The Night's Spoils and New Allies

It was a quiet, starry night as Zoren and his group marched homeward. The atmosphere was serene, but Zoren's mind was far from at ease; he was busy reviewing the various drops they had collected during their Hunt:

[DROP SUMMARY]

- Stone Bricks: x300

- Metal Ingots: x120

- Silver: x50

- Titanium: x55

- Obsidian Shards: x22

- Golem Essence: x111

- Golem Core (Small): x89

- Golem Core (Medium): x33

- Lohar's Lost Technology Blueprints: x3

"Not bad at all," Zoren muttered under his breath, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. The group had worked hard, and their spoils were proof of their efforts. But something caught his eye—the three blueprints labeled as Lohar's Lost Technology. Curiosity piqued, he quickly inspected them, eager to see what secrets they held.

[1/3]

[Lohar's Lost Technology Blueprint]

[Name: Lohar's Obsidian Spear ]

[Requirements: Metal Ingots,Golem Essence, Titanium, Obsidian Shards,Medium Golem's Core]

[2/3]

[Lohar's Lost Technology Blueprint]

[Name: Lohar's Obsidian Light Shield]

[Requirements: Metal Ingots, Golem Essence, Titanium, Obsidian Shards, Medium Golem's Core]

[3/3]

[Lohar's Lost Technology Blueprint]

[Name: Lohar's Adamantium Morphing Edge (Collection No. 8)]

[One Time Use]

[Requirements: (Smithy House Level: 10), Platinum, Golem Essence, Titanium, Obsidian Shards, Adamantium, Large Golem's Core]

Zoren's eyes widened in awe at the blueprint for [Lohar's Adamantium Morphing Edge (Collection No. 8)]. The weapon was as formidable as it sounded, and the materials needed to craft it were equally rare. Not only was it a one-time-use item, but it was also part of a collection, hinting at the existence of more such powerful blueprints.

"This... I'll give this to Lyra later," Zoren said to himself, already imagining how deadly such a weapon would be in her skilled hands. His thoughts briefly wandered to the fight they would soon face. With these blueprints in their arsenal, they stood a much better chance against the larger threats ahead.

A smirk formed on his lips as he continued leading his party through the night, the sounds of their march blending with the quiet rustle of the forest around them.

As they continued their journey back to the village, the group suddenly spotted a large flock of creatures with the body of a rooster and the tail of a serpent. The beasts moved with surprising speed and agility, darting in and out of the trees with a menacing grace.

Zoren narrowed his eyes at the strange creatures. "What are those?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and caution in his voice. Corvus, observing the creatures carefully, responded, "They're Basilisk Roosts. These creatures are fast and intelligent, master."

Zoren's eyes lit up with interest. "Can we use them as mounts?". Corvus nodded but added a word of warning. "Yes, master, they can be used as mounts, but they're highly intelligent and difficult to catch. Taming them will be a challenge."

Zoren decided to use his appraisal skill to get a better understanding.

[STATUS]

Race: Basilisk Roost Level: 20 ~ 25

~Basilisk Roosts are highly intelligent creatures that use their abilities strategically to hunt and defend their territory. When provoked, they become extremely aggressive and dangerous.

Zoren smirked, his competitive spirit flaring. "Halt!" he commanded, raising his hand to stop the march. "Let's catch them all." The idea of having such fierce and intelligent creatures as mounts thrilled him.

The rest of the group exchanged excited but wary looks, and in unison, they responded, "Yes, master!". The challenge of catching the Basilisk Roosts, however, turned out to be far more difficult than any of them had anticipated.

Kaen, always confident in his abilities, was the first to try and grab one. He sprinted forward, arms outstretched, only for the Basilisk Roost to dart sideways, leaving him grasping at thin air. The creature let out a mocking crow as it dodged him, and Kaen tumbled face-first into a patch of mud.

Skargash, seeing Kaen's predicament, decided to take a different approach. "I'll trap it with a net!" he shouted, pulling out a large, weighted net. He threw it with precision, but the Basilisk Roost simply flapped its wings and leaped high into the air, leaving Skargash entangled in his own trap.

The others couldn't hold back their laughter as the orc struggled to free himself.

Nyx, ever the strategist, climbed a nearby tree, planning to drop down on a passing Basilisk Roost from above. She waited patiently, timing her move perfectly, but as she jumped, the clever creature spun around, and Nyx found herself hanging from a branch, her hood caught on a twig. "Not a word," she growled at the snickering soldiers below, as she attempted to untangle herself.

Meanwhile, Corvus tried to lure one of the Basilisk Roosts with a piece of meat. He crouched down, holding it out temptingly. The creature approached cautiously, its serpent-like tail swaying hypnotically. Just when Corvus thought he had it, the Basilisk Roost snapped up the meat and pecked him on the hand, leaving him with nothing but a bruised ego.

Zoren, watching the chaos unfold, couldn't help but chuckle. The situation was ridiculous, but it was also strangely heartwarming to see his companions so determined. Finally, he decided it was time to intervene.

He focused on the largest of the Basilisk Roosts, a magnificent creature with fiery red plumage and a fierce, intelligent gaze. Using his newfound agility and reflexes, Zoren moved with incredible speed. The creature tried to escape, but Zoren anticipated its every move, his body feeling light and strong. With a final burst of speed, he managed to grab hold of the creature's tail and, with a swift motion, subdued it.

The other soldiers cheered as Zoren held up the Basilisk Roost, who was now surprisingly calm, almost as if it respected Zoren for his skill. "That was too easy," Zoren said with a grin, though his slightly labored breathing suggested otherwise.

The others groaned in mock protest, but they were clearly impressed.

"Well, maybe if we had your new skills, we wouldn't be covered in mud and bruises," Kaen grumbled good-naturedly.

Zoren laughed, patting the Basilisk Roost on the head. "Alright, enough fooling around. Let's tame the rest of them." With Zoren's help and leadership, they managed to catch several more of the Basilisk Roosts, though not without a few more comical mishaps. By the end, the group was exhausted but triumphant, and they marched back to the village with their new, formidable mounts in tow.

[Taming Summary]

~ 30 Basilisk Rooster Tamed.

After successfully capturing and taming the Basilisk Roosts, the group finally made their way back to the village. Exhaustion weighed heavily on their shoulders, but the satisfaction of their accomplishment lightened their spirits. As they entered the village, Zoren issued orders to the soldiers.

"Take the Basilisk Roosts to the stables. They'll need to be fed and rested for tomorrow's hunt," Zoren instructed, his voice firm but carrying a note of pride. The soldiers nodded, guiding the creatures towards the stables.

The Basilisk Roosts, though still wary, had calmed considerably after their taming and followed the soldiers with minimal resistance. As the soldiers dispersed to their duties, Zoren made his way to the smithy. He carried with him the materials and blueprints they had gathered from the golem drops, eager to put them to good use.

However, as he approached, he noticed two figures waiting for him outside the smithy. It was Alderon, the leader of the refugee group, and his daughter, Fae.

"Welcome back, Master," Alderon greeted him with a respectful bow. Fae followed her father's example, though her bow was more hesitant, her shy nature evident.

Zoren smiled, appreciating their gesture. "Thank you, Alderon, Fae," he replied warmly.

Alderon straightened, his expression earnest. "Master, I forgot to thank you earlier. Thank you for allowing us to stay here and for providing us with homes. We are deeply grateful," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Zoren waved off the thanks with a dismissive gesture. "It's nothing, really. I'm the one who should be thanking you. Your presence here helped me complete the requirements for the city's level up," he thought to himself, but chose not to voice this aloud.

Out loud, he simply said, "I'm glad to have you all here. Tell me, Alderon, your group is accustomed to hunting for a living and using mounts, correct?"

Alderon nodded. "Yes, Master. We have 25 people capable of riding mounts, 30 skilled with a bow, and the rest are proficient with swords or spears."

"Only my daughter here is skilled in support magic. Her contracted spirit can use various support skills like healing and strengthening," Alderon added, pride evident in his voice.

"Father!" Fae exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Alderon chuckled at her reaction, clearly pleased.

Zoren, curious about Fae's abilities, used his appraisal skill.

[STATUS]

Name: Fae Race: Faun Level: 23

Strength: 17 Vitality: 15 Agility: 15 Intelligence: 27

Skills:

[Spirit Summoning (A)]

Summon and control spirits from the ethereal realm.

[Spirit Resonance (P)]

Enhances affinity with spirits, improving their interactions and effectiveness.

[Spirit Merge (A)]

Temporarily merge with a spirit, gaining its attributes and enhanced powers.

Fae shifted uncomfortably under Zoren's gaze, sensing his appraisal. "Can you summon your contracted spirit, Fae?" Zoren asked, his tone curious but gentle.

"Yes, Master," Fae replied, still feeling a bit shy. She closed her eyes and began to chant softly, her voice barely above a whisper. With a soft shimmer, a majestic spirit descended, radiating an aura of power and grace. Zoren quickly used his appraisal skill on the spirit.

[STATUS]

Name: Sylvara Race: ??? Level: ???

[Details: High Ranking Forest Spirit ???????]

Zoren's eyes widened in surprise. "A high-ranking spirit!" he muttered, impressed. "Guess my power still has a long way to go," Zoren thought to himself, feeling a mixture of awe and determination."Thank you, Fae. You can cancel the summon now," Zoren said, his voice warm with appreciation.

Fae nodded and silently dismissed Sylvara. The spirit vanished as gracefully as it had appeared. After a moment, Zoren turned back to Alderon. "Tomorrow, we'll be hunting a Large Golem. I'll need your help."

Alderon's expression hardened with determination. "We'll be ready, Master. We owe it to you, and we have our own scores to settle with that creature," he said, his voice resolute.

Zoren nodded, satisfied with the response. "Good. Gather your people tomorrow morning. We'll leave at first light." With their plans made, Alderon and Fae bid Zoren goodnight, heading off to prepare their group.

Zoren continued to the smithy where Lyra was waiting. "Here are the materials and blueprints we gathered," Zoren said, handing them over to Lyra. "Can you have the cannon ready by tomorrow?"

Lyra, focused on her workbench, glanced up as he approached. She took the materials, her fingers brushing against his hand briefly. "Yes, Master. I'll have it ready," she replied, her voice steady but tinged with excitement.

She quickly tried to cover up her eagerness with a more neutral tone, adding, "But before you get too impressed, I've also made some new items that might help against the golems."

Zoren raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What have you come up with?"

Lyra gestured towards a set of new weapons laid out before her."First, the Spinning Bodkin Arrow. The chisel-shaped tip and helical fletching make it spin rapidly in flight, increasing its piercing power and accuracy against armored targets. It also has a small golem core embedded in it, causing an explosion on impact."

She then pointed to a massive warhammer with twin spikes. "And this is the Twin-Spike Hammer. It's designed for maximum impact force—perfect for both blunt and piercing attacks against heavily armored foes."

Zoren's admiration was clear. "These are impressive, Lyra. They'll definitely come in handy."

Lyra tried to play it cool, but the slight flush on her cheeks betrayed her pride. "Just doing my job, Master. Don't get any funny ideas," she said, though the satisfaction in her voice was unmistakable.

Zoren chuckled. "Alright, I won't. Goodnight, Lyra."

"Goodnight, Master," Lyra replied, giving him a brief nod as he turned to leave. As Zoren walked away, Lyra allowed a small smile to creep onto her lips, feeling a mix of satisfaction and anticipation for the day ahead.

[Shield Duration: 27:34:43]