A Month Of Progress

Then there were the warriors, who focused their strength on their aura rings.

Augustus clenched his fist, feeling the faint surge of power he'd gained from the goblins under his command. The difference was evident.

A 1st-Ring Warrior could shatter wooden barriers with raw strength, while a 9th-Ring Warrior could flatten entire towns.

"My own strength is middling at best," he admitted silently.

As a 5th-Circle Mage and a 2nd-Ring Warrior bolstered by 200 goblins, he could now hold his ground in both physical and magical combat. But against the true elites of the Supreme Plane, he still had far to go.

Augustus knew his power might seem mediocre when compared to the truly powerful lords of the Supreme Plane.

However, reaching the 5th-Circle Mage level in just two days was an extraordinary achievement, especially considering that other lords of his generation were still struggling at the lower levels.

This feat was only possible because of his SSS-rank Monthly Rule talent, which had bestowed Limloo with the powerful SS-rank Wise Sage talent.

While SS-rank talents were far weaker than SSS-rank talents, they were still incredibly rare and valuable—beyond the reach of most lords. Awakening not one but two SSS-rank lord talents placed Augustus in a league of his own, an anomaly even among the chosen lords.

"Right now, I don't lack combat power," Augustus muttered to himself. "As long as I don't run into a veteran lord near my territory, I should be able to survive until the next monthly rule."

He leaned back, his gaze thoughtful. "I don't know how large this planet is, but it must be vast. Newbie lords are still arriving, yet veteran lords don't seem to camp and spawn-kill them. Maybe the Will of the Supreme Plane prevents it?"

The Voice of the Supreme Plane had offered no information on that matter, leaving Augustus to speculate. Still, he couldn't afford to dwell on uncertainties. Instead, he shifted his focus to stabilizing his territory.

"The goblins need to start farming and building," Augustus decided. "The Goblin Lord probably had them hunting wild animals and magic beasts for food, but that won't be sustainable in the long run."

Fortunately, Augustus wasn't starting from zero. "All those anime I watched... Countless genres, including farming and agriculture. I might not be an expert, but my knowledge should be enough to get started."

Satisfied with his plan, Augustus pushed thoughts of the Lord Chat Group aside. At this stage, it was of little use to him. He had only recently arrived in the Supreme Plane and needed to consolidate his domain before engaging in the broader political landscape.

Even if Augustus wanted to leverage Limloo's abilities—perhaps hiring him out to other lords in exchange for resources—he dismissed the idea almost immediately.

Limloo was too vital. Without him, Augustus would lack a capable subordinate, especially one who could match Limloo's competence and power.

"For now, it's better to wait," Augustus thought, leaning back in his throne. "Next month, I'll draw another Monthly Rule talent. With it, I'll awaken another slime with an SS-rank Wise Sage talent. By then, I'll have more options to expand and solidify my territory."

Augustus stood and turned his gaze outside the dilapidated lord's hall.

Through the mental link, he observed the goblins and slimes working together under Limloo's direction. Despite their progress, there was much to be done.

For now, his focus was on stabilization and preparation for the challenges ahead.

…

A month passed swiftly.

Under Augustus's leadership and his meticulous use of the Lord Simulator, both the Slime Village and Goblin Village began to flourish.

The goblins, once chaotic and aimless, followed his orders with growing discipline. They used their physical strength to expand the territory's farmland, construct rudimentary housing, and reinforce basic defenses.

Although the Goblin Village remained crude compared to Augustus's vision, it now showed signs of organization and purpose.

Meanwhile, the slimes, guided by Limloo, focused on refining their elemental magic.

Though their progress was modest, they proved invaluable in assisting with construction and maintaining the farmland. Their ability to manipulate wind and water ensured efficient irrigation systems, while their earth magic helped with soil preparation for farming.

By using the Lord Simulator daily, Augustus carefully planned every action, experimenting with different strategies for agriculture, construction, and cooperation between his subjects.

Each simulation allowed him to test and perfect ideas before implementing them in reality, minimizing mistakes and accelerating progress.

The barren lands surrounding the villages were transformed into fertile farmland. Simple crops had been planted, and a reliable food supply was starting to take shape.

The goblins and slimes, once two disparate groups, now worked together seamlessly under Augustus's unifying rule.

...

As the morning sun rose, Augustus stood at the center of the Slime Village.

Through his mental link, he observed the goblins tending the fields, their movements steady and focused.

The slimes scouted and gathered resources, their gelatinous forms glowing faintly in acknowledgment of their lord's presence.

The villages were no longer the chaotic and vulnerable settlements they had been a month ago. While still far from ideal, they had taken their first steps toward stability and growth—a testament to Augustus's calculated leadership.

Returning to the dilapidated lord's hall, Augustus entered the now-tidier interior and sat on his wooden throne.

Leaning back, he allowed himself a moment of reflection. Through careful planning and decisive action, he had begun to lay the foundation of his future.

"Everything has gone as planned," he thought. "The groundwork is in place, but there's still much to do."

Waving his hand, Augustus summoned the interface for his SSS-rank Monthly Rules talent.

-Ding!

[You currently have 1 monthly rule draw available.]

[Do you want to draw a monthly rule?]

[Yes] | [No]

Faced with the two options, Augustus pressed the [Yes] button without hesitation.

-Ding!

[Drawing five monthly rules...]