After hours of drills, chants, and inspections, the leaders of the five divisions finally gathered at the Resting Hall of the Floating Fortress.
It was a vast chamber situated not too far from the crew’s living quarters. Just like what the na implies, this place was not designed for battle but for respite.
At its center was a fountain with a statue of Shane. Although it wasn’t obvious, it was sculpted not from a simple stone, but from a huge chunk of Spirit Stone supported by various alloys and other stones to add support and beauty.
Needless to say, Shane was in his finest form. He was raising a sword with a gun in his other hand, and the sculptor didn’t even put a shirt on him, showing his muscles like he was so sort of Greek god.
Then, water flowed from the base of the statue into a wide fountain... Since it was also decorated with nurous Mana Crystals, its streams could also be considered mana water with how dense the mana was.
"This place is really the best..." Brion said as he entered the hall.
The fountain wasn’t ordinary, but the whole chamber itself radiated calming energy. It was restoring fatigue and sharpening focus for anyone nearby.
Of course, soldiers often ca here to recover, but tonight it was reserved for the division leaders.
Sylas, the Assassin, was the next to arrive.
He moved silently as if he were still practicing the Cloak of Silence. He dipped his hand into the fountain and watched the ripples glow faintly.
No matter how many tis he saw it, he really couldn’t help but recall the Fairy Realm.
"Mana Crystals... I wonder how Lord Shane does it..." He muttered.
Serenya entered next and smiled softly at the sight of the fountain. Aside from the mana essence in the air, she also likes the status effect that the sculpture gives to them.
"This is a better gathering place than the command center." Serenya comnted with a chuckle.
Elandor, the Elven Archmage, was the next to arrive as he approached the fountain... He gave the statue a long, analytical look before smirking.
"I wonder if Shane insists on flexing, or the sculptor just wanted to get a raise or sothing. Sword in one hand, gun in the other, shirtless like so hero from a bard’s tale. I swear, if the sculptor had added lightning bolts behind him, it would’ve been perfect."
Brion laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the chamber. "Don’t pretend you don’t admire it, Archmage. You’ve stared at that statue more than anyone else. I know you want one yourself!"
The others laughed as they heard this...
Of course, it wasn’t wrong to dream of having sculptures modeled after themselves. After all, they may not be admitting but they also wanted one for themselves. It didn’t have to be made of Spirit Stone or filled with Mana Crystals, but a model made by a talented sculptor was already enough.
It would be a great achievent on its own.
Elandor raised a brow and shook his head. "I admire the craftsmanship, that’s all. Though... I’ll admit, the mana density here is remarkable. This fountain alone could power half the fortress for a day."
Roscoe strolled in casually with a bow slung across his shoulder...
"I just like that the water makes my aim steadier. I swear, after a few minutes here, my hands don’t even shake." He leaned against the fountain’s edge, dipping his fingers into the glowing water.
Unlike the elves, he didn’t have that much knowledge about the Mana Crystals or the existence of mana itself.
Nonetheless, he knew that they were good for his body.
Taylor entered next with her armor still on her body. She wanted to change her clothes but decided against it after recalling that there would be many people here. Her body was filled with scars, and she still felt uncomfortable showing it in front of these fair-skinned elves.
Soon, she found a comfortable seat and took it imdiately.
Since everyone seed to appreciate the fountain water, Brion couldn’t help but comnt about it.
"Maybe Shane should bottle it and sell it. ’Spirit Brew: guaranteed to make you stronger.’ We’d be rich."
Serenya laughed softly, shaking her head. "Anna already created better tonics... But truly, this place is a blessing. The aura alone keeps the healers from collapsing after long shifts."
Finally, Shinja entered the Resting Hall. His presence was quite overwhelming compared to all others. He didn’t speak at first, simply walked to the fountain and placed a hand on the statue’s base. The crystals pulsed faintly at his touch.
"Hmm... It’s a new batch of Mana Crystals. No wonder it feels so good here." he muttered.
He couldn’t help but recall the small fairy that was previously hanging around Shane. Ever since that small fairy had arrived, the Mana Crystals and the mysterious tree of the Eclipse Domain had all beco even better.
He didn’t know how Shane obtained that pet, but it was definitely a great boon for their shelters.
Brion smirked. "Always so serious, Shinja. Relax for once. We’re not on the battlefield yet."
Shinja’s lips curled into the faintest of smiles. "Relaxation is allowed. But don’t forget that there might be Flying Zombies around. We’re getting close to the sea."
"Of course! We’re always ready..."
The group settled around the fountain, the sound of flowing mana water filling the chamber. Their conversation drifted from tactics to lighter topics...
They also talked about the taste of their recent als since they had a new chef on board, they also talked about the endless drills, and soon even the sculptor’s questionable decision to leave Shane shirtless was discussed.
Roscoe chuckled as the topic turned here... "I still say the sculptor had a crush. No one carves muscles like that without admiration."
Taylor laughed after hearing that... "If that’s true, then at least the crush benefits us. This aura keeps us sharp."
Apparently, the sculpture in the fountain was indeed that good.
[ The Monunt of Ascendancy: A grand statue of Shane Wells sculpted from a massive Spirit Stone core, perfected with rare alloys and adorned with precious gems and mana crystals. Depicting Shane in his battle form, with his physique carved like a divine warrior.
The presence of the Monunt of Ascendancy grants the following effects to all those who remain within its chamber for at least a minute:
Edge of the Tyrant: 8% Attack Speed and 5% Critical Chance for 24 hours.
Great Spirit: 10% Physical Defense and 10% Magical Resistance for 24 hours.
Fountain’s Blessing: 15% Mana Regeneration and 10% Stamina Recovery for 24 hours.
Unity of the Fortress: Morale is greatly boosted and Fear Resistance is increased for 24 hours. ]
Elandor chuckled as he finally turned to the real concern they had. "In four days... We will arrive at the vicinity of the enemy base. We can assu that they’ve prepared against us since the Floating Fortress has been revealed to the public for so ti already. Still, we have the advantage... We have five Flying chs to lead us in the battle."
Roscoe tilted his head as he recalled sothing, before he added...
"I heard sothing else. Necromancer Asad will be arriving two days ahead of us. His wraiths will scout the Overlord Clan’s territory before we descend, right?"
Sylas nodded. "That’s right... His wraiths can slip through shadows better than any assassin. If there are traps, hidden shelters, or secret reinforcents, they’ll find them."
Serenya nodded...
"And if they uncover Spirit Veins or hidden caches, we’ll know where to strike first. Just rember that we’re not just here to destroy their shelter, we must benefit from it. Otherwise, this war is a wasted effort."
"Exactly. Victory without spoils is stupid. If Asad’s wraiths can map their defenses and resources, then when we land, we’ll take everything. Weapons, stones, artifacts... all of it." Brion muttered as the act of plundering made him a bit excited.
Taylor crossed her arms and agreed. She didn’t mind looting these people who had essentially destroyed the Silver Mine Camp.
"I only hope his wraiths are thorough. The Overlord Clan won’t leave their treasures unguarded. If we miss sothing, it could cost us dearly."
"Asad knows his role. His wraiths will bring us the missing pieces. My concern is their Top Warriors... You should be aware of their skills by now." Shinja said as he recalled the pieces of information they had obtained.
Apparently, aside from Lesley’s Petrification Ability, they also had to worry about those with Legendary Telekinesis Talent, Teleportation Talent, and there was even a rumor that Lancelot himself had Immortality Talent.
The leaders fell into a contemplative silence...
As they considered what to do, a piercing alarm rang through the chamber, echoing across the fortress. Red lights flared along the walls, warning everyone...
Roscoe straightened imdiately... "What now?"
A runner burst into the hall, breathless. "Flying zombies! A swarm approaching from the east! They weren’t detected until now... the fortress’s stealth mode masked us, but the clash is unavoidable!"
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