Chapter 10: The First Siege: Goblins at the Gates
Time left before attack: 1 hour
After a few minutes, Ash begins overseeing the final preparations for the defense against the monster attack. His eyes sweep across the area, carefully checking that everything is ready, that every defense is solid. Satisfied, he turns to Evan and asks, "Which weapon will you take—the sword or the axe?"
Evan grins, excitement flashing in his eyes. "I'll take the axe. Give the sword to Ram."
Ash nods and says, "Give me the sword. I'll pass it to him."
"Okay," Evan replies, handing it over without hesitation.
Ash watches Evan for a moment, seeing the tension in his shoulders. He places a reassuring hand on Evan's arm and says, "Rest before the attack. You'll need your strength."
As he walks toward the altar, Ash thinks to himself, I hope Evan rests. He's strong, but we'll need every bit of energy to survive what's coming.
The minutes drag by heavily as Ash approaches the altar. When he arrives, he places the sword down carefully and calls out, his voice firm and steady, "Here is a low-grade sword. I'm placing it here for you. Prepare yourself—the monsters will come in one hour. Get ready as much as you can."
There's no reply from Ram. Ash frowns slightly, guessing he must still be recovering from his injuries. Better not disturb him, Ash thinks, before turning away.
He heads toward the frontline, the place where the monsters will attack, each step feeling heavier than the last.
Once he arrives, he pauses, staring at the horizon where danger will soon come from. What can I do to strengthen my city? he wonders, clenching his fists. After a long moment, he exhales sharply and says, "My status window."
A pop-up window appears before his eyes:
City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory Defense Double
Description: In the event of a city defense, all the attack and defense power of people and buildings becomes double.
Altar level: 0
Upgrade requirement: (wood * 1000, stone * 250, mana core level 0 * 50)
Production: Mist mana level 0 * 10 per day
Area: 625 square meters
Status: Very small village
Building: Guide mark * 1 (active)
Warehouse:
Wood * 84
Mana core level 0 * 11
Rabbit monster hide level 0 * 11
Rabbit monster hide level 1 * 1
Market blueprint (stone * 200, wood * 50)
Low-grade house blueprint (stone * 100, wood * 25)
Population: 3
Specialty: None
Attack power level: 0 (400/1000)
Defense power level: 0 (600/10000)
Ash's brow furrows. How did the city's power jump so much? he wonders. He thinks back carefully, and slowly a theory forms in his mind. Ram. It must be Ram's contribution.
He thinks deeper, realizing just how much the level of a single person can shift the entire city's strength. If Ram were fully healthy, Ash realizes with a surge of hope, the city's power would skyrocket.
Shaking the thought away for now, Ash checks the timer. Another pop-up window floats into view:
Time left before attack: 40 minutes
Ash closes his eyes and forces himself to breathe slowly. His chest rises and falls rhythmically as he sinks into meditation, pushing away the gnawing anxiety that tugs at his mind.
Why am I nervous? he thinks bitterly. The city's stronger now. I should trust that. Besides, life is fragile in this world—some die fast, some live long. I intend to live at least a thousand years.
The resolve hardens in his chest like tempered steel.
Ash rests, gun in hand, fingers tracing the cold, worn surface of the weapon. He says again, almost as a mantra, "My status."
The window pops up:
Name: Ash (Altar Owner)
Age: 24
Status: Healthy
Abilities: None
Level: 1 (0/100 mana mist level 1)
Weapon: Low-grade gun, 14 bullets, low-grade knife
He glances again at the timer:
Time left before attack: 20 minutes
Time ticks by.
Ash hears footsteps crunching over the dry ground. He looks up to see Evan walking toward him, axe and shield gripped tightly in both hands. There's no hesitation in Evan's steps—only a fierce, stubborn determination to stand and fight.
Ash's heart warms slightly at the sight. At least I'm not alone, he thinks.
Minutes creep by, heavy as iron.
Time left before attack: 1 minute
Ash scans the area quickly. His eyes narrow. Where's Ram? he thinks, unease curling in his gut. Is he betraying us? Or is he too injured to move?
Doubt whispers in his mind, but he clenches his jaw and forces the thoughts away. If he betrays me, I'll deal with him. If he's too hurt, then he'll have to prove himself later. I won't allow a liability at my back when monsters are trying to rip me apart.
His vision clears as the final seconds slip away.
Time left before attack: 50 seconds
Time left before attack: 0 seconds
Ash grips his gun tighter. He checks the bullets at his waist, ensuring they're ready for a quick reload. Beside him, Evan braces behind his shield, axe ready.
Silence.
Then movement.
Far on the horizon, small dark shapes flicker into view—fifteen tiny figures, charging with wild, reckless energy toward the city.
Ash squints, heart pounding against his ribs.
A few minutes later, the monsters come into full view—green-skinned goblins, snarling and hooting. Two of them are larger, moving with more aggression. Their crude weapons glint under the light.
Ash focuses on one and whispers, "Status."
A window appears:
Goblin (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 1
Description: A small goblin with oversized fangs capable of eating through rotten food, leather, and even weak armour. It lives in tribes and likes using its 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 scared by loud noises.
Ash's stomach tightens. Fifteen of them... two stronger ones...
The goblins see the city and shriek, their eyes turning blood-red with frenzy. They rush forward, filthy weapons raised high.
The level 0 goblins outpace the others, charging straight into the traps Ash and Evan prepared. Cries of surprise and pain pierce the air as thirteen goblins tumble into the pit traps.
One of the stronger goblins barely manages to leap back to safety. The other falls hard into a trap.
Ash wastes no time.
He raises his gun and fires at the goblin struggling to regain its footing. The first bullet flies wide, missing by an inch. He curses under his breath and fires again—the second bullet punches into the goblin's stomach, making it howl in rage.
The goblin lunges, but Ash sidesteps, keeping distance.
Evan, meanwhile, clashes against the other level 1 goblin. Ash's heart stutters seeing the struggle—Evan can barely defend himself, shield rattling under the goblin's savage blows. But he holds his ground, buying Ash precious time.
Ash fires again—another bullet strikes true, staggering the goblin.
Suddenly, Ash feels a pulse through his connection to the altar.
Ram.
Ash's heart leaps.
Ram has awakened. Ash senses him snatching up the sword near the altar and rushing into battle.
Moments later, Ram bursts into view, charging toward the goblin Ash is fighting. With a powerful swing, Ram slashes deep into the goblin's side, fatally wounding it. The goblin shrieks and collapses moments later.
Ash turns and fires three more bullets into the second goblin's stomach. Evan, Ram, and Ash surround it, finishing it off with brutal efficiency.
Breathing heavily, Ram wipes the blood from his blade and says, voice strained, "I'm going back to the altar. My injuries... still not fully healed."
Ash nods quickly. "Okay. If you need anything, just tell us. We'll get it for you if we can."
Ram shakes his head with a faint smile. "Nothing. Thank you," he says, before staggering back toward the altar.
Ash watches him go, a warm respect growing inside him. I need to treat powerful people with care, he realizes. Otherwise, my city's growth will be impossible.
Meanwhile, Evan moves efficiently through the remaining level 0 goblins, dispatching them one by one without mercy.
Ash, feeling a rare moment of peace, says, "My status."
The window appears:
Name: Ash (Altar Owner)
Age: 24
Status: Healthy
Abilities: None
Level: 1 (0/100 mana mist level 1)
Weapon: Low-grade gun, 10 bullets, low-grade knife
The battlefield falls silent, broken only by the sound of Ash's and Evan's ragged breathing.
They have survived.
For now.