The air still hummed with lingering evolution energy, the ground scorched and clawed from the battle.
Kael stood over the corpse of the Stoneback Ogre, its stone plates cracked like dried earth.
The troops gathered around him—silent, breathless, waiting.
Not out of fear.
But respect.
Kael lifted his hand. A golden ticket shimmered into existence.
[ELITE GACHA TICKET ACQUIRED]
This ticket guarantees a Rare or higher summon.
His heart thumped once, steady but sharp.
In my past life… I never got even one Elite summon before I died.
Now he had one on day one.
He stepped onto a flat stone platform and raised the ticket.
"System," he said. "Open the Elite Gacha."
The world dimmed.
A massive circular magic array erupted around him, each ring engraved with ancient runes.
Wind whipped across the clearing. Sparks of blue and gold danced like falling stars.
The troops stepped back instinctively.
Lunaris crouched at Kael's side, fur bristling with anticipation.
The baby dragon stared excitedly, wings buzzing.
A blinding beam of light shot upward.
[ELITE GACHA — ACTIVATING]
3… 2… 1…
The beam shattered, scattering like crystal glass.
A silhouette fell from the sky—
slender, graceful, wrapped in flowing silver cloth.
When the dust settled, Kael's eyes widened just slightly.
A girl—no, an elf—knelt on the ground.
Long silver hair shimmered like moonlight.
Her eyes glowed pale emerald.
And the aura around her…
swift, sharp, and divine.
She touched her chest with two fingers in a respectful gesture.
"My lord," she said, voice soft but resonant. "I am Aeris Moonveil, an A-Rank Ranger of the Elven Moon Court.
I pledge my arrows, my spirit, and my life to your cause."
Kael's troops murmured in shock.
An A-Rank unit.
On the first day.
Completely unheard of.
Kael suppressed the grin creeping up his lips.
The timeline really is breaking in my favor.
He extended a hand.
"Rise, Aeris. From this moment, you are part of my territory."
She rose gracefully, eyes scanning the surroundings.
"I sensed powerful evolution energy," she said. "Your troops… are already beyond typical human limits. And that wolf—"
Lunaris growled, cautiously.
Aeris's eyes sharpened with curiosity.
"That wolf is evolving at a rate I have never witnessed. You… are not an ordinary Lord."
Kael smirked slightly.
"You could say that."
A notification chimed.
[A-Rank Unit Acquired]
Your territory has gained +500 Influence.
Nearby Lords will sense a disturbance.
Kael's expression hardened.
"Which means," he murmured, "they'll come looking."
Aeris stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"My lord… the monsters in this forest are converging. Something is stirring them.
Something powerful."
Before Kael could reply—
A distant horn echoed.
A deep, ancient, vibrating sound.
Aeris's eyes widened.
"That's not a monster," she whispered. "That's a Lord."
Kael's expression darkened.
Already?
Then another message window slammed open:
[WORLD NOTICE]
A hostile Lord approaches your territory.
Estimated arrival: 30 minutes.
Rank: Unknown.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"So the first conflict comes early."
He turned to his troops.
"Form defensive lines. Prepare traps along the border. Aeris—you're with me."
The elf nodded, gently touching the bow on her back, its silver limbs humming with power.
Lunaris barked sharply. The baby dragon mimicked her with a squeaky roar.
Kael took a deep breath.
His first major battle as a Lord… was about to begin.
And this time—
He was ready.