The morning mist had not yet lifted from the fields of Greystone when the clang of metal against metal echoed through the village. Wooden practice swords clashed. Dust kicked up from the training ground. Villagers moved with rigid determination, sweat dripping from their brows as Kaelen strode past, his eyes sharp and scrutinizing.
It had been nearly two weeks since the alliance with Eldridge was formed and since Sylra arrived with her warnings. In that time, Kaelen had worked tirelessly to reform Greystone into more than a struggling village. They were now a growing stronghold, slowly awakening from obscurity.
But time was short, and the shadows lengthened.
System Notification
[Refund Triggered]100x Refund on "Training Ground Expansion (Tier I)"Refunded: 500 Iron Ingots, 50 Logs, 30 Stone Bricks+1 System Point Gained
Kaelen smirked as the notification faded. Another refund, another step forward.
With the refunded materials, he immediately ordered an upgrade to the village's blacksmith station. The forge would now be able to process higher-tier metals, something they desperately needed.
"Liora," he called out to the new quartermaster, a former mercenary who had joined the village two chapters ago, "prioritize armor for the frontline militia. I want every combatant to have plated leather within two days."
"Aye, Lord Kaelen," Liora saluted. "We've already begun reforging the returned metals."
He turned to the edge of the village, where Neria sat cross-legged, her hands deep in the soil. Tiny vines danced around her fingers like curious pets.
Neria's hybrid class — Verdant Aegis — had started showing unique abilities that blended elemental resonance with natural empathy. Her connection to the terrain was so deep that she could now influence the yield of crops, sense burrowing creatures beneath the earth, and even communicate simple commands to woodland beasts.
And Kaelen made certain her efforts did not go unnoticed.
System Notification
[Linked Quest Completed: "Sister's Growth: Verdant Touch I"]Neria has successfully enhanced the yield of Greystone's Crops by 25%.Reward: 300 EXP, 1 Rare Seed (Moonshade Vine), 20 SP to Kaelen (linked benefit)
He crouched beside her. "The soil feels… stronger."
Neria looked up with a bright grin. "I helped the roots grow. The vegetables won't be so tiny now!"
"You've done well," he said softly, placing a hand on her head. "Greystone eats because of you."
She beamed, clearly proud.
Later that afternoon, Kaelen visited the upgraded blacksmith's forge. It roared with new life as the refunded materials were processed into sturdy equipment. The village's best craftsman, a dwarf named Brogar, handed Kaelen a prototype shield.
"Reinforced bone and iron mix. We call it the Graveguard Shield," Brogar grunted. "Can withstand a wyvern's breath if you're lucky."
Kaelen tested its weight. Balanced. Solid.
"I'll take two dozen of these for the undead guards. They'll hold the front if we're flanked."
Brogar raised a brow. "You still raising corpses like it's a farmer sowing turnips?"
Kaelen chuckled. "Every fallen enemy is future reinforcement."
The dwarf grunted in approval. "Fair enough, Lord Bonecrafter."
That night, Kaelen opened the System Shop interface again — not for weapons or buildings, but something else.
[System Shop Interface Opened] :-
[Skill Branch: Necromancer Core]
Dark Reanimation (MAX)
Grave Servitude II – 45 SP
Bone Forge – 90 SP
[Summoning Branch]
Undead Behemoth – 200 SP
Wight Archer Corps (x10) – 60 SP
Bone Chimera – 120 SP
[Support Skills]
War Commander's Insight – 100 SP
Spirit Suppression Field – 150 SP
[Refund Specials]
Refund Recall (1x/week reset) – 80 SP
Summon Exploit Override (Limit: 3/week) – 150 SP
He had 110 SP now. Just enough to make a serious change in the balance of his forces.
"System," he muttered, "purchase Grave Servitude II and Wight Archer Corps."
System Notification
[Grave Servitude II Acquired]Undead units gain 10% speed and retain memories of combat patterns.[Wight Archer Corps (x10) Summoned]100x Refund ActivatedRefunded: 3,000 Bone Fragments, 200 Spirit Dust, 10 Composite Bows+1 System Point
Another bonus point. Another net gain.
He chuckled, muttering under his breath, "Exploiting death has never been so efficient."
Kaelen didn't return to the manor immediately. He walked along the moonlit path back toward the gardens where Neria often sat after dusk. Tonight, she wasn't alone.
Sylra stood nearby, leaning against a stone archway, her arms folded. Her eyes sparkled in the starlight.
"You're building an empire from bones, Lord Kaelen," she said, not unkindly.
"I build with what I have," he replied. "And protect who I must."
Sylra stepped closer. "There's something noble about that. Brutal, but noble."
Kaelen tilted his head. "Are you saying I impress you?"
"I'm saying I've seen warlords fall for less noble reasons," she replied, her gaze steady. "You may not see it, but people believe in you now."
Her words struck a chord. He wasn't ready to call himself a king, a warlord, or a hero. But a protector? That, he could accept.
"Will you stay, Sylra?" he asked softly.
She hesitated for a moment before replying. "For now. I've seen too much darkness not to want to fight beside someone who bends the system to protect the light."
Kaelen offered a hand. She took it without question.
As they walked back toward the manor, Kaelen felt the presence of his summons trailing silently behind them — skeletal knights, robed lich-mages, and now the newly summoned wights perching in the shadows.
The undead army he'd built was more than a tool. It was a message: Greystone would not be trampled again.
And with each passing chapter, the village grew stronger, more fortified, more united.
The Lords' War was still on the horizon, but Kaelen no longer feared it.
For now, he had time to prepare… and the will to fight back.