Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 62: The Feast.

The fishmonger’s cat with the rat dangling from its jaws, approached its master. Pride radiated from the feline, a palpable aura of accomplishment as if it were presenting a trophy, proof of its dedication to ridding the market of a persistent fish thief. The fishmonger, a burly man with weathered hands, chuckled and rewarded the cat with a generous scratch behind the ears and a tasty morsel.

Magnus watched the scene unfold a sigh escaped his lips.

"Sorry, buddy," he murmured, a quiet apology to the deceased rodent. His gaze shifted back to the bustling marketplace, the purple ring of the [Empyrean Codex] still shimmering faintly in his iris.

He observed the ebb and flow of the crowd for a few moments longer before deactivating the skill. The purple ring vanished, and Magnus emerged from the alley, pulling the hood of his cloak over his head to obscure his features. He moved with a quiet grace, melting into the throng as he made his way through the market and out into the wider territory.

A sense of normalcy was slowly returning to the territory after the harrowing ordeal of the trial. Although the weight of loss still hung heavy in the air, a palpable grief lingering in the hearts of many, the immediate danger had passed. The ever-present threat of the impending trial was gone, replaced by a tentative sense of security. People moved with a newfound lightness in their steps, no longer burdened by the constant fear of annihilation.

Magnus moved through the streets unnoticed, the deep shadows of his hood providing ample cover. Eventually, he reached the central square, a hub of activity buzzing with life. Augustus barked orders, his voice ringing out across the square as people scurried to and fro, diligently carrying out their assigned tasks.

Magnus finally lowered his hood, his sudden appearance causing a ripple of surprise among the assembled workers. For a moment, they stared, momentarily stunned, before a chorus of greetings filled the air.

"Greetings, Lord Magnus!" they called out, their voices filled with respect.

"Greetings to you all," Magnus replied, a warm smile gracing his lips. "Keep up the good work," he added, his words of encouragement met with grateful smiles.

"Lord Magnus, you’re here," Augustus boomed, his voice carrying over the din of the square. Magnus turned to face him.

"Augustus," he said, his smile widening. "Just came to see how the preparations are coming along."

"Perfectly," Augustus declared, beaming. His face radiated vitality and energy, a stark contrast to the weariness that had plagued him in the days following the trial.

"Yes, I can see that," Magnus agreed, his smile turning mischievous. "Good to see nothing has been burned down yet," he added, a playful glint in his eyes.

The joke never failed to elicit a reaction from Augustus.

"Damn you, Magnus!" Augustus roared, feigning anger. "Did you come here just to make this old man’s life difficult?"

Magnus threw back his head and laughed, his mirth echoing through the square, drawing the attention of those working nearby.

"Pfft, you can’t dampen my mood today," Augustus continued, his mock anger fading into a broad grin. "I’m far too ecstatic about tonight’s celebration. If I wasn’t, this old man would have burned that smile right off your face."

Magnus laughed even harder, fueling Augustus’s mock outrage. They bantered back and forth, Magnus continuing to playfully poke fun at Augustus, who responded with exaggerated grumbles and threats of fiery retribution. The lighthearted exchange lifted the spirits of everyone within earshot, adding to the festive atmosphere. Tonight was a night of celebration, a commemoration of their survival, of Magnus’s recovery, and the successful completion of the first trial. The celebration had been postponed due to Magnus’s unconscious state immediately after the trial, but now, with his recovery, the festivities could finally commence.

Magnus lingered in the square for a while longer, basking in the positive energy, before taking his leave and returning to the quiet solitude of his room. He sat on his bed and summoned his territory status, a holographic display shimmering into existence before him.

-----

[Territory Status]

Rank: 1<Village>

Trial Status: (1/10)

Area: 35 Square Kilometers

Population: 43,000+

---[Army Strength]---

Total Troops: 803 [Weak]

Troop Morale: High

Training in Progress: 4,765

---[Resources]---

Mining, Hunting, Farming

---[Quest]---

Main: Evolve your territory to a holy land.

Side: Expand your territory land mass.

Side: Increase the population of your territory.

Side: Create a trade route and a new source of income for the territory.

-----

Magnus studied the information, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. He knew these side quests were crucial to reaching the next trial, and he needed to act quickly. Plans for expanding the territory’s landmass were already underway. Fortunately, his territory stood alone, the nearest neighboring territory, Gaylordia, now under his control after his recent conquest. This meant he could expand freely, unhindered by territorial disputes.

Increasing the population wouldn’t be a significant challenge either. There was always a steady stream of people seeking to join a new territory, and now, with the successful completion of the first trial and the acquisition of the trial tower, his territory would become even more attractive to newcomers, including awakened individuals. Establishing a new trade route would further enhance the territory’s appeal, drawing in even more settlers and boosting its prosperity. He had much work to do.

Magnus sighed, dismissing the system screen. He lay back on his bed, gaze drifting towards the ceiling. A tiny spatial portal shimmered into existence above him, and a three-foot-long, furry worm crawled out, landing softly in Magnus’s outstretched hand.

"Hey there, buddy," Magnus murmured, stroking Vorax’s warm, fuzzy body as it snuggled against him. Vorax had been guarding him since he lost consciousness after the trial. But since Magnus regained consciousness three days ago, he had sensed a growing restlessness in the little creature. Vorax yearned to return to the Silent Forest, to resume its hunt.

Magnus had no intention of holding Vorax back. In fact, he was pleased by Vorax’s inherent drive to grow stronger. It meant he wouldn’t have to constantly push the creature to improve. He planned to send Vorax back tomorrow. He also intended to finally establish the adventurers’ guild he’d been planning.

Since his recovery, he’d been working with Noah to develop the framework for the guild. Noah, surprisingly, possessed experience in managing such organizations, claiming he had overseen one in his previous life. Magnus trusted Noah’s judgment and planned to put him in charge.

The primary purpose of the adventurers’ guild was to provide a structured training environment for his troops. Magnus wanted his men to grow stronger, but he knew simply supplying them with resources would breed complacency. They needed to earn their strength.

The adventurers’ guild, with its quest board, offered a solution. Magnus could post missions with corresponding rewards, and others could do the same, creating a mutually beneficial system. His men would gain valuable experience and resources, but they would have to work for them.

The guild also served another purpose, one related to Magnus’s summons. He felt a pang of guilt for sending them out on relentless hunts before the trial, solely to accumulate Evolution Points for him. He didn’t want them to feel like slaves, toiling without reward. The mission board offered a way to motivate them, providing them with tangible rewards for their efforts while simultaneously benefiting Magnus. A win-win situation, he thought.

Unbeknownst to Magnus, his summons would have gladly hunted without any reward. Their loyalty was absolute, and beyond that, they also benefited from each kill. Magnus only received half of the rewards generated by his summons; the other half went directly to them in the form of nourishing energy, strengthening their bodies and enhancing their abilities.

Even if Magnus had known this, he would have still established the guild. He believed in fair compensation for hard work, regardless of loyalty. He wouldn’t exploit his summons’ dedication.

Lost in his thoughts, time slipped away unnoticed. Soon, the hour of the celebratory feast arrived. Magnus bathed, the warm water soothing his muscles, and then dressed. He chose a simple yet elegant ensemble: a finely woven burgundy wool tunic that fell to mid-thigh, paired with a loosely fitting, deep indigo linen robe that flowed to his ankles, the color reminiscent of the twilight sky. The wide sleeves of the robe were subtly lined with cloth-of-gold, a hint of opulence. A delicate silver chain clasped at his neck.

Magnus smiled at his reflection in the mirror, the lamplight illuminating his well-groomed blonde hair, streaked with silver. He looked handsome, he thought, a touch of regal bearing in his posture.

He turned and exited the room, finding Kael waiting for him. Magnus’s brow furrowed at the sight of his champion.

"Are you really going to dress like that to the party?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Kael wore the same tattered outfit he’d had on since the day Magnus summoned him. Magnus had never seen him in anything else. While awakened individuals could use mana to cleanse themselves and their clothing, rendering washing unnecessary, Magnus was concerned about the state of Kael’s attire. It was more than just worn; it was practically falling apart.

"Is something wrong with my attire, Lord Magnus?" Kael asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

Magnus sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. "Come with me, Kael. I can’t let you attend the feast looking like you scare children for a living." He pulled Kael into his room, intent on finding him something more suitable to wear.

Despite their differing builds, finding clothes of Magnus’s that fit Kael wasn’t difficult. Their sizes weren’t that far apart. Magnus left Kael to change, returning a short while later when Kael called out that he was finished.

Magnus stepped back in, nodding approvingly at Kael’s transformed appearance. He now wore a deep sapphire velvet robe, edged with a band of ermine. A definite improvement, Magnus thought, but he knew it could be even better.

He directed Kael to sit on the stool in front of the mirror and began to groom Kael’s unruly hair. As he worked, the tangled mess transformed, revealing a handsome face hidden beneath. Though not as striking as Magnus’s own, Kael’s features were undeniably attractive.

A strange feeling washed over Kael as Magnus tended to his hair. He had never paid much attention to his appearance, and no one had ever shown him such care. It felt odd, unfamiliar, yet a warmth spread through his chest.

"Nice," Magnus murmured, studying his handiwork in the mirror. He wasn’t a professional stylist, but Kael looked significantly better than before. He made a mental note to take Kael to a tailor for a new set of clothes tomorrow.

Satisfied with Kael’s improved appearance, they headed towards the territory’s central square, where the celebratory feast was about to commence.

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[A/N_ I apologize for not increasing the Chapter release rate as promised. I had intended to upload two Chapters daily, but a stomach illness prevented me from doing so.

Starting tomorrow, I will be releasing two Chapters a day.]