Structure Defense
Several days had passed since he cleared Stage 1.
Having finally shaken off the aftereffects of launching himself from a Bakgyeokpo, Ho-yeong searched every corner of the eastern district office.
There had to be some priceless treasure hidden here somewhere. Otherwise, why would goblins have swarmed a half-collapsing building with such dogged enthusiasm?
“What is this, a scrap of firewood?”
But all he had managed to recover was a wooden figurine from the broken lobby floor. It was a plain little carving in the shape of a crude sword.
Ho-yeong was thoroughly disappointed.
This is Totem of Unity. It is a rare-grade item obtainable only by clearing a defense stage at a high rank.
“This thing?!”
It turned out the figurine was a fairly valuable item after all.
It possesses a tremendously powerful effect that allows the user to make chosen targets act according to the user’s will.
The mechanism of the Totem that Daliha explained was as follows.
(1) The user imbues the totem with a powerful will.
(2) A specific individual or faction is designated as the target.
(3) The target or targets then act in accordance with the will placed within the totem.
“So in other words, I can use this to control monsters or people through the totem?”
It is less direct mind control than the sharing of a powerful will, causing the target to act on its own. Because it is similar to suggestion, variables may arise depending on an individual’s temperament and the situation.
Ho-yeong did not fully grasp the explanation, but he decided to translate it into a concept he was more familiar with.
“So it’s like an order from the army.”
An order could be followed in a training environment with perfect discipline, but in an unexpected situation or actual combat, it might not be obeyed so cleanly. And in the case of a hopeless idiot, they might try to follow the order but end up carrying it out in a bizarre way.
That is an excellent analogy. Just as military orders are best when concise, the simpler and clearer the will placed within the totem, the more entities it can move for the longer duration.
Let us use the being who employed this totem in Stage 1 as an example. He imprinted the will, “Gather here. Let us follow the road.”
“Because if you think about goblin intelligence, there was no way they could’ve handled anything more complicated than that.”
Correct. However, even with a simple command, it was impossible to perfectly control every goblin.
First, they were not called from a single tribe, but from several different ones, so they lacked cohesion.
Second, among the goblins were many individuals whose instinct for survival outweighed their urge to kill.
Third, your own activity, Guardian, was a major variable. Because of it, many individuals broke free of the “converging will,” acted independently, and even turned on one another.
Thinking of the ones that avoided the fire zone, the ones that defied the poison captain, and the ones that were actively converted, Ho-yeong nodded.
The Totem of Unity is certainly the “purpose” that draws goblins together, but for the one who summoned them, it is merely a “means.” Totems of Unity are now being generated throughout the kingdom.
“This is a bit of a reversal. I thought the goblins were swarming because there was something worth looting, but they were being brainwashed by this totem. And if there’s another being that summoned the goblins... then it wasn’t the System that triggered this.”
He could finally see the outline of the game’s progression, which had been vague until now.
“Now I get it. The reason the mandragoras that fear humans suddenly went berserk, and the reason the converted goblins kept saying someone seemed to have told them to come here, it was all because of that thing? Those guys? Those things? Anyway, those bastards and the totem.”
That is correct. Please understand that I cannot provide details concerning “that being.”
“I figured as much. I’m guessing I’ll have to uncover its identity myself. For now, though, there’s probably nothing I can do about it, so I’ll pass.”
For the moment, he was satisfied with having found a clue to the hidden hand behind everything, and decided to untangle the knotted threads little by little.
“Anyway, does that mean I can use this Totem of Unity now that I’ve ‘obtained’ it?”
Correct. However, the Totem of Unity is single-use, so please use it carefully. Also note that totems generated by quests or sudden events rather than defense stages disappear and cannot be obtained or used.
“So it can only be supplied through stage clears. I can’t just burn through it like a potion.”
And then, some time later, Ho-yeong found himself facing a crisis in Rainpa.
Now, with no elite troops at hand, he decided this was exactly the moment to use the Totem of Unity.
Would you like to use the Totem of Unity? A target that is not hostile, but neutral or friendly, must be designated.
The first target that came to mind was the forces of the Tamer territory.
Our troops would probably rush here right away. But the distance is too far. It’s physically impossible to make it in time.
Next, his thoughts turned to the Kihara Barony.
Should I call the baron’s sisters and their troops? They already owe me, and their conversion level is high, so they’d probably come. Two noble mages would definitely be a huge help. The distance is still a bit of a problem, but Olia said she could definitely use spatial movement to get to Rainpa.
Ho-yeong started to speak the Kihara sisters’ names, then hesitated.
But those two take a pretty long time to cast spells.
It took approximately 30 minutes for Olia Kihara to summon the spatial movement magic circle. The time remaining before the stage begins is approximately 40 minutes.
It was Daliha, relaying the information as if she could read his mind.
“Argh, that’s annoyingly vague! Hmm... call them? Don’t call them? Damn it. Is there nobody I can reinforce this with right away?”
As he looked around, Ho-yeong’s eyes fell on the sign of an inn.
“Adventurers and mercenaries welcome? Adventurers and mercenaries... Right! Among the adventurers and mercenaries staying in Rainpa, gather about ten people of two-star rank or higher. Mix the classes appropriately!”
As more monsters appeared, the number of merchants and customers declined, but adventurers increased instead. For them, danger was just another word for adventure.
Five warriors, two mages, and two priests can be assembled. What will you imprint in the totem?
“Absolute obedience to my words until the stage ends! That should be simple and clear enough. And you said I don’t have to bury the totem somewhere, right? It’s fine if I keep it on me?”
Correct. By spending 50 EP, the wills of all nine adventurers and mercenaries will be gathered.
“Huh? It costs EP? And 50 at that?”
The Totem of Unity grants powerful buffs to those around it. Would you like to cancel the totem’s use?
“No, no, it’s fine. For 50 EP, plus buffs for avatar mode too? That’s a bargain.”
Close your eyes now and send a fierce will into the totem.
Despite being startled by the unexpected expense, Ho-yeong did as instructed. Immediately, aura began to surge violently from the sword blade of the totem.
* * *
In front of the western gate of Rainpa. The afternoon sun had heated the plain, which now seemed ready to turn lonely under the moonlight.
“You built all this while you were signing the contract with the mayor? Wow, that’s fast.”
Ho-yeong looked at the ramshackle watchtower with undisguised surprise.
The Rainpa guards, taking that as praise, laughed awkwardly.
“Our guard unit is just used to this kind of work...”
“No, you lot did nothing wrong. How were you supposed to know it would turn out like this? It’s all the fault of the bastard sending the monsters.”
Ho-yeong let out a long sigh that kicked up a cloud of dust and called Daliha.
“Was this a stage or a quest? Anyway, I need a briefing.”
Bonus Stage: Mist Behind the Mist
Mission Objective: Protect the watchtower from the attack of the fog hogs (time limit: 60 minutes)
Victory Condition: At the end of the time limit, the watchtower’s durability must be at least 1, or all fog hogs must be slain or neutralized within the time limit
Defeat Condition: The watchtower’s durability reaches 0 within the time limit
Appearing Monsters: 20 fog hogs
Penalty: Fog hogs cannot be converted during the time limit.
Tip
A bonus stage is not an official stage. Therefore, even if you fail to clear it, only the conversion rating of the allied faction Rainpa will plummet dramatically; it will not directly affect the main quest. In other words, regardless of whether you clear it or not, Stage 2 will proceed normally.
Although it is not an official stage, it is still classified as a defense stage, so if you clear it, you can obtain the Totem of Unity.
The watchtower’s durability is displayed in the status window. Be careful: durability can decrease not only from monster attacks, but also from allied actions!
Variable difficulty also applies to bonus stages. Was that unnecessary to mention?
Legend
∴ = monster (fog hog)
♥ = defense target (watchtower)
∴∴∴
∴∴♥∴∴
∴∴∴
Within a world frozen gray, Ho-yeong muttered, “So this stage type is structure defense. This is going to be rough.”
When people thought of defense games, they usually imagined holding a chokepoint. Stage 1, which he had already completed, was a textbook chokepoint defense type.
But Reign of Dice included many different kinds of defense missions, and “structure defense” was among the more difficult ones.
“Why the hell did they drop this kind of thing in an open field? Damn it!”
True to its name, structure defense focused on protecting a specific facility or facilities from enemy attacks. It differed in many ways from chokepoint defense, where the goal was to prevent monsters from passing through.
“Still, at least it’s a relief that I don’t have to wipe out every monster.”
That was precisely because monster extermination was not the core objective. Of course, killing them was the best way to stop the assault, but as long as they were neutralized, that was fine too. If the building survived until the time limit expired, he would win.
“But look at that watchtower. Forget the fog hogs, I feel like even a few body slams from me would bring it down.”
It had the appearance of a watchtower, and that was about the extent of it. A structure made by lashing together wooden posts and ladders could not be expected to provide much in the way of defense. There were no other fortifications nearby, either.
“If the enemy were goblins or something, that’d be nice. Then I could’ve thrown together traps or barricades, even if it was rushed.”
The enemy soon to arrive was a fog hog. As the name suggested, it was a monster that took the form of a massive boar.
Its usual tactics were to charge or crush things with a body the size of a house and a snout like a door slab, while its defining trait was the fog it created by snorting out its breath.
“They said 20 fog hogs were coming, but how many waves is that split into?”
If they came in five rounds of four each, he thought he might be able to handle it.
It is a single wave. In other words, 20 of them will rush in all at once.
“Damn it! Whoever planned this stage, whoever the hell you are, go rot!”
If he could, he wanted to pour shaved ice straight into that bastard’s nose.
“What about direction and distance?!”
A detailed diagram appeared in the status window.
A circle with a diameter of 200 meters had been drawn around the watchtower, and monster icons were evenly marked around its circumference.
“They’re not just appearing all at once... they’re coming in from every direction?! And at point-blank range? Then I’m surrounded!”
That is correct.
“Agh!”
Ho-yeong let out a cry before he could stop himself.
“Damn it. If they were coming in a straight line from one direction, I could’ve done something about it...”
Covering a full 360 degrees from the very beginning was not something he could even imagine.
“I already managed to expand the manpower, but now I’m short on time. Manpower... right! That’s it. Use the surplus manpower.”
As always in the middle of a crisis, Ho-yeong came up with a brilliant idea.
“Let’s just move the whole watchtower and change its position! If the army gets twenty people to work together, they can lift a hexagonal pavilion and move it, so why wouldn’t we be able to move a flimsy watchtower like this?”
If a division commander gave the order, even a mountain could be moved.
“I have to be careful not to break the watchtower while moving it, but even so, if we get outside this circular zone before the stage starts, we’re good. Five hundred meters... no, even three hundred should be enough. Then those fog hogs will have no choice but to charge in a straight line. Hahaha.”
Having found an opening, Ho-yeong laughed heartily.
Warning! Please do not forget the Totem of Unity. The enemy totems that will soon be generated are imbued with the will to “surround the watchtower and bring it down.” The fog hogs will unconditionally seek out and encircle the watchtower!
Daliha offered an important piece of advice, but Ho-yeong did not lose his smile.
“It’s fine! If they’re being summoned in a ring across 200 meters, their spacing and formation are bound to fall apart while they’re running. And if, just in case, they bunch up and charge all at once, that only buys us more time to prepare, so it works out either way.”