Zyrha held the bird in both hands like a prize she'd won from a particularly sketchy carnival game.
It was still slightly warm. Very feathered. Somewhat bent in shape from being crushed under a rock slab, but hey meat was meat.
She gave it a dignified nod.
"Thank you for your noble sacrifice, you delicious little sky menace."
[Acknowledged. Target eliminated. Culinary potential: Medium-high.]
"Wait can you actually analyze flavor?"
[Not unless you install the Gourmet Expansion Pack.]
"…Please never say that again."
She began gathering materials, humming a little tune that only truly deranged people or newly-fed goblins would hum. Twigs, bark, dry leaves. She added a few fist-sized stones to make a makeshift fire ring outside her cave, then found a half-burnt stick that would serve as a skewer.
Fire, however, was another matter.
Zyrha squinted.
"…I do not have fire magic."
[Observation: You also lack flint, steel, or survival skills.]
She gave the System's tone a dirty look. "So unless I use the power of righteous hunger, this bird's going raw?"
[One-time assistance granted.]
A tiny, digital spark flicked from thin air into the dry kindling. A moment later, smoke rose, and flame licked the edge of the wood.
Zyrha blinked. "…Did you just cheat for me?"
[Congratulations. You're officially receiving pity from your own interface.]
She stabbed the bird onto her makeshift spit, holding it over the fire with a reverent intensity usually reserved for holy relics.
The scent of cooking meat hit her like a physical blow.
It sizzled , It popped , and It glistened slightly with bird-fat.
Her stomach rumbled with enough power to summon spirits.
And from above Skreee… Jeremy.
The bat had descended from the cave, fluttering awkwardly down to a nearby rock. He landed with a dignified flump, eyes locked on the bird with deep, offended betrayal.
Zyrha raised an eyebrow. "You want some?"
Jeremy made a noise that sounded like the gasp of a ghost mixed with an executive-level sneeze.
"Alright, alright." She carefully sliced a chunk of roasted meat from the side and tossed it gently onto the rock beside him.
The bat sniffed it suspiciously.
Then devoured it like it owed him money.
"Charming," she muttered, tearing a strip of her own and taking the first bite.
It was…
Tough. Overcooked in places. Undercooked in others. Bits of feather still stuck to the edge. Possibly slightly smoky from burning moss.
But to her?
It was divine.
She closed her eyes and groaned softly. "Is this what royalty feels like?"
[No. But statistically speaking, most monarchs also appreciate meat that doesn't kill them.]
She took another bite, chewing with a little more dignity. "You know what, DreadCore? Life doesn't suck as much today."
[Please be more specific. That's a broad emotional spectrum.]
"I mean I'm not starving. I'm not bleeding. Nothing is currently trying to kill me, and I just roasted a bird over an actual fire. I feel like I leveled up in general competence."
[Reminder: You did not.]
She snorted then paused.
"…Wait. What did I get from the quest again?"
[Opening Reward Log…]
Quest Rewards Received:
50 EXP(You are now 50/250 EXP toward Level 3)
Basic Healing Salve(Restores 50 HP. Smells like mint and regret.)
New Feature Unlocked: Kingdom Seed
Zyrha blinked. "Kingdom what?"
[You have unlocked the foundational feature of the DreadCore system: Kingdom Creation.]
"…I'm sorry. Did you say Kingdom Creation? I just killed one bird. ONE. A dumb bird."
[And that, apparently, qualifies you to rule a sovereign domain. Congratulations.]
She stared at her half-eaten bird.
Then at Jeremy, who was licking his bat lips.
Then back at the system window.
"Okay… how does this work?"
A new interface appeared before her sleek, glowing, unnecessarily dramatic.
KINGDOM ESTABLISHMENT
Choose your starting location.This will become the Seat of your Dominion.A Level 1 Stronghold will be created.Buffs will apply to all actions within your domain.Expansion, construction, and summoning options will be unlocked.
Zyrha looked around.
Her options were… limited.
The open Blight? Too exposed. The ruins? Probably haunted. The well? Definitely haunted.
Her gaze drifted back to the shadowy, rocky comfort of her beloved rat hole.
"…I choose my cave."
[Are you sure?]
"Yes. It's dry, it's hidden, and Jeremy lives there."
Jeremy made a noise like a leathery approval stamp.
[Confirmed. Designating: Cave of Zyrha – Capital of Zero Expectations.]
"…Wait, what did you just call it?"
[The name was algorithmically generated based on your personality profile.]
"…I hate how accurate that is."
Suddenly, a pulse of warmth spread through the earth beneath her feet. A soft glow lit up the entrance of the cave, and a strange sensation rushed through her chest as if something invisible had just planted itself deep into the stone and said, Mine.
She turned, eyes wide, and stepped inside.
The changes were immediate.
The cave now had structure.
The ceiling was no longer a crumbly dome of despair. It had subtle carvings in the stone, glowing faintly with runes she didn't understand. The walls were smoother, with shelves of natural rock forming in elegant tiers. In the back, a faint aura outlined the beginnings of a room divider—just shadows now, but promising privacy in the future.
A soft warmth lingered in the air, pushing out the usual cold draft.
Near her sleeping area, a small crate had appeared, etched with the DreadCore insignia. Inside: stacks of rough planks, bundles of straw, and even some polished stone tiles.
"Materials?" she asked, approaching it.
[Correct. You may now improve your stronghold with upgrades and décor. Current Kingdom Level: 1.]
Kingdom: Zyrhalia Level: 1 – "Pathetic but Proud" TierBuffs:
+5% HP regeneration while resting inside
+10% crafting success rate
Emotional Stability Aura: Slightly reduces existential dread
Upgrade Materials Needed for Level 2:
10 Stone
5 Wood Planks
3 Monster Cores
100 EXP
Slightly more ambition Zyrha stared at the new space It wasn't big It wasn't luxurious but it was hers.
Her pathetic little cave had become the humble spark of a kingdom.
She flopped dramatically onto her pile of stolen fabrics, a stupid smile spreading across her face.
"You know what, DreadCore?"
[Yes, ruler of rock and regret?]
"I'm starting to think this whole world domination thing… might actually work out."
Jeremy screeched softly