The wind howled across the plains like a wounded beast, dry and cold, sweeping grit across Arthur's cheeks as he trudged onward, one foot after another, toward nothing in particular.
He didn't know where he was going. He didn't even know where he was.
All he knew was that the world had tried to forget him—and for a long time, he had let it.
The land stretched endlessly around him, barren and bleak. Once, long ago, there had been cities here. Roads. Voices. Now there was only cracked earth and the brittle skeletons of trees long dead. Somewhere far behind him, smoke still curled into the sky from the ruins he'd left behind. Bandits. Flames. Screams. The usual.
He had escaped with his life, but not much else. A torn cloak. A belt with a dull dagger. And that stubborn little spark in his chest that refused to die.
His name was Arthur.
That was all he had left. A name, and the will to keep walking.
He stopped at the crest of a small hill. Below, the land dipped into a shallow basin—a wide, open stretch of dry soil, broken in places by stubborn patches of grass. It wasn't much, but something about it made him pause.
Maybe it was the way the sky opened up above it. Or the faint memory of a childhood story his mother once told him, about kings rising from dirt, not palaces.
He stood there, silent, letting the wind whip at his cloak.
Then—
Ding.
Arthur blinked.
A soft chime rang out—not in his ears, but inside his skull. A gentle vibration followed it, like a whisper in his spine.
[Sovereign System Activated.]
Welcome, Arthur.
You have been selected.
Initiating Kingdom Protocol…
— Current Territory: Unclaimed
— Population: 0
— Structures: 0
Main Quest:
➤ Claim your first plot of land.
Reward: [Command Hall], [Founder's Map], [Recruitment Chest I]
He staggered back a step, heart hammering.
"What… the hell?" he muttered.
A translucent blue screen floated midair in front of him, its edges shimmering faintly like a heat haze. The letters were clean, sharp, and glowing.
Arthur looked around. The wind continued. The plains were empty.
No one. No voices. No shadows.
Only the screen.
His first instinct was to assume he was hallucinating. Hunger, exhaustion, trauma—any of those could've cooked up a vivid enough fantasy. But then… he lifted his hand.
The screen followed his eyes.
Still visible. Still solid-looking. Still waiting.
And it knew his name.
He reached out slowly, hesitated, then clenched his fist and dropped it.
No. This wasn't a dream. Or if it was, then it was the most vivid one he'd ever had.
"Fine," he said aloud, to no one. "Let's play."
He scanned the terrain again. The basin below was rough but empty—no monsters, no ruins, no lurking threats.
"This'll do."
He descended the hill, his boots crunching softly against dry soil. At the center of the basin, he stopped, dropped to one knee, and pressed his palm to the ground.
"I claim this land," he said, voice steady. "In my name. Arthur."
Ding!
Quest Completed!
First Land Claimed: [Zone 0 – Founder's Ground]
Rewards Dispensed:
➤ [Command Hall] constructed at zone center
➤ [Founder's Map] added to Memory Inventory
➤ [Recruitment Chest I] received
The earth rumbled.
Arthur's eyes widened.
The soil in front of him split with a thunderous crack, and from beneath it, glowing golden lines surged outward like veins of light. A shockwave of warm air knocked dust into the air as the ground pulsed with energy.
Then—stone rose.
Not piece by piece, but all at once. A building formed before his eyes, summoned from the ground like it had always been waiting beneath the surface. Pillars locked into place. Walls formed from pure magic and took on shape. Symbols carved themselves across the doors, glowing faintly with a gold-blue aura.
And atop the newly-formed roof—a crimson banner unfurled, bearing a golden crown in its center.
Arthur just stood there, stunned.
A castle. No—something smaller, but still regal. A headquarters. A hub. A throne room for someone with no throne.
He stepped closer. The air around the building shimmered faintly, like the magic hadn't fully settled yet. He reached out and touched the stone.
Cool. Solid. Real.
"What are you?" he whispered.
[Command Hall Established.]
Territory Visual Range Expanded: 1 km
Nearby Resources:
➤ Wood: Moderate
➤ Stone: High
➤ Water: Scarce
➤ Wildlife: Low
Would you like to open [Recruitment Chest I]?
He exhaled slowly, his heart still trying to catch up with what just happened.
"Do it."
Ding!
You have received:
➤ [2x Settlers]
➤ [1x Veteran Builder – Class: Carpenter]
Three silhouettes appeared outside the hall in flashes of blue light.
Two of them were young—a man and a woman, both in plain tunics, blinking rapidly as they took in their surroundings. The third was older, muscular, and had the unmistakable posture of someone who knew how to lead others.
The man stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"My Lord," he said. "Where shall we begin?"
Arthur stared at them.
They looked… real. Breathing. Confused, but loyal. Like they had been pulled from somewhere else entirely and given a new start.
"I…" Arthur hesitated. "We need food. Can you build a farm?"
The carpenter looked around, scanning the terrain with a practiced eye.
"There's decent soil on the eastern slope. If the settlers help, we'll have a basic plot by sundown."
Arthur nodded, still reeling.
"Do it. Use whatever materials you find."
The trio bowed and set off at once. No questions. No doubts.
Just… obedience.
As they moved into action, Arthur stepped into the Command Hall. Inside, it was larger than it looked from outside. High ceilings. A central table with a glowing map etched into its surface. A throne—not ornate, but functional—sat at the far end.
And somehow, it all felt like it belonged to him.
Not because he had earned it. But because something wanted him to have it.
Side Quest Unlocked:
➤ Build [Farm I] – 0/1
Reward: +3 Citizens, +1 Random Structure
He sat down slowly in the chair.
For the first time in weeks, his body relaxed.
He had been hunted. Starving. Alone. But now, in the span of a single hour, he had land, followers, and the beginnings of something greater.
The system—whatever it was—had chosen him.
Why?
He didn't know.
But for once, he wasn't going to question a gift. Not yet.
Outside, the sun dipped low. The wind quieted. The plains, once empty, now carried the sounds of tools striking earth, voices calling out, the crackle of new fire being born.
Arthur stood once more and stepped outside.
He looked around, taking in the sight of his new beginning: a farm half-built, three people working with purpose, and a building that had no right to exist… yet stood tall.
He clenched his fists and raised his chin.
"I may not be a king," he said to the wind. "But I'll build a kingdom anyway."
The wind didn't answer.
But the system did.
[New Quest Available – A Sovereign's Seed]
Goal: Expand your territory to 3 connected zones.
Reward: [Barracks I], [Wall Blueprint], +5 Citizens
Arthur smiled.
Let it come.