《The 'Extra' Lord - A Plundering Kingdom Building LitRPG》


 Chapter 1 - Just an Extra

    Owen braced against the desert winds, his armour stained with blood. His black cape billowed behind him, stretching his shadow across the war-torn battlefield, giving him an almost demonic presence amidst the chaos. Facing the thousand Lords, a single thought weighed on him¡ªwas any of this truly worth it?


    ***


    ¡°Do you ever feel sorry for main characters?¡±


    Owen¡¯s voice cut through the office¡¯s rhythm¡ªkeyboards clacking, half-hearted TV talk, phones ringing.


    Louis, from the adjacent cubicle, barely looked up. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I was just thinking,¡± Owen said, glancing up from the page on his phone, ¡°these characters¡ªthey go through so much. Constant battles, world-saving missions, never-ending struggles¡­ doesn¡¯t it just seem exhausting? I mean, wouldn¡¯t it be kind of miserable? Sure, you¡¯d be strong. But man, holding that kind of responsibility¡­ I couldn¡¯t imagine that.¡±


    Louis sighed, still staring at his screen. ¡°I can hardly imagine that I¡¯m still working here.¡± Louis leaned back and cracked his fingers. He met Owen¡¯s gaze. ¡°You¡¯re reading that titan story again?¡±


    Owen grinned at his phone. ¡°Chapter 3000. It¡¯s getting good.¡±


    ¡°3000? I¡¯m shocked you haven¡¯t been fired yet.¡±


    ¡°Please.¡± Owen rolled his eyes. ¡°Caroline¡¯s playing Candy Crush. At least I¡¯m reading. It¡¯s educational.¡±


    Louis finally glanced over at Caroline and his gaze brightened. He ripped his eyes away before saying, ¡°Educational, huh? Isn¡¯t it a webnovel? What can you possibly learn from that? I hear they¡¯re all written by amateurs.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Owen coughed. He didn¡¯t really have much of a defence. The story wasn¡¯t exactly Shakespeare. He¡¯d found it buried in the webnovel archives like some forgotten relic. By chapter 3000, he was probably its last reader. No, he was its last reader. But there was something about it¡ªa strange popcorn attraction in the endless loop of a guy trapped in time, fighting monsters, Levelling up, building empires¡ªdestroying them, and doing it all over again but¡­ quicker.


    It was his escape.


    After a moment¡¯s thought, he said, ¡°Not giving up, even when everything¡¯s against you? That no matter what, he keeps going, forging ahead.¡±


    Louis chuckled. ¡°Right.¡±


    Owen smiled, but lately, that same comfort was fading. A vague restlessness had begun gnawing at him. Reading helped him escape the monotony of his life, but even that wasn¡¯t enough anymore. His eyes flicked toward the window, the city¡¯s skyline stretching far into the distance. He sighed.


    There¡¯s gotta be more to life than this.


    ¡°Psst,¡± Louis nudged him again.


    Owen barely had time to shove his phone under his thigh before Chris, their boss, walked over, tapping his foot against the carpet. ¡°How¡¯s that project coming along, Owen?¡±


    Owen forced a smile. ¡°Almost there.¡±


    ¡°Well, I need it on my desk tomorrow. You¡¯ve got nothing else on, so stay late if you have to. Just get it done.¡± Chris shot him a curt nod before retreating back to his office.


    Owen caught Louis¡¯s smirk and resisted rolling his eyes. Asshole, he thought.


    He turned back to his computer, trying to refocus. Then a notification popped up: You¡¯ve received an email.


    Weird, Owen thought. It had come through his secondary email¡ªthe one he used for signing up to random sites. Plus, he¡¯d disabled notifications for it. Curiosity piqued, he clicked on the pop-up.


    To: [email protected]</a>


    Yeah, that¡¯s embarrassing, Owen thought, cringing.


    Subject: A Titan¡¯s Journey ¡ª An Author¡¯s Thanks.


    The author¡­ emailed me? Owen straightened up, narrowing his eyes as he opened it.


    Content:


    Dear reader, you¡¯ve almost completed my story, and for that, I give you my sincerest thanks. Writing has been a long journey with its trials, but knowing you¡¯ve been my, well, only reader... warms my ancient heart.


    As a token of my gratitude, I offer you a gift. Something special. Something just for you.


    Choose wisely.


    Reverend Storycrafter.


    Owen blinked. What the hell? He reread the message, a strange chill creeping up his spine. Before he could process it, three choices appeared on the screen, each represented by an image of a piece of parchment, covered in old, scrawled writing.


    The Lord Extra:


    Pitiful talent, but a godlike Lord Emblem.


    Owen leaned in, curious. Was this like one of those build-a-character sheets like from Dungeon and Dragons? The Lord Emblem was the cornerstone of power for any new Lord¡ªThey were a gift of sorts, for all new Lords. Some gained personal power-ups, while others gained mighty bonuses to their summoned units.


    But low talent meant barely any attribute growth. Still¡­ a godlike emblem sounded tempting.


    The Hunted Lord:


    High talent, great skills¡­ but many enemies.


    Owen frowned. Being hunted? That sounded like a nightmare. No thanks. If he was given a new life, he¡¯d want it nice and easy. Give him some grassland and a farm and chicken. At the silly thought of retiring early in a magical world, Owen forged on.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The Forsaken Lord:


    Gifted with immense strength, but cursed by fate.


    Owen¡¯s eyes shifted between the choices, weighing them in his mind. There was no ¡°safe¡± option¡ªeach came with dangerous drawbacks. After a long pause, he clicked on The Lord Extra. Sure, the attribute growth would be terrible, but at least he¡¯d have no enemies chasing him down. He didn¡¯t need that kind of stress. Plus, A God-Like Emblem sounded awesome.


    He tapped the screen, locking in his choice. Nothing happened. No pop-ups, no ads for some low-budget game, no virus. Just¡­ Just the office hum¡ªthe sound of keyboards, the soft murmur of voices. Owen sighed. ¡°Figures,¡± he muttered, about to turn his attention back to work.


    Then he noticed something odd.


    Jock, from accounting, burst into the office, slamming the door behind him. Owen¡¯s brow furrowed. Jock¡¯s face was pale, his hands trembling. His shirt was splattered with something dark¡­ something red.


    Blood?


    Owen stood. ¡°Jock, you alright¡ª¡±


    From the corner of his eye, he saw something outside the window. Thick, dark smoke billowing into the sky, twisting upward like it came from burning tires. The acrid stench of it hit his nostrils¡ªsharp and suffocating.


    The office around him buzzed on, oblivious.


    But Owen couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something, somewhere, had just gone very wrong.


    Owen wrinkled his nose and approached the window, about to shut it.


    ¡°God damn,¡± Louis spat and walked over. ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡±


    ¡°I think a building is on fire, or something,¡± Owen guessed as he watched the smoke rise further. ¡°That sucks. That¡¯s probably someone''s business or home.¡±


    ¡°Who cares,¡± replied Louis, rolling his eyes. He massaged his neck. ¡°Management should really invest in better chairs. Feel like my spine is going to snap.¡± He turned and noticed Jock. ¡°What¡¯s up with Jock?¡±


    ¡°I was just about to ask,¡± Owen said as he ripped his attention away from the streets below and headed over to the door. No-one else had noticed. Partly because they were working, and the other because they simply didn¡¯t care about whatever happened around them. Day in and day out of work tended to numb the humanity right out of you. Owen was lucky to avoid it, for the most part.


    ¡°Hey Jock,¡± said Owen, stopping a couple feet away from him. He got a good look at him now. He was terrified, like¨C ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he saw your mother,¡± Louis added from the side.


    Ignoring the joke, Owen''s concern deepened. ¡°Jock, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± he screamed, hands raised to protect his face.


    At the sudden shriek, finally people reacted as they looked over.


    Owen turned his voice soft. ¡°Jock, if you¡¯ve got yourself in some trouble, tell me. Maybe I can help?¡± After a second pause, he then chuckled. ¡°At the very least, I might have some words of wisdom I can share.¡±


    ¡°Christ,¡± Louis mocked. ¡°Then we¡¯re really scraping the bottom of the barrel.¡±


    Frowning, Owen spat, ¡°Be serious for once, Louis. Jock isn¡¯t right.¡±


    Louis, feeling a little guilty, looked straight at Jock. ¡°He¡¯s right, Jock. We can help, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Monsters¡­¡± Jock said, barely audible over the sound of his own quivering. ¡°They¡­ are everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Owen, did he say monsters?¡±


    ¡°Jock, what did you say? Did you say monsters?¡±


    ¡°Monsters!¡± Jock exploded, head twitching this way and that. Life finally returned to his eyes as he dashed to the other side of the room and ripped an extinguisher from the wall. Owen rushed on over as Mike, another workmate, was trying to tear it from Jock¡¯s grasp.


    ¡°Get off of me!¡± Jock screamed.


    It was chaos. At least 5 people were trying to desperately wrestle Jock into submission in an attempt to calm him down. It was only making everything worse. Then Chris¡¯s voice boomed across the cubicles.


    ¡°Just what the hell is going on here?¡± He stormed up to where Jock and Mike were wrestling, and using his considerable strength and size, tore them off of eachother. Jock still clutched at the fire extinguisher. ¡°Both of you, my office now.¡±¡°We don¡¯t have time for that!¡± Jock said in hysterics. With blood on his shirt, a maddened look in his eyes, and his hair all ruffled, Owen was beginning to worry.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Caroline, Owen¡¯s neighbour, asked with concern, rushing up to the scuffle without hesitance. She tucked in her long golden hair behind her ear and placed a calming hand on Jock, then pushed Mike back as well. ¡°Let¡¯s all calm down.¡±


    It seemed to do the trick as no one wanted to get Caroline in the middle of the fight. Mike inched closer to Caroline. Perhaps he didn¡¯t even realise he was doing it. He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.


    Ignoring everything that was happening, the arguing, the pushing, Owen rushed to the windows, clawing off a stack of papers from a nearby table in the process. Louis followed him.


    Head pressed against the cool glass, Owen looked down at the streets. It was pandemonium. What was once just one smoke cloud, were now several. The people down in the streets, although small, were seen falling, pushing, and sprinting. He saw fire. Orange, red, and angry. It consumed the horizon. Maybe it was joining the haze of the sun setting.


    Sun setting? Owen thought in realisation. It was barely mid-day. How could the sun be setting already?


    A pit formed in his stomach. He had a sudden realisation that he refused to believe was possible.


    ¡°Shit,¡± said Louis, bringing out his phone from his pocket and pointing it to the streets. ¡°Look,¡± Louis said and without pressing the record button, zoomed way into the streets. They both saw it crystal clear. People were running from¡­ something. Owen¡¯s heart dropped and then his eyes widened as he saw a lumbering¡­ thing, attack someone. It was hard to follow, mainly because the camera was so blurry from being so far away, but all he saw was¡ª


    Owen¡¯s stomach churned as he watched the monster cleave the person¡ªa woman¡ªhe thought, in half. Blood spilled out onto the streets. Owen stepped back. He thought he¡¯d only taken one, but his back struck a cubicle, sending picture frames tumbling and smashing.


    ¡°What the fuck,¡± Louis said, tongue pratically tied.


    Screams came from below. Owen felt sick to his stomach as his heart smashed against his chest like a percussion drum.


    The realisation crashed over Owen like a tidal wave. He was inside the world of A Titan¡¯s Journey, a place he¡¯d only read about. The horror of the situation gripped him. How had his fantasy world become this brutal reality? Every cell in his body screamed in disbelief and terror.


    Owen noticed a man wearing a black suit emerge from the door leading up to the other floors on the other side of the office. Owen followed his figure, and a sudden description fell into place.


    Wearing a black suit, Ansel was on his 63rd regression. He dashed down the offices with a fireman''s axe in hand, sprinting where the monsters chased prey. Little did they know, they were about to become the hunted.


    Just like the book''s description, the man wore the same suit. He had a fireman''s axe in hand, and the dull look in his eyes, one that was almost bored, struck a chord with Owen. It was insanity, but a thought surfaced. Ansel? It was utterly absurd. One that broke any sort of common sense and turned it on its head. But Owen knew.


    He was Ansel Windsor, the main character of A Titan¡¯s Journey. And a regressor. He wasn¡¯t alone.


    A man clad in thick muscle arrived with him, asking if everyone was okay. Owen¡¯s mouth opened wide. Although it was difficult to put descriptive words into real life, the man in front of him was unmistakable. Smart hair swept back, muscles bulging out of his white shirt, a scar etched across his eyebrow from a childhood accident. He was Iron Fortress Callan, a powerful Lord candidate and a side character in A Titan¡¯s Journey.


    No, it must be a coincidence. It had to be. It all had to be.


    As quickly as he arrived, he swung open the door to the stairwell, gave one look at Callan, then slammed it shut. Then he was gone like the wind; most likely targeting the fruits of his knowledge. Apart from the dim look he had given the Iron Fortress, he didn¡¯t give anyone else a single glance.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way,¡± Owen muttered to himself.


    You have been given the Mission ¡ª Survival: Enter the Subway Station within 7 days.


    | Bonus objective: Obtain a Lord Shard to ensure a domain within the Land Between.


    Owen¡¯s hands clenched as he pressed his back against a cubicle wall. The System¡¯s words, the monster, Ansel, and Callan¡ªeach piece of evidence led to one undeniable truth: he had merged with the world of A Titan¡¯s Journey.

 Chapter 2 - Dreadclaw

    He took a deep breath. It was real, all of it was, so he needed to treat it as such. Owen worked his mind, trying to recall the beginning of the story. The mission to enter the subway station was, at first glance, an easy one. But he knew it was anything but. Also, little did anyone know that the time limit of 7 days was an absolute. It wasn¡¯t possible to enter after it; because as the clock struck midnight on the 7th day; you were dead. Your soul would implode.


    Owen squeezed his toes into the bottom of his shoes. If he wanted the best chance of survival, he¡¯d also need to acquire a Lord Shard. He had chosen the ¡®Extra¡¯ beginning, giving him the worst talent available. But as a result, he¡¯d obtain a God-like Lord Emblem. For that, he needed that Shard.


    As everyone was busy arguing and gazing out at the window, Owen, with a heavy heart, thought of the words he had read about only moments before.


    System, open.


    Name: Owen Taylor


    | Race: Human


    | Level: 1


    | Talent: 1-Star


    Traits:


    | Lord Emblem: N/A


    | Class: N/A


    | Titles: N/A


    | Spectres: N/A


    | Fragments: N/A


    Attributes:


    | Strength: 7


    | Vitality: 7


    | Dexterity: 6


    | Magic: 5


    | Mana: 4


    Skills (0/12):


    Upon seeing the Talent: 1-Star, his fingernails stabbed into his fleshy palm. Depending on what Star one awakened to, determined how many Stat points they could add every Level. And a 1-Star Talent meant that only one point would be available for distribution. It was a pitiful amount. Ansel himself managed to reach the 10-Star Talent.


    An Extra, Owen thought, his lips curling into a self deprecating smile.


    A blood curdling scream ripped him out of his System. It was below them, the sounds filtering in through the gaps of the stairwell door. He had to block the door or get help. He tried moving, but he found his body locked into position. All he felt was the beating of his own heart.


    Move. I need to block the door. I know what happens next, Owen thought, and with a final push of his mind, broke free from the fear holding him back. While running to the door, he shouted.


    ¡°Louis, we need to block the door¡ªnow!¡± Owen¡¯s voice was urgent, barely containing his panic.


    ¡°On it!¡± Louis responded, his face turning serious as he grabbed whatever he could to help.


    Just at that moment, a young woman wearing a pencil skirt and dirty white shirt pushed it open, falling down on the ground. The door swung open, smashing into Owen. It didn¡¯t hurt, at least not while a metric tonne of adrenaline was pumping through his blood. The other people continued to the other side of the office, to the other stairwell.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    More joined them, practically stampeding over the woman. Owen dragged her to safety. The other people continued to the other side of the office, over to the other stairwell. They were most likely trying to get as high as possible. They all had a look in their eyes as if they¡¯d seen war. Or something worse.


    A set of claws emerged from the door. Owen¡¯s eyes bulged. He moved by pure instinct. Sprinting at the door, he slammed it as hard as he could using his shoulder as a battering ram. With a sickening snap, its claws shattered. The monster roared in pain. Louis froze.


    ¡°Louis, table, now!¡± Owen screamed, his voice shaking with desperation. Louis darted into action, but it was already too late.


    With a bone-shaking roar, the beast crashed through the door, splintering the wood and bending the metal frame. The force of the impact hurled Owen backward, his body slamming into a cubicle with a jarring thud that left him gasping for breath.


    For a split second, Owen froze, mind blank with fear.


    Then a blast of white foam exploded over the creature¡¯s face, blinding it. Jock had fired the extinguisher again. Seizing the moment, Owen kicked at the beast, but his foot might as well have hit a wall. Before he could react, the Draedclaw''s razor-sharp claw came crashing down, slicing into his leg. A scream tore from his throat as searing pain shot up his body.


    ¡°Get off him!¡± Callan bellowed, charging forward with reckless courage. He slammed into the Dreadclaw, dislodging its claw from Owen¡¯s leg. The creature stumbled, but Callan¡¯s momentum wasn¡¯t enough to throw it off. Still, its vision was impaired, and Callan took full advantage. Wrapping his arms around the beast¡¯s torso, he clung to it with everything he had, muscles straining as the monster thrashed.


    Owen¡¯s leg throbbed, blood soaking his pants, but there was no time to dwell on it.


    ¡°Owen, here!¡± Caroline¡¯s voice cut through the chaos, unnervingly steady. Something small clattered to the floor beside him. A stapler. Of all things.


    Gritting his teeth, he grabbed it, dragging himself to his feet. His leg screamed in protest, but he ignored it. He stumbled toward the struggling creature, determination overtaking fear. Callan, seeing him approach, tightened his grip, veins bulging as he tried to keep the Dreadclaw still.


    Owen raised the stapler high and, with a primal scream, slammed it into the Draedclaw¡¯s eye. The beast shrieked, its body convulsing in agony. In its frenzy, it lashed out, claws raking across Callan¡¯s chest, sending him flying into a nearby cubicle. He hit with a sickening crunch, blood immediately soaking his shirt from the deep gash across his chest.


    ¡°Callan!¡± Owen cried, panic clawing at him as he collapsed to the floor, unable to keep weight on his injured leg. Callan groaned. He was alive, at least.


    The Dreadclaw, though injured, was still dangerous.


    Owen¡¯s heart sank as he saw Louis bolt around a corner, disappearing from sight. He felt like his stomach had dropped. He was abandoning them. But then, moments later, Louis reappeared, dragging an office chair behind him, his face twisted in a mix of terror and rage.


    ¡°Take this, you bastard!¡± Louis roared, pushing the chair with all his strength. It slammed into the Dreadclaw, knocking it off balance and toward the door. The weight of the beast leaned on the rolling chair.


    An idea sparked as Owen shouted, ¡°We need to get it out of here! Louis, help me push it toward the stairs!¡±


    Ignoring their injuries, they heaved the thrashing creature toward the stairwell, weight offset by the chair. With a final shove, they sent the Dreadclaw crashing through the door, stumbling backwards. The creature tumbled over the railing, falling straight down the well-hole. The beast screeched, until finally, with one last sickening thud, the beast lay still.


    You have defeated a Dreadclaw x1


    | Owen Taylor level 1 -> 3


    | You have 2 Stat points to assign.


    | Louis Craig has obtained a Fragment.


    Owen limped to the edge, peering down. The Dreadclaw lay at the bottom, a pool of blood forming around its broken body. They were on the 32nd floor. It was a long way down. He exhaled shakily, relief washing over him.


    But then, halfway down the stairs, a shadow moved. Owen¡¯s heart lurched as he saw another creature, its monstrous head leering up at him from below. Its glowing eyes locked onto his, and it let out a horrifying, seal-like crow, the sound chilling him to his core.


    Owen¡¯s heart pounded in his chest. He knew what that sound meant. More were coming, and fast. His mind raced. How could they stop it? Fight again? They barely survived this one.


    He slumped against the wall, his breath ragged, and said with deadly seriousness, ¡°We need to block the door. Right now.¡±


    Just as they shut the door, as much as it would anyway half broken, a new message arrived. One that Owen was expecting.


    Class Selection imminent¡­ Please pick carefully.


    Panting heavily, Owen glanced at the message, then back at the battered door. Without wasting a second, he and Louis bolted into the office, scrambling to fortify whatever they could. Every second counted as they hastily readied their defences, the weight of the impending threat pressing down on them like a vice.

 Chapter 3 - Class Choice

    With the help of Louis and some of the other workmates, they pulled whatever they could in front of the door. Those that weren¡¯t helping had their eyes glazed over, looking at the alien screen in front of them over at the other side of the office, waiting for the next message.


    The beast that had howled never arrived. Most likely, it had found someone else to hunt.


    Owen looked at Louis. At some point, he had received a gnarly wound on his cheek. Breath steadying, Owen said, ¡°That was close.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± Louis said, wiping at the blood on his cheek. He winced.


    ¡°I need to check on Callan.¡±


    ¡°That other guy?¡±


    ¡°Just stay here,¡± Owen said.


    Ignoring Louis for now, and having moved whatever they could in front of the door, Owen limped over to where Callan was flung out of sight behind a cubicle. Please. Please don¡¯t be dead, Owen thought as he neared. Rounding the corner, he saw the huge man already seated, tending to his wounds.


    Owen sighed in relief seeing that he was mostly fine. But another worry appeared at the forefront. He said, ¡°How are you holding up?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll live,¡± he said, seething in pain.


    ¡°Good,¡± Owen said, changing the subject a moment later. ¡°Please say you haven¡¯t already selected your Class?¡±


    ¡°No?¡±


    Owen crouched down in front of Callan, his expression serious. "You can''t pick Warrior."


    Callan frowned. "How did you know I was going to¡ª?"


    "This is going to sound strange, maybe even insane, but listen. Whatever you do, don''t choose Warrior. You need to select Mage. I know it sounds odd, but trust me¡ªI know you''ll be exceptional at magic."


    Callan studied him with a skeptical look, unsure whether to believe him. They had barely met, and yet Owen was speaking with a sense of urgency that was hard to ignore.


    Owen¡¯s mind flashed back to a memory from Ansel¡¯s first life.


    <hr>


    Callan, the Iron Fortress, sat by the crackling fire, his voice steady as the warmth pushed back the chill of the Cursed Lands. Ansel listened in silence, his thoughts heavy.


    ¡°If I could go back and change my Class,¡± Callan said, his smile tinged with regret, ¡°I¡¯d do it without hesitation. Even if it meant starting all over.¡±


    Miranda, the Witch of Hallowed Sanctity, chuckled from across the fire. ¡°Even now? The Lord who¡¯s never lost a siege wants to start over?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Callan replied firmly. ¡°It took me years as a Warrior to realize I had a talent for magic. If I¡¯d chosen Mage from the start, I¡¯d be even stronger now. Maybe I could¡¯ve protected more¡ªmaybe even the world.¡±


    Miranda shook her head with a laugh. ¡°There¡¯s that confidence. You think you could¡¯ve saved the world.¡±


    Ansel stared into the fire, his voice low. ¡°If we¡¯d protected Sanctuary, maybe we would¡¯ve. But it¡¯s too late. If I could do it all again... I¡¯d make different choices. No alliances. I¡¯d take it all for myself.¡±


    <hr>


    Owen returned to the present. He knew Callan¡ªnot this version of him, but the one from the stories. Loyal, trustworthy to a fault. Maybe someone else would push Owen away, curse at him for being insane. This was his future after all. But Callan wasn''t normal.


    ¡°Look,¡± Owen said, his voice calm but firm. ¡°I get it, we just met, but trust me on this. I wouldn¡¯t ask if it wasn¡¯t important. Call it a favor."


    Callan hesitated, but there was something in Owen¡¯s gaze¡ªsomething that spoke of more than just a wild guess. A quiet confidence, almost like he knew the future.


    "You¡¯re convincing, I¡¯ll give you that." Callan finally said, shaking his head with a small smile. With a deep breath, he selected his Class.


    His eyes widened as a strange energy surged through him. Owen smiled, knowing exactly what he was feeling.


    Mana.


    "Magic, huh?" Callan''s eyes lit up, a newfound spark flickering within them. There was a sense of wonder there now¡ªsomething more than curiosity, a glimpse of potential he hadn¡¯t yet realized.


    Owen placed his hand on his shoulder. ¡°Thanks, for before, as well. I¡¯d have died without your help.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d have all died if we couldn¡¯t beat that thing.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± said Owen. ¡°I need to see the others. Will you be okay?¡±


    ¡°I think so,¡± he replied, then stood up, groaning in pain in the process. Owen helped him up. ¡°I didn¡¯t get your name.¡±


    ¡°Owen.¡±


    ¡°Owen,¡± he said, looking around at the destruction and blood. Their own blood, mostly. ¡°Can you believe this? Monsters? I don¡¯t get it.¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± Owen said. ¡°But it¡¯s best if we believe it quickly. Stay put, I¡¯ll see if I can find you a first-aid kit.¡±


    Callan nodded in agreement.


    Done with that, Owen turned around and quickly made his way near the back of the office where everyone had congregated. He glanced down at his leg. It was still bleeding, but for now, he ignored it. He didn¡¯t feel any pain.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Arriving in a limp, he hoped he wasn¡¯t already too late, but Callan¡¯s Class came first. He¡¯d be a great help in the future.


    Owen took in a breath as he glanced at all the others in the office that looked like they were staring off into space. They were looking at the Class upgrades, no doubt. Most of them would pick Mage or Archer. It was dumb, and he had to stop it.


    ¡°Stop,¡± Owen said and yanked Louis¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°What the hell man?¡± Louis asked, still visibly shaken from the monster. He was doing well not to lose himself. Owen was almost there himself. Louis had a deep gash on his cheek.


    ¡°What did you choose?¡±


    ¡°Nothing yet. The choice is hard. This is going to determine my future, right? I was about to choose Mage when you yanked me. Can you believe any of this? It¡¯s fucking nuts. Magic? Monsters? Feels like I¡¯m in some sort of twisted nightmare. Or on a trip. You know, drugs.¡± Louis rambled. He was in shock.


    ¡°I know,¡± he said, then Owen raised his voice as he scanned the group. "Everyone, stop. Don''t pick Mage or Archer."


    Several people glanced up, confused. A few had already selected Mage, evident from their calm reactions. The Warriors, though? They¡¯d be feeling their newfound strength, marvelling at it.


    ¡°Do you see any bows around here? Anyone think they can summon a fireball on their first try?¡± Owen asked, his tone sharper now. ¡°We don¡¯t have the luxury to gamble on that. This isn¡¯t a game. Picking Warrior will make you stronger now. Surviving without that will be difficult.¡±


    Chris shoved his way to the front, arms crossed. ¡°How do we know you''re not gatekeeping Mage for yourself?¡± His voice oozed scepticism. ¡°You said it yourself¡ªfireballs could stop those monsters in their tracks. Why the hell would we choose anything else?¡±


    A murmur spread through the group. Even Louis looked at Owen with raised eyebrows, his disbelief stinging more than Owen expected.


    Owen bit his lip. He wasn¡¯t about to let them walk into the same traps he¡¯d read about, not when he knew what could happen. He leaned forward, voice low but firm. ¡°This isn¡¯t about me. If you pick Mage now, you won¡¯t get stronger, and those things will tear you apart. We barely survived the last attack. I know we don¡¯t know a lot about this System, but think about it¡ªWarrior gives us strength. We need that if we¡¯re going to stand a chance.¡±


    Chris scoffed. ¡°Right. And what have you picked?¡± He pointed a finger at Owen, challenging.


    ¡°Nothing yet¡ª¡±


    ¡°If you''re so sure, why not pick Warrior yourself? Sounds like you¡¯re saving the best for yourself.¡±


    The group began to nod, and Owen¡¯s pulse quickened. They were slipping through his fingers. He wanted to tell them that he knew the future, that he knew exactly why they should all go Warrior. But, Owen knew Chris would twist that into making everyone believe that he was insane. Even if he claimed it as a Skill. Would they believe him?


    ¡°I¡ª¡± Owen hesitated, not used to defending himself in front of a crowd. Chris latched onto his silence.


    ¡°See?¡± Chris said, his voice rising with confidence. ¡°He¡¯s not even sure. None of us are. Think about it¡ªmonsters, magic, this whole situation is insane.¡± He paused, letting the tension in the room build. ¡°But whatever¡¯s going on, it feels real enough. So the only way to survive is to cover all our bases¡ªMages, Archers, Warriors. We need a mix, to spread the risk.¡±


    ¡°Like a video game,¡± someone chirped from the back.


    Owen clenched his fists, biting back his frustration. Chris had a point, in theory. But in reality, they were unarmed, and those creatures wouldn¡¯t wait for them to learn magic.


    But what could he do? He couldn¡¯t force them to pick.


    One by one, people started making their choices. Despite Chris¡¯s influence, more than half chose Warrior¡ªfar better than Owen expected. But it could¡¯ve gone smoother. He should¡¯ve been more forceful, more certain.


    ¡°Louis?¡± He then turned to his friend.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I picked Warrior as well.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Owen sighed in relief.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t lying,¡± Louis said while checking out his new body, flexing his muscles. His lips curled into a smile; even the pain seemed to have washed away from his wounds. ¡°This feels incredible.¡±


    Owen smiled as he glanced at Chris and the others. As they watched the new Warriors effortlessly lift chairs and other objects as if they weighed nothing, a hint of jealousy flickered across their faces. They tried to do the same, but with only 1 point in Strength given by the Mage Class and the body of a lethargic office worker, the outcome was predictable. They strained and struggled, the single point made no noticeable difference to their overall strength.


    Now, it was time to pick a Class for himself.


    Displaying the basic list of Classes available for selection¡­


    Owen was given the basic options between Rogue, Warrior, Archer, and Mage that everyone else received. It had been years since he had read chapter 1 of the story, but if he remembered correctly, then pretty much most of Earth chose the Mage and Archer Classes.


    Owen knew the best choice. It was difficult not to; he had theorised what he¡¯d have chosen in Ansel¡¯s stead when he was reading along. Each Class brought with it an extra Lord addition.


    For the Rogue, if one became a Lord, then the Class increased the efficacy of Scouting units.


    Warrior made the frontline units stronger.


    Mage made the spellcasters in their domain have increased mana generation and more potent magic. But with only gaining one point per Level because of his Talent, and with magic units being very rare, it was a tout choice.


    Archers made their units more accurate and increased their fire rate.


    Skills were earned based on actions, rewarded by combat. Warriors could learn Rogue abilities and vice versa. And it was the same for a Mage and a Warrior. What really mattered were the Lord additions, and the Stats given by the Classes themselves to survive the beginning. Warrior and Rogue were the best in that regard. Strength versus Speed.


    But when having to navigate the Land Between, to survive, a Rogue Lord was an underrated necessity. They were the navigators in a dark and cruel world. And that was why¡ª


    You have selected ¡ª Rogue.


    Rogue


    | Description: Masters of stealth, agility, and deception, Rogues specialise in striking from the shadows and avoiding direct combat. Their swift movements and precision allow them to take down foes with deadly accuracy, often before the enemy even realises they''re there.


    | Lord Addition: Bonuses added to scouting units. Basic Hunter units now possess Scout attributes, improving vision range and stealth detection.


    Added stats: Dexterity +5, Vitality +3, Strength +2


    Taking on the Class brought with it a subtle warmth to his muscles. Not only that, but his vision was now¡­ blurred? He squinted. Taking off his glasses, he noticed the world was a lot clearer now. Was it a result of his Vitality increasing, or because of Dexterity? Whatever it was, he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    He truly was inside the novel. He could level up and get stronger. However, that child-like naivety was violently stripped away when he heard another wretched scream¡ªa human scream¡ªcoming from the stairwell. There were a lot less of them now. Most of the office workers should be in hiding.


    Just at that moment, with a resounding bang, the debris in front of the door leading to the stairwell lurched. Owen jumped and readied himself. Not only did he have to survive here, he had to get out of the building and into the subway tunnels in a single week. If that wasn¡¯t bad enough, he had to get his hands on a Lord Shard without being brutally murdered.


    Owen gave Callan and Louis a knowing look and reinforced the door further.

 Chapter 4 - Talentless Leader

    The beast had disappeared once more, but Owen remained vigilant. He knew what was out there.


    After everyone received their new Classes, they had discovered something deep within them. Confidence. Although how long that would last when they were face-to-face with a Dreadclaw was yet to be determined. At least with a mountain of tables and chairs covering both doors to the stairwells, their better spirits remained.


    Having a barrier of security, although not much, offered Owen and the others valuable time to tend to their wounds. Thankfully, there was a first-aid kit mounted to the wall in the centre of the office. It didn¡¯t have a lot; it had just enough fresh bandages to wrap the worst of the injuries.


    Caroline was already busy ripping up spare clothes that had been used if people had to work overtime and sleep in the office. Owen helped her, sitting on a chair as a reprieve from the pain of standing.


    ¡°This is all crazy, isn¡¯t it?¡± Caroline said, ripping a strip of fabric off a t-shirt. Her hands held a faint tremble. ¡°Like a nightmare coming to life.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve survived widespread viruses and war,¡± Owen said, also tearing a shirt. ¡°Now we have a System granting us superhuman strength. We¡¯ll live.¡±


    ¡°Can you promise that?¡± Caroline looked at him and he froze, tongue tied. He couldn¡¯t make such a promise.


    She smiled in response and said, ¡°I have a sister back home. And parents. We all do. You¡¯re right, we¡¯ll live¡ªwe have to.¡±


    Owen nodded. He also had parents, and although he wasn¡¯t exactly close with them, he also wanted them to survive this. But he knew the grim truth. They were most likely already dead. Feeling a lump form in his throat, he cleared it with a cough, then said, ¡°Didn¡¯t know you had a sister.¡±


    ¡°You never asked.¡±


    ¡°I should have gotten involved more,¡± Owen said, then changed the subject. ¡°I was surprised you were so calm back there; handing me that stapler, I mean. Although I would have preferred a magical sword.¡±


    Chuckling, she joked, ¡°What, because I¡¯m a woman?¡±


    Owen scoffed at the teasing remark. ¡°No, because that monster was absolutely terrifying.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, if I found a magical sword laying around, I¡¯d have given it to you without a second thought,¡± she said and they both smiled. She continued, ¡°Before this, I was training to be a paramedic. Almost got my qualification, too. Saw a lot of blood and, well, other things a civilian should never lay eyes on.¡±


    ¡°And why¡¯d you give it up? Was it too much?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she said with a small smile. ¡°Although it was tough, although every time I got into that van, my heart started thrashing, I still wanted to do it. I wanted to help people. I did a lot of good, but¡ª¡± She sighed. ¡°¡ªthe money wasn¡¯t there. Along with staff cuts, I had to get out. Then I found this place.¡±


    ¡°And lived happily ever after,¡± Owen joked.


    ¡°Hardly.¡± She laughed and said, ¡°although it¡¯s boring, it pays well, and I¡¯m in the running for promotions. I work 9-to-5, and I get weekends off, for the most part. It¡¯s comfy, if a bit boring.¡±


    ¡°But comfortable isn¡¯t what you want.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not what I want. Although, it seems I don¡¯t have to worry about that any longer, do I?¡±


    ¡°Appears not,¡± Owen said sarcastically. ¡°So, what Class did you choose?¡±


    ¡°I had access to the Healing Class, so I picked that one,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t feel too different. And yet, I don¡¯t think it was a wrong choice. What if I get my hands on a healing spell?¡±


    Healing Class, Owen thought in surprise. Lucky.


    Owen ripped another shirt, the last of them, and said after a moment, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure you will. Healing is a good one. I just wanted everyone to go Warrior because if we stick together, well, our chances will improve considerably. You know, apes together strong.¡± Owen smirked. ¡°But it didn¡¯t feel right saying it like that.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d have laughed if you did,¡± she said, chuckling.


    ¡°I¡¯m not cut out for public speaking, am I?¡± Owen asked. ¡°Not like Chris.¡±


    Caroline shook her head. ¡°You did well. It¡¯s nice to see you coming out of your shell a little. If only it didn¡¯t take you until the apocalypse to do so. But, Owen?¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up about it,¡± she said, in an attempt to comfort him. ¡°Even if they all picked Warrior, what would be the chances in getting everyone to work together?¡±


    Owen stilled. Yeah¡­ she was right about that. It wasn¡¯t very likely to get them all working in unison. He had one idea and stuck with it, not even thinking if it would pan out in the end. He had to think further than that.


    After that was done, Owen shifted over to Callan, Louis, Grace, and Jock, who were speaking amongst themselves. ¡°How¡¯s everyone holding up?¡± he asked, sitting down on the floor next to them. Caroline had also noticed and walked along.


    ¡°With duct tape and glue,¡± Louis said in visible pain, the awe of his new body wearing off. ¡°Hi Caroline.¡±


    ¡°Louis,¡± she said, crouching down to get a better look at his wound on his cheek. ¡°The cut is deep. You¡¯ll need stitches.¡±


    ¡°Just my luck.¡±


    ¡°You are lucky,¡± She said, frowning. ¡°If it was any deeper, you¡¯d be the next Joker. I can¡¯t stitch it here,¡± She continued. ¡°We¡¯ll need more supplies. We need to wash the wounds as well. I don¡¯t know what is under those claws. Could be filled with alien-like germs for all I know.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not making me feel any better,¡± said Louis with a grimace.


    Owen grinned. ¡°Wanna know how I got these scars¡ª¡±


    ¡°Piss off,¡± Louis said, smiling through the pain.


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    Caroline started tending to their wounds. Cleaning it to the best of her abilities. The sound of pained yells and howls filled the office.


    ¡°We were talking about the mission,¡± Callan said, breathing heavily after having his wound tended to. Caroline and Owen listened. ¡°We have one week to reach the subway station. But why? Grace, tell them.¡±


    Grace shifted on the spot, obviously not too keen on being in the spotlight. Owen didn¡¯t blame her. She said after a moment, ¡°Although the message hasn¡¯t told us why we should enter the subway station within 7 days, I think it¡¯s important we don¡¯t test it. It has given us that time limit for a reason.¡±


    Owen nodded. ¡°I¡¯m with you there. There¡¯s a reason for everything. I¡¯d rather not test it either.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± Louis added, ¡°what do we do? If we want to move, we¡¯ll have to fight those¡­ things. Sure, we¡¯re a little stronger now, but I still don¡¯t like those odds. Maybe with a weapon in hand. But all we have is a half empty fire extinguisher, staplers, and chairs.¡±


    The Dreadclaw had stopped attacking a while ago, and most of the screams had also been silenced. Owen knew the worst was yet to come. They had to make a move sooner rather than later, before the warriors arrived. This was just the first wave.


    Owen glanced over his shoulder and noticed that Chris had directed everyone over on that side to take stock of the supplies within the kitchen. Lunches, canned goods, he counted them all. Owen¡¯s stomach rumbled. It was lunch time before all of this happened, so he was already hungry. It would continue to get worse.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to get over that fear quickly,¡± Owen said. ¡°We don¡¯t know if these monsters get stronger day-by-day. I mean, so can we, right? We can level up, so it¡¯s only common sense to believe that they can as well.¡±


    ¡°Not only that,¡± Caroline explained, ¡°we have to worry about food. Chris is already on it,¡± she said, glancing over to the other side of the office, ¡°But how long will that last? A couple days at most? If we don¡¯t have fuel in our bodies, we¡¯ll grow weaker each day that passes. We should fight while we¡¯re the fittest.¡±


    Everyone frowned, the realisation of their situation sinking in.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Louis spat. ¡°That sounds logical.¡±


    ¡°Obviously it¡¯s still going to be very dangerous,¡± Owen said. ¡°But while those creatures are still hunting en masse, we can use it to slip by.¡±


    ¡°Using other people as decoys?¡± Callan grit his teeth.


    ¡°Callan¡¯s right,¡± Grace agreed. ¡°I don¡¯t like the sound of that.¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have said it like that,¡± Owen muttered. ¡°But you know what I mean.¡±


    Callan sighed, then nodded. ¡°I do. It¡¯s true what they say about doomsday events, isn¡¯t it? We have to think about ourselves first and foremost. So, what¡¯s the plan?¡±


    Callan, and then everyone else looked straight at Owen.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Owen said, putting up his hands in protest. ¡°Why are you all looking at me?¡±


    ¡°You seem to know the most about what¡¯s happening,¡± Caroline said. ¡°Not only that, you were the first to act when the monster arrived. I¡¯d say you¡¯ve earned the leader position.¡±


    ¡°Me, a leader?¡± Owen could hardly believe it. ¡°Absolutely not. I¡¯m going to be responsible for your lives. What if one of you gets injured. No, what if one of you dies because of what I say? I don¡¯t think I can live with that.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Louis said, scowling. ¡°We¡¯re old enough to decide for ourselves. If we end up getting injured then that¡¯s just how it is.¡±


    Owen rubbed his finger tips together. ¡°That sounds almost mature coming from you.¡±


    Louis grinned. ¡°I have my moments.¡±


    Jock still clutched at the fire extinguisher as if it was his saving grace. He muttered under his breath, ¡°I¡¯m with you, as well. My daughter¡­ is at school. She needs me. She might have gotten that message and headed to the station with her mother.¡±


    ¡°Shit, alright,¡± Owen said after a moment''s struggle. ¡°But don¡¯t be expecting miracles.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just what I want our leader to be saying right before leading us against monsters,¡± Louis said sarcastically, eliciting dry laughs from everyone else.


    Owen scoffed and shook his head. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get prepared then. First off, Louis, what was that Fragment you got?¡±


    Louis'' smile broke out into a wide grin. He stood up and stuck out his chest. ¡°Watch this,¡± he said and suddenly, a dagger that looked more like a pincer appeared in his palm.


    Callan, Caroline, Grace, and Jock all looked on with amazed expressions plastered on their faces.


    ¡°What is that? How?¡± Callan said, almost tongue tied. Seeing something suddenly appear almost as if by magic, was a lot to take in.


    ¡°Cool, right?¡± Louis said then swished the blade in the air. ¡°If I had this bad boy when that monster was here, I¡¯d have killed it right there and then.¡±


    ¡°The notification when we killed it,¡± Owen said. ¡°Did anyone get something similar? I know Louis and I did. We Levelled up.¡±


    Callan nodded. ¡°It must be when you killed it¡ªthe Draedclaw. I Levelled up to 3.¡±


    ¡°Same here,¡± Grace added.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get anything,¡± said Caroline.


    ¡°It must be because of a contribution thing,¡± Owen said. ¡°Now¡¯s the time to add the points. What¡¯re your Talents?¡±


    Louis was the first to speak. ¡°4-Stars. I have 8 points to add.¡±


    Owen clicked his tongue. That was quite good. Above average, actually.


    ¡°6,¡± said Callan.


    Owen sucked in a breath of bloody, stale office air. He¡¯d already known it, but hearing it in person was quite a different feeling. He was in the presence of future greatness.


    ¡°Is that good?¡±


    ¡°Very,¡± Owen said. ¡°I don¡¯t know much, but all of this is very similar to an RPG game, right? You have Classes, Levels, and Skills, too. 6-Stars mean you get 6 points to add to your Stats every single Level.¡±


    ¡°3,¡± said Jock.


    Owen nodded. ¡°Alright, think about adding them carefully. Each point could mean life or death, literally.¡±


    ¡°Owen,¡± Louis said. ¡°What should I put it into? You know, I used to think you were always wasting your time playing games or reading novels. It seems like I¡¯m eating my words.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you are,¡± Owen replied. ¡°Maybe go 2-1 in Strength and Vitality. Best defence is a strong offence, right?¡± He stopped mid-sentence, feeling a surge of urgency. He couldn''t afford to stay passive¡ªnot with his friends'' lives on the line. His expression hardened. ¡°No, seriously¡ª2-1 in Strength and Vitality. The faster we kill them, the safer we will be.¡±


    Louis nodded and he added the points straight away. He marvelled at the change, dragging in a deep breath as he inspected his body in amazement. An instant acting steroid. It must feel amazing.


    ¡°What about me?¡± Callan spoke up.


    ¡°All into Magic.¡±


    ¡°All?¡± He said, almost not believing him.


    ¡°Trust me.¡± Those were the only words Owen could say. With his insane talent for magic, he¡¯d most likely learn a spell on the first day. Placing all 12 points into the Magic stat pretty much guaranteed that. Maybe. Honestly, it was a gamble. But one that would pay off massively if the person in front of him really was the Iron Fortress.


    The moment he did so, the chair he was holding warped, turning jagged and unrecognisable. Everyone gawked, including Owen. Callan ripped off the leg and transformed it into a crude blade. Owen¡¯s lips twitched.


    Just how talented was he, exactly? He was a monster.


    ¡°Well that¡¯s just fucking insane, isn¡¯t it?¡± Louis said with eyes wide.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Grace added from the side.


    ¡°Well,¡± Caroline said in amazement. ¡°That¡¯s our weapon problem solved.¡±


    Owen smiled. Yes, yes it was.


    Then, Louis turned to Owen. ¡°Well? What Talent ranking do you have?¡±


    Owen¡¯s smile faded. ¡°1.¡±


    ¡°1 what?¡± Louis asked, head tilting.


    ¡°That¡¯s my Talent ranking. I have just the 1-Star.¡±


    Looks of nothing but pity bit into his flesh.

 Chapter 5 - Loss

    Owen placed 2 of the points he had straight into Dexterity, giving him a total of 13. The faster he ran, the safer he¡¯d be. Besides, he had to be quick for something he was about to do in the near future. Breaking free of the looks of pity, he walked with the others to the centre of the office.


    He wasn¡¯t going to lie, the looks hurt; as if they were reminding him of his terrible future. And honestly, the only thing that was pushing him onward was the promise of a God-like Lord Emblem when he entered the Land Between. If it wasn¡¯t for that, maybe he¡¯d just give up and cry in a corner somewhere until his soul imploded.


    Okay, maybe he was being a little dramatic.


    Owen stood in front of everyone after having gathered them all in the centre of the office. Feeling the heat of being the centre of attention, Grace flashed him an encouraging smile before he explained to everyone their plan of leaving¡ªand he wanted everyone to join him.


    It was pandemonium. Chris was the first to object.


    ¡°Are you insane?¡± He shouted, and most seemed to agree. ¡°You want us to leave here and face those things? You must be out of your damned mind.¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± Owen explained. ¡°We¡¯ve got to make it into the subway before the 7 days are up. The food supplies won¡¯t last beyond two days, and who¡¯s to say stronger monsters don¡¯t come before then?¡±


    The other office workers looked at eachother.


    Callan stepped to the front. ¡°We are going with, or without you. But if you want to come, then raise your hand.¡±


    In response, only a handful of people raised their hands.


    ¡°You¡¯re making a hasty decision,¡± Chris said, walking to the front and turning to the people. ¡°We are stronger now because of the Class. Sure, we can leave, but for what? Who knows what is lurking out there, waiting for us?¡± he waved his hands, gesturing towards the stairwell. ¡°Mike explained it to us well. We can Level up by killing them. It will be hard, but here, we have defences. We can prepare in the stairwell and defend. We can level up and get stronger and only then go out to find our families. Leave now, and we have nothing.¡±


    The others looked up at Chris, nodding their heads. The women were perhaps listening to him more than others.


    Owen couldn¡¯t lie, Chris made a compelling point. A point that was far too difficult to best. Owen wasn¡¯t a public speaker. He didn¡¯t know how to rally a crowd like Chris did, or how to manage them. He hated to admit it, but Chris was in his element. Worse, was that he was right¡ªif they weren¡¯t under a time restriction, that was.


    Owen tried to convince them for a while, but his words were falling on deaf ears.


    ¡°Caroline,¡± Chris said, stepping closer to her. ¡°This is a mistake. Stay here with us, get stronger, then we can leave. You must admit, it¡¯s the only logical move.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± she said, her voice cut and dry. ¡°My sister is out there somewhere. If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned during my time as a paramedic, it¡¯s that every second counts. Time here, although getting stronger¡ªif we can even kill the monsters that is¡ªis time not spent looking for her.¡± She looked at the others. ¡°That goes for all of you, as well. What if everyone got the message to go to the station? If that¡¯s the case, then they are waiting. Family. Friends. Loved ones.¡±


    Owen nodded along, Caroline fully saying everything that he had wanted to, just not able to find the right words. He thanked her internally. After that, 8 or so joined them. But logic¡ªor fear¡ªwon out in the end. The vast majority decided to stay and defend the office; around 30 or so.


    Fidgeting on the spot, Jock grabbed his arm and turned him away. ¡°They have made their decision. There¡¯s nothing you can do about it.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± he said, but still, it didn¡¯t feel right.


    Shaking the feeling, Owen returned with Callan and the others, and prepared.


    He remembered what Ansel had done to survive during his first few regressions. Using stacks of magazines and duct tape, he had crafted armguards. They weren¡¯t perfect by any means, but they did prove useful. Moreover, it was better than nothing.


    So that¡¯s what Owen did. He gathered all of the magazines in the common area and helped fasten them to Caroline and the others, who helped him in return.


    After that, Callan readied all of the weapons necessary: spikes. They were crude and inefficient and wouldn¡¯t last beyond a day, but they were better than nothing. After a few more minutes of preparation and with armour made from magazines, and tape, Owen and the others approached the door.


    ¡°You sure about this, Owen?¡± Louis said. ¡°I mean your leg. Can you run?¡±


    Owen tested his weight on it, wincing as pain shot through. He could walk if he forced it, but every step hurt. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± he said, taking a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s get this done.¡±


    Louis, who was now actually the strongest amongst them, pulled over the debris. Owen glanced behind him. 12 people all with various looks of nerves and fear and resolution flashed across their faces. He didn¡¯t even know their names.


    Then, Louis grabbed the door. Before he could open it, Owen stopped him. He addressed the others. ¡°Halfway down, I need to make a stop. I¡¯ll be the only one entering. Got it?¡±


    Although confused, they nodded.


    Owen lit a bundle of newspapers on fire. Confusion only heightened. ¡°There¡¯s a Dreadclaw above the door,¡± he explained as their grips tightened around their weapons.


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    Owen told Louis to open it a small amount. He listened, opening the door just enough to throw something out.


    Newspaper smoking and crackling with fire, Owen flung it out the door. ¡°Wait,¡± he said, and counted. 1, 2, 3¡ªhe heard something move from beyond the door. ¡°Leave now, the monster is above!¡±


    Louis grit his teeth and swung the door up. Thick, choking smoke billowed through the stairwell. He took a step out and looked above. His eyes widened and stabbed at the beast with all his strength. The monster fell, crashing to the ground, blood spat on Louis¡¯s shirt.


    Owen stepped forward and attacked, wildly jabbing the twisted chair leg at the Dreadclaw. It bit into flesh, resulting in a pained screech. The beast thrashed and slammed its arm against Owen, sending him tumbling back, hitting Caroline who was behind.


    Louis, Jock, Callan, and another two people ran forward, striking the monster in a craze. Louis got a good hit to the monster¡¯s skull, rattling it. While it was dazed, the others kept on piercing the creature repeatedly with their metal spikes. Again and again, blood splashed and the Draedclaw turned weaker with every second that passed.


    It had badly wounded one of the office workers, but that was it. Because of the quick actions of everyone, they subdued the beast and soon, blood trickled down the hall, and dripped down the stairs.


    You have defeated a Draedclaw x1


    | Owen Taylor level 3 -> 4


    | You have 1 Stat point to assign.


    Owen immediately put the point into Dexterity, placing him at 14 in total thanks to his Rogue Class. He was now at the peak of humanity. He had the dexterity and agility that a world class olympian had¡ªall because he placed some points in the System.


    Caroline was already helping the injured office worker. From his friends'' mouths, Owen learned his name was Jim. Owen joined her and said, ¡°What do you need me to do?¡±


    ¡°Put pressure on it,¡± she said and rummaged in her backpack for bandages.


    Owen did as he was asked, putting all of his weight on Jim¡¯s wounded leg. His hand fumbled. Blood spurted. The monster had hit an artery.


    ¡°Is it bad?¡± Jim asked.


    ¡°Just a flesh wound,¡± Owen said with a smile in an attempt to comfort him. He didn¡¯t know if it worked. His own words trembled.


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Jim said, looking at the ceiling. ¡°Why is this happening?¡±


    ¡°Louis, open the door,¡± Owen said, looking up at Louis. ¡°We need to get him inside.¡±


    Something slammed against the door. Owen spun back, only to see that furniture was being stacked up against the door. Louis rushed over and crashed against it with the entire weight of his body. The door lurched, but Owen spotted people behind the door struggling to keep it shut.


    Caroline ignored what was happening and placed the gauze on Jim¡¯s wound. Her expertise was showing. She only cared for the patient, not what was going on around her. She trusted in the others to clear the way.


    ¡°You got it?¡± Owen asked the paramedic.


    ¡°Got it,¡± She said. ¡°Just get that damned door open.¡±


    Owen nodded and stood up. He turned and slammed his shoulder against the door. ¡°Open the damned door! We have someone injured!¡± He saw Chris through the glass. They refused to say anything.


    Callan tried to work his magic, literally. But it was of no use. He twisted what metal there was on the door, but he couldn¡¯t get his control to work beyond it, couldn¡¯t alter the chairs, or desks, or fridges that they had stacked.


    ¡°Damn it,¡± Owen spat, his mind spinning. They couldn¡¯t use the door, nor could they waste time trying to get in. It was only a matter of time before more Dreadclaws arrived. They had to continue with the objective, continue down.


    ¡°Downstairs,¡± Owen continued, taking the lead, trying his best to ignore the pain not only in his leg, but his arm now. They continued down, passing other floors. Blood markings covered the floors and walls and even the ceiling of the stairwell.


    ¡°Owen, we need to get Jim somewhere safe!¡± Caroline shouted from the back while supporting the wounded man with the help of others.


    Owen grit his teeth. There was nowhere damned safe. If any one of them opened any of these doors, they¡¯d be so scared that they¡¯d refuse to go any further. Inside, it was a bloodbath¡ªa slaughter. Owen couldn¡¯t allow them to stop here. They had to reach the 25th floor. ¡°Keep following me,¡± he said, hobbling down the steps as fast as he could.


    Passing by a few more floors, Caroline shouted again, ¡°Owen, we can¡¯t keep going! Jim isn¡¯t going to make it!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± Owen called out, relief in his voice as they finally reached their destination: Floor 25. But his mind was elsewhere, turning over how to break the news. He had decided. It was too dangerous for the others. He would go on alone from here.


    Why is it so quiet? Owen thought, glancing over his shoulder.


    Everyone had gathered around Jim. Caroline knelt beside him, cradling his head in her lap. His eyes were open, but they were empty, clouded over with death. His chest was still. No breath. For a long moment, no one moved. It was as if they couldn¡¯t accept what they were seeing. Blood oozed from the gaping wound in his leg, pooling beneath him, painting the floor a deep red.


    ¡°Owen¡ª¡± Caroline whispered, her voice cracking as she looked up at him.


    Owen¡¯s heart stopped. He couldn¡¯t breathe, couldn¡¯t think. His stomach churned violently, and for a moment, everything spun. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to focus, to push the rising nausea down. ¡°All of you, stay here. Defend the stairwell. Callan, use whatever metal you can find to make a barrier. Whatever happens, do not follow me into this floor, or any of the five above and five below. Understood?¡±


    ¡°Owen, what the hell are you talking about?¡± Louis shouted, eyes wide with confusion and fear.


    ¡°I told you all I need to do something,¡± Owen said, but didn¡¯t stop. He pushed through the door and locked it behind him. For the future, this was what he had to do.


    The air hit him like a wall. A heavy, nauseating stench of blood and rot filled his lungs, clinging to his nostrils. He gagged, covering his mouth as he stepped into the long hallway with rooms lining the corridor. The scene before him was nothing short of a nightmare. Bodies lay scattered, twisted in unnatural positions. Flesh and bone were torn apart, blood staining the walls. Guts hung from the ceiling like grotesque decorations.


    Owen couldn¡¯t hold it back any longer. His stomach heaved, and he vomited onto the floor, the acrid taste burning his throat. His eyes watered, and his nose ran as he wiped his face with a filthy, blood-smeared sleeve. His hand tightened around the metal spike he carried, knuckles turning white, matching the pallor of his face.


    He had one objective here: to obtain a Lord¡¯s Shard. Ansel might have ignored it, not needing its power. But Owen did. And this was no simple task.


    From the far end of the blood-soaked room, he heard a low, raspy breath. The sound of something big, something deadly. An apex predator lurking in the shadows, waiting.


    Owen swallowed hard, steeling himself for what was to come.


    "Oi!" Owen shouted into the dark. The rough breathing stopped, leaving an eerie silence hanging in the air. For a moment, nothing stirred. Then, from the shadows, like a spider creeping out of its lair, a Dreadclaw twice the size of any he''d faced before lunged toward him, swift and lethal.

 Chapter 6 - Questions

    Owen darted into a nearby room just as the massive Dreadclaw barreled past, slamming into the wall with a deafening crash. Its tail lashed out, ripping through the flimsy plasterboard, slicing through the air just inches from his face.


    Fueled by adrenaline and the ten points of Dexterity coursing through his body, Owen ran like the wind. Ignoring the sharp pain in his injured leg, he pushed forward, letting survival instinct take over. The acrid taste of bile burned at the back of his throat as he sprinted desperately from room to room, trying in vain to shake the monster. But he knew there was no escape. Even with his newfound speed, the beast was always just a step behind.


    Blood dripped from the ceiling, splattering onto his white shirt and face as he dodged dismembered limbs littering the floor. One wrong step and he''d be dead before he could call for help.


    His lungs burned as he reached his destination: the centre of the head office. In front of him stood a twisted spire of jagged rock that had burst from the ground, ending in a flat surface. Behind it, a gaping hole in the floor beckoned. But there was no time to celebrate. The Dreadclaw was right behind him, it''s hot breath sending chills down his spine.


    Without thinking, Owen sprinted towards the spire and leaped for the Lord Shard. Words flashed in his vision, but he dismissed them in a panic. Pain exploded across his back as the Dreadclaw¡¯s claws raked his flesh, hot blood soaking his shirt. He hit the ground hard, his shoulder slamming against the floor as he tumbled into the hole, crashing down to the next level.


    He landed in a heap among the ruined corpses below. Above him, the Dreadclaw screeched in fury, followed by the sound of shattering glass. Owen looked up just in time to see the beast plummet from the office, its massive form hurtling down to its death.


    A notification appeared in his vision:


    You have obtained a Lord¡¯s Shard. Your Lordship within the Land Between is guaranteed. Congratulations, candidate.


    Increasing all Attributes by 5.


    Warmth flooded his body, power surging through his veins. For a brief moment, he felt invincible. But as quickly as it came, the feeling faded, replaced by a wave of exhaustion as the adrenaline crashed. His body slumped, breathing heavy as the weight of it all hit him at once.


    He groaned in pain and stumbled down the pile of corpses. Bile rose up and he couldn¡¯t help but let it out. It took great effort to make it back to the stairwell, but the risk was worth it. The others were fine thanks to their Talents. But as he only gained one single point per Level, he needed this. Of course, the other benefits were also incredible. With the added stats, power, strength, he''d be able to help the others get one too. He knew where they were, roughly.


    Finally, he stumbled to where Callan had formed a turtle shell on the stairs. All the railings were gone, and it took great strain to stop himself from falling down the seemingly bottomless drop.


    ¡°It¡¯s a monster!¡± someone shouted from behind the defences.


    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Owen said, climbing the stairs only thanks to the new attributes powering his body.


    The turtle shell opened up, revealing wide eyed expressions from everyone. Caroline was the first to rush forward and help support him. Owen was covered head-to-toe in thick blood. He could taste it, and if not for having any bile left in his stomach, would have continued to release his insides because of it.


    Caroline¡¯s hand pressed against his back and Owen¡¯s mind turned blank. He seethed, spittle ejecting out from the gaps of his teeth. Caroline peered back and gasped at the sight.


    ¡°Is it bad?¡± Owen trembled from the sheer amount of pain torturing him.


    ¡°We need to get you somewhere safe,¡± she said, practically pulling him up the stairs. It was then that Owen noticed the fear on everyone''s faces. They had seen something they shouldn¡¯t have. Owen glanced at the door.


    ¡°We opened it,¡± Louis said, pale. ¡°How¡­ how can anything do something like that.¡±


    ¡°The bodies,¡± Grace whispered, suddenly covering her mouth, her face pale.


    Owen slumped on the stairwell as Caroline worked on his leg. It took everything in him not to scream, the pain throbbing deep in his bones. He would have, if it weren¡¯t for the fear of drawing more Dreadclaws. The warrior was gone, but it wouldn¡¯t be long before a scout came to investigate. They¡¯d want to know what¡ªor who¡ªwas responsible for the death.


    After what felt like an eternity, Caroline finished wrapping his wound. The fresh gauze was nearly used up, with some t-shirts torn into strips to keep it all in place. Owen¡¯s head swam with exhaustion, but there was no time to rest.


    ¡°Owen,¡± Callan said, frowning. ¡°You mind telling us why you went in there? How did you know everyone on those floors was slaughtered?¡±


    All eyes were on him now, their gazes sharp and questioning.


    Owen sighed, nodding. Finally, he decided to tell them a white lie. ¡°I have a skill that lets me see things... like how you can summon and control metal.¡±


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to tell us that before?¡± Louis asked, his voice edged with frustration.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know how you¡¯d react,¡± Owen admitted. ¡°I figured you¡¯d think I was crazy.¡±


    ¡°What did you find in there?¡± Jock pressed. ¡°What else are you hiding, Owen?¡±


    Owen felt the weight of their suspicion. He hadn¡¯t expected it to turn out this way. He was too focused on survival, too intent on getting the Lord Shard. His future. But now, it was time to come clean. What¡¯s done is done, he thought. It¡¯s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°There was a Lord Shard in the room,¡± Owen admitted. ¡°It was guarded by a stronger Dreadclaw. I didn¡¯t want any of you to come in because it was too dangerous. I didn¡¯t want anyone getting hurt. That¡¯s the truth.¡±


    ¡°Then what exactly is a Lord Shard?¡± Jock asked, narrowing his eyes. ¡°You must know if you risked your life to get your hands on it.¡±


    Owen nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a ticket to become a Lord in the Land Between. It also grants 5 into all Attributes right away.¡±


    ¡°A lord?¡± Louis scoffed. ¡°What, you get a castle and a crown or something?¡±


    Owen shook his head, his voice more earnest now. ¡°I don¡¯t know everything, but yeah, it¡¯s something like that. My Skill only tells me so much, and I just... did what I thought was right in the moment.¡± He looked directly at Louis. ¡°You know me. I¡¯d never willingly put anyone¡¯s life in danger. This was on the way down¡ªonly my life was at risk, not yours.¡±


    Jock¡¯s eyes narrowed, his voice tight with anger. ¡°And what about Jim? Was his life not worth anything?¡±


    Owen¡¯s throat tightened, and guilt flickered across his face. ¡°I know,¡± he said softly. ¡°Jim didn¡¯t deserve what happened.¡±


    Caroline stepped in before things escalated. ¡°Jock, Jim was gone the moment he got that wound. There was nothing Owen, I, or anyone could do about it.¡±


    Jock shifted, his frustration still simmering. ¡°So was all that talk about leaving for the station just a load of crap?¡± His face reddened with anger.


    ¡°No,¡± Owen said firmly. ¡°We need to get there before the week is over. And Caroline was right. If your family¡¯s out there, the station¡¯s the logical place for them to go¡ªif they¡¯ve left home, that is.¡±


    ¡°And the station¡¯s safe?¡± someone from the back asked.


    ¡°As far as I know, yes. But getting there will still be dangerous,¡± Owen replied.


    Jock interrupted, his voice tense. ¡°Hold on¡ªlet¡¯s not forget that Owen risked all our lives for something that only benefits him. What if this Lord Shard is a one-way ticket, and the rest of us are left behind?¡±


    Jock¡¯s words hit too close to the truth, but Owen remained silent. He knew the reality: those chosen by the System would be taken into the new world. The rest, the ones left behind, would remain on Earth, left to fend for themselves until the System holders returned. Owen felt the weight of that knowledge, but he couldn¡¯t share it. Gods were watching. He was limited by what he could tell them.


    "Alright," Louis said, stepping forward. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. We should keep moving. I don¡¯t like staying here.¡±


    "Hold on,¡± Jock said, stopping Louis. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter?" Jock¡¯s face flushed with anger as he advanced toward Owen. "If he¡¯s the only one with a ticket, we¡¯re screwed."


    Louis blocked Jock¡¯s path. "We don¡¯t have time for this. We need to focus on the bigger picture. Our families might be out there. Arguing about this isn¡¯t going to bring them back."


    Caroline nodded, her voice calm but firm. "Louis is right. There¡¯s no point fighting over it now." She turned to Owen, her gaze sharp. "Are there more Lord Shards here? Jock¡¯s right, Owen. Taking it for yourself without telling us leaves a sour taste in my mouth."


    Owen hesitated, then answered, "There¡¯s one on the top floor. But I¡¯m sure someone¡¯s taken it by now. There¡¯s more in the streets. I¡¯m pretty sure I can get everyone one if we¡¯re careful."


    At that, a flicker of greed flashed across a few faces, their thoughts already drifting to the possibilities. Callan, however, stayed focused. "Owen," he said, voice low. "Is it really like Jock said? A one-way ticket just for you?"


    Owen shook his head. "No. Everyone chosen by the System gets taken to the Land Between. The Lord Shard just guarantees someone the title of Lord¡ªthe ability to start your own kingdom. One of the benefits I know is that they start with a dome of protection. That¡¯s all."


    ¡°Then how much do you know, exactly?¡± Caroline inquired.


    ¡°I know the location of the Shards, and I know how to defeat the Dreadclaws,¡± Owen said, his voice strained as the pain from his wound pulsed through him. He took a breath, his eyes scanning the group. ¡°But as for anything about the other world, or how this whole thing works¡­ I don¡¯t have a clue. I¡¯m telling you the truth¡ªmy Skill is limited.¡±


    Everyone looked at him, as if trying to discern if he was lying. Owen appeared calm. The same couldn¡¯t be said for his insides.


    Grace crossed her arms, her expression hardening. ¡°And how exactly did you get this Skill?¡±


    Owen shook his head, worried about having his lie exposed. His hands turned clammy. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It just... happened. The moment the System arrived, it was like something switched on inside me. I didn¡¯t ask for it, didn¡¯t choose it. I wish I knew more, but I don¡¯t.¡±


    Callan studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright then. Let¡¯s keep moving."


    "That¡¯s it?" Jock barked, incredulous. "We¡¯re just supposed to trust him, like he¡¯s some kind of prophet?"


    "Maybe he is," Callan replied, locking eyes with Owen. There was something unreadable in his gaze, something between suspicion and belief. Camaraderie?


    Jock opened his mouth to argue, but Caroline cut him off. "This isn¡¯t the place to debate it. We need to move. Owen¡¯s told us what we need to know, and we have a mission: survive and reach the station. Let¡¯s focus on that."


    With a final look of frustration, Jock turned away, but the tension in the group lingered. Owen, feeling the weight of their scrutiny and mistrust, leaned against the stairwell railing. His body ached, his mind even more so.


    As they gathered their supplies and prepared to move out, Owen¡¯s thoughts drifted back to the Shard now in his System. Though he had downplayed its significance to the others, he knew that it meant something far greater than any of them realised. But although it brought with it the promise of building an empire, it was also a great curse.


    There was a reason many System holders decided to become Adventurers, even when given the opportunity to become a Lord. Not many people wanted enemies on all sides.


    Caroline nudged closer, lowering her voice so the others couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Owen.¡±


    He gave her a weak smile as they descended the stairs, his heart still heavy.


    ¡°But listen,¡± she continued gently, ¡°next time, fill us in. You may know more about what¡¯s coming, but we don¡¯t.¡±


    Owen nodded, feeling the weight of her words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said sincerely. ¡°I got caught up in everything. I wasn¡¯t thinking straight, and¡­ I let the panic take over.¡± He took a deep breath, meeting her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with everyone from now on.¡±


    Caroline¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Good. Remember, we¡¯re in this hell together.¡±


    ***


    They reached the lobby and it was a scene from hell. Having the scenes of the future embedded in his mind, Owen tried his best to steel himself beforehand. But it was impossible. A fury that was hard to describe built up, threatening to burst out. He recognised many of the people, those that he passed every day. He didn''t know their names, but there was little difference. They were living the same life he was; one of monotony and boredom. Now they were dead.


    Owen forced himself to remain calm.


    It was strange. If he was placed into the story, then he should only be seeing ¡®characters¡¯ from the book. But that wasn¡¯t the case. He recognised them, and that meant that instead of entering the book, the book had merged with his own world. Seamlessly.


    Did Ansel know of the change? Would he?


    Just how much exactly would change because of it?

 Chapter 7 - Not Alone

    Owen and the group moved cautiously down the centre of the street. It was his plan, though not everyone was sold on it.


    ¡°We should stick to the sides,¡± whispered Hassan, a man who carried himself like a soldier¡ªeverything from his stance to the way he fought suggested a military background. His weathered appearance only added to the image. ¡°Stay close to the buildings. We¡¯re too exposed out here.¡±


    ¡°The Dreadclaws don¡¯t hunt in open areas,¡± Owen said quietly. ¡°It might seem safer to take the alleys or hug the walls, but that¡¯s their territory.¡±


    Hassan studied him, clearly uncertain. Owen¡¯s so-called "Skill" was still a mystery to them, just like Callan¡¯s strange magic. But the sooner they accepted the System as their new reality, the better their chances of survival. Owen had demonstrated enough knowledge to earn their trust, for now. Reluctantly, they followed his lead, though tension hung heavy in the air. Hassan had a point¡ªthe open streets might feel exposed, but it was better than walking into a Dreadclaw ambush in the shadows.


    A low growl suddenly pierced the silence, yanking Owen¡¯s attention toward a shattered storefront. The windows were blown out, shards of glass littering the pavement, and blood smeared the ground. No bodies¡ªjust blood. Owen knew what that meant. The corpses hadn¡¯t been eaten; they¡¯d been moved. To where, he knew exactly, but he had no intention of going there.


    Only someone like Ansel would be reckless enough to do that.


    A Dreadclaw scout shot out from the shadows of the shop, its claws scraping the glass as it leaped. The group flinched instinctively, all except Hassan, who reacted with unnerving calm. He stepped forward and met the creature head-on, striking its skull mid-air with the butt of his weapon. The Dreadclaw¡¯s head snapped to the side from the impact, but it wasn¡¯t enough. With a fierce spin, the creature slammed its tail into Hassan¡¯s chest, sending him flying back into Louis¡¯ arms.


    Owen didn¡¯t hesitate. With the speed granted by his new abilities, he closed the gap in seconds, driving his makeshift weapon¡ªa chair leg with a jagged spike¡ªstraight into the Dreadclaw¡¯s mouth. Blood sprayed as the creature screeched in agony.


    Callan was there a heartbeat later, his weapon morphing around his fist. A single spike jutted from his knuckles, extending into a lance as he punched, the metal spear sinking deep into the Draedclaw¡¯s side. The beast realised it was trapped, but it was too late.


    The rest of the group swarmed in, adrenaline and fury propelling them forward. They attacked with everything they had, fists, feet, and whatever makeshift weapons they carried.


    Within minutes, the Dreadclaw lay dead on the bloodied pavement.


    Owen wiped his brow, his breath ragged. He hadn¡¯t levelled up from the fight, but the others¡ªthose who hadn¡¯t battled before¡ªdid. It was a hard truth about fighting as a group: experience was split, and the more people involved, the smaller the gains.


    Not lingering for a single moment, they continued. The subway wasn¡¯t too far away. If it continued like this, then they¡¯d reach by the end of the day. But of course it was never going to be so easy.


    They saw the signs for the station, but instead of heading straight for it, Owen took them left.


    ¡°What¡¯s there?¡± Caroline asked, hinting that Owen knew that there was danger ahead.


    ¡°A nest,¡± he said, subconsciously quickening his steps.


    ¡°A nest?!¡± Louis whispered with vigour, and quickly matched Owen¡¯s pace.


    ¡°That subway is blocked. We need to go the long way around. Should be safe.¡±


    ¡°Should be?¡± Louis asked, tightening his grip around his weapon.


    ¡°Then what about the safety of the entire subway? If that¡¯s a nest¡ª¡± Caroline said, ripping her gaze away from the station.


    ¡°It¡¯s not. They haven¡¯t breached. The military should be there.¡±


    ¡°The military?¡± Hassan spoke up.


    Gunfire cracked through the streets as if answering. It was coming from far away.


    ¡°The army¡¯s here?¡± Louis said excitedly.


    Owen nodded, nerves tighter than steel. ¡°The west is guarded. The east¡ªhere¡ªis under siege.¡±


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°How have we not heard gun fire until now?¡± Caroline inquired.


    Owen was about to answer, but Hassan was the first to speak. ¡°They are conserving ammunition. If we are getting by with transformed leg chairs using nothing but our own strength, then the army has realised they can do the same. They¡¯re not stupid.¡±


    ¡°So guns are still in use?¡± Jock asked. ¡°I¡¯ve read a few books that when the apocalypse hits, it disables them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not like that here,¡± Owen said. ¡°We still have all of our technology. It¡¯s only a matter of time before the world leaders fight back. We don¡¯t want to be here when it happens.¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡± Caroline frowned, realising the magnitude of his words. ¡°Are you saying the military will level this place? How many survivors are there?¡±


    ¡°The military makes tough decisions that would benefit the greater cause,¡± Hassan spoke up. ¡°In the case that the Dreadclaws are unstoppable, or breed to a point of threatening the world¡ªthey won¡¯t just send regular bombs. They¡¯ll nuke it.¡±


    Silence wrapped them in a suffocating blanket. It was Louis that broke the silence. ¡°How did the military get here anyway? Shouldn¡¯t they be in a base or something?¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a live demonstration today?¡± Caroline asked. ¡°A few friends had gone to see it¡­¡± Her voice trailed off at the reminder that they were somewhere in the subway. Or they were dead.


    ¡°So this System,¡± Louis said. ¡°Whatever it is, is actually guiding us to a safe area?¡±


    Owen remained silent. In some ways, he was correct. But the System wasn¡¯t some benevolent being. It was doing it for its own benefit above all else. To get contestants into the Land Between. To begin the war.


    A few hours had passed, and although the subway was all around them, there was only one access point. In theory, they could enter wherever. But they¡¯d have to fight a massive amount of Draedclaws. And they¡¯d have to face worse. The safest method of entering was on the other side of the city. However, that took time.


    In that time, they had faced 4 more Dreadclaw scouts. They had defeated 3 of them, resulting in Owen and the others Levelling up. Again, Owen placed his one single point into Dexterity, putting him to 20 in total. The reasoning was simple for him. Placing one point in Vitality or Strength wouldn¡¯t be the difference between surviving a strike, or killing a monster. But Dexterity? It offered him both offence and defence; a route to escape. A single point in Dexterity went a long way, and he was already feeling the benefits of it.


    But that wasn¡¯t going to last for long.


    The sky was growing dark, casting black shadows across the streets. Owen recalled the horrors of the first night¡ªthe Dreadclaws domain. The first round of breeding was complete, and warriors would be sent through the streets; through the underground.


    No doubt Ansel was already 40 in all Attributes by this point. Owen remembered the scene of him entering one of their nests, slaughtering the Dreadlcaws with nothing but his bare hands. Coming out on top with a mountain of Attributes and Titles.


    Owen knew himself. He wasn¡¯t capable of that. It was taking all he had to keep walking, to face the monsters head-on. Honestly, he was surprised he hadn¡¯t turned tail and ran. But something deep within him was forcing him ahead.


    It was the pursuit of strength. The chance of becoming someone new. Maybe it was childish, but now, in this world, he could be someone entirely different to how he was before. He could evolve and flourish.


    He could enter a new world and experience unfounded culture and exploration. How exciting was that?


    But as the night grew darker with every moment that passed, and hearing the unnerving howls in the distance, joined by the cracking of gunfire, Owen dampened that excitement and let reality take hold.


    First, he had to survive Earth.


    Owen brought everyone into a fast food shop. There was only one place that could withstand the abuse of even a warrior class Dreadclaw, and that was the huge, industrial sized refrigerators. Ansel himself had tested their durability. Owen was going to do the same. With the wealth of knowledge given to him, they slowly, and carefully, checked all the corners of the fast food restaurant.


    ¡°Frank, take Callan and check that corridor,¡± Owen said, as he checked another with Caroline and Louis.


    Frank¡ªone of the office workers who had selected the Warrior Class¡ªrounded the corner. Owen didn¡¯t know much about him. But he often held high spirits in the office. Owen always heard him laughing from over the cubicles. He often warned him if Chris was coming round. Now he was a former shell of himself, bitten by fear, and constricted by the scenes of gore and horror around him.


    A silent, deadly hunter awaited him. It pounced on him in a single second, tearing open his throat. Owen, Callan, Louis, and the others responded as quickly as they could, killing the monster in a frenzy. Caroline rushed to Frank, but it was too late. By the time she crouched down, he was already dead.


    Owen¡¯s hands trembled. A thought flickered through his mind. Could he really do this? He slid his back against a wall, thoughts turning blank. He had died because of him. He had told Frank to go into the corridor, and he died as a result.


    The realisation took him by surprise. The severity and strength a leader had to have. And this was just the beginning. Soon, if he made it out alive, he¡¯d be in the Land Between, with a kingdom of his own.


    Nausea assaulted him, threatening to turn his stomach upside down, but there was nothing left. All he could do was dry heave. Sounds of hissing and roars came from down the street, Dreadclaws in search of bodies to send back to their queen.


    ¡°Owen¡ª¡±


    Someone said his name, but it was muffled. What is even his name that was being said?


    ¡°Owen!¡± Caroline shouted and slapped him hot across the face. It woke him up.


    ¡°What¡ª¡± Before he could get another word out, Louis dragged him across the floor and threw him into the fridge. Power was out, but it was still cool. It sobered him up, barely.


    Abandoning Frank¡¯s body, everyone squeezed into the chiller. The massive, industrial door thudding shut, silencing the outside world almost in its entirety. All Owen heard was the all consuming silence and the rhythm of everyone¡¯¡¯s breaths.


    A reminder that they were still alive. For now.

 Chapter 8 - Humanity

    Four days had passed and nerves were pulled taut. Many had died. Many had turned back to the office. Jock was one of them. Owen had tried to convince him to stay, to argue that his family could be out there. But he wouldn''t listen. His mind was slipping, and Owen couldn''t even blame him; he felt it, too.


    Now, only Caroline, Callan, Louis, and Hassan remained. They were ever closer to the station now. Along the way, with every day that passed, Owen found himself questioning his decision of avoiding all the other subway stops.


    But the more he thought about it, the more he realised that it was the only way. On the second day, they met another survivor group. They were aiming for the tunnels. Hassan had convinced them to let him, and the others know if it was safe by coming up to the surface in 20 minutes. Four hours passed when Owen gave the call to keep going.


    It took everything in him to make that decision, to not go in and see if they needed help. But the death of Frank was clear in his mind. It followed him everywhere he went. Although Jim¡¯s death had affected him, it was nothing like this.


    Frank had died because of his words. Because Owen had directly told Frank to go where he wanted. That feeling of having someone brutally killed because of his decision was difficult to describe.


    On the first night, the hive unleashed the warriors. They awakened to find cars destroyed and toppled over, buildings ravaged, and the streets turned almost lifeless. Everyone was either deep in hiding, or dead.


    Later that day, they fought a warrior. Three of them died taking it down. It was a massive loss, and the others wondered if they were making a mistake. That Chris was right, and that they should have stayed in the office and defended it with everything they had.


    Two of them returned that day. Owen didn¡¯t blame them. He couldn¡¯t. If it wasn¡¯t for Caroline, Louis, and Callan pulling him along with their expectant gazes, the hope that Owen would guide them to safety in hopes of seeing their family, he¡¯d have given up on the first day.


    After that, Owen realised that trusting his knowledge based solely on the book was an idea. On the 3rd day, he had made a crucial mistake. He turned on the wrong street and walked straight into two scouts. Callan was injured as a result.


    His memory wasn¡¯t flawless. The events he¡¯d read about had taken place nearly two years ago¡ªtwo whole years since he¡¯d skimmed the beginning of the story. Details were hazy, and now, with the story blending into real life, there were no street names or landmarks to rely on. Owen navigated the city using only the faint recollection of the path he needed to follow, not by specific street corners, but by a general sense of direction.


    Owen had also found four Lord Shards, one for each of them.


    His mind, stricken with fear of loss, changed on the fourth day. Three days spent ignoring the lives of others took a greater toll than he could handle for much longer. He felt it deep within his core; his humanity was slipping. It was a realisation that frightened him more than seeing Frank die. It was the realisation that he was giving up.


    It might have been stupid, and it probably was. If he wanted to survive above all else, then he¡¯d have forgotten that boy hiding in the darkness, crying for help. But what was the point of survival if one turned into a monster?


    ***


    Passing by a building, he heard a cry come from a nearby building. A convenience store. If it was any other day, he¡¯d have ignored it. They were so close to safety. It was just around the corner. But Owen couldn¡¯t refuse the call any longer. It nibbled and ate away at his thoughts until nothing but the need to help another was brought to the forefront.


    Owen grit his teeth and stepped onto the broken glass that led into the small shop. Owen knew some like it. It was family run. It reminded him of the corner shop he used to visit before school every morning. He even remembered his order; a one pound sweet mixture and a packet of pokemon cards if he earned enough cutting the neighbours grass.


    Louis pulled him back. ¡°Owen, what are you thinking? We¡¯re almost there. It¡¯s just around the corner,¡± He said, desperately pointing at the sign noting the west station.


    ¡°I can''t ignore the pleas for help anymore,¡± Owen said, eyes turning glassy. He looked at Caroline and she nodded with eyes that reflected his own. Maybe as a paramedic, it was eating at her more than himself, more than he knew. To her, a relief flashed over her being. She stepped up alongside him.


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    ¡°Caroline,¡± Louis whispered frantically. ¡°Your sister could be there. This is insane. We¡¯ve lost everyone else. We can¡¯t afford a fight with another warrior.¡±


    Louis was right. They most likely wouldn¡¯t win against a warrior with how they were right now, riddled with wounds and marred with exhaustion. Callan joined them. ¡°I¡¯m with you.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Louis spat. He spun to Hassan. ¡°What about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not throwing my life away for a random person,¡± Hassan said. ¡°I thought we had come to an agreement.¡±


    The cry, almost a whimper, came from deeper in the shop again.


    ¡°Then this is where we part then,¡± Owen said. ¡°The station is right round the corner. They¡¯ll take you in.¡±


    Hassan nodded. ¡°You might not believe it yourself,¡± he said, turning around and talking over his shoulder. ¡°But you¡¯re a good leader. Until now, anyway.¡±


    Owen ignored the comment, but nodded.


    ¡°Stay safe,¡± he said, then left.


    ¡°You too, Hassan.¡± Then he turned to his friend. ¡°Louis?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he replied quietly, nudging his arm and standing next to him. ¡°I¡¯m with you, obviously. Who¡¯s going to keep you on a leash otherwise?¡±


    Owen smiled and carefully crept into the shop, their figures reflecting against the fridges lining the wall. Owen¡¯s shirt was tattered and barely covered his frame. Fresh wounds and cuts still healing were etched into his flesh. He was dirty, he stank something rotten, and deep bags under his eyes told the tale of the previous days more than any words could.


    He stalked forward, the cries of a child grew louder as they neared. Entering the back office, a small kid, maybe 11 years old, was stuck to the wall, mouth barely covered by black goo. He was almost cocooned in the same black gunk that was peeling from his mouth.


    Owen rushed forwards and tore him down with the altered chair leg he Callan had improved upon. It was now like a small sword. It was stronger, and the Iron Fortress had reinforced it with concentrated metal. It was now no different to a high quality blade. It was another reason they had made it as far as they did.


    To think that Callan fought his way through the subway all on his own towards the station¡­ Owen found it hard to believe, if he hadn¡¯t read about it.


    The child fell in Owen¡¯s arms. He was weak and skinny. He had barely had anything to eat for days, most likely. Owen quickly gave him food to eat, and water to drink¡ªnot too much to make him sick¡ªjust enough to satiate the boy.


    A sudden, low growl rumbled through the office. Owen¡¯s body went rigid. He carefully set the boy down and gripped the makeshift blade tightly. From the shadows, a Dreadclaw warrior stepped into view, towering over them. Its muscular form was coated in dark, chitinous armour, its red eyes glowing with malice.


    It was using the child as a lure. Owen didn¡¯t remember that.


    The Dreadclaw lunged at them with terrifying speed.


    Owen barely had time to react, swinging his blade just in time to parry the creature''s first strike. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through his arms, and he was thrown off balance, his back slamming into the wall behind him. His teeth clenched in pain, but he quickly retaliated, slashing at the Dreadclaw¡¯s torso. The blade hit with a metallic twang, carving a shallow groove in its armour¡ªnot deep enough to hit flesh.


    He didn¡¯t have the strength to finish it. But Louis and the others did.


    ¡°Louis!¡± Owen shouted, his voice filled with desperation.


    Louis burst through the door, wielding a makeshift spear. With a fierce battle cry, he charged the Dreadclaw, aiming for its chest. The warrior deflected the attack with a vicious swipe, but Louis had created the opening Caroline needed.


    Caroline darted in, slashing at the creature¡¯s exposed leg. It howled, dropping to one knee. Callan seized the moment. With a determined yell, he raised his blade and plunged it deep into the Dreadclaw¡¯s neck. Black ichor sprayed from the wound as the creature screeched in agony.


    But the beast wasn¡¯t done. With a savage sweep of its claw, it sent Callan flying across the room, crashing into a shelf with a bone-rattling thud.


    They fought in unison, desperate to take down the monster, but it was too strong. Even Louis, Callan, and Caroline¡ªeach with over 25 points in strength¡ªcouldn¡¯t inflict more than minor wounds.


    Louis charged again, slamming his shoulder into the Dreadclaw, sending both of them tumbling over debris. ¡°Get the boy out of here!¡± he bellowed, grappling with the beast. But the Dreadclaw¡¯s claw plunged into his thigh, ripping a scream from Louis¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Take the boy and run to the station!¡± Owen shouted, shoving the child into Caroline¡¯s arms.


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Now!¡± Owen roared, charging to Louis¡¯s aid. He drove his blade into a weak spot in the Dreadclaw¡¯s armour. The beast rose, dragging Owen with it as he clung to his weapon. With a mighty swing, the Dreadclaw slammed its back¡ªand Owen¡ªinto the wall. Owen felt his ribs crack, pain shooting through his body. Gritting his teeth, he wrenched his blade free and drove it into another gap in the monster¡¯s chitin.


    The world blurred as something struck Owen¡¯s head. Dazed, his vision swam, and he struggled to keep his balance. Stars filled his vision, but he kept swinging, desperate to bring the monster down. He had no sense of time, or his surroundings.


    He heard Louis scream in pain, Callan roar in fury, and then¡ªa deafening crack like thunder.


    Owen blinked through the haze, vision blurry but clear enough to see at least six soldiers storm into the room, rifles raised. They swarmed the still-moving Dreadclaw and unleashed a barrage of bullets, firing until the beast¡¯s body stilled, lifeless.


    Caroline, Hassan, and the soldiers had finally arrived.

 Chapter 9 - Lai, The Sword Saintess

    At the entrance to the station, soldiers stood guard, assault rifles slung across their chests. Yet their hands gripped bats, pipes, and kitchen knives¡ªtools of desperation in a world turned upside down. Owen would¡¯ve found it surreal, almost laughable, if not for the grim reality of their situation¡ªa world where fiction had bled into his life. They had built makeshift defences, with buses acting as walls, forming a perimeter around their last refuge.


    But Owen could hardly take in the sight. His head spun, nausea gnawing at his stomach. He was most likely concussed. A rough-looking woman in military gear guided him down into the subway, where the air felt thick with the scent of sweat and fear. A nurse rushed to his side, steadying him as he could barely stand. Louis was in no better condition, pale and shaking.


    ¡°Put them over there,¡± the nurse instructed, pointing to a spot where others lay injured, wrapped in makeshift bandages. Caroline held the child close, but the boy¡¯s wide, tear-filled eyes stayed fixed on Owen.


    ¡°See to the boy first,¡± Owen rasped, voice weak.


    ¡°You should worry about yourself,¡± the nurse said, glancing briefly at the child. With Caroline and Callan¡¯s help, Owen and Louis sank to the ground. The floor was cold and hard, only a thin tarp separating them from the grimy subway tiles. Around them, the wounded groaned in agony.


    The nurse shone a light into Owen¡¯s eyes, shaking his head. ¡°Concussion. Your head¡¯s split open. You¡¯ll need staples. Lucky your skull didn¡¯t crack all the way through.¡±


    Owen barely registered the words, consciousness slipping as exhaustion weighed down on him. But then a sharp cry echoed through the subway, cutting through the murmurs of the crowded space.


    ¡°J¡ªJasp?!¡±


    The boy broke free from Caroline¡¯s arms, stumbling forward, eyes darting through the sea of faces. The once-quiet station was filled with murmurs as heads turned toward the source of the cry. Owen realised just how packed the subway was¡ªhundreds of people crammed into this last sanctuary.


    And then, from the crowd, a woman burst forward, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Mum!¡± the boy cried, his voice breaking. He ran, and she swept him into her arms, clutching him as if she¡¯d never let go. They sobbed together, the kind of tears that come after too much time apart, after the world has ripped everything from you, but somehow, miraculously, one thing has been returned.


    Caroline sniffled beside them, unable to hold back her own tears. She covered her face, her shoulders shaking. Owen felt a tightness in his chest, and despite all the pain, despite everything, he couldn¡¯t stop the tears from welling up. He lifted an arm to cover his face, his body trembling as the emotion surged through him.


    Good on you, kid, he thought as his eyes grew heavier.


    And with that, darkness finally claimed him.


    He woke after, well, Owen didn¡¯t know, exactly. Time was difficult to gauge when underground. Once he roused, the world had turned clearer. Dust and dead skin cells floated in front of the dim light cast by candlelight.


    He looked at either side of him, failing to spot Louis, Caroline, the child, or any others. With a groan, he roused from the floor, hand on the tarp to support himself.


    ¡°Woah,¡± the nurse said, rushing forward to support Owen. ¡°You can¡¯t get up yet. You¡¯ve barely recovered from the concussion, not to mention that gnarly wound etched on your back.¡±


    Owen muttered compliance before laying on his stomach, and saying, ¡°can you get the people I came in with?¡±


    ¡°Well that answers one of my questions,¡± the nurse replied with relief. ¡°You¡¯ve kept your memories intact. You remember how you got here? Your name, place of residence?¡±


    ¡°I remember it all,¡± Owen said truthfully.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to fetch them, just you stay put for now.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Owen said, looking at the man with a 9-o''clock shadow and messy mid length hair. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Jonathan.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a doctor?¡±


    ¡°Nah, a nurse. Well, I was. I got fired for medical malpractice.¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Owen said sarcastically. ¡°Well, regardless. Thanks.¡±


    Jonathan smiled. "Just kidding. I''ll get them for you. Oh, and you don''t have to thank me; it''s your girlfriend you should be grateful to. Healing magic¡ªwho would have thought? If this was before everything went downhill, I''d be out of a job."


    About twenty minutes later, everyone gathered. Besides Jasp''s mother, there was someone else. Clinging to Caroline''s arm was a slightly taller woman with long golden hair tied in a ponytail. She wore a business suit, and from her beautiful features to the way Caroline held onto her, it was clear this was Caroline''s older sister¡ªthe one Owen had heard a bit about.


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    Jasp''s mother approached Owen, kneeling down and gently taking his hand in hers. "They told me everything," she said, her voice shaky and eyes glistening with unshed tears. She struggled to hold them back. "Thank you so much for risking your life to save my son. If you hadn''t, I don''t know what I would have done."


    Owen gave a soft smile and squeezed her hand. "Don''t thank me. At first, we were going to look the other way. It wouldn''t have been the first time."


    "But you helped in the end," she replied, gripping his hand tighter. "You saved my boy and brought him back to me. I can never thank you enough for that."


    Owen nodded weakly. "It wasn''t just me. Everyone helped¡ªwe all risked our lives. We... we lost people."


    She nodded, a shadow passing over her face. "We''ve all lost someone. But it''s how we keep moving forward while remembering what makes us human¡ªthat''s what gives us hope."


    Louis hobbled over and sank down beside them, leaning against the wall. He nudged Owen with his foot. "You did good."


    "You too, jerk," Owen said with a grin.


    "Idiot," Louis shot back, but a smile tugged at his lips. They both laughed, and soon the others joined in, a rare moment of levity amidst the darkness.


    Reaching this place felt like a weight had been lifted from Owen''s shoulders. At least for a few days, they would be safe.


    Owen''s thoughts drifted to those who had died on the journey here. Jasp''s mother was right. From now on, many more would perish¡ªboth here and in the Land Between. But honouring their memories and fighting on in their name was what truly mattered. Death couldn''t be stopped. Owen wasn''t a superhero; it was time to be realistic.


    "Sorry, I didn''t catch your name," Owen said, turning to Jasp''s mother.


    "Oh, how rude of me," she replied. "I''m Laila Crane, but you can just call me¡ª"


    Owen''s eyes widened, his jaw dropping slightly. In his mind, he finished her sentence.


    ¡ªLai.


    "¡ªLai," she said with a warm smile.


    Lai, the future Sword Saintess, brushed a strand of her long raven hair behind her ear. Her blue eyes, reddened from days of tears, looked at him with gentle curiosity.


    "Do you know me?" she asked.


    "Ah, no," Owen stammered. "You just remind me of someone from a book I used to read."


    ***


    It had been three days since they arrived at the station, and Owen still couldn¡¯t wrap his head around the fact that the Sword Saintess was Jasper''s mother. In the story, her greatest desire was to reunite with her child¡ªthat was one of the main reasons she pushed herself so hard and became such a powerful Adventurer. Owen had always assumed her child would eventually appear in the story for an emotional reunion.


    But what he saw in that shop with Jasper... the only outcome was death.


    Apart from trying to shake the shock of being in the presence of not one, but two legends from A Titan¡¯s Journey¡ªLai and Callan¡ªOwen focused on recovery. He took it easy, letting his body rest.


    Thankfully, Caroline had learned a basic healing spell, and now all his wounds were gone. What remained was the deep weakness, the kind that only a good night''s sleep on a comfy mattress could cure. But a good bed wasn¡¯t likely to come anytime soon, not until far into the future.


    Caroline¡¯s healing skill had progressed because of helping Jonathan, pushing her to the next stage of Mastery. She had gone from Zero to Low. Unlike in other games where skills level up, this System used Mastery to measure effectiveness. One had to deeply understand the skill or possess knowledge in its field. Because Caroline had prior experience as a paramedic, she reached that next stage quickly. Her new mastery gave her not only better healing but also reduced the mana cost of her spell.


    During that time, Owen and the others left the station again. After being in a safe location, Owen didn¡¯t think they¡¯d join him. But they did. They managed to get Lai and her son a Lord Shard. However, at the back of his mind, he couldn¡¯t get young Jasp out of his thoughts.


    On the sixth day, Chris arrived with a group of about 16 people. Owen¡¯s heart sank as he realised he had made a mistake¡ªhe should¡¯ve gone into the tunnels. But his anxiety faded when he didn¡¯t recognize anyone from Chris¡¯s group. And then anxiety transformed into bubbling anger. Maybe more at himself than anything. Jock wasn''t there with them. If he had convinced him to stay, pleaded with him... forced him. Maybe he''d still be here.


    Chris looked over, but only lowered his head. He held a nasty wound gouged into his arm.


    "Everyone''s gone," Not seeing a familiar face, Caroline said, hand on mouth.


    Louis stepped forward, brows knit in fury. "Hey, asshole--"


    But it was Callan who stopped him. "We''ve seen enough death this week. Let it rest."


    "But if it wasn''t for him, maybe we could have saved Jim."


    "Louis," Owen said, gritting his teeth. "Let it be. Something tells me he doesn''t need anyone yelling at him."


    Louis was about to say something, to let his emotions run rampant. God knows he needed it. But he bit back his words as he saw Chris break down, sitting on the floor.


    Later, Chris explained what had happened. On the fifth day, he had led those who were at the top of the office into the subway after gaining strength, where they found other survivors and taken the first tunnel. All of those taken from the office had died.


    Now it was the seventh day, just before nightfall. Everyone had gathered, waiting to find out why they were all told to meet here within seven days. But suddenly, something else drew their attention.


    ¡°Stop!¡± a soldier yelled.


    Owen spun around and saw a soldier tumbling down the stopped escalators. At the top of the stairs stood a man drenched in blood, hair slicked back with the gore of monsters. He wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt anymore, and he didn¡¯t need one.


    Ansel, the main character, had arrived¡ªjust in time.


    But there was no chance to assess whether Ansel was friend or foe. A flash of white light snapped everyone¡¯s focus to the centre of the subway station, where a small demon materialised. Dressed in a sharp black suit, holding a matching briefcase, the creature grinned¡ªa grin far too wide to be human.


    He was¡ª


    ¡°Congratulations on making it here, humans,¡± the demon said in a high-pitched voice. ¡°My name is Marco, Administrator of the Milky Way Assembly. It¡¯s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡±


    He bowed deeply, like a proper gentleman. He was anything but.

 Chapter 10 - Saying Goodbye

    It was quiet at first. Most likely everyone was trying to come to terms as to what exactly was happening. A strange being had just spawned. He even had small horns. But a week had passed since the entire city had turned upside down, and they recovered a moment later.


    The entire subway broke out in chaotic yelling and pointing, blaming the demon for everything that had happened. The death, the loss, the destruction. They were right, but their anger was wrongly placed. This entire thing was created by a god-like author. He was responsible. Not even the all powerful Administrator knew the full truth.


    Was this real life? Or was Owen truly in the book?


    As those thoughts tumbled through his mind, Marco spoke up, interrupting the people consumed with anger.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you have many questions,¡± he said, pointing to someone. It was a middle-aged man with a pudgy belly. ¡°Let¡¯s start with you.¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡± he stuttered, singled out. His flushed face washed pale.It appeared he didn¡¯t have the same level of anger now that he was met with the strange demon. He said after a moment to recover, ¡°Why are we here?¡±


    ¡°An excellent first question!¡± Marco clapped his hands. ¡°You are here because your Earth has merged with the System. Because you have been selected as Lord Candidates¡ªthose tasked to enter a new world and compete against each other to become the greatest Lord of all!¡±


    Callan stepped forwards, and asked, ¡°For what reason?¡±


    Even Owen didn¡¯t know the answer to such a question. After almost 3000 chapters, he still hadn¡¯t understood why. Ansel would die, go back in time, and he¡¯d do everything better the next time. It was like reading about a speedrunner for games. It was fun to read how he¡¯d do everything different the next time, how much more powerful he could get.


    Most of the book was like that, so it was a little low on plot. Honestly, Owen just thought that the author wasn¡¯t very good at plotting. So at some point, he just turned it into a regressor speedrunning story. Maybe he¡¯d figure it out, maybe he wouldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Now that would surely ruin the surprise, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Marco replied with a devilish grin. ¡°Okay, it seems you¡¯re not satisfied with that answer. How about I keep it vague? It¡¯s to save the world. Your world. Satisfied? Good. Next!¡±


    Next, it was Caroline¡¯s turn to step forward. Owen paid close attention to how Ansel would react. The main character frowned upon laying eyes on her. Owen tried his best to remain calm. The fact that Caroline was now on the stage meant that something had gone wrong in his regression. Caroline wasn¡¯t meant to be here. She wasn¡¯t in the book. Neither was Owen, but he was currently in the safety of a shadow¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Is this happening only here, or is it global?¡± Caroline asked.


    ¡°This is a global effort,¡± Marco said. ¡°We don¡¯t take half measures, that¡¯s for certain.¡±


    ¡°Then,¡± Louis added. Ansel also looked at him. ¡°Why are we here, as in, right here in this station? Why make this the assembly point?¡±


    Marco waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s the way the soul works. It¡¯s a mysterious thing. Even for us. This is a designated spot by the Order.¡±


    ¡°The Order?¡±


    The demon waved his hand more frantically this time, and said, ¡°not something a lowly human needs to concern themselves with. The point is,¡± Marco paused, most likely for dramatic effect, ¡°this is the place you need to be to enter the Land Between.¡±


    ¡°And before you ask, ¡®oh, what¡¯s the Land Between, that sounds really cool¡¯. It will be your battleground. A vast planet many times bigger than this one. And I mean way bigger. It is a place void of any human life. Yep, only monsters roam. Big ones, too, so concern yourselves with that. Be on the lookout. Never know when a demi-god will roam right in front of you.¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯ve just survived all of this,¡± Lai said in protest, hugging Jasp closer. ¡°And now you¡¯ll be putting us somewhere even more dangerous?¡±


    ¡°What can I say,¡± Marco said. ¡°Life ain¡¯t fair, sweetheart. But hey, look on the bright side. You have a chance at true power. What you¡¯ve experienced so far was just the taste test. You feel that strength rippling in your body, that supernatural extra bounce in your step? Yep, just the beginning.¡±


    When Marco stopped talking, Owen saw people glance at each other. Those who had survived the tunnels. They had seen more combat than everyone else here, and greed was evident in their eyes. They knew the power the System brought more than most. It filled their very being, and has given them magical abilities beyond their wildest imagination.


    Few could resist that overwhelming temptation. Owen felt it himself; that desire to want more, to get more powerful. All so that he no longer had to ignore those in need of help.


    ¡°Now this next part is very important, so listen up. I don¡¯t want my candidates dying as soon as they arrive,¡± the demon administrator said, face turning serious as he crossed his arms. ¡°When you enter the Land Between, it will be in a random location. Biome random. First,¡± he said, putting up a single, claw pointed finger.


    ¡°Find protection against the elements. Snow, heat, rain¡ªfind somewhere safe. Then water. Lastly, food. Hunt monsters when you can, when it¡¯s safe to do so. The more you Level up, the safer you¡¯ll be; generally. Those that obtained a Lord Shard will be given one week protection. Not even a god can penetrate its defences, you can use it to hunt. Attack, duck back into the dome. Easy peasy¡ªthat¡¯s what you humans say, right?¡±


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    Caroline and all the others looked at him, appreciation evident in their gaze at the mention of the Lord¡¯s safety. Even if they didn¡¯t intend to enter the ruler''s war, it would provide them that one week of safety. Just that alone was invaluable.


    Marco clicked his tongue, and continued, ¡°The whole point of the System is to summon units, use these units to hunt and grow stronger. Collect an army and use it to fight your foes. Build your kingdom. Defeat other Lords, claim their lands for your own. Again, the stronger you are, the more likely it is you will survive. Become strong enough to reach god-hood. Yep, that is a possibility.¡±


    People in the crowd gasped in shock, especially the religious types. Blasphemy, they said.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he explained, ¡°you don¡¯t have to be glued to your kingdom if you don¡¯t want to. You can roam the lands, even lose your Lordship if you so desire. This is what we call Adventurers. How you become strong is up to you in the end. But there¡¯s only so much you can do alone.¡±


    Owen knew exactly what he meant. He remembered scenes vividly of some of the strongest Lords wading into battle. When a Lord arrived in war, everyone knew about it. It was difficult not to. Troops that blotted the skies, warriors with steps like thunder. Because of the Lord¡¯s System, it wasn¡¯t just the Lords becoming stronger¡ªit was their troops, as well.


    ¡°To further evolve your Class,¡± he further added, ¡°you must find what are called Outposts. These will also take you back to Earth. But be careful, most of them are guarded by terrible beings. Only the strongest of you will be able to claim an Outpost for yourselves.¡±


    The introduction given by Marco was exactly as he remembered. Just enough information to get people by, to survive, and leaving enough so that they had to figure it out themselves. It was amusing, in its own way. It reminded Owen of the way his parents taught him; but that was bordering on neglect.


    The survivors asked more questions, like what kind of monsters they would face in the new world. But Marco couldn¡¯t answer that. It varied between what region one landed in.


    Owen surmised that the questions would go on forever. Marco patiently answered each and every one. People wanted to know exactly what they were going into. But when the clock struck 12 o¡¯clock, it was time to make a move.


    Marco clapped his hands, a devilish grin spreading across his face as he fed off the tension in the air. "Now, it is time. Say your last goodbyes. In five minutes, you may never see each other again." And with that, he disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving a suffocating silence in his wake.


    Ansel had been sitting against the wall, eyes closed, seemingly detached from the chaos around him since the beginning. Owen glanced at him briefly but focused on his friends gathering nearby. Lai was trying to comfort her son, Jasp, who clung to her, eyes wide with fear. The boy had already endured so much, and now, facing another nightmare¡ªthis one even more daunting¡ªseemed impossibly cruel. Owen felt a knot tighten in his chest.


    He had managed to secure a Lord Shard for both Lai and Jasp, but the thought of the boy venturing into the Land Between alone gnawed at him. "Please," Owen silently pleaded to whatever higher powers might listen, "let him get a powerful unit. Let him survive this... and let him find his way back to his mother."


    Owen''s heart sank further, watching Lai stroke her son''s hair, whispering reassurances that even she probably didn¡¯t believe. He hated feeling helpless, but in this world, everyone was one wrong turn away from being lost forever.


    Louis broke the silence, fidgeting with his fingers, trying to mask his unease. "So, this is it. We may never see each other again."


    "If God wills it," Caroline said, her voice cracking slightly, "we will meet again." Her eyes reddened as she held back tears, her usual resolve slipping in this final moment.


    Owen forced a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "You know, I''ve known you all for years, but in these last seven days... it feels like we¡¯ve built something that could last a lifetime."


    Louis bit his lip, glancing away for a second before replying with a smirk. "Let¡¯s just hope it¡¯s only one lifetime. My heart couldn¡¯t take more than one with you."


    Everyone chuckled, though their tears betrayed the fear and grief beneath the humour.


    "Come here," Owen said, pulling Louis into a tight hug, arms around his friend¡¯s shoulders. "I know you''re soft and gooey on the inside. Don''t try to hide it."


    "Screw you," Louis sniffled, wiping his eyes as he squeezed Owen back.


    "We will meet again," Caroline added, her voice firmer now as she joined the embrace.


    "Yeah, soon," Callan said, stepping in and draping an arm around the group.


    Lai hesitated for a moment, still holding Jasp close, but then she moved forward, joining the hug with a quiet "Be strong, everyone." She kissed the top of Jasp¡¯s head, whispering reassurances, though her hands trembled as she held him. The boy nestled into her, visibly shaking, unsure of what lay ahead but trying to be brave for his mother.


    Owen looked down at Jasp, feeling the weight of the boy¡¯s fate press down on him. He crouched to meet the boy¡¯s eyes, trying to offer some comfort. "You¡¯re strong, Jasp. I know this is scary, but you¡¯ve got something most people don¡¯t¡ªyou¡¯ve got her," he said, nodding to Lai. "You¡¯re gonna fight like hell to see her again, okay?"


    Jasp sniffled and nodded, tears brimming but refusing to fall. Lai smiled weakly, her eyes overflowing with gratitude and sorrow. "Thank you," she whispered to Owen, voice breaking. "For everything."


    Owen stood, his heart heavy but determined. "We¡¯ll get through this. All of us." He turned and met Hassan¡¯s gaze across the room. The man stood apart, stoic as ever, but Owen nodded to him, feeling the silent strength between them. Hassan nodded back, a quiet promise.


    A sudden idea sparked in Owen¡¯s mind. His eyes widened as he said, "Everyone, listen up." The group turned to him, their expressions serious. "Once we enter, there¡¯s something called the Lord Shop. You¡¯ll need to register a name¡ªsomething recognizable. That way, when we see it, we¡¯ll know who¡¯s still alive. Start thinking now.¡±


    Callan responded first, without hesitation. "Iron Fortress."


    Owen scoffed, feeling a bit of his anxiety ease. Of course, Callan would keep the same title.


    "Lai," she said, then nudged Jasp with a grin. "What about you, Jasp? What¡¯s your superhero name gonna be?"


    Jasper''s eyes lit up. "Deadpool¡ªbut cooler. Darkpool!"


    "That¡¯s a solid choice, Jasp," Caroline said, laughing as she gently pinched his cheek. Jasp quickly hid behind Lai, embarrassed as everyone chuckled.


    Caroline smiled at them and said, "Mercy."


    Owen nodded, grinning. "Good one." Caroline blushed slightly at the compliment.


    "Hassan," came another quiet response.


    Louis hesitated, biting his lip. "Man, I don¡¯t know..." After a pause, he snapped his fingers. "Saeder."


    "Saeder?" Owen raised an eyebrow. "Where¡¯s that from?"


    Louis scratched his head sheepishly. "It¡¯s from a TV show I like." Louis turned to Owen. ¡°Well, what about you?¡±


    Owen grinned. ¡°How about Talentless?¡±


    5 minutes passed in the blink of an eye. Then, he and everyone else vanished from the spot, space tearing open.

 Chapter 11 - The Land Between: Cursed Lands

    Supernatural heat pressed down on Owen''s shoulders, biting into his skin. The alien sun overhead blazed mercilessly, forcing his eyes to water. The air was dry and gritty, carrying the faint scent of scorched earth and dust.


    Welcome to the Land Between: Cursed Lands.


    You have one week of protection. Use this time to summon units, prepare defences, and level up your warriors. The Gods are watching.


    Owen¡¯s expression darkened at the announcement, and that wasn¡¯t all.


    Quest Obtained: Clear the Sand Hound Rift.


    | Reward: Summoning Tickets: 5x Warrior, 1x Administrator. Apprentice Rank Fragment Weapon.


    A nearby Rift as well?! Fear flashed through him but quickly faded as instinct kicked in. The past week of blood and survival had sharpened him for this moment. The Cursed Lands. He had hoped otherwise, but it seemed the author had plans to push him harder.


    Ignoring the faint blue dome of protection hovering above, he surveyed his surroundings. The landscape would dictate his first move. Endless stretches of golden plains and dunes spread before him, shimmering under the punishing sun. His gaze caught a massive mountain nearby, its shadow creeping toward him¡ªhis only hope for relief from the relentless heat.


    Then, a deep red took over the skies to the west; evidence of the Sand Hound Rift. He frowned at the sight. However, the reward was promising. The extra Warriors were a bonus, but not a standout. it was the promise of an Administrator and a Fragment weapon that grabbed his attention. An Administrator would make it a lot easier to run his kingdom. Questions and problems that his people would have, it would be the summoned unit''s job to sort them out.


    In A Titan¡¯s Journey, Earth had connected to a realm called the Land Between, a bridge to another world. Somewhere in the far reaches was where he now stood¡ªthe Cursed Lands. Almost nothing was known about it. No human had returned from here, at least not in the early parts of the story.


    Owen¡¯s heart pounded, torn between fear and an unexpected thrill. Was it the promise of power or the pull of an epic adventure?


    Despite the grim future ahead, a fierce resolve surged through him. This was a new life. A life where he could carve his own path, be whoever he wanted to be, and go wherever the journey took him.


    But first, he had to survive. Calm down. Owen forced himself to breathe, steadying his racing heart.


    Survival here wouldn¡¯t be simple. The desert offered no fertile ground for farming, water would be scarce, and the heat unbearable. It was a brutal start. And that wasn¡¯t even accounting for the true danger¡ªthe Cursed Lands were where Demi-gods roamed freely.


    You have entered the Land Between. Stand by while your spirit partially awakens¡­


    Spirit partially awakened. To fully awaken and obtain a Class Evolution, find an Outpost gateway and step through it.


    You have awakened to your Lord Emblem.


    Here we go, Owen thought, hands clenching into tightened fists. The author had promised him a god-like emblem. If it wasn¡¯t¡­


    (Lord Emblem) Unlimited Plunder [God-Like]


    | Ability 1 ¡ª Unlimited Plunder: Upon activation, the user plunders from the target. Skills, Stats, Titles, wealth, loot, and resources, all can be plundered. The user must touch the target to activate the Skill. The amount plundered depends on Vitality.


    | Ability 2 ¡ª Plundered Storage: Able to store an unlimited amount of resources and items.


    | Ability 3 ¡ª Skeleton Key: Upon activation while touching any door, chest, or crypt; open it. (Can only be used once a day.)


    Oh my gosh, that¡¯s amazing, Owen thought, pacing back and forth along the border of his territory, ignoring the rampant heat beating down on his shoulders from above, sweat dripping. It¡¯s downright overpowered.


    Trying to battle his excitement, Owen moved on to his System with a mental command.


    Name: Owen Taylor


    | Race: Human


    | Level: 7


    | Talent: 1-Star


    Traits:


    | Lord Emblem: Unlimited Plunder


    | Class: Rogue Lord


    | Titles: N/A


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.| Spectres: N/A


    | Fragments: N/A


    Attributes:


    | Strength: 14


    | Vitality: 15


    | Dexterity: 20


    | Magic: 10


    | Mana: 9


    Skills (1/12):


    | Unlimited Plunder


    Honestly, it was better than Owen ever could have expected. And, it bypassed his Flaw as well.


    You have been granted a basic survival backpack filled with supplies.


    Owen watched as a backpack dropped into the sand. He rummaged through it, noting that there was indeed everything he needed to survive a few days in the wild. Water, shelter, food, health potions. Knowing what he had to do thanks to having read the book, Owen summoned the Lord interface with a simple command of: Lord¡¯s Wheel.


    A wheel of multi-colours appeared in his vision.


    As a new Lord, you are granted 5 free Summons. Each and every subsequent roll of the wheel after requires Tickets that can be obtained by slaying foes. Would you like to spin the wheel?


    Owen took a deep breath, wished to any god that would listen for his good luck to continue, and accepted. The wheel spun, shades of all colours of the spectrum flashed on by. It passed the low tier colour before settling on a deep crimson that sparkled within Owen¡¯s eyes, along with it were 2 dazzling stars.


    Apprentice Tier, Owen thought.


    Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Veteran, Champion, Elite. Those were the tiers he knew about. Whether there were more or not, Owen failed to read further to find out.


    You have summoned the 2-star Spectre: War Tortoise


    In front of him spawned a monster 6 foot tall and 5 foot wide. The reptile was mostly black, but in between the cracks were a bright gold sand colour. A single horn rose from its fore-head, like a long blade. It had a mean look in its eyes, but when it set them on Owen, they softened.


    With a thought, Owen returned it to his soul and instantly sensed a profound addition to his being. Reading about it was one thing, but experiencing it firsthand was entirely different.


    Awesome. Owen grinned. It was a Spectre. The difference between that and a more common Unit, was that Spectres could be stored within the soul and summoned whenever he wanted. Units resided within the Lord¡¯s territory. It was no surprise that even a low-star Spectre was a great boon to have. Especially one the size of the War Tortoise. It had high defence, high strength, had a mobile home, and could easily be a beast of burden if need be.


    Owen spun the wheel again. The next pull was a 1-Star Unit: a Builder. He was human, with a messy beard and common clothes. The Builder held common tools strapped to his belt.


    The one after that, however, was a 2-star Hunter named Draed. Draed had a cool looking curved bow, and pointed ears, wearing hard leather armour. He was tall and handsome and they both bowed the moment they spawned. Draed, as a Hunter, was also boosted further by Owen''s Class. His Attributes were heightened, along with having better eye-sight.


    Owen inspected Draed by focusing his eyesight on him.


    Name: Draed


    | Race: Wood-Elf


    | Level: 1


    | Class: Hunter


    Attributes:


    | Strength: 13


    | Vitality: 15


    | Dexterity: 18


    | Magic: 9


    | Mana: 10


    Skills


    | Power Shot ¡ª Mastery: Low


    | Steady Aim ¡ª Mastery: Low


    | Tracking ¡ª Mastery: Low


    A loud thud echoed through the air, like flesh striking metal. Owen turned just in time to see a hound-like creature snarling at the barrier. No¡ªit was snarling at him. The beast slammed again against the shimmering shield of mana, causing ripples to spread, but it only managed to hurt itself.


    Owen glanced at Draed, then back to the hound, a grin forming on his face. "Draed, think you can handle it?"


    "With pleasure," Draed replied, his voice calm and steady. He smoothly knocked an arrow and approached the barrier, his movements fluid and controlled. The hound went berserk, clawing and biting furiously at the invisible shield, desperate to get through.


    Draed inhaled deeply, the sand at his feet swirling lightly as blue energy flickered around his arrow. In a flash, he released it. The arrow shot forward with blinding speed, passing effortlessly through the barrier and embedding itself deep into the hound''s chest. The shaft disappeared halfway through, but the beast still stood, snarling defiantly.


    Owen frowned. The Cursed Lands were truly cursed.


    It took six more arrows before Draed finally brought the creature down. As the hound collapsed, a flood of notifications appeared in Owen¡¯s vision.


    Your subordinate has defeated a Sand Hound (Level 8).


    | Hunter: Draed, Level 1 -> Level 3


    | Owen Taylor, Level 7 -> Level 8


    Owen noted that as Draed levelled up, his stat points were automatically distributed. The system had placed 3 points into Dexterity and 1 into Vitality, reflecting his growth. Draed seemed pleased, a smile tugging at his lips as he undoubtedly felt the system''s power course through him.


    Quest gained: Slay 25 Sand Hounds.


    | Reward: Summoning Tickets x5 Hunters.


    Owen glanced at the new Quest notification, his mind already weighing the risks. Early missions like this were common, designed to give Lords a quick boost in power. But some came with serious dangers. Killing 25 Sand Hounds, for instance, wouldn¡¯t just be a challenge in battle¡ªit was finding that amount of them that would prove tricky. Still, with the Rift looming in the distance, he knew the task, though dangerous, wasn¡¯t impossible. He¡¯d have to prepare carefully, but he could handle it.


    Without wasting time, Owen approached the Sand Hound''s corpse and crouched beside it. With a thought, he activated Unlimited Plunder. A surge of energy shot through him, like pure power being injected directly into his veins.


    You have plundered a Sand Hound.


    | Claimed materials: Sand Hound Pelt x1 (Normal), Sand Hound Organs (Normal), Sand Hound Bones (Normal), Fragment: Shade¡¯s Whisper [Drop chance: 4.1%]


    | Stats gained: 6 Strength, 4 Vitality, 3 Dexterity


    Owen¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the Fragment. Fragments were rare, powerful items¡ªtools, weapons, or armour formed from the essence of monsters. They were essentially physical manifestations of the creatures'' memories or the places they had lived. Stored within the soul, they could be called upon when needed.


    It seemed that Unlimited Plunder increased his chances of obtaining rare loot. Excitement surged through him as he called upon Shade¡¯s Whisper from the depths of his soul. And it answered.

 Chapter 12 - Pyris Starbreaker

    Fragment: [Shade''s Whisper].


    | Tier: Apprentice


    | Type: Weapon.


    | Description: Forged in the tradition of the nomadic tribes of the Ashen Wastes, this weapon is as much a tool for survival as it is an instrument of death. Its blade, forged from tempered shadowsteel, glimmers with an eerie, dark sheen, whispering of battles fought in the dead of night.


    | Runes: Sharpness, Hardened.


    | Evolution Requirement: Shadowstalk.


    The kukri emerged, fitting in his palm as if it had been custom-made just for him. The handle nestled perfectly in his grip, like a glove tailored to his hand. The blade appeared to be ordinary steel, but intricate black lines etched across its surface gave it an unmistakable air of something more powerful. Then, recalling how the main character checked the runes of his Fragments, Owen called out to the weapon in his hand from the connection born the moment he had received it.


    (Rune) Sharpness: This Fragment has been enhanced with a sharper edge.


    And¨C


    (Rune) Hardened: This Fragment has been tempered and won¡¯t easily be broken.


    Although basic, they were good Runes to create a durable and effective weapon.


    The final roll felt different, charged with an intensity Owen hadn¡¯t felt before. The wheel slowed, its motion growing agonisingly deliberate as it hovered over a deep, pulsing red. When it clicked into place, the world seemed to hold its breath. Seven stars flared into existence, glowing with an ethereal brilliance. Owen¡¯s heart nearly stopped.


    He couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t think¡ªhe was paralyzed in absolute awe.


    You have summoned the 7-star Spectre: Pyris Starbreaker.


    The words burned into his mind, heavy with a power he could scarcely comprehend. Time seemed to stretch as the very air around him twisted and bent. The space in front of him distorted, the atmosphere charged with raw energy. His breath caught in his throat.


    Suddenly, a force like a meteor struck the earth, sending tremors through the golden sands. The impact kicked up a cloud of dust and light. Owen shielded his eyes, but he didn¡¯t dare look away.


    The figure lying on the yellow sand was unlike anything Owen had expected. It was a humanoid figure, distinctly human save for the long, velvety ears perched atop her head. She was tall, around six feet, her frame marked by curves and sharp features. What stood out the most were those ears, poking out from her cracked, full-face helmet. Her armor, sleek and slender in black and white, had clearly taken a beating. A jagged scar tore down one side of her helmet, revealing a glimpse of a pale, beautiful face¡ªone that hadn¡¯t escaped the damage unscathed.


    Owen¡¯s stomach churned as his eyes fell on the deep wounds etched into her flesh, the gashes raw and horrifying. A 7-star Spectre¡ªhumanoid and clearly powerful¡ªlay before him, but she was clear she was badly injured. She didn¡¯t even have the strength to return to his Soul. If she tried, she¡¯d likely die.


    Without thinking, Owen rushed forward, his hands trembling as he flung his pack to the ground, frantically searching for his first-aid kit. He unzipped it and grabbed the healing tinctures obtained with the bag. There were five in total. Any guilt he might have felt using them here vanished. All he wanted to do was save her. A life that, coincidentally, was also an incredibly powerful 7-star Spectre.


    He gently cradled her head, tilting her neck just enough to pour the potion down her throat. Relief washed over him when she didn¡¯t choke. He quickly fed her another. With practiced hands, he wrapped her wounds in gauze that came with the backpack, trying his best to stop the bleeding.


    Through their soul connection, Owen could feel her agony. It wasn¡¯t physical for him, but the mental weight of her pain was crushing.


    Moments passed, and her eyes fluttered open. Owen knelt beside her, his heart pounding. She flinched, and suddenly, a wave of killing intent washed over him¡ªso intense it nearly knocked him over. His skin went cold, his muscles stiffened as if paralyzed by the sheer force of it. Fear clawed at his mind, screaming at him to either flee or finish her off.


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    Fighting the urge to run, Owen forced his voice to remain calm, though it trembled. ¡°Please¡­ calm down. I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡±


    Sweat poured down his face, his heart racing faster than ever. He wasn¡¯t sure how to make her believe him. For a moment, she struggled, her intent still sharp like a blade to his throat. Then, as suddenly as it came, the murderous aura faded, leaving a chilling stillness. Was she too weak to kill him, or had she chosen not to?


    Owen shivered. A 7-star Spectre was truly terrifying.


    ¡°I¡­ You¡ª¡± she tried to speak, but her strength failed her. Her head slumped forward. She wasn¡¯t dead, though. He would know instantly if she had vanished from his System.


    He stared at her, his mind torn in a storm of indecision. Should he end her life now? All Spectres were supposed to be subservient to their summoner, like Units. But higher-ranked ones like her¡ªthey had wills of their own. They could betray, could kill. He had read about it. it was a lot more common than one would think. These were beings with prior history, all of them powerful. And they became strong for a reason.


    Owen¡¯s hand trembled as he drew his blade, the decision weighing heavily on him. Draed and the Builders watched silently as Owen pressed the cold steel to Pyris¡¯s throat. His grip tightened, feeling the resistance of her skin beneath the blade.


    He hesitated.


    Her face, pale and twisted with pain, made him falter. Or maybe it was Draed and the Builders carefully watching him. All his resolve crumbled. She had drawn back her killing intent earlier, even if it was just out of weakness. And something in their soul connection told him she wasn¡¯t going to harm him.


    He hoped.


    Sighing, Owen sheathed his blade and erected a makeshift tarp over Pyris using the supplies he had. He couldn¡¯t kill her. Whether that decision would come back to haunt him, only time would tell. For now, he had to trust his instincts.


    Brushing the sand from his hands, Owen stood, forcing himself not to dwell on the decision. He needed more summoning tickets. Warriors, Hunters, Miners, Builders, Alchemists¡ªhe needed them all. And the only way to get them was to kill monsters and complete Quests.


    First, he needed to understand his new Skill a bit more.


    With a thought, Owen activated Unlimited Plunder on the sand beneath his feet. A portion of the ground vanished, stored away in his Plundered Storage. A simple label appeared: Sand x1.


    He decided to push it further, imagining excavating a large chunk of the sand. The ground beneath him shifted. Then, his heart clenched painfully, and before he could react, the sand collapsed, pulling him under.


    ¡°Help!¡± he gasped, sand filling his mouth as he sank deeper.


    Suddenly, the sand above him crunched, and a long neck extended into the pit. His tortoise Spectre had answered his call. Owen grabbed onto its neck, and with surprising strength, it lifted him from the hole, dropping him safely back onto solid ground.


    ¡°That was close,¡± Owen muttered, spitting out the sand from his mouth. Note to self: don¡¯t stand on what I¡¯m plundering.


    He tested the Skill on rocks and nearby cacti, successfully storing them in his inventory, but the larger the object, the more energy it consumed. He could feel fatigue setting in, a dull ache settling in his chest. By his estimation, he had a lot more in him. How much exactly? he''d have to find out later. Despite that, he couldn''t help but marvel at his ability. having the ability to Plunder resources, Skills, Stats, Fragments... It was absurd. It was incredible.


    There were also potential combat uses for this Skill, but for now, he shelved those thoughts. He didn''t want to risk using it in a fight. One small misstep and he''d lose his head.


    After securing his pack, Owen turned to the tortoise Spectre who had saved him. He gave its hardened shell an affectionate pat. ¡°Forward,¡± he commanded, and the creature obeyed, its heavy steps sinking into the sand as it trudged toward the barrier.


    Owen chuckled nervously, wiping the sweat from his brow. He knew heading out to hunt was dangerous, but with the Lord¡¯s Shield still active, it was the perfect time to act¡ªto grow stronger. If he let this chance slip by, it could cost him dearly later. He had a safe haven to retreat to, a fortress protected by an impenetrable barrier that even demi-gods couldn¡¯t break.


    With renewed determination, Owen sprinted after the lumbering tortoise. Timing his leap, he clumsily scrambled onto its back, his grip slipping as he fought to stay on. Just as he felt himself losing balance, Draed¡¯s strong hand shot out, gripping his arm and hauling him up onto the creature¡¯s massive shell.


    ¡°Thanks, Draed,¡± Owen muttered, collapsing onto the tortoise¡¯s back as it lumbered through the barrier.


    "It''s my duty, my Lord," Draed replied firmly.


    Owen gave a quick nod, his hand resting on the creature¡¯s weathered shell. The hot, dry air swept past, stirring his hair, and for a brief moment, a sense of calm washed over him despite the insane situation he was in.


    With a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, Owen broke the silence. ¡°I shall name you Shelldon,¡± he declared, his voice carrying a hint of lightness as they ventured deeper into the unknown.

 Chapter 13 - Plundering a Dune Ravager

    Owen, along with Shelldon and Draed, left the safety of the dome Lord¡¯s shield, and the sun intensified. Owen swore at not having been given sun lotion, but he took a sip of water to wet his tongue at least.


    The scorching sun beat down mercilessly on the vast expanse of desert. Sand dunes stretched as far as the eye could see, shimmering under the relentless heat. Cacti poked out of the sand and he swore some of them vanished from sight as he laid eyes on them.


    Where he was situated was right by a mountain. The sun was slowly inching toward the horizon, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before the mountain blocked the vicious sun rays from assaulting his flesh. Thank god.


    He headed for a bunch of cacti. He needed water and although he had some already, it wouldn¡¯t last very long. Besides, he had builders back in the dome and they needed to be looked after. With Unlimited Plunder, he stored all of them without the need of a bag. The freedom felt exhilarating. Then he moved on.


    Owen sat atop his tortoise mount, who trudged steadily across the shifting sands. Meanwhile Draed nimbly stood, bow pointed forwards. His eyes scanned the horizon, alert for any sign of danger, before focusing on the land beneath them.


    It wouldn¡¯t be long before¡ª


    Suddenly, as if on cue, the ground trembled beneath them. Owen''s heart pounded as a colossal sand creature burst from the dune ahead. Its body, a swirling mass of sand, grit, and coarse fur, rose up like a towering troll. Glowing red eyes pierced through the storm of debris, casting a menacing glare over the group.


    ¡°Steady, Shelldon,¡± Owen shouted, fear gripping hold of him.


    The sand monster let out a deafening roar, its mouth lined with sharp, crystalline teeth. It lunged at them with surprising speed for a creature of its size. Owen barely had time to react. Shelldon retracted into his shell. Draed fired a powered arrow, thudding against the monster¡¯s hairy body.


    The monster''s claws scraped against the tortoise''s hard shell, sending sparks flying.


    Owen seized the moment to strike. He summoned his kukri, the blade gleaming in the sunlight, and swung it with all his might in an uncontrolled, wide arc. The sword sliced through the sand, but the monster''s body simply reformed around the wound. It was like trying to cut through water. Not that he would have dealt any damage anyway, considering his pitiful Attributes.


    Draed fired three arrows in quick succession, one of them boring into the creature¡¯s eyeball. It squealed and thrashed.


    Not good, Owen thought. He had to think of something fast.


    The monster''s next attack came swiftly. It raised a massive arm of sand and brought it crashing down towards them. Shelldon moved quickly, but not quickly enough. The blow sent them sprawling, and Owen was thrown from his mount, landing hard on the sand.


    Draed had already leapt from Shelldon before the strike hit, and continued his volley of arrows, whittling down the beast with precise aim.


    Gasping for breath, sand entering his mouth, Owen scrambled to his feet spitting out the grains. His mind was a blazing storm, battered by the sun above. He needed to end this quickly. Previous plans deemed insane appeared at the forefront of his thoughts.


    Dune Ravager, Owen thought in pain. Heart is its weakness.


    He focused, drawing on the power of Unlimited Plunder, unable to think of the consequences of doing so.


    ¡°Heart, just beneath its naval!¡± Owen shouted over to Draed.


    Draed listened. The air swirled around him and he fired a mighty arrow the next second. It slammed into the Dune Ravager¡¯s chest, halfway disappearing. It roared out in pain and thrashed the sand around. But it was still alive. It rampaged toward Owen.


    The sand monster loomed over him, ready to deliver a finishing blow. Owen reached out with his power, his hand glowing with a dark, eerie light. He aimed for the monster''s core, where its heart would be based on what he knew from the novel. Where he hoped it would be.


    As he touched the coarse fur of the monster, a surge of energy burst from his hand followed by an immediate bout of weakness.


    The sand monster froze in place, its eyes widening in shock. Owen ripped out a pulsating heart from its chest. The monster instantly dropped dead, not another sound coming from its throat.


    You and your subordinate has defeated a Dune Ravager (Level 13)


    | Hunter: Draed Level 3 -> Level 5


    | Owen Taylor Level 8 -> Level 10


    Placing all the points into Vitality, Owen''s victory was short-lived. The strain of using Unlimited Plunder on a living target hit him like a freight train. Pain wracked his body, and he fell to his knees, clutching his chest. Blood seeped from his nose and mouth, and his vision blurred.


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    Shelldon emerged from his shell and hurried over to Owen, nudging him gently. Owen smiled weakly, patting his loyal mount''s head. Draed arrived like the wind, standing over him with his bow ready for any other attackers.


    ¡°Good boy, Shelldon. Good work, Draed,¡± he whispered, his voice barely audible. ¡°Now let''s get back¡±


    Fighting against the exhaustion consuming him, Owen stored the corpse for future use, battling through the pain, and then returned back to the safezone.


    He checked up on Pyris once he returned, then sat under the tarp with her to recover his wounds. A few hours had passed when Owen finally felt ready to use Plunder once more. He brought out the Dune Ravager and placed it in front of him, and used his Skill.


    You have plundered a Dune Ravager.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 1x Hunter, Summoning Ticket 1x Builder, Dune Ravager Pelt x2 (Normal), Dune Ravager Organs (Normal) Dune Ravager Bones (Normal).


    | Stats gained: 6 Strength, 4 Vitality, 3 Dexterity.


    First, he inspected the pelts. Normal quality, he thought. He effectively had the job of a Skinner all in one ability.


    Unlimited Plunder


    | Mastery: (None)


    After looking at his ability once again, Owen had a guess as to how it worked. His current Mastery allowed him to skin the monster at Normal quality. Which was already a great bonus. If he started out as a Skinner, the quality would only be Low, if not a high chance of being Ruined. To already plunder something at Normal quality was a great boon to have as it would provide him with a higher income.


    Then, finally, it was time to add to his civilization. He gazed at the golden tickets in his hand, hope brimming within him. He hoped it was a high-Star hunter. With them, he¡¯d be able to let them go out and hunt, Levelling him up, gaining more tickets passively, without him doing anything. The more Stars they had, the quicker they''d become powerhouses for his kingdom. And thanks to his Rogue Class, all basic Hunters would have their perception greatly increased--along with all their Attributes.


    Without further ado, he ripped the Hunter ticket he had gained.


    ***


    Pyris was under far too much pain and suffering to move. She tried moving her fingers, toes, anything, but it was helpless. Whatever wounds had been scored into her flesh, were serious. Not only that, she detected a vicious poison that she had never experienced before. It was so potent, that not even her natural healing factor could combat it.


    Where am I?


    One moment she was¡­ well, she couldn¡¯t remember. Her memories were a haze, like a puzzle missing its pieces. The next moment, she was here, laying under the beating sun, a young man crouched over her, feeding her a healing tincture to no avail.


    She first had the thought of killing him, but what good would that do her? The young boy had tried to help her, sheltering her from the sun¡ªnot that the sun could do anything to her. But it was the thought that mattered. Then he held his blade against her throat. Desire to end her life flashed for a single second, if that, only for him to decide against it.


    I don¡¯t blame you, Pyris thought weakly. In his place, she¡¯d have done the same. No, she¡¯d have gone through with it.


    Pyris watched him laugh and smile and clumsily climb onto his mount, and fight in the distance. If she had the strength, maybe she¡¯d have even laughed at his silly nature.


    There was also something else that held back her desire to lash out; there was a strange connection between them. It was telling her that he wasn¡¯t a threat¡ªeven when he held his blade against her throat. It was telling her that he was her partner. Her master. It should have made her uncomfortable, angry, but she felt a strange honour taking hold of her instead.


    She wanted to fight for this young man. Prop him up and let him show his grandeur to the universe.


    And then, her tired eyes watched as the man¡ªhis name Owen as she subconsciously realised¡ªsummoned a clean looking man wearing brown leather armour, holding a curved sword appeared before him.


    The swordsman, the moment he appeared, got to one knee and lowered his head. He spoke in a language she knew, but didn¡¯t at the same time. It was strange.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± he said, his voice rough, but noble. ¡°It is my honour to be summoned to your land. Please, give me your orders.¡±


    ¡°Cedric, it¡¯s nice to have you here,¡± Owen said, pinching his chin in thought. ¡°I would have preferred to wait until I had more of you, but I¡¯m in dire straits, as you can see.¡±


    The hunter looked around and nodded in agreement. ¡°Your wish is my command, no matter the dangers, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Please, stand. I don''t think I¡¯m used to the whole kneeling thing yet.¡±


    The swordsman stood. ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°Draed, Cedric, I wish for you to scout the land,¡± her master continued. ¡°I need to know where my enemies are, and how many they lurk. Especially if any Lords are nearby. But be careful, the desert monsters are known to prefer ambush. If you can take a shot, take it, but only if you are confident in taking down the opponent. It''s important, if possible, to bring their bodies back here. I have use of them. But above all else, you must return safe, no matter what. You are important.¡±


    The hunters bowed deeply. ¡°I understand, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Good, thank you.¡± Owen moved his hand over to his tortoise. ¡°Take my Spectre with you. His name is Shelldon. He can take a hit. You can even hide in his shell if you can deal with tight spaces.¡±


    The hunters bowed, mounted the tortoise and left the safety of the dome. His eyes followed them as they vanished into the horizon. He sighed, then addressed the other people around. They were Builders. Owen deposited huge chunks of stone and told them to start building a house for shelter during the day. They listened, and quickly got to work.


    Then, her Lord approached her, kneeling down. Her eyes were only open by a slit.


    A Lord is kneeling in front of me? She thought incredulously.


    ¡°Damn,¡± he cursed, talking to himself. ¡°Your wounds aren¡¯t healing, are they? I wonder if you¡¯re poisoned or something? Not only that, your wounds are still bleeding. It seems the health potions only worked for a while. I need more, but they¡¯re expensive.¡±


    So he said, but he took out the other health potion despite being wounded himself, and fed her it again. She felt the warmth invade her body, wrapping it in a pleasing cocoon away from the pain assaulting her. But she knew it would only last a few minutes at best.


    ¡°That was my second last one. I need more. I need anti-poison. A good one, I¡¯d wager. 7-Star Spectres sure are tough. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let you die. Just please don¡¯t kill me when you wake up, promise?¡±


    Owen stood up. "Well, let''s get this other Builder summoned. We need a house, don''t you think?"


    And so, with the last golden ticket, he ripped it down the middle--and smiled.

 Chapter 14 - Lome, the Undead Warrior

    As he summoned the Builder, unlike Cedric, he was a sparkling 3-star. He was a short man, not quite a dwarf, just short. Shorter than Owen, standing at around 5 foot 3 inches. He had huge forearms and a large, curling moustache. He was named Brook. They both bowed.


    With Cedric and Draed out hunting, Owen gathered more stone and bricks to help the Builders. Cutting them into perfect rectangles thanks to his ability, then placed them down in front of the still working Builders. As he worked, he figured now was a good time to check the Building Interface. Many structures and rooms made themselves known. He looked at the most vital of them all. The food category.


    Food Bunker: Used to chill and keep food as fresh as possible, for as long as possible.


    | Bonus: Increases food shelf life by 2x


    | Material: Stone x25


    | Upgrade (Tier 2): Stone x100, any Tier 2 metal x5


    Food Smoking Room: Used to smoke and preserve food, enhancing flavor and extending its shelf life.


    | Bonus: Increases food preservation time by 1.5x


    | Material: Stone x20, Wood x10


    | Upgrade (Tier 2): Stone x80, Tier 2 wood x5


    Along with that, were countless other buildings. Like forges, tanneries, woodworking shops, and the list went on. But, where was he going to find wood? Would Tier 2 cacti count? He''d have to test it. He couldn''t remember. It had been a long time since Ansel had built anything.


    Moving on from that for now, the new builder was startled at his Skill. He praised a god Owen didn¡¯t know while trying to kneel down in front of Owen. Owen stopped him, of course.


    ¡°Okay, Brook,¡± Owen said to the Builder, who already had a hammer and chisel in hand, he stared at the bricks with feverish motivation. ¡°Make, let¡¯s say, 3 buildings. One story. One room. Once you¡¯re finished, start on fortifications. I want a wall around 10 feet tall all around the protection dome until you meet the mountain. That should keep you busy for the foreseeable future. You¡¯re in command of the Builders.¡±


    ¡°Aye, I can do that my lord!¡±


    ¡°Hopefully I¡¯ll have more builders soon enough once the Hunter¡¯s start taking down some prey to help you out.¡±


    ¡°Bah, even with no help, I¡¯ll get it done. Praise the Creator!¡±


    Owen scratched his head as Brook left, taking hold of a brick and moving it into a suitable location.


    ¡°This whole Lord thing is so confusing,¡± Owen mumbled. ¡°Being in charge of lives¡­ will I ever get used to it? I really hope the Hunters are okay. How are the others doing? Lai, Casp, Louis¡­¡±


    Feeling his mind begin to jumble, he shook his head. He had to focus. Now, he was responsible for other lives, and soon, there would be a lot more of them. He looked at Pyris and said, ¡°I¡¯ll get you better. Hang on until then.¡±


    Owen closed his eyes and opened up the Lord¡¯s Market. It was a sprawling interface that was the backbone of the Lord¡¯s force. The only downside, which was a big one, was that massive tax put in place. That¡¯s why many Lord¡¯s relied on their own trading caravans in the future to do business. But Owen didn¡¯t have that luxury. Not yet, at least.


    First off, he had to set a username. Already knowing what he had in mind, he placed it as Lord Talentless, so that the others would know he was alive. He placed an exorbitant offer for one unit of sand, so that it would stay there as a reminder. Owen thought with a grin. It had a nice ring to it. After that, the first thing he did was search for his friends, but didn''t see anyone yet. Come on, guys.


    After that was done, he put up everything he had for sale. Hide, meat, bones, and organs. The meat sold instantly. Owen wasn¡¯t surprised. New lords, depending on where they were placed, had to have food. In a desert, tundra, or jungle, it was difficult to come by food. Food that didn¡¯t poison them, anyway.


    The hide sold moments after. It was used for carpets, armour, and warmth. The bones were the next to go. And the organs a little while after that. Both of them were used in potions, and bones could also be used for food by extracting the marrow and tools, if need be. But that was for later. Now, they just used them as very cheap food.


    He received some credits, but it wasn¡¯t nearly enough to purchase all he wanted. He had enough for a basic low-tier health potion, which he quickly bought in case Pyris¡¯s condition worsened.


    Then, all he had to do was wait until his Hunters returned. Before that, however, Owen started carving into the mountain with Unlimited Plunder. He mined out a section inside, sectioning off areas to be used as bedrooms just in case. It was cooler inside.


    With that done, he returned to Pyris¡¯s side and sat down as he watched the builders work under the beating sun. He had water ready for them.


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit cooler over there,¡± Owen said, glancing over at the mountain. ¡°With my Skill, I could create a tunnel system here. If we didn¡¯t have to cross the sands all the time, that would be great. I don¡¯t want to risk moving you though, in case your wounds worsen.¡± Owen talked to her for a while, telling her this and that about his life back on Earth. Well, his Earth, that was.


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    About how he¡¯d always procrastinate in his job, always giving minimum effort for minimum wage. He had a boss that looked down on him, coworkers that he didn¡¯t know the first thing about, and lived alone in a boring 1 bed apartment. He¡¯d work all day, come home, play some games, have dinner, then go to bed. Only to repeat that same routine every single day.


    On the weekend, he¡¯d spend it mostly inside, reading, playing games, or watching countless tv shows. Day by day, his mind would rot, and his motivation to accomplish anything was grinded away into nothing.


    ¡°Well,¡± Owen said, chuckling to himself. ¡°I may die here, but at least I¡¯m away from that life, I suppose. Here, I¡¯m responsible for the lives of these people. You. I¡¯ll do my best, Pyris.¡±


    With a heavy heart, he sighed. He was about to say something else, but the hunters had finally returned. The moment they entered the dome, all the experience of their accomplishments entered his mind. But he wasn¡¯t worried about that for now. Cedric was injured.


    Owen rushed over, taking out his backpack from his storage, and taking out a first-aid kit. He handed it to Draed. No doubt he had more experience in dressing wounds than he did.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Owen asked, gazing at the gaping would gashed into Cedric¡¯s forearm.


    ¡°We met with two ravagers at once,¡± Draed said, gathering his breath. ¡°One of them ambushed us.¡±


    ¡°Be extra careful next time,¡± Owen reminded them and placed a hand on Cedric¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But good job. You killed 2 of them, huh?¡± he smiled in praise.


    Draed nodded. ¡°Next time, we¡¯re going to lure them towards the shield. Once they¡¯re here, killing them will be a breeze.¡±


    ¡°If you can do that, that would be great.¡±


    Watching as the wound stopped bleeding on Cedric¡¯s arm, Owen turned to the rewards. Both physical, as Shelldon dragged across the sands, and mental, from the System.


    Your subordinates have defeated a Dune Ravager x2 (Level 13, 14,)


    | Hunter: Draed Level 5 -> Level 8


    | Hunter: Cedric Level 1 -> 4


    | Owen Taylor Level 10 -> Level 13


    Summoning ticket obtained: Warrior (¡ï¡ï¡ï)


    A 3-Star warrior, nice! Owen thought, his lips curling. Anything to increase his hunting party''s effectiveness was desperately needed.


    First, he placed 3 points into Dexterity. The quicker he could move, the safer he¡¯d be. That was the theory, anyway.


    Then, focusing on his Hunters, all of them seemed to have a strong distribution to Dexterity. Cedric, however, had a one-to-one split to Strength. For Draed, all points had been placed straight into Dexterity, putting him now at 31 in total. It was quite high.


    Not able to wait any longer, Owen ripped the summoning ticket, and the moment the Warrior spawned, Owen took an instinctive step back. Popping out from the void was a tall skeleton around 6 foot 6 inches tall. Judging by the skeleton structure, it was a he, but it felt like an it. Dark green fire spat from within its eye sockets. It knelt down. ¡°This one meets its Lord,¡± it said, its voice hollow and deep. Voice projected like magic.


    ¡°Lome,¡± Owen said, hardly able to maintain his excitement. ¡°Please stand.¡±


    The skeleton warrior named Lome stood, grabbing hold of its enormous two-handed axe.


    Owen focused on its Status and noticed an unusually high Strength stat sitting grandly on 32 even at Level 1. Most likely it was the benefit of its race. Then, Owen looked at Lome¡¯s Skills.


    Overpower ¡ª Mastery: Low


    | Description: Utilise stamina to produce an overwhelming attack.


    Stalwart Skeleton ¡ª Mastery: Low


    | Description: As a member of the Giant Undead race, increase Strength and Vitality considerably. Every Level, increase Strength by an extra point.


    Owen clicked his tongue in appreciation. Lome would prove to be a beast on the battlefield. And as a skeleton, he had no use for food, no reliance on water, and the heat had no effect on him. He was an unstoppable killing machine. Owen couldn¡¯t wait to see him in combat.


    ¡°My Lord!¡± Draed shouted, while sprinting over to Pyris.


    Owen¡¯s heart dropped as he chased. Owen sprinted over, his heart pounding with fear. He dropped to his knees in the sand, his breath catching as he watched Pyris convulsing violently. Cedric and Draed, the two hunters, were struggling to hold her down, their combined strength insufficient against her thrashing.


    Panic surged through Owen as he fumbled for his last remaining health potion¨C


    "My lord," Cedric said, wincing from his own wounded arm. "We need to wait for the seizure to pass."


    "But she might die," Owen replied through gritted teeth, desperation in his voice. Was his first domain member going to die just like this? The first thought that hit him was to use Unlimited Plunder on her. But that was madness. He didn¡¯t have that kind of control. He had pulled it off against the Dune Ravager, but that was driven by sheer desperation and a burning need to kill the beast. To try it on someone he wanted to keep alive? No way. He couldn¡¯t take that risk. Not until he understood his ability more.


    "Have some faith, Lord," Brook, the builder, said from the side. "She¡¯s a strong one. She¡¯ll make it."


    "She¡¯ll make it," Owen repeated, more to himself than anyone else.


    ¡°She will live. And if she doesn''t, she will become a powerful undead General. Do not worry, my Lord,¡± Lome also added in an attempt to comfort his Lord. it made him feel worse, if anything.


    Finally, Pyris''s seizure subsided. Owen carefully fed her the health potion, drop by drop. Her condition improved slightly, the high-quality potion starting to work on her wounds, but it was clear it wouldn''t be enough.


    If he didn¡¯t act quick enough, she was going to die.

 Chapter 15 - On the Hunt

    Owen had no time to waste. Although he wasn¡¯t in tip top condition, he pushed it to the wayside and plundered the two corpses Draed and the others had brought one after the other. A sharp stabbing pain shot through his heart as he plundered the last one. It was a small pain to bear to keep his people alive. The added Stats flowing around his body only stemmed that pain slightly.


    Gasping for air, almost hunched over in the sand, Owen took in the notifications.


    You have fully plundered the Dune Ravager.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 1x Hunter, Summoning Ticket 1x Warrior, Summoning Ticket 1x Sorcerer, Dune Ravager Pelt x8 (Normal), Dune Ravager Organs x6 (Normal), Dune Ravager Bones x5 (Normal).


    | Stats gained: 15 Strength, 17 Vitality, 10 Dexterity.


    Ignoring the rest of his rewards for now, Owen immediately placed all of what he could on the market. Once the money started rolling in, he moved onto what he could purchase. And honestly, he didn¡¯t really know where to begin. One, he didn¡¯t know what kind of anti-poison he needed. Two, he didn¡¯t even know if the quality of said potion could even cure her. All he could do was buy what was available to him with his current means.


    He purchased an assortment of low-tiered anti-venom, anti-poison, and anti-corruption¡ªsome of the only ones on the entire market. Someone must have gotten lucky with finding them, or they had obtained an early Alchemist. Whatever the reason was, he turned to Pyris once the potions appeared in front of him.


    Owen fed them all to her. All but one failed¡ªthe rare and costly anti-corruption antidote. It was the most expensive of the bunch.


    Pyris''s eyes fluttered open, and Owen leaned in, hope sparking within him. "Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?"


    She nodded weakly.


    "Good, that¡¯s good," Owen said, relief evident in his voice. "Don¡¯t worry. I know what you need now. You were corrupted? If you can hang on a while longer, I¡¯ll get a higher tier anti-corruption potion. Do you understand?"


    If one comes on the market. But he kept that grim thought to himself.


    Again, she managed a faint nod.


    "You¡¯ll make it," Owen said gently, placing his hand on hers. "I¡¯ll make sure of it."


    "W¨C" she muttered, struggling to speak. "Why¨C"


    "Why what?" Owen asked, leaning closer. "Why am I healing you?"


    She nodded weakly, her eyes barely staying open.


    "Why wouldn¡¯t I?" he replied softly.


    Only then did she finally fall back asleep, a fragile peace settling over her stunning features.


    Seeing her positive reaction, Owen knew he needed more of the anti-corruption potions, and of higher quality, too. And for that, he needed to up the hunting. He needed to get involved personally.


    Owen took a deep breath then stood up. A lord can¡¯t rest even for a moment, Owen thought.


    He had a lot to do, but first, he started checking to see what was on the market. Currently, it was mostly hide, meat, bones. Owen scrolled and scrolled until he stopped, a feverish smile crawling on his lips. There it was: Lord Iron Fortress. He was selling bones. Owen would have bought them if he didn''t desperately need the Credits himself.


    Now just the rest of you need to put something on the market, Owen thought, hoping that the others would make it, too.


    Thankfully, the sun was now behind the mountain range behind his land, casting his domain in appreciated shade. Now that the immediate crisis with Pyris was over, it was time to summon his new troops. Ripping the tickets, the Hunter was a human with a bow named Roa. And the Warrior was also a human with a sword and shield named Bohar. Both of them were 1-Stars.


    Owen placed his full attention on the next ticket. A Sorcerer. Owen rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Mage¡¯s were very rare from what he knew. Each Lord looked after their mage as if they were a treasure. Ripping it, a humanoid appeared.


    The 2-Star Orc Sorcerer stood tall with a muscular build and deep green skin marred by battle scars. His fierce, intelligent eyes glowed with mystical light. Clad in rugged, enchanted robes and wielding a staff topped with a pulsing crystal, he exuded both raw power and calm wisdom, hinting at profound knowledge beneath his intimidating exterior. He was named Gorath.


    Before he left, all that remained was to designate leaders. Instead of having to micromanage everyone, having someone in charge would make his life so much easier. Especially with the increasing units he obtained.


    Builder Brook was in charge of the Builders¡ªof which Owen tasked him with a food storage cellar. Hunter Draed was in charge of the hunting parties, which also consisted of the warriors. That would change in the future when the Lord¡¯s protection expired after the week, but for now, that was how it was.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    The Sorcerer¡ªGorath¡ªwell, he just made the orc stay inside the dome for now. Owen had read of a Sorcerer''s potent magic, but without knowing how to utilise it in a fight, he thought it best to let him stay until he was certain of his abilities. In defence, Gorath would be vital. He didn¡¯t want to lose him outside on a hunt. Along with Cedric, Owen tasked both of them to attack any monsters using the dome as protection.


    In a desert with monsters popping out of the sands, Owen didn¡¯t want his mage to die. He didn¡¯t want any of his people to die.


    Owen, with his increased Attributes, leapt onto the back of Shelldon. Draed joined him, offering him a much needed vantage point over the sands. Lome trailed behind.


    It was time to earn some money.


    As they left the safety of his domain, Draed told Owen of a set of ruins just beyond a dune in the distance. They hadn¡¯t scouted it, but just the sound of ancient civilization brought Owen forwards. He needed to defeat a monster to gain wealth, but a crypt would also do nicely. During Ansel adventures, he had fallen into a crypt within the Cursed Lands. So he knew of the wealth hiding underground. It was somewhere in the desert, but Owen had no idea where that was.


    Owen wondered if he¡¯d meet up with the main character soon, but from what he knew of the Cursed Lands, it was huge. Well, if he did manage to run into Ansel, he¡¯d do everything he could to stay away from him. The man was insane and didn¡¯t hide his ambition. Owen didn¡¯t want to follow the maniac into the fire.


    Rounding a dune, Owen spotted the ruins his lead hunter had discovered.


    The sun beat down mercilessly on the arid expanse as Owen and his team approached the ruins. Shelldon, Owen¡¯s war tortoise, lumbered forward with a slow but determined pace. Owen stood on Shelldon¡¯s back, scanning the horizon for threats. Lome followed on one side, another warrior on the other, while Draed¡¯s bow was always at the ready next to Owen.


    The ruins loomed in the distance, a collection of crumbling structures and ancient stone walls. As they neared, the ground trembled beneath their feet. Owen¡¯s heart raced as the tremors intensified. A shadow moved under the sand, and suddenly, a massive sand worm erupted from the earth, its gaping maw lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth.


    ¡°Brace yourselves!¡± Owen shouted.


    The sandworm lunged at Shelldon, who sidestepped with surprising agility for his size. The warriors leapt into action, their swords gleaming in the harsh sunlight. Draed nocked an arrow and fired, the projectile embedding itself in the worm¡¯s side. Lome drew his axe, its blade reflecting the sun¡¯s rays and cleaved into the beast''s side. The sandworm hissed in pain, but such an attack had little effect.


    ¡°Attack its side!¡± Owen commanded, his voice firm.


    The warriors obeyed without hesitation, slashing at the worm¡¯s tough hide. The sand worm, sensing the coordinated assault, swung its massive body, sending one of the warriors¡ªBohar¡ªflying. He crashed into the sand, clutching his side in pain.


    ¡°Damn it,¡± Draed growled, glancing at the wounded warrior before focusing on the sand worm. He moved with precision, firing arrows that targeted the sand worm¡¯s joints and softer underbelly, his strikes causing the creature to writhe in agony.


    ¡°Keep attacking!¡± Owen yelled from Shelldon¡¯s back, trying to mask his panic.


    Lome focused on his axe as it thrummed with magical power. He swung it in a savage arc, landing a powerful blow to the creature¡¯s head, his weapon damaging one of its eyes.


    The sandworm roared, thrashing wildly. Shelldon charged forward, Owen and Draed braced for impact as his Spectre rammed his armoured shell into the worm. The harsh impact stunned the beast.


    ¡°Focus on its weak points!¡± Owen commanded, as Lome moved to follow the order, his axe slicing toughened flesh. His strength was obvious as it crashed into the worm.


    Draed took the lead, his eyes narrowing. He moved swiftly, his arrows flying with deadly accuracy. He targeted the sand worm¡¯s remaining eye. The creature roared in agony, its body writhing as it burrowed back into the sand, fleeing from the intense pain.


    Owen spat. Its Level had to be at least in the 20s. If it wasn¡¯t for his number advantage, the situation would have been much worse.


    Breathing heavily, Owen watched as the sand settled. ¡°Is everyone alright?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re good, Lord,¡± Draed said, panting from utilising his bow Skills without reservation. ¡°But he¡¯s hurt,¡± he added, gesturing to the fallen warrior Bohar.


    Owen¡¯s heart sank. It was like the horrors back on Earth resurfacing. He had made a mistake, and someone got hurt because of it. ¡°We need to move quickly. The ruins aren¡¯t far.¡±


    But first, Owen quickly slid off the back of his Spectre, took out a health potion, and gave it to the warrior.


    ¡°Drink up,¡± he said, clenching his hands in guilt. Maybe if he had made another decision, a better one, he could have escaped that fight unscathed. He had to do better.


    Bohar nodded, and downed the red liquid. He smiled as the warmth sensation took hold of him, relieving him of his wounds and pain.


    Leaving, they reached the ruins, the ancient stones casting long shadows in the setting sun. As they explored, a low growl echoed through the crumbling walls. A sand hound, its body covered in jagged, rock-like scales, leapt from the shadows.


    ¡°Another one!¡± Lome shouted, raising his axe.


    The sand hound attacked with ferocious speed, its claws slashing through the air. Shelldon swung his massive head, knocking the beast aside. Draed drew his bow again, moving with fluid grace as he engaged the hound from a distance.


    Owen shouted commands from atop Shelldon. ¡°Lome, flank it! Warriors, distract it from the front! Draed, keep firing!¡±


    The warriors moved to obey, their swords striking the hound with precision. Draed¡¯s arrows found their mark, piercing the hound¡¯s vulnerable spots. The coordinated efforts of the team began to wear the creature down. Each moment that passed, their teamwork increased in effectiveness.


    ¡°Keep pressing it!¡± Owen urged, his voice shaking. He was afraid to make a mistake, but he pressed on. Regardless of if they were injured, they had to kill the beast.


    Lome moved like a lumbering beast, landing blow after blow with incredible strength. The sand hound grew sluggish, its movements slowing. Finally, Lome delivered a powerful strike to the creature¡¯s skull, splitting it open like a watermelon. The beast convulsed, then collapsed in a heap of fur, blood, and sand.


    Panting, the group gathered around the fallen beast.


    Your subordinates have defeated a Sand Hound x1 (Level 16)


    Everyone had received multiple Levels. Owen noticed that all of Lome¡¯s points added straight into Strength. Thanks to his Skill: Stalwart Skeleton, he¡¯d soon be a powerhouse. And then¨C


    You have received a Fragment: Dune Crest¡¯s Veil.


    A Fragment?! Owen thought in amazement as it spawned within his Soul.

 Chapter 16 - Letter of Love

    Descending into his core, he noticed a new star. Reaching out, the information welcomed itself.


    Fragment: [Dune Crest¡¯s Veil].


    | Tier: Apprentice


    | Type: Armour/Clothing.


    | Description: Only the Dune Crest can resist the suns of the Cursed Lands


    | Runes: Self-Repairing, Heat Resistance, Hardened.


    With the knowledge of the book, he willed the clothing to cover his head. And so it did. A brown and red scarf wrapped around his neck. The material was cold to the touch, and with a little struggle, he managed to figure out how to wrap it around his head.


    The cooling sensation was incredible. It not only covered the top of his head, but his neck and shoulders as well. At least he didn¡¯t need to worry about his brain scrambling because of the sandy, supernatural oven he had been placed in. He hoped he could gain more for his people. But he knew that was a long shot.


    His eyes flitted back to the Runes. He focused on them.


    Self-Repairing: This Fragment will repair any damage it receives. Expend Mana to repair it.


    There¡¯s always a cost.


    He moved onto the next.


    Heat Resistance: This Fragment is capable of blocking intensive heat while keeping the user cool.


    Hardened: This Fragment has been enchanted with a magical armour quality. Able to resist attacks against Tier 2 monsters.


    The three runes, although not high tier, were exactly what he needed right now. Although the Dune Crest¡¯s Veil was made out of some sort of cloth, thanks to the Hardened Rune, meant that it would protect him like any metal helmet would.


    Ecstatic about earning his first fragment through hard work and risk, Owen approached the corpse with a determined stride. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get what we came for.¡±


    Attempting to use Unlimited Plunder, he knew right away that it was a no-go. The warning signs were telling him that he needed more rest. He didn¡¯t dare ignore them this time.


    Damn it, so be it, Owen thought as he stored the corpse of the hound and turned his attention to the surrounding ruins. They told of a lost civilization. Just what the hell had happened to this place? Was it always a desert? He should have read on before he had sent in that review¡­


    Owen decided to fully explore the ruins while he was here. He¡¯d have to be quick as the horizon had transformed into a gorgeous orange. The desert was also rapidly cooling. Faster than he thought it would as a chill sent goosebumps all over his arms.


    While he was worried about Pyris, there was nothing he could do if he had no money to purchase what he needed.


    A lot of the buildings remained mostly in-tact, and that meant there were useful things within that the previous owners had left. Pots for cooking, jugs to use as containers, and even cutlery and spare clothes that still remained in one piece. An adventurer in the Land Between had to make use of anything and everything if they wanted to survive the hellish landscape. Of course, Owen stored all of them.


    Heading further within the ruins with his troops protecting him on all sides, Owen spotted a dark recess hidden under collapsed sandstone pillars. Was it a tunnel? Owen wondered as he approached it carefully with a rock in hand. He threw it into the dark spot. It struck against something solid and rolled a few feet before stopping. He waited. He listened. But after two minutes, nothing seemed to move within.


    ¡°Let me, my lord,¡± Draed said as he knocked back an arrow. He took a breath, and the tip of his arrow shone a gentle light. He fired it straight into the darkness, revealing a tunnel. However, there was a huge pillar that had mostly blocked the entrance.


    With everyone helping, but mainly Shelldon doing the heavy lifting, they managed to pull the fallen pillar to the side.


    Owen gazed into the tunnel. With the help of Draed¡¯s light arrows, Owen saw a narrow passageway with scarred walls. Cautiously, he entered. His troops were ready for any threat that dared leap out at them. Shelldon protected the entrance.


    Noticing that the tunnel was safe, Owen brushed his fingers across the wall, touching the scars. They were at least three inches deep, in lines of five. Claws? Owen wondered. He gulped. They weren¡¯t just located at the entrance, but they lined the entire tunnel.


    He walked at least twenty metres deep, and they were still there. Some of them cut deeper than the others. Whatever had created them was some sort of beast. His heart was screaming. Telling him to get out. To retreat back into the ruins.


    Just a bit more, Owen thought with determination as he continued forward. The passageway started to slope downward. Owen counted until twenty minutes had passed. Only then did the narrow and cramped passageways open up into an enormous cavern at least 50 metres tall, as far as Owen could see.


    The floor still consisted of sand. But now there were rocks dotted around. Some small, the size of his fists, some large, larger than him.


    The smell was strange. Dust mixed with iron wafted throughout the cave. Owen looked ahead, peering through the darkness. His mouth widened. He took a panicked step back, his troops raised their weapons.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    In the distance, where the cave seemed to end, a colossal bone monster lay against the back wall. It looked at him. His first thought was to flee, but then he blinked. The monster wasn¡¯t alive. It wasn¡¯t a bone monster. Well, it was, technically, but it was just a decayed corpse. Its skeletal form was grotesquely exaggerated, with elongated limbs and a skull-like head that had empty eye sockets and a gaping, toothy maw. The bones, underneath still decaying flesh, were weathered and worn and deep blade-like scars had been etched into them.


    Who, or what, could kill such a monster, Owen gaped at the sight. The nightmarish beast had to be at least the Champion rank. Maybe it was even beyond that? Owen swallowed a dry breath of air. If he encountered such a monster, he wouldn¡¯t have time to blink before he would be slaughtered.


    Next to the hulking decomposing monster, was a more familiar sight. Human bones. Six of them. None of them were whole. Some were missing arms and other legs, but none of them had clothes. There wasn¡¯t even a sign of decomposed clothes. They most likely all had a full set of Fragments. Like the monster, their flesh was still decaying.


    How much time had passed since they had passed?


    Owen once again spent some more time making sure that it was safe. Draed fired arrows to every dark corner he could find, but nothing stirred. Owen breathed a sigh of relief then walked over to the human skeletons.


    He stopped a few feet from them, then crouched down. They were all close-by, but one of them was just a couple inches from the middle of a big boulder larger than Owen. It had its hand gently placed against the sand, like it was placed against something, or someone, longingly. It was a woman.


    ¡°I hope all of you rest in peace,¡± Owen said. He grit his teeth. He wasn¡¯t a religious man, but the thought of them dying in unknown land, unable to come back home, was a sobering feeling. It wasn¡¯t one Owen wanted to experience.


    They must have been experts. To have killed such a monster, they would have to be, Owen thought.


    Owen was about to move, but the woman skeleton in front of him moved. Owen brandished his kukri in a flash as he tensed.


    The skull of the woman fell to the floor, clanging against the rest of her bones. Noticing that it was just the bones becoming weak, Owen released a nervous chuckle. Then he noticed something. Hidden in the bones, was a letter. It was whole, but tattered.


    He picked it up and read the words scribbled on the page with shock.


    <hr>


    My Dearest Tess,


    As I pen down these words, I am haunted by the shadow of the monster we faced together, and the unbearable pain of your fading light. It grieves me beyond words to know that you are slipping away, but I cannot let you depart without expressing the profound love and admiration I hold for you.


    I leave you this note with the fervent wish that it accompanies you on your journey to the heavens. I hope it serves as a reminder of the love we shared and the incredible strength you demonstrated. You are an inspiration, my love, and I am a better person for having known you. Your memory will forever guide and comfort me.


    I find solace in the belief that you will find a paradise far removed from the monsters and suffering of this world.


    My love for you knows no bounds, and even as you depart, it remains steadfast and unwavering. I pray that you find serenity, joy, and eternal peace in the loving embrace of the heavens. Please don¡¯t worry about me. You all may have fallen, but you will stay with me for eternity.


    Until we meet again on the other side, my dearest Tess, you will be forever in my thoughts, my heart, and my prayers.


    With all my love,


    Armand,


    <hr>


    Owen finished the letter, a lump forming in his throat. Silence gripped him as he absorbed the words. Armand was madly in love with a woman named Tess, but fate had been cruel to him. Such was life within the Cursed Lands.


    Not only had Armand lost his lover, but his letter also implied that the skeletons here were his entire team. To have lost so much and still find the strength to forge ahead¡ªOwen felt a deep respect and admiration for the man named Armand. He aspired to be like him, someone with the power to keep moving forward no matter what.


    Strangely, Owen had never seen this part inside the book. Was it there, but Ansel hadn¡¯t found this place. Or was it added as an attempt to flesh out the world? Owen had no idea.


    ¡°Life can be cruel, my lord,¡± Draed said, his voice tinged with newfound respect for Armand.


    ¡°It is,¡± Owen replied resolutely. ¡°I hope he¡¯s still alive somewhere.¡±


    ¡°A man who could defeat that kind of monster,¡± added Lome. ¡°He must be.¡±


    Owen nodded, his gaze lingering on the skeletons. He was met with a decision. Plunder them and receive bonuses... or not? Owen struggled internally for a while before deciding not to go through with it. It didn''t feel right. These were once people with memories, feelings... love. What if he obtained a Spectre. A human Spectre. Owen shook his head. He didn''t have the guts to do that.


    He noticed the hypocrisy. He summoned units from the System. They had lives of their own. But it was... different. They had signed up to the System, had already put their names forward to win glory and respect across the vast universe. The corpses here didn''t ask for that. Didn''t give their permission to have their bodies plundered. Didn''t sign up to have their spirit ripped from their body to fight for him for eternity, or until he himself died.


    Next, he looked at the enormous skeleton at the back of the room. The creature''s bones emanated a presence that demanded respect.


    Placing the letter back to its owner, Owen carefully walked up to the colossal monster. He took a deep breath, then stored the beast into his storage, pain continuing, but storing things was far less demanding than plundering. The warriors and hunters gasped in surprise at such a hulking skeleton vanishing before their eyes.


    He¡¯d harvest the beast later once he was capable. But he was happy. It was worth the risk. What would the bones of such an incredible monster grant him once he had the ability to Plunder them? He couldn''t wait to find out.


    But for now, it was time to leave. He had to make it to his territory before sundown. The Cursed Lands were known for its darkness. A consuming dark that ate away at any ordinary light source.


    Owen and his team exited the cave, and just as they were about to leave the ruins, the surrounding light took a sharp decline. It was rapidly getting darker and darker. An uneasy feeling washed over Owen, reminiscent of the time he visited a zoo and gazed into the tigers enclosure. The tiger looked back, and Owen would never forget that feeling¡ªthe sensation of being stared at by a dominant predator, exuding confidence in its ability to take his life if not for the barrier between them.


    Owen was afraid.


    He looked around, then up. A formless blackness was slowly inching over the moon, covering it halfway. The ground trembled and rocked. Then, he heard an intense rumble that shook the entirety of the ruins¡ªand seemingly the world around him.


    His mind in turmoil, he wondered what the hell was going on. This had never happened before in the book. New events were occurring.


    With whatever light was left, Owen peered toward the sound. What he saw caused his heart to drop.


    A pitch-black wave was headed straight for him. The size was colossal, at least the height of multiple high-rise buildings stacked on top of each other; taller than any building he had ever seen. It exuded dread. The moonlight illuminated the tsunami, revealing it to be sand. That, and the darkness it brought with it, threatened to consume the world whole.

 Chapter 17 - Enemies that Lurk

    He and his men gazed at the sand wave in horror. Lome was the first to react, as if fear had no effect on him, pulling Owen off his feet. Together, they all sprinted straight for the tunnel. The sand would undoubtedly entomb them, but that was a worry for later.


    Securely in Lome¡¯s arms, he sprinted as fast as his skeleton legs could take him. And he was quick. Owen watched the tsunami tower above him. Any moment now, and they would be devoured. His heart struck against his chest. It was getting darker. Not even his Draed¡¯s desperate arrows could break through the veil of black threatening to consume them whole.


    Owen grit his teeth and returned Shelldon to his soul. He couldn¡¯t die here. Then, with all his might, Lome leapt through the air, straight toward the tunnel. The wave was right above them. The rising sands touched his feet. It was cold.


    ¡°Shit!¡± He screamed. Sand splattered into his mouth. Grit grinded in amongst his teeth. And then he launched straight into the tunnel. He rolled, and continued to roll. Rocks poked and prodded his body like blunted daggers. But he couldn¡¯t feel the pain. Adrenaline made sure of that.


    The sand was right behind him. Someone pulled him up¡ªLome, he realised¡ªand pulled Owen forward. The sand covered his legs, engulfed his chest, and climbed until it grabbed hold of his neck.


    He continued forward. The sand didn¡¯t stop. He held his breath. The sand consumed him. To his horror, one of his Warriors died as he received the notification of one of his units perishing.


    But unable to open his eyes, he was consumed by darkness. Not only that, his lungs burned from having to hold his breath. One minute. Two minutes. His throat lurched. He wanted to gasp for a breath, but he knew the moment he tried, sand would fill his mouth and throat and it would choke him to death. He held on. Lome pulled him forwards.


    Just as he was about to black out, he felt his body hit open air. He gasped the instant he realised he had resurfaced from the sand. He coughed and spluttered, sending clumped up sand from his throat.


    My men, Owen thought, not taking his own well being into consideration. He counted. Lome, Draed, and¡­ Bohar. He sighed in relief.


    Owen lay flat against the cold stone of the tunnels. Chest rising fast, he gazed at the blocked tunnel. There was nowhere to escape to. The tsunami of sand had most likely washed over the entirety of the land, engulfing it whole. His land would be safe as nothing could penetrate a Lord¡¯s protection dome, but those inside would be given a shock.


    Thankfully, Owen had Unlimited Plunder. He¡¯d just have to wait and then excavate the sand until he was back outside.


    Owen lay for a few seconds, recovering his breath. Once that was done, he stood up with the help of Lome.


    ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± he asked, scanning his men.


    They nodded, grunting in affirmation.


    ¡°Okay, good,¡± Owen said in relief. It could have gone a lot worse. ¡°Let¡¯s find a way out of here.¡±


    Heading back into the main cavern, Owen wandered over to a standing pillar. It was enormous, about the width of twenty humans all standing huddled around each other.


    He brought out his bag from his storage and quickly snatched out the flask of water. He first washed his mouth out before drinking some. He then handed it to the others.


    Then he brought out his fire starter. It was a basic flint and steel. With the wood he had taken with him, he started trying to make the fire. Sometimes he would get close, blowing the embers in hope the fire would start. And other times it just wouldn¡¯t work. Draed ended up taking over, and a few moments later, embers transformed into a crackling flame.


    Owen¡¯s mind turned absent. How was mum doing? Dad? Owen sighed. The warmth of the fire licked his cheeks. But the darkness was beginning to eat away at the light, gradually, second by second. Around 6 minutes passed and the darkness had consumed most of the illumination. The crackling fire only shone around two foot around it. Thankfully, it had no effect on the fire. Soon found his eyelids turning heavy. Then darkness took hold of him once more.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ***


    It had been an hour since Owen had awakened and it was freezing. During the night, the fire had dwindled, and he and his men had ended up cuddling each other to fend off the cold. Lome was useless in that regard. The skeleton warrior was as cold as the night¡¯s chill was. Despite that, he still wanted to be a part of the group huddle. Owen didn¡¯t have the heart to kick him away.


    After drinking some water and eating some of the provisions he had stored, it was time to find an exit.


    He took one step, then heard a crack. Draed, Lome, and Rohan whirled around. At first he thought it was another skeleton unable to weather the test of time, but then another crack entered Owen¡¯s ears. Then another. Quickly, ten or so cracks, followed by the noise of popping raised the hairs at Owen¡¯s nape.


    Owen spun on his heels. Oh shit. Owen watched as from below where the monster carcass was located, numerous worms emerged. There had to be at least 15, or more. Owen and his men were already running toward the tunnel entrance.


    A screeching squeal attacked his ears. Chased by the sound of hurried scuttling. Owen¡¯s arms trembled. He glanced over his shoulder and gazed at the creatures screeching with him as the target.


    They were worms around the size of Owen¡¯s torso. One of them still had a piece of putrid flesh covered bone in its dagger-like lined mouth. They were gaining on him. Lome had to pick him up again.


    Shit!


    Lome picked up the pace. Everyone managed to keep up. Owen glanced over his shoulder once more. The nearest worm was close. Just ten feet. Draed turned and fired an arrow. It bore through the first monster, and fired into the second behind it with deadly precision.


    Your subordinates have defeated a Bone Worm (Level 8)


    | You have reached Le¨C


    Owen cut the message off. The next worm leapt for him, but he sliced at the worm with his kukri, splitting it in half. There were too many of them, and they were gaining on him.


    Owen grit his teeth. It was a twenty or so minute run back to the ruins. They weren¡¯t going to make it. He looked around, his heart smashing against his chest. At the corner of his eye, another worm jumped at him, yellowed teeth pointed at him.


    Rohan used his shield, smacking one of the worms, sending it crashing against the wall. The wall crumbled into dust. Owen¡¯s eyes widened. That was it!


    ¡°Destroy the walls!¡±


    His men devotedly listened to his order without a shred of hesitation. Draed fired supernatural arrows into the wall, Lome slashed it, and Rohan pummeled the wall as they ran. They also targeted the ceiling.


    Suddenly, the tunnel gave in behind him. Sand, rocks, and bones hidden in the dust, all cascaded down onto the bone-eating worms, covering them completely. They were gone.


    His plan had worked. Then he heard rocks move. A worm leapt out from under the dust pile. It was so fast, Owen, or the others, didn¡¯t have much time to react. He brandished his blade, but it was too late. Owen felt scorching pain. Or maybe it was the blood dripping down his shoulder. He felt the worm latch onto the back of his shoulder. It squirmed.


    Lome tried to remove it, but Owen panicked.


    He slammed his shoulder against the stone wall in a maddened craze. Finally, after the seventh strike, the worm fell.


    Owen stomped on the monster repeatedly, mashing it into a bloody pulp. Die, bastard, Owen thought through gritted teeth. He received the kill notification. Dust swirled all around him. No rewards.


    ¡°Keep moving,¡± Owen said through a cough.


    Not savouring his victory just yet, Owen and the others kept on running. He didn¡¯t hear anything coming from behind him. That was good. But his heart burned. His legs ached. Having sprinted for twenty minutes straight, he was nearing his limit. Not only that, but the over utilisation of Ultimate Plunder had exhausted him.


    Light appeared. How? The sand from the tsunami should have filled the tunnel to where he was. But the fact was, there was light, and no sand. It was getting brighter by the second. But then he heard screeches coming from deep in the tunnel.


    With strained breath, Owen broke past the barrier of light. An intense heat followed, beating into his fleshy torso, arms, and legs. Lome turned on his heels and slammed his axe into the entrance of the tunnel, where it was held up by heavy supports.


    The blade sliced through the only supports holding the tunnel up; the archway of heavy sandstone. The arch collapsed, sending god knows how many tonnes of boulder into the tunnel. The land behind it also caved in, like a mountain caving inwards.


    Dust surged out. Owen closed his eyes and moved behind a broken wall for cover. The dust settled a few moments later and no noise could be heard. He wasn¡¯t happy with that. He waited ten more minutes in the alien heat, keeping a close eye on the tunnel for any movement. The last thing he wanted was for the worms to hunt him down when he turned his back.


    There was no activity.


    Owen and his men were free.

 Chapter 18 - Corruption

    It was time to return. Battered, bruised, and nearly broken, Owen summoned Shelldon and clambered onto his back along with all the others. It was cramped, but everyone was too tired to care. Well, apart from Lome, that was.


    Shelldon moved at high speed, sensing his master¡¯s emergence to return home. Hot air blew past Owen¡¯s sand swept hair. As they headed out of the ruins, Owen scanned the surroundings. As did Draed.


    ¡°The sand seems to have seeped deep into the ground,¡± he said.


    ¡°I thought it just up and vanished,¡± replied Owen. ¡°Your theory is better.¡± He looked at Draed, and said, ¡°What do you think that was? Have you ever seen anything like it?¡±


    As soon as the words left his mouth, he realised what he had just said.


    Draed shook his head, and so did the others. ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°As a summon for the System, we have no memories, my Lord. But, I feel like I''ve never seen such a thing. That darkness¡­ is no ordinary darkness. Magic must be involved, one way or another.¡±


    No memories, right, Owen thought bitterly. It hit him just how dark that truth really was. These people¡ªDraed and the others¡ªwere torn from their worlds, stripped of their families, their lives, and all for what? To fight for him? A 24-year-old office worker with no real ambitions?


    Even if Draed and the others felt nothing about being ripped from their homes, Owen did. And it made him furious on their behalf. As a reader, it was easy to overlook the weight of what happened to the characters. But now, being one of them¡ªa mere Extra¡ªhe felt the full force of it. And it burned inside him with a vengeance.


    Calming down, and with Dunes Crest cooling his head, Owen couldn¡¯t help but think about this place further.


    If he wanted to get out of the Cursed Lands, he had to find an Outpost and enter its gateway to return back to Earth. Because of the book, he knew there was an Outpost somewhere. But that was the problem. It was somewhere in the desert. With no landmarks to go off of, it was like finding a needle in a¡­ desert.


    And if he couldn¡¯t find that place in particular, he¡¯d just have to find an abandoned Gateway somewhere, and somehow defeat its guardian. If that was even possible. And now there was the tsunami of which he hadn''t read about in the novel. Was it because he was in a location where it existed and Ansel hadn''t been here before, or was it a new addition from the author? The unknown was unsettling.


    5 minutes past, and Draed rose his hand, his face serious. Owen commanded Shelldon to stop.


    Hopping off the back of the war tortoise, Draed stopped not far away. Owen realised what he was doing as he created a sun visor with his hand and squinted his eyes. The hunter was checking footprints in the sand.


    Draed clicked his tongue.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Owen asked, glancing around at his surroundings in caution.


    Draed returned, hopping onto the Spectre¡¯s shell. ¡°Footsteps.¡±


    ¡°Monster?¡± Lome asked.


    Draed shook his head. ¡°Human, but bigger. They¡¯re familiar. That creature back in the Lord¡¯s territory has the same footsteps.¡±


    Gorath? An Orc? ¡°Are you certain?¡± Owen frowned.


    ¡°I am, my Lord.¡±


    In the novel, the orcs were one of the strongest groups of beings in the universe. They were spread far and wide and they were renowned and feared for their never-ending aggression, and their need for domination.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    But the details were fuzzy. Reading their tactics in a book with poor explanations didn¡¯t exactly translate well to real life. He had to do more research, in person.


    ¡°After you have recovered,¡± Owen commanded, ¡°take Lome and Cedric out scouting if he¡¯s up to it. The fact that there¡¯s footsteps so early after the darkness, after that wave, means that it was not only recent, but their territory is close, is that right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re correct, my Lord.¡±¡°Alright,¡± Owen said gravely. ¡°Let¡¯s return.¡±


    And so they returned. Instantly, he received notifications of four Sand Hound kills. Thanks to their hunt, he had Levelled up 3 times, putting him at 16. He placed all of his points into Vitality in preparation for Plundering that terrifying skeleton. Then, he noticed four Sand Hound bodies all scorched with magic and scored with blade marks. It appeared Cedric and Gorath had been busy.


    Owen noted that the building was almost finished. He¡¯d seen Brook¡¯s progress before, but hadn¡¯t been in the mood to really take it in. The extra builders had clearly sped things along. That was good¡ªthey needed shelter and beds. But with that tsunami¡­ if it was a daily thing, then he¡¯d have to think about something else for shelter. The house sported a tall, tower-like structure above the main building. Owen didn¡¯t know what it was for, but he¡¯d ask later.


    Right now, his entire focus was on Pyris. He rushed to her side and noticed that her condition was worsening. Her beautiful face was scrunched up in unbearable pain. Gorath the Sorcerer was tending to her. He bowed and said, ¡°My Lord, I¡¯m afraid her wounds are worsening by the hour. I tended to her all through the night, but there¡¯s nothing I can do. My magic is focused on destruction, not healing.¡±


    Owen nodded and placed a reassuring hand on Gorath¡¯s shoulder, much to his shock. ¡°You¡¯ve done well.¡± Gorath didn¡¯t even need to be ordered to care for Pyris, which meant he cared. Or maybe he was just currying favour. Whatever the reason, Owen approved. He wanted people like that in his kingdom.


    Gorath scuttled backwards and bowed. ¡°You honour me.¡±


    Pyris¡¯s eyes were shut, but she was mumbling something. Owen kneeled by her side. He still couldn¡¯t hear her, so he got closer until her breath tickled his ear.


    ¡°Why¡­ did you¡­ kill her?¡±


    Owen frowned and stood up. Who was she talking about?


    ¡°She¡¯s been saying the same thing all night, my Lord,¡± Gorath said.


    Owen sighed and said, almost to himself, ¡°It¡¯s likely a remnant of memories from before I summoned her here. Perhaps intervening at that moment saved her from the enemy hunting her.¡± Owen stood up. It was time to plunder. For strength. For Wealth.


    Moving away, he plundered all the corpses he had on him; one Sand Hound, plus the four Cedric and Gorath had hunted. He left the terrifying skeleton he had stored for now.


    You have plundered a Sand Hound x5.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 2x Warrior, 1x Hunter, 1x Builder, Sand Hound Pelt x4 (Normal), Sand Hound Pelt x1 (Inferior), Sand Hound Meat and Organs x43 (Normal), Sand Hound Bones x36 (Normal).


    | Stats gained: 10 Strength, 15 Vitality, 20 Dexterity


    He felt the added increase from the Stats flowing into his body right away. It was a feeling he could never get used to. He felt healthier, stronger, more perceptive. It was a strange sensation; like he was becoming someone noticeably superior.


    Still no Skill, Owen thought. It¡¯s only a matter of time before I get one. I need to think of monsters to hunt to give me the best ones possible. Sand Hound Would give me sand abilities. That would be very helpful.


    Putting those thoughts to the side for now, he opened the Lord¡¯s Market and searched for Louis and the others. He trembled upon seeing that everyone was still alive. If they weren¡¯t, and if they had things up on the market, their names would vanish.


    God job, everyone, Owen thought, smiling.


    Only then did he check the market for what he needed. ¡°Where are you,¡± He mumbled, scrolling all the way down after a quick search. Truthfully, he wasn¡¯t expecting to find what he needed. It would be a long shot to find¡ª ¡°Found you,¡± he said, shocked, clicking on a test tube that was covered in a golden casing. It was called: Purifying Elixir of Aegis. Displayed by a reinforced glass slit, was a purple liquid. It was a rare potion to fight off even the strongest of corruption. The seller was a Lord nicknamed Tonic. Owen recalled his name from the book. Because of his science background, he got the alchemist class early on. In the future, he¡¯d be a big player. Rich, too. Owen noticed more potions that he was selling as well. Did he wake up in a treasure trove of herbs?


    The elixir cost well over 2000 credits, which was a hell of a lot for being so early. If it was a health potion of the equivalent rank, it would have cost even more.


    Without hesitation, he placed all the tickets on the market. They sold fast. Not many people would willingly get rid of their extra summoning tickets, so they fetched a stellar price.


    It didn¡¯t bother him one bit selling them. He had a life to save. No amount of money was worth losing that. She was a 7-Star, after all. He bought it. The tube appeared in his hands a moment later.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Gorath bowed, panic evident in his voice. ¡°Her condition has worsened.¡±


    Owen swiped away the interface and rushed past Gorath, kneeling by Pyris¡¯s side. Only minutes had passed and her condition had already visibly worsened. Her pale skin was turning purple, blood trickled from her ears, and she gripped a handful of sand so tightly her knuckles were white.

 Chapter 19 - Preparations

    Grabbing the Purifying Elixir of Aegis and popping off the lid, revealed a long, dreadful needle. Owen shivered just looking at it. But now wasn¡¯t the time to hesitate because of his dislike of needles. He quickly read the instructions provided and paused.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way,¡± He mumbled to himself, realising where he had to stick the needle. He took a breath and glanced at Gorath, ¡°it needs to be plunged into the heart.¡±


    ¡°You can do it, my Lord,¡± Gorath said. ¡°Have confidence.¡±


    ¡°Right, confidence.¡±


    Realising what he was about to do, Owen shakily unfastened Pyris¡¯s armour. The plated armour seemed mediaeval and magical. He unfastened the straps and lifted the breastplate, only to realise just how heavy it was. Using all of his strength, he hoisted the heavy metal off and slammed it into the sand.


    He stared at her for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, please excuse me,¡± he said, placing his finger on her chest to find where he had to strike.


    ¡°Oh shit,¡± he said, palms turning sweaty. ¡°Okay, not thoughts. Just do it¡ª¡±


    Owen plunged the needle into Pyris¡¯s heart in one swift motion. She gasped sharply, her eyes snapping open.


    ¡°Pyris.¡± Owen shuffled closer, but realised she was in no condition to speak. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she quickly fell back asleep. Owen turned to Gorath.


    ¡°Try giving her a health tincture now,¡± Gorath instructed. Owen complied, dripping one of the last potions into her mouth. This time, her wounds began to heal completely. Owen wiped the sweat pouring from his forehead and flashed a relieved smile.


    I think I¡¯m going to be sick.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Gorath said, also smiling, ¡°it¡¯s working. The antidote is fighting the corruption. And it¡¯s winning. The potion is¡­ marvellous.¡±


    For what it cost me, it better be.


    But there were no regrets. Even if it had cost tens of thousands of credits, he¡¯d have done it again. Watching as Pyris¡¯s pained expression washed away like the tide reaffirmed that belief. It was all worth it.


    Owen held her hand. ¡°You¡¯ll get better. I¡¯m certain of it.¡±


    After comforting her for a few minutes, Owen stood up, his attention moved to the orc they had detected before. The fact that there were orcs outside his territory could mean a few things. One, there was another Lord in the vicinity. Two, it was just one random Orc that had been placed here like many humans from Earth. Three, they had a leader, but he wasn¡¯t a Lord. Owen hoped it was the second one.


    The Land Between originally only had monsters. There were no humanoid races, and the only ones that were here were from Earth. Or other worlds. Because of that, Earth was no longer a place just belonging to humans. The people from other worlds could enter their bastions, enter their gateways, and go to Earth. Just like other Heros visited them.


    And that was just the least of his worries. His mind spun. He had to release some stress while waiting for his hunters to return.


    After spending a couple hours working on the mountain, creating more rooms, digging deeper in an attempt to find precious rock and metal, of which he hadn¡¯t found any yet, he returned back to the sands. But not completely empty handed.


    Quest gained: Harvest 10,000 tonnes of Sand Rock.


    | Reward: 5 Summoning Tickets: Miners.


    The mission was promising¡ªexactly what he needed for long-term progress. With the additional Miners, they could work around the clock: the crew by day, and Owen could oversee the night shift after his duties. It meant a significant boost in productivity, pushing them one step closer to obtaining metal. After that, all he¡¯d need was a Blacksmith. Easier said than done.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Reaching the main portion of his land, he made contact with the leader of the hunters: Draed. He had returned unharmed with Cedric and Lome. Owen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Draed,¡± Owen said as the elf hunter bowed. ¡°Where are we at with the orcs?¡±


    Upon hearing the words, Gorath wandered over.


    ¡°I tracked the steps in the sand to those mountains,¡± Draed pointed to two mountains that was parted in the middle. ¡°I didn¡¯t dare head any further across the open. There is something¡­ big hiding under the sands. I think it knows when I step.¡±


    ¡°Big,¡± Owen repeated. ¡°Just how big are we talking?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not too certain, my Lord. All I know is that it is no monster that I hope to fight. I felt my bones rattle, my blood run cold despite the heat.¡±


    Could be a Colossal Worm.


    "Alright," Owen said. "Firstly, we need to understand our enemy. If they are friendly, we can negotiate an alliance. If they are hostile," he paused, clenching his teeth, "then we can''t coexist with them."


    "If they crossed the desert without angering whatever lurks underground, they can move freely," Draed added.


    Cedric spoke up. "With your permission, my Lord, Draed and I can lay in wait, using the sands as camouflage. If they''ve found our location, it won''t be long before they set up a permanent scout. For all we know, they already have one watching us."


    Owen scanned the surroundings. To his back was a steep mountain; a climber among the enemy could render its height useless. On the other side, huge dunes stretched into the distance, beyond which lay the mountains where Draed had scouted the orcs.


    "Alright," Owen said. "But be careful. I can''t lose you.¡±


    "My Lord, if I may speak?" Lome asked. Owen nodded. Lome continued, "We need more recruits."


    "For that, we need to hunt," Owen said. "But you''re right, we are stretched thin. I have something in mind, but I need to rest before using my powers again. Alright¡ª" Owen clapped. "¡ªDraed, Cedric, you can go now. If you find their scout, don¡¯t kill them. Capture if necessary. I don''t want to make enemies if we can avoid it."


    Maybe it was naivety, maybe it was a thought that not all orcs were as bad as each other. But he wanted to avoid confrontation if he could.


    They nodded.


    Owen turned to Brook the Builder. "Brook, don''t build another house just yet. Create a battlement at the border of the dome in case the orcs attack. Make it shaded so we can also use it as shelter or storage. I¡¯ve already started on rooms in the mountain. But we need a decoy. The castle you build will be that decoy. Design it in a way that it¡¯s enough to fend off against that damn tsunami as well. If you need my help to gather more resources, just let me know. Hopefully I¡¯ll get more builders soon."


    Brook saluted, fist to heart. "Your wish is my command, my Lord."


    I would create defences at the mountain, but that would make it obvious if I were to make that my main base, Owen thought. I¡¯m not the only one with digging capabilities.


    "Gorath," Owen continued, "if these beings truly are orcs, I may need your expertise. Where do they keep food? How do they store it? How do they patrol? Tell Lome everything and he will relay it to Draed when they return. Head to the south. Don¡¯t leave far outside the dome. Kill any monster you see. But be careful of traps. Keep your eyes peeled on the sand.¡±


    Lome saluted. Gorath bowed. They left together.


    Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Owen said, "As for me, I need to rest. After that, I''ll assess what we''ve gained and try to recruit more units."


    "As the Lord wills,¡± all said at the same time.


    Owen nodded as they quickly went about their tasks. He handed Lome his war tortoise again, knowing his war steed would be of no use confined within the Lord''s barrier. With Lome as his most potent fighting force, he had to send them out to the south with power. The more they killed, the more Levels they gained, the more powerful everyone became.


    Owen took out the cacti he had acquired before and placed them in the sand. The Builders sliced them open and drank the contents within before getting back to work. Owen copied them, slurping up the nectar of the desert plant. He wasn¡¯t done there. Brook had erected a smoke hut at some point for the fire, which Owen thanked him internally. Then, he hung the meat up and notified the others that food would be ready soon.


    As for Owen, he was fighting off sleep. He was far too tired to even feel his stomach rumbling.


    Looking for a good place to sleep, Owen entered the building Brook had just constructed, he felt a cool breeze from above. Looking up, he noticed a small amount of light filtering in from windows built into the high tower. Those were the only windows. Brook had created a wind tunnel, perfect for the desert climate.


    He had Brook¡¯s ingenuity to thank. Owen took out a sleeping pad and prepared for some much-needed rest. God knows he needed it. The moment his back touched the cool floor, his eyes grew heavy, and darkness enveloped him.


    <hr>


    Pyris saw her world burn in a cascade of red and purple flames. The wretched, blood-curdling screams of her people echoed in her ears, haunting her soul. An ocean of blood, with skeletal hands rising from its depths, screamed out her name.


    ¡°Pyris,¡± their hoarse, dead voices called. ¡°Never forget. Never forget.¡±

 Chapter 20 - Armour of Nerzu

    The chant drummed in her mind like a relentless funeral march. Pyris herself was suspended, floating in that very ocean of blood. The disembodied hands pressed against her wounds, their icy touch penetrating her soul. She fought against them, desperately trying to wriggle free, but she was too weak. They began to pull her under.


    ¡°No,¡± she mumbled. She tried to scream, but all that came out was a pained groan.


    As her face submerged under the crimson water, her vision shifted. She found herself standing in the middle of a street, kneeling. In front of her stood an enormous warrior clad in golden armour, wearing an opulent crown made of gold and bone. He was bald, with no eyebrows or facial hair, his purple eyes swirling with fire.


    But Pyris''s focus was not on the vaguely familiar man, but on the woman lying in front of her. The woman''s lower torso had been severed, her entrails and blood scattered across the street. It was her.


    Tears fell from Pyris''s eyes. ¡°Why?¡± she asked the man. His only response was to raise his massive, two-handed sword, glowing as if freshly forged in molten fire.


    ¡°Why¡­ did you¡­ kill her?¡± Pyris muttered, fury enveloping her. Her eyes shone like stars in the night sky. ¡°Why did you do any of this?¡±


    ¡°All shall fall. Your planet is just the beginning,¡± he declared, swinging his weapon down to extinguish her life. Just before it could strike her, the moon turned red. And then the familiar words appeared.


    You have been selected to join the Lord''s War. To gain a second chance. To earn resounding glory and respect across the universe. Do you wish to accept?


    She had said yes. The second chance of the words were like a lit beacon, guiding her to her decision.


    The mysterious man looked up in shock, and then everything changed once more. She saw a young man standing over her, his face filled with concern and worry. He was smiling at her, attempting to comfort her. Strangely, it was working.


    ¡°You¡¯ll get better. I¡¯m certain of it,¡± he said, his words innocent, naive, and¡­ true. A hot sensation surged through her body as something within began to eat away at the corruption consuming her.


    She fell asleep again, but this time, no more nightmares came to torment her soul. For the first time in what felt like forever, she experienced only peace and quiet and...


    ¡°Never forget,¡± the voices muttered over and over again.


    They no longer tormented her. Instead, it was a promise, pure and resolute. She would do as they said.


    She would never forget.


    <hr>


    After waking up and seeing that the sun was looming high above now, Owen checked in on Pyris who was still in a deep sleep. Her wounds had recovered, for the most part.


    So, after making sure she was okay, Owen had some rewards to claim. He took out the colossal skeleton from his storage. Now, he was standing in front of it and was once again reminded of just how small he was. As he hovered his hand over a piece of bone¡ªone of its ribs¡ªhe came to the realisation that it was far too big to Plunder all at once. He had to do it in sections.


    Starting at its tail end, he took a deep breath, then Plundered it. A quarter of the body vanished and he was blessed with a myriad of System notifications, along with a sudden weakness and nausea that assaulted him. His weak smile of expectation widened to one of elation.


    You have plundered a section of a Devil Wyrm (Elite).


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 2x Hunter, Summoning Ticket 2x Builder, Summoning Ticket 1x Farmer, Summoning Ticket 3x Warrior, Devil Wyrm Bones x48 (Normal).


    | Stats gained: 7 Strength, 10 Vitality, 8 Dexterity, 6 Magic, 5 Mana.


    The points given were a less than he was expecting. Was it because skeletons or corpses that had been dead for a long time granted less? it would make sense... But that wasn¡¯t all.


    You have plundered a Fragment.


    Fragment: [Armour of Nerzu]


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    | Tier: Adept


    | Type: Armour/Clothing.


    | Description: The Armor of Nerzu was created by the legendary blacksmith Nerzu the Unyielding, who dedicated his life to defending his homeland from the Wyrm Monarchs. It is said that this is the first crafted suit of Armour by Nerzu. The armour was imbued with powerful enchantments that not only enhance the wearer''s strength and endurance but also grant resistance to fire and poison, the primary weapons of the Wyrms.


    | Runes: Devil¡¯s Bane, Fire Resistance, Poison Resistance.


    | Evolution Requirement: Prime bone of at least a (Veteran) ranked monster.


    I should have the Prime bone, Owen thought in shock as he glanced at the enormous skeleton in his storage. He just had to wait until he could plunder again.


    Legs trembling from having Plundered the Devil Wyrm, Owen sat down and inspected the Runes further.


    Devil¡¯s Bane: Increases damage against all Dragons and Wyrms by 25%.


    Fire Resistance: Increases resistance to fire by 50%


    Poison Resistance: Increases resistance to poison by 50%


    Owen grinned and summoned his new armour.


    The breastplate was a masterpiece, adorned with intricate carvings that depicted the epic battles between men and wyrms. Dark, almost blackened bone formed its base, interwoven with shimmering, iridescent scales that caught the light and reflected it in a mesmerising kaleidoscope of colours. It was both formidable and eerily beautiful. The pauldrons added to its intimidating presence, shaped like the heads of Devil Wyrms with jaws frozen in a perpetual roar. An armoured tunic that stopped just above his knees and engraved bronze greaves tied into the rest.


    Honestly, it looked like spartan armour if it was designed for someone hunting dragons.


    With a thought, he willed it to don his body, and it listened. In the next second, he was wearing it. Then, after resting a while, he tried moving, jogging, jumping, and attacking. It was seamless, as if he wasn¡¯t wearing armour at all. The plates were light and they hardly made any noise at all. Owen could tell that a lot of thought and expertise had gone into designing such an armour.


    Owen couldn¡¯t be any happier. Not only would an Adept Tier armour guarantee his protection against weaker monsters, but the extra resistances of his new defence was a welcome addition.


    Evolving the armour would have to come tomorrow, or the day after as he had reached his limits for the day.


    Next up, he tore all the Summoning Tickets he had gained from plundering the Wyrm. In a flash of multicoloured lights, 8 people spawned in front of him. 2 Hunters, 2 Builders, 1 Farmer, and 3 more Warriors.


    They were an assortment of different races. Some Owen recognized, others he didn¡¯t. Each one bowed, feeling the presence of their Lord. None of them had memories of their past lives, only an unbending will to serve Owen to the best of their abilities. He found it a little sad, but there was nothing he could do about it.


    He put them to work immediately.


    Owen tasked the Farmer with surveying the land, understanding the sands. He was named Bimpnottin. He was a gnome-like race with large pointed ears and a long beard. System-enhanced Farmers could grow crops even in the most inhospitable places, but they needed seeds. Owen surmised the only thing they could cultivate were the cacti he¡¯d seen dotted around. It was better than nothing. He didn¡¯t want to use the Lord¡¯s Market for buying anything if he could help it. That tax would quickly build up. So, it was better to become self-sufficient sooner rather than later.


    Owen then removed the newly acquired armour and offered it to Lome. With him leading the charge with that armour, Owen could practically smell the experience points racking up. However, he had to be careful. If the Fragment was destroyed, it would be gone forever, just another speck in the sand. But it was a worthwhile risk. Gaining more units was of utmost importance, especially with a potential enemy right on their doorstep.


    He warned the Warriors and Scouts not to venture too far, as per Draed¡¯s advice, and watched them leave under his command.


    Owen sighed. Because of his orders, one of them might not make it back. All of them might die. He couldn¡¯t help but bite his lip as his newly summoned units vanished into the haze of the horizon.


    Being a Lord sucked...


    Four hours passed, and he busied himself helping the builders with whatever they needed. The workers seemed shocked that he was physically helping them, but Owen felt it was what he should do. He was potentially sending people to their deaths for his own gain; the least he could do was get his hands dirty.


    Notifications piled in. Lome and the other Hunters and Warriors were killing monsters at a rapid pace. No doubt Lome was responsible for most of it. With the weaker units on the back of Shelldon, and Lome on the ground, Owen felt bad for anything that met them.


    A while later, appearing in the distance, Lome and his unit returned battered and bruised. Elation overcome Owen. No one had died. Owen called for Gorath, and together they dealt with their wounds as best they could with the limited medical supplies Owen had on hand.


    After that was done, Owen inspected the profits of his people¡¯s hard work.


    Your subordinates have defeated a Dune Ravager x6 (Level 14, Level 13...)


    Your subordinates have defeated a Desert Hound x3 (Level 12, Level 16...)


    | You have reached Level 20.


    In just a few hours, he had jumped from Level 15 to 20. All five of the points he earned went straight into Vitality, boosting his endurance for Plunder. The thought excited him¡ªhow quickly would he level with even more units under his command? He knew progress would slow after Level 20, but for now, the momentum was exhilarating. Speaking of¡ª


    Your subordinates have gathered Summoning Tickets.


    | Builder x1, Alchemist x1.


    Alchemist? Owen thought, eyes widening in surprise. A rare profession was always more than welcome within his territory. He just hoped it was a high star one. To gain the tickets, he¡¯d have to wait until his party returned. It didn¡¯t take much longer.


    After spending a while making sure the rest of them were okay, Owen took out the tickets from his System and tore them open.


    The Builder ticket revealed a 1-Star unit.


    Well, at least it¡¯s something, Owen thought. His warriors had bled for it. He wouldn''t complain.


    Taking a breath, Owen then ripped the Alchemist Unit Ticket. Iridescent colours lit up his vision, and then it landed.


    Owen¡¯s lips twitched.

 Chapter 21 - Rizael, the Great Healer

    You have acquired a 4-Star Alchemist ¡ª Rizael the Great Healer.


    Name: Rizael (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)


    | Race: Gildman


    | Level: 1


    | Class: Alchemist


    Attributes:


    | Strength: 8


    | Vitality: 21


    | Dexterity: 20


    | Magic: 18


    | Mana: 14


    Skills


    | Healing Hands ¡ª Mastery: None


    | Potion Refining ¡ª Mastery: Middle


    | Ingredient Detection ¡ª Mastery: Middle


    Gildman? The race jumped out in his memories. If he wasn¡¯t wrong, then Gilman were known for their potent alchemy. They were like humans, just more¡­ grand. Owen noted his healing ability, and the fact that his other Skills had reached Middle Mastery. Owen smiled. Things were looking up.


    Rizael the Great Healer stood tall, emanating an aura of serene power. His eyes, a tranquil blue, glowed with wisdom and compassion behind long golden hair that cascaded over his shoulders. Clad in robes woven with silver threads, his hands radiated a soft, healing light. He was human, or at least Owen thought he was. But something in those eyes told him otherwise. Told Owen that he was superior to his blood.


    Just like all the others, he bowed the moment he arrived in front of Owen. But unlike the others, Owen spotted defiance in his posture. He didn¡¯t bow as low. Not that Owen minded at all, but Owen knew the reason.


    The higher the Stars, the less loyalty they had. They had more memories, and although a 4-Star barely had enough recollection to form a puzzle bought from a charity shop, it would still pose a problem if not checked.


    Owen smiled and placed his hand on the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Rizael, It¡¯s a pleasure to have you here.¡±


    ¡°You are too kind, my Lord,¡± he said, eyes scanning in the vicinity. His lips twitched. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to be here to witness the ascent of my own Lord. I will help in any way that I can.¡±


    Owen noted his words. ¡°Witness my ascent? You say that as if you know my role, Rizael.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t dare allude to knowing all, but I do know what my memory permits me, My Lord,¡± He said, hands stuck together at his waist. ¡°It is my duty to help you ascend in the war of the Lords.¡±


    War of the Lords, Owen thought, already knowing what it entailed. There were many cases of summoned units speaking of this war, that all that they were doing was to prepare for this event. But none knew more than that. At least, not that Owen had read about. Owen hadn¡¯t even read about it. It hadn¡¯t happened yet. But his blood ran cold at the thought of it.


    ¡°Do you know anything more than that?¡± Owen pressed.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Owen said, expecting it. Owen scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. ¡°Yes, well, I admit it isn¡¯t the best start, but we do what we can with what we¡¯re given.¡±


    ¡°It is an optimistic way to rule, my Lord,¡± Razael said. He stepped towards the dome, looking outwards. He spotted the Warriors and Scouts resting. Then he turned back to Owen. ¡°If you would permit me, I would love to get a lay of this land. I know of many desert flowers and cacti that can be turned into potent healing potions. Along with the help of an experienced Farmer and Florist and Herbalist, I would love to get started on a farm for my potions.¡±


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I would love that, however, I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re pulled thin. We have potential enemies to our west. A monstrous creature hunts the sands below. Going too far into the desert, and you¡¯ll enter its hunting grounds. If that wasn¡¯t all, then at night, there is an enormous tsunami that washes over this land. Not to mention I don¡¯t have two of those professions. For now, I need you to take extra care with Pyris over there. She has been inflicted with a corruption that I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ve fully expelled.¡±


    Razael nodded along. ¡°Not the best start at all. No worries. We do what we can with what we¡¯re given. Let it be known that Razael doesn¡¯t rely on a fortuitous land to make my Lord and his people prosper,¡± He said, a resounding pride laced through his words. ¡°Although first aid isn¡¯t exactly my specialty, I know a few things. The lady Pyris will be under my care.¡±


    Owen smiled. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it. It¡¯s good to have you here.¡± He knew the healer was being modest. Even just a glance at his Status showed amazing Skills. Being able to heal with his hands was only one of them. The rest revolved around creating potions.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to be here,¡± he replied. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll tend to the lady, then I¡¯ll study the plants in your land. I¡¯ll be off.¡± Razael bowed slightly, then turned and left.


    Owen shook his head. A high star really was different, after all. Just the communication skills alone were a cut above the rest. Or maybe that was because the others were Hunters and Warriors. Not exactly the chatty type.


    In just over 4 hours, Owen had replenished enough energy to plunder basic stone material for his Builders. Still not enough to continue with the Devil Wyrm. He dug down in the sand, making sure that it wouldn¡¯t fall on top of him, then started harvesting all the stone they needed in clean bricks. It would have taken a team of builders and miners to carve out the stone into usable materials. But it only took Owen a couple minutes.


    Moving tonnes of material cost Owen very little energy, practically nothing. But the further he went down, the more it took its toll as the rock grew thicker. It was another thing to think about, Owen noted.


    He ended up stopping around 30 metres down before returning. He didn¡¯t want to completely wear himself out in case he had to plunder something else.


    Once he was done with that, he moved over to where Pyris was housed. He was together with both Gorath and Rizael. Rizael held his palm over her forehead, white light glowed.


    Owen looked at Pyris with concern. ¡°So, what do you think? Is the Corruption gone?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still there I¡¯m afraid.¡± the healer frowned. ¡°It¡¯s deep. I¡¯m not too familiar with corruption, only encountered it a few times before, or at least what my memories tell me. But this one¡­ I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. Deeper than any venom, spread further than any poison. Although you have treated it enough to heal her wounds, what burns deep, has not been touched.¡±


    ¡°Will she wake?¡± Owen clenched his hands.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell. Depending on her strength, it¡¯s a possibility. But if not¨C¡± he sighed. ¡°¨CI will do all I can.¡±


    Owen nodded heavily. ¡°She¡¯ll make it.¡± She¡¯s strong. She¡¯ll wake up.


    Although Owen was worried for her, he had a lot of others to care about. Just as he was about to make some more plans, he felt the connection with Shelldon. He was near. Owen rushed out of the building and equipped Dune¡¯s Crest. He gazed out to the walls of the blue dome. Draed and Cedric returned wounded. They hadn¡¯t killed anything.


    Owen sighed in relief. He knew they weren¡¯t dead as he would receive a notification, but seeing them alive set him at ease.


    Draed and Cedric rushed over with Shelldon. ¡°My Lord,¡± Draed said, leaping off of the Spectre¡¯s back with harsh breaths. ¡°The orcs¡­¡±


    ¡°Take a breath,¡± Owen reminded him.


    Calming down his ragged breathing, Draed finally said, ¡°the orcs found us. Attacked us. Two of them were archers, the four of them warriors. They cared little for words, my Lord. The moment they saw us, they attacked without remorse. We would have killed them, but¨C¡±


    Owen crouched down and grabbed a handful of sand. ¡°I thought as much.¡± He looked up. ¡°Did you find their scout?¡± Owen asked.


    ¡°We did,¡± Draed replied. ¡°We¡¯re sure he didn¡¯t see us, so I doubt he¡¯ll move his hiding spot. If we can chase him off¨C¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Owen said, a plan was forming. If the orcs were so hellbent on attacking, then no amount of talking would quell their anger. ¡°Do you think you can capture their scout?¡±


    Draed looked at Cedric and nodded. ¡°We have confidence.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Owen said. ¡°Take Lome and all the other Warriors and Hunters with you. If they want to play this game, then I¡¯ll match it.¡±


    Draed bowed.


    ¡°However, It¡¯s vital you discover how they cross the sands,¡± Owen urged. He knew that the people of the Cursed Lands used bells to travel safely, but he had no idea how much the author had changed. ¡°Find a commonality on their body. Like a bell tied to their waist. Maybe they have a leader with a device that masks their steps at the front of their formation, maybe the middle, or the back. Watch them, then attack if they show the slightest aggression. It¡¯s fine if they retreat. Don¡¯t follow if they do. Keep your eyes peeled.¡±


    Owen continued, ¡°Bohar, take Roa and Rizael around the border of the barrier to search for fauna. If you can attack anything through the shield, do that. Rizael, don¡¯t leave the dome, even for a second.¡±


    ¡°Your will is my command,¡± They all said in unison and quickly got to work.


    A few hours later while Owen was busy helping the Builders with the wall, supplying them with stone, hauling it over for them, his heart dropped, a sickening sensation grabbing hold of him. He whirled around, eyes piercing the haze of the desert to the North. Two of his people had just died.

 Chapter 22 - Plans

    Blood. That was the first thing Owen saw as Draed and the others arrived. One warrior and a hunter lay dead, thin clothes draped over their heads. His remaining men and women, many bearing wounds, surrounded the fallen.


    Owen rushed forward. The soldiers bowed, but Owen stopped them with a wave. ¡°What happened? Was it the orcs?¡± Fear tightened his chest, worrying that an orc ambush had struck the other side of his territory. His heart sank at the thought.


    Draed nodded gravely. ¡°They ambushed us.¡±


    ¡°Damn it,¡± Owen muttered, clenching his fists. ¡°What¡¯s the current situation? How did they lay an ambush?¡± He turned his attention to Draed.


    ¡°Our enemy has set up a perimeter around the dome. They were waiting for us. They had it planned. They¡¯re watching us right now.¡±


    Owen glanced at the dunes and mountains above; the orcs could be anywhere.


    ¡°But it wasn¡¯t a total loss,¡± Draed said, nodding to Lome. Lome dragged a wounded orc through the sand, dropping him in front of Owen. He was bound and blinded by an eye covering.


    Draed cast a hateful glance at the orc. ¡°You mentioned keeping an eye on their attire. All the orcs wore these.¡± He produced a pair of jingling silver bells. ¡°I tested them myself. The creature under the sand? It didn''t sense me.¡±


    Draed handed over the bells. They were ordinary, no tricks or enchantments, just bells. ¡°We can use these. Someone in the middle of the formation must carry them if we head out.¡±


    Owen nodded. That, at least, remained unchanged. He had four days left of protection. The situation looked dire, but it was time to go on the offensive.


    ¡°We will burn the dead,¡± Owen said, his voice catching as he laid eyes on the two dead warriors. ¡°Cedric, prepare for the funeral. They died defending this land¡ªmy land¡ªthe least I can do is offer words to send them off.¡±


    ¡°Draed,¡± Owen continued, ¡°if we had a map, could you point out where they attacked and where the scouts are located?¡±


    ¡°Of course, my Lord,¡± Draed replied.


    ¡°Score it in the sand.¡±


    Draed started marking the sand when Rizael, the healer, approached. ¡°My Lord, I¡¯ve found some fauna outside with healing properties. If you can prioritise an alchemy station, I can start drafting up potions.¡±


    Owen squeezed his head, trying to shake off the budding pain. The weight of stress bore down on him like a mountain. He wasn¡¯t prepared for this¡ªhe¡¯d never even taken management training at work, let alone run a kingdom against bloodthirsty monsters.


    ¡°My Lord?¡± Rizael said with concern.


    ¡°For that,¡± Owen said, recovering, ¡°you¡¯ll need glass, containers, and everything in between. I¡¯ll see what I can do. Other Lords may have uncovered a lab and put its contents on the market. Your expertise will be crucial in the coming days. I¡¯ll make it a priority, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Rizael beamed. ¡°Thank you, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°How is Pyris?¡± Owen changed the subject. ¡°Any chance she¡¯ll wake up soon? With her, our problems would be solved.¡±


    ¡°I''m afraid not,¡± Rizael replied. ¡°There are still no signs of her waking. But Gorath and I are watching her around the clock. As soon as she wakes, you will be notified immediately.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Rizael, Gorath,¡± Owen said.


    Draed finished marking the scouts positions. In front of his territory to the North, were three large dunes. Beyond that was a large desert plain, the one where the mysterious monster lurked. Beyond that, was the mountains where the orcs resided within.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Owen¡¯s mind was a storm as he thought about what to do next.


    ¡°For now,¡± Owen addressed his fighting force, ¡°rest. Think of strategies we can use. How can we give them hell? I have a few things I need to do. We''ll talk again later.¡±


    It was true, his warriors bar Lome were utterly exhausted. The sun, orcs, and lack of water while out had drained them to an inch of collapse. In fact, it was a miracle most of them returned alive. Owen massaged his neck, guilt growing. If he was stronger, if he had gone with them, then perhaps they wouldn¡¯t have perished¡­ Owen shook his head. Now wasn¡¯t the time for useless thoughts.


    They all bowed and went their own way.


    Owen took a moment to admire the builders'' work¡ªof which he had been tirelessly helping. As promised, a wall was forming, designed to break the wave of the tsunami. Brook had redesigned the houses to withstand the colossal night wave''s pressure. The ruins told Owen that although the wave was tall and appeared devastating, it didn¡¯t hold the crushing weight that a tsunami of water did. Brook had the same idea.


    Farmer Bimpnottin approached with concerns.


    ¡°Ah, Lord,¡± he said in a high-pitched, almost Irish accent. ¡°We be having troubles with the ideas for the farm.¡±


    ¡°What troubles?¡± Owen asked.


    ¡°That soarin¡¯ wave at night. Scared me something rotten. But that¡¯s the least of me concerns. We be in a desert, aye?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for a response. ¡°If that wasn¡¯t bad enough, we have that colossal wave to worry about. Will wash all the crops we plant in the sand, it will.¡±


    Owen nodded. ¡°For now, an underground farm might be our best bet. Or placing it in a building,¡± Owen continued, inspiration forming, ¡°maybe with a retractable roof so that sun can get in during the day?¡±


    ¡°Aye, that would work wonders,¡± Bimpnottin agreed, scuffing the sand with his feet. ¡°We have experience with mushrooms. Scratch that, we can plant anything with the right seeds and a can-do attitude.¡±


    Owen smiled. ¡°I love the confidence, Bimpnottin. I¡¯ll get to it right away. Follow me.¡±


    ¡°Kind lord and a good work ethic? Bimpnottin¡¯s blessed by the high gods, he is.¡±


    ¡°Kind? Is that so?¡± Owen chuckled.


    ¡°Aye. You care deeply for us, we can tell. Being a leader is tough. Ye have your work cut out for you.¡±


    ¡°You can say that again, Bimpnottin.¡±


    Owen didn¡¯t think much about the compliment. He just knew that his people fought for him, so he¡¯d fight for them.


    Before leaving, he asked the builders to make room for Rizael¡¯s potion-making station. Since it was closer to the orcs, it made a perfect location for a triage unit.


    It didn¡¯t take long to set up an expansive cave for Bimpnottin''s underground mushroom farm, and because he had been working on the mountain for a while now, it didn¡¯t take long. Owen also made a wide staircase, carving it out of the stone.


    With all of that done, Owen returned back to the sands. The orc was situated in the middle of his land, which just happened to be in the middle of nowhere. He was blindfolded and also strapped securely to a stone pillar sticking out of the ground.


    Finally, he turned his attention to the system notifications awarded thanks to Draed and the others effort


    Your subordinates have defeated a Orc x6


    | You have reached Level 22.


    Your subordinates have gathered Summoning Tickets.


    | Warrior x2, Scout x1, Assassin x1


    Not only had Draed and the others earned 4 tickets, which was considered very lucky, but they had also Levelled up a bunch. Draed, Cedric, and Lome were nearing Level 20. At 25, they¡¯d gain Class upgrades. From what Owen knew, it was his decision what they chose, unlike their Stats.


    An Assassin? Owen perked up. And a Scout, finally. Two specialised units. Hunters could scout, but their skills were limited. Of course thanks to his Class, they were stronger than average. Builders, Hunters, and Warriors were the most common units. Above that were the likes of Scouts, Assassins, Farmers, and more specialised units.


    With haste, Owen tore the Warrior tickets first. Both of them were 2-stars, pretty good.


    Next, Owen ripped the Assassin ticket. The wheel of lights stopped at solid green. 3-stars. Miriam Lee was her name. She was a lady in white armour with a tan headscarf and she bowed, then gazed across the land. Owen noticed a hint of a smile on her lips. Was her home a desert?


    After greeting the newcomers, Owen turned to the last ticket. A brown ticket with white words and a pair of eyes staring back at him.


    Give me something good, Owen thought, and tore it.


    Lights flashed, settling on a dazzling blue. Owen smiled. It was a 4-star Scout.

 Chapter 23 - Evolved Armour of Nerzu

    An unkempt man with long grey hair and matching stubble surveyed the land, disregarding Owen. His gaze paused on the fallen soldiers, then on the chained orc.


    The man wore a long beige jacket over an armoured leather vest and slim brown trousers. As he turned, his lithe boots flicked up sand, shifting his attention to the tall mountain looming above. He then looked back.


    "Lord," Rehan said, his voice calm and cool. "It appears we¡¯ve got a problem."


    "We do," Owen admitted. He glanced at Rehan, then at Mirian, then called over Draed and Lome to the wall. "This is Draed and Lome. Generals of the Hunters and Warriors and will brief you on our current predicament."


    Draed began filling in the newcomers about the ongoing situation¡ªfrom the orc threat to the monsters to the nightly tsunami that devoured the desert.


    "Infiltration will be difficult considering the open terrain. Even with the bells getting us across, they¡¯ll see us from a mile away. And moving under the guise of nightfall is obviously impossible," Rehan explained, referring to the orc threat. "But taking out their Lord in one swift move would be the best course of action. Anything to stop a full frontal war. I''ll need to scout the area thoroughly to find a way in, though. We need to understand their numbers and fighting formations. Gorath will be useful. The valley is where they''re located?"


    Owen felt relieved. It seemed that Rehan had experience with sieging. His knowledge and expertise would come in vital.


    Owen nodded in affirmation. "That''s if Gorath is familiar with these orcs. Wrong information may be worse than no information."


    Gorath stepped forward. "My lord, if you allow me to question him, I can determine if we share any similarities. Even if he just says one word, if I know the language, I¡¯ll know where we¡¯re at. He has remained silent so far, but we can break him with your permission."


    "I can help," Mirian said, drawing her slender dagger.


    Owen frowned. "Torture?" he asked, glancing uncomfortably at the orc.


    "It''s the quickest way," Draed said. "And we don''t have much time."


    Gritting his teeth, Owen said, "Tomorrow, attempt to glean as much information from him as possible without harming him. Lome, you''ll get my armour after I''ve upgraded it. With Shelldon, we have a formidable force. If they can still beat us, we¡¯ll need another plan. Torturing¡ª" Owen struggled with the concept. Even with the threat of death, he couldn''t do it.


    "You don''t have to be there for it, my Lord," Mirian spoke up, her voice cold as an assassin¡¯s. But Owen shivered under her piercing blue gaze.


    "Only as a last resort," Owen finally conceded.


    ¡°We have three methods, my Lord,¡± Rehan said, putting up one finger. ¡°One, we infiltrate and assassinate if those bells can get us across the open sands. If we can¡¯t assassinate because the leader is simply too strong, we can tarnish their supplies instead. Burn their food source, poison their water supply, and destroy their shelter, then clear the Sand Hound Rift, in that order.¡± He put up another finger. ¡°Two, we rely on guerilla tactics to dwindle their numbers. In the desert, that won¡¯t be easy.¡± Rehan put up the last finger. ¡°Three, we rely on brute force.¡± He looked around at the warriors. ¡°But I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. No offence.¡±


    ¡°None taken,¡± Owen said with a smile. ¡°Thank you for your input, Rehan. I take it you¡¯ve done this before?¡±


    ¡°It definitely feels like it,¡± he replied with a shrug.


    ¡°But that helps me a lot,¡± Owen added, then crossed his arms. ¡±I need time to think.¡±


    While his fighting force remained behind the wall, locked in discussion, Owen excused himself.


    Walking a few steps onto the sand, he summoned Shelldon. He didn¡¯t like the idea of him staying so long in his soul. It was comfortable for him, and he was never lonely. But it was better than being outside, right? Then, it was time to upgrade his Armour of Nerzu. Or try to, anyway.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    First, Owen deposited a large section of the Devil Wyrm onto the sand; the middle section. Mirian and Rehan, who hadn¡¯t seen the ability before, widened their eyes in surprise. But that surprise quickly turned to confusion as they witnessed the corpse vanish under their Lord¡¯s spell.


    Owen plundered the middle section of the beast and immediately felt the drain on his being. Owen clutched at his heart. Even the increased Vitality he had gained from before wasn¡¯t enough. Sweating, Owen gazed at the notifications in awe.


    You have plundered a section of a Devil Wyrm (Elite).


    Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 4x Hunter, Summoning Ticket 5x Warrior, Devil Wyrm Bones x42 (Normal), Devil Wyrm Prime Bone x1 (Normal).


    | Stats gained: 10 Strength, 12 Vitality, 8 Dexterity, 8 Magic, 6 Mana.


    | Skill gained: Devil¡¯s Reflexes (Epic) ¨C Grants the ability to react with superhuman speed.


    Prime Bone, Owen thought in elation. With that, he could evolve his Fragment Armour. But first¨C


    He felt the added stats immediately and the increased strength in his arms wasn¡¯t the only change in his body. Moving his head caused everything to blur, and his hands appeared to have quadrupled the limbs, like he was stuck in an afterimage.


    Those with higher stars looked at him as if he were crazy, while those with lower stars showed concern. Ignoring their expressions, Owen knew the new skill was amazing, but it would take time to adjust. As a passive ability, it was always active, making him feel nauseous.


    Closing his eyes to steady himself, Owen realised the immense power he was gaining. But the Devil Wyrm was an Elite ranked monster, not easily found. In the Land Between, even the bones were consumed. No creature would leave resources of a powerful beast untouched.


    Taking a breather, Owen opened his eyes again to acclimate to his new skill. Then he tore the newly gained tickets. All were 1-star, except for a 2-star Warrior. It appeared his luck had dried out.


    However, the main event was evolving his armour, and it was time.


    The prime bone of the Devil Wyrm was the middle section of the spine, likely why he received the reflexes skill. To upgrade the armour, it had to be done internally. So, Owen retreated inward, to his soul. It was a strange location, Owen thought. A black beach stretched out before him, leading to a small, gentle tide.


    Owen turned red with embarrassment. Compared to Ansel¡¯s vast soul, his was pitiful. Setting aside his inferiority complex, Owen took out the prime bone of the Devil Wyrm from his storage and summoned the Armour of Nerzu.


    Without hesitation, Owen followed the procedure he had read about. He pressed the bone against the chest plate, and it sank in like a stick into water. The armour glowed blood-red before settling.


    The Armor of Nerzu has evolved.


    Fragment: [Evolved Armour of Infernal Nerzu]


    | Tier: Elite


    | Type: Armour/Clothing


    | Description: The Evolved Armour of Infernal Nerzu is a masterpiece reborn through the infernal essence of the Devil Wyrm''s Prime Bone. Originally forged by Nerzu the Unyielding to defend his homeland from the Wyrm Monarchs, this armour has now transcended its former limits. Its legendary enchantments have been enhanced, granting the wearer extraordinary strength and endurance. The armour now boasts superior resistance to fire and poison, and it seethes with the fury of hellfire, reflecting its new infernal origins. The once dormant powers of the armour have awakened, making the wearer a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.


    | Runes: Devil¡¯s Bane, Infernal Flame, Enhanced Fire Resistance, Poison Resistance, Demonic Resilience


    | Evolution Requirement: Primal essence of a (Champion) ranked monster.


    Owen¡¯s mouth dropped in shock as the armour¡¯s appearance transformed. It now shimmered with a dark, metallic sheen interwoven with fiery red veins pulsing like molten lava. Ornate, infernal engravings adorned the plates, depicting epic battles against demonic foes. The beastly appearance of the furs and bones made it truly awe-inspiring.


    New Rune: Infernal Flame


    | Description: Imbues the wearer¡¯s attacks with hellfire, causing additional burning damage over time to enemies struck.


    Additional Rune: Demonic Resilience


    | Description: Grants the wearer increased resistance to both physical and magical damage, drawing on the infernal strength of the Devil Wyrm to enhance durability and fortitude.


    Owen¡¯s shock turned into childish excitement. Eager to test the new armour, he adorned it with a thought and immediately felt the difference in power. Summoning his kukri, he swung it in the air. Fire trailed from the blade, creating a concentrated blaze. His new reflexes allowed him to catch the move in full detail.


    Hell yes, Owen thought. His giddiness cut through his exhaustion like a hot knife through butter, but it didn¡¯t last long, as he snapped back to reality and slumped down into the sand. Draed rushed forth, kneeling down. The others followed, standing worried.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± he said in concern. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Owen smiled weakly. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Just that Skill really takes it out of me, that¡¯s all. I¡¯ll be fine after a moment''s rest.¡±


    ¡°Humans really are pitiful,¡± Lome said, as if not realising his words held venom. Owen laughed, knowing Lome didn¡¯t mean it like that.


    However, he had time to think. If he was surrounded, that meant the enemy held the number advantage. No leader would stretch their units thin to siege him without the confidence to do so. And the fact that the orc leader was doing so meant only one thing: they were a Lord themselves. Owen just didn¡¯t know where they were their forces were exactly. But that wouldn¡¯t last for long. His new Scout would sniff them out.

 Chapter 24 - Calm Before the Storm

    Selling what he could on the market, he then purchased everything he may need for the immediate future. Alchemical supplies, more water since they didn¡¯t have a well yet, and replenished his first-aid kits. He also bought some more clothes for himself and his people. Until he could get everything up and running himself, he had to make use of the market.


    Then, he called everyone and put them all at work. First, he unloaded all of the alchemical supplies; which cost a small fortune. Rizael¡¯s eyes lit up upon seeing them. He checked the quality, and although he clicked his tongue in displeasure, he appeared happy to have anything at all. Owen admitted there was a better selection, but for the future, he needed all the money he could get.


    The Warriors took the supplies over to the wall where the Builders were busy working around the clock to get it ready. While they were doing that, Owen plundered more rock and stone for them and placed it right at the building site. Although Owen had heart palpitations from continued use of Ultimate Plunder, he willed himself onward with steely determination. He needed that wall up desperately. To both fend against the tsunami, and his enemies.


    Next up, he entered the building where Pyris resided. The room was clean and apart from a bed made of scrap wood and cacti fibres, it was the only piece of furniture inside. Because of the wind tunnel high above, a gentle breeze filtered down. Levi took a breath, a smile forming on his lips. It was calm inside.


    Approaching Pyris, he sat by her side, and looked at her sleeping face. Before he realised that he was staring at her beauty, he quickly looked away. ¡°Hey Pyris, is it okay if I ramble for a moment? this is all crazy, isn¡¯t it?¡± Owen said, elbows resting on his knees, looking at the floor. ¡°I¡¯ve summoned all of you from your own worlds to fight for me. You signed your names to the System, and now you are under my command. I¡¯m not leader material. What if I lead all of these people to their deaths? Honestly, I don¡¯t know if I could live with that kind of blood on my hands.¡± Owen sighed. ¡°A week ago, I worked in a cramped cubicle. Now I¡¯m at war with orcs? And for what, all so I can grow stronger? Is it for my own ego that I¡¯m still going, because I want a life that¡¯s more than that?¡±


    Owen massaged his neck and groaned, then looked up above, watching as the dust particles swirled, illuminated by light, and moved by the breeze. ¡°But I won¡¯t abandon these people. Well, I suppose they¡¯re my people, aren¡¯t they? That¡¯s scary to think about.¡±


    Exhaling, Owen stood up and stretched. ¡°And if they¡¯re fighting for me, I¡¯ve got to fight for them, too. I¡¯m going out tomorrow. I want to see the situation with my own eyes. To see if these orcs really can¡¯t be talked to. Violence begets violence. Either try and dissuade them, or stomp them out from the roots. But I don¡¯t want that.¡±


    Owen sighed, looked at Pyris, and continued, ¡°No matter what, I won¡¯t abandon this place. So don¡¯t worry, Pyris. Get better in your own time. Don¡¯t rush. I don¡¯t even know if you can hear me. I''m ready to do what I must.¡± Owen weakly chuckled to himself before leaving the room.


    Pyris heard every word.


    Owen was too tired to use Unlimited Plunder anymore. In fact, he was too tired to move. So, he decided to rest for the remainder of the day. Tomorrow would not only be busy, but dangerous. He hoped, no he wished that there wouldn¡¯t be another casualty. But he wasn¡¯t so naive to actually believe that. All he could do was prepare himself for that eventuality.


    The passed on by and with no hunting missions on the go, it was relatively peaceful. That peace shattered when the orc they had captured started screaming all of a sudden. Draed was the first on the scene. With a closed fist, he sent it crashing against the orc¡¯s face. Silence reigned for only a second before he started again, eyes practically spitting fire.


    ¡°Gorath,¡± Owen approached along with everyone else. The orc was finally ready to speak. It would give vital information. If Gorath understood his words, then it meant he could be familiar with the inner workings of the orc¡¯s clan.


    ¡°I understand him,¡± Gorath said, frowning.


    ¡°What¡¯s he saying?¡± Owen asked, still drowsy from just having woken up. ¡°Nothing good I imagine.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Gorath replied. ¡°Death to us all. In shortened words.¡±


    ¡°Thought so,¡± Owen said. He looked at his generals. Draed, Lome, Gorath, and now the leader of the Scout division: Rehan, and the head of the Assassins, Mirian. ¡°Follow me. We need to discuss further plans. Lome, please silence him for now.¡±


    Lome nodded. In one swift motion, he clobbered the orc over the head, knocking him out cold.


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    Owen sighed. ¡°I meant to gag him. You¨Cnevermind.¡±


    Cedric gagged the orc and then they all made their way to the wall. A large table made of bone filled one of the larger rooms. It was to be the command room.


    It was Mirian, who seemed the silent type, who actually spoke up first. ¡°Since Gorath knows their language, it means that they are related, in some way or another. That means his knowledge is vital now. Where and how they sleep, their architecture, their guarding patterns.¡±


    Owen turned to Gorath. ¡°Is that true? Are you confident in them being related to your world in one way or another?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say exactly as my memories of my world are jumbled,¡± Gorath said. ¡°But the orc''s clothes, his dialect, it¡¯s all familiar. I can tell you of various battle strategies employed by my kind. Based on that orc¡¯s personality, it won¡¯t be difficult to pinpoint their methods.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Owen said. ¡°Go on¨C¡±


    Gorath went on to explain their methods, guarding patterns, how they scouted, all the way to their habits, lifestyle, and buildings they constructed. Gorath¡¯s mind seemed to expand as he went on. Although he didn¡¯t know the fine details like names of cities or races, he knew of the less specific. That was enough for Owen. He knew now that the orc race they were facing was one inside the book: Bloodfang Orcs. In the Land Between, they weren¡¯t as plentiful compared to their superior brethren, the Orcen Marauders, who dominated hundreds of worlds. But this was the Cursed Lands, and it was obvious Owen was facing a small subunit of them. A new Lord, perhaps. Owen hadn¡¯t read about them in the Cursed Lands. Maybe he hadn¡¯t gotten that far.


    With that in mind, Owen readjusted Lome¡¯s formation for tomorrow with the help of the Warrior¡¯s own input. Owen valued their words. After all, Owen had never seen battle except for a few days ago. Hell, one time he got into a fight with a girl in primary school and lost. He had to rely on his people and their experiences. That was how he would come out on top.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Owen said, placing his hands on the table as he addressed his generals. He steeled himself for his next words. ¡°Here are my orders. We are surrounded, so Lome, you will take everyone to the south. If we try and send out small parties, we will only accumulate losses. If the orcs are aggressive as I think they are, then they will attack. Be ready for that. The orcs are to be killed on sight. Capture only if absolutely necessary to avoid casualties. Lome, I will give you my armour, but only wear it if the situation requires it. Hidden, it will prove to be a scary trump card. I want the orcs thinned out. Show them your might in an overwhelming attack. I want them to question their every next move after today. They think they can lock us in here? They will realise that¡¯s a mistake.¡±


    Lome saluted.


    ¡°Mirian.¡± Owen looked to the assassin. ¡°You will hide amongst the sand. Don¡¯t engage unless needed. Again, the more information we can hide from them for as long as possible, the better our standing will be.¡±


    Mirian nodded.


    Gorath fidgeted on the spot. It was evident the orc was raring to get into action after being forced onto the sidelines for so long.


    ¡°Gorath,¡± Owen addressed the orc. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but¨C¡±


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Rehan interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but if I may?¡±


    Owen tilted his head. ¡°Go on,¡± he asked with curiosity.


    ¡°What if we use Gorath as a ploy?¡±


    ¡°A ploy?¡± Owen asked, confused. The others listened as well.


    ¡°A sorcerer is a rare breed,¡± Rehan said with a smirk. ¡°Instead of hiding him away for a rainy day in this blazing desert, why don¡¯t we show them just how powerful he is?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m following, barely,¡± Owen said. ¡°But how¨C¡± Owen paused as his eyes widened in realisation. Gorath was an orc, and with the situation being as tense as it was, hatred for the race was increasing. Owen remembered everyone''s expression when they looked at the orc tied up. It was one of fury. He looked at Gorath.


    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve caught on, my Lord,¡± Rehan chuckled. ¡°If Gorath is fine with it¨C¡±


    Gorath slapped the table. ¡°If it means winning glory for my Lord, I¡¯ll do anything, no matter the cost.¡±


    Rehan laughed. ¡°Then get some chains and a whole lot of bad attitude.¡±


    Owen smiled, but it was a hollow one. For the plan to succeed, Gorath would first have to suffer. But the orc seemed okay with that.


    ¡°As for the rest of you, Draed, Cedric, Rehan,¡± Owen said, gathering himself. ¡°We will head north.The moment the sands recede, we will rush to the first scouting position the orcs have set up. It will be a race between us and the orcs. Draed, do you remember where that is?¡±


    ¡°Of course, my Lord,¡± Draed said, Owen saw the excitement in his eyes.


    ¡°Good,¡± Owen continued, ¡°Draed, you will go with Cedric to one location. Rehan and I will go to another. It¡¯s risky, but with that, we can take out two scouts at once. Maybe more.¡± Owen clenched his hands. ¡°Tomorrow is quite literally all or nothing. The orcs want us to remain here, cowering in fear, while they hunt and grow stronger. To hell with that. We are not mice to be played with. It¡¯s time we reminded them of that.¡±


    ¡°By the Lord¡¯s will,¡± the fighting force saluted, smiles of pride adorning their faces. It seemed they were happy from his words.


    Finally, it was time to get some sleep. And he did, Until the tsunami rumbled the world, and washed over his domain. Owen couldn¡¯t sleep after that, so he just watched Pyris instead. She was a reminder of why he was fighting.

 Chapter 25 - Attacks on Both Fronts

    Mirian stalked the sands, her camouflage skill blending her seamlessly into the endless golden backdrop. She glanced at the others: Lome and the other warriors and hunters had spread out into a loose formation. Gorath, bound by chains, was being aggressively pulled by one of the warriors.


    Taking in her surroundings, her focus was razor-sharp. It was hot, unbearably so, but something about this searing environment felt oddly familiar, like... home. The sand, the heat, the expansive blue skies. However, when she tried to pry into her memories, she was met with an impenetrable fog. It wasn¡¯t troubling; her sole focus was to win glory for her Lord.


    With that singular thought in place, it was time to act. Up ahead, she spotted a hunter orc cresting a dune, his head peeking over. Her Lord had instructed her not to act alone, so she waited. The orc signalled to another. Mirian followed his gestures and spotted another orc on a nearby dune, then another, and another until she counted at least six hunters. It was a sizable force, likely thinking they had captured their comrade, Gorath, from the previous day. They launched their attack.


    The orc next to Mirian dashed down the dune, his war cry echoing across the sands. Warriors emerged from beneath the sand, four of them, their bells ringing out. One in particular was almost double the size of the others, wielding a large curved blade made of scrap metal and bone. Mirian frowned at the sight of the large, tusked humanoid.


    Lome reacted swiftly, ordering the archers to fire. The command to kill rang out. As warriors and hunters clashed in a frenzy of metal and flesh, Mirian waited for her moment. Lome screamed, his two-handed axe cleaving into an orc, splashing blood against the sand.


    Just as all the orcs arrived, it was Gorath¡¯s time to shine. Mirian¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    Gorath grunted, and electric tendrils whipped out of his palms. They wrapped around Lome and the war tortoise, before lashing out at the attacking orcs. Four of them were vaporised in an instant, turning to ash. Her Lord had mentioned that mages were rare, and his words proved true.


    The thrumming electricity continued, slamming into the tallest orc, branding his flesh red and bloodied. He stumbled backward, blood spilling from his mouth.


    Lome pressed the advantage. Mounted on the surprisingly nimble war tortoise, he cleaved his axe into another orc, slicing him from shoulder to waist.


    The enemy leader roared, and even from her hidden vantage point, Mirian felt her body freeze. She couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t fathom how those closer were faring. Two of the weaker hunters fell to the sand, spasming. Whatever skill the leader had used, it was potent.


    Mirian felt the restriction lift, likely due to the distance. She poised herself, ready to strike. Questions darted through her mind. What if this was the Lord? In one swift movement, she could end his reign. But she hesitated. Her Lord¡¯s words pressed against her mind, forceful and unwavering. If she was wrong, she would reveal herself as an assassin.


    She spotted a scout in the distance. Just as her Lord had wanted her to remain out of sight and relay information, she trusted him and held back.


    The leader, instead of fighting to the death, fled. An orc warrior tried to join him, but the leader clasped his skull and threw him back to Lome, who cleaved him in half. Blood showered him and the tortoise.


    An arrow followed, slicing past the leader''s calf but doing little to stop him. The Lord¡¯s warriors wanted to chase, fueled by their desire for glory. But Lome ordered them back. Mirian approved. Chasing into the sands was a horrible call. The reason became clear in the next moment.


    The ground trembled. Mirian had to hold herself as the sand shifted, sending her sliding down the dune. She scrambled back up, witnessing a staggering sight.


    The ground opened up as the orc leader sprinted into the open sands. Mirian noticed he didn¡¯t have a bell. He realised it too, but it was too late. A distant mountain shattered like an avalanche of rock and sand. Emerging from the explosion of earth was a gargantuan worm. It slammed into the ground, disappearing, then reemerged beneath the orc leader. The worm''s maw opened and swallowed the orc chieftain whole. Compared to the colossus, he was a mere speck. His screams vanished in an instant. The sand settled as the worm disappeared into the distance.


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    Mirian came to her senses. Her heart thrashed in her chest. The orc''s skill had halted her, but laying eyes on that worm made her realise how insignificant her powers were.


    She noticed the orc scout retreat. Mirian allowed him to go.


    ***


    Owen Pov.


    Morning arrived, and the apocalyptic wave of sand had settled back down. Owen and his team rushed along the desert. He hoped Lome and the others were successful but couldn¡¯t worry about them now. Today would prove one of the most important days. Today, the orcs would weaken, his units would strengthen, and they¡¯d obtain vital information needed to beat the orcs. It was all or nothing, his panicked heart was a reminder of that.


    As they hiked up a dune, Owen saw Rehan grin. In one swift motion, he unsheathed his blade and increased his speed. He rounded the dune, and by the time Owen caught up, an orc lay dead on the ground, throat cut open. Blood spurting from the wound and clumping the sand.


    Another orc was running to position, his eyes widened, and he snarled. Draed in the distance loaded up his bow, concentrated, then fired. Mana swirled across his arrow and it pierced the air, boring a hole straight through the orcen scout.


    From the notifications, Draed and Cedric had now killed 2. Rehan had killed 1. That was 3 scouts gone in the matter of seconds.


    Reconvening together, Owen stored all the corpses, and gave each member a bell of their own. Travelling down the dune, towards the open sands, Rehan was the first to break the silence.


    ¡°You¡¯ve surprised me, Lord.¡±


    Owen scanned the horizon, then said, ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°When I first arrived, I thought you¡¯d be someone to cower behind his walls and make his warriors fight all his battles. You were scared. I could see it. It¡¯s clear I was mistaken. This plan¡­ It¡¯s risky, but a good one if it succeeds.¡±


    ¡°Scared?¡± Owen scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m terrified. And that¡¯s if it succeeds,¡± Owen said, sweat dripping down his back, soaking his tattered shirt. His tender and burning skin revealed underneath. ¡°For all I know, the orc could well have the same plan I¡¯ve had. They could be laying in wait with an army in the south for all I know.¡±


    ¡°Trust in us, my Lord,¡± Draed added with his bow knocked. ¡°They¡¯ll succeed in their mission.¡±


    ¡°I admit,¡± Owen chuckled. ¡°Seeing the flames behind Lome¡¯s eyes is a reassuring sight, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Rehan laughed. ¡°That¡¯s one way to explain it. The undead¡­ I wouldn¡¯t want to experience one with a vengeance. They say they can hold grudges for an eternity. I feel sorry for your opponents, whichever may come.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not only the undead they have to fear,¡± Cedric said, walking calmly in the desert.


    It took only an hour to arrive at the desert plains. In the distance were the mountains with a canyon split down the middle. It was where Draed had scouted the orcs. However, only now did Owen realise how far it was. If he had to estimate, which was a dangerous thing to do in the desert, then it would take 4 to 5 hours of hiking to reach. Draed had said that the orcs had found various other hiding holes away from the nightly wave.


    As Owen took a single step out onto the vast golden plains, he felt something weigh on his shoulders. Fear. An instinctual, raw fear that gnawed his bones. This must be what Draed had experienced before he rightfully fell back.


    Rehan also felt it as he crouched down and let the soft sand glide through his fingers. ¡°This whole desert is the monster¡¯s domain. I can feel it. We have entered its hunting ground.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s always something bigger,¡± Owen added. ¡°I wonder what could threaten such a¡ª¡±


    Notifications popped up. Lome had found the orcs. Owen found his nerves taut. Please remain unharmed.


    Then, the ground rumbled and all Owen heard was a piercing growl. He whipped around to where Lome and all the others were located. And then he saw it. Crashing over a mountain in the far distance, a gigantic worm smashed into the earth. Owen braced himself not physically, but mentally. He expected everyone to die, for the messages to filter into his mind. He was unable to breath for a moment, but then the worm vanished.


    Not one person had died.


    Only after what felt like 5 minutes did Owen release his breath. ¡°To think that thing is underneath us.¡±


    ¡°The troops?¡± Rehan asked, standing up.


    ¡°Alive,¡± Owen said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Replied Rehan. ¡°We better get a move on.¡±

 Chapter 26 - Prepping an Assault

    Owen dodged the incoming raking claws of a desert hound, and at the same time, lashed out an attack of his own. His blade bit into the hounds shoulder as he felt the sickening sensation of slicing into flesh. The dog yelped and snapped at him once more, but he stepped out of range.


    A high powered arrow arrived, slamming into its head, popping it like a balloon.


    All around the four of them were corpses of desert hounds. At least 7 of them. No-one had managed to escape unscathed. Everyone sported wounds one way or another. Rehan was the worst off, having had to fight at the same time as protecting Owen. As the most experienced fighter, he placed that responsibility on himself.


    Owen gulped in a hot breath of air. Right now, they were on the left side of the mountain where the only scenery was an impenetrable mountain. The hounds must have been there to hide from the stabbing sun. He plundered their corpses right away, no need for storing.


    You have plundered Sand Hounds x7.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 2x Warrior, Summoning Ticket 1x Builder, Summoning Ticket 1x Administrator, Sand Hound pelt x7 (Normal), Sand Hound bones x32, Sand Hound meat x24,


    | Stats gained: 12 Strength, 16 Vitality, 8 Dexterity.


    | Skill gained ¡ª Sand Camouflage: Enables the user to blend seamlessly with the sandy environment, becoming nearly invisible.


    Owen smiled at the new Skill. It would prove quite useful. Seeing as there was nothing but desert...


    Owen moved on, and summoned the Warriors right away. One was a 1-Star human named Frederick, the other was a 2-star beast man called Ra-Ka. He wore iron knuckles and muscle rippled underneath his shining fur. They both bowed. Owen immediately filled them in on the plan. It was a crazy one.


    Then he turned his attention to the Administrator ticket and expectation built up. Ansel, the main character of the novel, had gained an incredibly rare Admin to help run his territory. It was practically needed since in the novel, the direction was moving heavily toward Ansel relying on himself and becoming overpowered to fight all in his way. So he had to have someone back home to deal with the day-to-day.


    Although Owen had also gotten his fair share of luck in the past few days, he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d get a god-like member to take over his position. Stressed out of his mind, he¡¯d be happy to just have at least someone to help the load. Even if it was just a 1-Star.


    He¡¯d wait until later to summon them, along with the Builder.


    Now that they were at the side of the mountain, Owen approached the wall, and plundered it, erasing a section around 6 foot tall and 3 foot wide. He told the new warriors to stay and defend the area as Owen kept on going, carving out a tunnel system. Then he started carving his way up, creating stairs leading all the way up. Rehan guided him, using his Skill. Owen still couldn''t wrap his head around it.


    Name: Rehan (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)


    | Race: Human


    | Level: 5


    | Class: Scout


    Attributes:


    | Strength: 25


    | Vitality: 34


    | Dexterity: 49


    | Magic: 26


    | Mana: 8


    Skills


    | Radar ¡ª Mastery: Middle


    | Altered Muscle ¡ª Mastery: Middle


    | Sword Expertise ¡ª Mastery: Middle


    Radar: Grants the ability to detect nearby entities and objects, providing their locations and movements within a 360-degree range.


    Altered Muscle: Enhances leg muscles to significantly boost speed and agility, allowing for rapid, powerful movements and swift dodges.


    High stars really are built differently, Owen thought with a slight shake of his head. He wouldn¡¯t complain. He was on his side, after all.


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    With Rehan¡¯s guidance, Owen and the others soon made their way up to the top of the mountain, often taking numerous breaks. 4 hours had passed since they entered, and finally, Owen opened up the rock to light. It blinded him for a moment, and after adjusting his eyes for a few seconds, gazed out. Far down below, in the middle of the canyon, was a rapidly forming village.


    But his eyes weren¡¯t good enough. Draed come to the front and quietly relayed the information needed. The huts were made of beast hide. There were exactly 26 of them. The biggest one was in the centre. They had erected tall walls made out of bone on either side of the canyon. There was another way in, all the way at the back.


    Draed spotted over 50 people. Maybe more were currently in the huts, minus the orcs out hunting right now. Then, someone approached in a panicked scramble. He arrived at the big hut, hunched over, panting, begging for water.


    Numerous orcs rushed over. Noone could hear what he was saying, but then Owen saw him. A huge orc that had to be at least 8 foot tall left the centre tent, holding an enormous axe-like weapon that suited his appearance perfectly. Beastly, primal, angry.


    Something within Owen cried out. Not one of fear or panic, but one of aggression. For some reason, something deep within him was telling him to go down there and challenge him, to take over his territory. Owen held his chest tight. From that moment, he knew that the orc was in fact a Lord. It was unmistakable. It was the same exact feeling he had read about.


    But he wasn¡¯t naive enough to think he had a hope in hell to defeat that gargantuan orc. No, if he was to win, it was to be a victory of sabotage.


    ¡°Commit what you see to memory,¡± Owen told his Hunter and Scout. ¡°You will need to relay the information back to Gorath.¡±


    After giving them a few minutes to do so, they returned all the way back down. But Owen wasn¡¯t finished. He continued the tunnel system, carving a way right to the borders of the Lord¡¯s territory until he was almost breaching the other side. Only then did he stop. If they were to infiltrate later on, Owen had now set up the perfect environment for it.


    Only after doing all of that, Owen returned back to the entrance. Leaving, Owen turned and picked out the rock he had plundered, and placed it back. It was almost so perfect, that no one would be able to tell there was an extensive tunnel system just behind.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Owen said. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    The way back was thankfully uneventful. They hadn¡¯t encountered any other monster. Maybe they were scared of the worm''s emergence, or maybe they were just lucky. Returning back to his land, he arrived to see Lome and the others relaxing in the wall, Rizael tending to their wounds. None of them were injured badly. Owen sighed in relief.


    Sitting in a pile were numerous wild beasts. Mainly hounds. There seemed to be a lot of them. Owen wondered if there was a nest somewhere nearby.


    They all rose seeing their Lord. Owen waved them to sit back down, then plopped his rear down beside Mirian. ¡°How did it go?¡±


    Of course, he didn¡¯t really have to say that. He saw it himself.


    Your subordinates have defeated a Dune Ravager x6, Sand Hound x5, Orc x7.


    | You have Levelled up.


    | Your subordinates have Levelled up.


    | Your subordinates have gathered Summoning Tickets.


    | Warrior x3, Hunter x1.


    And there was more. Owen sat up straight.


    Lome is ready for a Class evolution. Would you like to¨C


    ¡°Well,¡± Lome said, interrupting the notification, his eyes spitting fire. Literally. ¡°They screamed.¡±


    ¡°Okay then,¡± Owen said, rolling his eyes. The message could wait for now. ¡°Did you use the Armour? Mirian, did you show yourself?¡±


    Mirian shook her head. ¡°We didn¡¯t use either. We left one of the scouts to return alive.¡±


    ¡°We saw him,¡± Owen added. ¡°And we made contact with their camp.¡±


    ¡°Tribe,¡± Gorath corrected. The chains of before were sitting at the side. He smiled wide. ¡°I displayed my might. No doubt they are speaking of my grandeur.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just hope they think of you as a prisoner,¡± Rehan said, wiping his blade clean. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we should start plotting our next move. We¡¯ve got a tunnel to their camp, thinned out their numbers¡­ We could burn them all to the ground.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, Rehan,¡± Owen interrupted. ¡°There could be innocents in that camp¡ªtribe,¡± he corrected himself. ¡°We don¡¯t know who¡¯s in there. Could be families, children. We can¡¯t just torch the place.¡±


    Rehan smirked. ¡°Your heart¡¯s in the right place, but that¡¯ll get us nowhere. These people won¡¯t hesitate to do worse to us.¡± He sat beside Owen, the stench of sweat heavy in the air. But then, no one had bathed for days. ¡°Alright, a softer touch then. If they don¡¯t have one of those storage abilities, they¡¯ll be keeping their supplies somewhere. We burn that. No food, no water. We¡¯ll break them without shedding any blood. Happy?¡±


    Owen paused, his hands fidgeting on his knee. ¡°It¡¯s not about being happy. It¡¯s about being smart. If we cut off their supplies, we weaken them, make them surrender. But if we go in swinging¡­ we start a blood feud we might never recover from.¡±


    Rehan shrugged. ¡°Starve them out, kill them outright¡­ either way, they¡¯ll hate us. You think this path is any less cruel?¡±


    Owen sighed, glancing toward the horizon. ¡°Maybe not. But it gives them a chance. We¡¯re not executing them in cold blood. We¡¯re giving them a way out. If we leave them no choice but to fight, then the blood will be on both our hands.¡± He stood up. ¡°We hit them where it hurts, but we don¡¯t cross a line we can¡¯t come back from.¡±


    "Us orcs understand, my Lord," Gorath spoke up. "Whether it be woman or child. We understand war and death. Celebrate it."


    That didn''t make him feel any better.


    Rehan looked doubtful, but Owen continued, ¡°We¡¯re not killers. Not if we don¡¯t have to be. Maybe we can make them surrender¡± He looked back at his men. Gorath looked doubtful. Owen knew it was a long shot. But it was better to try than to give up. ¡°Rest up, we¡¯ve got work to do. And Rehan, remember¡ªwe¡¯re still fighting to be better than them.¡±


    Rehan chuckled. ¡°You want all of us to evolve before tomorrow, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Owen smiled in response. ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t say you¡¯re afraid of a little hard work?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the sun I fear,¡± Rehan groaned, waving the sweat away from his face. ¡°Not the work.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± Owen said. ¡°Well, probably not. Just work on your tan and you¡¯ll be fine. Lome,¡± Owen said, turning to his undead warrior. ¡°Let¡¯s get started on your class upgrade, shall we?¡±


    Owen activated the evolution process.

 Chapter 27 - An Evolved Undead Warrior

    Displaying a list of Tier 2 Classes.


    Death Knight


    | Focus: Dark Magic and Close Combat


    Abilities:


    | Unholy Blade: Infuse your weapon with dark energy, dealing additional necrotic damage.


    | Life Drain: Steal life force from enemies with each strike, healing yourself.


    | Dark Resilience: Enhanced resistance to physical and magical attacks.


    <hr>


    Bone Reaver


    | Focus: Bone Manipulation and Versatility


    Abilities:


    | Bone Armour: Utilising Vitality as an energy source, form an armour made of bones, increasing defence and reflecting some damage.


    | Bone Shield: Summon a shield of bones to block attacks.


    | Corpse Consumption: Absorb bones from fallen foes to heal, empower oneself, and gain temporary buffs.


    <hr>


    Wraithblade


    | Focus: Stealth and Shadow Combat


    Abilities:


    | Shadow Step: Teleport short distances through the shadows.


    | Phantom Strike: Perform a powerful attack that phases through armour.


    | Spectral Ambush: Become invisible for a short duration, with the next attack dealing massive damage.


    <hr>


    Lich Lord


    | Focus: Magic and Summoning


    Abilities:


    | Death Bolt: Cast a powerful bolt of necrotic energy at enemies.


    | Animate Dead: Permanently raise skeletons or zombies to fight alongside you.


    | Soul Harvest: Absorb the souls of the dead to restore mana and health.


    <hr>


    Grave Knight


    | Focus: Mounted Combat and Cavalry Tactics


    Abilities:


    | Eternal Steed: Summon a spectral warhorse that can traverse any terrain.


    | Cavalry Charge: Perform a devastating charge attack that knocks back and stuns enemies.


    | Deathly Cavalier: Gain enhanced combat abilities while mounted, such as increased speed and damage.


    Owen stopped in thought. It was all well and good he himself had something in mind, but it was best to ask Lome what he wanted. It was his life after all. And being a Lord meant choosing something that their subjects would thrive with. So that¡¯s what he did.


    ¡°What do you think, Lome?¡± Owen asked, clearly knowing Lome was looking at the same screen that he was.


    The flames hiding in Lome¡¯s eye sockets flickered. His silence meant he was thinking. Honestly, that surprised him¨C


    ¡°Whatever Lord chooses,¡± Lome said, ¡°is good enough for me.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Owen sighed. So he had to make the decision in the end after all. Truthfully, although Grave Knight, Lich Lord, and Wraithblade sounded awesome, Lome was his one and only front line warrior. As the strongest right now, along with the Armour of Nerzu, he was a walking tank. Owen had to keep that role for him and enhance it.


    With that in mind, it was between Bone Reaver and Death Knight. Both sounded kick-ass. Both were more or less the same. But Owen was thinking of the future. Death Knight held magical properties, while Bone Reaver used Vitality as an energy source instead. It meant that instead of having to place stats into Magic and Mana, Lome could focus entirely on Strength and Vitality.


    The abilities weren¡¯t as ¡®cool¡¯ as Death Knight¡¯s were, but with the added stats, and the ability to heal, strengthen himself, and with the utility of having bone shields, made it the obvious choice to Owen.


    The Lord has chosen the Bone Reaver Class for the Warrior: Lome.


    | Lome is evolving¡­


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    Owen paid attention to Lome, as did everyone else. Instead of growing taller and larger like Owen expected, Lome actually shrunk. From 7 or so feet, to around 6 foot 7. It appeared to be a big downgrade, but seeing how thick Lome¡¯s bones were, it wasn¡¯t so simple.


    Additionally, a bone-like crown had carved itself into his head, and metal grew from the surface of his bones like a natural armour. His teeth, more specifically his canines, elongated into a sharpened tip. The flames acting as his eyes had transformed from a yellow-flame, to a crackling green and black. Although shorter and more compact, he looked menacing.


    Lome flexed and Owen swore he saw a smile adorn his skeletal visage. Owen looked at his new stats. It was made apparent why.


    Name: Lome


    | Race: Undead Giant


    | Level: 25


    | Class: Bone Reaver


    Attributes:


    | Strength: 73


    | Vitality: 91


    | Dexterity: 25


    | Magic: 9


    | Mana: 15


    Skills


    | Overpower ¡ª Mastery: Low


    | Stalwart Skeleton ¡ª Mastery: Low


    | Bone Armour ¡ª Mastery: None


    | Bone Shield ¡ª Mastery: None


    | Corpse Consumption ¡ª Mastery: None


    His physical stats had taken a sharp increase. Owen got excited for his skeleton friend. Lome jumped to the side, testing his new strength as he practically blasted off, leaping at least 8 metres. The moment he landed, his dark-green eyes flashed, and he summoned a small wall of bones in front of him. Just like his own skeleton, small copper plates of metal adorned the surface of the creation.


    After that, he tested his Bone Armour. Absorbing the bones from the wall, they covered his body like thick plated armour.


    Owen had an idea. Summoning the Armour of Nerzu, he handed it over to Lome and told him to wear it, then summon the bone armour over the top. Lome did so, bone covering armour. He looked like a walking tank, but the extra weight had little effect on him. With that, he could keep the armour hidden from his enemies, while benefiting from the augments it brought him.


    Lome slammed his fist into his palm and looked at Owen with fervour. ¡°I¡¯m ready, my Lord! Point me to the enemy and I¡¯ll devour any in my way.¡±


    Owen laughed and placed his hand on the skeleton¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I love the enthusiasm, Lome. But the rest of us have mortal bodies. We need rest.¡±


    ¡°I will carry them on my back,¡± Lome said. ¡°I will become the steed of my Lord¡¯s war.¡±


    ¡°Now that would be a damn good sight,¡± Rehan said in amusement.


    Owen smiled. ¡°And now it¡¯s time for the rest of you to reach the next stage. No doubt the orcen lord has the same idea as he¡¯s busy training his warriors. He has wasted time and resources trying to hold us back. He¡¯ll most likely change his strategy now.¡± He looked at Rehan. ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s smart, then the probability is high,¡± Rehan said. ¡°But did that orc really look like someone that would play the patient game with us? All his actions so far tell us that he¡¯ll bring the rest of his force to hold us in here today, if not tomorrow.¡±


    Rehan was right. Owen vividly recalled the scene of the lord cleaving his scout in half in a rage of raw, emotional violence. But what if he had the ability to take a step back? What if he was smarter than Owen and Rehan believed.


    ¡°I can see you¡¯re not entirely sold on the idea,¡± Rehan added.


    ¡°I¡¯m just trying to think of all the possibilities,¡± Owen said. He didn¡¯t want more of his people to die unnecessarily. If he could think of the ideal plan, two steps ahead, then that was what he had to do.


    ¡°That¡¯s out of my pay grade, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Rehan shrugged.


    ¡°I¡¯m not paying you anything, though?¡± Owen asked, chuckling.


    ¡°Ah.¡± Rehan smiled. ¡°What is money worth when you can see a kingdom grow in real time? I¡¯ll have my riches soon enough, provided we make it out of this alive.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll make it,¡± Owen said, ¡°we have to.¡±


    While the other Warriors and Hunters were still recovering, Owen turned his attention to the current quests that he was working towards over the past days. The Quest to plunder rock was almost complete now thanks to his tiring work on the mountain and the passage he had created in the orc¡¯s domain. And it was the same for the Sand Hound Quest. He had to kill only 6 more and he¡¯d claim the extra Hunters. That would prove to be a great help.


    First, he¡¯d finish up with the mission within his own domain while the others rested. Once he received the Miners, he could put them to work the moment they arrived. He wanted to create a tunnel system from the mountain, to the orcen territory. It would provide another avenue of attack if needed.


    That brought him to another worry. Right now, he was getting by with the cacti he had obtained. But they were running out. With more people entering his land, the need for water became a necessity. He had to find a water source, and fast. Owen and his people were going through at least 30-40 cacti per day. He was quickly running out.


    Although Owen was tired, he dragged himself to the mountain where he was busy carving out rooms and tunnels. It was time to cash out the Quest and see how Bimpnottin was progressing with the farm.


    Entering the main cavern, he took the stairs down into a wide, machine-like carved out cavern. Pockets of stone had sand within them, cactus were growing. Alongside some other plants he had seen around his land.


    Bimpnottin raised his friend from tending to one of the cacti and ran over, waddling his little legs. ¡°Me Lord!¡± he shouted enthusiastically. Anything happening out of the farm was not of his concern. Bombs could go off and he¡¯d be completely unaware.


    He continued, ¡°As ye can see, we¡¯ve been busy. Three allotments. One that consists of the cacti. We¡¯ve managed to speak to the spiky plant, convinced it to take in more water, we did.¡±


    As per Bimpnottin¡¯s words, the cacti did seem more full and larger than before. Owen tested it. He cut open a corner of the cactus, and inside, the water storage tissue of the cactus were far larger than ordinary.


    ¡°In the middle allotment we have a fruit-like plant that blooms beautifully tasting fruits. Citrusy. Sour, but good, we thinks. Have a taste, my Lord!¡± Bimpnottin plucked a yellow and orange fruit from the green plant and offered it to Owen.


    ¡°Do I have to peel it?¡± Owen asked, inspecting the fruit.


    ¡°Nope. Just bite into it!¡±


    And so he did. Biting into the fruit, the flesh split apart with relative ease, only for a blast of juice and pulp to enter his mouth. His taste buds screamed out in pleasure. Eyes lighting up, Owen finished the entire fruit in seconds, juice dribbling down the corner of his mouth.


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Bimpnottin!¡± Owen explained. He looked at the plants. There were so many.


    ¡°Thanks to our magic, yes!¡±


    Bimpnottin¡¯s growth magic truly was quite special. Not only had it altered the taste of the fruit, increased its yield, but he had also grown them in a single day¡­Just how powerful would a high-star farmer be?!


    ¡°The right allotment however, I¡¯m not too sure what to do with that. I don¡¯t know what it does yet.¡±


    ¡°How about you go over and call Rizael the Great Healer? He has a Skill that can detect plants. He might know what it does.¡±


    ¡°Oh, good idea, my Lord!¡± Bimpnottin nodded along and shot out of the cavern with haste.


    Owen shook his head with an amused smile. The little guy was so enthusiastic, it was quite contagious. Happy that the farm was well underway to sustaining more of his people, Owen made his way down into the tunnels. He started plundering away at the rock, further and further, securing the passages with powerful bones along the way.


    And then finally.


    Quest complete: Harvest 10,000 tonnes of Sand Rock.


    | Reward gained: 5 Summoning Tickets: Miners.

 Chapter 28 - Kill

    Owen summoned all of them at once. 3 were 1-Star, 1 was 2-Star, and the last was a 4-Star.


    The 4-Star miner was a small human man around 5 foot 5 with an incredible physique. He sprouted a long, curling moustache. Topless, he, along with the others, bowed the moment they arrived.


    ¡°Bron,¡± Owen said, ¡°Please stand.¡± Bron stood up and Owen continued, ¡°First off, it¡¯s a pleasure to have you here. As for my aims, this will be your mission for now.¡± Owen pointed down the passage. ¡°I want a tunnel as far as you can go. A man named Rehan will arrive later, notifying you of where to stop.¡±


    Bron slammed his chest. ¡°I can do that, my Lord.¡±


    Owen smiled. ¡°If you need any water, there are cacti outside. If you¡¯re hungry, we also have fruit. But since you¡¯ll be physically active, there¡¯s meat outside the mountain we¡¯re in. Just head over to the wall and there''ll be someone there to help you out.¡±


    Next up, Owen tore open the Administrator Ticket and the warriors/hunters he had gained from before. All were low Stars, so Owen turned his attention to the Administrator. Out stepped a demon-like man in an exquisite black three-piece suit. His skin was a deep scarlet, and a single, broken horn jutted from his forehead, suggesting a past altercation.


    "My Lord," said Balthus, bowing gracefully. "How may I be of assistance?"


    Owen smiled. ¡°As you can see, our forces are growing. I¡¯d like you to become an intermediary.¡±


    Balthus nodded understandingly. "Delegation is key, my Lord. With my assistance, we can ensure that your realm runs efficiently, freeing you to concentrate on more strategic matters."


    "Perfect," Owen said with relief. "Let¡¯s get started, then."


    Balthus bowed again, a confident gleam in his eye. "As you wish, my Lord. I am at your service."


    Draed was still busy explaining things to the new Warriors, so Owen briefed Balthus what was happening.


    ¡°We really do have our backs to the wall, don¡¯t we?¡± Balthus asked, noticing the lack of buildings.


    ¡°We do,¡± Owen replied with a grim expression. ¡°But we¡¯ll make it.¡±


    Watching as the Miners got to work, swinging their pickaxes, Owen left the mountain. He noticed that the warriors and hunters were all up and ready to get fighting. Owen wished he shared the same enthusiasm. All that he had was an anxiety weighing on him, their lives in his palm. But there was nothing he could do about that. They all just had to fight and get on with it.


    Owen gathered the warriors, everyone including Rehan, Gorath, and Mirian.


    It was time to do some Levelling. Once everyone had their next Class Tiers, his fighting force would improve by leaps and bounds. Lome was evidence of that.


    They got out of the dome and started trudging through the sands. Owen, Draed, and Roa¡ªone of the Hunter¡¯s with a bow, were on the back of Shelldon. Lome was leading in the front along with Rehan who was scouting, while Mirian was hiding amongst the sands, ready to pounce at whatever they faced.


    Around 20 minutes had passed or so, and Owen was honestly surprised about the monsters he had faced so far. It was meant to be a lot more difficult than this. When Ansel¡ªthe main character¡ªhad entered the Cursed Lands, he had to face enormous monsters. Owen seemed to be lucky in the regard. Oh how he wished he didn¡¯t think that at all.


    Bursting out of the sands was a crab of monstrous proportions. Its shell was scarlet red and when it snipped the air with its pincers, trying to cleave Rehan in half, Owen¡¯s ears hurt.


    Owen¡¯s troops acted instinctively. Lome met the monster with raw strength, cleaving its shell with his massie axe. Sparks flew from the savage impact, but other than that, didn¡¯t do anything at all. A little chink in the armour, and that was it.


    As his fighters met with the monster, Owen was in no doubt that it was one of the first monsters Ansel had met. And he knew exactly how to take it down.


    ¡°Target it¡¯s stomach,¡± Owen yelled out his command. ¡°Its armour is weak there.¡±


    Everyone listened, getting into formation. Lome tried to target the stomach, but the crab¡¯s agile pincer smashed him to the ground, rolling to a stop. Draed fired a highly powered arrow, piercing one of the monster¡¯s eyes. It screeched something horrible and thrashed. Sand splattered everywhere and Rohan¡ªone of the warriors¡ªgot caught in its raging path. Blood spurted, his body rag dolled across the sands.


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    Owen grit his teeth and ordered Shelldon to charge with a mental command. Draed leapt off and Cedric took his place. Shelldon tore through the desert and collided against the crab with a sickening crunch. The sand monster was about to snip Shelldon¡¯s leg when Owen quickly told him to retract his limbs. In an instant, Shelldon retreated into his shell. With its target gone, the colossal crab¡¯s incredibly powerful pincers slammed against Shelldon¡¯s shell. A resounding clang pierced across the sands.


    But Cedric was ready. He somersaulted off Shelldon¡¯s back, rolled on the sand, then fired a spectral blade at the underside of the monster¡¯s belly. The creature screeched in pain, but Owen didn¡¯t see any blood stain the sands.


    Not deep enough, Owen thought grimly.


    He needed Mirian, knowing her armour piercing ability. ¡°Rehan, is there a scout nearby?¡± He shouted to his scout.


    ¡°Two of them nearby,¡± he replied, pointing over to a dune. ¡°Same direction.¡±


    Owen nodded, a plan was forming. ¡°Lome, erect a bone wall,¡± he raised his voice. ¡°Mirian, wait until the walls have formed, then get underneath!¡±


    Lome acted the moment he heard the command. A tall bone wall emerged from the sands as he commanded the bones hiding underneath. Then came Mirian. She hurried under the guise of the wall, and darted underneath the thrashing crab. Her blade shone a dark black light, and then she fired it into the underside of the crab. Blood splashed, and the crab entered a frenzy.


    Mirian darted to Shelldon, hiding inside his shell. Lome arrived unarmed. He grabbed one of the monster¡¯s legs in a bear hug, then pulled. The crab stumbled, falling onto its side. Draed fired a mighty arrow, and the sands swept up as it shot through the air. It thudded into the crab¡¯s bloody wound, boring a devastating hole straight through.


    And yet the crab still wouldn¡¯t fall.


    It took all of their teamwork and manpower to finally whittle the beast down over the course of an extra 15 minutes. If not for Mirian breaking through its weak armour, the fight may have gone differently.


    Finally, the creature fell into the sand, seeping red into the golden desert.


    Your subordinates have defeated a Scarlet Crab x1 (Level 28)


    | Your subordinates have levelled up!


    | Your subordinates have gathered Summoning Tickets.


    | Draed and Cedric are ready for a Class Evolution!


    Owen ignored the messages and rushed over to Bohar. Upon seeing his condition, Owen inhaled a sharp breath of hot air. Both of his arms had broken. His shield was barely visible, sticking out of the sand a few metres away. His sword was gone. Blood gushed from his mouth. Owen quickly hopped off Shelldon and fed him a health potion. Or he tried to. But the Warrior coughed it up, unable to get it down his throat.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Owen said, hands trembling. He looked at Draed, who was the closest to him, and continued in a panic. ¡°What do we do¨C¡±


    He wasn¡¯t given time to receive an answer. Bursting out of the sand was what appeared to be a Sand Hound, but this was larger. It had scales and its long tail was finned and powerful. Almost at the same time, one of the orcs on the dunes fired an arrow. Owen thought nothing of it, as it was so far away. But that was a devastating mistake. The arrow arrived in seconds. Rehan shouted out in warning, but it was too late.


    Owen barely dodged, leaping off the back of Shelldon, but the arrow changed trajectory at the last moment. Owen¡¯s eyes widened as a horrible sensation tied around his throat. He was going to die. If it wasn''t for his new Skill: Devil¡¯s Reflexes, he¡¯d have perished already. In the last second, all he saw was Cedric appear before him. The arrow, which was aimed at his own life, struck Cedric instead. The arrow was so powerful that it entered one side, and left the other. More orcs screamed, ready to pounce.


    ¡°Retreat!¡± Owen screamed, grabbing hold of Cedric¡¯s limp body. He was alive, he felt a heartbeat, thank god.


    Rohan had other ideas.


    ¡°My Lord, we can defeat them,¡± he said, dodging the attack of the Sand Hound, carving his blade into its shoulder.


    Lome was quick to react, he snapped a kick to the Sand Hound, sending it tumbling back. He grabbed his axe in one swift motion, then leapt back to the hound, cleaving into its body. Then, the bones of the fallen crab snapped onto him. Lome roared, low and guttural. He moved again, faster this time, and swung his axe in a savage arc, lopping the beat¡¯s head off its shoulders.


    Owen calmed down. His heart was smashing against his chest. He realised that they could indeed win. Were the orcs hoping to test his leadership? Whether he would flee? Banking on the hopes he''d panic? It was a fact that he would lose more men if he ran. The archer would pick them off.


    At least 8 orcs charged. More joined them. If he decided to run, people, his people, would die here today. He couldn¡¯t let that happen. The orcs had forced his hand.


    Anger surged. He was sick of this shit. ¡°Kill them all,¡± Owen roared.


    Draed unleashed his arrows on the closer orcs, one of his arrows slammed through an orc warrior''s heart. The orcen sharpshooter fired another arrow, clearly aimed at Owen. He felt it now. The danger creeping at the back of his neck. Focused on the arrow wholly, Owen grit his teeth. He stepped to the side, then again. When the arrow changed directions, Owen tilted his head and the arrow glanced past his cheek. Dune¡¯s Crest blocked the damage.


    Gorath finally acted once the orcs had clumped together. He had picked the perfect timing. His lighting tore through the first ranks, scorching them to death.


    Mirian, shrouded by the confusion of battle, reaped the orcs'' lives with her dagger amongst the chaos. They didn''t know they had an assassin, and it would be there undoing.


    Lome went from one orc to the other, splitting them in half. With even thicker bones, he shrugged off the strikes of orcen axes.


    And then Owen joined.

 Chapter 29 - Orcen Totem

    Owen''s blade sliced through the orc warrior''s throat, warm blood spraying across his shrouded face. He didn¡¯t falter. His grip tightened on the hilt, the blade trembling only slightly as he dispatched three more orcs in rapid succession, each kill swifter than the last.


    Sensing the deadly whistle of an incoming arrow, Owen threw himself to the side, but this time he wasn¡¯t quick enough. The arrow struck true, slamming into his shoulder with a sickening force, sending him sprawling through the air.


    Before he hit the ground, Rehan was there, catching him in mid-fall and lowering him to safety. Without missing a beat, Rehan darted behind Shelldon, the massive war tortoise, who raised his armoured shell as a shield against further attacks.


    All the orcs had been killed. No Sand Hounds were left. Only the distant archer fired, but even that stopped after a few minutes. He had most likely retreated.


    Sheltered beneath its formidable bulk, Owen seized the moment. He activated his power, claiming the corpses scattered across the battlefield¡ªevery one of them. With their wounded secured, Owen and his group retreated, disappearing from the chaos to tend to their injuries.


    Cedric and Rohan were rushed to Rizael¡¯s infirmary, along with other numerous Warriors and Hunters. Owen himself rested his back against the wall, and slid down until his rear was firmly seated on the sand.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Draed said in concern, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Owen replied, exhausted. He glanced at his wound. It wasn¡¯t severe, and hadn''t struck an artery. ¡°Just tired. Go and see if Rizael needs help.¡±


    Draed bowed and left. All Owen could hear were his people in pain, their cries filtering out of the infirmary. The Builders wanted to come over and help, but they had their own mission. If the walls weren¡¯t finished in time, the waves would wash them away.


    Closing his eyes, Owen focused on his breathing. The sight of Cedric willingly take an arrow for him without hesitation burned itself into his vision. Owen snapped his eyes open. There was no way in hell he was going out without a fight. He had to focus, get stronger.


    After a few minutes, Draed and Cedric stood in front of him. It was time to evolve his first two Hunters.


    Displaying a list of Tier 2 Hunter Classes for Draed.


    Shadow Striker


    | Focus: Stealth and Precision


    Abilities:


    | Shadow Cloak: Temporarily blend into the surroundings, making detection harder.


    | Silent Step: Move quietly, reducing noise and chance of alerting enemies.


    | Deadly Ambush: Deal extra damage when attacking from a hidden position.


    <hr>


    Storm Ranger


    | Focus: Elemental Arrows and Weather Manipulation


    Abilities:


    | Tempest Arrow: Shoot an arrow that creates a brief gust of wind on impact.


    | Gale Shot: Fire an arrow that causes a small shockwave, pushing back enemies.


    | Lightning Quiver: Occasionally charge arrows with a small electric shock.


    <hr>


    Soul Hunter


    | Focus: Spiritual Tracking and Enhanced Senses


    Abilities:


    | Spirit Mark: Fire an arrow that slightly homes in on the target, marks the target struck. Consecutive arrows once marked deal extra damage.


    | Phantom Shot: Shoot an arrow that can penetrate thin obstacles.


    | Wraith Form: Briefly move faster and become harder to hit.


    <hr>


    Eagle Eye Marksman


    | Focus: Precision Shooting and Enhanced Archery Skills


    Abilities:


    | Eagle Vision: Temporarily enhances eyesight, increasing accuracy and allowing for better targeting of weak points at long range.


    | Piercing Shot: Fire a single, powerful arrow that can penetrate through multiple targets or armor.


    | Quickdraw: Rapidly draw and shoot arrows in quick succession, increasing firing speed for a short duration.


    <hr>


    Arcane Bowman


    | Focus: Magical Arrows and Simple Enchantments


    Abilities:


    | Arcane Arrow: Fire an arrow with a small magical burst on impact.


    | Elemental Infusion: Occasionally imbue arrows with basic elemental properties like fire or ice.


    | Mystic Volley: Shoot a volley of arrows that slightly adjust their path towards targets.


    <hr>


    Owen was a little complacent when it came to Draed. He was a lot more flexible. Although, when he recalled that orcen archer¡¯s capabilities, it sent a shiver down his spine. No doubt that the orc had gone in the direction of something like Eagle Eye Marksman.


    Draed¡¯s eyes had blurred over, deep in thought as he gazed at the System screen. However, he stripped his eyes away a moment later, and said, ¡°What do you think, my Lord?¡±


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    Owen shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s up to you. What do you like the sound of more? No doubt that orc archer was something akin to the Eagle Eye Marksman.¡±


    Draed said after a moment, ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going another direction. I don¡¯t think that type of archery suits me.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Owen said in agreement, ¡°I think the same.¡± It was true. From his memory, the orc had his feet planted firmly in the sand. Each time he fired the bow, his body would recoil backwards; like firing a high-powered rifle. Whereas Draed was always on the move, firing even while jumping sometimes. He was an archer that focused on agility, not strength.


    ¡°May I choose, my Lord?¡± Draed asked, unsure as he glanced at the System, then back to Owen.


    Owen smiled. ¡°Of course you can.¡±


    Draed nodded and selected what he wanted.


    Draed has selected the Tier 2 Class: Soul Hunter.


    Just like with Lome, the evolution was instant. But unlike the undead warrior, it was barely noticeable. If Owen didn¡¯t pay close attention, he would never see the faint ghostly hue exuding from Draed¡¯s eyes.


    Draed tested his new abilities. Spirit Mark conjured a ghostly arrow, nearly invisible to the naked eye, that homed in on targets with eerie precision, painfully reminding him of the orc''s skill. Phantom Shot appeared similar but packed a stronger punch. The most striking transformation occurred when he activated Wraith Form. His lower legs turned misty and ethereal, allowing him to move faster and silently across the sand, no mark being made.


    Owen they activated the evolution for Cedric.


    Displaying a list of Tier 2 Hunter Classes for Cedric.


    For Cedric, most of the classes were pretty much similar. All were just variants of damage with a single movement ability, increasing his speed. Owen had no input on Cedric¡¯s decision. Each one he chose would prove to dramatically increase his combat effectiveness. In the end, he chose this¨C


    Wind Slicer


    | Focus: Wind-Enhanced Strikes and Speed


    Abilities:


    | Wind Steps: Empower your movement with the power of wind.


    | Gale Blade: Increase the reach of a slash with a burst of air.


    | Cyclone Cut: Spin with the blade to create a brief, small-scale whirlwind.


    Cedric said he would test his Skills later. He didn¡¯t want to disturb the sand, of which Owen was thankful. The last thing he wanted was for sand to get everywhere. Not that it wasn¡¯t already in places he¡¯d rather not talk about.


    With that done, Owen turned to the corpses he had stored during his outing. He had over 10 orcs from previous battles, including the evolved form of the Sand Hound. It was time to plunder.


    You have plundered a Dune Prowler x1, Orc x11.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 3x Hunter, Dune Prowler Pelt x1 (Normal), Dune Prowler Organs (Normal) Dune Prowler Bones x13 (Normal), Orc Bones x36 (Normal), Orc Meat x43 (Normal) Fragment: Orc Totem [Drop chance: 11.7%].


    | Stats gained: 19 Strength, 26 Vitality, 13 Dexterity.


    | Skill gained: Battle Hardened: Increases resistance to mental and physical stress, reducing the chances of being stunned or frightened in combat.


    Owen felt the majority of his tiredness wash away like a cool breeze in summer. The added Vitality felt incredible. The wound, of which the arrow was still present, no longer hurt. He glanced at the shaft, then with a little hesitation, snapped it, then pulled out the rest. Only a small amount of blood seeped from the wound, but that was it.


    I really love this Skill, Owen thought, unable to muster a smile.


    To his pleasant surprise, he had also gained a new Skill and a Fragment. Things were looking up. The Passive Skill, Battle Hardened, would be a welcome addition. Anything that helped him stay calm under pressure was an incredible boon. If he had possessed it during the ambush, he might have reacted faster. This skill would also enhance his battlefield experience, allowing him to manage fear more effectively¡ªsomething typically overcome only through countless battles. Now, that challenge was largely resolved.


    Next up, he focused on his new Fragment.


    Fragment: [Orcen Totem].


    | Tier: Apprentice


    | Type: Artefact/Totem


    | Description: The Orcen Totem is a relic from the mighty Orcen Marauders, a fearsome space-faring orc race known for their unparalleled strength and ferocity in battle. These orcs dominate multiple worlds, spreading their influence and power across the galaxy. The totem itself is carved from the bones of ancient, powerful beasts and imbued with the magical essence of their conquered foes. Legends say that it was used in rituals to channel and amplify their magical abilities, making their warlocks and shamans nearly invincible in combat. When activated, the Orcen Totem boosts the damage of all magical abilities, turning even the simplest spells into devastating attacks.


    | Runes: Magic Amplification, Ancient Fury, Conqueror¡¯s Might.


    Orcen Marauders, Owen thought. Were these orcs part of their race? But then considering the low drop chance of it, it was most likely a distant memory from their bloodline. From what little he knew of the orc tribes, the ones he faced right now were most likely of the Bloodfang tribe. Bloody, violent, and had no desire for peaceful talks.


    Owen focused on the Runes.


    Magic Amplification


    | Description: Increases the potency and damage of all magical abilities by 25%, allowing even novice spells to wreak havoc on enemies. The amplification effect stacks with other similar enhancements, making it a crucial tool for spellcasters.


    Ancient Fury


    | Description: Channels the ancient wrath of the Orcen Marauders, granting a temporary boost to the user''s magical power. When activated, it significantly increases magical damage by 50% for 30 seconds. This rune can be activated once every 10 minutes. Can only be used 3 times before permanently breaking the Fragment.


    It was an incredible Fragment and Owen could hardly wait to see the devastation Gorath would cause on the battlefield once he not only evolved, but had the Orcen Totem empowering him further. It would truly be a spectacle. Owen paused, discomfort taking hold of him. He shouldn¡¯t become excited at the notion of defeating his opposition, but something deep down was bringing that feeling to the forefront. And he didn¡¯t like it.


    At first, he thought it had something to do with being a Lord. Something, maybe the System, had planted those feelings to make him fight and win glory for whatever reason. But maybe it was just his emotions getting the best of him. They had hurt his people, and he wanted to hurt them in return.


    Taking a breather, Owen stood up just as Rizael approached. He was wiping the blood stained on his hands with a piece of cloth.


    ¡°Rohan didn¡¯t make it.¡±

 Chapter 30 - Elena Moonshadow

    Owen gazed into the fire, orange blaze reflecting from his iris. At first, he felt loss, and a weakness that was difficult to describe. But the longer he stared into the fire, he found his heart hardening. A deep orange glow had consumed the sky-line. Soon, an abyss of darkness would consume the land, and a terrifying wave of sand would devour everything else.


    It was the second time Owen stood at a funeral for the fallen, and the grim, determined faces around him told him all he needed to know¡ªthis was only the beginning. Blood would spill. Bones would litter the golden sands. Souls would be snuffed out. More would die. And still, they would march forward. He had to speak.


    Owen stepped forward, his voice steady but solemn. ¡°Many of you no longer remember your homeland,¡± he began. ¡°Some of you might have been fathers, mothers, daughters, or sons. You signed up for glory, for respect¡ªto make your mark across the universe. But how many of you even recall why you wanted it? What it truly meant?¡± His gaze swept over them, resting on the lifeless form of Lome. ¡°We¡¯ve lost so much. Fought, bled, and survived in ways we never imagined.¡±


    Placing a hand on Lome¡¯s skeletal shoulder, Owen¡¯s voice grew stronger. ¡°But none of you are alone. Whatever the past may have been, we face the future together. To hell with glory. To hell with riches. Together, we will survive. We will create new memories, forge a new life, one that they can¡¯t take from us again.¡±


    His voice rose with emotion, anger and defiance swelling. ¡°And we¡¯ll live long enough to punish those who tore you away from your lives¡ªwho ripped away your families, your memories.¡±


    A roar erupted from the crowd, a mix of rage and grief. Cedric wept, struggling to understand the turmoil inside him. Owen felt it too¡ªthe weight of their pasts and the uncertainty of his role. Was he the best leader for them? No. Did he know all the answers? Not even close. But he would try. And he would lead them, gathering their wrath to turn against the Author, whether it was possible or not.


    It was around 30 minutes after the funeral, and the fighting force had a fire ignited within them. They all sparred amongst each other, the harsh sounds of metal clanging against each other ringing out across his territory.


    Owen was sitting with Pyris, trying not to stare at her face. ¡°We lost another today. His name was Rohan. I hardly knew him. He didn¡¯t talk much. Worse yet, is that I didn¡¯t really feel anything. Not like the first time anyway. Will it continue like this as more people are summoned into my domain? It feels cold. I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    Sighing, Owen continued, ¡°But I think I¡¯ve steeled myself for the most part. The orc leader will up the aggression from tomorrow onwards. Tomorrow, we have two days left of protection. That¡¯s when the casualties will rise. We will either perish, or win. But the fact remains, there will be blood on my hands regardless.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, we will begin by ravaging their supplies. Rehan says that blood won¡¯t spill if we weaken them, but I¡¯m not naive. The orcs will consume the weak. Women and children, they will eat them. Using their blood for water. At the most, we¡¯ll weaken them by around 25 percent.¡±


    Owen stood up and after stretching, he said, ¡°But if it means one less of us will die, I will have to shoulder that knowledge. That burden.¡± Owen turned silent for a moment, before saying. ¡°If I die tomorrow, I have given orders for the Builders to retreat into the mountain with you. There should be an escape tunnel set up soon.¡±


    Leaving the building, Owen felt oddly refreshed. Like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Talking to Pyris, although she couldn¡¯t listen or talk back, was calming. Back on Earth, he had always kept everything to himself, bottling it away. He thought he was weak for having those thoughts. But now he knew just how freeing it was to tell someone, anyone, about his thoughts.


    Although night was fast approaching, and the temperature had plummeted. He smiled upon seeing numerous braziers lighting up his territory. Lome was smiling¡ªif that was a smile anyway, while eating some of Bimpnottin¡¯s raised fruits. Not that he could taste it, but once he saw everyone¡¯s faces steeped in pleasure from the juicy fruit, he joined in.


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    The Warriors and Hunters who had recovered, were helping the Builders who were busy singing away in songs from their homeland. They didn¡¯t know how they remembered them; it just instinctively left their throats. And it was beautiful.


    Owen gathered Rehan, Lome, Draed, and Mirian. Although he wanted to join the festivities, Owen had other things to do, even with nightfall fast approaching. He wanted to finish the Quest to hunt the Sand Hounds for one. A further 5 Hunter tickets would prove very useful¡ªif not vital if one of them happened to be a high star.


    Leaving the enormous blue dome, they hunted with Rehan in the lead guiding them. Owen made sure not to stray further than 25 metres away from the shield. However, because the wave was near, the Sand Hounds were very sparse. It was only the brave few that hunted at this time and because of that; they were stronger, too.


    But with Lome and Draed¡ªboth of which had recently evolved¡ªdisplayed their incredible might. Draed released an onslaught of arrows, some of which tracked his enemies. While Lome, making use of his tremendous might, split apart any monster that neared.


    Mirian herself was also a force to be reckoned with. Not once was she in harm''s way as she assassinated the hounds, hiding amongst the sand. She knew exactly how to run in the sand, how to fight, and how to kill.


    Owen himself made sure to fight as well. He had to learn, and thanks to his two Skills: Devil¡¯s Reflexes and Battle Hardened, it made up for his lack of martial prowess. As he attacked the beasts, he figured out how best to attack. If his foot was in the wrong place, or he swung his Fragment in the wrong trajectory. Because of Devil¡¯s Reflexes, all the minute details became huge.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Owen had killed enough Sand Hounds to hear that sweet sound.


    Quest complete: Slay 25 Sand Hounds.


    | Reward gained: Summoning Tickets x5 Hunters.


    Quickly returning to his territory¡ªhis home¡ªOwen summoned the new people right away. It was best to do it before the tsunami arrived. That way, he could explain what was happening before they panicked.


    He ripped the tickets. Two were 1-Star, one was 1-Star, and the last, the wheel spun, revolving around a myriad of luminous colours. Owen''s heart sped up as it started slowing down. It was going to reach 7-Star, just like Pyris. But it wasn¡¯t meant to be. At the very last moment, it ticked over to a 4-Star.


    Owen sighed, his heart racing. The damn wheel was going to give him a heart attack. Spawning was a stunning woman with large pointed ears. Unlike Draed, who had almost greenish skin, hers was pasty white. Like Owen¡¯s own before he was tortured by the sun day on end. She was of an elven race called Lunar Sylvans. Her name was Elena Moonshadow. She bowed.


    ¡°This junior meets her Lord,¡± She curtised with noble grace. ¡°It is my honor to fight for you. By the will of the Moon Goddess, Lunara.¡±


    He looked at her stats in shock. They blew Draed¡¯s out of the water when he first arrived.


    Name: Elena Moonshadow


    | Race: Lunar Sylvan


    | Level: 1


    | Class: Hunter


    Attributes:


    | Strength: 23


    | Vitality: 25


    | Dexterity: 31


    | Magic: 35


    | Mana: 30


    Skills


    | Lunar Shot ¡ª Mastery: Middle


    To his surprise, she only had one Skill. He inspected it.


    Lunar Shot: Imbues arrows with lunar mana, piercing armour, causing magical explosions, disorienting enemies, and amplifying power during a full moon.


    Indeed, the mastery of her Skill had brought with it amazing additional properties.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Elena,¡± Owen said, smiling. ¡°Now, let¡¯s fill you in¨C¡±


    Owen told her and the other Hunters all about what was happening, and what had happened over the past couple days. He just managed to tell them about the tsunami in time before the entire world trembled under its might. It covered the moon, descending the area into an impenetrable darkness, so dark that Owen couldn¡¯t even see his own hands. And no amount of fire or magical light could battle against it, either.


    Using hands and with the guidance of voices, Owen made it to the wall, where it was time to sleep. Tomorrow was yet again, all or nothing. Kill or be killed. Tomorrow, the orcen''s supplies would burn.

 Chapter 31 - Assault

    It was yet another race to the dunes. This time, Owen had a larger force with him, but not all. No, the others had another mission. Everyone had a bell on them. Lome specifically was to go with them all the way, but there was also a new addition: Elena. Another powerful archer would prove vital in what awaited them.


    Lome as the vanguard, reached the top of the dune first. As Owen thought, the orcen Lord wasn¡¯t one to hold back. Lome engaged in battle the moment he crested the hill. Owen and the others joined him right away. It was bloody and violent and Owen was ready.


    With the raw stats; 80 whole points of strength coursing through his body, met with one of the orc warriors in head-to-head combat. Before the orc even attacked, Owen had read it thanks to his devilish reflexes. He dodged the hulking blade of the orcs axe head, and slashed his arm with his blade. Owen pressed his advantage, hacking, slashing, cutting, until his blade¡¯s edge bit into the orc¡¯s throat, ending his life in a brisk move of his Fragment.


    A projectile screamed through the air. All Owen heard was a scream behind him. He snapped his head back, only to see one of his new Hunter¡¯s get impaled by the powerful arrow. The hunter was dead in an instant.


    Owen raged. He knew that neither Draed or Elena could hit the orcen archer from where they stood. They had to get closer. Owen took in a deep breath, and screamed, ¡°Now!¡± His voice echoed across the sands, and roughly 15 or so metres from the archer, the sand erupted. A wind blade cut upwards, and out came Cedric and Rehan.


    The archer, shocked at the arrivals, fired at Cedric and Rehan. Eyes laser focused, Cedric conjured a wind blade and slammed it into the oncoming arrow. It didn¡¯t stop it, but it diverted its path enough for the arrow to crash into the sands.


    Cedric and Rehan were on him like bloodhounds. Owen couldn¡¯t see what happened after that. He turned his attention to his own fight. The fight was bloody, and in the end, one other Hunter and Warrior on his side had perished. He just hoped this was worth it.


    Owen, as the strongest, took the lead. He was inexperienced, his hand trembled, and he often missed his mark. But his power was undeniable. With Unlimited Plunder, his talent was inconsequential. He¡¯d gain skill mastery slower. Would only gain one stat point per Level. But none of that mattered.


    With the power of his plundered stats firmly bolstering his muscles, he swung his blade in a savage arc. His blade dug into flesh, lopping an orcs head off from its body in one swift motion.


    An uncomfortable sensation welled up inside him. Perhaps it was only because of Battle Hardened he continued, unimpeded.


    Once the fight had ended, Owen quickly stored all the corpses and rushed over to where Cedric and Rehan were. They were panting. Rehan was wounded, his arm sliced, but it wasn¡¯t serious. The archer was nowhere to be seen. Owen squinted, and saw the powerful archer run across the sands in the distance, away from his base.


    ¡°Leave him,¡± Owen said. ¡°He isn¡¯t our objective for today. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Owen ignored the archer as he knew that this mission shouldn¡¯t take longer than an hour. Hopefully. Owen swiftly arrived to the left of the mountain, where his secret passage was located. Just as he left it, it was seamless. He Plundered the entrance, revealing the tunnels. Halfway through, was the staircase heading up. But his destination was straight ahead.


    Rushing as quietly and as quickly as they could, they arrived at the other side.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Owen turned to Mirian. This next part was entirely up to her. She had to get in and out undetected. She¡¯d come back, relay information about the camp, then it would be Rehans¡¯ return. It all had to be done fast. Especially now that they didn¡¯t know when the sharpshooter would arrive.


    Mirian nodded. Owen Plundered the wall and Mirian darted through. It was still quite dark out, since it was dawn. But that would soon change. Soon, the entire desert would be illuminated in the oven-like sun.


    Owen tapped his foot repeatedly on the ground. 2 minutes, 4 minutes, 8 minutes¡­ she had yet to return. The only thing offering him solace at this time was the fact that there was no noise in the camp. No noise apart from snoring, idle chatter, and training.


    At the back of his mind, was a constant, gnawing worry that the mission would fail. What if the orc had already detected this passage? What if he was playing right into the palms of the orc Lord. His nerves constricted taut as every second that passed by, his heart thumping.


    His assassin arrived in the next moment, causing Owen to jump.


    ¡°They have a well located at the west of camp,¡± She said, her voice calm, as if she had done this hundreds of times before. ¡°The food supplies are located close to the Lord¡¯s tent.¡±


    Owen nodded. He brought out a potion that Rizael had given him during the night. It was a poison. When they had mentioned it before, Rizael said he would look into it. And apparently it was a potent one, easily spread, a little went a long way.


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    The next part of the mission was only Owen, Rehan, Draed, Mirian, and Cedric. All who had either movement abilities, or stealth Skills. Owen had Sand Camouflage and although it wasn¡¯t perfect, did have some effect.


    As Owen darted to one of the tents, Owen¡¯s heart was thumping so hard he was beginning to feel nauseous. He heard the sound of snoring through the thin walls of hide.


    Then they skirted around the village. Miran and Rehan had gone to the food supplies near the centre. As the stealthiest of them, it was their job to get in close, while Owen, Draed, and Cedric would poison the well on the border.


    Plans were simple in theory, but as Owen and his team darted from tent-to-tent, one mistake would prove their last. If Mirian or Rehan were caught, they would all be surrounded in seconds.


    Owen was about to turn a corner when an orc suddenly left the tent he was hiding behind. He caught his breath, literally, and paused, his free hand tightly grasping his Fragment. The orc cleared his throat, then spat on the compacted sand. He was approaching the well.


    Shit, Owen thought. He brandished his blade and was about to step forwards when Draed pulled him back. He shook his head, then motioned towards their objective. Owen nodded and although he was confused as to why Draed had stopped him, he decided to trust his archer.


    They forged on, finally making it to where the well was. But there was a problem. Two orcs were currently using it. Draed and Cedric gave the signal, and in unison, they worked together to silence the orcs. Cedric¡¯s wind blade hardly made a noise as it tore through the orc on the left. The other orc wasn¡¯t much better as an arrow bored through its heart.


    Owen rushed ahead, brought out the potion Rizael had prepared, and was about to empty the contents within when he paused. Innocents would be affected. This was the moment where only savagery awaited them.


    Taking a deep breath, Owen emptied the contents with a heavy conscience. It was kill or be killed. The moment he did so, he saw a chimney of dark smoke fill the sky. They had succeeded.


    An orc rounded the corner of another tent. He looked at Owen then snarled. He roared, only for Draed to silence him with a well placed arrow to the forehead. But the damage was done. From the tents, emerged numerous orcs, already holding their weapons. One of the closest orc¡¯s rampaged toward Owen, and swung his axe at his head.


    Owen dodged, then plunged his blade into the green man¡¯s torso, killing him instantly. He stored the corpse, then dashed back to Draed. Draed fired a volley of arrows. Cedric sliced any in their path. The cacophony of orc screams bellowed across the camp, all awakening.


    Killing their way out, they were about to make it to the passage, when Owen glanced over his shoulder. He saw Rehan, and sighed in relief. But Mirian was nowhere to be seen. Rehan sprinted like the wind to Owen, grabbed him, and shoved him in the passage.


    ¡°Where is Mirian?!¡± Owen shouted.


    ¡°Not here,¡± Rehan yelled. ¡°Close the entrance!¡±


    Owen spotted her in the next moment. She was darting in and out of a crowd of furious orcs.


    ¡°She can¡¯t be captured!¡± Owen said, gritting his teeth. He knew what would happen to her if she was.


    ¡°I can take her life,¡± Draed offered, but it didn¡¯t make Owen feel any better. It only made him feel worse.


    ¡°Have faith, Lord!¡± Rehan shouted.


    ¡°Shit!¡± Owen spat, and just as he was about to block the entrance, he saw the orcen Lord. His massive, hulking figure stomped towards them. He shouted out like thunder, and if it wasn¡¯t for Owen¡¯s Battle Hardened Skill, he¡¯d have been scared shitless.


    He was like a stampeding bull on copious amounts of steroids. Black tattoos covered his muscular frame. Large tusks protruded from his mouth. He arrived in seconds.


    Eyes open wide, Owen deposited a wall of rock right at the entrance, only for it to explode. Rock shrapnel fired into Owen, embedding into his flesh, slashing past his skin. But somehow, he remained calm. He placed more rock, and more. Rehan dragged him through the tunnel while Owen kept on filling in the cave.


    The orcen Lord was like a humanoid excavator, blasting away at the mountain. Because it wasn¡¯t completely solid like the mountain used to be, the Lord blasted through it like he had dynamite in his hands.


    That continued until they appeared on the other side. Lome and Elena were waiting. The orcen Lord smashed through the last piece of wall.


    ¡°Fire!¡± Owen commanded, and his people listened.


    Draed and Elena, along with other archers, fired their most potent Skill right as the Lord broke through. Elena¡¯s was especially potent. Stars twinkled as her arrow blazed through the air. it slammed into the Lord, tumbling him back. Then the other arrows struck.


    The Lord rampaged back to his position, only for more arrows to stick into his stalwart flesh. Then Lome met him in hand-to-hand combat. Lome moved like a battering ram, smashing into the Lord. But the orc hardly budged. Smiling bloody, the Lord sent a fist rocketing at Lome¡¯s skull. It struck true. Lome was sent flying backward. His fingers embedded into the rock passage, crawling to a stop.


    They engaged in combat for a few minutes, Lome losing his position. But thanks to the support of the archers, it was equal. Lome got a lucky hit located at his chin, sending the Lord reeling. But it didn''t even result in a scratch.


    The orcen Lord was far stronger than Owen. How was it possible?


    ¡°Fall back!¡± Owen shouted, depositing more rock behind him as they dashed into the open sands.


    Then Owen felt something tug at his body. Something slammed behind him in the sand. He gazed at his shoulder, only to see a new, bloodied hole had appeared. He scanned the horizon, heart calm thanks to Battle hardened.


    And there he was, the sharpshooter, smiling in victory at having finally hit his target.


    It was short lived.


    A hand holding a black dagger appeared at his throat, and sliced from ear-to-ear. Blood sprayed, his body fell, only for Mirian to take his place, grievously wounded.


    Owen summoned Shelldon and ran like hell to pick her up. The orcen Lord was hot on their tails.

 Chapter 32 - Quests

    Laying flat on his back in the sand, panting, Owen gazed up at the tall blue walls of his territory. Just outside, the orc Lord slammed his axe repeatedly. Sparks flew, but not even a dent would be a result of his barbaric anger.


    Owen glanced to his left. Mirian¡¯s chest violently rose up and down, wounds marrying her body. By some divine miracle, she had made it out of the camp and slipped out. As a result, she had been there to assassinate the powerful archer. Owen laughed, not one out of excitement¡ªone out of disbelief that they were alive, and placed his hand on her shoulder. ¡°You did well.¡±


    She winced in pain. ¡°Just doing my job,¡± She said cooly, but she couldn¡¯t help her lips from curling.


    Gazing to his right, was Rehan and the others. Everyone was laying down. The mad dash and the mission as a whole, had exhausted them beyond belief. Somehow, it had been a resounding success. Rizael was treating everyone''s wounds while they were caught in excitement. They had earned it. They were Warriors, literally warriors, and Hunters. Such a mission, disregarding the loss of life that would come out of it, was a great success to them.


    ¡°So,¡± Rehan said while also looking up. ¡°What¡¯s the plan now? We have two days left.¡±


    Owen sat up, looking directly into the eyes of the wrathful Lord. Such bloodlust, Owen thought, then said, ¡°if he stays, we¡¯ll use the tunnel system to Level away from their prying eyes. If he decides to stay here, we¡¯ll get stronger as he throws his temper tantrums.¡±


    ¡°You really thought everything through,¡± Rehan said with newfound admiration. ¡°Did you know all of this was going to happen?¡±


    Owen rolled his eyes. ¡°Like hell I did. The tunnels were meant to be a different way of walking across the sands without burning our skin off. It just worked out that way.¡±


    ¡°Just take the compliment.¡±


    Smiling, Owen shook his head and with a groan, he stood up.


    ¡°We get no peace, even for a second, do we?¡± Rehan asked, sighing.


    ¡°You can rest when you¡¯re dead,¡± Owen said, turning around to address his slowly growing army. ¡°I¡¯ll give all of you 20 minutes of rest, then we¡¯re heading back out there. If you need longer, just let me know. If you want to stay behind, that¡¯s also okay. Just tell me.¡±


    All of his people rose to their feets, despite currently being healed by Rizael. Draed, who Rizael was working on, tried to also stand¡ªonly to be stopped by the prideful man. ¡°Stay down will you, I¡¯m almost done.¡±


    It appeared that his words had caused offence. They were here to earn glory, not to sit on their behinds twiddling with their thumbs. Owen grit his teeth. When this was over, they deserved a holiday. Maybe he should create a nice cool spring? A public bath? Now there was an idea.


    Bang. The orc Lord smashed the barrier again, but he was beginning to tire. HIs breath was ragged and sharp. Owen expected his anger to subside a while ago. He was impressive in that regard. Owen remained his cool, even if within he was a wreck.


    ¡°Rizael,¡± Owen addressed the healer as he was finishing up his work on the warriors. ¡°Do you have anything to weaken the body?¡±


    ¡°For him?¡± Rizael said, raising his brows. ¡°The poison should do the trick if I alter it a little. But remember, my expertise lies in my healing potions, not poisons.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. As long as we can weaken him even a little, that¡¯s all that matters. We¡¯re going to need all the help we can get.¡±


    Rehan groaned, sitting up. ¡°I bet he¡¯s so angry because we dealt with that archer. No doubt the Lord was going to rely on him for the future. Damn, I bet his breath stinks.¡±


    Owen nodded in agreement. ¡°Taking him out was a nice addition. But I don¡¯t believe for a second that the sharpshooter was the only powerful warrior up his sleeve. He must have something else. Something dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Or he¡¯s a meathead that has no grasp of strategy or tactics,¡± Rehan added.


    ¡°That¡¯s a possibility,¡± Owen agreed. ¡°But I won¡¯t leave that to chance. We¡¯ll go into any battle knowing full well that he has something hidden. We will remain cautious.¡±


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    ¡°I agree with you there, Lord.¡±


    ¡°Continue resting up,¡± Owen said. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the mountain to check up on Bimpnottin. No doubt he¡¯s busy shifting those poison plants away from our food supply.¡±


    And so Owen left his warriors to recuperate while he checked in on the gnome farmer. Entering the main farm of the mountain, it was looking a little different. One section now had more of the water-enhanced cacti, and the tasty citrus fruit. The other plants were nowhere to be seen. Neither was Bimpnottin. But he heard the farmer sing a little tune from further in.


    Owen followed the country tune, and walked into another large room. This one had the previously unidentified plant. It was actually a poisonous plant as Rizael had identified for them. It was what Rizael had used to poison the orc¡¯s water supply.


    Bimpnottin had now reached Level 18. As a crop grew to its full height, he would gain experience from it. Judging by how fast he had Levelled up over the past few days, Bimpnottin had never stopped.


    Then, he checked up on the Miners. Bron had reached Level 6 already. The tunnels were reinforced a lot better than Owen¡¯s own work. Admittedly, he didn¡¯t really know what he was doing when it came to mining. All he knew was that he had to support the ceiling. He didn¡¯t know how far apart they needed to be, or where to place them. But thankfully the mountain didn¡¯t collapse on him.


    Other than creating one long tunnel, they had also placed whatever other ore they had managed to mine at what they were calling the ¡®hub¡¯. It was essentially a large room used to store ore and whatever else they found. Regarding the ore they had mined, Bron said that it was a sturdy and flexible ore that would make excellent armour and weapons. But without a Blacksmith, Owen had little use of it for now.


    Thankfully, that wouldn¡¯t prove much of a problem for long as when he was inspecting the ore, a notification popped up.


    Quest Gained: Harvest 250 tonnes of Sandsteel.


    | Current progress: 32 tonnes.


    | Reward: 1 Summoning Ticket: Blacksmith.


    Well, that solves that problem. Owen thought, but completing that would take time. Time they didn¡¯t have. If everyone had heavy armour and spears and shields, then fending off against the orc threat would be that much easier. But such was life.


    Owen thanked Bron and the others for their hard work before finally heading back to the main camp. The orcen Lord was still banging at the barrier.


    Moving away from that disturbing sight, the wall was coming along nicely. It reminded him of ancient architecture, Egyptian, for that matter. It was amazing. If his land survived for centuries, what would historians say about him, his people, his land? It was a surreal thought.


    In the wall, was also a built in smoker room for the storage of plundered meat. A builder was in charge of looking after it, tending to it. That was another unit he desperately needed not just for nutrition, but for morale¡ªa chef. Owen was sick to death of eating dried meat. Although his people were managing so far as they had no memories of how food was meant to taste, it wouldn¡¯t be long before they grew tired of it as well.


    Owen had a plan for the rest of the day, but it was a crazy one filled with risk. He hid his gaze from the Lord as he glanced over to the west where the golden desert had turned purple from the tear in space. A rift. It was where the Sand Hounds were coming from. If he could clear the rift, the rewards would be bountiful.


    He gazed at the quest he had gained when he had entered the Land Between.


    Quest: Clear the Sand Hound Rift.


    | Reward gained: Summoning Tickets 5x Warrior, Apprentice Rank Fragment Weapon, Extra Experience.


    The quest rewards were nice, not to mention the corpses he would gain to Plunder during it. The Fragment was only of the Apprentice rank, but depending on what it was, would prove to be useful; like a spear, or something like that.


    But, did he really want to risk clearing the rift? For all he knew, the orc Lord had troops stationed there, trying to clear it as he thought. It was time to make a move.


    He called over Rehan and told him to take a team to scout the rift using the hidden passage. While he was doing that, Owen headed into the building that was essentially Pyris¡¯s resting place. Walking in, the usual cool wind descended from the wind tunnel, casting a calming blanket over his shoulders. Tiredness hit him like a wall, but he ignored it to the best of his abilities and wandered over to Pyris¡¯s bedside.


    Owen purchased another anti-corruption elixir and gently fed it to her. Rizael said it would have to be a daily occurrence. And that required a constant need to earn money. The tax from the market was rapidly adding up to become a sizable amount per-purchase. But he didn¡¯t feel bad. It was all worth it.


    ¡°Well,¡± Owen said, looking at her face. ¡°We made it. It was close. That orc Lord is something else. The power he holds, it isn¡¯t something I can contest with. He must have received a huge Lord Emblem that involves strength or something. While I specialise in growth, even his warrior units are stronger on average.¡±


    Owen clenched his fists. ¡°But we are almost there. Rizael is going to make a weakening poison against him. Ruining their supplies, that will weaken them even more. And if we¡¯re successful today in clearing the rift, we¡¯ll become stronger. We¡¯re almost at the finish line. I can feel it.¡±


    Talking for a while about his plans and what was happening, the door swung open. Rohan appeared. ¡°My Lord, there are orc troops stationed at the rift, hidden. But I sniffed them out. The orcen Lord is still at the gate, so if we¡¯re fast, we can take out the units, and claim the rift as our own. That must be how he¡¯s grown so much, grinding that rift down like fuel to fire.¡±


    Standing up, Owen said with conviction, ¡°Ready the troops. We set out immediately.¡±

 Chapter 33 - Clearing a Rift

    Right above Owen, were the troops of orcs Rehan had scouted. Owen took a deep breath, and gave Lome and the others the signal. Owen plundered the entire area above his head, and Cedric did the rest. Sand cascaded downwards, but Owen¡¯s troops blasted upward.


    By the time Owen dragged himself up, the fight was already over. Six corpses of orcs lay scattered in the sand, bloodied. The Sand Hounds, immediately aware of the noise, bounded over. Owen¡¯s units engaged them in combat. Arrows flew, steel arced through the air, fur of hounds wafted in the air, and blood spilled. It was chaos, it was battle.


    While the others fought, Owen was in charge of helping the Miners to reinforce the tunnel; to dig away the sand. As Owen was busy plundering the sand, stopping it mostly from falling down into the tunnel, he spotted something approaching from underneath the sands.


    Owen called over Lome, and together, they protected the Miners. The mysterious beast arrived in only a second, leaping out of the sands right at them like a shark bursting out of the oceans. It was a Dune Prowler. It was aimed right at Lome, fangs bared, claws at the ready.


    Lome met it head on. Reinforced by the bones in the desert, along with the evolved Armour of Nerzu, made him an undead tank of destruction. He cleaved his axe into the prowler¡¯s flesh, fire spat along with blood. But the beast was resilient. It took the hit like a champion and returned it with a strike of its own. Its long, thick tail slammed into Lome, sending him sliding backwards.


    It gave the beast enough time to bound for Owen. Owen braced himself. Owen may not be fast enough to dodge, but his reflexes were lightning quick. Following the muscle fibres of the beast, he moved before the prowler even jumped. As when it did, Owen was ready. With all the strength in his arms, he wildly cut through the air, blade¡¯s edge slicing into the monster¡¯s neck. Blood spurted. The forward momentum of the hound crashed into Owen, sending them both tumbling to the floor. Lome appeared in a flash, kicking the monster in its abdomen, sending it hurtling limp through the air.


    Owen whirled around, turning his attention to the main battle as Lome charged back to join it. There were at least 10 or so Sand Hounds. His people had already killed well over 15. Better yet, there had been no casualties. But that was soon to change.


    Four mounds of sand were fast approaching; more Prowlers. Owen yelled out his command, getting his people into a tighter formation. That was a mistake. The moment his troops converged, so did the prowlers.


    The hounds completely disappeared, the evidence in the sand gone. Only for them to emerge in the centre, breaking out of the sands and immediately attacking anything in their close vicinity. Two Warriors and One Hunter were instantly smashed into the ground. Another, a prowler stuck its teeth into their shoulder.


    Draed and Elena fired their bows simultaneously, killing the beast instantly. Another Warrior quickly pulled back the wounded soldier as the fight raged on.


    Gorath summoned the power of lightning, instantly killing one of the prowlers¨Cdisplaying the might of a rare sorcerer.


    Owen got stuck in, hacking and slicing his way through the flesh of hounds and prowlers alike. With a detachment of Warriors and Hunters protecting the tunnel¡ªtheir emergency escape, Owen killed the last hound and ordered everyone to move forwards. The Warrior who was badly wounded was taken into the tunnels to return home.


    Casting a glance over to the dome in the distance, he ordered Rehan and Mirian to scout the nearby dune. If the orcs left the dome, Owen wanted to know about it.


    Knowing he¡¯d have a security alarm in the form of Rehan, Owen turned his full undivided attention to the rift. Now that the herd was thinned out, all that remained was around 20 or so more Sand Hounds. Owen moved to take them out.


    Draed, Elena and the other archers proved highly effective. Before the rest of the hounds even reached the front-line warriors, 6 had died. And then they met Lome and Shelldon. Both of them working together, they were like a meat grinder.


    Owen was also attacking, storing the corpses as they were killed. While he was doing that, he was also keeping his eyes on his surroundings thanks to his keen attention to detail from Devil¡¯s Reflexes. If there were Dune Prowlers approaching, he would know about it. Cedric helped him.


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    But as they finished the last of the Sand Hounds, there weren¡¯t any other Prowlers remaining. All that was left was the purple rift standing atop the sands. They neared it, only stopped once they were around 15 metres away from the fragmented purple that looked like shattered hovering glass.


    From what Owen knew in the book, to clear it, he had to defeat the last monster. The boss. And as if it was listening to his thoughts, a hulking figure emerged from the depths of the rift, stomping into the sand. It was a hound of massive proportions, like a dire-wolf, but bigger. Armoured scales covered its body, its long, thick tail like that of a prowler, was barbed with spikes like a war-mace. Fluorescent, hungry orange eyes glared at Owen and his people like it was looking down on them. Standing even taller than Shelldon at around 9-feet, Owen found himself breathless staring at the monster.


    So this is a Rift Tyrant, Owen thought as his grip tightened around his blade''s handle.


    Owen glanced at the dome, making certain that the Lord wasn¡¯t coming yet. When he noticed the faint shimmer of the blue dome from being struck, his heart calmed somewhat. He had escaped the wrath of a powerful monster, just to face another in the orcs place.


    Despite that, Owen knew that victory here meant everything. 2 days later, and the barrier would fall, and the orc Lord was certain to put everything he had into slaughtering them to the last man or woman.


    Owen couldn¡¯t shout here, but he raised his weapon in the air, signalling the attack. The moment his command was given, the archers fired a volley of arrows, sparing no amount of energy as they bombarded the beast. Elena¡¯s arrow, imbued with the power of moonlight, was the first to arrive, slamming into the pelt of the beast. Draed fired a Soul Marking arrow, marking the hound. And then all the other arrows filled the sky. Arrows struck true, embedding themselves into the thick pelt of the Tyrant. But most of them glanced off its armour. Only Draed and Elena dealt damage.


    The beast howled. It was so loud that it caused an instant anxiety in the pit of Owen¡¯s stomach. It signalled to everything in the surrounding area that there was a fight here. Owen had to end this fight fast. Thankfully, the Tyrant had the same idea.


    Bounding for them, teeth snarling, claws slicing the sand, it arrived like a war dog on the hunt. It leapt up to attack Lome, trying to tear him off from Shelldon¡¯s back. Lome replied by planting his feet on the war tortoise, and swinging his axe in a mad arc at the hound. His axe edge found its mark, slamming into the Tyrant. It struck armour plates, shattering a few, but leaving the hound relatively unharmed. It landed to the side, and bounded for the frontline warriors.


    Owen, as the second physically strongest amongst them, was at the front. The hound opened its savage maw wide, and attacked Owen. Owen summoned the Armour of Nerzu, and placed it upon him in a split second, taking it away from Lome. The monster¡¯s fangs clamped across the armour plating. Fire spurted, charring the Tyrant''s mouth. Owen didn¡¯t feel any pain at all.


    Taking the opportunity, Owen grit his teeth and lunged Shade¡¯s Whisper into the monster''s ribs. It glanced through and pierced something. He felt it, heard the awful sound of air escaping from the Tyrant¡¯s wound. It sounded like putting a knife through a tire.


    Without having to make a command, his soldiers surrounded the hound and attacked it on all sides. Owen sliced into its flesh for the 4th time now. Fire had taken the beast¡¯s fur as fuel, slowly creeping across its entire body like a blazing parasite.


    As Owen was locked in combat, a voice made its way into his ears. It was Rehan¡¯s. ¡°The orcen Lord is on his way!¡±


    Owen spat, and shouted. ¡°End it quickly!¡±


    Rehan and Mirian joined the fray, and together, they continued their assault on the Rift Tyrant. They were doing an amazing job navigating the hounds vicious fangs and claws. But then a mistake was made. The beast swung its tail like a spiked battering ram. It caught a warrior''s shield square in the middle, shattering it into fragments. The warrior flew back, blood spurting from his mouth, the sound of his arm snapping ringing out.


    Gorath fired a bolt of lightning at the beast. It struck its shoulder, spewing static electricity and smoke.


    But the rampaging beast didn¡¯t stop there. A grim red hue shrouded the monster¡¯s tail. Owen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Lome, grab the tail, quick!¡±


    Lome listened. He dropped his axe and flung himself at the Tyrant¡¯s tail, tightly hugging it as if his life depended on it. Owen glanced at the nearby dune. The orcs were approaching. He heard the roar of the Lord, saw his red eyes kindle over in blood demanding wrath.


    Owen¡¯s heart smashed against his chest so hard he could hear it, could feel it. Could hear the blood running through his body. He needed to end this now.


    And so Owen charged the monster, leapt onto its back, and in a maddened state began thrusting his blade into the Tyrant¡¯s flesh. His blade met with its eyes, neck, ears¡ªeverything he could get the edge of his blade on. All the while Elena fired moon arrow after arrow into the beast''s already wounded body.


    Finally, with a final dying whimper, the leader of the Rift fell limp into the sand. Owen, splashed with blood covering his shrouded face and armoured body, stored the corpse right away.


    Quest Complete: Clear the Sand Hound Rift¡ª


    Owen cancelled the notifications as his eyes fell on the approaching Lord. It was going to be close.

 Chapter 34 - Quest Complete

    Owen wasted no time ordering the retreat. Together, they bolted for the open tunnel. Owen placed the wounded soldier on the back of Shelldon. His breathing was ragged and uneven. ¡°Lyle, you¡¯ll make it,¡± Owen assured him, meeting his weakened eyes as they ran across the desert.


    Elena was also riding on Shelldon. Unlike Draed, she wasn¡¯t as agile, needing to remain stationary to charge up her shots. But it was worth it. Each shot she fired took the life of an orc as they dashed across the sands.


    Draed, who had focused on a more mobile class evolution, fired homing arrows while sprinting. Thanks to the level difference between him and the weaker orcs, every arrow hit its mark. But he was running out. Before, he had the opportunity to retrieve his arrows, but with them being fired so far away, there was no way to recover them now.


    Thankfully, Elena was different in that regard. Instead of using physical arrows, she conjured them with mana. However, she too was running low on this resource and needed time to gather more. Worse yet, because her arrows were so powerful, they drained her energy faster than usual.


    The archer duo killed nine orcs before nearing the tunnel. They were going to make it, but the Orcen Lord had other plans.


    The orc planted his feet in the ground, roared so loudly it boomed across the sands, then blasted forward at incredible speed. Owen had reached the tunnel and was busy shuttling everyone down¡ªespecially the wounded.


    He grit his teeth as the Lord rapidly approached.


    ¡°Hurry!¡± Owen shouted as the others dropped into the tunnel.


    The Lord was so close Owen felt the killing intent wash over him like sticky, hot water. Goosebumps rose on his flesh, and the fine hairs at the back of his neck tingled. Devil¡¯s Reflexes told him to move, now.


    ¡°Ready!¡± Rehan shouted from below.


    The moment the words were uttered, Owen sent Shelldon back into his soul and jumped into the tunnel headfirst. As he fell, he deposited an enormous amount of sand above him. The Lord¡¯s axe cleaved into the sand, but it absorbed most of the impact.


    Owen expected the Lord to follow him by jumping into the sand falling down the tunnel at an alarming rate, but he didn¡¯t. Owen fell down the tunnel¡ªit was around a 60-metre drop¡ªscraping his palms and elbows in an attempt to slow his fall. Head first, fear bubbled through his senses.


    However, the sand was faster than his descent. Managing to slow himself somewhat, he landed in a mound of golden sand. Lome pulled him out, and Owen quickly placed the stone back. He couldn¡¯t hear any signs of the Lord following, or if he was, the sand had absorbed all the impact from above.


    Silence reigned for a moment. Only the sound of panting breath could be heard. And then Rehan started laughing, followed by Draed and then Mirian and the rest of the troops. Owen joined in, falling onto his back and resting against the cool walls of the passage.


    They had won. No one had died. Cedric was busy bandaging Lyle''s wounds. Then, together, they returned back to the kingdom. The Lord had already returned, once again banging on the barrier.


    When the hell is he going to give up? Owen thought, but secretly, he was happy about that. The longer he stayed here meant that he wasn¡¯t out there getting stronger. Hit away, that barrier isn¡¯t going anywhere for another two days.


    The wounded were taken to the wall to be healed by Rizael. In the meantime, Owen was standing with all the Generals. The orc, still bound to the pillar, was shouting through the piece of cloth stuck in his mouth. Gorath, who was still acting as a disgraced member of Owen¡¯s party, was also chained to the pillar next to the orc. Owen made double sure to keep the enemy orc fully restricted. He didn¡¯t want his hands getting on Gorath. Owen wouldn¡¯t fail him like that. But now Gorath was here with him.


    ¡°First off,¡± Owen asked the Generals. ¡°Do you think we should continue using the tunnels for the remaining days to hunt?¡±


    Rehan crossed his arms. ¡°Why not? The orcen Lord is clearly too angry to think straight.¡±


    Owen glanced at the raging Lord. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re probably right. So we¡¯ll continue using the tunnels. Heighten security. We don¡¯t know if they¡¯ll plant a trap.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there, huh?¡± Rehan asked with a smile.


    Owen nodded, but he couldn¡¯t smile. Not yet. ¡°Almost. If we can continue to get stronger during these next couple days, and finish the wall in time,¡± Owen paused, ¡°Then maybe.¡±


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    ¡°We¡¯ve made it this far,¡± Draed added, lips curling into a smile. ¡°Just a couple more steps.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± Owen said with determination. ¡°We¡¯ll make it. I¡¯ve decided.¡±


    Everyone laughed. Spirits after their victory were high.


    Now that he no longer needed the orcen Lord here as a distraction, Owen turned to Elena and Draed. ¡°How are you feeling? Ready to turn that orcen Lord into an oversized pin cushion?¡±


    Draed and Elena smiled. They readied their bows, turned to the Lord beyond the wall, and fired. Two arrows of varying energy flew towards the orcen Lord. He roared, blocking Elena¡¯s arrow, and simply ignored Draed¡¯s arrow. The elf¡¯s arrow tip lodged into his green skin. It was just a flesh wound. The Lord pulled it out, then smashed on the barrier once again with his towering axe. The warriors by his side erected shields.


    Owen shook his head. ¡°Just keep shooting. If you can kill him or the others, then that¡¯s great. We¡¯ll attack him throughout the day. It will be a great chance to weaken him, at the very least.¡±


    The orcen Lord was a terrifying opponent. He had spent the time grinding away at the Sand Hounds to level himself up, and his units. It was an oversight. One that Owen bashed himself over, but now that the Rift was cleared, there wouldn¡¯t be so many monsters left to hunt.


    Not only that, but his race guaranteed the summoning of orcs¡ªall of which were powerful on average. They were all physically strong, filled with rage, and fueled with the desire to grind their opponents into dust, with battle instincts of natural born warriors.


    Owen clicked his tongue, ignoring him for now. Now it was time to view his rewards, and add to his army.


    Your subordinates have defeated an Arid Marauder x1, Sand Hound x27, Dune Prowler x5.


    | Your subordinates have Levelled up!


    | Your subordinates have gathered Summoning Tickets.


    | Warrior x3, Hunter x2.


    Gorath is ready for his Class Evolution


    | Rehan is ready for his Class Evolution


    | Mirian is ready for her Class Evolution


    Quest Complete: Clear the Sand Hound Rift.


    | Reward gained: Summoning Tickets 5x Warrior, Apprentice Rank Fragment Weapon, Extra Experience.


    Woah, Owen thought, amazed at the amount of experience he was granted from clearing the Rift. In the book, Rifts were not so common throughout the Land Between. But in the Cursed Lands, they spawned quite often. Most of them were deadly, and running into one in the open sands meant guaranteed death. He was lucky to be near a Sand Hound one and not something else.


    Owen was quite aware that most of his survival to date was up to luck. It was important not to rely on it.


    First, Owen ripped all of the Warrior tickets and thankfully, he received a good one. Four stars. Owen smiled. Summoned, was a centaur. Owen recalled them from Greek mythology, and they were known for their bowmanship. But this one was clearly not focused on utilising ranged weaponry.


    Instead of a horse-like body, it was in the form of a camel, or something resembling it. Naturally armoured plates covered his sides, chest, and stomach. Thick muscle that was akin to bundled steel wire was visible throughout. He had two curved horns that were around 3 feet tall. He held a very long two-handed curved sword. The etchings on the blade were beautiful, and they depicted some sort of battle against demons. He was named Thorin Stonehide and his specialty was cavalry warfare.


    The other Warriors were of various races. Human, beast-woman, and even a type of rock golem. They were all 2-stars, which was quite good.


    They all bowed, and Owen sent them to Draed to be briefed about what was happening. Lome didn¡¯t have a strategic bone in his skeleton.


    excused himself and wandered over to the dome. He gazed at the orcen Lord as he was still smashing against the barrier. Balthus didn¡¯t seem bothered about the raging lunatic on the other side. His shoulders didn¡¯t budge, his eyes didn¡¯t waver for a second. Owen didn¡¯t know how he was doing it.


    What had he seen in his home world? Owen thought in admiration for his new manager.


    With that done, the next thing he did was accept the new Fragment Weapon.


    Fragment: [Heartseeker''s Edge]


    | Tier: Apprentice


    | Type: Weapon/Two-Handed Sabre


    | Description: This formidable sabre is a masterpiece forged in the name of the Blood Mother. Its heart-like pulse empowers its wielder with unmatched agility, making it ideal for those with extraordinary reflexes.


    | Runes: Pulse Resonance, Veil Sunder, Blood Tempo


    | Evolution Requirement: Heart of a (Veteran) ranked monster.


    Spawning before Owen was an imposing two-handed curved blade, its dark surface gleaming with a polished sheen. Measuring approximately four feet in length, the weapon exuded an aura of both elegance and menace. The blade featured a full knuckle guard, its intricate workmanship displaying an astounding level of detail, with swirling patterns and symbols that hinted at a history steeped in mystery. The hilt itself was complex, its design a masterful blend of form and function, providing both comfort and control.


    As Owen gripped the hilt, the weapon seemed to come alive in his hands. A thin crimson line ran through the centre of the blade, and as he held it, the line pulsed rhythmically, syncing perfectly with his own heartbeat. This connection was immediate and profound, as if the blade were responding to his very essence.


    He gave the weapon an experimental swing, marvelling at how it sliced through the air with effortless grace. Each movement of the sabre seemed to harmonise with the steady rhythm of his pulse, as if it were an extension of his own body. The sensation was exhilarating, the blade responding to his every thought and command with uncanny precision.


    Eager to unlock its full potential, Owen focused on the mysterious Runes etched along the blade''s edge, waiting to discover the secrets hidden within their ancient symbols.

 Chapter 35 - Class Upgrades

    Pulse Resonance: The blade amplifies the wielder¡¯s natural rhythm, vibrating with a powerful hum that disorients enemies and enhances the wielder''s senses.


    Veil Sunder: This rune allows the sabre to cut through illusions and barriers with ease, revealing hidden truths and dispelling magical wards.


    Blood Tempo: At the core of the [Heartseeker''s Edge] lies the Blood Tempo rune, which synchronises with the wielder¡¯s heartbeat, enhancing reflexes and granting bursts of accelerated movement.


    Blood Mother? Owen wondered. He had never heard of this being and considered whether she might appear later in the book. For now, he had no information about her.


    However, he soon dismissed the mystery as he revelled in the blade''s abilities. When he closed his eyes, a red line spread out from him with each heartbeat, revealing the details of his surroundings. From rocks protruding from the sand to the wall beside him, the ability allowed him to navigate even in total darkness.


    Next, he tested Veil Sunder. As he swung the sword, a blue phantom image traced its path. The strike didn¡¯t feel any stronger than a regular swing; in fact, it seemed weaker. It seemed to use mana, of which he didn¡¯t have a lot of considering had had to Plunder monsters that had an affinity with magic to gain the Stat.


    Finally, he examined Blood Tempo, the source of the blade¡¯s throbbing resonance. With each heartbeat, the sabre synced perfectly with his movements. When he stepped outside that rhythm, the connection faded. By focusing on the blade¡¯s signal, he activated the Rune''s unique aspect. Instantly, he moved with greater speed and precision, swinging his sword with double the momentum. The effect was incredible.


    The blade and its Rune¡¯s seemed tailored to his current Skill. It must be a unique aspect of the System granted Fragment¡¯s, Owen thought with excitement. Happy about his new weapon, he stored it in his Soul.


    It was time for the main event: the evolution of his people.


    Mirian was first, and she chose this¨C


    Veil Reaver


    | Focus: Infiltration and Assassination


    Abilities:


    | Veil Dance: Shift between nearby locations in quick succession, confusing foes.


    | Assassin''s Mirage: Create a short-lived illusion to distract enemies.


    | Culling Blades: Target weak points for increased damage on critical hits.


    Owen nodded, approving Mirian¡¯s choice. Focusing on Infiltration and Assassination was definitely the way to go. Out of all the options she was given, Veil Dance was by far the most potent Skill there was. Honestly, it seemed way better than other Tier 2 abilities.


    Next up was Rehan, and again, Owen had little input as to what he chose.


    Silent Observer


    | Focus: Reconnaissance and Ambush


    Abilities:


    | Watchful Eye: Reveal enemy positions and vulnerabilities to allies.


    | Trap Mastery: Set simple traps that can hinder or damage enemies.


    | Whispering Shadows: Communicate silently with allies for coordinated actions.


    As a Scout, Rehan¡¯s new Skills were amazing. Watchful Eye and Whispering Shadows especially. Together, they would change the game for Owen and his army. The last Skill: Trap Mastery was very situational, but would prove useful if he was on his own, or with a small unit behind enemy lines.


    With his Generals out of the way, Owen focused on all the other Warriors and Hunters that had also reached their Class evolutions. These were much more simple. He had everyone choose the Spearman Class. From what he knew of history, spears were the king of the battlefield for a reason. Simple, effective, and everyone knew how to point a sharp stick. Acquiring spears was a problem, but that would be fixed soon enough.


    Finally, it was the star of the show; Gorath.


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    Arc Mage


    | Focus: Lightning Control


    Abilities:


    | Chain Lightning: Cast a bolt of lightning that jumps to up to two additional nearby targets.


    | Static Shield: Generate a minor electrical barrier that reduces incoming damage.


    | Lightning Surge: Temporarily boost the next lightning spell''s damage slightly.


    Owen smiled upon seeing Gorath¡¯s happy expression. And he knew why. CHain Lightning alone was an incredible boost in power. But combined with Lightning Surge, truly made Gorath a force to be reckoned with. His Class upgrade was a huge reason why mage¡¯s were so coveted. Their abilities on the battlefield were devastating. Alone, they could beat an army with a singular spell. No physical class could replicate that feat. Not without being an extremely high Level, or having access to highly rare Skills, that is.


    Happy with the changes, Owen regretfully had Gorath returned to the pillar to be chained up.


    Draed was wanting to debrief the new Warriors, but Owen wasn¡¯t done yet. He had over 30 corpses to Plunder, most of which were Sand Hounds, or other variants of them.


    Placing them all on the ground in front of him, much to the surprise of the orcen Lord, Owen Plundered all of them one-by-one. He only made it half-way through the regular Sand Hound¡¯s when he had to stop in fear of his heart bursting open.


    You have plundered a Sand Hound x19.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 4x Hunter, Summoning Ticket 6x Warrior, Summoning Ticket 1x Chef, Sand Hound Pelt x19 (Normal), Sand Hound Meat and Organs x24 (Normal), Sand Hound Bones x43 (Normal), Spectre: Sand Hound [Drop chance: 2.4%].


    | Stats gained: 13 Strength, 16 Vitality, 33 Dexterity.


    | Skills gained ¡ª Dust Cloud: Kick up sand into the air, creating a brief cloud that reduces visibility and obscures enemy vision.


    Owen felt the difference in Stats immediately. Focusing on his surroundings, everything became so much more clearer. Combined with the increased Dexterity and his Devil¡¯s Reflexes, he saw the world in a different way. Everything was in so much detail, to the grains of sand, to the fibres on the nearest cactus.


    He summoned his sword once more, and with a smile adorning his face, swung the blade. His movements were swifter, faster, and the control he held over the new weapon finer. But that wasn¡¯t even what made him happier. He gazed at the Summoning Ticket he had just earned and resisted the urge to lick his lips. A Chef. Finally, they wouldn¡¯t have to live in suffering any longer. He ripped the ticket straight away, revealing a glorious 3-Star human set up with a white chef¡¯s apron, hat, and a only gentlemanly baby-smooth bare face.


    Owen put the human named Clark to work straight away. He showed him where Balthus was; he was currently talking to the Builders so that he could give the Chef the information he needed.


    I can¡¯t wait for some good food, Owen thought, trying to stop himself from slavering. I wonder what he¡¯ll do with it? Salt? A good herb infused rub? It took several minutes to snap out of his food induced cravings.


    The orcen Lord was still bashing the barrier¡¯s walls. Honestly, it was such a waste of time that Owen was a little disappointed in his opponent. A Lord without patience wasn¡¯t going to live very long. It was just yet to be decided if he would be defeated here, or he himself fell.


    Trying to not dwell on the upcoming fight, Owen ripped all the other tickets right away. All were 1-Star, some 2-Stars, and one 3-Star Hunter. After greeting them, he sent them off to Draed who finally started briefing them. There would be more once Owen had rested and could use Plunder again, but for now, he was done with summoning units.


    Next up was trying out his new Skill. Stomping the sand, a cloud erupted from the sands, obscuring his figure. Although not groundbreaking, it would prove useful in situations in a pinch. Especially considering he was surrounded by sand on all sides, for god knows how many miles it spanned.


    Finally, it was time to summon his new Spectre. Owen called upon the Sand Hound from the depths of his soul, and it answered his summons. Just like Shelldon, the hound appeared with a faint blue hue that shrouded its figure; telling everyone that it was a Spectre. Other than that, it looked identical to any other Sand Hound


    Owen recalled a Beast Master evolution that Draed had access to, and a thought popped up in his mind. If his archer General was a Beast Master, would his Skills transfer to his Spectres? Or could he only tame his own monsters. It was something worth keeping in mind if someone gained access to the Class in the future.


    Instead of sending the hound back into his soul, Owen stroked his fur for a minute or so. It was rough to the touch, but a smile crept up on his lips. For some reason, there was just something instinctually warm about raking his fingers through the hounds fur. Well, he was just a big dog, after all. Just with massive claws and armour penetrating teeth.


    With all of that done, Owen was too tired to continue doing much today. He wanted to, but his body refused to listen to his commands. But that didn¡¯t mean that his army would get to slack off. No, it was time to send them out through the tunnels for another round of power Levelling.


    Owen locked eyes with the Lord, staring unflinchingly into his crimson, hate-filled gaze. Time was running out.

 Chapter 36 - Plundering

    With the majority of his fighting force outside in the tunnels, Owen made sure to keep his presence known to the orcen Lord. He had to stay here. If not, his people were at risk outside. The orcen Lord had around 40 warriors with him, all of them standing there menacingly. None of them seemed to disagree with their Lord''s methods, even as the supernatural sun baked their resilient flesh.


    Owen arrived at the wall. Rizael was still treating those who were heavily wounded, while the Builders were working around the clock to get everything sorted for the next two days. It was a monumental amount of work, but with 7 builders all working together, and with some help from the Warriors, the wall was forming. It was in the form of a triangle and one of the points was aimed where the nightly tsunami arrived.


    With the wave appearing from the west and the orcen Lord standing at the north, the wall was flat to the orc¡¯s direction. Brook was busy managing the other Builders, shouting orders. It was amazing watching him work. It was like a different battlefield than the one Owen was used to.


    He had added on battlements atop the walls, ready for the barriers to fall. That was where Owen would have the archers. Meanwhile, his warriors would be situated at the entrance of the wall. If the orcs smashed through the gate made of stone, they would retreat to the stairs and fight them there, using the elevation of the stairs to their advantage.


    Maybe because of his Battle Hardened Skill, or maybe because he had done all he could to prepare, Owen was calm. It shocked him. It was a stark contrast to how he was when he first arrived here. In only a few days, he had transformed from an earthling office worker, to a warrior that was responsible for people¡¯s lives. And honestly, he was a little proud of that.


    In the structure, there were numerous rooms. Some for storage, others as resting rooms for his people. Rizale was in one of them. In the centre of the wall, was an open space; like a courtyard. It only had flattened sand right now as Owen was unsure of what to do with the space. A garden, perhaps?


    Shaking his head, Owen wandered around, asking if his people needed anything. He was too tired to fight, but he still held responsibilities as a Lord. he had to make sure his people were well fed and watered. And although Balthus was probably already doing just that, Owen didn¡¯t feel right offloading all his work onto the demon. Not yet, at least. These were the people he had fought for. People had died for them out in the sands.


    One of the Builders had told him that they needed a better water source. Owen agreed to that. Right now, they are managing thanks to Bimpnottin¡¯s special water retaining cactus. But that wouldn¡¯t last for much longer. Especially with the new people that Owen had just summoned. It was going to put a strain on his already struggling resources.


    And to that point, he inspected the orcs further. Many of them had run out of water, as they kept on checking their hip flasks¡ªonly for droplets to fall. If the Lord was to stay here, stubborn and defiant, his warriors wouldn¡¯t even last the next couple days. Maybe the fight would end here? Owen admitted he had reservations about the plan to ruin the orcen food supply and water source. But it seemed to have more effect than he had thought.


    Hours passed, and the Orcen Lord had finally made the decision to send most of his warriors back to their land. The orcen Lord stayed. He had long stopped bashing on the walls, but now he just stood there, watching them prepare.


    What the hell was he doing? Owen couldn¡¯t figure it out.


    Thankfully, Owen¡¯s hunting party returned with all their numbers. Many of them were injured, however. It was made apparent why; Owen received a notification of their one, singular kill: a Crimson Crab. They couldn¡¯t bring its body back, either. But it wasn¡¯t all bad. Because of the strength of the monster they had defeated, Thorin had Levelled up quite a few times, as did the others.


    Owen realised why. With the Sand Hound Rift vanquished, all that remained in the surroundings were the sparse few Dune Ragavers, who rarely showed themselves. Meaning that the only monsters left were the true devils of the Cursed Lands. From here, it would only get more difficult and far more dangerous.


    Well, Owen thought, finally standing up from his shaded spot. It¡¯s time to Plunder.


    You have plundered a Sand Hound x20.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 3x Hunter, Summoning Ticket 5x Warrior, Sand Hound Pelt x19 (Normal), Sand Hound Meat and Organs x27 (Normal), Sand Hound Bones x46 (Normal).


    | Stats gained: 9 Strength, 11 Vitality, 24 Dexterity.


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    Feeling the warmth of the added Stats, along with the weakness of Plundering, Owen noticed that the amount of points he had received had lessened this time. It was strange considering that he had Plundered more this time.


    I wonder if it is lessening because I¡¯ve Plundered the Sand Hounds quite a lot? Owen thought. It would make sense. The more he devoured something, the less he started to receive. He wondered that if he kept on going, that it would start giving him nothing eventually. He¡¯d have to Plunder monsters and beasts that were stronger, higher Level.


    Owen ripped the tickets, waited a few hours until he was ready to Plunder, and repeated the process.


    ***


    You have plundered a Dune Prowler x6.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 1x Hunter, Summoning Ticket 3x Warrior, Dune Prowler Pelt x6 (Normal), Dune Prowler Meat and Organs x13 (Normal), Dune Prowler Bones x14 (Normal).


    | Stats gained: 16 Strength, 20 Vitality, 30 Dexterity.


    Owen grinned and took in a refreshed breath. He felt incredible, even despite his heart palpitating from pain from over utilising Unlimited Plunder.


    A Few hours later, when the sun was vanishing, Owen Plundered again.


    ***


    You have plundered an Arid Marauder x1.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 2x Warrior, Arid Marauder Pelt x1 (Normal), Arid Marauder Meat and Organs x11 (Normal), Arid Marauder Bones x14 (Normal).


    | Stats gained: 10 Strength, 15 Vitality, 20 Dexterity.


    | Skills gained ¡ª Sandstorm Fury: Summon a powerful sandstorm that engulfs the battlefield, reducing visibility and disorienting enemies while increasing the user''s speed and evasion.


    | Skill Notification: Sandstorm Fury has replaced Dust Cloud as it is the evolved form.


    Owen fell on his behind, utterly spent. He didn¡¯t even have the energy to test out his new Skill. It had replaced Dust Cloud. That was news to him. He didn¡¯t know that could happen, but it was more than welcome. It was a better ability in every single way. Summons a sandstorm? From nothing? If that was the case, then the situational use of Dust Cloud was no more. He¡¯d have to try it out later, away from the prying eyes of the orcen Lord who was no doubt watching their every move.


    Once again, Owen ripped the tickets, welcomed them, then sent them to Draed. From all the people he had summoned after Thorin¡ªthe centaur¡ªwere all under 3-Stars. Majority of them being 2-Star, and some 1-Stars.


    In total, he had almost 40 Hunters and Warriors. It was an amazing result, but Owen was confident he was still below the orc in numbers. He had two days left for his army to gain some more, but the fact remained that it would be close. He just hoped that the wall was the difference maker in the battle to come.


    He still had the front section of the Devil Wyrm to Plunder, but that was a job for tomorrow. On that day, when his hunting party came back, that would be it until the big day.


    With night fast approaching, Owen found himself sitting in silence for the first time in a while. He started fidgeting, playing with his fingers. Nausea crept up and his heart started racing. He stood up and started pacing in the sand, his thoughts turning turbulent.


    Cedric appeared from within the newly formed triangular castle. ¡°You need to rest, my Lord,¡± Cedric said with a wry smile.


    ¡°I can¡¯t settle,¡± Owen said truthfully. ¡°I still feel like there¡¯s more to do today, but I don¡¯t know what.¡±


    ¡°Everything is in order,¡± Cedric said, placing his hand on the handle of his blade. ¡°No matter what happens, it¡¯s been a pleasure serving you.¡±


    Owen scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re only saying that because you don¡¯t know any better.¡±


    Cedric turned silent, before Owen said suddenly, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to offend¨C¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Cedric said, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, My Lord. I don¡¯t know why, but it was my decision to sign up for this. I still can¡¯t remember if I had a family, friends, and I have no memories of the land in which I resided, or the world to which I was born in. I signed up for glory, for respect, but now I don¡¯t know why I did it. It¡­ makes me feel angry.¡±


    Owen turned silent as Cedric, who was usually quiet, continued, ¡°We are in the same situation, you and I. Both were summoned from other worlds to fight for glory. But what glory is there to be had when you can¡¯t even remember anything? If I knew what I was fighting for, if I could recall if I had family, then maybe¨C¡±


    Owen placed a hand on Cedric¡¯s shoulder. Cedric added, ¡°¡ªis what I thought yesterday and what I must have thought before I signed up my name to the System. But today, it is not the glory I wish to fight for. It is you. It is these people, placed in the same situation as we. My Lord?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Owen said, meeting Cedric¡¯s hazelnut eyes.


    ¡°I wish to ask whoever brought us here, and ask him why,¡± Cedric said, clenching his hands. ¡°Why he, she, what¡ªbrought us here. What for? And if that answer isn¡¯t sufficient, will you lead us for payback? For vengeance?¡±


    Owen¡¯s grip tightened on Cedric¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You have my word Cedric.¡±


    Mum, dad, how are you doing? Owen thought, gritting his teeth. He knew the truth deep down. They were most likely dead.


    ¡°Good,¡± Cedric said smiling. He brandished his sword, metal swishing against his hard-leather sheath. ¡°If I may, it¡¯s time I taught you some basic swordsmanship, my Lord.¡±


    Owne grinned and summoned Heartseeker¡¯s Edge. As he felt the thrum of his heartbeat synchronise with his blade, he announced, ¡°You¡¯re on.¡±

 Chapter 37 - Time

    It was the final day and the sun was setting. Owen was a bag of nerves during the last two days, but thanks to Cedric and Lome, he didn¡¯t have time to think about what was coming. Hours he had spent in gruelling combat with them. Not only them, but he had also sparred with Mirian, Thorin, and Draed. They all wanted a go at their new Lord, and Owen obliged them.


    Thanks to Cedric¡¯s guidance with the sword, Owen had learnt a lot during the two days of sparring. At the beginning, Cedric would win 9 times out of 10 as the difference in experience was just too big of a gap.


    That didn¡¯t last very long at all. Because of Devil¡¯s Reflexes, Battle Hardened, his overwhelming advantage in Stats, and Owen¡¯s new sword, he was able to forcefully build a ladder over that gap in only a few hours. Owen was too fast, too strong, and his reaction speed was at a point where Cedric couldn¡¯t get a single edge in. It was the same for all the others. Mirian and Rehan proved more difficult because of their speed, but again, Owen overcame it soon enough.


    The biggest hurdle was Draed. He was incredibly slippery, and the range advantage was difficult to overcome since Owen didn¡¯t have a movement Skill. The first couple of hours were pure pain. Draed had removed the heads of his arrows, but each time it struck his flesh, it hurt. Only after the 3 hour mark, did Owen finally learn how to use his advanced reflexes to parry the arrows in mid-air.


    Now, as the temperature dropped in the desert, and the skyline turned a gorgeous orange, he had called everyone over to the centre of the triangular fort. From the Builders, to Bimnpottin, to the Miners, and his fighting force. Everyone was sitting by the kindling fire. Old cacti replaced fire-wood. Dried out, it was much the same; just resulting in more smoke than usual. They knew the light wouldn¡¯t last long, for when the tsunami arrived, it would devour every inch of light that existed. But for now, it felt blissful.


    Clark, the Chef, had prepared a feast for everyone using the bountiful meat Owen had Plundered. Tucked away in his spatial storage, nothing perished or spoiled. It was the perfect refrigerator. He passed Owen a plate, who was meant to eat first. Owen wouldn¡¯t argue; he was starving.


    On a plat made of stone, sat a juicy steak that was charred with a criss-cross pattern. Next to it, were a handful of vegetables that Bimnottin had just grown in the last two days. It was the sight of perfection. Owen had no reservations as he picked up with his hands, and bit into the crispy edge. His teeth glided through the meat and a mouthful of juice chased the bite. The tender beat and the mouthwatering juices exploded on his taste buds. Salt and a hint of citrus notes that hugged the rub of the meat was a testament to the love and passion Clark had put into his work. And Owen savoured it, moaning in pleasure.


    Everyone broke out in laughter as heat brushed across his cheeks. Owen said through a mouthful of food, ¡°Clark, you¡¯ve outdone yourself. Truly.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said with a kind smile. ¡°If my cooking can raise the spirits of my Lord''s subjects, then that¡¯s all the glory I need.¡±


    Owen looked at Cedric and smiled. Returning his attention back to Clark, Owen motioned for him to sit down. ¡°You¡¯ve hold yourself up in the kitchen for 6 hours now, come, sit with us. Enjoy the fruits of your labour.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t say no to that, my Lord,¡± Clark said, sitting down next to Mirian. He smiled at the lady, only for her to ignore him, and place her full attention on the plate of meat she was just handed. She dug in, sinking her teeth into the tender meat. Her eyes lit up. It was so cute.


    I wonder if Clark had ties to a mediaeval-like world? A chef for a noble family, maybe? Owen thought. It was interesting watching these people. Just from the way they talked, the way they interacted with others, and the clothes they had upon being summoned, told numerous stories.


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    For example, Cedric was exceptional at teaching swordsmanship. He moved with grace and rarely talked if not spoken to. He wore tidy hard-leather armour that was inscribed with beautiful workmanship. It told Owen he was raised in a good family and taught how to act while in the presence of a Lord.


    Bimpnottin cared little of how anyone viewed him. He devoured the meat on the plate without care about how much mess he made. With how much time he spent tending to his farm, that told Owen perhaps the gnome was in charge of gardens back home. And that he rarely left home.


    Draed often spoke to himself. Owen had heard that some wood-elves often spoke to the plants and the trees around them. Of course, that was just from various fantasy stories he had read. He didn¡¯t ask the real reason in fear it was a rude topic of discussion.


    The fact was, everyone here had lives of their own. And Owen would fight to the death for them if need be.


    ¡°I wanted to say a few words,¡± Owen announced when everyone had finished their meal. ¡°It¡¯s been an honour fighting by your side. This is not the end. These walls that you see around will become taller, thicker, and just like us, they will last longer than tomorrow. I¡¯m not really good at this whole leader¡¯s speech,¡± Owen said, eliciting a few chuckles from everyone. ¡°Let¡¯s kill the bastard orc and get out of this desert, shall we?¡±


    Everyone shouted and clapped, cheering, their spirits from having their bellies full and united against a common enemy. This may not yet be their home, but it was soon to be. Owen didn¡¯t want to just stop here. He would create a place that these people could call home, they could start families if their memories allowed it, could create a life of their own in this hellish place.


    And for that, he¡¯d annihilate his enemy and any other that threatened him.


    No quarter.


    No mercy.


    ***


    Atop the battlements of the wall, Owen looked to his left and right. Archers lined the wall, arrows already knocked and waiting. Owen leaned over the wall and looked down to his warriors who were ready for the melee.


    The tension in the air was so thick, Owen could cut it with his blade. Even through the unique aspect of his Battle Hardened Skill, his heart struck like a percussive instrument. Blood pumped through his body at an alarming rate as all of his senses rose to their peak.


    Lome was sitting atop Shelldon, axe at the ready. The greenish black eyes behind his eyes flickered menacingly. Thorin the centaur, dragged his powerful hooves in the sand, eyes locked onto the hungry orcs waiting at the barrier.


    The enemies were starved. With their food reserved burned to ash, and the Sand Hound Rift destroyed, they had no food. With their water supply tarnished and poisoned, they were running on fumes. If his barrier had lasted for a single more day, perhaps there wouldn¡¯t even be a fight; they¡¯d die on the spot.


    But seeing their weakened constitution offered no reprieve as Owen locked eyes with the orcen Lord. Even with no food and water for an entire 2 days, the orc didn¡¯t look phased in the slightest. Just what was his body made of? Tissue and muscle? Owen didn¡¯t believe it. He had to have something else powering him. His Lord Emblem must be frightening.


    The barrier around his land shifted from a deep blue to a translucent, glass-like hue before finally shattering completely. Mana rose into the air like a cascade of bubbles.


    Suddenly, the orcen Lord let out a deafening war cry, so loud that Owen had to cover his ears to prevent them from bursting.


    Elena, who had been charging her shot all this time, released her arrow. Imbued with the power of the moon, it cut through the air toward the orc. He grinned and stepped aside at the last moment. The arrow grazed his cheek, leaving a deep wound.


    Owen ordered all his archers to fire, and they unleashed a volley of arrows, pelting the weakened. But with shields and having received arrow fire for the past couple days, it did little to reduce their numbers.


    Owen frowned. Why wasn¡¯t the Lord advancing? What was going on?


    His heart sank as he heard the war cries of more orcs coming from the mountain. Owen gnashed his teeth. They had copied his tactics.


    Bimpnottin and all the miners were in grave danger.

 Chapter 38 - A Garden Gnomes Strength

    "Oh, diggity-doo and a ho ho ho, watch this citrus fruit start to grow!"


    Bimpnottin waved his hands over the citrus tree, sprinkling a bit of magical dust that caused bright, juicy oranges to burst forth from its branches. Then he danced over to the water storing cacti.


    "With a wiggle and a waggle, no need to fuss, this cactus will soon store water for us!"


    He hummed as he tended to them, coaxing them to swell and store precious water with a gentle pat, he continued, "Hey there, prickly friend, swell up tight, keep us hydrated day and night!"


    With a clap of his hands, he moved to another room where a dangerous plant thrived behind a protective barrier made of jutting out bones of Sand Hounds.


    "In the shadowy corner, hidden from sight, grows a plant that''s poisonous, best not to bite!"


    The gnome chuckled as he adjusted his hat, keeping a safe distance while nurturing the deadly plant with careful attention.


    Bimpnottin was close to reaching Level 25. Soon, he¡¯d gain a Class evolution, and he¡¯d get stronger! So the Lord told him, but all he really cared about was tending to his garden. If that meant that Bimpnottin would be able to farm more, grow more, then that was all that mattered!


    He had worked day and night, tending to the plants. He wasn¡¯t happy about only having three plants, but he did the best with what he had access to. He¡¯d have to ask the Lord to get to finding more seeds soon!


    It was still early in the morning, and it was quite cold within the mountain. Bimpnottin had a fire pit set up for the dark night, and it was still casting its orange glow in the room. Right now, Bimpnottin was standing in the poisonous plant room. They needed a lot more care than the other plants. For some reason, his magic was making them unstable everytime he used it. It was a slight cause for concern, but Bimpnottin wasn¡¯t known for giving up! Not that he knew, anyway¡­


    Someone shouted from deep within the mountain. Bimpnottin rose from having his head precariously close to the poisonous plant, and moved his ear closer to the other room. He heard a scream this time. One of pain and suffering. It was those pesky orcs, it had to be!


    Eyes widening, Bimpnottin jumped up and began pacing back and forth. He heard clanging now and it was getting ever closer.


    ¡°What does we do?¡± Bimpnottin bit his fingernails, then he suddenly kicked himself into action. He sliced one of the poisonous plants at the base and carefully, without touching it, moved it over to his fireplace.


    Then, he moved most of the coals to the entrance of the long tunnel systems that those smelly men and women had been working on for hours, banging noise at all hours into his garden. He blew the coals until the fire rekindled. He heard metal clanging now, along with the snarling growls of those orcs. It was really close now. He heard the voices of the Miners.


    ¡°Not good,¡± Bimpnottin said as he picked up the pace. He returned back to the poisonous plant and brought it back to the fire.


    "With a twinkle in my eye and a flick of my thumb, this poisonous plant will soon hum a new drum!"


    He tossed the plant onto the crackling fire, watching as the smoke curled upward. He grabbed a large, frond-like fan, wafting the acrid fumes toward the tunnel''s entrance.


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    "Oh, this noxious brew, with its fumes so sly, will dance through the tunnels and make orcs cry!"


    Bimpnottin hummed a jaunty tune, working the fan with precision to ensure the toxic smoke flowed directly into the tunnel.


    "Watch them cough, watch them wheeze, breathe deep, my foes, and weaken at the knees!"


    With a satisfied nod, he continued wafting the poisonous cloud, knowing it would drive the orcs away and protect his home. But it didn¡¯t. He heard coughing, and then out stumbled the leader of the miners: Bron. He was severely wounded; cuts and gashes marred his body, something ugly. Blood dripped on the floor, marking Bimpnottin¡¯s floor. Bimpnottin tutted. Bron coughed, almost choking. Then, the lead miner grabbed a huge round rock and rolled it onto the passage. The fire continued to spew smoke.


    ¡°Gnome,¡± Bron said, stumbling forwards. Orcs banged at the rock, still stuck in with a plume of the toxic smoke. ¡°We need to warn our Lord. They have a sand mage with them.¡±


    ¡°You ruined my garden!¡± Bimpnottin stormed over, but nonetheless helped support the hulking weight of the giant Bron.


    ¡°We¡¯ll clean it after,¡± Bron replied weakly.


    With haste, they left the mountain. It didn¡¯t take long for the sounds of rock crumbling to blast out of the mountain, dust billowing outwards. Bimpnottin barely saw their Lord glance over with a grim visage. A large, demi-human charged out from the walls. Bimpnottin remembered his name being Thorin.


    Bimpnottin glanced backwards and saw over 20 orcs emerge from the dust cloud. Protected in the centre was a smaller orc holding a crooked staff. His eyes were an almost illustrious gold and the sand at his feet appeared to move at his command, allowing him to walk on the surface unperturbed.


    The orcs, seeing Bimpnottin and Bron, charged forwards. 15 of them all running and screaming together caused Bimpnottin¡¯s bones to rattle and his blood turn cold.


    ¡°Hurry you buffoon!¡± Bimpnottin shouted at Bron, but that man was too injured to pick up speed. The orcs were closing in. In minutes, no, seconds, they would be orc food. If it continued on like this, they would die¡ª


    The sand rumbled and Bimpnottin noticed Thorin¡¯s speed sharply increase. Like a raging bull, he sprinted towards them with unrivalled speed. In a matter of seconds, Thorin swooped up both of them, while swinging his axe in a wild arc at the orcs. His weapon smashed into their messy formation, cutting through bone and flesh of two of the orcs in one swift motion. Thorin didn¡¯t pause, he stomped his hooves, galloping back to the walls with Bimpnottin bobbing up and down on his back.


    But much to his dismay, Bimpnottin seemed to have moved from one battlefield to another. The moment they entered the triangular castle, war commenced. Bimpnottin heard the twanging of bow strings, the war cries of orcs, and then the large stone gate of the castle clanged.


    Bimpnottin jumped as the gate threatened to fall. The Lord¡¯s soldiers waited with their weapons at the ready. Their faces, much like the weapons held tight in their grip, were cold and sharp. The Lord¡¯s words had worked their magic. The soldiers were ready to die here today.


    Bimpnottin wasn¡¯t so committed. He just wanted to return to his garden and watch his precious plants grow into adulthood.


    These damn orcs are ruining everything! Bimpnottin thought with fury. He looked around, only to lay his eyes on a sharpened kitchen knife. He quickly grabbed it and joined the warriors.


    ¡°Let¡¯s beat them back, yes!¡± Bimpnottin yelled.


    The other warriors looked in part amusement, part worry. But it wasn¡¯t time to falter, all of a sudden, the gate exploded open. Orcs filtered through, dust and sand mingled together creating a potent cloud, abosuring vision. And then Bimpnottin laid eyes on the beast.


    A hulking figure clad in green flesh and smouldering orange and red eyes. He held a massive war-axe, and he looked straight at Bimpnottin, amused at the sight of him.


    Bimpnottin¡¯s anger boiled over.


    ¡°Let''s have it then, you overgrown green meat-sack!¡±


    And then all hell broke loose as the orcen Lord charged amongst them, brandishing his axe like death¡¯s scythe. One swing and it reaped the lives of 3 strong men, from shoulder-to-waist. The smell of blood wafted through the air like a sickening metallic concoction. Morale was beginning to waver at the monstrous sight.


    A moment later, a skeleton roared. The general of his own Lord¡¯s troops cleaved through 3 of the orcs'' own warriors, replicating the orcen Lord¡¯s feat of strength. One-on-one, they glared at each other. One, an undead, and another, a great Lord of tough green flesh.

 Chapter 39 - Will to Fight

    Owen would have panicked if not for his Battle Hardened Skill fortifying his mind. But he was still worried. Bimpnottin and Bron had returned, barely, but the same couldn¡¯t be said about the other miners within the mountain.


    It was a grave oversight. He had gotten all the Builders into the wall, but he thought the mountain would be safe. Never would he have thought the orcs had managed to dig down and access the passages? How? The answer became clear soon enough.


    From the orcs charging across the sands from the mountain, a slender orc wielding a crooked staff was located amongst them. Sand moved at his command. He planted his staff in the ground, and a cloud of sand wafted forwards.


    ¡°My Lord¨C¡± Draed¡¯s loud warning was cut short.


    Almost at the same time, the entire castle trembled. The gates had been smashed, and the orcs already standing below the battlements, fought their way in. Owen¡¯s heart sank. The orcen Lord was no-where to be seen.


    ¡°The orcen Lord has entered the walls!¡± Rehan said grimly.


    Owen spun around, the orcs coming from the mountain were hidden from view, but thanks to Rehan¡¯s detection abilities, they were using the cloud of dust as an obstruction against the archers. They were approaching. Owen worried. Pyris was still in the house near the centre of his land. What would happen to her if the orcs decided to check the building?


    Draed and Elena tried taking the life of the sand mage, but their arrows vanished amongst the sand cloud. None reached through. Whatever magic the mage had, was strong. The orcen Lord had hid away his mage until now. And it wasn¡¯t a good sign. They were fast approaching, unable to be stopped.x


    For now, Owen couldn¡¯t worry about that. If he didn¡¯t do something about the orcen Lord, they would all die here today. He recieved a grim reminder of that as three of his soldiers died all at the same time.


    Owen grabbed Mirian, Rehan, and Gorath and ran down the stairs. It was a mess. Corpses littered the floor near the gate. Lome was locked in battle with the Lord. It wasn¡¯t looking good. Owen leapt down, landing in the main hall.


    Summoning Heartseeker¡¯s Edge, he engaged in combat with the orcen threat. Everywhere his blade danced, he took a life. He entered a bloody rhythm, a dance of death. The orcs had far larger numbers than he did, more than Owen had thought.


    For every moment that passed, the situation looked worse and worse. Even with Owen slaughtering the orcs along with his Generals, the orcs were also taking valuable lives of their own. Watching his soldiers breathe their last breath, either having their necks sliced open, or blades plunged into their insides, turned Owen mad.


    He picked up the pace, his blade slicing through flesh, biting into bone, before gliding through as he placed more strength into his arm. Blood splashed across the face of Dune¡¯s Crest.


    With Lome locked in battle with the orcen Lord, allowed Owen to kill his way through the orcs. As he took more lives, the hesitance at the core of his being was stripped away. Every move of his blade was designed to kill, maim, and slaughter. He held no reservations. It was him, or them. He viewed them as monsters that needed to be exterminated. Only after convincing himself of that, was he able to kill without thought or remorse.


    In a matter of 20 seconds or so, he had already slain 15 or so orcs. He stopped counting after the third. More just kept on filtering through the shattered gate. Orcs then appeared from behind. It was those shrouded in the sand. A snake-like form of sand moved at high speed on the floor. Cedric tried cutting through it, but it was of no use. It grabbed hold of Owen¡¯s ankles and yanked him to the floor, despite his high Strength.


    Owen ungracefully flipped his body and narrowly avoided an axe to the shoulder. He snapped his leg to the attacker''s knee, caving it inward with a crunch. Then, he replied with a wide swing of his blade, slicing through the orcs throat.


    The orcen sand mage continued to constrict him and put him in harm''s way. Owen¡¯s soldiers tried cutting their way to the mage, but powerful orc warriors protected him. It was obvious what his worth was to the orcen Lord. One orc in particular had huge plated armour with a helmet to match. He was like a great iron wall that stopped all from advancing towards him.


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    Owen heard shouting. He looked over from where he hobbled, only to see Gorath was captured and pulled to the orcen Lord¡¯s side. Owen¡¯s heart dropped. The orcen Lord laughed and raised his axe. He was about to cleave it down on Gorath¡¯s skull, when a voice interrupted them.


    Spinning on his heels, he saw the captured orc by the sand mage¡¯s side. He stepped forwards, and said, ¡°My Lord, he holds no loyalty to these heathens. Absorb him into the army. Make use of his power. He holds incredible potential.¡±


    The orcen Lord paused his axe. He spoke to Gorath. ¡°Is this true?¡±


    Gorath cast Owen a glare of hatred. He yanked at the chains on his throat. ¡°What do you think, my Lord?¡±


    The orcen Lord laughed. ¡°So be it. Then kill your previous master, and be done with his weakness. Today, I shall rule.¡±


    Gorath gathered his mana. Owen stood there, defenceless, as if he welcomed it. Would Gorath betray him, or would he show his loyalty? With him so close to the orcen Lord right now, the moment he didn¡¯t kill Owen, the Lord would decapitate him where he stood.


    Lightning crackled in the air. It was so potent and violent, that everyones hair stood up on edge. Gorath smiled at Owen. Owen grinned back. In an instant, Owen summoned the Fragment he had hidden from his enemy until now: Orcen Totem. Gorath¡¯s spell instantly powered up, and then he used Lightning Surge to empower his magic even further. The orcen Lord gasped in surprise, as did all the others. He laughed, only for it to be cut short the moment Gorath cast his magic.


    Owen ducked thanks to the signal Gorath had given him, and the crackling storm of pure lightning slammed into the mighty metal orc. It cooked him from within, turning his flesh, bone, and organs to ash. Lightning continued, chaining to the orcen sand mage. He attempted to summon a wall of sand, but it was too late; Gorath¡¯s magic had already landed. Maybe only because of his quick reactions, he lived, barely.


    The orcen Lord flew into unbridled rage. He swept his axe towards Gorath.


    ¡°Draed!¡± Owen yelled over the sound of clashing metal.


    Draed fired a quick arrow at the orcen Lord, but the hulking humanoid held no intentions of dodging. The arrow-tip stuck into his chest, but his axe continued unimpeded. Then Mirian appeared, pulling Gorath out of the deadly axe edge¡¯s path.


    Mirian plunged her dagger into a nearby orcs heart, then while pulling Gorath, made her way into another room of the wall. Orcs chased, but Owen had no time to worry about them. He just hoped to any god that would listen that they would make it out alive. Mirian had done it once, and she could do it again.


    With the orcen Lord in a maddened rage, and no longer holding back, his soldiers paid the price. One-by-one, they were slaughtered as the huge green man cut his way towards Owen. Cedric brandished his blade, and dashed to stop his rampage.


    ¡°Cedric!¡± Owen screamed, but it was too late.


    The orcen Lord¡¯s eyes suddenly turned crimson, and his speed almost tripled. He swung his axe in a savage arc, and by the time Owen had blinked, Cedric was severed in half.


    ¡°Cedric!¡± Owen yelled, his throat turning raw.


    Owen¡¯s mind turned numb. If this was to continue, all of his men and women would die here. He had to do something.


    Voice trembling, he yelled at the Lord orc, ¡°Fight be one-on-one! Let¡¯s end this, just you and me!¡±


    ¡°My Lord, you can¡¯t¨C¡± Draed tried bargaining with Owen, but he shook him off.


    The orcen Lord laughed. He stopped his axe mid-swing, and then glowered at Owen. ¡°You invoke the Lord¡¯s right to challenge? So be it. Pick your dying ground.¡±


    Thorin, who was bloodied and wounded all over, who was unable to make use of his strengths in such confined spaces, also tried talking him out of it. But Owen was resolute. He looked at everyone here. Lome, Elena, Draed, Rehan, Zog, Drak, Varik, Rizael, who was busy healing those at the back, the Builders who bared arms, Bron who although wounded, brandished his pickaxe, ready to get revenge for his fallen brothers.


    Owen retreated to the middle courtyard¡ªthe space that was meant to be made into a garden. He called upon Rehan, and whispered into his ear, ¡°Make sure you get Pyris out of here. She is strong enough to resist the soul tear if I die.¡±


    Rehan grit his teeth, but didn¡¯t try and talk him out of it. He placed his hand on Owen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll get her and the others out of here alive. You¡¯ve got this.¡±


    Owen nodded. ¡°Go,¡± he said, and Rehan took his leave with one last look at Owen. Owen turned his attention to the others, and nodded to them.


    Owen took a deep breath and clenched the handle of his blade so tight, his tender knuckles turned white. He felt his heart, which was smashing against his chest, then placed both hands on his sword.


    I don¡¯t want to die, Owen thought, biting his lip so hard they bled. Owen tasted the tang of thick copper. It seemed to activate something in his mind as his heartbeat calmed, shoulders relaxed.

 Chapter 40 - Fight

    Blood and heat.


    The orcen Lord stood tall, a tower of muscle and malice, his eyes burning with a cruel intelligence. His skin was a sickly green, glistening with sweat and war paint. He held a massive two-handed axe, its blade chipped and stained from countless battles.


    Owen tightened his grip on his sabre. He took a deep breath, feeling the familiar heat of adrenaline surging through his veins. The world narrowed to just him and the orcen Lord.


    The orcen Lord roared, the sound reverberating through the battlefield. He charged, his axe raised high, ready to cleave Owen in two. Owen darted to the side, the axe missing him by inches as it crashed into the ground with a deafening impact.


    Owen retaliated, lunging forward with a swift slash aimed at the orcen Lord''s side. His blade sliced through the air, but the orc was faster than he anticipated, twisting away and bringing his axe around in a wide arc. Owen ducked just in time, feeling the whoosh of the axe passing overhead.


    The orc lashed a kick to his chest, but because of Owen¡¯s lightning quick reflexes, stepped out of its way. Owen retaliated with a sword stroke, biting into green flesh, drawing blood. The orc grunted, not in pain, but annoyance.


    Swinging his axe in a savage arc, Owen barely got away in time. The air swished and Owen¡¯s ears thrummed with pain from the air pressure.


    Every fibre of his being was telling Owen to run, to get out of the way of the devastating axe. But he couldn¡¯t. He glanced at the others, his people, and his will to fight returned. Gritting his teeth, Owen pushed off his feet and entered a dance of death with the orcen Lord. It was a battle knowing full well if he was hit once with that axe edge would spell his last breath.


    He hacked and slashed his sabre''s edge into toughened, hide-like flesh. The smell of metal and burning flesh from the heat penetrating from above assaulted Owen¡¯s nostrils, but he didn¡¯t absorb it. All of his focus was absorbed onto the foe in front of him.


    They circled each other, eyes locked. The orcen Lord¡¯s face was a mask of fury, his lips pulled back in a snarl. Owen''s heart hammered in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn¡¯t afford to let fear or doubt creep in. Not now.


    The orcen Lord attacked again, swinging his axe with brutal strength. Owen parried the blow, his sabre vibrating from the impact. He pivoted on his heel, delivering a rapid series of strikes aimed at the orc''s limbs. Each movement was precise, calculated, and deadly.


    The orcen Lord deflected the blows, his axe a blur of motion. He was strong, incredibly so, but Owen had the advantage of speed and finesse. He darted around the orc, looking for an opening, any weakness he could exploit.


    And then he saw it.


    A brief hesitation, a momentary shift in the orc''s stance. Time practising with Cedric had displayed the path he needed. Owen seized the opportunity, lunging forward with a thrust aimed at the orcen Lord''s chest. His blade pierced flesh, and the orc let out a guttural cry of pain.


    But it wasn¡¯t enough.


    The orcen Lord swung his axe in a desperate counterattack, catching Owen off guard. The blade clipped his side, sending a jolt of pain through his body. Owen staggered back, gasping for breath.


    He could feel the warmth of blood trickling down his ribs.


    The orcen Lord pressed his advantage, relentless in his assault. Owen dodged and parried, his movements growing increasingly frantic. He was fast, but the orc was relentless, each swing of the axe a deadly dance.


    Owen fought back, his sabre a blur of metal as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. He aimed for the orc''s arms, legs, neck¡ªanywhere he could reach. But the orcen Lord was a seasoned warrior, he had something intangible that Owen didn¡¯t yet have: experience and blood shed on the battlefield. The orc¡¯s scars told a life of war, dozens of times he had made it out alive against all odds.


    The two warriors clashed, their weapons ringing out with each impact. Owen''s arms ached from the effort, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He couldn¡¯t keep this up forever. He needed to end it, and soon.


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    Owen feinted left, drawing the orcen Lord''s attention. Then, with lightning speed, he spun around to the right, his sabre slicing through the air. The blade found its mark, cutting deep into the orc''s shoulder.


    The orcen Lord bellowed in pain, his grip on the axe faltering. Owen pressed the attack, his strikes relentless. He could see the strain on the orc''s face, the growing weariness in his movements.


    But the orcen Lord was not defeated yet. With a roar, he swung his axe in a vicious arc, much faster this time, catching Owen off balance. The blade crashed into his side, the impact shattering ribs and driving the breath from his lungs.


    Owen hit the ground hard, pain lancing through his body. He gasped for air, struggling to push himself up. The world spun around him, his vision blurring at the edges.


    The orcen Lord loomed over him, triumph gleaming in his eyes. He raised his axe, ready to deliver the final blow.


    Owen''s mind raced. He needed to act, to find a way out of this. And then he remembered¡ªUnlimited Plunder. In a desperate bid, Owen summoned the last of his strength and focused on the orcen Lord''s eye. With a surge of mana, he invoked Unlimited Plunder, feeling the familiar rush of power as it flowed through him.


    The orcen Lord''s eye vanished, the socket left empty and bleeding. The orc howled in agony, clutching at his face.


    Owen seized the moment. He summoned the Armour of Nerzu, the protective shell appearing in an instant. Pain coursed through his body, but he forced himself to move, rolling to his feet and readying his sabre. Empowered by the effects of his armour, Owen panted, breath strained, but stood with renewed strength.


    But the orcen Lord laughed. It was so sudden that it took Owen by surprise. The orc, who was hunched over and breathing heavily like himself, stood tall. His remaining eye, that was a smoulder fire, transformed into a sickly crimson. His muscles expanded and contracted, sounding like a ship caught in a savage tide. He cracked his neck, each time sounding like a wooden beam snapping, then looked down at Owen as if he was an insect.


    ¡°So this is what you have hidden from me?¡± he asked, his voice almost like a growl. ¡°You have taken my eye, congratulations. Now I shall take your life.¡±


    The orc moved so fast that he was practically a blur. Heartbeat striking against his broken ribs, Owen rolled to the side as the axe descended upon where he was a second ago. The sand shot up like a geyser exploding from the ground


    Owen forced himself to focus, to push past the pain and fatigue that threatened to overwhelm him. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.


    The orcen Lord charged again, and Owen was quick to climb back to his feet. The Lord''s axe was a deadly blur as he swung it with relentless force. Owen parried, his sabre vibrating with the impact, his body protesting under the might of the strike. He felt the bones in his arm creak, felt the pain lancing through. He moved with desperate agility, dodging the orc''s strikes and countering with quick, precise slashes.


    But the orc was relentless. He pressed forward, each swing of his axe carrying the weight of his immense strength. Owen ducked and weaved, his body screaming in protest with every movement, leaping, jumping, dodging the swings to the best of his ability.


    If it wasn¡¯t for Devil¡¯s Reflexes, he¡¯d have been dead long ago, perhaps from the very first strike. Owen knew he couldn¡¯t last much longer. He had to do something desperate. Instead of Plundering something in its entirety, why couldn¡¯t he focus it on a constant stream?


    Owen urged the rest of his Vitality, calling upon something deep within him. Something he didn''t know he had: resilience, a desperate plea for survival. This was his new life, a new beginning. In some ways, he wanted to teach the Author a lesson, but in others, he was inexplicably thankful for ripping him out of his office.


    Dodging another axe swing by the skin of his teeth, Owen latched onto the orc¡¯s dominant arm, teeth sinking into his green flesh. He couldn''t even break the first layer of skin. Regardless, that wasn¡¯t his aim. He channelled Unlimited Plunder and focused on stripping away the orc¡¯s strength. And he felt his Skill answer his call. Stats started flowing into him, 1, 2, 4, 6, and it kept on climbing.


    Owen fought through the absurd amount of stamina it took to use the ability in this manner, struggling against his heart threatening to implode. It didn¡¯t last long.


    The orcen Lord roared, and slammed his fist against Owen¡¯s skull. He heard something split, but only a dizziness and nausea assaulted him. All he saw was stars as his back struck the sand. A blur of an axe hurtled towards his chest. His senses screamed, and he moved by raw instinct. Rolling on the sand, he snapped his leg at the orc¡¯s knee. By a stroke of luck, the mighty warrior¡¯s leg caved inward, but it didn¡¯t break.


    However, it did offer Owen a small reprieve. He struggled to his unsteady feet, his vision blurred with blood. Owen glanced at his people who were watching with bated breaths on the side. Each one was worried, each one wanted nothing more than to jump into the battle and help him, sacrificing themselves.


    I will win.


    With shaky arms, Owen gripped his blade with both arms, and readied himself for the next onslaught. The orcen Lord was angry. Owen took a deep breath, focusing on the thumping heartbeat synchronising with his blade. He listened to it as if it was the gospel, let it take control of him, let it guide him.


    You have gained the Skill: Swordsmanship.

 Chapter 41 - Buying Time

    Owen was given no time to relish his new first, organically gained Skill as the Orcen Lord began his onslaught.


    Dodging out of the way of each axe strike by a hair''s breadth, Owen realised the orc was still looking down on him. The terrifying creature of raw muscle could have ended the fight if he had decided to grapple him. Instead, perhaps it was his own pride that made him resolutely rely on his axe. Maybe the orcs would look down on him if he didn¡¯t kill Owen with his weapon. Maybe it was some other reason. Whatever it was, Owen was thankful for it. It gave him an opportunity.


    Pressed backwards, Owen¡¯s sword danced with more finesse than before. Although he didn¡¯t have the techniques or experience to contend against the orc directly, the Skill he had gained improved his odds ever so slightly. Blade biting into green flesh, the orcen Lord increased his speed even more.


    Owen stepped to the side, seeing the attack before the orc had even made it. But because of the sudden enhanced speed, the edge of the axe caught his shoulder. Pain gnawed into his bone and his blade threatened to leap from his hand.


    Gritting his teeth, Owen demanded his Fragment to remain in his grasp. His back struck the wall, finally. Ducking under another wide swing from the orc, the blade crashing into the wall, exploding part of it into projectiled shrapnel. Owen dashed into the castle. Orcen laughs rang out. Owen ignored the mocking. He didn¡¯t care, as long as he lived through today.


    The fight became chaotic. Owen used the narrower surroundings to his advantage. The orc, who relied on his hulking axe, couldn¡¯t use his weapon to his advantage. Here, in the castle walls, it hindered him.


    Owen used the situation as much as he could, drawing blood strike-after-strike. But without an attacking Skill, there was only so much he could do. Still, he carved the orcs flesh; like a kid lashing lines through sand. Blood seeped and splashed, covering the walls, consuming the floor. Mixed with Owen¡¯s own, it was a grim sight. Owen was barely holding on. He was reaching his limit. But he had a few things still up his sleeve.


    The sand from outside that had swept across the floor, provided his chance. Using Sandstorm Fury, Owen kicked up a cloud of dust. It wasn''t a lot, but it was just enough to obscure vision. Then, a small, round object spawned from Owen¡¯s palm. The orcen Lord looked at it mid swing, but it was too late to react as Owen had already thrown it at the green beast. The ball, heavy metal that wasn¡¯t entirely solid, struck the orc¡¯s chest. An explosion rang out. The stench of charred flesh and gunpowder wafted through the halls.


    Owen didn¡¯t stop there. One more appeared, then another, until 6 of them in total were already flying through the air at the orc, smothered in smoke and dust. All of the explosions rang out one after the other; the accumulation of Owen¡¯s exorbitant expenditure within the Lord¡¯s Shop.


    Not stopping there, Owen dashed beyond a doorway, spun around, and took out a crossbow. It was black, with golden inscriptions carved throughout. Together with the bombs, a couple bolts had resulted in him spending all of his credits. The orc had been here longer, had spent who knows how many days grinding the hounds from the rift--accumulating experience with every passing moment. If he wanted to live today, it was a necessity.


    The orcen lord, a visage of wrath and fury, charged out of the smoke, green flesh burnt black and scarlet. Blood spilled from the gnarly wound branded into his skin. No longer did he have the axe in his hands. He lunged at him, fingers threatening to break his body like a twig.


    Owen pulled the trigger, releasing a thick bolt from the crossbow''s body. It streaked through the air like shifting darkness and blasted into the already wounded orc. His massive body was launched backwards, moving with the force of the bolt. Not surprised, Owen quickly placed the tip of the bow on the floor, placed his foot into a foothold, and then with all his System enhanced might, pulled the string back, locking it into place.


    The orc roared and as if he was a streak of lightning, thundered through the castle passageway¡ªstraight for Owen.


    Pulling the trigger for a second time, the bolt launched towards the orc. But this time the Lord was ready. Eyes stuck to the approaching projectile, the orc grabbed it out of the air, spun round, then threw it right back at Owen.


    Eyes widening, Owen rolled on the floor as the bolt smashed into the wall behind him. Owen knew he had to move, but it was too late. Something in the orc changed, his hands already wrapping around Owen¡¯s throat.


    He couldn''t breathe. He struggled and thrashed and sliced into the orcs body with his Fragment, fire spurting from the Runes of his armour, yet reality remained harsh. Owen couldn¡¯t escape. He kicked and kneed and punched to no avail.


    Blood seeped from the orcs eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. His eyes had transformed from a scarlet rage, to a calm of the storm.


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    ¡°You spent everything to stop me,¡± the orcen Lord said through bloodied teeth. ¡°And for what?¡± He tightened his fist. It bulged with veins. He threw it into Owen¡¯s stomach. Ribs cracked. Owen puked out whatever was in his stomach, mixed with blood, right onto the Lord¡¯s chest. The orc didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Do you know what my Lord Emblem is?¡± He waited for no answer as he slammed another fist into Owen¡¯s gut. Pain lanced through his body as his internal organs were being destroyed. ¡°Overwhelming Strength. I''ve killed, murdered, and fought through wars by the time you were still suckling on your mother. Filthy human.¡±


    The Orcen Lord tightened his grip before hurling Owen against the wall as if he were a sack of potatoes. Owen hit it with such force that his body shattered the stone, crashing through it and rolling to a stop in the centre of his people and the remaining orcs.


    Owen glanced at Draed and the others. They gripped their weapons tightly, knuckles white with rage, trembling with anger. Then he shifted his gaze to where his troops had fallen, spotting Cedric¡¯s lifeless body among them.


    Just a week ago, Owen''s life had been a mundane routine: waking up, going to work, coming home to dinner, and watching an episode or two of a TV show before bed. It was the same cycle, repeating day after day, until the inevitable end¡ªwhether by old age or something else.


    With trembling legs, and a body that held nothing left inside to give, Owen somehow found himself standing up. Despite his beaten and broken body, his heart was screaming out with something that he couldn¡¯t describe. He roared, blood spittle ejecting out of his mouth. The orcs fist arrived, but he was too injured, too tired to move out of the way. The fist descended on him, slamming him to the ground.


    Owen stood up again. Another fist assaulted his jaw, sending stars spiralling into his vision, yet he stood up again, and again. After the 6th time struck to the floor, the jeering from orcs was cut into silence. An eerie quiet took hold of the desert, the only sound was fist meeting flesh, and the cracking of bone.


    The orcen Lord roared and kicked Owen¡¯s leg, snapping it. Owen couldn''t even muster a murmur of pain. The orc kicked his chest, sending him sliding across the sand.


    ¡°Stay down,¡± the orc said, panting. He didn¡¯t look any better. Whatever Skill he was using, was taxing his body beyond what it was capable of resisting.


    Owen, planted into the sand, twitched his fingers. Then, he barely raised his arm, then planted his bloodied palm on the floor. He strained his neck, looking up at the Orc.


    ¡°My Lord¡­¡± Draed stepped forwards, his voice quivering.


    Owen signalled him away. With a strained wheeze leaving his throat, Owen slowly rose to his feet. It felt like an eternity before he stood, short and crooked. With a mighty struggle, he raised his sword once again. The orcs flashed him looks of awe and respect. One of them placed his fist on his heart, and soon, all the others followed.


    The orcen Lord roared in anger and smashed one of the orcs into the ground with his fist, exploding his head with a stomp of his foot. The orcen troops trembled, yet they didn¡¯t halt their salute.


    Without turning back, Owen said to his people. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I failed you¡­¡± So many times he had given up in his old life. Given up friends, given up hobbies, given up on striving for more. From holding his blade horizontally, to vertically, Owen continued with a smile steeped with blood, ¡°But... I think... I bought... enough time.¡±


    Raging toward Owen, Owen closed his eyes and listened to the stomps of the monster¡¯s feet. It was time. The moment he had been waiting for all along. He just didn¡¯t know who would come out on the other end alive¡­


    He activated Unlimited Plunder and ignoring the flesh eating pain stabbing his heart, dropped his blade and pushed his palm forwards¡­ only for it not to hit anything¡ªhis Skill cancelled. Shocked gasps erupted. Owen snapped his eyes open, only for his heart to lurch.


    A tall woman, six-feet tall with lean muscles, beautiful pale skin, and¡­ tall pointed rabbit ears, stood in front of him. In front of her, laying on the ground, was the orcen Lord, staring up at her in abject shock. She opened her palm and a spiralling universe spawned within. Then, it moved from her palm, circled round to her fists, and formed into knuckle-dusters.


    She glanced back, her eyes as gorgeous as the milky way. Those beautiful eyes lay on his wounded and broken body. His left arm was shattered, most of his ribs were only pieces, and his left leg lay at an awkward angle. Not to mention his skull, or all the other injuries marring him. A flight of madness took hold of her gaze.


    ¡°P¡ªpyris?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen to you, either,¡± She said, turning around to face the rising orcen Lord. ¡°Trust in me, my Lord. I will not fail. I will not forget.¡±


    Pyris launched forwards at blazing speed and slammed her fist into the orcs skull. The impact of the strike sent his body flying through the air, crashing through numerous walls.


    Twinkling stars like luminous snowflakes sprinkled from her fist as she sauntered towards the broken wall.


    The orc, dazed, stumbled back out, flexing his iron-like muscles. He snarled and glanced at Owen. ¡°This is not the strength of a Lord.¡±


    Pyris paused, glancing over her shoulder at Owen, who managed a weak grin despite his exhaustion.


    "She¡¯s my Spectre," he whispered hoarsely, "She is my strength."


    Their eyes met, and Owen gave her a slight nod. Pyris returned it, her gaze hardening with fierce determination as she turned back to face the towering orc. She wasn¡¯t just his Spectre¡ªshe was a part of him, his unwavering strength. The orc seemed to sense that and readied himself for battle.


    Owen¡¯s heart clenched with worry. Despite her 7-Star rank, Pyris was still only Level 1. But he had no choice. He could only hope that she had the Skills to turn the tide. The orc was weakened. He had done his part.


    You¡¯ve got this, he thought, his eyelids growing heavy. Darkness overtook him as his body finally gave in.

 Chapter 42 - Religion?

    Death, Owen thought if it was to come to him, was to be quick and easy. Maybe he¡¯d slip away at the old age of 80 or so, maybe it would be a swift decapitation from an oncoming train. No pain. No horrible nightmares haunting him. He¡¯d either enter the darkness never to surface, or enjoy a carefree life in the heavens above. He wasn''t religious, so either or was okay.


    Never did he think his own memories would torment him. Scenes flashed before his eyes¡ªhis father walking away, his mother acting like he didn¡¯t exist until he was old enough to leave. He couldn¡¯t tell which hurt more, being abandoned or being ignored.


    It felt endless, trapped in his own mind, drowning in self-pity. He had given up on everything he tried. Maybe it was the curse his father left him¡ªthe belief that it was easier to walk away when things got hard.


    He begged for it to stop, to return home¡ªeven to the desert of the Cursed Lands, as crazy as that sounded. He wanted to be with his friends. They might see him as a Lord, but to Owen, they were family. Maybe it was naive, maybe it was just loneliness, but he craved something deeper than just a surface connection.


    Amazingly, his body obeyed, though it took all his strength. He managed to open his eyes just a sliver, the dim light around him barely piercing the haze. The room was cool and still, illuminated only by the flickering torches that cast a soft, orange hue over the rocky walls. The scent of medicinal herbs hung in the air, soothing yet unfamiliar. He realised he wasn¡¯t in the castle but in a large chamber he had carved into the mountain, a secret sanctuary.


    Owen lay on a bed, one he recognized as belonging to Pyris. He tried to move, but even the mere attempt to tense his abdomen sent waves of bone-gnawing pain through him. His body, battered and broken, refused to cooperate.


    Just then, something soft brushed against his bandaged arm. He strained to look down and saw a pair of fluffy ears¡ªthe unmistakable sight of Pyris. She was asleep, her head nestled into her crossed arms, right beside him. Her slow, rhythmic breathing became the centre of his world, a gentle cadence that washed over his turmoil.


    The storm of emotions that had raged within him¡ªfear, pain, anger¡ªbegan to ebb. The sight of her peaceful face, illuminated by the flickering torchlight, as if carved from the most perfect marble, soothed his soul in a way nothing else could. She truly was the most beautiful person he had ever seen, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Owen felt a sense of security. Just knowing she was there, close enough to touch, made the pain more bearable.


    His mind, once flooded with chaos, quieted. For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of her breathing and the faint flicker of hope stirring in his chest.


    Your subordinate has defeated the Orcen Lord: Rek¡¯ka, the Scourge x1 (Level 47)


    | Pyris Starbreaker has Levelled up.


    | You have Levelled up due to your contribution. Warning: Nullborn detected.


    She won. Owen smiled in sudden realisation. She was only Level 1. Honestly, Owen was more than a little worried that she wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat him¡ªeven after weakening the orc so much. He had to just trust in her ability to defeat the wounded Lord.


    Your subordinates have gathered Summoning Tickets.


    | Dairy Cattle x1


    ¡°Well done,¡± Owen whispered. He raised his hand, placing it down on her head, and stroking her gorgeous ash-coloured shoulder cut hair. His fingertips touched her ears. They were soft. They twitched. Pyris shot up to her feet and scuttled backwards, cheeks blushing scarlet.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Owen said weakly. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have done that. I¨CI don¡¯t know why I did that.¡±


    Pyris coughed and nudged closer, face still red. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re still wounded. Ah, don¡¯t touch¨C¡±


    It was too late, Owen already touched his ribs and it sent pain lancing through his body. He felt it from the tip of his toes, all the way up his spine to the base of his neck and skull. There wasn¡¯t a single area on his body that wasn¡¯t surrendered in pain. Wincing, breathing through his teeth, Owen collapsed back into his bed. God, he was tired.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± she said, rushing forwards, gently placing her hand on his chest to help him. ¡°Please rest. Rizael said that you¡¯re lucky to be alive.¡±


    Owen fought off the sleep from assaulting him. ¡°What¡¯s the report?¡±


    ¡°My lord,¡± Pyris said. Was she getting angry? ¡°Rest. The kingdom can wait. I, along with Draed, have taken command of defence. Balthus is meeting the demands of the people.¡±


    ¡°Good, and what about the other orcs?¡±


    ¡°Detained and chained, for now. Balthus is dealing with them.¡±


    Owen gave a weak nod. ¡°And the wave? How¨Chow are the walls? Did they fall?¡±


    ¡°Still standing.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, I think I¡¯ll¡­ rest¡­ a little more.¡± Owen barely finished his words as his eyes shut. He got some final words out before he fell into a deep sleep.


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    ¡°Thanks for saving me, Pyris.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ***


    After an unknown amount of time, Owen escaped sleep feeling mostly okay. The awful pain he had been subjected to before, was now manageable. He inspected his wounds. All of them were now covered in thinly sliced cactus leaves. He grabbed one, pinching it with the tip of his fingers, and peeled it off. Sticky residue like glue, followed it. Owen pouted at the sight; like a slug trailing across the ground, and then ripped it off in one swift motion. It revealed a light scar on his forearm. Owen was expecting a whole lot worse.


    Taking his time, he removed all of the leaves¡ªwhich was a lot, and revelled at how effective the healing was. His body was covered in scarring. It was a testament to just how wounded he was. By some miracle, he had made it out alive, and in one piece.


    Groaning, trying to remove the grogginess of a long time of sleep, he forced himself to sit up. Baby steps, Owen thought, slowly spun around, and placed his bare feet on the floor. It was cool. It felt nice. Then, with a readied breath, rose to his feet.


    At that time, Pyris entered the room. Eyes wide, she rushed over like a blur, and placed one arm of his over her shoulder to support his weight. Owen smiled. ¡°I think I''m okay.¡±


    Pyris was hesitant at first, but soon stepped away. Owen stood at first hunched, and then stood to his full height. His bones creaked and cracked. A small amount of pain stabbed into him, but it was masked by the utter relief he felt having finally gotten up. He stretched, making a funny face, arms pointing all the way up to the ceiling.


    Pyris, seeing the funny face he was making, laughed. They sounded like bell chimes. Owen couldn¡¯t help but smile brightly upon hearing it. Even her laugh was pretty.


    ¡°So,¡± he said. ¡°Just how long have I been asleep? I feel a lot better now. Must have been out for ages.¡±


    Pyris nodded. ¡°2 weeks.¡±


    Owen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Two weeks? My god. How is everyone doing? Are they okay? I need to get out there.¡± Owen was about to leave when he noticed he was shirtless and almost trouserless. He noticed clothes placed at the side and rushed over to them, slinging over his shirt that appeared to be crudely mended with cacti fibres.


    Sighing, Pyris mumbled, ¡°You really are a good Lord.¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡± Owen asked from across the room.


    Pyris shook her head, her expression cool and neutral¨Cas if that was her true face. Owen would have believed it if not for seeing her blush in panic. A warm feeling Owen hadn¡¯t experienced before caught him, rooting him to the spot. However, with his people on his mind, it didn¡¯t last long.


    He left the cavernous room with Pyris at his side.


    ¡°Fill me in,¡± Owen said as they walked together.


    ¡°A scarlet crab attacked a week ago, but we managed to hunt it down. Other than that, the sands are growing restless.¡±


    ¡°Restless?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to explain it. It just feels dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the massive sand worm. Or something else that¡¯s bigger. Maybe it¡¯s better to move everyone into the cave for now. We need to keep our eyes peeled. What else?¡±


    ¡°The castle and wall construction has stalled. Bron is the only Miner left alive from the assault, and alone, he isn¡¯t able to keep up with the material needed for building. But, Balthus has gotten all the Builders and Warriors not on defence to help Bron. They may not have the experience, but Bron is a good teacher. If not in the mine, they are helping the chef, Clark, or giving Bimpnottin a hand on the farm.¡±


    Owen looked at Pyris with a sorry smile. ¡°Thanks for keeping everyone safe. I truly appreciate it.¡±


    Pyris shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s my mission.¡±


    ¡°Your mission?¡±


    Pyris looked at him, meeting his eyes. Owen saw fire within them as she said, ¡°I,¡± she paused, then continued after a second, ¡°nevermind.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Pyris was about to say something, but she looked like she forced herself to stop.


    Noticing the struggle, Owen changed the subject. ¡°What do you know about Spectres?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Owen explained, ¡°Spectres are ordinarily considered to be reflections or ghosts of slain monsters. But that¡¯s not always true. They can be obtained in other ways; gifts, for example. And once they fuse with your soul, they become a part of you. That¡¯s what you are, Pyris¡ªa Spectre. A part of my soul. Can you feel it? The connection between us. It is deep, but it is there.¡±


    Pyris placed her hand against her heart and closed her eyes, accurately walking through the passageways as if she had her eyes open. She opened her eyes and looked at Owen deep and intently, and in shock. ¡°I feel it. It was there in the beginning, but I¡­ didn¡¯t know what it was.¡±


    ¡°And as a part of me,¡± he continued. ¡°That makes us one. We are a team. So, I¡¯ll say it again,¡± he said with an encouraging smile. ¡°What is your mission?¡±


    Pyris opened her mouth to speak, paused, then said seriously, ¡°I want to get stronger. There is a world out there that is being destroyed. No, it is probably already torn apart, everyone within it is dead.¡± She grit her teeth and clenched her hands so hard, the bones within creaked. ¡°My sister, my family, the people of my city¡­ I want revenge. And I think I need your help to do it.¡±


    ¡°Then consider it done,¡± Owen said with a smile, hands behind his back in high spirits.


    ¡°Really?¡± She asked, confused. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you? We are a partnership, you and I.¡±


    ¡°But that is not enough to wage war on someone that could vanquish my planet.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly enough of a reason to wage a war,¡± he told her, looking ahead. ¡°The kingdom I want to create¡­ maybe it¡¯s an idea, an impossible one. But I want us to all be a family. A kingdom that helps each other. One that fights together, struggles together, eats together. Because I¡ª¡± Owen¡¯s lips quivered. ¡°¡ªBecause I didn¡¯t have a family. I want to know what it feels like. I want to go on adventures, explore this world, and try to have fun, if I can. Almost dying, I know what I want to do now. I want to live. So yes, I will fight for you, Pyris. Will you fight for me?¡±


    Pyris¡¯s body trembled and nodded deeply. ¡°I will fight for you, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Please, just call me Owen.¡±


    Before she responded, Owen broke out into the harsh sun-light, already feeling it nipping his flesh. Numerous people were working. All of the people from the mines and the farm were outside, moving heavy rocks. Everyone was helping each other, to create a new life they might just be able to call their own.


    One of the Builders pointed up at Owen, and then all the others joined him. Draed, Brook; everyone was there, and they all bowed at the same time, reverence flashing through their expressions.


    You have accomplished a great achievement. Due to your feat of bravery, valour, and leadership, your people worship you.


    | You have created a new religion. Name it. Spread it across the worlds, and make the denizens of the multiverse praise your name for aeons to come.


    Mouth hanging open wide, Owen thought to himself¨C


    What the fuck?

 Chapter 43 - Decisions

    Owen wondered if it was some sort of a sick joke. Him? Being worshipped? An office worker with no accomplishments? His heartbeat quickened, sending prangs of pain through his still healing body.


    ¡°My L¡­Owen, are you feeling okay?¡± She asked with concern. ¡°Do you need to return to your bed?¡±


    Owen wiped the sweat forming on his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Just¡­ just coming to grips with things.¡±


    Fending off insanity, Owen descended the mouth of the mountain and met with the others. The System could wait. They all greeted him with enthusiasm, laughing, cheering, even clapping. Owen spoked to each and every one of them and asked how they were doing. Owen noted a visible change in how they reacted to him. If before it was one out of subservience. Now it was out of pure reverence. Honestly, it made Owen a little uncomfortable.


    Once the greetings were over, Owen moved to business. There was a lot to do. And now with having prisoners of war, he had some decisions to make. He called the generals into the command centre within the castle. The fallen walls¡ªthe result of the war¡ªwere now restored and built back up.


    Owen leaned against the table, took a breath, then said, ¡°I¡¯ve been out of commision for two weeks now. A lot has happened and a lot has to change. You¡¯ve all done well with my absence. I have Balthus to thank for that.¡± Owen nodded at the demon in appreciation. He bowed with the high grace of a noble.


    He continued, ¡°As a result of the battle, we now have prisoners of war. We have to think of how to deal with them, and honestly, I don¡¯t even know where to start. Balthus, how many are there?¡±


    ¡°32 in total.¡±


    ¡°And how many escaped?¡±


    ¡°None.¡±


    ¡°None?¡±


    ¡°None,¡± Balthus repeated with a wry smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that they were rather taken by your resilience. Or maybe they know they have a higher chance of surviving here. Thanks to Gorath, they also know his treatment was just a ploy. So, none decided to run away. They¡¯ll get free food, a roof over their head, and a leader that can stand against their chief. Sounds like a good deal to me.¡±


    ¡°That is if I don¡¯t kill them.¡±


    ¡°Would you?¡±


    ¡°Of course I wouldn¡¯t,¡± Owen said seriously. ¡°But that does pose a problem. We can¡¯t feed so many mouths. Giving them water will be even more difficult.¡±


    ¡°We could send them back to their land,¡± said Balthus, nudging his nose towards the valley.


    ¡°And give them the opportunity to rise up against us?¡± Rehan spoke up, arms and legs crossed. ¡°It would take only one of them to challenge the pack, and then another leader would be elected. I can¡¯t imagine whoever takes that position being worse than that Lord, but better safe than sorry.¡±


    Owen tapped his finger against the stone table. He glanced at Pyris. ¡°Pyris, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Kill them all.¡±


    Her words were simple, and god knows Owen knew they¡¯d be effective. But Owen didn¡¯t feel comfortable with that. They were ordered to attack. Many of them had lost their lives, some even from the hand of their own commander-in-chief.


    Owen didn¡¯t want to be a ruler with a throne built on the soil of blood and fertilised by fear.


    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t do that.¡±


    Pyris shrugged.


    ¡°Or,¡± Draed added. ¡°We quickly find enough water and food. Then we let them stay.¡±


    ¡°Let them stay,¡± Owen mumbled to himself. Honestly, he did like the sound of 30-odd strong warriors to add to his army. It would make fending off the horrors of the Cursed Lands that more feasible. Perhaps he needed them now more than ever. But¡ªOwen closed his eyes. He saw the images of the orcs cutting down his men. Command or not. It was a picture impossible to remove.


    His heart was yelling, screaming at him to cast them out. To cut them down in the name of his people. No-one would even bat an eye if he did. Yet his mind was telling him otherwise; that he needed them. They could be attacked by horror tomorrow. A monster wave could roll on through, leaving only bone in their wake. With the orcs, perhaps he could resist and live another day.


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    As he was stuck in thought, scrutinising every detail, creating a pro¡¯s and con¡¯s list in his head, Gorath spoke up. ¡°I believe they will be loyal to you, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Loyal?¡± Rehan spat. ¡°If our Lord ever lost a single battle, they¡¯d cast him to the side the first chance they could to follow a stronger leader. No offence, Gorath.¡±


    ¡°None taken,¡± he replied nonchalantly. ¡°If we can fuel them, we can move them into battle. The more victories they earn, the stronger our Lord becomes, the more powerful his kingdom turns.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Owen spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s say I did welcome them, and I¡¯m not saying that I am just yet. The major issue we have is food and water. Bimpnottin is doing an amazing job, but he¡¯s on his own right now. The cacti¡ªalthough engineered to produce clean water¡ªjust isn¡¯t enough to sustain us, nor is it feasible in the long term. Like the orcs had, we need a well. That¡¯s something I can do once I¡¯ve fully recovered, but that will take time. That leads us to food. I have a lot of meat from the Sand Hounds stored, but with orcs that triple our number, that won¡¯t last long at all.¡±


    Draed leaned against the table on the far side with a thoughtful expression. ¡°The only monsters we¡¯ve encountered are those scarlet crabs and they are tough, dangerous prey. Even with all of us working together, the risk of grievous injury¡ªor death¡ªis high. Worse yet, more of them are travelling together these past few days. We can defeat one, maybe two, but never three. Catastrophic losses would be a result if we were caught out in the open against those numbers.¡±


    Owen clicked his tongue. ¡°And that means we need the orcs even more.¡± Owen sighed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve made up my mind; we¡¯ll take in the orcs. Balthus, vet them carefully with Lome and Thorin to support you. If any seem hostile, so much as a flicker of violence in their eyes, then I don¡¯t want them here. We¡¯ll be forced to exile them. Anyone got anything to add?¡±


    ¡°Oh, we do, we do!¡± Bimpnottin thrust his arm in the air, waving it around madly.


    Owen smiled. ¡°Yes, Bimpnottin?¡±


    ¡°Rizael and we have smelt a strange smell coming from a crack in the mountain, we have!¡±


    ¡°A crack in the mountain?¡±


    Bron stepped forwards. ¡°During mining, we discovered a large cavern. We didn¡¯t dare explore it further than a few feet in fear of the dangers. But there is indeed a herb-like smell coming from deeper within. Rizael and Bimpnottin believe it¡¯s a rare type of herb.¡±


    ¡°Rare, rare!¡± Bimpnottin jumped up and down while Rizael nodded along.


    Owen stroked his chin. ¡°A herb in a mountain? Strange. I¡¯ll check it out with Rehan and Pyris after I¡¯ve recovered. For now, Balthus, place two Warriors at the location. I don¡¯t want anything popping out without us knowing.¡±


    ¡°Your will is my command, my Lord,¡± Balthus said.


    ¡°For now,¡± Owen said, ¡°gather the orcs. I¡¯ll speak to them. You¡¯re all free to go.¡±


    Everyone bowed and left the room. Soon, it was only Owen, Pyris, and Rizael left. Rizael approached, his keen eyes trained on his scars. ¡°How are the wounds coming, my Lord?¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Owen flexed his forearm, feeling strength. ¡°What did you use? I thought I was gone.¡±


    ¡°You did in fact almost bite the pestle,¡± Rizael said, shivering at the memory. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen someone so wounded in all my healing years. Not that I can recall, anyway. Most of your ribs were broken. Managed to stick them back together, for the most part. Is it uncomfortable?¡±


    Owen shifted on the spot and felt slight pain. He nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to go through another round of healing then,¡± Rizael continued.


    ¡°And what were the cactus leaves all about?¡±


    ¡°Ah, that? Bimpnottin¡¯s idea. He altered some of the cacti with help of my healing abilities. They act like natural bandages that secrete a healing slime over time. I¡¯m still new to their properties, but they last a lot longer than regular bandages, and there¡¯s no need to change them much, if at all. The little man¡¯s a genius.¡±


    Owen smiled. ¡°That he is.¡± A sudden realisation popped into his head. ¡°What of the Orcen Lord¡¯s body? Is it still here?¡±


    Rizael nodded. ¡°It¡¯s in one of the mountain rooms, safe for your utilisation, my Lord.¡±


    Owen sighed a breath of relief. That was good. He was worried the body had gone missing. It was too great of a resource to let go.


    But utilisation? Could he make it sound any weirder?


    After speaking for an hour about what had happened over the course of two weeks, Owen left the castle.


    Standing in the middle of the land, the orcs were bound by their hands and feet by engineered cacti fibres. It was incredible to see not only how practical Bimpnottin¡¯s farming Skills were, but the versatility it held was amazing. He had hit the lottery with the gnome, that was for certain.


    Owen spoke up, asking if the orcs wanted to fight for him. If not, they were free to leave into the vast desert, or where they had come from. All of them stayed, even the coveted Sand Mage. Owen didn¡¯t expect it. He was sure that at least half of them would leave given the choice. Owen had even offered to give them the bells, so they could cross safely back to their home. Yet they all still decided to remain here.


    The Sand Mage orc gave him a nod. Was it his doing? Owen shook his head. He¡¯d find out soon enough. But for now, his main priority was to regain his strength, and plunder to his heart''s content.


    His first objective: the orcen Lord. His skills, Titles, Emblem¡­ are all his for the taking.

 Chapter 44 - Loot

    A few days had passed since Owen had awoken from his slumber. During that time he had turned Pyris¡¯s place of rest; the building in the middle of his territory, and had created a tunnel straight down. He was too weak to properly harvest the metals he had discovered on the way, but on the third day, he had found it. Water.


    Owen smiled and gave the rope he was tied to a sharp tug. He soon found himself being pulled upwards. It took 3 minutes to take him from the bottom of the Plunder-made well, to the surface. Pyris awaited him, rope in hand, lips curling into a smile.


    ¡°I found it,¡± Owen said excitedly. ¡°Now we just need to make a bucket and we have a steady supply of water. Proper water. Not cacti flavoured water.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± replied Pyris, taking his hand and pulling Owen out of the hole. ¡°Although Bimpnottin is already working on fusing his fruit with the water storing cacti. Soon, I bet he¡¯ll make a better product than pure water.¡±


    ¡°Flavoured water. Damn, I can hardly wait. And he¡¯s only a two-star, as well. I really hit the lottery with him, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Pyris nodded.


    Owen sat down, back pressed against the cool walls of the well that the builders had created before he had begun on the tunnel. Apparently, the buildings weren¡¯t as secured as Owen had hoped. Brook said it was because they lacked a fusing agent for the bricks. Right now, they were using sand fused with ground up rock. But that wasn¡¯t good enough. Honestly, Owen had no idea about building anything really. He knew that they needed mortar to bond bricks together, but how they would go about getting some, he didn¡¯t know.


    Brook told him that they needed to keep digging to claim limestone clay, or this world''s variant of it. It would require a lot of trial and error to get to that point, but Brook was hopeful that they¡¯d eventually get what they needed. That was good. If they were going to live here for the remainder, the buildings, and the walls, had to be impenetrable.


    Owen continued with a smile, ¡°I hit the lottery with all of you.¡± Owen didn¡¯t wait for a response¡ªalthough he did notice Pryris¡¯s smile grew wider¡ªand stood up with a slight groan. ¡°Now that that¡¯s done, it¡¯s time to grow a little stronger.¡±


    Finishing his words, Owen placed the orcen Lord''s body on the ground in front of him. Pyris still couldn¡¯t help but show a flash of surprise at Owen¡¯s ability. During the few days he had been with her, she had taken a keen interest in his Skills. She knew of his ability to Plunder his enemies, but she hadn¡¯t seen it in person before. And now it was time. She leaned forwards, but then shook herself out of her excitement.


    ¡°Are you sure about this, my Lord?¡± She asked, concern sketched on her perfect face. ¡°You still haven¡¯t recovered fully.¡±


    ¡°I should be fine. I¡¯ve rested long enough. And I think the rewards will alleviate my tiredness.¡±


    ¡°Rewards?¡±


    Owen smiled. Instead of replying with words, he showed her with his actions. He called upon Unlimited Plunder and the mysterious, all consuming energy spat forwards and devoured the corpse in an instant. One moment it was there, and the next, it was gone.


    Pyris¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She felt the strange energy that was clearly different from when Owen stored something within himself. It was¡­ old. One she hadn¡¯t experienced before.


    The moment Owen¡¯s skill activated, first he felt a devouring weakness and a sharp pain stab into his heart. He almost keeled over, but then a staggering change took place in his body. A fundamental difference that was more akin to a metamorphosis. Owen took in a sharp breath as he felt the newfound strength rampage throughout his muscles, and felt it reverberate across his bones.


    Your subordinate has defeated the Orcen Lord: Rek¡¯ka, the Scourge x1 (Level 47)


    You have plundered a Lord: Rek¡¯ka x1.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 5x Warrior, Fragment: Shard of Gor¡¯ul¡¯s Fury.


    | Stats gained: 15 Strength, 10 Vitality, 5 Dexterity.


    | Skills gained ¡ª Overpower: Use Vitality as a resource to greatly increase the power of your next strike.


    | Lord Emblem¡ª


    I can even plunder a Lord¡¯s Emblem?! Owen thought in shock. Lord Emblem¡¯s were no joke. His own was a testament to that. Every Lord, because of it, had to be taken seriously in battle. Each one provided such a large benefit, that it changed their way of strategy completely. Some may receive a Emblem that allowed them to easily raise an army of archers, and would give large bonuses to those troops. Others may be like Rek¡¯ka¡¯s Emblem, focusing on personal power, enabling them to lead them from the front in a raw display of frightening might.


    Owen quickly continued the notification.


    Lord Emblem: Overwhelming Might.


    | Description: Increases Strength by 25 points. Increases Strength by 15%. Increases Strength of melee units by 20%.


    Jaw practically hanging to the floor, Owen stood rooted to the spot. He glanced at Pyris, but she didn¡¯t seem to be any different; a slight shock in her eyes, but that was it. So the added strength for my troops doesn¡¯t include my Spectre¡¯s. Got it.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    He moved onto Overpower. It was an awesome ability, using not Mana, but Vitality, as a resource. He learned it right away. It gave him a killing move, and if he combined that with another sword centric one¡­ Owen smiled at the thought.


    ¡°My, lord,¡± she said, clearly surprised.


    ¡°Mm?¡±


    Only then did Owen notice what had happened. His muscles had increased in size so much that he had ripped open his slim fitted shirt. He now had pecks that would put a human olympic bodybuilder to shame. Not only that, but his sight-line had raised. Pyris was still taller than him, but she was no longer towering over him. If he had to guess, then he had to be at least 5 foot 10 inches now, or around that point.


    Owen found himself just flexing on the spot for a while, and only when he noticed Pyris¡¯s strange expression, stopped himself. Heat flushed across his cheeks as he cleared his throat.


    ¡°It¡¯s a big change.¡±


    ¡°I can see that,¡± Pyris said, sizing him up. ¡°What is that ability of yours? It feels old. Prehistoric. I¡¯ve never felt anything like it before.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called Unlimited Plunder,¡± he replied with a proud smile. ¡°I can devour a corpse of a fallen enemy and gain a portion of its Stats, Titles; pretty much everything, really.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¨C¡±


    Owen interrupted her, ¡°Strong? I know. And as for my current appearance? I just acquired his Lord Emblem.¡±


    ¡°Incredible.¡±


    ¡°It is, but I also have a few drawbacks. I only have the talent of a novice, which means I only gain one stat per Level. Worse yet, is that the more I Level, the stats I gain from Plundering lowers. At some point in the near future, I¡¯ll have to defeat powerful monsters just to gain any stats.¡±


    ¡°That is a problem,¡± she stroked her chin, her ears twitched. ¡°That just means we need to keep hunting stronger prey and become more powerful.¡±


    He smiled. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. We just need to keep fighting.¡±


    With the well done, Pyris returned to the walls to make sure everything was okay. As the strongest amongst his forces, Pyris had to put in a lot of work now that more dangerous monsters were emerging by the day. Soon, Owen surmised, the scarlet crabs would be the least of their worries.


    Other than that, the Fragment he had received: Gor¡¯ul¡¯s Fury, was a hulking battleaxe with some bloodthirsty attributes. It was a perfect gift for Lome.


    Then there twas the rest of the Devil Wyrm¡¯s skeleton he had yet to plunder. The only thing stopping him was a deep weakness that took hold of his heart. He didn¡¯t dare risk plundering that, not to mention the tiredness from just Plundering the orcen Lord.


    Owen wandered over to the mountain and dwelled in his thoughts.


    Over the course of the few days he had spent with Pyris, he had noticed a few things about her. A lot of the time, she would be stuck in her own little world. She¡¯d bite her lip, clench her fists, grind her teeth as revenge seemed to be on her mind at all times. Because of that, she rarely smiled or showed much excitement during the day. Sometimes, Owen would spot a hint of aggression hidden behind her beautiful eyes.


    Beautiful, Owen thought, smiling to himself wryly. He had noticed that it was difficult to keep his eyes off of her, and it was strange. During his 24 years of life, he had made several connections with women, and had seen plenty of celebrities, too. Yet none of them had given him the feeling he had now. Owen first thought it was because of the unity they both held as a Spectre and Master. But maybe it was more simple than that. Maybe he was just attracted to her?


    Owen shook his head, his cheeks turning hot as he stopped just below the mountain.


    With her still in his thoughts, he glanced once again at her Stat page like he had done many times before. And it was incredible.


    Name: Pyris Starbreaker (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)


    | Race: Velorin


    | Level: 14


    | Class: Warrior


    Attributes:


    | Strength: 43


    | Vitality: 51


    | Dexterity: 48


    | Magic: 54


    | Mana: 50


    Skills


    | Nova Fist: Channel star energy into your fists, causing your punches to explode on impact, dealing burst damage and leaving a burning trail of stardust that causes lingering damage over time.


    | Starbound Resilience: Passively absorb cosmic energy, hardening your body to reduce incoming physical damage, increasing your durability and resilience in battle.


    | Meteor Step: Propel yourself forward with star-powered dashes, allowing rapid movement and quick repositioning. Leave behind a trail of stardust that briefly disorients enemies.


    ¡°Monster,¡± Owen mumbled under his breath. During the time he had been rendered into a deep coma, she had been busy growing stronger. And then there were her Skills; all of them revolved around breaking stars. How awesome was that?!


    Thanks to her talent, and unique skills, perhaps only the top lineages could combat against her.


    Finally able to move his thoughts away from Pyris, he hadn¡¯t forgotten the reward that she had gotten him for killing Rek¡¯ka. Owen ripped the ticket holding the dairy cow, and saw the wheel spin frantically. Colours of all kinds, hundreds of them, sparkled and illuminated the surrounding area. And then it landed, and Owen smiled. It was a 4-Star dairy cow.


    Spawning in front of him, was a hulking beast that could only be described as a mix between a ginger Scottish hairy cow, and black shiny oxen, only it had enormous, spiralling horns. Rightfully so, it also had protruding udders at the bottom. The monster was at least 9 feet tall and 10 feet in length. It moo¡¯d gently, its tongue lashing out at its eyes to give them moisture. With its large, orange beady eyes, the massive cow looked so cute.


    Owen approached it, offering it his hand. The cow was apprehensive at first, but quickly warmed up. With its long and thick tongue, the cow licked the back of Owen¡¯s hand. Chuckling, Owen then extended his hand and stroked the beast¡¯s face. In response, it closed its eyes, and moo¡¯d in content.


    ¡°There, there,¡± Owen said, stroking the coarse fur of the dairy cow. ¡°We should think of a name for you. Since I¡¯m Scottish, it¡¯s only fitting that I call you Coo, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    You have granted the Dairy Cow a name. Affection grows.


    Smiling in response, Coo seemed to match his emotions perfectly as she started jumping up and down on the spot, twirling a few times.


    Owen laughed and turned around. He spotted Pyris standing tall on the walls. He waved over at her and pointed at the dancing Coo. Owen jumped with her, matching Coo¡¯s silliness. Owen thought he saw Pyris smile, but she was too far away to see properly.


    ¡°Aright,¡± Owen said. ¡°Let¡¯s calm down, Coo. We have to quickly think about what you¡¯re going to eat. Let¡¯s check in on Bimpnottin, shall we?¡±


    As if able to understand him, Coo nodded enthusiastically.

 Chapter 45 - Coo

    Owen stood cross-armed standing in front of Bimpnottin, who was currently showing him all the alterations he was making with different cacti.


    ¡°This one¡ª¡± He said, running up to a cactus that was different from the rest, slapping its smooth appearance. ¡°We¡¯ve altered it a little! See how there¡¯s no more spines? No more pricks. But of course, Bimpnottin doesn¡¯t do half measures¡ª¡± He took out a small pair of shears from a leather pouch on his belt, then snipped a small corner of the cacti off. Inside, it was not just incredibly dry, but dense too, as the corner thudded on the rock floor below.


    ¡°We have created a wood substitute! By whispering to the inner workings of the cactus, we have convinced it to listen! This was a stubborn one. Not easy, I tell you. Bimpnottin needs some rest after this one. No,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡±We need to keep going.¡±


    Owen noticed that. He was perspiring profusely and dark circles had etched themselves beneath his reddened eyes. Cheeks sunken, Owen frowned. Sighing, he placed his hand on Bimpnottin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You need to rest, Bimpnottin. I need you. We all do. No good will come out of exhausting yourself to within an inch of your life.¡±


    ¡°Bah,¡± he spat. ¡°We can rest when we¡¯re dead.¡±


    It was then that Coo moo¡¯d and nudged Owen in the back with its battering ram-like head. Owen stepped to the side. Coo lumbered forward, bent its thick neck down, and chomped into the wood evolved cacti. Time froze. Owen tilted his head. Bimpnottin¡¯s eyes widened. Time resumed and Owen latched onto Coo¡¯s tail and yanked the mighty beast backwards. Coo moo¡¯d in resistance, but Owen was far too strong.


    Bimpnottin rushed forward in gnomish fury and slammed a fist on Coo¡¯s head. It did nothing. ¡°You blooming buffoon! You know how hard we worked on that, you great lumbering idiot! That¡¯s it, we¡¯re having meat for dinner!¡±


    Coo frowned, still chomping on the hardened cacti. Owen took responsibility as he stepped in front of Coo and looked into her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s bad. I don¡¯t know if you can understand me, but this isn¡¯t food, okay? At least not yet. Do we have an agreement, Coo?¡±


    The cow just continued to chew. Was she acting dumb? But when Owen stood up to his full height and changed his gaze, Coo gulped down whatever it had in its mouth as she nodded.


    ¡°Good,¡± Owen said, turning to meet Bimpnottin¡¯s smouldering gaze. Owen smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry Bimpnottin. I¡­ I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d do that. Coo must be hungry, but that¡¯s not an excuse to ruin your hard work.¡±


    ¡°Well¨C¡±


    ¡°What can I do to help?¡±


    Bimpnottin glared at Coo, stomped his foot, then thrust his finger at the other cacti. ¡°We needs another room created to continue the expansion of wood-cacti.¡± Bimpnottin crouched down to inspect where Coo had bitten off more than half of the bald cactus. ¡°Not all is lost, at least. Still have the root that I can use.¡±


    Owen readied himself, and said, ¡°Alright, so this may be a moment too soon to say this, but I was thinking you can help us with feeding Coo.¡±


    ¡°It?¡± Bimpnottin snarled at the cow. As if trying to anger him further, Coo chomped on air. Bimpnottin was about to storm forwards when Owen added.


    ¡°She. But yes. Coo here is a dairy cow. We can get milk. We can even turn that milk into cheese and other things. As a 4-Star, she¡¯ll be vital in providing an alternate source of protein and calcium. But as you¡¯re well aware, we are in a desert and food isn¡¯t easy to come by for a grazer.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t she eat meat?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve not tried?¡±


    Owen paused and with a thought, took out a nice piece of Sand Hound meat, and offered it to Coo. She seemed offended as she whipped her head to the side.


    ¡°Well,¡± Owen said with a wry smile. ¡°Seems we know now.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t like this,¡± Bimpnottin said, grinding his teeth. ¡°It won¡¯t even be thankful.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Bimpnottin,¡± Owen said, placing his hand on the gnome''s shoulder. ¡°If you can figure out something to make a large field of cacti fast, with a high yield rich in nutrients, it would help me out a whole lot.¡±


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Ye want me to work miracles now?¡±


    Owen smiled kindly in response, not backing down. After 20 seconds or so, Bimpnottin sighed. ¡°Bah, alright, we¡¯ll get it done. Then make that two rooms I need. Make the grazing field much bigger than ye think you¡¯ll need. That one will eat through a field in a day no problem.¡± Bimpnottin stuck his finger at Owen. ¡°And I want first hands on the cheese.¡±


    Owen chuckled. ¡°Thanks, Bimpnottin. I knew I could rely on you.¡± Owen stepped forward and hugged the gnome tight. Wriggling free, Bimpnottin turned up his nose in response to the physical affection.


    ¡°Bah, now let me be,¡± he said, his anger finally subsiding.


    Crunch. They both turned to Coo as she chomped on air, staring directly at Bimpnottin. She chomped again, louder this time.


    ¡°Why you!¡± Bimpnottin dashed forwards, fists flurrying.


    ***


    Owen had just finished another huge room with massive supports holding it all up thanks to Bron¡¯s teachings from before.


    Recalling the scenes at Bimpnottin¡¯s farm, Owen shook his head. He had to sternly reprimand Coo¡ªher actions had real consequences, and he knew how hard Bimpnottin had worked. Thankfully, after a few firm words, Coo understood. After all, the alternative was a proper punishment: no food for a full day. For the hungry ghost of a dairy cow, that was as severe as it got.


    By the time Owen finished with the two rooms and returned to check on Bimpnottin, he found the gnome engrossed in his craft, whispering softly to the budding cacti. Bimpnottin moved methodically from one allotment to the next, his words coaxing life from the sand. He sprinkled ash, likely from burned cactus, onto the sand, then added a careful amount of water drawn from the water-storing cacti. With these simple, precise actions, the cycle of life flourished, all centred around the resilient cactus. As he worked, mana flowed vibrantly around him, a dance of energy and life. It was truly a sight to behold.


    The moment he was around eighty percent of the way done preparing the cacti allotments, a welcome notification popped up in Owen¡¯s vision. Bimpnottin welcomed the same message, his tired visage brightening back up to his usual self.


    Farmer (Bimpnottin) is ready for Class evolution.


    Three choices arrived, but by the time the second one came in, Bimpnottin had already decided. Owen was about to yell out in two parts surprise and anger, but he knew that it wasn¡¯t his choice to make. He was the Lord, but did he really want to force people onto paths that they may not want for themselves? It was a thin line to walk across between squeezing out the potential of those close to him, and forcing them on a road not of their choosing.


    Despite those worries; they were unfounded. Bimpnottin had picked the best one that suited him, and his land, the most.


    Of course, Owen thought to himself with a smile. Who was he to decide? Bimpnottin was a professional; a gnome who had grown up farming from childhood to adulthood. He knew what was needed; understood what was the best choice for their current situation.


    I trust all of you.


    Class ¡ª Verdant Whisperer: is a mystical farmer who communes with the very essence of nature. Through gentle whispers and secretive chants, they can coax the growth of plants and crops, accelerating their development and enhancing their vitality. This evolution allows the farmer to deeply connect with the natural world, ensuring bountiful harvests and vibrant ecosystems.


    Skills:


    Nature''s Embrace: Surround yourself with a soothing aura that enhances the growth rate of plants within a certain radius. The longer you remain in one area, the more potent the effect becomes, nurturing crops and accelerating their development.


    Whispering Grove: Amplify your connection with plants, allowing you to guide their growth with unparalleled precision. Your whispers not only invigorate crops and maximise their yield but also fortify them against harsh conditions. With deep focus, you can alter their very DNA, transforming their properties to create entirely new and resilient plant species.


    Verdant Cycle: Convert organic material into potent fertiliser instantly. The more diverse the material, the more effective the fertiliser, boosting crop growth and quality.


    ¡°Incredible.¡±


    Both Bimpnottin and Owen declared at the same time. Bimpnottin wasted not a single second. Rekindled with vigour thanks to the added Stat points the evolved Class had brought with it, the gnome darted around the field, cacti blooming by the second. What took days, took minutes. But it appeared to take a toll on the little farmer.


    Before, he ran around all day with no problems. Now, he lasted barely 30 minutes before he was sitting down, back rested against the cool of the mountain. And finally, the hard working gnome fell into a deep slumber, his steady breathing filling the cactus allotment, his body providing a sweet aura that practically sang to the nearby cactus as they appeared to pull closer to the gnome.


    Owen smiled and took out a pelt from his storage. He placed it behind Bimpnottin¡¯s head in place of a pillow.


    The next day, Owen ventured into the Miners¡¯ domain, where the rhythmic plinking of metal against stone echoed through the cavern, accompanied by the heavy, laboured breaths of a powerful figure: Bron. Owen¡¯s primary goal for the day was to assist Bron in acquiring enough metal to complete the System''s quest and summon the Blacksmith. With that metal, they could forge armour, weapons, and even establish a minecart system. It was a crucial step in building his kingdom, one that couldn¡¯t be delayed.


    As Owen approached, he noticed steam rising from Bron¡¯s impressive physique, fresh wounds splitting open from the battle with the orcs. From the side, Owen could see the fire burning in the lead Miner¡¯s eyes, a fury that was all-consuming.


    Bron was submerged in anger. If left unchecked, he''d drown in it.

 Chaoter 46 - Blacksmith

    ¡°Bron,¡± Owen approached and said over the sounds of mining. ¡°How are we getting on?¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± he replied, hefting his pickaxe over his head, and swinging it as hard as he could against the wall. Rock split, sweat by the beads splashed off of his skin. ¡°Should be done mining the iron in a couple weeks time. Would be quicker, but¨C¡± Bron smashed the wall again, refusing to continue his words.


    But he didn¡¯t have to say them as Owen already knew. ¨Cbut I¡¯m all alone.


    Owen thought for a moment, listening to Bron transmit his rage into the rock in front of him. Then, like a light bulb going off in his mind, Owen picked up a nearby pickaxe which belonged to one of the Miners named Rick, and stepped beside Bron.


    He gave Owen a questioning look.


    ¡°I know I can use my Skill,¡± said Owen, resting the pickaxe against his shoulders. ¡°But where¡¯s the fun in that? How about a little friendly competition? My raw strength against your knowledge. What do you think?¡±


    Bron suddenly laughed and wiped the sweat from his face. ¡°You seem confident, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Well, if it was before, then I¡¯m not so sure. But now?¡± Owen flashed a smile and took off his shirt, revealing an iron body made of bundled muscle akin to grouped steel-wire. Bron looked at him in shock. Not long ago, Owen was a scrawny, below average young man. Now he had the muscles a professional soldier could only dream of.


    ¡°The power of a Lord truly is remarkable,¡± Bron said. ¡°You¡¯re on. Don¡¯t believe that because you¡¯re a Lord that I¡¯ll go easy on you.¡±


    Owen wielded his pickaxe at the ready and grinned. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.¡±


    ¡°What are the rules?¡±


    ¡°First to 100 tonnes of Sandsteel wins?¡±


    ¡°Aye, I like the sound of that.¡±


    ¡°Okay, on Go. 3, 2, 1¡ªgo!¡±


    The competition erupted in full force. Owen hefted his pickaxe and swung it at the wall with all of his strength and instantly realised that was a mistake. The wall exploded as a result, along with it, the pickaxe he relied on. The Sandsteel behind it was also ruined beyond reparation.


    Bron laughed and struck the wall accurately, rapidly chipping away at the will as if he was a human excavator. It was subtle, but each swing of his pick was calculated, each swing aimed at a fault in the wall that was almost impossible to see from the naked eye. As a result, Bron stripped away the ore from the wall without damaging anything. Everything fell out of place; like he was pulling out the correct blocks from a mountain sized jenga. Bron¡¯s eyes were no longer glazed over in fury, but one born out of excitement. Owen had ignited his competitive spirit, and he wasn¡¯t one to lose.


    Owen recalculated. If this was to go on, he¡¯d lose on the first day. Pulling back his new-found strength, Owen started chipping away at the wall. But if before he had used too much strength, now he was using too little. He realised now just how out of sync his body and power were.


    It took him half of the day to grow accustomed to the power he had gained, and by the end of the day, he had mostly gotten used to his body completely. It was like going from a new-born bambi, struggling to walk on its own legs, to a full sized stag.


    Yet as he gazed into the darkness where Bron had disappeared into, it was clear as the desert day that Owen was to lose this battle. Sighing with a smile, Owen headed back. In truth, he didn¡¯t really want to win. He just wanted to help Bron forget about the grief for a while.


    If Owen understood anything, it was that clinging to the past was the quickest path to one''s own undoing.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Owen was so engrossed in refining his own muscles and plinking away at rock and ore, that 4 days had passed by in the blink of an eye. During that time, he¡¯d only spend his time mining. Even his lunch breaks consisted of grabbing only a fruit, then eating raw meat in his storage to get back to striking rock. If he wasn¡¯t doing that, he was talking to Pyris and checking up on everyone else for a few minutes a day.


    As a result, Owen¡¯s body had undergone a sizable change. His bulging muscles that although appeared awe-inspiring, were quite unwieldy. Because of the intense exercise and the fine utilisation of his muscles, instead of growing, ended up shrinking. Now they suited his frame a lot more. Instead of an exaggerated sculpture of a god, he was now more in tune with the Greek statues carved in history. His body was very slowly catching up to his supernatural reflexes. It still had a long way to go, but it was better than it was.


    During that time, Bron had returned back to his usual self. He was a bit more quiet than before, which often meant complete silence, but a spark of life had returned. And as a result of the maddened competition, Owen had completed his quest much faster than he had thought it would take.


    Standing in the main mining room which Owen had learned was named the ¡®stope¡¯, Owen held his hands behind his back as he took in the result of their hard work. Dusty metal lay by the piles against the back wall, of which Owen had to extend considerably using the power of Unlimited Plunder.


    And it wasn¡¯t just the ore they received, either. After mining so much Sandsteel, they had also passively earned 3 more Mining Summoning Tickets. Owen had ripped them the moment he got them and put them to work straight away. Owen placed them on his team as he needed all the help he could get in an attempt to beat Bron.


    Now it was time to reap the rewards of their hard work. Bron arrived just in time, a proud and victorious smile adorning his exhausted face. Owen chuckled and turned his attention to the new System notification.


    Quest Complete: Harvest 250 tonnes of Sandsteel.


    | Reward gained: 1 Summoning Ticket: Blacksmith.


    Seeing the golden ticket arrive in Owen¡¯s hand, Bron said, ¡°So this is the reward for our competition? Of which I won, by the way.¡±


    Owen laughed. ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°So, what do I get?¡±


    Owen looked at the lead Miner and tilted his head with a playful smile. ¡°Get? Did we agree on a reward?¡±


    ¡°You¨C¡±


    Owen laughed and grasped Bron¡¯s sweaty shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m joking. What do you want? If it¡¯s something I can get my hands on, I¡¯ll get it done.¡±


    Bron looked at the ticket for a second longer. ¡°How about you get the new blacksmith to make me a new pickaxe?¡±


    Owen nodded. ¡°No matter how precious the next metal is we find, it will go to getting you a new pickaxe.¡±


    ¡°Now that sounds like a deal.¡± Bron finally collapsed on a stack of Sandsteel.


    The other Miners followed suit, all of them sitting down. Pod, one of the Miners, said, ¡°Then I want Leader Bron¡¯s old pickaxe.¡±


    Hadrom, another Miner spoke up while frowning, ¡°Ey, that¡¯s not fair. I was going to ask that.¡±


    ¡°Hadrom, if there¡¯s something my other brothers and sisters would say if they won the race, it¡¯d be ¡®if you¡¯re not fast, you¡¯re last.¡¯¡±


    At Pod¡¯s words, everyone erupted in laughter. After a few seconds of recovery, Owen tossed everyone a fresh fruit and water cactus, and then ripped the ticket.


    Flashes of light erupted through the large mine until they rested on a 3-Star Emberkin Blacksmith named Cindrelle.


    She was a demonic woman that shimmered with obsidian skin, glowing like embers. Her fiery hair flickered between crimson and gold, while a smouldering heart pulsed visibly in her chest, casting a warm glow. Molten amber eyes and flame-tipped horns completed her fierce, demonic presence. She wore a slender metal armour that covered most of her body, apart from her heart that was proudly put on display. Owen couldn¡¯t help but stare at her in shock.


    Realising his mistake, he shook his head and offered his hand in greeting. ¡°Welcome, Cindrelle, to my home. It¡¯s not much, well, at least not yet. Later, please find Balthus. He¡¯ll fill you in on the situation. It saves me having to explain everything in detail all the time.¡± He laughed awkwardly.


    Cindrelle brought her hand, which was lined with fiery veins, forwards. She was about to grasp Owen¡¯s hand when suddenly she pulled back. She lowered her hand and balled it into a fist.


    ¡°I can¡¯t, my Lord. My blood runs hot.¡±


    Owen paused for a moment before he reached out his hand and gently placed it into his own. She panicked and instinctively pulled back, but how could she stop a Lord with an Emblem in overwhelming strength?


    With a smile, Owen shook her hand for longer than usual and felt the heat sizzle his hand. Because of his high Vitality, he resisted, but it was still extremely hot. Not to mention painful. But he ignored that, and didn¡¯t let an ounce of pain show on his face. After a long handshake, he finally let her hand go. She stared at him in shock and confusion. Evidently, she wasn¡¯t used to physical touch.


    ¡°Not hot enough to harm me, it seems,¡± he said with a kind smile. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to have you here, Cindrelle.¡±

 Chapter 47 - Forge

    Cindrelle kept on looking from her hand, to Owen. Nibbling her lower lip, she finally came to her senses. She bowed her head, which given the awkwardness of it, wasn¡¯t one born of experience.


    She raised her head, fidgeting her foot against the loose sand on the floor. ¡°I¡­ uh, I¡¯m not used to this formality thing, I don¡¯t think.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, I¡¯m not too familiar with the Lord thing, either.¡± Owen chuckled, then moved his hand to Bron. ¡°This here is Bron, the lead Miner.¡±


    Cindrelle nodded and reached her hand forward in greeting. It was Bron¡¯s turn to turn it down with a kind smile.


    ¡°Sorry lass, I¡¯m afraid my skin isn¡¯t as tough as our Lord.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± she said in surprise and lowered her hand awkwardly. ¡°Well, it¡¯s good to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Likewise,¡± Bron said. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen one of your kind before. It¡¯s quite, well, how should I say this¡ªinfernal? I hope I''m not being rude.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. If you don¡¯t question things you don¡¯t know, how are you meant to learn? My kind are elementals born in the depths of the hottest volcanoes. To us, there are 5 tiers of them. The first is called Magma Cradle. Emberkin born here has the weakest of bloodlines. Tier 2 is named Cinder Hollow. This is the tier I was born into. After that, is Inferno Ridge, Pyre Peak, and then finally, Eternal Furnace. Only those who have the most noble of bloodlines are born there. I am only of lowly blood.¡±


    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Owen said in an attempt to cheer her up. ¡°Even being a Tier 2 Emberkin is amazing. Your heart is so cool.¡±


    Cindrelle perked up at his words and looked at her own heart. It was beating red under her grey flesh. ¡°Do you really think so?¡±


    Owen nodded enthusiastically. ¡°It really is. I can hear it from here.¡±


    Cindrelle smiled. ¡°Us Emberkins call our hearts Internal Engines. It hosts the power of our fire. Because of that, we are famed Blacksmiths known around the world of¡ª¡± she paused, frowning. ¡°I can¡¯t recall the name of my homeworld.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± Owen said, looking at Bron and the other Miners. ¡°We are all in the same boat, so to speak. You were going to say something else?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± turning her gaze from the Miners, to Owen, she continued, ¡°We are known for our fire enchantments. Every metal we forge is born with a hidden fire element. If the user is capable of magic, they can awaken the blaze born within.¡±


    ¡°Amazing,¡± Bron exclaimed.


    Cindrelle nodded along, as if agreeing. She was clearly proud of her bloodline.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Owen said, realising the meaning behind her words. ¡°Anything?¡±


    ¡°Anything.¡±


    ¡°So what about something like mine-carts, or buckets?¡±


    ¡°Flaming carts and blazing buckets. Only if the element is awakened. If not, then there is little difference between my smithing, and another. Well, if we ignore the difference in quality, that is.¡±


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s so cool. But also dangerous. What¡¯s the safety precaution with that? If a lot of our weapons and armour are enchanted with the element of fire, then what¡¯s stopping other mages from activating them on their own?¡±


    Cindrelle appeared offended. ¡°My enhancement isn¡¯t so primitive and barbaric. Only with my connection can my fire awaken. The stronger I become, the more powerful the flame. Although the metal I forge, because of the latent fire element, is warmer to the touch.¡±


    ¡°Ey, that¡¯s pretty fascinating,¡± Pod said, barely able to tear his eyes from Cindrelle¡¯s sleek armor. ¡°Do Emberkin have boyfriends¨C¡±


    Bron didn¡¯t let him finish. He raised his fist and thumped Pod¡¯s head with a warning growl. ¡°Show some respect, idiot.¡±


    ¡°Bleeming hells, chief!¡± Pod rubbed his skull, wincing. ¡°I was just curious.¡±


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    ¡°Keep it that way. Curiosity can stay in your head.¡±


    Owen shook his head, suppressing a grin. He turned his attention back to Cindrelle. ¡°As you can see, we¡¯ve started stockpiling a metal called Sandsteel.¡±


    ¡°What are its properties?¡± Cindrelle asked, strolling over to the pile. She crouched down and picked up a chunk of ore.


    ¡°Honestly? No idea. I was hoping you could tell us.¡±


    She studied the ore, turning it over in her hands. She knocked it against the ground, tasted it, then tossed it in the air and caught it with ease. After a moment, she nodded. ¡°Durable, tough. Strong earthen element. It¡¯s solid for general use, but for war? It lacks the flexibility to absorb impact or adapt under pressure. What are you planning to make?¡±


    ¡°Spears and shields, mostly. Maybe some basic tools¡ªbuckets, nails, stuff like that.¡±


    Cindrelle tapped her chin thoughtfully. ¡°How strong are your Warriors?¡±


    Owen hesitated. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the spear tips breaking, they¡¯re not that powerful yet.¡±


    ¡°Then this will do, for now. If you find an enhancement ore, I can strengthen it. Or better yet, just find better ore.¡±


    ¡°Right, better ore.¡± Owen nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll get started as soon as we can. Just tell me what you need.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll need a room big enough to store metal. And I don¡¯t want to work out here. I prefer privacy.¡±


    ¡°Privacy, got it. Follow me.¡±


    Owen led her to the back wall, where he¡¯d marked out the future smithy. He glanced at Cindrelle with a grin, then Plundered the wall in front of him. In an instant, the stone vanished, as though it had never been there.


    Cindrelle¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re a mage?¡±


    Owen chuckled. ¡°Not quite. It¡¯s my Lord Emblem. Lets me mine and store areas like this.¡±


    ¡°Incredible.¡±


    ¡°If only you knew,¡± Owen muttered as he continued to carve out the room. The Miners followed, securing the ceiling as they went.


    When he was done, he turned to Cindrelle, flashing a proud smile. ¡°Alright, where should we put the forge? I can get the Builders down here, but I¡¯m not familiar with the setup.¡±


    ¡°A forge?¡± Cindrelle echoed, rolling her eyes as she brushed past Owen, her arm grazing his. He could feel the heat radiating from her. Then, her heart seemed to ignite, and the room grew warmer.


    Without a word, flames erupted from her hands, enveloping the ore she held. Within moments, the impurities melted away, leaving only a small ball of pure metal. The blaze in her heart dimmed as she turned, holding out the refined ore.


    Owen, Bron, and the Miners stared, speechless.


    Cindrelle smiled, a glint of pride in her eyes. ¡°I am the forge.¡±


    After refining a few more pieces of ore, they all returned to the surface where Balthus was awaiting Owen. Thanks to his demonic Administrator, he was able to inform Cindrelle all about the happenings on the land. Mainly the part about the wave, which incidentally, arrived a few moments later as Owen had spent a lot of time down in the mine.


    Cindrelle panicked, but Owen safely escorted her back into the mountain where they felt the gargantuan wave crash against the mountain. The entire thing quaked. Cindrelle held onto Owen for support. And then the darkness arrived. She tried to awaken her forging fire, but Owen quickly comforted her enough to stop her actions. No amount of fire could battle the devouring darkness, although as hopeful as Owen was that she¡¯d be able to fight against it.


    All of the Builders and most of the Warriors, including Pyris, were within the castle walls. The rest of the people were inside the mountain.


    They talked for a while, speaking of what they had gotten up to today. Many of them had learned to tease Owen. Although that was mostly because of Rehan. Cindrelle was shocked at how he interacted with each-other. Ever since Owen had displayed his powers, she was certain he was some kind of secret Class mage, no matter how many times he said otherwise. But because of that, her respect had grown for him considerably, beyond the inherent reverence Units always showed their Lords.


    She leaned in, and asked, ¡°my Lord, they mock you.¡±


    Owen laughed. ¡°They¡¯re not mocking me, Cindrelle. It¡¯s called ¡®banter¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Banter?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a playful and friendly exchange of words.¡±


    ¡°Friends?¡±


    Owen nudged Cindrelle¡¯s arm. ¡°I may be your Lord, but I¡¯m also your friend. That¡¯s how I want to lead. Everyone is family. We protect each other, care for each other, and fight for one another. That¡¯s how we¡¯ll survive.¡±


    ¡°Friends,¡± Cindrelle muttered under her breath. If it wasn¡¯t for Owen¡¯s insane growth, he¡¯d never have been able to hear it.


    Owen lowered his voice. ¡°Yes, friends.¡±


    The next day was mostly spent down in the forge, watching Cindrelle work. She used her heart''s forge fire to smelt the ore, then used the same fire to then form it to whatever she desired; which just so happened to be spear tips. The spear shafts on the other hand were crafted out of the Devil Wyrm''s bones, which when he showed them to her, she gawked at them as if they were some heavensent precious material. Well, she wasn¡¯t wrong. If he sold them on the marketplace, he¡¯d earn a fortune. But he needed good weapons, not credits. The same bones were used to make large rounded shields, and then Cindrelle pinned a layer of Sandsteel over them for added protection and heft.


    With that done, the weaponry and defence of his Cursed Land spartans were ready to be sent into the harsh, cruel world.


    Done with the day¡¯s hot and smoky tasks, Owen turned his attention to something a bit lighter¡ªor so he hoped. It was time to check in on Bimpnottin and Coo. For some reason, he had a feeling things weren¡¯t going to go well.


    Oh how right he was.

 Chapter 48 - A Cow and a Gnome

    ¡°Filthy animal, don¡¯t stand there!¡±


    Owen heard Bimpnottin shouting from all the way down the hall. Now just what was that damned cow doing now? Rounding the corner, Owen spotted the dairy animal glowering down at the gnome, one hoove set on the soil Bimpnottin was tending to.


    ¡°Coo,¡± Owen said in warning, stepping forward. Hearing the dominant voice, Coo retreated. Standing still as if he hadn¡¯t did whatever he was doing. His large beady eyes looked everywhere but where Owen stood; as if Coo was inspected the rock ceilings and walls.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Bimpnottin said, running up to him. ¡°He was standing on my soil!¡±


    ¡°I saw that.¡± Owen sighed, and fully turned to address the dairy cow. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you understand what I¡¯m saying, but stop tormenting Bimpnottin, or else your meat will taste good on the smoker.¡± Coo shrunk back at the threat. He turned back to the gardener. ¡°Actually, Coo is why I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Because of that thing?¡± Bimpnottin glared at the cow from behind Owen.


    ¡°Yes. She is a dairy cow. I thought it was about time to get some use of her. For all she eats, it better be worth it.¡±


    ¡°Cheese,¡± said Bimpnottin, licking his lips as he looked at the cow in a new light.


    ¡°Yes, cheese.¡± Owen smiled as Coo backed away further. If the wall wasn¡¯t there, she¡¯d have kept on retreating until she had disappeared. But there was nowhere to run. ¡°But also whipped cream, yoghurt, butter. It will transform our food supply a lot. So, as much as you don¡¯t like it, I need your help to milk Coo.¡±


    Bimpnottin nodded and rubbed his hands together. ¡°We can help. We remember mumma milking the local cow. Think we remember how to do it.¡±


    ¡°Good, because I have no idea,¡± Owen said, shaking his head. ¡°But how hard can it be?¡±


    It turned out to be very difficult.


    With Coo in her very own room, which Owen made certain to make it expansive, Coo thrust her leg as Bimpnottin tried his best to milk the cow.


    ¡°Blimey,¡± Bimpnottin spat, jumping out of the danger zone. ¡°It almost took my head off.¡±


    Owen rushed to the front and did his best to calm down Coo. But it was futile. She wasn¡¯t a bull, but there was little difference when she was pissed off. Steam practically ejected out of her nostrils.


    Thoughts spinning, his mind moved to what could possibly calm down the raging cow. Then he remembered why she was so obsessed with tormenting the gnomish gardener. It was all because of his plants; the food.


    ¡°I have an idea to calm her down,¡± Owen said, narrowly avoiding his fingertips from being chomped off. It seemed milking Coo was a sensitive subject. So he had to reward her first. An advance payment. ¡°Wait here.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you can¡¯t leave me with it¡ª¡±


    Despite Bimpnottin¡¯s protests, Owen had already vanished in the passageways of the mountain. A few minutes later he returned with a handful of different plants and fruit fresh from Bimpnottin¡¯s garden. One of them in particular was one of Bimpnottin¡¯s prized possessions; a new strain of fruit. Outwardly, it looked eerily similar to a watermelon. Seeing it, Bimpnottin¡¯s expression fell.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he said, ignoring the cow that had turned, licking her lips seeing the fruit.


    ¡°I know you¡¯ve worked hard on it,¡± Owen explained. ¡°But getting Coo¡¯s milk would be a huge accomplishment. Just think of the cheese.¡±


    ¡°Cheese¡­¡± Bimpnottin struggled while he fidgeted on the spot. ¡°Well, we suppose it won¡¯t be too difficult to raise it again.¡± He looked up at Owen with narrowed eyes. ¡°Did you leave the root?¡±


    ¡°I left the root.¡±


    BImpnottin sighed in relief. ¡°Okay good.¡±


    ¡°So, can I feed it to her?¡±


    Bimpnottin simply nodded, too pained to affirm with his words. Or perhaps he was trying to stop himself from drooling as he thought about the potential of cheese.


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    Carefully approaching the danger zone of Coo¡¯s back legs, Owen rounded the animal and appeared at the front. ¡°Okay, so we¡¯ll give you a gift in return for allowing us to milk you. Fair exchange?¡± Owen didn¡¯t know if Coo understood him, but her long tongue lashed around the round fruit in his hand and crushed it within her mouth. Her eyes lit up as red juices dripped from the corners of her mouth. Perhaps it was designed like a watermelon? Owen had to resist drooling thinking about the fruit himself as he nodded to Bimpnottin.


    Cautiously, Bimpnottin reached for the udder, squeezed, then pulled down, aiming for a hollowed out fruit skin that he had gotten from his garden room. White milk shot out from the udder. Coo twitched, resulting in Bimpnottin jumping back. Owen tensed. Bimpnottin, with sweat forming on his forehead, crept back to his spot as he cautiously took hold of the udder again. He pulled down, and milk flowed.


    Owen watched Coo with a steady gaze, as if warning her not to attack. Thankfully, she listened, allowing Bimpnottin to milk her until at least 12 containers were filled to the brim, liquid sloshing around. Owen surmised that Coo would allow them to milk more, so Owen dashed back to grab more of the fruit containers. Bimpnottin appeared to be collecting them for recycling uses. Thanks to that, they stopped at 21 containers full. Any more, and Owen feared that Coo would get angry.


    Sighing in relief, Owen and Bimpnottin brought the containers back to his garden. It took multiple trips to return with all of them. Once it was done, both of them just stood there for a moment. Then, they looked at each other with a realisation.


    ¡°We need proper storage,¡± Bimpnottin said.


    ¡°Yes, that was a little oversight. Not to worry, I¡¯ll go down to the smithy and see if Cindrelle can whip up something.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she a blacksmith? You may have better luck asking some of the Hunters.¡±


    ¡°I feel like if she can craft intricate armour and advanced weapons, she can make something to store milk. If not wood, then a big metal container. Stainless steel.¡±


    ¡°Stainless steel?¡± Bimpnottin looked at him, confused.


    ¡°It¡¯s something from my world, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Owen said. ¡°But, if she can¡¯t do that, then I¡¯ll see the Hunters. What about you? Are you good with crafting anything?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Bimpnottin crouched down at where his prized fruit was located. He whispered something to the stalk that remained. Maybe an apology, but Owen didn¡¯t hear it.


    ¡°Right then,¡± Owen said, approaching the tunnels. ¡°I¡¯ll be back shortly. Make sure you don¡¯t knock over the milk.¡± Owen wasn¡¯t sure if Bimpnottin heard him, but he was already making his way down to where Cindrelle was located, along with the Miners.


    Walking into Cindrelle¡¯s designated smithing room, a blast of hot, smoky air struck him. Coughing and wafting the smoke away from his face, it lasted only a moment before all of the putrid air was sucked inward¡ªstraight for Cindrelle. She sucked it all in like a hoover, then burped.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± she said, embarrassed. ¡°My Lord, what brings you here?¡±


    Owen explained what he wanted; a thin container that could hold and cool a mass amount of liquid. Owen received bad news. In theory, she could do it. But the metal required would prove difficult to get. At least, Bron hadn¡¯t seen any other material yet. Whether they weren¡¯t deep enough yet, or this mountain didn¡¯t have it, was yet to be determined.


    The fact was, Owen needed something to store the milk before it turned bad. Cindrelle came up with an alternative. If she had a large vessel made of wood, or something else, she could reinforce it with the Sandsteel that they had on hand.


    Excusing himself, Owen went on a mission to find someone¡ªanyone¡ªthat had any skills in making a barrel. Only after a lot of asking around on the surface did he find the person he needed: the hunter Aelar. An elf, he was adept with the forest. Because of that, he had picked up on certain things needed for survival. A barrel for water storage was one of them.


    Aelar was happy to take on the mission, but they were missing one core ingredient; wood. Owen was already aware of that, and that was where Bimpnottin came in. And he just happened to have exactly what they needed. Thankfully, he was already working on wood cactus, so he had plenty at their disposal.


    Testing the material for a short amount of time, Aelar got to work. It would take a while before it was ready, so Owen returned to the castle. Already, he had noticed a few things wrong. Builders were already actively patching holes and cracked bricks in the castle. An entire section had even shifted a little; a result of the apocalyptic wave, he bet.


    Reaching the top, he saw Pyris who was currently talking with Lome. She was frowning.


    Owen approached and Pyris rose to attention. Her eyes said that she was about to come and see him. ¡°My Lord,¡± she said.


    Owen nodded. ¡°I can see something¡¯s the matter.¡±


    ¡°We have reports of something large approaching from the north.¡±


    ¡°The north?¡± Owen asked and instantly looked in the direction, but he couldn¡¯t see anything but hot desert. ¡°How do we know? Our Hunters and Scouts can¡¯t go that far.¡±


    Pyris shook her head. From under the table, she brought out a small scorpion. A baby, Owen guessed. A creature as small as that was rare in the Cursed Land. The smaller, the more dangerous it was. Usually. It wriggled, dangling from its stinger, trying to break free, but Pryris¡¯s fingers were an iron grip.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need to send out scouts to know something dangerous is approaching. Many bugs such as this one are travelling our way. Some more dangerous than others.¡±


    Owen frowned at her words. He was aware of the threats of the Cursed Lands, way more than anyone else, for that matter. He knew what was out there; what could be coming their way. He nodded. ¡°Have everyone retreat within the mountain. Raise the defence. No-one¡¯s to go out hunting for the next few days.¡±


    As Balthus bowed and retreated, eagerly ready to complete his duties, Owen felt Pyris¡¯s instinct was correct.


    Something was coming.

 Chapter 49 - Bubbles

    Owen and Pyris gazed out into the distance, but they couldn¡¯t see anything approaching. Yet, that dread grabbing hold of him told him it was out there, somewhere.


    ¡°So,¡± Owen said, trying to cut the tension in the air. ¡°What do you think it is?¡±


    ¡°Something big?¡± Pyris replied, looking at him with her sharp eyes.


    ¡°That would make sense, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Owen chuckled awkwardly. He wasn¡¯t an awkward person. Or at least he didn¡¯t think he was. Caroline was extremely pretty, and he could hold a conversation with her no problem. But Pyris was different. She was otherworldly. Literally.


    Silence took hold and it only made the air between them that more awkward.


    Thankfully, Pyris spoke up. But it just made it worse. ¡°The words you spoke to me before, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Hm? What words?¡±


    ¡°When I was asleep.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Owen said, his face turning red. ¡°You heard all of that?¡±


    ¡°Every word.¡± Pyris¡¯s lips curled. ¡°They helped me. I think I was falling. Sinking. I think your words saved me. Regardless of how many fall, especially those we fail to save¡ªwe need to try harder, keep moving with one step in front of the other.¡±


    Owen nodded. ¡°Your sister,¡± he said, noticing the grief hidden behind her eyes. ¡°What was she like? If you don¡¯t want to talk about it¨C¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± she replied, holding her hands behind her back. Her grip tightened. ¡°She always had high spirits.¡± Her smile brightened. ¡°Once a year, our village, Arnwin, would hold this spectacular harvest festival. We¡¯d have lanterns lining the street, the smell of pickled, and fried vegetables would spread their scents throughout the stalls.¡±


    Owen listened, the threat of the monster eased.


    She continued, ¡°She always wanted to take part in the sack race. She begged me to take part. But I was fifteen then and had just begun training to be a Velossa warrior. Going around taking part in games felt¡­ childish. So, I refused. And I watched her take part. She lost, and she became upset. She cried and I didn¡¯t know what to do. She lost, but in my eyes, that wasn¡¯t possible. She was my sister¡ª¡±


    Pyris stopped looking at Owen and cast her gaze on the horizon. Her eyes turned glossy as she said, ¡°She didn¡¯t forgive me for an entire week after that. I had to spend my monthly pocket money on trying to get her a limited edition Velossa figurine from the Master craftsman Aelon. Owen?¡± She said his name, and looked back at him.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Owen bit his lip, feeling the raw emotion from Pyris.


    ¡°If I could go back in time,¡± she said, tears falling. ¡°I¡¯d have entered that damned race. Win or loss, it doesn¡¯t matter. It didn¡¯t matter to her. She just wanted me to be by her side.¡±


    Owen raised his hand to place it on her back. He wanted to comfort her. To let her know everything was going to be okay, even if it wasn¡¯t. But¡­ he couldn¡¯t. She felt so far away. Untouchable. Unreachable. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was because she was a 7-Star¡ªa higher life form¡ªhe just knew he shouldn¡¯t.


    She smiled, ignoring his hovering hand, her lips trembling. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ll never forget. That man¡­ I¡¯ll find him, and I¡¯ll tell him to his face. I never forgot.¡±


    ¡°Would your sister wish for that?¡±


    ¡°Revenge?¡±


    Owen nodded.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°No, she¡¯d tell me to forget. To move on with my life. To be happy. But how is that possible? For my people, my family, for her. I can never forget. The spirit of the Velossa is with me. I can¡¯t fail them.¡±


    Owen watched the haze of the horizon, then let out a big sigh. ¡°The things we do for our own.¡±


    She smiled, but the darkness in her gaze could never be lightened. ¡°So does that mean you¡¯ve decided on your future?¡±


    Owen chuckled. ¡°The future is never certain¡­. But, yes. At least for now, I have.¡±


    ¡°Do you mind sharing that with me?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Owen said, smiling. ¡°We forge ahead and never forget those we have lost. I will gain strength. I will become powerful, and then I think I''ll join you in that sack race at the end of the line.¡±


    ¡°My Lord!¡± Bimpnoittins panicked voice echoed across the sands as he neared the wall.


    Owen didn¡¯t hesitate. He leapt down from the wall¡ªlanding effortlessly on the sand below¡ªand rushed over to meet the gnome. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are we under attack?¡±


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    Bimpnottin bent over, panting. ¡°No... it¡¯s Coo. She¡¯s hurt. Badly.¡±


    Owen glanced back at Pyris, who stood watching him, her expression unreadable. ¡°Go,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll hold the border.¡±


    Nodding, Owen scooped up Bimpnottin¡ªdespite the gnome¡¯s protests¡ªand dashed toward the mountain with all the speed he could muster.


    Before entering the pasture that he had created for the dairy cow, Owen heard the pained grunts coming from Coo. He picked up speed, darting through the passageways until he broke into the room.


    Thrashing on the floor, Coo groaned in pain. Owen rushed to her side, placing his hand on her side, only for her to grow louder.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± he asked Bimpnottin, thinking he¡¯d have more of an idea than him.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Bimpnottin said, face turning red. ¡°She just started tossin¡¯, turnin¡¯, and screamin¡¯. You need to do something.¡±


    ¡°I need to do something?¡± Owen asked, frowning. ¡°Don¡¯t you have experience with livestock?¡±


    ¡°Not the insides!¡± Bimpnottin protested.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, taking a breath. ¡°Go and fetch Rizael. He¡¯ll know what to do.¡±


    ¡°And if he doesn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Then he has a healing spell, at the very least.¡±


    Bimpnottin nodded and dashed out to find the healer. Meanwhile, Owen knelt beside Coo, gently stroking her side in an attempt to calm her. He whispered softly, "Shhh, it''s okay, girl," his voice low and reassuring. She quieted a little under his touch, but he could still feel the tension in her body. Despite his efforts, the pain lingered in her weary eyes.


    She was looking at him as if asking him to help, but he was a city boy. When it came to the well being of a living animal, he didn¡¯t have the faintest idea.


    Thankfully, Rizael arrived, rushing in alongside Bimpnottin, and more. A lot of the Builders, Miners, and others had also joined them.


    Rizael dropped down next to Owen, his hand gently pressing on Coo¡¯s side, feeling around as the cow groaned in pain.


    "What do you think¡¯s wrong?" Owen asked, worry lacing his voice.


    Rizael frowned, focusing. "I¡¯m not sure yet. I¡¯ll try healing her."


    "Any side effects?"


    "No," he replied, his hands glowing with white light. "If there¡¯s no wound, the mana will dissipate. At worst, it¡¯ll relax her muscles."


    Owen watched as Rizael worked, but the longer he did, the more he clicked his tongue in frustration. Though Coo seemed slightly calmer, her pain hadn¡¯t vanished.


    "Still nothing?" Owen couldn¡¯t hide his impatience.


    "Nothing," Rizael said, puzzled. "If it were a wound, the spell would¡¯ve fixed it. Something else is going on."


    "Could it be corruption, like what Pyris had?"


    Rizael shook his head confidently. "No, corruption stinks like rotten flesh. We¡¯d know if that was the case."


    "Maybe she¡¯s pregnant?" Cindrelle chimed in from the side.


    Everyone turned to look at her. She twirled her long, braided hair, bothered by the sudden attention. "I¡¯ve seen this before somewhere... maybe," she added with a shrug.


    Owen blinked. "Pregnant? Okay, so what do we do?" He glanced at Bimpnottin. "Can you¡­ climb in there?"


    Bimpnottin¡¯s eyes widened in horror. "Climb in where?" He looked at Coo, then back at Owen.


    Owen gestured vaguely toward Coo¡¯s rear.


    "Are you joking, my Lord?" Bimpnottin said, face flushed.


    Owen, equally embarrassed, turned to Cindrelle. "Any ideas?"


    "Volcano¡¯s pit, no," she cursed, clearly not volunteering.


    Owen coughed. "Fine," he muttered. "Anyone?"


    Everyone else backed away.


    Grinding his teeth, Owen sighed and focused back on Coo. She was contracting, not thrashing from injury. He took a deep breath and nodded to himself. "I¡¯ve seen this in documentaries. We need to reach in and help guide the calf out."


    Rizael grimaced. "You sure?"


    "Um, I¡¯m not sure. But I don¡¯t see any other options." Owen looked around the room. "Get ready with your spells in case the calf needs help."


    With a final nod from Rizael, Owen knelt beside Coo, whispering softly, "Don¡¯t worry, girl. We¡¯ll get through this."


    Owen took a deep breath, steeling himself as he reached into Coo. His arm slid in deeper as he felt around, trying not to think about the sensation. His hand finally found the calf, but it wasn¡¯t positioned correctly. The legs were tangled, and the baby seemed stuck.


    "Cindrelle, help keep her calm," Owen said, focusing all his attention on the task at hand. He felt the strain in Coo¡¯s body as her contractions grew more intense. Time was running out. "Come on¡­ untangle," he whispered under his breath.


    With careful movements, Owen used his fingers to loosen whatever had the calf caught. It felt like hours passed, but finally, he managed to free the legs. "I got it!" he exclaimed, and with one final pull, the calf slipped out and dropped into his arms.


    The newborn¡¯s nostrils were clogged with mucus, so Owen quickly cleared them with a twig. The calf sneezed, releasing a few bubbles, then let out a soft grunt. Owen¡¯s face split into a wide grin as he brought the calf closer to Coo. "It¡¯s a girl," he whispered.


    Coo licked her calf clean, and the tension in the room eased. "You did it, my Lord!" Cindrelle cheered.


    Everyone gathered around to take a look at the newborn, the room filled with laughter and relief. Owen wiped the sweat from his brow, sitting back against the wall, his heart still racing.


    Rizael sat beside him, a smirk on his face. "Well, would you look at that? Even here, in a place like this, life can find a way."


    Owen nodded, still catching his breath. "Looks like we¡¯ve got something new to fight for."


    He looked over at Bimpnottin. "Why don¡¯t you give her a name?"


    Bimpnottin¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "Me? I can name her?"


    Owen grinned. "Yeah, go for it."


    After a few moments of pacing, Bimpnottin¡¯s face lit up. "I¡¯ve got it!" He puffed up his chest. "We shall call her¡­ Bubbles!"


    The room fell silent for a second before Owen laughed. "Bubbles, huh? I like it."


    Walking over to the calf, Owen whispered into her ear, "Welcome to the family, Bubbles." The little calf licked his face, and everyone burst out laughing, the mood completely shifted from anxiety to joy. Life, after all, had a way of bringing hope even in the darkest of places.

 Chapter 50 - Public Baths

    As a result of the member of the family, Owen had to make Coo¡¯s enclosure bigger. Owen spent half the day improving it to something that could truly be called ¡®home¡¯. Not only was the room huge, but sand now covered the entire cave floor. New grass that Bimpnottin had worked on was now plotted around¡ªand could grow by itself.


    It was an arcane botany marvel, but Owen wouldn¡¯t tell the gnome that to his face. Bimpnottin had a flaw, and that was his human sized arrogance. It was best to keep down a few pegs. Owen had his friends best interests at heart.


    Other than that, Owen had implemented an idea he had. Instead of using traditional gardening techniques that Bimpnottin knew; like planting in rows. Owen wanted to make use of the walls, which before were barren and bare. Now though, with the help of Owen¡¯s Plunder Skill, Bimpnottin had planted fruits and wood-like bushes in the wall. Because of how they grew¡ªwith Bimpnottin¡¯s mana¡ªthere was no use for water. Yet. Although the gardening gnome was managing right now, for what Owen needed in the future, wasn¡¯t enough.


    Owen had to have farm lands that extended far underground. Because of Owen¡¯s Skill, it would be the premiere way of growing crops. It was faster for him to carve out the mountain than it was for the builders to erect a structure over the fields that could resist the nightly wave.


    Now, Coo¡¯s pasture lived and breathed greenery. Coo and her calf were already harvesting the grass growing out of the sands, and the cactus that lay about. Of course, the cactus were engineered not to have any spikes on them.


    Bubbles loved to play. Every time Owen glanced over, she¡¯d be either ramming her head at Coo¡¯s stomach for milk. Or she¡¯d be hopping up and down, bolting across the sand.


    Owen couldn¡¯t help but smile. It was contagious. And it was a sight he wanted to share with Pyris.


    Done with all he had to do, he left the pasture and entered the tunnels where he bumped into Balthus.


    ¡°Balthus,¡± Owen said, smiling. ¡°How can I help this time?¡±


    Balthus bowed. ¡°My Lord, It¡¯s a serious matter this occasion.¡±


    Owen frowned. ¡°How serious.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not under attack.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Owen sighed in relief, then asked, ¡°Then?¡± Shoulder-to-shoulder, they made their way out of the mountain.


    ¡°The mage of the orcs has brought forward a proposition.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    Balthus nudged his specs further up his nose. ¡°I think it¡¯s better if you hear it yourself.¡±


    ***


    Standing at the command table in the castle, the orcen sand mage¡ªDunhar¡ªstood on the far side. Gorath stood a few steps to the side. Apart from them, Pyris and Rohan stood on the other side of the table.


    Sounds of rock shifting and shouting could be heard all over. The Builders were working tirelessly to maintain the building''s structural integrity.


    ¡°Balthus told me you had a proposition?¡±


    Dunhar glanced at all the others in the room, before casting his full attention to Owen. ¡°The other orcs and I wish for you to take our lives into your hands.¡±


    ¡°Forced integration?¡± Owen asked, placing his hands on the table. He knew of it. Any Lord who bested another Lord in combat, or took them out in war, could take over their lands, and their people. If he so wished, Owen could integrate them into his own. He was a little hesitant. If he was sure of their loyalty, he¡¯d have done it straight away.


    But that was the problem. He wasn¡¯t sure. Unlike units he summoned directly, the orcen troops weren¡¯t bound to him by the system¡ªeven if he integrated them into his own. It was a downside. If he wasn¡¯t careful, the orcs could do a lot more harm than good.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Dunhar said. ¡°Although my knowledge about how any of this works is limited, I know that under a Lord, we can become stronger. Now we have stagnated.¡± He looked at Gorath. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much you know about us as a race, but us orcs believe not in pure mindless aggression like you may believe.¡±


    Rohan scoffed. Owen raised his hand, a reminder to Rohan.


    Ignoring the look of scorn cast his way, Dunhar continued. ¡°We fight because we view self improvement above all else. That if we die not in a fight, we will be condemned by the War Sovereign to seven lives of torture for us, and our familes. Now that we we¡¯re not tied to a Lord¡ª¡±


    Rohan added, ¡°The fuel for your addiction has been severed.¡±


    Dunhar shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s a crude way to put it, but yes, you can look at it that way.¡± Dunhar met Owen¡¯s gaze in earnest. ¡°We ask, no, we plead with you. Please integrate us into your land. Point us toward an enemy, even if we perish. That is all we ask.¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Owen drew a breath. ¡°Even if I send all of you out to fight, for days on end¡ª¡± Owen squinted his eyes. ¡°You won¡¯t object.¡±


    Dunhar smiled and looked up, as if he was gazing into the skies above. ¡°That is what we desire. To die a glorious death above all else. Isn¡¯t it, Gorath?¡±


    Owen looked at Gorath, who nodded deeply as he glanced up above.


    ¡°Then¡­ Alright,¡± Owen said. ¡°I¡¯ll take you in.¡±


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Rohan stepped forwards. ¡°Placing your trust in a vanquished enemy¡­ I can¡¯t help but have my reservations.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Rohan,¡± Owen said, looking at Gorath. ¡°I don¡¯t trust them. But I trust Gorath with my life. So, friend, what do you think?¡±


    Gorath tore his vision from above, and placed it on Owen. Gorath bowed deep. ¡°I believe it is a wise choice to remain vigilant. But I also believe that it would be foolish not to take them in. Warriors of the Blood Fury are not to be trifled with. Aim them at the beasts in the desert, and reap the rewards.¡±


    Owen nodded. ¡°Then that¡¯s it. Dunhar, welcome to the family.¡± He extended his hand. Dunhar was confused at first, but took Owen¡¯s small hand into his own.


    You have subjugated the forces of a Lord and forcefully placed them into your System.


    | Units gained; Mage: 1, Warrior: 17


    Eighteen in total was a considerable increase to his force. Just them alone contributed to more than half of his fighting units. But he couldn¡¯t remove the nagging reminder that it was because of them that he had lost Cedric and others. Hell, even if it was just Dunhar alone, would still be a huge upgrade to his power.


    It was only the thought that it was only because they were ordered to do so by the Orcen Lord that he managed to move on. He knew that some of his units didn¡¯t have that same level of forgiveness. Rohan was one of them. Perhaps the only people who truly didn¡¯t care were Pyris and Lome. Pyris because she hadn¡¯t fought alongside the others, and Lome because he was an undead warrior with little in the way of ¡®feelings¡¯.


    ¡°Something powerful is approaching from the north,¡± Owen said, ¡°But we can still hunt to the east and west. Dunhar, are you sure about heading out knowing that?¡±


    Dunhar slammed his fist on his chest. That, along with his vibrant eyes, told Owen all he needed to know.


    ¡°Then along with the orcen warriors, take them out en force. Hunt anything in your path. If you find humans, ignore them and return with the news.¡±


    ¡°What if they attack us?¡±


    ¡°Defend and return,¡± Owen said. ¡°I repeat, do not harm them. I have friends out there and if they attack, then they attack out of fear.¡±


    Dunhar bowed. ¡°My Lord, your orders are my command.¡±


    Gorath stepped forwards. ¡°My Lord, I request to join them.¡±


    Owen stood up. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Nodding, Gorath said, ¡°The faster I can assimilate with the others, the quicker I can demand trust and allegiance.For trust to grow, I must fight alongside them.¡±


    ¡°Dunhar, any objections?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, my Lord,¡± the orcen sand mage said. ¡°His might will prove helpful in our assault of the desert.¡±


    ¡°So be it,¡± Owen said. ¡°Prepare yourselves. Gather Lome, he will go with you.¡±


    Lome, with the Armour of Nerzu, will be unstoppable against the other orcs. If they betray Gorath¡­ Then I pity their fates, Owen thought.


    ¡°There is one more thing, my Lord,¡± Dunhar said.


    ¡°Please, speak.¡±


    ¡°The old camp of Rek¡¯ka. There are women and children still there. I know not if they are still alive, but I hope you can bring them here.¡±


    ¡°And you didn¡¯t think of telling me this before?¡± Owen asked.


    ¡°With all due respect, you are a Lord,¡± Dunhar said, eyes lowered.


    ¡°No orcen lord would waste manpower on fetching weakened troops that require mouths to feed, my Lord,¡± Gorath said.


    ¡°Well it¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m not an orcen Lord,¡± said Owen. ¡°Before you go hunting, send for those still in the camp. I will house them here.¡±


    Dunhar and Gorath bowed and left the castle.


    Rohan approached, leaning on the table. ¡°Do we have enough food and water to house them?¡±


    ¡°Food, we can manage,¡± Owen said, thinking about the future. His head ached. ¡°The issue of water is also sorted with the newly created well. But I don¡¯t know how long that water will last. With any luck, it¡¯s a huge vein.¡±


    ¡°So¡ª¡±


    Owen interrupted, ¡°So we will still house them. Casting aside the weak is not a Lord I wish to become. No matter how hard it gets. I will retain my humanity. But that means we need to be smarter and make use of any resource at our disposal.¡±


    ¡°Like the orcs?¡±


    ¡°Like the orcs,¡± Owen said, nodding. ¡°Although I don¡¯t feel good sending them out, it¡¯s clear their religion demands it. I won¡¯t say no to that. I need their strength.¡±


    Rohan was about to say something, held it back for a second, then said anyway, ¡°Morale within our troops is low because of the war with the orcs. They don¡¯t trust them, and don''t like being with them. Gorath is one thing¡­ Dunhar and the others are another.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± he replied, cracking his fingers to ease the tension building. ¡°I have some ideas to ease morale. The well will be the beginning of that. I just need a heat source. Cindrelle, I think, has what I need.¡±


    Rohan tilted his head. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡±


    Owen smiled. ¡°A public spa.¡±


    ¡°A¡­ spa?¡±


    ¡°Like a public spring?¡± Pyris asked, her already large eyes widening further.


    ¡°We all stink,¡± Owen said, chuckling. ¡°It¡¯d be good to relax the body and mind for a good while.¡±

 Chapter 51 - Lone Wanderer

    Owen returned to the mountain. On the way, he noticed that a lot of the builders and Warriors¡ªorcs included¡ªwatched him carefully. The orcs looked at him as a strong warrior, but there was something hidden beneath their gaze.


    Is it because of the fight with Rek¡¯ka? Owen thought. Pyris had to bail him out. And although as a Spectre, she was one part of his strength, the orcs wouldn¡¯t see it that way. The fact was, to them, he had to be rescued. To an orcen lord, to them, that was a shame worse than death.


    But Owen wasn¡¯t too worried about that. There would be plenty of time to demonstrate his power. Especially now that he had not one Lord Emblem, but two. He had devoured the Lord orcs'' strength, and now it was his own.


    At least for now, the orcs wouldn¡¯t act.


    Heading into the passageways of the mountain; which were increasing by the hour. Owen¡¯s previous words were true. As a Lord, his duty wasn¡¯t only on the battlefield¡ªit was making sure his people were well fed, watered, and happy.


    His units would come to trust the orcs in time, and vice versa. But their morale had to be increased now. There were many ways to do that, and he had a lot of them in his mind. Entertainment, whether that be music, fights, or plays.


    But there was one that was at the forefront of his mind. One that he had sorely missed the luxury of¡ªa bath. Pyris had the right idea. It would be more like a spring. A cold one, since the water was coming from deep underground. But to get away from the sun for a bit and relax in cool water? That was a good way of calming the mind.


    So that¡¯s what he did. He picked one room in particular to be the bath. A few hours later, he had a well set-up that spilled over the edge, making a large pool the size of half a football field. He had also installed a drain system of simple construction. It was literally just a plug at the bottom of the pool. Every other day, or every day, depending on how much use it had, it would have to be cleaned out and filled back up again.


    He called in the warriors first. They looked confused at the start, and then by some sort of primal instinct, they all jumped in. They wrestled each-other, throwing one another into the pool. Everyone was laughing. Mirian sat in the corner, watching as a small smile emerged. Pyris was also standing near the entrance, watching the fun.


    Rohan grabbed hold of Owen, and pulled¡­ But he didn¡¯t even budge. The strength the orcen Lord had gifted him was far too much for a Scout to contest with.


    ¡°Blimey, you¡¯ve grown strong,¡± He said, face turning red as he put all his strength into his arms. ¡°Thorin, help me out here!¡±


    Thorin, the oversized centaur, laughed and trotted over, grabbing hold of Owen, and pushed. Thorin was on one side, and Rohan was on the other.


    ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t,¡± Owen chuckled and fought against them. He grabbed hold of Rohan and yanked him, sending him hurtling into the pool. Rohan emerged, swinging back his long hair.


    ¡°Men,¡± Rohan shouted with a cheeky smile, pointing at Levi. ¡°Get him!¡±


    The Warriors and Hunters hesitated at first, but seeing their Lord¡¯s goading smirk, they quickly gathered around Owen, pulling, and pushing.


    ¡°Help,¡± Owen said over his shoulder at Pyris.


    ¡°You got yourself into this mess,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°You can get out of it yourself.¡±


    With a final push with the combined might of half of his fighting force, they managed to throw Owen into the pool. Owen emerged with a sadistic grin. ¡°Now that¡¯s it,¡± he said, wading through the water. ¡°It¡¯s war.¡±


    Owen against everyone, he won in the end, flinging everyone into the water. What was once clear and pure, was now mirky and bottomed with sand.


    Now, it was Pyris¡¯ turn. He approached her with a playful smile. Whereas her smile vanished, and she bent her knees in preparation for a battle. A familiar seriousness emerged that he had only seen when she had fought against the orc Lord.


    ¡°Dont,¡± She said in warning.


    ¡°Aw,¡± Owen said, rubbing his nose. ¡°Afraid of a little water?¡±


    She twitched her ears.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Wait,¡± he pressed with surprise. ¡°You really can¡¯t swim?¡±


    Pyris looked at the water and then shook her head.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something I can teach you,¡± Owen said. ¡°Then how about this; you teach me how to fight, and I¡¯ll teach you how to swim. Deal?¡±


    She thought about it for a moment before nodding. ¡°Deal.¡±


    Just as Owen and Pyris were about to shake hands, both of them felt a distant tremble in the earth. All the other Warriors, Rohan, and Mirian included, failed to notice it. Owen was well attuned to his body, maybe more than most because of his potent reflexes. Pyris noticed it also because of her senses. A few trembles, more, and everyone in the room now knew about. They grabbed their weapons from the side of the pool.


    ¡°Steps?¡± Owen asked Pyris.


    She nodded. ¡°It sounds like it.¡±


    The moment the words left her mouth, she was already darting through the passageways. Owen was right behind her. Together, they emerged from the mountain and bolted towards the wall. Reaching the top, they scanned the sands, but couldn¡¯t see anything. Draed was already here as it was his turn to watch.


    Owen called upon the rest of the forces.


    ¡°The orcs?¡± Owen asked.


    Draed spoke up. ¡°Already left for their previous camp.¡±


    Owen searched for them, but could spot them on the sand. It meant that they had made it. ¡°Get ready,¡± Owen said to everyone on top of the wall, and below it. ¡°Whatever is approaching, other monsters will be chased away. Some will come here. Archers, at the ready.¡±


    All the archers prepared their bows. Owen cursed. This just had to happen when both of his mages were gone. Ignoring the unfortunate timing, all he could do was steel himself, and rouse the spirits of his forces.


    With each earth shaking tremble, Owen tensed further. Many enemies; demi-gods, devils, flashed in his mind as the endless possibilities of what it could be, and it gnawed at him. Depending on what it was, not even his mountain born of incredibly dense rock and metal could resist against it.


    Vaedrith, the Unseen Nightmare?


    Thorax, the Eternal Maw?


    ¡­Or Tarnis, the Boundless?


    No, that last one was impossible. At least it should be, for the next few years¡­ Whatever it was, Owen first had to survive against whatever was running away in fear. Three scarlet crabs emerged in the distance and were rapidly approaching, kicking up a trail of sand behind them.


    Elena, Draed, and the other archers pulled back their bow strings in preparation.


    ¡°Lome, Pyris, Thorin, target the ones on the right,¡± Owen said, summoning Heartseeker¡¯s Edge.. ¡°I¡¯ll tkae out the one on the left. I want to test just how much stronger I¡¯ve gotten.¡±


    ¡°Be careful,¡± Pyris reminded him.


    ¡°I will.¡±


    Owen leapt off the wall, falling 15 feet down, and landing on the sand. His knees bent, but otherwise the drop had no effect on his current body. He launched himself forwards, sprinted across the sands, the bell tied to his waist dancing a tune.


    In between the thudding steps from the mysterious beast, Owen¡¯s heart smashed against his chest, matching its own overwhelming might.


    Nearing the scarlet crab, the monster snapped its pincers at Owen, threatening to cleave him in two. He dodged it and replied with a swing of his sword. His blade cleaved into the shell, and sparks flew. But even with the strength he had gained from the Lord, it wasn¡¯t enough to penetrate its chitinous armour.


    Owen expected that. Faster than the crab could react, Owen aimed for its leg this time, swinging his sword in a tight arc, carving a bloody wound into the gap in between its tough exterior. Blood oozed from the wound.


    The scarlet crab thrashed, spinning, trying its best to claim Owen. However, Owen¡¯s reflexes were just as sharp as his blade. Owen knew where the pincers were coming from, and so he was ready. He parried the incoming strike, the force bearing down on his arms, and when the attack had passed, leapt up onto the crab¡¯s body. With a grunt, Owen gathered his strength, not sparing an ounce. Owen stabbed his sword into the beast''s eye quicker than the monster could react. The tip of the blade glided through one of its fleshy eyes, and descended into its brain, killing it immediately.


    Owen looked over at the other two. Pyris had already killed her own, one of its eyes was clutched in her bloody grip. She stood, waiting for what was coming.


    Thorin and Lome battled the last remaining scarlet crab. They struggled. Not because they were weak, although that was part of it. But because they simply didn¡¯t have the overwhelming might to crack its armour with their large weapons.


    With the support of the archers, Lome climbed up on the crab¡¯s exterior, and finished it off with a barrage of mighty blows. Shell cracked where it was the weakest, and blood splattered his white bones.


    Owen turned his attention to the horizon. The thudding steps were growing ever closer¡ªand then he saw it. A head emerged. A head that turned gigantic amongst the haze of the horizon. A titanic golem stomped into view, with lines carved into its body like sculpted tattoos. It had three eyes, although they were only stone. It was also missing a hand.


    A description appeared in Owen¡¯s mind.


    The Lone Wanderer, damned to travel the Cursed Lands for an eternity. No one knew where it came from, how it came to be, or what master created it. There was only one irrefutable truth: the wanderer never stopped.


    Perched on the shoulder of the giant, his medium black hair tousled by the wind, stood Justin Becker. A side character. An antagonist. Dark-hearted, with a temper that even the demi-gods feared. But beneath that fiery exterior¡­ he was simply misunderstood.


    Owen¡¯s grin widened. And he was going to be his friend.

 Chapter 52 - Justin

    ¡°Everyone off the wall!¡± Owen¡¯s voice boomed over the sound of the incoming giant. ¡°We¡¯ll be lucky if it misses us!¡±


    Yet, Owen remained standing in the sand, watching as the giant approached. For any man or woman, the gargantuan golem would have struck fear into their hearts. But for Owen, he gazed into its stoney eyes, unperturbed.


    There was one thing that he hated about A Titan¡¯s Journey, and that was that Ansel was so focused on growing stronger, that he failed to identify anything around him. Failed to truly live, to uncover the mysteries beneath his feet. Every waking thought was preoccupied with how to acquire more strength. The history of the Lone Wanderer was still a mystery, how the Cursed Lands even came to be in the first place¡­ After 3000 chapters, no one knew. Not Ansel, and not him, who had read it.


    ¡°My Lord!¡± Pyris shouted. She was busy guiding the Builders toward the mountain.


    Owen flashed her a smile in response. He moved to a heightened point on a nearby dune and watched with a craned neck as the giant strolled on by.


    Who created you? Why do you wander these cursed lands? Owen thought as the questions nibbled at him. The author did a terrible job of world building, but now Owen was here, in it, he wanted to uncover its secrets.


    The Lone Wanderer''s massive stone foot clipped the side of his castle, smashing the brick as if it wasn¡¯t there in the first place. As a result, stone shrapnel shot outward like loose rubble jammed into a cannon. Thankfully, no one was in that area. If they were, there wasn¡¯t anything Owen could do about it.


    Using his hand as a visor, Owen saw a black blob leap off the back of the godly being. The giant was at least one-hundred feet tall. Even using the sand below as a cushion would result in a broken leg, or worse. Yet the man above jumped without care. And then he vanished.


    Owen knew what was going to happen. He smiled, and looked behind him, to the shadow that he casted. A young man appeared behind him, black hair weathered by the sand and wind for days. A once handsome face was now marred in sun damage; peeling skin, boils, and severely chapped lips. His black clothes were now tattered and bloody wounds were scored into his burnt flesh.


    Compared to Owen who was clean, with little in the way of wounds thanks to his own personal healer, the difference was startling.


    It was strange looking at him now. In the story, Ansel¡¯s Earth was a lot different to Owen¡¯s. Ancient clans existed. They were powerful and mighty and filthy rich; they were known for their martial-arts. The younger scions of these clans were named Lineages. At the beginning, they had a huge advantage because of their talents in fighting.


    Justin in particular was born to be an assassin, and he had the mind set as such.


    Knowing the Lineage¡¯s personality well, Owen extended his hand with a kind smile, and said, ¡°I¡±m Owen, the Lord of this humble area.¡±


    Justin squinted, his lips curving into a dry, almost amused smile, as if he found Owen¡¯s introduction funny.


    ¡°Justin,¡± he said, taking Owen¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m just passing through¡­ though if you get in my way, we¡¯ll have a problem.¡± His voice carried a hunt of a warning, but it wasn¡¯t overly aggressive¡ªmore like he was used to dealing with conflict.


    ¡°Honestly,¡± Owen said, looking at Justin in a joking manner. ¡°You¡¯re pretty terrible to look at. Why don¡¯t you stay here for a few days? We have a bath, food, and water.¡±


    Justin frowned, as if feeling uncomfortable at the notion of staying in the same place for more than he had to.


    Finally, he said, ¡°Alright. But if you try anything¡ª¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t try anything,¡± Owen said truthfully. ¡°You must have given up your territory?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t get one in the first place. Don¡¯t need it. Ruling isn¡¯t my thing.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t mine either,¡± Owen grinned as Pyris and the others ran up. Justin, unfazed, conjured a jagged black lance from his soul¡ªit looked wicked and menacing. Owen ignored it. ¡°This here is Pyris, one of my strongest units.¡±


    Pyris, stoic as ever, gave Justin the look of a soldier sizing up a potential threat.


    ¡°And over here,¡± Owen continued, ¡°we¡¯ve got Lome, Thorin, Mirian, Draed, Rohan, and of course, Rizael, the healer.¡±


    Just then, Bimpnottin strolled up, eyes immediately locked on Justin¡¯s weapon. ¡°Now, that¡¯s a mighty fine spear,¡± he said, rubbing his chin. ¡°Looks like a thorny branch... Can I see it?¡±


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t see it, Bimpnottin,¡± Owen said, frowning.


    ¡°What do you mean, we can¡¯t see it? Did he telepathically tell you that?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t just walk up and ask someone to hold their weapon. Basic manners.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Bimpnottin crossed his arms, unfazed. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal?¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s the big deal¡ª¡± Owen shot his hands forward, grabbing the point of the gnome¡¯s ears with a mischievous grin. ¡°Even if I remove these, it won¡¯t change the fact you don¡¯t listen anyway.¡±


    ¡°Get off me, you lanky bald ape!¡± Bimpnottin yelled, swatting at Owen.


    Everyone burst out laughing, and Owen let go, still smiling. ¡°But seriously, Bimpnottin, why have you never asked to hold my weapon? You¡¯re hurting my feelings here.¡±


    Bimpnottin scowled, rubbing his ear. ¡°¡¯Cause your weapon looks like a walking stick someone carved for fun! This lad¡¯s weapon, though? It¡¯s got flair!¡± He retreated behind Pyris, eyeing Owen warily.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Owen asked, frowning. ¡°My sword looks awesome.¡±


    Justin scanned the group, eyes lingering on Pyris before glancing at Owen¡¯s castle. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then closed it again, as if biting back a question.


    ¡°Everything alright?¡± Owen asked, catching the look.


    Justin grunted. ¡°Just... don¡¯t see many places still standing out here. You¡¯ve retained your humanity, it seems.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been tough,¡± Owen admitted. ¡°We¡¯ve experienced death and battle just like all the others. Lost people. But it¡¯s important we keep moving forward,¡± Owen paused, knowing full well the insecurity hidden within Justin, and said, ¡°Important we stick together, as a team. As friends.¡±


    Justin met his gaze.


    ¡°A new addition to the kingdom?¡± Bimpnottin piped up, peeking out from behind Pyris again.


    ¡°Just someone passing through,¡± Owen replied.


    Bimpnottin¡¯s eyes widened, suddenly brimming with enthusiasm. ¡°Oh, then you must visit my farm! We¡¯ve got a new baby¡ªnamed her Bubbles. Unlike her nasty mother, she¡¯s cute. Licks me every morning, tickles like crazy! And, oh! We¡¯ve got fruit¡ªtotally not poisonous! Definitely not.¡±


    Justin raised a brow, but before he could respond, Pyris intervened. ¡°Bimpnottin, he needs rest. Let the man breathe.¡± She cast a stern glance at the gnome, who took a few hurried steps back, ears drooping.


    ¡°Besides,¡± Pyris added, ¡°who even adds ¡®not poisonous¡¯ at the end of an invitation? That should be obvious.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t get many visitors,¡± Bimpnottin said defensively. ¡°Thought it was polite to mention.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got... quite the team,¡± Justin muttered, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips.


    ¡°Yeah, they grow on you,¡± Owen replied. ¡°Well, most of them. There¡¯s orcs that haven¡¯t exactly¡­ well let¡¯s say, integrated as of now. But they¡¯ll come around. Just don¡¯t get in their way for the time being.¡±


    Justin nodded as his gaze shifted to the laughing faces of those around him. For a second, his shoulders relaxed, the tension in his posture easing, as if he was used to moving alone and now found himself oddly reassured by the group¡¯s presence.


    Shaking his head, Owen said, ¡°Well, Balthus will see to it that you¡¯re taken care of. But just like you gave me a warning, I¡¯ll give you one in return.¡± Owen¡¯s playful demeanour faded, his tone hardening. ¡°These are my people. My family. Lay a hand on any of them, and you¡¯ll deal with me. I have some questions, but I¡¯ll see you later.¡± Owen¡¯s smile returned. ¡°Enjoy the bath and food, you need it.¡±


    Justin met his gaze, understanding the gravity of the words. ¡°I don¡¯t want any trouble,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll stay the night, if that¡¯s alright, and be gone by morning.¡±


    As he turned to walk away with Balthus, he glanced back over his shoulder, hesitating for just a moment. ¡°Thanks,¡± he muttered¡ªa simple word, but for Justin, it carried weight.


    ***


    With that out of the way, Owen turned to the lead Builder: Brook. It had been a while since they had a chat.


    ¡°Brook, how¡¯s the reconstruction going?¡±


    He bowed. Deeper than ever before. ¡°My Lord,¡± he said devotedly. ¡°It¡¯s going well. After that giant passed through, we¡¯ll have a bit more work done today, but there was something I wanted to ask of you.¡±


    ¡°Anything, Brook. You know that.¡±


    Brook nodded. ¡°Some of us want to make a prayer room. A church.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like a good idea. Out of curiosity, who are you going to worship¡ª¡± the moment Owen¡¯s words left his mouth, he bit them back. Of course, they wanted to pray to¡­ him. Lord Plunder. Owen¡¯s face flushed red.


    ¡°You, my Lord,¡± Brook said. ¡°Your feats, the way you treat us¡ªit would be our honour to spread your name across these deserts.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Owen said, waving his hands. ¡°Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves. There will be no missionaries. Sending others to their potential deaths to spread my name, is not something I¡¯m willing to take on.¡±


    Brook, the dwarf, shrunk his shoulders.


    Owen sighed. ¡°But a prayer room is fine.¡± Brook¡¯s eyes lit up. Owen continued, ¡°Make the walls a priority. I also want a wall around the entrance of the mountain incase of an attack. I want it mighty, easy to defend, impossible to take down. Understood?¡±


    Brook nodded. ¡°It will be done, Lord Plunder!¡±


    Waving his lead builder off, Owen pinched his temples. The whole prayer thing was absurd. Just the thought of it was incredulous. Worshipping him? It was almost impossible to fathom. But he understood the importance of faith within a kingdom.


    Not only because of the trust in leadership it would bring, but the power it offered him. The more people that prayed and uttered his name, the stronger he¡¯d become. Many Lords completely relied on their faith. Lords could also adopt another Lord¡¯s faith, but that was a double edged sword. Who was to say when the Lord responsible for granting the faith would use it as a weapon against their own kingdom?


    It didn¡¯t just happen in real life. It was a big thing in the novels, too.


    Another reason he was a little hesitant on building a religion dedicated to himself, was because he enjoyed the current dynamics between him and his people. It was jovial, friendly; like one big family. And he wanted to keep it that way. Shifting that to one of devotion, didn¡¯t sit well with him. He viewed everyone as equals.


    But if he could have both? Owen drew in a breath. Then he¡¯d just have to have both.


    Owen turned his attention to the slain scarlet crabs. It was time to plunder.

 Chapter 53 - Hang in There

    You have plundered a Scarlet Crab x3.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 2x Hunter, Scarlet Crab Shell x3 (Normal), Scarlet Crab Meat and Organs x11 (Normal), Scarlet Crab Bones x24 (Normal).


    | Stats gained: 6 Strength, 8 Vitality, 3 Dexterity.


    Seeing the low amount of Sats granted, Owen couldn¡¯t help but knit his brows. The amount he obtained from their corpse was decreasing by the Level. No, it wasn¡¯t just that. It was the higher his Attributes got, the less he¡¯d obtain with Plunder.


    It was only a matter of time before he¡¯d gain nothing from these enemies, despite them being powerful. Soon, his low talent would bite him in the ass.


    As a result of the fight, he had also gained two Levels. He placed the two points into Dexterity.


    Putting that aside with great difficulty for now, he summoned the new Hunters. One of them was a 2-Star human, and the other was a 3-Star elf. He greeted them with far more practice compared to the first time, and sent them to Balthus after giving them a warm welcome.


    Now that the orcs were out, both hunting and fetching the others of their tribe, Owen had some time to himself. And that meant a lot of thinking about the future. Now that he had a lot of Warriors and Hunters, he felt a lot more confident in sending them out further.


    Owen had to get the lay of the land. He hadn¡¯t done much exploration at all because of the threat the orcen Lord pushed on him. The whole point of picking the Rogue Class was to send out his Hunters to scout. And it was almost time to do that.


    Depending on where he was in the Cursed Lands, would determine his next plan of action. He knew of various treasuries nestled below the sands, knew of secret locations that he could take advantage of. But as of right now, he didn¡¯t have the faintest idea of where he was.


    For all he knew, he could be in one of the many locations that were unknown in the Cursed Lands. Meeting Justin gave him a small clue as to where that was, but it was just that¡ªsmall. Justin had met with Ansel in the Outpost.


    The Cursed Lands was a monumental place. Apparently, it would take years to make it to the other side on foot.


    Regardless of where he was, the most important thing was the survival of him and his people. Not only that, but he had to locate Louis and the others. For that, he had to become stronger. The first step was actually right underneath him. Reports of monsters in the mountain were increasing. That meant there was a cave system right under his feet. He was lucky the miners hadn¡¯t struck anything severe so far. But he had placed Warriors in the tunnels as a precaution for that.


    Another big part of strength would come from mastering his Skills. Although he didn¡¯t really know where to begin with those. Swordsmanship was obvious; keep using his sword and improve. But Devil¡¯s Reflexes? Unlimited Plunder? He didn¡¯t know how to improve them.


    But it was getting late. The cave could wait until tomorrow. After helping the Hunters on the wall for a couple hours, he returned to the mountain where he spotted Justin sitting at the entrance which was now adorned with stone pillars. It was Rohan¡¯s idea. Apparently a Lord¡¯s kingdom had to look grand. Couldn¡¯t impose their will if their land looked like a bunch of nomads had taken hold of it.


    Owen agreed.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Owen said in greeting and sat beside Justin. He noticed the young man was clean now, although he still wore the same clothes. ¡°Good bath?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Justin chuckled, appearing in higher spirits now. ¡°Bimpnottin brought me some fruits. To think there were Classes like that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty crazy what this System is capable of, isn¡¯t it?¡± Owen asked, casting his gaze to the orange horizon. It wouldn''t be long before dark. Many of the Builders moved from the wall, to the mountain, bowing to Owen in passing.


    ¡°They all seem to treat you like some god.¡±


    Owen rolled his eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t know the half of it. They do think I¡¯m some kind of god.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Justin said with more than a hint of amusement. ¡°Really?¡±


    Owen nodded. ¡°It seems like the System thought it was a good idea to introduce a ¡®Faith¡¯ programme. After my battle with another Lord, something seemed to have struck a chord with them. They even want to make a church.¡± If it was just a hint before, now it was full blown amusement. Owen clicked his tongue. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Justin couldn¡¯t hold it back any long. He broke out with laughter. Full belly laughter.


    ¡°It¡¯s not funny,¡± Owen said. ¡°I¡¯m rather distraught by it all.¡±


    It only made him laugh more. Owen smiled.


    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t mean to laugh. It¡¯s just¡­ absurd.¡±


    ¡°You can say that again. This whole thing is absurd. All of it. Couple weeks ago I was sitting in an office cubicle, feeling my life drift away, wishing for something more.¡±


    ¡°And now you¡¯ve got it,¡± Justin said, wiping a tear from his eye.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s more like a nightmare. But¡ª¡± Owen looked over as the orcs approached. There were more of them now. Balthus, Lome, and Pyris were waiting for them. ¡°¡ªbut it¡¯s easier when I¡¯m not alone. I couldn¡¯t have done any of this otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Huh, alone,¡± Justin muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. Owen noticed the loneliness hidden behind his eyes, but he didn¡¯t mention it. Justin changed the subject. ¡°You had some questions?¡±


    Owen nodded. ¡°I wanted to ask about your travels. Apart from the Orcen Lord, I¡¯ve not seen anything else. No humans. No landmarks. Just monsters and sand.¡±


    Justin thought for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°Not the way I came from. I was planning on riding the giant until I found something worth hopping off for. If it wasn¡¯t for a crevice up on its shoulder blocking some of the sun, I''d have baked to death. Almost did.¡±


    ¡°Not even ruins?¡±


    ¡°I mean, there were some. Villages. But nothing big.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Owen said, thinking.


    ¡°You looking for something in particular?¡±


    ¡°Civilisation,¡± Owen said. ¡°Those Outposts the Administrator was talking about. We need to find those to get back. Otherwise we¡¯re stuck here. Was there more than one village?¡±


    ¡°There were others, but they were days apart.¡±


    ¡°Considering you were travelling on the giant,¡± Owen said. ¡°That means the distance travelled was immense.¡±


    ¡°You can say that again.¡±


    ¡°And that means that there¡¯s nothing worth going that way for.¡± Owen stood up and stretched, then said, ¡°There¡¯s a cave in the mountain that I need to clear out. I was wondering if you wanted to help me out tomorrow? As a reminder, it¡¯ll be dangerous.¡±


    Justin grinned. ¡°Because I¡¯m expendable?¡±


    ¡°Because apart from me,¡± Owen said. ¡°You¡¯re the only one from Earth here. I could do with a friend. Someone to trust when we get back.¡±


    Justin turned silent. And then, he smiled. One that was bright and true. ¡°Alright then. Count me in.¡±


    Owen chuckled and shook his hand. Then, dusting the sand off his trousers, he said, ¡°I¡¯m heading in. Make sure you get inside when that wave comes.¡±


    ¡°Will do.¡±


    Owen nodded and stepped inside. In truth, he didn¡¯t fully trust Justin yet. He knew about Justin¡¯s personality from the book, but the author had changed things before. For now, Owen decided to stay cautious and watch Justin closely until he could be sure of who he really was¡ªif he was truly the Justin Owen had come to know over the course of the book.


    For the future, Owen needed all the help he could get.


    ***


    Laying in bed, Owen couldn¡¯t help but move his thoughts to Louis, Caroline, and the others. He missed them. Louis, because he had known and spoken to him for years. Caroline, and Callan because they had gone through a lot together.


    Quickly checking the marketplace, he let out a sigh of relief. By some miracle, everyone was still alive.


    I hope you¡¯re all safe. I hope you¡¯ve made it to an Outpost, Owen thought, his heart tightening.


    Then there was Lai and Jasp. Some parts of him hoped that the System had brought them in together. But he knew the cruel truth; they were separated. By ten miles, one hundred, maybe even a thousand. Maybe more. That fact gnawed at him, pained him to the core that although he had rescued Jasp from the jaws of death¡ªhis fate was plunged into darkness once more.


    You will live, Jasp.


    A short while later, the entire mountain trembled, and darkness took hold of him. It made him feel even worse. It was suffocating. He couldn¡¯t sleep. Sighing, he sat up, and opened up his Lord Shop. At least it was something to look at for a while.


    He scrolled down the shop, placing all the things he didn¡¯t need up for sale. He scrolled by something, when he shot up to his feet. He rapidly scrolled back, hands trembling. He saw it.


    Lord Lai is selling Sand Hound Pelt (Inferior) x1


    | Price: 5 Credits, or offer.


    ¡°Lai, you¡¯re alive,¡± Owen whispered. His tongue parched, he made a decision. It was an easy one to make.


    You have purchased Sand Hound Pelt (Inferior) for: 5000 Credits.


    It was all he had. Almost all of it. 5000 Credits was a massive amount, and especially at this stage, everything was super low in price. He was going to use it to invest in the future, purchasing ingredients and other things that no one would suspect would be worth anything later on.


    But if Lai was putting up an offer for only 5 Credits¡­ She was desperate.


    Owen sat down, his hands interlocked. ¡°Hopefully those come in useful, Lai,¡± Owen whispered, looking up at the ceiling, although it was pitch black. ¡°Find Jasp. Find your boy.¡±

 Chapter 54 - Mother Violence

    Lai lashed a kick to the large sand hounds chest, her back pressed against the wall. The beast barked and lunged with starving ferocity. The monster¡¯s jaw latched around her calf. Heat spread across her leg as if she had just plunged it into a furnace.


    The sand hound jostled its head, and Lai along with it. Her head struck the side of the small cave she had found for refuge. Now the beast wanted it. She wouldn¡¯t let it.


    Screaming, Lai, with her summoned knife, leaned into the bite, and stuck her blade into the beast''s eye. The power increased even further from her Lord Emblem. But even that didn¡¯t unlock the sand hounds jaws. Lai took out the blade, and was about to sink it into the monster¡¯s flesh when the beast twisted its head again, smashing Lai against the wall. She seethed in pain. Something cracked, her ribs¡ªmaybe two.


    Jasp, Lai thought feverishly. That one thought manifested into an all consuming ferocity that was no less than the beast in front of her.


    Unable to retreat, Lai didn¡¯t bother. She reached forwards and chomped down on the beast''s other eye. She bit down as hard as she could. Fur and the metallic tang of blood gushed into her mouth. She ripped her head away¡ªalong with a gelatinous eyeball.


    The Sand Hound thrashed, striking the slender cave¡¯s wall. The beast tried to scuttle back, but she wouldn¡¯t let it. To find her son, she had to become stronger¡ªhad to kill it.


    Lai slammed her shoulder into the retreating, fumbling beast. Both of them fell to the floor, Lai on top. In a maddened craze, she unleashed a torrent of strikes to the monster. Face, neck, chest, sides¡ªanywhere she could stab¡ªshe did so.


    After the 20th or so strike, the only sound that remained in the cave was Lai¡¯s heavy breathing. She fell back. She felt the strength draining out of her body. A quick glance at her leg told her that she was going to bleed out in minutes¡ªprobably seconds.


    She had no potions left. No bandages. Her top barely remained, and the same could be said for her trousers. If she didn¡¯t die from blood loss tonight, she¡¯d freeze to death at night. But she couldn¡¯t die here. Not when Jasp was out there somewhere.


    Stifling back her cries, she wiped the blood from her face and carved into the beast. She skinned the fur and quickly placed it on the market for 5 Credits. It was underpriced by quite a bit, but she needed 5 more Credits to make up the rest for a basic bandage.


    But she wouldn¡¯t make it until then. Not unless the hide bought instantly, which it didn¡¯t. So, she continued carving up the beast, using her Fragment blade to slice its skin into strips which she then tied across her leg as a makeshift tourniquet¡ªsomething she had learned from Hank¡ªher summoned Hunter.


    Tightening the tourniquet so much that it cut off the circulation of her leg, her thoughts turned to her fallen kingdom. Noone had made it. Not Hank, a 6-Star Hunter, not Vel¡¯ri, not any of the others. All of them had died so that she could make it out alive. And she did. Barely.


    All because of that¡­ man.


    Gritting her bloodied teeth, flesh stuck in between, Lai dragged herself to the back wall, shrouded in darkness. Like a wounded, cornered beast, she stared at the cave entrance, blade in hand. She¡¯d make it out alive. She¡¯d find Jasp. No matter what it took. No matter who she had to kill.


    Sand Hound Pelt (Inferior) x1 has sold for 5000 Credits.


    5¡ª5 thousand?! Lai thought weakly in utter disbelief. She thought she was delirious from blood loss. But when she opened her System, it wasn¡¯t a flight of insanity¡ªit was true. She bought a high quality potion for 2000 Credits right away. It was an exorbitant amount, but it was easy to guess why. Potions were hard to come by. People had to make them. Early, she doubted many Lord¡¯s had access to alchemists. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    The potion was deposited in her hand. With a trembling grip, she uncorked the crystal container and drank the liquid. So warm, she thought, letting out a slight moan as all the wounds on her body restored at a speed visible to the eye.


    She took a moment to breath before taking off the bloodied makeshift tourniquet. She flexed her muscles that were far more dexterous than she could have ever dreamed of. It was all thanks to her Lord Emblem.


    Lord Emblem ¡ª Graceful Might: Grants the wielder extraordinary swordsmanship. Every strike carries increased power, making each blow feel heavier and more devastating. It enhances both Strength and Dexterity, allowing for fluid, precise movements while delivering overwhelming force. With Graceful Might, the user¡¯s attacks are not only swift and accurate but also hit with incredible weight, turning even the lightest blade into a lethal weapon.


    It was only because of that she had managed to survive against the monsters of the desert. She had been stuck in this cave for the past 4 days. The moment her barrier fell, she was beset by monsters and man alike. She didn¡¯t last a single day.


    She grit her teeth, and the image of that man surfaced in her mind once more, threatening to send her over the edge. She forced herself to calm down. Another thought brought her peace.


    Someone she knew had bought that pelt for such an exorbitant price. Someone was helping her. But who? Her first thought was Owen. He seemed to know far too much. His eyes were¡­ kind, but also calculating. Like he was constantly trying to think two steps ahead; like he could see the future. Could it be him? She shook her head at the thought.


    She quickly checked the market and saw that everyone was still alive. Jasp was still alive. She clenched her hands into fists. It was the only thing keeping her going.


    Owen only had a single Star Talent. One point every Level. Even if he knew the future like the others claimed he did, there was no way he could escape the dangers of this cursed land with that pitiful Attribute gain. She hoped that he was still alive. He had saved her boy¡ªfor that, she was eternally grateful. If he was alive, if she herself lived, she¡¯d make it a priority to help him in this place.


    But deep down, she knew he was dead. A single point to his Attributes every Level¡­ he would have to gain a god-like Emblem if he was to come out on the other side alive.


    Caroline? Callan?


    It must be Callan, she thought. With his strength and Talent, he had the highest likelihood of earning so much. Of surviving.


    Thank you, Callan, Lai thought as she bought some more clothes¡ªwhich were probably from fallen Units. But she didn¡¯t care. At least she wouldn¡¯t freeze to death. She huddled in the corner and waited for the tsunami to wash over the land. And it did. The cave barely resisted against it. She sat at the back, her entire waist consumed in sand. It was only by luck it didn¡¯t cover her entirely.


    It was so dark, she couldn¡¯t see her hands in front of her face. She was used to it now. Or maybe it was because her thoughts were consumed by something else. Her son¡ªJasp¡ªwas out there somewhere, hiding in the darkness.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come to find you,¡± she mumbled, clenching her fists so across her blade handle that her knuckles turned white. ¡°Keep fighting, and I¡¯ll do the same. I won¡¯t stop, my son.¡±


    At that moment, she felt the sand shift. Adrenaline took over her body, crashing against her system. Heart thrashing in her chest, she instinctively covered her face and heart.


    Something burst out of the sand and clung onto her shoulder, piercing her flesh. She screamed out in pain and with her dagger, stabbed whatever it was with increased velocity. Her blade sunk deep, the tip of her dagger sinking into her flesh. But she didn¡¯t care. She had to kill whatever had attacked her.


    You have slain a Sand Worm (Level 13)


    | You have reached Level 14


    Lai instantly placed the 5 points she earned and placed them into Dexterity. The faster she moved, the more strength she¡¯d have thanks to her Lord Emblem.


    She heard something slither in the sand once again. Gnashing her teeth, she readied herself for battle.

 Chapter 55 - Hunting

    It was morning now, and Owen was sick of the darkness. He couldn¡¯t stand it any more. So, the first thing on the agenda for the day was improving the lighting within the mountain. It was going to be a big risk. And it was about to take him out of his kingdom to sort the problem.


    But it was needed. Being able to see when his enemies could not was a massive advantage.


    The orcs had congregated in the sands. Owen noticed there were more of them now. Women helped the men put their armour on, who in turn helped put their armour on. The orcish children practised their swings, their faces serious, but having fun. As Owen watched, guilt bit him. He had knowingly forced them to starve. Maybe there would have been more here. And yet, none of them looked at Owen as if he was a villain, but that of a victor.


    One female orc in particular walked around the children, striking their thighs and arms with a long and slender stick.


    Owen approached Gorath, who was watching on with a complicated expression.


    ¡°Is it a patriarchal society?¡± Owen asked, wondering if the women stayed back with the children. Seeing their armour, however, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± said Gorath, bowing. ¡°In some ways, yes. When the orcish males are out fighting, and the surroundings are dangerous, the women defend the base. And the children. But in war, strength in the arms and technique with an axe is all that matters. In that case¡ª¡± Gorath pointed to one of the taller children. She looked more serious than the others, and she watched the surroundings. Her eyes met with Owen, and he smiled in response. She snapped her head back.


    Gorath continued, ¡°the Prime Child looks after the other children. The strongest of the younger generation.¡±


    ¡°Quite a responsibility.¡±


    ¡°The responsibility of the strong,¡± Gorath said.


    Owen nodded. ¡°Seems like we all have it one way or another,¡± he said, squinting his eyes from the rising sun. ¡°Prepare them, we will be heading out to hunt today.¡±


    ¡°Scarlet Crabs?¡±


    Owen gazed out to the horizon. ¡°I have something else in mind. We now have water, food, and shelter. Now we need things to improve our standards of living. We have a bath to improve hygiene. Now we need a proper light source to navigate the increasing passageways of the mountain.¡±


    ¡°It appears you have to think about everything.¡±


    ¡°Makes a difference. Before this I didn¡¯t have to think about anything. Go to work, finish, sleep, go back to work.¡±


    ¡°Your butler said you needed me?¡± Justin approached, yawning.


    Owen smiled. ¡°He¡¯s not a butler. He¡¯s an administrator.¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± said Justin, waving his hand.


    ¡°Before we clear out the mountain, I wanted your help outside,¡± Owen said. ¡°Need a light source. There should be a monster nearby that has just what I need.¡±


    ¡°A light source?¡± Justin asked. ¡°That¡¯s a lot to risk for that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just any light source. It battles against the piercing dark from that wave. It¡¯ll help productivity greatly.¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡± Justin summoned a lantern. The flickering purple flame within burned dim. There it is, Owen thought. The Eternal Light.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Owen asked, feigning ignorance.


    ¡°The Eternal Light,¡± he said. Gorath stepped closer to inspect it.


    ¡°It¡¯s magic,¡± Gorath said curiously. ¡°May I?¡±


    Justin handed it to him without care, and said, ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    ¡°Marvellous. It¡¯s not an element I¡¯m aware of. Where did you claim such a thing?¡±


    Justin shrugged. ¡°Got it when I killed a sand mutt. Says that an old guy used to use it as a paper weight, then killed a mage with it and his powers joined with it. Who kills someone with a lantern?¡±


    Owen¡¯s brows twitched. A godly being, that¡¯s who.


    ¡°You can have it if you want?¡± Justin offered it to Owen, but he shook his head.


    ¡°You need it. Besides, that¡¯s similar to what we¡¯re going out for.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Justin said, brandishing a spear made out of his own mana. ¡°Then let¡¯s get going.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°That was easy,¡± Owen said, smiling. He knew the reason, of course. Deep down, Justin wanted friends; wanted that connection with someone. Now that they were proclaimed ¡®friends¡¯, Justin would take that seriously. Yes, he was a simpleton. ¡°Thought I¡¯d have to bribe you with something.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what friends do?¡± he asked innocently. ¡°They help each other?¡±


    Owen smiled. ¡°They do.¡±


    ***


    Out on the sands, around forty orcs trailed behind him¡ªa formidable force. For what he planned to hunt, he¡¯d need every one of them. Close by, Pyris, Justin, Lome, Mirian, and Rohan formed a protective circle around Owen. The rest of the group remained at camp, guarding the others.


    Owen wore the armour of Nerzu, drawing envious glances from Justin. Paired with the Heartseeker''s Edge and Dune Crest''s Veil, he was fully equipped for what lay ahead.


    Justin glanced from the armour to Pyris, then at the orcs, before remarking, ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve gotten lucky.¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± Owen admitted. But he wasn¡¯t about to reveal the real reason for his luck¡ªhis potent Lord Emblem, which increased his chances of obtaining Fragments with each use. If Justin knew, he¡¯d probably lose his mind.


    Reaching the top of a dune, Owen surveyed the landscape. As always, nothing but endless mountains, dunes, and sand stretching to the horizon. They had trekked for four hours to reach this desolate area in the south.


    The orcs watched him closely, their bodies weary, beaten by the relentless sun. They were growing impatient. Owen ignored their frustration. They¡¯d be satisfied soon enough¡ªor not. That was the risk he had chosen to take. He needed the light, not just for illumination but for their future.


    ¡°What are we hunting?¡± one of the orcish warriors asked.


    ¡°A shadow among¡ª¡± Owen paused, then smiled. ¡°Found it.¡± He pointed to a strange patch of shadow, darker than anything else in the flat desert. No mountains, dunes, or hills¡ªjust an unnatural darkness.


    ¡°You want battle? Glory? Strength?¡± he called to the orcs.


    They gripped their weapons tighter and nodded.


    ¡°Then follow me and prepare yourselves.¡±


    On the way, Owen explained the plan¡ªhow to dodge, how to move, how to kill. As they neared the shadow, Owen¡¯s heart raced. His instincts screamed at him not to approach, warning of the grave danger ahead. But he pushed forward. For his people, for their future, he would take the risk.


    ¡°Elina, fire an arrow into the centre,¡± Owen commanded. ¡°Put everything into it.¡±


    Without hesitation, Elina obeyed, channelling her mana. She drew back her bow and fired with all her might. The arrow flew, kicking up a storm of dust as it pierced the darkened sand, illuminating the area with a burst of starlight.


    They waited, tension rising. Owen tightened his grip on his sword. Then, it began.


    A low, rumbling sound echoed, like a powerful engine roaring to life. The shadowed sand bubbled as if something was breathing beneath it. Moments later, a hulking form erupted from the earth.


    The orcs roared their battle cries, slamming their weapons against their palms. The sound was like war drums, as fearsome as when they had first clashed. These warriors were born for battle.


    Owen''s eyes followed the creature as it rose, towering over them at an imposing 20 feet. It was far larger than he had anticipated. Seeing it up close made its size feel even more monstrous.


    Twisted twin horns jutted toward the sky, sharp and ominous. Its body was covered in thick, black chitinous armour, shining like something dredged up from the underworld. It resembled a massive, nightmarish beetle¡ªand they had just made it furious.


    It spewed out black oil at them, but Owen and his troops were ready.


    ¡°Attack!¡± Owen¡¯s voice rang out across the sands.


    He slammed down the Orcen Totem, boosting Gorath¡¯s magic. Luna, having emptied her mana container, was forced to recharge. But Gorath and the other archers unleashed their barrage. Lightning crackled from Gorath¡¯s spell, striking the beetle¡¯s shell, sending up smoke. But the creature was unharmed. Arrows bounced harmlessly off its armour. Their purpose wasn¡¯t to kill, only to distract.


    The weaker warriors charged forward, hacking at the beetle¡¯s legs. They moved in a circular formation, never staying in one place too long. Using tough cactus-fibre ropes, they latched onto the creature wherever they could.


    On the other side, Owen commanded the desert with Sandstorm Fury, summoning a swirling dust cloud around him. The strongest warriors fought beside him, striking the beetle relentlessly.


    Now¡¯s the moment, Owen thought.


    Right on cue, the beetle reared up, preparing to slam down into the sands.


    ¡°Jump now!¡± Owen shouted.


    Everyone leaped, barely avoiding a forest of sharp, spiralling rock spikes that erupted from the ground. But not all had trusted Owen¡¯s warning. Some of the orcs were too slow, and the spikes pierced their bodies, drawing screams of agony.


    Owen gritted his teeth, unable to worry about them now. He signalled to Justin, who began his part of the plan.


    Justin knelt, pressing his hand to the sands. Black lances of rock shot up, just like the beetle¡¯s earlier attack, targeting its legs. The ground shifted as the creature was lifted, its balance thrown off.


    Owen, along with Pyris, hidden by the dust cloud, launched themselves forward with incredible speed. Using every ounce of strength, together, they snapped their legs to the beetle¡¯s torso, while the orcs heaved on the ropes. Pyris¡¯s legs were covered in blazing starlight, a stark contrast to the powerless Owen. She looked like an incoming comet. With a mighty crash, the beetle tipped over, landing on its back.


    It thrashed, flailing in a frenzy, but the orcish warriors moved quickly, binding it with their ropes, pulling tighter to keep the creature pinned.


    Owen leaped onto its underbelly, stomping, slashing, kicking¡ªuntil he cracked through the chitin. But even that wasn¡¯t enough to subdue the beast.


    ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± he muttered, activating Unlimited Plunder.


    In an instant, the beetle¡¯s armoured shell vanished, leaving its tender flesh exposed. But something he expected started to occur. The shell was¡­ regenerating. Without hesitation, Owen raised his blade and brought it down in one swift motion. His sword plunged deep, disappearing until only the hilt remained.


    In that single strike, the beast was slain.


    You and your subordinates have defeated a Dread Beetle (Level 42)


    | You and your subordinates have levelled up.


    | You have gained a Summoning Ticket: Animal Husbandry (5-Stars)


    No Fragments or Spectres. But that didn¡¯t matter. It was Plundering time.

 Chapter 56 - Skill Growth

    You have plundered a Dread Beetle x1.


    | Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket: 3x Hunters, 2x Warriors, Dread Beetle Shell x1 (Normal), Dread Beetle Meat and Organs x28 (Normal), Dread Beetle Bones x25 (Normal), Dread Beetle Oil x45.


    | Stats gained: 20 Strength, 15 Vitality, 10 Dexterity.


    | Skills gained ¡ª Regenerative Armour: Use Vitality to regenerate and form a carapace-like armour. Durability is based on Vitality.


    The moment he plundered it, the entire body vanished into his storage. With nothing to hold him up, Owen slammed down into the sand below. He cracked his neck, then gazed at the notification¡ªignoring the stunned expressions the orc were sending his way.


    Owen was met with a problem. He could absorb the Skill he had plundered, placing it into his System. Or he could deny it. He had twelve slots for Skills, and he wasn¡¯t sure if this was one he wanted to expend a slot on. It was good. It would provide him an extra layer of defence. Maybe the choice would have been obvious if he didn¡¯t have the Armour of Nerzu. But he did. So, rather regretfully, he denied it.


    Instead of vanishing, it was placed directly into his Plundered Storage. It looked like a gem with the picture of a shell regenerating etched onto the surface. It would fetch a pretty penny in the Lord Shop.


    More messages arrived.


    Owen Taylor Level 27 -> Level 29


    Owen tutted. All of that for two Levels. Two points into his Attributes. It was a proper kick in the teeth. Yet thanks to Unlimited Plunder, he had earned 45 total points instead. Depending on what Talent someone had, that was a lot of Levels. So, along with what he had Plundered, Owen placed the 2 points into Dexterity.


    He wanted to be as fast as he could. His swordsmanship demanded it. However, he did see the effect Vitality had for Unlimited Plunder. But, he¡¯d rather focus on combat instead. There would come a point where plundering would become less effective, granting him less and less points.


    It was only because the Dread Beetle was a higher Level did it grant him extra points. It wouldn¡¯t occur all the time.


    Your expertise with Unlimited Plunder has grown


    | None -> Low


    | Reward: The strain of using Unlimited Plunder has lessened. You can strip a portion of armour away and place it directly into your Plundered Storage.


    Owen smiled. It was an awesome upgrade. Although he was certain that stripping away armour came at a cost. He vividly recalled stealing the Dune Ravager¡¯s heart on the first day. That pain¡­ it wasn¡¯t normal, and he dreaded experiencing that again. He was certain using it against armour would provide the same level of pain, depending on the durability of the armour. He¡¯d need to test it.


    Glancing at the oil within his storage, Owen nodded. It was exactly what he wanted. Thankfully the author hadn¡¯t changed it. Not only was it capable of burning in the devouring darkness, but it lasted a long time as well. He wouldn¡¯t need any more for the foreseeable future.


    With that done, Owen approached his people. The sun was battering down on them, but they didn¡¯t seem to care. They were waiting for their Lord. They bowed as he approached, especially the orcs. To them, the beetle was a great foe. They couldn¡¯t have hoped to defeat it, even if there were double their numbers. Yet Owen did it. Not only with strategy, but strength, too.


    Owen placed his hand on the nearest orc¡¯s shoulder and smiled. ¡°Good work everyone. How are the wounded?¡±


    ¡°Four injured. Can¡¯t walk, but we can carry them back.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Owen said, looking at the wounded. If they¡¯d have listened, no-one would be injured. ¡°Bandage them up as quickly as possible and we¡¯ll return in haste.¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    A few minutes later, they were hiking through the thick, sinking sands. Justin, arms practically touching Owen¡¯s, said, ¡°What the hell was that ability of yours? That beetle just vanished.¡±


    Owen glanced around, maintaining vigilance. He glanced at Pyris. She did the same. ¡°I can store monsters. Cool, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Justin nodded. ¡°I lost my pack on the first day. Water and potions along with it. If I had that ability, it would have made life a whole lot easier. What about your Talent?¡±


    ¡°6-Stars,¡± he lied.


    ¡°So you placed most of your Attributes in Strength and Dexterity.¡±


    Owen nodded. If Justin knew that Owen had 150 in all of Strength, Dexterity, and Vitality, he¡¯d gnash his teeth in frustration. Owen didn¡¯t need to ask what Justin¡¯s talent was, for he knew it already. Still, he wanted to ask and get it from his mouth personally.


    ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°9-Stars,¡± Justin said as if it was normal, or expected.


    ¡°Look at you, genius on the sands.¡±


    Justin shrugged. ¡°Mum always said I was born for greatness.¡±


    Wow, our mothers are polar opposites, Owen thought. All my mother told me was that I¡¯d never amount to much, and should give up¡ªlike my dad did. But Owen thought it was best not to unload his sob story onto someone he had just met.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t arrogant at all,¡± Owen joked.


    ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡± Justin grinned.


    Thankfully, Owen and his team arrived without running into another monster. But upon nearing the mountain, he heard the sounds of fighting. Picking up speed, he saw multiple scarlet crabs scraping at the wall. The archers unleashed barrage after barrage of arrows. More crabs were arriving.


    Owen rushed over. He noticed that he was the fastest among them by quite a margin. During the time he had spent on the mountain, and recovering after the battle with the orcen Lord, Pyris had Levelled up quite a few times. But even as a 7-Star, she had a lot of catching up to do. And then she used a Skill. Legs covered in universal starlight, black, and sparkling white and orange and fire, she caught up to him in seconds. If given any longer, she¡¯d have overtaken him. But they arrived, and Owen was the first to strike.


    Rounding the wall on the western side, brandishing his blade smothered in fire thanks to his armour, he slashed the leftmost crab¡¯s leg, collapsing it. He moved as swift as the wind to the next, leaping up, severing the crab¡¯s already wounded eye.


    Thorin crashed through the gate, along with the other warriors. Pyris, with stars surrounding her fists, smashed a scarlet crab, cracking its shell with all her strength.


    Together, they slaughtered the oncoming crabs. Owen felt something almost clicking in his head as he swung his blade, meeting flesh. It was like a word at the tip of his tongue. He could feel it, taste it. Yet it evaded him. He continued, dodging, striking, trying to become one with his sword. But he was missing something. He experimented with how he held his blade, tested at which angle he should be swinging his weapon.


    It was a torrent of steel and blood and shattered chitin. Orcish screams covered the battlefield until none of the crabs were left. Owen frowned, breathing heavy. The feeling was right there, and he knew what it was¡ªthe next step of swordsmanship. And he missed it.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be the last of them,¡± Pyris said, noticing Owen¡¯s discontent.


    ¡°What?¡± Owen asked, then rose his brows in realisation. ¡°Oh, the scarlet crabs. Right. We¡¯ll tighten security. Brook is working on the siege wall in front of the mountain. It was a mistake to erect a castle here, out in the open. I¡¯ll put it down to inexperience.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all learning,¡± she said, encouraging him. ¡°I¡¯ll defend it.¡±


    Owen shook his head with a small smile. He placed his hand on Pyris¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Actually, I want you to pick the strongest of the orcs, with Lome, and head out to hunt. There¡¯s a lot of dangers out there, and they are increasing by the day. Something is stirring them up, and it isn¡¯t that wandering giant. For the future, I need you to become as strong as possible.¡±


    ¡°It will be done,¡± She said, lowering her head slightly. The side of her face shone from the sun. Not even the harsh light could ruin her visage.


    So beautiful, Owen thought, but removed it from his mind the next moment. ¡°Great. Make sure to bring¡ª¡±


    She interrupted, ¡°Bring back the bodies, I know.¡±


    Pyris wasted no time. She gathered the orcs and Lome, and headed out once again. Come back safely, Owen thought, half a prayer, half because it made him feel better.


    Owen drew a breath, then plundered all the scarlet crabs at once. There were 6 of them. Suddenly met with a landfall of shell and flesh and Summoning Tickets, all of which were valuable, Owen was met with the second part of his plan¡ªto become filthy rich.


    He gazed at the market, and smiled. It was time to create a monopoly.

 Chapter 57 - Krixar

    From what he knew, there were many things he could purchase at the beginning to accrue wealth that would scare any ordinary Lord. But the most profitable ones, Ansel was already on it. Owen searched for them on the market, but as he had expected¡ªAnsel had already wiped them clear.


    For now, Owen placed all that he could on the market, flooding it with high quality meat and ingredients and the Summoning Tickets he had just obtained¡ªall of them being Hunters, Warriors, and Builders. It felt a little painful to sell them, but it was a needed investment. He also placed the Skill he had received from the beetle. Once they sold.


    The first thing he bought a significant amount of were a herb called Knive¡¯s Lick. It was the main recipe in a potion known for enhancing the sharpness of a blade. For all the Lords out there, it would be a cheap necessity in the future. It would allow them to craft ordinary weapons and enhance them further with the potion. A cheap upgrade. And Owen would control the market.


    There was also a downside to them. They spoiled quickly. They had to be stored in a frozen environment, close to other metals. But Owen didn¡¯t have to worry about that. His Plundered Storage kept everything fresh¡ªthe herb included.


    Swiping them all for a pitiful amount, he swiftly placed them all into his storage. Other than that, he bought  a few more things¡ªsome of them for Rizael to use now¡ªand some that could be used for the future, spending the vast majority of the money he had just earned. It was worth it.


    Owen turned his mind to his new friend Justin. The born assassin. For reasons unknown, he had decided to stay the night. Better yet, it appeared he¡¯d stay for the remaining future. Unless he decided to just up and vanish. Owen wouldn¡¯t put it past him.


    For that reason, Owen pushed back the cave exploration for now. All because of one thing: Animal Husbandry (5-Stars)


    Smiling at the ticket, he excitedly made his way to Coo and Bubbles pasture. Surprisingly, Pyris was there. She had gotten back last night before the wave struck, resulting in another Level to Owen. But Owen was already in bed by that time.


    No one had died. Owen placed the single point he had gained into Dexterity. As expected, upon reaching Level 20, Pyris didn¡¯t gain a Class upgrade. Maybe it was Level 50? The quicker she got there, the more comfortable Owen would feel about leaving his kingdom in her hands.


    After all, there would come a time when he had to find a Gateway. For his family. For Earth. But without the confidence of overwhelming might, he¡¯d never leave his people unguarded and unprepared.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Owen said, walking into the room.


    ¡°Our god, Serelune, offers something that no mortal can,¡± she paused, her fingers stilling as she gathered her thoughts. ¡°Peace. Not just the absence of conflict, but a deeper kind. The kind that silences the doubts, the fear, the loneliness. When everything else feels chaotic or hopeless, Serelune''s light reminds us that there''s something greater, something constant. A purpose beyond survival.¡±


    Owen tilted his head, still petting Bubbles. "So, it¡¯s comfort, then? A crutch?¡±


    Pyris shook her head, smiling gently. ¡°No, not a crutch. It''s more like¡­ guidance. Mortals, we struggle. We want answers. We want to know why things happen, or what comes next. Religion fills that void. It gives us something eternal to look toward when everything else fades or fails.¡±


    Owen considered her words, then let out a low hum. ¡°And you think people look at me that way?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± she said with a soft smile, her eyes flicking to meet his. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m still very much aware you¡¯re just a man.¡±


    Owen chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Trying to humble me? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m good at doing that myself. Thanks. I feel a little better. I think.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re doing well, Owen.¡±


    A warmth took hold of him. His smile widened.


    ***


    A few minutes later, he ripped the ticket and out popped an older gentleman with roughed up white hair and a long beard to match. Owen would have thought him to be human, if it were not for sharply pointed fingernails tipped black. Or the line of black scales underneath his eyes¡­ or the fact that his legs were curved¡ªlike a cricket. He wore clean overalls that were patched up in certain places. It appeared he didn¡¯t believe in buying new clothes, but repairing the ones he did have. Owen liked that quality.


    ¡°Oh, my Lord,¡± Krixar said, bowing. Then his eyes snapped to Bubbles, his lips curling to a bright smile. ¡°Ah, a youngster!¡± He exclaimed, heading right for Bubbles. Owen was about to warn him that Coo would have something to say about that. She was mighty defensive about her child. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    As the man neared, Owen smelt a pungent scent of earth and flowers. Strangely, Coo didn¡¯t even bat an eyelid as she continued eating without worry.


    What the¡ª


    Kirxar joined them and petted Bubbles. He twirled his pointed fingernail around her ear. Bubbles, who was full of energy just before, exhaled a powerful breath¡ªlike a dog finding a comfortable position.


    ¡°Did you put her to sleep?¡± Pyris asked?


    ¡°Oh, no,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t have such capabilities. But I can induce the wee ones into a deep relaxation. Helps them grow.¡±


    Kind of like Bimpnottin and his plants? Owen thought. Curiosity got the best of him.


    Name: Krixar (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)


    | Race: Zookari


    | Level: 1


    | Class: Animal Husbandry


    Attributes:


    | Strength: 23


    | Vitality: 17


    | Dexterity: 31


    | Magic: 52


    | Mana: 15


    Skills


    | Soothing Pheromones: Exudes a calming scent that reduces stress in nearby animals, boosting their health and making them more obedient.


    | Vital Bloom: Channels energy into an animal, accelerating healing and temporarily enhancing stamina and endurance.


    | Beast Bond: Forms a telepathic link with an animal, improving its growth, health, and resistance to disease.


    Awesome, Owen thought as he inspected the addition to the family.


    Noticing that Krixar had immediately started taking his role seriously, becoming absorbed with caring for the two animals, Owen brought Pyris away. He explained to her about the plan to cut through the monsters within the cavern that had appeared down in the mine shafts.


    Although he didn¡¯t know how strong these monsters were without laying eyes on them, it was important to not take them lightly. Inside was going to be dark and there was no way of knowing what would lay in ambush.


    For that reason, Owen intended on bringing Pyris with him along with Gorath, Draed, Justin, and Lome¡ªthe might of his fighting force.


    He had to have a certain prestige of his people defending his land, but with the orcs hungry for a fight, he was confident in them.


    Tasking Pyris to get a hold of everyone, Owen on other hand, met up with the healer: Rizael. He was tending to potions, tinkering around with them, preparing Ingredients.


    Owen deposited a large amount of various herbs on the table.


    ¡°My Lord, where did you get¡ª¡±


    Owen interrupted him, and said, pointing to the leftmost pile. ¡°I¡¯m sure with your Skill, you¡¯ll know what basic uses they have, right?¡±


    Rizael tilted his head and grabbed one of the leaves. It had ten points and vivid red lines ran through them. If Owen¡¯s memory didn¡¯t fail him, then they were from a rare tree that only grew within graveyards. Eyes lighting up, he nodded.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Owen said in high spirits, patting the healer¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Mixed with sand and blood of any beast and extracted, will produce a high quality health potion.¡± he pointed at the other piles. ¡°These are used to temporarily improve the magic output of any that drinks it.¡±


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Rizael said, tongue almost tied. ¡°How do you know this? By any chance are you a great alchemist?¡±


    Owen shook his head and laughed. ¡°Hardly. I just know things. I¡¯m smart,¡± he said, pointing to his head.


    ¡°Right¡­¡±


    Owen cleared his throat and said, ¡°Anyway, once you¡¯ve prepared them, don¡¯t use them. Notify me at once. I¡¯m intending on selling them.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t be using them?¡± Rizael asked, hsi mind spinning. ¡°With what you¡¯re suggesting, we could battle more and use them instead.¡±


    Owen knew he meant well, but right now, health potions were incredibly rare. And expensive. Ansel was about to make his move on the market, but so was Owen. he didn¡¯t intend to step on his shoes, and that was why Owen hadn¡¯t made a move on the most profitable items that Ansel was preparing. But Owen was still going to make a fortune.


    Honestly, he was a little disappointed. If it wasn¡¯t for that damned orc Lord, he wouldn¡¯t have had to spend his Credits on the limited use crossbow, or explosives. No matter, he wasn¡¯t one to dwell on the past. Not anymore.


    ¡°No,¡± Owen said. ¡°Trust me. We¡¯re selling them. After that, I¡¯ll be buying a lot more things as well. It¡¯s best to keep you busy, get your Class up, and make some money while we¡¯re at it.¡±


    Rizael nodded in high spirits at the mention of a Class up. ¡°You can count on me, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Likewise, Rizael.¡±


    ***


    After that was done, he made his way to where five guards stood with weapons in hand down in the mines. Pyris and the others weren¡¯t here yet. They bowed the moment they saw Owen, their eyes widening. He noticed one of them whisper something, probably a prayer.


    Yeah, I¡¯m never getting used to this, Owen thought as he raised his hand for them to stand up. The hole in the wall was barricaded up, stuffed with massive boulders that Owen had planted with Unlimited Plunder.


    ¡°Any activity?¡± Owen asked.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± one of them said. ¡°We¡¯ve heard strange, growling-like noises along with scratches at the rocks.¡±


    ¡°None of them trying to escape with force?¡±


    ¡°No, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Hm, okay.¡±


    Many monsters flashed in Owen¡¯s mind. He hoped it wasn¡¯t what he was thinking. And of course, it was exactly what he was thinking¡­

 Chapter 58 - Training (+ Announcement!)

    Owen, along with Lome, Pyris, Justin, Draed, and Gorath, stalked the entrance of the cave, weapons at the ready. Owen, as the strongest amongst them, held the front. Lome had the back. In the centre were Draed and Gorath. Justin was right next to Owen, but thanks to his shadow abilities, he could easily defend the sides.


    ¡°Draed, light,¡± Owen commanded.


    Draed nodded and fired an arrow bundled with mana in the distance. A massive cave revealed itself. Owen spotted certain shadows lurch back into hiding, away from the vivid light. But the light only lasted a moment before it dwindled away. As it was one of Draed¡¯s attacking skills, he couldn¡¯t use it too many times.


    But Levi wasn¡¯t worried.


    Reaching into his Plundered Storage, he took out a large stick that was covered in black slime. It was the oil from the Dread Beetle. He ignited it with a spark, and a piercing light broke the veil of darkness. It was so bright that Owen had to squint his eyes.


    He heard something hiss behind a rock.


    Justin grinned and squatted down and placed his hand on the floor. He closed his eyes, and then they snapped open after a moment. From behind the rock, a black lance shot up. A monster followed it, skewered by the piece of thorned metal.


    It was a slender beast, like a goblin with tall pointed ears, but its skin was a dark grey. It also had striking blue eyes, like the underside of a glacier. Black tattoos were etched into its flesh, like the ink gun had dug way too far into the flesh.


    Draed replied with an attack of his own, firing an arrow into its eye. It was dead in an instant. Then, all around, Owen noticed a lot of movement. Silently, one of the monsters leapt at Owen from behind a stalactite up above.


    Owen grunted and slashed his sword in a controlled arc. No longer were his swings untamed, wild, and unprofessional. Now it had a hint of seriousness to it. But seeing the human-like enemies of the monster, he hesitated. Pulling back his power, his blade bit into the monster''s shoulder blade.


    Not dead, the beast''s make-shift blade clanged against his armoured chest piece. The cave goblin didn¡¯t hesitate. It swung its arms to attack once more.


    With more strength this time, Owen replied with a speed the beast couldn¡¯t match. He cleaved the monster in half, waist-to-shoulder. He Plundered its body as it fell, reaching out to the two halves in quick succession¡ªlike a master pickpocket.


    Drakzun, as Owen remembered them, were vile creatures with twisted and cruel ways of combat. They were Oreweavers; beings that tore ore from the walls underground and commanded the pure metal into weapons and armour. But only the strongest could control so much metal at once. These ones only had smaller weapons like knives and machetes.


    As the blood splattered on the floor, it signalled the beginning of a brutal and bloody fight.


    Gorath summoned his thunder, using it to devastating effect as the electric tendrils zapped any monsters in the distance.


    Draed, like he had eyes on the back of his head, always found his target. Thanks to his Class evolution, most of his arrows followed their target. Like an ethereal hunter stalking the grounds of purgatory. Focusing on speed rather than power, he mostly focused on stalling their movements, aiming for the legs, or the eyes, if he could.


    Lome was like an undead lumberjack whose sole mission was to cleave as many monsters as he could. For his kingdom, for his lord. One of the monsters had gotten close, and swung a sharpened metal shard at him. It struck bone, but that was far as it got. Lomer replied, eyes spitting unholy fire, and replied with a swing of his own, blade sinking into collarbone. His axe got stuck halfway. He needed a new weapon.


    Justin, on the other hand, rarely let any of the monsters get close to him. He was an assassin from birth, trained in cruel ways never to be seen, yet he was no slouch in direct combat. His shadow lances appeared to have little in the way of rules. He¡¯d summon them from behind cover, from the walls, and the ceilings above. Owen knew the truth. Justin was listening to the shadows. It would tell him where he had to strike and when. And that was just the tip of his abilities.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Thanks to his incredible Lord Emblem, he¡ªvanished. He reappeared 5 feet away, and thrust a spear into the nearby beast. Shadow Transference. Owen wryly shook his head at the incredible ability as he separated a drakzun¡¯s head from its shoulders.


    Then there was Pyris. During the past couple weeks, she had grown ever stronger. Her fists covered in starlight blasted back the drakzun in droves. She moved effortlessly, with grace, and violence befitting a warrior of Velorin. Her fighting style resembled that of Earth''s boxing. In fact, it was eerily similar, the only difference was that she used her elbows and knees and feet to deal maximum damage. But she held clear preference in her fists.


    However, the more he watched her fight, Owen couldn¡¯t help but frown. She was holding back her powers. Every now and then, she¡¯d scrunch her brows in clear and visible pain. It was obvious the corruption hadn¡¯t completely been expelled from her system.


    Owen thought of using Unlimited Plunder on her. But how high would his control need to be for that? Medium? High? Peak? He had only just obtained Low grade. He was far from being comfortable doing that. With his current stage, he¡¯d just end up plundering her entire arm, or worse, her body in its entirety.


    Ducking an incoming wild swing of a magic-formed blade, Owen thrust his shoulder into the drakzun, sending it tumbling to the ground before stepping to the side, and thrusting his blade into the heart of another.


    Two more arrived in quick succession, hissing and spitting violence. Owen activated Sandstorm Fury, and tried to control only a small amount. It didn¡¯t work. A huge chunk of dust and sand on the cave floor shot up, assaulting the beast''s sensitive eyes. However, the sand also washed over Justin and the others. They coughed and spluttered. Thankfully the sand settled after a moment.


    ¡°Sorry!¡± Owen shouted, cutting into another monster. He spat at his lousy control. He had intended to focus on a small amount, but concentrated. Was it because of his lack of Magic Stat, or his measly amount of control?


    It¡¯s both, Owen thought.


    Owen thought back to the harrowing thought of plundering Pyris. It was a sudden thought that he couldn¡¯t help but have in the middle of the battle. His mind wandered to the skeleton corpses back in the ruins, where Armand¡¯s letter lay.


    If he had plundered their bones, would the fight between him and the orcen Lord have been different? Owen grit his teeth and killed another drakzun with a slash of his blade. Most likely it would have. If he had gotten a powerful ability, or even slightly more Attributes¡­ he may not have needed Pyris¡¯s help. Because he needed her, she was placed in danger. She was just Level one. If not for her overwhelming combat experience and her Skills, she would have also died. And then all of his people would be up on the chopping block next.


    Stupid, Owen thought, gnashing his teeth as his sword sliced through another Drakzun. He hesitated¡ªjust a fraction of a second, like he always did. Killing still wasn¡¯t easy for him. Neither was the idea of Plundering a once human body. If only he could let go of that small hesitation. But it wasn¡¯t that simple.


    I can¡¯t survive like this. Can¡¯t protect everyone like this, he thought. Couldn¡¯t protect anyone if he flinched when it mattered most.


    By the time he snapped out of his thoughts, the battle was over. The Drakzun lay dead around him, at least the ones that hadn¡¯t retreated deeper into the cave.


    ¡°Everything okay, my Lord?¡± Pyris asked, flicking blood off her hands as if it were nothing.


    ¡°How do you not hesitate?¡± Owen asked, glancing at his trembling hands. That shake, always the same. It was holding him back. Keeping him from reaching the next level with his swordsmanship.


    ¡°How do you train yourself to kill without second thoughts?¡±


    Pyris looked at the bodies scattered across the floor, then back at Owen. ¡°Training, conditioning, and reminding myself we¡¯re protecting those we care about.¡±


    Owen exhaled deeply, frustration lingering.


    Justin, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. ¡°It¡¯s simple: kill or be killed. You hesitate, you lose the target¡ªand maybe your life with it.¡±


    Owen scoffed. ¡°Easier said than done.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t stress it,¡± Justin said, his tone cold but reassuring. ¡°By the time today¡¯s over, hesitation won¡¯t even be a thought in your mind.¡±


    Owen gave the bodies one look and nodded. Perhaps he was right. With a heavy heart, he tightened the grip around the handle of his sword. There was a lot more killing to be done.


    Rotating his shoulders to get rid of that feeling of being weighed down, Owen plundered all the corpses available. As he saw all of the notifications, felt the added warmth take hold of his body, he felt a little better. And the Skills and Summoning Tickets were a welcome addition.