My eyes slowly opened, and the first thing I felt was the warmth of the sun on my skin. The fresh smell of grass filled the air. I looked around and saw a landscape that seemed straight out of a dream: the vibrant green of the trees, the sound of birds singing, animals running freely in the distance. Everything here was intensely alive, almost magical. I stood up carefully, trying to get my bearings. My feet carried me to the edge of a crystal-clear river that wound its way through the landscape. I leaned over, and when I saw my reflection in the water, I was surprised. My appearance was different, almost ethereal. Snow-white hair, eyes black as night, and pointed ears that revealed my new nature. I was an elf.
Before I could process everything, a translucent blue screen appeared in the air, right in front of me: "System initializing..." My heart raced. "System initialized." I instinctively approached the screen, as if it were something natural. Curiosity took over me, and I touched the button that said "Summon Troops." A list of options appeared:
**System**
NAME: Vaelion Moonshade
Status:
Strength: 10
Intelligence: 15
Health: 12
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**How to Earn Points**
Plebeian Dead: 1 point
Soldier Dead: 2 points
Knight Dead: 5 points
Commander or Leader: 10 points
Dangerous Creatures (giant wolves, bears, etc.): 3 to 10 points (depending on the creature's strength)
Magical Beings: Points vary based on the opponent's power (15 to 100)
Note: Only direct deaths or those caused by strategic actions from the owner generate points.
Troop Summons
Civilians
Civilian Family: 5 points
Artisan/Trader: 3 points
Builder: 4 points
Basic Military
Soldier (light infantry): 2 points
Knight (mount and light armor): 5 points
Archer: 3 points
Advanced Military
Commander: 30 points
Imperial Guard: 80 points
Imperial Guard Captain: 200 points
Nobility and Elites
Nobility (leader or administrator): 100 points
Elf Mage: 120 points
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I looked at the screen again and noticed something that made my stomach churn: Points: 0.
"Damned god..." I murmured, feeling anger bubbling up inside me. He gave me this system, but no resources to start with. How did he expect me to do anything with this? I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. Now was not the time for despair.
That's when I noticed something strange on the ground. Marks. Human footprints. They came from across the river and led into the forest. My heart raced. "I'm not alone on this continent," I thought. Adrenaline took over. I looked around, searching for any shelter. A few meters away, a tall tree with thick branches seemed perfect. Without thinking twice, I ran to it and hid, climbing high enough to stay out of sight.
My mind raced. I needed a plan. I didn't know who or what had left those footprints, but without points and without troops, I was vulnerable. This world wouldn't be as easy as I imagined.
While I remained hidden in the tree, trying to steady my breathing, something finally made sense. The list on the system... the points assigned to "Plebeians dead," "Soldiers dead"… it all boiled down to one brutal truth: I needed to kill to earn points.
It hit me like a stone at the bottom of a well. The logic of the system was cruel, but undeniable. Every death counted. If I wanted to summon troops, build a civilization, or even survive, I'd have to take lives. A knot formed in my stomach. The damned god had played his cards perfectly. He didn't just put me in a world that felt like a dark fairy tale; he also made me a pawn in his insane game.
I stared at my hands. They were clean, but for how long would they stay that way? I forced myself to look at the footprints again. They were human, or at least they seemed to be. This world was as vast as it was dangerous, and I had no idea what I'd find following this trail. But one thing was certain: if I wanted to survive, I needed to be more than just cautious. I needed to be relentless.
I slowly descended from the tree, trying not to make any noise. I looked around once more, ensuring no one was near, and then followed the footprints. Every step was a mix of fear and determination. My heart pounded in my chest, but my mind was sharp.
"If this is what he wants..." I muttered, clenching my fists. "Then I'll play this game. But I'll play it my way."