Chris Lycanister checked the Beast King Altar's interface. Currently, there were two possible units unlocked and available for summoning:
[Name]: ⟨Crimson Tiger Cub⟩
[Level]: ⟨1⟩
[Grade]: ⟨Normal⟩
[Summoning Cost]: ⟨5 Gold⟩
[Info]: ⟨A young, fledgling member of the Heavenly Demon Crimson Tiger lineage. Though lacking combat prowess, it excels in resource gathering and basic construction. A foundational den-builder for future expansion.⟩
[Name]: ⟨Infernal Tiger Warrior⟩
[Level]: ⟨1⟩
[Grade]: ⟨Elite⟩
[Summoning Cost]: ⟨100 Gold⟩
[Summary]: ⟨A fierce, combat-hardened warrior of the Infernal Tiger bloodline. Vicious in nature and devastating in close combat, they specialize in flame-infused melee techniques and frontline carnage.⟩
Chris considered his options. He was powerful enough on his own for now, so direct combat strength wasn't his most immediate concern. What he lacked were labor and production capabilities. Building up his territory would be impossible single-handedly.
"The Infernal Tiger Warriors cost 100 gold each... that's too expensive for my current treasury." He had 65 gold after his brief hunting spree. "But the Crimson Tiger Cubs... 5 gold each. That's manageable."
He decided to invest in his foundational workforce. "Let's summon some Cubs."
He spent 60 gold to summon 12 Crimson Tiger Cubs. The Beast King Altar pulsed, then a shimmering portal of crimson energy flickered into existence before it. Out of the portal scampered twelve small, yet visibly muscular, tiger-humanoid figures. Their fur was a vibrant crimson, and their eyes, though still young, held a spark of intelligence. Each carried a rudimentary tool – a small pickaxe, a bundle of woven vines, or a sharp stone blade.
"Master!" they chirped in unison, their voices a surprisingly high-pitched chorus. They immediately dropped to one knee, their tails wagging slightly. Their loyalty was absolute, imprinted directly by the summoning process.
[Name]: ⟨Crimson Tiger Cub⟩
[HP / MP]: ⟨20 / 20⟩
[Stats]:
‣ [Strength: 2] [Constitution: 2] [Agility: 2] [Will: 1]
[Skills]:
‣ [Basic Foraging Lv.1]
‣ [Basic Mining Lv.1]
‣ [Basic Timbering Lv.1]
‣ [Rudimentary Construction Lv.1]
[Loyalty]: [100%] — (Locked)
"Welcome, my young ones," Chris rumbled, his voice deeper and more resonant in his Infernal Tiger Form. He towered over them, a giant among his fledgling kin. He quickly assessed their stats. They weren't powerful, but their diverse production skills were exactly what he needed. Foraging for food, mining for stone, timbering for wood, and construction – the very basics of building a territory.
"Alright, listen closely," Chris commanded, pointing towards the surrounding mire. "The priority is resources. I need wood, stone, and any edible plants or creatures you can find. Begin constructing a temporary shelter near the altar. It doesn't need to be grand, just defensible."
The Cubs, eager and obedient, scrambled to their feet. Their collective chittering filled the air as they fanned out, beginning their tasks. Some began gnawing at the base of smaller, dense trees, their sharp teeth surprisingly efficient. Others clawed at rocky outcrops, chipping away at the obsidian-like stone that was abundant in the mire. A few, with their heightened senses, began sniffing out edible roots and small, burrowing creatures.
Chris watched them for a moment, a sense of satisfaction growing within him. His territory was taking its first steps towards development. However, he knew these small Cubs were vulnerable. Even Level 1 normal monsters in this mire, like the Saber-tooth Tigers, could easily overwhelm them.
He needed more defenses, but that required gold. He still had 5 gold left, barely enough for another Cub. He needed a sustainable income.
"While they gather, I'll continue hunting," he decided. The speed and destructive power of his Infernal Tiger Form made monster hunting incredibly efficient. He still needed to understand his new race's full potential, and direct combat was the quickest way to gain EXP and test his limits. He also remembered his Soul Devour talent, which promised to unlock new skills or evolve by absorbing enemy essence. He hadn't seen a prompt for it yet, but it was likely tied to specific types of kills or perhaps Hero Souls.
He leaped into the swamp once more, moving silently despite his size. The Saber-tooth Tigers he had encountered earlier were territorial, and he quickly found another family. He let out a low growl, challenging the alpha. The tiger, twice his current mass in its prime, roared back, lunging with surprising speed.
Chris met the charge head-on, his Infernal Claws erupting with dark flame. The tiger's thick fur and muscle offered little resistance. He raked across its flank, leaving a burning trail.
[-25 HP] (Saber-tooth Tiger Alpha)
[You've slain a Saber-tooth Tiger Alpha. Gold +10! Exp +40!]
The other two Saber-tooth Tigers whimpered and tried to flee, but Chris was too fast. A burst of Hellfire Breath incinerated one, leaving only ash. The other was caught by a swift Infernal Claw strike, shattering its spine.
[You've slain a Saber-tooth Tiger. Gold +5! Exp +20!]
[You've slain a Saber-tooth Tiger. Gold +5! Exp +20!]
[Congratulations! You have gained 80 EXP!]
Current Exp: 105/200
He returned to the Beast King Altar, his paws stained with mud and a faint scent of ash clinging to his fur. The Cubs had already made progress. A rudimentary lean-to of timber and large leaves was taking shape, offering at least some shelter. Piles of rough-hewn stone and freshly cut wood lay nearby.
"Master, we have gathered a good amount of timber and stone, and found many edible swamp roots!" a larger, more confident Cub reported, dropping a bundle of roots at Chris's feet.
"Excellent work, all of you," Chris praised, giving a rare, albeit toothy, smile. The Cubs puffed out their chests with pride.
He now had 85 gold again. He could summon another Infernal Tiger Warrior or more Cubs. He still prioritized labor. He spent another 50 gold on 10 more Crimson Tiger Cubs, bringing his total to 22. He also invested 20 gold into buying basic construction materials from the Altar's internal market for the Cubs, expediting their work.
He decided it was time to put his surplus resources to use. The system offered a trade platform for Beast Kings, allowing them to sell excess materials in exchange for gold or other needed resources. He had amassed a fair bit of Twin-Tailed Rabbit pelts and Saber-tooth Tiger fangs. These were basic materials, but in demand by other Beast Kings who might be struggling with food or basic combat resources.
Chris opened the trade menu and crafted a message: "Selling Twin-Tailed Rabbit Pelts (Green quality) and Saber-tooth Tiger Fangs (White quality). Good for crafting basic gear or emergency food. PM for bulk orders."
He priced the pelts at 2 gold each and the fangs at 5 gold each. He started with a small batch, not wanting to flood the market or appear too desperate. He put up 20 pelts and 10 fangs.
[Trade Successful, you gained 2 gold!]
[Trade Successful, you gained 5 gold!]
[Trade Successful, you gained 2 gold!]
[...]
The messages flooded his private menu. Within minutes, most of the pelts and fangs were gone. Other Beast Kings were clearly desperate for resources, especially those who hadn't managed to secure a prime starting location or a strong combat form.
[Gold: 195]
This confirmed his suspicion: the trade market was a viable source of income. He could easily continue hunting nearby creatures, providing a steady supply of resources. He still had enough pelts and fangs to sell another batch. He doubled the price for the remaining stock, testing the waters.
[You've sold 15 Twin-Tailed Rabbit Pelts for 3 gold each. Gold +45!]
[You've sold 8 Saber-tooth Tiger Fangs for 8 gold each. Gold +64!]
The sales continued, albeit slightly slower. It showed there was still a demand even at higher prices. He now had 304 gold.
He decided to summon his first combat unit, both for defense and to gauge their strength. He summoned one Infernal Tiger Warrior.
[Name]: ⟨Infernal Tiger Warrior⟩
[Level]: ⟨1⟩ [Grade]: ⟨Elite⟩ [Summoning Cost]: ⟨100 Gold⟩
[Stats]:
[HP: 50] [MP: 30] [Strength: 7] [Constitution: 5] [Agility: 6] [Will: 3]
[Loyalty: 100% (Locked)] [Tiredness: 10%] [Hunger: 10%]
[Skills]:
— Infernal Claw ⟨E-Rank⟩
— Scorched Roar ⟨E-Rank⟩
— Blazing Charge ⟨E-Rank⟩
The warrior was a stocky, powerfully built tiger-humanoid, slightly larger than the cubs, with smoky red fur and glowing ember-like eyes. Resting in its shoulder was a massive serrated, dark-bladed axe. Without h hesitation, it immediately knelt before him.
"Master!"
The more Chris looked at it, the more pleased he was.
This single warrior was an elite-class monster, far more formidable than the regular creatures he was hunting. With this addition, his Beast King Altar and territory had their first true defender.