---
Chapter 19: The First Seed
The golden panel shimmered before Ray's eyes.
> [God Shop: Domain Exclusive Section Opened.]
A thousand options unfolded — rows upon rows of strange and precious items.
Some glowed with the light of living mana.
Others pulsed with the cold, rotten aura of death.
[F-Rank Beast Tree - 10 Points]
[Corpse: Lesser Frost Wolf - 3 Points]
[Corpse: Giant Bone Rat - 2 Points]
[Slave Collar (Basic) - 5 Points]
[Weapon Tree (Rusty) - 15 Points]
[Potion Vine (Low Grade) - 12 Points]
Ray's fingers trembled slightly as he scrolled.
So much.
Too much.
And yet, not enough.
He only had 20 points — barely anything.
"Choose wisely," Seventeen whispered in his mind, calm and patient. "The first roots you plant will decide the future of your Domain."
Ray took a deep breath.
He focused.
---
He needed strength first. Protection. Scouts. Fighters.
Among all the options, one item gleamed brighter than the rest:
> [Frost Wolf Beast Tree]
Cost: 10 Points
Effect: Produces 1 Frost Wolf (F-Rank) every 24 hours. Max Capacity: 10 Frost Wolves. If a wolf dies, the tree will produce a new one the next day. Requires Domain mana to sustain.
Loyal. Intelligent.
Fast. Sharp senses.
Ice element affinity.
It was perfect.
Ray tapped the panel.
> [Confirm Purchase? Y/N]
He smiled slightly, heart pounding.
"Yes."
---
The moment he confirmed, a faint rumble echoed through the Domain.
A soft blue light shot down from the sky, striking an empty patch of soil near the center.
The ground cracked.
Frost spread outward in delicate, silver veins.
A small, gnarled sapling emerged—its bark pale as moonlight, its leaves shimmering with frost.
The Frost Wolf Tree had been born.
And at its roots, barely visible, a small ball of ice pulsed — the first embryo of a Frost Wolf.
---
Ray knelt beside it, staring in awe.
He could feel the connection — faint, newborn, but real.
This tree was now part of him.
His first soldier.
His first family member.
His first defense.
Seventeen's voice echoed again.
> "Each Tree has a soul. Treat them well, Ray.
Frost Wolves are proud but loyal beasts.
If you raise them right, they will die for you without hesitation."
Ray nodded silently.
---
System Prompt:
> [Frost Wolf Tree]
Daily Production: 1 Frost Wolf
Maximum Capacity: 10 Wolves
Time until first beast: 23 hours, 59 minutes
---
Ray smiled a little.
Slow growth.
Small beginnings.
But everything great started small.
---
He turned back toward the shimmering God Shop.
Still 10 Points left.
And many more temptations.
His eyes caught another item that made his heart race:
> [Corpse: Lesser Frost Wolf - 3 Points]
(Frozen corpse of an F-rank wolf. Can be used for Necromancy.)
Or even better—
> [Corpse: Bone Serpent (Juvenile) - 7 Points]
(Corpse of a rare F-rank mutated serpent. Highly compatible for summoning or experimentation.)
Seventeen murmured softly, advising him like an older brother.
> "A single corpse today could mean a powerful summon tomorrow.
Expand slowly. Build your army one piece at a time."
Ray hesitated.
He could buy three Frost Wolf corpses now.
Or save for higher-rank corpses later.
Or maybe even gamble for a Weapon Tree soon.
He clenched his fists.
Choices.
Endless choices.
And for the first time in his life…
he didn't feel powerless.
---
Outside the Domain, the real world trembled.
Storms brewed over distant mountains.
Monsters howled at the gates of fallen villages.
The Emerald Spine glowed with unnatural mana.
The Age of Awakening had begun.
And Ray…
Ray was ready to step into the storm.
No matter how small he was now.
No matter how slow the start.
He had a Tree.
He had a Domain.
He had himself.
And he had Seventeen — whispering promises of greatness in his ears.
> "This is only the beginning, Ray.
Grow strong.
Grow terrible.
Grow
---
Chapter 20: Birth of the First Pack
A faint ticking sound echoed in the stillness of the Domain.
Above the Frost Wolf Tree, a small bud of ice pulsed with life, growing larger with every passing second.
Ray stood quietly in front of it, heart pounding against his ribs.
His hands were clenched tightly, his mouth dry.
> [Frost Wolf Tree]
Next Summon in: 23 hours, 48 minutes.
Still almost a full day left.
He exhaled slowly, patience gnawing at him.
"Everything worthwhile," Seventeen whispered, "is built brick by brick, claw by claw."
Ray nodded to himself.
He couldn't rush.
He wouldn't.
---
He turned his attention back to the God Shop panel.
Still 10 points left.
Options flickered before his eyes:
[Corpse: Lesser Frost Wolf] — 3 Points
[Corpse: Giant Bone Rat] — 2 Points
[Corpse: Young Sand Lizard] — 4 Points
Ray thought hard.
"If I can't wait for the living wolf,
maybe I can start practicing with the dead ones first."
Necromancer.
That was his path now.
---
"Seventeen," he muttered, "what's smarter? Buy one strong corpse, or several weak ones?"
The system answered instantly.
> "Early on, numbers matter more. You need a group.
Later, quality becomes king."
Ray understood immediately.
He chose:
Two Giant Bone Rats (4 Points)
One Lesser Frost Wolf (3 Points)
> [Purchase Complete. Remaining Points: 3]
---
In a flash of silver light, three corpses appeared before him inside his Domain — neatly stacked like offerings on an invisible altar.
The Bone Rats were grotesque, their bodies twisted and bloated.
The Frost Wolf was beautiful even in death, its fur shimmering faintly with leftover mana.
Ray knelt before the wolf first.
Its frozen blue eyes stared blankly upward, lifeless but somehow... yearning.
---
"Time to start," Ray whispered.
Seventeen floated beside him like a ghost.
> [Skill Available: Rise Undead (Basic)]
Cost: 5 Mana
Effect: Revive a corpse as a Lesser Undead, loyal to the summoner.
Ray clenched his fists, willing the mana in his body to surge forward.
A dark mist gathered around his palms — thick, heavy, cold.
He pressed his hands onto the corpse.
The world shivered.
The earth moaned.
The air froze.
---
A low growl filled the Domain.
The dead Frost Wolf twitched, then shuddered violently.
Its legs spasmed.
Its head lifted.
Eyes of ghostly blue fire ignited in its sockets.
Slowly, shakily, it stood.
The first undead beast of Ray's army had been born.
> [New Summon Created: Frost Wolf Undead (Level 1, F Rank)]
---
Ray stumbled back, exhausted.
Mana loss hit him like a hammer.
Half his energy was gone.
But he didn't care.
He smiled — wide and fierce — as the undead Frost Wolf staggered forward, sniffed him once, and then…
lowered its head in submission.
Seventeen spoke again, calm but proud.
> "Congratulations.
You've taken the first step, Ray."
---
Ray turned to the two Bone Rat corpses next.
Hands trembling, breath ragged, he repeated the process.
Two more undead rose — twitching, clicking their rotten teeth, hissing like vipers.
[Bone Rat Undead 1: Level 1 (F- Rank)]
[Bone Rat Undead 2: Level 1 (F- Rank)]
Their bodies were grotesque, but their loyalty was absolute.
Ray had a small squad now:
1 Frost Wolf Undead
2 Bone Rat Undead
Tiny. Weak.
But alive.
---
He collapsed onto the ground, staring up at the blackened sky above his hidden Domain.
The trees whispered.
The soil hummed.
Life... and death... both answered his call.
For the first time in his life, he was not alone.
---
System Update:
> [Domain Update]
Current Summons: 3/10
Frost Wolf Tree: 1 Frost Wolf growing (23 hours remaining)
Expansion unlocked at 10 summons.
New Quest: Expand your first Pack.
---
Seventeen's voice grew softer, almost fatherly.
> "This is your beginning, Ray.
Small teeth now...
Sharp fangs later.
Build your Pack.
Raise your Army.
Become the King of the Forgotten Lands."
Ray smiled weakly.
He didn't know about kings or empires yet.
But he knew one thing:
He would protect his family.
He would grow stronger.
And someday... the world would tremble at his feet.
---
---