Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Legends Dwindle, Enemies Converge
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Over twenty legend cards had become just a few.
"Fuck."
Of course, I had recovery requests available. Having millions of won approved every month was practically the same as a fraudulent perk!
The problem was that even with that level of privilege, mythic-grade was still a distant dream.
'Recovery requests are limited to three per month. That means I can't even attempt a single synthesis in a month with just recoveries. No joke... it could take years in real time to pull a mythic-grade.'
Now I saw how foolish and shortsighted I'd been, thinking I could snag a mythic-grade card just by taking the flower points.
My head had been full of flowers, my brain running nothing but happy circuits.
'I misunderstood because of those internet guides.'
The line in the guides about [Flower points are basically free for the Flower Lord] was just talk among those players. Anyone overcharged enough to claim flower points would already have most legend cards, and they'd just synthesize their stacks of duplicate legends to get mythics.
But me?
I was too busy filling my collection. Sure, the collection bonuses were stacking up nicely, but that only pushed mythics further away.
"Guess I gotta take it slow."
Of course, there were ways to shorten years of waiting.
Overcharge.
Yeah. Overcharge and buy summon tickets with diamonds, then synthesize straight to mythic without the wait.
If I did that, I wouldn't just aim for guardians and pets—I could go for mythic classes too!
"Sigh..."
That is, if I had the money for it.
"First things first, let's sort this out."
In the end, I gave up chasing mythics for now and got moving.
"Time to make some money."
But contrary to that resolve, I couldn't return to Earth for a while. I was swamped with work. Then again, with 500,000 prisoners from the Ming Empire absorbed, it was inevitable.
Luckily, their morale was shattered, and our side's individual combat power was far superior, so there were no control issues.
Bang! Bang! Rat-tat-tat! Bang!
"Cease fire, stabilize control sticks."
"Control sticks stable!"
"Inspect chambers, report from first squad."
"Report!"
Machine gun fire continued from atop the walls. Merchants walking the leyline roads and recruits heading north on wild boars gazed up in awe or terror at the earth-shaking roar.
Someone might call it a nuisance, but if training had to be done anyway, better in public. This overwhelming firepower drill etched the Human Empire's might even deeper into minds.
'Plus, you can only shoot from the walls. Machine guns vanish if you take them off the walls.'
Commonly called objects. Machine guns were siege objects in this case.
Objects worked independently of user level or stats. Whether wielded by a level 50 mythic swordsman or a level 1 newbie, damage output stayed the same.
In the game, they were for low-spec guildmates. Instead of sidelining weaker members, let them pour bullets to help the team.
There was a slight issue.
'Of course ammo should regen as belts, not loose rounds!'
Unlike the game where bullets auto-loaded, reality had no assists. So every burst required manual loading. That was why we ended up sniping with machine guns—a comedy of errors.
"Running Man Second Lieutenant! 987 points! First place!"
Cheers and 'oohs' erupted around.
Hunter Lieutenant beside me stuck out his tongue in admiration.
"Impressive. Guard average is under 500."
I nodded, thinking.
'A kilometer out, machine gun—not sniper rifle—for that score. Agility stat at work?'
But the others' scores were abysmal by comparison. As he set down the gun and stepped back, the next shooter lined up.
"Fire at ready shooters' command!"
Rat-tat-tat! Bang-bang!
Praising Hunter as the next volley started.
"Great scores. Some standouts too. You've trained them well."
"Just passing on what Your Majesty taught."
Not politeness—it was true.
Who in a medieval land could handle machine guns? Naturally, I had to teach.
"Good. Keep it up."
"Loyalty!"
Iron Castle, now the new capital, was stabilizing fast.
The 500,000 war prisoners became recruits in training camps or laborers in frontiers, scattered across forts—and absorbed more smoothly than expected.
A normal nation taking in refugees several times its population would collapse. The Human Empire's case was exceptionally unique.
But with Wild Boar Castle endlessly supplying wild boar legs, it made sense.
'Not your typical nation-building. Like permanent cheating.'
Food's power was immense, suppressing riots or protests that should've erupted.
Even Ming Empire citizens, defeated and subjugated, shouted [Long live the Human Empire!] more fervently than anyone, pledging loyalty.
When Ming nobles plotted rebellion or schemes, their own people reported it fastest—or foiled it themselves.
"Now we're finally living decent—don't fuck it up!"
"Yeah! We get meat soup every day now!"
Starved for manpower, they integrated easily. They got homes and land, boosting the Empire's productivity directly.
Player numbers grew steadily.
Guilds, steadily expanded, now exceeded thirty—unlocking attendance rewards and guild content, funneling honor coins to masses.
And accumulated honor coins?
Bought [low-grade summon cards] from guild shops.
New players earned honor coins, bought low-grade summons from guilds. Rinse and repeat infinitely.
'Freed me from solo-funding class cards... but risks remain.'
Classes had been under my full control till now. Calling players [elite soldiers] meant most were military.
But as guilds proliferated, controlling summons got harder. Extremes could weaken imperial authority.
'No choice.'
Flower points were a special perk, not high-level zone material.
Upcoming monsters started at rare, heroes and legends everywhere—limiting players meant no future for the Empire.
Numbers were a powerful weapon, but only to a point. Overwhelming gaps rendered it moot.
No guarantee enemy numbers would be small either.
Time passed.
Autumn, winter gone. Not long, but the Empire grew ferociously. Absorbing refugees, swelling player ranks.
'Smooth sailing.'
Peaceful days. Empire advancing daily.
Problem: we weren't the only ones progressing.
"This is dangerous..."
My face soured at the go board. Chaos of pieces simplifying ominously.
No good sign, obviously.
"As expected... other flower holders expanded to the outskirts."
Low-grade monster outer dungeons fully conquered.
Obviously, attribute monsters now flooded them, strengthening special bosses as they claimed points.
"Inner high-tier monsters thinning too."
Unlike static mythic ghost dragon, surrounding monsters brawled daily. Yesterday's cyclops perch became today's drake turf—pandemonium.
Victors thrived, losers died—ripples would hit us inevitably.
Flower: My Lord, report.
"...Whew."
Exiting inner world, I replied in chat. Flower entered the office.
"What is it?"
"Enemies approaching."
She handed a pad. Screenshot showed tens—maybe hundreds of thousands—strong.
"Here they come."
Three monster factions bordered our territory now. West: Thunderbirds expanding from upper flower. South: lower flower's fanatic Edward building forces. Inner: wyverns, griffins leaking from high-level zone.
I'd smashed scouting parties on Cassim, blocking advances—but now they came in earnest.
"Target?"
"Here. Iron Castle."
"These bastards?"
I laughed in disbelief. Borders had weaker forts I worried about, but they targeted the mythic castle? Fanatics were humanoid monsters with brains, yet this was peak arrogance and stupidity.
"Flower. Issue level 3 alert to all forces. Halt dungeon runs except minimal crews, prepare for defense."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Then—
Ding!
Pad alarm blared.
"...What?"
Flipped page. Simple report with new screenshot.
Yellow-glowing thunder elementals, lightning-clad monsters marching in formation.
Above them, majestically soaring:
"Thunderbird."
Ding!
"..."
Another alarm. Flower and I stiffened.
Next page: brief report, thousands of wyverns blacking the sky. Destination: Iron Castle.
"All at once?"
If coincidence, huge opportunity. They'd slaughter each other massively.
But coincidence?
"Flower. Level 1... no, wartime status. Halt all dungeon runs, prepare defenses. Pull everyone into castles—not just Iron. Seal gates."
"Transmitting immediately."
Flower rushed elevator down. I overlooked the city post-departure.
Warning broadcasts blared, people scurried.
"Sigh."
I knew why I sighed.
Even a mythic castle couldn't hold against that scale now. Thunderbird from west meant Edward's horde included fanatics too.
No fear, though.
"Gonna... need to make a ton of money."
Fatigue washing over.
"Logout."
First time in nearly six months back to Earth.