Expanding Frontier

Expanding Frontier

Year 112

At first I left a gap of Rottedlands between the wider uncorrupted world and my recovered areas, as I expanded. Beneath all the once corrupted lands were normal lands, and some of them had minerals, or had geological features that were once hidden by the sludge. Clearing the land meant all these were revealed, and the new trees used to clear these spaces discovered the higher concentration of certain minerals when their roots extended into the ground.

Some of these were common minerals, like regular iron, or copper. Some areas were just certain types of soil that were suitable for making pottery or clay. Id imagine these resources would be suitable for construction or allow the creation of certain industries. Though our population is still only about 3,000ish, if the refugees come along, I would see this amount increase over time.

There will be refugees.

How would they get past the Rottedlands? Jura asked.

Good... point. That was when I realised my idea of creating a moat was quite stupid. Sure, the moat makes it harder for enemies to come in, and it also helped to thin any armys numbers by having to fight the demons, but, it almost completely denied the refugees or anyone who wanted to live in my domain. And that meant I would forever have a far smaller army to work with.

Refugees in this world are mostly escapees of war, though they are desperate and may have levels, they are mostly unarmed and would not survive a whole month through the Rottedlands.

Since any army that wants a piece of me would march through the Rottedlands anyway, with all the necessary logistics to survive the journey, I decided to make smaller paths to the outside world, which would then be fortified with walls, various tree-defenses, and a huge bunch of beetles. That way, prospective refugees can still get a safe path in.

I cant do the same things as expect a better result.

An expansionary approach is something I didnt try, though I am fond of the turtling concept. In fact, maybe thats why Im even a tree. A tree by nature is a immobile, but perhaps I should embrace rapid expansion of weeds.

Were already drawing attention. A few of the survivors said. Aeons expansion has made our lands very attractive.

Theres so few of us. We cant hold off those lands.

Jura shook his head. Aeon has decided to hold on to those lands. Anyone who wants it will have to go through his army.

In fact, a nearby kingdom officially launched an invasion force of 30,000. They would cut across the small strip of Rottedlands and then start to settle in reclaimed areas closest to their kingdom. It wasnt much of a battle. By the time that army did cross the Rottedlands, they lost about 2,000 people. They gained levels, though.

When they emerged from the Rottedlands, Jura helped make an announcement that they are invading my lands. Of course, they ignored it. Then, they were attacked by hidden beetles, scattered across the newly made forests. There were some high leveled individuals in there, perhaps around level 50 to 80, and for those, I dealt with them personally. Mostly by just harassing them with [serpentine rootstrike], and a volley of poisonous fruits from everywhere.

Didnt take long for the 30,000 to become only 20,000, and then deciding that its better to just run away, since they soon realised the army of beetles is a lot bigger than they were prepared for. I have 100,000 subsidiary trees, and that meant if I ever max out on beetles, thats a total of 500,000 beetles. 500,000 beetles that regenerate 100,000 beetles per month. Its just... I could zerg-rush the nearest kingdoms. How many kingdoms can fight off 100,000 beetles each month anyway?

Of course, I cant practically max out beetles, since I have some dedicated for other roles, like housing, like training areas, or some as defenses.

Theres also the issue of levels. I mean, if someone kills 100,000 beetles, Im damned sure the systems going to give him some super beetle-immunity, or beetle resistance, or beetle-slayer abilities.

In fact, this very issue is why its better to have a diversified army, because if at any time your opponent ever gains a skill advantage, it applies over the entirety of the army. Imagine if a [general] had [beetle slayer general] or something like that. That would mean my beetles are effectively useless. Or maybe some mage gets [Bugspray] or something.

Ugh.

After that defeat, there was no more invasion for the rest of the year. I count that as a yay, because obviously now the other kingdoms realised it aint easy trying to take land away from a tree.

Trade and commerce is gradually returning, and so the survivors reorganised themselves as a new administrative body for the entire land, once again, with me as the spiritual leader. Theres no large scale refugee movement yet, not with the land being relatively peaceful. The demonic rifts have yet to reopen, and the hybrids of the Rottedlands dont seem to stray far from their native environment.

Any opinions? Jura went and met Yvon in her training tree. Yvon gained a wooden form that can talk and communicate with people, but unlike Meela or Alexis, her wooden body remained stuck in her tree. Quite strange, and I reckon the heroes just have special treatment.

Its quite surreal to still see you, mom. Roma said to Yvon, he sat inside her tree, practicing. I mourn your death, and yet, here you are.

She tapped Roma on the head. Well, looks like fate has other plans for me.

More like Aeon had other plans for you. And Im not quite sure if I like it.

She shrugged.

-

As the year slowly reached its end, after all that fighting and expanding, I got something I wanted.

[You have gained a level. You are now level 153]

[Your skill - Natural Mana Overwhelming has been upgraded].

I hoped for a new skill, but it seemed the system was more keen on just upgrading my skills. Still, it made it easier for my mana to push back and put out the demonic mana.

Next year, I would be closing in on the volcano and the Southwest Forest. Id hope to see how the rod and Dimitrees artificial mind is holding up. I had the notification that I lost my connection to Dimitree, but not one that indicated that he died. Perhaps, with the use of the magical leyline, he was able to use its mana to push back against the demonic corruption. That would be great, since I wouldnt have to rebuild that entire Southwest forest.

I would like to start reconnecting with the Lilies again. I have a lot of questions, and I think only great old beings like them can answer it.

Oh. Naming!

So, we need to brainstorm a name for our new city. The survivors reconvened. Apparently it was an important matter, because they didnt know how to describe themselves, and they didnt want to use the name of New Freeka, which was destroyed.

The conversation went somewhat like this. Neo Freeka. Too similar to the old name. Freekabaru. Eww. Free-la? No. AeonFreeka? Sounds too much like a bad nickname. Aeonland? No!

After days, and I think weeks of numerous meetings, no one could settle on a name, because everyone wanted something else, and in the end, they voted as a whole, to force me to name the area.

I didnt have a good name either.

NewNewFreeka? Nope. EvenBetterFreeka? Freeka 3.0? Nope.

In the end, because we are deep in the Rottedlands, I decided something that opposed the meaning of Rotted.

Freshka.

Yes.

The City of Freshka. I felt numerous facepalms in the entirety of the valley, as if a million dreams were silenced and crushed all at once. I thought I was quite clever, but everyone else didnt. But, they reluctantly accepted my proposed name. Because Freshka is Fresher! Fresh! Like new, but Fresh! Its like a bad cringey commercial. If Meela was here shed say my naming sense is atrocious.

Freshka! The good thing is, its just going to be the name of the new city thats going to be built at a new location, quite a distance from the valley. I mean, now that large areas are back to their normal, forested ways, not everyone wants to live near a giant flaming tree anymore. So, they found a place where theres a river, a nice slightly sloped flatland to start their new city.

3,000 people made the move there. The second new capital of the other restored lands. The other being Harriss empire, of course, which is on the other side of the continent. If the entire Rottedlands was an apple, his empire would be shaped like a bite into the apple.

Should I call the general area Freshlands, then? Freshans. Freeshkans. Freeshans dont sound that bad either.