At that pivotal moment, a cryptic warning echoed through my consciousness, a system alert shrouded in mystery.
"Attention, Host. It is wise to keep the chasm between your level and that of your forces within a single tier; a breach might unleash unforeseen repercussions."
In essence, even within the hallowed confines of the temple, should your forces overpower you before you can muster a defense, they will claim their autonomy.
This predicament has historical precedents within the Eternal Night Continent. Yet, maintaining a level gap within a designated threshold with your forces averts this anomaly."
A sharp intake of breath punctuated the silence.
Ethan, momentarily lost in thoughts of elevating his vampire lieutenants, was jolted back to reality.
"Ahead lies the task of fortifying my prowess alongside that of the Celestial Temple," he resolved, a whisper of determination in the depths of his heart...
Nestled within the mountain's embrace, Vampires No. 1 and No. 2 were engulfed in a whirlwind of elation.
"A testament to our revered Count's might, to bestow upon us such rapid ascension!"
"Indeed, left to our own devices, such an era might have remained an elusive dream."
Dawn's first light found Ethan perusing the ledger of merits, noting an impressive gain of 36 points in the span of mere hours.
Through the lens of the projection device, he witnessed Vampire No. 1's conquest over a Black Iron Eight-Star Frost Bear, while Vampire No. 2 laid claim to two Black Iron Seven-Star Beasts.
Their victories amalgamated, a formidable legion was born.
"This display of might!"
Ethan harbored no doubts - should the celestial, demonic, or spectral prodigies challenge them, defeat would be their sole acquaintance.
Despite the diminished ferocity of the corrupted beasts, their threat lingered.
The time had come for the Celestial Temple's ascension. Post-upgrade, it would boast a cannon capable of reigning destruction over any Black Iron creature within its ten-kilometer domain.
"Ascend!"
Ethan's visage was a mask of solemnity as his fingers danced over the upgrade panel of the Celestial Temple, an air of anticipation surrounding him.
With a resonant boom, the temple ascended, its visage transforming before his eyes. From a modest two hundred square meters, it expanded into a majestic expanse of over five hundred.
What once bore the marks of time now shimmered with a new, mechanized vitality.
A metallic chorus heralded a new dawn.
"The Cannon Turret!"
Ethan's gaze pierced the horizon, locating the newly minted turret atop the temple.
Armed with this titan, any creature within its ten-mile embrace, barring those beyond the Black Iron tier, would succumb to its might.
The tumult subsided after ten minutes, leaving in its wake a fortress amidst the mountains, a testament to the fusion of might and metal.
Glancing at his merit dashboard, Ethan noted a remaining tally of 6 merit points.
Determined, he chose to invest these points entirely into elevating his rank.
Currently positioned at the Black Iron One-Star tier, he recognized the critical importance of narrowing the level gap between himself and his legion, lest they consider mutiny.
He navigated to the upgrade section within the attribute panel and executed two swift clicks.
"Flash!"
In the aftermath of two radiant surges of white light, Ethan was propelled from a Black Iron 1-Star to a Black Iron 3-Star.
"Host is undergoing muscular transformation... Unlocking potential... Host's strength has surged." A tidal wave of strength coursed through Ethan, subtly elevating his stature.
A lattice of impeccably sculpted muscles emerged across his waist and abdomen.
"Ha!"
He launched a punch, its force resonating mightily.
"The might of this punch alone could spell doom for a bull!"
Ethan basked in exhilaration.
He perused his attribute panel:
"Host: Ethan Strength: 36 Agility: 45 Intelligence: 30 Skills: None Congratulations, the World Chat feature has been unlocked for the host. Engage freely in the World Chat window." "World Chat window?
A surge of joy washed over Ethan.
The World Chat window acts as a nexus for interstellar communication, courtesy of the system for the diverse races of the cosmos.
This function awakens upon the host achieving the Black Iron 2-Star level.
Within the World Chat interface, one might uncover nuggets of wisdom.
Moreover, the World Chat extends its utility with an integrated marketplace, facilitating the exchange of resources among lords of various dominions, with merit points as the medium of exchange.
By now, the icon for the World Chat window had blinked into existence multiple times.
Each flash heralded a new message from a fellow lord.
Ethan accessed the interface:
"Darn, I'm saddled with an anteater as my initial troop type!" paired with a crestfallen emoji.
"Consider yourself fortunate, I'm stuck with SpongeBob!" articulated through an enraged facade.
"Gosh! That's harsh. Mine's fairly decent, a twin-headed dragon!"
Ethan glossed over the chat logs, his interest tepid. The twin-headed dragon, a middling troop type at best, hardly a match for even a skeleton warrior.
Imagine their astonishment upon discovering his ace, a divine-tier unit, the progenitor vampire.
With a flick, he closed the chat interface and approached the summoning wand anew.
Today marked the opportunity to conjure two additional units. As he readied himself for the summons, an urgent plea from Vampires No. 1 and No. 2 pierced his thoughts.
"My Lord, we are besieged by crisis!"
The message was terse, hinting at desperation.
A shadow crossed Ethan's features.
With Vampires No. 1 and No. 2, each a titan in their own right at Black Iron 6-Star and 7-Star, and safeguarded by a legion of over a hundred beasts, their combined might was nothing short of terrifying.
And yet, they faced adversity!
Without delay, Ethan dispatched a command through the system, projecting an image towards the southwest.
The cylindrical projector sputtered and flickered before finally steadying.
Revealed was a shadowy figure, a wizened elder garbed in a black mage robe, his countenance obscured by a traditional douli, accompanied by a duo of svelte zombies.
"The Necromancers have emerged!"
Ethan was taken aback.
In his former life, whispers of the Necromancers' dark prowess had reached him. Their sinister mastery over the dark arts and their daunting strength had once catapulted them into the ranks of the universe's top 500 formidable races.
"Hehe, given that you're but young maidens, I'll abstain from direct confrontation. My undead minions shall provide your entertainment," the elder proclaimed, with his hands nonchalantly rested behind him, radiating the poise of a true connoisseur of combat.
Vampires No. 1 and No. 2 were visibly perturbed, finding themselves at an impasse against the undead. Zombies, devoid of life, were impervious to their blood-based corruption—a stark reminder of their abilities' limitations under certain circumstances.
"We must devise a way around these undead obstacles to challenge the Necromancer elder himself!"
With a shared understanding, Vampires No. 1 and No. 2 concocted a plan on the fly.
They intended to use a horde of beasts to occupy the zombies, seizing the moment to launch a joint offensive against the Necromancer elder.
"Hehe," the elder chuckled with a sneer of contempt.
"Did you assume that I, Ethan would be so readily vanquished?" he taunted, his fingers dancing through the air, weaving spells with whispered chants.
A shimmering emerald barrier sprung up around him, emitting tendrils of thick smoke. As Vampires No. 1 and No. 2 drew near, a wave of dizziness assailed them, a testament to the barrier's menacing potency.