You have plundered a Dread Beetle x1.
| Claimed materials: Summoning Ticket: 3x Hunters, 2x Warriors, Dread Beetle Shell x1 (Normal), Dread Beetle Meat and Organs x28 (Normal), Dread Beetle Bones x25 (Normal), Dread Beetle Oil x45.
| Stats gained: 20 Strength, 15 Vitality, 10 Dexterity.
| Skills gained — Regenerative Armour: Use Vitality to regenerate and form a carapace-like armour. Durability is based on Vitality.
The moment he plundered it, the entire body vanished into his storage. With nothing to hold him up, Owen slammed down into the sand below. He cracked his neck, then gazed at the notification—ignoring the stunned expressions the orc were sending his way.
Owen was met with a problem. He could absorb the Skill he had plundered, placing it into his System. Or he could deny it. He had twelve slots for Skills, and he wasn’t sure if this was one he wanted to expend a slot on. It was good. It would provide him an extra layer of defence. Maybe the choice would have been obvious if he didn’t have the Armour of Nerzu. But he did. So, rather regretfully, he denied it.
Instead of vanishing, it was placed directly into his Plundered Storage. It looked like a gem with the picture of a shell regenerating etched onto the surface. It would fetch a pretty penny in the Lord Shop.
More messages arrived.
Owen Taylor Level 27 -> Level 29
Owen tutted. All of that for two Levels. Two points into his Attributes. It was a proper kick in the teeth. Yet thanks to Unlimited Plunder, he had earned 45 total points instead. Depending on what Talent someone had, that was a lot of Levels. So, along with what he had Plundered, Owen placed the 2 points into Dexterity.
He wanted to be as fast as he could. His swordsmanship demanded it. However, he did see the effect Vitality had for Unlimited Plunder. But, he’d rather focus on combat instead. There would come a point where plundering would become less effective, granting him less and less points.
It was only because the Dread Beetle was a higher Level did it grant him extra points. It wouldn’t occur all the time.
Your expertise with Unlimited Plunder has grown
| None -> Low
| Reward: The strain of using Unlimited Plunder has lessened. You can strip a portion of armour away and place it directly into your Plundered Storage.
Owen smiled. It was an awesome upgrade. Although he was certain that stripping away armour came at a cost. He vividly recalled stealing the Dune Ravager’s heart on the first day. That pain… it wasn’t normal, and he dreaded experiencing that again. He was certain using it against armour would provide the same level of pain, depending on the durability of the armour. He’d need to test it.
Glancing at the oil within his storage, Owen nodded. It was exactly what he wanted. Thankfully the author hadn’t changed it. Not only was it capable of burning in the devouring darkness, but it lasted a long time as well. He wouldn’t need any more for the foreseeable future.
With that done, Owen approached his people. The sun was battering down on them, but they didn’t seem to care. They were waiting for their Lord. They bowed as he approached, especially the orcs. To them, the beetle was a great foe. They couldn’t have hoped to defeat it, even if there were double their numbers. Yet Owen did it. Not only with strategy, but strength, too.
Owen placed his hand on the nearest orc’s shoulder and smiled. “Good work everyone. How are the wounded?”
“Four injured. Can’t walk, but we can carry them back.”
“Alright,” Owen said, looking at the wounded. If they’d have listened, no-one would be injured. “Bandage them up as quickly as possible and we’ll return in haste.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
A few minutes later, they were hiking through the thick, sinking sands. Justin, arms practically touching Owen’s, said, “What the hell was that ability of yours? That beetle just vanished.”
Owen glanced around, maintaining vigilance. He glanced at Pyris. She did the same. “I can store monsters. Cool, isn’t it?”
Justin nodded. “I lost my pack on the first day. Water and potions along with it. If I had that ability, it would have made life a whole lot easier. What about your Talent?”
“6-Stars,” he lied.
“So you placed most of your Attributes in Strength and Dexterity.”
Owen nodded. If Justin knew that Owen had 150 in all of Strength, Dexterity, and Vitality, he’d gnash his teeth in frustration. Owen didn’t need to ask what Justin’s talent was, for he knew it already. Still, he wanted to ask and get it from his mouth personally.
“You?”
“9-Stars,” Justin said as if it was normal, or expected.
“Look at you, genius on the sands.”
Justin shrugged. “Mum always said I was born for greatness.”
Wow, our mothers are polar opposites, Owen thought. All my mother told me was that I’d never amount to much, and should give up—like my dad did. But Owen thought it was best not to unload his sob story onto someone he had just met.
“That isn’t arrogant at all,” Owen joked.
“It’s the truth.” Justin grinned.
Thankfully, Owen and his team arrived without running into another monster. But upon nearing the mountain, he heard the sounds of fighting. Picking up speed, he saw multiple scarlet crabs scraping at the wall. The archers unleashed barrage after barrage of arrows. More crabs were arriving.
Owen rushed over. He noticed that he was the fastest among them by quite a margin. During the time he had spent on the mountain, and recovering after the battle with the orcen Lord, Pyris had Levelled up quite a few times. But even as a 7-Star, she had a lot of catching up to do. And then she used a Skill. Legs covered in universal starlight, black, and sparkling white and orange and fire, she caught up to him in seconds. If given any longer, she’d have overtaken him. But they arrived, and Owen was the first to strike.
Rounding the wall on the western side, brandishing his blade smothered in fire thanks to his armour, he slashed the leftmost crab’s leg, collapsing it. He moved as swift as the wind to the next, leaping up, severing the crab’s already wounded eye.
Thorin crashed through the gate, along with the other warriors. Pyris, with stars surrounding her fists, smashed a scarlet crab, cracking its shell with all her strength.
Together, they slaughtered the oncoming crabs. Owen felt something almost clicking in his head as he swung his blade, meeting flesh. It was like a word at the tip of his tongue. He could feel it, taste it. Yet it evaded him. He continued, dodging, striking, trying to become one with his sword. But he was missing something. He experimented with how he held his blade, tested at which angle he should be swinging his weapon.
It was a torrent of steel and blood and shattered chitin. Orcish screams covered the battlefield until none of the crabs were left. Owen frowned, breathing heavy. The feeling was right there, and he knew what it was—the next step of swordsmanship. And he missed it.
“That won’t be the last of them,” Pyris said, noticing Owen’s discontent.
“What?” Owen asked, then rose his brows in realisation. “Oh, the scarlet crabs. Right. We’ll tighten security. Brook is working on the siege wall in front of the mountain. It was a mistake to erect a castle here, out in the open. I’ll put it down to inexperience.”
“We’re all learning,” she said, encouraging him. “I’ll defend it.”
Owen shook his head with a small smile. He placed his hand on Pyris’s shoulder. “Actually, I want you to pick the strongest of the orcs, with Lome, and head out to hunt. There’s a lot of dangers out there, and they are increasing by the day. Something is stirring them up, and it isn’t that wandering giant. For the future, I need you to become as strong as possible.”
“It will be done,” She said, lowering her head slightly. The side of her face shone from the sun. Not even the harsh light could ruin her visage.
So beautiful, Owen thought, but removed it from his mind the next moment. “Great. Make sure to bring—”
She interrupted, “Bring back the bodies, I know.”
Pyris wasted no time. She gathered the orcs and Lome, and headed out once again. Come back safely, Owen thought, half a prayer, half because it made him feel better.
Owen drew a breath, then plundered all the scarlet crabs at once. There were 6 of them. Suddenly met with a landfall of shell and flesh and Summoning Tickets, all of which were valuable, Owen was met with the second part of his plan—to become filthy rich.
He gazed at the market, and smiled. It was time to create a monopoly.