The first rays of dawn crept over Evergarden’s battered walls.
The sounds of hammers echoed throughout the settlement, but there was no energy behind them.
Every strike felt slow, mechanical even, as though the workers were simply going through the motions.
Children quietly gathered loose pieces of firewood from the rubble while their parents carried stones back to the damaged walls.
The victory against the horde should have been a celebration, but instead, the atmosphere of the bastion felt like it was preparing for a funeral.
Murmurs echoed through the street. A group of middle-aged men sat on crooked chairs chatting with each other, each holding a glass of beer.
"Has anyone seen the commander?"
"No."
"Figures."
"Where will we go after this fortress falls?"
"I don’t know; I came here after Arduis collapsed."
This group wasn’t the only one; sprinkled throughout the streets, many other people were also discussing the current state of the fortress, expressing their concerns about Logan’s leadership.
Captain Iron, who was known to be a disciplined man, always made his patrol around the fortress at this time. An elderly woman slowly approached the veteran.
"Captain... how much longer do we have?" she asked, her frail hands grabbing onto his wrist.
Iron didn’t answer. He couldn’t even meet the woman’s eyes.
Iron then reached the commander’s residence and knocked lightly on the door.
"Commander?"
No response.
He knocked again, louder this time.
Still nothing.
Don’t tell me... For a second, he thought Logan had abandoned them overnight.
Then the door creaked open.
Logan stepped out, already dressed for the day. A simple white shirt lay neatly beneath a dark leather vest, its sleeves rolled just below his forearms. Dark trousers and polished boots completed an outfit that was practical rather than extravagant.
His hands held several reports that were neatly organized; beneath his confident eyes hid a weary look.
Had he been working all night? Iron realized that his worry was for naught.
"Have you eaten, Commander?"
"Not yet."
"Then..."
"No need, let’s get right to fixing this place."
Logan stepped out onto the main street, Captain Iron following a pace behind him.
As the two passed through the battered streets of Evergarden, conversations gradually died away.
One by one, the townsfolk turned their heads toward the young commander. Some paused in the middle of carrying timber, while others quietly set down their tools.
Yet no one greeted him.
Logan noticed the lingering gazes but said nothing. He understood them.
Trust wasn’t something earned overnight with a single victory.
It was built through countless actions, day after day.
He stopped in the middle of the street and slowly swept his eyes across Evergarden.
"Status."
===================================================
[Bastion Construction]
Available Blueprints:
Basic Barracks (Lv. 1)
Basic Storage (Lv. 1)
Basic Canteen (Lv. 1)
6★ Rare Blueprint – Potential Training Facility
[Current Gold: 15,000]
[Available Workers: 112]
Without the slightest hesitation, Logan selected the golden blueprint.
[Construction Cost: 12,000 Gold]
A brilliant pillar of golden light erupted from an empty plot of land near the barracks, causing the entire bastion to tremble.
Workers instinctively staggered backward as shimmering runes spread across the ground, outlining the foundation of a structure unlike anything Evergarden had ever seen.
Gasps echoed through the street as the people reveled in the sight before them, like a grand magician casting their ultimate spell. On the other hand, Logan’s attention had already returned to the system.
[Current Gold: 3,000 Gold]
"Captain Iron."
"Yes, Commander."
"Assign fifty workers to assist with the construction."
"The remaining sixty-two are to begin repairs immediately."
Logan pointed toward the damaged sections of the bastion.
"The eastern wall takes priority. Reinforce the gate supports and replace any collapsed watch platforms."
His finger shifted.
"After that, repair the command center. I want it operational before the next wave."
"The cannon?" Iron asked.
Logan shook his head.
"Leave it for now."
"Commander... the cannon is one of our strongest defenses," Iron said, blinking as he questioned Logan’s judgment.
"It is," Logan admitted. "But it isn’t the right weapon for what’s coming."
Iron’s brow furrowed.
"The next few waves will be led by goblins and hobgoblins. They’re fast, numerous, and too scattered for a cannon to make a meaningful difference."
The orders spread quickly throughout Evergarden.
Under Captain Iron’s direction, workers divided into their assigned groups.
Some hauled timber toward the eastern wall, replacing shattered watch platforms and reinforcing weakened supports. Others cleared collapsed debris around the command center, gradually restoring what had been neglected.
Meanwhile, the golden framework of the Potential Training Facility continued to rise. Invisible tools floated through the air, laying stone and carving intricate runes with impossible precision. Every passing hour transformed the empty space into a structure unlike anything the people of Evergarden had ever seen.
Logan, however, rarely remained in one place.
Throughout the following days, he walked every corner of the bastion, inspecting repairs, reviewing reports, and personally assigning work wherever another pair of hands was needed.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
It was a modest, single-story building, no larger than the barracks beside it. Yet the moment it appeared, everyone knew it didn’t belong.
Its pristine white stone walls were flawlessly cut, each block fitting together without the slightest gap. Elegant runes traced along the exterior, glowing faintly with a soft blue light. The spacious halls within were lined with dummies armed to the teeth with futuristic technology.
Compared to Evergarden’s weathered wooden buildings and cracked stone structures, it looked decades, perhaps centuries, ahead of its time.
A crowd quickly gathered around the building; an uneasy silence settled over them.
"It’s beautiful..." someone whispered.
"What exactly is this place?" Even Captain Iron found himself speechless, his eyes fixed on the unfamiliar building.
Logan walked toward the entrance, his eyes fixed on the newly completed facility. The moment he stepped through its doors, a familiar notification echoed in his mind.
Ding!
[Construction Complete.]
[6★ Potential Training Facility has been completed.]
===================================================
[Potential Training Facility - Level 1]
Grade: ★★★★★★
Description:
- A facility designed to unlock the hidden potential within every hero. Those who train here are no longer bound solely by the limits of their birth.
Effects:
- Increase Experience Gained by +10%
- Remove Stat Growth Restriction
- Heroes have a chance to awaken Hidden Trait
Capacity: 15 Heroes
Upgradeable
Logan scanned the list from top to bottom.
"...Ten percent increased experience."
A decent bonus.
His eyes drifted to the second effect.
"Remove Stat Growth Restriction?"
. . .
Logan froze. He read the line once. Then a second time.
"You’re kidding me..."
A rare look of disbelief crossed his face. Every commander in The Last Bastion understood one unchanging rule: a hero’s rarity determined their growth.
One-star heroes gained an average of five stat points every level.
Two-star heroes gained ten.
Three-star heroes gained fifteen.
No matter how hard a hero trained or how many battles they overcame, those limits could never change.
Logan simply stared at the screen. Then, the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.
"No wonder it’s six stars."
Logan’s gaze shifted toward the final effect.
Heroes have a chance to awaken Hidden Trait upon leveling up.
His smile faded slightly.
"...Hidden Trait?"
He frowned.
Hidden Trait wasn’t a mechanic from The Last Bastion.
Whatever it was...
He would have to find out for himself.
Logan closed the interface and looked through the doorway, where Captain Iron and the others were waiting outside.
"Let’s see just how much potential you all have."