The next morning brought both opportunities and challenges to Hope Village.
Zhou Bai woke early and checked her lord’s panel. Overnight, the territory had generated a small but steady income from the residents and visitors. More importantly, she had gained experience points from successfully managing the settlement.
【Experience gained: +50】
【Current level: lv.0 (50/100)】
【Daily territory income: 2 gold 15 silver】
【New notification: Magical beast activity increasing in surrounding area】
The last notification made her frown. She quickly opened the territory map and saw several red dots moving around the perimeter – magical beasts were indeed gathering nearby.
“Dad, Mom,” she whispered, waking her parents. “We might have trouble coming.”
Before they could respond fully, shouts erupted from outside. The family rushed out to see residents pointing toward the territory’s edge, where a pack of wolf-like creatures with glowing red eyes had appeared.
“Are those…?” Ding Qiurou started to ask.
“Magical beasts,” Zhou Zhengping confirmed grimly. “Bigger and more aggressive than the ones we saw yesterday.”
The creatures prowled around the territory’s boundary, testing the magical barrier. Occasionally, one would charge forward, only to be repelled by the shimmering defense field.
“The barrier is holding,” one of the residents observed with relief.
“For now,” Zhou Bai muttered, checking her lord panel. The territory’s defense was consuming energy with each attack repelled. At this rate, they had maybe six hours before the barrier would need to be recharged or reinforced.
She made a quick decision. “I’m going to suggest we organize a defense force,” she told her parents quietly. “We can’t rely on the barrier forever.”
Zhou Bai approached the group of residents who were watching the magical beasts nervously. “We should organize ourselves,” she said, trying to sound like just another concerned resident. “Those creatures aren’t going to give up easily.”
The middle-aged man who had led the first group nodded. “You’re right. Anyone with combat experience or useful skills should step forward.”
To Zhou Bai’s surprise, several residents revealed hidden talents. The man with carpentry skills also had military training, while one of the women had been a martial arts instructor before the world changed.
“I can help organize patrols,” the former soldier offered.
“And I can train people in basic self-defense,” the martial arts instructor added.
As the residents organized themselves, Zhou Bai discreetly used her lord’s privileges to purchase additional weapons from the Blacksmith Shop and food from the Restaurant. She made it seem like she was just another resident contributing her resources.
By midday, Hope Village had its first organized defense force. The barrier continued to hold, but the magical beasts showed no signs of leaving. If anything, more were arriving.
“We need to expand,” Zhou Bai realized. “More buildings, better defenses, and we need to reach level 1 as a territory.”
She checked the upgrade requirements again:
【Population: 11/100】
【Buildings: 4/4 ✓】
【Lord level: lv.0 (75/100)】
The building requirement was met, but they needed more people, and she needed to level up. The experience was coming slowly from daily management tasks.
“What if we sent out recruitment parties?” she suggested during an impromptu residents’ meeting. “There are other survivors out there who need shelter.”
“Too dangerous with those beasts around,” the former soldier pointed out.
“Not if we’re smart about it,” Zhou Bai countered. “Small groups, well-armed, moving quickly. We could save lives and grow our community.”
The debate continued as the magical beasts maintained their siege. Zhou Bai knew that Hope Village was at a critical juncture. They could either grow stronger and become a true sanctuary, or remain a small, vulnerable settlement barely holding off the dangers of this new world.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the territory, Zhou Bai made her decision. Tomorrow, she would take more direct action to ensure Hope Village’s survival and growth, even if it meant revealing more of her true role as the territory’s lord.
The first day was about survival. Now it was time to build something that could last.
Outside the barrier, the magical beasts howled their frustration into the night, but within Hope Village’s walls, the residents slept peacefully, protected by the territory’s defenses and united in their determination to build a new life in this transformed world.
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