Before leaving for the Fifth Forest.
I headed to the Lair to process the wealth piled up in the Warehouse.
The Warehouse looked a bit cramped.
Aside from the Magic Stones consumed to hatch the Dragon Egg, other resources hadn’t been spent, so the Warehouse was filled to the brim.
[The Warehouse Level has increased.]
[The Warehouse Level has increased.]
[Large Warehouse Level 13]
[The Warehouse has expanded into multiple sections. From now on, items will be stored by category.]
*Rumble!*
The ground shook violently, and a path leading downward appeared where the Warehouse once stood. Simultaneously, all the items that had been in the Warehouse disappeared.
Following the path down, I found that items were gathered by type on each floor, just as the description said. Minerals on one floor, Potions on another, and Equipment on another.
After checking what items were on each floor, I proceeded with the remaining tasks.
[The Mana Stone Mine Level has increased.]
[The Mana Stone Mine Level has increased.]
[The Mana Stone Mine Level has increased.]
…
…
**[Mana Stone Mine Level 10]**
**[The probability of obtaining S-Rank Mana Stones has increased.]**
**[D-Rank Mana Stones will no longer be generated.]**
**[Mana Stone regeneration time has been reduced.]**
I raised the level of every Mana Stone Mine in all six forests.
There were ten Mana Stone Mines in total. Now, the Magic Stones generated from those ten mines would accumulate in the Warehouse.
Additionally, I leveled up all the Gold mines as well.
I wanted to upgrade buildings like the Library and Smithy as well, but I had exhausted all my resources on the Mana Stone Mines and Gold mines.
Still, since I would now be gathering resources from the significantly expanded mines, it wouldn’t take long to raise the levels of the other buildings.
[Creating S-Rank Golem.]
[Creating S-Rank Golem.]
[Creating S-Rank Golem.]
Upon reaching the Saint Dragon Level, my Understanding increased enough for me to create S-Rank Golems, so I stationed them in every mine.
Since the efficiency of mining veins would increase, the speed of collection would surely be even faster.
I finished the building upgrades there and checked the materials needed for Guardian promotion.
‘This side is definitely lacking.’
I wanted to promote S-Rank Guardians like Fryra and the Wyvern to SS-rank.
It seemed I would have to proceed with that after cleaning up the Black Order and making time flow faster in the Dragon Lair to gather plenty of materials.
Promoting the Guardian Subjugation or the Alliance Center would also help collect materials faster.
【Owner!】
I turned my head at the familiar voice and saw Fryra. She ran toward me with a bright smile, her hands full of Attribute Grass.
【Here! I worked hard growing these while you were away.】
“Good job.”
I stroked Fryra’s head and checked the Attribute Grass.
[Frozen Top-grade Cold Flower (S)]
– A flower imbued with cold; the more petals it has, the stronger the cold it contains.
– Used for crafting ice-attribute items.
– Used for ice-attribute Guardian promotion.
– Increases ice-attribute Understanding and ice-attribute resistance significantly when consumed.
Every single one was top-grade and ranked S.
【I put all my effort into growing these this time. Quickly, try eating one!】
“Alright.”
Fryra picked one up herself and put it in my mouth. An intense cold washed over my palate.
‘If I hadn’t consistently raised my attributes, my body would have frozen solid immediately.’
The sub-zero temperature swirled in my mouth and spread throughout my body via my throat.
My existing ice attribute accepted the stronger chill and adapted quickly. I held my breath and focused on absorbing the energy of the Attribute Grass.
[Your Understanding of the ice attribute has increased significantly.]
[Your resistance to the ice attribute has increased significantly.]
I could feel that they had truly increased significantly. It was as if the Understanding of the essence of the cold attribute itself had been engraved into my entire body. Previously, it felt like a simple mental Understanding, but now, it felt like I grasped the essence itself.
[Your maximum Mana has increased due to the mystical energy.]
[Physical abilities have increased due to the Dragon God’s Body.]
To think my maximum Mana would increase as well. It was truly no different from a Potion.
【Here. There are these too!】
Fryra held various kinds of Attribute Grass in her hands. From the four major elements to the lightning attribute, and even holy and dark attribute herbs. I ate each Attribute Grass she gave me, increasing my Understanding and resistance.
“But how did you grow all of these?”
【Suddenly, the Mana around here became abundant, and the herbs started growing rapidly.】
It was likely because my influence over the Dragon Lair grew as I reached the Saint Dragon Level, and the effects of various Sacred Relics I applied to the Dragon Lair were stacking. If this was the case, couldn’t I grow Potions in large quantities?
“Are the other Potions growing well too?”
【Yes! Irellin and I have started growing a huge amount together.】
“Is that so?”
【Oh. That’s right! Irellin told me to let her know when you arrived. Wait just a moment!】
I stood up from my seat as I watched Fryra dash away. It was truly time to move. Using Teleport, I moved to the Fifth Forest in an instant.
*Flash!*
With a brilliant white light, I arrived at the Fifth Forest, where massive trees formed a dense woodland. It was a place where Giants lived, and everything was enormous.
I used Fly Magic to ascend into the air and look around. With the Sixth Forest and Fourth Forest on either side, I looked straight ahead with the Central Area behind me.
‘Is it there?’
I set my direction and flew through the air, moving quickly.
As I traveled, I used Perception Magic to locate the summoned beasts. I sensed small creatures emitting Demonic Power.
Seeing them scattered everywhere to collect information, I considered hunting them down but decided it was better to just pass them by.
The enemies would use that information to gauge our power, so I could use that information gap to defeat them more easily.
I moved toward the boundary of the forest.
Weaving between the summons I sensed, I hid my presence and arrived at the forest’s edge.
‘It’s blurry.’
I couldn’t see the landscape beyond the boundary line.
I could only confirm it was the forest’s edge; it was difficult to see what the situation was like on the other side.
There was a reason Anne couldn’t get information on the Black Order.
I tried touching the boundary to see if I could go out.
[You cannot leave the forest until you have unified it.]
The message appeared, and I was pushed back from the boundary.
I checked to see if Magic could pass through. I created a small Wind Arrow and sent it past the boundary, and it passed right through.
‘If that’s the case…’
I spread my Mana in all directions and cast a search spell. Having reached the Saint Dragon Level, my skill in casting Magic had reached a higher level, and the information I gathered became clearer.
The Mana extended in all directions. After passing the boundary and going outside, the Mana relayed the information from there back to me. Although I couldn’t see anything with my eyes, the scene outside was vividly drawn in my mind.
‘At least 100,000.’
A massive army had pitched tents and was stationed there.
The skill of each soldier was quite impressive.
Perhaps because my Understanding of Mana had increased along with reaching the Saint Dragon Level, I could roughly gauge the level of the enemies even without using my Golden Dragon Eye.
The soldiers were all B-rank or higher.
Compared to the forces I possessed, the enemy’s numbers were overwhelming.
However, numbers weren’t that important in this fight.
The Lords of the Forest alone could likely take on a thousand men each.
And if I decided to unleash my Magic, I could probably wipe out more than half of them to start.
‘Hmm…’
The problem was the S-rank beings in the enemy camp. The Demonic Power felt from them was a bit unique.
They even possessed Artifacts. This was all I could learn through detection Magic. I would have to see the rest with my own eyes.
“For now… I’ll have to lure them inside.”
In the first place, we couldn’t go outside, and no matter how many enemies there were or how well-prepared they were, our advantage inside the Sleeping Forest was much greater.
Between the various Buffs provided by the forest and the effects of the Sacred Relics I held, we could crush almost any force.
“I’ll make you regret coming here.”
Tens of thousands of black tents were pitched across a wide meadow.
On the flags attached to the tents, a Black Inverted Cross representing the Black Order was drawn, fluttering in the wind.
“The Demon God who ascended from the Demon Realm shall save the whole world!”
At the shout of a middle-aged man holding the inverted cross toward the sky, the soldiers shouted loudly.
“He shall save us!”
“He shall save us!”
“The Black Order shall save the world!”
The middle-aged man looked at them with a satisfied expression.
“That is all for today’s prayer. Everyone, enjoy your meal and focus on recovery.”
“Thank you!”
Someone approached the middle-aged man as he stepped down from the platform.
It was Kelden Berg, the leader of the Black Hound, the most powerful military organization within the Black Order. He was missing one ear and wore a black eyepatch.
“Bishop Ferda, that was an impressive prayer this morning.”
“Hmph.”
Bishop Ferda said nothing and walked into the largest tent.
Inside was a wide table with a map drawn on it, and several game pieces were placed on top.
Kelden Berg followed him in and stood before the table with his hands clasped.
“The subjugation of the Sleeping Forest is taking longer than scheduled.”
“Since there were changes inside, we had no choice but to move carefully.”
“The High Priest will be very angry if it’s delayed any further.”
Bishop Ferda lifted a glass of wine.
As he did, he looked at Kelden Berg.
Meeting his gaze, Kelden Berg reached out and moved the pieces on the table.
He indicated the current position of their allies and their destination, the Fifth Forest. He focused especially on the Fifth Forest.
“As a result of our search, we have identified that Zeit is currently injured and in a state of recovery.”
“What happened to the test subjects?”
“They are nowhere to be seen. It seems they have all been disposed of.”
“That’s a shame. If we had those, the time taken to seize the forest would have been reduced.”
They had invested a very long time to dominate the Sleeping Forest.
Just as the results were about to bear fruit, Zeit had been taken from them following a sudden raid on the laboratory.
In order to resume their grand plan, they had to secure Zeit and take control of the Fifth Forest once again.
“Have you identified the being that helped Zeit?”
“Yes. He is reportedly the Lord of the Seventh Forest. He currently rules all the forests except for the first one.”
“Are you certain?”
“Don’t you know how easy it is to dominate the mind of a member of the Giant Tribe who has already been dominated once? It’s certain information.”
“What is his skill level?”
“He is judged to be at least at your level, Bishop.”
He was strong, but it was within the expected range.
That was why Ferda had brought a Sacred Relic that the Order did not give out easily. Ferda took a sip of the black wine and looked at Kelden Berg.
“When will the operation begin?”
“Tonight. We will proceed as soon as it gets dark.”