Chapter 55: A Test of Worth

DING

[Talent's daily use unavailable.]

"Mhh... What? Why?"

Awaken by the surprising notification, he jumped out of bed and gazed at the shifting text.

With each second passing, his eyes enlarged, and icy sweat dripped from his shaking back.

[Congratulations on surviving until the end of the grace period! Lords remaining: 448.726.723]

[The high number and cowardice of most displeased the gods. They issue an event quest through every realm!]

[Even quest: Winner takes all.]

Survive five waves of demonic creatures assault to prove your qualification as a lord.

Warning: The creature's strength increases with each wave.

Reward: One specialist summoning coupon, one thousand units of food, wood, and stone.

Failure: Die weak cowards.

Note: After surviving five waves, you can fight for another five to claim incredible rewards.

Warning: Choose at your own risk.

Rewards for the sixth wave: The attention of the gods.

Rewards for the seventh wave: A potential contract.

Rewards for the eighth wave: One iron-ranked lord's badge. Only on m v|le|mp|yr

Rewards for the ninth wave: A special building blueprint.

To anyone defeating the impossible tenth wave against the gods' expectations, Ra promises Pharaoh's golden mask as a reward.

Failure: Nice try! But don't overestimate yourself in your next life.

Time before the event starts: 30 minutes.

Fists trembling in shock and excitement at the rich rewards, his eyes trailed down to the last and almost bulged out of their sockets.

"Demonic beasts! We can absorb their essence. And that last item is surely a super piece of equipment!"

"Tsk. Those cheapskates! I would have offered the right item to guarantee the result!"

Tiamat's snort reverberated in the room.

He could feel her disdain and anger... Well, and hear it in her next words, too.

"What are you looking at? Move out and beat the tenth wave, or don't bother returning!"

'Does she want me to die?'

His heartbeats resounded in his ears as her crazy demand registered.

"Yes! I want to destroy everything after seeing those usurpers sully divinity with their avarice and big words. Shatter their pride, and let me see Ra's anguish when he hands you the mask with his own hands."

The walls trembled with her wrathful yell as he picked his armor up and scrambled away in terror.

'Note to myself: never, and I repeat, never anger her!'

Without wasting a second, he rushed to the demon den and pitched the tier-two beast core he had obtained from the ant general into the flames.

[Congratulations on summoning the tier-two uncommon demon from eastern mythology: the asura!]

After the same spectacle of dancing flames as the last few times, he gazed at the demon's four muscular arms, pointed ears and scarlet, intricately braided hair.

"We don't have much time," he said, equipping his armor as he spoke. "Rush to the forge by the river and retrieve an armor set from Muramasa. Tell him we'll face an invasion and that we might need him if things go out of control. Return to the demonic altar with him if he agrees."

"It shall be done, my lord."

The asura's deep voice echoed as he dashed away.

Meanwhile, he he drummed on everyone's door, waking his subjects one after another before they all gathered, including the non-combatant. S~eaʀᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

He gazed at them first, speaking with determination and a hint of worry.

"Sam and the Tomte, hide with the seven other subjects in my hut and protect them if anything reaches it."

Then, he turned to his fighters and the newly summoned asura.

"We're only fifteen, so we spread on the wall. Don't slack off after ending your share of beasts and reinforce each other."

Finally, he gazed at Muramasa's tall figure and the forging hammer resting on his leather apron.

"I know you're not interested in battles, but please, lend us a hand if they breach the wall."

"I'll help if we really reach that point."

Muramasa smiled in response, not the least bit worried.

'With stats as absurd as his, it's not surprising. He can probably punch a hole through a mountain without effort.'

As an inner chuckle chased a bit of his worries away, everyone nodded in determination. Yet, his brows rose as Ifrit took out slabs of meat and placed them above the altar's demonic flames, letting the pleasant smell waft into their nostrils.

"What? I can't fight on an empty stomach. You should eat, too."

He gazed at the fiery demon, wondering if he was a genius or just plain stupid. Still, he wasn't wrong.

"Eat fast and rush to your positions."

Five minutes later, they stood on the three-meter walls. Eyes narrowed, they observed the lush forest bathed by the morning sun warily.

And finally, the notification he had been waiting for echoed in his ears with the sudden disappearance of the ethereal walls that had silently protected the territory for the past seven days.

DING

[The first wave will appear! Good luck to everyone.]

Before their eyes, green vortices appeared in the four cardinal directions.

A second later, demonic creatures stepped out, showing their hideous forms for all to see.

Yet, he frowned at them and scratched his head.

"Aren't they too weak?"

No matter how much he scrutinised the demonic boars, the green flames dancing above their heads, or the pulsing demonic essence coursing under their fur, he couldn't feel any danger from them.

'Heck, I can kill them all by myself without sweating.'

However, his eyes narrowed as he imagined that he gripped his cockiness by the neck and shoved it into a dark corner of his mind.

'It's not a game, so stay focused and save your energy for the later waves.'

Through the look-like a game setting, he could infer that the first few waves were just warm-ups and that things would become serious around the third.

Therefore, he roared for everyone not to have fun, kill the beasts as fast as possible and gather their carcases.

'More than a challenge, it's an opportunity to level up and increase our strength!'

His grip tightened around his short sword as adrenaline rushed through his trembling fists.

Because if they succeeded today, they would reap immense benefits and Garduck, Bart, Ifrit, the satyr, and Ondine would evolve!