Chapter 158: The first wave

The protective barrier shattered like crystalline glass, its fragments dissolving into sparkling motes that scattered on wind that shouldn’t exist. Seven days of absolute protection had ended, leaving them exposed to whatever challenges the realm would provide.

The response was immediate and overwhelming.

Dimensional rifts tore open across the territorial perimeter as massive forms began emerging from spaces between realities. These weren’t the predictable spawning creatures Ethan had encountered—they were territorial challenge entities specifically designed to test defensive capabilities.

ROAR! SCREECH! HOWL!

Hundreds of creatures poured through dimensional gaps while storm clouds provided additional concealment for aerial threats that descended like living nightmares. Bronze and silver-rank entities formed coordinated assault waves that would challenge new territories.

“Here they come!” Elena shouted from her elevated position, enhanced arrows already knocked, while targeting arrays identified priority threats.

The first territorial defense had officially begun—a trial by fire that would determine whether their combined forces could maintain control over acquired domains.

…

The notification that appeared before Ethan made him smirk with predatory satisfaction:

[TERRITORIAL DEFENSE TRIAL]

[Objective: Eliminate challenge entities within the time limit]

[Performance Rating determines reward quality]

[Current Timer: 60:00 minutes]

[Entities Remaining: 850]

The objective was clear—the faster they eliminated the entities, the higher the rewards would be. Naturally, Ethan wouldn’t need to intervene significantly. His subjects were more than capable of handling such relatively weak opposition.

This wasn’t a newbie base anymore. The integration with Vance’s territory had transformed them into a military powerhouse that operated with veteran efficiency. His original subjects had advanced to Silver rank through systematic herb consumption and core absorption, while some nearly approached Gold-rank thresholds.

“Attack!” Ethan commanded with calm authority.

The response was immediate and devastating.

Marcus led the archer contingent from elevated positions, his enhanced bow singing as magical arrows carved through creature formations with surgical precision. His professional specialisation showed in every shot, calculated trajectories that found vital points despite chaotic battlefield conditions.

“Priority targets on the eastern flank!” he called out to his team. “Those Razorback Prowlers are attempting coordinated assault!”

Elena’s Enhanced Quiver blazed with magical energy as she unleashed rapid-fire volleys that turned the air above the battlefield into a lethal storm of projectiles. Her arrows struck with devastating accuracy, each one finding gaps in creature armor that normal vision couldn’t detect.

A Bronze-rank Shadowbeast leaped toward her position with supernatural agility, its claws extended for killing strikes. Elena’s arrow took it through the skull before it could complete its assault, the enhanced projectile punching through bone and brain with explosive force.

“Flank secured!” she reported with professional satisfaction.

Jack’s warrior contingent formed the main battle line, their coordinated formations creating an impenetrable wall of enhanced steel and tactical expertise. His Peak-Silver strength had evolved into something approaching Gold-rank capability through sustained advancement.

“Shield wall formation!” Jack commanded as a pack of Iron-hide Bears charged their position. “Spear points forward! Let them break themselves against our defence!”

The creatures struck the formation with earth-shaking force, their enhanced mass capable of crushing conventional defenses. But Jack’s warriors had transcended conventional limitations through systematic advancement and herb enhancement.

Steel met claw in explosive collisions that sent shockwaves across the battlefield. Enhanced armor absorbed impacts that would have shattered hills while coordinated spear thrusts found vital points with mathematical precision.

“Hold the line!” Jack roared as his blade carved through creature flesh like it was water. “Show them what Silver-rank coordination looks like!”

Thomas had positioned himself near the herb gardens with his alchemical equipment, providing battlefield support through enhancement potions and tactical applications of chemical warfare. His expertise had evolved beyond simple brewing into genuine battlefield management.

Explosive compounds detonated among creature formations while enhancement vapors strengthened friendly forces. His D-rank Potion Brewing talent had reached new heights through constant practice and resource availability.

“Strength enhancement dispersing across the eastern formation!” Thomas called out as his latest creation took effect. “Push the advantage!”

“Funnel formation active on the western approach!” he announced with professional satisfaction. “Enemy movement patterns constrained for optimal target engagement!”

Henrik’s advanced construction abilities had previously created defensive emplacements that operated with magical enhancement, turning the territory into a fortress that maximized their tactical advantages while minimizing creature mobility options.

Lyra’s mage contingent provided devastating area-of-effect support, their elemental mastery creating environmental hazards that challenged entire creature formations simultaneously. Fire magic consumed oxygen while ice spells created treacherous footing.

“Coordinated elemental bombardment!” Lyra commanded as her team prepared their most devastating combination attack. “Fire, water—maximum area coverage!”

Magical energies erupted across the battlefield as elements clashed in spectacular displays of controlled destruction. Creatures that had seemed unstoppable moments before found themselves consumed by forces that operated beyond their resistance capabilities.

Roland’s tank specialists anchored critical defensive positions, their Shield Wall talents creating barriers that no creature assault could penetrate. Enhanced durability met supernatural strength in collisions that rang like temple bells.

“Nothing passes this position!” Roland declared as his shield absorbed a Granite Rhino’s charge without yielding an inch. “This line holds until the last enemy falls!”

But it was Vance’s veteran forces that truly demonstrated what experienced territorial defense looked like. The gold-rank who had participated in dozens of successful campaigns moved with coordination that spoke of accumulated combat expertise. Their powers, coupled with their experience, made the nightmarish creatures look like chickens ready for slaughter.

“Pincer formation on the northern incursion!” commanded one of Vance’s captains. “Cut off their retreat while the force advances!”

Their tactical sophistication created killing fields where creatures found themselves trapped between coordinated attacks that eliminated escape routes while maximizing casualty infliction.

Vance himself attacked the creatures. Nobody was idle in the territory, everyone including Ethan himself were attacking the beasts for the lowest time clearance.

The trial was designed to eliminate most new territorial lords through overwhelming force and chaotic assault patterns.

Yet what he witnessed was complete dominance.

“Incredible,” he murmured as he observed Ethan’s casual participation in the defensive engagement. “This isn’t a trial—it’s target practice. Even when I took part in my trial, it took me nearly an hour to eliminate all of those threats, and we barely managed to survive. I’ve lost many subordinates at that time.”

Ethan had positioned himself at the territorial centre where his Platinum-rank capabilities could provide decisive intervention when necessary. But mostly, he was enjoying the educational demonstration of what systematic advancement could accomplish.

A cluster of Silver-rank Flame Wolves attempted to breach the eastern perimeter through coordinated fire magic. Their combined assault created thermal barriers that stopped a few of his subordinates’ movements.

Volcanic Mastery answered with overwhelming superiority.

Ethan gestured almost casually, his enhanced capabilities turning the gesture into geological catastrophe. Molten rock erupted beneath the creature formation while temperatures climbed beyond what even gold-rank fire resistance could survive.

ROAR! SIZZLE! BOOM!

Thirty creatures simply vaporized under stellar-temperature assault, their enhanced capabilities meaning nothing against Platinum-rank awakened with volcanic control. The entire engagement lasted two seconds from activation to completion.

Ethan then used his wind talent to completely erase the fire. Usually, the wind would only increase the fire. But Ethan’s wind was so much more powerful that it simply extinguished the fire.

“That’s not fair,” Elena laughed from her archer position as she watched their Lord eliminate tens of creatures through a casual gesture. “Leave some for the rest of us!”

Crystal Manipulation provided area-denial support across multiple battlefield sectors simultaneously. Mineral spears erupted through creature formations while razor-sharp barriers channeled attacks into predetermined kill zones.

CRACK! PIERCE! THUD!

Fifty Bronze-rank Tunnel Beasts discovered that underground approach meant nothing when facing someone who could reshape geological foundations through will alone. Crystal formations guided their movement into surface positions where other defenders could eliminate them efficiently.

“Underground threat neutralized!” Jacoub reported with obvious satisfaction. “Crystal network providing real-time tunnel mapping!”

Wind blades carved through aerial threats that attempted to bypass ground-based defenses. Invisible cutting edges eliminated flying creatures before they could reach effective attack range.

WHISH! SLICE! THUD!

A formation of Hawks learned that aerial superiority meant nothing against someone who controlled atmospheric pressure itself. Their enhanced flight capabilities became liabilities when the air they depended upon turned into cutting weapons.

Water manipulation created environmental hazards that challenged creature mobility while providing tactical advantages for defending forces. Pressurised streams knocked enemies from elevated positions while steam generation provided concealment for friendly repositioning.

Fire magic reached across the entire battlefield, controlled flames that consumed enemy formations while avoiding friendly forces through precise temperature management. D-rank capabilities enhanced by Platinum-rank control created effects that rivalled magical artillery.

BOOM! SIZZLE! ROAR!

Two hundred creatures found themselves trapped within expanding fire barriers that turned their assault routes into crematoriums. Enhanced resistance meant nothing against temperatures that could melt stone.

Vance stared at the systematic destruction with dawning comprehension of what territorial politics meant when individual transcendence entered the equation. The trial that was supposed to challenge their combined forces had become an educational demonstration.

“This…this is the kind of dominance that even the system can’t handle,” he whispered to himself with growing horror.

The creature formations began breaking as their numerical advantage proved meaningless against coordinated defence backed by Platinum-rank and gold-rank intervention. What should have been an overwhelming assault became systematic target practice.

[Entities Remaining: 127][Timer: 59:18]

Less than a minute had passed, and over seven hundred challenge entities had been eliminated.

“First wave complete!” Marcus announced as his arrows found the last aerial threats. “Perimeter secured across all sectors!”

The systematic slaughter continued as Ethan’s forces demonstrated why territorial defence became routine when proper advancement met organisational competence.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep