The Heartwood Village, now a sprawling testament to Alex's strategic vision, hummed with the structured sounds of progress. From the Basic Barracks, the rhythmic shouts of Kael, the Brawler, echoed as he drilled the new Villager Militia, their movements growing sharper, more coordinated. The gentle rustle of leaves from the Farm Plot spoke of Lena and Sarah's diligent care, promising abundant harvests of Heartwood Seeds and newly discovered Sunken Roots. The subtle, earthy scent of growth from the Genesis Core was now accompanied by a new, more metallic tang from Marcus's focused tinkering at the Research Hut.
Alex stood at the heart of it all, his gaze often drifting beyond the comforting palisade. While the village was thriving, growing inwards with its new dwellings and storage, he knew true longevity lay in outward expansion. The immediate shard, though bountiful, held finite resources. The next leap in the Genesis Core's evolution, the shift to Rootbound Town, would demand materials his current territory simply couldn't provide. He needed Uncommon Resources – specifically, Iron Ore for advanced construction and tool-making, and Dense Heartwood for tougher structures. These weren't found lying about; they required deeper exploration, a venture into the unknown beyond their current, safe confines.
He thought of the vague System notifications from weeks ago, hinting at other Ascendants. A sense of urgency pressed him. While he wasn't interested in immediate conflict, he couldn't afford to be stagnant. Knowledge and resources were power, and the first to claim them would set the pace.
His gaze settled on Marcus, who emerged from the Research Hut, a small, dark chunk of rock in his hand – one of the Iron Ore (Uncommon) samples Thomas and Ben had brought back. Marcus's eyes, usually alight with intellectual curiosity, now held a glint of raw excitement.
"Boss," Marcus began, his voice barely containing his enthusiasm, "this Iron Ore… it's good. Really good. The samples Thomas and Ben brought back are just the surface. My preliminary analysis suggests the vein is substantial, potentially stretching deep into that new shard. This is what we need for the Basic Forge. This is how we get actual metal tools, proper weapons. This is how we bridge Earth's engineering with Aethelgard's raw materials."
Alex nodded. "That's what I wanted to hear. We need to secure that vein. Immediately. Thomas and Ben's report indicated it's not entirely safe. Kael, gather Roric and two of the Villager Militia. Marcus, you're coming with me. Your expertise will be invaluable in assessing the full potential of that deposit."
Kael, already eager for action, quickly assembled the small combat team. Roric, the Warrior, moved with a newfound confidence, his broad shoulders squared. The two Villager Militia, still a bit green but determined, clutched their crude weapons. Alex ensured they were well-provisioned. Lyra had prepared ample, nutrient-dense rations – enough for several days, just in case. Elara, ever cautious, provided a few more Healing Salves and the remaining two Minor Healing Potions. "You have six Common Healing Salves and two Uncommon Minor Healing Potions," Alex stated, ensuring the team was aware of their medical supplies. "Conserve them, but don't hesitate to use them if needed."
They departed from the main gate, a small, purposeful expedition. The journey to the edge of their home shard was familiar, but the ethereal bridge, shimmering like a solidified rainbow over the swirling void, still held an element of the fantastical. The air grew cooler, thinner, as they ascended its impossible arc, the vast, fragmented landscape of Aethelgard spreading out beneath them – countless floating landmasses, some mere specks, others vast, unexplored continents, all hanging in the endless, shimmering expanse. It was a humbling and terrifying sight, a true representation of Aethelgard's fragmented reality.
Descending onto the new shard, the environment shifted dramatically. The forest here was ancient, the trees gnarled and thick-barked, their leaves a darker, almost metallic green. The ground underfoot was rockier, riddled with exposed veins of dark, lustrous stone. The air was heavier, carrying the scent of damp earth and mineral. This was not the vibrant, fast-growing flora of the Heartwood's influence. This was ancient Aethelgard, raw and untamed.
"The air itself smells of metal here," Kael grunted, his senses keen. "And something else… something old."
They followed Thomas and Ben's rough map, navigating through dense, shadowed ravines where the exposed rock faces were crisscrossed with even richer veins of Iron Ore. The metallic scent was stronger here, mixed with a faint, earthy musk. Marcus, his Engineer Class fully engaged, moved ahead, his eyes scanning the rock formations with an almost predatory intensity. He ran his hand over a particularly rich vein, a look of awe on his face.
"This isn't just a vein, Alex," Marcus breathed, his voice low. "This is a significant deposit. The purity is remarkable. And look here," he pointed to a subtle discoloration in the rock, almost imperceptible. "There are traces of something else. A harder, denser mineral. Not iron. Something… more complex. I can't identify it without proper tools, but it hints at deeper geological processes, perhaps unique to Aethelgard."
As Marcus continued his assessment, a low, guttural growl rippled through the ravine, echoing off the stone walls. From the shadows of a rocky overhang, three creatures emerged. They were low-slung, heavily muscled beasts, their bodies covered in thick, mottled grey hide that blended perfectly with the rocks. Their heads were blunt, with small, intelligent eyes and powerful, crushing jaws. Rock-Prowlers, just as Thomas had described. But these looked larger, more aggressive than the ones encountered before.
"Form up!" Kael roared, immediately taking point, his crowbar held ready. Roric moved to his side, shield raised, while the two Villager Militia took up positions behind them, their crude spears pointed forward. The Heartwood Defenders lumbered into a defensive line, their root-limbs flexing.
The Rock-Prowlers let out another series of guttural growls, circling, testing their resolve. They were a low-tier threat individually, but in numbers, and in this confined space, they were dangerous. The first Rock-Prowler lunged, surprisingly agile for its bulk. Kael met it head-on, his crowbar striking its thick hide with a jarring thud, forcing it back. Roric, with a practiced shield bash, deflected another's charge.
The Villager Militia, though nervous, held their ground, thrusting their spears at the creatures' flanks. One Prowler managed to slip past the frontline, lunging at a Villager Militia. Alex, seeing the danger, activated Basic Repulsion, sending a burst of green energy that slammed into the creature, momentarily disorienting it.
[Evolution Points (EP) -2.0]
The fight was a brutal, grinding affair. The Rock-Prowlers' hides were incredibly tough, deflecting most blows. Kael and Roric worked in tandem, absorbing the brunt of the attacks, while the Villager Militia sought openings. One of the Villager Militia took a nasty bite to the arm, his yell of pain echoing.
"Medic!" Kael barked, not breaking formation.
Alex quickly moved to the injured militia, pulling out a Healing Salve. "You have six Common Healing Salves remaining," he noted as he applied the glowing paste. The wound began to close, the pain dulling.
The battle raged for several more minutes. Finally, with a coordinated effort, Kael landed a crushing blow to a Prowler's head, and Roric drove his spear through another's exposed underbelly. The third, seeing its companions fall, let out a frustrated growl and retreated, melting back into the rocky shadows.
[Rock-Prowler (Creature) Defeated! x2][Item Drop: Coarse Hide (Common) +4][Evolution Points (EP) +2.0 (per Prowler)]
Alex quickly absorbed the defeated creatures for EP and their Coarse Hides. His EP was now 25.2.
"That was a good fight," Kael panted, leaning on his crowbar. "Tougher than the Gloomfangs. These hides are thick."
"Indeed," Alex agreed, surveying the area. "Marcus, your assessment?"
Marcus, already back to examining the vein, looked up. "The deposit is stable. We can establish a mining operation here. It's too far for daily commutes. We'll need a temporary outpost, a Basic Mining Post, to secure the area and allow for continuous extraction."
[Blueprint 'Basic Mining Post (Common)' unlocked!][Cost: 30 Wood (Common), 30 Stone (Common)]
"Alright," Alex decided. "We'll build one. It's a small investment for such a vital resource."
He confirmed the construction. Marcus, with the help of the Heartwood Defenders, quickly began to erect a simple, reinforced structure near the richest part of the vein. It was designed for efficiency and basic defense, a temporary hub for resource extraction.
Wood (Common): 1170 (1200 - 30) Stone (Common): 2420
Once the Basic Mining Post was complete, Alex assigned two Heartwood Defenders to begin initial extraction, their root-limbs surprisingly adept at prying loose chunks of ore. The metallic clinking began, a new sound of progress in Aethelgard.
They decided to set up a temporary camp near the Mining Post for the night, rather than risk the bridge crossing in the dark. As the twin moons of Aethelgard rose, casting an eerie, silver glow over the rocky landscape, Alex sat by a small fire, watching the Heartwood Defenders slowly but steadily extract the Iron Ore.
He picked up a piece of the ore, its weight satisfying in his palm. This was the resource that would unlock the Basic Forge, transforming their military capabilities and allowing for true craftsmanship. Marcus's words echoed in his mind: traces of something else… more complex. The Iron Ore was just the beginning. This new shard held deeper secrets, geological mysteries tied to Aethelgard's very formation. They had taken a crucial step, securing a vital resource that would propel their dominion forward, forging not just tools and weapons, but the very future of Heartwood Village. The journey had been dangerous, but the rewards were immeasurable. The village was poised for its next great leap.