Expanding Frontier
<b>Year 112</b>
At first I left a gap of Rottends between the wider uncorrupted world and my recovered areas, as I expanded. Beneath all the once corruptednds were normalnds, and some of them had minerals, or had geological features that were once hidden by the sludge. Clearing thend meant all these were revealed, and the new trees used to clear these spaces discovered the higher concentration of certain minerals when their roots extended into the ground.
Some of these weremon minerals, like regr iron, or copper. Some areas were just certain types of soil that were suitable for making pottery or y. Id imagine these resources would be suitable for construction or allow the creation of certain industries. Though our poption is still only about 3,000ish, if the refugeese along, I would see this amount increase over time.
There will be refugees.
How would they get past the Rottends? Jura asked.
Good... point. That was when I realised my idea of creating a moat was quite stupid. Sure, the moat makes it harder for enemies toe in, and it also helped to thin any armys numbers by having to fight the demons, but, it almostpletely denied the refugees or anyone who wanted to live in my domain. And that meant I would forever have a far smaller army to work with.
Refugees in this world are mostly escapees of war, though they are desperate and may have levels, they are mostly unarmed and would not survive a whole month through the Rottends.
Since any army that wants a piece of me would march through the Rottends anyway, with all the necessary logistics to survive the journey, I decided to make smaller paths to the outside world, which would then be fortified with walls, various tree-defenses, and a huge bunch of beetles. That way, prospective refugees can still get a safe path in.
I cant do the same things as expect a better result.
An expansionary approach is something I didnt try, though I am fond of the turtling concept. In fact, maybe thats why Im even a tree. A tree by nature is a immobile, but perhaps I should embrace rapid expansion of weeds.
Were already drawing attention. A few of the survivors said. Aeons expansion has made ournds very attractive.
Theres so few of us. We cant hold off thosends.
Jura shook his head. Aeon has decided to hold on to thosends. Anyone who wants it will have to go through his army.
In fact, a nearby kingdom officiallyunched an invasion force of 30,000. They would cut across the small strip of Rottends and then start to settle in reimed areas closest to their kingdom. It wasnt much of a battle. By the time that army did cross the Rottends, they lost about 2,000 people. They gained levels, though.
When they emerged from the Rottends, Jura helped make an announcement that they are invading mynds. Of course, they ignored it. Then, they were attacked by hidden beetles, scattered across the newly made forests. There were some high leveled individuals in there, perhaps around level 50 to 80, and for those, I dealt with them personally. Mostly by just harassing them with [serpentine rootstrike], and a volley of poisonous fruits from everywhere.
Didnt take long for the 30,000 to be only 20,000, and then deciding that its better to just run away, since they soon realised the army of beetles is a lot bigger than they were prepared for. I have 100,000 subsidiary trees, and that meant if I ever max out on beetles, thats a total of 500,000 beetles. 500,000 beetles that regenerate 100,000 beetles per month. Its just... I could zerg-rush the nearest kingdoms. How many kingdoms can fight off 100,000 beetles each month anyway?
Of course, I cant practically max out beetles, since I have some dedicated for other roles, like housing, like training areas, or some as defenses.
Theres also the issue of levels. I mean, if someone kills 100,000 beetles, Im damned sure the systems going to give him some super beetle-immunity, or beetle resistance, or beetle-yer abilities.
In fact, this very issue is why its better to have a diversified army, because if at any time your opponent ever gains a skill advantage, it applies over the entirety of the army. Imagine if a [general] had [beetle yer general] or something like that. That would mean my beetles are effectively useless. Or maybe some mage gets [Bugspray] or something.
Ugh.
After that defeat, there was no more invasion for the rest of the year. I count that as a yay, because obviously now the other kingdoms realised it aint easy trying to takend away from a tree.
Trade andmerce is gradually returning, and so the survivors reorganised themselves as a new administrative body for the entirend, once again, with me as the spiritual leader. Theres norge scale refugee movement yet, not with thend being rtively peaceful. The demonic rifts have yet to reopen, and the hybrids of the Rottends dont seem to stray far from their native environment.
Any opinions? Jura went and met Yvon in her training tree. Yvon gained a wooden form that can talk andmunicate with people, but unlike Me or Alexis, her wooden body remained stuck in her tree. Quite strange, and I reckon the heroes just have special treatment.
Strategically, Aeon shouldmunicate with all the nearby kingdoms for alliances, and since thend is unupied, perhaps he could arrange some kind of lease or vassge system. Maybe work with some unhappy nobles in the kingdoms whod be happy to defect over to Aeons side, since Aeon would probably allow for a wider range of flexibility than some insecure King. In short, an arrangement simr to New Freeka, but open to the rest of them.
Theres going to be conflict. Jura shook his head. Youve seen how sensitive Aeon is with certain matters.
It can be managed. I personally have begun to realise its a question of distance. Aeon cares a lot less about what the kingdoms do, when they are far away. I suggest dering this entire valley some kind of Holy Land. Then all the cities that spring out around the valley to be the Holy Lands Defender Nations.
Jura just paused, and stared at Yvons wooden face. Seriously.
Its what the human kingdoms did a long time ago. The lesser human vassal nations around the main human country were referred to as the Pdin Kingdoms, the capital was the Sacred City of the Hero King.
Huh.
Historys interesting. It tells us what has been done before, and what we can do again. Yvon nodded. I would definitely rmend this strategy to Aeon. Lesser nations under one Spiritual Protector. Aeons already worshipped back in the days of New Freeka, a returning deity surely can sway the minds of many. He should very much take advantage of his past reputation, and his now-public rtionship with the hero.
The hero, Harris.
Ah yes. Harriss visit was widely publicized. The affairs of Harris, the Harem Hero Emperor was tabloid fodder. They spected whether theres a woman waiting for him at my ce, or perhaps an illegitimate child. Harris has quite a special position ording to the merchants, as he built his empire by reiming vast amounts of Rottends. In fact, his entire territory sits on reimed Rottends, with his army of summoned knights to patrol and fight off any monsters. Each time one of his many women has a child, he would reim morend, which would be awarded to that newly born child, though still managed by the crown.
I cant help but mentallyugh at the idea. I mean, hes like totally living the life of many isekai main characters, and the consequences of that sort of lifestyle, such that he has to reimnd to secure the future of each of his many children. As it turned out, heroes children actually do not inherit any of their father or mothers special blessings, so their children are absolutely ordinary, except for their special station in life.
Of course, their special station in life means they get the best trainers, teachers, equipment and gear, which, if they use it properly, thatll be good. But his oldest child, a teenager at 17 years old, is rumored to be arrogant, abuses his status as the prince and like his father, a womaniser. I mean, he had fun during the years having so many women, so now he has to deal with the consequences of having so many women, right?
Once he passes away some day in the future, maybe his kids will squabble and a war will break out among their children over thend. Since all the children all receive special star-mana weapons, extra enchantments and stuff, surely there will be perceived inequality and there will be war. Ive seen it in telenov, or even business empires!
In a way, maybe Yvon is right. I am in the unique position of being a nigh-immortal tree, surely any empire I build willst longer than one of human heroes. Its a norm that few empires survive their founders.
I spent some time thinking about it, and I think its a good idea, and totally worth trying. Lets try an expansionary strategy, and I do like the idea that this entire valley is sacrednd.
The survivors grouped together and split the territories around us into ten parcels, for now, with more toe as I expand further, and a deration was made. Ten parcels ofnd awaiting for settlement, a constitution drafted, with terms closing resembling that of the old New Freeka, but with some modifications.
A map was made, areas marked as protected territories, where norge scale settlement or logging can be made, and areas where the settlers can build their own homes. Each of the ten parcels were to determine their own rulers or governors, but they would have to operate under my umbre, provide a contribution to the overall military and magic defense, and ept instructions that I may periodically bestow.
In short, Ive be the tooltip or foreign monarch thats now going to handout duties to my new vassals. Kind of like Tropico.
Then, with the aid of some merchants, an invitation was made to everyone on the entirety of our continent. Though I suppose the message first got to the rich and powerful, eventually itll spread to themon folk.
Come. Join the Rottends Restoration Effort! Open up New Lands! Rebuild the Lost Cities of the past! Be part of Aeons Domain. Aeons Frontier! Be, a pioneer! Tenrgely self-governing parcels for the taking! Come!
And I waited.
Of course, this decision rather surprised Yvon and Jura, both didnt think I would do something like that. I know. I probably wouldnt. But my old strategy was not working, I want to grow! If it didnt work, I can just crush them with my army of 500,000 beetles!
With that settled, I moved on to other matters.
Harris was supposed to return with a bunch of artifacts that could store my skills, but he didnte this year. A messenger came and notified us that procurement of the necessary materials took far longer than expected.
And Erizs transformation into a [nursery tree] was quite interesting, and fascinating. Shes essentially arge tree thats like a childcare center, and like Yvon, she too can take the form of a tree person. Interestingly, she can make multiple copies of herself within the childcare center, and her mind somehow allows her to do all the things together. A part of her tree is able to produce all sorts of milk and saps to feed the young children, some even directly via vines that are shaped like milk bottles, or for the centaurs, udders, or for the treefolk, thick sap-like drops. Its really cool, and she gained level quite quickly.
Its quite surreal to still see you, mom. Roma said to Yvon, he sat inside her tree, practicing. I mourn your death, and yet, here you are.
She tapped Roma on the head. Well, looks like fate has other ns for me.
More like Aeon had other ns for you. And Im not quite sure if I like it.
She shrugged.
-
As the year slowly reached its end, after all that fighting and expanding, I got something I wanted.
[You have gained a level. You are now level 153]
[Your skill - Natural Mana Overwhelming has been upgraded].
I hoped for a new skill, but it seemed the system was more keen on just upgrading my skills. Still, it made it easier for my mana to push back and put out the demonic mana.
Next year, I would be closing in on the volcano and the Southwest Forest. Id hope to see how the rod and Dimitrees artificial mind is holding up. I had the notification that I lost my connection to Dimitree, but not one that indicated that he died. Perhaps, with the use of the magical leyline, he was able to use its mana to push back against the demonic corruption. That would be great, since I wouldnt have to rebuild that entire Southwest forest.
I would like to start reconnecting with the Lilies again. I have a lot of questions, and I think only great old beings like them can answer it.
Oh. Naming!
So, we need to brainstorm a name for our new city. The survivors reconvened. Apparently it was an important matter, because they didnt know how to describe themselves, and they didnt want to use the name of New Freeka, which was destroyed.
The conversation went somewhat like this. Neo Freeka. Too simr to the old name. Freekabaru. Eww. Free? No. AeonFreeka? Sounds too much like a bad nickname. Aeond? No!
After days, and I think weeks of numerous meetings, no one could settle on a name, because everyone wanted something else, and in the end, they voted as a whole, to force me to name the area.
I didnt have a good name either.
NewNewFreeka? Nope. EvenBetterFreeka? Freeka 3.0? Nope.
In the end, because we are deep in the Rottends, I decided something that opposed the meaning of Rotted.
Freshka.
Yes.
The City of Freshka. I felt numerous facepalms in the entirety of the valley, as if a million dreams were silenced and crushed all at once. I thought I was quite clever, but everyone else didnt. But, they reluctantly epted my proposed name. Because Freshka is Fresher! Fresh! Like new, but Fresh! Its like a bad cringeymercial. If Me was here shed say my naming sense is atrocious.
Freshka! The good thing is, its just going to be the name of the new city thats going to be built at a new location, quite a distance from the valley. I mean, now thatrge areas are back to their normal, forested ways, not everyone wants to live near a giant ming tree anymore. So, they found a ce where theres a river, a nice slightly sloped nd to start their new city.
3,000 people made the move there. The second new capital of the other restorednds. The other being Harriss empire, of course, which is on the other side of the continent. If the entire Rottends was an apple, his empire would be shaped like a bite into the apple.
Should I call the general area Fresnds, then? Freshans. Freeshkans. Freeshans dont sound that bad either.