Chapter 4: The Scraps of Survival and a Glimmer of Hope
The sun dipped lower, casting long, mournful shadows across the ruined city as Lykos led his motley crew. The grand strategy game of his past life had never prepared him for the sheer, grinding reality of a dying city. There were no glowing resource nodes, no convenient UI markers. Just dust, decay, and the gnawing ache of hunger.
He followed Myron, the burly man who claimed to know the city's wells, through a maze of collapsed houses. The smell of stagnant water and mildew hung heavy in the air. They found two old wells, both choked with debris. Myron, with a surprising burst of energy, began pulling out stones and dead leaves, his movements slow but determined.
Lykos helped, pulling at loose stones, his unaccustomed muscles aching almost immediately. It was back-breaking work, but the thought of clean water spurred him on. After nearly an hour, a trickle of dark, muddy water began to seep into the bottom of one well. It wasn't much, but it was a start. "We'll need to filter it," Lykos muttered, remembering survival guides he'd once skimmed. "Boiling it would be best."
Meanwhile, Kydon, the young hunter, returned from the city outskirts with a frustrated shake of his head. "Prince, the land is barren. I found a few rabbit burrows, but they're empty. No tracks, no birds. It's as if everything alive has fled." His eyes, normally sharp, held a deep disappointment.
Lykos's stomach rumbled, a stark reminder of their dwindling time. He scanned the crumbling buildings, his mind racing. Food, food, food. Immediate, anything. Foraging. What did ancient Greeks eat that grew wild? Figs, perhaps? Wild greens? He remembered scattered bits of history lessons.
He spotted a small, overgrown courtyard behind what looked like a collapsed temple. Weeds grew thick, but amidst them, a scraggly fig tree stood, its branches drooping. Most of the figs were shriveled, but a few, higher up, looked plump.
"Kydon! Myron! Over here!" Lykos called out, pointing. "Figs! We might salvage some."
Together, they carefully gathered what little fruit they could find, placing them in the folds of their tunics. It was barely a handful per person, but it was something – a tangible win against the pervasive hunger.
As they worked, Lykos's thoughts drifted to Homerus and Elara. He hoped the bard's music was working its magic. Just as he was debating going to check on them, he saw a small group approaching from the direction of the western gate, led by Elara. Homerus walked beside her, the Whispering Lyre held aloft, its soft melody still weaving through the twilight air.
Behind Elara were two more figures Lykos hadn't seen before: a stern-faced, middle-aged woman with calloused hands, and a quiet, unassuming young man, no older than Kydon. Their faces were weary, but there was a subtle shift in their posture, a faint hint of purpose.
"Prince!" Elara called out, her voice holding a note of subdued excitement. "Homerus's song… it drew them out. This is Kalypso," she gestured to the woman, "she knows how to weave baskets and prepare simple meals. And this is Theron," she indicated the young man, "he's quiet, but he knows the old ways of setting snares, even if there's little game now."
Lykos felt a surge of triumph. Ten recruits! Kalypso and Theron. They might not be mighty warriors, but they were skilled hands, vital for the basic functionality of a settlement.
"Kalypso, Theron," Lykos addressed them directly, a genuine smile touching his lips. "Welcome. Will you join us in rebuilding this city?"
Kalypso nodded gravely. "Homerus's song… it reminded me of better times. If there is work, Prince, and hope for food, then yes." Theron simply nodded, his eyes wide but determined.
The System notification flashed.
[OLYMPIAN SUMMONING SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Host: Prince Lykos
Status: Critical (City morale: D-, Resources: F, Military: F)
System Points: 0
First Mission: Restore Basic City Functionality.
Objective 1: Secure a Stable Food Source. (Progress: Minor foraging success, well located)
Objective 2: Recruit 10 Basic Citizens/Laborers. (Progress: 10/10 - COMPLETE!)
Reward: 100 System Points, Unlocked: Basic Summoning Pool
A sense of accomplishment, small but significant, washed over Lykos. He'd done it. The first objective was complete. And now, 100 System Points!
He turned to his gathered group, which now numbered eleven with Homerus, and spoke with newfound confidence. "Listen, everyone. We have gathered some figs, and we've found a well. It's not much, but it's a start. We will boil the water to make it safe. Kalypso, you mentioned preparing meals – perhaps you can show us how to make the most of these figs?"
Kalypso gave a curt nod. "I can, Prince. But we'll need a fire."
"Myron, Kydon," Lykos instructed, "gather any dry wood you can find. We'll set up a small fire in the sheltered courtyard near the palace. We must work quickly before darkness falls completely."
As the group dispersed to carry out their tasks, Lykos focused on the System screen.
System Points: 100. This was his currency. And the "Basic Summoning Pool" was now unlocked. This was where the real game began.
He mentally tapped the "Basic Summoning Pool" option. A new window appeared, displaying several ghostly silhouettes with short descriptions:
[BASIC SUMMONING POOL]
* Greek Laborer (Male/Female): Basic worker unit. Skilled in simple manual tasks. Cost: 10 SP
* Greek Militia (Male/Female): Basic combat unit. Armed with a spear and shield. Cost: 20 SP
* Greek Apprentice Builder (Male): Basic construction unit. Can assist in simple repairs. Cost: 15 SP
* Greek Forager (Female): Basic resource unit. Increased chance of finding edible plants. Cost: 15 SP
Hmm, Lykos mused. No epic heroes yet, obviously. But these are essential. Laborers, militia, builders, foragers. The foundations of any empire. He had 100 points. He could summon a good number of basic units.
He glanced at his current recruits – Elara, Myron, Kydon, Kalypso, Theron, and the others he'd gathered. They were exhausted but working. They were real people. He had promised them food, and he had to deliver. The few figs wouldn't last.
I need more immediate food. A Forager would be good, but that's a long-term solution. I need sheer numbers of hands, and maybe some protection.
He decided to hold off on summoning for just a moment. He needed to see how the current foraging efforts turned out. He had promised his living citizens food first. The System Points would be used to supplement, to build, to protect – but the trust of these desperate people was invaluable.
As the first wisps of smoke curled from the crude fire Myron and Kydon had managed to ignite, Lykos looked at the dimming sky. The city still felt like a tomb, but tonight, for the first time in a long time, there would be a fire, and a shared meal, however meager. It was a single spark in a vast darkness, but Lykos knew, with the conviction of a seasoned gamer, that every epic journey began with a single, crucial step. And he had just taken his.