Predator
Zhao stood amidst the pile of beast corpses Acel had brought back, his gaze settling on the lifeless form of a Poison Slug. Its slimy, mottled body glistened faintly under the pale light of the two moons, a faint greenish sheen reflecting off its surface. The air carried a sharp, acrid scent, a mix of decay and venom that made Zhao's nose wrinkle slightly. Curious to test the full extent of his EX-grade talent, "Plunder," he focused on the creature, willing the system to display its drop rates. A translucent screen materialized before him, its edges glowing with a soft golden hue, presenting the details in crisp, glowing text.
|Poison Slug - Drop Rate|
Poison Sack - 55%
Skill Book: Poison Resistance – 5%
Black Iron 5-Star Monster Core - 40%
Zhao studied the screen, his brow furrowing as he considered the potential yield. "It seems I won't get leather from this thing," he muttered, his voice low but tinged with curiosity. "But still, let's try it."
A prompt appeared in his vision:
(Would you like to drop the items?) - Y/N
Zhao pressed "Yes," and a golden light erupted from the Poison Slug's corpse, enveloping it in a radiant glow that pulsed with energy. The creature's body shimmered and dissolved, vanishing into the light as if consumed by an unseen force. In its place, a small pile of items materialized on the ground, glinting faintly in the dim light of the territory.
(Drops -
Poison Sack * 2
Skill Book: Poison Resistance * 1
Black Iron 5-Star Monster Core * 1)
Before Zhao could fully process the modest haul, the system's mechanical voice chimed in, sharp and insistent, its tone reverberating through his mind.
(Ding… Million Times System activated)
(You have got -
1 million Poison Sack * 20
Skill Book: Poison Immunity * 10
Legendary Tier 1-Star Monster Core * 10)
The sheer scale of the amplified rewards hit Zhao like a thunderclap, his jaw dropping as he stared at the updated notification. Around him, his newly summoned subjects—Acel, the towering Eternal Sovereign of Spear; Rita, the leader of the Elemental Archers' Squad; and the four Battle-Hardened Workers—gasped in unison, their eyes widening in disbelief. The air grew heavy with a mix of awe and astonishment, the magnitude of the system's power sinking in. These subjects, who had wandered various worlds before being summoned, had witnessed many wonders, but this was something else entirely—a phenomenon that defied all reason. The fact that this was just one monster, one of over a hundred that Acel had slain in a matter of minutes, made it even more staggering.
Zhao quickly instructed the system to process the drops from all the monsters Acel had brought back, his heart racing with anticipation. The golden light flared again, this time enveloping the entire pile of beast corpses—Hard Armoured Lizards, Poison Slugs, Sand Turtles, and more. The light pulsed and shimmered, bathing the territory in a radiant glow, and when it faded, the ground was covered with an astonishing array of items, far too vast to count at a glance. The system provided a summary, its voice calm but commanding:
(Total Drops -
420 * 1 million Poison Sacks
210 * Skill Book: Poison Immunity
210 * Legendary Tier 1-Star Monster Cores)
The numbers were mind-boggling, a fortune beyond comprehension. This quantity of Legendary Tier 1-Star Monster Cores alone was something no basic kingdom in Central Land could hope to possess. Most kingdoms struggled to acquire even a handful of cores at ranks far below Legendary, their rarity and power making them coveted treasures among lords and warriors. For Zhao, a Black Iron 2-star lord, to possess such wealth within hours of arriving was nothing short of miraculous, a testament to the Million Times Multiplier System and his "Plunder" talent.
Determined to understand his haul, Zhao opened the details of the items, starting with the Poison Sacks, his curiosity driving him to explore their potential.
|1 Million Poison Sack|
This sack contains 1 million different types of poison, crafted by the Poison God himself. Ideal for long-range attacks and stealth operations.
The description intrigued him. The sacks could be a potent weapon for sneak attacks or ranged assaults, though Zhao lacked assassins in his current roster. His thoughts turned to the Elemental Archers' Squad, led by Rita. Their precision and elemental prowess could make effective use of the poison sacks, turning their arrows into deadly, venom-laced projectiles. He handed 200 of the sacks to Rita, who accepted them with a graceful nod, her elven features calm but her eyes gleaming with interest as she examined the sacks' shimmering contents.
Next, Zhao examined the Skill Book: Poison Immunity. He distributed one to each of his subjects—Acel, Rita, the four archers, and the four workers—before using one himself. The book dissolved into a stream of golden light as he activated it, the knowledge seeping into his mind and body, a faint warmth spreading through his limbs.
|Poison Immunity|
You are completely immune to all forms of poison.
The skill was a practical boon, a shield against one of Central Land's many dangers. Zhao turned his attention to the remaining monsters, eager to see what else his talent had yielded. The Hard Armored Lizards and Sand Turtles provided a diverse array of items, their drops amplified by the system into a veritable treasure trove:
(Total Drops from Hard Armoured Lizards and Sand Turtles -
1000 Leather
500 Skill Book: Sand Control
500 Skill Book: Dig
340 Skill Book: Exoskeleton
340 Exoskeleton
1000 Golden Sand
100 Diamond Tier 4-Star Monster Cores
340 Gold Tier 5-Star Monster Cores
10000 Meat)
The sheer volume of items presented a new challenge. Unlike the skill books and monster cores, which were automatically transferred to his inventory, the leather, exoskeletons, golden sand, and meat remained scattered across the ground, a sprawling mess of resources that cluttered the territory. It seemed the system only auto-stored items deemed "unique" or of high value, leaving bulk materials behind. Zhao realized he needed a warehouse to manage this wealth properly, a structure he'd been granted a blueprint for upon arriving in Central Land.
He turned to his four Battle-Hardened Workers—Marcus, Leo, Clara, and Finn—whose rugged appearances belied their S-rank capabilities. "Build a warehouse," Zhao instructed, his voice firm but calm. "It requires 100 wood and 100 stone."
The workers nodded in unison, their expressions focused and determined. Marcus and Leo headed toward the forest to gather wood, their steps swift and purposeful, while Clara and Finn ventured toward a rocky outcrop near the territory's edge to collect stone. Zhao watched them go, then used the skill books he'd acquired, activating Sand Control, Dig, and Exoskeleton on himself. Each book dissolved into light, granting him new abilities that pulsed through his body like a surge of energy:
|Sand Control|
You can manipulate sand within a 10-meter radius.
|Dig|
Allows You to quickly hide under the ground by digging a hole
|Exoskeleton|
Grants a temporary protective shell.
The influx of knowledge Him standing near a legendary core alone triggered another rank-up, his body tingling with energy as the system updated his status.
(You have ranked up to Black Iron 3-star)
Zhao marveled at his rapid progress. With his subjects' contributions and his talent's amplification, he was already far ahead of other lords, most of whom were likely still struggling with low-rank subjects and basic resources. He hadn't yet named his territory, a decision he'd delayed due to indecision. Now, with his growing power and wealth, he felt ready. He opened the Territory Management panel and entered a name that held personal significance—his old gaming username from Earth.
(You have set a name for your territory)
(Attention, you have set "Abyss" as the name for your territory)
The name "Abyss" felt fitting, a reflection of the boundless potential and mystery of his new domain. Satisfied, Zhao opened his status screen to review his progress, the screen glowing brightly in the dim light of the hut.
|Status|
Name: Zhao
Rank: Black Iron 3-star
Mana: 300/300
Health: 800/800
Title: Rule Breaker, Squadron Commander, I Am Famous, First of the Elite, Workforce Foundation
Race: Human
Age: 21
Planet: X10089
Talent: Plunder (EX-grade)
Class: Undetermined
Territory: Abyss (Black Iron 1-star)
Skills: Poison Immunity, Sand Control, Exoskeleton, Dig, Platoon Commander, Summon Resonance, Lord's Insight, Battle Cry, Labor Efficiency, Aura of Command
His status had evolved significantly since he last checked, a testament to his rapid growth. The new skills and titles bolstered his leadership and combat capabilities, while his talent continued to amplify his rewards. Curious about the other lords, Zhao opened the chat interface, scanning the messages from his fellow denizens of Planet X10089.
Chat
Alexis: Did anyone receive A-class talent other than me? Mine's great, but my D-rank subject's loyalty is only 20%. Keeps wandering off.
Scott: Scoff all you want, Alexis. My S-rank Dragon Tamer's stuck with a C-rank warrior, loyalty 50%. Barely listens unless I bribe him with food.
Rita: I've got a B-rank builder, loyalty 70%. He's useful for basic structures, but I'm still at Black Iron 1-star.
Marcus: How are you all even progressing? My D-rank scout's at 30% loyalty—useless! Keeps running from shadows.
Jade: I summoned a C-rank farmer, loyalty 40%. He's slow, but I've got a small crop growing.
Liam: My E-rank miner's at 25% loyalty. Drops tools and whines all day. No stone yet.
Kara: B-rank healer, loyalty 60%. She's decent, but I've got no one to heal yet. Resources are scarce.
Tomas: D-rank hunter, loyalty 35%. Caught one rabbit, then took a nap.
Alexis: This is ridiculous. How are we supposed to survive with these subjects?
Scott: At least yours do something. My warrior ran from a slime yesterday.
Jade: Anyone know how to boost loyalty? Mine's stuck at 40%.
Liam: Tried extra food, but he just ate and slept. No help.
Kara: Maybe it's tied to territory upgrades? I've got a hut and 5 wood.
Tomas: Same. I've got 3 stone—nowhere near enough to build anything useful.
Marcus: Has anyone ranked up? I'm still Black Iron 1-star, no progress.
Alexis: Black Iron 1-star here too. My subject's too lazy to gather anything.
Scott: Same. Killed a slime, but no rank-up. Loyalty's killing me.
Rita: I hit Black Iron 2-star! My builder finished a well—got some EXP from that.
Jade: Lucky! My farmer's too slow to finish anything worthwhile.
Zhao smirked. Unlike his peers, whose subjects had varying loyalty and often resisted commands, all of his summons—Acel, Rita, and the workers—boasted max loyalty, a perk of their S-rank and above status. His rapid progress set him apart, a fact he intended to leverage fully.
His thoughts were interrupted as the workers returned, their arms empty but their expressions confident. Zhao frowned, puzzled. He had sent them out mere minutes ago—how could they have gathered resources so quickly? "Did you collect the resources?" he asked, his tone skeptical.
They nodded, and Zhao opened the Territory Management panel to check. To his astonishment, the resources listed had updated:
|Territory Management|
Name: Abyss
Territory Level: Black Iron 1-star
Area: 1km x 1km
Population: 10/20
Warehouse: Not built
Buildings: Lord's House (Black Iron 1-star), Elemental Training Centre
Blueprint: Residential Building, Warehouse, Well, Watchtower, Resource Mill
Resources: 1000 stone, 1000 wood, 0 leather
Requirements for Territory Upgrade: 10 stone, 20 wood, 10 leather, 2 residential buildings, population reach 5
The workers had somehow gathered 1000 pieces each of stone and wood in an impossibly short time. Zhao opened Marcus's overview to investigate, the screen appearing with a faint hum.
|Subject Overview|
Name: Marcus
Age: 40
Rank: Gold Tier 4-Star
Class: Battle-Hardened Worker (S)
Territory: Abyss
Loyalty: Max [S-rank and above classes will have max loyalty. They won't decrease.]
Race: Human
Skills: Resource Harvesting (S), Endurance (S), Team Coordination (A), Stone Shaping (A), Woodcraft (A), Rapid Gather (S), …
The S-rank class and high-tier rank explained their efficiency, but Zhao realized his "Labor Efficiency" skill, which boosted worker productivity by 25%, had also played a significant role. Combined with their inherent skills—especially Rapid Gather, which doubled resource collection speed—the workers had turned a routine task into a feat of extraordinary speed and precision.
With the materials in hand, Zhao initiated the construction of the warehouse. In Central Land, building was a simple process—provided you had the blueprint and resources, a single command could bring a structure into existence. He spent 100 wood and 100 stone, and a golden beam of light descended from the sky, illuminating the ground near his hut. The light faded, revealing a sturdy, rectangular building with stone walls and a sloped wooden roof, its surface etched with faint protective runes. Zhao approached it, and a window popped up.
|Warehouse|
Resources Stored:
900 Wood
900 Stone
1000 Leather
340 Exoskeletons
1000 Golden Sand
100 Diamond Tier 4-Star Monster Cores
340 Gold Tier 5-Star Monster Cores
420 * 1 million Poison Sacks
210 * Legendary Tier 1-Star Monster Cores10000 Meat
Features: Preservation – Prevents spoilage of stored items; Security – Protects resources from theft or monster raids; Auto-Sort – Organizes resources for easy access
The warehouse's features were a relief—Preservation ensured the 10,000 units of meat wouldn't spoil, while Security and Auto-Sort added practical utility. Zhao instructed Marcus to set up a fire, and the workers quickly gathered some of the wood to create a small bonfire near the hut. The flames crackled, casting a warm glow over the territory as the scent of burning wood mingled with the faint metallic tang of the air.
Acel had gone to scout the surrounding area, his Fly skill making him an ideal reconnaissance asset, while the Elemental Archers' Squad practiced in the training centre. Zhao called them out to join the meal, and soon Acel returned, landing gracefully near the fire. The group gathered around, and Marcus skewered a large piece of meat on a makeshift spit, roasting it over the flames. Zhao sat with his subjects, the warmth of the fire a stark contrast to the cool air of Central Land.
"Now, tell me about yourselves," Zhao said, his tone casual but curious. "Where did you live before coming here?"
Acel spoke first, his voice steady but carrying a hint of pain. "My lord, I hailed from a village called Shortbrit. One day, members of the Shadow Cult attacked, capturing my parents and the entire village as sacrifices for their dark god. I and a few other children were hidden, later found by a passing warrior who trained us." His face darkened, his golden eyes narrowing as memories surfaced. Zhao listened intently, struck by the gravity of Acel's story. Sacrifices were rare on Earth, typically limited to one or two individuals in extreme cases, but the wholesale slaughter of an entire village was a horror on a different scale.
Zhao met Acel's gaze, his expression resolute. "You are under my command now. I promise you will have your revenge."
Acel's eyes softened, and he dropped to one knee, bowing silently in gratitude and loyalty. The gesture spoke volumes, a warrior's pledge to his lord.
The Elemental Archers, led by Rita, spoke next. "We lived in the Kingdom of Elves, training within the Elemental Training Centre," Rita explained, her voice melodic and calm. "It was a place of discipline and harmony, where we honed our skills with the bow and the elements."
The workers shared a simpler tale. Marcus, their leader, spoke for the group. "We were laborers in a mining town, working the quarries and forests. Life was hard, but we grew strong through it."
As they spoke, Marcus finished grilling the meat, seasoning it with a special blend of herbs and spices from his own supplies—a mix of dried leaves and ground roots that added a rich, savory flavor. The aroma was enticing, a welcome comfort in this alien world. Each subject took a portion, and they ate together, the crackling fire and shared meal fostering a sense of camaraderie.
Zhao realized Acel and the workers lacked proper housing. The Lord's House was his alone, and the training centre was reserved for the archers. He opened the Territory Management panel, selecting the Residential Building blueprint. Using 100 wood and 20 stone, he constructed two new houses—one for Acel and one for the workers, who had requested to live together, their bond forged through years of labor.
The golden light descended twice more, and two sturdy wooden houses appeared near the warehouse, their simple designs practical yet welcoming, with small windows and slanted roofs. Zhao felt a wave of fatigue wash over him. In just half a day, he had experienced and learned things that would have been deemed impossible on Earth—teleportation, summoning godlike beings, amassing a fortune in resources. His mind buzzed with the weight of it all, but his body demanded rest.
As his subjects settled into their new homes, Zhao retreated to the Lord's House, the small hut now feeling like a sanctuary amidst the chaos of Central Land. He lay on the threadbare bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts a whirlwind of plans and possibilities. He was tired, yes, but also exhilarated. This was only the beginning, and with his talent and subjects, he would carve a legend in this unforgiving world.