"That tomb-like stone place I came from was actually the clan's main hall? For a clan of celestials, our living conditions are really poor," David muttered to himself.
Still… it was better than nothing.
He dismissed the status screen and flew back to the spot he had first arrived at. Back then, he had barely paid attention to anything. But now that he knew this stone structure belonged to his founding clan, he felt a responsibility to look at it properly.
However simple it was, from today onward, this place was his home.
A massive stone wall surrounded the property. It was about nine feet tall, rough and cold to the touch. At first glance, it looked strong and sturdy, but David could feel it just by touching it.
That it wouldn't take much effort for him to break it.
Either his body was just too powerful now, or the wall was never meant for defense but only to assert clan's boundary.
Though both can be true in itself.
Following the wall, he arrived at the main gate, a double wooden door nearly ten feet tall. The wood was plain, but a large crest was carved into its center. A black cross intersected with a golden crescent moon. Together, the symbols reflected the dual nature of Nephren.
So this was likely the crest of the founding clan.
David stared at it for a moment.
He liked it.
Even though the system had created it without asking him, it somehow felt fitting.
With a low creak, the door slowly opened.
Inside was a stone garden. Some patches of green still showed through, but most of the ground was buried under snow. Simple stone decorations lined the path, and a small pond sat at the center, now frozen over like a sheet of glass.
A stone walkway led from the entrance to the main hall, standing right in the middle of the garden. Attached to the left side of the hall was what looked like a storage building, and on the right side, a set of rooms that were likely the sleeping quarters.
On the backside of the stone garden was a small forge.
And there it was, on the opposite side of the forge, the place he was most curious about.
The Genesis Altar.
From the outside, it looked like the other stone buildings.
Nothing special.
But David didn't waste time lingering at the entrance. He stepped inside.
The interior was completely different from what he had imagined.
A huge tree grew in the center of the chamber, its branches reaching up and attaching themselves to the ceiling like living pillars. The trunk had three hollow chambers carved into it, as if it had been designed to store something or more likely someone.
While Its roots extended into a large pond beside the tree. The pond glowed with a soft blue light, almost like moonlight trapped underwater.
Five bodies floated inside it, completely dormant.
At first glance, they all looked identical. But one of them, a female, shined with a faint golden glow. Even as the progenitor of her race, David couldn't help staring.
She was really beautiful.
David looked closely, and there was a marking above her head: S-Grade (dormant, 19y 11m remaining)
"The fuck? She'll take around 20 years to be active?"
His disappointment hit immediately.
"That's ridiculous."
Knock. Knock.
The sharp echo of someone knocking on the altar door snapped him out of it.
"Master, are you inside?"
"?" David frowned.
Who would show up here?
"Pardon the intrusion," a masculine voice called, and the door opened.
Two figures stepped in.
The first looked like a man in his twenties, with gray eyes and a halo floating above his head. He was about six feet tall, and his expression was gentle. The man beside him was taller around six foot five with a stern face and the same halo.
A stern and a halo. It made a quite picturesque combo.
Their clothing was similar to David's woolen outfit, though simpler.
After examining him for a few seconds, both of them dropped to their knees.
"We greet the patriarch," they said in unison.
'So these two were the active ones,' David realized.
He kept his expression steady and motioned for them to stand.
"Your names?" he asked.
"We do not have names, sir," the shorter man replied.
"I see."
David touched his chin, already feeling the headache coming. Naming things had always been his weakness. And now, as their progenitor, he was expected to name the first members of his own race.
'I hate this. I can't just throw random names at them, but thinking too long is torture.'
The two men stood like statues while David struggled in silence.
Twenty minutes later, he finally spoke.
"You, shorter one. From today forward, you will be Moa. And you," he said, pointing to the taller man, "will be Arc."
He paused. "Do you like your names?"
"Master, they are wonderful," Moa answered immediately.
While Arc remained silent.
[Registering Names…]
[Loading Status…]
══════════════════
[STATUS]
Name: Moa
Race: Nephren
Bloodline: B-Grade (Noble)
Fusion Purity: 72%
Dominant Aspect: 60% Demonic
Gender: Male
Biological Age: Appears 22
Level: 3
Occupation: Blacksmith
Growth Potential: High in crafting, low in combat
Title: Second Son — The second to emerge after the Progenitor
Unique Talent — Forge Soul (B-Grade):
Moa has an instinctive understanding of smithing that goes beyond normal training.
Martial Skills:
- Basic Blacksmithing (Common)
- Nephren Combat Style (Common)
Specialized Magic: None
══════════════════
"So we already got a blacksmith, huh,"
══════════════════
[STATUS]
Name: Arc
Race: Nephren
Bloodline: B-Grade (Noble)
Fusion Purity: 75%
Dominant Aspect: 70% Demonic
Gender: Male
Biological Age: Appears 25
Level: 4
Occupation: Weapon Master
Growth Potential: Exceptional in combat, low in crafting and magic
Title: First Son — The first to emerge after the Progenitor
Unique Talent — Omni-Weapon Mastery (B-Grade):
Arc possesses supernatural skill with any weapon. If it can be used to fight, he can wield it as if he's trained for years.
Martial Skills:
- Dual Blade Dance (Uncommon)
- Nephren Combat Style (Common)
- Vital Strike Technique (Common)
Specialized Magic: None
══════════════════
"Arc is pretty impressive,"
He skimmed through both status windows, trying to make sense of them.
"So bloodline grade is like their lineage. B-Grade means Noble… maybe it's related to purity? The higher the grade, the better the stats and growth? That's my guess, but I'll need to see someone with a different grade to be sure."
[QUEST TRIGGERED]
[COMMON QUEST]
Dire-Wolf Pack
A pack of dire wolves has entered the perimeter of the Frostspine Founding Clan. Hunt them down and secure food for the day.
Rewards:
- 50 CP
- Wolf meat
- Wolf pelts (crafting material)