At the stronghold, the rhythm of daily life continued. Labourers moved with purpose toward the communal kitchen to claim their morning portions. River, the man Leo had entrusted with the leadership of the camp, watched them with a keen eye. As he looked at the soaring walls of the fortress, a deep sense of pride and protection swelled within him.
'A full day has passed since the Lord departed for his hunt. I can only hope the path was smooth,' River mused.
Dork, the head chef, was busy ladling out stew when a female worker approached the counter. "Sir Dork, do you have word on why the Lord did not return last night?" she asked.
Dork nearly fumbled his ladle, his posture stiffening. He offered a nervous, humble wave. "There is no need for such titles. I am merely a chef."
The woman, her hair pulled back in a practical cloth wrap, shook her head firmly. Her eyes shone with genuine admiration. "I disagree. Your food is a blessing, Sir Dork. In this stronghold, you are second only to the Lord himself."
Dork felt the tension leave his shoulders, a small smile playing on his lips. "Supervisor Akul mentioned that the Lord was heading toward a perilous trial to sharpen his strength," he explained, handing a steaming bowl to the next man in line.
The worker leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You actually speak with Supervisor Akul? My knees turn to water if I even have to walk past him."
Dork gave a light shrug. "He isn't as terrifying as he looks. He simply prefers his own company."
Their conversation was cut short as a crushing, atmospheric pressure suddenly descended upon the territory. It was suffocating and immediate.
Akul, currently deep into the dissection of a specimen, froze. His ghostly eyes narrowed behind his mask as he felt the shift. "What an overwhelming aura," he hissed, dropping his tools and sprinting toward the gates.
"The audacity of the vermin to cage me," a vengeful voice snarled. The tiny Z, perched on Selene's shoulder, looked ready to tear the world apart.
Leo felt a sharp ringing in his ears, the transition between worlds jarring his senses. Nearby, Luna hurried toward Ren. The fox-eared girl's golden hair shifted as her twin tails lashed with excitement. "My lady!" Ren cried, catching Luna in a tight embrace.
Captain Goblin felt the lingering nausea of a place where time didn't exist. Though his body felt leaden from the teleportation, he didn't stop to rest. He raced toward the newly built barracks.
Inside, the wounded bloodhound struggled to its paws, whining at the scent of its master. "Brother," Captain wailed, pulling the beast into a fierce hug.
"My Lord, welcome back," Akul greeted as Leo approached. The relief in the supervisor's voice was palpable. While he was a master of biology, the burden of leadership had been an ill-fitting mask.
"Lord!" River and the laborers converged on the group, bowing low in a display of absolute respect.
Leo exhaled a long breath, a genuine smile breaking through his fatigue. "Hello, everyone. It's good to be back." He began to make his way toward the Lord's Hall. He had much to discuss with Luna, but he granted her time for a meal and a bath first.
Malphas followed silently behind Leo, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists. Z watched him with a mocking whistle. "It seems we aren't the only ones suffering from a bruised ego, master." Selene watched the Lord's retreating, her expression unreadable.
The stone golem guarding the hall pulled the heavy doors open. Leo walked past the massive pillars and finally sank into his throne.
"AHH, FINALLY," he groaned, letting his posture collapse. After days of maintaining the cold, untouchable mask of a Lord, the simple act of sitting felt like a luxury.
Malphas stood guard by the entrance. He could feel the surge in his own power—a result of Leo reaching a new rank. Yet, the memory of being toyed with by the D5 burned in his veins. The fact that someone could dismiss him with a mere thought made his blood boil.
Leo noticed Malphas's radiating bloodlust but decided to check his spoils first. He opened the rewards interface, setting the summoning scroll aside, and pulled up the details for the Kingfall Armor.
[EQUIPMENT INFO]
Name: Kingfall Armor
Grade: Epic
Type: Full Body Armor
Binding: Soulbound
Description: A relic forged from the ruins of a fallen sovereignty. It was created in the precise moment a king's resolve shattered, capturing the weight of lost authority. This armor does more than guard the flesh; it commands the world to bow.
Passive Effects:
Thronebreaker's Presence: Emits a suppressive aura. Enemies with lower mental fortitude suffer from reduced movement speed and crushing hesitation.
Crown's Echo: Absorbs 15 percent of all incoming damage and reflects a repelling shockwave at the attacker.
Unseen Sovereignty: The armor can be rendered completely invisible at the wearer's whim.
Burden of the Fallen Crown: Each consecutive strike increases physical impact by 2 percent, stacking up to 25 times.
Active Skill:
Kingfall — Authority Collapse: For 5 seconds, all enemies within 10 meters enter a suppressed state. Their skill effectiveness is reduced by 20 percent, defenses are weakened, and low-tier targets are struck with absolute fear. Cooldown: 120 seconds.
**
'I may have lost my dagger to the giantess, but this is a hell of an upgrade,' Leo thought. He equipped the set immediately.
True to its description, the armor vanished, leaving him in his usual clothes. 'Having two layers of Epic-grade defense is a comfort I didn't know I needed,' he chuckled before opening the resource pack.
The container shuddered, emitting a golden light that smelled of old wood and cold iron. [REWARDS OBTAINED]
Ironwood Timber x 500
Stone x 500
Refined Iron Ore x 300
Fertile Spirit Soil x 50
Population Summon Token x 10
Arcane Tower Blueprint (Rare)
Leo quickly organized the resources in the warehouse. 'One more day until the trial ends,' he reminded himself, pushing himself off the throne.
"Vespar. Bring Luna to me," he commanded. His shadow detached from the floor and raced toward the residential area.
Luna was currently in the middle of a feast. Ren stood behind her, watching the display with concern. "My lady, please. If you eat any faster, the food won't reach your stomach safely," Ren cautioned.
Luna didn't stop. "I couldn't eat a single bite without looking over my shoulder back there, Ren. I'm going to eat until I can't move, and then I'm sleeping for a week."
Ren's eyes suddenly narrowed as she looked at a dark corner of the room. Vespar stepped out of the gloom, her hood shadowing her face. "Lady Luna. The Lord requires your presence immediately," she said, her voice like ice. Luna jumped, her wooden spoon clattering to the floor.
'That slave-driver won't even let me finish my soup,' Luna lamented internally. She stood up, forcing a bright smile. "Of course. Let's not keep him waiting."
Vespar and Ren exchanged a sharp, silent glance before following her out.
Luna approached the temple courtyard where Leo and River were finishing their discussion. Leo acknowledged her with a curt nod and immediately accessed the recruitment interface. He triggered the summoning token, but the air didn't ripple with the usual blue light. Instead, a violent, crimson interface tore through his field of vision.
[Summoning in progress...]
[Your EX-Grade Talent — Primordial Sanguinary Archive — has been activated]
[The Archive rejects inefficiency... The Archive seeks refinement]
[Would you like to enhance your summons?]
▶ YES / NO