Chapter 24: Blood and Strategy: The Hunt for Mana
After checking the status of the altar, Ash realizes how many more resources are needed for his plans—city upgrades, the red pill, and the house: stone * 340, wood * 986, mana-core (mana points) * 57. The numbers swirl in his mind for a moment, a moment of silence that weighs heavily.
Ash and Robin start their hunt, intent on gathering the resources they need. Ash sticks to his plan: only taking mana cores from slain bear monsters. The additional weight would be a burden, making their hunting harder. His first priority is to meet the city's mana-core requirement. Everything else will come after that.
Thirty minutes of travel pass. Ash and Robin find a suitable monster, alone. Ash studies it carefully, the monster's status flashing before his eyes like a challenge.
A window pops up in front of him.
......
..........
Big Goat (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 1
Description: A big goat with a sharp mouth capable of chewing through wood and leather but prefers to feed on trees and plants. It lives in packs, and female big goats can give birth to 12 children in a year.
Abilities: None
Fast Reproduction – If not culled quickly, their numbers explode.
Weakness: Fire and sharp attacks.
..........
..............
The moment they strike, the big goat's survival instincts kick in. It tries to flee, but every attempt is thwarted by Ash and Robin's relentless attacks. The creature, realizing it cannot escape, shifts tactics and attacks Ash directly, thinking he's the easier target. It's a mistake.
Ash counters swiftly, his knife biting deep into the monster's neck. Green blood spills, thick and fast. Robin follows up with a brutal strike of his own, his axe cleaving through the creature's neck. The big goat's head is severed, rolling a few meters away.
Ash extracts the mana core with practiced precision, his mind already alert to the possibility of new monsters being drawn by the blood scent.
Minutes pass, but no response comes. Ash and Robin decide to continue their search, moving deeper into the forest.
They come across two level 0 monsters. Ash quickly checks their status.
A new pop-up appears in front of him.
.......
.............
Dark Pig (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 0
Description: A dark pig with a wide, gaping mouth capable of devouring anything within its level. It thrives in the dark, where it receives a 20-40% boost to its power, with sunlight weakening it. These creatures live in packs, and females can give birth to eight offspring in six months.
Abilities: None
Fast Reproduction – If not culled quickly, their numbers explode.
Weakness: Sharp attacks.
......... ...............
The battle is short. They make quick work of the monsters, their strength easily overpowering the level 0 creatures.
But luck isn't on their side as they continue their search. Thirty minutes pass without finding any suitable prey. The monsters they encounter are in packs or surrounded by multiple level 1 creatures. The odds aren't in their favour.
Fifteen minutes later, they find a new opportunity—a pack of eight level 0 monsters. After a brief discussion, Ash and Robin decide to attack. They opt for a kill-and-run strategy, knowing the terrain will aid them.
Robin, confident in his higher level, volunteers to attack the monsters in their nest. He can handle more mistakes than Ash, who will wait with his knife, ready to deal with any monsters that follow Robin out.
Robin sneaks into the nest, blending into the shadows. One by one, he strikes, each kill a quiet but deadly whisper. But as the scent of blood fills the air, even Robin struggles to keep it contained. The remaining monsters grow aware. After killing three, Robin decides to pull back, knowing the risk of staying any longer. He slips out of the nest and positions himself in front, daring the monsters to come for him.
Moments later, the monsters, realizing their kin have been slain, flee without hesitation, scattering into the forest. Robin, undeterred, pursues. He manages to kill two more before the others escape, their survival instincts too sharp to ignore.
Robin's mind churns with the lesson. Never underestimate the monsters' ability to survive. They knew he was a level 2 and fled without a second thought. Had they attacked instead of fleeing, Robin would have been forced to retreat toward Ash. His combat skills, after all, were never his strongest asset—he was a butler in his previous city, not a warrior.
He returns to Ash, recounting the encounter. Ash listens quietly, then speaks, his voice calm but firm.
"We learn from our mistakes. Here, our mistake was overestimating the courage of level 0 monsters against a level 2. But, honestly, it's better to overestimate than underestimate. Had they attacked, it could have cost us our lives."
Ash offers a reassuring smile. "We'll find new monsters to hunt. Don't feel bad about it."
Robin nods, his spirits lifted. "Okay, my lord."
They continue into the deeper part of the forest. The air grows thick with tension, but once again, they find nothing suitable. The monsters they encounter are either in packs or too strong to deal with. After thirty minutes of fruitless searching, they finally spot a level 2 monster—sleeping in its den.
The aura it exudes is suffocating, making Ash's heart race. Even Robin, normally composed, is struck with a cold, creeping fear. They both know this is a battle they cannot win.
Ash checks the monster's status.
A window pops up before him.
......
..........
Flying Tiger (Mid-Grade Monster)
Rank: -?
Level: ?
Description: A powerful predator in the monster hierarchy. Be cautious when it sees you. ????
Abilities: ?
Weakness: ?
...........
............
Luck is on their side, as the monster remains asleep. With barely a whisper, Ash and Robin retreat, leaving the den behind as they quietly flee from the deeper forest.
Once they are safely away, Ash speaks, his voice steady despite the adrenaline that still buzzes in his veins.
"We should return to the city. We've gathered enough mana cores for the red pill for Evan, and we're both exhausted from hunting."
Robin nods, his relief palpable. "My lord, we'll face the monsters in the city too. Returning now seems like the best choice."
The two of them head back to the city. Thirty minutes later, they arrive, but not without hunting two more level 0 monsters along the way.
Ash checks the status of these creatures as well.
............
...................
Ostrich (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 0
Description: A creature built for speed, with long, powerful legs but little defense. It attacks with its legs, nails, and head. While not a powerful monster, it is fast, making it difficult to catch. In some places, they are tamed and used for transportation.
Abilities: Run fast
Weakness: Fire, sharp attacks, and poison.
.........
...............
Upon entering the city, Ash begins to tally their gains, opening the "status window."
A window pops up in front of him.
......
............
City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory defense doubled
Description: In the event of a city defense, all attack and defense power of people and buildings are doubled.
Altar level: 0
Upgrade requirement: (wood * 1000, stone * 250, 50 * mana core (level 0))
Production: Mist mana level 0 * 10 per day
Area: 625 square meters
Status: Very small village
Mana (money): 62
Tax (from market & city): 0 * mana-mist level
Building: Guide mark * 1 (active), Market (5 free trades per day)
Blueprint: Low-grade house (stone * 100, wood * 25)
Warehouse: Wood * 39, Rabbit monster hide level 0 * 11, Rabbit monster hide level 1 * 1, Stone * 10
Population: 4
Specialty: Mana tree (produces level 0 mana * 4 per day)
Resource point: Stone Mountain level 1 (310 * mined /1000 all stone mineable in new mine)
Attack power level: 0 (925/1000)
Description: City's power level to attack enemies
Defense power level: 0 (6000/10000)
Description: City's defense power level against enemies.
.........
.............
Ash's gaze flicks across the status. His attention lingers on the city's growing defense power and the rising mana points. With 62 mana points, they have more than enough to purchase the red pill.
Without hesitation, he turns to Robin. "Let's go to the market building."