Later that night, after everyone had settled, Isaac sat alone beneath a tree. He watched the flames flicker as his thoughts drifted back, to a small house, his mother's voice, his father's strong hands, and the blood that covered the floor the day they died.
He didn't know who did it. Or what. But his heart still sank at the thought when suddenly…
"I know your help comes with something in return. Don't play with me. What is it?"
Aiah's voice broke through his thoughts. She stood behind him, arms crossed.
Isaac didn't answer right away. He turned and looked at her, calm but guarded.
"Destroy Carreon," he said without flinching, then turned his eyes back to the fire.
Aiah blinked. "Destroy Carreon? Why? Is it because the King of Carreon ordered your death?"
She stepped closer, moving to stand in front of him, eyes searching his face.
"There has to be a reason they want you dead."
Isaac said nothing. His jaw tightened, but he kept his gaze on the flames.
Aiah frowned. She looked frustrated, but after a pause, she took a breath and steadied herself.
"Even if I take back the throne," she said quietly, "Bulcan doesn't have the strength to destroy Carreon."
Isaac finally stood. His voice was steady.
"Then we'll make Bulcan strong."
Aiah blinked.
"Strong enough to be feared," Isaac said. "Strong enough to destroy Carreon."
Aiah stared at him. "You're serious?"
Isaac nodded once. "I've never been more serious."
They stood in silence for a moment, the firelight flickering between them.
"I don't like being used," she said. "But if we're going to take down Carreon, we'll need more than hope."
Isaac looked at her. "That's why we start now."
—----
Morning came.
Isaac walked the quiet perimeter of the Fourth Core. The fog was thick, rolling over the trees like smoke. The camp was still asleep. No birds. No wind. No locusts.
It was too quiet.
He narrowed his eyes and opened the Swarm Authority Menu, just to check.
A blinking prompt appeared at the bottom.
[Swarm Domain: This area can be recognized as a temporary Hive Base.]
[Effect: Passive defense boost will activate. Swarm will adapt the terrain to improve protection.]
[Activate Swarm Domain? Yes / No]
Isaac tilted his head. "Swarm domain… Hive Base?"
He glanced around, the tall trees, the thick underbrush, the natural flow of the land. The place was untouched, hidden, and full of resources. Perfect for a base. And if the swarm could shape it even more…
He said Yes.
[Swarm Domain Activated.]
[Fourth Core recognized as temporary Hive Base.]
[Passive Defense Boost: Active.]
The ground pulsed faintly. Then, silence.
A few moments passed before the first signs of movement began, subtle.
The soil near the trees shifted as tiny holes formed. Burrowing tunnels. Natural pathways.
Tiny appeared from under a root, his body twitching with excitement. Hopper landed beside him, clicking once.
The swarm wasn't just waking, they were claiming.
Isaac watched as they moved with quiet purpose. They didn't disrupt the land, they adapted to it. Strengthened it. Used it.
"This place isn't just where we hide anymore," he muttered.
He looked out over the peaceful green clearing, now slowly turning into something more.
"It's ours now."
—-----
The morning fog hadn't fully lifted when Isaac gathered the refugees.
They stood in a rough circle, men, women, a few older teens. Most wore worn-out clothes and carried mismatched weapons: rusted swords, chipped spears, hunting knives, even bent cooking tools turned into blades. Nothing looked polished.
Isaac looked over them and spoke loud enough for all to hear.
"Look around you. You're not trained warriors. You don't have enchanted blades or shining armor. You have what you could carry, steal, or pull from the dead."
He walked across the line and grabbed a rusted short sword from someone's hand.
"This won't save you," he said, raising it. "Not unless you learn how to use it. And I won't teach you like a knight. Because I'm not one."
The memory hit, sharp and sudden.
He was thrown into a pit, fighting for Mikaela. A sword forced into his hands. King Belmont's mocking voice echoed as a Class B knight stepped forward. Isaac remembered the weight of the blade, the sting of every blow, and the laughter that followed when he collapsed.
He tossed the sword into the dirt and pointed to his axe.
"I was a farmer. I broke bones with this. Cracked skulls. Protected my land from wild beasts and thieves."
He looked at their makeshift gear.
"Swords? Spears? Fine. Use them. But I'll teach you how to survive. Not like a soldier, but like someone with nothing left to lose."
Then he laid out the formation.
"We'll train in three groups."
"Defenders. You'll learn how to guard the camp."
"Scouts. You'll learn to move quietly, read trails, and return alive."
"Gatherers. You'll hunt, forage, and support. No job is lesser."
Isaac paused, letting his words sink in.
"You're not weak because you're poor. You're strong because you're still here."
Then, without warning, he turned to the largest man in the group, a muscular woodcutter holding a spear, and said, "Attack me."
The man blinked. "What?"
"Come at me. I'll use this." Isaac picked up a shovel.
The man hesitated, then lunged. Isaac sidestepped, used the shovel's handle to trip him, and brought the flat end down on his back, not hard, but enough to drop him.
The crowd gasped.
Isaac stood over the man, calm and firm.
"I don't care what weapon you hold," he said. "If you don't know why you're swinging it, you'll die."
He reached out a hand. "What's your name?"
The man took it and got to his feet. "Bartos."
Isaac studied him for a moment, tall, thick-necked, solid as a wall. A natural tank.
"You're built like a fortress, Bartos," Isaac said.
"You're not fast, but you can take a hit. Maybe even protect others."
He turned to the group.
"Nai, lead the defenders." Nai gave a sharp nod.
"Bartos, you're with him. You're our shield now."
"Putol, lead the scouts." Putol smirked and cracked his knuckle.
"Ben, lead the gatherers." Then Isaac looked to Mira. "You're with Ben."
Mira gave a small nod, stepping forward.
Isaac faced the rest. "Now think. Choose where you belong."
After a moment of silence, he added. "In a while, we'll start training.
Aiah balled her fists, waiting for Isaac to call her name, but he never did.
'Why? Does he think I have no use? That I can't contribute?' Her thoughts boiled, frustration rising.
'Am I not good enough?' The heat in her head intensified, and she could feel her anger building.
She couldn't take it anymore.
As Isaac began walking toward the stream, Aiah burst after him.
"Why the hell didn't you give me an assignment?"
Isaac turned, a confused look on his face.
"You think I can't handle this? That I'm not capable of doing those things?" She was getting closer, her voice rising.
"Do you think I'm weak? Or maybe because you know I'm a runaway princess, I don't have the capacity to lead?"
Isaac stared at her, clearly shocked by her outburst.
After a moment, he answered simply, "You stay with me."
Aiah froze. "You and me?" Her voice faltered.
Isaac nodded, nonchalantly. "Yes."
Aiah gulped, trying to collect herself. "Alone?"
"Depends," Isaac replied, not looking back.
"We need to get strong. We'll kill monsters, get stronger, and then enter and investigate the Second Core."
He turned and kept walking toward the stream.
"If everything goes well here, others will join us too," he added casually.
"Good. I just wanted to make it clear," she muttered under her breath, before turning and walking away.
As she left, she threw one last glance over her shoulder, eyes narrowing.
"We'll kill monsters, huh?" she muttered. "Is that his idea of bonding?"
She shook her head and kept walking, her thoughts a swirl of irritation, and something else she couldn't quite name.
Isaac tilted his head, still confused.
'What's her problem?'
He dipped his hands into the stream, letting the cool water flow over his fingers as he tried to shake off the strange interaction.