[Notification]: [Lord`s Manor]Construction Complete!
[Building Upgrade]: [Lord`s Manor] Level 1 → Level 2
[Notification]: Congratulations! You are the 56372th Lord to upgrade [Lord`s Manor]to level 2.
Akash let out a heavy sigh, the golden light of the upgrade feeling bittersweet. The gap had widened significantly. He wasn't just trailing—he was being buried by the sheer momentum of the frontrunners.
Akash stepped back to take in the full view. The upgrade had expanded the footprint significantly, doubling the area of[Lord`s Manor].
The base was now a solid foundation of interlocked mountain stone, providing a sense of permanence that the previous shack lacked. The walls were made of thick, treated logs, and the new door was heavy oak-timber, fitted with a primitive but sturdy iron-wood bolt.
Inside, the layout had been partitioned into three distinct functional areas:
A Living Room, The Bedroom, The Core Area. Both the living room and bedroom are empty. The Core Area where the Lord's Core pulsed with a steady blue light.
Akash wiped the dust from his face and opened the Territory Panel to see the updated stats.
[Territory Panel]
[Name]: Aegis Summit
[Lord]: Akash77
[Population]: 1
[Buildings]: Lord`s Manor
[Resources]: Empty
He then delved deeper into the[Lord`s Manor] specific details. The system recognized this structure not as a mere house, but as the literal heart of his power.
[Lord`s Manor]
[Grade]: Special
[Area]: 150sqm
[Level]: 2
[Upgrade Requirements]:
[Wood]: x150
[Stone]: x200
[Iron]: x20
[Spirit Coins]: x20
"Iron..." Akash whispered, his eyes narrowing at the new requirement. "The Stone Age ends here. If I want Level 3, I need to find Ore."
The jump in resources was massive. One hundred wood and two hundred stones would take days of manual labor with his current, crumbling tools. And iron? He hadn't seen a single vein of metal on the plateau yet.
Just as Akash was about to close the panel, a vibrant, silver notification flared in the center of his vision, accompanied by a triumphant orchestral chime that echoed through the territory.
[Notification]: Congratulations, Lord Akash77! You have successfully upgraded your core building [Lord`s Manor] to Level 2. You have taken your first true step toward glory in the Trail Realm.
[Rewards]: 1x Special Treasure Chest
[Privilege]: Store Authority Upgraded. New items and resources are now available in the Store.
Chest shimmered with a rainbow-colored metallic sheen, shifting hues every time he blinked materialized on the stone floor.
"A Special Treasure Chest..." Akash murmured, his heart hammering against his ribs. He carefully touched the chest.
[Special Treasure Chest]
Spirit Coins: x15
Covenant Hall Building
Random Common Skill Book :x1
Akash stared at the loot, a wave of relief washing over him. The 15 spirit coins alone were a game-changer—he no longer had to worry about "wasting" a coin on a failed experiment.
The [Covenant Hall Building] was the real prize—a Special Grade structure that functions as a sub-core of the territory and can recruit subjects. It was a "Direct Build" item, the system would manifest it using its own stored energy.
"With workers, I can finally stop being a lumberjack and start being a Lord," he muttered.
But first, he turned his attention to the [Random Common Skill Book]. He took a deep breath and flipped the leather cover. The pages dissolved into green motes of light that surged into his forehead, mapping new neural pathways.
As the green light of the skill book fully merged with his consciousness, a sudden rush of heat surged into Akash's legs. His muscles twitched with a newfound, coiled energy, as if his very tendons had been replaced with high-tension springs.
[Notification]: Congratulations, you have gained skill [Sprint ].
[Skill : Sprint ]
[Type]: Active
[Grade]: Common
[Effect]: Increases movement speed by 20% for 30 seconds.
[Cooldown]: 5 Minutes
"Not a crafting skill," but maybe the most practical one. If those Goblins Anjali mentioned, catch me out in the open, ['Architect of Essence'] won't save me if I'm too slow to reach the dome."
He walked out of the Manor, the [Covenant Hall Building] glowing in his hand.He chose a spot about 15 meters from his front door, but leaving enough space for future upgrades of [Lord`s Manor].
"Manifest," he commanded.
The ground beneath the designated spot began to hum, a low-frequency vibration that shook the loose pebbles on the plateau. Slowly, a silhouette of a building emerged from the mist. When the mist finally died down, a long, dignified hall stood before him, its doors glowing with a faint, welcoming amber light.
Akash stepped forward to inspect the heavy plaque near the entrance.
[Covenant Hall]
[Grade]: Special
[Area]: 50sqm
[Daily Allowance]: 2 Free Recruits (Resets daily at 6am)
[Recruitment Luck]: 2% chance to get a Talent
[Premium Recruitment]:
[Random Subject]: 100 Spirit Coins
[Random Professional]: 2,500 Spirit Coins
"Two free recruits," he muttered, looking at the dark forest line. "I don't have to wait for the morning. If I summon them now, they can help me gather wood and stone. I can also use them for scouting the perimeter"
He reached out and touched the glowing runes on the door. The system prompted him immediately:
[Notification]: Would you like to use your Daily Free Summons (2/2)?
"Summon," he commanded.
The heavy oak doors of the [Covenant Hall] swung wide, and two figures emerged from the swirling white mist. Both were dressed in simple, rugged tunics of coarse hemp, their faces etched with the weariness of those who had traveled a long road from the void.
They looked at the [Lord`s Manor] and then at Akash. Simultaneously, they knelt, pressing their right hands to their chests. "We seek shelter under the Aegis, Lord. Our strength is yours."
Akash stepped forward, focusing his mind and used his authority to pull up their status panels.
[Arjun]:
[Age]: 22
[Talent]: None
[Skills]: None
[Attributes]: Physique: 6, Spirit: 4, magic: 2
[Loyalty]: 60
[Bala]
[Age]: 24
[Talent]: None
[Skills]: None
[Attributes]: Physique: 7, Spirit: 3, magic:3
[Loyalty]: 60
None of them have Skills or Talent. Both are good for physical labor. A loyalty of 60 meant they would follow orders out of necessity and basic respect for his status as a Lord, but they weren't yet willing to die for him. If things turned dire or if he failed to provide food and safety, that number would drop—and at 30, they might desert or even rebel.
"Rise," Akash commanded, his voice echoing with a newfound authority. "In this world, the forest wants us dead and the mountain wants to break us. But as long as you follow me, you are mine. We work together, we fight together, and we survive together. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Lord!" they responded in unison, their voices steadying.
Seeing their hollow cheeks and weary eyes, Akash reached into his [Inventory] and pulled out the remaining 6 bananas. He stepped forward and offered three to each. "Eat. This isn't a handout; it's an investment. I need your strength for the work ahead."
The subjects stared at the fruit as if it were gold. "Thank you, Lord. We won't fail you."
As they ate, he glanced at the chronometer in the panel: 01:40 PM. The sun was at its zenith, casting harsh, vertical shadows across the plateau. With more than four hours of solid daylight remaining, he couldn't afford a moment of idle hands.
He reached into his inventory and pulled out his old [Crude Stone Pickaxe] (Durability: 10/15).
"Arjun, take this. There are Stone boulders still within the safety of the territory. I need every stone you can pry from the earth until the sun sets. Do not overexert yourself, but do not stop. If you are hungry or need water, come to me"
Arjun gripped the handle, testing the weight. "By your command, Lord."
He then turned to the broader-shouldered man. "Bala. You have the strength of a bull. I need eyes on our perimeter. Patrol the boundary of our territory. Look for anything that moves—and keep a sharp eye out for any shimmering chests."
"As you command, Lord," Bala replied
As they departed, Akash retreated into the living room of his [Lord`s Manor]. The air is thick with the scent of fresh pine. He ignored the fatigue in his legs and summoned the [Architect's Crucible].