The higher the risk, the greater the reward!
This is the fundamental rule of the "Newcomer Trial."
For new lords, the key is finding the right balance.
If the territory expands too quickly, the dangers will become overwhelming, and surviving thirty days will be impossible.
If the territory expands too slowly, the dangers may be manageable, but the rewards will be meager.
Most new lords prefer to err on the side of caution, advancing steadily and cautiously.
The truly fortunate ones may stumble upon exceptional buildings, equipment, or high-quality heroes along the way, providing opportunities worth fighting for.
As for the geniuses and the privileged, they often relish the thrill of combat.
Victory brings rewards, and failure merely means retreating to try again.
Lucian, however, came from an ordinary background. Although he was open-minded, his development lagged far behind his peers. Naturally, this meant his trials were far more dangerous.
He recalled a senior from his academy sharing a story about encountering a kobold lord boss with Red Dragon bloodline during the thirtieth day of their trial. That boss was exceptionally skilled in fire magic.
Yet, a hundred militiamen swarmed it and eventually emerged victorious.
But compared to that kobold boss, the Three-faced Buddha Lucian had just faced could have obliterated it with a single move. The gap was immeasurable!
And this?
Was only the 10th day!
Lucian couldn't fathom the horrors awaiting him in the future, nor could he imagine the battles he'd face as his territory grew stronger, attracting even deadlier foes.
"Twenty more days to go," Lucian muttered, taking a deep breath. He stored his rewards and set out to collect the loot scattered across the battlefield.
After a grueling session, Lucian had finally gathered all the loot.
There were 6,731 kill chests from the lizardmen and one boss chest from the Three-faced Buddha.
"Wait, wasn't that more than before?" Lucian frowned.
Could some monsters drop multiple chests?
Normally, a single monster could only drop one chest.
"Maybe it's related to luck?" he guessed.
With the +1 Luck bonus from the Twelve Beauties Bond, courtesy of Lin Daiyu and Qin Keqing, Lucian figured luck was on their side.
"Ah, whatever. Rewards this generous don't come every day."
He shrugged off his doubts and prepared to head back for a much-needed bath and sleep.
As Lucian approached the boundary of his territory, shadows swayed in the dark fog once again.
"What the... are you kidding me!?" Lucian's eyes widened in disbelief.
From the mist emerged pale skeletons, their hollow eye sockets glowing faintly.
At the forefront were skeleton shield warriors wielding bone shields and swords, while the rear was composed of skeleton mages clutching staffs imbued with elemental energy.
Lucian quickly donned his True Sight Goggles and activated Appraisal.
[Skeleton Shield Warrior]
Race: Undead/Void
Level: 10
Quality: White/Common
Constitution: 50+10
Spirit: None
Skills: [Shield Formation], [Defensive Stance]
Description: A former shield-bearer in life, now a fearless undead soldier retaining its combat instincts.
[Skeleton Mage]
Race: Undead/Void
Level: 10
Quality: White/Common
Constitution: 20+5
Spirit: 60+20
Skills: [Necrotic Recovery], [Fireball], [Ice Spike]
Description: A master of frost and flame, its power lies in its arcane arts.
Lucian's heart pounded as he assessed the situation. Thankfully, it wasn't a massive horde—only about a hundred skeletons advancing in an organized formation.
"Not too bad," Lucian muttered, relieved.
He immediately used Void Crystals to repair his defenses.
Void Crystal -100: [Wooden Wall] entered repair mode. Estimated recovery time: 60 seconds.
Void Crystal -400: [Fart Tower] entered repair mode. Estimated recovery time: 10 minutes.
Void Crystal -400: [Lightning Tower] entered repair mode. Estimated recovery time: 10 minutes.
Although the repairs weren't cheap, Lucian had a stockpile of Void Crystals and didn't hesitate to use them. Repairs were underway, and the defenses would soon be back in fighting shape.
"About a hundred skeletons? Let's take them down!" Lucian commanded confidently.
As the skeletons approached, the Fart Towers unleashed their signature attack.
"Pfffft—!"
Green clouds of noxious gas blanketed the battlefield, and despite being undead, the skeletons staggered and collapsed. Their once orderly formation fell into chaos.
Lucian had no idea why the gas worked on undead, but he wasn't about to question it.
"Fire at will!"
With his signal, the Machine Gun Towers roared to life, spraying bullets across the battlefield. Fireballs, frost spikes, and explosive arrows from the Elemental Towers rained down in unison.
The skeleton warriors and mages were obliterated in mere moments, their bones scattered across the bloodied ground.
Victory was swift and absolute.