The initial shock of the Starfall had given way to a chilling, stark reality. Alex stood in a small clearing, the Genesis Core pulsing softly at his feet, its emerald light a beacon in the unfamiliar forest. This wasn't a dream, nor was it a game he could simply log out of. This was Aethelgard, and he was stranded.
He took a deep breath, the air surprisingly crisp and clean, carrying the scent of damp earth and something vaguely floral, mixed with a faint, metallic tang that was probably the lingering essence of the Starfall. The trees around him were unlike anything he'd ever seen. Their trunks, smooth and dark as polished obsidian, rose impossibly high, their branches intertwining to form a dense canopy that filtered the sunlight into ethereal green and gold shafts. Leaves, broad and iridescent, shimmered with subtle internal light, casting dancing patterns on the forest floor. The ground itself was a carpet of plush, glowing moss, interspersed with strange, luminescent fungi that pulsed with soft, bioluminescent light.
Beyond the immediate clearing, the forest seemed to stretch endlessly, a wall of alien foliage. Alex walked to the edge of the clearing, pushing aside a curtain of thick, vine-like plants that bore small, bell-shaped flowers. He peered out. The land dropped away sharply, revealing a dizzying expanse of swirling clouds. Below him, the edge of his current landmass, or "shard" as the System seemed to call it, simply ended. In the distance, other shards floated, some small and isolated like his, others vast and sprawling, connected by shimmering, translucent bridges of light – the "ethereal bridges" the System had hinted at. The sheer scale was overwhelming, a testament to the violent, fantastical merger that had just occurred.
"Alright, Alex, focus," he muttered to himself, his voice a low rumble in the quiet forest. "Panic helps no one. Think like you're playing 'Dominion Lords' on hard mode, but with real stakes."
He brought his attention back to the translucent blue interface floating before his eyes. It was still there, subtle but persistent. He blinked, and it remained. He tried to swipe at it, and it shifted slightly, responding to his mental command. This was the "System UI."
[System UI: Active][Name: Alex][Title: Ascendant Sovereign][Settlement: Genesis Core (Tier 0 - Sprout)][Evolution Points (EP): 0][Resources: Wood (Common): 0, Stone (Common): 0, Food (Raw): 0, Water (Fresh): 0][Units: 0][Abilities: Basic Resource Absorption (Genesis Core), Shelter Construction (Temporary)]
He tapped (or rather, thought-tapped, as his finger passed right through it) the "Evolution Points (EP)" line. A small tooltip appeared:
[Evolution Points (EP): The primary resource for Genesis Core evolution. Gained by absorbing raw resources, defeating Aethelgardian creatures, and completing System objectives. EP is crucial for unlocking higher Settlement Tiers, new structures, and advanced Genesis Core abilities.]
"Okay, so EP is like my experience points and currency combined," Alex mused aloud. "And I have zero. Great. Time to get to work."
He looked around. The most obvious resources were the abundant trees and the scattered rocks. He approached a fallen log, its bark smooth and dark, and tried to pick it up. It was too heavy.
"System, how do I gather Wood?" he thought, focusing on the UI.
A new prompt appeared:
[To gather Wood (Common), approach a tree or fallen log and activate 'Basic Resource Absorption' via your Genesis Core. Requires physical proximity.]
Alex knelt beside the Genesis Core, which was still pulsing gently. He focused on the "Basic Resource Absorption" ability listed in his UI. As he did, a faint, green light emanated from the Core, extending outwards like invisible tendrils. He then placed his hand on the fallen log, and a strange sensation coursed through his palm – a subtle drawing, a faint hum.
[Wood (Common) +1][Evolution Points (EP) +0.1]
The log, surprisingly, didn't shrink or disappear. It simply felt… less dense. He tried again.
[Wood (Common) +1][Evolution Points (EP) +0.1]
"So, it absorbs the essence, not the whole thing," Alex realized. "That's efficient. No inventory management issues for raw materials, at least not yet." He spent the next hour, systematically moving around the clearing, touching logs, large branches, and smaller, loose stones. The Genesis Core hummed contentedly, its light brightening slightly with each absorption.
[Wood (Common): 25][Stone (Common): 18][Evolution Points (EP): 4.3]
He paused, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. His body, accustomed to desk work, was already protesting. But the sight of the growing numbers in his UI was strangely motivating. It was like a real-life RPG, and he was grinding.
Next, the shelter. The outline mentioned "Shelter Construction (Temporary)." He looked at the ability again.
[Shelter Construction (Temporary): Utilizes absorbed Wood (Common) to rapidly construct a basic, temporary shelter around the Genesis Core. Provides minimal protection from elements and weak creatures. Cost: 10 Wood (Common). Construction Time: Instant.]
"Perfect," Alex murmured. Night would fall eventually, and he had no idea what kind of creatures roamed Aethelgard after dark. He activated the ability.
The Genesis Core pulsed intensely, its green light flaring. The ground around it began to shift, and within seconds, thick, fibrous roots erupted from the earth, weaving together with absorbed wood essence to form a dome-like structure around the Core, roughly ten feet in diameter. It wasn't pretty – more like a giant, organic nest – but it was solid, with a small opening for entry. The interior was surprisingly spacious and dry.
[Wood (Common): 15]
He crawled inside, feeling a primal sense of security. The soft, glowing moss continued inside, providing a faint, natural illumination. He sat down, leaning against the surprisingly sturdy wall of woven roots and wood.
As he rested, a faint rustling sound caught his attention. It wasn't the wind. It was closer, a distinct scuttling coming from the edge of the clearing, near the dense undergrowth. Alex tensed, his hand instinctively going to his side, where his phone usually was. Useless. He had no weapon.
The rustling grew louder, accompanied by a low, guttural chittering. A pair of glowing yellow eyes emerged from the shadows, followed by a sleek, low-slung body. It was a creature roughly the size of a badger, but far more menacing. Its fur was a mottled grey-green, blending perfectly with the forest floor, and its teeth, visible even from this distance, were long and needle-sharp. Its tail twitched erratically, ending in a barbed, whip-like tip.
[Gloomfang Squirrel (Juvenile) - Threat Level: Low]
The System conveniently provided a threat assessment. "Low, huh?" Alex whispered, but his heart was pounding. "Low for Aethelgard, maybe. High for a guy with no weapon."
The Gloomfang Squirrel chittered again, its yellow eyes fixed on him. It took a tentative step forward, then another, its movements surprisingly swift and silent. It was clearly predatory.
Alex scanned his UI. He had no combat abilities. His "units" were zero. All he had was his wits and the temporary shelter. He glanced at the Genesis Core, still pulsing. Could it help?
He focused on the Core, thinking, 'Can you fight? Can you do anything?'
The Core responded with a faint thrum, and a new, faded icon appeared in his abilities list, labeled [Genesis Core: Basic Repulsion (Locked)]. A tooltip showed: [Requires EP: 10 to unlock.]
"Ten EP? I only have 4.3!" he thought frantically. The squirrel was closer now, its nose twitching, clearly smelling him. It was about twenty feet away.
Alex's mind raced. He had no weapon, but he had the environment. He looked at the loose stones near the shelter entrance. Not heavy enough to do much damage, but maybe…
He grabbed a handful of small, sharp-edged stones. As the Gloomfang Squirrel lunged, a blur of grey-green fur and yellow eyes, Alex threw the stones with all his might, aiming for its eyes.
The creature shrieked, a high-pitched, furious sound, as one of the stones glanced off its snout. It stumbled, momentarily disoriented. It wasn't a hit that would kill it, but it bought him a precious second.
Alex scrambled back, deeper into the shelter, grabbing a thicker piece of wood that had been part of the temporary construction. It was rough, splintered, but it had weight. He gripped it like a club, his knuckles white.
The Gloomfang Squirrel recovered quickly, its chittering now laced with pure aggression. It darted towards the shelter opening, its sharp claws scraping against the woven roots. Alex braced himself.
As the creature squeezed its head through the opening, its yellow eyes gleaming with malice, Alex swung the makeshift club with a desperate, two-handed motion. He aimed for the head, putting all his fear and adrenaline into the blow.
CRACK!
A sickening thud echoed in the small space. The Gloomfang Squirrel let out a choked gurgle, its body convulsing before going limp. It lay half-in, half-out of the shelter, its yellow eyes now dull and lifeless. A faint, greenish mist rose from its body, drifting towards the Genesis Core.
[Gloomfang Squirrel (Juvenile) Defeated!][Evolution Points (EP) +5.0]
Alex dropped the club, his hands trembling. He was breathing heavily, his heart still hammering. He had done it. His first kill in Aethelgard. And it felt… terrifyingly real.
He looked at his UI.
[Evolution Points (EP): 9.3]
So close to 10 EP. So close to unlocking that "Basic Repulsion" ability. If only he'd had it a moment ago, it might have been easier. But he had survived. That was the main thing.
He crawled out of the shelter, cautiously nudging the dead Gloomfang Squirrel with his foot. The green mist had fully dissipated, absorbed by the Genesis Core. The creature's body remained, a stark reminder of the danger. He knew he couldn't leave it there. Predators would be drawn to the scent.
He dragged the body further into the clearing, away from his shelter. He wasn't sure what to do with it, but for now, out of sight was better. He looked at the Genesis Core. It was still pulsing, its soft light a comforting presence. He had survived the first night, or at least, the first true threat. Aethelgard was brutal, but he had a fighting chance. He had a Core that grew with him, and a mind that refused to give up. The game had just begun. And Alex, the pragmatic strategist, was ready to play.