17: Three days left? I'll level up to level 5 first to calm down!
Three days.
This number, like three red-hot daggers, plunged fiercely into the hearts of all survivors.
The regional channel, which had just been stirred by an anonymous big shot reaching the top, was completely ignited by a more pure, more viscous despair after a brief silence.
"Blood Moon? Lord-level BOSS? Does the system think we're not dying fast enough!"
"Three days! Only three days! How are we supposed to prepare? Is it a death wish?"
"I don't want to die... I really don't want to die... Someone save me!"
Wailing, cursing, desperate pleas.
Lin Feng expressionlessly scanned the words overwhelmed by fear, his eyes showing not the slightest ripple.
With a thought, he checked the survivor data for the war zone.
The number was already less than six thousand.
In just a few days, nearly four thousand people had been mercilessly wiped out by this world, unable to even leave a cry of agony.
Other people's lives and deaths had nothing to do with him.
In this life-devouring world, pity was the cheapest and most fatal emotion.
He closed the noisy channel, completely isolating the meaningless chatter.
A deep sense of fatigue surged from his limbs, almost engulfing his consciousness.
Transforming into a hero and personally entering battle consumed far more spiritual energy than he had imagined.
The soreness of his muscles was false, but the mental tension of dancing wildly on the edge of life and death was truly etched deep into his soul.
He needed rest.
He had to rest.
Lin Feng turned and walked into the small stone house that had appeared with the upgrade of the main camp.
He collapsed heavily onto the bed; the hard stone slab bed made his bones ache, but he felt an unprecedented peace.
Almost the moment he closed his eyes, he fell into a dreamless, deep sleep.
...
The next morning, Lin Feng opened his eyes precisely on time.
A night of rest had restored him to peak condition, his eyes sharp as an eagle, his mind clear as ice.
While mechanically chewing the breakfast provided by the system, he calmly planned his next development direction.
His gaze fell on his resource panel.
Gold Coins: 6800
Upgrade Main Camp to Level 5: 5000 Gold Coins
After the upgrade, only 1800 Gold Coins remained.
For a Lord who had just experienced a life-or-death battle, this was an extremely dangerous number, signifying a sharp decrease in his ability to resist risks.
But Lin Feng's gaze penetrated the immediate risks, seeing a deeper, bloody opportunity.
A Level 5 Main Camp would unlock the Barracks.
It was the true entry ticket to PVP mode.
It was the only key to taking the initiative and stifling all potential threats in their infancy.
Rather than passively waiting for the Blood Moon judgment in three days, he would transform himself into the Grim Reaper wielding a scythe.
A cold arc curved at the corner of his mouth.
"Upgrade."
Rumble—!
This tremor was far more intense than any before!
The entire fortress platform let out an unbearable roar, and a golden beam of light, almost material, shot into the sky, actually burning a huge hole in the perpetually dim, yellow sky above.
The bluish-grey rock beneath his feet expanded wildly outwards, its area once again skyrocketing.
On the sturdy city walls, the flowing energy shield became even more solid, emitting a reassuring, heavy glow.
Congratulations! Your Main Camp has been upgraded to Level 5!
City Wall Durability Increased: 4000 -> 5000
Defense Tower Slots: 8 -> 10
Resource Building Slots: 5 -> 6
New Building Unlocked: Barracks!
Maximum Fusion Quantity: 4
PVP Mode is now fully open for you, Advanced Lord!
Accompanying the system's solemn announcement, a magnificent building forged from black iron and massive stones, filled with an aura of iron and bloodshed, rose from the ground in the open space behind the fortress.
It looked like a small stronghold; at its entrance, there were even two stone statues holding halberds, coldly watching ahead.
Lin Feng immediately immersed his consciousness within it.
Barracks: The heart of war, an extension of the Lord's will. Combat units can be trained here to conquer all directions for you.
Current Population Limit: 60 (Population limit will increase with Main Camp level)
PVE Mode: Troops can be dispatched to actively attack neutral monster camps on the world map and plunder resources.
PVP Mode: Troops can be dispatched to launch a Deathmatch against other Lords' fortresses.
Rule Restriction: All units trained via the Barracks can only be used for active offense and cannot participate in the defense of this fortress.
A sharp glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes.
He instantly understood the profound meaning behind this rule.
The system was deliberately balancing offense and defense.
If the attacking forces could also assist in defense, it would be an insurmountable chasm for the defending side, which had the advantage of defense towers; PVP would completely become a joke.
He continued to look down.
Currently Available Troop Types for Training:
Goblin Warrior: Melee unit, occupies 1 population. Health 50, Attack 20. Training cost: 5 heavy oil.
Goblin Spearmen: Ranged unit, occupies 1 population. Health 20, Attack 10. Training cost: 5 heavy oil.
The attributes were simply pathetic.
Lin Feng could even imagine how miserably these cannon fodder units would die in front of other players' fortresses, which also had defense towers.
If it were any ordinary Lord, seeing this would probably dispel any thoughts of taking the initiative, and he would honestly send these cannon fodder to fight Goblin camps to accumulate resources.
But Lin Feng was no ordinary person.
His gaze fell on the two simple troop icons.
A bold, almost insane idea, like lightning tearing through the night sky, exploded in his mind.
Could troop types be synthesized?