Arthur's gaze swept across the chamber once more, his expression firm yet thoughtful as he addressed a specific group of his heroes seated along the left side of the long table.
His eyes settled first on Lily, the refined and sharp-eyed commander of the Arcane Circle Unit, her robes marked with elemental glyphs and her presence glowing faintly with magical energy. Beside her sat Zara, commander of the Mystic Circle Unit, her demeanor serene and arcane symbols floating gently behind her, whispering secrets only a seasoned mage could hear.
Then his gaze moved to the hybrid units—those who, though not pure mages, channeled significant amounts of magic into their combat styles. Nora- Crystal wardens unit, Naomi- Grave singer unit, Thomas- Ironthorn wardens unit, Juliette- Starveil archers unit, Roman- tempest rider unit.
Arthur stood tall, his voice calm but resolute as he addressed them.
"I have acquired something that will change the future of magic within our territory."
He lifted his hand, and with a flash of golden light, a parchment materialized—its edges laced in arcane flame, glowing softly in hues of blue and silver. The blueprint hovered mid-air, rotating slowly, displaying the intricate architecture of a towering magical spire.
"This is the Advanced Mage Tower—a Platinum-rank magical structure."
He paused, letting the weight of those words settle.
"Once this meeting ends, I will personally settle this building. From that moment on, this tower will become the heart of magical research and training in Starblade."
He gestured toward Lily and Zara first. "You, and all mage-type soldiers under your command, will train, live, and grow stronger within its walls. But this building isn't just for you alone."
His eyes shifted to the hybrids.
"This tower will serve all of you. Every unit that uses magic—whether as their foundation or as a supporting weapon—will benefit from what it offers."
Arthur turned back to the rotating projection of the tower and began listing its features in detail, his voice echoing through the war hall with gravitas.
> Advanced Mage Tower
> Function:
Enables high-tier elemental research, including rare branches like lightning, spatial, and stellar magic.
Supports spell refinement and fusion, allowing the creation of custom spells from known elements.
Unlocks specialized mage classes, such as Battle Mage, Arcane Alchemist, and Spellbreaker.
Increases magical unit efficiency—extending spell range, reducing cooldown times, and improving mana usage across the battlefield.
Grants access to unique battlefield spells that can only be cast from within the tower.
> Bonus: All mages stationed at the tower will experience a 15% increase in cultivation speed.
The room remained silent, but the intensity in the mages' eyes spoke volumes. The promise of progression, power, and knowledge now stood within reach.
Arthur then reached once more into his inventory, summoning two more radiant blueprints.
First, a towering structure marked by banners and battlements.
> Legion Commander Citadel
> Rank: Platinum (Upgradeable to Legendary)
> Function:
Serves as the core of strategic command and war planning.
Allows the formation of elite units and custom battle formations.
Dramatically increases command range and unit cohesion during full-scale war.
Grants access to War Plans, predefined formations that offer specific buffs—such as improved speed, defense, flanking success, or morale boosts.
Hero-linked leadership buffs: heroes stationed here can project their influence across the battlefield, empowering soldiers even from afar.
Bonus: Allows the lord to issue simultaneous commands across multiple fronts during complex engagements.
"This Citadel," Arthur said, "will become the nerve center of our military. Every army, every commander, every battalion will feel its influence. With this in place, our enemies will find it harder to outmaneuver us—even in battles fought across different regions."
Then he turned to the last blueprint, and there was reverence in the way he held it.
The blueprint glowed with a deep violet and gold light—ethereal, sacred.
Elite Hero Altar
Function:
A divine structure that taps into the heroic essence of ancient legends.
Enables summoning of new heroes at Gold, Platinum, and even Diamond Rank.
Allows awakening or evolution of existing heroes to unlock their true domains and exclusive powers.
Grants Heroic Blessings—territory-wide passive buffs tied to each hero's core strength.
Activates Hero Memory Resonance, synchronizing heroes with ancient relics and heroic souls, boosting power and unlocking new skills.
"With this altar," Arthur said, "our current heroes will no longer be bound by their limits. It will allow you to grow, evolve, and transcend the power you now possess. And it will draw new heroes to us—warriors, mages, champions from beyond the veil, ready to fight for Starblade."
He looked around at them all—heroes, legends in the making—and gave a single nod.
"These three structures—the Mage Tower, the Citadel, and the Hero Altar—will become the foundation of our next great leap. From here, we don't just prepare for war."
He paused. "We prepare to dominate it."
After the council meeting came to a close, the table slowly emptied as the heroes began to disperse. Yet Arthur remained composed and purposeful, standing tall as he motioned to a few of them to follow. He turned toward the arched exit of the hall and made his way to the Summoning Portal, flanked by several of his heroes—especially those who wielded magic as their primary strength.
Lily, Zara, Nora, Naomi, Thomas, Juliette, and Roman walked at his side. Their steps were steady, but in their eyes gleamed a sense of curiosity and anticipation. They had all heard of the Advanced Mage Tower, but now they were moments away from witnessing the beginning of its construction.
The Summoning Portal shimmered in the distance, pulsing gently with an ethereal glow, like a heart beating with mana. It stood in a wide, cleared space near the heart of Starblade territory—an area Arthur had been steadily developing as a nexus of power. As he reached the open ground near it, Arthur paused.
He turned and looked at the space, measuring it with both vision and instinct.
"Right here," he thought to himself. "It will stand tall beside the portal—a beacon of knowledge and arcane might. It will look incredible."
He reached into his inventory, retrieving the platinum-rank blueprint of the Advanced Mage Tower. The parchment unfurled in his hand, suspended mid-air by a swirl of wind and glowing runes that formed a rotating, three-dimensional image of the tower. Spires rose into the sky in the projection, etched with arcane rings and crystalline lattices.
A familiar sound chimed in his ears as the system prompted him:
[System Prompt]
[Lord of Starblade, do you wish to construct the Platinum-Rank – Advanced Mage Tower?]
Without hesitation, Arthur pressed the translucent [Yes] icon hovering before him.
The blueprint dissolved into radiant motes of light, which scattered across the designated area, anchoring themselves in a perfect circular formation. The ground vibrated lightly, and lines of blue energy traced themselves into the soil like magical veins.
[Construction Initiated]
[Estimated Time Until Completion: 72 Hours.]
Arthur blinked. "Seventy-two hours?" he muttered in surprise.
He had expected instant construction, like the bronze and silver structures he'd summoned in the past. But this—this was different. He frowned slightly, thinking aloud, "Is it because it's Platinum rank? Or is the structure simply that massive and intricate?"
Either way, there was no use dwelling on it. He turned to his assembled heroes, who were still examining the glowing magical patterns in the soil.
"It will take three days," Arthur informed them calmly. "This tower isn't like the others—it's larger, stronger, more complex. Until it's completed, I want all mage-type units to continue training, but stay near this area when possible. Once it's done, it'll become your new base—your home for research, training, and magical advancement."
The heroes exchanged glances, nodding with silent acknowledgment. Though their eyes still lingered on the ethereal construction ring, a fire now burned brighter within them—the fire of anticipation and ambition.
Arthur then turned and began walking again, this time toward the **military base**, where he intended to finalize the construction of the two most critical structures for the army and its future: the **Legion Commander Citadel** and the **Elite Hero Altar**.
The area around the base was already fortified and humming with the disciplined presence of his standing army. Night had begun to fall, the sky painted with streaks of deep indigo and violet, stars twinkling faintly above like scattered fragments of crystal.
Once he reached the heart of the command grounds, he took out the **Legion Commander Citadel blueprint** first. The system responded immediately:
[System Prompt]
Do you wish to construct the Legion Commander Citadel?
He confirmed the prompt without pause.
Light erupted from the parchment as it disintegrated into streams of energy, embedding itself into the earth and tracing out the enormous circular foundation of what would become the most powerful strategic hub in the realm.
Then he pulled out the final blueprint—the sacred one. The Elite Hero Altar.
[System Prompt]
Do you wish to construct the Elite Hero Altar?
Arthur nodded and confirmed.
Just like before, the divine structure's ethereal blueprint vanished in a shower of golden sparks, marking its intended location beside the Citadel.
[Construction Time – 72 Hours]
Arthur took a deep breath as he watched the magical framework of both buildings shimmer under the moonlight.
"These three buildings," he thought to himself, "will become the pillars of our future. Magic. Strategy. Heroism. Starblade will become unstoppable."
Just then, a sudden gust of cold wind swept past him. In the blink of an eye, Diana and Kaelira Nightveil appeared before him like twin shadows emerging from the night itself. They dropped to one knee in perfect unison, their cloaks flowing around them like pools of darkness.
"My lord," Diana spoke first, her voice low and unwavering, "the Ghost Walker Unit and the Shadow Unit are fully prepared to march."
"We await your command," Kaelira added, her golden eyes glinting beneath her hood.
Arthur gave a single nod, his gaze sharp.
"Good. I will join you in ten minutes."
With that, he turned on his heel and made his way back toward his lord's manor. The soft glow of lamplight danced across the stone path as he walked. There, at the doorway, Seraphina waited—her expression composed, yet her eyes filled with quiet concern.
Arthur informed her briefly of the mission, and her lips tightened in understanding. She did not try to dissuade him; she knew well the importance of this journey, she also went towards her room to change into something which suits for hiding.
Once inside his chamber, Arthur opened his wardrobe and pulled out a carefully prepared outfit—dark, sleek, and designed for mobility. The fabric was shadow-dyed and enchanted to suppress presence, woven for silent movement in enemy territory. A thin leather harness held hidden throwing knives, and the chestplate was lightweight but reinforced.
It wasn't the attire of a lord.
It was the gear of an assassin.
Tonight, he would not fight as a king.
Tonight, he would vanish into the dark as a shadow among shadows.
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