The dawning light cast a spectral glow over the ruins as Kael stood atop a rocky outcrop, surveying the landscape. Below, an old crumbling fort served as a refuge for men who had fallen out of favor with the world—disgraced mercenaries, hunted criminals, soldiers who had abandoned their banners. A chaotic mass of outcasts, brutal and undisciplined.

  Kael descended slowly, his boots stirring up dust. Eyes turned toward him—hostility, suspicion, curiosity. He stopped in front of them, assessing their potential.

  "You think you’re warriors?" he asked, his voice cold.

  A massive man with a scar running across his face sneered. "We already are."

  Kael smiled, then drew his sword in a flash. Before the man could react, the blade stopped just millimeters from his throat.

  "No. You’re nothing but stray dogs. But I will turn you into wolves."

  A heavy silence fell over the crowd.

  The real recruitment had just begun.

  Kael sheathed his sword and swept his gaze over the men before him. Some looked ready to lunge at him, but a flicker of caution held them back. He knew their kind—survivors, opportunists, broken souls searching for purpose.

  "I need men who can fight, not looters looking for one last easy raid. If you stay here, you’ll be forged in fire and blood. Otherwise, leave now and never return."

  A murmur rippled through the crowd. Then, the scarred man let out a laugh and stepped back, raising his hands in surrender. "You’ve got guts, chief. I’m curious to see if you can keep your promise."

  Others nodded, and the first group separated from the crowd, ready to hear what Kael had to say.

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  He smirked in satisfaction. This was only the beginning. Now, he had to turn these lost souls into a real army.

  The first trial was brutal. Kael knew he couldn’t afford to keep weak or hesitant men. He pointed to an open field a few hundred meters from the fort and ordered all who wished to follow him to go there. Once they arrived, he planted his sword into the ground and addressed them with an impassive voice.

  "The world we live in offers no mercy. Only those willing to kill or die deserve a place in my army. You will fight each other. Not to the death, but until one of you can no longer stand. If you refuse, you can leave now."

  Some men hesitated. Others, too proud or overconfident, were already exchanging challenging glares. A fight broke out even before Kael could give the order. Two men clashed with their bare hands, rolling in the dust, exchanging savage blows. One, larger and more muscular, eventually pinned the other under his knee before shoving him away with a brutal gesture.

  Kael nodded.

  "Good. That’s what I expect from you."

  More duels followed—some swift, others bloodier. Kael watched carefully, evaluating each fighter. He quickly identified those with experience, those who struck without hesitation, and those who faltered in the face of brutality.

  After an hour of combat, about twenty men lay on the ground, unable to rise. Kael stepped forward and placed a boot on the chest of one of them—an ex-soldier whose tattered armor bore the marks of a lost past.

  "You lost today, but you can still learn. If you want to stay, you must be able to rise after every fall."

  The defeated men nodded silently, exhausted but determined. Kael smiled. He had found the foundation of his army.

  But it wasn’t enough. He still needed to test their loyalty and endurance. Kael ordered the remaining men to run to a nearby river and bring back buckets of water. The treacherous terrain, littered with rocks and roots, forced them to push themselves harder. Some collapsed along the way, while others shoved their comrades aside to reach the finish line first.

  When the last man returned, exhausted, Kael studied their faces. Fatigue and determination burned in their eyes.

  "Tomorrow, we will do it again. Each day, we will go farther, strike harder. Those who can’t keep up will be left behind."

  A heavy silence fell over the group. But this time, it was no longer suspicion—it was a cold resignation, an acceptance of the fate they had chosen.

  Kael turned and walked back to his makeshift tent, leaving his new men to process the harsh reality of their commitment.

  The first stone of his empire had just been laid.