[Hit the mutated giant python, triggering Fair Trade, obtained Python Remains]
[Eliminated carnivorous plant colony]
[Slain mutated dire wolf]
[Barren iron ore deposit successfully excavated]
A steady stream of notifications scrolled across the war interface, each line marking another small gain carved from an otherwise barren island.
Two days had passed since Links encounter with the dimensional merchant, and in that time he had split his goblin forces into three coordinated squads, sweeping outward to purge every trace of resistance they could find.
The results were… mixed.
Even with numbers on their side and the overwhelming advantage granted by enhanced abilities, goblins were still goblins. Their combat effectiveness continued to defy expectations in the worst possible way.
Aside from the unit personally directed by Link, the other two squads suffered heavy casualties during their engagements, often winning not through skill, but sheer persistence and expendability. Still, the island's creatures were relatively weak, and through attrition alone, the purge was eventually completed.
By the end of the second day, silence fell across the island's outer regions.
With the threats removed, the remaining goblin force shifted roles, becoming nothing more than tireless laborers. They transported whatever scraps of value they could find, ore, carcasses, strange plant matter, anything with even the faintest trace of energy, back to the base, feeding it all into the conversion altar.
[Soul Crystal +0.1]
[Soul Crystal +0.5]
The numbers rose slowly and painfully, each increment a reminder of just how resource-starved this trial truly was. When the final batch was processed, the total stopped at 72 Soul Crystals.
Far below expectation.
Link stood before the recruitment altar, expression calm, then issued a command.
"Recruit 500 goblins."
As the Soul Crystals were consumed, the altar ignited with layers of ancient inscriptions, each rune lighting up in sequence before collapsing inward into a burst of blinding radiance. When the light faded, five hundred new goblins filled the clearing.
Four hundred and fifty-five goblin warriors, thirty-two slingers, thirteen assassins.
They looked around in confusion at first, but the moment their eyes landed on Link, they instinctively dropped to their knees, letting out reverent, chaotic cries.
At the same time, something else began to gather.
A faint, intangible force coiled around Link,
. When he brushed against it with his awareness, he could feel it, countless fragmented thoughts, crude and chaotic, but unified in direction.
"I want to look as perfect as a god…"
"I hope the gods grant me a female werewolf…"
"Goblins want bigger…"
Link cut off his perception with a slight frown.
Faith.
One of the core pillars of divine power.
In theory, a being sustained by sufficient faith could approach omnipotence. In practice, he was still far from even qualifying as a true Lord, let alone ascending toward godhood. Still, he stored the gathered faith using the Thousand Realms interface. Even in its current crude form, it was far too valuable to waste.
With that done, he immediately turned to strengthening his forces.
[Ding, advancement successful, Ascension triggered]
[Ding, advancement successful, ultimate effect triggered]
The notifications rang out one after another as Link burned through all fifty of his daily uses, enhancing the newly summoned goblins. By the end of the process, the number of goblins possessing Fair Trade had risen to sixty-nine.
Of those, twenty-one were stone-throwing goblins.
While any goblin could pick up a rock, these particular units possessed the passive ability Precision, drastically improving both their accuracy and effective range. Combined with Fair Trade, they were no longer simple fodder, they were real tools of extraction.
Looking out over the chaotic mass of green bodies, Link abandoned any idea of a formal speech. There was no need for refinement when dealing with creatures like these.
He stepped onto a crude platform and spoke plainly.
"The dragon of the central mountains has stolen the treasure of the gods. I will lead you to destroy it, and when it falls, its endless wealth will be divided among you."
For a brief moment there was silence.
Then the entire horde erupted.
"Long live the god!"
The response was immediate, Visceral and entirely driven by greed. But for Link, that was more than enough.
Deep within the central mountain range, the fallen Radiant Dragon King, Aurex, lay stretched across a wide clearing, basking in the rare warmth of sunlight.
Moments like this were few.
Most of the time, this dimension existed in a state of frozen stillness, and only when challengers entered did time resume its flow. Which meant that for Aurex, every awakening was an opportunity… not for battle, but for catching up.
A letter, written in elegant draconic script, tore through space and drifted down before him.
It opened on its own.
"My dearest Aurex, my father has arranged a union for me, but you know my heart belongs only to you…"
Aurex's eyes lit up instantly.
Without hesitation, he opened DragonNet, the interspecies communication network exclusive to dragonkind, a masterpiece crafted by an ancient primordial dragon, and began composing a reply.
"My beloved, from the moment I met you, all others faded into nothing. I would gladly…"
He paused, reread it twice, then sent it.
[Message failed to send, you have been blocked]
"…What?"
Aurex froze.
Only then did he notice the timestamp, it was Over a year old.
Because of the rarity of Overlord-level trials, this dimension had remained sealed far longer than most. What passed as weeks elsewhere had stretched into over a year of silence here.
He had missed it.
Missed her.
Two heavy drops of dragon tears slid down his face… before another letter arrived.
Ah.
This one, from the elegant lady of the Violet Dragon lineage.
Their connection had begun through DragonNet's random pairing function, and things had progressed well. He had even requested a meeting.
Perhaps this was her answer.
Hope surged within him as he opened the message.
"I'm sorry. You're too ugly. Let's not speak again."
…
…
A roar tore through the mountains.
It took several long moments before Aurex regained control, his breathing slow and heavy.
He lowered his gaze to his own form.
He was once radiant, but now dull gray. He had been pristine and beautiful, now he was corroded with blackened claws and tarnished scales.
All because of the corruption… and the treasures.
His gaze shifted.
To the hoard.
Mountains of gold, artifacts, relics, each piece radiating brilliance.
Slowly, his breathing steadied.
Carefully, almost reverently, he sealed the entire hoard back into his internal vault, layering it with over a hundred draconic wards.
Instantly, his mood improved.
Warmth returned. Confidence followed.
After all, what was a dragon without treasure, and what was beauty compared to wealth?
Reinvigorated, Aurex reopened DragonNet, scanning through his contacts.
"Contact 03, Feathered Dragon, 3,781 years, pleasant voice."
"Contact 05, White Dragon, 2,672 years, easily persuaded."
"Contact 11, Black Dragon, wealthy."
His eyes gleamed.
"Yes… this one."
A rich dragon was far superior to any ordinary mate.
Without hesitation, he began typing again.
"My dearest, today marks my awakening. During the 456 days, 39 million seconds I spent frozen in time, not a moment passed where I did not think of you…"
His thoughts flowed smoothly, each word more heartfelt than the last.
Then there was a Tap.
And Another.
Tap… tap…
His brow furrowed.
"What is that?"
Annoyed, Aurex lifted his head, only to see a handful of goblins beyond the barrier, hurling stones at him with surprising enthusiasm.
He stared at them.
For a moment… he didn't react at all.
And just blinked…Confused.