DEFENSE KINGDOM

Chapter 30: The Mid-Grade Treasure: A Gamble of Fate

In a forest,

Ash and the others see 15 level 1 beasts stealthily moving in groups, heading somewhere. Ash notices that Ram is ready for defense, his weapon at the ready, and Evan grips his axe and shield tightly. Ash thinks, "This attack by the beasts is really going to be a pain in the neck. I hope we won't be badly injured by them." He prepares himself to defend against the beasts' attack, but to his surprise, the beasts ignore them completely, as if they don’t exist. The beasts continue on a different path, avoiding any confrontation with Ash and his group.

Ash thinks, "Maybe the beasts are rushing somewhere. It's good for them, but why do I feel like I'll lose an opportunity if we don’t follow them and spy on them? Maybe they'll find some treasure, but is the risk worth it? I should discuss it with Ram and Evan."

For five minutes, Ash, Ram, and Evan talk. After considering their options, they decide not to pursue the beasts. The altar upgrade is their first priority. If they can grow their altar city to level 2, the forest will become their small hunting ground for training knights and soldiers. The beasts in the forest will be hunted or captured for taming, and the resources will be fully explored by their altar citizens. They don’t feel rushed to find anything else.

Ash thinks, "Even if the beasts find something extraordinary, they’re only going to upgrade to level 2. I don't believe they’ll find anything that will help them upgrade easily or use something extraordinary."

A few minutes later, they arrive at their destination and begin working. Ash uses his knife to chop wood, while Ram slashes at trees with his sword, and Evan uses his axe.

Time and time again, Ash notices the beasts glancing in their direction. They don’t dare approach, and Ash thinks, "Maybe it’s Ram's deterrence."

One hour later, they finish chopping wood, and they’ve gathered 300 logs.

"I can handle more weight without a problem," Ram says with a smile.

Ash agrees with Ram and lets him carry the extra wood for the altar city.

After five minutes of travel, they spot a treasure box inside a den where two level 1 beasts are sleeping. Ash tries to assess the status of the treasure box and the beasts.

A window pops up in front of Ash.

...

...

Name: Treasure Box (Consumable Resource)

Status: Good

Ability: Provides essential items up to mid-grade

Description: A mid-grade treasure box found in various locations by the will of Eldros, connected to Eldros' treasury, providing the most useful and urgently needed items to the finder.

Grade: Mid-grade

...

...

Name: Lion

Grade: Low-grade Beast

Level: 1

Description: A powerful beast in the low rank monster hierarchy. Very effective at killing small prey alone, its eyes can see clearly in the dark.

Abilities: None

Weakness: Sharp weapons, fire

...

...

After seeing the status of both the treasure and the beasts, Ash decides to take the treasure box. He and Evan decide to attack one beast while Ram takes on the other.

Two minutes later, Ash and Evan strike the beast with their weapons quickly. The beast is injured but not dead. The two of them continue attacking and defending against its counterattacks. The beast tries to escape, but Ash blocks its path. The beast fights fiercely, its eyes glowing red. It focuses its attacks solely on Ash, forcing him to dodge, but the beast also avoids Evan’s attacks.

After five minutes of intense fighting, the beast is badly injured. One minute later, Ash finishes it off with a swift knife strike to the neck.

Looking in the other direction, Ash sees Ram sitting on the soil with a smile on his face, the other beast’s body lying somewhere in the distance.

Ash thinks, "Maybe Ram killed the beast quickly but didn’t come to help us because he wanted to let us gain combat experience." He says nothing to Ram, simply smiling at him.

Ash enters the den and retrieves the treasure box, but he doesn’t open it yet. "I should wait until we’re back in the city. Opening it here would only increase our carrying weight, and that’s not good."

They begin heading back toward Nexus City.

Fifteen minutes later, they finally arrive, Ash smiling with anticipation about what he might get from his first mid-grade treasure. They deposit the wood in the city. He sees Robin greeting them, looking as though he's focused on his role—taking care of the city’s internal matters. Robin takes the beast meats into the kitchen.

"I'll cook for all of us and take the wood to the warehouse. You all rest," Robin says, smiling.

Ash nods, settling onto the ground. He notices the others sitting nearby, their eyes filled with curiosity, but Robin continues his work, transporting goods to their destinations.

Ash thinks, "I’m also very curious about what I’ll get from this mid-grade treasure box. I understand their curiosity. Please, Eldros world, give me something worthy for my city and for me. I bow before you, O world, please grant me something truly treasured."

After some nervous anticipation, Ash opens the treasure box. His hands tremble slightly, but a smile spreads across his face. For a moment, he’s lost in the excitement, anxious yet hopeful. Two seconds later, golden light bursts from the box, and it vanishes into thin air.

His eyes widen, filled with anticipation, as a window pops up in front of him.

...

...

Congratulations to the altar-owner for opening a mid-grade treasure box for the first time. Your items from the treasure box have been stored in the city’s warehouse.

...

...

Ash thinks, "I want to see what treasures are in the city’s warehouse."

A window pops up in front of him.

...

...

Name: Guide Mark (Item-resource)

Requirement: Bound with altar to use

Quantity: 1

Status: Good

Ability: Summons up to 5 persons daily at the city’s entry gate, if lucky.

Description: Opens five exit gates in the dark-tunnel for people to enter your altar city.

Grade: Mid-grade

...

...

Ash smiles, pleased with the first item. "Very good treasure. I really need this without a doubt. Thank you, Eldros world. I bow three times in respect for you."

Next, he checks the other treasures.

...

...

Name: Furnace (Blueprint-resource)

Requirement: 100 stones, 25 wood

Quantity: 1

Status: Good

Ability: None

Description: Refines raw iron into usable iron for creating weapons or other items after constructing the blueprint.

Grade: Low-grade

...

...

Name: Blacksmith Room (Blueprint-resource)

Requirement: 300 stones, 100 wood

Quantity: 1

Status: Good

Ability: None

Description: Creates weapons from iron or other tools and has an eternal fire fuelled by surrounding mana after constructing the blueprint.

Grade: Mid-grade

...

...

Name: Flame Fruit (Consumable Resource)

Requirement: Living beings for use

Quantity: 1

Status: Good

Ability: None

Description: Eating this fruit gives the consumer the power to wield flames and fire, increasing their affinity with the fire element.

Grade: Mid-grade

...

...

Name: Flame Sword (Item-resource)

Requirement: None

Quantity: 1

Status: Good

Ability: Fire Slash

Description: A weapon used to kill enemies, very sharp and effective in combination with fire elements.

Grade: Mid-grade

...

...

After seeing all the treasures, Ash feels his heartbeat quicken. His mind imagines how his city's power will grow once these items are fully utilized.

He looks at Evan and Ram.

"Let’s go to the warehouse," Ash says with a smile.

He checks the status of Nexus City.

A window pops up in front of him.

...

...

City: Nexus City

Ability: Territory defense doubled

Description: In city defense, all attack and defense powers of people and buildings are doubled.

Altar Level: 0

Upgrade Requirement: (Wood * 1000, Stone * 250, 50 * Mana Core (Level 0))

Production: Mist Mana Level 0 * 10 per day

Area: 625 square meters

Status: Very Small Village

Mana (Money): 22

Tax (from market & city): 0 * Mana-Mist Level

Building: Guide Mark * 1 (active), Market (0 used out of 5 in a day, 5 free trades per day)

Blueprint: Low-grade House (Stone * 100, Wood * 25), Furnace (Blueprint-resource) (100 stones, 25 wood), Blacksmith Room (Blueprint-resource) (300 stones, 100 wood)

Warehouse: Wood * 500, Stone * 10, Flame Fruit (Consumable Resource), Flame Sword (Item-resource)

Population: 4

Specialty: Mana Tree (Produces Level 0 Mana * 5 per day)

Resource Point: Stone Mountain Level 1 (310 * mined / 1000 all stone mineable in new mine)

Attack Power Level: 0 (1000/1000)

Description: City's power level to attack enemies

Defense Power Level: 0 (10000/10000)

Description: City's defense power level against enemies

...

...

"Okay, my lord," Ram says with a smile and calm voice.

Ash nods. He notices both Ram and Evan’s eyes are filled with curiosity. "Maybe they’re wondering about the treasures we received. I’ll show them what we got from the forest trip."

Three minutes later, they arrive at the warehouse. Ash sees Robin working and asks him to come along for a few minutes.

Ash and the others stand by the warehouse. Ash connects with the altar through his mind to retrieve the treasures. Moments later, all the treasures from the mid-grade treasure box are brought before him.

"See the treasures we got from the box," Ash says with a smile, turning to Ram, Evan, and Robin.

They all smile, and Ash smiles too.

Six minutes later,

"Robin, take this knife as your weapon for now. If we find new weapons, you’ll have priority to choose first," Ash says calmly.

"Thank you, my lord," Robin responds with a smile.

Ash nods. "I’ll use this flame fruit and flame sword for now, and we’ll focus on increasing our resources to construct the new blueprints."

"Do you have any objections?" Ash asks with a smile.

"No problem, my lord," they all reply.

A small smile appears on Ash’s face.

"Let’s attach the new guide mark to the altar," Ash says with a smile.

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