⟐ Chapter 4
After it was done I inspected my newly established building.
[Small Neutrium Storage: This building is a unique structure only accessible to the [Neutrumoid] race and this building can only store [Neutrium]. Possessing no further purpose other than storage and supplying other [Structures], this basic building can repair itself as long as there is a supply of [Neutrium]. Also, this building can connect itself to other [Structures] to supply them with required [Neutrium]. Status: 0/50,000 Capacity. Traits: Basic Self Repair, Basic Automatic Supply, Small Storage, Basic Shield, Small Neutrumite Domain.]
After erecting my first building, I quickly checked all my remaining resources.
[Gold: 550, Souls: 23, Neutrium: 0.]
Then, after determining that I had enough to summon five more [Neutrulite Basics], I decided to do so. And a moment later, I now have eight [Neutrulite Basics]. I wanted to save on souls so that I could unlock new skills, but doing so this early isn’t a wise choice. [Kings] having spawned with high stats shouldn’t have any problems with defending themselves from early game threats, and from what I learned from the tutorial, the best strategy at the start is to have a basic base as a primary foothold. And only then is it recommended to unlock skills and upgrade one's tier.
This is also one of the defining differences between [Champions] and [King’s]. Unlike [Champions] with their linear strength progression of leveling up, [King’s] on the other hand can evolve their tier after unlocking all the skills from their current tier. This means a slower progression based on how a [King] will perform, but in return, they receive a major boost in strength, and considering [King’s] already have high stats, [Kings] generally always overpower [Champions], that is only for the general populous of [Champions] though.
I quickly commanded two of them to begin gathering [Neutrium], and they quickly moved towards the newly transformed white trees near the [Small Neutrium Storage]. Curious about what happened to the trees and why my units were walking towards them, I inspected the trees.
[Neutrumited Kulvian Tree: This previously Kulvian Tree has been reformed into its current form because of a strong presence of a [Neutrumite Domain]. Unlike other trees of the same level, Neutromited Trees provide more [Neutrium] when gathered. The source of [Neutrumite Domain] is coming from a nearby structure.]
After reading the reason for the tree’s transformation, I was satisfied in knowing that these resources were created just because I built a [Structure] of mine near them. Knowing this, I began to understand how my base might look in the future. A pure and untainted land that shows to the world that this is my domain. Though there are some negatives that I could think of, but when weighing the upsides like the positive feedback loop of expanding, transforming, extracting, building, and repeat, I say this is a core feature I need to include in my future development plans.
Turning my focus back on the remaining three [Neutrulite Basics] as they were just standing still, awaiting orders, I heard a growl from within the woods. Some small critters ran away towards my direction, and a quick inspect showed that it was a beast of the same species I encountered earlier during my quick stroll.
“Grweelle!”
[Enhanced Twin Tailed Raptor (Tier 1 Common): This species of beast type monster is prominent in forest type biomes. These creatures generally live in packs and they follow a simple behavioral pattern, some of these beasts scout for food while some rest. This particular beast has lost its pack and is alone. Status: Enraged. Stats: Strength: 26, Constitution: 25, Agility: 32, Dexterity: 31, Intelligence: 23, Wisdom: 22, Willpower: 23. Skills: Pack Hunt (E)...]
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It had lower stats than that of the bear by around thirty to forty percent, so I didn’t feel anything at all other than a short annoyance, but that soon vanished, and instead I was now actually glad. I was planning on ordering the three [Neutrulite Basics] to find monsters so that I can gauge their fighting capabilities and now one showed up in practically a dinner plate.
“You three, eliminate that unfortunate one.”
“Grwelle!!!”
And without skipping a beat, the three ran towards the [Enhanced Twin Tailed Raptor].
The beast noticed the three approaching it at fast speed and roared at my units. This didn’t have any effect though as my units closed in to the beast without waver nor any emotion. Seeing this, the beast was surprised and felt threatened, though it didn’t back down from the approaching fight and instead activated a claw type attack enhancing skill. It tried to attack one of my units as the three split up to surround the raptor, but my unit evaded it easily.
This missed attack from the raptor didn’t go unpunished, and after seeing the opening the two other units came in to attack from the sides. They both activated their skill, and the raptor felt danger, so it tried to avoid, but it was too late. The two unarmed skill and palm strike made contact with the beast, and as my [Neutrulite Basics] touched the feather of the beast, wherever they touched turned to ash and faded away with passing of the wind.
“Grweekke!”
[Neutrulite Basic has used [Minor Touch of Desinderation (D)]: This skill enhances the user’s touch with [Minor Disintegration Magic], though minor, any and all those that don't have [Non-Elemental Resistance] shall disintegrate! Living or not. This skill is being used by a [Neutrulite Basic] against an enemy, and the skill effect has affected the target with 1% very minor resistance.]
The [Enhanced Twin Tailed Raptor] screamed in agony as it tried to retaliate against the two that attacked him but it was too slow, and the two [Neutrulite Basics] were already a few feet away from it. This was another mistake seen by the [Neutrulite Basics], though as the first target of the raptor took this chance to land a hit on it making it scream some more. Blood fell in great amounts from the three wounds of the raptor, and it began to slow down. And not so long after, the constant hit and evade maneuver, it was unrecognizable, the head had turned into dust as some particles from it were still falling from the few remaining parts connected from the body. That attack was the one that gave the final strike and soon the three [Neutrulite Basics] were returning back to me.
[Your unit has killed [Enhanced Twin Tailed Raptor]! You receive 50 [Gold] and 1 [Soul]!
I already knew that kills of my units count as my kills too, so it didn’t really surprise me. And as the fight only lasted in less than a minute but before they came back, I had an idea.
“Can you three extract materials from the corpse?”
The three instantly stopped in their tracks and returned back to the mangled corpse of the [Enhanced Twin Tailed Raptor] and began to collectively use their reformation skill on it. And not so soon after, white blobs were being absorbed by them. A quick inspect and I was surprised, compared to extracting trees this was even faster and gave more [Neutrium] compared to a single tree.
I quickly turned my focus back to one of the two [Neutrulite Basics] gathering [Neutrium] from the nearby [Neutrumited Kulvian Trees] and made my conclusion. From what I had gathered, extracting from corpses seems to be the fastest and most efficient way of getting [Neutrium] and the second runner up from that is the [Neutrumited Kulvian Trees] and finally normal Kulvian Trees. There are still a lot of factors that I may not have taken in making my surface level conclusion but for now it’s enough for a standard.
Now that my little experiments had concluded, I wanted to start grinding materials for my basic structures, specially I need to build the most important structure which is the [Basic Neutrumoid Main Headquarters]. My [King’s Core] is way too unprotected and is out in the open, but thankfully from the tutorial knowledge, the [King’s Core] is invincible for the next week, meaning I don’t have to worry about it till then, but having my main headquarters built way before that would alleviate some degree of worry from threats that might attack my [King’s Core], though I am fairly confident that no one would be able to, but you can never be too careful.
I then ordered the three [Neutrulite Basic] to patrol the nearby area of a hundred meters for any beasts to hunt them and bring their corpses to the others for extraction. Also, I ordered the nearby gathering units to defend the fort against incoming threats. That command would override my previous command to gather [Neutrium] in case of an attack. And after I finished that, I went and summoned one more to join me in my exploration of the Kulvian Forest.
Currently, I have nine [Neutrulite Basics] and my resources are: zero [Gold], twenty-three [Souls], and my [Neutrium] count is rising by the minute.