A couple of days had slipped by since I turned the Barren Lands into, well, not-barren-anymore lands. The place was actually buzzing. The Ursine were doing whatever Ursine do in their fancy new forest, and the Shungmo were all peaceful and zen in their bamboo groove. It was… nice. Weirdly domestic for a guy who'd recently been a glowing orb.
But nice wasn't enough. They were comfortable, but they were still weak. I could feel it. Time for an upgrade.
I found the two leaders. Ursine captain—the guy needed a name, seriously—was helping stack some timber. The Shungmo Chief was watching his people practice some slow, deliberate forms in a clearing.
"You two," I said, jerking my head toward the big lake in the center of everything. "Get everyone together. Now. Shoreline. Important announcement."
They didn't ask questions. They just nodded, a look of serious understanding on their faces, and moved. "Ursine! To the lake!" Ursine captain bellowed. "Shungmo! Gather!" the Chief called out.
They were efficient, I'll give them that. In no time, pretty much every adult from both tribes was standing on the shore of the lake, looking at me with a mix of curiosity and expectation.
"Alright, listen up," I started, hands in my pockets. "You've been loyal. You trusted me. Now I'm going to return the favor. I'm going to make you stronger. I'm going to give you names."
The crowd went dead silent for a second. Then it exploded into cheers and roars of approval. They knew what that meant. Evolution. Real power. It was like I'd just told them they'd all won the lottery.
I let them cheer for a second before holding up a hand. The noise cut off instantly.
"There's a catch," I said. "I'm naming every adult here. But the kids? I'm not naming them."
The excitement faltered. I saw confused looks, especially from the parents.
'Scholar,' I thought, needing backup. 'Break it down for me. My magicules—the Turn Null stuff—would wreck a kid's soul, right?'
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Yeah, that's what I thought. Not happening.
"Your kids' souls aren't ready," I told them, my voice flat and final. "What I'd give them would break them. It'd be like giving a newborn a great sword. They'd just hurt themselves."
I saw the understanding click, especially with the elders. They nodded slowly, the disappointment turning into something like gratitude.
"So, you name them," I said. "You give them whatever name you want. And when they're all grown up, and their souls are tough enough to handle it, I'll give them that name myself. They'll get their power up then. Deal?"
A wave of relief and renewed excitement passed through the crowd. "DEAL!" a few voices shouted.
"Good. Now, let's get this over with."
I didn't have the patience for a long, drawn-out ceremony. I reached inside myself, to that place where the real admin controls were. [Arkhē]. [The Divine Registry]. A list of every adult soul in the territory just popped into my head. Time to fill in the blanks.
Right. Ursine first. Big, tough, forest people. Need big, tough names. Old-world style. Slavic.
I mentally highlighted the whole Ursine group and started typing, in a sense.
You, I thought, focusing on the captain. You're not just 'Captain' anymore. You're Bogdan. Means 'Given by God.' Fitting, since I'm basically giving you everything.
The old wise guy who talked to me first. You're Svetoslav. 'Holy Glory.' Don't let it go to your head.
And for the rest of you: Vladimir. Stanislav. Mstislav. Jaromir. Volos.
Now, Shungmo. Calm, stubborn, unbreakable. Like rocks. Nordic names.
I selected the Shungmo adults.
You, Chief. You need a name that means business. You're Bjorn. It means 'Bear.' I get the irony. Roll with it.
Your right-hand man. You're Einar. 'Lone warrior.'
And the rest: Leif. Ivar. Thorvald. Halvar. Sigurd. Knut.
It took half a second. Maybe less.
In the real world, a wave of power so thick you could taste it blasted out from me. Every single adult—Ursine and Shungmo—lit up like a Christmas tree from the inside out. A soft, white light swallowed them whole.
I watched as the Ursine grew even bigger, their fur getting thicker and shaggier, their claws turning into legit weapons. The Shungmo became more solid, more grounded. Their iconic fur patterns got sharper, and they just looked… sturdier. Unshakeable.
The light faded as quickly as it came.
Hundreds of newly evolved beings stood there, buzzing with power they'd never felt before. They were flexing their hands, looking at each other in awe.
Then, as one, they dropped to a knee. All of them. Even the chiefs. It wasn't just thanks. It was a bond. I could feel it, a new connection to each and every one of them.
Bogdan (formerly Captain) and Bjorn (formerly Chief) looked up at me, their eyes blazing with new power and absolute loyalty.
"Our strength is yours, Lord Hades!" Bogdan's voice was a deeper rumble than before.
"The Shungmo are yours to command!" Bjorn added, pounding a fist on his chest.
I just nodded. "Your strength is our strength. Now don't waste it."
I turned and started walking back to my manor, leaving them to it. Behind me, the biggest party these lands had ever seen was already kicking off. Music, roaring, laughing—the sounds of a people who'd just hit the jackpot.
The kids would get their turn someday. For now, the adults had some celebrating to do. My army was finally taking shape.
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Author's Note
--- Names Report ---
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Ursine Tribe - [Slavic Naming Convention]
Subject: Bogdan
Former Designation: Ursine Captain
Race: Ursine (Bear-type Beastman) → Named: Ursine Berserker
Gifted Name Meaning: "Given by God"
Status: Fanatically Loyal
Evolution Effects:
«Physical Enhancement»: Massively increased muscle density and bone fortification. Physical strength and durability have increased approximately 300%.
«Iron Claw Manifestation»: Claws have been permanently reinforced with a biological ore-like material, granting extreme sharpness and durability.
«Role Designation»: Appointed as General of the Ursine forces and primary enforcer of Lord Hades's will.
Subject: Svetoslav
Former Designation: Ursine Elder
Race: Ursine (Bear-type Beastman) → Named: Ursine Sage
Gifted Name Meaning: "Holy Glory"
Status: Awe-inspired Loyalty
Evolution Effects:
«Mental Acceleration»: Cognitive functions and memory recall have been significantly enhanced. Capacity for strategic thought and knowledge retention is now superhuman.
«Spiritual Sense»: Can now perceive magicule flow and spiritual pressures to a minor degree.
«Role Designation»: Appointed as Head Scholar and advisor to the crown.
Other Named Ursine Warriors: Vladimir ("Rule of great power"), Stanislav ("One who achieves glory"), Mstislav ("Vengeance and glory"), Jaromir ("Spring peace"), Volos (Named for the Earth God).
General Evolution Notes: All named Ursine subjects have experienced a significant increase in physical prowess, instinctual combat awareness, and a deepened racial connection to forested terrain.
Shungmo Tribe - [Norse Naming Convention]
Subject: Bjorn
Former Designation: Shungmo Chief
Race: Shungmo (Panda-type Beastman) → Named: Shungmo Warden
Gifted Name Meaning: "The Bear"
Status: Fanatically Loyal
Evolution Effects:
«Resilient Core»: Body has evolved to absorb and dissipate kinetic energy with extreme efficiency, granting immense blunt force resistance and stability.
«Unbreaking Will»: Mental fortitude has been hardened. High resistance to mental and spiritual pressure attacks.
«Role Designation»: Appointed as General of the Shungmo forces and warden of the eastern territory.
Subject: Einar
Former Designation: Shungmo Elder
Race: Shungmo (Panda-type Beastman) → Named: Shungmo Seer
Gifted Name Meaning: "The Lone Warrior"
Status: Awe-inspired Loyalty
Evolution Effects:
«Predictive Analysis»: Can subconsciously read micro-movements and environmental cues to predict an opponent's actions in combat with high accuracy.
«Calm Presence»: Aura passively suppresses panic and confusion in nearby allies.
«Role Designation»: Appointed as a tactical advisor and spiritual anchor for the tribe.
Other Named Shungmo Warriors: Leif ("Heir"), Ivar ("Bow Warrior"), Thorvald ("Thor's Ruler"), Halvar ("Rock Defender"), Sigurd ("Victory Guard"), Knut ("Knot").
General Evolution Notes: All named Shungmo subjects have experienced a significant increase in durability, balance, and internal energy control. Their unique fur patterns now possess a faint, passive magicule-absorbing quality.
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The combat effectiveness of the Aethelgard military force has increased by approximately 450%. Loyalty parameters are at maximum levels. The foundational army of the realm has been successfully established.>>
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