Shiri wiped sweat from his scaled brow and leaned back against a pile of rough-cut timber. The smell of resin and fresh-cut bark clung to the air, sharp and sticky. Before him lay twenty freshly made wooden clubs, each sanded down and bound with leather wrappings, and twenty shields that gleamed faintly under the pale light of the black spire.
The naga craftsman flexed his arms, the long coils of his tail shifting in satisfaction.
"Been a while since I worked my hands like this," he muttered, admiring his handiwork. "Not bad for being out of practice, eh?"
The ghouls crowded nearby, their hollow eyes glowing with that new green brilliance. A few had already snatched up the clubs, spinning them awkwardly, sparring against one another with a childlike eagerness. Their laughter wasn't real laughter—it was raspy, broken—but it carried an odd warmth.
Kairo, standing with arms crossed, smiled faintly. They are Almost like children testing out new toys.
Shiri noticed it too and chuckled. "Never thought I'd see ghouls playing around like hatchlings. They've got spirit, I'll give 'em that."
Kairo nodded, but his expression turned thoughtful. "There's a reason I asked for twenty of each, Shiri."
The naga tilted his head. "You've only got twelve of these boneheads. Dont tell me your panning to arm the rocks too?"
Kairo smirked at the jab. "Not exactly. There's another step. Something more important than weapons right now."
Shiri straightened, curiosity flashing in his serpent-like eyes. "What are you scheming now?"
Kairo raised his hand, and the air shimmered faintly as the Command Nexus pulsed to life above the black spire. Its dark geometry shifted like liquid steel, and a translucent interface unfolded before Kairo's eyes.
[Blueprint Function: Active]
Tier 1 Structure Available – Barracks
Description: Allows training and summoning of additional units. Increases maximum unit capacity by +5.]
Kairo selected it.
Shiri blinked as the schematic burned into his mind. He hissed softly, tail coiling with unease. "There it is again… those damned clear visions. Every detail, every joint, every timber laid out like I've done it a hundred times before."
But unlike before, there was no shock in his voice—only a grudging acceptance, even a touch of admiration. He exhaled and gave Kairo a side glance. "Guess this is your trick, kid. Not the first time you've dumped instructions in my skull, but I'll admit—it doesn't get any less uncanny."
Kairo grinned slightly. "Good. That means we can rely on it. This building will give us the numbers we need."
Shiri studied the blueprint further, his craftsman's instincts kicking in. "Barracks, huh? I've built shelters, armories, even forges in my time… but a proper fighting den? That's new. Still… it's just wood and sweat. I can make it stand."
Kairo's eyes narrowed in focus. "At Tier 1, my capacity is only fifteen units. But with this, I'll push it to twenty. If I want to take down that monster in the burnt village, every extra soldier matters."
The naga blinked. "Wait. You mean to tell me—lords need buildings to summon more troops?"
Kairo opened his mouth, but the Command Nexus rippled, answering in his stead:
[System Notification]
[Standard Lords increase unit capacity by channeling magic energy into their Territory Core.
The Command Nexus bypasses this requirement. Unit expansion achieved via structural development.]
Kairo rubbed his chin. Magic energy … I haven't hearing anything about it until now. Something I don't have. Something I'll need to understand." He leaned back, staring at the faint glow of the Command Nexus. "I wonder… will I ever meet someone who wields this magic energy?"
Shiri snorted, adjusting the timber on his shoulder. "Hmph. Careful what you wish for. Folks with magic energy aren't always good news."
Kairo smirked faintly. "Figures… nothing's ever that simple, huh?"
"Doesn't matter," he said aloud. "We'll use what we've got. The barracks will be our start."
Shiri slammed a fist against his palm, eyes glittering with renewed fire. "Then what are we waiting for? Ghouls! Gather the rest of the timber! And none of that half-cut nonsense—bring me the good planks!"
The ghouls scattered with clumsy enthusiasm, their glowing eyes flashing like lanterns as they hurried into the shadows to scavenge. One tripped over a shield, tumbling face-first into the dirt, earning a raspy chorus of guttural snickers from the others.
Kairo couldn't help but chuckle. "They're rough, but eager."
"They'll learn," Shiri said gruffly, but there was no bite in his tone. He was already rolling up his sleeves, claws flexing as he sorted through the lumber. "Buildings aren't exactly my specialty. But give me some tools, and I'll make it stand straight enough to weather a storm."
Kairo stepped closer, studying the naga's hands. "That's what I like about you, Shiri. You don't back down from work, even when it's outside your skill."
The naga smirked, flicking his tongue in amusement. "Don't flatter me, human. I just don't like losing to a pile of wood."
Kairo laughed softly, but inside, gears turned. (Shiri isn't bound to me like the ghouls. He's his own person. That makes him harder to trust… but also more valuable. His loyalty, when I earn it, will mean something.)
His gaze shifted to the horizon, toward the faint column of smoke that still rose in the distance. (And for that monster… I'll need every ounce of that loyalty.)
Hours passed as construction began. The ghouls worked like tireless ants, hauling timber and stone, fumbling often but improving under Shiri's sharp corrections. Shiri himself moved with a craftsman's rhythm—measured strikes, precise bindings, muttered curses whenever a beam didn't fit quite right.
Kairo oversaw it all, arms folded, analyzing. (This is progress. A foundation. Once the barracks stand, I'll have numbers. Once I have numbers, I can plan formations. Once I have formations… I'll have war.)
At one point, Shiri paused, wiping his hands, and glanced at him. "You keep staring off into the distance. What's brewing in that head of yours?"
Kairo smirked. "Strategies. Always strategies. When I move against that monster, it won't just be a brawl. It'll be a hunt."
Shiri studied him for a long moment before shaking his head with a half-smile. "Strange human. Most lords I've seen swing their weight around, trust in raw power. You? You plan like you're already three steps ahead."
"Better that way," Kairo said quietly. "If I fall behind, I won't just lose myself—I'll lose all of you."
Something softened in Shiri's eyes. He didn't reply, but his hammering grew sharper, more focused.
By the time the sun dipped lower, the framework of the barracks had begun to rise, a skeleton of wood and sweat. The ghouls, though ragged and awkward, worked in unison, guided by Shiri's barked commands.
Kairo watched the walls take shape and felt a thrill deep in his chest. Step by step. This is how we'll grow. This is how we'll win.
He turned back toward the spire, mind already racing ahead. Weapons, shields, barracks… it's not enough yet. To face that thing, I'll need more. Traps. Strategies. Maybe even new summons.
But that was for tomorrow.
Tonight, his army built the first foundation of war.