Battle Axe

"Yes, Lord!"

They answered in unison, secretly resolving to protect the light at all costs in every operation, even if it cost them their lives.

"Put everything here. Each of you, come and take a set. Put the Synthesis Tables in your Inventories and keep them safe."

Colin handed out the Hurricane Lamps, Synthesis Tables, and some materials.

He had already filled each Hurricane Lamp with at least a hundred milliliters of Ordinary Blood, enough to keep it burning for three hours.

As for what came after, Colin was confident he could keep them supplied.

Then Colin gave the nine squad leaders three minutes. Each picked three to five Servants, and they gathered together again.

A third of each squad consisted of "old hands." With the veterans guiding the newcomers, each squad could grow quickly.

"Set up the pots!"

At his words, the nine Servants used the Synthesis Tables to craft their pots.

Each Synthesis Table had nine slots. As long as the materials were arranged in the right order and position, they could craft whatever they wanted.

With a blueprint, they could also craft things that would normally be impossible to make.

In an instant, nine large pots were set up.

This time, Colin had learned from experience: prepare the food first, then recruit people.

That way, they could avoid a frantic scramble later, with someone starving to death.

After all, the Servants who had been sold off had hunger levels of around one. Even being a moment too slow to eat could leave them dead.

This time, they were expanding all at once by recruiting nearly a hundred people. If they mishandled things, someone could easily die.

"Is everyone ready?"

Colin asked in a low voice.

"Ready!"

"Good. I don't want to see anyone in your squads starve to death. If that happens..."

Colin's expression was stern. He didn't say what would happen, but they couldn't help imagining it themselves.

Of course, the main reason was that he hadn't thought of what should happen yet.

"Everyone, prick your fingers and light the lamps!"

At Colin's command, nine bright beams of light shone through the Gray Fog.

At the same time, more than a hundred Servants were projected from the Parchment in Colin's hand at incredible speed.

Just as Colin had expected, they could barely stand as soon as they appeared, swaying on their feet.

The squads, already prepared, quickly stepped forward, selected the required number of people, brought them over, and handed out food.

Soon, the expansion was complete without any mishaps.

Including Colin and the other Lords, the ten squads had a total of 162 people.

Colin's squad still had fourteen members, while everyone else had sixteen.

Shana alone was enough as his personal bodyguard.

More people would only be a hassle.

Now, Colin looked at the nine squads lined up before him. As all those eyes fixed on him with awe, he drew a deep breath and let the corners of his mouth lift slightly.

"Now this finally feels like being a Lord."

Elsewhere, the four Survivors watched the scene before them, their feelings complicated.

They knew there was no chance of escaping now.

Thud—

Colin tossed a wooden table onto the ground.

The four Survivors couldn't help twitching at the sight. How the hell did someone go exploring with a table?

When they went exploring, they tried to fill their Inventories with supplies and leave behind every bit of junk. Yet this man had even brought furniture along, as if he were out on vacation.

Colin paid no attention to their strange looks. He took out a pile of materials, crafted weapons, and slapped them down on the table.

Then, facing all those eyes, Colin said in a low voice:

"Anyone without a weapon, step forward. One for each of you."

Axes again: more than a hundred of them, all improved second-generation Battle Axes.

Brutal, violent, and devastating—that was all they needed against the Aberrations. They didn't need fancy techniques.

It came down to who could destroy the other with more brutal, bloody force before being destroyed themselves.

Either you died, or I swung my axe again!

Without a doubt, Battle Axes had proven their effectiveness in close combat against ordinary Aberrations.

So Colin had no hesitation in choosing them as the standard weapons for his people.

As for ranged weapons, the only thing they could make right now was bows and arrows. Ordinary arrows posed almost no threat to Aberrations.

If the damage wasn't high enough, then even if you were a master archer, all you'd see was a herd of "porcupines" charging out of the mist.

Besides, the current visibility—including the range of the Hurricane Lamps—was only a little over twenty meters.

That severely limited the power of bows and arrows.

So Colin put the idea on hold for now.

In short, swing your axe. If it doesn't die, swing again. If it still doesn't die, run.

Meanwhile, the squads filed forward, starting with the second squad, to take axes from the table.

More than a hundred people stood in neat formation before Colin, Battle Axes in hand, waiting for him to give them their orders.

Colin's expression remained impassive as he solemnly studied their awe-struck, nervous faces, but in his mind he was pondering one thing:

How could he bring out their Inspired mood?

Some of the Servants had become "Inspired" after eating, while others hadn't. They were just one final push away.

He obviously couldn't repeat, "I can't hear you," this time. They were in the Gray Fog, and there were people nearby coming to deliver gifts.

It wouldn't do to scare them off.

After the silence stretched for more than ten seconds, Colin took fifty pounds of wild boar meat from his Inventory and slammed it onto the table.

Immediately, it drew most people's attention.

After all, Colin hadn't let everyone eat their fill. Most of them were still hungry.

One after another, the sound of people swallowing came from the ranks.

Colin looked at them, gathered his thoughts, and began:

"Before long, you'll face a trial. Every one of you will have your performance recorded.

"If you do well, this will be your dinner. The best-performing squad will also receive a bonus of ten pounds of dried meat.

"But if you fail, then this will be your dinner."

At the end, he pointed to the nine Stone Pots, each with only a few grains of rice left.

Colin's words quickly had the desired effect. The Servants all chose the brighter future, brimming with enthusiasm.

This time, Colin had no intention of joining the people who came to them, nor did he plan to use Shana, his trump card.

Instead, he sent out the nine squads to handle things themselves, do their best to persuade those people, reach an agreement, and get them to hand over their Parchments, Hurricane Lamps, and Synthesis Tables.

Judging from the information in the prompt, these groups were all very small, probably only three or four people, or even fewer.

They also didn't pose much of a threat, making them ideal targets for practice.

"Can I go with you?"

Just before they set out, a voice suddenly came from nearby. Colin turned his head and saw the man from earlier, the one with the keen nose and iron armor.

Colin had confiscated his armor earlier, but after seeing that it was just an ordinary piece of equipment, he'd given it back.

This lousy piece of gear took up an Inventory slot.