The temporary shelter, woven from the Genesis Core's roots and absorbed wood essence, felt less like a sanctuary and more like a cramped, makeshift infirmary. Elara lay huddled against the curved wall, her breath coming in shallow, painful gasps. Her leg, horribly twisted, was a stark reminder of the brutal reality of Aethelgard. Alex had done his best to stabilize it with strips of torn fabric from his shirt and some sturdy vines, but it was a crude job. The wound was still seeping, and her skin was clammy.
"How are you feeling?" Alex asked softly, his voice rough with fatigue. He sat opposite her, keeping an eye on the shelter entrance, the faint, green glow of the Genesis Core illuminating their faces.
Elara winced as she shifted. "Like… like a tree tried to eat my leg and then threw me down a mountain. It hurts, Alex. A lot." Her voice was weak, but there was a flicker of resilience in her eyes. "Thank you. For… for saving me. I thought I was done for."
"Don't mention it," Alex replied, a grim line to his lips. "We're in this together now. But we need to get that leg properly treated. And we need food. And water. This temporary shelter won't cut it long-term."
He glanced at his UI.
[Evolution Points (EP): 19.1][Resources: Wood (Common): 19, Stone (Common): 21, Food (Raw): 0, Water (Fresh): 0]
The zero beside "Food" and "Water" was a stark, red warning. He had enough EP to unlock "Basic Repulsion," but that wouldn't solve their immediate sustenance needs. He needed a stable base, a way to generate resources automatically, to truly begin building.
He focused on the Genesis Core, recalling the strategic outline. Tier 1 Settlement: Heartwood Sprout. That was the next crucial progression. The Genesis Core was not merely a power source; it functioned as a living seed, capable of evolving into a full settlement. Such growth was projected to unlock necessary resource gathering structures and unit generation.
The concept of Evolution Points and the System's mechanics were processed, confirming the necessity of the next evolutionary step. This Core represented the primary means of establishing a foothold in Aethelgard.
A profound decision was made, and the "Evolve" option in the System UI was confirmed.
[Evolve Genesis Core to Heartwood Sprout (Tier 1 Settlement)?][Cost: 15 EP][Warning: Evolution is irreversible. New structures and abilities will be unlocked. Settlement will become a fixed point.]
"Fixed point," Alex mused. That meant he couldn't just pick up his base and move it. Strategic placement was critical. But this small clearing was defensible, surrounded by dense forest, and offered adequate space for initial expansion. It was deemed suitable.
"Here we go," he whispered, and confirmed the evolution.
A profound tremor rippled through the ground, far more intense than anything he'd felt before. The Genesis Core pulsed violently, its green light flaring into a blinding emerald beacon that filled the shelter. Roots, thicker and more numerous, erupted from the Core itself, tearing through the floor and walls of the temporary shelter. The woven wood and vines groaned, stretching and reshaping.
The light intensified, forcing Alex and Elara to shield their eyes. A deep, resonant hum filled the air, like the slow, powerful beating of an enormous heart. The very earth beneath them seemed to be alive, shifting and growing.
When the blinding light subsided, Alex blinked, his eyes adjusting. The temporary shelter was gone, completely absorbed into the transformation. In its place, at the center of the clearing, stood something magnificent.
The Genesis Core had expanded dramatically. It was no longer just a seed, but a central, living structure – a massive, gnarled tree-like formation with thick, intertwining roots that spread outwards, forming the foundation of a small, organic clearing. Its bark was a smooth, vibrant green, and from its branches hung luminous, bell-shaped pods that pulsed with soft light, illuminating the entire area. This was the Heartwood Sprout.
New notifications flooded Alex's UI, accompanied by a chorus of triumphant chimes:
[Genesis Core Evolved: Heartwood Sprout (Tier 1 Settlement)!][Evolution Points (EP): 4.1]
[New Structures Unlocked:]
Woodcutter's Hut (Cost: 20 Wood, 10 Stone) - Automatically gathers Wood (Common). Requires assignment of a Unit.Stone Quarry (Cost: 20 Wood, 10 Stone) - Automatically gathers Stone (Common). Requires assignment of a Unit.Small Storage (Cost: 15 Wood) - Increases raw resource storage capacity.
[New Genesis Core Ability Unlocked:]
Minor Terraforming (Passive): Slowly expands fertile ground around the Heartwood Sprout, making it suitable for basic cultivation.
[New Unit Type Unlocked:]
Heartwood Defender (Cost: 5 Wood, 5 Stone, 1 EP) (Price lower only for the first 2 units) - Basic plant-based melee unit. Generated directly by the Heartwood Sprout.
Elara, despite her pain, was staring with wide, awestruck eyes. "It… it grew! It's beautiful!" she whispered, reaching out a trembling hand towards one of the glowing pods. "What are those?"
"Those are… part of it," Alex said, equally mesmerized. The sheer organic beauty of it was captivating. But his mind quickly shifted back to practicality. "Okay, we have structures now. But they need units assigned to them. And we still have zero units."
He looked at the "Heartwood Defender" option.
[Heartwood Defender (Cost: 5 Wood, 5 Stone, 1 EP) (Price lower only for the first 2 units)
]
He had 19 Wood, 21 Stone, and 4.1 EP. To build both the Woodcutter's Hut and the Stone Quarry, he needed 40 Wood and 20 Stone. To generate one Heartwood Defender, he needed an additional 5 Wood and 5 Stone. That meant a total of 45 Wood and 25 Stone. He was currently short on Wood.
"This is amazing, Alex," Elara said, filled with a fragile hope. "But… we still need food. And someone to work these new places."
"You're right," Alex replied, his gaze sweeping the clearing. "First things first. We need to get some basic resource production going. And then, we need a defender."
He decided to prioritize gathering more resources manually. He grabbed his makeshift club and began moving around the clearing, focusing on every fallen log and loose stone. He worked with a renewed sense of urgency, the need for automated production and defense burning in his mind. The Genesis Core hummed with each absorption, its light a steady companion.
He spent the next hour tirelessly absorbing wood essence from every tree and fallen branch, and stone essence from every rock he could find within the safety of the clearing. His muscles protested, but the rising numbers in his UI spurred him on.
[Wood (Common): 49][Stone (Common): 31][Evolution Points (EP): 8.1]
"Okay, now we can do it," he announced, returning to the Heartwood Sprout. He initiated the Woodcutter's Hut construction.
[Construct Woodcutter's Hut?][Cost: 20 Wood, 10 Stone]
He confirmed. The Heartwood Sprout pulsed. From its base, new roots snaked out, rapidly weaving and hardening into the skeletal framework of a small, rustic hut near the edge of the clearing, close to a cluster of trees. It was quick, efficient, and eerily silent.
[Wood (Common): 29][Stone (Common): 21]
Next, he initiated the Stone Quarry construction beside a rocky outcrop.
[Construct Stone Quarry?][Cost: 20 Wood, 10 Stone]
He confirmed. The same organic process unfolded, roots and stone essence weaving into a sturdy, compact structure beside the rocky outcrop.
[Wood (Common): 9][Stone (Common): 11]
Now, with both primary resource structures built, it was time for defense. He looked at the "Heartwood Defender" option. He had enough for one.
[Generate Heartwood Defender?][Cost: 5 Wood, 5 Stone, 1 EP]
He confirmed. The Heartwood Sprout pulsed with an even more intense, vibrant green light. From the ground directly in front of the Core, thick, fibrous roots began to twist and intertwine, rapidly forming a plant-based construct. It grew quickly, branches sprouting for limbs, a gnarled, moss-covered formation at its apex. Within seconds, a fully formed being stood before the Core.
It was roughly seven feet tall, its body composed of tightly woven roots and bark, covered in a soft, glowing moss. Luminous green orbs marked its upper structure, and its lower limbs ended in blunt, powerful forms. It stood silently, radiating a calm, protective aura.
[Heartwood Defender (Unit) Generated!][Evolution Points (EP): 7.1]
Elara gasped, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and apprehension. "It's… alive?"
"It's a unit," Alex corrected, a genuine grin spreading across his face. This was it. This was the true beginning of his empire. "System, assign Heartwood Defender 1 to Woodcutter's Hut 1."
[Heartwood Defender 1 assigned to Woodcutter's Hut 1. Wood (Common) production initiated.]
The Heartwood Defender turned, its glowing orbs seeming to acknowledge the command, and lumbered towards the newly built Woodcutter's Hut, its movements slow but deliberate. It positioned itself beside the structure, and a faint, green energy pulsed from its form into the hut. The trees around the hut began to subtly shimmer, and the "Wood (Common)" count in his UI slowly, steadily, began to tick upwards: +1… +2… +3…
"It's working!" Elara exclaimed, shifting slightly despite her pain. "It's actually gathering wood!"
"And soon, stone," Alex added, a sense of profound satisfaction washing over him. He looked at the Heartwood Sprout, then at the single, lumbering defender. It was a tiny start, a mere sapling in a world of ancient, monstrous trees. But it was his sapling. And it was growing. The next challenge was food and water, and then, perhaps, another defender. The path ahead was clear, if fraught with danger. He was no longer just surviving; he was building. And that felt like a victory in itself.