Eren slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, he remained still, staring at the wooden roof above him as he tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. His body felt heavier than usual, and the soreness in his muscles reminded him of the battle from the previous day.
He had barely gotten any proper rest.
After spending most of the night thinking about the settlement and everything that awaited him, he had eventually drifted off sometime before dawn. Now, with the gray morning light filtering through the gaps in the shelter, he had no choice but to face another day in the Dominion Expanse.
He turned his head and noticed Elena Snow standing beside him.
Her long silver-blue hair fell gracefully over her shoulders, and her pale-blue eyes rested on him with their usual calmness. She had already straightened her clothes and appeared to have been waiting for him to wake up.
"Good morning, Master."
Eren blinked a few times before sitting up.
"Morning. How long have you been standing there?"
"Not long."
He wasn’t entirely convinced, but he decided not to question her further.
"Did you sleep well?"
Elena nodded.
"Yes. Thank you for allowing me to rest beside you last night."
"It’s fine. You don’t have to thank me for something like that."
She offered him a faint smile before stepping aside to give him room to stand.
Eren stretched his arms and shoulders, trying to loosen the stiffness in his body. Once he had finished, he glanced toward the entrance.
"Let’s see how everyone else is doing."
The two stepped outside.
The Ashen Frontier greeted them with the same lifeless landscape they had encountered the previous day. The sky remained gray, the trees stood dead and brittle, and the ground was covered in layers of ash.
Nothing about the scenery suggested that the land could support a settlement, let alone an entire civilization.
Yet Eren had little choice but to make it work.
As he approached the others, he noticed that most of them were already awake and occupied with their respective tasks. Marcus and Garrick were examining the shelter’s structure, while Aldric stood nearby, looking over the barren ground. Miriam was checking their remaining supplies, and the fighters were inspecting their weapons.
Something about the scene made Eren feel a little better.
At least they weren’t wasting time.
"Everyone, gather around for a moment," he called.
One after another, they stopped what they were doing and approached him.
Eren looked over the group before speaking.
"Before we discuss anything else, I want to know how much water we have left."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Miriam exchanged a glance with Aldric before answering.
"Almost none, my lord. We had only two litres to begin with, and after everything that happened yesterday, we barely have enough left for anyone to drink."
Eren’s expression stiffened.
He had known their supplies were limited, but hearing the situation stated so plainly made the problem impossible to ignore.
Two litres had been barely enough for the first day. It certainly wouldn’t sustain fourteen people for long.
"What about the surrounding area?" he asked Rowan. "Did you notice any signs of water during your scouting?"
Rowan shook his head.
"Nothing reliable. The terrain was dry, and I didn’t find any streams, ponds, or other obvious sources. We could search farther away, but that would take time."
Eren rubbed his forehead.
’Of course. Why would anything be easy in this place?’
They had survived their first monster attack, secured a temporary shelter, and obtained some food. Yet they were already facing another potentially serious problem.
Without water, none of their other plans mattered.
He turned toward Elena.
"You mentioned yesterday that your magic could help with the water problem. Is there anything you can do now?"
"Yes, Master."
Elena stepped forward and raised one hand.
A faint chill spread through the surrounding air.
At first, Eren noticed nothing more than a subtle change in temperature. Then tiny crystals began forming around Elena’s fingers. They gathered slowly, their delicate shapes becoming increasingly visible as more moisture condensed from the air.
The crystals multiplied, drawing together into a growing mass of ice.
Within moments, Elena was holding a substantial block of frost in her palm.
Eren stared at it.
"That’s impressive."
"It requires concentration and mana," Elena explained. "The moisture available in the surrounding air determines how much ice I can produce. This environment is extremely dry, so I cannot promise a limitless supply."
"How much mana did that take?"
"Five points."
Eren frowned slightly.
Five out of her current thirty mana points.
That was a considerable amount, especially considering that they had no idea what dangers might appear later.
Still, the ice was real, and they desperately needed water.
"Not without exhausting most of my remaining mana, but since we need it, I’d have to."
Eren nodded. "Then let’s make this count."
He turned toward Vaelzara.
"Can you melt it?"
The Demon Queen raised an eyebrow, as though the question were almost insulting.
"Master, you summoned the Demon Queen of Veyrath. Do you truly believe melting a block of ice is beyond my abilities?"
"Just do it."
Vaelzara smiled playfully.
"Of course."
She extended her hand toward the ice that Elena had crafted.
A small crimson flame appeared above her palm, flickering with an intensity that seemed almost unnatural. Unlike an ordinary fire, it produced little smoke, and its heat remained concentrated around the ice rather than spreading uncontrollably through the surrounding area.
The frost began to melt.
Water trickled from the block, gathering in a container they had prepared beforehand. Vaelzara carefully controlled the flame, increasing its intensity whenever necessary while avoiding direct contact between the fire and the container.
Soon, the entire block had melted.
Eren crouched beside the container and examined the water.
It wasn’t much, but it was something.
"I guess we can drink it."
Elena nodded cautiously.
"The water originated from atmospheric moisture, but we should still be careful. We need to collect it in clean containers and ensure that nothing has contaminated it during the process."
"Fair enough."
Eren looked at the water again.
They had found a temporary solution to their immediate problem, but he wasn’t satisfied with it. Elena had spent five mana points producing that much ice, and Vaelzara had needed to melt it afterward.
It was a useful combination of abilities, but hardly a sustainable source for an entire settlement.
Nevertheless, it bought them time.
"Thank you, both of you," he said. "We’ll use this to supplement our remaining supplies while we search for a proper water source."
Elena inclined her head, while Vaelzara merely smiled.
Eren stood and turned toward the others.
"Now, let’s talk about our next objective."
"We have the wolf meat from yesterday," Aldric pointed out. "If we prepare it properly, it should last us for a while."
"Good. Then we don’t need to prioritize hunting for food today."
Aldric appeared slightly surprised by the decision.
Eren understood why. Their food supply was limited, and hunting more monsters seemed like the obvious solution. However, he had a different problem to solve.
Food would keep them alive.
It wouldn’t necessarily help them build a settlement.
He looked toward the crude shelter behind them. Its walls were made from logs, its roof was assembled from branches and planks, and the surrounding defenses would barely withstand a really serious monster attack.
They needed better construction materials, proper tools, stronger weapons, and equipment that could help them survive the dangers of the Dominion Expanse.
Obtaining those things would require resources they didn’t currently possess.
And sooner or later, they would need money.
Eren had no idea how much it would cost to purchase the things they needed, but he was certain that they couldn’t keep relying on the meager supplies they had received when they first arrived.
They needed a source of income.
Fortunately, the Dominion Expanse was filled with monsters.
And monsters offered something that ordinary hunting couldn’t.
Drops.
Depending on the creature, its strength, and its rank, killing a certain high-tier monster could yield valuable items that could be sold to merchants or exchanged for resources. Ordinary monsters might produce common materials, while powerful monsters and boss-level creatures could leave behind considerably more valuable rewards.
Eren didn’t know the exact rules governing monster drops yet, but he intended to find out.
If they could acquire something valuable and sell it, they would have their first source of funding.
That money could then be invested directly into the settlement.
’We need more than enough food to survive. We need something that can help us grow.’
Eren turned toward Vaelzara.
"What do you think our chances are of finding stronger monsters in this region?"
The Demon Queen regarded him with interest.
"Stronger monsters?"
"Yes. Monsters powerful enough to leave behind valuable drops."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"So that’s what you’re thinking about, Master."
"You have a better idea?"
"Not particularly."
Vaelzara crossed her arms.
"The Ashfang Wolves we encountered yesterday were not especially powerful. They were dangerous because of their numbers, but I doubt they represent the strongest creatures inhabiting this region."
"She’s right. We found numerous tracks during the scouting. There were signs of activity beyond the route taken by the group that attacked us."
"Then there may be more monsters nearby," Eren said.
"Certainly," Rowan replied. "The tracks suggest that the wolves move through a much larger area than the one surrounding our settlement."
Vaelzara continued.
"We may even find a larger pack. However, if you’re searching for valuable drops, you shouldn’t assume that every monster will provide something worth selling."
"I understand that," Eren nodded.
He wasn’t expecting to become wealthy after killing a handful of wolves. He simply needed to find a starting point.
Even a single valuable drop could make a difference to a settlement that had practically nothing.
If they found several, the returns could be even better.
And if the surrounding region contained stronger monsters, he wanted to know what they were capable of before someone else, or something else, forced him to confront them.
"We’ll investigate the area," he decided. "We’ll hunt whatever we can handle safely, collect any drops we obtain, and see whether they’re worth anything. If we encounter something stronger, we assess the situation before deciding whether to engage."
"A sensible decision, Master," Vaelzara inclined her head.
"One more thing. I don’t want anyone taking unnecessary risks just because a monster might drop something valuable. No reward is worth losing someone if we can avoid it."
His gaze briefly passed over the group.
They had only been together for a short time, but these people were now responsible for helping him build the settlement. Losing them would weaken the settlement before it had even begun to develop.
Besides, there was no point in acquiring resources if they died before they could use them.
Eren turned toward Rowan.
"You’re coming with me. Your tracking abilities will be essential."
"Understood, my lord."
"Lyra, you’re coming too. We’ll need someone who can attack from a distance."
The young archer straightened at once. "I won’t disappoint you, my Lord."
Eren then looked at Vaelzara.
"And you’re joining us."
"I wouldn’t miss it," she smiled with a very pleased look on her face.
With the expedition settled, Eren turned his attention to the settlement.
He couldn’t take everyone with him. Someone had to remain behind to protect the territory, especially now that they had discovered how vulnerable their position was.
His gaze settled on Hela.
"I want you to take charge of the settlement’s security while we’re away."
Hela immediately straightened and nodded like it was something she had been longing for.
"Very well, Master. I’ll make certain nothing gets past our defenses," she responded.
"Good. Elena, I want you to assist her. Your ability may prove useful if anything threatens the settlement, but don’t exhaust your mana unnecessarily."
"Understood, Master."
Eren then addressed the remaining fighters.
"Kael, Elias, Darius, and Roland, you’re staying here. Follow Hela’s instructions, maintain the perimeter, and keep watch over everyone. If something happens, protecting the settlement takes priority."
"Understood," Darius replied.
The others acknowledged the order.
Eren looked toward Marcus, Garrick, Aldric, and Miriam.
"Continue working on the shelter and organizing our supplies. Don’t venture too far from the settlement without informing Hela first. If anything, I’d advise you not to go beyond the perimeter."
They agreed without hesitation.
With the arrangements complete, Eren checked his equipment and made certain the others were ready. His utility knife remained fastened at his waist, while Rowan carried his hunting gear and Lyra prepared her bow.
It wasn’t an ideal expedition, but they had to begin somewhere.
Eren glanced back at the settlement.
The shelter was crude, the defenses were primitive, and the surrounding land seemed determined to offer them nothing. Yet he had people depending on him now, and he couldn’t afford to remain idle while their supplies dwindled.
The immediate objective was clear.
They needed to find a reliable source of water, but that wasn’t something they could solve in a single morning. In the meantime, they could search the surrounding wilderness, hunt monsters, and obtain valuable drops that might provide the money they needed.
It was a small beginning, but every successful settlement had to start somewhere.
’If I can turn the resources of this place into money, and that money into development, then we’ll have a real chance.’
He didn’t know what the monsters would drop, how much those items would be worth, or how dangerous the surrounding wilderness might prove to be.
But he wouldn’t discover any of that by sitting inside a wooden shelter.
"Let’s move."
Vaelzara fell into step beside him, with Rowan and Lyra following close behind.
Together, the four passed through the narrow entrance and ventured into the ash-covered wilderness.
Behind them, Hela watched until they disappeared into the distance.
Then she turned toward the others.
"Everyone, back to work. We have a settlement to protect."
And so, the second day of Eren Blake’s life in the Dominion Expanse began.
He had food for the moment and a temporary solution to their water shortage.
What he needed now was money.
And to obtain it, he would have to find something worth killing...