Global lord: Million times Multiplier System-Chapter 18: Battling again

The first rays of dawn slipped through the crystalline windows of the Lord's Manor, casting a soft golden glow across the polished wooden floor of Zhao's chamber. He stirred awake, the unfamiliar comfort of the two-floored villa—a stark contrast to the rudimentary shelters he'd endured since arriving in Central Land—momentarily disorienting him. The plush bedding beneath him, the gentle hum of increased mana, health, and stamina regeneration pulsing through the air, and the faint echoes of his dragons' distant roars grounded him in the reality of his achievements. For a fleeting moment, he lingered in the calm that had settled over him the previous night, a rare respite after weeks of relentless struggle. But as his eyes adjusted to the light, a flicker of instinct—a whisper from his Supreme God Devouring Omniversal Physique—cut through the tranquility, urging him to rise.

Zhao swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his bare feet meeting the cool floor, and stood, the weight of his responsibilities settling back onto his shoulders like a familiar cloak. He crossed the room to the window, gazing out over Abyss as the territory stirred to life under the morning sun. The Dragon Nest (SSS) glowed faintly near the Lord's Manor, its obsidian and gold structure a testament to his bloodline's power, while the Divine Forge and Celestial Alchemy Lab stood as twin pillars of creation, their energies subtly pulsing in the air. His twenty Diamond-tier dragons coiled around the nest, their scales glinting like polished gems—crimson, emerald, midnight blue—their massive forms a silent promise of strength. Yet, beneath this calm, a sense of urgency gnawed at him, a premonition tied to the shield that had protected Abyss since his arrival.

He turned from the window, his calm morphing into resolve, and stepped outside the Lord's Manor, the crisp morning air brushing against his skin as he descended the steps. His subjects—soldiers, workers, and the dragons—were scattered across the training grounds and steps of the Eternal Legion Stronghold, their relaxed postures from the previous day's rest giving way to a quiet alertness as they noticed his approach. Valorn, Balor, Lyra, Elara, Marcus, Forgemaster Kael, and Alchemist Veyra stood among them, their eyes turning to him with unspoken readiness. The dragons raised their heads slightly, their divine reverence palpable in their glowing gazes.

"Everyone," Zhao called, his voice steady and commanding, cutting through the morning stillness like a blade, "wake up and get ready for war. The shield protecting Abyss will dissipate in three days—it's been our safeguard, but now we must stand on our own strength. The Hell's 1987th Legion is coming, and we'll meet them head-on. Start preparing now."

The air shifted as his words sank in, the calm shattering like glass under a hammer. Valorn straightened, his broadsword Solfare gleaming with Vac fire as he stepped forward, his voice firm with resolve. "My lord, we'll be ready. The legion won't breach our walls—not with what we've built."

Elara, her analytical tools already in hand, nodded briskly, her mind racing with logistics. "Three days—I'll ensure the egg's combat exposure is maximized during training, and I'll coordinate with Veyra for elixirs to bolster our forces."

Zhao turned to Acel, his fiery red Solfare spear resting at his side, the SSS-rank warrior's golden eyes meeting his with unwavering loyalty. "Acel, I need you to scout for targets—find where the 1987th Legion is staging, their numbers, their weaknesses. Take five dragons for aerial reconnaissance; keep it discreet and report back by tomorrow night. Go now."

Acel bowed, his spear flashing as he turned, his voice steady. "Yes, my lord. I'll return with everything you need." He whistled sharply, and five Diamond-tier dragons—two crimson, two emerald, and one midnight blue—rose from their coils, their wings unfurling with a thunderous beat that sent a gust of warm air across the grounds. They followed him beyond the barrier, their massive forms vanishing into the forest canopy with a grace that belied their power, leaving no trace for prying eyes.

Zhao faced the rest of his subjects, his gaze sweeping over them as he issued commands, his mind already mapping the preparations with a precision honed by necessity. "Valorn, train the Knights with the dragons—focus on coordinated strikes and defensive formations; they're our spearhead. Balor, reinforce the War Fortresses with Kael's enhancements; I want them unbreakable, a wall of steel and fire. Lyra, position the Archers along the river with the Panoply guards—use the terrain and tidal waves to our advantage. Marcus, double resource gathering—wood, stone, leather, everything we've got; stockpile as much as you can in three days. Elara, oversee the egg and assist Veyra with elixir production—prioritize stamina and resilience. Kael, craft divine-tier weapons and armor—equip the Knights and dragons first. Veyra, brew enough elixirs for every soldier and dragon by day three—use the meat and leather for maximum output."

The territory erupted into motion, each subject moving with purpose as Zhao's orders rippled through them like a thunderclap. Valorn barked commands, the Eternal Knights assembling in the training grounds, their Solfare weapons gleaming as the remaining fifteen Diamond-tier dragons loomed overhead, their roars punctuating the drills with a deep, resonant cadence that echoed through the forest. Balor marched toward the Portable War Fortresses, Kael following with a determined stride, his hammer glowing with heat as he prepared to meld divine-tier enhancements into their steel frames. Lyra directed the Archers to the riverbanks, their movements fluid as they donned the Ancient Wave Panoply, their tidal waves crashing against the water's edge in controlled bursts, sending sprays of mist into the air. Marcus rallied his workers, their tools clattering as they dispersed into the forest, the rhythmic thud of axes striking wood soon blending with the dragons' roars. Elara cradled the Unknown Ranked Pet Egg, positioning it near the training grounds where the Knights' combat energy could seep into its crystalline shell, her eyes darting between it and Veyra's lab. Veyra retreated to the Celestial Alchemy Lab, her silver hair glinting as she began her work, vials clinking softly as she measured out meat and leather for her elixirs.

Zhao oversaw the preparations, his presence a steady anchor as Abyss transformed into a war machine over the next hours. The Divine Forge hummed with activity, Kael's hammer striking iron ore and Macre Red Stones, shaping them into gleaming divine-tier blades and shields, their runes glowing with a power that seemed to hum in harmony with the dragons' presence. Sparks flew from the forge, casting fleeting shadows across the ground, the rhythmic clang of metal a heartbeat of creation. The Celestial Alchemy Lab shimmered, Veyra's elixirs bubbling in crystalline alembics, their potency doubled by her celestial mastery, filling the air with a faint, invigorating scent that mingled with the sulfurous tang of the dragons' breath. The dragons flexed their wings, their Diamond-tier scales catching the light as they practiced aerial maneuvers with the Knights, their roars blending with the clash of steel in a symphony of readiness.

By midday, the territory was a hive of preparation, the air thick with the sounds of hammers, roars, and commands, a cacophony that spoke of strength and purpose. Zhao opened the Territory Management window, the updated interface glowing before him with a soft golden light that reflected his growing dominion, its text shimmering as it documented Abyss's readiness.

|Territory Management|

Name: Abyss

Territory Level: Bronze Tier 1-star

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

Area: 4km x 4km

Population: 100/150

Warehouse: 340 Exoskeletons, 1000 Golden Sand, 100 Diamond Tier 4-Star Monster Cores, 340 Gold Tier 5-Star Monster Cores, 420 * 1 million Poison Sacks, 210 * Legendary Tier 1-Star Monster Cores, 8500 Meat, 499,999,900 Iron Ore, 900 Leather, 10,500 Macre Red Stones

Buildings: Lord's Manor (Bronze Tier 1-star), Elemental Training Centre, Warehouse, Residential Building (x13), Eternal Legion Stronghold, Eternal Guardian Bastion, Engineering Hub, Divine Forge, Celestial Alchemy Lab, Dragon Nest (SSS)

Blueprint: Residential Building, Warehouse, Well, Watchtower, Resource Mill, Marksman Tower, Infinite Cannon

Resources: 2800 Wood, 2700 Stone

Requirements for Territory Upgrade (Bronze Tier 2-star):

500 stone, 700 wood, 100 leather, 200 iron, 10 residential buildings, population reach 50, Lord's Manor reach Bronze Tier 1-star, construct 2 defensive structures, 1 Bronze Tier Territory Certificate

The population held steady at 100—20 Diamond-tier dragons from the SSS-rank Dragon Nest, 30 skilled laborers, 27 warriors, and his original 23 subjects, including Valorn, Balor, Lyra, Elara, and Marcus's team—bolstered by the "Beacon of Ascension" status. Marcus's efforts had swelled resources, wood and stone climbing as his team harvested relentlessly, the warehouse totals reflecting their efficiency despite the morning's expenditures on elixirs and forge enhancements. The requirements for Bronze Tier 2-star were largely met—13 residential buildings exceeded the 10 needed, the Lord's Manor was at Bronze Tier 1-star, and resources were abundant—but the need for two additional defensive structures and another Bronze Tier Territory Certificate loomed, tasks he'd tackle post-war.

He then opened the chat interface, expecting reactions to his Bronze-tier status but curious about the broader pulse of Central Land's lords, and found it ablaze with a chaotic mix of despair, bravado, and petty squabbles—few mentioning him, and those who did pushing him down as untouchable.

Chat

Alexis: My D-rank scout got eaten by a wolf—meanwhile, Zhao's untouchable up there!

Scott: 5 wood's my life now—forget Zhao, he's a god; I'm fighting rats for scraps!

Rita: 50 stone, and my hammer's dust—anyone got a spare? Zhao's too high to care!

Marcus: My camp's a pile of sticks—someone trade me wood! Zhao's untouchable anyway!

Jade: C-rank farmer's drunk again—Zhao's Bronze, sure, but I'm stuck with mud!

Liam: Screw Zhao—he's untouchable, fine! My F-rank trapper caught a twig—help!

Kara: My E-rank archer's blind—trade me arrows! Zhao's up there laughing at us!

Tomas: Hunter's starving—anyone got meat? Zhao's too big to notice us down here!

Elena: D-rank cook poisoned me—Zhao's untouchable, but I need food, not gods!

Vik: Fisherman's net broke—trade me string! Zhao's Bronze doesn't fix my boat!

Mina: D-rank cook burned my tent—someone help! Zhao's a myth to us peasants!

Nero: C-rank archer ran off—trade me loyalty! Zhao's untouchable, not my problem!

Zoe: B-rank mage—no mana, no hope! Zhao's up there; I'm dodging bugs!

Hiro: E-rank trader's a thief—trade me stone! Zhao's Bronze is fairy tales!

Lina: D-rank alchemist—explosions again! Trade me herbs—Zhao's too far gone!

Rex: F-rank warrior—10 stone's my haul! Zhao's untouchable; I'm fighting dirt!

Talia: Scout's lost—15 leather's it! Zhao's a god; I'm stuck with worms!

Kieran: C-rank builder—hut's a mess! Trade me wood—Zhao's out of reach!

Sven: Fisherman caught a sock—trade me nets! Zhao's Bronze is a dream!

Yara: D-rank hunter—traps broke! Trade me wire—Zhao's untouchable, not my savior!

Pia: E-rank tailor—5 hides left! Trade me thread—Zhao's up in the clouds!

Finn: F-rank miner—20 stone's my max! Zhao's a legend; I'm a mole!

Nia: C-rank healer—no herbs! Trade me plants—Zhao's Bronze doesn't heal me!

Oren: D-rank smith—forge's cold! Trade me coal—Zhao's untouchable anyway!

Tessa: B-rank scout—lost again! Trade me maps—Zhao's too high to bother!

The chat roared with desperation and petty struggles, Zhao's name a distant echo among the lords, their focus on survival punctuated by occasional jabs at his untouchable status—no hint of dragons or treasures in their words. He smirked, closing the interface—Abyss's true might remained a secret, its power a silent storm gathering for the war ahead.