Chapter 396 Building the Fortress (1/2)
Even though the mercenaries were still suspicious and curious about Rhode's orders, they, including Marlene and Lize, obeyed and left shortly after. Of course, it wasn't that Rhode didn't want them to know his secret. After all, he only needed half a day's time to complete building this humongous Fortress. Unless one's an idiot, if not, no one wouldn't think there's a problem with this. However, the fact that Rhode was willing to build the Fortress in front of them proved that they were his trustworthy confidants. As for why he made them leave, partially was for the element of surprise and also for safety reasons. After all, only Rhode had access to this construction system and who knew if the system might treat them as obstacles and kill them all if they lingered around. Furthermore, rebuilding the Fortress wasn't as simple as touching up the previous stronghold, so it's still best to avoid any possible dangers.
Rhode focused on scanning the surroundings carefully. Right now, he stood at the middle of the hall within the Fortress ruins. After the battle last night, this place was severely damaged. The ceilings had fallen to the ground and everywhere were filled with broken tiles which were hard to bear. Taking in this disastrous sight, Rhode shrugged his shoulders before extending his arms, and at the same time went through his thoughts.
Shortly after, a holographic map which commonly appeared in strategy games appeared before his eyes. Unlike the image which he used to repair the stronghold, this holographic map not only displayed Rhode's current location, it even unveiled the borders of the entire Misty Mountains and Twilight Forest. The areas that this system covered should be the territories which Rhode's guild had control over.
However, similar to those strategic maps, other than the surrounding regions near Rhode was clear in view, the other regions were shrouded in thick and dark shadows where only mountains, trees, and rivers could be seen. It seemed that this system had restrictions over its viewable range.
But soon, lines of system prompts appeared before Rhode's eyes.
[Detected Guild Territory. Land of Atonement]
[Fortress had been damaged. To repair?]
Nope.
Rhode denied the suggestion mentally. Shortly after, another line of system prompt emerged.
[Fortress had been damaged. Repair denied. To build new Fortress Stronghold?]
Yes.
Rhode nodded and presented the finalized blueprint onto the holographic scenery. Suddenly, a bright light flashed and a model of the Fortress based on the blueprint presented itself before his eyes.
[Fortress had been modeled. To build?]
[System Prompt: Building Fortress requires 7,590,000 gold coins. Please confirm.]
”…”
This time, Rhode hesitated.
He stared at this notification and gritted his teeth. After he carefully scanned through the holographic scenery with the materialized Fortress model, he could see that it indeed was oddly strong and sturdy. There were no concerns for the water source flowing from melted snow above the mountains and the surrounding natural barriers would prevent enemies from cutting off their food sources — If the enemies really had such capabilities, that's when the Summon Gate was best for such situations. As long as the Summon Gate was built, Rhode could gain direct access to the stronghold in Deep Stone City and didn't need to worry about problems with transportations of materials.
However, an object like the Summon Gate shouldn't be built outdoors. Rhode had instructed Canary to build the Summon Gate in the deepest area on the underground second floor in the Deep Stone City stronghold. Rhode would also build the Summon Gate in the deepest area with tightest securities. After all, the Summon Gate was a top secret and shouldn't be known to any ordinary persons.
[Please confirm. To build?]
The system prompted once more in view as Rhode didn't make a decision. And this time, Rhode hesitated no more and slightly nodded.
”Build.”
This word came out from his mouth and there were changes to the surroundings.
The clear skies instantly dimmed and not only that, a little golden light ball emerged in Rhode's hand. Rays of golden beams projected from it as they crisscrossed into a grid-like projection. The golden beams swept across the ground similarly to before when Rhode stood in the middle of the stronghold and allowed the beams to scan the area entirely.
”…”
The earth let out a deep, loud rumble which Rhode couldn't help but gulped. This was the first time he experienced such a scenery. Even in the game, everyone only could view the Fortress after it was built. Even Rhode didn't witness the building process of the Fortress before. Due to this, although Rhode maintained his calm expression, it was pounding deep down in his heart with excitement, anticipation and also a little nervousness.
”Bam…!”
The rumbles got louder and louder before the entire land began to shake. Then, a huge, black figure broke through the ground and soared into the sky right before his very eyes.
Thick, sturdy walls emerged from the ground violently. In an instant, soil and dust rose rapidly and the wheezing storm forced Rhode to close his eyes. Those broken tiles scattered on the ground transformed into powder under the wheezing storm and disappeared to nowhere!
That was all that Rhode could capture.
Because at the next moment, the severely damaged walls began to repair themselves before his eyes. Not only that, the walls slowly rose up while the ceiling above him began to climb upwards while deforming its shape. This entire scene was similar to a construction documentary television programme which Rhode had seen — Humans recorded the construction process of an architecture over a period of hundred days and fast forward it for viewers to admire the whole process within a few minutes. Right now, Rhode felt like he was one of those viewers witnessing the live 'fast forwarded' construction process of this huge Fortress.
The navy blue stone walls stopped rising and strokes of floral patterns decorated its edge shortly after. Then, the pillar supporting the housing dome began to change its shape and within a few seconds, the utterly broken and rubbish-filled hall instantly turned sparkling clean. It's unimaginable that this new, smooth slate ground was irregular sand and gravel just a few minutes ago. Also, no one could accept that a moments before, what stood in place of these solid, thick walls were the tattered, thin walls that could crumble by an effortless push. The wrecked ceiling with a punctured hole transformed into a perfectly round and beautiful dome. Sun rays spilled in from the surrounding glass windows and brightened the entire hall.
The rumbles of earth continued but gradually turned softer and softer. In the end, everything fell into complete silence.
Up until that moment, Rhode let out a deep, long breath before proceeding up the stairs located in the center of the hall.
The stone-made steps were solid and precisely-flat without any slightest flaws. Even Rhode who witnessed the transformation couldn't believe his eyes. Were these really just built? If this was the power of the system he had, then where did the power of the system come from?
”Why do you even bother yourself with it, Leader.”
At this moment, Mini Bubble Gum suddenly spoke.
”This place feels realistic to us anyway and isn't that good enough? Your hair will drop if you worry too much and you wouldn't look good in it. Just look at how beautiful this Fortress is… Think about happier matters and don't be like the bunch of blockheads in 'The Matrix 1999 movie'. They disputed over reality and virtuality all day long and guess what happened to them in the end? Hmph, while others were feasting delicious food and drinking hard liquor, they were still breathing in contaminated air and consuming food that was worse than dog food. I really don't understand what their brains were filled with. Savior, my foot! Looked more like masochists to me.”
”Everyone has their own views and understandings, Bubble. What you said was too extreme.”
This time, it was Canary's turn.
”They were only searching for the things that they desire… Hmm, whereas the results, they had chosen them by themselves.”
”Smart people wouldn't make such a stupid choice. So, I think they're a bunch of idiots.”
Rhode revealed a bitter smile. Mini Bubble Gum's explanation wasn't unreasonable. In the world that Rhode belonged in, this had never happened before. Whereas in movies, novels, and other virtual worlds, such things do happen. If speculations were based on this, then the world that Rhode lived in must be a virtual world… However, Rhode felt that things weren't that simple.