Forging the Foundations

A day had passed since their expedition began, and Zoren's group was now making their way back to the city. The air was thick with the scent of earth and stone, a reminder of their successful hunt.

They had managed to take down 24 Medium Golems and 163 Small Golems. The heavy toll had been softened by Lyra's quick work, crafting pickaxes and mauls for every member of the troop.

[DROP SUMMARY]

Stone Bricks x111, Metal Ingots x74, Silver x13, Titanium x14, Golem Essence x13, Golem Core (Small) x30, Golem Core (Medium) x13

As they walked, Zoren casually checked the server rankings on his interface, his eyes scanning the list with interest.

[Lohar's Hunt Server Rankings]

1. Solivigant.....50,800

2. Kingdom_1270548.....40,300

3. Kingdom_1470558.....32,800

4. Kingdom_1280549.....29,600

5. Kingdom_1570558.....27,900

"We're ranked second now…" Zoren muttered, his voice tinged with satisfaction. But then, his brow furrowed with curiosity. "Who is this Solivigant? He has a name, unlike the rest…" He couldn't help but feel a competitive urge rising within him. "I want to change my Kingdom's name too."

[City Level Low!]

[Need City Level 3 to Change Kingdom Name]

Zoren sighed, "Guess I need to level up my city first," he said. His fingers quickly navigated through the interface, pulling up the city level-up requirements..

[City Level Up Requirements]

[Requirements: Blacksmith House, Lumber Mill, Stable, Wall Lv.2, City Hall Lv.2, 150 Population]

"You can level up the structures?" Zoren said aloud, astonished by the level requirements. Intrigued, he quickly checked the details on how to level them up.

[Wall Level Up Requirements]

[Materials Needed: 20 Wood Planks, 10 Big Iron Nails, 5 Stone Bricks]

[City Hall Level Up Requirements]

[Materials Needed: 50 Wood Planks, 30 Stone Bricks, 10 Big Iron Nails]

"So, I just need to gather these materials?" Zoren muttered, still trying to wrap his head around the mechanics. "I'll check this later," he decided, putting the matter aside for the moment. As they approached the city walls, Zoren noticed Corvus standing atop of the Scout Tower, waiting for him.

The moment Corvus spotted him, he quickly descended, his expression urgent. "Master! The human you brought back from Grid's territory is now conscious!" Corvus reported.

Zoren's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't sure what to feel—relief, curiosity, perhaps even apprehension. Without wasting a moment, he followed Corvus to the City Hall where the girl had been taken. When he entered the room, Zoren saw her sitting on his bed, her eyes wide and filled with uncertainty.

She was stunning—her long, flowing white hair contrasted beautifully with her light blue eyes, which held a serene yet commanding presence. She wore a detailed blue and white dress accented with intricate patterns of gold and blue, and her forehead bore a glowing blue symbol, marking her mystical heritage.

"You're awake," Zoren said softly, his voice calm yet filled with concern. "How are you feeling?"

The girl looked at him, still weak and confused. "I… I'm not sure. Where am I? Who are you?"

"You're safe now. We're inside the city walls. I found you unconscious in Grid's cell and brought you here," Zoren explained, his tone gentle but firm.

"Thank you," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You were lucky to survive. Do you remember what happened before you passed out?" Zoren asked, curiosity lacing his words.

She hesitated, her gaze distant as she tried to recall. "I was running from a group of monsters. They were too strong, and I… I thought I was done for," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.

Zoren offered her a reassuring smile. "You're safe now. Rest and recover. What's your name?"

"It's Elara…" she answered, her voice steadying as she spoke her name.

"I'll stay close in case you need anything," Zoren reassured her, his tone softening further.

"Thank you… I owe you my life," Elara said, her eyes meeting his with gratitude.

"You don't owe me anything. Just focus on getting better," Zoren replied, his voice firm but kind.

As nightfall approached, Zoren sat in his quarters, studying the conditions for leveling up the walls and City Hall.

[Wall Level Up Requirements]

[Materials Needed: 20 Wood Planks, 10 Big Iron Nails, 5 Stone Bricks]

[City Hall Level Up Requirements]

[Materials Needed: 50 Wood Planks, 30 Stone Bricks, 10 Big Iron Nails]

"I have enough stone bricks, so all I need are wood planks and Big iron nails…" he thought aloud. "I'll make a lumber mill first." He realized he would need a machine to cut trees into wood planks. Without delay, he headed to Lyra's workshop to seek her help.

"Lyra, I need your help," Zoren said as he entered her workshop. "I'm trying to build a lumber mill and need a machine that can cut wood into planks."

Lyra glanced up from her work, a smirk playing on her lips. "So, you need a sawmill?" she asked, her tone slightly smug.

"How did you know what a sawmill is!?" Zoren exclaimed, genuinely surprised.

"What do you think I am, a caveman?" Lyra snapped, crossing her arms and turning her head away, cheeks slightly flushed.

"My bad... So, can you help me?" Zoren said.

"I suppose... it's not like I want to help you or anything," she mumbled, barely meeting his eyes. "Yes, I'll help you."

Zoren gathered some Beetlefolk workers to assist in constructing the lumber mill. They began working tirelessly, cutting wood, setting beams, and assembling the structure. As midnight approached, they finally completed the lumber house. "Thank you, guys, for helping," Zoren said gratefully.

"It's nothing, master," the Beetlefolk replied humbly.

Zoren smiled at them. "It's late now. Let's all get some rest. Good night, everyone."

"Good night, Master," they echoed before heading off to rest.

Zoren glanced over at Lyra, who was still busy working on the sawmill. "I guess Lyra isn't done yet… I'll head to bed now," he muttered to himself.

Before retiring, he checked the shield's duration.

[Shield Duration: 51:15:44]

"We still have time…" Zoren whispered, feeling a sense of relief as he finally allowed himself to rest. Morning came all too soon, and Zoren awoke with a start, realizing how much time had passed.

[Shield Duration: 42:58:33]

"Damn it… I slept too much," he grumbled as he quickly got up and headed outside. He paused, noticing a strange sensation coursing through him. "I think my body's changing," he muttered under his breath as he quickly got up and headed outside. The first person he spotted was Rashka, who seemed to be waiting for him.

"Rashka, where are the others?" Zoren asked, still shaking off his grogginess.

Rashka turned to him, bowing slightly in respect. "Corvus took them out to hunt golems, Master. They left just after dawn."

Zoren sighed with relief. "Good work, Corvus," he muttered to himself. Then, turning to Rashka, he added, "There's something I need you to do. I want you to scout the nearby villages and gather every bit of information you can get."

"Understood, Master. I'll gather any useful information about what's happening in the surrounding areas," Without another word, he turned and swiftly moved towards the edge of the camp, ready to embark on his scouting mission.

With Rashka on his mission, Zoren made his way to the smithy to check on the sawmill Lyra had been working on. As he entered the workshop, Lyra was inspecting the final touches on the machine.

"Good morning, Master. Up early, I see," Lyra greeted him with a hint of annoyance but also a slight blush.

Zoren smiled. "How's the sawmill?"

Lyra crossed her arms, puffing out her chest with pride. "It's all done

Zoren stepped closer to inspect the sawmill. The machine was larger than he had expected, with a sturdy wooden frame and metal components that gleamed in the sunlight. It looked more advanced than a typical sawmill, its design intricate and precise. Curious, Zoren activated his appraisal skill to examine the sawmill's status.

[STATUS]

Name: Robotic Sawmill

Rarity: Rare

Details:

- An advanced sawmill powered by a golem's core, allowing it to cut wood with high precision and speed. Operates without electricity and excels in producing high-quality planks and beams.

Zoren couldn't hide his amazement. "This is incredible, Lyra. You've outdone yourself."

Lyra tried to maintain her composure, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. "It's nothing, really. The golem's core works like a mana stone, providing a steady power source. I just made use of the resources we had."

Zoren handed Lyra the golem core, watching as she carefully inserted it into the sawmill's power container. With a deft press of a button, the sawmill hummed to life, the blades spinning rapidly.

The efficiency of the machine left Zoren in awe. "That's amazing!"

Lyra couldn't help but feel a surge of pride, though she masked it with her usual nonchalance. "Well, it's not like I did this just for you or anything," she muttered, her eyes briefly meeting his before turning away.

Zoren chuckled softly. "I'm grateful, Lyra. Really."

Lyra shrugged, trying to downplay her efforts. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't expect me to do everything for you."

Zoren then added, "One more thing, Lyra. Can you make me some Big Iron Nails? We'll need them for upgrading the walls and City Hall."

Lyra sighed, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Alright, Master. I'll get started on them right away."

Zoren headed back to the lumber mill to begin making wood planks, with the Beetlefolk workers assisting him. He started the sawmill machine and was amazed at how quickly it cut through the logs.

[Lumber Mill Complete!]

[Requirements: 5 Personnel]

Zoren appointed five Beetlefolk workers to the lumber mill, pleased with the progress they were making.

[Requirements Fulfilled!]

[Lumber Mill Bonus: 10% Faster when Cutting Woods.]

"Everything's coming together," Zoren muttered to himself with satisfaction. With the Lumber Mill operational, he turned his attention to the next project. "Time to build the stable," he said to himself as he headed towards the construction site.

Zoren stood in the clearing, surveying the area where he intended to build the stable. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the site. He had already gathered a team of workers and supplies, ready to start construction.

With a determined look, he directed his team to begin laying the foundation. Timber beams were carefully measured and cut, then set into place with precision. Zoren, dressed in sturdy work clothes, hammered nails and secured the framing as the workers assembled the walls.

As the day progressed, the framework of the stable took shape. Zoren oversaw every detail, ensuring that each piece was perfectly aligned. By midday, the roof was being added, and the stable was beginning to look like a solid, functional structure. With a final check, Zoren wiped sweat from his brow and admired the progress. "It's coming together nicely," he said, satisfied with their work.

The stable was shaping up to be a sturdy home for the animals, and Zoren felt a sense of accomplishment as he prepared for the next steps.

[Stable Complete!]

A message appeared before him, signaling the successful completion of the stable.

"Let's head back to the Lumber Mill," Zoren said to himself, already planning the next steps. With the stable done, it was time to gather the materials needed to upgrade the city's defenses.

Zoren arrived at the lumber mill, his eyes scanning the bustling workshop. The air was filled with the rhythmic sounds of sawing and the hum of machinery. He approached the Beetlefolk workers, who were busy moving planks and operating the sawmill.

"Master! Welcome back!" one of the Beetlefolk greeted him cheerfully, pausing in his work to bow slightly.

Zoren's smile grew as he approached the worker, the afternoon sun glinting off his face. "How many planks have you finished today?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

The worker, wiping sweat from his brow, gestured towards a neatly stacked pile of wooden planks. "We've completed 100 planks so far," he replied, his voice tinged with both pride and exhaustion.

Zoren's eyes sparkled with approval. "Impressive work," he said, clapping the worker on the shoulder. "The pace is excellent. Keep it up!"

The Beetlefolk nodded eagerly. "Thank you, Master. We'll continue working at this rate."

Zoren returned to the workshop where Lyra was busy at her forge. He found her focusing on a heavy iron nail, which was still warm from the forge. "How's it going, Lyra?" Zoren asked, stepping up to the forge.

Lyra looked up as he approached. "Here's the big iron nail you commissioned," she said, handing him the hefty, well-crafted nail with a hint of pride.

Zoren took the nail, examining it closely. "This looks perfect. Exactly what I needed."

Lyra crossed her arms and tried to hide her satisfaction. "Well, don't expect me to keep doing favors for you. It's not like I did this just for you or anything."

Zoren chuckled softly. "I appreciate the work, Lyra."

She nodded, her expression softening. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't go around thinking you can order me around all the time."

Zoren laughed. "I wouldn't dream of it."

He muttered to himself with a satisfied nod, "Looks like I've gathered everything needed. Time to start upgrading the walls and City Hall."