The orb of light, which contained the spirit of the greatest killing machine Earth had ever birthed, did not rush. It moved with the disciplined, surgical precision of its former life. As it arrived, a low, guttural vibration filled the Repository. Gaia expended a portion of her divine essence, and the ethereal light coalesced, not into the regal armor of a courtier like Cao Cao's, but into the hardened, plain leather and dark metal of a relentless field commander
Bai Qi opened his eyes. They were the color of cold, polished iron, and they scanned the scene—Gaia, Cao Cao, the void, the shimmering souls—with an utterly detached, analytical gaze. The sensation was not one of renewed life, but of a weapon perfectly sharpened and calibrated.
"You have been called to be the Lord Marshal of the Kingdom of Man," Gaia stated, her gaze unwavering. "Are you willing to serve, even though your reputation among mortals is stained with the memory of ruthless, industrialized slaughter?"
Bai Qi's disposition was immediately apparent. He knelt without flourish, a gesture of military deference, not worship. "My methods secured victory," he stated, his voice a low, gravelly monotone, devoid of vanity or regret. "Morality is the first battlefield casualty. I require an objective; I will provide efficacy. I accept the position."
Gaia nodded, recognizing the pact. "I chose you for that very reason. The Dragon and Giant champions will be led by pride and ancient custom. They will value heroic deeds. We must value survival and the perfect, ruthless execution of war. Their strength is their belief in their own superiority; our strength is your complete lack of sentimentality and your focus on the quantifiable goal."
"The Goal is absolute supremacy," Bai Qi confirmed, his head remaining lowered. "My life is dedicated to its attainment."
Gaia then turned to both men, the gravity of the new world settling upon them. "We must now lay the foundation. This initial stage, which Cao Cao correctly termed the Village Era, is the most perilous."
"In the beginning," Gaia continued, "We will be permitted to choose five civilians from the Repository to start the human village. This is our initial vanguard. After this initial selection, the population will grow by one new civilian per day."
"But this single spawn per day creates a slow growth curve for us," Bai Qi pointed out, his voice a drone of pragmatic concern. "If other races also adhere to the one-per-day rule, the disparity is manageable. If they do not, the military task at later stages becomes monumental. What is population growth rate of our rivals?"
Gaia confirmed that population growth was not uniform across all races, but tied to their original, inherent biological rates—an element of their racial identity that even the gods could not override.
"The number of spawn civilians is proportional to the race's original reproductive capacity," Gaia clarified. "The Goblin Race, for example, are inherently prolific. Their reproduction is very high, so their daily spawn count can be five or even higher. "
She then provided the other end of the spectrum. "Conversely, races like the Dragons, who have a naturally low reproduction rate, rely on their immense, singular power, not population density. They will spawn a new member perhaps once a month or even longer. The burden of population management and logistics is thus placed almost entirely on our species, as is the potential advantage of mass."
Cao Cao's cool demeanor fractured momentarily. He stepped forward, the weight of the restriction pressing down. "Goddess, this is monumental," he said, emphasizing his point. "This choice of five individuals you mentioned earlier might be the only time we can specify the type of talent in our village. The randomized spawning of one villager per day could leave us with philosophers when we need builders, or poets when we need hunters. We must maximize this opportunity."
Gaia agreed, "The probability of a direct attack is very low in the early days. Most of the races—the Dragons, the Giants, and the Elementals—will be focused on their own consolidation, establishing resource extraction, and building their foundations in their respective, hostile domains."
"But an immediate threat from races such as Goblins and Kobolds—who have a high spawn rate—will be able to build their army early on," Bai Qi added, pointing out the strategic asymmetry. "They will consolidate fast, and their scouting elements will test our perimeter long before the Giants are ready."
The three of them entered immediate, intense strategic counsel, debating the most optimal combination of civilian talents for immediate, self-sufficient survival.
"We must select skills that guarantee survival and expansion in the most efficient manner," Cao Cao declared, immediately taking command of the planning phase. "The restriction on population growth and the threat of early-game raids from races like the Goblins means we cannot afford a single wasted day, and we cannot risk early exposure. Our core must be self-sufficient and invisible. We must maximize this initial selection."
"Agreed," Bai Qi stated, projecting his choice with cold precision. "My focus is entirely on securing the perimeter and providing immediate resources with minimal intrusion. I select the Hunter. The Hunter provides meat and hides for sustenance, and more critically, acts as our first scout. Their skill set is about silent operation and immediate field efficacy—the cornerstone of our tactical defense."
Cao Cao nodded, acknowledging the tactical necessity. He then countered with his strategic imperative. "My focus is on long-term administration and the creation of a durable center of power. I select the Carpenter. Infrastructure is destiny. Without a Carpenter, we have no secure shelter, no means to rapidly tool our random population, and no foundation for even rudimentary walls to absorb a Goblin charge. They are the initial engine of our economy."
Gaia, who had witnessed the rise and fall of countless human societies, offered her insight. "Your choices represent the opposing needs of the new Kingdom: immediate defense and structural durability. My choice must address the most essential and often overlooked element of survival, one that transcends the immediate resource gathering." She focused her divine light on a gentle, foundational soul. "I choose the Farmer. A Hunter's supply is inconsistent. But the Farmer anchors us to the land, ensuring reliable, long-term sustenance and freeing the remaining two civilian slots to focus on other crucial tasks."
"The core is established: Hunter (Defense), Carpenter (Infrastructure), and Farmer (Sustenance)," Cao Cao summarized. "Now, for the last two, may I hear your thoughts?"