C31 Chapter 30 – The Ruined Watchtower
The island...
Was evolving even faster.
Aiden didn't slow down.
The wolf howls echoed behind him as he hurried back to his camp.
Only after the wooden gate was securely closed did he finally let out a sigh of relief.
The Forest Hopper jumped onto the fence and carefully scanned the surrounding forest.
Nothing approached.
For now.
---
The next morning...
Aiden opened his notebook and reviewed his priorities.
1. Strengthen the camp.
2. Continue leveling up.
3. Explore new areas.
4. Find better materials.
5. Prepare for the Blood Moon.
"My biggest weakness..."
"I don't know what's happening beyond this island."
He only knew Hope Island.
Nothing about the world outside.
That lack of information could become deadly.
---
After eating breakfast, Aiden filled his water pouch and headed toward the northeastern side of the island.
According to the System Map, nearly all of that area was still hidden.
As he walked, he noticed the forest slowly changing.
The trees became taller.
The undergrowth became thinner.
Broken stone blocks appeared among the roots.
"This doesn't look natural..."
The deeper he went, the more ruins he found.
Cracked pillars.
Collapsed walls.
Broken statues covered in moss.
Someone...
Or something...
Had once lived here.
---
About an hour later, the Forest Hopper suddenly pointed ahead.
"Chi!"
Aiden pushed aside a curtain of vines.
His eyes widened.
A tall stone watchtower stood in the middle of a clearing.
Half of it had collapsed.
The upper floors were broken.
But the lower structure remained standing.
"This wasn't on the map..."
A blue screen appeared.
---
New Location Discovered
Ruined Watchtower
Grade: Rare
Exploration Progress:
26%
Reward Unlocked!
Rare Blueprint Chest ×1
Collection Book Updated.
---
Aiden smiled.
"I reached twenty-six percent."
But he didn't open the reward immediately.
The tower interested him more.
He slowly stepped inside.
The wooden stairs had long since rotted away.
Only a spiral stone staircase remained.
Every step echoed through the empty tower.
Halfway up...
He found old skeletons wearing rusted armor.
Each still held a broken spear.
"They died defending this place..."
Aiden lowered his head respectfully before continuing upward.
---
At the top...
He finally understood why the tower had been built.
The view was incredible.
Almost the entire island could be seen from there.
The pond.
His camp.
The Crystal Spring Cave.
The northern forest.
Even the distant coastline.
"If I repair this..."
"It'll become the perfect lookout."
Suddenly...
The Island Core inside his inventory vibrated.
A faint blue light spread across the tower.
The System reacted immediately.
---
Hidden Building Detected
Ruined Watchtower
Compatible with:
Hope Island
Conditions to Restore:
- Builder Level 4
- Stone ×200
- Wood ×150
- Iron Nails ×30
Reward:
Unlock Watchtower Building.
---
Aiden's breathing quickened.
"A permanent defensive building..."
That was worth every resource.
---
As he looked toward the northern forest...
Movement caught his eye.
Several wolves were running between the trees.
One...
Two...
Five...
Eight...
Aiden counted silently.
Then a much larger shadow appeared.
The wolves immediately lowered their heads.
The Shadow Wolf King.
Even from this distance, its size was intimidating.
It stood on top of a rocky hill and looked directly toward Aiden's camp.
"It's planning something..."
Aiden whispered.
That wasn't the behavior of an ordinary beast.
It was observing.
Learning.
Waiting.
---
Without warning...
The Shadow Wolf King raised its head.
Their eyes met.
Even though they were hundreds of meters apart...
Aiden felt as if the monster could truly see him.
The wolf slowly opened its mouth.
It didn't howl.
Instead...
It smiled.
Aiden's blood ran cold.
"No..."
"That thing is intelligent."
For the first time since arriving on Hope Island...
He wasn't facing a wild animal.
He was facing an enemy capable of planning.
---
He immediately descended the tower.
There was no point staying longer.
He had already learned something far more valuable than treasure.
The enemy wasn't mindless.
---
As he reached the ground floor, sunlight reflected off a small object buried beneath a loose stone.
Curious, Aiden picked it up.
It was an old bronze key engraved with a wolf's head.
The System identified it.
---
Quest Item Obtained
Ancient Watchtower Key
Grade: Rare
Description:
A forgotten key once carried by the tower's commander.
Current Use:
Unknown
Quest Updated:
Secrets of the Watchtower (1/3)
---
"A hidden quest..."
Aiden carefully stored the key.
He had a feeling it would become important later.
---
Before leaving, he finally opened the reward chest.
Blue light burst into the air.
---
Rare Blueprint Chest Opened
Congratulations!
You obtained:
Stone Wall Blueprint
Grade: Rare
Requirements:
Builder Level 4
Description:
Construct durable stone walls capable of resisting powerful monster attacks.
---
Aiden couldn't hide his excitement.
"This is exactly what I needed."
Wooden fences would never stop the Shadow Wolf King.
Stone walls...
Might.
---
The sun was already setting when Aiden returned to his camp.
He immediately wrote everything into his Survival Journal.
- Ruined Watchtower discovered.
- Exploration reached 26%.
- Rare Blueprint obtained.
- Shadow Wolf King commands a pack.
- The Wolf King possesses intelligence.
- Builder Level 4 is now the highest priority.
He closed the notebook and looked toward the dark northern forest.
The Blood Moon was still forty-eight days away.
Yet...
The real battle had already begun.
Far beyond the trees...
The Shadow Wolf King slowly turned away.
Behind it, more than twenty wolves silently gathered.
The pack...
Was growing.
