The work began immediately, and with a fervor that surprised Ryan.
He quickly learned their names. The older, steady man was Elias.
The two strong, eager youths were Leo and Sam. The two cautious but diligent women were Mara, who took the seeds with a gentle reverence, and Elara, who held her spear with a white-knuckled grip, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.
The crisp thwack of steel on wood became the first real sound of progress in Ryan's territory.
Mara and Elara, meanwhile, found a patch of soft earth near the riverbank and began the meticulous work of tilling the soil with sharpened sticks and their bare hands, planting the tomato seeds in neat rows.
Ryan felt a swell of pride watching them..
He spent the afternoon helping where he could, his own below-average strength making him feel slightly useless next to the energetic Leo and Sam, but his presence seemed to bolster their morale.
As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, a practical and urgent problem struck Ryan.
He looked at his people, dressed in their thin, simple clothes, and then at the wide-open plain.
They had tools and the beginnings of a farm, but they had no shelter.
They wouldn't survive a cold night out in the open.
"Everyone, stop for a moment!" he called out.
They gathered around him, their faces smudged with dirt but shining with the day's hard work.
"We need shelter, and we need fire," he said grimly. "The shop is our only option."
He had fifty Development Points left. It had felt like a fortune just hours ago, but now, he knew it would be tight.
He opened the System Shop interface again, his eyes flying past weapons and blueprints to the 'Basic Supplies' section.
He found what he was looking for:
[Durable Canvas Tarp (5m x 5m)].
It was thick, waterproof, and designed for exactly this situation.
His heart sank when he saw the price.
40 Development Points. An exorbitant amount for a simple sheet of cloth, but a price he had to pay.
"System, purchase one Durable Canvas Tarp," he commanded.
[40 Development Points spent!]
He had 10 points left. Fire. He could buy a flint and steel for 5 points, but there was no guarantee they could find dry tinder in the dark.
He saw another item:
[Self-Igniting Charcoal Bundle].
The description was simple: "Just break the seal. Provides three hours of steady, smokeless heat." It cost exactly 10 points.
It was a luxury, a convenience item, but tonight, convenience meant survival.
"Purchase the charcoal bundle."
[10 Development Points spent!]
[Current Development Points: 0]
His entire starting fortune, earned through a world-first achievement, was gone in a single day.
Spent not on powerful weapons or rare blueprints, but on a tent and a fire.
A part of him ached at the thought of the lost potential, but when he looked at the hopeful faces of his people, he knew he'd made the right choice.
The items materialized beside him.
The canvas was heavy and smelled of oilcloth, and the charcoal bundle was a neat, compact package.
Working together, with Elias directing them, they used the wood from one of the felled trees to prop up the tarp, creating a large, sturdy lean-to shelter.
It was crude, but it would shield them from the wind and dew.
In the center of their small camp, Ryan broke the seal on the charcoal.
An instant, magical warmth bloomed as the coals began to glow a cheery red, casting dancing shadows on their faces.
The five citizens audibly sighed with relief, huddling closer to the heat.
They had a home, however temporary.
By the time night had fully fallen, their progress was clear.
Two tall trees had been felled and stripped, providing a respectable pile of wood for the coming days.
The tomato seeds were safely in the ground.
And now, they had a warm fire and a roof over their heads.
Elara passed around water from the river in cupped hands, and though they had no food, the warmth and security felt like a feast.
Exhausted but deeply content, Ryan lay down under the tarp, listening to the gentle crackle of the charcoal and the soft breathing of his sleeping companions.
His plan was still set. Tomorrow, he would have a fresh point of Evolutionary Energy.
He would take a simple spear and turn it into something legendary.
With his people safe and his territory established, his SSS-Rank talent could finally be put to use.
It was in that moment of peaceful satisfaction that the system's voice chimed in his head, cold and impersonal, and utterly terrifying.
[GLOBAL WARNING!!]
The alert was not a gentle prompt. It was a blaring, crimson red banner that filled his vision, accompanied by a sound like a far-off alarm bell.
[All Lords on Novice Planet #734 be advised. The first planetary Calamity is imminent!]
[Event Name: The Crimson Haze.]
[Time of Arrival: Sunrise.]
[Description: A blood-red mist will descend upon the world, driving local wildlife and monsters into a frenzied state. They will become more aggressive, more powerful, and will actively seek out sources of life.]
[Survival is not guaranteed. Prepare accordingly!]
Ryan's blood ran cold. He shot up into a sitting position, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs.
Sunrise? That was just hours away!
He immediately opened the Global Chat. It was pure, unadulterated panic.
[FishyFrank]: "A CALAMITY?! ALREADY?! I barely have a hut made of driftwood!"
[DesertFlower]: "Frenzied monsters?! I saw a giant scorpion yesterday! If that thing gets frenzied, I'm dead! We're all dead!!"
[BigBadBill]: "What the hell is 'Crimson Haze'? Is it poisonous? Do we need to hide?!"
[Kaiser]: "Silence! The system wouldn't give us an impossible trial! Strengthen your defenses and prepare to fight! This is an opportunity to get more points!"
Even Kaiser's arrogant bluster couldn't quell the tide of fear.
Then, a Lord named 'DataScout' posted a message that made Ryan's stomach clench.
[DataScout]: "I've been analyzing the system announcements. The Calamity is specific to 'Novice Planet #734'. That's us. The strength of these events usually scales with the number of Lords on the planet, to create a suitable challenge. The question is… how many of us are there?"
A minute of tense silence passed before DataScout posted again, his words sealing their fate.
[DataScout]: "My God. My talent is B-Rank 'Global Census'. It gives me a rough estimate of the number of Lords in my zone… The system is classifying this entire planet as one zone. There are approximately five thousand of us here. Five. Thousand."
Five thousand Lords. Ryan's mind reeled.
The system considered a challenge suitable for five thousand players, many of whom, like Kaiser and MonsterSlayer, had powerful combat talents, resources, and were days ahead of him.
And he had to face it with five ordinary people, a canvas sheet, and a pile of wooden spears.
He looked over at his sleeping citizens, their faces peaceful in the warm glow of the dying fire, completely unaware of the red dawn that was waiting for them.
He had spent everything he had just to give them one night of comfort.
Now, he had nothing left to protect them from the storm that was about to break.