A strange, mechanical voice echoed in the minds of every human on Earth, shattering the calm of a sunny afternoon.
[45 minutes from now, all humans will be teleported to Lords Island. Each person will be granted an island as their territory, but danger lurks everywhere. Friendly reminder: Do NOT leave your territory, or you will die...]
[No need to panic too much. Everyone will receive a summoning talent. The starting point is fair, but luck is random. What you summon will determine whether you survive. Pray hard...]
[Develop, plunder, kill. You'll come to love this place...]
Zyler Taakeshi, lounging in the open-air bar of a luxury tropical resort, froze mid-sip of his cocktail. His sharp eyes darted around, scanning the other guests, who were equally stunned. Whispers of confusion rippled through the crowd.
"Is this some kind of prank?" a man nearby muttered, his voice trembling.
Zyler's gaze shifted to Zhao Luna, the resort's new hostess, who stood a few steps away, her delicate hands clutching a tray. Her tropical-themed uniform hugged her figure, and her long, black hair shimmered under the sunlight, tied back with a simple ribbon. Those sparkling eyes and dimpled smile had caught Zyler's attention the moment he arrived at the resort. At twenty-two, Zyler, a self-made entrepreneur who'd struck it rich early, was used to getting what he wanted. And right now, he wanted to know more about Luna.
"Luna, you heard that too, right?" Zyler called out, flashing a charming grin as he leaned against the bar counter. "Sounds like the world's about to get interesting."
Zhao Luna blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Mr. Taakeshi, I... I don't know what's happening. It sounded so real."
"Call me Zyler," he said smoothly, stepping closer. "And don't worry, stick with me, and we'll figure this out."
Her shy smile widened, but before she could respond, the mechanical voice returned, colder this time.
[Teleportation countdown initiated...]
[5...]
[4...]
[3...]
[2...]
[1...]
"What the—?!"
A dizzying whirlwind engulfed Zyler, the tropical breeze vanishing as his vision plunged into darkness. Screams erupted around him, guests, staff, everyone caught in the same disorienting void. Zyler's stomach churned as if he'd been tossed into a blender.
Whoosh...
When his senses returned, a salty sea breeze stung his face. He stumbled, catching himself on a rocky outcrop. The resort was gone. Instead, he stood in a wild, untamed clearing surrounded by dense foliage and jagged cliffs. Endless ocean stretched beyond, its waves crashing ominously against the shore.
[Welcome to Lords Island.]
[Friendly reminder: This is NOT a game. Take it lightly, and you'll die quickly...]
[Your island contains all the resources you need to survive, but it's filled with dangers. Stay vigilant...]
[The waters of Lords Island teem with terrifying monsters. Unless you're strong enough, don't get reckless. And again, avoid the seawater...]
[Your first task: Use your summoning talent and build a shelter.]
[Kind reminder: Your shelter's strength is tied to what you summon...]
[Time is precious here. Every so often, monsters from Lords Island will invade your territory. Good luck...]
[We wish you all the best in becoming a living Island Lord. Fight on!]
Zyler's heart pounded as the system's voice faded. He scanned the island, its rugged terrain and distant roars sending a chill down his spine. "Damn it, this is real. Just like the notification said. What a mess."
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself. The clearing was safe for now, no immediate threats. But the system's warnings about monsters and the ticking clock meant he couldn't waste time.
"Alright, first step, draw my summoning talent," Zyler muttered, focusing inward. A faint hum buzzed in his mind, and a glowing panel materialized before his eyes.
[Drawing in progress... Success! You've obtained a Tier 1 Skeleton Soldier...]
A crude image of a clattering skeleton appeared, followed by a stat panel. Zyler's jaw dropped.
[Skeleton Soldier]
[Level: Tier 1 | 0 Stars]
[Talent: None]
[Skills: None]
[Attributes: Strength 2 (Adult Male: 5), Speed 1 (Adult Male: 2.5), Stamina 1.5 (Adult Male: 2)]
"Are you kidding me?" Zyler groaned, running a hand through his dark hair. "This bony weakling is my summon? I'm supposed to survive with this?"
Before he could curse further, another prompt interrupted.
[System error: Duo mode cannot be repaired.]
[Congratulations, you've unlocked the unique hidden talent, Necromantic Glow!]
Zyler's eyes widened. "Unique hidden talent? Now we're talking."
A new panel appeared, and as he read it, his frustration melted into a grin.
[Unique Talent: Necromantic Glow]
[As long as a death occurs within Lords Island's range, you can harvest its undead essence.]
[Undead essence can enhance your strength or upgrade your summons...]
"Hell yeah!" Zyler pumped his fist. "This is a game-changer!"
Another panel popped up, displaying his personal stats.
[Name: Zyler Taakeshi]
[Talent: Necromantic Glow (Unique)]
[Identity: Earth Human]
[Level: Tier 1 | 0 Stars (0/100 XP)]
[Class: Necromancer]
[Skills: Scan (Universal) – A must-have skill for every Island Lord. Allows viewing basic info of other lords (Name, Identity, Level, Class only)]
[Attributes: Strength 6, Speed 4, Stamina 8]
[Summons: Tier 1 Skeleton Soldier (2 units summonable daily)]
[World Channel: Locked]
[Trading Channel: Locked]
[Farsee Teleport: Locked]
[Reminder: 7 days, 0 hours until monsters invade your island...]
Zyler dismissed the panels with a thought, his mind racing. The system was intuitive, responding to mental commands. He sat on a smooth rock, processing his situation. Necromantic Glow meant every death was an opportunity. If he played this right, he could turn his weak skeletons into something unstoppable.
"Time to get to work," he said, standing. "I need a shelter."
A new panel appeared.
[Shelter: Grand Necropolis]
[Materials Needed: Stone 50 units, Wood 40 units, Flesh 5 units]
"Grand Necropolis?" Zyler's lips curled into a smirk. The name alone screamed power. An image of a grim, towering structure flashed in his mind, skull-adorned walls, eerie blue flames. "Am I turning into some kind of lich? Hell, I'm not complaining."
Buzz...
With a thought, Zyler summoned his two Tier 1 skeleton soldiers. A swirling vortex spat out two 1.6-meter-tall skeletons, their bones clattering as they stood motionless. Their empty eye sockets stared blankly, and Zyler fought the urge to kick them.
"Useless boneheads," he muttered. "You, go collect stones. You, gather wood. Move it!"
The skeletons shuffled off, surprisingly obedient despite their frail appearance. Zyler watched them go, shaking his head. "Better than nothing, I guess."
Suddenly, a high-pitched scream pierced the air, nearly making Zyler jump out of his skin.
"Eek! Get away, get away!"
Zyler's eyes lit up. That voice... Could it be? The system's "duo mode error" comment clicked in his mind. A sly grin spread across his face as he sprinted toward the sound.
In a nearby thicket, Zhao Luna stood on a rock, frantically waving her arms at two wriggling, translucent blobs. The gelatinous creatures quivered, inching closer despite her protests.
"Luna!" Zyler called, his voice a mix of relief and excitement. "It's really you!"
"Mr. Taakeshi!" Luna's face lit up, and she practically threw herself into his arms, trembling. "Zyler, thank goodness! These... things won't leave me alone!"
Zyler steadied her, his heart racing, not just from the rescue, but from the warmth of her clinging to him. "Don't worry, Luna. I've got you."
He glanced at the blobs, his Scan skill activating instinctively.
[Slime]
[Level: Tier 1 (0 Stars)]
[Talent: Rapid Breeding (Given time, a single slime can multiply into a colony.)]
[Skills: None]
[Attributes: Strength 0 (Adult Male: 5), Speed 1 (Adult Male: 2.5), Stamina 5 (Adult Male: 2)]
Zyler's eyebrows shot up. "Rapid Breeding? Luna, these slimes might be more useful than they look."
Luna blinked, still shaken. "Really? They just seem... gross."
Zyler chuckled, his confidence returning. "Stick with me, and we'll make it work. Now, let's get you somewhere safe."
As he led her back to the clearing, Zyler's mind buzzed with possibilities. A unique talent, a creepy shelter, and a beautiful hostess by his side? Lords Island was dangerous, but Zyler Taakeshi was starting to think he might just enjoy this.