Raze stood on the stone platform, taking in the vast landscape that stretched before him in every direction. His kingdom. The Board's simulation of territory he would govern, defend, and develop throughout his time at Elmbridge Academy.

The terrain was diverse, rolling hills transitioning to dense forest in the east, rocky outcroppings marking the northern border, open plains spreading south, and what appeared to be a river cutting through the western section. Strategic variety that offered both opportunities and challenges depending on how resources were allocated.

But the platform itself was spartan. A single stone building stood at the center, barely large enough to house ten people comfortably let alone the thirty who'd committed to his kingdom. No defensive structures, no storage facilities, no amenities beyond bare stone walls and a roof.

The Academy had provided the absolute minimum. Everything else would need to be built, purchased, or created through whatever systems governed this simulation.

Raze walked the perimeter of the central structure, noting the craftsmanship. The stone was solid, well fitted, designed to last rather than simply meet immediate needs. But it was just one building, singular foundation for what needed to become functional governance center.

A well stood nearby, water source at least. Testing it revealed clean water, fresh and cold. Essential resource secured, though infrastructure for distribution would need development.

Beyond the immediate platform, the landscape was empty. No roads, no cleared paths, no signs of previous habitation. Virgin territory waiting to be shaped by whoever claimed it.

Bephe had materialized with him, the prehistoric predator immediately expanding to calf size and prowling the area with curious sniffs. The creature seemed unbothered by the sparse amenities, prehistoric constitution apparently comfortable with minimal shelter.

"Well," Raze said to his companion. "We've got land and one building. Everything else is apparently our problem."

His bracelet pulsed, warm against his wrist. He glanced down to find notifications waiting, information the Academy had apparently queued for when he arrived.

[Entrance Examination Completion - Rewards Processing]

[Calculating Final Scores And Performance Bonuses]

[Kill Count: 137 Beasts - Expert Rank Primary Concentration]

[Point Value: Base Accumulation Calculated]

[Ranking Bonus: 2nd Place Overall - Exceptional Performance Multiplier Applied]

[Delegate Elimination Bonus: Forced Extraction Of Prince Lucien Astoria - Competitive Superiority Confirmed]

[Total Academy Points Awarded: 40,000 AP]

[Leadership Designation Bonus: Provisional King Status - Additional Rewards Granted]

[Kingdom Points Awarded: 10,000 KP Base Allocation]

[Ranking Achievement Bonus: 2nd Place Finish - Additional 52,000 KP Granted]

[Total Kingdom Points: 62,000 KP]

[Rewards Distribution Complete]

[Welcome To Elmbridge Academy]

Raze absorbed the information methodically. Forty thousand Academy Points for personal use, sixty-two thousand Kingdom Points for territorial development. Substantial resources, though without context for pricing he couldn't assess whether these amounts were generous or barely adequate.

He focused on his bracelet's interface, looking for additional information. The display responded immediately, expanding to show four distinct tabs:

ACADEMY CURRICULUM

FIRST YEAR

OVERVIEW

LEADERSHIP

SHOP

Raze selected the Overview tab, and the interface expanded:

[OVERVIEW]

[Congratulations, Raze Dragonheart, on completing the entrance examination and joining Elmbridge Academy.]

[You are currently designated as First Year student. As such, your initial instructions are as follows:]

[All First Year students are required to either create or join a Kingdom structure. The top ten performers from the entrance examination have been selected as Provisional Kings, each responsible for establishing and leading a Kingdom consisting of their committed delegates.]

[Each Kingdom has been assigned distinct territory within the Board simulation. Your task is to manage, develop, and defend this territory for the duration of the academic year while completing assigned objectives and competing against the nine other Kingdoms.]

[CURRENT OBJECTIVES:]

[Establish Organizational Structure]

[Select your eight Pieces from committed delegates and assign them to appropriate roles within thirty-six hours.]

[Reward: 15,000 KP upon completion]

[Survive Initial Period]

[Protect your territory from external threats for one month without losing more than 10 percent of your population.]

[Reward: 30,000 KP upon completion]

[COMPLETED OBJECTIVES:]

[Entrance Examination Performance]

[Achieve top ten ranking through demonstrated capability during the Culling Games.]

[Reward: Variable based on final placement]

[Status: COMPLETED - 2nd Place - 62,000 KP Awarded]

[Note: Additional objectives will be issued as circumstances develop. Completion rewards scale with difficulty and strategic importance. Failure to meet objectives may result in penalties affecting both Kingdom and individual standing.]

[Welcome to Elmbridge Academy, Raze Dragonheart. We wish you success in your endeavors.]

Raze processed the information carefully. Two active objectives with substantial rewards, plus the implication that more would come. The thirty-six hour deadline for Piece selection was tight but manageable. The one month survival requirement would depend entirely on what external threats meant in practice.

He navigated to the Leadership tab:

[LEADERSHIP]

[Congratulations, Raze Dragonheart. Your exceptional performance during the entrance examination has earned you selection among the ten students granted authority to create and lead a Kingdom.]

[Leadership responsibilities and mechanics are as follows:]

[As King of your Kingdom, you bear ultimate responsibility for all decisions, strategies, and outcomes affecting your territory and population. While you may delegate authority to your eight Pieces, final accountability rests with your position.]

[PENALTIES:]

[Member Elimination: When any member of your Kingdom suffers defeat requiring emergency extraction, both the eliminated member and you as leader suffer point reduction. The eliminated member loses 10 percent of their total Academy Points. You lose 1 percent of your total Academy Points.]

[Objective Failure: Any failure to complete assigned objectives within specified timeframes results in Kingdom Point penalties affecting territorial development capacity. Repeated failures may result in additional consequences including temporary authority restrictions or forced Piece replacements.]

[Territorial Loss: Loss of assigned territory to rival Kingdoms through conquest or failure to defend results in both Kingdom Point penalties and Academy Point reduction for leadership. The severity scales with the strategic value of lost territory.]

[BENEFITS:]

[Leadership Access: Special discounts in the Kingdom Shop category, allowing more efficient resource allocation and territorial development.]

[Point Sharing: You receive 3 percent of all Academy Points earned by any member of your Kingdom through beast kills, objective completion, or competitive victories. This creates passive accumulation that rewards effective team building.]

[Bonus Rewards: Separate leadership rewards for Kingdom victories, successful objective completion, and exceptional strategic performance. These bonuses are in addition to standard Kingdom rewards and scale with achievement difficulty.]

[Priority Resources: First access to limited resources, special opportunities, and Academy events that require Kingdom participation.]

[Note: Both penalties and benefits listed above may be adjusted based on ongoing Academy assessment of system balance and competitive fairness. All leaders will receive notification of any modifications before they take effect.]

Raze read through the information twice, noting the risk and reward balance. The 3 percent point sharing from his thirty committed delegates could create substantial passive income if they performed well. But the penalties for member elimination or objective failure would require careful strategic thinking to avoid cascading setbacks.

He navigated to the Shop tab, finding it subdivided into three categories:

SHOP

EXPLANATION OF KP AND AP

KINGDOM SHOP

ACADEMY SHOP

He selected the explanation category first:

[EXPLANATION OF KP AND AP]

[The Academy utilizes two distinct currency systems serving different purposes:]

[Kingdom Points (KP): This currency funds territorial development and Kingdom-wide resources. KP can only be spent in the Kingdom Shop category and cannot be transferred between Kingdoms or converted to Academy Points. KP is earned primarily through objective completion, with bonuses for exceptional strategic performance and competitive victories against rival Kingdoms.]

[Academy Points (AP): This is the general currency available to all students regardless of Kingdom affiliation. AP can be spent in the Academy Shop to purchase personal equipment, skill development resources, cultivation aids, and individual advancement materials. AP is earned through beast kills, competitive victories against other students, objective contributions, and passive accumulation for Kings through the point sharing system.]

[CURRENT POINTS:]

[Academy Points: 40,000 AP]

[Kingdom Points: 62,000 KP]

[Note: As Kingdom leader, you have sole access to Kingdom Point totals and sole authority over their expenditure. Your decisions regarding KP allocation are not subject to review or override except in cases of verified system abuse. Use this authority wisely to balance immediate needs against long-term strategic development.]

Raze committed the numbers to memory. Forty thousand personal currency, sixty-two thousand for territorial development. The question was how far those amounts would stretch given Academy pricing structures.

He navigated to the Kingdom Shop:

[KINGDOM SHOP - BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE]

[Expanded Barracks]

[Additional housing capacity for Kingdom members beyond the basic central structure. Provides comfortable accommodation for up to twenty additional people with appropriate amenities.]

[Cost: 15,000 KP]

[Watchtower]

[Defensive structure providing elevated observation position and early warning capability. Enhances territorial security and allows detection of approaching threats from significant distance.]

[Cost: 25,000 KP]

[Workshop]

[Specialized facility for equipment crafting, repair, and modification. Enables creation of custom gear and maintenance of existing equipment without relying on Academy services.]

[Cost: 58,000 KP]

[Mess Hall]

[Communal dining facility designed to feed large groups efficiently. Promotes social cohesion and provides centralized food distribution point.]

[Cost: 10,000 KP]

[Medical Bay]

[Basic medical facility for treating common injuries and illnesses. Staffed position for Kingdom member with appropriate training or skills.]

[Cost: 20,000 KP]

[Advanced Training Facility]

[Specialized space for skill development, combat practice, and cultivation advancement. Provides equipment and environmental enhancements that accelerate member growth.]

[Cost: 250,000 KP]

[Supply Depot]

[Secure storage for resources, equipment, and materials. Organized inventory system prevents loss and enables efficient distribution.]

[Cost: 30,000 KP]

[Communication Hub]

[Centralized system for coordinating across territory. Allows rapid information sharing and strategic coordination during emergencies.]

[Cost: 28,000 KP]

[Recreation Area]

[Dedicated space for relaxation and morale maintenance. Reduces stress and prevents burnout during extended high-pressure periods.]

[Cost: 30,000 KP]

[Farmstead]

[Agricultural development for sustainable food production. Reduces reliance on Academy food supplies and creates long-term resource independence.]

[Cost: 38,000 KP]

[Water Purification Station]

[Advanced system ensuring clean water supply beyond basic well capacity. Scales to support larger populations and provides emergency reserves.]

[Cost: 10,000 KP]

[Storage Facility]

[Additional secure storage for surplus resources and strategic reserves. Enables stockpiling for future needs or unexpected shortages.]

[Cost: 22,000 KP]

[Infirmary]

[Advanced medical facility for serious injuries and complex treatment. Significantly more capable than basic Medical Bay.]

[Cost: 105,000 KP]

[Central Plaza]

[Social gathering space for meetings, events, and community building. Provides venue for Kingdom-wide announcements and coordination.]

[Cost: 15,000 KP]

Raze studied the options carefully, mind working through strategic priorities. His current sixty-two thousand Kingdom Points could purchase multiple basic structures or one advanced facility, but not everything needed for comprehensive territorial development.

Immediate needs versus long-term investment. Defense versus comfort. Self-sufficiency versus dependence on Academy resources.

The Watchtower seemed essential for security. Early warning could prevent disasters that the 10 percent population loss penalty would make devastating. Twenty-five thousand was steep, but survivability had to be the first priority.

The Mess Hall at ten thousand was relatively affordable and addressed basic quality of life. Thirty people needed organized food distribution, and communal dining would help maintain morale during whatever challenges came next.

That would leave twenty-seven thousand for additional purchases. Not enough for the Workshop or any of the advanced facilities, but sufficient for either the Medical Bay or Water Purification Station plus one other basic structure.

Or he could save the remaining points for future needs once he better understood what challenges the Academy would throw at them.

The Expanded Barracks was tempting. Thirty people crammed into one building would create tension and exhaustion that would affect performance. Comfortable housing improved morale and efficiency.

But defense and basic needs had to come first. He could manage cramped quarters short term if it meant the kingdom survived long enough to accumulate more points for expansion.

Raze closed the shop interface for now, turning his attention back to the physical territory around him. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the landscape. His thirty committed delegates would arrive at dawn for formal Piece selection and role assignment.

Which meant he had tonight to finalize his strategic priorities, determine which eight people would fill which roles, and make initial purchase decisions about territorial development.

The weight of leadership settled across his shoulders, tangible pressure that transcended simple responsibility. Thirty people had committed to following him. Their Academy experiences, their advancement opportunities, their success or failure would be directly affected by his decisions.

No pressure.

Bephe returned from his prowling, settling at Raze's feet while the prehistoric predator watched his master contemplate the glowing bracelet display.

"Strategic resource allocation," Raze murmured. "Welcome to a governance simulation that actually has teeth."

He hadn't expected the Academy to make things easy, but the stark choices already presenting themselves suggested this year would be exercise in constant prioritization under pressure. Every decision carried consequences, every purchase meant something else went unbought, every objective completed or failed would cascade into future opportunities or setbacks.

This was what Headmaster Sariah had meant about measuring success through organizational effectiveness rather than individual capability. Raw power mattered, but strategic thinking and resource management would separate successful kingdoms from those that collapsed under accumulated failures.

The possibilities stretched before him, multiple paths through an uncertain future where every choice created new branches of consequence.

Time to start choosing.

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