The half-built base stood silent against the backdrop of a fading sky. The half-built wooden walls of unfinished structures stretched upward, like bones piercing through the earth, surrounding the black spire at its heart. That spire radiated a faint hum, as if alive, and above it floated the Command Nexus—a panel of shifting light and arcane circuits.
Kairo stood at the center, his eyes fixed on the glowing interface hovering before him. It pulsed with symbols and menus that only he could see. Around him, the ghouls waited in absolute stillness, their green eyes watching their lord without question.
Shiri stood off to the side, arms crossed, his expression caught somewhere between curiosity and unease. The fire manager ghoul loitered closer to Kairo, its skeletal form almost protective, like a hound that hadn't yet learned whether its master was truly invincible.
Kairo exhaled slowly, his finger hovering over the final confirmation prompt.
The glowing letters awaited his command:
[Proceed with Unit Upgrade?]
[Yes / No]
His lips pressed into a thin line. Then he spoke aloud, his voice steady.
"Begin the process."
He pressed Yes.
The Command Nexus surged to life. A sphere of bright light formed and floated above the spire, streams of radiant green spilling outward like rivers of lightning. The ghouls staggered, their bodies writhing as light clawed at their flesh. Their groans echoed, deep and guttural, a chorus of something ancient waking from slumber.
Kairo didn't flinch. He watched as their forms stretched and grew, bones cracking but reforging instantly. Their frames nearly doubled, rising to almost his own height. Arms elongated, their reach extended just enough to give them a lethal edge in formation combat, and their once dull eyes now shone with brilliant emerald fire.
When the light finally receded, the silence that followed was heavy. The ghouls stood tall, their breathing slow, their postures sharp and disciplined.
A chime cut through the stillness.
[Unit Upgrade Successful.]
[Ghouls → Enhanced Ghouls (Formation Adapted).]
[Note: Unit has not reached Tier 2, but combat effectiveness significantly increased.]
Kairo's chest swelled with pride. He had done it. He had strengthened them without changing their nature. They weren't beasts to be replaced; they were his soldiers, his first army.
Shiri broke the silence, his voice carrying a note of disbelief.
"This… this shouldn't be possible."
Kairo glanced over. "What do you mean?"
The naga's brows knitted together, his usual suspecion and sardonic calm replaced with genuine shock.
"I've encountered many lords as my enemy before, controlling armies like living tides, unstoppable and absolute, but....hey can't do this. Upgrades like this… they can't change the core of their units. They can replace them, recruit better soldiers, maybe train them with time. But increasing the fundamental power of a unit?" He shook his head, eyes narrowing. "Impossible."
Before Kairo could answer, the Command Nexus shimmered once again. Its voice echoed in his mind, clear and unwavering.
[Clarification: This is an exclusive function of the Command Nexus.]
[Standard Lord Authorities cannot alter the foundation of their units.]
Kairo's eyes flickered with intrigue. Exclusive function. That meant that the panels floating around him aren't just some convenience—they arr a power beyond what other lords held.
"So I'm different," he muttered under his breath. His mind spun with possibilities. If this was only the beginning, what else was hidden within the Command Nexus? Functions no one else could dream of?
Shiri was still staring at the enhanced ghouls, his disbelief slowly shifting into something else—hope. For the first time since Kairo had met him, the naga's shoulders loosened, his lips quirking into a half-smile.
"Maybe you really can do it," Shiri said, chuckling softly.
"Do what?"
"Kill that monster. The one in the burnt village. I thought your words were madness. But if you can strengthen your soldiers like this…" Shiri's eyes gleamed with something close to reverence. "Then maybe revenge isn't just a dream."
Kairo caught the change in tone. The bitterness in Shiri's voice carried weight, a pain buried deep. Slowly, the naga was starting to believe—not in Kairo's charisma, but in his power.
"Good enough to fight, huh?" Kairo asked, a grin tugging at his lips.
"Good enough to help," Shiri corrected, crossing his arms again.
Kairo raised a brow. "But earlier, you said without your hammer, you couldn't craft anything."
Shiri hesitated, then sighed, shaking his head.
"My hammer… it's more than a tool. It's my life's work. With it, I can forge weapons and armor worthy of heroes. Without it, I'm crippled. But that doesn't mean I'm useless."
He looked directly at Kairo now, his eyes sharp with pride.
"I can still make basic weapons. Swords. Spears. Armor fit for your soldiers. Not everything needs to be grand. Even without my hammer, I can give your ghouls steel to match their strength."
Kairo's grin widened. "That's all I needed to hear."
A laugh escaped Shiri's throat, rough but genuine. For the first time, the air between them lightened, not bound by mistrust but by something closer to camaraderie.
The Command Nexus dimmed slightly, the green glow retreating to its core. But the interface still hovered before Kairo, waiting for his next command. His attention shifted, curiosity pulling him deeper.
[Blueprint Function Available.]
[Access?]
"Blueprints," Kairo murmured. His fingers twitched. "Let's see what we've got."
With a thought, he opened it. Schematics unfolded before his eyes—basic weapons, defensive structures, traps, and fortifications. Each blueprint pulsed faintly, waiting to be selected. It was a library of possibilities, and yet Kairo felt the weight of choice.
Beside him, Shiri tilted his head, watching him stare blankly into the air.
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?" Kairo asked absently.
"Standing there, eyes glazed over, like you're drunk without the ale." Shiri snorted. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you've gone mad."
Kairo chuckled. "Just looking through options."
"To me, it looks like you're staring at nothing." Shiri gestured with a smirk. "If you keel over, don't expect me to catch you."
Kairo barked out a laugh, the tension of the day easing slightly.
"Noted. Next time, I'll make sure to fall on you instead."
The naga rolled his eyes, but there was no malice in it. Slowly, a bond was forming—a fragile trust, but trust nonetheless.
As the night settled over the half-built base, the green glow of the ghouls' eyes pierced the darkness like watchfires. Kairo stood surrounded by his soldiers, his ally, and the Nexus that promised power no one else could wield. He had no illusions that the road ahead would be easy, but for the first time, he felt the beginnings of a true foundation.
The ghouls had awakened, and so had his path.