The crunch of snow under Ren's boots echoed through the still air as he descended into the valley. The biting wind tugged at his clothes, carrying with it the scent of woodsmoke and the faint, lingering stench of decay. Every step he took sent a puff of frost into the air, each breath a visible cloud before him. Despite the chill, a fire burned in his chest — a drive to make something of this strange world that had become his reality.
Ashpine Ruins. That was the name the system had given this place.
As he reached the outskirts of the village, Ren's eyes scanned the wreckage. Crumbling stone cottages lay buried in snowdrifts. Wooden support beams jutted from collapsed roofs like jagged bones. A shattered wagon leaned against a frozen well, half-swallowed by ice. This place had once known life — families, farmers, laughter. Now, only silence remained.
But that silence was broken.
Smoke curled from a distant chimney, thin and gray, proof that someone — or something — still lingered here.
> Zone Discovered: **Ashpine Ruins**
> Ownership Status: Abandoned
> Potential Base Location: High
Ren approached cautiously. His torch flickered in the wind, casting golden light over the shadows. It felt like walking through a graveyard, but one that might yet be reborn.
In the center of the village, a crumbling chapel still stood. Its stained glass windows were shattered, but the bell tower remained intact, reaching toward the grey sky like a beacon. Beneath the tower, atop a cracked stone dais, sat an old altar dusted with snow and frost.
A prompt appeared as Ren placed his hand on the altar:
> Initiating Claim Protocol…
> Processing…
>
> Base Claimed: **Ashpine Keep**
> Territory Status: Owned
> Base Level: 0
> Permissions: Lord Access Granted
A pulse of blue light rippled outward in a perfect circle. Runes etched into the stone streets shimmered briefly before fading. The temperature seemed to rise — subtly, but noticeably. Ren exhaled slowly.
"That's more like it," he muttered.
A new quest appeared:
> **Base Restoration (Tier I)**
> Objectives:
> – Repair 3 Buildings
> – Establish 1 Source of Food
> – Recruit 5 Survivors
>
> Reward: Upgrade to Base Level I, Unlock Command Menu
"Alright," Ren said, rubbing his hands together. "Let's get to work."
He pulled up his inventory and scrolled through the materials he'd harvested earlier. The 10x Multiply skill had given him an absurd bounty: 110 logs, 80 stones, and enough herbs and meat to feed a small squad. He selected a collapsed house near the chapel and activated the Repair Blueprint.
> Building Restoration in Progress…
> Consumed: 20 Logs, 10 Stones
> Time Required: 3 Minutes
Wood shifted. Stone groaned. With a soft hum of energy, the broken hut began reassembling itself before his eyes — planks flying into place, nails materializing from light, walls snapping together like puzzle pieces.
By the time the timer hit zero, a neat, one-room house stood complete. Ren stepped inside and lit a torch in the central sconce. Warmth spread immediately.
One down.
He repeated the process with two more nearby buildings. By the time dusk fell, three homes stood sturdy and warm. He designated them as lodging for future survivors.
> Objective Progress: [3/3 Buildings Repaired]
Next, food. Ren opened his crafting panel and selected a basic Cooking Station blueprint. He placed it in the town square, near the chapel. Using 5 logs and 2 stones, he constructed a spitfire grill with a built-in storage chest.
He placed frozen meat into the fire.
> Cooking…
> Output: 10x Roasted Venison
The scent of sizzling meat drifted into the cold air, mouthwatering and rich. It would serve as both nourishment and bait — a way to draw out any hidden survivors.
He didn't have to wait long.
As the last ray of sunlight dipped below the snowy peaks, a faint crunching came from the edge of town.
Ren grabbed his torch and turned.
A young boy stepped into the firelight, eyes wide. He looked barely twelve, dressed in mismatched furs too big for his small frame. His cheeks were red with windburn, and he clutched a crude dagger carved from bone.
He froze when he saw Ren.
"…Who are you?" the boy asked, voice barely more than a whisper.
Ren crouched, setting the torch aside so his face was clearly visible. "My name's Ren. I'm not here to hurt you. This place… it's under my protection now."
The boy's eyes darted toward the fire. "You fixed the houses."
"Yeah. And I've got food." He held up a slab of roasted venison. "Want some?"
The boy stepped forward slowly, uncertainly. When he took the food, his hands trembled. He devoured it in seconds.
"…I'm Kye," he said at last. "My sister… she's hiding in the woods. She's scared."
Ren smiled gently. "Go get her. You're both safe here."
Kye hesitated only a moment before turning and sprinting off into the dark.
Ren stood there, watching the snow fall, heart pounding. This wasn't just survival anymore. It was responsibility.
> New Survivor Joined: **Kye**
> Objective Progress: [1/5 Survivors]
He had work to do.