The next day, the Springriver Manor, Shaneâs very first shelter, had suddenly recruited a lot of workers from various shelters.
They passed through the Gate Stones established on each Shelter, allowing them easy access to various works.
Right now, everyone could hear the hammers ringing against stone, saws cutting through timber, and the voices of laborers in the courtyard.
The Eclipse Revenant Clan Hall was nearby... At the moment, it was watching over the construction of something far more ambitious than walls or turrets.
Cristoff stood at the center of it all, sleeves rolled up...
He wasnât a resident of this continent but a Foreign Survivor like Shane and the others. He came from the Blood Talon Clan and right now, he was burdened with a huge job as one of the engineers in the Shelter.
"Weâre getting there..." Cristoff said as he looked at the blueprint given to him...
[ Tier III Training Hall Construction ( Blueprint ): A preserved architectural plan... It allows survivors and to undergo high-tier class advancement.
Effect:
Unlocks the ability to construct the Tier III Training Hall in any Allied Shelter.
Once built, the Training Hall enables the evolution of Survivors, Recruits, or any Human into Advanced Class Units, unlocking powerful skills and exclusive Talent Trees.
Class Paths Available at Launch:
Spellcaster: Turns anyone with at least 600 Spirit Points into a Magic Caster with offensive and support skills. Gains access to spirit-based passives and skill fusion potential.
Warrior: A frontline melee specialization. Gains increased physical resistance, new weapon techniques, and a chance to learn Aura Fundamentals.
Ranger: A swift ranged specialist with terrain adaptability, stealth skills, and marksmanship.
Acolyte: A support class trained in healing, alchemy, and curse removal.
Adept: A rogue-style advancement path. Trained in traps, poisons, and critical ambushes.
Sentinel: A heavy-armored unit that focuses on mechanical or weapon enhancements.
Buildingâs Bonus Effect:
Reduces Class Advancement Training Time by 50%.
Integrates with the Shelterâs Command System, allowing the Shelter Owner to remotely monitor the promotions anywhere.
Requirement: Shelter must be at Intermediate Level or Higher.
Construction consumes resources: 20,000 Wood, 12,000 Iron, 5,000 Power Cores, and 1 Basic Shelter Crystal. ]
This was the Blueprint that Shane had previously obtained from the last Zombie Wave event.
Now, being the new owner of the blueprint, he had the ability to construct this as long as he had enough resources and people to work with.
Well, being the Rank 1 Clan had its own benefits for sure.
Of course, Shane had postponed its construction for a long time for obvious reasons. The amount of resources needed was simply too high.
It was only recently that they managed to obtain enough Power Cores.
Anyway, Cristoff was no stranger to construction, but this project carried a weight unlike any other.
The Tier III Training Hall was not just a building, it was a mystical structure that promotes or advances the ability of people...
It was a place where ordinary survivors, the talentless and skillâless, could finally step into roles that mattered.
"Keep the beams steady!" Cristoff ordered, pointing toward a group struggling with a massive timber.
"If that frame collapses, weâll lose a dayâs work."
It was not an exaggeration. The Springriver Manorâs surroundings had already cleared up. The forest was basically thinning at this point.
There werenât any large timbers nearby. They had already cut them down a long time ago.
Of course, they planted new trees, but even with the Elves and Fairy Axisâs assistance, they wouldnât be growing that fast.
At the very least, they had to wait for two or three years for them to mature... and that was already with the help of the Elves...
"Yes... Weâre on it!"
The men grunted, adjusting ropes and pulleys. Beside them, a metallic sphere rolled forward.
Cloudâs clone was also here... It was carried in a cradle strapped to a cart.
[ Structural integrity at 87%. Recommend reinforcement with iron brackets before proceeding. ]
Cristoff nodded. "You heard it. Brackets first. Donât argue with the machine..."
The workers exchanged glances but obeyed. Cloudâs presence was strange to them, unsettling even, but its calculations were flawless.
"Hmmm... This should be done a couple more weeks." Cristoff muttered.
He had studied the blueprint for weeks, calculating the lines of the mystical chambers and martial halls. The Training Hall was unlike anything he had built before.
There were circular rooms designed for ritual conditioning. Sparring arenas reinforced with runes. Healing alcoves where alchemy and medicine would intertwine.
Needless to say, there were altars in each chamber... It was definitely the most important part of the Training Hall that would convert the people.
It was certainly a mysterious building where survivors could evolve into Spellcasters, Warriors, Rangers, Acolytes, Adepts, or Sentinels.
"How many resources have been used so far?" He asked.
[ Resource consumption update: 18,400/20,000 wood. 11,200/12,000 iron. 4,600/5,000 power cores. 1 Basic Shelter Crystal. ]
Cristoff smiled "Weâre close. Just a few more, and weâll break ground on the inner chambers."
***
Meanwhile, the workers here were also getting excited.
They had already heard what this place could do, and they were all hoping to be part of it.
They were farmers, carpenters, and refugees who had fled to Springriver Manor seeking safety. While many of them were from Recruitment Stones, a huge part of the group came from the wasteland as scavengers or from Neutral Shelters...
Many had no talents, no Spirit Points worth mentioning. Yet here, under Cristoffâs command, they found purpose.
"Sir," one of them said, wiping sweat from his brow, "is it true? Once this hall is finished, even people like us can... change?"
Cristoff looked at him, then at the halfâbuilt walls rising around them. "Yes. Thatâs the point. Youâll have a chance to advance..."
The manâs eyes lit up, and he returned to work with renewed vigor.
Around him, others whispered of the possibilities... becoming Rangers, Warriors, or even Spellcasters. Just like that, hope spread through the labor force like fire.
***
Though the Training Hall was mystical in nature, Cloud still found ways to assist.
It calculated load distribution for the heavy stone blocks, advised on ventilation for the conditioning chambers, and tracked every nail, every plank, every barrel of iron.
"Cloud," Cristoff said, gesturing toward the foundation, "whatâs the risk if we expand the sparring arena by another five meters?"
[ Risk of collapse: 34%. Resource cost increase: 2,000 wood, 800 iron. Recommendation: maintain original dimensions. ]
Cristoff sighed. "Fine. Original dimensions it is. I wonât gamble with this."
The workers laughed quietly. They had seen Cristoff argue with Cloud before, but the AI always won. Its calculations were too precise to ignore.
***
Late at night, a few Clan Members gathered in the balcony of the Clan Hall, many of whom are crucial members of the Eclipse Revenant.
They watched the construction for a while before chatting with others.
These members werenât simple. They were the ones who had worked really hard to collect those 5 thousand Power Cores through Clan Missions, Treasure Chests, and many others.
"Itâs finally happening," one of them said quietly. "All those cores, all that effort... worth it. Imagine how many of the ordinary folk will finally get their chance."
Another nodded, leaning on the railing.
"I just hope the process wonât take too long. There are thousands waiting, and only one hall. If we can advance them quickly, Springriver will be unstoppable."
Cristoff, standing nearby, turned with a firm smile.
"Thatâs exactly why this hall matters. Weapons can be replaced, but people... people are different."
Cloudâs sphere rolled across the balcony, and agreed.
[ Projection: once operational, Training Hall will be able to advance at least 6 people at once. The duration is still unknown. ]
The members exchanged satisfied looks.
The blueprint didnât mention any of this but since Cloud confirmed that, they wouldnât argue.
One of them chuckled, breaking the serious mood. "Cloud, when are you going to get yourself a body? You roll around like a barrel. Not very dignified for the savior of our shelters."
Another laughed. "Yeah, maybe a strong android form. Something elegant. Or better yet, give it a sexy body... imagine Cloud walking around like one of those elven maidens instead of a glowing sphere."
Cloudâs red light blinked once.
[ Current form optimized for efficiency. No plans for replacement. ]
The balcony erupted in laughter. "Always so serious," one of them teased. "One day, weâll build you a body whether you like it or not."
Cristoff shook his head, though a smile tugged at his lips. "Leave Cloud as it is. It doesnât need charm or elegance. What it gives us is far more valuable."
Still, the banter continued for a while, and it was certainly lighting the night as the workers below continued their tasks.
These Clan Members then turned their attention to the Training Hall taking shape, their hearts filled with hope...
They believed that soon, this Zombie Apocalypse would be forgotten. Even if they couldnât stop the Zombies from appearing everywhere...
They would surely not matter in a few years or so.