The morning sun spilled golden light across the calm ocean, illuminating the sandy shore and the partially reconstructed Seabound Village. Birds chirped in the nearby jungle canopy while the tide gently lapped at the edge of Kaelen's command post.
Kaelen stood before the village's central Command Core, deep in thought.
[Command Core: Tier 0.9] – Upgrade Progress: 92%Requirements for Tier 1:
20x Refined Stone (8/20)
20x Processed Wood (12/20)
1x Territory Soul Core (0/1)
He clenched his fist.
"We're close, but we need better materials. That means clearing out nearby lairs."
Behind him, his Coral Infantry stood silent and alert. Their armor shimmered faintly under the morning light, still pulsing from last night's victory.
He opened the evolution panel.
[Coral Infantry Evolution Ready]Available Branches:
Tidepiercer Infantry (Balanced-type): +ATK, +DEF
Coral Grenadier (Ranged-type): +AOE, -DEF
Abyss Crawler (Stealth-type): +SPD, +Critical
Kaelen hesitated.
Then selected:
[Evolve Coral Infantry #1 → Tidepiercer Infantry][Evolve Coral Infantry #2 → Coral Grenadier][Evolve Coral Infantry #3 → Abyss Crawler]
A soft hum vibrated through the sand as the units were enveloped in individual pillars of light. Energy surged around them, twisting and reinforcing their forms. When the light faded, Kaelen's breath caught.
The Tidepiercer Infantry now wore thicker coral plating and wielded a trident infused with ocean runes.
The Coral Grenadier carried a coral-wood cannon on its shoulder, small aquatic mines strapped to its belt.
The Abyss Crawler had melted into the shadows beside a boulder—its limbs leaner, sharper, faster.
[Evolution Complete]New Unit Skills Unlocked:
Tidepiercer Slash (Level 1)
Coral Bomb (Level 1)
Shadow Dive (Level 1)
Kaelen smirked. "That's more like it."
From deeper within the village, Lyra's excited voice rang out.
"Kael! Look what happened!"
He hurried over. She was kneeling beside her Tide Serpent Hatchling, which now had grown to the size of a horse. Sleek blue scales shimmered with bioluminescence, and two horn-like fins sprouted from its head.
Above its form, the system displayed:
[Tide Serpent → Mist Serpent – Tier D Evolution Complete]New Skill: Mist Cloak – Grants AOE invisibility in water terrainGrowth Potential: B+Next Evolution Path Unlocks at Level 10Affinity: Deep Sea (Locked)
Kaelen grinned. "We're progressing fast. Faster than others, I bet."
As if summoned by his words, a glowing red dot blinked on their mini-map.
Lord Signature Detected – 2.4 km EastStatus: AggressiveAffiliation: Redblood DominionTroop Count: 8+
Lyra frowned. "Someone found us already?"
Kaelen narrowed his eyes. "And from that name… they don't sound friendly."
He opened his communication tab, only to find it locked.
[Global Communication Unlocks at Command Core Tier 1]Alliances Unlocked at Tier 2
"We'll have to handle this the old-fashioned way."
Moments later, Kaelen led his team into the forest—accompanied by his three evolved soldiers and Lyra, who rode atop the Mist Serpent. The jungle was thick, but the new pathfinding functions in his interface helped.
A new chime rang.
[You Have Entered Neutral Conflict Zone]Player PvP EnabledWild Creatures Present: High
They crept forward.
And then—movement in the distance. A campfire. Crude tents. And a group of armored humanoids marked with red crests bearing jagged mountain emblems.
At the center stood a tall man in crimson half-plate armor with a steel halberd in hand. His face was stern, eyes fierce.
[Lord: Garrick – Level 3 – Redblood Dominion]Troops: Flame Axeman x4, Shield Bearer x2, Ember Shaman x1Companion: Lord Candidate – Female (Status: Chained)
Lyra gasped. "He's got another Earthling captured!"
Kaelen's hands curled into fists.
[Side Quest Unlocked: Rescue Captive Summoner]Reward: 2x Rare Beast Eggs, 1x Evolution Crystal
"Perfect," Kaelen muttered. "We save her, earn loot, and knock out a competitor."
He signaled his troops.
"Grenadier: take left flank. Crawler: stealth route. Serpent, be ready to blind. Infantry—on my mark, lead the charge."
The plan was quick and brutal.
Kaelen activated Tidepiercer Slash. His frontliner surged forward with a flash of blue energy, tearing into the first Axeman.
The Coral Grenadier launched a bomb that exploded into wet shrapnel, stunning two enemies.
The Abyss Crawler appeared behind the Ember Shaman, plunging its coral blade into his back before fading again.
Lyra's Mist Serpent slithered in, coating the field in a thick, glowing fog—Mist Cloak active.
Enemy Confusion Status AppliedAccuracy -35%Defense -20%
Caught off guard and overwhelmed, Garrick shouted and tried to rally—but Kaelen appeared before him.
Their weapons clashed—coral blade versus steel halberd.
"You don't belong here," Garrick snarled.
Kaelen smiled.
"Neither do you."
With a feint and a sudden low sweep, Kaelen disarmed him.
"Yield. Or be erased."
Garrick hesitated.
Then tried to charge again.
The Mist Serpent struck him with a crushing tail blow, sending him sprawling.
[Enemy Lord Defeated]Drops:
Command Badge: Redblood Dominion
Rare Resource Pack x1
Beast Egg: Lesser Flame Lynx
Item: Evolution Crystal x2
[Rescue Complete – Companion Released]
The chains shattered from the captive's wrists as she stumbled toward them. She had short silver hair, warm olive skin, and eyes like polished garnet.
"Thank you… I'm Reina," she whispered. "I'm a Beastcaller too. He took my Summon Egg."
Kaelen handed her the Flame Lynx egg. "Then reclaim it."
Lyra helped her stand. "You'll stay with us. Right?"
Reina hesitated, looking at both siblings.
Then nodded. "I will. I want to evolve my beasts too."
[Reina Joined Your Territory – Companion: Rare Summoner – Tier D]Bond: 1/100Beast Affinity: FireEvolution Potential: Unlocked
As they looted the enemy's camp, another beam of light descended from the sky in the distance.
A soft voice echoed in Kaelen's mind.
A powerful Summoner Lord has arrived nearby…Warning: High Evolution Trait Detected.
He looked to Lyra.
"This world isn't going to get any easier."
She smiled. "Good. Because neither are we."