Chapter 658: The Dark Lord
Chapter 658: The Dark Lord
【Underground Fortress】 → 【Dungeon】
The requirements were met, and the progress bar for the evolution of civilization naturally appeared on the building panel, indicating the need for Essence and materials.
With the conditions satisfied, the upgrade was a straightforward operation.
Although Lindsey merely pressed a button, a sense of exceptionally smooth satisfaction filled him after the task was completed.
It was as if he were truly in a game.
Using the resources of the main base to rapidly advance the construction of the secondary base felt just as comfortable.
Lindsey looked at the scene before him.
The jet-black obsidian-like stone slowly enveloped the civic hall, and even before its completion, its grandeur and solemnity were already evident.
Lindsey nodded in satisfaction.
Then, he gave instructions to the girl beside him:
"Vivian, I plan to build the 【Hero Altar】 on the eastern side of the fortress."
"Go and call the workers for me. This building can be used without a civilization upgrade, so let's get it done."
"Okay," Vivian obediently left to carry out the order.
Lindsey walked to the east alone and first placed the framework of the 【Hero Altar】.
The miners arrived promptly.
On the Dungeon side, the miners were trained in production. Besides mining for minerals underground, they could also handle construction tasks like building cities and excavating labyrinths.
Moreover, in the three cities Lindsey currently managed, the miners' production speed was among the fastest.
Several miners worked together, directly doubling the construction speed of the 【Hero Altar】!
In the labyrinth, the Insectoid soldiers who had been fighting had not yet returned.
Before Lindsey, a brand-new 【Hero Altar】 had already appeared.
The 【Hero Altar】 on the Dungeon side, just like in the other two cities, was uniquely designed.
Irregular black rocks with a glossy finish formed a seven-pointed star-shaped platform on the ground.
At the core of the pitch-black altar, fine and dense blood-red stones were stacked to form the shape of a skull.
To undergo the hero transformation here, one had to enter through the mouth of the blood skull, sit in the center of the cranial cavity, and receive the infusion of power.
Fortunately, the people of the Wilderness were not particularly affected by this architectural design.
Even the young Vivian, upon seeing the skull, maintained a calm demeanor without showing any signs of fear.
Lindsey then spoke, extending an invitation to his chosen successor:
"Vivian, why don't you give it a try first?"
"This hero template doesn't require the identity of an Awakened; anyone can gain power here."
However, the young Vivian almost immediately reached the same conclusion as the two elders in 【Forest Capital】.
Facing the offer of power, the girl politely refused:
"Mr. Lindsey, I think this power should be given to someone more worthy."
"I... I'm just a child without power, and I don't deserve this privilege."
As Vivian declined, she lowered her head, not letting Lindsey see her eyes.
But thinking about Vivian's life experiences, Lindsey didn't need to see her suffering-filled face to understand her current feelings.
So, Lindsey squatted down, bringing his head level with Vivian's.
This visual alignment helped minimize the psychological gap between the adult and the minor:
"Vivian, don't you want to become stronger?"
"..."
Vivian remained silent, and Lindsey patted her on the back:
"Go ahead, accept this power."
"Your future work will also require this power, and it will enable you to save others' lives."
Vivian obediently nodded.
Lindsey's words provided her with a suitable reason, and so the girl willingly stepped into the skull.
The red skull's eye sockets erupted with a sinister crimson glow.
Then, the profound darkness beneath began to gather around the altar, eventually transforming into a commanding power that infused into Vivian's body, forming her unique Hero Panel.
Half an hour later, Vivian emerged from the skull's mouth, looking a bit dazed.
At this moment, Lindsey had called over the second person to undergo the transformation, his only Phase Five subordinate—Lei Vi.
Lindsey walked over and supported Vivian, helping her stand.
"How do you feel? Any new sensations?"
The young girl pondered for a moment before replying, "I can sense that I can choose to learn one skill from among three options."
"The first skill is called 'Death Escape,' which allows me to rapidly recover from injuries and restore my stamina when my life is in peril. The second skill is called 'Dark Will,' which boosts all my attributes when my actions align with my intentions. And the third skill is 'Legion Commander,' which enables me to actively absorb others' power to strengthen and heal myself, and I can also lend my strength to support and aid others."
The first and third skills seemed to resonate with Vivian's personal experiences.
But the second skill...
Lindsey lifted his gaze, looking at the Hero Altar before him.
The blood-red glow in the skull's eye sockets was fading, as if the skull was revealing the sinister nature of the dungeon.
Vivian had obtained the skill 'Dark Will.'
Because of the influence of this city.
"The Hero Altars constructed in different cities have distinct characteristics, and it seems they are indeed influenced by the type of city they are built in."
Lindsey sighed, then looked down at Vivian again. "There should be another skill you can't learn yet, right?"
Vivian, like the Mourner, took some time to gather her thoughts and organize the chaotic information in her mind. "I... I think I know."
"Demon King—this is an omnipresent aura skill. It ignores distance and position, affecting anyone loyal to me, enhancing their attributes across the board!"
Demon King.
And an omnipresent super aura, no less!
Such a skill would be a blatant violation in any real-time strategy game!
Hearing this description, Lindsey's gamer's intuition kicked in.
The boost Vivian received from this Demon King skill alone might surpass even his own as the skill's owner!
Should he pledge his loyalty to Vivian for free attribute boosts?
Lindsey began contemplating his next move.
However, at this moment, Vivian was still unaware of the future that awaited her.
She stood motionless, her mind working to process the various pieces of information flooding her thoughts.
Even with her experience in real-time strategy module construction, the sudden appearance of a Hero Panel in her mind was overwhelming.
For someone who had never played a game before, understanding this would take time.
So, Lindsey turned his attention to the person beside him.
Lei Vi, the Phase Five Awakened One, immediately straightened his posture.
His sword-wielding arm was slightly twisted, but it didn't hinder his expression of loyalty to Lindsey. "Lord Lindsey!"
Lindsey nodded slightly, gesturing towards the skull. "You heard Vivian's situation, right?"
"As my strongest subordinate, it's time for you to embrace your new power!"
(End of Chapter)
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