For starters, I search through the drawers until I find a large bag of brown pills.
---------------
A bag of Browan Pills.
A bag that contains Browan Pills ranging from poor to expert quality.
Consuming a pill temporarily numbs exhaustion at the expense of mental fatigue. Excessive use takes a toll on the body and may result in serious injuries.
---------------
I take one pill. The shackles holding my physique down lift but a glaring headache attacks.
"Ugh..." I lean against the wall grasping my head.
My breath becomes uneven.
"Huff huff huff..."
The headache subsides a little but won't go away. If I move too much, my mind enters a massive turbulence. At least I can move normally now. I store as many pills in the room as I can fit into the storage rings.
I continue my search for the escape ticket around the tower. On the way, I munch on pills like candy, constantly increasing my stats. It helps with the headache.
For a normal person who did not undergo Manafication, their body must convert and break the foreign substance into something the body can absorb, much like eating. Thus, there has to be an interlude of rest. But my physique is entirely made up of mana and can directly fuse with the pills.
That being said, of course, I could easily try to "cheese" my way through to pinnacle strength using pills but "Elvis Arcane" is not so forgiving. Taking too much in quick succession proportionally decreases the effects and increases the chance of side effects. At one point, one might even lose statistics from eating pills rather than gaining.
As I pull open the lid on a box, a small red pill with orange dust appears between my fingers.
---------------
Fire Draco Pill(Expert Quality)
A pill made with the essence of reptile predators.
20 attack stats will be added upon taking the drug.
---------------
I throw it into my mouth. A cranberry rose flavour pours out. I have no idea why it tastes like that.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
---------------
Fire Draco Pill consumed
+2 atk stats.
Warning! Consuming more have a high risk of drawbacks!
Status Ailment "Pill Congestion" has been applied.
2 weeks left until "Pill Congestion" is removed.
---------------
...
I should stop. I amassed 100 attack and dexterity stats.
Darkness engulfs the city.
---------------
Wave 2 will approach in 2 hours.
---------------
"Tch."
I'm worried and anxious. Should I risk searching more or prepare to face death again?
...
I take a deep breath and stop by the military barracks, taking some gear and leaving the empty city.
On the way, I pass by a large polished monument slab. On it is carved: "One who aims for the sky will receive the blessing of the gods."
This is a clue that can help me gain an advantage in the fifth wave but we will die before reaching there.
I climb out of the wall and meet up with the rest. They are gathered at one spot, resting against the turrets. The turrets are now made of metal steel and the black figure archer on the structure wears metal plate armour, holding three arrows behind the bow.
"Arsto!" Melissa says. "Where did you go?"
"To find an escape ticket but..."
"I see..."
...
"How many coins are left?"
"One hundred and five thousand," Melissa replies.
The upgrades took 600,000 coins...
"Save the remaining coins to activate the turret's special ability. Each activation costs five thousand coins...I hope it's enough. Anyways, I have something for you." I say and hands Melissa an emerald musket. A dragon is carved on the barrel.
Melissa can feel the pressuring aura from it. "T-This..."
"I climbed within the fortress a few hours ago. It was an empty and desolate city. I found these laying around so we might as well use them."
Melissa nods. I place a gauntlet beside the sleeping Audrey and the other officers' respective weapons beside them.
"Hah..." I let out a sigh as I sit beside Melissa. "Rest. I will too."
...
I close my eyes and immediately dozed off. The uncomfortable environment did not matter.
...
...
...
...
*TING!*
"Nh!?" I jolt when a loud ring blasts in my ears. My short-lived rest felt like a second.
Everyone wakes up to the same notification.
---------------
The Intermission Period is over!
The second wave is approaching!
Total enemies:
×500,000 Goblin Knights
×100,000 Goblin Cavalries
×50,000 Goblin Mages
×100,000 Goblin Vanguards
×50,000 Goblin Catapults
×200,000 Goblin Spearmen
×1 Goblin Commander
Defend the fortress.
---------------
"W-What the fuck...?" Melissa mumbles with her eyes wide open.
The number is ten times more than the first wave and it will only get worse from here on.
"H-How are we supposed to win against these numbers?" an officer with orange hair and eyes exclaims. I glance at him. His name should be Leo.
"Leo."
He returns the glance.
"Just fight. That's the only way we can survive. Fight even when our body rips apart. Continue swinging no matter what."
I take out my guns from the storage ring. I originally used my sword as it can clear more goblins but I need to save my energy this round.
"Melissa, when I give you the cue. Open me a path to the commander goblin. If that bastard is down, we can win." I say.
She nods and grips the musket tightly.
Audrey only notices the gauntlet beside her and exclaims "This thing...how did this..."
"Just wear it."
She puts the gauntlet on.
A torch magically appears on each turret, illuminating the surrounding.
We can hear a tsunami of footsteps rushing to our side.
The turrets pull back their arrows and rain hell on those green bastards. Each turret shoots three arrows imbued with mana at a precise and fast speed.
---------------
Killed 7281 goblins
+7281 coins
---------------
Amid such tension, an additional panel pops up.
---------------
A special event has been issued!
The strongest participant will lose the "Tower" status and its protection.
Clear the wave to obtain special rewards.
---------------
W-What?!
My body glows in a layer of blue and the layer shatters.
---------------
Strongest participant: Samuel Turner(Alias: Arsto)
---------------
---------------
A Side Mission has been created!
Survive the wave.
Rewards:
1. 100 million exp
2. Stats boost
Failure: Death
---------------
I tremble at the sight of such atrocity.
"F-For fuck's sake...you have to be kidding me," I whimper.