The buildings at the next level had more strength and durability. The homes now allowed an additional person for each dwelling. The walls were fixed up better as well. The forces boosting performance more now that his level was higher.
The Barracks were a must even more so now that he understood things more. Training for all forces if he allowed it. Which he did. None posed any problem yet. But the future is not set in stone.
Went over well for them enough. Expending the essence on himself, Michael gained actual fighting that was not.. self-taught. Filling in fighting prowess that was instinctual. Much he can learn from his forces.
The weapons were redone. Well reinforced further. The stone poison sword looked very dangerous now. Michael could feel the information in his head throbbing. After gaining a lot of essence from the Mine, he would be able to shape things better. Especially with Earth already being one he has control over.
The different minerals will make several things better. Even for a rookie.
Having Leveled up was a good boon even more so after taking a nap.
"Boss! Boss!" A young ratfolk ran over on fours. A dagger wrapped around her tail. She was a scout. Named Corca. Which was fitting with the purple leaves she wore. The hair and fur the exact same color as dirt on the ground. "Troops are ready. And I found this! I found this!"
In Corca's hand was a large jewel. Pulsing in essence. But it was wrong in a way. Supringsly, it didn't affect any of them though. But Michael felt a little nauseous. Must have something to do with the environment and them made from essences here.
(A Sovereign Shard. Can be used to upgrade one's class. Or fix something in an instant.)
"Well, that is defintely something. I rather fix what is wrong with my head instead any other nonsense." Michael blinked a little. Staring at Corca he wanted to make sure about his choice. "May I have this? It will fix what is wrong with me."
"Uh huh! Uh huh! Happy to help boss!" Corca bounced about on her hind legs. Seeing Michael take it and crush it, was enough to make her happy. "I helped! I helped!"
"Yes, you have. So much over essence." Haon mumbled. His eyes looking it over a little differently than the others. 'Some one found the stuff stashed already. Good work scouts. Hmm, guess the others may be keeping it for themselves. Which is not bad. Hopefully our worth keeps going up in his eyes when he finds out.'
Michael bathed was in a light before he returned to normal. He rembered a shit ton all at once. Also, about the disease he once carried. The first generation were dangerous because of the potency of it. As well as the data put in all of them about certain things.
Morty's implant actually got in the way of his growth. Not his fault considering the first generation were full of issues. Whoever from their guild that mess with the place, had to have been a first-generation or something worse. A 2nd generation from two parents that carried the disease.
"Hmm, well glad I didn't botch things yet. Can not believe I almost didn't make it." Michael's voice had changed. As well as his posture. He was no longer unsure about things. And happy he didnt die for one. "This helped a lot. Reformat."
The modification Morty gave him was pushed out of his body. Floating in front, the essence changed it up. Incorporating it with the nodule's placed inside his body. A key of sorts stored in him and the others.
A slight message budged in his head. Alerting to the outcome of those that were in his group.
Michael was the last of his group that survived now from the states. Thoughts on the others in the lab that they found him in, left his mind. A purge function to keep from losing his goal. But he needed to head back there. An upgrade of sorts was embedded inside.
*Bzzz!* The remaining energy spread out hitting all the forces around as well as his structures. Upgrading them in a way that wouldn't matter till later. The place was really important.
Plans needed to be made to secure this place as long as he could. So much of it needed to be explored.
"I am so far behind. Oh, well. More fun to be had while working." Michael looked over his screen making sure things were correct. "Health and Magic are different than before. but it will rise better now."
Name: Michael Lvl 4 Rank: Pawn
Class: Extraction Summoner
Sub-Class:
Profession: Crafter
Sub-Profession:
Health: 300
Energy: 250
Physical output: 3
Magical output: 5
Vitality 6.0
Strength 3.1
Defense 3.6
Magic 5.3
Resistance 3.0
Agility 2.7
Intelligence 5.1
Heroism 3.5
Essence: 0
Equipped: Stone Imbued Sword Strength: 12.8
Stone Silk Armor Set 10.5
(Extraction Bracelet: Space unlimited. Prevents Possession of Summoner. Purpose; Stores Essence, Material, and Extraction Summoner gear.)
(Language Low Beast, Low Fae, Low Elven, Low Spirit, Low Spiderfolk)
(Beast Applications Low, Medium, High acquired)
(Fae Applications Low acquired)
(Spiderfolk Applications Low acquired)
(Birdfolk Applications Low acquired)
(Spirit Applications Low acquired)
(Summon lv5, Sword Trained lv5, Spear Trained lv5, Throwing Trained lv5, Craft Trained lv5, Repair lv5, Scout lv5, Improve Command)
"Looking better boss. Looking healthy. Ready to go and take out the first force?" Haon asked. Michael nodded. Giving a smile that was the same as before. Alleviating some fears he had about what just happened. "Alrighty, move out!" He turned with a shout.
"Corca, you are with us." Michael said as they moved. A small reward for what she did for him. "My personal scout. So make sure you become accustomed to things with Haon."
"Yes! Yes!" Corca jumped in the air doing a little kick. "Will not disappoint! Switching to battle mode!" Her eyes shined as she went back to moving on fours. A cold stare and her tail tucked in closer to her. The same as others that were workers class that were now fighting. "Got your back boss."
"Good." Michael shifted the stone helmet. As well as the silk wrappings. His mouth was now covered. Whatever the Spider Goddess did to him was very apparent. His breathing was unbothered by the covering. 'Hmm to be able to shot webbing, that will be good in the future. As well as the poison developing more and more.'
The numbers were on their side as well as the increased armor. The treefolk had weaved tighter support for the ratfolk. With the poison available, it gave them stronger "sap" as they put it. Which let them respond faster with movements.
.
Enemy encampment-
.
The lizardfolk had dug a good bit of the place up. Traveling around with spears and shields made of bone. A few of the shields contained feathers around the edges. Birdfolk feathers.
The other sovereign candidate moved around in her battle tent. Human but several visible lizard things around her body. Scales on her arms with a few feathers. A tail that moved on the ground quite powerfully. Deep golden eyes that squint revealing double pupils when doing so.
"Any word on that "pulse" that we felt earlier?" She asked her second. A very large red lizardfolk that had fire around his feet. "Meke, we did the right thing yes?"
"Yes, Becky. No choice really. This new pawn will net you quite a lot. More than make up for the previous loss we had." Meke said deeply. Doing his best to alieve her fears. Which grew worse after the loss. "If not for the Pawn Hunter, we would have won that match."
"But the loss of the Harpies and the rest.." Becky lamented. Still sick to her stomach about her decision. Killing them and taking their essence for power was a despicable choice to her. But losing again would be worse. ".. the look in Linda's eyes. I will never forget it."
"Not something to dwell on. Especially now." Meke felt a disturbance and turned around. The sonar the harpies could devloped helped the lizardfolk more with battle. "The enemy is here. We need to deal with this now."
"Take command of the battle. I will move with the others to attack from the side." Becky turned dressed in an instant. Bone armor made from beasts they killed before arriving in the area. Eyes burning in a fervor to get battle underway. "Push hard and fast. They are just rats afterall."
Both left the tent and went to the different squads.
.
First Clash!-
.
Michael was with the Treefolk. They fired countless arrows high into the air. Arms tensed from the strain of firing the large silk sacks. Michael and a few of the Ratfolk that could make poison secreted a lot to mix up for combat.
The sacks would dissipate and splash the area with poison. Linda was high above taking notice of the field. The sun to her back, keeping her out of sight of others. Spotting, the small group heading off to the side, she shot down quickly to inform Michael.
'Just 6, an Elite group most likely. I wonder what he would want to do?' Dive bombing down, Linda spread her wings out at the last moment to break the descent. Magic uplifting her back up to help. "To the East, another group is heading off. Heavily armored. I didn't see Pores in the group though. He moves earth, so maybe not siege work."
"The treefolk in that area can handle it. Or at least make it impossible for them to move freely. The few will-o-wisp can help play mind games on them. Unless they are immune some how?" Michael asked. Linda shook her head no, which was good. "But to make sure, inform Dup to take some to meet them. It will be good battle experience for him and the others that fight like him."
"Understood." Linda shot off flying low in a glide. Her feet kicking against the ground adding more speed. "I will stay and observe just in case if back up is needed."
'Haon and his group are in the first attack group.' Michael thought over a few plans. 'As a Rat Lord, he has everything to fight a battle like this. The treefolk here will switch to long-range sniping. I need to move in to support group 2 attacking from the side.'
"Boss.. we have.. awaken the "sleeping ones" near.. the wall." Belmont, a treefolk that was changing into a Druid of sorts. That is what Michael was calling him anyway. The last bit of energy that went out had improved speech a lot. Wouldn't be much longer that they would talk the same as others. "Soil.. is unsettled at.. west wall."
"Tell the sleeping ones to bog the enemy down. Entangle or just trap them is good." Michael ordered. "They are not fighters, I am not foolish enough to have them die after just waking up. Something tells me that would be really bad for a lot of things."
"Yes." Belmont's head moved slightly as he blinked. The glow inside becoming stronger at Michael's choice of words. "Really bad... for .. forest.."
"The regulars are here!" A ratfolk yelled. It as code for spotting the most dangerous of the forces.
Meke and some lizardfolk came around at high speed. The ratfolk moved away as instructed. Michael went to meet them head on. Most of his forces attacking the troops instead. The treefolk attacking this force with him.