Without rest, the day after the monster wave ended, Lakan called for a gathering—a meeting that would shape the future of their new home. The leaders of the different races and all the adults assembled, their faces weary yet resolute.

  This was more than just a discussion. It was the first step toward forging a true sanctuary—a land they could not only survive in but thrive.

  “We have come together to forge a plan,” Elder Ulganar began, his voice deep and commanding. “As leaders, our vision must be clear, our decisions resolute. This is not just about survival—it is about building a future. Let us begin.”

  The air grew tense as the meeting commenced. All eyes turned to Lakan, who stepped forward with a plan far more ambitious than anyone had anticipated. His words carried the weight of a dream not yet spoken aloud.

  “We must not settle for a mere village,” Lakan declared, his gaze burning with conviction.

  Zarik furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?” he asked, skepticism lacing his tone. “I thought our goal was to build a village here?”

  Lakan met his gaze unwaveringly. “No,” he said firmly. “Our goal is to build something greater—something that will last.”

  “What is it?” Elder Ulganar asked, his voice heavy with curiosity.

  “We will build our own nation here,” Lakan declared, his eyes burning with conviction. “A sanctuary for those who have been oppressed, a home where we are no longer hunted.”

  Elder Ulganar sighed, the weight of years evident in his gaze. “That is no small dream, Lakan. We are few, and carving a nation from nothing will not be easy.”

  Lakan clenched his fists. “Do you truly believe we can survive as we are, Elder? To them, we are nothing more than property to be claimed. If they discover our whereabouts, they will come for us. They will raid our homes, shackle our people, and erase us from existence.” His voice rang with both defiance and the harsh sting of truth. “We must stand, or we will fall as slaves.”

  “Lakan, lower your voice,” Drogath interjected, his tone firm yet measured. “Anger will not lead us to victory. Calm yourself and explain—what is your plan?”

  Elder Ulganar remained composed, his gaze steady. “Lakan, impatience will not serve us,” he said with quiet authority. “I have already placed my trust in you. I never said this would be easy, but if you truly believe it is possible, then show us the path forward.”

  “I’m sorry, everyone, for acting out. I was being childish,” Lakan apologized, lowering his head in regret.

  Baloga let out a hearty chuckle, crossing his arms. “Ah, don’t worry about it! You’re brilliant for your age, but you’re still young. No one expects you to have all the answers right away.” He gave Lakan a reassuring nod. “Just tell us your plan, and we’ll see it through. You’ve already proven yourself, time and again.”

  “Thank you, so for my plan is first we will develop this land and also this mountain range since we can use the abilities of Uncle Dalangpan, this is our advantage with the human they might be strong but when we gather together and use our different abilities then we can outshine them” Lakan said.

  “And? I know that’s not all of your plan,” Elder Ulganar said, his gaze piercing.

  Lakan took a deep breath, determination hardening his expression. “We will also seek out others like us—slaves who long for freedom,” he declared. “That’s why, in the future, we will venture into human towns or villages. It will be dangerous, but the risk is necessary. Not only will we find more of our kind, but we will also gather information about the world beyond. Knowledge will be our weapon as much as steel.”

  Lakan had known since birth that he was a slave. From the moment he first opened his eyes, his fate had been sealed. No matter how much his kind tried to hide, they would inevitably cross paths with humans. This world belonged to them. And if his people ever hoped to build a nation of their own, they would need the knowledge humans possessed.

  "That can come later," Elder Ulganar said, his voice firm yet resolute. "Our first priority must be to establish a village here—our foundation. We need a system, one that ensures both our survival and our security. Food, protection—these must come first. We must begin on a small scale and build from there."

  "For food, we terrakins can be of help," Orrin offered. "Our people have long mastered the ways of plants. But when it comes to acquiring meat... that is something we cannot do. We can speak with animals, understand them, and because of that, killing them—taking their lives—is beyond us. However, for security, we can put our Animal Network to use. They can keep watch over the land, alerting us to any threats."

  Elder Ulganar nodded, his expression solemn yet grateful. "Your knowledge will be invaluable to us. As Lakan said, your people will stand as one of the pillars of our new home. Forgive us, but we will have to rely on you."

  He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "That said, we understand that taking the lives of animals goes against your beliefs. We respect that. But for our people to survive, we must hunt. Meat is a necessity for us, just as plants are for you. We do not ask you to take part in it, nor do we wish to disregard your values—but we hope you can understand that this is our way, just as yours is yours."

  A quiet murmur passed through the gathering, but no one objected. The weight of survival was something they all carried, even if their ways differed.

  Baloga raised his hand, his voice steady with determination. "Then we will be the ones to fight monsters, hunt for food, and collect magic gems. Since Lakan has already shown us he can use magic, I know he will need those."

  Drogath nodded, stepping forward. "We should also focus on farming. With the help of the boars, tilling the land will be much easier."

  Elder Ulganar stroked his beard, deep in thought. "Yes, that is something we must consider."

  Then, Dalangpan slowly stood. His expression was grave, and an unspoken tension filled the air as all eyes turned to him.

  "There is something you may not have realized," Dalangpan said, his voice low but urgent. "We are at the foot of the mountain range. If heavy rains come… we could be swallowed by the flood."

  A hush fell over the gathering. Whispers of concern rippled through the crowd as the weight of his words sank in.

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  Dalangpan took a steady breath before continuing. "We did not mention this when we first arrived because we were too busy fighting off the monster waves. But now, we must face this danger before it’s too late."

  His sharp dwarven eyes scanned the room, gauging their reactions. "We have a solution. We can construct a drainage system. With the strength of our boars, digging trenches will be much easier. But if we are to succeed, we will need every available hand. The planning alone will take time—dwarves do not rush matters of stone and soil—but once we begin, we must work swiftly."

  Dalangpan’s words carried the certainty of one who understood the land better than most. The dwarves had foreseen this issue the moment they arrived. Geology was in their blood, and they already had a plan in mind.

  Elder Ulganar stroked his beard thoughtfully before addressing the gathered leaders. "Then it is decided. The orcs will take charge of farming, ensuring we have a steady food supply. The demonkin and beastmen will focus on hunting, gathering meat and resources. They will also continue to handle security, but with added support from the Terrakins and their animal network. However, our top priority must be the drainage system. This will be the foundation for the early development of our village."

  The weight of responsibility settled upon them. They had only just begun to build their sanctuary, yet danger already loomed over them. There was no time to hesitate.

  “Is there anything you want to add? Everyone, don’t be afraid to share your opinion,” Elder Ulganar said.

  “We should also add animal husbandry to ensure food sustainability.”

  “What about improving the cave for emergency shelters?”

  “Housing too. We should also plan the layout for the village.”

  The others also share their plans during the meeting. The discussion becomes lively as more ideas are proposed. Some suggest building a communal storage area, while others emphasize the importance of setting up a water source nearby. Elder Ulganar listens intently, nodding in approval as each speaker shares their thoughts.

  "We should prioritize defensive measures too," a burly orc suggests. "We don’t know what dangers lurk beyond the valley."

  "Aye," another agrees. "Barricades, watchtowers—anything to protect our people."

  The discussion continued, with each member of the meeting contributing their vision for the village’s future. The once-scattered group now felt a sense of unity, their shared goals shaping the foundation of their new home.

  With the plan set for the next day, they immediately began working on their top priorities: housing and drainage.

  Early in the morning, they set out in search of clay and limestone—essential materials for both construction and the drainage system.

  “Some fanged beavers said there’s clay near the river and a good deposit of limestone,” Orrin said. “I had them relay the information to some of the birds.”

  “Oh, there they are! We should follow them to the river.”

  Lakan, along with Mosswick, some children, and a few adults, followed the birds to a nearby lake. Upon arrival, they began collecting clay under the guidance of the beavers. Having experience in making clay bricks from their time in slavery, they wasted no time searching for suitable clay. Clay, along with stone bricks, was a common building material, making it an ideal choice for their housing.

  “Woah…” Lakan whispered, his eyes wide with wonder. “I knew this forest was mysterious when we first journeyed here, but I never imagined what I saw was only the tip of the iceberg. This place… it’s alive with magic. The mana in the air is soothing, almost as if it’s welcoming us. The scenery—it’s breathtaking, like something out of a dream. This… this is where we belong. This is home.”

  Mosswick grinned, his excitement barely contained. “Right! I can’t wait to explore these vast lands. As a Terrakin, there’s nothing more thrilling than discovering rare plants in an uncharted forest like this. Who knows what secrets these woods hold? I’ll study them, experiment with them—perhaps even uncover something the world has never seen before.” His eyes gleamed with anticipation.

  The two of them wondered what secrets this uncharted forest held. Untouched by humans and elves for centuries, the forest had become overrun with monstrous creatures. Only their unique racial talents had allowed them to venture this deep.

  Then, they began collecting clay and limestone.

  “Everyone! Start collecting clay and limestone. When your baskets are full, place them in the boars’ baskets for transportation,” Lakan instructed.

  As the Monster Wave preparations progressed, the number of monster boars increased. Recognizing their usefulness, Orrin sought out other boars and invited them to join their ranks. Through them, Lakan realized a crucial insight—monsters sheltered from the Blood Moon’s light, like the boars hiding in the cave with the refugees, remained unaffected by its influence.

  “Hahaha! Look at them, the kids are playing so happily,” Orrin said, his voice gentle. “We need to do everything we can to protect those smiles.”

  Lakan nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah… we need to create a place where the kids still suffering out there can experience this kind of joy. They deserve that.”

  Orrin laughed softly, a playful glint in his eyes. “You know, you’re still a kid yourself, right? Sometimes I forget, with the way you carry yourself. Hahaha!”

  Lakan smiled, though his gaze seemed distant. “I may be young, but I’ve seen enough to understand. I’m not a child anymore.”

  Orrin’s smile softened. “Right, right,” he said quietly, his words lingering in the air, as both of them shared a moment of quiet understanding.

  After a while, the first batch of clay collection was complete. The group carefully loaded the clay and limestone into the baskets on the dire boars, the weight of their work resting on the sturdy beasts. With everything packed, they set off, traveling back to the base.

  As they neared, they could see the group that had been left behind already hard at work. They had started digging the drainage trenches, and the foundation of the houses was taking shape. The steady hum of labor filled the air as the foundations were being laid, a testament to the determination of everyone involved.

  The sight brought a sense of satisfaction to the group, knowing that the vision they had for this place was becoming a reality—step by step, brick by brick.

  To those who are free, come with us and help make bricks for housing and drainage," Elder Ulganar announced.

  "Yes, sir! We will help," they responded.

  Some of the people who were not engaged in hard labor gathered to make bricks. The children molded clay into brick molds, while the adults mixed clay with straw and sand to build a brick kiln for large-scale brick production.

  On the first day of village development, the drainage and housing plans were steadily progressing. The digging of the drainage system advanced quickly with the help of the dire boars. For the housing, using a village layout sketched on animal hide with charcoal, the foundations of the houses—made from wood—were carefully laid out based on the blueprint.

  "Our village is growing, little by little," Elder Ulganar said, his voice gentle yet firm. "And one day, it will be more than just a shelter—it will be a home, a nation where our people can finally belong." He looked at Lakan with knowing eyes, a quiet hope in his tone. "Is that not so, my child?"

  Lakan met his gaze, determination burning in his eyes. "Yes, Elder. We will carve out a home for the oppressed—a place where no one lives in chains. If we falter, we risk becoming slaves once more. But I swear to you, there will come a day when we stake our claim to this land, not as fugitives, but as a free people. And that day is near."

  The dream of the chained was always to break free, clinging to the hope that their time would come. This small village, hidden from the eyes of its oppressors, was just the beginning. One day, it would rise from the shadows—a symbol that freedom is not just a dream, but a reality waiting to be claimed.

  "I admire your spirit," Elder Ulganar said with a warm smile. "Do not worry—we will reach that dream of ours. Let us give it our all."

  And so, beneath the canopy of an uncharted land, a village was built—not just with clay and stone, but with resolve. The flames of oppression had forged them into something stronger, something unbreakable. Though their voices were whispers in the vast wilderness now, one day, they would roar.

  One day, the world would know their name.