The village looked different when we returned.
Busier.
Louder.
Dozens of new players clogged the plaza, clustering around quest boards, merchants, and equipment stalls.
Word of our First Clear announcement had clearly spread.
Everywhere we passed, players looked up — whispering, nudging each other, pointing.
I kept my gaze forward, resisting the urge to sink into my hood like some nervous newbie.
Not yet.
Not anymore.
Near the blacksmith's shop, a SYSTEM message blinked into view:
[Village Prosperity: +2%]
Increased Vendor Stock Available
Village Expansion Progress: 7% Complete
I raised an eyebrow.
Expansion already?
In the future, villages like this could grow into fortified towns — with player-run auction houses, private shops, even guild halls.
But it all started here.
With the first clears.
The first victories.
The first real movement.
And for once, I was ahead of it.
We veered toward the smithy, the familiar clang of hammer on metal ringing through the air.
Inside, the blacksmith grunted as he caught sight of us.
"You lot look like you've seen the ugly side of Hollowshade."
Rayne laughed, tossing a battered Skitterling fang onto the counter.
"Twisted Foreman. Dead and buried."
The blacksmith's eyebrows rose.
"You serious? Already?"
Tessa stepped forward, dropping a handful of cracked monster cores.
"We're here to upgrade."
He grunted approvingly and motioned us toward his wares.
[Shop Inventory – Dawnlight Smithy (Expanded)]
Hardened Leather Tunic (Uncommon) – 35 Silver
Tempered Iron Shortsword (Uncommon) – 40 Silver
Balanced Spear (Uncommon) – 38 Silver
Reinforced Tower Shield (Uncommon) – 45 Silver
Better gear.
Pricier too.
But worth it.
I checked my silver.
[Current Silver: 43]
From the dungeon reward and loot sales, I had enough.
Barely.
After a moment's thought, I purchased the Tempered Iron Shortsword.
[Purchased: Tempered Iron Shortsword (Uncommon)]
[Attack +18 | Durability Improved]
I equipped it immediately, feeling the sharper weight and balance settle into my hands.
Solid.
Reliable.
Exactly what I needed for the fights ahead.
As we finished gearing up, a smaller SYSTEM message flickered into view:
[Hidden Path Discovered: Deeper Hollowshade Layers]
Further exploration available for advanced parties. Warning: Danger exceeds recommended starter levels.
Rayne whistled low.
"So that hidden tunnel was real."
Tessa tapped her spear thoughtfully against the ground.
"We're not ready. Not yet."
"Speak for yourself," Rayne said, grinning.
But even he didn't push further.
We all knew the truth.
The Twisted Foreman had nearly broken us — and that was just the beginning.
If we wanted to conquer the Deeper Layers?
We'd need more than beginner gear and a few lucky crits.
We'd need a real foundation.
Rayne clapped his hands together suddenly.
"Alright, business time. You all saw what we can do. I'm thinking we don't just party up for a dungeon or two."
He looked at us seriously for the first time.
"We build something. Together."
Tessa crossed her arms, considering.
Kale, still cradling his healing arm, just nodded once.
And me?
I hesitated.
Not because I didn't want it.
Because I did.
Because this was how it started — how the strongest guilds in the world were born.
Not through solo grinds or hollow rankings.
Through trust.
Through shared battles.
Through foundations laid early, when no one else was paying attention.
I met Rayne's gaze.
"Not a bad idea," I said slowly. "But if we're doing this, we do it right."
"No half-measures," Tessa agreed.
"No dead weight," Kale added quietly.
Rayne grinned.
"Exactly."
The idea wasn't a full guild yet — not officially.
We weren't ready for that.
Guild registration didn't even unlock until the village expanded further.
But a core party?
A founding group?
That, we could start now.
I sent friend requests to Tessa and Kale, who accepted without hesitation.
A new notification popped up.
[You have established a Trusted Party.]
Party Bonus: +2% Experience Gain Bonus Effects: Increased Party Cohesion
Small, almost laughably small — but it felt right.
It felt real.
We stepped back into the plaza together.
Players swarmed around the Village Board, shouting for dungeon runs, trade deals, alliances.
The world was growing faster than I remembered.
And just over the noise, I caught the tail end of a conversation between two players:
"—heard Redmist is already mobilizing."
"Seriously? From the beta testing guilds?"
"Yeah. And not just them. Ironstride, Blackthorn, a couple of the big corporations too. They're moving faster than anyone thought."
I froze for half a second.
Redmist.
Ironstride.
Blackthorn.
Names I remembered all too well.
In my past life, they hadn't just dominated the early game.
They'd carved empires — locked entire regions into monopolies, controlled trade, resources, dungeons.
Players who didn't join them were crushed or left to rot in the margins.
And once they moved into a region, breaking their hold was almost impossible.
Rayne elbowed me lightly.
"Hey. Earth to Damien."
I blinked, shaking it off.
"Yeah. I'm good."
But inside?
I wasn't calm.
Not really.
Because I knew what was coming.
Not just casual dungeon runs and minor rivalries.
Not just first clears and shiny loot.
But real wars.
Economic wars.
Guild wars.
Player wars.
And if we didn't move fast —
if we didn't build strong —
we'd get swept away.
Same as last time.
I clenched my fist, feeling the new sword settle against my side.
This time, it would be different.
This time, I'd build something that could stand.
Something that could win.
And nothing — not Redmist, not Blackthorn, not anyone — was going to stop me.