Three months had passed since Aran left Liyue.
The new settlement was still small.
Only thirty-two people had followed him.
But the underground spring had proven to be exactly what Noel had hoped for.
Water.
Fertile soil.
And enough space to expand.
Aran stood beside the newly constructed reservoir.
“Another week.”
He looked at the workers.
“Once the irrigation channels are finished, we can begin planting.”
One of the workers smiled.
“At this rate, we’ll have our own fields soon.”
Aran nodded.
“That’s the plan.”
He looked toward the desert.
Then he noticed something.
A figure was approaching in the distance.
Aran narrowed his eyes.
“Someone’s coming.”
The guards immediately picked up their weapons.
The figure slowly approached.
Then another appeared.
And another.
Soon, a group of people emerged from the desert.
They looked exhausted.
Families.
Travelers.
Hunters.
Another group seeking water.
Aran lowered his hand.
“Don’t threaten them.”
The guards relaxed.
When the travelers reached the settlement, their leader spoke.
“We heard there was water here.”
Aran nodded.
“There is.”
“Can we have some?”
“Of course.”
The travelers looked surprised.
One woman asked:
“How much?”
Aran smiled.
“Enough for everyone.”
The News Reaches Liyue
Several days later, a messenger arrived at Liyue.
He ran directly toward Noel’s palace.
“Lord Noel!”
Noel looked up from a stack of documents.
“Yes?”
“The eastern settlement has grown.”
“How much?”
“Nearly seventy people now.”
Noel smiled.
The messenger hesitated.
“There’s more.”
Noel raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“They’ve begun calling Aran something.”
“Calling him what?”
The messenger swallowed.
“Guardian.”
Noel paused.
Then smiled.
“That’s fitting.”
The system appeared.
[Title recognized.]
[Aran — First Geo Guardian.]
[Public recognition increasing.]
Noel looked at the notification.
“Interesting.”
He leaned back.
“This is happening naturally.”
The system responded:
[Correct.]
Noel smiled.
“Good.”
A Growing Network
Over the next few years, Liyue’s influence spread.
Not through conquest.
Through roads.
Water.
Trade.
And protection.
Small communities began connecting themselves to Liyue.
Some became allies.
Some requested protection.
Others simply wanted access to Liyue’s markets.
Noel accepted them carefully.
He refused to force anyone to join.
Every agreement was written.
Every promise was recorded.
Every territory kept its own local customs.
But all of them shared one thing:
The protection of Liyue.
The system continued tracking Noel’s progress.
[Population: 1,240]
[Allied settlements: 7]
[Major trade routes: 3]
[Nation Development: 21%]
[Morax Template Synchronization: 11.6%]
Noel stared at the numbers.
“…We’ve grown.”
He walked to the balcony.
Below him, Liyue was bustling.
Then—
Shukaku.
Noel smiled.
Kurama.
Your little nation is getting bigger.
Noel laughed.
It’s not little anymore.
Gyūki joined the conversation.
How many humans now?
More than a thousand.
There was silence.
Son Gokū laughed.
More than a thousand?!
Matatabi sounded amused.
He’s actually doing it.
Noel crossed his arms proudly.
I told you I would.
Kurama sighed.
You’re becoming a ruler.
Noel looked toward his statue.
Maybe.
Then Kurama asked:
What will you call yourself when your nation becomes enormous?
Noel thought about it.
He looked at the faint golden glow surrounding his statue.
He remembered the title the system had once mentioned.
Geo Archon.
Noel smiled.
I don’t know yet.
But I’m sure the people will decide.
The Unexpected Visitor
That night, Noel stood beneath the golden statue.
The city was quiet.
Then he felt something.
A powerful chakra signature.
Noel looked toward the eastern desert.
His eyes narrowed.
That chakra wasn’t human.
It wasn’t one of his guards.
It wasn’t Aran.
It was familiar.
Very familiar.
The Tailed Beast connection activated.
But this time, Noel didn’t hear a voice.
He heard footsteps.
Something was physically approaching Liyue.
Noel smiled.
“Finally.”
A massive shadow appeared beyond the city walls.
Two enormous eyes glowed in the darkness.
One of Noel’s siblings had come.
Noel walked toward the gate.
“Welcome to Liyue.”
The creature stopped.
And the entire city fell silent.
To be continued…