Chapter 151: Sparkborns

Adrian’s gaze was fixed on the now-invisible formation and a profound sense of satisfaction settled deep within him.

Now, it was time to test it.

He walked towards a small, unadorned metal building situated at the very edge of the barrier.

This structure was designed with practicality in mind, its entrance discreetly tucked away at the back.

From the front, a large, rectangular window, much like a shopfront display, offered a clear view into a portion of the interior.

Adrian had designated this building as the Control Outpost.

It bore a striking resemblance to the control outposts operated by the Association for their teleportation nodes, yet with a crucial distinction.

The Association’s outposts relied entirely on a constant, costly supply of magic crystals to power their formations.

As long as someone stepped onto their runic circle, they would be transported, a simple, unthinking mechanism. Adrian’s design, however, was fundamentally different.

He pushed open the back door and stepped inside. The control room was simple.

A single, robust yoke dominated the small space, clearly designed for commencing teleportation.

Beside it were three smaller buttons, offering distinct operational modes.



The first button was for connecting the formation to the main node just outside the barrier. A direct, intended transfer point.

The second was for a randomized transfer, with the sole condition that the transported individual would still appear somewhere at the edge of the forest, providing a degree of unpredictability for training or strategic deployment.

Adrian pressed the first button. A series of soft clicks and whirs echoed from within the walls as internal gears engaged.

Looking out through the large window, one could now clearly see a large, glowing runic circle materialize on the ground outside, marking the precise spot for transit.

He reached into a pouch, retrieved a gleaming gold coin, and tossed it through the open window. It landed squarely on the illuminated circle.

With a focused expression, Adrian pushed the yoke down.

In an instant, the coin vanished from sight, leaving not even a shimmer.

"Perfect," Adrian murmured.

Since the coin had successfully landed on a designated node on the other side of the barrier, it met the conditions for the third, experimental button.

Adrian pressed it and then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he pulled the yoke back up to its original position.

Just as it clicked into place, the gold coin reappeared on the glowing circle, seemingly out of nowhere.

"It works!" Adrian exclaimed.

This particular design was more than just a functional tool; it was an experiment.

It demonstrated a forced return of a sent body, provided that body remained on the corresponding node.

Since the coin couldn’t move once transported, it had fulfilled the conditions for a seamless return.

Despite the specific nature of this test, Adrian was more than pleased with the result.

The formation was precisely as he had envisioned. With the yoke now reverted to its original position, the active glow faded from the circle outside, rendering the formation inactive.

Adrian stepped out of the control outpost, the cool night air a welcome sensation.



The days spent on this colossal project had been immensely taxing, and Adrian could feel the accumulated fatigue.

He stretched his arms, looking up at the vast expanse of the night sky, then glanced at the time displayed on his personal panel.

[11:56 PM]

"I’ll make the announcement tomorrow," Adrian decided aloud.

"I should get some rest."

With those words, he launched himself into the sky, a faint blue glow from his boots propelling him swiftly towards his personal building, located at the very center of the quarters. He landed softly on its spacious balcony.

Before stepping inside, Adrian paused, his gaze sweeping across the other buildings stretching out beneath him.

Lights glowed softly from many of them, powered by mana bulbs, illuminating the modern architecture that now defined this nascent settlement. Smooth, paved roads crisscrossed the area, connecting various facilities.

"Compared to before, this is truly a testament to what we can achieve," he mused, a deep satisfaction filling him.

"But this is just the beginning," he reiterated. "Power management, industrial facilities, and recruitment. Those are my next goals."

With those thoughts propelling him, he walked through the balcony doors and headed straight for his personal bedroom, taking off the shit before collapsing onto the plush king-sized bed. Sleep claimed him almost immediately.

***

The next morning, by 11:00 AM, the entire group of twenty-one individuals had assembled at the very edge of their transformed territory, just before the invisible barrier.

They were all refreshed with their morning duties completed, all gathered for Adrian’s highly anticipated briefing. The air crackled with a mix of anticipation and curiosity.

Adrian stood before them, his posture radiating confidence and quiet authority. His gaze swept over each face with pride.

"To all twenty-one of you," he began. "I am truly impressed by how far we have all come. Your hard work, your unwavering dedication, and your willingness to push beyond limits have not only met but exceeded my expectations. It makes me proud to confirm that I chose the right people."

A ripple of murmurs, hushed but appreciative, went through the crowd.

"We have indeed come far," Adrian continued, his voice gaining a touch more intensity, "but make no mistake, this isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning. We are now moving onto the next phase of our revolution, and I assure you, there will be work... lots of work."

A warm smile touched his lips, a sentiment reflected in the faces of his eager listeners.



"This next stage is critical. We will strive to forge this territory into our ultimate safe home, a beacon of progress and security."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"Last night, I concluded the work on the barrier formation." A collective gasp, quickly followed by murmurs of excitement, swept through the group.

"I will educate each of you on how to use it, and we will be making full, strategic use of the magic forest. With this formation fixed, there will be no more surprise attacks. For now, our focus will be on our work, our growth, and the strengthening of our foundations."

Everyone nodded, their arms crossed in agreement, their faces alight with understanding and renewed purpose. Adrian then looked at all of them, a new gleam in his eyes.

"I think it’s time we gave a name to ourselves, and to this place. From today, the Corrupted Lands shall adopt a new name.

We have successfully reclaimed this land from the clutches of decay and malice, transforming it into something new..."

His voice swelled with conviction. "So, instead of the Corrupted Lands, this shall be known as New Haven!"

A roar of applause erupted, loud and genuine, at the announcement of the name. It was concise, evocative, and spoke to the growth and hope they had brought to a blighted land. But Adrian wasn’t done.

"And us," he continued, raising a hand to quiet the cheers, his voice resonating with an almost prophetic quality.

"New Haven is just a name for this particular territory. As a whole, we have a name, a name that will define our purpose, our ambition, and our unwavering commitment to shaping a new future.

From today, we, and our nation, will be known as Sparkborns!"