---
A door is missing; heed the call,
Ignore it not, or you might fall.
No time to stall—this is the key,
Your final sip of destiny.
The last hope you'll ever see—
Will you fight, or let it be?
The gold's gone cold, its shimmer dimmed,
The bold won't sell, their chances slimmed.
Don't cling to dreams till they grow old,
Or gather mold upon your gold.
Mana crystals, magic cores,
Lies and truth in merchant stores.
No mere myths or ancient lores,
Yet their tales forever bore.
Now rise, O lord, and claim your fate,
Take up your sword before it's late.
Prove your worth, carve your name—
A birthright earned, not just a claim.
- me.
---
Karina arrived just after dawn, the morning still heavy with dew. She stood at my door, her eyes sharp and determined.
"I need to lead the troops for an ambush," she said without preamble, as though she had already decided I would agree.
I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her request. Still, my answer came easily. "Go for it. It's your choice."
Her brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't say a word. With a curt nod, she left, her black cloak billowing in the crisp morning air.
Once she was gone, I allowed myself a wry smile. Experts shouldn't seek amateurs for advice. Karina was a Grade 4 Hero, a battle-tested strategist. She didn't need my input, and frankly, I wasn't about to get in her way.
After she left, I lingered outside, watching as the sun crept over the horizon. The sight was mesmerizing, but it wasn't just the sunrise that had me entranced. I'd been obsessing over my newfound wealth: 768,410 mana crystals. A fortune. Combined with the gold I'd accumulated, it felt as though the world itself was at my feet.
"I could do so much with this," I mused aloud, turning a crystal over in my hands.
But for now, my immediate concern was the city. It was early, and the training grounds were usually bustling by now, but today, there was an unnatural stillness in the air.
I walked to the grounds and picked up a sword, going through the familiar motions of my training. The weight of the blade in my hand was grounding, a small comfort amidst the uneasy quiet. Swing, parry, thrust. Repeat.
After a short break, I let my thoughts wander again.
"When Shina and her caravans return," I said to myself, "I'll start a merchant alliance with her. Mana crystals at 500 apiece. A fair price."
A plan began to form in my mind, expanding with every detail. I could turn this city into a trade hub, the economic heart of the kingdom. Every realm would depend on us, our wealth and influence spreading like roots through the land.
A loud explosion shattered my daydream.
I froze, then hurried toward the gate. Smoke billowed in the distance, and the ground trembled faintly beneath my feet. I squinted, trying to make sense of the chaos, but the thick haze obscured everything.
"If only I were at least a Grade 2," I muttered. "I could amplify my vision and see what's going on."
Still, I waited. If it were truly serious, Lucia would come to me.
Sure enough, she appeared, running toward me as fast as her legs would carry her.
"A Grade 4 has appeared!" she shouted, her voice breathless. "It's the Hero Arthur. The perfect counter for Hero Karina!"
Arthur. The name carried weight. A legendary Grade 4 Hero, his very presence was a problem.
"Oh, so that's what it was," I said calmly, masking my unease. "A Grade 4 against another Grade 4. A Grade 3 against nine Grade 3s. What's there to worry about?"
Lucia looked at me as though I'd lost my mind.
"There's more," she said, her voice trembling. "Grandthur, their Grade 3 warrior—he's holding his ground, but only because of their sheer numbers. We're losing."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Grandthur was strong, but even he had his limits.
"Maybe I should deploy the Zerg tactics I've been considering," I thought aloud. "If I sold 300,000 mana crystals to the system, I could buy more than 10 million troops."
Lucia's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
I nodded slowly. "I have a plan. I'll enact it tomorrow."
---
The Next Day
I woke to grim reports. Our losses were mounting, and the warfront showed no signs of improvement.
I had 843,410 mana crystals left. Selling 343,410 of them to the system yielded a staggering 169,705,000 gold, more than enough to execute my plan.
But as I sat there, the weight of the decision pressed on me. Converting all of it into troops was a bold move, one that could change the tide of the war—or bankrupt us completely.
I lay back, turning a talent fragment over in my hand. These fragments, were my only solace in times like these. Tearing one apart was almost a ritual, a way to distract myself.
Then it happened.
Talent Upgrade Successful
The moment the notification flashed, I felt an overwhelming rush of excitement.
New Talent Acquired: Boundless Wealth.
The details were tantalizing:
1. Gain 50% daily turnover from any one specified item, capped at 500,000. Max profit you can get a day is 250,000.
2. Gain a 100% daily turnover from any one specified item, capped at 10.
Grade: A. The key to endless wealth!
This was a game-changer, a path to riches so vast it felt almost absurd. I couldn't help but grin as I considered the possibilities.
While reveling in my newfound talent, a message popped up from Kirin, my one and only daughter. Ofcourse she doesn't know it herself.
"Hey, I just got my first Grade 5 troop!"
My jaw dropped. A Grade 5 troop was a rarity, a force capable of turning the tide of any battle. Without hesitation, I fired back:
"Sell it to me."
The response came just as quickly:
"He'll no!"
I frowned but wasn't about to give up. Negotiation was one of my strengths. After some back-and-forth, Kirin finally agreed to rent the troop to me for a week—for the steep price of 300,000 mana crystals. Begrudgingly, she accepted the deal.
As I completed the transaction, I couldn't help but calculate.
If each mana crystal could sell for 900 gold, I'd have atleast 270 million gold coins or 27 million troops.
"Just saying, just saying," I muttered to myself with a grin. The thought of such wealth was intoxicating, but for now, I had a more immediate concern.
The Grade 5 troop, a towering figure who introduced himself as Hansel, saluted as he arrived. His presence exuded confidence, and the large firearm slung across his back hinted at devastating power.
"You're going to the battlefield," I told him.
Hansel nodded and marched off without hesitation. The moment he left, I felt a surge of relief. With his strength, the tide of the battle was about to shift.
---
Karina stood in the heart of the battlefield, her blade gleaming with the blood of her enemies. Around her, the world was chaos—screams of pain, the clash of steel, and the dull roar of spells colliding in the air.
Ahead of her loomed Arthur, the enemy Hero and a formidable shield warrior. His massive shield gleamed like a wall of silver, deflecting every attack she threw his way.
"Annoying," she muttered, gripping her sword tighter.
Every time she struck, Arthur absorbed the blow with ease. Worse, his ability as a shield warrior allowed him to reflect some of the damage back at her. It wasn't enough to overwhelm her, but it was enough to keep her locked in place.
If not for this cursed stalemate, she would have carved through the enemy ranks by now. Arthur knew this, and his entire strategy revolved around keeping her occupied.
As the battle raged around them, Karina's forces were being worn down. Of the original 10,000 troops, only around 3,000 remained, and they were being pushed to their limits by the relentless enemy tide.
"Damn it," she growled. She couldn't afford to waste time here.
Arthur smirked behind his shield, sensing her frustration. "Getting tired already?"
Karina didn't dignify the taunt with a response. She needed a way out, but every attempt to disengage was blocked by Arthur's oppressive presence.
The sound of thunder cracked through the battlefield, louder than any explosion. Heads turned as a figure strode onto the field, his presence commanding attention.
It was Hansel.
He carried a weapon unlike anything most of them had seen—a massive firearm that radiated an aura of destruction. He calmly raised it, aiming directly at Arthur.
"Who the hell is this?" Arthur muttered, his confidence wavering.
Hansel didn't answer. He simply pulled the trigger.
The gun roared, a single shot splitting the air. The bullet tore through Arthur's shield, shattering its protective enchantments. Arthur staggered, blood spurting from a deep wound in his side.
Karina gasped as a surge of pain hit her, the damage reflection from Arthur's ability taking its toll. But in the same moment, she felt the oppressive weight of his presence lift. She was free.
For a moment, Arthur tried to recover, his shield raised defensively as blood dripped onto the scorched earth. But Karina was already moving.
Her blade blurred as she surged forward, a whirlwind of fury and precision. Without the lock binding her, she was unstoppable. Her sword struck Arthur's shield again and again, each blow driving him further back.
"Not so confident now, are you?" she snarled.
Arthur gritted his teeth, his once-imposing form now battered and bloodied. He tried to reflect her attacks, but Hansel's earlier strike had disrupted his abilities.
"Fall back! There's a demi God!" Arthur roared to his troops, but it was too late.
Karina's blade flashed one final time, cleaving through his shield and cutting deep into his chest. Arthur crumpled to the ground, his body limp.
---
With Arthur defeated, the enemy forces faltered. Morale shattered, and the once-relentless assault turned into a desperate retreat.
Hansel didn't stop. His gun roared again and again, each shot finding its mark. Enemy commanders fell one by one, Grandthur fell by a single shot , their forces scattering in disarray.
Karina, bloodied but triumphant, rallied her remaining troops.
"Push forward!" she shouted. "Drive them back!"
The battlefield erupted into chaos once more, but this time, the momentum was on their side.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the battlefield fell silent. The enemy had been routed, their once-mighty army reduced to scattered remnants.
Karina stood amidst the carnage, her chest heaving as she surveyed the aftermath. Hansel approached, his gun resting on his shoulder.
"Good work out there," she said, offering a nod of respect.
Hansel shrugged. "Just doing my job."
In the distance, reinforcements from the city began to arrive, bringing much-needed aid and supplies. Lucia was among them, her face bright with relief.
"We won," she said simply, her voice filled with awe.
I arrived soon after, my own relief evident. The cost had been great, but the victory was undeniable.
"We're not done yet," I said, my voice firm. "This was just one battle. The war is far from over."
Karina sheathed her sword, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Then let's make sure the next battle is even more decisive," she said.
---
Gold: 169,705,000 units
Magic cores: 0 units
Mana crystals: 500,000 units.