Leon was crouching behind the bushes on the small ridge for several moments, carefully studying the village below before making any move. From this distance he could clearly see the settlement spread across a flat ground and surrounded with trees. The structures were simple and clearly handmade. There were small huts built from rough wooden frames scattered around a central area where several fires were burning. Large leaves and woven branches formed the roofs while stone tools and sharpened wooden poles leaned against the outer walls. The village looked primitive, almost like something pulled from an ancient era webnovels Leon used to read.
After observing for some time, Leon finally decided he couldn't remain hidden forever. If there were people living here, then there was at least a chance they could communicate. Food, water, shelter, and knowledge of the island were crucial things he needed. Moving down the slope, Leon stepped out from the cover of the trees and slowly walked toward the edge of the village.
The moment he stepped into the open clearing, the atmosphere of the village changed instantly. Conversations that had been drifting through the air stopped abruptly, and the women who had been working near the fires turned to look at him. Several of them held wooden bowls or baskets, while others carried simple stone tools or long spears used for hunting. One woman who had been kneeling beside a cooking fire slowly stood up, her gaze fixed on Leon as if she were trying to understand what she was seeing.
Leon noticed something strange almost immediately.
Every single person in the village appeared to be female.
The realization struck him harder the longer he looked around. Women moved between the huts carrying water, tending fires, sharpening spears, and preparing food. Their clothing consisted of rough leather garments and woven fibers wrapped around their bodies, clearly designed for survival rather than appearance. Many of them looked physically strong, with muscular arms and confident stances that suggested they were accustomed to hunting and defending themselves. Yet despite the activity across the village, Leon saw no men anywhere in the clearing.
The villagers continued staring at him.
Whispers began spreading through the group as more women noticed the stranger standing near the edge of the clearing. Several of them pointed openly in his direction, their expressions filled with confusion rather than immediate hostility. To them, Leon clearly looked just as strange as they looked to him.
A few of the younger women cautiously stepped closer, circling him at a distance while speaking quietly to each other. Their eyes moved up and down as if examining an unfamiliar animal that had wandered into their territory.
Leon felt the weight of dozens of curious and suspicious gazes pressing against him.
"This is… unusual," he muttered quietly.
Just as the uncomfortable silence began stretching too long, the familiar sound echoed in his mind once again.
Ding.
Leon blinked as the glowing blue system interface appeared in front of his vision.
A new panel opened.
[System Notice]
The Island Overlord System has breached the fabric of space-time to transport the user to an optimal development environment.
User Leon Longwood has been placed within a world aligned with the system's objectives and the user's compatibility.
This world provides the highest potential for system growth and expansion, while being the one most suited with the User's wish.
Leon stared at the message while the meaning slowly settled in his mind.
"So… this isn't Earth anymore," he murmured quietly.
The thought should have been shocking, but strangely it made sense. The whirlpool that destroyed the cruise ship had already been impossible enough to explain. Being transported somewhere else entirely wasn't much more unbelievable at this point.
"Wait, but it was updated to the Penetration System, just now though." Leon said to himself.
"The System shifted the world reality in that very millisecond, it is not restricted by the laws of nature." The system spirit answered without showing herself this time.
He barely had time to process the information before movement erupted from the center of the village.
Two tall women rushed forward from among the huts, both carrying long spears with sharpened stone tips. Their physiques were noticeably stronger than most of the others, their muscles clearly developed through years of physical labor and combat training. Unlike the curious villagers surrounding Leon, these two approached with focused intensity.
They were guards.
Before Leon could react properly, the two women moved quickly to either side of him. One grabbed his arm while the other pressed the tip of her spear firmly against his chest.
"Do not move," one of them said sharply.
To Leon's surprise, he understood the language perfectly.
He didn't struggle as they bound his wrists together using a thick strip of leather rope. The guards worked efficiently, clearly experienced in restraining prisoners or dangerous animals.
"Walk," the second guard ordered.
Leon allowed them to push him toward the center of the village.
The crowd parted as he was escorted through the clearing, dozens of curious eyes following his every step. Some villagers whispered excitedly while others simply watched in silence, their expressions still filled with puzzlement.
They eventually stopped in front of the largest hut in the settlement.
Unlike the smaller huts scattered across the clearing, this structure had been built with thicker wooden beams and reinforced walls. Several carved symbols decorated the entrance, suggesting it served an important purpose within the tribe.
Leon was pushed inside.
The interior of the hut was dimly lit by a central fire pit. Several tall women stood around the room while three others sat near the back against a raised platform made of woven wood and animal skins.
Even at a glance, it was clear these women held authority within the village.
Their physiques were powerful, their expressions calm but sharp. Scars crossed the arms of one woman, while another wore a necklace made from carved bones. The woman seated in the center appeared older than the others, though her posture remained straight and commanding.
The guards forced Leon to kneel in the center of the room.
The woman in the middle studied him carefully.
"Who are you?" she asked.
Leon hesitated for a moment before answering.
"My name is Leon."
The leaders exchanged brief glances.
"And what are you?" another woman asked.
Leon frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
The women leaned closer, their eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"You look human," one of them said slowly. "But you are… different."
Leon blinked.
Different?
The conversation continued for several minutes, and the longer it went on the stranger the situation became. The leaders asked questions about where he came from, how he appeared on the island, and what tribe he belonged to.
Yet something about their questions felt oddly off.
Eventually Leon realized why.
They did not seem to recognize the concept of a man.
The leaders spoke about "people," "tribes," and "outsiders," but none of them used any words suggesting they understood the difference between male and female.
Leon slowly exhaled.
"That explains the village…"
He decided honesty was the safest approach.
"I'm human like you," Leon said calmly. "I came from far away. But I have knowledge that could help your village."
The leaders remained silent.
"I know ways to build stronger homes," Leon continued. "Better tools. Farming methods that could produce more food. I could help improve this place."
For a brief moment the leaders appeared thoughtful.
Then one of them shook her head.
"You are unknown," she said firmly. "Unknown things are dangerous."
Another leader spoke next, her voice colder.
"We should eliminate the threat before it becomes a problem."
The guards tightened their grip on Leon's shoulders.
The atmosphere in the hut shifted instantly.
Execution.
Leon's mind raced as he realized how serious the situation had become.
"Wait," he said quickly.
The leaders paused.
"If you kill me now, you'll lose the chance to gain something valuable," Leon said carefully. "Give me a chance to prove what I can do."
Suspicion filled the room.
"How?" the chief asked slowly.
Leon hesitated briefly before answering.
"I can demonstrate something useful. Something your village doesn't have."
The leaders leaned forward slightly.
"But…" Leon added carefully, "I need one of you to come with me privately to see it."
The words immediately caused several of the leaders to exchange uneasy looks.
One of them frowned deeply.
"You expect us to trust you alone?"
Leon held their gaze steadily.
"If you don't trust me, you can kill me afterward," he said calmly. "But if I'm telling the truth, your village could gain something valuable."
Silence filled the hut. The guards remained tense beside him. The chief leaned back slightly, studying Leon with sharp eyes as she weighed his words carefully.
For a long time, no one spoke. Leon was waiting for her decision. The tension in the room grew heavier with every passing moment. His fate now rested entirely in the chief's hands.