A fortress made of gray magic power.
It wasnt particularly large, and the height of its walls was low. It looked more like a small base than a fortress.
However, it clearly had walls extending all around. Confused, I glanced around. There was nothing like this ntioned in the skill description.
Perhaps these walls indicate the range of my skill.
Would the fortress expand as I grow stronger and improve my skill mastery?
I wanted to examine the fortress more closely, but I didnt have the ti.
[The Conquest War will begin soon.]
- Ti until start: 5 minutes
A system notification popped up in front of for that reason.
Just as the description of my ultimate skill [Imperial Edict] stated, activating it in enemy territory had triggered a Conquest War.
If I won this battle, the surrounding territory would be completely transferred to my control...!
Ding!
Additional details about the Conquest War appeared at that mont.
[Conquest War - Zone 1: Dried-Up Drain]
- Defeat three waves of monsters to win.
- Monster waves will consist of any three groups chosen from the nearest monster legions.
- Each wave includes a boss-level monster.
"...?"
What?
Did I read that wrong?
"Three waves, each with a boss-level monster...?"
A wave was already worriso, but including boss-level monsters was insane!
I bit my lip. If Id known this would happen, I would have brought more parties...!
"My Lord?"
"Senior, whats wrong?"
At that mont, Lucas and Evangeline asked in concerned voices. Snapping back to reality, I looked at my party mbers.
Standing in front of were two stalwart knights, a sniper, and a mage, all scrutinizing the fortress with curiosity.
My thoughts instantly cooled.
The main party of five deployed here consisted of my elite of elites.
Each had completed their awakening and was, in essence, among the strongest assets I had. The total monster kill count among my main party mbers had already reached four digits. Worrying about numbers while having such a squad was absurd.
Its sufficient. Actually, this is a good opportunity to test the limits of my ultimate skill!
Well conduct the battle with just the main party. Any shortcomings would be covered by my ultimate skill.
Quickly forming a rough tactic in my head, I nodded at my party mbers.
"Alright, everyone, gather around! Heres whats happening!"
I explained the situation of the Conquest War, the impending monster waves, and the fact that wed take control of this area if we defeated themall the way to the inclusion of boss-level monsters.
Though surprised, my party mbers didnt panic and imdiately began preparing for defense. True to their reputation as warriors who had fought through hell alongside .
Damien headed to higher ground for sniping, and Junior imdiately started casting spells.
Lucas and Evangeline exchanged glances, then checked and divided responsibilities for the sections of the wall they would defend.
Watching my party mbers perform their roles efficiently without any wasteful movents or the need for coordination made proud. Theyve grown a lot.
I should fulfill my role as well!
There was one gate in the fortress made of magical power. It was obvious that the monsters would rush through there.
Standing atop the wall above the gate, I pulled magic cores from my inventory and scattered them around, shouting.
"Summon!"
Within the boundaries of my ultimate skill, the limit on the number of summoned creatures vanished.
In other wordsif I had magic cores and building materials, I could infinitely summon defense towers!
As I activated the summoning magic, the system window displayed the entire fortress wall like a 3D blueprint, marking the spots where turrets could be placed.
Alright, first things first...
"Shield Turret!"
A taunting aggro tank tower that would draw the monsters attention and absorb their attacks: the Shield Turret.
I summoned four in total, two on the left and two on the right of the main gate.
The drainage pipes that made up the dungeon room began to twist like candy canes, ripping themselves out and taking the form of turrets.
Soon, a giant rectangular defense tower adorned with shield-shaped plating revealed itself with a thud! thud!
Seeing the four Shield Turrets lined up, I felt as reassured as if I had four bowls of piping hot rice soup set before .
A feeling of security as if one could eat one bowl for dinner and still have enough for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day.
"Next, Auto-Defense Turret!"
Another set of turrets, these designed for automatic defense!
Again, I installed four, this ti on the fortress walls that flanked the main gate.
They took on a design reminiscent of naval cannons from Earths World War II era. Large and bulky cannon platforms and barrels revealed themselves.
Eight magic cores vanished in an instant, but this was not the ti to be stingy. One doesnt skimp on resources during a test run.
I wanted to place Magic Turrets too, but the research isnt complete yet.
Magic Turrets are defense towers that apply various debuffs, including slows, to monsters in an area.
I had commissioned research into it after acquiring a scroll, but more ti was needed for completion.
Its unfortunate that I cant deploy a full set of three different turrets, but this should be enough for now.
"And captured monsters, co forth!"
I summoned all three of the captured monsters that I had stored in my personal space, each one captured during dungeon explorations with my second skill, [Beco Mine!].
[Summoned Captured Monster: Lv.30 Skeleton Knight(R)]
[Summoned Captured Monster: Lv.35 Scorpion Warrior(R)]
[Summoned Captured Monster: Lv.40 Troll Royal Guard(SR)]
A skeleton, a scorpion, and a troll erged one by one from my personal space and promptly bowed their heads before .
Whats with them? Their loyalty seems unusually high.
For so reason, they all seed more loyal than usual.
Especially the Troll Royal Guard, an elite monster whose loyalty was initially below 20; now it was over 70.
I soon found the reason: it was the effect of [Imperial Edict].
> 1st Skill [Gaze of Command] success rate increased, 2nd Skill [Beco Mine!] effect addition and adjustnt
Inside the area of my ultimate skill, their loyalty received an additional boost. With a loyalty of 70, I dont have to worry about getting stabbed in the back.
"Alright, its hard to call you all out one by one, so"
I pointed to the skeleton, scorpion, and troll each in turn, nodding my head. Then, I decided to give their team-up a na.
"Ill collectively call you The Gansomi Brothers!"
"...?"
The monsters, who had no way of understanding the Three Kingdoms reference, tilted their heads in confusion. Well, whatever. Just be grateful I didnt call you the Stir-Fry Combo.
The Gansomi Brothers were assigned as reserves. I instructed them to deal with any monsters that broke through Lucas and Evangelines defenses.
I also have a boss summoning scroll on hand, but
Ill keep that as a last resort.
With the placent of summoned and captured monsters complete, there was little ti left before the wave began.
I took a deep breath and looked around the magic fortress.
"Um... Uh... A higher vantage point would be"
Just then, I noticed Damien, who seed unable to find a suitable high ground, glancing around.
How can I not help... Wait. This fortress was created with my magic power, right?
Doesnt that an I can alter the fortress structure according to my will?
"Hold on, Damien! Stay still for a mont!"
As I focused my consciousness, a cluster of gray magical energy gathered a small turret abruptly sprang up from the ground.
"Whoaaa!"
Damien, who was also lifted upward by the rising turret, looked startled at first but soon regained his posture. He waved at with a satisfied smile.
"Thank you, Your Highness! This seems sufficient!"
I mimicked drawing a circle with my hand in response and then climbed atop the fortress wall near the gate.
[The Conquest War will begin!]
And then, from all directions of this small, cramped Zone 1 dungeon
Cawwwwww!
Squeeeeeeek!
Monsters began to flood in.
***
The first wave was a Harpy legion.
Fortunately, not all enemies that would rush towards the Crossroad in this stage had arrived here; it seed like just a portion of them. The numbers were a little over a hundred.
And with those numbers,
Pewpewpewpew!
They were not even a match for us.
The four automated defense turrets simultaneously unleashed fire from their barrels, turning the rushing harpies into feathered plumting corpses.
Just like a bullet-hell ga, the harpies were rcilessly obliterated in front of our torrential magic bullets.
Occasionally, so resilient specins broke through this overwhelming barrage and sohow infiltrated inside.
Bang! Bang!
Damien was seemingly waiting for them, sniping.
In the end, not a single harpy managed to breach our anti-aircraft net and all were annihilated.
Evangeline looked up at the falling feathers and snorted, "That was anticlimactic, considering how much tension there was."
"You shouldnt raise flags like that..."
And sure enough,
Cawwwwww!
As if waiting for Evangeline to say that, a colossal harpy made its appearance.
We all shot glares at Evangeline. She scratched her head awkwardly, "I didnt know itd actually show up like this..."
The gigantic harpy spread its wings wide open, and, sweeping the ground, comnced a low-altitude flight straight toward us.
Right behind it were four other harpies, although smaller in size.
That enormous body, those vivid feathers, and above all,
Cawwwwww!
That high-pitched, ear-splitting scream.
Without a doubt, it was the most powerful being in the harpy legion
"Harpy Coloratura!"
In other words, the harpy legions commander!
"What the hell, isnt this guy the stage boss?! Is it even okay for it to show up this early?"
The reason for questioning its early appearance was not due to the gas unreasonable difficulty.
Theyre giving us a chance to kill the boss even before the defensive battle? Arent they being too generous? was the implication!
If we killed that thing here, the defense of Crossroad would be so much easier!
In an instant, the swooping Harpy Coloratura opened its massive beak.
It inflated its chest like a balloon after sucking in air. It was about to unleash a terrifying sonic attack.
"Hrgh-!"
But before it could, my knights charged at it.
Evangeline, who had shot up like a flying squirrel, brought down her shield from above, while Lucas, who had rocketed from the ground, slashed his greatsword from below.
Evangelines shield hit the upper part of the monsters beak, while Lucas greatsword hit the lower part.
Thwack!
Forcing the monsters beak to close.
The sonic wave, all set to burst out, was trapped inside and flowed back down the monsters throat.
Thats when Junior swiftly raised her magic wand upward.
Vrooom, vroooom...!
Dark clouds quickly gathered over the head of the staggering Harpy Cololatura. Monts later
Krak-a-BOOM!
A series of lightning bolts erupted, frying Harpy Cololatura and its minions all at once.
SCREEEAAAK!
Harpy Cololatura managed to hold on, but its four minions were reduced to horrifically charred corpses.
Twisting its body as if to escape, the harpy spread its wings wide.
Flap! Flap!
Both of its wings were pierced by Damiens magic spear.
The magic spear accurately shattered the core of the wing bones, scattering feathers and blood, as Harpy Cololatura began plumting towards the ground.
Thud!
At that mont, Evangeline and Lucas leapt onto the falling monsters body.
Everything that had unfolded happened in the blink of an eye, as the two knights took a leap into the air.
The two knights who had silenced Harpy Cololaturas mouth planted their feet on its chest as soon as the lightning and sniping attacks were over.
Crackle, crackle-crackle...!
Juniors chain lightning that had ricocheted toward the two knights was completely absorbed by Evangelines shield.
Then,
"RAAAAHHH!"
Evangeline could discharge the absorbed damage through the tip of her spear...!
THUNK!
With [Damage Payback], the tip of Evangelines spear, wrapped in lightning, stabbed into Harpy Cololaturas chest.
Simultaneously, Lucass sword, emitting rays of light, pierced through Harpy Cololaturas neck.
THUMP! Krak-a-BOOM...!
The gigantic harpys body hit the ground,
raising a massive cloud of dust. Evangeline and Lucas, who had surfed down on the fallen monsters corpse, landed gracefully on the ground.
Wave 1 Cleared.
I watched the two knights as they loosened up their shoulders and ca back toward , and I found myself thinking,
...Did I over-level them?
No, seriously... Isnt this a bit too much?
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