Karl leaned back slightly, letting the warmth of the fire seep into his tired limbs as the glowing panel unfolded before him, its faint light dancing across his eyes. He studied it slowly, line by line, as if reminding himself of the shape of his own strength.
[ Status Panel ]
Name: Karl Varn
Lord Level: Bronze II (0/10)
Stats:
Strength: 10 (3 → 7)
Agility: 11 (4 → 8)
Vitality: 14 (3 → 8)
Intelligence: 9 (4 → 6)
Abilities:Breath of Spring
Skills:Herbal Resonance, Vital Touch
Resources:
8 Level I Essence Crystals0 Level II Essence Crystals25 Summoning Shards (Level 1)Sunfire FruitSpirit LeafBonesDeer meat Razorhide Bear hide, spines, meatBoar meat, tusksSmaller beast's carcass (mink, lynx, panther)
Barrier Timer: 1 day, 07 hours, 30 minutes
His eyes lingered on the numbers. Bronze II… but still at the base. Progress had been made, yet every step forward seemed to demand more than the last. His vitality had grown; he could feel it in the steadier rhythm of his breathing, the endurance that carried him through the night's fight. But strength and agility still felt lacking compared to what was coming.
Then his gaze fell on the resources. Crystals dwindling. The last of the Bronze II spent on Ember. Just eight Bronze I remained—valuable, yes, but not enough. Meat supplies were decent, the hides and bones useful, but without stronger crystals their growth would soon stall.
And at the very bottom, the words that tightened his chest:
Barrier Timer: 1 day, 07 hours, 30 minutes.
A little more than a single day before it collapsed, and the wolves were still circling.
Karl closed the panel with a slow breath, eyes settling on the fire again. The others bustled nearby—Mira grinding herbs, Renn mending traps, Grok testing the edge of his axe, and Lysa feeding kindling into the flames. Thorn patrolled the edges with steady rustles, and above, Ember's shadow swept over the treetops.
For now, there was still time. But not much.
Karl turned his attention back to the Summoning Gate, its stone surface faintly vibrating with energy under his fingertips. The faint hum felt alive, like it was waiting for the right command, and he could almost sense the potential of unseen allies on the other side.
Karl turned to Lysa. "Come. Let's summon more allies. We have enough food and some crystal now."
Together they walked toward the Summoning Gate, its stone surface humming faintly with power. On the way, they spoke quietly.
"With our current people, the food might last twenty… maybe thirty days," Karl said, thinking aloud. "But if we summon too many, it won't be enough."
Lysa nodded, her bone whistle hanging at her neck. "We must balance it carefully. More allies will make us stronger, but every mouth eats from the same store."
Karl glanced at her. "How many do you think we can support right now?"
Karl turned his attention back to the Summoning Gate, its stone surface faintly vibrating with energy under his fingertips. The faint hum felt alive, like it was waiting for the right command, and he could almost sense the potential of unseen allies on the other side.
"Then five it will be," he said quietly, letting the decision settle in the air.
Karl's fingers traced the cool stone of the gate again. The hum deepened slightly, responding to his focus, as if acknowledging the careful balance he had set. "Then let's begin.
He pressed five Level I Essence Crystals and five Summoning Shards into the gate's rippling field. The stone shivered beneath his touch, emerald light flowing outward in slow, rhythmic pulses. The ground beneath them trembled slightly, soft vibrations that rolled up Karl's arms, and the air thickened with the sharp scent of ozone and crushed sap.
For a moment, the light coalesced into a swirling haze above the gate, shimmering and twisting as if deciding what to release. Then, slowly, five distinct forms began to take shape within the glow.
The first figure solidified—a lean, scarred rogue, twin runed daggers strapped at his sides, his dark eyes sharp and assessing, moving with the precision of a predator. The second took form beside him—a silent huntress, slender and poised, her bone longbow resting easily in her hands, her presence steady, as controlled as the tension of her drawn string.
The third emerged next, broad-shouldered and solid, a warrior carrying a heavy mace and shield, his laughter deep and resonant, breaking the quiet yet carrying a sense of confidence. The fourth shimmered faintly at first, coalescing into a figure with hair like living vines, green-stained fingers hinting at skill in both healing and poison, her movements careful and deliberate.
The fifth lingered at the edge of the glow, solidifying slowly into a stocky, soot-marked figure, hammer in hand, his steady gaze and patient stance radiating the calm strength of iron and fire.
Karl stepped back slightly, breathing slowly. The figures looked at one another, then at him and Lysa, their awareness dawning in measured curiosity. Each one held the faint glow of the Summoning Gate's energy, tethered yet independent, ready to integrate into the Sanctuary.
The bond snapped into place, tying each summoned figure to Karl. Their vitalities pulsed in soft rhythm with the Sanctuary's hum, a subtle connection that wove them together before a word was even spoken.
Lysa stepped forward, her presence calm and warm, like a guide welcoming traveler to unfamiliar lands. "Welcome to the Eternal Wilderness. I'm Lysa, a beast tamer summoned to serve Lord Karl Varn."
She gestured toward Karl, who stood tall, his bone-tipped spear resting lightly in his hand.
"He's our leader, a Bronze II Lord with the talent related to healing. Our territory stretches through the wilderness, dangerous and untamed, where fierce beasts linger near the barrier."
She paused, letting her green eyes sweep over the new allies. "Tell us who you are, and what you can bring to this fight."