CHAPTER 203 - CALAMITY

Han Wu confirmed his selection, and the construction of a smithy automatically took place in a corner of his land. The process took ten minutes, and soon the brand-new smithy stood ready.

Curious, Han Wu stepped inside and found it fully equipped, capable of holding ten blacksmiths at once. He nodded approvingly and ordered his Scorching Dwarves to start forging weapons using the materials in his storage.

The Scorching Dwarves were thrilled to finally forge equipment again, and they eagerly set to work as the steady clang of metal rang out from the smithy. Three hours later, they completed their first batch of weapons. Due to the limited resources available, they crafted them from the Chainsaw Ants’ mandibles, skillfully shaping them into serrated daggers.

Han Wu named the creation the Chainsaw Dagger. While it performed poorly in battle, it proved surprisingly effective for logging. He instructed ten of his Iron Skeletons to use the Chainsaw Daggers to cut down trees around his property. Though darkness had fallen, the skeletons showed no fear and no fatigue. They dashed into the night, chopping wood efficiently for Han Wu.

Han Wu felt confident he had made the right decision by designating the skeletons as his first altar. They feared no death, fought fiercely, and worked tirelessly for hours. They were the perfect laborers for any greedy corporate master.

After sending his units to work, he returned to his mansion and stretched out on his bed. He opened the group chat to check everyone’s progress. Almost every student had upgraded their shelter to Level 3, though their experiences varied widely.

Some had started in easier locations, which made leveling up their shelters relatively smooth. Others ended up stranded in the desert, where gathering enough wood took them three full days—let alone gathering resources to upgrade their armies.

Then there were students like Wei Yuan, who had recklessly challenged a powerful monster without understanding their own limits. Their armies were wiped out, and they lost vast amounts of resources.

Han Wu scrolled through the updates, keeping a close eye on Li Chunming. The guy seemed to be thriving. He chatted non-stop in the group and had even started flirting with some of the female students, trying to convince them to build their shelters close to his.

Han Wu scoffed. “I will let you gloat for a few more days.”

Just then, Sun Qingnian sent a message in the private group chat the three of them shared.

[Sun Qingnian: Li Chunming just sent me an invitation. He wants me to move my shelter closer to his since he discovered the Wight Ruins. There are swarms of wights emerging from that place. Apparently, we can gather plenty of resources by killing them, and there’s even a chance to obtain rarer materials.]

Qin Shuang replied as well.

[Qin Shuang: Yeah, he invited me too, but I turned him down. I don’t like him.]

Han Wu nodded.

[Han Wu: Li Chunming is being too conspicuous. He won’t live for long. Sun Qingnian, find out where his shelter is. Once we’ve built up our army, we’ll wipe his base out.]

Sun Qingnian snickered.

[Sun Qingnian: I was waiting for you to say that. Don’t worry, I’ll use my silver tongue to find out exactly where he is.]

Han Wu then reminded them about the impending calamity. It was coming soon, and he preferred to believe it was true. Caution had never cost him anything.

Just after they ended the chat, Duan Meng sent him a message.

[Duan Meng: Han Wu, the calamity will arrive tomorrow. Are you ready?]

[Han Wu: I am ready.]

He had upgraded his shelter to Level 5 and even had a Heroic Golden Skeleton guarding the place. He was prepared for anything.

[Duan Meng: Good. I’m looking forward to buying some strong altars from you. By the way, Han Wu, have you found any ruins near your location?]

Ruins again. Li Chunming had been eagerly discussing the Wight Ruins he had discovered. Han Wu was now certain that these ruins held great significance, yet he had found none himself.

[Han Wu: I haven’t found any yet. What exactly are they?]

[Duan Meng: This is information I got from my brother about the ruins. They appear to be sites left behind by once-glorious races. Inside, you can face a series of trials. If you clear them all, you’ll claim the treasures these races fiercely protected before their decline.]

“I see. No wonder Li Chunming is bragging so much,” Han Wu muttered. They had just entered the Warring Kingdom Civilization, so even the inheritance of a fallen race promised valuable rewards.

[Duan Meng: Han Wu, please, let me know if you come across any ruins you’re not interested in. I’ll offer a good price and buy it off you.]

Han Wu smiled.

[Han Wu: Sure, no problem.]

Han Wu finished messaging her and felt a wave of sleepiness wash over him. Since arriving here, part of his abilities had been sealed, and his body itself seemed weakened. He needed to sleep at least once a day, or frustration would take hold.

He drifted slowly into slumber, resting until dawn. The moment sunlight spilled across the sky, a sharp, shrill voice pierced his mind and roused him. It announced something urgent.

“My foreign guests! The Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization has discovered all of you and prepared a magnificent welcome party. Please enjoy it!”

Han Wu then spotted three notifications blinking on his interface.

[The Boulbear Alpha has received the directions of the Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization. It has located your shelter. Please prepare for battle.]

[The Noirwolf Alpha has received the directions of the Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization. It has located your shelter. Please prepare for battle.]

[The Will of the Warring Kingdom Civilization has opened a gate. You will receive the challenge from the Heroic Light Emissary.]

Han Wu suddenly heard howls of wild beasts coming from outside of his shelter. He glanced out and saw a gate materialize beyond his perimeter. A humanoid life form in pure white robes stepped through. It surveyed the skeletons guarding the front gate of Han Wu’s estate with clear disdain, then casually tossed a cleansing grenade.

One of the Unique Skeleton Knights took the blast and shattered into scattered bone fragments instantly. It perished without any warning.

Fury surged through Han Wu. Something had killed his Skeleton Knight on his own turf. He refused to let this intruder act freely.

Bursting from his room, he shouted, “All units, prepare for combat!”

No matter the distance, his entire army received his command and responded immediately, grabbing their weapons and gathering before him. Even the Iron Skeletons, who had been cutting down trees, dropped their axes and sprinted toward the estate.

The Boulbear Alpha and Noirwolf Alpha, along with the Light Emissary, ordered their forces to attack. Several Boulbears used their powerful limbs to tear through the iron fence. Their brute strength bent the metal into twisted shapes. The wolves seized the opening and surged into the estate, launching their assault on Han Wu’s army.

Han Wu laughed. The wolves were inexperienced and unaware of the power of formations. The idea that Han Wu held the home ground advantage within his estate had never once crossed their minds.

He commanded his army to strike. The skeletons poured out and slaughtered the invading wolves and Boulbears alike, while the half-dragons stood at Han Wu’s side as his guards.

The Heroic Golden Skeleton stood motionless, its spiritual flames burning fiercely as it locked eyes with the Light Emissary. It vowed to fight until its body shattered if the Light Emissary so much as moved a finger.