He also used his Knowledge Seeds. He found a kobold female named Sal, who had shown a nurturing, organized nature, and used a Seed to grant her the [Administration] skill, making her Zek's second-in-command. He found a young, nimble kobold named Zed and granted him the [Scouting] skill, bolstering Zel's team.
It was during one of these management sessions that Athena's voice, calm yet urgent, echoed in his mind. "Ray. The barrier has 24 hours remaining."
The time had come. The grace period was over.
He gathered his key personnel in the great hall of his fortress—the six Sentinel Generals, Zek, and Zel. The Viewing Room showed the peaceful, sun-drenched clearing outside, a stark contrast to the tension in the room.
"The barrier falls tomorrow," Ray stated without preamble. "We are stronger than we were, but we are not yet ready to withstand a concentrated assault from a determined enemy. The Orcs of Grull's Maw are that enemy. We cannot wait for them to find us. We must act."
He turned to the Viewing Room wall. "Athena, show me Grull's Maw. Use Torac's memories as a guide."
The wall shimmered, the view of the village clearing dissolving and reforming into a rugged, mountainous landscape. The perspective zoomed in, focusing on a narrow pass between two sheer cliffs. The pass was blocked by a crude but formidable palisade wall, topped with sharpened stakes and patrolled by hulking, green-skinned figures. Beyond the wall, they could see a settlement of hide tents and stone huts, centered around a large, smoky fire pit. It was a fortress of brute strength and intimidation.
Grull's Maw Orc Outpost
Population: ~120 Orcs
Notable Figures: Chieftain Tormuek (Level 15 Warrior), Shaman Veldrak (Level 13 Spellcaster)
Defenses: Wooden Palisade, Watchtowers x2, Main Gate.
A new quest notification appeared before Ray and his assembled leaders.
System Quest: The Orc Threat
Objective: Neutralize the Orc leadership of Grull's Maw and secure the settlement. Assimilate Chieftain Tormuek and Shaman Veldrak.
Rewards: 15,000 XP, 100 Attribute Points, 500 Skill Points, 5,000 Gold, [Advanced Barracks Blueprint].
"This is our goal," Ray said, pointing at the image. "But a direct assault is still too costly. We need intelligence. We need to understand their routines, their patrols, and the source of Shaman Veldrak's power. Zel, your scouting mission just became our top priority."
Zel straightened up, his green scales flushed with purpose. "I am ready, Chief."
"You will not go alone," Ray said. "This is too important. You will lead a team, but it will be a team of our best." He looked around the room. "Zog, your stealth and scouting skills are unmatched. You will accompany Zel. Guy, your talents for assassination and moving unseen will be invaluable. And Fan, we may be facing magic. Your warlock abilities could be the key to countering whatever Veldrak throws at us."
The four of them—Zel, Zog, Guy, and Fan—nodded, a formidable quartet of stealth, magic, and lethal precision.
"You leave in one hour," Ray commanded. "Gather your gear. Use the remaining time in Aethelgard for one final strategy session. I will be creating something for you."
As the scouting team hurried off, Ray turned to Zek. "While they are gone, I want the lumber operations doubled. We need to stockpile wood for palisades of our own. And I want every able-bodied member of the clan, who is not on guard duty, to begin basic combat drills. Hector and Wan will oversee this."
"Yes, Chief!" Zek said, bowing before rushing out to execute the orders.
Ray walked to a clear space in the great hall. He focused, accessing his Void Vault and pulling forth materials. He visualized the items he needed—not weapons of war, but tools of subterfuge and survival.
"Creation."
Four sets of equipment appeared on the floor. Each set consisted of a cloak woven from shadowsight panther hide (assimilated from a beast in the Coliseum) that would help them blend into darkness, soft-soled boots for silent movement, a belt with pouches for rations and a waterskin that would never run dry, and a communication stone—a small, smooth rock enchanted to allow short-range mental communication between the bearers.
When the scouting team returned, now dressed in their new gear, they looked like a professional special operations unit.
"These stones will let you communicate silently," Ray explained, handing them out. "Your mission is reconnaissance only. Do not engage. Observe the orc patrols, their numbers, their schedule. Find a weakness in their defenses. And most importantly, find out what Shaman Veldrak is doing. I suspect his search for a Dungeon Core is the key to all of this."
"We will not fail you, Chief," Zog said, his voice firm.
Ray placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know. Now go. The future of our clan may depend on what you learn."
The four scouts melted into the shadows of the fortress and then into the forest, their forms disappearing from sight long before they reached the edge of the barrier. Ray watched them go on the Viewing Room wall, his heart a mix of pride and anxiety.
He was no longer just building a village. He was conducting a war. And in the quiet of his throne room, with only the silent, towering form of Prime for company, Ray "Thorzen" Silver began to plan for the day the barrier fell, and his kingdom was truly put to the test.
Stats & System Update - End of Chapter 14
Ray "Thorzen" Silver
Level: 11
XP: 20,305 / 85,000
HP: 1100/1100 | MP: 300/300
Skill Points: 144 (Holding for Assimilation Lvl 8)
Attribute Points: 0 (Allocated evenly)
Attributes:
Strength: 127, Constitution: 127, Dexterity: 127, Intelligence: 127, Wisdom: 127, Charisma: 127
Notable Skill Increases (from Coliseum Training):
Flame Strike: Level 3
Wind Blade: Level 2
Sneak: Level 4 (via Knowledge Seed usage)
Void Realm (Aethelgard) Established:
Time Dilation: 7:1
Key Locations: Seed Garden, Coliseum, Laboratory, Zeus's Manor, Viewing Room, Void Vault.
Active Quest:
The Orc Threat - In Progress.
Scouting Party Deployed:
Members: Zel (Kobold Hunter), Zog (Kobold Sentinel), Guy (Goblin Sentinel), Fan (Goblin Sentinel).
Objective: Reconnaissance of Grull's Maw.