The next morning, Arthur stood atop Amon Sûl, looking down at the crowd that had arrived late last night.
In total, he now had 1,101 people under his command—though only 101 of them were capable of fighting.
Before arriving here, Arandhir and his followers had lived in a large cave hidden within the Weather Hills.
Over time, more and more refugees had sought protection there, most of them ordinary laborers.
In a world as dangerous as Middle-earth, it was only natural for the weak to seek shelter.
Given Arandhir’s strong leadership and skill, it was no surprise so many people chose to follow him.
Arandhir’s swordsmanship, while below Arthur’s current level, was superior to Aragorn’s.
His skill with a bow, however, was something Arthur couldn’t even compare to yet.
Arthur called out mentally to his system: “System, I want to claim my Check-In rewards!”
[DING!
Host has performed a Check-In for the first time!]
[DING!
Congratulations to the Host for acquiring: Castle Blueprint – “White Castle of Radiance”]
[DING!
Congratulations to the Host for acquiring: 10 Blacksmiths!]
[DING!
Congratulations to the Host for acquiring: 10 Healers!]
[DING!
Congratulations to the Host for acquiring: 20 Archers!]
[DING!
Congratulations to the Host for acquiring: 1 Troops Commander!]
…These rewards were incredible.
Up until now, Arthur had a handful of battle-ready soldiers, while the rest were simple workers who couldn’t fight.
But the system had just provided the exact specialists he needed to round out his force.
With the Blacksmiths, Arthur no longer had to worry about broken gear or dull weapons.
With the Healers, his injured troops could finally receive proper medical care.
With the Archers, his combat lines gained much-needed ranged support.
The most valuable reward, however, was the *Castle Blueprint*. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Arthur wasn’t an architecture student—he had no idea how to design a fortress from scratch.
Having a complete blueprint meant he could turn Amon Sûl into a true stronghold.
And with 1,000 eager laborers ready to work, construction could begin immediately.
Finally, Arthur had gained his *second Commander*.
In the eyes of the system, a Commander was vastly superior to a regular unit.
Their leadership and stats stood on a completely different level—though the system noted that non-combat units, such as laborers, did not come with commanders.
With a castle to build, a skilled command staff, and balanced unit types, Arthur’s foothold in Middle-earth was finally taking shape.
Two hours later, Arthur’s keen gaze caught movement on the horizon.
A group of people was rapidly approaching Weathertop.
Arandhir immediately stepped up to Arthur’s side to report.
“My Lord, there is a unit approaching,” Arandhir said, his eyes scanning the distance.
“I count roughly forty men, led by a man carrying a bow.”
Arthur smiled inwardly.
He knew exactly who they were; this was the reinforcement unit granted to him by the System.
“Let’s go down and meet them,” Arthur said calmly.
Without hesitation, Arthur and Arandhir descended from the ruins of Amon Sûl to greet the newcomers.
There was no fear of ambush in Arthur’s heart; the System guaranteed that any forces it provided possessed 100 percent loyalty to him, even if the “backstory” behind that loyalty varied.
On the slopes below, Arthur’s existing soldiers and the laborers stood on high alert, their eyes fixed on their leader and Arandhir as they approached the mysterious company.
The man leading the strangers was a striking figure.
He had long, chestnut-brown hair that billowed in the gentle breeze, giving him an air that was both wild and graceful.
He wore a functional yet stylish ensemble consisting of a layered tunic, a sturdy leather vest, and a flowing green cloak secured by an intricate brooch.
In his hands, he carried a robust wooden bow, and a quiver full of arrows was slung across his back, showing he was prepared for both the hunt and defense.
High boots protected him from the tall grass and rugged terrain.
His entire appearance radiated strength, skill, and a deep connection to nature.
Behind him marched forty followers: twenty archers, bows in hand; ten burly men gripping heavy hammers and carrying smithing equipment; and ten others who carried only large bags, clearly the healers.
Upon reaching Arthur, the brown-haired warrior stepped forward and immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head in reverence.
Instantly, the forty soldiers behind him followed suit, kneeling as one before Arthur.
“Stand up,” Arthur commanded.
Elmir rose first, followed by his entire company.
“Who are you all?” Arthur asked, looking them over.
Even though Arthur knew these newcomers were a gift from the System, he was entirely in the dark regarding their personal histories.
The System had provided no background information, leaving him curious about their origins.
“My Lord, we hail from the woods of the Trollshaws,” Elmir began, his voice tinged with a heavy sorrow.
“We belonged to a small village of around a hundred souls, where I served as the village head.
But a few days ago…
without warning, a warband of Orcs descended upon our home.
”
Elmir paused, taking a steadying breath before continuing.
“We fought back with everything we had, but we were vastly outnumbered.
So many of our people fell in the slaughter…
In the end, we had no choice but to retreat into the wilds.”
“We wandered, desperately searching for a safe haven,” Elmir said, his gaze turning earnest.
“Then, a strange, guiding whisper echoed in my mind, urging me to lead the survivors to Amon Sûl.
That is why we are here.”
Elmir went on to recount their arduous journey from the shadowed thickets of the Trollshaws.
Along the road, they had crossed paths with wandering blacksmiths and healers who were also seeking refuge, banding together until they finally reached the slopes of Weathertop.
Out of more than a hundred villagers, only twenty archers had survived—swift, nimble hunters accustomed to striking from the shadows.
Arthur also noticed a distinct difference in this group: among the newly arrived force were seven female archers, seven female healers, and two female blacksmiths, unlike his previous summon, which had consisted entirely of men.
“You have all traveled far.
Rest and settle yourselves,” Arthur said warmly, offering a reassuring nod to the tired group.
He then turned to his second-in-command.
“Arandhir, bring the head of the laborers and Elmir with you.
Elmir, gather the leaders of the blacksmiths and healers as well.
Let us head up to the ruins of Amon Sûl and speak further.”