The crystal was, after all, the heart and soul of his territory. It didn't matter if every other building got flattened by some rampaging monster; as long as the crystal stood, he could rebuild. But if it got destroyed? Game over. Pack up and go home. Not just metaphorically—Master who lost their crystals often spiraled into despair, with many landing themselves in Hillcrest Psychiatric Hospital. Some even took... darker paths.
"Yeah, no pressure," Ethan muttered, suddenly feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. "No big deal, just the fate of my Masterhip hanging by a thread."
He shook off the gloom and moved on to the next building.
[Spiritual Bamboo House
Level: 1 (0/100)
Health: 100/100
Perks: Gather Spiritual Qi
Absorbs spiritual energy from heaven and earth, accelerating cultivation.]
The thatched hut from before had morphed into a quaint bamboo house surrounded by a gentle, ethereal mist. It looked like something straight out of a kung fu movie, the kind of place where a reclusive master might teach their starry-eyed disciple ancient techniques.
"Okay, I'm not saying this house gives me main-character vibes, but if a wise old hermit pops out of there, I'm gonna lose it," Ethan quipped. "Or maybe… maybe 'I'm' the hermit now? Hmm, food for thought."
[Bronze Sparrow Terrace
Level: 1 (0/100)
Health: 100/100
Perks: Waifus is Life
Summons powerful waifus from other worlds. Primary summoning costs 100 soul coins; higher tiers cost more. Note: Higher costs increase the chances of summoning a hero.]
Ethan's eyes lit up. "Waifus? From other worlds?!" He nearly danced on the spot. "This is next-level awesome!" His grin widened. "Though… wait. Does this mean no male heroes? Not that I'm complaining, but… I guess we're sticking with the theme here."
Heroes were leagues above ordinary soldiers, and summoning one could drastically change his territory's future. Even a low-level hero could outclass ten regular soldiers without breaking a sweat. However, the odds of summoning one in a regular barracks were slim to none, especially for low-tier Master like him.
"But!" he said, wagging a finger at no one in particular. "This isn't a regular barracks! This is the 'Bronze Sparrow Terrace'! That's gotta count for something, right?"
Still, he hesitated. With only 100 soul coins in hand, gambling them all on a single summon felt like throwing his last fry into a wishing fountain. What if he didn't get a hero? Could he handle the next monster attack without one?
"Alright, let's not get trigger-happy just yet," Ethan muttered, filing the thought away for later.
He turned his attention to the final new addition: a shop-like building where the old altar used to be.
[Mystery Store
Level: 1 (0/100)
Health: 100/100
Automatically refreshes stock every 24 hours. Items can be purchased with soul coins or spirit coins.]
The building was small, almost quaint, with a cozy vibe that belied the treasures hidden within. Ethan stepped inside and found five items displayed on a counter, each protected by a shimmering barrier. He leaned closer to examine them.
The first was a weapon: '[Frying Pan, Strength +0.1, Rank: F]'. "Pfft, what am I gonna do with that? Swat mosquitoes?" he scoffed, moving on.
The second item made him pause.
[BARGAIN Card
Price: 0
Use this card to purchase items at a 90% discount in the Mystery Store. Limited to this store.]
"Wait… what? A discount card? For free?!" Ethan snatched it up faster than a seagull stealing fries. "Don't mind if I do!"
The third item was a building blueprint, but the price tag made him wince. "Yeah, maybe next century," he mumbled, moving on to the fourth item: wood. Useful, but not thrilling.
And then, the fifth item nearly knocked the wind out of him.
[Hero Summoning Card
Price: 0 soul coins
Guarantees the summoning of a hero when used in a barracks.]
"A 'guaranteed' hero?!" Ethan's excitement hit new heights. This was the jackpot! No gambling, no praying to RNG gods—just a surefire way to recruit a hero. He didn't hesitate, slapping the One-Fold Card onto the counter and buying the summoning card for just 100 soul coins. Grinning like a kid on Christmas morning, Ethan dashed to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace. The building looked simple and elegant, with an antique charm that made it feel almost sacred. He carefully placed the Hero Summoning Card into the formation and activated it.
"Do you want to summon?" the system asked.
"Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!" Ethan yelled, barely containing his excitement.
With a flash of light, the summoning circle sprang to life. A fragrant breeze wafted through the air, and Ethan turned to see a figure stepping out of the glowing portal.
A woman stood before him, her presence radiating power and grace. Ethan blinked, mouth slightly agape.
"Well, hello there," he muttered, grinning like a fool. "Best investment 'ever'."
The woman before him was breathtaking—her figure elegant, her skin like freshly fallen snow, and her small cherry-red lips truly captivating. Her willow-like brows arched perfectly over eyes that sparkled like autumn waves, brimming with unspoken stories. She wore a simple hairpin atop her cascading crimson hair, paired with a pleated skirt that swayed gently as she moved, accentuating a waist so slender it could be described as "a grip away."
Words felt useless. "Beautiful" was too bland. "Pretty" didn't cut it. Only grand phrases like "overwhelmingly stunning" or "a beauty to topple nations" seemed remotely accurate.
And then came the announcement that nearly made Ethan drop his jaw.
"Congratulations on summoning the hero—Goddess Freya!"
Ethan blinked. "Freya?" His brain stumbled over itself trying to keep up. "Wait, the Freya? As in, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and war?"
Back on Earth, she was celebrated as the pinnacle of grace and charm, a muse for countless stories and games. And now, here she was, standing in front of him—this ethereal woman that come from the heaven, not this dusty mortal plane. Ethan felt his heart pound like a battle drum.
Then, reality struck like a slap. If the Sparrow Terrace could summon Freya, could the likes of Aphrodite, Shakuntala, or even Nyx be far behind? Ethan's mind began to race with the possibilities, his excitement barely contained. But as quickly as it came, it fizzled out.
There was a glaring problem. Freya despited being a goddess was now nerfed down to just a regular human. She had no combat experience, no battle-hardened skills. Just a delicate flower who, judging by her aura, would probably faint at the sight of a monster. 'What good is a hero if they're more vase than warrior?'
Freya's melodious voice snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. "This servant greets her master," she said, her soft tone like a sweet breeze that tickled his heartstrings.
If her looks could make people weak in the knees, her voice was enough to melt their hearts. Ethan felt his face heat up as he awkwardly coughed to regain composure. "Uh, hey. Freya, do you…remember anything about yourself?" He gingerly reached out and held her soft, delicate hand, half-lost in the moment but also worrying about the upcoming monster wave.
Freya's face turned as pink as a spring blossom. "This servant only knows her name and the skills she has learned," she replied shyly, clearly flustered. "As for my past, I have no memory."
Ethan, realizing he was still holding her hand, hastily let go. "Ah, sorry! Didn't mean to, uh, make things weird."
"No harm done, my master," Freya said softly, though her ears remained a lovely shade of red.