A total of 100,000 Lords were summoned from Earth this time- the highest number ever recorded in the history of the Origin cycles. But not everyone was prepared for the transition. Roughly seventy percent of the candidates had at least a basic understanding of what was happening, thanks to the efforts of Aethelgard, the worldwide Awakeners Association, which had managed to register them and provide basic briefing materials beforehand.
The remaining thirty percent were completely blind. They didn't know where they were, they didn't know what they were supposed to do, and they didn't even have starter packs to give them a fighting chance.
Deaths began within minutes of arrival. The global count plummeted from 100,000 to 99,000 and continued its steady, sickening descent as the first waves of monsters found the weakest territories. While prestigious Awakened families and veteran organizations began broadcasting survival instructions across the regional chat, the humans soon realized they were not alone in this expanse.
Other races had been summoned to the Umbral Expanse, and they did not share the human penchant for hesitation or mercy. Where a human might spare another out of a vestigial sense of morality, the other races harbored no such delusions. To them, humans were not rivals; they were livestock or fodder. Reports began to flood the channels of human Lords being hunted like game, with some predators claiming that human meat tasted better than the local fauna.
While the Umbral Expanse dissolved into blood-soaked chaos, Leo stood in the center of a profound, heavy silence.
His territory radius extended only fifty meters in a perfect circle, anchored by the imposing, obsidian silence of the guardian temple to the east. He opened the territory interface, scrolling through the requirements for expansion with a focused mind. To grow and survive the coming trial, he first had to build a foundation.
Available blueprints:
• Wooden Lord's Hall
• Basic Housing
• Storage Shed
• Palisade Fence
He selected the Wooden Lord's Hall.
[Requirement] - Blueprint Lv 1, 50 Wood, 50 Stone
''I have the blueprint,'' Leo muttered. ''Just need wood and stone.'' He chuckled softly. 'Never thought my life would come down to collecting wood and stone.'
He accessed his inventory, where two icons pulsed with a soft light. Leo tapped the first.
[Starter Pack (common) Opened] The rewards manifested in a shimmering spread:
Basic Territory Map Fragment, Rations (7 days), Crude Stone Hatchet, Common Summoning Scroll, Resource Pack (50 Wood, 50 Stone)
Leo raised an eyebrow. ''Just enough for the Hall. They don't give you a single scrap extra.''
Next, he opened the uncommon Starter Pack, Laura's parting gift.
[Starter Pack (Uncommon) Opened] - Refined Tools Set, Uncommon Summoning Scroll, Blood-Infused Stone ×5, Emergency Recall Token (One-Time Use), Resource Pack (200 Wood, 200 Stone)
Leo exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the resources. ''That's… actually valuable.'' The Blood-Infused Stones vibrated against his palm, humming in resonance with his Primordial blood.
[Blood-Infused Stone] - A concentrated essence used to sate the hunger of blood-based races.
''Not bad at all.''
He turned his attention to the summoning scrolls. For most Lords, these were the only lifeline- even an Uncommon summon was considered a miracle in the early stages.
Leo activated both simultaneously. From the white circle, a zombie lurched into existence, its jaw hanging slack as it leaked putrid saliva. From the bronze circle, a goblin materialized, clutching a rusted short sword with trembling fingers.
''Fuck my luck,'' Leo sighed, looking at the common-rank fodder.
Before he could issue a single order, both creatures collapsed to the dirt, shivering in absolute terror. The heavy, rhythmic thud of armored boots announced Malphas's approach. The knight ignored the cowering summons as if they were nothing more than insects and offered a sharp,
''My Lord. The initial scouting of the perimeter is complete.''
''Report,'' Leo commanded.
"The east and south are densely forested, inhabited by common-grade monsters. To the west lies jagged, rocky terrain. I did not venture beyond the protection barrier, per your instructions.''
Malphas paused, his visor tilting toward the horizon. ''To the north, however, there are signs of another Lord.''
Leo's lips curled into a thin, predatory smile. ''Oh? Did you identify their race?''
''They remained within their barrier,'' Malphas reported. ''But they chose to cast a human outside to hunt. It seems they use their own kind as bait.''
Leo nodded slowly, his mind working through the implications. ''Heh. It seems we have a neighbor who enjoys playing games. Let's go welcome them.''
Leo followed Malphas to the boundary of his domain. Just beyond the shimmering veil of the protection shield, a man lay mangled in the dirt. His leg was a horrific mess of splintered bone and shredded muscle. Leo watched the man's agony with a cold, clinical fascination. 'I should feel sick,' he thought. 'Instead, I only see a useful tool.'
He decided to test the limits of his Progenitor's Crimson Chain. With a sharp flick of his will, he seized the blood pooling in the dirt. The crimson liquid surged upward, knitting itself into a whip of gore that coiled around the man's healthy leg.
''No! No! Stop!''
With a violent tug, Leo dragged the screaming victim across the border and into the safety of his territory. Leo staggered, his breath coming in ragged gasps as sweat beaded on his brow. ''Haa… haa…''
''Impressive control, my Lord,'' Malphas noted. ''Though you should allow your subordinates to handle such manual labor to preserve your stamina.''
Leo let out a weak, breathless laugh. ''I just wanted to see if I could.'' He crouched before the sobbing man, his smile never reaching his eyes. ''Now then. Be a good guy and tell me where your territory is… and exactly what kind of Lord your master is.''
The man wept, his voice cracking. ''Please… I'm just a worker…leave me alone.''
''I will. The moment you answer.''
''No! He'll kill me if I talk!''
Leo tilted his head, studying the man. 'Awareness comparable to an ordinary human,' he mused. 'It seems the sentient races retain their full cognition here.'
Leo's expression went stone-cold. He turned to the drooling zombie. ''Zombie. Eat the other leg. Start with the toes.''
The zombie stared blankly, lacking the wit to understand the words, but it felt the raw intent of Leo's command. The goblin beside it gulped and shoved the undead creature forward. Faced with the drooling monster and the towering, blood-red knight, the prisoner's resolve shattered.
''No! Stop! I'll talk! I'll talk!''