{BS: Congratulations Host, You have received 10,000 BS coins and a new skill: [Heartwave].}
{BS: [Heartwave Description: The Host can perceive the truthfulness of statements made by others.]}
{BS: Host gained 10,000 Exp.}
{MS: Congratulations, Host has received 10,000 MS coins and a new skill: [Fire Lord]. Additionally, the Host has gained a 10% probability of striking a vital point in combat.}
{MS: [Fire Lord Description: The Host possesses an innate understanding and mastery over all forms of fire, both magical and mundane. The Host also gains 50% resistance to all fire-based attacks.]}
{MS: Congratulations, Host gained 20,000 EXP.}
{MS: Before you inquire, Host, your recent victory in battle accounts for the higher reward from me compared to BS. As you develop and expand your kingdom's power, BS's rewards will commensurately increase.}
{Congratulations, Host has Ranked up to Rank 8.}
"I can't decide which of you is more incredible! You're both simply phenomenal!" Kyle exclaimed, hopping down from the carcass of the massive striped tiger. Its sheer size spoke of the dangerous predators that roamed this untamed land beyond the kingdoms.
"Hmm..."
He turned his attention to the fallen beast, its once vibrant orange and black fur now dull in death. Placing his hand on its coarse hide, he felt a familiar feeling.
{BS: Does the Host wish to convert the carcass into resources?}
"If it's feasible, proceed," Kyle responded, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. He had only recently begun to understand the strange capabilities granted to him.
A soft golden light enveloped the tiger's form for a few fleeting seconds, and then, the immense creature vanished without a trace, as if it had never been.
{BS: Congratulations, Host has received 900 kg of fresh meat, a cracked ruby, and 200 units of fur.}
{BS: Fur can be utilized in the workshop for crafting various items, while gems can be employed to enhance the properties of weapons or attire.}
"It still feels like I'm navigating some elaborate game," Kyle mused aloud, a wry smile touching his lips. "And 900 kg of fresh meat... that should be enough to feed a considerable number of people, right? Like, fifty or more?"
{BS: Incorrect, Host.}
"Oh... right. I'm hardly an expert butcher," he admitted with a chuckle. "Maybe it would feed a smaller group then."
{BS: Still incorrect.}
"Huh? Well, enlighten me then!" Kyle said, a touch of playful exasperation in his voice.
{BS: 900 kg of meat could potentially provide approximately 4,500 standard servings of 200 grams per person. Adjusting the serving size for children could slightly alter this figure.}
"That much?!" Kyle's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "You're telling me I have enough meat to sustain a small village of hundreds... and that's not even counting the ten thousand fruits I've gathered."
A grin spread across his face, the potential of his newfound resources beginning to dawn on him.
He squatted down, the five soldiers who had accompanied him on this hunt standing silently behind him, their gazes alert and scanning the surrounding wilderness.
Their loyalty to Kyle was evident in their unwavering stance. Their faces, hidden by the clothes, held such calmness as they observed their King.
Kyle's gaze was fixed on the edge of the dense forest, roughly five hundred meters away. The trees stood tall and ancient, their leaves a vibrant tapestry of greens and browns, hinting at the abundance of life within.
"Why don't we put my new skill to the test?" he said, turning to his small band of soldiers. "Let's hunt some more."
He extended his hand, and a flickering flame materialized above his palm. It danced and swayed, now an obedient servant to his will. The [Fire Lord] skill felt intuitive, as if he had wielded such power for years.
"MS made me an expert in controlling flames, and apparently, the skill is already at its peak," he mused, a hint of awe in his voice.
"I might only be a Rank 8 Hunter, but with such a potent ability... I'm practically untouchable in a direct confrontation."
He stood up, the small flame still dancing above his hand. "Hey, System... does my... life force, or whatever, deplete when I use a skill like this?"
{What are you referring to, Host? The Host does not possess a 'life force'. Therefore, it cannot be depleted.}
"Uh? I don't have life force? Then how am I conjuring these flames?" he asked, mild shock coloring his tone as he stared at the fire, his eyes wide with surprise. The concept was alien, defying his previous understanding of the world.
{The Host draws upon innate energies granted by the Systems. There is no inherent limitation to the amount of spells the Host can cast.}
Kyle blinked several times, the System's words slowly sinking in. The implications were staggering. "This is beyond... how would I even describe it?" he murmured to himself, a sense of limitless potential stirring within him. With a simple clench of his fist, the flame vanished.
"Okay, then..." he said, a newfound confidence lacing his voice.
"Alright. Let's head into the forest for some more hunting." He spun his worn but reliable sword, the steel glinting in the dappled sunlight, and began to walk towards the tree line, his small group of soldiers falling into formation behind him.
"Hey, MS... that cracked ruby, can it be used to enhance my soldiers in some way?"
{MS: Yes, Host. Imbuing a soldier with the ruby will grant them a significant advantage in combat.}
"What kind of advantage are we talking about?" Kyle inquired, his mind already considering the possibilities. Even a small boost to his meager forces could make a difference.
{MS: Due to its cracked nature, the ruby will impart a modest increase of approximately 2% to the soldier's attack power.}
"Only 2%? That seems rather insignificant," he commented, a slight frown creasing his forehead. He opened his palm, and the flawed, crimson gem materialized in his hand, its facets catching the light. "Show me the soldier status screen."
Instantly, a translucent holographic screen appeared before his eyes, displaying concise information about each of the five soldiers currently under his command. Kyle studied the data for a moment, considering his options, before focusing on the information of one of the archers. He reached out and mentally placed the ruby onto the archer's profile.
Looking over his shoulder, Kyle saw a faint red glow briefly envelop the archer before dissipating. The archer himself, seemed unaware of any change.
{MS: Ruby successfully applied. Archer has gained a 2% increase to his attack power.}
Kyle nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"And if one of them... If they get killed in action, what happens then?"
{MS: If a soldier perishes, their entry will be permanently removed from your list of soldiers, and your kingdom's overall power will be reduced.}
"So, if these five fall, I won't have any soldiers left until I can somehow create new ones?" Kyle clarified, wanting to fully understand the risks involved.
{MS: Correct, Host.}
Kyle stopped at the very edge of the forest, his gaze sweeping over the dense foliage.
"Is it truly wise to risk my entire fighting force for a few extra resources?" he murmured to himself, weighing the potential gains against the potential losses.
{DING!}
{MS: Quest Triggered.}
"Uh?" Kyle blinked, surprised by the sudden notification.
{MS: A small village has been detected approximately several miles from your current location. It is a neighboring settlement to the now-fallen Oakhavan. Demonic entities have overrun the village, and your quest is to conquer it.}
{MS: Reward: A higher-class weapon.}
{DING!}
{BS: Quest Triggered!}
"You too?" Kyle asked aloud, a hint of amusement in his voice.
{BS: Gain the trust of the villagers in the newly detected settlement and receive 50,000 units of all basic resources and 10,000 units of cotton.}
A slow, predatory smirk spread across Kyle's face.
"Well, what a delightful turn of events. With that much cotton, I could potentially create ten more basic soldiers... bringing my total to fifteen. That would certainly give me more flexibility in expanding my territory. What about the resources themselves? They would be invaluable for construction and development." He muttered to himself, already formulating plans.
"And a higher-class weapon... that could significantly boost my own combat capabilities."
"AHH!!!"
A piercing scream shattered the relative quiet. Kyle and his soldiers spun around sharply, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. Standing on the edge of what was once the familiar forest was Gabriela.
Her eyes were wide with terror and disbelief, darting across the desolate, dried-out landscape where the vibrant woods had once stood. Even the small, sturdy hut she had called home was gone, leaving only bare earth.
"This is..."
Gabriela choked out, her voice trembling.
Kyle sighed, a wave of grim understanding washing over him. He looked back at the lush forest stretching before him, the contrast stark and unsettling. "We have a quest to conquer a village, but that doesn't mean we can't secure some much-needed resources along the way."
A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes. "What I'm about to do will undoubtedly draw the attention of the surrounding kingdoms and likely cause some significant... complications." His sinister smirk widened.
Gabriela finally noticed the figures standing at the edge of the remaining forest.
"Uh?"
She stammered, her shock momentarily eclipsing her fear.
Kyle turned away from her, walking towards a thick-trunked tree at the forest's edge. He placed his hand on the rough bark, a strange energy thrumming beneath his fingertips.
"Systems..."
He commanded, his voice low and resolute. "The rise of Celestia begins today. Clear out this entire forest. Leave nothing behind, not even the carcasses of fallen beasts."
{OK HOST.}
{Conversion process activated.}
A shimmering, translucent dome of energy materialized above them, expanding rapidly to encompass the entirety of the visible forest. The air within the dome began to hum with a low, resonant frequency.
"If only you could convert living creatures." Kyle mused, watching the energy field at work.
{The System can only convert non-living organic and inorganic matter, Host.}
"I know," Kyle replied, his gaze hardening. "Do it."
Gabriela watched in utter disbelief as, before her very eyes, the entire forest began to dissolve. The towering trees shimmered and faded, the lush undergrowth withered and vanished, the very earth seemed to crumble and turn to dust. In mere moments, where a vibrant ecosystem had thrived, there was only a barren, desolate expanse.
"AHHHHH!!!"
She shrieked again, the horrifying spectacle pushing her beyond fear into sheer, unadulterated terror. The world she knew was being erased before her very eyes.