Looking at Craig, who still had his eyes closed and had not yet awakened, Li De opened his status panel.
Craig Shadowhunter
Title: The Devout (The God of Dawn's most devoted believer; firm-willed, immune to any soul or mental magic; Strength +30%)
Age: 47
Level: 16
Class: Temple Knight (Dawn Order)
Divine Gift Talent: The Supplicant - can negate three negative effects per day; currently bound talent - Berserk.
(Berserk: Activates the ancestral power within the beastman bloodline; all attributes increase by 200%; body regeneration speed increases by 500%; duration: 30 minutes. After use, enters a state of extreme weakness, all attributes reduced by 70% for 12 sun-hours.)
Description: A devout believer of the God of Dawn, a Temple Warrior of the Dawn Order, a powerful beastman carrying wolfman blood.
Craig's status panel was extremely ordinary. If not for that unique Divine Gift talent, he could only be described as mediocre, it was no wonder he had been so easily subdued.
However, after being transformed by Faith Energy, this Divine Gift was an absolutely perfect match for Craig.
Immunity to three negative effects meant Craig could effectively use Berserk three times each day.
The boost from the beastman's Berserk was incredibly extreme, to the point that even the Northern Warriors, top of Glory's Three Great Warrior Tribes, would be hard-pressed to surpass it.
But unlike the Northern Warriors, who could use their bloodline power without consequence, the beastmen suffered a dreadful backlash: twelve hours of -70% attributes. After Berserk, if they didn't win, death was usually the only outcome, there was no retreat.
So for beastmen, Berserk was the final trump card, almost never used in ordinary combat, only when death was certain.
Now it was different. After the Faith Energy transformation, Berserk's side effects were eliminated. Craig's greatest trump card was no longer a fatal weakness; after using it, he could still be unharmed.
For Craig, this was a qualitative transformation.
Now he truly possessed the strength to compete with a Northern Warrior.
This was a worthwhile trade.
It was a full sun-hour later before Craig slowly regained consciousness. By then, Li De had already ordered the anti-magic chains to be removed from his body.
Under Harrison's somewhat tense gaze, Craig suddenly stood up, then dropped to his knees before Li De, who sat on the sofa. He pressed his head to the floor in the most devout gesture imaginable.
"Great Majesty, Craig Shadowhunter, your most loyal believer, pays you homage."
Li De nodded in satisfaction. Soul Assimilation was indeed monstrous.
Just moments ago, Craig had wanted nothing more than to kill him. In the blink of an eye, he had become his most loyal Temple Warrior, his very soul belonging entirely to Li De. If he wished, a single thought could annihilate him.
"Rise, Craig."
"As you command, my lord."
Craig's voice was deep and carried a stiff formality that made it obvious he was not human, and of course, his appearance left no possibility of confusion either.
He stood over two blades tall, with a massive wolf head full of savage ferocity, his narrow eyes glinting with a cold green light.
His limbs were thick and powerful. Even the dense fur covering his body could not conceal the bulging muscles beneath, every inch radiating strength.
His fingers were not human fingers but beast's claws. Though he could use them normally, when those claws extended, they became the deadliest of weapons.
This was a naked killing machine, born to hunt.
Li De nodded with satisfaction.
Although this fellow had been instantly defeated by Betty's single strike, that had been the combined result of continuous coordinated spells from Stanley, Emi, and an 18th-level Bone Dragon.
As a Level 16 warrior, Craig still possessed considerable combat ability, and now that the side effects of Berserk had been removed by Faith Energy, he was far stronger.
Though he still couldn't be compared to Betty in pure power, at least now he could exchange blows with Grote without being instantly slain.
Li De didn't say more. Craig's soul belonged to him entirely, there was no need for further caution. He immediately began giving orders.
"Craig, you will return to Dwarven Valley at once. I need you to rebuild the Lionmane Tribe."
Indeed, from the start, Li De had transformed Craig with Faith Energy for this purpose.
Originally, the most suitable candidate should have been Kap, the Level 18 Beastman King.
But Kap required an absurd amount of Faith Energy.
Li De couldn't afford to wait half a year, so he had no choice but to convert Craig first and send him back to the Barren Plains to reestablish the framework of the Lionmane Tribe.
Dwarven Valley was far too distant from Dawn City. Even now that Whispering Bats had been bred and numbered over a thousand, Dawn City's current strength was still stretched thin to directly govern a territory that required six sun-hours' flight time.
If Dawn City alone were used to develop Dwarven Valley, it would severely hinder the city's own growth.
That was not his intent. He wanted to use Dwarven Valley's mines to supply Dawn City with endless nourishment to grow stronger, not to be dragged down by this resource point.
So he had devised a new plan.
To support a beastman tribe on the Barren Plains that he could control completely, using their strength to guard Dwarven Valley while mining the mithril veins for him.
Meanwhile, Dawn City would only need to provide weapons, equipment, and plentiful food, no large deployments of manpower and materials to such a distant location.
Of course, Li De's idea was promising, but he knew the plan would face no small difficulties in execution.
But he was never one to make empty plans. If something was realistically achievable, he would spare no effort to pursue it.
Establishing a power base of his own on the Barren Plains.
This ambition reminded him somewhat of founding the Crimson Moon on Earth.
Dawn City was not so far from the Barren Plains. Planting a foothold here was like driving a nail into the beastmen's heartland.
Strategically, it could only bring advantages to Dawn City, not harm.
The only cost was a certain amount of resources such as weapons, armor, provisions.
Fortunately, Dawn City did not currently lack these things.
So he was fully capable of building another force, a beastman tribe that would follow his every command.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
In Craig's mind now, Li De was a living god, a supreme being to whom he must dedicate soul and life alike.
And the terrifying power of the Soul Assimilation Divine Spell was that, while it had altered the very nature of Craig's soul, it had not erased his memories or personality.
Craig was still Craig. The only difference was that he now had a master he would serve with absolute loyalty.
"Harrison, transfer all the stubborn beastmen who refuse to join Dawn City into Craig's hands.
At the same time, have the blacksmiths prepare 2,000 sets of rare-grade armor and weapons. Order the Logistics Department to gather enough food for 5,000 people to last half a year. All of this will be transported to Dwarven Valley by Dylon."
Li De had always acted decisively. Even though Craig had only just awakened and was far from full strength, he had already begun issuing orders without delay.
"Before the Months of Deep Winter arrive, Dawn City must fully support the rebuilding operation in Dwarven Valley. All supplies Craig requires must be delivered as fast as possible.
I need Dwarven Valley operational before the Months of Deep Winter come.
I want it to become our lifeline of resources when spring returns next year."
Li De stood and walked to the window, placing his hands on the ledge. His deep gaze fell upon the busy streets beyond the City Hall courtyard. His tone was solemn.
"This coming Months of Deep Winter is a rare opportunity for Dawn City to grow. All of this must be completed before it begins.
I need the mithril veins of Dwarven Valley.
After the Months of Deep Winter, all our efforts will shift to population conquest."
Harrison took a deep breath and pressed a hand to his chest, bowing low.
"As you wish, Patriarch."
Craig's expression brimmed with confidence. He clenched a massive fist and pounded it to his chest.
"Your Majesty, Craig will fulfill your will with his life."
With Li De's command, the vast machinery of Dawn City began to turn.
Everything moved in response to his will.