As the first rays of dawn broke through the horizon, Akira remained on the roof, absorbing mana from the atmosphere. The process had gone on all night, an uninterrupted flow of energy into his body. Below, in the front yard, the once-injured horse neighed loudly, signaling the start of a new day. Akira paused his mana gathering and teleported to the horse's side. What was once a typical white horse now stood as a majestic black warhorse, muscles rippling under a sleek coat, exuding strength and vitality. The horse nuzzled Akira, recognizing its savior and expressing its gratitude.
Suddenly, a rustling noise came from nearby, accompanied by the sound of heavy footsteps. Akira turned to see a towering treant, now fully grown from the young sapling he had nurtured. The treant, standing between ten to twelve feet tall, approached Akira with a sense of purpose. Akira inspected its trunk, finding it strong and resilient. He teleported both himself and the treant to the backyard.
Once there, Akira retrieved all the herbs he had gathered over time, presenting them to the treant. "It is your responsibility to turn these herbs into seeds and grow them. I need a steady supply," he instructed. The treant bowed slightly, acknowledging its task. It moved to a corner of the yard, the very spot where Akira had buried the bandits, and began the process of converting the herbs into seeds, planting them with meticulous care.
With the treant occupied, Akira turned his attention to his own physical conditioning. Despite his mastery over mana, he understood the importance of maintaining his physical strength. For the next hour, he engaged in an intense workout regimen: sprinting across the yard, bench pressing massive boulders, and performing high jumps. The rigorous exercise left him invigorated, his muscles primed and ready.
After his workout, Akira checked on the treant's progress. The treant had successfully converted the herbs into seeds and was now planting them, ensuring each one received ample nutrients. As the seeds took root, the treant anchored itself into the ground, accelerating the growth process and ensuring a healthy yield. Half of the produce would be converted back into seeds, while the rest would be available for Akira's use.
By noon, the hobgoblins began to stir. One by one, they awoke, their bodies transformed. Four hobgoblins had evolved into powerful ogres, while the remaining goblins had become hobgoblins. Akira surveyed his new subordinates, pleased with their transformation. The back door to the yard opened, and Jarvis emerged. His face, once marred by a wound, was now healed, though a permanent scar remained. Clad in tight-fitting clothes, his newly muscular physique was evident, making him appear far younger and more formidable.
"Master, I apologize for waking up this late," Jarvis said, bowing slightly. "I have awoken Lesley, and she will be down soon. I believe the changes in my body are because of you, and I am more grateful than ever. You have my utmost loyalty."
Akira smiled, a rare expression of warmth. "We are all becoming stronger, Jarvis. It is only natural that my subordinates are strong as well. Everyone, including you, is very hungry. Please prepare something quickly."
"I will do it right away," Jarvis replied, closing the door behind him. As Akira turned back to the hobgoblins and ogres, the door opened again. This time, it was Lesley. Once a frail and weak elf, she now stood with glowing skin and a well-defined body, her uniform straining against her new physique.
"Master!" Lesley began, but Akira cut her off gently. "Please feed the horse and oxen in the front yard and then help Jarvis prepare food. Everyone here is very hungry. We can talk later."
Lesley nodded, closing the door and heading to the front yard. Akira resumed his inspection of the ogres. As expected, Alphagob, now an ogre, was the strongest among them. He decided to test Alphagob's new capabilities.
"Try to speak," Akira commanded. Alphagob opened his mouth, and to everyone's astonishment, said, "Master Akira." The other hobgoblins and ogres looked at each other in shock, calling each other by their new names: Alphagob, Betagob, Gammagob, and Deltagob. Akira cleared his throat, bringing them to attention.
He pulled out a newly forged adamantite sword with mithril veins and handed it to Alphagob. "Use it well," Akira instructed. "I will make weapons for each of you." He then explained the basics of using spells through the sword, demonstrating by pouring mana into it and commanding, "Fireball." However, Alphagob struggled to replicate the action.
Alfred's voice echoed in Akira's mind. "Alphagob has evolved unnaturally and doesn't understand mana. Wild ogres learn these skills on their own."
Akira nodded, understanding the challenge ahead. He ordered the hobgoblins to return to their workstations. The team leaders resumed their roles, with some guarding the base and others hunting. Only the mining team remained.
"Back to the mines," Akira said, addressing the miners. "But this time, there will be a change in plans." He instructed Alphagob to familiarize himself with the sword, then moved to the space behind the goblin shed. The shed, once beside the wall, now had ample space due to Akira's expansion of the base.
He led the goblins to retrieve their tools from the carriage and gathered them behind him. He said,"also bring the carriage with you with the oxen". Using his mana, Akira created a teleportation circle on the ground, then teleported to the mines. Choosing a secure corner, he made another teleportation circle, linking it to the one at the base. Standing on the circle, he activated the connection. Within seconds, the circle at the base glowed, and Akira reappeared.
The glow faded, and Akira had successfully established a teleportation link between the base and the mines. This new system would streamline the mining operations, ensuring a steady supply of resources for the base's continued growth and fortification. With a satisfied nod, he prepared to face the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead, determined to harness his newfound power to its fullest potential.