Alexander gazed upon the Sea of Life, a creation of Laura's divine power, and was filled with awe.

This Sea of Life not only turned the city's moat into a magnificent sight but also brought powerful protection to the City of Hope. Its power, like an invisible spring of life, bestowed the defenders with strong healing abilities.

The defenders merely had to stand by the moat or even just touch its clear waters to rapidly heal their wounds. They could recover 1% of their injuries every minute, a substantial support for soldiers often in battle.

No matter how deep their wounds or how tired their bodies, as long as the soldiers' hearts in the City of Hope still faintly beat, the Sea of Life's power could rejuvenate them, restoring their combat strength.

Besides amplifying the allies' strength, the Sea of Life posed a lethal threat to invading enemies. Any enemy attempting to cross the moat would find their life force swiftly draining away, their bodily functions rapidly aging upon contact with the water.

This dual protection rendered the City of Hope nearly impregnable, like an invisible barrier against all hostility and invasion.

It was more than just a moat; it was a barrier of life. Any enemy daring to cross it would pay a heavy price.

Next, there were eight free building opportunities.

Alexander utilized these rare chances to construct several advanced structures, including the Castle Council Hall, Angel Temple, Star Academy, Magic Temple, Magical Rainbow, Fountain of Wisdom, and Star Cannon.

These buildings made the City of Hope the grandest city on the Arsen continent.

The Angel Temple, towering above the Castle Council Hall, stood like a guardian deity, spreading a holy and warm aura throughout the city. Its spire, soaring into the clouds and carved with angels in flight, inspired awe from every angle.

Golden sunlight bathed the Angel Temple, illuminating every inch of land. Inside, one could feel a powerful divine force, and with the right resources, even summon angels.

The Star Academy, a prestigious magic school comprising a mage tower and lecture halls, can help the City of Hope produce great mages. Alexander placed all the magic scrolls he obtained into the academy, allowing residents with magical talents to study and become mages.

The Magic Temple, another highlight of the city, shone like a dazzling pearl in the city's east.

At night, it emitted enchanting light, illuminating the city's skies. On clear days, a magical rainbow appeared above it, granting Alexander a continuous supply of Mana.

As long as the City of Hope stood unbroken, Alexander's Mana would be endless.

Atop a commanding height in the City of Hope stood a mysterious artillery piece, known as the Star Cannon.

Though not immediately obvious, this cannon harnessed celestial energy to fire potent magical shells embedded with star fragments, capable of dealing devastating damage to invaders.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Amidst these top-tier constructions, the City of Hope shone like a dazzling pearl, quietly standing on the vast lands of the Arsen continent.

While the City of Hope was only at level 11, its overall strength, be it in city defense, technological advancement, or magical development, far surpassed any other major city.

The construction of these buildings was undeniably top-tier, requiring substantial resources. Prince William once estimated that even pooling the resources of all cities on the Arsen continent wouldn't suffice.

Except for the Star Academy, these buildings were unprecedented. A thousand years ago, if the City of Hope had possessed a Star Cannon, it might not have fallen so easily to the demons.

Now, Alexander, seizing the opportunity provided by the system rewards, had constructed them all.

Even Laura, upon seeing all this, couldn't hide her astonishment.

It was a grand move; buildings like the Angel Temple and the Magical Rainbow required rare and massive resources. They couldn't be built with resources from just this planet; several star systems' resources were needed.

However, it seemed illogical for such a barren planet to construct such top-tier buildings.

"Why would the will of this world do this? It's like a gamble, staking everything without leaving any way out for himself," Laura thought quietly. "Regardless, as the lord of the City of Hope, Alexander is the ultimate beneficiary. But does this mean he also bears a great mission?"

Thinking of missions, Laura's expression dimmed, and she sighed.

Yes, she too carried a mission. Despite her reluctance, she couldn't stay here for too long.

...

The dust of war had settled, and the soldiers and workers of the City of Hope were celebrating the moment. They sang and danced, their faces beaming with the smiles of victory and joy.

Golden Turkey, despite being born in the holy bird lineage, had set aside his pride. He joined the crowd in the form of a young boy, celebrating with everyone.

Alexander stood at a high point of the city, overlooking this sea of joy.

A gentle breeze brought with it a faint fragrance, Laura's unique scent.

Her long hair danced in the wind, appearing even more soft and enchanting under the sunset's glow.

Laura looked at Alexander, her eyes flickering with complex emotions. "Alexander, there's something I must tell you, I will be leaving soon."

"You're leaving so soon? Can't you stay a bit longer? I mean, you haven't even tried my grilled meat yet, and the cheese... Can't you stay?"

Laura first nodded and then quickly shook her head. "No, although I'm reluctant to leave you, I have my own mission to complete. I must be away for a while.

But please believe, this won't be for long. I will fulfill the task my father has given me and will break through to become a God King as soon as possible. When that day comes, I will marry you."

"Alright then, I respect your decision and will wait for the day you become a God King."

Alexander felt a pang of heartache, looking into Laura's eyes, his own brimming with reluctance and deep affection. Laura, too, looked back at him, her eyes glistening with tears.

Suddenly stepping forward, Laura smiled at Alexander, "When I was sad as a child, my mother would hug me. Can you hug me?"

Surprised by this request, Alexander looked at Laura, the woman he deeply respected and loved. He slowly walked over to her and gently wrapped her in his arms. They embraced tightly, feeling each other's heartbeat.

This hug brought their hearts closer, deepening their affection for one another.

Though they both knew that after this embrace, they might have to part, uncertain when they would meet again, they understood that this hug was their love for each other, their respect, and their blessings.

Laura closed her eyes in Alexander's arms, savoring the moment. This hug brought her warmth and strength. She knew that no matter how difficult the road ahead, no matter how many challenges lay before her, she would remember this hug and draw strength and courage from it.

"My dear, before we part, I don't want to leave any regrets."

After speaking, Laura gently lifted Alexander's hand, placing it on her full, rounded chest.

At the same time, she closed her eyes, moved closer to Alexander's face, and kissed him.

This tender moment seemed to stop time, blurring everything around them, leaving only their closely intertwined figures.