Verc checked around the small village built by the orcs, walking slowly between the rows of newly erected small huts.
Honestly, the whole place was really built as a temporary place to stay. It was a collection of rough-hewn logs, stretched hides, and piles of brush that had been thrown together with more enthusiasm than architectural skill. While it was impressive that they had built so much in a single night, the quality was lacking. A heavy rainstorm or a particularly determined forest monster would likely knock half of these huts over in minutes. They wouldn’t last for a long time.
’If they’re going to stay here and serve me, they need a proper settlement.’
Verc thought to himself after looking around for a while.
He kicked at a loose pile of dirt that was supposed to be a foundation. The orcs were strong, but they didn’t have the materials or the knowledge to build something that could withstand the [Cursed Forest] long-term. If he wanted a functional base, he couldn’t just rely on their manual labor.
And of course, he thought of using [Dungeon Genesis] to help them. It was the obvious solution. If he could summon a five-story castle, he could surely summon a few sturdy houses.
But even after using it to create the castle, he honestly still didn’t understand the full extent of this skill. It felt like he was driving a high-end sports car without knowing how to change the oil or even read the dashboard. He knew how to trigger the main function, but the nuances were a mystery.
And so—
’Hmm, I should try to understand this skill even more before I try to build an entire village.’
With that in mind, Verc finished his inspection of the clearing. He made a quick stop at the barn to feed Onyx and Bong, ensuring the little puppy was full and the horse was settled. Once he was sure they were taken care of, he turned back toward the massive stone entrance and headed back to his room.
*****
Verc got to the fifth floor and entered his room in no time. The climb didn’t even make him winded anymore; his physical stats were far beyond what a normal human could ever achieve.
He closed the heavy door behind him, enjoying the absolute silence of the highest floor. The noise of the orcs’ axes and the kids’ chatter downstairs was muffled by several feet of solid stone.
"..."
He stood in the center of the empty room and looked down at his own hands. He could feel the power thrumming beneath his skin, more vibrant than it had been the day before.
’My mana and energy are back... and then some.’
He thought, clenching his fists.
’The kids hunted some wild monsters for me while I was in a trance. They kept doing this for me whenever they knew I was meditating, and although I was telling them not to do it, they still do.’
Verc thought, scratching the back of his head with a sigh.
He felt a bit guilty about it. They were technically his subordinates, but he still felt a sense of responsibility for them. They should have been resting, but instead, they were out in the dangerous woods making sure he was well-fed.
Still, he couldn’t deny the results. He had enough energy for a couple of months again after consuming the blood they provided. He had burned through a lot of it using [Dungeon Genesis] and [Mana Circulation] yesterday, but the kids had replenished his stores completely.
’They’re really helpful. I don’t need to hunt on my own just to replenish the blood in my system.’
He added, a small smile appearing on his face.
It was a strange feeling, having people care for his needs like this. It made the burden of leadership feel a little lighter. Anyway, he shook his head to clear his thoughts. He needed to focus.
Looking around his bare stone room, he activated [Dungeon Genesis] once again.
WHOOSH—
And as soon as the skill flared to life, the sensation was immediate.
It wasn’t like a normal spell where you cast it and see an effect. Instead, it was like his consciousness was expanding. He could feel every corner of the room clearly, like he had become one with the stone itself. The walls weren’t just objects anymore; they were an extension of his own body. He could feel the temperature of the rock, the tiny cracks in the floor, and the weight of the roof above him.
And not only that—he realized that his "vision" was expanding further. He could feel the whole floors below him, the stairwells, and the other rooms. It was like a 3D map was being projected directly into his brain.
He could feel how many people were in the castle and exactly where they were. He scanned the whole fifth floor first and felt no presence except his own. He moved his mental focus downward. The fourth and third floors were completely empty, just silent stone corridors waiting to be used.
But when he reached the second floor, he felt something different. There were eleven orcs currently resting there, their large mana signatures appearing like bright flickers in his mind. Then he scanned the first floor, where the kids were all gathered, likely preparing for the day’s tasks.
"Oh... with this skill, I don’t need to worry about being ambushed inside my own base."
Verc mumbled to himself.
He was genuinely impressed with this function. It was better than any security system. As long as he was inside the castle, nothing could move without him knowing about it. He was the spider at the center of the web.
But he tried to forget this for a moment. While the radar function was useful, he was here to try something more active. He wanted to see if he could manipulate the existing dungeon structure without having to "summon" a whole new building.
So, focusing the skill back on his immediate surroundings—
WHOOSH~
Verc tried manipulating the stones around him. He didn’t want to build a wall; he wanted something smaller, something more precise. He pictured a table in his mind—not a rough boulder like the one downstairs, but something made of refined bricks.
He reached out with his mana, touching the floor.
TAK-! TAK-! TAK-!
The stones started moving. It wasn’t loud, but the sound of grinding rock echoed in the small space. With just his mind, he commanded the castle to provide the materials. He took some stone from his wall—the structure simply filled in the gap as if by magic—and began to shape it.
The stone rippled like water. And seconds later... a solid stone table made of perfectly rectangular bricks rose from the floor!
It was smooth, level, and looked like it had been built by a master mason over the course of several days.
"..."
Verc was silent after doing this.
He reached out and ran his hand over the surface of the new table. It was cold and real. He was smiling now, a look of genuine excitement in his eyes. Now... he was sure he could expand his base even more. He didn’t just have to accept what the skill gave him initially; he could edit it.
’Just as I figured... the dungeon I went into before was massive. If I improve this skill even more, I can make a much better base for myself and the others.’
Verc thought.
He imagined adding more rooms, reinforced barracks for the orcs, and perhaps even defensive towers with built-in traps. The possibilities were endless.
Though, there was a slight drawback.
"Hmm?"
Verc looked at his hands again, and he could feel a familiar hollowness in his chest. A lot of his energy had been used by just creating that small stone table. It felt like an entire day’s worth of energy had vanished in those few seconds of manipulation.
"Using this a lot will be a huge burden for my body. I need to consume a lot of blood if I’m planning to make a proper settlement for the orcs."
He mumbled to himself.
The exchange rate was steep. The more complex the creation, the more energy it required. If he wanted to build fifty houses, he would need an ocean of blood.
’It will take a long time hunting for monsters.’
Verc looked down at his feet, and there, he saw Onyx running circles around him.
-Arf! Arf! Arf!
The puppy was barking at the new table, clearly confused by how it had appeared out of nowhere.
Just then--
"Wait..."
Verc turned to his window and looked at the orcs outside.
Through the bars, he could see them still working non-stop. They were dragging logs, sharpening stakes, and clearing brush with incredible energy. They were a resource he hadn’t fully considered yet.
’I can use them.’
He thought.
If they wanted to serve him, they could provide the fuel he needed to build their home. He didn’t have to do all the hunting himself, and he didn’t have to rely solely on the seven kids.
Then, Verc decided to test another thing. He had felt a strange sensation ever since Tatum and the others had consumed his blood. There was a lingering warmth in the back of his mind, a connection with them.
So with his mind, he tried connecting with Maya, Tatum, and Ashley. The three of them had drank his blood and formed a deep connection with him during the transition into being vampires.
’Any one of you, come here.’
He instructed in his mind.
He didn’t use his voice. He just projected the thought through that invisible thread, focusing on the intent of the command.
And with [Dungeon Genesis] still active, he waited.
A few seconds later, he felt a presence separate from the group on the first floor. It started running through the floors and heading toward him at a very fast pace. The mana signature was moving with incredible speed, jumping up the stairs three at a time.
Then soon—
TOK— TOK— TOK—
"D-Did you call, Lord Verc?"
Verc heard a knock on his door. He recognized the voice immediately. Tatum was standing outside, sounding slightly out of breath but alert.
"I heard your voice in my head. Maya and Ashley heard it as well. We decided it was best for me to go after hearing it."
Tatum said through the wood.
"I did call for you. I was just testing if our connection with each other can be used like this. I’m glad it worked."
Verc responded.
CREAK-
He walked over and opened the door, greeting Tatum. As soon as the door swung open, Tatum bowed his head deeply.
"Why did you call, my lord?"
Tatum asked, his voice respectful.
Verc cringed inwardly at how he addressed him. The "Lord Verc" stuff was one thing, but "my lord" felt way too formal for a guy who was just sitting on a stone floor ten minutes ago. However, he chose to just ignore it.
Opening his mouth, Verc got straight to the point.
"Tell this to Groo and Mamon. I have new instructions for the tribe."
Tatum looked up, his eyes sharp and focused.
"Assign half of the orcs to clearing more of the forest. I want the clearing to be twice as large by tomorrow. And the other half... I want them to hunt some monsters for me."
He gave that order without beating around the bush.
"They are to bring the monsters back alive if possible, or fresh if not. I need the blood to expand this castle and build them proper homes. If they want a sturdy roof, they need to provide the energy for it."
Tatum nodded, understanding the logic immediately.
"I will relay the command at once. They will be pleased to know that you are planning to build for them, Lord Verc."
"Just tell them to be careful. I don’t want them getting wiped out by something they can’t handle just because they’re overeager."
Verc added.
"Understood."
Tatum bowed once more and then turned, sprinting back down the hallway to deliver the news.
Verc watched him go, then turned back to his room. He looked at the stone table he had created. It was a small start, but it was a start. He reached down and picked up Onyx, who was still trying to chew on the corner of the new table.
"Looks like we’re going to be busy, Onyx."
Verc said quietly.
The clearing outside was about to become a lot more active. He sat back down at his new table, staring out the window at the dark trees of the [Cursed Forest]. He was no longer just a survivor; he was a builder. And to build a good base in this place, he was going to need a lot of blood.
’Let’s see what kind of monsters they can find for me.’
Verc thought, his eyes turning a faint, glowing red as he anticipated the next step of his plan. The expansion had truly begun.