Ling Ye blinked rapidly, snapping out of his thoughts and focusing on the dense mist ahead. Through the rolling fog, a vast island loomed in the distance, its jagged cliffs and towering trees barely visible under the gray shroud. As Immortal City shifted forward, its edges locking seamlessly with the coastline, the connection between territory and unexplored land was complete.
Claria sat poised beside him, excitement flashing in her alluring eyes, her every movement betraying an eagerness to charge ahead and tear through whatever dangers awaited them. Ling Ye, however, remained composed. Instead of rushing in, he pulled out two items from his inventory: the SSS-rank Equipment Chest and a C-rank Mithril Armor piece.
With a flick of his wrist, the chest opened, flooding the air with radiant golden light. When the brilliance faded, a weapon rested in his palm—a staff radiating raw, destructive power.
[SSS-Rank Destruction Staff]:
HP +20,000 | Magic Attack +3,000 | Mana +2,000
Special Trait: 5% chance to trigger "Destruction Effect," dealing 1000% damage on skill cast.
[C-Rank Mithril Armor]:
HP +800 | Defense +50
Ling Ye's lips curled into a half-smile. The Destruction Staff was a rare gem among rarities. In the Lord World, SSS-rank equipment stood at the pinnacle of all gear—not only granting monstrous attributes but also bestowing unique effects. A mere five percent chance to inflict tenfold damage was enough to make even high-tier bosses tremble.
Unfortunately, such treasures were almost impossible to come by. This one had only landed in his hands because he'd secured a first kill on a Boss, a feat that guaranteed SSS-level loot regardless of difficulty. His memories told him every first kill, no matter the Boss rank, came with such a reward. That was why he vowed to claim every single Boss's first kill in this life. No one would outpace him this time.
By comparison, the Mithril Armor was laughable. Low stats, no special effects, the kind of gear you could find in any lucky drop or chest. Still, better than nothing.
Ling Ye handed the staff to Claria without hesitation. "This one's for you."
The moment she gripped the weapon, a surge of power rippled through her aura, her already fearsome presence doubling instantly. Her stats must have skyrocketed, making her an even deadlier force on the battlefield. The armor he strapped onto himself, though he chuckled inwardly. A true Lord commands from the rear, orchestrating victory from afar rather than throwing himself into the meat grinder. Staying alive and out of harm's way wasn't cowardice—it was smart leadership.
Everything settled, Ling Ye swung up onto the back of a female centaur, his voice calm but resolute. "Let's move. Bring the troops—we're sweeping this island clean."
Claria grinned wickedly, mounting her steed. The ground rumbled as 200 Centaurean Cavalry thundered forward, their hooves pounding in unison, followed by 200 blazing Fire Elementals gliding across the earth like living infernos. The army advanced toward the mist-choked island, the air heavy with impending slaughter.
No sooner had their boots hit the shore than the first wave of enemies struck. Packs of toxic slimes and swift Wind Wolves erupted from the fog, snarling and screeching as they charged. Their numbers were formidable, their intent unmistakable—kill or be killed.
Ling Ye's gaze hardened. "No mercy. Kill them all!"
The cavalry surged ahead like a tidal wave of muscle and steel, lances lowering for the charge. Behind them, Fire Elementals gathered searing magic, the air distorting from the heat of their spells.
But before either unit could clash with the oncoming horde, a piercing, inhuman shriek ripped through the battlefield. The sound wasn't loud, yet it cut like glass, vibrating through bone and soul alike. Waves of visible sound ripples crashed toward the monsters, and in the next instant…
Blood sprayed. Bodies collapsed. Wind Wolves stumbled mid-stride, their eyes bursting crimson. Toxic slimes quivered and popped like ruptured balloons. The battlefield fell silent in a single, horrific moment.
Ling Ye turned, caught between exasperation and admiration, as Claria lowered her lips from the afterglow of her attack. The succubus queen gave him a playful smile. "Forgive me, my lord. I might have gotten a little… carried away."
Her Shrieking Sonic Wave had not only wiped out the entire first wave but had also procured the Destruction Effect from her new staff, amplifying her AOE damage to absurd levels. The carnage was beyond overkill.
Ling Ye could only shrug, lips twitching. "Fine work… keep it up."
"Gladly," she purred, spurring her mount forward like a huntress let loose.
What followed could only be described as a massacre. Claria rode at the vanguard, unleashing one devastating skill after another. Her Temptation Aura stunned swathes of enemies, turning once-feral monsters docile for three precious seconds. Mental Domination caused beasts to tear each other apart in frenzied confusion. Burning Desire set the very air ablaze, cooking enemies alive, while her Soul Lash stripped even the toughest foes of their vitality.
The Centaurean Cavalry barely got a chance to lower their lances. Even the Fire Elementals struggled to contribute as Claria carved a path through the wilds like a goddess of death wrapped in flames and seduction. Ling Ye trailed behind, scooping up the spoils that littered the blood-soaked ground. Thanks to his guaranteed loot trait, resources poured into his inventory at ridiculous rates.
It was ruthless efficiency, a storm of fire and blood that propelled him straight to level six.
[Level Up: You have reached Level 6. Trait Extraction Available.]
"Extract," Ling Ye commanded instantly.
[Trait Acquired: Golden Trait – Tenfold Harvest.]
His eyes widened. "Tenfold Harvest? Let me see this…"
[Tenfold Harvest]
Effect: Any resource collected will yield 10x the normal amount. For example, harvesting 100 units grants 1,000 units.
A grin spread across his face, sharp and hungry. "Now that's what I call perfect timing."
Right now, what he lacked most wasn't troops or heroes—he had Claria, a top-tier SSS-rank asset, and more coordinates for elite nests than most lords could dream of. What he truly needed were resources. Food, Mana Crystals, building materials—all were in constant shortage. This trait meant one trip to a mine would be worth ten.
He chuckled, unable to hide his delight. "This is turning into a hacked playthrough."
The thought of effortlessly amassing wealth and power, of steamrolling every obstacle between him and Ethan's eventual downfall, sent a thrill through his veins. Every unfair advantage was another nail in his enemy's coffin.
Just then, Claria's melodic voice rang out from the trees ahead. "My lord, I've found a Mana Crystal vein!"
Ling Ye's lips curled into a predator's smile. "Perfect. Let's see what this new trait can do."
He spurred his centaur forward, reaching the clearing in moments. The ground was littered with corpses, over three hundred Tier-3 beasts lying in twisted heaps—the so-called guardians of the crystal mine. None had survived Claria's onslaught.
In the center of the carnage gleamed a modest Mana Crystal deposit, classified as D-rank, holding 500 units. A small vein under normal circumstances, but with Tenfold Harvest, it would be a goldmine.
Ling Ye signaled his Centaurean Cavalry to begin gathering while Claria and the Fire Elementals pushed further ahead, keeping the path clear. The mine was stripped bare within minutes, netting him 5,000 Mana Crystals in record time.
He was just about to order a return trip to Immortal City for another recruitment spree when Claria's teasing voice floated back once more, laced with amusement.
"My lord," she called sweetly, "you'd better get over here. I've found a treasure chest you won't want to miss."