[GAME MODE: ARMY STRATEGY GAME]

[MAP: The Dark Forest]

[MAP CONDITIONS: Fog of war, -10% movement to a company of +100 soldiers, -15% night vision, +15% resource generation]

I blinked, and the black coliseum was gone.

Now, I stood inside a wide command tent stitched from coarse red canvas, the smell of oil lamps and damp leather filling my nose. A massive map sprawled across a wooden table, its surface glowing faintly with pulsing lines of light. Tiny banners flickered across its surface—blue for me, crimson for Mars. But it was just a decoration; the map doesn’t actually show the location of the other party.

Aside from that, there was a bed, a chair, and a few chests placed on the edge of the room. And a wooden armor rack standing by the entrance.

“A little basic,” I remarked, shaking my head, but then my vision was suddenly invaded by new icons.

The first one was a mini-map.

It was small at the right side of my peripheral vision, but when I looked at it fully, it grew and became clear and easy to understand. Moreover, I could pull out the full map of the dark forest. Sadly, everything was gray; only my location was visible.

The second icon blinked into existence, left after the resource counter. A neat little number in the corner, glowing faintly blue.

[Resources: 2000]

‘Well, that makes things simple,’ I thought, smirking. At least I wouldn’t have to count pebbles or ration fake grain like some peasant.

The third icon unfolded into a unit panel, hovering just above the map. Rows of phantom soldiers stood there, waiting for me to pick them, their names etched in golden script.

Unfortunately, only two were unlocked; the rest were gray.

[Spearmen – 100]

[Archers – 150]

All in all, it was very simple and easy to understand. I had a feeling that I played games like this back on Earth.

The last icon was shaped like a hammer, hovering faintly above my vision. Curious, I focused on it, and a new menu slid open with a metallic clang.

[Construction Panel]

[Watchtower – 250]

[Wooden Barricade – 100]

[Training Yard – 500 (Unlocks Swordsmen)]

“Now we’re talking…” I muttered, a grin tugging at my lips.

The options were barebones, but still useful. Defensive structures and a clear tech tree progression. It was simple—too simple—but that only meant one thing: Mars wanted this to escalate fast, not to waste time micro-managing resources.

I could already guess his playstyle just from our short interactions. This was a proud old soldier. An ambitious war-god. And most of all, a battle freak. Since we can’t build resource generation buildings, he would most likely spend all of his resource points to summon units, find and capture mines and farms for more income, so he could build an army and attack me with all his strength in one go.

Now the question is, am I willing to do the same?

“Let’s find out…” With a curious smile on my face, I walked out of the command tent.

Outside, the forest greeted me like a wall of shadows. The air was thick with damp moss and the faint crackle of insects hidden in the underbrush. My tent stood in a small clearing, just wide enough for soldiers to gather, but beyond that, only the endless press of towering trees and fog that clung to the soil like a living thing.

I turned, staring at the tent behind me as a glowing script shimmered into my vision.

…

[COMMAND TENT (Lv1)]

[+50 Resources per minute]

[Health: 1,000,000]

[Allows summoning units and constructing buildings]

[Upgrade to unlock advanced units and buildings. Upgrade Cost: 5000]

[Warning: This is the player’s home base. If destroyed, you lose the game. Protect it at all costs.]

…

“Wow,” I whistled low. “One million HP. Damn. Guess they’re not kidding when they call this a war game.”

And just to make sure, I nudged the wooden supports of the tent. The whole structure quavered at my touch, like a stack of bones that would fall at a stiff wind, not quite what I was expecting after seeing those rock-solid numbers.

Anyway, the command tent is indestructible until I’m defeated. So that was good, at least I know that I’ll be the main target in this game.

“Let’s summon a few troops first.” I reached into the unit panel, selecting ‘The Spearman’

The flap of the command tent behind me rustled. A glow spilled out from within, and a figure stepped through the canvas as if the fabric weren’t there.

A soldier emerged, clad in simple leather armor, a round shield clutched to his chest, and a spear gripped tightly in his hand. His face was blank, eyes hollow, but his stance was rigid—waiting.

[Resources: 2000 → 1900]

[+1 Spearman Deployed]

“Well…” I raised an eyebrow. “That’s dramatic.”

The soldier slammed the butt of his spear against the ground once, then took his place in the clearing. He didn’t speak, didn’t breathe heavily, didn’t hesitate. Just waiting.

Curious, I tapped the Spearman option again.

The tent glowed brighter this time, and another figure marched out, identical to the first at least in the gear. Then another. And another. The clearing filled with the steady rhythm of boots striking earth, shields clattering into place.

[Resources: 1900 → 1500]

[+4 Spearmen Deployed]

The formation began to take shape, one soldier at a time. Not a company summoned all at once, but a legion built piece by piece—brick by brick, flesh by flesh. It felt slower, heavier… and far more real.

When I switched to ‘Archer,’ the process was the same. The tent flap bulged, light spilled out, and a silent bowman emerged from the canvas. He slung his quiver into place, tested his string once, and walked calmly behind the spearman’s line.

[Resources: 1500 → 1350]

[+1 Archer Deployed]

“Nice,” I nodded with satisfaction and summoned two more.

[Resources: 1350 → 1050]

[+2 Archers Deployed]

So in total, I have eight troops, five spearmen, and three archers. And surprise, surprise, one of the archers was a woman. I was a little scared when only men kept appearing, but it seems that my luck didn’t abandon me and let me see something sexy.

Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem being gang-banged by a legion of men all day, it’s just that sometimes I need a wet hole to release some stress.

“Alright, you two scout the area,” I point at the two bowmen, then at the spearmen. “Make a full circle around the command tent, and report to me immediately when anything happens.”

“YES, GENERAL,” they all barked in unison, their voices flat but thunderous, like an echo bouncing through hollow armor.

The two archers immediately disappeared between the trees, fading away so silently that it was like their steps hadn’t disturbed a single branch or leaf. Each one went in a different direction to scout more areas and reveal more of the map. Get full chapters from Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

“Hmm, good. Good.” I tapped my chin, watching the spearmen taking their positions at the edge of the clearing, shields raised, spears angled outward. They looked like statues set against the fog, an unblinking wall.

As for the female archer, she simply stood her ground, waiting for my orders.

“Follow me,” I commanded, walking back to the command tent.

Her feet didn’t make a sound as she fell in step behind me, moving easily even with the heavy bow strapped across her shoulder. Inside the tent, I turned, opening her stats.

…

[Unit: Archer]

[Gender: Female]

[Health: 120/120]

[Stamina: 80/80]

[Attack Power: 15 (Ranged)]

[Defense: 5]

[Accuracy: +10% at medium range]

[Loyalty: 70%]

[Morale: 50%]

[Special Trait: +10% Accuracy at medium range]

….

“Ohhh…” I grinned, tapping my chin. “So you’re not just eye candy, huh? That makes you useful.”

She stood still as a statue, eyes blank, waiting for me to assign her. Not a twitch of impatience. Not a single breath out of rhythm. She was mine, through and through. However, the loyalty thing bugged me a little.

Like in real life, to have an absolutely loyal soldier under your command is almost a fantasy; maybe you can have a few such, but not that many. A general only got respect and loyalty by displaying his strengths. So it would only make sense for the units here to have different opinions about their general.

“This game isn’t as simple as Mars makes it to be.”

I narrowed my eyes at the glowing stats. Loyalty 70%. Morale 50%. Not bad, but not absolute either. Which meant these weren’t just hollow puppets marching at my command—they were watching me. Judging me. And they could betray me if they felt like I wasn’t doing enough for them.

‘Hmm…’ I narrowed my eyes, scanning the female archer from head to toes. She was a pretty girl with short brown hair and matching eyes. On a scale from one to ten, she was probably seven.

“Well, a good fuck is always a good way to raise morale and build loyalty.” I licked my lips, a vicious smile growing, and slowly I approached the woman standing next to me. She didn’t do anything, just remained completely stoic; however, her eyes widened in shock when I leaned in and kissed her.

Her stoic mask cracked for just a moment as my lips brushed against hers. She didn’t resist, but she didn’t exactly melt into it either—rigid, like a statue trying to understand the warmth of fire for the first time.

For a second, the silence of the tent deepened, broken only by the crackle of the oil lamp and the faint hum of the hovering menus. Then, a flicker.

…

[Loyalty: 70% → 73%]

[Morale: 50% → 55%]

…

I pulled back with a grin, savoring the tiny shift in her expression—her breath caught, her lips slightly parted, her eyes unfocused. She was still a character made by the game, but there was humanity there, hidden beneath the lines of code.

“See? Works every time.” I chuckled, patting her cheek. “Now, strip. I want to fuck you into absolute obedience.”

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