Chapter 13: The Stone Mountain's Secret: A Battle for Survival
After 30 minutes, having killed one first-level Stone Rat, Ash and Evan remain opposite Stone Mountain, their eyes fixed on the creatures. If a new Stone Rat emerges, they will kill it. Ash thinks, "It's better to wait and kill the Stone Rat alone. The current number of Stone Rats on the mountain is an average challenge for us, but waiting a little longer to make the challenge easier is worth it. After all, in a fight, anything can happen, so it's better to prepare as much as possible." He estimates that there's one level 1 Stone Rat and seven level 0 Stone Rats, so they wait for another Stone Rat to emerge beyond the mountain's range.
An hour later, a Stone Rat emerges from the mountain range, moving toward the area where the first level 1 Stone Rat had gone. Ash thinks, "This Stone Rat is trying to pick up the scent of the first level 1 Stone Rat and is following its trail with eerie precision." He then considers, "I should get rid of the level 0 Stone Rat."
Without hesitation, they engage the Stone Rat. After a tense 3-minute struggle, Evan takes it down quickly with his axe.
A few minutes pass, and they resume observing the Stone Rats in the Stone Mountain.
Soon, Ash checks his status, and a window pops up before him.
City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory defense double
Description: In the event of city defense, all attack power and defense power of people and buildings become double.
Altar level: 0
Upgrade requirement: (wood 1000, stone 250, 50 mana cores (level 0))
Production: mist mana level 0 * 10 per day
Area: 625 square meters
Status: very small village
Building: Guide mark x 1 (active)
Warehouse: wood 114, mana core level 0 15, mana core level 1 1, Rabbit monster hide level 0 * 11, Rabbit monster hide level 1 1, low-grade market blueprint (stone 200, wood 50), low-grade house blueprint (stone 100, wood 25)
Population: 3
Specialty: none
Attack power level: 0 (500/1000)
Description: city's power level to attack enemies
Defense power level: 0 (750/10000)
Description: city's defense power level against enemies
Moments later, Ash and Evan spot a second level 1 Stone Rat and seven level 0 Stone Rats emerging from the Stone Mountain. The second level 1 Stone Rat begins sniffing the first level 1 Stone Rat's trail, tracking it with uncanny precision. Ash and Evan follow them in silence, refraining from attacking. Ash senses the need for caution. "No one knows, maybe there's another level 1 Stone Rat nearby." They continue trailing the rats, unnoticed.
Two hours later, they reach an upper area of the mountain, thick with large trees and tangled vines. Ash takes his shot from a thick tree branch, nearly impossible to spot due to the forest canopy. The first shot hits the Stone Rat's leg, crippling it. Ash fires three more shots, and the level 1 Stone Rat collapses. Evan swiftly handles the other Stone Rats with ease.
After retrieving the mana core from the monster, Ash realizes he has only one bullet left. But it was worth it.
Ash mutters, "My status…"
Name: Ash (altar owner)
Age: 24
Status: healthy
Abilities: none
Level: 1 (0/100 mana mist level 1)
Weapon: low-grade gun, 1 bullet, low-grade knife
He realizes he needs to level up, but his thoughts also turn to Evan. "Evan needs to reach level 1 too—both for the city and for his own safety."
An hour later, they approach Stone Mountain again. Ash notices a new pop-up window before him.
Name: Stone Mountain (resource point)
Status: unoccupied
Ability: mine up to 1000 stone
Level: 1
Want to occupy Stone Mountain?
Ash thinks, Yes.
A new pop-up appears.
System detected no monsters here, so occupation successful.
Ash feels a deep connection to Stone Mountain, as though the land itself is responding to him.
After some contemplation, Ash says, "Status…"
City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory defense double
Description: In the event of city defense, all attack power and defense power of people and buildings become double.
Altar level: 0
Upgrade requirement: (wood 1000, stone 250, 50 mana cores (level 0))
Production: mist mana level 0 * 10 per day
Area: 625 square meters
Status: very small village
Building: Guide mark x 1 (active)
Warehouse: wood 114, mana core level 0 15, mana core level 1 1, Rabbit monster hide level 0 * 11, Rabbit monster hide level 1 1, low-grade market blueprint (stone 200, wood 50), low-grade house blueprint (stone 100, wood 25)
Population: 3
Specialty: none
Resource point: Stone Mountain level 1 (0 mined/1000 all stone mineable in new mine)
Attack power level: 0 (500/1000)
Description: city's power level to attack enemies
Defense power level: 0 (750/10000)
Description: city's defense power level against enemies
After seeing the pop-up window, Ash notices a new column labeled "Resource Point." The level 1 Mountain Stone is listed, and Ash feels the significance of this. This will help in planning the city's resources.
They attempt to enter Stone Mountain again. Inside, stone rocks are scattered across the mine. They search for a while but find nothing useful for the city other than the rocks.
Ash finally says, "Let's mine some stone for ourselves, and then we can see what else we can find."
Evan begins mining. After an hour, he's gathered nearly 100 stones.
After thinking for a moment, Ash decides he wants at least 300 stones before heading back to Nexus City. He instructs Evan to keep mining as he wanders deeper into the Stone Mountain mine.
Thirty minutes later, in a far corner of the mine, Ash finds a peculiar stone buried in the soil. Upon closer inspection, a pop-up window appears before him.
Name: Mana Tree Seed (specialty)
Status: unoccupied
Ability: able to produce mana with different levels of trees
Level: 0 (growable)
Description: After planting in Altar City, it will grow into a tree slowly and be able to produce mana naturally for the city without harming the city's mana production, as it produces mana with the help of its roots.
Ash is filled with excitement. This is it. Good days are coming. He imagines his city growing, becoming both powerful and beautiful. A surge of joy overwhelms him, and he jumps in excitement.
After another hour of wandering, he finds no more treasures. He doesn't feel discouraged, though. He's used up most of his luck today. He begins to plan their quick return to the city.
He walks over to Evan, who's just finished mining 310 stones.
Ash decides to check the city panel again. He thinks, "Status," and a new window appears.
City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory defense double
Description: In the event of city defense, all attack power and defense power of people and buildings become double.
Altar level: 0
Upgrade requirement: (wood 1000, stone 250, 50 mana cores (level 0))
Production: mist mana level 0 * 10 per day
Area: 625 square meters
Status: very small village
Building: Guide mark x 1 (active)
Warehouse: wood 114, mana core level 0 15, mana core level 1 1, Rabbit monster hide level 0 * 11, Rabbit monster hide level 1 1, low-grade market blueprint (stone 200, wood 50), low-grade house blueprint (stone 100, wood 25)
Population: 3
Specialty: Mana Tree Seed
Resource point: Stone Mountain level 1 (310 mined/1000 all stone mineable in mine)
Attack power level: 0 (500/1000)
Description: city's power level to attack enemies
Defense power level: 0 (750/10000)
Description: city's defense power level against enemies
After this, Evan speaks up. "Should we head towards the city?"
Ash answers, "Yes."
They begin preparing to leave.