Chapter 4 — The First Villagers
The morning sun slowly rose above the mountains surrounding the Forgotten Creation Valley.
Golden light poured across the quiet land, illuminating the ten wooden houses standing near the river.
Just yesterday, this place had been nothing but wilderness.
Now it was the beginning of a settlement.
Aren Valerian stood at the center of the clearing, staring at the houses he had created with his own hands.
Or rather…
With the Power of Creation.
A glowing system panel appeared in front of him.
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HOST: Aren Valerian
Level: 2
EXP: 40 / 200
Territory: Forgotten Creation Valley
Territory Rank: F
Population: 100
Army: 20 Militia Soldiers
Skills
• Unknown Craft — F Rank
• Basic Swordsmanship — F Rank
Authority
• Power of Creation
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Aren exhaled slowly.
Just two days ago he had arrived in this valley alone.
Now there were villagers living in the houses and soldiers guarding the settlement.
The reward from the First Settlement Quest had changed everything.
When the system summoned the population yesterday, Aren had been shocked.
But after spending the evening speaking with them, he realized something important.
The villagers weren't mindless summons.
They were real people.
Farmers.
Craftsmen.
Laborers.
Families who would now live under his rule.
And the militia soldiers were already organizing patrols around the settlement.
One of them approached Aren now.
The man wore simple leather armor and carried a spear.
"Lord Aren."
Aren turned toward him.
"Yes?"
The soldier saluted.
"My name is Captain Roderic. I command the twenty militia soldiers assigned to this territory."
Aren nodded.
"Good to meet you, Captain."
Roderic glanced around the settlement.
"The villagers have begun inspecting the surrounding land."
"Several farmers say the soil near the river is good for crops."
Aren smiled slightly.
"Perfect timing."
He opened the system panel again.
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ACTIVE QUEST
Establish Food Production
Objective
Create farmland capable of supporting 100 population
Reward
Population +200
Agricultural Tools
EXP +100
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"Looks like farming is our next step," Aren said.
Roderic nodded.
"Without food, no settlement can survive."
Aren turned toward the open plains beside the river.
The land there was flat and fertile.
Perfect farmland.
"Let's start working."
Dozens of villagers gathered near the river plains.
Some carried farming tools.
Others examined the soil carefully.
A gray-haired farmer stepped forward.
"My lord, this land is excellent for crops."
"But we must clear the stones and prepare irrigation."
Aren nodded.
"That won't be a problem."
He walked to the center of the field and placed his hand on the ground.
The Power of Creation flowed through his body.
He focused his mind on the land.
The soil began to tremble.
Stones buried beneath the ground slowly rose into the air.
The villagers gasped.
"My lord is using magic!"
"Look at the earth!"
The stones gathered together and formed a neat pile at the edge of the field.
Next, Aren focused on shaping the farmland.
The ground split into clean rows.
Irrigation channels formed naturally from the nearby river.
Water began flowing through the channels.
Within minutes…
The farmland was ready.
Aren stepped back, slightly tired.
The villagers stared in amazement.
The old farmer spoke again.
"I have never seen such power."
"With land prepared like this, we can plant crops immediately."
The system panel appeared again.
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FARMLAND CREATED
Food Production Potential: 120 Population
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Then another notification appeared.
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QUEST COMPLETE
Establish Food Production
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Aren watched as the reward window appeared.
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REWARDS RECEIVED
Population +200
Agricultural Tools
EXP +100
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Suddenly—
A warm light spread across the settlement.
More figures appeared near the houses.
New villagers.
Farmers.
Workers.
Families.
Within minutes the small settlement grew much larger.
The system updated again.
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TERRITORY UPDATE
Population: 300
Army: 20 Militia Soldiers
Territory Rank: E
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Aren raised his eyebrows.
"So territory rank can increase too."
That made sense.
More population meant greater development.
Captain Roderic approached again.
"My lord, with this many villagers we should expand defenses."
"The forest nearby still contains monsters."
Aren nodded.
He remembered the Gray Fang Wolves he had fought earlier.
If a larger monster pack attacked, the militia might struggle to defend the settlement.
"Good point."
Just as he was thinking about defenses—
The system flashed again.
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NEW QUEST AVAILABLE
Settlement Defense
Objective
Construct a wooden wall around the settlement
Reward
Militia Soldiers ×30
Watchtower Blueprint
EXP +150
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Aren smiled.
"Looks like the system agrees with you."
Roderic read the objective over Aren's shoulder.
"A defensive wall would be wise."
Aren turned toward the villagers.
"Gather wood from the forest."
"Today we begin building our defenses."
The villagers immediately began working.
Some cut trees.
Others transported logs.
The militia soldiers helped move the heavy materials.
Soon large stacks of wood surrounded the settlement.
Aren stepped forward again.
The Power of Creation activated.
Wooden logs rose into the air.
They aligned themselves in perfect formation.
One by one—
Tall wooden walls formed around the settlement.
The structure slowly grew larger.
Thirty meters.
Fifty meters.
Eventually the entire settlement was surrounded by a protective barrier.
A large wooden gate formed at the entrance.
The villagers watched in awe.
"My lord is incredible…"
"With this wall we can sleep peacefully."
Aren wiped sweat from his forehead.
Creating large structures required far more energy than houses.
But the result was worth it.
The system panel appeared again.
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CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE
Wooden Settlement Wall
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Then—
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QUEST COMPLETE
Settlement Defense
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The reward window appeared.
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REWARDS RECEIVED
Militia Soldiers ×30
Watchtower Blueprint
EXP +150
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More soldiers appeared inside the settlement.
Captain Roderic immediately saluted.
"Fifty soldiers now."
"With this force we can defend the territory easily."
Aren nodded.
Another notification appeared.
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LEVEL UP
Level 2 → Level 3
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A warm energy flowed through his body.
His strength and stamina increased.
The system updated again.
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HOST: Aren Valerian
Level: 3
EXP: 0 / 300
Population: 300
Army: 50 Militia Soldiers
Territory Rank: E
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Aren looked around the settlement.
Three hundred villagers.
Fifty soldiers.
Farmland.
Ten houses.
Defensive walls.
All built within just a few days.
He raised his head toward the mountains surrounding the valley.
"This is only the beginning."
The Forgotten Creation Valley was no longer empty.
And soon…
It would grow into something far greater than anyone imagined.
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Powerstone Request
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