Re-Awakening: Cannon Fodder With Strongest Talent Chapter 142: Massive upgrades

Two days had passed since the massive territorial upgrades, and the transformation was remarkable. Ethan’s status reflected the systematic advancent that constant herb cultivation and consumption had provided:

’High-Gold rank achieved. All attributes are balanced above 340. Substantial improvent.’

The advancent to High-Gold represented more than nurical increases—it was qualitative transformation that multiplied his combat effectiveness exponentially. His mana points had increased by over 3200 points while his health pool expanded to match his enhanced durability.

’Level 8. Basic Footwork reached Apprentice mastery. Mana control approaching mastery.’

The skill advancent pleased him almost as much as the rank progression. Apprentice-level footwork provided movent capabilities that bordered on the supernatural, while near-perfect mana control eliminated energy waste from magical applications.

His territorial infrastructure had evolved beyond recognition. The Level 4 Summoning Gate stood as a monunt to systematic advancent, its enhanced capabilities providing access to Low-Silver rank subjects with guaranteed professional allocations.

’Fifteen subjects per day. Three professionals guaranteed. All at Low-Silver baseline.’

The quality improvent was substantial. Low-Silver subjects possessed combat capabilities that dwarfed their Bronze-rank predecessors, while professional specialists arrived with expertise that accelerated territorial developnt dramatically.

The gate’s latest upgrade had also unlocked access to a new blueprint—Blacksmith Forge construction specifications that promised weapon and armor enhancent capabilities. But without a blacksmith professional among his subjects, the blueprint remained theoretical.

’Need a weaponsmith or talworker to make it functional. Future priority.’

His herb cultivation system had achieved sothing approaching an agricultural miracle. Three Tier 3 gardens operating at maximum capacity produced harvests that defied natural limitations. Tier 5 herbs grew in carefully tended plots while Tier 6 specins approached maturation in the most advanced beds.

’From scarcity to abundance through my devouring.’

The mathematical progression was staggering. Each tier of herb provided exponentially greater advancent benefits than its predecessor. Tier 6 specins would grant attribute increases that could push him toward Platinum rank within days rather than months.

’The enemy has no idea what they’re facing now.’

Confidence filled him as he considered the upcoming confrontation. High-Gold rank placed him on roughly equal footing with most opposition leaders, while his diverse talent portfolio provided tactical options that specialized fighters couldn’t match.

’Ti to see if systematic advancent beats organizational strength.’

A commotion at the territory’s edge interrupted his strategic planning. One of his periter guards was running toward the Town Hall with the desperate urgency that ant imdiate crisis.

"My Lord!" The guard—one of the newer Low-Silver recruits—skidded to a halt before the building. "Movent spotted in the northern jungle! Multiple contacts approaching our territorial boundary!"

’Finally. The retaliation arrives.’

"Details," Ethan commanded, his voice sharp with tactical focus.

"Large force. Military formation. They’re not trying to hide their approach." The guard’s professional assessnt carried weight despite his obvious concern. "I left my team in observation position and ca to report imdiately."

’Smart tactics. Maintain surveillance while bringing intelligence.’

"Numbers?"

"At least twenty combatants. Possibly more in reserve. Their energy signatures suggest significant threat levels."

’Twenty minimum. Substantial force deploynt.’

"Your team’s current position?"

"Concealed observation post approximately one kiloter north. They have clear sightlines on the enemy approach route."

’Perfect for intelligence gathering. Poor for survival if discovered.’

Ethan’s enhanced senses detected subtle wrongness in the guard’s report—nervous energy that suggested information being withheld or incomplete assessnt of the situation.

"What aren’t you telling ?"

The guard’s expression tightened with professional reluctance to deliver bad news. "The energy signatures, my Lord. So of them feel... substantial. Beyond what we’ve encountered before."

’Gold-rank leadership. As expected.’

"Understood. Warn everyone in the spawning point to return to the base imdiately, including everyone outside."

"Yes, my Lord!"

As the guard departed at enhanced speed, Ethan considered tactical options. Twenty combatants suggested serious military commitnt—more than simple investigation, approaching the scale of territorial conquest.

’Ti to assess the threat personally.’

He activated his Enhanced Speed talent, reality blurring as he crossed the distance between territory and jungle boundary in seconds rather than minutes. The familiar transition from desert to forest felt different now—he was no longer an intruder in hostile domain, but a predator moving through hunting grounds.

’High-Gold capabilities change everything.’

The observation post appeared exactly where the guard had indicated—a concealed position among trees that provided excellent sightlines while maintaining tactical cover. But sothing was wrong.

’Too quiet. Where are the observers?’

Ethan approached with predatory caution, his enhanced senses sweeping the area for signs of his missing subjects. The observation post showed evidence of recent occupation but no current personnel.

After a quick look.

Three bodies lay scattered among the undergrowth, their Low-Silver equipnt stained with drying blood. His subjects had been eliminated with professional efficiency—quick, clean kills that spoke of overwhelming force rather than prolonged combat.

’They found the observation post. Eliminated witnesses.’

Ethan knelt beside the nearest corpse, examining wound patterns with tactical analysis. Single strikes to vital points, delivered with Gold-rank precision that his subjects couldn’t have defended against. Their faces showed surprise rather than fear—death had co too quickly for proper reaction.

’Professional assassination work. They’re not taking prisoners.’

The implications were stark. His enemies operated with military discipline that eliminated loose ends rather than accepting intelligence leaks. They knew he would discover the bodies—this was ssage delivery as much as tactical necessity.

’They want to know they’re coming.’

But sothing felt wrong about the scene. His enhanced senses detected residual energy signatures that suggested recent combat, yet the enemy force was nowhere to be seen. The jungle around the observation post showed signs of disturbance, but no current occupation.

’Where did they go? They don’t simply vanish after elimination missions.’

Ethan’s tactical instincts scread warning as he studied the surrounding terrain. The positioning of his subjects’ bodies suggested they’d been killed while maintaining observation duties, but their killers had departed without establishing their own surveillance.

’Unless they haven’t departed. Unless this is bait.’

His Enhanced Speed activated automatically as killing intent erupted from multiple directions simultaneously. Twenty-three combatants erged from concealnt among ancient trees, their coordinated ambush demonstrating military precision that spoke of extensive planning.

’Trap. They used my subjects’ deaths to draw into position.’

But High-Gold reaction tis made their supposedly perfect ambush appear sluggish. Enhanced perception tracked every movent as enemies closed from all directions, their formations designed to overwhelm through concentrated violence.

’Too slow. All of them are too slow.’

Ethan blurred aside as magical attacks filled the space he’d occupied milliseconds before. Fire, ice, and force projectiles carved through ancient trees while his afterimage dissolved into empty air.

"Target mobile!" shouted one of the attackers. "Adjust formations!"

’Professional terminology. Military coordination.’

Three figures led the ambush with auras that radiated Mid-Gold enhancent. Captain Harris commanded the eastern approach while Captain Torrino coordinated the western flank. The third Gold-rank leader—a woman Ethan didn’t recognize—managed overall tactical control.

’Three Mid-Gold captains. Twenty Peak-Silver support. Substantial force deploynt.’

But their coordination ant nothing against superior individual capability. Ethan’s movent speed made their tactical formations irrelevant—he was already outside their engagent envelope before they could adjust targeting.

"Spread out! Don’t let him escape the periter!" Harris barked orders with professional authority.

’Escape? They think I’m running.’

Fire magic erupted from Ethan’s position in controlled bursts that struck precise weak points in their formation. D-rank flas consud Peak-Silver defenses while his Enhanced Speed made counterattacks hit empty air.

"Impossible," Torrino breathed, watching his soldiers stumble backward from attacks that seed to co from everywhere simultaneously. "He’s just one combatant."

’One High-Gold combatant. There’s a difference.’

Water manipulation followed his fire attacks, steam generation creating concealnt that favored his superior mobility while hampering their coordinated assault. The jungle clearing beca a hellscape of superheated vapor and scattered visibility.

"Maintain formation!" the female captain commanded. "He can’t maintain this pace indefinitely!"

’Can’t I? Let’s find out.’

Wind blades materialized throughout the steam cloud, invisible cutting edges that sliced through Peak-Silver armor like it was parchnt. Screams echoed through the artificial fog as enhanced soldiers discovered the gulf between their capabilities and true apex predation.

’Eight down. Fifteen remaining.’

The three captains abandoned their coordinated assault for desperate individual attacks, their Mid-Gold capabilities finally engaging with serious intent. But even their enhanced abilities felt sluggish compared to his High-Gold reaction tis.

Harris’s sword t crystal-hardened defenses in a collision that shattered ancient stones. "What rank is this monster?"

’Higher than yours. Significantly higher.’

Another Captain attempted flanking maneuvers while the female captain provided magical support, their professional coordination representing the pinnacle of military teamwork. But teamwork ant nothing when facing overwhelming individual superiority.