With the majority of his fighting force outside in the tunnels, Owen made sure to keep his presence known to the orcen Lord. He had to stay here. If not, his people were at risk outside. The orcen Lord had around 40 warriors with him, all of them standing there menacingly. None of them seemed to disagree with their Lord's methods, even as the supernatural sun baked their resilient flesh.

Owen arrived at the wall. Rizael was still treating those who were heavily wounded, while the Builders were working around the clock to get everything sorted for the next two days. It was a monumental amount of work, but with 7 builders all working together, and with some help from the Warriors, the wall was forming. It was in the form of a triangle and one of the points was aimed where the nightly tsunami arrived.

With the wave appearing from the west and the orcen Lord standing at the north, the wall was flat to the orc’s direction. Brook was busy managing the other Builders, shouting orders. It was amazing watching him work. It was like a different battlefield than the one Owen was used to.

He had added on battlements atop the walls, ready for the barriers to fall. That was where Owen would have the archers. Meanwhile, his warriors would be situated at the entrance of the wall. If the orcs smashed through the gate made of stone, they would retreat to the stairs and fight them there, using the elevation of the stairs to their advantage.

Maybe because of his Battle Hardened Skill, or maybe because he had done all he could to prepare, Owen was calm. It shocked him. It was a stark contrast to how he was when he first arrived here. In only a few days, he had transformed from an earthling office worker, to a warrior that was responsible for people’s lives. And honestly, he was a little proud of that.

In the structure, there were numerous rooms. Some for storage, others as resting rooms for his people. Rizale was in one of them. In the centre of the wall, was an open space; like a courtyard. It only had flattened sand right now as Owen was unsure of what to do with the space. A garden, perhaps?

Shaking his head, Owen wandered around, asking if his people needed anything. He was too tired to fight, but he still held responsibilities as a Lord. he had to make sure his people were well fed and watered. And although Balthus was probably already doing just that, Owen didn’t feel right offloading all his work onto the demon. Not yet, at least. These were the people he had fought for. People had died for them out in the sands.

One of the Builders had told him that they needed a better water source. Owen agreed to that. Right now, they are managing thanks to Bimpnottin’s special water retaining cactus. But that wouldn’t last for much longer. Especially with the new people that Owen had just summoned. It was going to put a strain on his already struggling resources.

And to that point, he inspected the orcs further. Many of them had run out of water, as they kept on checking their hip flasks—only for droplets to fall. If the Lord was to stay here, stubborn and defiant, his warriors wouldn’t even last the next couple days. Maybe the fight would end here? Owen admitted he had reservations about the plan to ruin the orcen food supply and water source. But it seemed to have more effect than he had thought.

Hours passed, and the Orcen Lord had finally made the decision to send most of his warriors back to their land. The orcen Lord stayed. He had long stopped bashing on the walls, but now he just stood there, watching them prepare.

What the hell was he doing? Owen couldn’t figure it out.

Thankfully, Owen’s hunting party returned with all their numbers. Many of them were injured, however. It was made apparent why; Owen received a notification of their one, singular kill: a Crimson Crab. They couldn’t bring its body back, either. But it wasn’t all bad. Because of the strength of the monster they had defeated, Thorin had Levelled up quite a few times, as did the others.

Owen realised why. With the Sand Hound Rift vanquished, all that remained in the surroundings were the sparse few Dune Ragavers, who rarely showed themselves. Meaning that the only monsters left were the true devils of the Cursed Lands. From here, it would only get more difficult and far more dangerous.

Well, Owen thought, finally standing up from his shaded spot. It’s time to Plunder.

You have plundered a Sand Hound x20.

| Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 3x Hunter, Summoning Ticket 5x Warrior, Sand Hound Pelt x19 (Normal), Sand Hound Meat and Organs x27 (Normal), Sand Hound Bones x46 (Normal).

| Stats gained: 9 Strength, 11 Vitality, 24 Dexterity.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Feeling the warmth of the added Stats, along with the weakness of Plundering, Owen noticed that the amount of points he had received had lessened this time. It was strange considering that he had Plundered more this time.

I wonder if it is lessening because I’ve Plundered the Sand Hounds quite a lot? Owen thought. It would make sense. The more he devoured something, the less he started to receive. He wondered that if he kept on going, that it would start giving him nothing eventually. He’d have to Plunder monsters and beasts that were stronger, higher Level.

Owen ripped the tickets, waited a few hours until he was ready to Plunder, and repeated the process.

***

You have plundered a Dune Prowler x6.

| Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 1x Hunter, Summoning Ticket 3x Warrior, Dune Prowler Pelt x6 (Normal), Dune Prowler Meat and Organs x13 (Normal), Dune Prowler Bones x14 (Normal).

| Stats gained: 16 Strength, 20 Vitality, 30 Dexterity.

Owen grinned and took in a refreshed breath. He felt incredible, even despite his heart palpitating from pain from over utilising Unlimited Plunder.

A Few hours later, when the sun was vanishing, Owen Plundered again.

***

You have plundered an Arid Marauder x1.

| Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket 2x Warrior, Arid Marauder Pelt x1 (Normal), Arid Marauder Meat and Organs x11 (Normal), Arid Marauder Bones x14 (Normal).

| Stats gained: 10 Strength, 15 Vitality, 20 Dexterity.

| Skills gained — Sandstorm Fury: Summon a powerful sandstorm that engulfs the battlefield, reducing visibility and disorienting enemies while increasing the user's speed and evasion.

| Skill Notification: Sandstorm Fury has replaced Dust Cloud as it is the evolved form.

Owen fell on his behind, utterly spent. He didn’t even have the energy to test out his new Skill. It had replaced Dust Cloud. That was news to him. He didn’t know that could happen, but it was more than welcome. It was a better ability in every single way. Summons a sandstorm? From nothing? If that was the case, then the situational use of Dust Cloud was no more. He’d have to try it out later, away from the prying eyes of the orcen Lord who was no doubt watching their every move.

Once again, Owen ripped the tickets, welcomed them, then sent them to Draed. From all the people he had summoned after Thorin—the centaur—were all under 3-Stars. Majority of them being 2-Star, and some 1-Stars.

In total, he had almost 40 Hunters and Warriors. It was an amazing result, but Owen was confident he was still below the orc in numbers. He had two days left for his army to gain some more, but the fact remained that it would be close. He just hoped that the wall was the difference maker in the battle to come.

He still had the front section of the Devil Wyrm to Plunder, but that was a job for tomorrow. On that day, when his hunting party came back, that would be it until the big day.

With night fast approaching, Owen found himself sitting in silence for the first time in a while. He started fidgeting, playing with his fingers. Nausea crept up and his heart started racing. He stood up and started pacing in the sand, his thoughts turning turbulent.

Cedric appeared from within the newly formed triangular castle. “You need to rest, my Lord,” Cedric said with a wry smile.

“I can’t settle,” Owen said truthfully. “I still feel like there’s more to do today, but I don’t know what.”

“Everything is in order,” Cedric said, placing his hand on the handle of his blade. “No matter what happens, it’s been a pleasure serving you.”

Owen scoffed. “You’re only saying that because you don’t know any better.”

Cedric turned silent, before Owen said suddenly, “I didn’t mean to offend–”

“No,” Cedric said, shaking his head. “It’s okay, My Lord. I don’t know why, but it was my decision to sign up for this. I still can’t remember if I had a family, friends, and I have no memories of the land in which I resided, or the world to which I was born in. I signed up for glory, for respect, but now I don’t know why I did it. It… makes me feel angry.”

Owen turned silent as Cedric, who was usually quiet, continued, “We are in the same situation, you and I. Both were summoned from other worlds to fight for glory. But what glory is there to be had when you can’t even remember anything? If I knew what I was fighting for, if I could recall if I had family, then maybe–”

Owen placed a hand on Cedric’s shoulder. Cedric added, “—is what I thought yesterday and what I must have thought before I signed up my name to the System. But today, it is not the glory I wish to fight for. It is you. It is these people, placed in the same situation as we. My Lord?”

“Hmm?” Owen said, meeting Cedric’s hazelnut eyes.

“I wish to ask whoever brought us here, and ask him why,” Cedric said, clenching his hands. “Why he, she, what—brought us here. What for? And if that answer isn’t sufficient, will you lead us for payback? For vengeance?”

Owen’s grip tightened on Cedric’s shoulder. “You have my word Cedric.”

Mum, dad, how are you doing? Owen thought, gritting his teeth. He knew the truth deep down. They were most likely dead.

“Good,” Cedric said smiling. He brandished his sword, metal swishing against his hard-leather sheath. “If I may, it’s time I taught you some basic swordsmanship, my Lord.”

Owne grinned and summoned Heartseeker’s Edge. As he felt the thrum of his heartbeat synchronise with his blade, he announced, “You’re on.”