Nerulia Haven glowed beneath the morning light, stone-paths humming with mana lines, fresh storefront signs being carved, and the sound of happy chatter drifting through the streets. It no longer resembled a frontier camp, it was becoming a nation's heartbeat.
Children practiced basic mana-motions in training yards. Beastkin merchants argued good-naturedly with dwarves over ore prices. And shimmering spirit-lights floated like fireflies, born from Yuto's influence.
At the city center, Yuto stood atop a new balcony made of spirit-blessed wood. His bandages were gone, his shirt clean… but faint burn-marks still traced his chest. His auto healing seamingly couldn't heal currropted wounds.
Elira stood beside him, arms crossed. Her silver hair shimmered, and her ears twitched as she glanced at him.
"You're staring at the horizon again. Thinking about him?"
Yuto exhaled, remembering crimson eyes and overwhelming power. "I don't like losing."
Elira's voice softened. "Then get strong enough to never lose again… I'll help you."
Their fingers brushed briefly.
Yuto's heartbeat stuttered.
Elira's ears instantly turned pink. She coughed and stepped back. "I-I mean! As your loyal subordinate!"
Smooth. Completely smooth.
[Advisor: Amazing. Your romantic progress rate is only slightly slower than continental erosion.]
"…thanks," Yuto muttered.
Suddenly, a ding chimed inside his head.
---
[System Update: Inventory Unlocked]
[Inventory System installed.
Storage: 500 slots
Time freeze applied to items
Dimensional stability: High]
[ Weapon Menu Access Unlocked]
[Categories Available:
•Basic Spirit-Blades
•Elemental Weapons
•Spirit-Weave Armor
•Summoned Armaments (Locked)]
[???? Divine Weapon = Locked (Requires Overlord Certification)]
[ Advisor: Congratulations. You finally reached the tutorial standards of most reincarnated protagonists. Took long enough.]
Yuto blinked. "…I have an inventory now?"
[ Advisor: Yes. Because watching you carry things like a medieval donkey was painful.]
Inventory shimmered open, a transparent screen full of empty square slots.
"So I can store things, summon gear, and..."
[Advisor: And purchase weapons. But only ones your body can handle without exploding. Please try not to explode again.]
"That only happened twice!"
Elira raised an eyebrow. "What only happened twice?"
"NOTHING."
---
[A translucent shop window appeared:]
---
🔹 Iron Spirit-Edge — 500 mana Lightweight, cuts mana-beasts
🔹 Twin Wind Daggers — 1,300 mana Movement speed boost + slicing winds
🔹 Spiritwood Bow — 2,000 mana Arrows made of spirit-energy
🔹 Arcsteel Greatsword — 3,000 mana Requires strength 150+
🔒 Spirit-Forged Katana (Locked)
Requirement: Spirit Evolution 50%+
🔒 ??? God-slaying Armament (Sealed)
Requirement: Divine Title + Overlord Rank
[ Advisor: Don't drool on the god weapon. You'll get there. Eventually.]
---
Yuto smirked. "One day I'll claim all of these."
Elira stared at the menu, eyes sparkling.
"You just got a weapon shop inside your brain… what even ARE you…?"
"Um. Spirit guy with premium DLC?"
[Advisor: Correction: Spirit sovereign undergoing evolution. Please respect the brand.]
---
Mimi zoomed up carrying a stack of books twice her size. "Lord Yutooooo look! We started a magic school! Kids love fireballs!"
Small explosion behind her.
A child: "I WILL SURPASS THE GOD OF FLAMES..."
A teacher tackled the kid. "NO ULTRA-SHRINE SPELLS IN BASIC CLASS!"
Zarek marched past with recruits, roaring:
"FORMATION! FRONTLINE SHIELDS! IF YOU CAN'T BLOCK A GOLEM PUNCH, BLOCK A TREE!"
A tree slammed down.
A recruit: "Sir that tree weighs.."
"THROW IT BACK!"
Meanwhile, Lyra supervised the newly built Healing Ward, wearing healer robes and a gentle smile.
Nurses rushed around treating sprains, burns, emotional damage from Mimi's classes…
A young demi-human bowed before her. "Lady Lyra! The mana-infusion therapy is working!"
Lyra nodded proudly. "Good. Nerulia will be known as the city that heals and protects."
Elira softly smiled. "We really are building something amazing, aren't we?"
Yuto nodded.
But peace rarely lasted long around him.
---
Sensing Danger..
The wind suddenly shifted.
A faint shiver of corrupted mana touched the outskirts of the city, just for a second.
Yuto's eyes narrowed. "It's happening again."
Elira's face puffed up. "Another corrupted beast?"
[Advisor: Not a beast. Something analyzing us. Intelligent. Curious.]
"Do you know what it is?"
[ Advisor: Yes.
I am also pretending I do not, to preserve dramatic tension.]
"...I hate you."
---
Later that day...
Yuto rolled his shoulders, mana swirling stronger than before.
He wouldn't lose again. Not to the vampire. Not to anything.
[ Advisor: Access training simulation? Monster projection? Sparring mode?]
"No. Today… I forge myself."
He stepped into the spirit-fused training arena and summoned..
Wind Daggers from the new shop.
Wind exploded outward.
He vanished and reappeared, leaving afterimages, slicing through magical constructs.
Mana shaping sharpened Spirit aura crackled Physical body reinforced
Images of the Vampire Overlord haunted his thoughts.
Stronger. Faster. Higher. Beyond.
He pushed harder...
His spirit-core pulsed.
[Evolution Progress: ...]
[Advisor: Warning: You are pushing too fast. Evolution strain accumulating.]
"I don't have time to slow down!"
[ Advisor: Yes. But if you evolve incorrectly, you will become a pretty but useless sentient cloud.]
"...Fine. Moderation. Annoying."
Elira leaned against a pillar, watching him.
"You don't have to fight alone."
"I know. But I need to be strong enough that you never bleed again."
Elira froze, cheeks turning cherry red.
"…idiot," she whispered.
But her fingers fidgeted happily.
---
[New Skill Acquired]
[Spirit Armament Proto Summons temporary spirit-weapons made of condensed essence.
•Duration: short
•Power: scales with evolution %]
[Advisor: Now you can conjure weapons like a budget spirit blacksmith. Good job.]
" Hmmm, nice.."
---
Just as Yuto finished training.....
A cold wind passed through the city again.
A distant howl echoed across the plains.
Not a beast.
Not human.
Something ancient and powerful.
A warning.
Yuto clenched his fist. "They're coming."
Elira looked worried.
Mimi gulped.
Zarek cracked his knuckles, excited.
Seraphina looked ready to fight.
Lyra appeared holding medical scrolls. "I felt it. A dangerous presence… beyond the city…"
[Advisor: Prep time estimated: short.
Recommendation: Strengthen defense, continue evolution, gather allies.]
"So this peace was temporary."
[Advisor: Peace is an illusion. Drama is required for character growth.]
Yuto looked over his city, HIS people.
He wasn't running anymore.
He would rise for them.
---