Roland leaned against the cold stone parapet of the city wall, his eyes glazing over as he counted the bushes scattered below. He sighed, feeling the weight of anticipation pressing down on him. "It's so boring, just sitting here every day, waiting for the orcs to attack," he muttered to himself. The city was alive with tension, each night filled with the bright glow of torches—constant vigilance against a sudden onslaught from the orcish horde.
Despite the ever-present threat, boredom gnawed at him. "Sign in to the system," he said listlessly. The daily rewards had been underwhelming lately, mostly just mundane necessities. Winter firewood for Rapid City was useful, sure, but hardly exciting.
"Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Archer Skill Inheritance Statue!"
Roland's heart skipped a beat. "Finally, something good!" He quickly delved into his system interface, eager to see what treasure he'd uncovered.
The statue granted two skills:
Multiple Arrows:This skill would allow an archer to generate three arrows from one, effectively tripling their firepower with a minimal expenditure of energy.
Wild Shot:This passive skill increased bow draw speed by 25%, stamina by 25%, and stamina recovery speed by 10%.
Roland's eyes widened as he examined the details. "This is amazing! The archers could become a real force with these skills." He thought about the Batanian shooters currently under his command. Their existing skills—like Projectile, Rush, and Charge Shot—were useful but limited. The new inheritance skills could turn them into formidable warriors.
His mind raced with possibilities. "Looks like it's time to build an Archer's Temple," he mused, scanning Rapid City for a suitable location. The statue needed to be placed in a specific environment to function, and a temple was the easiest solution—an empty hall with a magic array would do.
Roland summoned Carlos, his personal bodyguard, and asked him to fetch Mage Ladir. The earth mage could easily handle the construction and enchantment needed for the temple.
As Carlos left, Roland's gaze drifted over the tents crowded within the city walls. Something nagged at the back of his mind. "Did I forget something?" he wondered aloud, before shaking his head and bringing up the city's status page.
Rapid City:
- Area: One kilometer in radius
- Population: 894 (Trainable civilians: 183)
- Troops: 2110
- Notable Structures:Dilapidated Lord's Castle, Crumbling Dwellings, Blacksmith Shop, Military Camp, Mid-Level Magic-Patterned City Walls
Generals:
- Carlos: Tier 3
- Reynold:Tier 4
Mages
- Ladir: Tier 4
- Ivy: Tier 3
City Defense Officer: Marcus (Tier 4)
Administrative Officer Lance (Tier 2)
Roland's eyes skimmed the list, but then he froze. "Oh no, the El Nino Rangers!" he exclaimed, slapping his forehead. The rangers had been deployed to monitor the southern river crossing for orc movements, and he had completely forgotten about them in the chaos of preparing for war.
Roland hurriedly sent for Reynold, trying to hide his embarrassment. When Reynold arrived, Roland awkwardly admitted, "I, uh... I kind of forgot about the rangers."
Reynold couldn't help but smile, though he kept it in check. "I'll send word for them to return immediately, Your Highness," he said, trying to sound serious.
Meanwhile, Vervill, standing nearby, burst out laughing. "You forgot about an entire unit! That's a first!" He doubled over, unable to contain himself.
Roland's face flushed red embarrassment, "Alright, alright, laugh it up," he said, waving them off. Even he had to admit it was a bit ridiculous.
Once the laughter died down, Roland refocused on the task at hand. He turned to Mage Ladir, who had just entered the tent. "Ladir, I need you to construct an Archer's Temple. Our shooters need to learn these new skills before the orcs attack."
Ladir nodded, already mentally planning the structure. "It will be done, Your Highness."
As Ladir left to begin his work, Roland sat back, his mind already racing ahead. The forgotten rangers were a mistake, but he couldn't afford any more slip-ups. The orcs could strike at any moment, and Rapid City had to be ready.
In the dim light of the tent, Roland's resolve hardened. He wouldn't let his people down—not now, not ever. The preparations would continue, and when the time came, they would be ready.
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