Elian stepped back onto the violet plateau, the transition no longer a shock to his system but a homecoming. The air was charged with a static hum, the golden light of the newly upgraded Primordial Altar casting long, triumphant shadows across the stone.
The 9-Star Maid was waiting, her arms crossed, though her eyes widened slightly as Elian began to unload the massive haul from his Void Storage. Piles of Aetheric Power Cells, spools of conductive wire, bags of enriched soil, and crates of high-tier armor clattered onto the ground.
"You were efficient," she remarked, a rare note of genuine approval in her voice. "And you didn't waste a single credit on vanity."
"There's no time for vanity," Elian replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "Scholar! Take the wire and the power cells. I want the perimeter sensors and the barrier stabilized immediately. Cook, the Star-Drop seeds and the soil are yours. Start the hydroponics bay—I want us self-sufficient within the week."
As the original subordinates scrambled to fulfill his orders, Elian turned his attention to the Primordial Altar. He still had the soul fragments of the two fallen warriors and the five common scrolls he had purchased from Malachi.
He approached the altar and placed the five scrolls upon the golden surface. Because of the Altar's Unique Tier upgrade, the standard rules of summoning were shattered. The golden energy didn't just activate the scrolls; it amplified them, pulling higher-tier souls from the vastness of the ether to fill the vacancy of his 13-Star resonance.
The altar erupted in a blinding flash of gold and silver. From the light, twenty figures emerged, stepping out in perfect unison.
Elian's Soul-HUD flickered as it categorized the new arrivals:
8 Four-Star Sentinels: Armored in heavy plating, their eyes glowing with a disciplined blue flame.
4 Four-Star Engineers: Carrying multi-tools that hissed with steam and spark.
4 Four-Star Electricians: Their fingers dancing with controlled arcs of lightning.
3 Four-Star Harvesters: Strong-backed and equipped with ether-sickles for the new crops.
But it was the final summon that drew every eye on the plateau. A massive, silver-furred Level 4 Dire Wolf materialized at the center of the group. Its fur was like needle-sharp glass, and its eyes were the same Luminous Silver as Elian's Sigil. The beast let out a thunderous howl that echoed across the Obsidian Reach, a declaration of presence that made the distant beasts of the ravine fall silent.
The wolf padded toward Elian, its claws clicking softly on the stone. It was large enough that its head reached Elian's chest. It let out a low, vibrating huff of breath, then bowed its head low and sank to its haunches, motioning with its head toward its broad, powerful back.
"It seems you have a mount, My Lord," the Maid whispered, looking impressed. "A Dire Wolf of that caliber is a 4-Star beast king in its own right."
Elian reached out, burying his hand in the thick, cool fur. "Thank you," he murmured. He climbed onto the wolf's back, feeling the raw, coiled power beneath him.
From his new vantage point, he watched his territory transform. The Engineers and Electricians were already working with the Scholar, running the conductive wire along the edges of the plateau. The Harvesters were tilling the enriched soil under the Cook's direction. The new Sentinels marched to the edges of the barrier, their halberds gleaming.
"Kaelum. Valen," Elian called out.
The two surviving warriors, still limping slightly from their time in the medical tanks, approached him. They looked weary, their old armor scarred and dented beyond repair. Elian dismounted the wolf and walked to the crates he had brought from the Silver Ledger.
He pulled out two sets of the Heavy Vanguard Plate. The armor shimmered with a polished, deep-blue sheen, enchanted with physical-reinforcement runes and agility-enhancement gems.
"You fought until you broke for me," Elian said, his voice firm and filled with newfound respect. "I told you I wouldn't treat you like objects. This is my gift to you. Wear it, and let the Reach know that the soldiers of this territory do not fall twice."
The two warriors froze, looking from the gleaming armor to their Lord. Slowly, they knelt, placing their hands over their hearts in a gesture of absolute, unwavering loyalty. As they did, Elian felt a surge of energy in his soul—the loyalty bond wasn't just a stat; it was a warmth that made his 13-Star Sigil pulse with a steady, protective light.
As the suns of the Realm began to dip toward the horizon, the plateau was no longer a barren rock. It was a buzzing hive of industry, a fortress in the making, and the foundation of a legend.