Two [Arrow Towers], one [Forge Building], and one [Wooden Wall].
Lucian stood within his territory, staring at the collected models with a calculating gaze.
His decision was swift. First, he opened the [Territory] panel and placed the new buildings in his inventory. Next, he deployed the [Wooden Wall].
Unlike standalone structures, the [Wooden Wall] could be "expanded" to surround the territory.
Lucian mapped out a 20x25 layout, encircling the core area of his land. Each meter of the wall required one Void Crystal, costing him 90 crystals in total. He also added four gates to allow for better movement.
When he confirmed the placement, the [Wooden Wall] model disappeared from his inventory. Instantly, the walls materialized on the outskirts of his territory.
The walls rose 3 meters high and 1.5 meters thick, complete with walkways for defensive maneuvers.
Lucian couldn't hide his satisfaction as he examined his work.
"Looks sturdy enough."
[Wooden Wall]
Type: Defense.
Durability: 300/300.
Current Units: 90 (Expandable).
Function: All-around defense.
Level: 1 (0/10).
But what caught Lucian's attention was the familiar (+) symbol next to the wall's level.
"I might as well see what kind of upgrade this will give me."
With a resigned sigh, Lucian clicked the icon.
Flash!
The now-familiar five-colored radiance enveloped the walls. When the light faded, the wooden barriers had transformed into something ominous.
The wood turned black and shriveled, its appearance eerie and lifeless.
[Withered Wood Wall]
Durability: 500/500.
Function: All-around defense.
Enchantment: Withering Curse (Level 1)—Attackers are afflicted with a weakening curse.
Lucian smirked. "Stronger defenses and a curse? Not bad at all."
Satisfied with the upgraded walls, Lucian turned his attention to the two [Arrow Towers].
He positioned the models at opposite corners of his territory. The towers appeared instantly, identical to his previous ones.
Without hesitation, Lucian tapped the (+) symbol for each.
Flash!
The two towers glowed and changed drastically.
One tower became thicker, with ivy-like patterns etched into its surface. At its peak sat a crystalline structure shaped like a prism.
The other tower gained a humanoid stone figure at the top, holding a massive crossbow.
[Vine Tower]
Type: Defense Tower.
Attack: Summons vines to entangle enemies.
Attack Radius: 300 meters.
Special: Can immobilize a 10-square-meter area for 10 seconds.
[Crossbow Tower]
Type: Defense Tower.
Attack: Fires piercing bolts capable of penetrating armor.
Attack Radius: 500 meters.
"A magic-based tower and a specialized arrow tower. These will come in handy."
Lucian strategically placed the [Vine Tower] and [Flame Burst Tower] on the northwest corner and the [Crossbow Tower] with the [Fart Tower] on the southwest.
He made sure to combine crowd control and offensive capabilities for maximum effectiveness.
His only gripe? The human-like sculptures atop the towers bore a striking resemblance to his own face.
"They could've at least made them look less like me…" Lucian muttered, pressing his temples in frustration.
Beside him, Lin Daiyu noticed his sour expression and stifled a giggle. Her clear eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Your territory is becoming more secure, my lord," she said gently.
Lucian sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with."
The final model in his inventory was the [Forge]. Lucian tossed the model outside the fence, where it expanded into a small workshop with a chimney puffing smoke.
[Forge]
Function: Basic crafting.
Level: 1 (0/10).
As usual, Lucian clicked the (+) symbol.
Flash!
The forge transformed into a massive cauldron-shaped structure, complete with a humanoid statue beside it. Naturally, the statue's face resembled Lucian's.
[Refinement Workshop]
Type: Crafting.
Special: Mixer Function—Batch crafts up to 10 items simultaneously.
Storage: 10/10.
Lucian stared at the workshop and then at the statue. He couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.
"This looks more like an alchemist's cauldron than a forge. What kind of blacksmithing am I supposed to do here?"
"Your skills never fail to amaze me, my lord," Lin Daiyu teased, her melodic laughter filling the air.
Lucian shot her a playful glare. "Mock me all you want. At least we're prepared for whatever comes next."
Lin Daiyu nodded, her expression softening. "Indeed. With these improvements, your domain feels even safer."
Lucian smiled at her, appreciating her support. Together, they turned to survey the upgraded territory.
For now, the Withered Walls and enhanced towers stood as a proof to their progress, ready to repel whatever the void would throw at them next.