Monday arrived with an unexpected gift—another holiday. Adrian's college had declared a sudden closure, though no official reason was given. The news channels, however, had reported that all public and private institutions had come to a halt.
Adrian wasn't one to question a blessing.
He had been worried about how to balance his college life with his newfound obsession with War Crown, but now, that problem had conveniently solved itself. He thought about stepping out for breakfast—maybe grabbing some hot parotta and chicken curry from the street vendor nearby—but immediately scrapped the idea.
Yesterday's outing had been a disaster.
The hushed whispers from his neighbors, the mocking glances from his college mates—especially the girls—still lingered in his mind. His embarrassing run-in with the police and the delivery man had left an impression far deeper than he had expected. The last thing he needed was another round of silent judgment.
Instead, he settled for the ultimate comfort food—Maggi and eggs. Simple, easy, and more importantly, safe from prying eyes. As he set a pot of water to boil, he made a mental note to stock up on groceries.
But all thoughts of real-world responsibilities vanished the moment he plugged in the console and powered up the game.
The screen flickered to life.
[Your progress has been recalibrated.]
And there it was—the post-battle rewards.
[A Victory!]
[+3 Faction Points]
[+1 Skill Point]
[+1 Lifespan]
Adrian leaned back, satisfied. His playable character, Kael Von Steel, was now safely garrisoned in the capital, his troops fully replenished. A small grin tugged at Adrian's lips. He had fought, he had learned, and now he was reaping the benefits.
With practiced ease, he opened the status screen, scanning Kael's current progress.
[Name: Kael Von Steel]
[Tier 0 (Peak)]
[Lifespan: 27/81]
[Equipment: Blackforge Steel Set]
[Skill Panel:]
Adrian navigated to the Skill Panel, and the screen flooded
with choices. He also noted that his lifespan, which was 80 years old, had now changed to 81.
Swordsmanship.
Battle Aura.
Healing Domain.
And many more, each tempting in its own way.
But his one measly skill point severely limited his options. The advanced skills were locked away, their glowing icons taunting him with grayed-out barriers. For now, he could only afford the basics.
His eyes landed on Swordsmanship. A fundamental skill, but one he knew would serve him well. With a decisive click, he selected it.
The moment he did, a new detail caught his attention.
The Swordsmanship icon shifted slightly, revealing three empty sockets, with just one now filled.
Adrian frowned.
The message was clear—mastery wasn't a single purchase. He would need two more skill points to fully develop Swordsmanship and unlock its true potential.
Adrian's eyes flicked over the Swordsmanship skill description one last time. It claimed to boost attack power, but there were no numerical stats, no clear indicator of how much it had improved.
Did it make Kael twice as strong? Ten percent stronger?
The game wasn't telling him.
Still, he chose to believe it had made a difference. With no way to measure the improvement, he pushed the thought aside and moved on.
Next, he turned his attention to the Faction Panel.
A single click, and an expansive array of policies and reforms unfolded before him. The sheer number of options was overwhelming—military restructuring, economic strategies, diplomatic maneuvers. Each one carried long-term consequences.
But Adrian didn't hesitate. He already knew what he wanted.
His cursor hovered over a particularly blunt upgrade.
[What's Mine is Mine, and What's Yours is Also Mine]
A ruthless tax collection buff. The description was simple: "Accelerates and enforces efficient taxation."
Adrian smirked. Perfect.
Without a second thought, he dumped three points into it, maxing it out. A small notification appeared:
[Takes effect in one turn.]
With that settled, he exited the panel and returned to the main game.
He ended his turn.
The game came alive, faction icons flickering at the top of the screen as other rulers made their moves.
One caught his eye—the Successionists from Crustenel.
A rebel stronghold within Dawn Province, already mobilizing. Troop formations shifted on the map, their forces growing. They weren't just defending; they were preparing for war.
Kael would have to strike first.
The next turn began, and a notification flashed across the screen.
[What's Mine is Mine, and What's Yours is Also Mine] (III) Activated.]
Immediately, his treasury updated. Before, he had been receiving a steady +500 coins per turn in tax revenue.
Now? +1000.
Adrian grinned. A massive improvement.
For the first time, he had real financial breathing room. If he wanted to raise an army, he could now afford it.
But just as he was about to raise an full blown army, a prompt appeared on the side of the screen.
[BARRACKS REQUIRED] – Cost: 500 Coins]
Adrian exhaled. Right. Infrastructure first, then soldiers.
With a single press, the funds were spent, and construction began on the capital, called Dawnspire.
The barracks would take two turns to complete.
Adrian groaned, slumping back into his chair. Watching his enemies strengthen their forces while he sat idly was excruciating. On the map, the Successionists continued their preparations, their unit numbers ticking upward. Each turn, their forces swelled.
Meanwhile, his capital remained eerily stagnant.
Damn it.
He couldn't do anything until the barracks were finished.
Adrian drummed his fingers against his desk, impatience gnawing at him. He had the money. The soldiers. The will to fight.
But all he could do was watch and wait.
"Fine," he muttered, clicking through the interface. "Fast forward."
Two Turns Later...
[Barracks Completed.]
Adrian exhaled in relief. Finally, he had the foundation to raise an army. His treasury reflected a healthy 2000 coins, more than enough to recruit troops.
Excited, he selected the Barracks and browsed the list of available units.
Swordsmen – Basic infantry
Spearmen – Longer reach, effective against cavalry.
Pikemen – These were pure cannon fodder.
Swords and Shields – More durable, well-rounded frontline troops.
Crossbowmen – Ranged attackers, deadly from a distance.
Adrian leaned forward, considering his choices. He needed a balanced force—something sturdy, yet flexible.
Two Spearmen. Two Crossbowmen. One Swords and Shields.
That gave him a solid front line and ranged support. Spearmen for enemy charges, Crossbowmen for distant kills, and a tough melee fighter in Swords and Shields.
With a few quick clicks, his selections were made. The recruitment orders were issued.
Adrian's army was finally taking shape.
And soon, it would be time to march.