《The World Beyond the Boundary》 Chapter 1: A New World Chapter 1: A New World The world around him changed in an instant. Just moments ago, John was sitting in a lecture hall, half-listening to the monotonous voice of his professor. Now, he stood in the middle of a vast clearing, surrounded by a dense and seemingly endless forest. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth, but it did nothing to calm his racing heart. His thoughts pulsed with a single question: What the hell is going on?! He looked around. The clearing was unnaturally even, as if deliberately prepared for something. The grass beneath his feet was soft yet strangely resilient, almost artificial. In the very center stood a peculiar structure¡ªa massive stone altar with a glowing crystal embedded in it. The crystal pulsed with a soft, shifting light, cycling through shades of blue and violet, as if it were alive. Beyond the clearing, the forest loomed¡ªtowering ancient trees with thick trunks and dense canopies that barely let any sunlight through. Strange sounds echoed from within the darkness¡ªrustling leaves, snapping branches, and something heavy moving unseen. "Hey!" John called out, but his voice seemed to vanish into the empty space. No response. Then, suddenly, a translucent window appeared before his eyes, much like a game interface. The text displayed was in a language he could understand, though that did little to ease his growing panic. "Welcome, Lord John Mercer. You have been chosen to participate in the Great Trial. Your goal is to develop your territory and survive in this world. You are granted a 7-day protection period during which your land will be safe from monster attacks. Use this time wisely." Mikhail froze. His brain struggled to process what he was seeing. Is this a joke? A dream? Or have I lost my mind? He rubbed his eyes, but the window remained in place. New lines of text appeared below. Available Actions:
  1. Construct a Town Hall (Free).
  2. Activate the Summoning Altar (Free).
  3. Claim the Starter Development Pack.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"Alright¡­" he whispered, trying to steady his breathing. "If this is real, then I need to act." He hesitated for only a moment before selecting the first option¡ªConstruct a Town Hall. The ground beneath him trembled slightly, and before his eyes, wooden beams and planks began rising from the earth, assembling themselves into a small yet sturdy structure. Within moments, a simple wooden building stood before him. A plaque above the entrance read: "Small Village Town Hall. Level 1." The inside was empty except for a few wooden benches and a table in the center. It was nothing fancy, but it was a start. Next, Mikhail approached the altar. As he neared, the crystal¡¯s glow intensified, as if reacting to his presence. He pressed the second option¡ªActivate Summoning Altar. The crystal flared brightly, and suddenly, ten figures appeared around the altar. They looked human, their clothing simple and worn, their faces filled with confusion. One of them, a middle-aged man with graying hair, stepped forward. "Are you our Lord?" he asked, bowing slightly. Mikhail hesitated but then nodded. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure what that meant, but there was no point in denying it. "Yes," he said, doing his best to sound confident. "Welcome. Our first priority is to set up camp and figure out what resources we have." As the summoned villagers began surveying their surroundings, Mikhail pressed the final option¡ªClaim the Starter Development Pack. A small wooden chest materialized on the ground beside him. He opened it to find a set of tools: an axe, a shovel, a pickaxe, and a coil of rope. Among them was also a weapon¡ªa heavy warhammer, its head engraved with strange symbols. As he picked it up, he was surprised by how naturally it fit in his grip. "At least I¡¯m not defenseless," he muttered, testing the weight of the hammer. At that moment, another notification appeared before his eyes: "John Mercer. Lord. Level 1." A small experience bar sat beneath the stats, reading: 0/100 XP. John frowned. So I can level up? But how? He turned to his newly summoned followers. Each of them had a faint, glowing tag above their heads displaying their basic stats: "Peasant. Level 1." John exhaled slowly. "Alright," he said, addressing the group. "Let¡¯s get to work. Who here knows how to cut trees? Who can help with building shelters?" The villagers exchanged uncertain glances before a few cautiously stepped forward. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was a start. As they began organizing themselves, John felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. He was their Lord now. It was up to him to lead them, to ensure they survived¡­ and to uncover whatever secrets this world was hiding. Chapter 2: First Steps John stood before his new subjects, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. Ten people looked at him expectantly, waiting for direction. He was no longer just a university student¡ªhe was a Lord. Even if it was only a small village, it was still something. "Alright," he began, doing his best to sound confident. "Let¡¯s start organizing the camp. Who here knows how to chop wood?" Several hands went up. John nodded. "Great. Grab some axes and start gathering lumber. We need to build shelters and secure the perimeter. Does anyone have experience with tools?" Two more raised their hands. One of them, a broad-shouldered man in his thirties with calloused hands, spoke up. "I¡¯m a carpenter. I can help with construction." "Perfect," John replied. "You¡¯ll be in charge of building. The rest of you, assist him. Does anyone know anything about plants or hunting?" A young woman with short brown hair hesitantly raised her hand. "I¡¯m an herbalist. I can try to find edible plants." "Excellent," John nodded. "Focus on that. The rest of you, help where you can. We need to set everything up before nightfall." The villagers got to work, moving with a purpose. As John watched them, he felt a strange warmth in his chest. These were his people now, and it was his duty to protect them. Yet something in their eyes unsettled him. They looked confused, almost as if they couldn¡¯t remember who they were. When he asked the carpenter where he came from, the man only shrugged. "I don¡¯t know, Lord. I remember how to work with wood, but I don¡¯t recall where I learned it." John frowned. It seems like the system wipes their personal memories but leaves their skills intact. It was strange, but there was no time to dwell on it now. He approached the summoning altar. The crystal at its center continued to pulse with a gentle glow. As he placed his hand on it, a new interface window appeared before him: Summoning Altar. Level 1. "Good," he muttered. "Tomorrow, we¡¯ll have more hands."This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. He glanced around. The clearing¡ªhis newly acquired territory¡ªfelt small and vulnerable. The dense forest surrounding them was dark and foreboding, and he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was watching from within the trees. Every so often, strange sounds echoed from the depths¡ªrustling leaves, snapping branches, and heavy, deliberate footsteps. "We need to reinforce the perimeter," he told himself. "Otherwise, we might not survive the night." He gripped the warhammer he had received from the starter pack, testing its weight. The weapon felt natural in his hands, but he knew he had no real experience using it. Before today, the heaviest thing he had lifted was a laptop. Now, he had no choice but to learn. "Lord!" the carpenter called out. "We found something unusual." John walked over to the group gathered at the edge of the clearing. On the ground lay a strange object¡ªa small crystal, glowing faintly blue. "What is it?" he asked, kneeling to examine it. Minor Energy Crystal. "This could be useful," John said, picking it up. "Good find. Keep searching¡ªthere might be more valuable things around." He slipped the crystal into his pocket and looked up. The sun was at its peak, bathing the clearing in warm light. He watched as his villagers worked¡ªthe carpenter and his helpers chopping wood, the herbalist gathering plants, and others clearing space for future buildings. Everything seemed to be going well, until a sudden noise broke the peace¡ªa high-pitched screech mixed with a guttural growl. "Lord!" one of the villagers shouted, stumbling back. "There¡¯s something in the bushes!" John turned just in time to see a small creature leap from the undergrowth. It had green skin, pointed ears, and narrow, hate-filled eyes. A goblin. In its hands, it clutched a crude wooden club, gnarled and splintered. The goblin snarled and lunged at the nearest villager¡ªa young man frozen in fear. "Hey!" John shouted, gripping his warhammer. "Get away from him!" The goblin ignored him, closing the distance fast. John didn¡¯t think¡ªhe acted. He sprinted forward, heart pounding, instincts screaming at him to move faster. This was his village. These were his people. He had to protect them. The goblin swung its club, but John intercepted the blow with his warhammer. Wood clashed against metal with a dull thunk, and the goblin recoiled, hissing in pain. John seized the opportunity, bringing his weapon down in a crushing arc. The goblin yelped as it was sent sprawling, its body motionless. "Is everyone alright?" John asked, turning to the terrified villager. "Y-yes, Lord," the man stammered. "Thank you." John nodded, but his attention was already on the object the goblin had dropped. A tightly bound leather waterskin. He picked it up and shook it¡ªliquid sloshed inside. He pulled the stopper and sniffed cautiously. "Water," he said, exhaling in relief. "Clean water." This was a major find. He had been wondering how they would secure a water source, and this was a step in the right direction. He handed the waterskin to the herbalist. "Take this. We need to set up water storage and find a way to collect more." "Yes, Lord," she replied, taking it carefully. John looked back at the forest. What had once seemed like just scenery now felt like an ominous wall of unknown dangers. If one goblin had found them, there could be more lurking beyond the trees. "Listen up!" he called out to his people. "Work in groups. No one wanders too far from the camp. Stay alert¡ªthis world is unforgiving." The villagers nodded, but fear flickered in their eyes. John understood their worry. They needed better defenses, more buildings, and more resources. But time was against them. The sun had already begun its descent, and as darkness crept closer, so did the dangers that lurked in the night.