Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 48: Determination (2)

Magnus surveyed the four hundred men lined up before him, his latest summons. A wave of satisfaction washed over him as he stared at them.

However, his preparations were far from complete. He tore his gaze away from them and turned his attention back to the system screen before him navigating to the weaponry section of the system store, he began a shopping spree. Swords, spears, clubs, axes – a vast array of weapons filled his inventory. The numbers representing his Evolution Points dwindled rapidly, but Magnus didn’t hesitate.

His next stop was the armor section. He carefully selected pieces that offered superior protection, a significant upgrade from the standard gear issued to his Lancaster territory troops.

This was specifically for his regular soldiers. His summoned warriors were a different matter entirely. Each one was an Awakened individual, possessing weapons and armor far superior to the one he was currently buying.

Magnus knew that even if he devoted all his remaining Evolution Points to upgrading their equipment, he wouldn’t be able to outfit even a fraction of them.

Satisfied with his armaments purchases, Magnus moved on to the medicine section. He stocked up on healing pills and potent elixirs, crucial for patching up his injured men. While his healers were skilled, their resources were stretched thin. These supplies would significantly bolster their efforts, ensuring a quicker recovery for his wounded soldiers.

Finally, having depleted a substantial portion of his Evolution Points, Magnus dismissed the system screen and turned his attention back to his newly summoned troops. They stood patiently, their gazes fixed on him with undisguised curiosity. He understood their bewilderment. Being ripped from their lives and deposited in a strange new place via a swirling, darkish-purple portal was bound to raise questions.

Unlike Kael, whose bio provided a comprehensive history of his past life, the information on most of these men was sparse. A typical entry might read, "A mage who lived 100 years ago" or "A warrior who lived 20 years ago"—brief, almost cryptic descriptions that offered little insight into their individual stories. A few had slightly more detailed bios, but nothing as comprehensive as Kael’s, which had allowed Magnus to understand their background and motivations.

He couldn’t help but wonder about their lives before the summoning. Were they in dire straits like Kael had been? Or were they living peaceful, fulfilling lives, perhaps surrounded by loved ones? Had he disrupted happy families, stolen them away from moments of joy? The questions gnawed at him.

Ultimately, he knew it didn’t change the current situation. Regardless of their previous circumstances, all his summons, including Kael, displayed unwavering loyalty and trust in him. Still, the curiosity lingered. He could easily ask them about their past lives, but a part of him hesitated. He wasn’t sure he was ready to face the potential answers. The thought of forcibly uprooting someone from a peaceful existence to serve him was unsettling.

Turning to his men, Magnus cleared his throat. "Okay, everyone," he began, his voice resonating with authority. "My name is Lord Magnus, and I can see the question in your eyes. You want to know why you’re here, why you were ripped from your previous lives and brought to this place." He paused, scanning the faces before him. His words had captured their attention, and they hung on his every word, eager for an explanation.

"Well, the answer is simple," Magnus continued. "As you may have guessed, I summoned you. All of you."

A ripple of confusion spread through the ranks. As Awakened individuals, they were familiar with the concept of summoning. It had been their initial assumption upon arrival. However, the circumstances didn’t seem to fit.

They knew the process required a complex summoning ritual, involving intricate arrays and a vast expenditure of rare treasures. A summoning of this scale, bringing forth four hundred individuals, would demand an exceptionally powerful array and an even greater investment of resources. Yet, there was no sign of any such array in the vicinity.

Furthermore, creating and activating such an array required the expertise of a skilled Array Master, and they could all sense that the man standing before them, was unawakened.

Of course there waz a possibility that Magnus was concealing his true power. Still, the absence of a summoning array remained a perplexing anomaly.

Seeing the confusion on their faces Magnus correctly guessing their thoughts, but he didn’t offer an explanation. It wasn’t that he feared revealing his methods. Betrayal wasn’t a concern; his summons’ loyalty was absolute. The problem was the sheer inexplicability of it all. How could he explain that he summoned them using cards purchased from a system shop accessed through a purplish-flamed screen? The concept was too outlandish, too alien to their understanding.

"I know this is a lot to take in," Magnus continued, bypassing their unspoken questions. "Being pulled away from your lives... but it is what it is. There’s no going back. This is your new life. I’m not asking you to forget your past entirely, but I am asking you to open a new Chapter. A Chapter with me in it." His voice shifted, taking on a commanding tone.

"It doesn’t matter if you were a peasant, a soldier, or anything else. Here, you are all equal in your service to me." His expression was resolute, his voice ringing with authority. "I have chosen each and every one of you for a purpose. You will follow me. You will obey me. And I, Lord Magnus, will lead you to greatness. A greatness beyond your wildest imaginings. A greatness forged in fire and blood! So, what do you say to that?"

The four hundred summoned warriors exchanged glances. Instead of anger or resentment, their faces reflected a surprising degree of acceptance. Then, as if rehearsed, they dropped to their knees in unison, the sound echoing in the open space. "Lord Magnus!" they roared in a unified chorus.

Magnus nodded, satisfied. This was the expected outcome. He had gone through this process before and was becoming accustomed to addressing his new summons and integrating them into his territory. While the dramatic display felt slightly theatrical, even cringeworthy at times, it was undeniably effective.

"Good. Now, come with me." Magnus turned and began walking, his men falling into formation behind him. They left the secluded summoning area, joined by the summons Magnus had stationed as guards during the summoning. As they marched, their combined aura, the unmistakable power of Awakened individuals, pulsed outwards.

They soon entered a more populated area of the territory. People stopped in their tracks, their gazes drawn to the resounding thud of marching feet and the palpable aura of power. They watched in awe as Magnus and his impressive summon strode past, heads held high.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. "Are those Lord Magnus’s Awakened men?" someone asked.

"Seems so, but I think their numbers have increased," another replied, noting the unfamiliar faces.

"Are you blind? These aren’t the same ones as before. These are new," someone else pointed out, the realization dawning on others in the crowd.

"Does this mean Lord Magnus has many more of these Awakened soldiers? How many more?" someone whispered, the question echoing the unspoken thoughts of everyone present. The display of power was both exhilarating and slightly intimidating.

Magnus overheard the whispers, but he didn’t pause. He continued towards his destination, a small open space that served as the territory’s military training ground.

It was where new recruits were trained, where soldiers gathered, and where weapons and armor were stored. A small house nearby served as the barracks.

Although the sun hadn’t yet set, training was still in progress. Some of his men were sparring, while others sat on the sidelines, their faces grim but bodies glistening with sweat, a testament to their recent training. A warmth spread through Magnus’s chest. He knew they were exhausted, yet they continued to push themselves, preparing for the next beast wave. Their dedication inspired him, reinforcing his own resolve to give his all for the territory.

The ongoing activities came to an abrupt halt as the sound of approaching footsteps reached them. All eyes turned towards Magnus and the force he led.

# #

[A/N_ Due to personal issues, I haven’t been able to maintain a consistent daily Chapter release schedule for a while now, and I apologize for that, especially to those who have purchased privilege. I plan to change this starting tomorrow, with a minimum of two Chapters released daily, potentially more. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

I’m also planning a mass release at the beginning of next month if we reach the first tier of win-win. I hope we can achieve this goal.

Thanks for reading! Please let me know in the comments how you’ve been enjoying the story and if there’s anything you’d like to see changed.][A/N_ Due to personal issues, I haven’t been able to maintain a consistent daily Chapter release schedule for a while now, and I apologize for that, especially to those who have purchased privilege. I plan to change this starting tomorrow, with a minimum of two Chapters released daily, potentially more.