Chapter 11: Lizard man
Zhao had quickly prepared himself even though he didn't have much, he held a sword that had dropped some time ago when Acel went hunting and brought the corpse of a goblin. He had got a rusted iron sword and ragged armor from it. Goblins usually steal things from passersby as even getting something was a miracle. After the million enhancement, Zhao had gotten his hands on 10 Pseudo-Legendary Solfare and 10 Blue Soul Armors.
|Pseudo-Legendary Solfare|
A weapon made by a blacksmith god long ago. It had fallen into the void accidentally while forging it. It is not yet complete. It holds the power of Vac fire, a special type of fire that cannot be extinguished. It can be changed into any weapon the host wishes to use.
Rank: Pseudo-Legendary
|Blue Soul Armor|
An armor made naturally by the increased %^&$ in &^%$# realm. It provides a complete defense against anyone below a Diamond grade.
The Solfare and the armor were both extraordinary in the sense that even a child could hold it against the supreme soldiers of an intermediate kingdom. Zhao himself wore 1 armor and took the Solfare, which turned into a longsword according to his wish, its blade shimmering with the unquenchable Vac fire that danced along its edge, casting a faint, eerie glow. The longsword felt perfectly balanced in his hand, its form adapting to his modest mastery, though he knew its potential would grow as his skill improved. He gave another set to Acel, and the moment Acel caught hold of it, it instantly changed into a fiery red spear, the Vac fire licking along its length, transforming his platinum-grade weapon into something far more formidable. Even though Acel was Legendary-grade, his previous weapon had been outclassed by his own power, and the Solfare spear now matched his strength perfectly. Zhao gave the rest to the Eternal Legion; the leaders—Valorn, Balor, and Lyra—wore one set of armor themselves and equipped the Solfare, each weapon shifting to suit their mastery: Valorn's became a broadsword, Balor's a greatsword, and Lyra's a sleek, curved bow. They gave the remaining five sets to the soldiers, who adapted the Solfare into longswords, spears, and axes, each weapon reflecting their individual combat styles. Though it wasn't enough for all 20 soldiers, it was still unnecessary for a Bronze-tier territory. A single one of these soldiers was more than enough, as even then it would have been a one-sided utter massacre. But Zhao, being new in this "field," didn't know about this and had taken his full army. Only later would he understand how much of an overkill this had been. He had not put any defense as with the barrier no one could attack his base, its protective dome an impenetrable shield against external threats.
As he neared the Stronghold, Zhao could see all the soldiers lined up neatly, their formation a testament to their discipline and readiness. The Eternal Knights stood at the front, their radiant armor gleaming in the fading light, their presence imposing and unyielding. Behind them, the Eternal Archers formed a precise line, their bows pulsing with elemental energy, quivers brimming with poison-tipped arrows that glinted ominously. In the middle, Rita's Elf Archers stood, their graceful forms blending seamlessly with the Eternal Archers, their keen eyes scanning the horizon, adding an additional layer of ranged precision to the formation. Acel and Valorn were at the forefront, their commanding presence a beacon for the troops, their weapons—now enhanced by the Solfare—radiating power.
They all bowed as soon as they saw Zhao come near them, their movements synchronized and respectful, a silent acknowledgment of his leadership. He motioned them to stand up with a slight wave of his hand, his posture steady and authoritative. Valorn stepped forward, his armor clinking softly as he moved, and spoke, his voice deep and resolute, "Lord, our full forces are ready. We are only leaving Marcus, his team, and the engineers here since they don't have anything to do on the battlefield and could do more help here given our tight circumstances. Their skills are better suited to fortifying Abyss while we're away, ensuring our resources and defenses remain secure."