César's Point of View
Dawn arrived wrapped in a thin veil of mist.
Light filtered through the trees, gathering around the wooden houses as if the forest itself breathed with us. I felt the flow of mana brush against my skin—faint, but steady.
Now that I possessed a Mana Core, my focus had shifted to Aura. I had already entered Phase I — Aura Awakening (Martial Apprentice).
Now I needed to advance to Phase II — Martial Opening (Novice Warrior): the Opening of the Sixteen Martial Channels.
But unfortunately, it was not yet time to attempt opening them. Unlike mana, which could be increased with environmental support or mana-rich food, aura could only be strengthened through consistency and hard effort.
Still…
It was enough.
Today, I had no intention of training aura.
Today, I gave the order for the entire clan to awaken.
The bone horn sounded once.
A clear signal: assemble. No exceptions.
I stood at the front, Asia to my right, Sasha to my left. Lina remained slightly behind, observing carefully.
It was not accidental.
Every position spoke for itself.
"We all know there is a group out there," I began firmly, "one that subjugates, enslaves, and kills the weak… and anyone who refuses to kneel."
Silence thickened.
"Until now," I continued, "we have survived. We have grown."
Some lowered their heads. Others clenched their fists. At any moment, we could face the Pigmen.
"We have hunted, fled, hidden our dens—and we should be grateful we were not discovered sooner."
I paused.
"I have gathered you to say this: our time of hiding ends today. We will no longer confine ourselves to small hunting grounds. That ends now."
A murmur spread.
"We stopped being a wandering tribe long ago. Now we possess a power system once held only by the Dark Elves and the Lycans. For that, we must thank the God who blessed us—and my mother Luna and my wife Asia, who help refine and share their knowledge."
Every goblin turned toward them, gratitude evident in their eyes.
I spoke again, drawing their focus back to me.
"Starting today, we are no longer prey. Today, we begin building something immovable."
I raised my hand toward the wooden houses.
"These are not temporary shelters. This is the first territory we have claimed—and built—together."
Asia stepped forward.
"From today onward," she said clearly, "mana-rich food will be regulated. Only those who have opened mana veins may consume it—and the large prey will be reserved for mages. Their growth is critical."
We had agreed on this.
Resources needed structure.
And most important of all—
She referred to the great beasts. They were nothing like animals from my past life: massive, aggressive, powerful. Hunting one meant abundant food… and real danger.
Since my parents devoted themselves fully to hunting, meat was no longer scarce—but it was not abundant either. And thanks to its dense mana content, many had accelerated the opening of their veins.
Asia's words were clear:
That advantage would not last forever.
Some tensed. Those who had already opened veins felt relief.
Asia did not waver.
"Any goblin who opens all sixteen veins will be rewarded with meat—and will receive guidance from Luna and me to form their Mana Core."
I nodded in agreement.
My mother had finally formed hers—not from lack of talent, but lack of resources. Her former Lycan tribe had never possessed a mana vein like this one.
"It is a miracle we possess this mana vein," I said. "And an even greater one that we have not yet been discovered. That is why we need order."
I drove a smooth wooden tablet into the ground.
"There will be divisions."
The wood sank with a dull sound.
"Hunters. Gatherers. Excavators. Builders. Defenders."
Each word carried weight.
"Every goblin will have a role. No one eats without contributing."
No one protested.
"Those who open mana veins will begin forming the clan's core."
Eyes lit up.
"You will receive training. But as we invest resources in you, you must repay it—with loyalty and total commitment in battle."
They all nodded. A fighting spirit ignited in their eyes.
Sasha stepped forward slightly.
"Do not be afraid," she said softly. "Those who cultivate aura will also receive privileges."
Though aura was weaker than mana, it was invaluable to our current strength.
Many who had trained with me trembled at the memory of brutal exercises—but their determination did not falter.
It deepened.
'Perhaps I have not founded a city,' I thought.
I looked at each of them carefully.
'But I have laid the foundation of my future kingdom.'
The compass had been set.
Soon, those who had opened their first veins returned to training. Those cultivating aura moved to their designated area.
The clan moved as one.
The next day
I sat on the ground and observed.
Wooden houses.
Improvised yak farms.
Goblins watched me from a distance, curious. Once again, I did not begin training immediately.
I stood.
"There will be no training today," I said calmly. "We focus on construction."
I did not raise my voice. Since forming my Mana Core, I had learned to amplify my speech with mana, ensuring every word carried clearly.
Gobio frowned.
"What are we building?"
I looked around.
The mana vein pulsed beneath the earth—unseen, constant. A resource many powers would envy.
"No one will live in caves anymore," I said. "Only those who have awakened mana will live in the houses closest to the mana vein."
Confusion spread.
I picked up a stick and drew lines in the dirt.
"The rest will live around them."
I traced a wide circle.
"The center will remain open. We will build an altar there—to worship the God who blessed us."
Curiosity stirred. Many had heard me speak of this God before—but I had never given details. They wondered how this deity differed from the one worshiped by the Pigmen.
Asia watched silently. She was the most curious of all.
"The houses will be built in circles," I continued. "For now, wood. Later, when we obtain better materials, we will reshape everything."
"And those lines?" Lina asked hesitantly.
I smiled.
"Streets."
"Streets?" she repeated, confused.
I drew connecting paths between the rings.
"Not random paths. Roads. Wide enough for two carriages to pass."
Sasha's ears tilted.
"What are carriages?"
I looked at her.
"Something you will all come to know. A design God illuminated me with. It will help us transport goods."
There were no domesticated transport animals on this continent yet.
But I knew of one species humans would eventually discover.
For the future.
Construction began that same day.
But not as goblins were used to.
There was no chaos.
I divided tasks.
The physically strongest handled foundations.
The agile transported materials.
Those without opened veins measured and cleared.
No one disobeyed.
Though many considered goblins weak and savage, they were not stupid.
They felt the change.
They were no longer working merely to survive.
They were working to belong to something that would grow.
I walked among them, correcting angles, adjusting posts, halting entire structures over minor flaws.
By nightfall, the first ring was marked.
Not built—but outlined.
Stakes. Ropes. Simple symbols.
I stood at the center, where mana was densest, and closed my eyes.
Stable.
Patient.
Powerful.
Asia stood beside me.
"This… is unlike anything I have ever seen," she admitted.
I opened my eyes and smiled.
Sasha and Lina watched from a distance.
This place was no longer just a refuge.
And as the night fires were lit…
I thought something I had not thought since my death.
"I am not rebuilding my past life."
I am creating something in a place destined for destruction. Something that was never meant to exist.
And upon that still-bare land—without walls, without banners—
The future began to take shape.
Stone by stone.
Decision by decision.
Unseen by the outside world…
Something irreversible had just been born.