The blinding light of the celestial transport faded, replaced by the damp, earthy chill of a primeval forest. Gaia, Cao Cao, Bai Qi, and the five reconstructed civilians materialized on a bed of thick moss, beneath a dense canopy of unfamiliar, towering trees.
The air was heavy, smelling of pine, wet soil, and something raw—a faint, metallic scent of unformed magic. The silence was immediate and profound, broken only by the drip of moisture from the leaves. The group stood on a small clearing at the edge of the woods. Through the gaps in the trees, Cao Cao could make out a colossal shadow dominating the eastern horizon: a jagged, immense mountain range, black and forbidding against the dimly lit sky. The Giants' domain, he assumed.
Bai Qi, the Lord Marshal, moved without instruction. His armored form melted into the shadows at the perimeter of the clearing, his eyes—cold and observant—scanning the new environment. He was securing their immediate surroundings, already establishing their initial defensive perimeter.
Gaia, however, was clearly and acutely struggling. She stood apart, leaning heavily against the trunk of a great tree. The vibrant light that usually marked her presence was dimmed, flickering like a dying ember. The strain of resurrecting seven souls and transporting them across the void, combined with the power limits enforced by the Pantheon, had exacted a devastating toll.
Cao Cao, ever the pragmatist, ignored the celestial drama and focused on his resources. He addressed the five confused civilians.
"Welcome to Pangea," Cao Cao stated, his voice carrying the calm authority of a man born to command. "The Village Era begins now. I require order and documentation. For the record, introduce yourselves, state your specialty, and any auxiliary skills you possess."
The first to step forward was Kael, the Hunter. He was visibly unsettled, his eyes darting nervously towards the sky, still clearly fearful of the gods' catastrophic power. Seeing Kael's melancholy, Cao Cao fixed him with a cold, clear stare.
"Human" Cao Cao commanded, his voice sharp, reminding Kael of his race, a human they might be, but they are not just humans. "Identify yourself and your purpose."
The reminder snapped Kael out of his terror. Memories flashed through him: the carefree youth hunting with his grandfather; then, the terrible news—the call for all of humanity to unite, to fight the gods, and forge a destiny of their own choice away from divine control.
"I am Kael, Hunter," he said, his voice now steadying. "I was reconnaissance forces in the war against the gods. My grandfather trained me to hunt when I was young."
This information pleased Cao Cao. A skilled hunter with military background was invaluable.
Next came Old Lao, the Farmer. His face was beaming with pride as he looked upon Cao Cao, the warlord he had once served. "I am Old Lao, Chief Minister! Head Farmer! It is an honor to serve you again! I oversaw the grain supply for your armies in the late Han Dynasty. I shall feed your Kingdom!"
Cao Cao acknowledged the elder with a brief nod. "Your experience in my logistics is a boon, Lao. But remember, we are now facing a foe infinitely greater than the Sun family, and we are fighting a war on a much grander, cosmic scale. We must not fail this time."
Sirius, the Carpenter, stepped up, exuding an air of precise military discipline. Though his trade was simple, his posture was that of a Legionnaire. "Sirius, Carpenter. Conscripted by the Roman Legions. My specialty is rapid, large-scale siege engineering and fortification."
Lia, the Herbalist, followed. She was a picture of quiet, honed benevolence, her eyes reflecting the suffering she had eased. "I am Lia. Herbalist. I am from the dark ages, managing disease during the plague. My expertise is in crisis containment and botanical medicine."
Lastly, Dixon, the Tanner, moved forward. He was powerfully built, his demeanor rough and immediate, like a wild beast that had survived a harsh environment through instinct and brute resilience. "Dixon. Tanner. My clan supplied the Akkadian Empire with armor in the Ancient Age. I know what materials survive."
Cao Cao, whose personality prohibited him from believing in blind luck, connected the dots. These were not random souls; they were perfectly tailored resources. He looked at the five civilians talking amongst themselves and then at Gaia, who was truly weakened. He saw the great cost of her intervention.
Cao Cao approached Gaia, his voice hushed but firm. "Goddess, you did not merely select five souls. You hand-picked the perfect resources for the initial strategic needs of our Kingdom. You have exhausted your essence. You overdid yourself."
Gaia merely smiled weakly, her gaze filled with determination as she watched the last remnants of humanity begin to bicker about their strange new life. Her voice was a strained whisper, yet carried the weight of her mission.
"I only did what is best for the Kingdom of Man, Chief Minister. Now, you must fulfill your destiny."
The responsibility settled back onto Cao Cao's shoulders. The planning was over. The game had begun.