"Only level one, yet Lin Daiyu's strength is already this terrifying?"
Lucian stared silently at the battlefield.
Lin Daiyu's abilities were legendary, but her skills were still basic in classification. Yet, even with such limitations, she easily dispatched monsters with sheer overwhelming power. Her incredible attributes carried her through, allowing her to defend her side before running back to protect Lucian.
"It's clear. My focus from now on should be on developing heroes and units."
Lucian nodded to himself, his determination solidified. "Great work out there!"
Lin Daiyu turned to him with a soft smile, her gentle expression like a spring breeze.
"Do you need my help, Lucian?"
Her voice was soothing, yet her eyes carried a trace of concern.
Lucian smiled. "Sure, let's see your strength in action."
Lin Daiyu nodded gracefully, her movements light as a breeze. She leapt from the wooden wall in a single bound, her figure vanishing into the fray of undead.
The Steel Armored Boars, who were busy stomping through the Frost Rot Corpses, barely registered her arrival.
As she landed, a wave of hostility washed over her. The Frost Rot Corpses snarled and lunged, eager to devour her.
Lin Daiyu remained calm. With a swift sidestep, she closed the gap, her elegant hands striking like thunder.
Smack!
A single blow echoed across the battlefield as the head of a Frost Rot Corpse was reduced to mush.
Her movements were mesmerizing—a combination of fluid grace and ruthless efficiency.
She darted through the crowd of undead like a specter, delivering strikes that turned her foes into lifeless husks. Her momentum was unstoppable, her strikes sharp and decisive.
In mere moments, the entire horde was decimated.
A notification appeared in Lucian's mind.
"Battle concluded! Calculating results..."
Battle Results:
Enemies: 431 Frost Rot Corpses (Level 6), 187 Elite Frost Rot Corpses (Level 8).
Victory Evaluation: S-Class!
Basic Rewards: 618 Void Source Stones.
Additional Rewards: 300 Void Crystals, 300 Void Source Stones, Skill Book [Frost Breath], Rare Job Token [Frost Archer], Territory Building [Frost Tower].
"Over 600 enemies..." Lucian muttered, his thoughts racing.
This was only the fifth day of the trial, and the number of enemies had already surpassed five hundred.
He could only imagine how overwhelming the 10th, 20th, or even 30th day would be.
But his gaze hardened. "The greater the risk, the greater the reward."
Lucian surveyed the battlefield.
The wooden walls had sustained some damage but were still holding strong. However, the monsters had pushed far closer than he would have liked. Tomorrow's wave would undoubtedly be even more dangerous.
Upgrades were a must.
"Walls can wait. The towers come first," he decided.
Lucian opened the attributes of his four defensive towers. Thanks to the territory reaching level two, both Lucian and his buildings were eligible for upgrades.
[Inferno Tower] Level 1 → Level 2
Cost: 200 Void Source Stones.
Skill: Flame Burst (Level 2).
Effect: Stronger explosions, increased range.
[Fart Tower] Level 1 → Level 2
Cost: 200 Void Source Stones.
Skill: Weak Gas (Level 2).
Effect: Greater area of effect, stronger debuff.
[ Vine Tower] Level 1 → Level 2
Cost: 200 Void Source Stones.
Skill: Summon Earth Vine (Level 2).
Effect: Longer ensnarement duration.
[Crossbow Tower] Level 1 → Level 2
Cost: 200 Void Source Stones.
Skill: Piercing Arrow (Level 2).
Effect: Higher penetration power, faster reload time.
Eight hundred Void Source Stones vanished from his inventory as the upgrades were initiated.
A faint glow surrounded the towers as they grew taller and sturdier, their new features exuding an aura of power.
Lin Daiyu reappeared beside him, her movements as quiet as a shadow.
She glanced at the enhanced towers with a hint of admiration. "Impressive. These will hold the line even better tomorrow."
Lucian smiled. "You think so? I'm just getting started."
But Lin Daiyu's gaze turned thoughtful. "Lucian, perhaps you should upgrade the altar next."
Her suggestion caught him off guard.
"The altar?"
She nodded. "The altar is what binds your summoned heroes to you. If you upgrade it, you can summon another hero to aid you."
Lucian blinked, considering her words.
Currently, his [Red Pavilion] altar allowed for only one hero at a time. Upgrading it would not only unlock a second hero slot but also raise the level cap of all existing heroes.
"You'd be happier with a companion, wouldn't you?" Lin Daiyu teased softly.
Her smile was knowing, though her tone carried no malice.
Lucian hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on Lin Daiyu's serene expression. "Well... I can't argue with that logic."
After all, the more heroes he had, the better his chances of survival.