Ethan Cole - The Unlimited System

Ethan stood near the wide arch of the observatory's broken window, watching the horizon fade into shades of gold and ash.

The soldiers he had brought with him, including the captives, those few who had chosen to leave everything behind, had already started to settle.

Some sat in silence. Others walked around the ruined structure, eyes wary, steps careful.

"I told them to rest," Ethan said without looking back. "Because later, I believe I have a lot to give them to do."

Alden stood behind him, arms crossed and brow tight with confusion. Hera sat quietly on a flat stone, legs crossed, her expression calm as always.

The three of them had moved to a corner of the observatory where voices wouldn't echo too far.

Once the quiet settled, Ethan turned around and got straight to the point.

"I need to build my own empire."

Alden blinked. "You what?"

Ethan said nothing more. He just looked at Alden, serious and certain.

"You mean, like... rule over people?" Alden asked again, his voice louder than he intended. "Like a real emperor?"

Hera didn't react the same way. Her brows lifted slightly, but there was no shock in her face. She tilted her head and said, "It's another mission, isn't it?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah."

He expected more questions, more disbelief, maybe even mockery, but Hera just accepted it, as if it made sense to her.

He frowned. "You're not surprised?"

Hera looked up at him and gave a small shrug. "You don't realize how much your presence changes things. Besides, you're not even from this world."

Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Still. I never told you about my other secrets."

"You didn't need to," she replied.

Ethan let out a quiet breath. She had noticed more than he expected.

Alden scratched the back of his neck. "Okay, wait. Let's rewind. Building an empire?"

He then turned to look at Ethan and asked a few more questions. "Like actual land, soldiers, walls, taxes and all that? Is that really part of your mission?"

"Apparently," Ethan said. "Every empire starts with a settlement. That's what it told me."

Alden let out a low whistle. "That's... huge."

Ethan looked down at his palm for a moment before clenching it. "And it's only the beginning."

There was a long pause before Hera stood up.

"Then we need a place. Somewhere that's safe, hidden, with natural resources and enough distance from any major empire. If you're going to plant something new, it can't be too close to the rot that's already spread."

Ethan nodded slowly. "Exactly. I don't want to rule people, for now. I just want a place that's free. A place that doesn't belong to Kannan or Velharis. Somewhere to prepare for the real war."

Alden muttered under his breath, "You're starting to sound like a ruler already."

Ethan chuckled. "Let's not go that far."

But deep inside, he knew. This wasn't just another mission.

This was the beginning of something far greater.

Alden glanced around at the crumbling walls of the observatory, then back at Ethan.

"If you need a place… why don't we just start with this one?" he said casually, as if the idea had been sitting at the edge of his mind all along.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, then turned his gaze slowly toward Hera.

She wasn't quick to respond. Her eyes lingered on the far wall, the cracks in the stone, the ivy creeping through the windows, and the faint smell of moss in the air.

There was something else flickering behind her thoughtful expression, old knowledge, perhaps, or memories that hadn't surfaced in a while.

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"This place..." Hera finally said, her voice calm but careful. "It wasn't abandoned because of age or danger."

She turned to face them both.

"There's a river that runs nearby. Not too close to the surface, but near enough. It interfered with the mana patterns of the observatory. That's why they left it. It made it impossible to maintain the structure's original purpose of measuring and reading the skies."

"So it's not cursed or anything?" Alden asked, only half-joking.

Hera shook her head. "No. It's actually rich with life. The energy here is dense. Wild. That's why the observatory failed. But if you're planning to build a settlement... it could work."

"So you're saying this place is alive," he said.

Hera nodded. "Very much. It rejected the Empire's control. But it might accept yours, if you're careful."

Ethan turned slowly, taking in the observatory again with new eyes.

The ruined walls. The open roof. The cracks and the creeping vines. The wild grass outside and the cold wind rushing through. It was all broken, but it wasn't dead.

Maybe it was exactly what he needed.

"I don't need something perfect," he said softly. "I just need something real."

Alden smiled. "Well, it's real, alright. And ugly. But it's ours now, I guess?"

Ethan gave a small laugh.

"Yeah," he said. "It starts here."

Just as Ethan made up his mind, a soft chime echoed in his head. It was clear and gentle, almost like a bell swaying in the wind, but it only rang for him.

Then came the notification.

=====

[System Notification]

You have found a suitable location with rich elemental resources, flowing water, and untamed land.

Would you like to designate this place as your First Settlement?

Note: This is a permanent decision. Your Empire will begin here.

[YES]   [NO]

=====

Ethan didn't hesitate.

'Yes,' he answered in his mind, his thoughts firm and immediate.

There was a moment of silence, followed by a rush of heat through his chest. It wasn't pain, nor was it discomfort. It felt like something within him had just reached out and touched the land beneath his feet.

The connection was made.

The observatory seemed to hum faintly. The vines trembled. Dust shifted along the stone walls, and a faint pulse of energy rippled through the broken floor like a heartbeat echoing back to him.

=====

[SYSTEM UPDATE]

First Settlement: Established

Name: [To Be Named]
Type: Foundational Zone – Tier 1
Region: Southern Reach, Anterra

Settlement Features Unlocked:
[+] Territory Management
[+] Structure Building
[+] Resource Tracking
[+] Command Assignments

New Panels added under [Empire Building]

=====

Ethan froze the moment the notification settled in his mind. His breath caught slightly, and his expression stiffened, not from fear or worry, but from surprise. Genuine, quiet surprise.

Alden tilted his head. "Something wrong?"

Hera narrowed her eyes slightly, as if already sensing the answer.

Ethan raised a hand gently. "No. Nothing's wrong. I just… need a few minutes."

Without waiting for more questions, he turned away from them and walked to a quiet spot near the edge of the broken observatory wall. The wind brushed softly against his back. He lowered himself to the ground, legs crossed, sword at his side.

To anyone watching, it would seem like he was meditating, maybe recovering.

But what he really wanted was to take a look.

'Let me see what this Empire Building thing is all about,' he thought.

He closed his eyes.

The familiar interface of the system appeared in his mind. Lines of energy pulsed softly in a pale golden hue. Then a new tab formed beneath his core system structure.

=====

[Empire Building Panel]

Your foundation has been laid. All great empires begin from humble beginnings. This land is yours now, but how you shape it will determine your future.

=====

Ethan leaned inward mentally, focus sharp.

=====

[Name Your Empire]

=====

He took a deep breath.

This was more than just a name.

This was the mark of something new.

The turning point between a lone fighter surviving… and a king rising.

'It has to mean something,' he thought. 'A symbol for what I'm building. For what I came here to stop. And for what I want to create.'

His mind wandered for a moment to the Flame Dragon Sword, to the growing weight of strength in his hand. To the broken ruins around him, and to the new lives choosing to follow him.

A single word formed in his mind, unshaken.

Powerful.

Clear.

He mentally pressed into the system and answered.

"Eternal Kingdom."

He confirmed it with a single thought.

The screen pulsed.

A soft glow spread from the panel, and suddenly, Ethan felt it, as if something had anchored itself into the land beneath him. The observatory, the stone walls, even the air around them, they now responded to his will.

A new empire had been born.

And its name would be remembered.

Ethan opened his eyes slowly.

There was a faint shimmer in them, like embers quietly burning beneath the surface.

Alden, who had been watching closely, leaned forward and asked, "Everything okay?"

Ethan nodded once, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"More than okay," he said as he stood. "In fact… you might want to step back. You're about to see something magical."

Alden raised an eyebrow. "Magical how?"

Hera, already sensing something was about to happen, took a cautious step back.

Ethan extended his hand forward. He could feel it now, the land itself responding.

Panels floated into his vision, translucent and glowing, each one linked to the new features embedded into the system.

This place, once forgotten, was now claimed.

His will was no longer just his own. It was tied to the heart of something greater.

And now, it was time to shape it. Piece by piece.

The Eternal Kingdom would rise.