Morning dew shimmered on the training grounds, newly constructed beside the guild hall. Polished wooden dummies lined the courtyard, and runes glowed faintly along the perimeter — the Combat Training Hall was officially operational.
Uther stood at its center, sword drawn, facing three trainees: Joren, Mara, and a newly recruited youth named Dalen, a former caravan guard who stumbled upon the village while fleeing bandits.
> [Combat Trial: Level 1 – Initiated.]
Objective: Train 3 Recruits to Basic Combat Rank.
Bonus: Flawless Execution Unlocks "Combat Node: Shield Formation."
System Combat Guidance Active.
Uther grinned. "Alright. First lesson — don't die. Second — don't wait for permission to strike."
With that, he lunged.
---
System Insight – Uther's Upgrade in Action
As he moved, the new abilities took effect:
> Adaptive Strike: Adjusts technique mid-blow to exploit weaknesses.
Combat Insight: Predicts enemy intent and highlights incoming attacks.
System Reflex Layer: Temporarily boosts speed and perception during combat flurries.
His blade moved like liquid steel, flowing between blocks and counters. Dalen barely parried a strike before Uther pivoted behind him, tapping his back.
"You're dead," Uther said calmly. "Next."
Mara growled, notching an arrow and circling wide. Joren rushed in with a spear. They coordinated well, but Uther's system-enhanced perception let him read their patterns before they formed.
Within minutes, all three were on the ground, panting.
"You're improving," Uther admitted. "Now do it again."
---
Recruitment Surge
Later that day, the village board drew new eyes. Travelers had begun to arrive after hearing strange rumors of a rebuilt village. One was a former soldier. Another, a healer. But most intriguing was a woman in dark green leathers — another hunter.
She introduced herself simply as Reyna, a silent tracker with piercing eyes and twin daggers. Mara immediately sized her up and nodded in approval.
> [New Villager Recruited – Reyna (Hunter-Class).]
[Bonus Effect: Beast Tracking Efficiency Increased.]
[Hunter Lodge Unlocked – Allows Multiple Hunters, Traps, and Scouting Missions.]
Reyna spoke only once that day: "I'll take the southern hills. Something large has been circling your village. Tracks are fresh."
Uther didn't miss the concern in her tone.
"Then we double the watch," he ordered.
---
System Expansion Update
> [Training Progress: 2/3 Combatants Reached Basic Rank.]
[Recruits: Joren (Spear), Dalen (Sword), Mara (Ranged), Reyna (Scout/Hunter)]
[New Building Unlocked: Guard Post – Now Constructible.]
[Next Objective: Assign Patrol Routes & Fortify Perimeter.]
The village was evolving — from a collection of survivors into a force.
But as Uther reviewed the System logs that night, a flicker caught his eye.
> [Warning: Unknown Entity Detected Beyond Southern Ridge. Aura Signature: ???]
[Recommendation: Deploy Scout Party or Investigate Personally.]
He closed the interface slowly.
"Something's coming," he murmured.
The village sky was streaked with crimson as dusk approached. Uther stood on the balcony of the newly constructed watchtower, watching the treeline to the south — the same direction Reyna had warned about.
Below, the recruits practiced in the training yard. The sound of steel echoed against wood. Joren's spear struck true. Dalen was quicker now, adapting. Mara watched them while sharpening her arrows. Reyna hadn't returned from scouting.
Then it happened.
The torches flickered. A chill crawled through the air. And from the southern path, shapes emerged.
Not monsters.
Men.
About a dozen, cloaked in dark gray, faces hidden behind bone-masked helmets. Their leader held no weapon — only a long, twisted staff etched with glowing red runes.
The guards froze. Uther descended in seconds, blade drawn, Combat System humming in his veins.
"State your purpose," he said coolly.
The bone-masked leader stepped forward. "We are the Seekers of the Old Flame. The ruins you built upon were sacred to our Order. We were content to watch… until you woke the System."
He lifted the staff, and the ground cracked beneath him. Mana pulsed like heartbeats.
> [Warning: Unknown Faction – System Registered Threat Level: High.]
[Combat Readiness Boosted: Reflex Layer Engaged.]
Uther narrowed his eyes. "Then you should've stayed watching."
The first strike came fast — one of the Seekers dashed forward, blade igniting with crimson energy. But Uther was faster.
Adaptive Strike triggered, deflecting the blow and cutting through the attacker's ribs in one seamless move.
Screams erupted. The villagers scrambled as the others charged. Mara loosed arrows from the roof, Joren blocked the gate, and Reyna returned at that exact moment — emerging from the fog, throwing daggers into two masked attackers.
"Company," she muttered, blood already on her blades.
> [Defend the Village – Side Quest Triggered.]
Objective: Defeat the Seeker Ambush
Bonus: Survive Without Losing a Structure
Uther's mind raced. He had to lead — not just fight.
"Joren, pull them toward the smithy choke point! Reyna, cover the east flank! Mara, snipe their caster!"
He turned toward the leader, who had begun chanting in a forgotten tongue.
Uther sprinted toward him, sword glowing.
The air exploded in arcane light.
---
Aftermath
The battle lasted minutes — but felt like hours.
Bodies lay scattered. Two villagers were injured, but none dead. No buildings were destroyed.
The Seeker leader had vanished in a burst of smoke, leaving behind only a blackened rune-staff and a whisper in Uther's mind:
> "You have taken what was sealed. Now the Flame remembers…"
---
System Notification
> [Seeker Ambush Repelled – Bonus Reward: Flamecore Fragment Acquired.]
[New Threat Logged: Cult of the Old Flame]
[System Alert: Hostile Factions Now Aware of the Village.]
[Recommendation: Construct Defensive Wall or Escape Tunnel.]
Uther clenched his fists, staring at the broken mask in his hand.
"We need to grow faster," he said.
The war had begun — and the village was now a target.