Chapter 44: The Goblin Siege and the Altar's battle
Ash realizes the monsters in the colony look like goblins, but he decides to check the system window instead of making any assumptions that could cost him in battle.
A system window appears before his eyes.
Name: Goblin
Grade: Low-Grade Beast
Level: 0
Quantity: 13
Description: A small goblin with oversized fangs capable of eating through rotten food, leather, and even weak armor. It lives in tribes and loves using its numbers to overwhelm prey.
Abilities: Fast Reproduction
Cowardly but Aggressive – Fights only when cornered or in large groups.
Weakness: Fire, blunt and sharp attacks. Easily scared by loud noises.
Name: Goblin
Grade: Low-Grade Beast
Level: 1
Quantity: 2
Description: A small goblin with oversized fangs capable of eating through rotten food, leather, and even weak armor. It lives in tribes and loves using its numbers to overwhelm prey.
Abilities: Fast Reproduction
Cowardly but Aggressive – Fights only when cornered or in large groups.
Weakness: Fire, blunt and sharp attacks. Easily scared by loud noises.
After seeing the system window, Ash clenches his jaw. Fifteen goblins. Two are level 1. The rest are level 0.
"Tch. What bad luck," he mutters. "If only it were some other kind of monster, I could've earned a few mana stones."
Determined, he orders the soldiers to prepare for attack. Fire flares to life on his sword, glowing a fierce, angry red. In his left hand, a fireball begins to form, pulsing with heat. Together with his soldiers, he charges toward the colony.
Moments later, a goblin leaps into view—and Ash launches his fireball straight into its face. The creature shrieks, its skin burning, body flailing as it staggers back. It doesn't die immediately, but Ash knows it's done for.
He narrows his eyes. "The rest are moving to fight. I need to kill as many as I can, fast."
Soldiers scatter into formation, picking off goblins. The battle begins.
Ash now faces three level 0 goblins at once. He blasts all three with flame balls, but they endure. No hesitation—he lunges forward, slashing the nearest goblin's neck with his flaming sword. The head topples. He spins to the second goblin, hurling a fireball at its chest, then slashes. The blade carves off its left hand. It screams, stumbling—but Ash doesn't stop. He drives the sword straight into its chest, piercing its heart. The goblin dies trembling.
The last goblin charges him. Ash blasts it with another fireball, then beheads it with a brutal swing of his sword.
He scans the battlefield. Ram is nearly finished with the two level 1 goblins. Soldiers are holding their ground well.
Ash and Ram rush to support them, slaying goblins until the last one falls.
As silence returns, Ash looks down at the broken, bleeding corpses. The stink of blood hangs in the air.
"These bodies will draw more monsters," he mutters. "Can't risk it during mining."
He begins burying the goblins. Blood soaks the soil. Eventually, the stench fades.
With the area secure, Ash orders the soldiers to start mining the stone mountain. He grabs a pickaxe and joins them.
Time passes uneventfully. They mine plenty of stone. Ash glances up at the Eldros sun. "Still enough daylight left."
He nods to the soldiers. "Let's move."
They load the stones onto their backs. Ash and Ram stand guard, weapons ready. The return journey is tense. Beasts appear—but Ram and Ash drive them off before they get close.
Near Nexus's gate, Ash's eyes are drawn to the relic area. The air shimmers, winds swirling wildly around it. He watches, brows furrowed.
"So many celestial signs… and the wind's uneven here. Something's happening."
But he says nothing. Not yet.
"I'll face whatever comes. Whether fortune… or disaster."
Once inside the gate, he orders the stones unloaded into the warehouse.
After a short rest in the garden, Ash breathes in deep. The scent of grass and mana soothes his tense nerves.
It's time.
"Nexus," he says aloud. "Begin altar upgrade."
A voice responds in his mind: Confirmed.
A system window appears.
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Upgrade of altar time needed: 30 mins
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Ash exhales. His lips twitch with relief. "Finally. All that effort wasn't for nothing. At last, the altar will reach level 2."
Thirty minutes pass.
A new system window flashes.
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Upgrade of altar: complete
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Ash lifts his head. Something has changed.
The garden feels larger. The air denser, filled with lush, pulsing mana. Flowers bloom brighter. Trees stand taller. Mana flows stronger.
He walks through Nexus slowly, absorbing every change.
"The mana density increased… the city expanded. Even the walls look sturdier… higher."
He nods. "This will help in the next monster attack."
Curious, he opens the city's system window.
City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory defense doubled
Description: In city defense, all attack and defense power of people and buildings is doubled.
Altar Level: 1
Upgrade Requirement: Wood * 2000, Stone * 500, Mana Core (Level 1) * 50, Population * 50
Production: Mist Mana Level 1 * 10/day
Area: 1250 sq. meters
Status: Small Village
Mana (Money): 210
Tax (from market & city): 0
Buildings: Guide Mark (low-grade) * 1 (active), Guide Mark (mid-grade) * 1 (active), Market (5/5 used, 5 free trades/day), Magic Pond (white-grade) * 1 (active)
Treasures: Pure Stone (Item - Resource, Grade: White)
Blueprints: Low-grade House (Stone * 100, Wood * 25), Furnace (Stone * 100, Wood * 25), Blacksmith Room (Stone * 300, Wood * 100)
Warehouse: Wood * 0, Stone * 0, Low-grade swords * 10
Population: 14
Specialty: Mana Tree (produces Level 0 Mana * 9 /day)
Resource Point: Stone Mountain Level 1 (820 mined / 1000 total)
Attack Power Level: 1 (1300/2000)
Defense Power Level: 1 (10500/20000)
He studies the nexus upgrade requirements. "All upgrade needs just doubled… it'll get harder."
He walks to the field. Draws his sword. Begins to train.
Each swing carves through the air. Sweat pours down his face. His hand trembles. His body shakes. But he keeps going. Through the pain, through the strain.
He learns something—how to wield mana more efficiently, how to endure long battles.
Hours pass.
The sun above burns strong. His clothes are drenched with sweat. "Must be near four o'clock," he thinks.
Then—
A system window appears.
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Time left before monster attack: 1 hour
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His heart pounds.
He closes his eyes. Breathes deep.
"As expected,… I knew my luck wouldn't last. The altar upgrade used up my luck. Now… comes the price."
He calls everyone to the plaza. Announces the attack.
Faces turn pale. Soldiers shift nervously. Some tremble.
Ash sees their fear. He feels it too.
"I'm scared," he admits silently. "One day, these monsters might rip me apart. But if I fight… soldiers must fight too."
He clenches his fists.
"If anyone who refuses… will die by my hand."
He dismisses the crowd.
Time ticks by.
Another window flashes.
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Time left before monster attack: 1 min
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Ash stands tall before the golden barrier crack.
His soldiers gather behind him, weapons ready.
The moment approaches.
A low hum escapes from the surrounding by a chilling roar that doesn't sound like any beast Ash has ever faced. His grip tightens. It begins.