Sand crunched behind him as his archers finally returned, their arms laden with scorpion carcasses. Marcus led the procession, sweat staining his clothing despite the approaching evening's cooler temperatures.
"My Lord!" Elena called out, dropping her burden near the expanded barrier's edge. "The territory... it's grown!"
Time to introduce them to their new capabilities.
"Territory upgrade complete," Ethan announced, gesturing toward the enhanced structures. "We now have room for proper development and improved summoning capacity."
His subjects exchanged excited glances, their earlier exhaustion forgotten in the face of visible progress. The expanded space, upgraded buildings, and obvious defensive improvements painted a picture of rapid advancement.
....
[Do you want to summon (8)?] [Yes| No]
Ethan pressed "Yes" without hesitation.
The Gate of Summoning blazed with white radiance. Light intensified until it became almost blinding, forcing his archers to shield their eyes.
