Chapter 16: The Siege of Squirrels: Nexus City's First Real Test
Chapter 16: The Siege of Squirrels: Nexus City's First Real Test
An hour passes.
Ash receives a prompt from the system, a chilling notification. A window flashes before his eyes.
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Time left before attack: 3 hours, 30 mins
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Seeing this, Ash feels a surge of urgency. He should notify Ram and Evan. He heads toward the altar, his mind racing.
After a short while, he meets Evan at the altar. With a sense of resolve, he tells him about the impending monster attack. Evan listens, his expression serious, before replying, "Let me help with the traps. We can take care of these monsters together." They both agree they have enough wood for the traps and enough time to prepare. They believe these ordinary monsters will be no problem.
Ash nods, his mind already whirling with plans. After a moment of thought, he murmurs "status" to himself. A window appears.
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City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory Defense Double
Description: In the event of city defense, all the attack and defense power of people and buildings become double.
Altar level: 0
Upgrade requirement: (wood * 1000, stone * 250, 50 * mana core (level 0))
Production: Mist mana level 0 * 10 per day
Area: 625 square meters
Status: Very small village
Building: Guide mark * 1 (active)
Blueprints: Low grade market (stone * 200, wood * 50), low grade house (stone * 100, wood * 25)
Warehouse: Wood * 39, mana core level 0 * 15, mana core level 1 * 2, rabbit monster hide level 0 * 11, rabbit monster hide level 1 * 1, stone * 10
Population: 3
Specialty: Mana tree (produces level 0 mana * 2 per day)
Resource point: Stone Mountain level 1 (310 * mined / 1000 all stone mineable in new mine)
Attack power level: 0 (600 / 1000)
Description: City's power level to attack enemies
Defense power level: 0 (1050 / 10000)
Description: City's defense power level against enemies
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Seeing the wood and its quantity, Ash thinks, Enough. The wood will do.
He looks at Evan, and a pop-up window opens.
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Name: Evan (altar subject)
Age: 18
Status: Healthy
Abilities: None
Level: 0 (50 / 100 mana mist level 0)
Weapon: Low grade axe, low grade shield
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Ash says, "You go make wood pit traps. I'll inform Ram about the attack."
Ash heads toward Ram, his footsteps quick, heart pounding in his chest. He finds Ram and says, "Monsters are attacking. Prepare yourself. Get to the altar for healing. Evan's working outside, setting traps."
Ram nods. "Okay, my lord."
Ash's voice hardens. "Be ready. I'm counting on you to handle the level 1 and level 2 monsters."
Ram's gaze hardens with determination. "Don't worry, my lord. I'll do my best."
Ash feels a flicker of confidence in Ram's words, though doubt lingers in the pit of his head. "Alright," he says. He begins walking to the site of the attack, his thoughts scattered.
He recalls what Ram had said before: After monster attacks, Eldros rewards exceptional defenses with treasures. It's the will of the world to offer support to its people.
But Ash hasn't received any treasure from previous attacks. He thinks, Two attacks aren't enough to determine which altars are worthy...
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Ash shakes off his doubts and quickly heads to Evan. After a few minutes, he sees Evan digging pit traps, his movements quick and efficient. Ash watches him work, and his thoughts drift to the golden shield promised to his city for 15 days—once the altar fully matures.
He wonders if, with Ram and Evan as his subordinates, his chance of survival will truly improve. I believe in my survival, he thinks.
They discuss where to place the wooden spikes, deciding on the most effective locations for maximum kill rate. Ash digs the soil with determination, and Evan sharpens the wooden stakes with care.
Two hours later, Ash is drenched in sweat, but the traps are ready. The ground is marked with freshly dug pits, and Evan has placed the wooden spikes, his work flawless.
Ash glances at the time. A window pops up.
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Time left before attack: 0 hours, 30 mins
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Moments later, the traps are finished. Ash and Evan inspect their work, nodding with satisfaction. The traps are ready.
They rest, their breaths heavy as the anticipation builds. Ash checks the time again. Another window appears.
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Time left before attack: 0 hours, 10 mins
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Ash says, "My status." A window pops up in front of him.
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Name: Ash (altar owner)
Age: 24
Status: Healthy
Abilities: None
Level: 1 (0 / 100 mana mist level 1)
Weapon: Low grade gun, 1 bullet, low grade knife
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Ash feels the weight of the gun in his hand. Only one bullet left. After that, it's just him and his knife. He's been practicing with the blade, training with Evan, learning techniques from Ram. But now, standing on the precipice of danger, the thought of fighting with a knife fills him with dread.
I'll do my best, he thinks, Just like Ram taught me. I'll survive this.
He glances at the time again. Another window appears.
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Time left before attack: 0 hours, 4 mins
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Ash wonders when Ram will arrive. But then he realizes, Ram will come after the attack and take care of the main monster.
The time ticks away.
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Time left before attack: 0 hours, 2 mins
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Time left before attack: 0 hours, 1 min
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Time left before attack: 0 hours, 0 mins
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From a distance, Ash and Evan spot a dark cloud of dirt swirling in the sky, heading toward them.
Minutes later, the first signs appear—dots of brown. Ash's heart races as he sees the creatures emerging, twenty large squirrels charging toward them.
He takes a deep breath, his mind focusing. He checks the monster status.
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Big Squirrel (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 1
Description: A massive squirrel with oversized fangs, capable of chewing through rotten food, leather, and even weak armour. It dwells in towering trees, using its numbers to overwhelm its prey.
Abilities:
Fast Reproduction – If not culled quickly, their numbers explode.
Weakness: Weak to fire and sharp attacks
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Big Squirrel (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 0
Description: A massive squirrel with oversized fangs, capable of chewing through rotten food, leather, and even weak armour. It dwells in towering trees, using its numbers to overwhelm its prey.
Abilities:
Fast Reproduction – If not culled quickly, their numbers explode.
Weakness: Weak to fire and sharp attacks
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Ash surveys the monsters, quickly calculating. After five minutes of observing, they confirm the monsters' number and levels.
Three are level 1. Seventeen are level 0. Not good, Ash thinks, but they still have confidence. The traps should take out half of them.
He notices the bloodshot eyes of the creatures. These monsters are under some kind of spell, Ash realizes. They attack without thinking, without fear of death, and without understanding the odds. He feels a shiver run down his spine, certain that his theory is right.