Rise of empire: From gamer to emperor

He approached a small wooden cabinet at the outskirts of the village. Knocking on the door lightly, he entered the house.

Inside Tormund lay sprawled on the floor sleeping. Ethan crouched near him lightly shaking him.

Tormund groaned, rolling over. "If this ain't about food or a beautiful woman then allow me sleep in peace."

Ethan nudged him again.

"Tormund. It's Chief Ethan."

"I don't care if you're a bloody king, let me—" He suddenly sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Wait. Chief Ethan?"

"Apologies Chief, it's been a rather long night watch, I was trying to get some sleep."

"It's okay Tormund just a quick question and you can go back to your sleep."

"What is it Chief?" Tormund asked now seating upright.

"I want the names of Able bodied young men in the village." Ethan replied slowly standing up

Tormund followed standing up too "What for Chief?"

"A scouting trip, through The Vales."

Tormund ran a hand through his messy hair, sighing. "A forest expedition? Chief, those woods aren't just trees and fresh air. We don't know what's out there."

"I know." Ethan met his gaze. "That's why I need strong people with me. I'm not taking unnecessary risks."

Tormund studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But if we're doing this, I'm coming with you. Those kids are too hot-headed."

"Sure why not?" Shrugging he walked outside the house.

___________________________

Soon, they arrived at a small, run-down cabin. The roof sagged slightly, walls riddled with holes.

"Shh," Tormund whispered, pushing aside a tattered curtain.

Inside, three young men sat on the floor, engrossed in their game, two of them had their backs to the door, the other faced the door, noticing the soft creaking of the floor board he glanced up staring wide eyed at Ethan and Tormund.

The others still oblivious continued their game."Oi, James you bloody cheat!" One of them said punching the other playfully.

James rubbed his hands, "I am not." Before noticing Jordan's Expression. "What is it Jordan."

Following Jordan's gaze he saw Tormund standing akimbo, staring at them with a smirk on his face and Ethan smiling. He yelped—knocking over the dice as he scrambled to his feet saluting.

"Chi-Chief! Commander Tormund! We were just… uh… training our reflexes!"

Jordan awkwardly stood up, while Jared turned staring at Tormund and Ethan.

Jared sighed, facepalming. "Just shut up, James."

Tormuemd chuckled. "I am no commander James, just a simple village night watchman."

Ethan crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at James. "Reflex training? That so?"

James gulped. "Y-yes, Chief."

Ethan let the silence stretch before smirking. "Good. You'll need it where we're going."

Jared scratched his head. "Where exactly are we going Chief?"

Ethan replied off handedly. "The Vale."

The triplet gasped.

Ethan watched their reactions carefully. Good. They weren't stupid—they knew this wasn't a game.

He needed fear, but not paralysis. Respect for danger, but not cowardice. The right balance meant survival.

Tormund smirked. "What? Scared all of a sudden?"

James hollered, "Of course not commander!" Cracking his knuckles. "Can't wait to punch some wild boars."

Jared sighed rubbing his forehead. "You say it like it's a picnic. There are beasts and other things in there."

Ehtna cut in, "Doesn't matter we're not going hunting. We're going resource scouting. You up for it boys?"

"Hell yeah." James replied pumping his fist. Staring at his brother Jared sighed.

Tormund clapped his hands before heading for the door. "Alright boys let's get going." Ethan followed the triplets closely behind him.

___________________________

The village streets smelled of fresh bread and damp earth, the early morning still carrying a chill. A few chickens wandered lazily between wooden homes, and a blacksmith's hammer rang in the distance.

As they walked passed the handful of villagers passing by them, they exchanged pleasantries with them as the made their way towards the outskirt.

"Are they going to the Vale?" One of the villagers murmured.

The others watching gasped.

One of the children observing them yelled. "Safe journey Chief."

The rest chorused. "Safe journey Chief."

Staring at the dense jungle Jordan swallowed hard. "The Vale... You do know the last scouting party never came back, right?"

James scoffed. "They were probably idiots."

"Or," Jared muttered, "they heard the whispers and ignored them."

Ethan paused raising an eyebrow. "Whispers?"

Jared hesitated. "The hunters say when you step into the Vale, the trees listen. You can hear something breathing, but there's no wind."

Tormund cracked his neck. "Well, boys. Hope you all kissed your mother goodbye."

___________________________

Jared glanced around cautiously as they walked through the dense jungle. "Grandfather was in the last scouting party that came back. You know what he told me before he died?"

Ethan. "What?"

Jared lowered his voice. "He said something was watching them. And when they ran… the trees moved."

James chuckled. "Gramps sure had a vivid imagination."

"Or maybe it was real." Jordan cut in.

They walked in silence for a few minutes the occasionally rustling and crunching of leaves filling the air.

Then Jordan froze, his face paling. "Did you guys hear that?"

Tormund's grip tightened around his cutlass. "Hear what?"

Ethan unsheathed The Twins, warily scanning the treeline.

After a while James shrugged grinning. "I don't hear anything, none of us do. Maybe you inherited Gramps imagination."

"Huh, I swore I heard something." Jordan scratched his head awkwardly.

Ethan sheated back The Twins, "Must've been the wind." Walking briskly. "Come on boys the day isn't getting any younger."

Staring at the system screen. Use resource point locator.

The HUD in his eyes lit up displaying.

[Searching resources within a one mile radius.]

[Mapping resources.]

Scattered icons appeared all over the screen within a small circle, Ethan gasped. Holy shit I'm sitting on a literal gold mine of resources.

Tormund's voice broke through his thoughts. "Chief? You good?"

Ethan blinked, snapping back. "Yeah. More than good."

Approaching a small rock formation that formed a cliff. Running his hands across the cracks on the metamorphic rock.

"That is how you spot an iron deposit."

Jared cut in, "Just a crack?"

Ethan shook his head, "There's more notice the slight reddish brown stain running across the rock?"

The crew nodded.

Facing them he bowed lightly. "That's your final clue. That and the cracks is how you know an iron ore deposit."

Interrupting the lesson Tormund knelt down, rubbing his fingers over the dirt.

"Chief." His voice was unusually serious.

Ethan turned. "What?"

Tormund held up a rusted pickaxe head, half-buried in the soil. "We're not the first ones to pass through here."

Staring at the axe head Etha frowned, "Alright let's head back, I don't want to stick around long enough to find out who passed through here."

As they walked back, the system blinked.

[Side mission: Claim the iron deposit.]

[Objective: Build a mine shaft near the iron deposit.]

[Reward: x20 pickaxe, x5 miners and stone wall blueprints.]

Ethan muttered under his breath. "No bonus perks this time?"

[What are you gonna do about it cry? Well Boo hoo then.]