June's fingers wrapped around the hammer—his first System Tool—and a surge of energy pulsed through his palm.
It was both ancient and impossibly advanced. A symbol of raw potential. The beginning.
This will be the cornerstone of everything I build.
"Sapphire, let's begin. I need shelter—something functional before I explore."
The floating orb of blue light pulsed.
"Acknowledged, Host. Scanning terrain… optimal placement identified."
A translucent blueprint shimmered in front of June, hovering above a flat section of the obsidian beach. Small, simple—hardly a resort. But wise.
In this world, caution beats ambition. For now.
"Location has natural defenses—cliff wall behind, sea in front, vegetation to the east. Recommended materials: driftwood, high-density coral, Spirit Vines."
June raised the hammer and swung it toward the blueprint.
The air shimmered.
Wood, stone, and organic material rose from the surroundings, disintegrating midair, then reassembling in geometric precision. In minutes, a modest cabin stood where there had been none. Sharp lines. Functional structure. Reinforced frame.
[Construction Complete: Basic Shelter][Origin Crystals Consumed: 50][Durability: Maximum][Features: Energy Circuit, Temperature Regulation, Defensive Thresholds]
The door was a single wooden slab with strange etchings. As June touched it, the carvings lit with a pulse of soft blue.
"Structure has acknowledged you as master. Unauthorized entry: denied."
Inside: a cot, a table, storage compartments. At the center—a glowing circular panel displaying a map interface.
June nodded.
"This will do. But it's nowhere near my final vision."
"Of course not, Host. This is a beginning. The Resort Core remains dormant. Shall we proceed with activation?"
He paused.
Activating the Core would change everything.
"Not yet. First—I want intel. Sapphire, who else lives nearby? Threats, allies?"
The orb pulsed and expanded a 3D display.
**"Three categories of life within 10 kilometers:
Spirit Beasts: energy-fed, non-sentient. Minimal threat.
Mer-Folk Tribe: semi-humanoid, pre-industrial. Passive unless provoked.
Predator-Class Entity: nesting above in cliff systems. Unknown species. Avoid until Resort Core is active."**
June absorbed the data.
"Show me resources. Prioritize food, water, defense."
The terrain shifted colors in the display.
• Spirit Grain: viable for starter crops• Freshwater spring: 400 meters inland• Metal-rich formations: conductive properties• Spirit Bamboo: ideal for barrier wards• Pearl Essence: rare healing resource
"Deploy seed pack. Mark the water source."
[Seed Pack Deployed][Initial Garden Plot Marked][Water Source Navigation Enabled]
He followed the glowing trail. Bioluminescent crabs scattered. Spirit Moss pulsed underfoot. The air was thick with potential.
He reached the spring.
Crystal-clear water flowed between smooth boulders, glowing faintly with suspended energy.
"Spirit-rich water. Highly effective for hydration and growth."
He drank.
Sweet. Cool. Electric.
But before he could savor it, a shadow passed overhead.
Too fast. Too large.
June dropped under an overhang just as a massive winged serpent flew past—its chrome-like scales reflecting both suns. Six wings beat down like thunder, flattening the trees.
"Lesser Sky Serpent. Mid-tier. Avoid unless provoked."
June whispered, "Lesser?"
"Yes. Resort Influence will suppress such entities when active."
He watched as the creature vanished into the cliffs. There's power here. Big power.
"Let's return. We plant at dawn. Then map everything. I won't activate the Core blind."
As they neared the beach, he saw shifting symbols drawn in the sand—strange, geometric, and fluid.
"Sapphire, what are those?"
"Mer-Folk territory markers. Not warnings. Invitations. Cultural significance: neutral ground or safe harbor."
June crouched, studying the pattern. He recognized something familiar—hospitality. Design language used in ancient resorts. In offering.
"They want connection. That could be useful."
At the shelter, one sun dipped below the horizon. The other still hung high, casting long shadows. The beach glowed under both light and darkness.
He paused.
"Run a simulation. If we activate tomorrow—how soon can we have a working resort?"
**"Based on current assets and your skills:
Basic Resort: 7 days
Guest Accommodations: 14 days
Reputation Spread: 30 days
Break-Even: 60 days
Profit Margin: 90 days"
June smiled.
"I've turned failing resorts around in less than that. This… this is the real game."
Then, Sapphire's tone shifted.
"New pulse detected… not ours."
June froze.
"What?"
"Another Core. Dormant. Distance unclear. Possibility: Rival Host."
June's eyes narrowed.
I'm not alone.
He sat at the shelter's edge, watching bioluminescent fish drift like stars over the sea. From the jungle, a faint song echoed—alien, beautiful. The Mer-Folk.
June whispered to the night.
"Tomorrow, we begin."
He closed his eyes, listening to the lull of the sea and the hum of unknown constellations above.
[Resort Initialization: Pending][Host Status: Acclimating…][First Task Will Be Assigned Upon Core Activation][Golden Finger Agreement: Stable]