The first light of dawn spilled over the forest. Inside the square walls, the elves were already hard at work, chopping wood, digging soil, and laying the foundations of their first huts. The sound of hammering and axes ringing against stone filled the air—a rhythm that symbolized hope for the first time in years.
Itsuki walked among them, offering guidance. "Lift the beams here, yes, like that. The walls need to be strong, or the beasts will tear them down."
Lyra watched him quietly, a faint smile on her lips. "They listen to you… already."
"I just showed them the tools," Itsuki said, rubbing the back of his neck. "The work is theirs. I just… lead."
But the forest never sleeps.
By noon, the faint rustle of leaves and snapping twigs sent a ripple of unease through the villagers. Children clutched their mothers, and hunters gripped their spears tightly.
Itsuki felt the Mark of Adaptation pulse lightly. They're close.
Then it came.
From beyond the walls, glowing red eyes appeared, dozens of them. Wolves—larger than any normal pack—slid out of the shadows, circling the newly built walls with predatory precision.
The villagers froze. Fear gripped them.
Lyra nocked an arrow, firing it into the lead wolf. The beast yelped but pressed forward. More wolves appeared, teeth bared, snarling.
"Itsuki!" Lyra shouted. "The walls alone won't hold them!"
Itsuki's eyes narrowed. His hand went to the sword at his side. "Then we fight. Stay behind me!"
The first wolf leapt over the wall. Itsuki met it head-on. The blade clashed with claws, sparks flying. He was clumsy at first—the beast far stronger than expected—but the Adaptation power surged through him.
[Adaptation Activated: Combat Reflexes Improving.]
His movements shifted instinctively. He dodged a snapping jaw, rolled, and drove the sword into the wolf's flank. It yelped and fell.
Another wolf charged. This time, Itsuki's strikes were precise. Each swing flowed naturally, as if he had been fighting forever. The wolves hesitated—this human wasn't like any prey they had faced.
The villagers began to cheer quietly, then slowly joined the battle. Armed with the axes and hammers Itsuki had created, they struck the wolves at weak points, working together under his guidance.
The largest wolf, a black-furred alpha, charged from the shadows, teeth bared and eyes glowing. Itsuki met it with a roar of his own.
He dodged, blocked, and slashed. Every movement refined itself as the Adaptation power absorbed the wolf's techniques, teaching him the rhythm of its strikes. With a final decisive swing, he pierced the alpha's chest. The beast fell with a ground-shaking thud, and the remaining wolves scattered into the forest.
Silence fell over the clearing. The villagers stared in awe, then erupted in cheers.
Lyra approached Itsuki, her chest heaving. "You… didn't just defend the walls. You fought for us. You're not just a creator—you're our protector."
Itsuki wiped the sweat and blood from his face, smiling faintly. "We all fought together. This… this is just the beginning."
That night, around the central fire, the elves gathered. Children slept peacefully for the first time in years. Hunters sharpened weapons without fear. And Itsuki, standing at the center, realized something important:
A kingdom isn't built by walls or huts alone. It's built by people who trust each other… and the one who leads them.
Lyra leaned against a wooden post, eyes shining in the firelight. "I don't know what kind of man you are yet… but if this is only the start, then I think your dream might really come true."
Itsuki's lips curled into a small smile. "It will. I'll make sure of it. My kingdom… starts here, with all of you."