Chapter 17: Leisurely upgrading
After Zhao knew the capability of his new members, the sun had already set, casting a deep indigo veil over Abyss, the golden glow of the Dragon Nest fading into the twilight as its fiery motifs softened into a warm ember-like shimmer. The day had been a whirlwind of revelation and action—the summoning of twenty Diamond-tier dragons, their divine loyalty a testament to his Dragon God Blood, and the integration of the Divine Forge and Celestial Alchemy Lab with their SSS-rank workers, Forgemaster Kael and Alchemist Veyra. The air was thick with the faint scent of sulfur from the dragons and the metallic tang of the forge, mingling with the ethereal calm emanating from the lab. His soldiers had worked tirelessly, their movements precise and purposeful, while the dragons patrolled the perimeter under Valorn's discreet command, their massive forms blending into the shadows of the forest and riverbanks, unseen by any outsider. As the last light dipped below the horizon, Zhao and his subjects decided to rest, their labors giving way to a well-earned sleep beneath the starlit sky.
The next morning, for the first time since arriving in this unforgiving world, Zhao felt a profound calm settle over him, a stillness that contrasted sharply with the relentless pace of survival and conquest that had defined his days. The sun rose slowly, its golden rays filtering through the canopy of trees surrounding Abyss, casting a warm glow across the territory that softened the sharp edges of the Eternal Guardian Bastion and illuminated the crystalline dome of the Celestial Alchemy Lab. The dragons, their scales glinting like polished gems in the dawn light, coiled lazily around their nest, their deep, rumbling breaths a soothing undertone to the morning's quiet. Zhao stood near the Lord's House, his gaze sweeping over his domain, feeling a rare sense of security that stemmed not just from the power of his new members but from the unshakable foundation they represented.
So he had decided to give a break to his subjects, a moment of respite after days of ceaseless effort. With what he had now—the dragons, the forge, the lab, and the fortified defenses—he was sure that not even the 900th Legion of Abyss could scratch his wall, let alone something as distant as the Hell's 1987th Legion, whose strength paled in comparison to the higher-numbered legions of this world's hierarchy.
{Editor's Note: The strength of Abyss legions is described by their number; the lesser it is, the stronger they are.}
Zhao had put all his worries on hold, the looming threats of Central Land fading into the background as he chose to focus on construction, a task that felt almost meditative in its simplicity compared to the chaos of battle and strategy. He activated the system, selecting the blueprint for Residential Buildings, and with a gesture, ten new houses popped up around the Lord's House, their construction instantaneous yet precise, golden beams of light weaving wood and stone into sturdy, practical homes. With his current team—Marcus and his workers gathering resources, Kael's Divine Forge accelerating production, and the dragons' mere presence deterring any interference—each resource he expended was rapidly replenished, the territory's efficiency a marvel of coordination and power.
He opened his territory panel, the updated interface materializing before him with a soft golden glow, its text shimmering as it reflected the state of Abyss after the night's rest and the morning's construction.
|Territory Management|
Name: Abyss
Territory Level: Bronze Tier 1-star
Area: 4km x 4km
Population: 100/150