The Global Chat had exploded into a state of utter chaos.
[Kaiser]: "What the hell?! A unique evolution method? Who is this guy? Show yourself!"
[MonsterSlayer_69]: "An SSS-Grade reward pack?! That's insane! What could be in that?!"
[Navigator]: "He's nameless… which means he hasn't even officially named his territory yet. He got this reward before even starting properly. Unbelievable."
[Sunny]: "Wow… congratulations to whoever you are! That's amazing!"
Ryan's jaw nearly hit the rich, black soil.
He barely registered the tidal wave of messages.
His entire focus was locked onto the shimmering, golden gift box hovering before him. It pulsed with a power that made the air around it feel warm and full of static electricity. He was the nameless Lord everyone was freaking out about.
The guy who had been floating in the dark for ten days, grinding out stamina for a tiny patch of dirt, had just become the most talked-about person in this new world!
Taking a shaky breath, he reached out and mentally commanded the gift pack to open.
Instead of simply popping open and spilling loot, the box dissolved into a cascade of golden light.
The light swirled into a humanoid shape, forming a figure that looked like it was woven from starlight. It had no distinct features, just a gentle, smiling outline. It gave a slight bow.
[Greetings, persevering Lord,] a serene voice echoed in his mind.
[Your unique path has earned you a unique reward. Before you are one hundred choices, each containing a gift. Your luck will determine your starting fortune. Please, choose a number from one to one hundred.]
One hundred shimmering, ethereal boxes materialized in the space before him, arranged in a neat ten-by-ten grid. A gacha game. His grand, world-shaking reward was a lottery.
Ryan felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple.
This could be anything from a Legendary-tier item to a single loaf of bread.
He scanned the boxes.
Most people would go for lucky numbers like 7 or 8, or maybe the first or last box.
Kaiser would probably pick number 1, declaring himself the best. Ryan, however, had always been a bit contrary.
He let his eyes drift over the grid and settled on a number that felt right, for no particular reason other than it stood out to him.
"I choose… number ninety-nine," he said, his voice surprisingly steady.
The starry figure nodded. The ninety-eight other boxes vanished in a puff of light, and box number ninety-nine floated directly in front of him.
It opened with a soft chime, revealing not an item, but a single, dazzling orb of pure white energy.
[Congratulations! You have received: 100 Development Points!]
[The System Shop is now unlocked!]
Ryan's mind, which had been buzzing with a thousand questions, went completely blank.
One. Hundred. Points.
He remembered MonsterSlayer getting a measly ten points for the world-first monster kill.
Kaiser had probably been grinding away for days, killing Goblins and chopping trees, and likely didn't have half this amount.
This single reward had just given him a starting capital that was, without exaggeration, game-breaking!
Before he could even open the shop interface to see what he could afford, the world around him shifted.
The comfortable black void dissolved like sugar in water.
The one-meter square of land beneath his feet expanded at an impossible speed, stretching out in all directions.
The scent of soil was joined by the smell of fresh water and green leaves. A gentle breeze whispered past his ears, and for the first time in ten days, he felt the warmth of a sun on his skin.
When reality solidified, he was standing in the middle of a vast, flat plain. The ground was the same rich, dark soil from his initial evolution. A short distance to his left, a crystal-clear river snaked its way through the landscape, its water sparkling under the golden sun.
On the far side of the river, a dense, lush forest stretched as far as the eye could see, its trees tall and ancient.
A wave of profound relief and joy washed over him, so powerful it almost brought him to his knees. No more void. No more floating. This was his territory. This was his home.
As he was taking it all in, a pillar of soft blue light descended from the sky a few dozen meters in front of him. It swirled for a moment before fading, leaving behind five people. They looked as dazed and confused as he had been ten days ago.
There were three men and two women, all dressed in simple, drab clothing. They blinked in the sunlight, looking around at the open plain with a mixture of fear and wonder.
Then, their eyes fell on Ryan. As one, a look of innate recognition dawned on their faces. They straightened up, and in a movement that felt both practiced and instinctual, they all bowed their heads.
"My Lord," one of the men, who looked to be the oldest, said, his voice filled with reverence. "We are here to serve you."
The others echoed him, their voices a chorus of "My Lord."
Ryan stared, his mind struggling to catch up.
Population: 0.
That's what his panel had said. Now… it was five.
These were his people. His first citizens.
He, a university student who had trouble deciding what to eat for lunch, was now their Lord.
He cleared his throat, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
"Wait here for a moment."
He turned away slightly, his heart hammering against his ribs.
Okay, Ryan, don't panic. You have people. You have land. And you have 100 points.
He quickly opened the System Shop interface. A
massive list of items appeared, from basic resources to blueprints for buildings.
His eyes scanned the list, his mind racing.
First things first: tools.
His people couldn't do anything with their bare hands.
He saw a [Basic Wood Axe] for 5 points and a [Basic Pickaxe] for 5 points. He needed to clear the forest and find stone.
"System, purchase five wood axes and two pickaxes," he commanded mentally.
[25 Development Points spent on 5x Basic Wood Axe.]
[10 Development Points spent on 2x Basic Pickaxe.]
Next, food. The river might have fish, and the forest might have fruit, but he needed a reliable source.
He found [Tomato Seeds (Pack of 20)] for a cheap 5 points.
[5 Development Points spent on 1x Tomato Seeds.]
Finally, defense. He remembered the chat logs about Goblins and other small monsters. His people were defenseless. He found the [Basic Wooden Spear] for 2 points each. He bought five.
[10 Development Points spent on 5x Basic Wooden Spear.]
Total spent: 50 points. He had 50 left. A fortune. He could have bought more, maybe even a blueprint for a small cabin, but he decided to be prudent. He didn't know what challenges lay ahead. Saving half his capital was the smart move.
In a flash of light, the items he purchased appeared in a neat pile on the ground beside him.
He turned back to the five people, who were watching him with wide, curious eyes. He picked up the tools and handed them out.
"I am Ryan" he said, his voice stronger now. "We have a lot of work to do. You three," he said to the men, handing them the axes and pickaxes, "start by clearing some trees at the edge of the forest. We need wood. And see if you can find any stone nearby."
He handed the spears to the women. "Stay close to the camp. If you see anything dangerous, shout. These are for protection."
He gave the packet of tomato seeds to the older woman. "We'll till a small plot of land near the river for these."
They took the tools with a sense of awe, their faces lighting up with purpose.
For the first time, a real smile broke out on Ryan's face. This was happening.
As his new citizens marched off to begin their tasks, Ryan was left alone, holding the last spear in his hand.
It was a simple thing—a sharpened wooden tip on a long stick. Crude, but effective.
He looked down at it, and a thrilling thought struck him.
He still had 1 point of natural Evolutionary Energy from the daily generation.
His SSS-Rank talent. Infinite Territory Evolution.
The description said he could develop any aspect of his territory.
Did that include the items within it?
A wide, excited grin spread across his face.
"Tomorrow," he whispered to himself, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, "I'll get another point of energy from the daily generation. Then… let's see what an SSS-Rank evolution can do to a simple wooden spear."