For the Beast-Eared Girls, for a Bigger and Stronger Territory! (Continued)
[Note: Wolf riders, move out! Taste my blade!]
"What powerful skills! The second one, Running Wolf Charge, is especially incredible!"
"Not only can it close an enormous distance, it can even charge three times in a row!"
"If I put together a whole squadron of wolf riders, wouldn't that be like a granny driving a go-kart-knocking everyone else off the track?"
Shen Xing imagined the scene and couldn't help looking forward to it.
Of course, training a special unit like that wasn't easy.
He would first need to find a warg, then develop enough rapport with it, and finally help it evolve. There were too many requirements.
For now, he could only dream about it.
Meanwhile, Gorehowl, having completed his evolution, rode out on the transformed gray wolf.
Feeling the surge of power within him, he looked at Hellscream beside him, eager and ready for a fight.
Shen Xing wore a strange expression.
This guy just broke through to elite rank, and he's already planning to challenge the boss for his position?
That certainly fit an orc's personality.
Orcs respected the strong, but they also liked challenging them.
By defeating an orc stronger than themselves, they could raise their standing in the group and demonstrate their strength.
It wasn't infighting, but simply their nature.
Hellscream didn't respond to Gorehowl's provocation. He merely snorted and looked away.
Gorehowl looked somewhat unconvinced, but without the lord's approval, he didn't dare overstep.
Shen Xing smiled and shook his head. The two orcs had completely different personalities.
But if they really fought, Hellscream would most likely beat Gorehowl black and blue.
To start with, there was a one-star difference between them.
Having benefited from Life-Sacrifice Evolution twice, Hellscream had a full 20 more agility than other elites of the same rank.
Even a highly mobile wolf rider probably wouldn't be able to lay a finger on the agile Hellscream.
Besides, Shen Xing would continue concentrating his resources on developing Hellscream.
After all, the gap between star levels in this game was enormous. Even the gap between elite one-star and elite two-star was like that between a kindergartner and a third-grader.
So focusing on strengthening a single unit was the most cost-effective approach.
Plague Village, not far away, remained a threat. He had to boost his combat power as quickly as possible, then raze it to the ground!
Hmph, how could I let anyone sleep soundly beside my bed?
With my world-shaking wisdom and tireless effort-Life-Sacrifice Evolution, give me more stats!
[Use the innate ability Life-Sacrifice Evolution to raise Hellscream's potential to elite ★★★?] [This will require the sacrifice of 20 agility.]
"Huh? Ten agility became twenty. Could the stats required for sacrifice gradually increase as a unit's potential rises?"
Shen Xing fell into thought.
But that wasn't a bad thing. On the contrary, it was a tremendous boon!
Sacrifice as many stats as you want. What does that have to do with me and my zero agility?
Shen Xing even wished he could sacrifice a little more.
After all, those sacrificed stats would be permanently added to the unit!
So he clicked confirm without hesitation.
This time, that power seemed too lazy even to search him.
It turned directly into a ball of red light and descended upon Hellscream.
"Buzz~"
The red light flashed, enveloping Hellscream's towering figure.
His muscles swelled and compressed, and the bones throughout his body crackled.
Blue battle markings appeared across his back, and a totem in the shape of a wolf's paw emerged between his brows.
A steady, weighty aura brimming with explosive power burst forth!
[Evolution successful! Hellscream's potential has risen to elite ★★★.] [Stats gained from this evolution: strength +15, spirit +11, agility +32 (extra +20), constitution +14.] [Skill awakened: Execute.] [Talent awakened: Spirit of the Horde.]
Shen Xing: "!!!"
He stared at the notifications before him, bewildered once again.
What's going on today?
Gorehowl just broke through to elite and activated two skills, and now Hellscream has immediately activated two abilities as well?
Moreover, the abilities the latter had awakened seemed even more impressive by comparison!
One of them was a rare talent, after all.
Hellscream was the first unit in Shen Xing's territory to have a talent.
With some anticipation, he quickly checked the details.
[Execute: Deliver an all-out blow, dealing massive damage to a single enemy. If the target is injured, there is a chance to ignore its defense and execute it instantly. Cooldown: 15 seconds.]
[Spirit of the Horde] [Talent effect: Increases the user's learning speed by 30% and charm by 10. When Hellscream is present, all orcs gain increased morale and a temporary +1 level (cannot exceed their rank's level cap).]
"Execute wounded enemies and raise everyone's level. Amazing."
Shen Xing was astonished. The two abilities had come as quite a surprise.
The first, Execute, needed no explanation. The chance to execute an enemy alone was enough to prove its power.
The talent that followed was even more outrageous.
It was practically a mobile aura. As long as he was present, all the orcs' strength and morale would rise!
"My lord."
Hellscream approached with steady steps and respectfully lowered his head. "Thank you for your guidance. I've grown stronger."
"You've done well." Shen Xing nodded slightly, appreciation appearing in his eyes.
Gorehowl, standing to the side, stared at him as his fighting spirit gradually subsided.
He seemed to realize that the gap between them was too great for now and planned to lie low for a while before challenging the boss for his position.
"Hellscream, get the other orcs ready. You're coming out to explore with me shortly," Shen Xing instructed.
"Yes, great lord!" Hellscream replied respectfully and went to gather the orcs.
Then Shen Xing turned back to the campfire at the center of the territory.
[Campfire: level 2] [Campfire effect: Provides some warmth within an area 50 meters in diameter and dispels the fog.] [Materials required to upgrade: Soul Stone ×20, Vinar Silver Coin ×20, Black Crystal ×5.] [Note: This is the fire that keeps your territory alive. Don't let it go out.]
"To upgrade the campfire further, I'll need a material called Black Crystal."
"Defensive buildings like arrow towers also need black iron and Black Crystal to reach level 2."
Shen Xing pondered for a moment, then looked at the two green dots on the minimap. They were the Crystal Tower and Black Iron Vein he had occupied earlier.
Fortunately, three days had passed since he occupied the Crystal Tower without monsters setting their sights on it, and it had produced a full 12 units of Black Crystal for him.
That was more than enough to upgrade the campfire.
As for the Black Iron Vein, there were currently no miners in the territory, so it had been left idle.
Next, I need to explore the wilderness, occupy more crystal towers, and find a way to recruit some workers.
Shen Xing quietly settled on a plan, then committed the resources and upgraded the campfire.
[Upgrade in progress. Estimated time: 13 hours and 27 minutes...]
Next, he opened his right hand, and a floating orb of light appeared, containing a human-shaped skeleton that was deathly pale all over.
It was the two-star unit nest Qin Lang had given him today: the skeleton archer.
"How amazing. Things from the game can be brought into reality, and things from reality can also be transferred into the game," Shen Xing thought in wonder.
But as he had said before,
In the early stages of the game, there was only one chance each day to transfer items in either direction.
[Place unit nest: Skeleton Archer Camp (common ★★)?] (Note: At least 21 square meters of empty space must be set aside for placement.)
"Yes."
The orb in his hand spun again and landed beside the orcs' wooden house, turning into a mass grave scattered with bones and remains.
[Skeleton Archer Camp] [Rank: common ★★] [Recruitable unit: skeleton archer (common ★★)]