Chapter 27: The Battle for Nexus: Monsters at the Gates
Now,
At the front of the altar city's entry gate, Ash, Robin, and Ram stand, watching as monsters advance toward the altar city.
In this moment, Ash tries to see these monsters' status window through the altar city.
A window pops up in front of Ash.
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Stone Bear (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 1
Quantity: 1
Description: A massive, stone bear with oversized fangs capable of chewing through wood, leather, and even weak armor. However, it prefers to eat soil and rock. Typically solitary, it lives near mountains, using its size and strength to overpower its prey.
Abilities: Berserk
Fast Reproduction – Mid-level reproduction capability compared to other monsters.
Gnawing Instinct – Can chew through doors, weak barriers, or ropes to escape traps.
Aggressive – Fights only when it feels it is powerful enough against another opponent.
Weakness: Vulnerable to water and blunt attacks. Easily irritated by loud noises.
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He sees many types of monsters advancing to attack the altar city. Among them, the stone bear's quantity is 1.
And as he continues to observe, other monsters' status windows appear in front of his eyes.
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Goblin (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 1
Quantity: 1
Description: A small goblin with oversized fangs, capable of chewing through rotten food, leather, and weak armor. It lives in tribes, often overwhelming prey with numbers.
Abilities: None
Fast Reproduction – If not culled quickly, their numbers explode.
Cowardly but Aggressive – Fights only when cornered or in large groups.
Weakness: Weak to fire and blunt attacks. Easily frightened by loud noises.
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Goblin (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 0
Quantity: 10
Description: A small goblin with oversized fangs, capable of eating through rotten food, leather, and weak armor. It lives in tribes, preferring to use numbers to overwhelm prey.
Abilities:
Fast Reproduction – If not culled quickly, their numbers explode.
Cowardly but Aggressive – Fights only when cornered or in large groups.
Weakness: Weak to fire and blunt attacks. Easily frightened by loud noises.
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Ostrich (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 1
Quantity: 1
Description: A monster with long legs built for speed. Its defense is low, and it attacks using its legs, leg nails, and head. Though not a powerful monster, it is a fast runner in danger. In some regions, they are tamed for use as transportation.
Abilities: Run fast
Weakness: Vulnerable to fire, sharp attacks, and poison.
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Ostrich (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 0
Quantity: 10
Description: A monster with long legs built for speed. Its defense is low, and it attacks using its legs, leg nails, and head. Though not a powerful monster, it is a fast runner in danger. In some regions, they are tamed for use as transportation.
Abilities: Run fast
Weakness: Vulnerable to fire, sharp attacks, and poison.
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Ash is both surprised and shocked at the sheer number of monsters. However, he remains mentally prepared, knowing that the upcoming attack will be fierce. Fear does not cloud him; his confidence stems from Ram and the expanded spike pit traps. He believes firmly in his mind that they will survive this monster attack.
He thinks, If Evan had joined this battle, it would really increase our strength and defense capabilities at this moment. But Evan's upgrade only happened a few minutes ago, so it's impossible for him to join the fight. I'll need to carefully plan how to kill these 23 monsters with minimal risk and effort.
Ash watches as the monsters move closer to the altar city, their eyes glowing a bloody red.
Here, Ash, Ram, and Robin stand prepared, weapons tightly gripped. Ash notices a hidden smile in Ram's eyes, as though he's eager to fight. Robin's face shows a veneer of calm, but Ash, connected to his altar, can sense the underlying fear. Still, Robin's expression remains composed, a perfect mask.
Ash feels some of that fear too, a shared anxiety, and he can't help but sympathize with Robin.
Minutes later, most of the monsters are near the Nexus City. Ash and the others take their positions, weapons ready, prepared for the killing to come, following the plan they agreed upon.
Two minutes pass, and the monsters are nearing the pit traps. Some are injured from the traps, while others fall in, slightly wounded. However, almost all level 1 monsters avoid the traps, as they are led by the level 0 monsters.
Ash thinks bitterly, These shameless level 1 monsters... Do they have no pride? How is it they can think at all, having been corrupted by the monster world's will? The level of their stupidity must depend on the level of the beast.
He quickly shakes off the thought, reminding himself that these dumb monsters are still targets, and his team will deal with them in battle. The numbers are manageable.
Ash scans the battlefield, focusing on the 12 monsters that avoided the pits—three level 1 monsters and eleven level 0 monsters trapped in the pits.
Ram swiftly charges toward the level 1 stone bear, swords drawn, while Robin follows suit, attacking a level 1 goblin with his axe, his shield raised to protect against other attacks.
Ash decides, Since Ram and Robin are engaged with the stone bear and goblin, I'll target the level 1 ostrich.
He strikes with his knife, putting all his might into the attack. Yet, the other level 0 ostriches rush at him, hoping to overwhelm him. He dodges their attacks with minimal effort, his thoughts racing: These ostriches are fast. Too fast.
The battle continues for 20 minutes. Ash, Robin, and Ram fight fiercely, defending the golden crack. The monsters cannot destroy the golden barrier surrounding the altar city or cross it, so they must breach the crack. But Ash and his companions hold firm, not letting the monsters through, despite their numerical advantage. Ash's arms and legs are numb from attacking the level 1 ostrich and dodging the attacks from the level 0 ostriches. He sees Robin struggling in the same way.
Ash notices Ram nearing victory against the stone bear, and soon the bear collapses from Ram's sword attack. Ram then shifts to handle the level 0 ostriches, which have been attacking Ash intermittently.
Ash remains focused on defending against the level 1 ostrich. He thinks, Ram will surely finish off those level 0 monsters soon.
After 5 minutes, Ram kills all the level 0 ostriches and moves toward the level 1 ostrich. The ostrich narrowly dodges his attack, but Ash strikes next, injuring the creature. It's still not down, though.
Ash and Ram decide to work together, their focus shifting to the level 1 ostrich. They know that Robin is not in immediate danger, and so they focus their efforts on bringing down the stronger monster.
Three minutes of fighting later, the level 1 ostrich is almost finished, and Ram's sword cleaves through its neck, severing its head.
Ash exhales a deep breath of relief. However, he sees Ram already moving toward the level 1 goblin, while Robin fights to hold off both the level 1 goblin and the level 0 goblins. Robin appears to have injured his left hand, blood dripping down, but he continues to fight with his axe.
Ram charges the level 1 goblin, and the goblin, tired but unharmed, fights back. The level 0 goblins swarm Ram, but he dodges their attacks, keeping his focus on the level 1 goblin. Robin takes the opportunity to strike at the level 0 goblins.
Ash focuses his effort on killing the level 0 goblins, thinking, These are easier to deal with than the level 1 goblin. And with Ram focusing on the level 1 goblin, taking out these level 0 goblins will be more beneficial for the battle.
After 10 minutes, Ash and Robin have nearly finished off the level 0 goblins. Ash sees Ram's fight with the level 1 goblin turning in his favor. Knowing that there are still 11 monsters in the pit, some nearly free, Ash decides to turn his focus to the level 1 goblin.
Seconds later, Robin joins Ash and Ram. Together, they surround the goblin, and the creature attacks Ash. He easily defends, and Ram strikes again, with Robin following up.
Two minutes later, the level 1 goblin is slain by Ram's sword. Ash sighs in relief.
Robin sits, exhausted, while Ram stands tall, sword in hand, striking a heroic pose. Ash watches from a distance.
Ram speaks, "You all need to work on your stamina." Ash agrees silently, nodding in his mind.
New monsters occasionally emerge from the pit, but Ram dispatches them effortlessly, requiring no help from Ash or Robin.
Ten minutes later, nearly all the monsters are dead, except for four level 0 monsters still trapped in the pit.
Ash decides to send Robin back to the altar city, giving him permission to meditate there to recover from his injury. Ash and Ram stay behind, waiting for the remaining monsters to emerge so they can finish them off.
After 10 more minutes, Ash and Ram smile, having wiped out all the monsters.
Ash considers how to use the bodies of the monsters. After a moment of thought, he decides to collect the mana cores and any useful body parts.
He orders Ram to assist him in gathering the mana cores and valuable parts.
A few minutes later, Ash and Ram have collected all the mana cores and useful parts from the monsters' bodies. They then cremate the remains, enriching the soil and removing the bloodied stench from around the city.
Ash checks the status of the city.
A window appears in front of him.
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City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory defense doubled
Description: In the event of city defense, all the attack power and defense power of people and buildings become doubled.
Altar level: 0
Upgrade requirement: (Wood * 1000, Stone * 250, 50 * Mana Core (level 0))
Production: Mist Mana level 0 * 10 per day
Area: 625 square meters
Status: Very small village
Mana (money): 42
Tax (from market & city): 0 * Mana-mist level
Building: Guide Mark * 1 (active), Market (1 used out to 5 in a day, free trades per day)
Blueprint: Low-grade house (Stone * 100, Wood * 25)
Warehouse: Wood * 0, Stone * 10
Population: 4
Specialty: Mana Tree (Produces level 0 mana * 4 per day)
Resource point: Stone Mountain level 1 (310 * mined / 1000 all stone mineable in new mine)
Attack power level: 0 (1000/1000)
Description: City's power level to attack enemies
Defense power level: 0 (9500/10000)
Description: City's defense power level against enemies
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Ash sighs as he sees the city's status and thinks, If only goblins produced mana cores, I'd have 20 more mana points. What bad luck.
He continues to observe the city's status window and realizes that unused resources don't show up in the city's status yet.
Ash thinks to himself, The altar city is updating its features on its own... This is amazing. Maybe it will develop its own intelligence.
Ash and Ram begin heading back into Nexus City. Ash feels an overwhelming, inexplicable sense of awe as he looks around.