82. Beast, Muahmuah
Aisha presented something.
It was a large, round shield with a striking scarlet color.
“It’s a new shield made from ant exoskeletons.”
The monsters of the ant colony dungeon that Irina had previously attacked, the Mega Jo Ants.
The materials she had carefully collected had finally been awakened from a long slumber and reworked through Aisha’s hands.
“This is…”
Zion and Irina held the shield.
Their eyes showed admiration.
“I hope you both like it.”
“Aisha, this is a very elegant shield!”
“Of course, we love it!”
A proud smile appeared on Aisha’s face at their praise.
“As you both like it, I’m grateful.”
As she gazed at them, the information about the item came to mind.
Ant Shield with Mana Circuit Opened
• Specially handcrafted by ‘Master Blacksmith’ Aisha. Utilizes outstanding elasticity for substantial weight and defense.
• It has expandable functions.
The circular shield had its edges more finely polished and its surface smoother. Wrapped in the hide of a white ice bear, even the handle was neatly finished.
It was a shield meticulously crafted with such exquisite finishing.
No one could dislike it.
But in fact, this shield had an even greater advantage.
“Would you like to try infusing mana all at once? Ah, it should work as divine power here.”
“Mana…?”
They raised their energy with a puzzled expression.
The mana of Zion and the divine power of Irina began to flow through the shield they were holding.
At that moment.
Goooo-!
The color of the new Kaman shield held by Zion began to gradually turn blue following the circuits inside.
In Irina’s case, it seemed to be tinged with a subtle golden hue.
“Oh?”
“What is this?”
Even the elves watching were surprised and wide-eyed.
For some reason, an unusual change was happening to the shield.
“What is happening here?”
Click! Click!
At that moment.
The ant carapace folded on the back of the shield unfolded, expanding in size like an opened umbrella.
“Whoa! What is that?!”
Everyone watching, including the elves, widened their eyes in astonishment.
Unbelievably, the shield had inflated in size in an instant!
In the midst of it all, Aisha explained.
“I’ve woven mana circuits inside. When mana and divine power are infused, the folded parts inside can all unfold at any time. Carrying a large shield is inconvenient, so I made it possible to increase the size only when needed.”
It felt somewhat sophisticated.
It was a useful and sophisticated armor.
“Wow….”
It was a groundbreaking armor with such a revolutionary idea that it seemed impossible to imagine.
For a while, one stared blankly at the shield.
At some point, in what thoughts.
He unconsciously turned towards the monitor screen that had lit up.
“….”
There was nothing like that on Earth yet.
Most of Earth’s weapons were rendered ineffective in dungeon conquest.
That’s why for hunters, dungeon conquest still hadn’t moved beyond the antiquated concept of close combat weapons like swords and crossbows.
Blinking a few times, Han muttered in a low voice.
“…Should I consider patenting it somewhere?”
He felt the need to consult Han.
It was certainly revolutionary in reducing overall damage for hunters.
Although Aisha was the one who created it, it was a concept worth considering for the sake of a world threatened by dungeons.
That, if mentioned to the hunters, might make them go crazy and rush in.
***
Han felt the time had come.
“Now is finally the time to challenge the next level of the endless tower.”
Han had been waiting for this day.
Actually, he had planned to conquer the 3rd floor much earlier.
But as the number of elves increased and they began to form a proper village, he postponed the timing a bit.
It was alright to delay a little.
He judged that it would be more powerful to wait until everyone was ready and fully prepared before advancing.
The result was as it is now.
Power was increasing, and preparations to face the enemy were gradually being made.
“You also think so, System?”
[A wise choice.]
It was a rare, obedient response from the System.
It seemed like quite a fitting choice.
After all, the world of the tower was a space where anything could happen inside.
The stronger the power grew, the better.
“A little more preparation. It’s more stable to challenge the tower after completing a little more preparation and precaution.”
From the beginning, entering the tower to strengthen and grow everyone’s power was the plan.
But if any of them were to get seriously injured or die, there was no room for such mistakes.
Tap. Tap.
Han patted Irina’s shoulder.
When he pointed in a direction with his hand,
“Oh.”
Irina nodded once as if understanding, then put on a determined expression.
“Yes. We should go in now. It seems even the gods think so.”
Nods. Nods.
Did Irina also think that way?
Indeed, wise.
***
The endless tower.
Just like its name, it shot up endlessly beyond the sky, so high that even a demigod like Han couldn’t see its top.
“It’s time for everyone.”
“…Irina?”
Irina stood firmly in front of the tightly closed door of the tower.
Although no one had said anything separately, the elves naturally gathered around one by one.
They sensed that she was about to mention something important.
“What… is this place?”
It was a tower so high that even the elves’ eyes couldn’t see its end.
Stretching up into the blue and white sky, a towering structure obscured by snow and clouds.
Naturally, the first building that caught the eye in this square.
Although other elves had been curious until now, they hadn’t asked.
They thought that Irina, who led them, would inform them when the time came.
Those who waited patiently.
Elves were such beings.
Irina, looking around at the gathered elves.
She nodded once and spoke.
“The Lord has said that we are ready to face the enemies of the tower.”
“…Enemies of the tower?”
Those who looked at her with confusion.
However, unlike them, Irina had already experienced the world beyond the tower.
“Beyond there is a land of opportunity. It is also a land of growth. It is an area similar to dungeons where enemies who have destroyed the world constantly emerge.”
Swoosh.
Irina said, waving her staff.
What she held was none other than Yumina’s goblin sorcerer staff.
Magic equipment that allowed spells to be cast faster and more effortlessly.
Simply put, it only made Yumina stronger, but it had the effect of boosting their overall strength.
They were a collective destiny, and each role affected everyone.
“As we grow day by day, and as the world trees growing in this land become stronger, the monsters gathering to feel the magic power of the world trees will also become stronger. In order to defeat them, we must become stronger.”
The enemies who had destroyed the world were threatening.
What would happen if everyone wielded such magic?
Naturally evolved, they would be able to defeat even stronger enemies.
Irina, looking around at them, soon opened her mouth with a determined expression.
“We will launch an attack on the tower in a week.”
***
After Irina’s announcement.
The elves all wore determined expressions.
“Oh! Here, you should hold the sword like this…”
Idnis and Zion.
They began training repeatedly to prepare for the real battle, and Aisha’s forge never ceased its hammering sound.
Thump thump.
At this time, Green Dragon Muamua, who had been sitting on the soft grass, picked up a sack of potatoes and plunged his hand deep into it.
“Um….”
Gulp! Chew.
The sound of him chewing and swallowing potatoes didn’t stop.
This was his usual daily life.
He watched other elves bustling around carrying items and mushroom clusters.
While others were busy preparing for the tower, Muamua’s life remained unchanged.
Hane quietly looked down at him.
The creature swaying its lizard tail seemed somehow different from usual.
It was true that its belly was full.
Indeed, it was.
Lately, Muamua’s belly, which never seemed particularly full, was now visibly round and satisfying to the eye.
At the point where the dragon’s belly, which could easily leap over dozens of meters, appeared full, it was clear that Muamua had eaten his fill.
In Han’s eyes, the creature should have been healthy and in good spirits.
However…
“Why does he look like that?”
“….”
Han was genuinely concerned as he observed Muamua, holding a bunch of potatoes, looking rather lost.
His expression was not particularly bright.
“….”
It wasn’t a discontented look either.
But that didn’t mean he looked happy.
Instead, he remained silent, staring off into the distance, absentmindedly nibbling on a potato.
Just a few days ago, he used to look content when filling his belly.
“Would you like to try this?”
Sensing a hint of gloominess, Han offered the lunchbox, even going as far as pointing to it.
However, handing over the lunchbox didn’t change anything.
“Oh! Thank you, God.”
The creature, who seemed momentarily pleased, quickly returned to a blank expression.
Swish.
Perplexed, Han tried giving him one more.
“Oh. Thank you, God.”
As usual, the creature didn’t make a fuss while eating.
Instead.
After swallowing it in one gulp, he quickly sat down with a sullen expression, only swaying his tail.
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“Muamua, this creature.”
Watching him quietly, Han pondered.
“…Is there some issue bothering him?”
Could it be that he’s tired of potatoes?
Well, he did get potatoes every single day.
It might seem like a conscientious act, but in reality, there was no alternative; it was an unavoidable choice due to the lack of substitutes.
Dragons, as monsters, naturally need to eat a lot.
Maybe even a significant income from several high-ranking hunters wouldn’t be enough to cover this food expense.
Around that time.
The system provided an answer to Han’s question.
[Originally, dragons are carnivorous creatures.]
“…But?”
[However, recently, the individual ‘Muamua’ consuming meat has been quite rare. While he did prey on the monster White Bingha, this was merely a one-time occurrence, and in terms of dragons, his consumption was relatively low.]
…Ah.
Could it be?
[The creature known as Yong has been designed to prefer the consumption of meat over carbohydrates like potatoes. Being a top-tier organism in the middle realm, there shouldn’t be any issues arising, but apart from that, the preference for meat over a mere potato is a kind of instinct.]
Well, that made sense.
People don’t just happen to like meat for no reason.
The natural instinct to enjoy eating, regardless of how much, was something the body followed.
Moreover, Yong wasn’t just an ordinary predator, was it?
A predator above predators, no.
As the system stated, it was considered a prominent predator even in the middle realm.