Chapter 816 City Fortification
Comes the day of the next full moon, the Storm Moon.
It was earlier when Adhara and the others rely on him for the news about the First Breath that he received a sudden quest from the system, beckoning him to finish the preparation for confronting the worldwide catastrophe.
Rex has spent the last couple of days learning more about his city and his people.
As the three future generals below the Silverstar Pack were tasked to study and note everything about the newly built Dargena City, he only needs to call Gelmar and asked him to explain what he has found.
From Gelmar, he learned the features of Dargena City as well as what it lacks.
Out of the features that were provided by the default blueprint of the city, Rex was most interested in the forgery section as the Supernaturals under him doesn't have armor or weapons that they could use.
If the First Breath arrived, then they would've been in need of armor and weapons.
Due to that he already went ahead to learn the procedure of the forgery and taught how to use the place to a couple of Supernaturals that Gelmar recommended, and amongst them was his son.
Most of the forgery works automatically and only needs moonlight as fuel.
Forging processes such as folding the material, engraving intricate designs on the product, engraving runes, as well as finishing touches were done automatically. Manual labor is only required in the first process of forging, and that is the heat and hammering part.
Moreover, the runes available as well as the intricate designs rely on a blueprint.
Specifically for runes, Rex is the one that can supply the blueprint through the System shop. It's still unknown whether external blueprints, such as runes from Flunra can be inputted into the forging process or not.
On the other hand, the design of the product can be unique to each of the blacksmiths.
Instead of needing years of training and trial and error, the blacksmiths can try and create their own design by drawing on a tablet, eliminating the waste of materials that can be used more than training materials.
A modernistic touch that helps the process be more effective and efficient.
Rex has a taste of modernism thanks to being raised in the human territory with advanced technologies, so similar to the castle, Dargena City also has some modernistic touch that suits his taste.
Of course, the materials to make the product itself can vary.
Since the First Breath relies on suppressing the energy of the world, forcing every living being a power to dwindle vary, Rex decided that the raw materials to make the armor should be a metal called Red Prudian.
If the world's energy will be suppressed, then physical defense will be King.
Red Prudian other than giving the aesthetic color that Rex wants for his army, it also boasts very light material as well as high durability that can sustain an attack from seventh-rank realm attacks.
Due to having to buy in bulk, he couldn't afford higher-rank material right now.
Gelmar, Dindora, and Linthia would be given stronger armor and weapon since they are the captains and future generals of his army, yet the others should be content with a seventh-rank realm material.
Overall, he spent 3 million gold on the materials alongside the blueprints.
It was only then that everything is set and the forgery started to produce products.
Since currently, Dargena City only hosted 18 citizens including Gelmar, Dindora, and Linthia, the forgery doesn't need to work that much and the materials can be kept inside for when more people inhabit the city.
Along the way back to the castle, Rex also learns about the formations that the city has.
In total, there are three formations that are worthy of being mentioned. Two of them Rex got from completing and achievement from the System while the other one is an innate formation provided by the blueprint of the city.
Kingdom of War and Servant of the Lunar Formations are the ones he obtained.
As the name indicates, the Kingdom of War Formation triggers a mode called 'War Mode' that transforms the entire city to be solely based on war, fortifying its defensive capabilities in both offense and defense.
Moonlight turrets will appear along the wall and the defensive barrier will also strengthen.
Servant of the Lunar Formation, on the other hand, is a formation that would make the military inhabitants of Dargena City stronger when activated. It requires immense moonlight energy, and will only last a limited amount of time.
But the innate formation of the city is the one that Rex was surprised by the most.
It's called Ruler's Blessing that can actually make the citizens stronger.
Unlike the Servant of the Lunar which provides a boost in physical strength that last a limited amount of time, the Ruler's Blessing will give a permanent increase to the citizen of Dargena City as long as they are inside the territory of Dargena City.
Although there was a severe limitation, this is a very good defensive formation.
The only thing that needs to be done to use this formation is a huge surplus of energy injected directly into the formation whilst the citizen stands inside the formation, and Rex had already done this before the Storm Moon arrived.
Aside from letting all the citizen inside the formation, Rex only let the captains inside.
Based on the System's explanation, the Ruler's Blessing Formation will increase the power of those inside the formation evenly. If he lets all of the Supernaturals inside, then the power will be split to 18 people.
Not wanting to do that, he decided to give the honor to three captains first.
Of course, it's not that he doesn't want the others to be stronger, but he wanted Gelmar and the others to be way stronger first. It would need to be a hierarchy amongst them, and making them equal would not do anything good.
It's a privilege from convincing Rex that they are worthy of becoming captains.
Additionally, the formation will only be on cooldown before it could be used again. So that doesn't mean the other citizens would be neglected, but they would have their turns next time.
With the power of the formation, Gelmar and the others got stronger substantially.
Even though it was not that high compared to what Rex had expected, the three of them still make a big realm leap into the sixth-rank realm. It was a considerable increase in power, helping them to be more efficient.
But of course, this increase only affects their physique, not magical power.
Following Gelmar's explanation, aside from the wonder of Dargena City which has everything that a city needed to be self-sufficient, he also forced out something that he thought the city lacks the most.
Gelmar thought for quite some time about this, and he finally got one.
Due to the nigh perfect city that hardly contains anything but amazement, it's hard to spot something bad about the city. But Gelmar knew that there was always more improvement to be made.
It would be bad for him if he can't find one weakness that the city has.
No matter how great Dargena City really is, there's one part that it lacks, and that is the external defense mechanism. It's true that the city is very strong, but there was nothing that stands in the way of future usurpers and the city's wall.
Of course, the Humming Damned Forest makes up for it but there's room for improvement.
Unlike what he had expected, Rex was quite pleased by his findings as Gelmar can keep a level head and think properly of what can make the city stronger. It safe Rex the time of thinking about it himself.
Moreover, Dindora and Linthia also prove to be learning rapidly.
Adhara told him that she was only accompanying Dindora and Linthia on the back, protecting them from the cursed creatures and mutated animals. Even though it's supposed to be their job to do this, they are still not strong enough.
Even Dindora and Linthia apologized to Adhara for being a burden and disturbing her.
But when the three arrived at the Dark Elf Kingdom and meet with King Jorik, Adhara was surprised to find that the two rely on the message eloquently, almost as perfectly as one can get.
It was in a clear and respectful manner, worthy of keeping the image of the Silverstar Pack.
Now currently, Rex is standing on the balcony of the castle with his hands on his back, looking at the shattered sky that is now already cloudy with the brushing power of the Storm Moon approaching.
Unlike the Blood Moon, the Storm Moon would make Werewolves aggressive.
During the Storm Moon which will birth horrendous storm clouds covering the entire sky, Werewolves would want to stay in their respective home to enjoy silence but will be very aggressive if disturbed by anyone.
In a way, it feels similar to the Dark Moon that beckons Werewolves to stay in the shadows.
But this sensation is closer to a territorial move compared to the sensation of the need to be inside the shadows, Werewolves would be very territorial and conscious of their surrounding during the Storm Moon.
As long as the Werewolves were not disturbed in their peace, then there was no problem.
But if a Werewolf does get disturbed during this time, then one needs to be very careful, as they are really aggressive and the Storm Moon energy would also make the Werewolf faster than it used to.
In fact, that's what the Storm Moon is all about, aggression and speed.
Rex checked his sanity stat and finds it has increased to a bearable level thanks to the help of Gistella calming him down, despite in a way that he didn't expect, she still managed to do that.
Just as he was standing idly, his gaze shifted in a direction, "Hmm...?"
Looking to his right, Rex can feel a spike in energy at the far distance that should be coming from someone in the ninth-rank realm. It came out of nowhere, but then his attention was alerted by a couple more.
Coming from different directions, he could feel the spike of energy from multiple entities.
Upon realizing this, a figure approaches him from the back, it was Flunra.
Flunra went on one knee that kneel before the Alpha before he lower his head with his hand on his right chest, "Rex, it's the Executor, he has started his onslaught inside the Werewolf territory. I can sense it, and his onslaught will hasten the First Breath's arrival"
"Is that so? The Werewolves have done it this time" Rex muttered with a mocking smile.
Having the assumption that the Werewolves are trying to awaken the Storm Prince, Rex can already tell that the Executor is probably very angry at them, and would decimate the Werewolves first.
Playing close to fire, it's foolish for them to not anticipate the danger of being burned.
Although that is the case, Rex's mind was fixed on the spike of energy that he was sensing earlier that came out of nowhere, "What about the energy concentrations I sensed? I don't think that's the Executor"
"It's Elder Nolacula, I can feel his blood energy rising"
Suddenly, Calidora emerges from the inside and walks over to the two of them.
Upon hearing this, Rex glanced at her before he raises his eyebrows, "How could this Elder Nolacula awaken when the First Breath hasn't come yet? Are they using the same as what the Werewolves use to awaken their Elder?"
"No, not exactly. Elder Nolacula has been half-awake for quite some time" Calidora replied.
Pausing for a moment, she stands beside Rex, walking past the kneeling Flunra before she added, "In fact, the one that suggested turning humans into Vampires starts from Elder Nolacula, and I think the Demon also has an Elder that is already half-awake. Both of them must be waking up first"
"How much time do we have until the First Breath, Flunra?" Rex eventually asked.
Lowering his head even more, Flunra then replied, "A day or two..."