Morning came quietly.
But the settlement did not.
---
The sound of hammering echoed through the air.
Wood cracked.
Stone shifted.
Voices shouted orders across the growing territory.
The Outcast Settlement… was changing.
---
Grik stood on top of a half-built wall, yelling loudly.
"Lift it higher! HIGHER!"
A group of demons struggled to raise a massive wooden beam.
"Boss said stronger defenses—we're making them STRONGER!"
Below him, Ruun walked calmly through the chaos.
His eyes scanned everything.
"…Reinforce the east side," he said quietly.
"That's where we're weakest."
A group immediately moved.
They listened now.
Everyone did.
---
At the center of the settlement—
Rai stood silently.
Watching.
Observing.
Planning.
Lucian walked up beside him, stretching.
"Man… this is boring."
Rai didn't look at him.
"Then go hunt."
Lucian's eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh?"
Rai continued,
"North of here. Five kilometers."
"There's a monster nest."
Lucian grinned wide.
"Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!"
He turned and shouted,
"Karn! You coming?!"
---
Karn, now fully bandaged but standing firm, stepped forward.
"…Of course."
His voice was calm.
But his eyes were sharp.
Focused.
---
Grik jumped down from the wall.
"Hey! Don't leave me out!"
Ruun sighed.
"…Someone has to keep this place from collapsing."
Grik groaned.
"Fine…"
---
Rai finally turned.
"Take a squad."
Lucian waved his hand.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it."
Then he paused.
"…Try not to die while we're gone, boss."
Rai didn't respond.
Lucian laughed.
"Right. You can't."
Then he and Karn left the settlement, heading toward the wasteland.
---
Silence returned to Rai's side.
But not for long.
---
Ruun stepped beside him.
"…You're pushing expansion early."
Rai nodded.
"We don't have time."
Ruun's eyes narrowed.
"…Because of the Demon Lords."
Rai didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
---
The system appeared.
---
SYSTEM TASK
Expand Territory
Objective: Secure 3 New Zones
Reward: Rank Advancement Progress + Skill Upgrade
Bonus Condition: Recruit 10 New Outcasts
---
Rai closed the screen.
"Everything we do from now on…"
"…is preparation."
Ruun spoke quietly.
"For war."
Rai nodded once.
---
Meanwhile—
Outside the settlement.
Lucian and Karn moved quickly across the wasteland.
Lucian rested his sword on his shoulder.
"So."
"You used to work for a Demon Lord."
Karn didn't look at him.
"Yes."
Lucian smirked.
"And now you're working for us."
"…Yes."
Lucian laughed.
"Hahaha!"
"That's insane."
Karn finally glanced at him.
"You're loud."
Lucian grinned.
"And you're boring."
---
Suddenly—
Karn stopped walking.
Lucian noticed instantly.
"…What?"
Karn's eyes sharpened.
"We're not alone."
The air shifted.
The ground felt… wrong.
Then—
A low growl echoed across the wasteland.
From behind broken rocks…
From beneath the sand…
From the shadows—
Creatures emerged.
Dozens of them.
Black-scaled beasts with glowing red eyes.
Claws like blades.
Bodies low and fast.
Lucian's grin returned.
"Oh yeah…"
He lifted his sword.
"Now THIS is fun."
Karn stepped forward.
"…Be careful."
Lucian laughed.
"Relax!"
"I'll handle this!"
The creatures lunged.
---
Back at the settlement—
Rai suddenly looked toward the north.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Something stronger than expected."
Ruun noticed.
"…Do you want to go?"
Rai shook his head.
"No."
"They need to grow too."
---
But far away…
Hidden beneath the wasteland…
Something massive stirred.
Ancient.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
And this time—
The enemy wasn't just another monster.