Chapter 190: Call of Kheu

“Are you guys done?” Zyrus asked as he looked at Kyle and Strongfist.“Not strong fingers…”

“…”

Strongfist was sad that his fingers weren’t durable enough. On the other hand, Kyle didn’t even have the energy to muster a response.

The past week was the most exhausting time of their life. They were curious and excited when Zyrus taught them the art of formations and talismans.

But all of it burned to ashes when they saw heaps of ‘tablets’ and barrels of ‘ink.’

“Take a break. The players will find out the value of talismans soon enough. It’s just a matter of time before we create a self-sufficient system.”

“…Really?”

“Haha…of course. I know it was hard on your heads, but believe me, you’ll think the hard work done right now was more than worth it in the future,” Zyrus chuckled while dipping his claw in a tub of ink.

The dark purple ink was made from the monsters’ blood and a variety of plant extracts. His army had killed too many creatures in the past years. Even after the distillation process, the blood left was enough to flood a city.

The tablets, on the other hand, were more complex to make. Wood, bone dust, and seaweed pulp were used to make the base structure. Afterwards was the process of adding a surface layer filled with mana conductive materials, and finally, the fusion of all the ingredients.

Neither the conductive materials nor the fusing agent could be made with the resources in Pisces archipelago. Just buying these cheap materials cost Zyrus a fortune.

*Crrack*

Zyrus threw the shattered tablet to the side and took out a new one. Only he himself knew how much the pile of trash beside him cost.

“Do you intend to use the laws related to metal?” Kyle asked.

“Nope. All I want is a spark of inspiration.”

“…I must say it's infuriating,” Kyle shook his head in dejection. Something he found hard to comprehend was too easy for the other two. He didn’t have Zyrus’s knowledge, nor did he have an ogre’s ridiculous strength and regeneration that allowed them to ‘learn via physical experience.’

“Do you know why I chose you two?”

“Guessing from what you told us back then; I’m assuming that the others would get their turns later on.”

“Correct-”

*Shatter*

Zyrus shrugged and repeated the same process. He had long since forgotten the number of times he failed.

“Ogres, trolls, goblins, elves, dwarves…many of the races have something they excel at. When it comes to talents related to combat, humans are perhaps the only ones who are average at anything. They don’t have any significant advantage, but at the same time, there isn’t anything that restricts them either…”

*Shatter*

“Phew…why do you think I selected Strongfist?” Zyrus leaned back on the pile of tablets and looked at Kyle’s eyes.

“He is more talented and hardworking.”

Kyle didn’t have a shred of hesitation in accepting this fact. Even now, Strongfist was drawing talismans with his swollen fingers. Being strong didn’t exempt one from fatigue. Having high regeneration didn’t make things any less painful.

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Just based on desire and will alone, Strongfist was miles ahead. It was no wonder Zyrus chose him as the main ‘test subject’ for this island.

“You’re wrong.”

“…?”

“You both have similar talents. He’s hardworking because unlike you, that’s the only thing he’s good at. You are better at using blood than even I am. You are the best swordsman and general in battle. Just on the five islands, there are two I’m going to train you on.”

“….I see. I think I know what to do.”

Zyrus gave him a smile of acknowledgment and went back on his task. There was no such thing as a ready-made subclass. No one could get them via a scroll or a reward.

*Shatter*

Zyrus knew full well that with each failure he was getting closer to the truth. What really was a class? A class was a clear-cut theoretical method to progress.

As a simple example, a skill was a formula that could be used to solve a particular type of problem. In the same sense, a class would be the mathematical textbooks starting from kindergarten to higher education. In other words, a class was a systematic knowledge with a definite starting and ending point. How to progress and what rewards one would get after that was determined by the system.

Thus, in order to earn a subclass, one had to learn all about it via practice and hard work. And for Zyrus who wanted to create a brand-new subclass, the process was much more complex.

Days passed by as the trio did their own things. Strongfist and Kyle went out once in a while to deliver the talismans they made. Lauren and others also visited from time to time and delivered the ink and tablets.

Although it was a tedious and repetitive task, no one felt like it was a waste of time. They felt it firsthand how fast they were improving.

Finally, the day came when their strength was put into practice.

A month had passed since they arrived at the Jindao island. Now, it was time to conquer the first space.

…

Zyrus looked at the map from a bird’s eye view. It was a fascinating sensation as he could zoom in and out with a simple thought.

The closest enemy space was towards the east side, with its 3 out of 4 adjacent spaces being under his control. It was the perfect place to launch the assault.

Still, Zyrus decided to take the cautious approach. Even a lion would give their all when hunting a rabbit.

Zyrus looked at the small corner where 6 blue flames were burning. They were the number of ‘turns’ he could use.

Five Vajeers with their respective troops were stationed in the northern space, while the remaining ones were on the western side.

Zyrus clicked on the southern space and dragged it towards the enemy space.

[You have used a Turn]

[Your enemy can also use a special power]

[Turn consumption is double the previous amount for actions within the same day.]

At the same moment this text appeared, a group of 300 comprised of trolls and ogres charged towards the enemy settlement. And behind them was a projection of a hundred meter tall mammoth.

<Ria, coordinate with the Vajeers and launch an attack when they’re disorganized. Keep in mind that this is the only chance we have in catching them off guard>

“Roger that.”

Zyrus closed the call tab and focused all his attention on the live map. As much as he wanted to join his troops, the theme of the shatar didn’t allow him to.

Exactly 78 seconds after he used the turn, the 300 players reached the target site. This was the players' first contact with the natives.

Although the enemy settlement looked like a village, it was more apt to call it a steel fortress. After the moat stood ten feet tall walls that guarded the village from all sides.

It was a basic structure made from wood and mud. Yet when the element of metal was added, anything ceased to be ‘basic.’

Zyrus had told the players that it would be impossible for them to breach the defense with their numbers. Thus, their one and only mission was to launch a surprise raid while the gates were still open.

*Thud*Thud*Thud*

The ground tremored with every step of the mammoth projection. It was impossible for this to not catch the eyes of the natives.

*Riingg*

As the sentry saw the tree-like trolls and gigantic ogres running towards their home, they rang the bells to gather the guards; but alas, it was too late.

*ROOOOOAAR*

The leading troll let out a war cry and initiated its transformation. A hundred others followed his actions and slammed their fists on the ground.

[Call of Kheu]

Thousands of dark green vines sprouted from the fractured ground and crawled towards the wide-open gate.

“Thir unth Kyra?” (What are they)

“Kyra-Nal?” (Animals?)

“Kyra-Vil?” (Enemies?)

“Dren, Zhul Gorn!” (Look, a giant monster!)

“Kahl Vyra...” (Oh lord…)

No one except Zyrus understood what the natives were speaking. They looked no different from humans except for their lifeless silver eyes and copper skin. The strangest thing was their means of communication. Rather than using their mouth, their whole body was producing sounds via vibrations.

The players were unaware of what the pike-wielding guards were shouting. Nonetheless, was there a need for understanding when the roles of both sides were clear?

The vines made an overbridge and slammed into the gate. The trolls themselves became a part of the structure to make it more stable.

This was all the ogres needed.

[Berserk Charge]

The air above the moat became thick with a blood-red aura. 200 ogres had burned their lifeblood at the same time.

Blue veins protruded out from their muscles, and with their newfound explosive strength, they stepped on the trolls and crossed the bridge they had created.