4 Blackstone Armor

Erick spent the next two hours investing his mind in building up his village.

He built four attack towers, an Archery range, and one more Magic Circle.

With the archery range, his soldiers were now able to wield bow and arrows when they were in the attack towers instead of the lances they could've used at level 1.

He'd hired another 18 level 1 soldiers which cost him 360 food. If he wanted to have more soldiers, he'd need to reach level 5 according to the system and start buying grain houses in order to increase his supply limits.

<<Horde is going to arrive in five minutes! Your building layout has downgraded to a C+>>

"New approaching monsters are <Five Legged Spiders>. Attack of the Five legged spiders ranges from 10 – 15, and their defense stat is around 20"

"It shouldn't be a problem for us to defeat them right? You didn't mention how many of them there are?"

<<Ding!>>

<<It is a timed challenge… you must survive for exactly ten minutes before the <Five-Legged Red Queen> will appear. Tutorial mode is also on its last hour… do you have any questions?"

"Yes… can you tell me anything about the Velvet Militia? What are their chances of attacking at the same time?"

<<Information is limited… However, the Velvet Militia is not like other kingdoms and alliances. It is made up of independent dukes, barons, all under one general.>>

"Ugh, I can't risk them showing up. I guess that means I'll leave 10 soldiers in the base and another 20 on the field.."

Erick closed his eyes and delegated nine level 1 and one level 3 soldier to his base. The two soldiers who survived the wolves were nearing level 4. He had 400 experience remaining till he leveled up as well.

<<Ding!>>

<<Horde has entered into territory! Five Legged Spiders are in range of attack towers!>>

Erick nodded his head and closed his eyes, beginning to control the flow of battle.

The smell alone from the Five Legged Spiders smelled like a mix of blood and tears. Rushing towards Erick's base, their white stripes and eight eyes began to prepare for battle.

Erick immediately ordered his one level 3 in front of him, soldier 10, and made his 8 level 2 soldiers fire off arrows at the incoming horde. He kept his eyes closed the entire time, and also used a bow and arrow.

When the Archery Range was built, all of his troops, including himself automatically learned <Bow Skill level 1>. A few of the spiders were hit and fell onto the floor. However, as far as the eye could see there was nothing but spiders and pasture.

<<Timer has begun counting! Survive for 10 minutes in order to activate the queen!>>

<<Strange activity has been noticed on the opposite end of the battlefield! Ten soldiers are approaching your base! They appear to be level 4… Chances are they are from the Velvet Militia!>>

"Seriously? Why am I not surprised?!" Erick selected his ten soldiers in the base and dragged them to intercept them. "Do you think I can just kite them for ten minutes? Tutorial mode is still activated right?"

<<That would require system to make an opinion that cannot be statistically calculated… Chances of survival have dropped down to 10 percent!>>

"Ugh.. whatever! I've been in worse situations in World of Lorestan. Did I tell you I used to compete in tournaments! I even won a few system…" Erick said, clicking on himself as the five-legged spiders approached. He immediately sent out one <Icicle Lance> into the flesh of a nearby spider.

Dropping onto the floor, it caused its 80 health to instantly disappear. The large corpse slid to his feet as his soldiers stabbed at it. At least his magic attacks had grown more powerful.

The troops kept firing arrows as he kept using his magic attacks. <Icicle Lance> turned out to be a single target attack while Wind Scythe had a minor Attack on everything radius. It chopped up three spiders at a time.

His troops back at the base, on the other hand, were trying to get them to follow. Unfortunately, all they seemed to be interested in was going after his attack towers.

<<Attack tower has lost 100 Health! 500 health remaining!>>

<<You've killed 100 spiders and have gained 100 experience! You've leveled up to level 4>>

<<One of the ten soldiers attacking your base has died! You've gained 300 experience!>>

"Three hundred? That's so much?" Erick commented, firing out another <Icicle Lance>. Every minute he'd gain back three mana, one from each magic circle. As for his troops, his level one soldiers did their best to switch back and forth as they guarded the narrow opening in his fence.

At this point, his entire base was surrounded by that fence, and their was only two openings and one maze opening.

Both of those sides were being attacked, and the soldiers of the Velvet Militia had already entered into his base. At this point, they seemed to give up on his attack tower, leaving it with 100 health as they headed towards the stable…

<<Two of your soldiers have died trying to guard your house! Eight of your soldiers are close to dying!>>

"Ugh, I guess I have to leave these twenty here…" Erick clicked onto his house, sending himself into the heat of the battle. He couldn't help but worry something terrible would happen to Pepper.

One of the villagers had been walking outside watching the battle, and had his neck cut off as the Velvet Soldier's approached.

The blood from his neck splattered onto his daughter who'd been drying some clothes on a line. She screamed and ran forward as the man kicked her father's body to try and stop her in her tracks.

"You damn monster!" Erick sent out a <wind scythe> as the girl got knocked over like a pin. His eight soldiers surrounded him covered with wounds. They had leveled up to level 2 after killing two of the level 4 soldiers.

However, the eight in front of him were wearing black armor.

His body was covered with just a set of basic cotton clothing. They had 50 defense to his 15. With his shovel in his hands, and their swords, it made it even less likely that he could survive.

His <wind scythe> hit three of the men and only took down twenty of their health. They had even higher magic defense, and their eyes were bloodthirsty.

"Heh, you don't stand a chance of surviving little serf Lord… Give us your head now and we'll spare your two lives. The Knight of Teesta doesn't need any new competition. However, he could use a couple of beautiful wives!"

"I'm sure this Knight of Teesta has more than enough wives. Can't you guys just leave me alone? I'm not the type to pick a fight with someone when I can be their allies."

"Heh… you want him to ally with a level 4 serf lord? Are you kidding?" The same soldier replied, drawing out a spear from his back. "He's level 12 already… You'd be better off allying with the spiders killing your men over there!"

"You're playing a dangerous game!" Erick slowly waited for his mana to recharge, controlling the other side of the battle with his eyes closed. "I'm going to be happy to strip you all of your armor, and melt your swords down for materials!"

They also had shields, and nice leather clothes underneath their armor.

The air seemed to only get more hostile before the eight remaining soldiers laughed. Up above, the archers had already run out of arrows, and had to come down and serve on the field with their swords.

<<Three soldiers have just died to the Five-Legged Spiders!>>

<<Your soldiers have killed 300 Five-Legged Spiders! Ten of your soldiers have leveled up to level 2!>>

"Great.. at least they have a chance at surviving." Erick pulled out his shovel and walked right up to the soldier who'd been taunting him.

His opponent did the same thing and instantly swung out his sword. Erick parried with his shovel before his eight other soldiers rushed and started trading blows with the surrounding forces.

Over three blows were being struck every minute.

The strongest of the Velvet Soldiers started dropping health quicker than he thought possible. Erick shovel bashed him and then followed up with <Icicle Lance> and another <Wind Scythe>.

The soldier Erick had attacked fell on his knees. He looked up dizzily as Erick put the shovel against his neck. On Earth this wouldn't have been as intimidating, but because his soldiers leveled up to level 2, they were holding their own against his seven remaining soldiers.

"You were overconfident. Just because I'm a serf doesn't mean I don't… don't know how to use a… a shovel..."

"We… we surrender… let us live will you and we'll change our allegiance."

<<Ding!>>

<<You've received an offer from Hermon… In exchange for letting him live he promises to swear allegiance to you.>>

<<With allegiance activated, he will be unable to do harm to do you… A reminder, tutorial mode will be over in thirty minutes…>>

Bang!

Erick angrily swung his shovel and sent Hermon's head flying into the distance. He couldn't stand the smug look on his face when he killed his villager. As for the other seven, they began shivering. Unfortunately, with the five legged spiders approaching ever closer, Erick had no choice but to accept the other seven.

<<Ding! You've received 400 experience for killing Hermon Green.>>

<<His armor has automatically been placed in your inventory… Would you like to equip the Blackstone armor?>>

[Blackstone Armor]

Level 3

Defense: 25

Magic Defense: 20

Diagnosis: Not the best armor in the world, but a lot better than what you're wearing.

"Yes… equip it!"

Erick cracked his neck as the armor magically appeared on his body from his inventory. The seven other new soldiers he'd just gotten looked completely grateful to still be alive. He ordered them to head to the barracks to heal while he charged towards the fence.

Three minutes still remained, and only twelve soldiers were still standing.

The air had been filled with the scent of blood, and the eight dead soldiers had been pilled up like sandbags to block the Five Legged Spiders from easily attacking.

For the next three minutes, Erick did everything in his power to keep his level 3 and level 2 soldiers alive. The level one soldiers who were gaining experience slower had to be sacrificed. With tons of blood on his armor, he finally ran out of mana and had to use <Smash!> with his shovel.

Surprisingly, the sword Hermon Green had used actually gave him less attack.

Was it because his shovel itself was a Lord's weapon?

He kept attacking and attacking as the timer went down. A spider's leg ripped into one of his soldier's chest immediately taking out the rest of his health.

<<You've survived for 10 minutes against the <Five Legged Spiders>! Five-Legged Red Queen> is now approaching! Your defense has been lowered by 10!>>