After an hour of cleaning, they proceeded to eat the fruit, which they called an apple as well, due to both of them being unfamiliar with it. Kreig didn't have proper experience with the Abyss. Hell, he didn't even bother learning about it when he decided he'd go; a stupid act, he thought.
'But compared to when I was living on the street...this sure is bliss...' his thought lingered as he glanced at the scene before him. His territory is amidst a shadow-enveloped area and a vast forest. Luckily, his domain is situated in a small plain.
Strange noises echoed in the forest; contrary to that, the shadow-enveloped area, which he then called the "aphotic zone", is bathed in eerie silence.
Kreig remained seated in the small settlement that Exel prepared. While they were eating, they discussed their future plans and talked to develop a bond and trust between them.
'I can't tell anyone about my resonance. At least, not for now.' Kreig thought, taking a glance at the boy who was already deep asleep beside the campfire.
There are so many monsters around the domain. Compared to when it was morning, the monsters right now must've multiplied to at least 10 times their number.
On almost every side of his domain, the towering steps of monsters reverberated. The very same kind of one he encountered during the day, but now, much bigger.
Their eyes lingered on his location, however, they did not attack but observed in silence.
They're quite sensitive to emotions, or is it because of the barrier? I have a lot to test, but right now...
His eyes shut as he called his status. A blue semi-translucent light emerged before his eyes.
**
Lord name: Kreig Haven
Resonance Name: Haven
Lord level: Level 1, Tier 1
Resonance: Soulbound (unique)
Essence: 1/999
Domain Name: Haven
Lord skills:
Mini Map (Low-rank) – Allows the lord to visualize his domain on his head.
Extraction (Unranked) – Allows the lord to subjugate or extract Resonance and essence from the enemy lord's domains.
Summon (Unranked) – Summon units to fight for the lord using summoning stones dropped by monsters in the abyss.
Soulbound (Unique) - Restricts summons' movement.
- ???
- ???
**
Not much changed, but 'that' skill is displayed now. Considering that I felt a strange energy filling inside me when I killed a 'monster', but I felt it leaving my body when I killed my summon... I assume it must be some rule when acquiring essence...
He thought.
It must be some coincidence, but when fighting that woman, I felt a strange power surge inside me.
"Soulbound, huh." He muttered, words barely escaping his lips.
That power allowed me to control that woman's movement without her noticing. Too bad I still don't know much about it...but this will be my trump card when encountering summons like that.
The skills description was too brief for him to decipher its uses, but since it emphasized the 'summon', he assumed it only works for those he had summoned.
Thinking about it, he felt the urge to try it to Exel, but he didn't want to bother him to sleep, thus he just observed his territory once more.
I'm too weak. He thought.
If I don't get stronger before the end of the week, I will surely die. he paused, sighing inwardly.
Just when I thought everything would be great in the Abyss...
He couldn't help but laugh at the irony of his situation.
When he was living on the street, he never bothered about his situation. He felt comfortable; rather, despite his situation at the time, he didn't care enough to rise. But now, when inside the abyss, he realized just how stupid he was at the time. "I was a frog living inside a well."
***
City of Parry, inside the alley dubbed the sanctuary of the weak.
A day had passed since Kreig had gone to the abyss, but in Leaxuire, it had only been half of the time.
"Strange. The boy isn't here, hmm... It's been two days." Someone muttered.
"It appears he went to the awakening guild, my lord. Could it be that..."
"This won't do." His voice was interrupted by a voice so distant as if detached from reality.
"My lord, I must apologize for disturbing your thoughts, but why must you look for him? He looks average, no background on anything, but that accident." He said, pausing. "I believe there are many more choices other than him," he said, as if pleading with the lord.
"He's interesting," the unknown figure replied, teeth clenched as tightly as they could be. "If anything, I would like to use him... to destroy that arrogant man."
***
Inside the Endless Abyss
"My lord, you've woken up." Exel greeted respectfully, his hand carefully preparing the fruit Kreig had gathered.
"Likewise," he replied. "What time is it, Exel?"
"My lord, it should be 4 hours before noon, considering the sun's position," Exel replied, his hand stretched to give Kreig a slice of fruit.
"Thank you," Kreig said.
Despite the way he'd been acting, Kreig doesn't have the experience or education to be a lord. However, he was at the very least trying.
Kreig is acting the way he visualizes how a lord should be in his perspective; a lord whom he'd ideally serve if he himself were not a lord, but a subject.
The way he speaks may be distant, but his tone is sincere when talking with Exel. He also knew how to acknowledge his mistakes or his rash acts. However, Kreig is still a newbie lord; he doesn't have the pleasure of enjoying education, and evidently, he'd make mistakes. Being extremely aware of his situation was why he killed the woman as well.
'A subject that bares its fangs towards its lord is not worthy of time. Especially given my current situation' is what he thought.
"Exel, I will explore more of the area around us. Do take care of the domain, also," he paused. "Make some more settlements, at least five more." He said, his tone resolute.
"Yes, my lord." Exel heeded his orders before adding. "Do be safe, my lord." In which Kreig replied with a smile.
Kreig then marched out of the barrier, on his waist sheathed a sword. He did not bring the dagger he got from the summon he killed; he gave it to Exel.
After walking two hundred steps forward (south), to the location where he'd seen the monster yesterday, he redirected himself to explore the next two hundred steps towards Southeast.
He reached the location without trouble or anything worth mentioning. Then he proceeded to finish the whole exploration, which he planned to finish before noon.
After an hour and a half, he finished exploring the remaining area. Unlike during the night time, monsters were much rarer during the day, he actually thought he was quite lucky to even have a glimpse of two monsters during a day yesterday.
Haaa. There's nothing that particularly caught my eye in this turn. Other than that, I should go back for now.
He thought, seeing a glimpse of his domain from where he stood.
After a few minutes of walking, he reached the barrier of his domain.
The three settlements should be enough to accommodate at least five more people. Considering their small size and the abundance of houses in this area, we should be able to at least make a room for 50 individuals.
Kreig, though, seeing Exel, who had already finished making two settlements, now resting.
Although the area he was located in can be said to be quite deserted, it was not exactly because of the land. In fact, with the forest near his domain, he should be able to gather materials to rebuild everything from scratch. But the reason he decided not to was because he thought it'd be dangerous and might attract unnecessary troubles, given the sound it'd produce when chopping down a tree. In addition, he had no equipment.
"Exel," he called out.
"Y-yes, my lord?" Exel replied in shock, he didn't notice his lord entering the barrier. 'Has my lord finished the exploration already?' he thought.
"I will hunt monsters or creatures now. Since there is nothing around the radius of our territory, there should be some further deep inside the forest." Kreig said, his eyes shifting to a distance.
"I understand, my lord. I, as well, will use the foundation of old houses around our territory to build more settlements with ease, my lord." He said with a pause. "But before you go, my lord, please do take this with you as the journey may be tiring." He lent a fruit to Kreig.
Exel is well aware of his lord's ability, although he seems weak, Kreig could at the very least accumulate experience this way.
"Besides... if my lord doesn't get strong enough... we will surely perish," he muttered, a trace of worry in his eyes.
Exel is not a battle-type unit. At best, he can build some settlements and handle taking care of the domain while Kreig does most of the physical work. He's well aware of his capability, so all he can do is wish his lord some luck.
...
In the depths of the forest.
*"Chief! There is a new lord around the area near the infected abyss!"* [1]
*"Chief, chief! What to do?*" a group of goblins exclaimed in unknown excitement as they asked their chief.
*"Ke ke! Survey the area first! Be sure to be back before nightfall!"* The goblin chief commanded.
...
While Kreig was surveying the area further, deeper into the abyss, he left markings not to lose his way. On his way, he discovered some strange plants, he also noticed that the trees further deep in the forest are much bigger than those near the edge of his territory.
'I'll take some of these and ask Exel about it,' he thought, picking up some herbs on the ground, putting them inside a small leather pouch.
'Hmmm. The area here seems strange,' he halted his steps, shifting his eyes to a small empty land before his eyes. 'Clear paths, trees with cuts, scattered leaves... perhaps humans living in this area?' he thought, but he quickly dispelled the idea. 'That's impossible...' he thought.
He quickly dispelled his thought; rather than thinking positively, he thought of the worst scenario. 'Perhaps there are other intelligent species living in this area...'
After a few minutes of observing the area, he made his movements again, but this time, more cautiously.
Thud. Thud.
He halted.
Shuffle—
'There's someone here...' he muttered, swiftly hiding himself.
The grass in front of him then moved.
*"Ke ke, just a bit! The chief will reward us! He will!"
*"Ke ke, yes! Ke ke, and if we kill it... we'll get a higher status... ke ke KE ek!*"
Kreig whistled a whisper in shock. Indeed, he was right. There are other intelligent species in the area... and it was something he was more familiar with than anything.
Goblins...
He muttered, his eyes turning eerily.
[1] The * will signify a language that humans cannot understand