Chapter 85: The Guild House

Jax stood before the guild altar, the golden glow of the system illuminating his face. At last, he had completed the requirements. [Cores: 350,000 / 100,000] [Gold: 35,000,000 / 1,000,000] [Wood: 5 Ton / 1 Ton] [Stone: 50 Ton / 5 Ton] A dialogue box appeared before his eyes: [Accept?] Without hesitation, Jax pressed the option. In that very instant, the altar trembled slightly and a three-dimensional map of the three islands spread out before him. Two remained sealed in red. Only one glowed green, ready to be claimed. With a smile, Jax selected it in its entirety. The island expanded in miniature before his eyes, and the system delivered a new message. [Congratulations on acquiring the Guild House! Due to Hero’s Guild ranking, additional rewards will be granted after deciding the location of the Guild House.] The announcement gave way to a new interface, brilliant and complex. It looked exactly like a construction RPG: menus, structures, decorations, and walls—everything could be placed with just a thought. Jax took a deep breath, his lips curving with excitement. "Time to build." He immediately chose the perfect spot: a flat plain near the beach, with a direct view of the sea. The dirt floor was replaced by slabs of dark gray stone, massive 1x1 meter blocks that fell from the sky as if conjured by the system itself. The impact was thunderous, yet every piece locked perfectly in place, the world assembling like a colossal puzzle. Next, the outer walls rose: tall, imposing, with towers at every corner. Stones materialized one after another, climbing dozens of meters without Jax needing to wait. The system’s power made the process instantaneous. "A castle. But not a small one... one that will make everyone tremble." He activated the conversion option. [Do you wish to transform excess gold and gems into GRB Points?] [Yes / No] Jax selected Yes, and a new counter appeared. [GRB Points: 500,000] That was more than enough to create something monumental. He began with the main castle, a fortress of pointed towers, inner walls, and an iron-forged gate. Inside, he placed meeting halls, a dining room, bedrooms, libraries, laboratories, and a throne room adorned with guild banners. Every piece of furniture, every table, every crystal lamp was purchased and placed with GRB Points. The outer floor expanded beyond the castle, forming a fortified citadel. He didn’t add houses yet—only paved ground and broader walls encircling the complex, leaving space for future construction. But he didn’t stop there. At the edge of the sea, he raised a colossal port with stone docks, metal cranes, and warehouses. From the available options, he purchased a couple of basic ships, which appeared floating gently on the water, ready to sail. Finally, on the highest point of the island, he built a stone aerodrome: a vast circular platform reinforced with runes, a future landing ground for flying beasts. The result was majestic. Where once there had been only a simple beach, now stood an imposing fortress overlooking the sea—a true bastion worthy of the leader of all races. Jax admired the finished work, the sea wind brushing against his face as the system displayed one final message. [Construction complete! Hero’s Guild Guild House has been established!] Jax smiled with satisfaction. "This... will be our new home." From the beach, a group of silhouettes watched in awe. For several minutes, they had seen massive stone blocks fall from the sky, towers and walls rising in mere seconds, and an entire castle being erected as if by the hand of a god. Manaia was the first to step forward. Her lips curved into a proud smile as she walked toward the iron gate that had just slammed shut with a metallic echo. "I knew you’d do it, Jax. But this..." —she ran her hand across the smooth surface of the gate— "this is bigger than I ever imagined." Riven let out a whistle, crossing her arms with a disbelieving grin. "You call this a house? I’d say you just built a damn fortress." Zela lifted her gaze to the towers piercing the sky. "A real castle..." —she whispered, her eyes sparkling. Zyra laughed nervously, spinning in circles. "There’s even a port with ships! This is... this is insane." Vira walked a little further behind, her sharp eyes scanning everything, analyzing as if trying to memorize every detail. "Nothing compares to this. It feels like a dream come true." And then, among them, came Lira. She had endured more pain than any of the others, yet her eyes now shone with genuine excitement. She stopped at the entrance, her lips trembling before releasing a timid laugh. "It’s beautiful... it really is. I never thought I’d have a home like this." Jax awaited them in the main hall, where crystal torches already burned with a warm white glow. The polished stone floor reflected their footsteps as they entered, struck silent by the endless hallways and towering ceilings. "Welcome to the new guild home," said Jax, his voice echoing in the grand throne hall that stretched out behind him. "Each of you has your own room in the east tower. They’re empty... for now." With a wave of his hand, the system appeared before them all. A notification floated into view. [5,000 GRB Points have been delivered to each registered member.] [Room Decoration Authority: Activated.] Zyra’s eyes widened. "We can decorate them however we want!?" "Exactly," Jax replied with a calm smile. "The castle is empty, and I want every space to carry your essence. This place isn’t just mine—it belongs to all of you." Manaia looked at him intently, her warm, steady gaze unwavering. "That makes you more than just a leader, Jax... it makes you someone who understands what a true home means." The tour began. They passed through the main dining hall, where a marble table stretched with room for hundreds. The meeting hall shimmered with floating maps and planning runes. Then came the library, with shelves waiting to be filled with grimoires and manuals. They climbed the spiral staircase of the east tower, arriving at a long hallway lined with identical doors, each one marked with its future occupant’s name. Riven opened hers first, stepping into a spacious room with smooth walls and a wide window facing the sea. "Empty, but with potential. Yeah, this’ll do," she said with a half-smile. Zela nearly ran into her room, leaning out over the balcony. "You can see the whole port from here! No way I’m giving up this view." Zyra clapped her hands in excitement. "I’m filling mine with flowers, lights, and—oh! Maybe even a swing!" Vira stayed quiet, studying the layout, measuring with her eyes. "Perfect for organizing my things," she murmured. Lira stepped slowly into her room. The empty space welcomed her like a blank canvas. She touched the wall gently, breathing deeply. "Here... here I feel at peace." Jax watched them one by one, letting their emotions fill the moment. These weren’t just rooms—they were symbols of what they had built together. The fortress was no longer just a castle conjured by a system. It was a shared home.