As expected, it won't work.
Kreig wasn't disappointed, though he'd been hopeful. He already expected that it wouldn't work, but trying won't hurt, he thought.
The trip was worthwhile, he took the ears and some parts of the goblin that his instincts told him might fetch valuable. Additionally, he gained tons of essence, and perhaps more than all, battle experience.
The goblins didn't drop anything valuable except for their chief who dropped a small Abyss Stone.
This one isn't the dark type compared to what I got yesterday. It really varies, huh.
If Kreig would wish for anything, it would be information.
Being vastly different from other lords, his only experience with the abyss was that cleanup job.
He hadn't even considered studying bits of the abyss before challenging it.
Haaa—
He sighed, realizing the brevity of what he'd done.
I should've studied first! Or at least bought a damn book!
He lamented inside the cave.
After a few more minutes, he went out of the cave, on his back was a bag made of woven-fibers. Inside were the proof of his small triumphant victory.
I have to be back before night time.
The sun was almost dripping, he hadn't realized how fast time flew when he battled the goblins. He felt, exploring took him longer than battling the beasts.
More… I need more power.
…
After half an hour, he returned inside the domain. Unlike when he first returned, before noon, this time, the settlements that were built exceeded his expectations.
He asked Exel to build at least five if he could, but Exel managed to make seven.
Using the foundations of old houses, Exel was able to build the settlements in a much faster way.
"My lord!" Exel greeted, seeing Kreig's figure slowly approaching.
"Good work," he replied, his eyes shifting to the houses before him.
Although they look a little shabby… this isn't too bad, not bad at all…
He thought, his eyes lingering at the distant stars.
The night has come, and it was no ordinary one.
"My lord, you're drenched in blood… and A- apologies, but you should shower when opportunity strikes…" Exel smiled, his hands subtly shaking seemingly wanting to cover his nose.
"Ahh." Kreig clicked his tongue. Indeed, he smells rather horrible.
"Exel, I encountered a group of goblins during my small expedition." He muttered, pausing. "There should've been around forty-five of them, plus their chief."
"M-my lord, did you flee? Good grief, you are safe!" Exel exclaimed, worry evident on his face.
"No. I purged them." He muttered, his face distorted a cruel smile.
"The moment I saw them, I felt my blood boiling so I killed them all." He murmured, his eyes glaring deeply to Exel.
'If I weren't serving you, my lord… I would've probably been begging on the ground right now, horrified.' Exel thought, forcing a smile.
"Also, here. I got another Abyss Stone when I killed the chief. This one is much smaller though, much different as well." Kreig muttered, picking his pocket before showing a small stone.
"That's great news, my lord!" Exel exclaimed, but his expression turned grimly.
"Need not worry about yesterday," Kreig said, trying to ease Exel's worry. "I'm guessing it should be a rare coincidence. Besides, if I summon another unit that will attack me, I can just kill them. Don't worry, I have the means to do so." He added, his tone a certainty.
"I believe in you, my lord…" Exel replied, his voice barely reaching a whisper.
"But my lord," he added. "We'd really need to find a water source. The fruit doesn't contain much water, and it won't be enough to feed us as we grow in number." Exel reported.
"I found a water source, but it's a long walk there. Don't worry, we'll get there soon enough." He muttered. "I should be able to rank a tier up tomorrow, or maybe even tonight." He added.
"My lord, what are you planning to do?" Exel asked curiously.
"I will kill more of those night monsters." Kreig declared, his eyes emitting bloodlust. "Don't worry, I'll stay inside the barrier." He added.
"I-I see, my lord…" Exel bowed, beads of sweat flowing down his face. He had just finished building settlements, he didn't realize that it was already dark around him.
'Luckily the lord was able to come back before night.'
Haaa—
It has only been a day and a half since the two have met, but it felt like it'd been eternity inside the abyss.
Now at night, Kreig planned to kill the very same monster he'd killed yesterday.
Ahh, I almost forgot.
"Lord skill: Summon"
The stone shook the moment he willed his summon skill.
It hovered still in the air for a few seconds and then stopped. After a few more seconds, the stone shook again, and then it shattered into fragments.
The fragments were then slowly enveloped by clouds isolating the space where the stone had broken, and then they vanished.
The fragmented stone slowly accumulated into a single mass, gradually forming a human figure.
Then… Swoooshh—
As if the wind had caused the clouds to vanish, a figure of a man was revealed at the center.
"My lord! This lowly man will serve you to death!"
A man that looked like a knight if not for his demeanor cried out.
Hmmm not bad. He looks fairly decent. Besides, unlike the woman yesterday, I don't feel hostility coming from him.
Kreig thought.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"My lord! This lowlife's name is Durian Durino!"
"H-haa??" Kreig couldn't help but feel absurd about his name. But he quickly regained his demeanor.
"I-I see. Then Durino, what can you do?" Kreig asked.
"I can fight, my lord!" Durian replied energetically.
Exel couldn't help but be baffled, too. He knows the man his lord summoned was, at the very least, better than the woman yesterday.
But he couldn't help but notice the peculiarity of the man.
"I see. Then can you assist me? You must've been informed by the void, too." Kreig muttered, voice aloof.
"Yes, my lord! I have! The void said I must serve you!" Durian replied.
"Do you have problems with it?" He added a question.
"No, my lord! I will serve you to death!" Replied Durian.
"I-I see. Then, we'll kill those monsters." Kreig distorted a smile as he pointed his sword at the towering monsters outside.
"Oh my lord! Are those night monsters!?" Durian asked, his mouth warping wide open.
"Indeed."he replied, then thought. 'So those are really called night monsters?'
"We'll take advantage of the barrier and attack them from the inside. They're sensitive to emotions, so we can bait them easily by recalling some 'salty' memories." Kreig muttered.
"My lord is wise!" Durian replied enthusiastically.
After some quick introductions and a short strategy meeting, the three began preparing for battle.
"The night is still young," Kreig muttered. "But the monsters sure thrive during the night."
They were already watching.
The night monsters scattered across the edges of the domain, towering like curious beasts drawn to the domain's pulse.
"Durian. Ready yourself." He muttered.
Almost instantly, the monsters pounced. Crawling and shrieking, racing toward them like starving wolves.
Durian trembled, startled by their sheer speed.
Kreig stood firm.
His breath steadied, and a wicked smile distorted his face.
"Now, let the hunt begin!"