[Welcome to the Chaos Continent!]
[You have been chosen as a Lord in a battle for dominance against numerous rival factions and races!]
[Your outpost beacon has been ignited.]
[Check into your beacon daily for essential supplies, with a slim chance of securing special rewards.]
[Additionally, your beacon provides access to the Marketplace, Global Chat, and Trading Hub.]
[In this sprawling, chaotic continent, endless opportunities and threats await!]
[Forge your path as a Lord, pursue supremacy, and unlock the secrets to ultimate power and immortality!]
Beacon?
Lord?
Battle for dominance?
Jason Carter opened his eyes.
He found himself inside a modest wooden cabin.
At the center was a stone pedestal topped with a small, flickering blue flame.
Stepping outside the cabin, Jason was met by an overcast sky and dense forest surroundings.
Two smaller wooden shelters stood nearby, housing several sleeping figures.
Their settlement was perched atop a small hill, offering a vantage point over the thick, mysterious woods. Animal cries and distant roars echoed ominously.
Jason turned and spotted a vast body of water in the distance—lake or ocean, it was hard to say.
Taking a deep breath, Jason considered his circumstances.
Battle for dominance…
Clearly, he'd be competing against numerous factions, possibly other human survivors as well.
Conflict, combat, survival...
This "Chaos Continent" was undoubtedly perilous.
Freshly graduated and barely stepping into adulthood, he had suddenly found himself thrust into a brutal new reality.
As Jason grappled with this realization, a mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
[Due to humanity's low initial rating, your settlement has a seven-day protection period.]
[During this period, no external creatures may enter your territory.]
[After seven days, your settlement will face its first trial from the Chaos Continent!]
[Failure means loss of Lord status—or even death!]
Seven-day protection period...
So he had a week to establish and fortify his position.
Urgency surged within him.
Returning to the cabin, he studied the mysterious flame—the core of his leadership.
If the flame died, so did he.
"Huh, what's this?"
Jason noticed glowing holographic interfaces orbiting around the flame.
He examined them closely: [Lord Information], [Chaos Marketplace], [World Chat], [Trading Hub], [Friends List].
Each interface activated at his glance and responded to his thoughts.
Atop every screen was a blinking red "Check-in" icon.
Recalling earlier prompts, Jason mentally clicked it.
The button grayed out, and the flame flickered erratically for a tense moment before stabilizing again.
A new voice announced:
[Congratulations! You have received the Discount Artifact. Functions have been integrated into your Chaos Marketplace!]
[Discounted items will refresh daily—activate the Discount Artifact filter to browse.]
"Discount Artifact, huh? Hope it lives up to its name."
With cautious optimism, Jason opened the Marketplace interface.
An expansive list filled his vision: commodities sorted by rarity—Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythic, and Transcendent.
There were food supplies, equipment, technology schematics, military gear, skill manuals, and more.
He quickly checked his Lord Information:
[Lord: Jason Carter] [Level: 1] [Beacon Level: 1 (Population growth: 1 person/day)] [Upgrade requirements: 100 Energy Crystals, 1,000 wood, 500 stone] [Territory: Settlement "Nova" (100x100 meters)] [Population: 10 standard colonists (Level 1)] [Special Buildings: None] [Energy Crystals: 10] [Equipment: None]
Jason sighed, feeling painfully under-equipped.
Just ten Energy Crystals...
A glance at the Marketplace confirmed how meager his resources truly were.
"Maybe the discounts can help…"
Opening the Discount Artifact, his expectations lowered quickly.
[10% off Berserker Skill Manual: Originally 20,000 Energy Crystals, now 2,000…]
No chance.
[30% off Population Pack (100 colonists): Originally 1,000 Energy Crystals, now 300…]
Still out of reach.
[Legendary Weapon - Blade of Judgment: 0.001% off! Only 600,000 Energy Crystals!]
Jason grimaced and scrolled on.
Finally, a more feasible option appeared:
[Common Longbow Set: Originally 20 Energy Crystals (50 arrows included), now only 2 each.]
Practical. Sensible. Affordable.
As Jason prepared to make the purchase, one final listing caught his eye:
[Transcendent Blueprint: Spartan Training Facility – 0.00001% off! Originally 1,800,000 Energy Crystals—now just 1.8!]
Jason stared in disbelief.
He blinked. He pinched himself.
No mistake—the impossible discount remained.
A wide grin spread across his face.
The Discount Artifact wasn't just useful—it was incredible.
This could change everything.