Harold strode into the dungeon, his footsteps echoing ominously in the cold, damp air. Two Rank 20 guards, their faces etched with terror, trailed behind him, their presence a stark testament to the gravity of the situation. He halted before two other guards, their expressions a mixture of fear and despair.
"What happened?" he demanded, his voice a low, menacing rumble that sent shivers down their spines. The air crackled with his barely contained rage, a palpable aura of deadly intent.
"They... they escaped," the guard on the right stammered, his voice trembling, his body shaking uncontrollably.
Harold's gaze swept across the room, taking in the empty cell, the broken restraints, the lingering sense of chaos. He turned and exited the cell, his eyes narrowed, his mind racing.
"Who freed her? Can you identify him?" he asked, his voice sharp and precise.
"Yes!" the two guards replied in unison, their heads bobbing frantically.
Harold stared at them for a long, silent moment, his gaze piercing, before nodding curtly. "Go to the spies and the commander. Describe the intruder in detail. Create posters and distribute them throughout every city. I want him found, no matter the cost."
"Thank you, thank you, my prince!" the guards exclaimed, dropping to their knees and bowing deeply.
They knew Harold's reputation for ruthlessness, and they had already resigned themselves to a gruesome fate. This reprieve, this chance to redeem themselves, filled them with a desperate gratitude.
Harold watched them for a few more seconds, his expression inscrutable, before turning and walking away, his two guards following close behind.
As the two freed guards scrambled to their feet and rushed towards the commander's post, Harold spoke, his voice low and cold.
"Kill them when they're done," he commanded, his tone casual, his words a death sentence. His guards nodded in silent acknowledgment.
____
[THREE DAYS LATER.]
Kyle's eyelids fluttered, his eyes slowly opening to reveal a rustic wooden ceiling, a stark contrast to the familiar expanse of his apartment.
He blinked, his mind struggling to process his surroundings. Then, the memories flooded back: the battle, the betrayal. A wave of rage surged through him, his fists clenching involuntarily.
'Wait.'
He thought, forcing himself to calm down. He slowly sat up, his gaze sweeping across the small, sparsely furnished room. Two wooden chairs, a simple table, and the makeshift bed he occupied were the only contents. He glanced out the window, seeing only a dense forest, the fresh, crisp air confirming his location.
Kyle examined his hands, then his body, finding no trace of his previous injuries, no lingering scars. His skin was smooth, unblemished.
"This? I know I was wounded in the battle, and I even lost my powers..." he muttered, his voice filled with confusion.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "It seems I truly lost my powers... I can't feel my life force." He opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the room once more. "But how did I get here? Who saved me?"
{1st: Welcome Host.}
{2nd: Welcome Host.}
Kyle froze, his eyes widening in disbelief as two transparent screens materialized before him, one green, the other red.
"What the?" he whispered, his mind reeling. He remembered the ethereal woman he had seen, the encounter he had dismissed as a dream.
"I thought it was all a dream?" he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief.
{1st: This is not a dream, Host.}
{2nd: Yes, we were given to you by the Transcendent, to assist you in all your missions. From now on, you are our master.}
The words echoed in his mind, their meaning slowly sinking in.
"Why do you two sound like humans?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
{1st: Does Host not like our voices? We can change them.}
Kyle raised an eyebrow. The first voice was distinctly feminine, the second masculine. He knew they were not living beings, but rather a system, a tool to aid him.
"Okay... what can you two do? What are your names?" he asked, rising from the bed and retrieving his shirt from a nearby rope.
{2nd: We have our own functions, and we do not have names.}
"Okay, what are your functions?" he asked, putting on his shirt.
{1st: I deal with buildings, Host's progress, and resources.}
{2nd: I deal with soldiers, weapons, herbs, potions, armor, and anything related to warfare.}
"Oh..." He looked at the two screens, his gaze lingering on the words. "Hmm... so number one is a... Building System? While number two is a Military System?"
{1st: Are those our names?}
"You can use them for now."
{Saving...}
{Done.}
{BS: Now that Host is stable, he can receive his gifts.}
{MS: Now that Host is stable, he can receive his gifts.}
"I can get things from both of you?"
{MS: Yes, we are both linked to Host, but we have our own tasks, functions, and quests.}
"Hmmm..." Kyle nodded, his fingers tapping his chin. "That's understandable. Now, show me my gifts."
{BS: Unlocking gifts.}
{BS: In the last battle, Host was attacked by a mage, knight, warrior, assassin, healer, and martial artist. Host gained all their attributes.}
Kyle froze, his eyes widening in shock as a surge of power flowed through his body.
{BS: Host was attacked by swords, magic, daggers, and a nullifier.}
{BS: Host gained 30% magic resistance. 50% reduction in weapon damage received.}
{BS: Host gained 5,000 EXP.}
{BS: Congratulations, Host has ranked up to Rank 4.}
{BS: Congratulations, Host gained 1,000 BS coins, 1,000 gold coins, 5,000 wood, 5,000 stones, 500 low-stage health potions, 5,000 metals, and 5,000 rice crops.}
{BS: Congratulations, Host's castle has been built.}
Kyle stood motionless, his mind reeling. 'I not only became an all-attributes hunter, I also have... what should I call it, advantages and resources?' he thought, his face a mask of confusion and disbelief.
"Please, Building System... make yourself clearer," he requested, his voice barely a whisper.
{BS: Host's goal is to have his revenge on the three powerful kingdoms and unite them under one flag. Host cannot achieve this without his own kingdom.}
{BS: Currently, Host's kingdom's strength is below zero. Host must build his kingdom to challenge the three kingdoms. This is where the resources comes into play. Host can acquire resources by collecting them, completing quests and missions, or purchasing them with BS coins. With sufficient resources, Host can create more buildings in his kingdom and grow stronger.}
Kyle nodded slowly, still struggling to comprehend the situation. "What kingdom are you talking about? I don't even have land, and you said I have a castle!"
Whoosh!
"Uh?" Kyle opened his palm, revealing a golden key.
{BS: This key is the only way to travel to your kingdom. The key is bonded to Host and me, so it cannot be stolen or misplaced. Key can be multiplied into temporary keys, which can be given to others, leading them to your kingdom. Host must grant permission to the holder before they can enter, preventing intruders.}
"Wow... If someone told me this was possible a day ago, I would have laughed in their faces," he said, a rare smile gracing his lips.
{BS: Actually, Host... it has been three days.}
"What?" Kyle's eyes widened in shock. He took a deep breath and asked, "Forget that. Is this all?"
{BS: At the moment, yes.}
"Okay... what about you, Military System?"
{MS: Congratulations, in the past five years, Host has killed a total of 67,001 individuals, including humans, demons, and elves. Capacity updated.}
{MS: Congratulations, military function activated.}
{MS: Host can create soldiers from those he has killed. Total soldiers to be created: 67,001.}
{MS: When Host employs a soldier out from the MS system, it will not be added to created soldiers.}
{MS: Disadvantages: Host cannot train employed soldiers with the MS system. Host cannot check their health points. Host cannot check their locations. Host cannot send telepathic commands. Host cannot easily take them all to his kingdom.}
"So many disadvantages?" Kyle was speechless.
{MS: Stage One Troops - Common... activated.}
{MS: Common Troops consist of foot soldiers and archers.}
{MS: Workshop unlocked. Host can create and forge armor and weapons.}
{MS: With Host's current strength, Host can create 40 soldiers, all Stage One troops.}
{MS: Stage One troops buff: none.}
Kyle sat on the bed, lost in thought. "So now I can create soldiers from those I have killed?"
{MS: Yes.}
"And my capacity is the total number of enemies I have killed, which is, I can only command a total of 67,001." Kyle reiterated, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.
{MS: Correct.}
"With my current strength, I can have only 40 soldiers out of the 67,001?" he pressed, seeking absolute clarity.
{MS: Yes, Host.}
"So the stronger I get, the more troops I can command, and the more I kill, the higher my troop capacity increases," Kyle summarized, connecting the dots.
{MS: Yes.}
"Wow... this is impressive!" he exclaimed, a flicker of excitement igniting within him. "Wait," he added, his attention snapping back to the red screen. "You mentioned Stage One troops. What about the other stages?"
{MS: When Stage Two troops - Elite, is unlocked, Host will be able to create Mages.}
{MS: When Stage Three troops - Knight, is unlocked, Host will be able to create Healers.}
{MS: When Stage Four troops - Elite Knights, is unlocked, Host will be able to create Cavalry, that is; Horsemen, and Spies.}
{MS: When Stage Five troops - Imperial Knights, is unlocked, Host will be able to create Artillery, Airborne soldiers, Beast riders, and Monsters.}
"That's fantastic!" Kyle declared, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I'll surely unlock all these stages and grow my forces!" He paused, a thought occurring to him. "What about we try it now... create a soldier?"
{MS: You must reach the requirement.}
"Show me," Kyle commanded, his curiosity piqued.
The screen flickered, displaying a list of requirements. Kyle's eyes widened in disbelief, his jaw dropping slightly.
"You've got to be kidding me!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with incredulity.