A Surge of Power
Zoren walked towards the City Hall, the sense of anticipation building within him. "I have the materials, but how do I actually upgrade this place?" he mused aloud, a slight frown creasing his forehead as he tried to figure out the process. Just as he pondered the question, a message flashed before his eyes.
[Select the Materials Needed For Upgrade]
[Wood Planks] [Select Quantity]
[Stone Bricks] [Select Quantity]
[Big Iron Nails] [Select Quantity]
"Alright, fifty wood planks... thirty stone bricks... and ten big iron nails," Zoren muttered as he selected the quantities with precise focus.
[Requirements Complete!]
Suddenly, the City Hall began to glow with a warm, radiant light. The very air around it seemed to vibrate with energy, the hum of power filling Zoren's ears. A new message floated above the structure.
[Construction Duration: 00:54 (1:00-10%)]
Zoren stood back, watching the City Hall as it underwent its transformation. Slowly, the light began to fade, revealing a sturdier, more robust version of the building. The once plain wooden structure now had reinforced walls, a higher roof, and a solid foundation of stone bricks.
[Congratulations! City Hall Upgraded to Level 2!]
He stepped closer, running his hand along the smooth, cold stone. "Now, this is more like it," he murmured, a sense of accomplishment swelling within him. Zoren activated his Appraisal skill, eager to see the changes.
[STATUS]
Structure Name: City Hall Level: 2
[Bonus: Bonus: +10% to All Stat, Production Speed: +10%]
[Details: A modest wooden building with a simple stone foundation. It has a single room for administration and basic town meetings.]
Zoren moved on to the city wall, determined to reinforce the defenses with the same method he used for the City Hall. He approached the wall, mentally reviewing the steps he needed to take. "Alright, let's get this done," he muttered to himself, ready to initiate the upgrade.
[Requirements Complete!]
Just as with the City Hall, the city wall began to glow, emitting a soft, pulsating light that spread out across the entire structure. The air was thick with energy, a deep hum vibrating through the ground beneath Zoren's feet.
A new prompt floated above the wall, showing the progress of the upgrade.
[Construction Duration: 01:21 (1:30 - 10%)]
He watched intently as the wall slowly transformed, the glow growing brighter before it began to fade. When the light finally disappeared, the city wall stood taller and stronger than before. The once rudimentary wooden palisade had been replaced with thick, interlocked logs reinforced with stone, standing nearly twelve feet high.
"Unbelievable... It's like I'm dreaming," Zoren muttered, caught between disbelief and amazement.
[STATUS]
Structure Name: City Wall Level: 2
[Bonus: +10% Defense, +4% System Recognize Territory Expansion]
[Details: A basic wooden palisade with simple reinforcements, providing minimal protection]
Later that afternoon, Zoren's thoughts were interrupted by a call from one of the wall guards. "Master, Rashka has returned!" Zoren turned to the guard, curiosity rising. "Rashka? Where is he?"
"He's at the City Hall gates, Master, and he's brought some people with him." Intrigued, Zoren hurried to the gates, where Rashka stood with a group of unfamiliar figures. These new arrivals had the bodies of humans but bore the distinct horns of a goat.
Rashka bowed to Zoren. "Master, these are survivors from a nearby village. Their home was destroyed by golems, and they seek refuge here."
The leader of the group, a middle-aged man with horns that curved back elegantly and pointed ears, stepped forward. He wore a long, dark trench coat adorned with intricate designs that hinted at his high status. "I am Alderon, from the village near the Black Forest," the man introduced himself, his voice deep and respectful. He then gestured to a young woman standing close by, partially obscured by a large white deer. "This is my daughter, Fae."
Zoren's eyes shifted to Fae, who seemed to shrink back a bit, clearly uncomfortable under his gaze. Her soft features contrasted with the proud stance of her father. Alderon's stern expression softened as he looked at his daughter. "Fae is exceptionally talented," he began, a note of pride in his voice. "She's a master of herbal medicine and possesses a rare gift for communicating with the forest spirits."
"Father, please!" Fae's voice broke through, firm but tinged with embarrassment. She looked down, her cheeks flushed. Alderon chuckled, clearly pleased with his daughter's reaction.
Zoren observed the dynamic between the two and smiled. "You're welcome to stay here," he said, then asked, "What do you do for a living?"
"We are hunters," Alderon replied with a hint of pride. "We used to hunt with mounts, but we lost them in the attack..."
Before Zoren could respond, a message appeared before him:
[Population Requirement Complete: 166/150]
[You Fulfill the Requirements to Level Up Your City!]
[Do you want to level up your City?]
[Yes][No]
Zoren blinked in surprise. "So, taking in refugees increases population too?" he muttered to himself, feeling a new layer of the system unfold before him. Turning back to Rashka, he gave his next order. "Find them a place to settle in the village for now. Tomorrow, we'll start building proper houses for them."
Rashka bowed. "Copy, Master," he replied, before leading Alderon, Fae, and the other survivors deeper into the village to find them shelter. With the survivors now settled, Zoren turned back to his original task, a surge of determination pushing him forward. "Time to upgrade the city to Level 3," he muttered to himself, selecting the option that had appeared earlier.
[Upgrade Your City to Level 3?]
[Yes][No]
"Yes," Zoren confirmed, his voice steady. The air around him pulsed with energy as the system responded.
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
[Your City is Now Level 3!]
[Unlocks: Points Shop, Taming]
[Reward: Kingdom Change Name Card x1, Skill Card x1, 2000 Points, 300 Gold]
Zoren stared in surprise at the rewards listed before him. "These rewards... they're incredible," he muttered, still processing the new possibilities. His eyes lingered on the skill card. Without hesitation, he activated it, watching as it spun and glowed in his hand.
[You got a new skill: Mimicry]
"Mimicry?" Zoren repeated, puzzled.
[Mimicry]
An ability to replicate or mirror the skills of your troops or commanders based on City Level, like an echo reflecting sound.
A grin spread across Zoren's face. "This is going to be very useful," he mused as he examined the new skills available to him.
[Skill Slot: 3]
[Skills You Can Copy:]
[Weapon Mastery (P)] [End of Ptolemy (P)] [Battle of Salsu (P)] [Feline Reflexes (P)] [Mana Heart (P)] [Buffing Aura (A)] [Protective Shield (A)] [Fortification (A)] [Piercing Shot (A)]
[Sword Mastery (P)] [Bow Mastery (P)]
Zoren's mind raced as he reviewed the list. "There's so many... and I have no idea where some of these come from," he muttered thoughtfully. Zoren looked at the list of available skills, feeling the weight of the decision. Each skill had its own unique benefits, and he needed to choose wisely.
"Alright, let's start with [Weapon Mastery (P)]," Zoren said to himself. "I need to be versatile in combat. Being able to switch between weapons and still be effective will give me the upper hand in different battle scenarios. Plus, the reduced fatigue during combat is a huge advantage. I can't afford to tire out when leading my troops."
He then scrolled down to the next option and paused. "Next, [Feline Reflexes (P)]. Agility and quick reflexes are crucial, especially when facing fast-moving enemies or dodging unexpected attacks. This skill will make me harder to hit and improve my evasion. And with better balance and stealth, I can navigate through any terrain or even take on stealth missions if needed. I can't always rely on brute force alone.
Finally, Zoren's eyes lingered on [Mana Heart (P)]. He hesitated for a moment before making his decision. "I've always been curious about magic... it might be the key to turning the tide in battle. This skill will not only enhance my ability to use magic but also increase my mana regeneration, allowing me to cast more powerful spells. Even if I don't fully understand it yet, having this skill will open up new possibilities for our future fights." After carefully considering his choices, Zoren confirmed his selections.
"I'll take [Weapon Mastery (P)], [Feline Reflexes (P)], and [Mana Heart (P)]."
[Weapon Mastery (P)]
Enhances proficiency with weapons, increasing damage, accuracy, and access to advanced techniques. Reduces fatigue during combat.
[Feline Reflexes (P)]
Boosts agility and reaction time, improving evasion, balance, and stealth. Enables faster reflexes and better dodging capabilities.
[Mana Heart (P)]
Empowers the user to harness and utilize magical energy. Significantly enhances mana regeneration and increases magical potency. Provides a stable foundation for casting spells and using magical abilities effectively.
[Are you sure you want to copy these skills?]
[Yes][No]
"Yes..." Zoren confirmed with resolve. As soon as he made his selections, a surge of energy flowed through his body. He gasped, feeling an immediate change. His body felt lighter, almost as if gravity itself had lessened its hold on him. His muscles tensed, not with strain, but with newfound strength. He felt faster, more agile, as though he could react in an instant to any threat.
Zoren flexed his fingers, marveling at how natural and effortless the movement felt. He could sense his heightened awareness, the way his muscles coiled, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. His thoughts briefly turned to the magical energy now coursing through him. It was as if he could feel his mana pulsing like a second heartbeat, eager to be harnessed.
"This... this is incredible," Zoren whispered to himself, a grin spreading across his face. "I feel like I can take on anything now." With his new skills secured, Zoren turned his attention to the next unlocked feature: Taming.
[Taming]
Allows you to tame monsters. Taming conditions: Bond, Trust, Ritual, Dominance, and Submission.
"Let's see if I can tame that Dreadhorn," Zoren decided, heading towards the stable where the creature was kept. The Dreadhorn was grazing peacefully, its massive form imposing yet somehow serene. Zoren approached cautiously, his heart pounding with anticipation.
[The Monster is Tameable]
"Great," Zoren whispered. "Alright, let's tame it." He reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he initiated the taming process.
[Taming Succeed!]
To Zoren's surprise, the Dreadhorn immediately turned and approached him. For a brief moment, he thought it might attack, but instead, it lowered its head and gently licked his hand, before sitting down like an oversized puppy.
Zoren let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and patted the creature's rough, scaled head. "You're not so scary after all," he said with a smile. He quickly used his Appraisal skill to assess his new companion.
[STATUS]
Name: ??? Race: Dreadhorn Level: 40
Strength: 75 Vitality: 65 Agility: 45 Intelligence: 33
Skills: Ruinous Charge, Doomquake, Devastating Roar.
[Please Name Your Companion]
"A name, huh?" Zoren mused aloud. "You like to destroy things, and you're quite the beast..."
After a moment of thought, his eyes lit up. "How about Kujo?". The Dreadhorn snorted in approval, and Zoren couldn't help but chuckle. "Kujo it is, then." With Kujo now by his side, Zoren was filled with a new sense of confidence. "Let's give the others a surprise," he said, excitement bubbling up in his chest.
As they neared the battlefield where his troops were fighting Medium Golems, the ground trembled under Kujo's heavy footsteps.
The soldiers noticed the vibrations and exchanged nervous glances. Corvus, standing at the front, narrowed his eyes. "Something big is coming," he warned, his tone cautious. The noise grew louder, and soon, everyone could see what was approaching.
Their eyes widened in shock as they realized it was the Dreadhorn, with Zoren riding atop it like a knight of legend. "Master!" they shouted in unison, their voices a mix of awe and disbelief.
Kujo charged forward, colliding with a Medium Golem with such force that the stone creature shattered on impact. As another Golem advanced, Zoren leapt off Kujo's back, soaring high into the air. He brought his hammer down on the Golem's head with a powerful strike, smashing it to pieces.
The soldiers watched, stunned by Zoren's newfound agility and strength. "Master, how did you move like that? You're as fast as a Khajiit!" Corvus exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.
Zoren grinned modestly. "It's a new skill," he said. "Now, I can fight on the frontlines too."
Corvus beamed with pride, clearly impressed. "With you leading us, Master, we'll be unstoppable!"
Zoren nodded, his determination solidifying. "Now, let's continue hunting these Golems!" With Kujo and Zoren's new skills, they made quick work of the remaining Medium Golems, their confidence growing with each victory.
Later, Zoren checked the rankings, hoping their efforts had paid off.
[Lohar's Hunt Server Rankings]
1. Solivigant...95,300
2. Kingdom_1270548.....91,600
3. Ravenwood.....83,800
4. Tuskhaven...89,600
5. Zephyra....75,900
"We're still in second place," Zoren muttered, "Just a little more and we'll catch up." But as he watched, the numbers on the leaderboard suddenly shifted. His eyes widened in disbelief at what he saw next.
[Lohar's Hunt Server Rankings]
1. Solivigant...195,300
2. Kingdom_1270548.....91,600
"They killed a large Golem!" Zoren shouted, his mind racing. Skargash, who was nearby, turned to him with a concerned expression. Zoren quickly relayed the news about a kingdom taking down the formidable creature.
Shock registered on Skargash's face, his eyes widening as he tried to grasp the magnitude of the feat. Zoren, still processing the information, reassured him with a determined look, silently vowing that they would soon achieve the same. Tomorrow, they would set out to hunt a large Golem themselves.
With renewed focus, Zoren and his troops continued to hunt Medium Golems until the sun set, their determination unshaken.
By the end of the day, the rankings were updated again.
[Lohar's Hunt Server Rankings]
1. Solivigant....235,300
2. Kingdom_1270548.....171,600
3. Ravenwood.....151,800
4. Zephyra....139,600
5. Tuskhaven...111,900