Resource Optimization and Heroic Advancements
On the fourth day, Demon Blood took three spirits and departed from the Mage Tower to embark on a scavenging mission.
After a night of explanation, although Demon Blood's attribute panel remained unchanged, he had already mastered Bloody Rage and many fighting skills.
By tonight, it was expected that Demon Blood would have completely mastered all the skills detailed in the Berserker Training Manual.
This demonstrates that intermediate academics not only facilitate the exchange of magic but also allow for the teaching of skills not typically available in the Age of Lords, significantly enhancing the learning process.
"I hope today's harvest meets expectations. Ideally, we would find another job transfer certificate or a magic scroll. Blueprints for basic buildings would also be welcome."
Following the establishment of five spirit workshops, all available monsters were recruited. A total of fifty monsters were enlisted, costing 1,500 gold coins—a worthwhile investment.
Ten spirits were assigned to work in the logging fields, while the remaining thirty-nine were tasked with farming and fetching water.
Ethan also had his own duties, focusing on researching the remaining spirit monsters.
He had chosen spirit monsters as his core unit. Based on the feedback from Demon Blood, this investment was proving to be worthwhile.
Ethan's Eye of Magic continuously observed the flow of magic power within the spirit monsters' bodies, using this information in conjunction with the Spirit Experiment Manual and Berserker Training Manual for further research.
Ethan's goal was simple: to determine whether magic power could be used in place of blood for temporary strength enhancement, as opposed to burning blood for Bloody Rage.
The specific talents associated with the Berserker profession remained unknown, but with Demon Blood as a reference, Ethan was optimistic about his research.
"Alas, I need paper and pen to record the data."
While provisions were not a concern, resources such as wood, stone, and special resources were lacking.
More critically, Ethan needed a method to record experimental data. His good memory could not always replace the need for written records, and relying on memory alone could be problematic.
Although the presence of Demon Blood alleviated much of his burden, the remaining responsibilities were still significant. Despite the advantages provided by Demon Blood,
Ethan could not rely solely on this one asset. Even with support, he needed to make progress on logistics and ensure resources were on track.
As for venturing out to scavenge resources himself? Ethan felt unprepared for such tasks. He lacked tactical knowledge, command skills, and field observation experience. Thus, he deemed it wiser to focus on research within the safety of the Mage Tower.
With 72 points of magic power, the extra 2 points came from his meditation. This amount of magic power would be sufficient for only a few skirmishes with wild monsters. Utilizing this time for research was more beneficial than risking encounters in the field.
As dusk approached, marking another day, Ethan enjoyed a rare period of ease. He remained in the Mage Tower, avoiding the risks of exploration.
Demon Blood returned, having gained considerable progress, including a promotion to level 3. The improvement in attributes was impressive, far surpassing what Ethan had seen before.
Demon Blood's skills had also advanced. The Primary Offensive Technique had upgraded to Intermediate Offensive Technique, and a new skill, Primary Tactics, was acquired—clearly a personal choice.
[Intermediate Offensive Technique: Increases melee attack damage by 20%]
[Primary Tactics: Marching speed +10%, Command effect +10%]
These skills were valuable, as they enhanced both individual and troop strength. The increased offensive capability extended to the troops, improving overall effectiveness.
Demon Blood's progress was significant. The basic resources accumulated totaled nearly 3,000 units. It appeared that a dungeon had been discovered, though Ethan did not inquire further.
In addition, nearly 100 special resources were obtained, which was a considerable improvement.
Architectural blueprints were also acquired, including designs for a quarry and a gold mine. These basic buildings provided additional resources: the quarry required 10 units of minerals per arm, while the gold mine required 100 gold coins per arm, both with an upper limit of 10 arms.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ethan immediately constructed 2 quarries, 2 gold mines, 1 logging field, and 4 spirit workshops.
Of the 100 spirits, 60 were assigned to work in the logging fields, quarries, and gold mines, while the remaining 35 were allocated to farming.
The remaining 5 spirits included Demon Blood and the 3 spirits that accompanied him, along with one spirit who stayed with Ethan as an observation tool and servant.
Additionally, three primary treasures were found: a magic book, a standard helmet, and a ring.
[Fire Apprentice Magic Book]
[Level: Beginner]
[Attributes]
[Records 2 Level 1 Fire Magic]
[Bloodthirsty Thaumaturgy]
[Cursed Possession: Reduces enemy unit's attack power by 3 points for 10 minutes, consumption: 5 magic points]
The magic book, while limited in its growth potential, was quite useful. Ethan could learn the recorded magic, Bloodthirsty Thaumaturgy and Cursed Possession, and subsequently teach these to Demon Blood through academics. This would transform static values into skills capable of growth.
The standard helmet, similar to the bone helmet, provided an additional defense point, while the Eye Ring increased vision by 1 point. When combined with the magic eye, it resulted in a total vision enhancement of 2 points, which was advantageous.
Ethan decided to keep the Fire Apprentice Magic Book for himself, leave the standard helmet for the farming spirits to use, and give the Eye Ring to Demon Blood.
The remaining items included grains, fruit seeds, and various miscellaneous resources.
"Tomorrow and the day after, we should be able to gather enough wood and minerals to repair the Mage Tower."