*Congratulations, Lord. You have successfully slain all the black-rank, Tier-2 Kobolds in the mini monster gathering place.*
*You have gained 7,000 EXP for defeating 50 Kobolds.*
*You have leveled up.*
*You have leveled up.*
Arthur's eyes sparkled with excitement as the system notifications popped up one after another. The rush of leveling up was addictive. His efforts had paid off once again, and he could feel the power surging within him.
But the system wasn't done yet.
*Your bronze-rank soldiers have leveled up.*
Curious, Arthur opened the soldier status panel. A satisfied grin spread across his face as he reviewed their improved stats. Each soldier had gained another significant boost:
- **Health:** 480 → 520
- **Strength:** 14 → 16
- **Agility:** 14 → 16
- **Intelligence:** 14 → 16
- **Mana:** 14 → 16
Arthur nodded with pride. His soldiers were getting stronger at an impressive rate, and they had just begun their journey. Every step forward was turning them into a force to be reckoned with.
Now it was his turn.
---
**Name:** Arthur
**Gender:** Male
**Species:** Human
**Occupation:** Lord
**Cultivation:** Tier-1 (Level 6)
**EXP:** 0000/6000
**Skill:** Berserk
**Talent:** Legendary Luck
- **Health:** 8 → 12
- **Strength:** 7 → 11
- **Agility:** 7 → 11
- **Intelligence:** 13 → 17
- **Mana:** 12 → 16 (+10 from Magic Staff)
---
Arthur took a deep breath. He could feel it—his muscles were becoming more toned, his movements sharper, his senses clearer. He clenched his fist, feeling the raw strength coursing through him. Crushing a rock with his bare hand didn't seem impossible now. And yet, deep in his heart, he knew that this was still far from enough to survive in this ruthless, ever-dangerous world.
He noticed the light beginning to fade. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the battlefield. Night was coming—and with it, the danger would only grow. Monsters became more active, more aggressive after dark.
Before returning to his territory, Arthur quickly stored all the Kobold corpses in his inventory. Nothing would go to waste. Then, with a determined look, he turned toward the cave from where the monsters had likely emerged.
"Two of you, come with me," Arthur ordered. "The rest, stand guard around this area and rest for now. Stay alert."
He entered the cave cautiously, accompanied by two loyal soldiers. The deeper they went, the more repulsive the surroundings became. The stench of decay filled the air, and the walls were coated in filth. Disgusting remnants of monster life were scattered everywhere—bones, rotting meat, and refuse. Arthur wrinkled his nose.
"Monsters really are all the same... they don't even know how to keep their homes clean," he muttered.
He forced himself to ignore the squalor and continued deeper into the darkness. The cave grew pitch-black, so he raised his hand and summoned a flickering flame with his Tier-3 Magic Staff. Instantly, the surrounding area was illuminated in a soft, warm glow. It still amazed him.
As they moved further in, the light from the flame danced across the walls, revealing something unexpected—clusters of minerals embedded in the stone. He saw veins of iron and other metallic ores he couldn't identify.
"These monsters have no idea of the value of this," Arthur thought. "Once I've recruited more subordinates, I'll have them mine this place. This will be essential for maintaining and upgrading our gear. I can't rely on monster drops forever."
He knew his **Legendary Luck** would help him acquire rare items and equipment, but in the long term, a reliable infrastructure was necessary. As his army grew, so would the demand for weapons, armor, and resources. Maintenance and crafting would become vital.
At last, in the deepest part of the cave, Arthur spotted what he was looking for—a black-rank treasure chest. It sat there, surrounded by jagged rocks, its surface dull but solid.
*Do you want to open the Black-rank treasure chest?*
He clicked "Yes" without hesitation.
The chest vibrated slightly and emitted a soft glow. The system responded.
*Attention, Lord. Your Legendary Talent is in use.*
*Congratulations, Lord. You have obtained:*
- *20 Bronze-rank Soldier Summoning Cards*
- *20 Common Human Summoning Cards*
- *500 units of food and water*
- *17 Tier-2 Swords and Shields*
- *1 Gold-rank Hero Summoning Card*
Arthur's eyes widened. His breath caught in his throat. A **Gold-rank Hero Summoning Card**?
"This... this is insane," he whispered to himself.
Information about the hero system began to display before him.
**Heroes** were not ordinary soldiers. They were commanders. Champions. One Gold-rank, Tier-1 Hero could fight against 40–50 soldiers of the same rank. Even if those soldiers were at a higher tier, a Hero could still defeat them—albeit with some injuries. Their strength was leagues above average warriors.
And he had just pulled one from a *black*-rank chest.
Arthur's hands trembled as he gripped the Hero card. "My talent really is overpowered. I can't imagine what I'll get from bronze, silver, or higher-ranked treasure chests."
He placed the rewards in his inventory and turned to leave the cave. When he stepped outside, night had fully arrived. The sky was cloaked in darkness, and an eerie chill lingered in the air.
"We need to return to the territory. Immediately," Arthur said to his soldiers. "Monsters become more active at night. I don't want to risk a fight when we're tired and vulnerable."
As they regrouped, Arthur addressed the entire squad.
"Let's go home, everyone. You've all done well today, and I'm impressed with your performance. Once we're inside the territory, I'll appoint a captain for this unit."
Hearing his praise sparked a new fire in the soldiers. Their fatigue vanished, replaced by pride and purpose. They stood taller, moved faster, and walked with renewed strength. None of them wanted to appear weak in front of their Lord.
One hour later, the outline of their territory finally came into view through the trees. They passed through the protection wall and entered safely under the growing night.
Arthur took a deep breath. He was home, for now. But the journey ahead was just beginning.
---