Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points! - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Day Two Of Hellish Training Part Three
“Back to the main group!” Esten ordered sharply. “Something’s in the water!”

…

The knights regrouped at the center of town, the barrels of salted fish stacked nearby. Esten quickly relayed his observations. “There’s something in the water. It hasn’t shown itself yet, but it’s big.”

Kael’s jaw tightened. “We’ll have to be ready for an attack. Laris, how’s the food situation?”

“Enough to feed everyone for a day or two,” Laris replied. “It’ll buy us time.”

“Good,” Kael said. “But we’re not staying long. This town might seem peaceful, but it’s not safe. We’ll eat, rest briefly, and move on at first light.”

A sudden splash interrupted the discussion, drawing every knight’s attention to the docks. The water churned violently, and a massive, scaly creature broke the surface. Its blue scales gleamed in the fading light, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural yellow hue.

“Sea serpent!” someone shouted, panic creeping into their voice.

Kael drew his sword, his voice steady and commanding. “Defenders, form up! Shields to the front! Flankers, hold the perimeter! Vanguard, ready to strike when I give the word!”

The knights scrambled into formation, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten as the serpent lunged toward the docks, its jaws snapping. Garik narrowly avoided being crushed, rolling to the side and slashing at the creature’s flank.

“It’s fast!” he shouted. “Stay spread out!”

Laris led the Vanguard in a counterattack, his twin blades flashing as he struck at the serpent’s side. The creature roared, its tail whipping around and sending one knight flying into a wooden post.

“Keep it distracted!” Kael ordered. “Aim for the eyes and underbelly!”

Esten’s Flankers hurled spears from a distance, some embedding in the serpent’s thick hide. Lionel, his hands trembling but his resolve unyielding, joined the front line, driving his sword into the serpent’s side.

The battle was fierce, the knights’ coordination tested as they fought the monstrous foe. Blood stained the docks and water, but their grit and resolve carried them through. Finally, with a deafening roar, the serpent collapsed, its massive body crashing into the waves.

As the knights caught their breath, Kael surveyed the group. “Is everyone accounted for?”

“Some injuries, but no fatalities,” Esten reported. “We’ll recover.”

Kael nodded, sheathing his sword. “We’ll rest briefly and move on. This place is no haven—it’s a warning. Stay vigilant.”

The knights silently agreed, all nodding their heads.

Lionel sat heavily on a broken barrel, his chest heaving as he tried to steady his breath.

His sword rested against his thigh, and sweat dripped from his brow, mixing with the grime and blood smeared across his face.

He stared at the ground, his hands trembling slightly as the adrenaline began to wear off.

Darian strolled over, his armor clinking softly with each step. He folded his arms and smirked. “You look like a succubus just sucked the life out of you, rookie.”

Lionel glanced up, too tired to fully roll his eyes. “I’m just exhausted, Darian. Don’t make it weird.”

Darian chuckled, leaning casually on a wall. “Look at you, talking like a man now. I guess going through life-or-death situations really does change a person.”

Before Lionel could respond, Garik joined them, his imposing frame casting a shadow over both of them.

“It’s inevitable—the lad would have to mature in an environment like this. The pressure demands it,” he said in his deep, gravelly voice.

Lionel wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and looked up at Garik. “How’s the food situation?” he asked, trying to change the subject.

Garik nodded toward the center of the camp, where a few knights were working around a makeshift fire pit.

“Some of the men are breaking apart the empty barrels to use as firewood. We need to dry the fish before we can eat it. Can’t exactly eat it raw.”

“Yeah, you’ve got a point,” Lionel said, his tone low and almost distracted.

Darian’s grin faded as he noticed the younger knight’s demeanor. “You sound a bit downcast there, Lionel. Something on your mind?”

Lionel hesitated, his eyes flicking between Darian and Garik. For a moment, he seemed unsure whether to speak. Finally, he exhaled deeply, his voice barely above a mumble.

“I don’t know.”

Garik frowned, crossing his arms. “What do you mean by that?”

Darian tilted his head, his usual playful demeanor gone. Now he had a look of genuine curiosity.

“Yeah, what’s on your mind, rookie?”

Lionel stared at the ground, his voice quiet but filled with unease.

“Do you ever wonder… if we’re actually going to make it out of here alive? I mean, so many of us stepped forward to go through this training even though we knew our lives were at stake, to gain strength, but… so many of those brave souls are gone now.”

His hands clenched into fists.

“How can we be sure we won’t meet the same fate?”

The words hung heavily in the air, the unspoken fears of many finally given voice.

Garik was the first to break the silence.

He placed a firm hand on Lionel’s shoulder, his grip reassuring as he gave him an almost fatherly, calm look.

“We don’t know, lad. That’s the truth of it. But what I do know is that every battle we fight, every step we take, we do it so we can obtain the strength to fight for the empire… to return to those we care about. That’s why we keep moving forward.”

Darian nodded, crouching so he was at eye level with Lionel.

“Garik’s right. None of us can promise we’ll make it out. Hell, every swing of my sword, I wonder if it’ll be my last. But sitting here, doubting ourselves, that’s the surest way to lose. You’ve got guts, Lionel. I’ve seen it. You’ve got to trust in that.”

Lionel looked between the two older knights, their words offering a strange mix of comfort and harsh reality.

He nodded slowly, though his expression remained troubled.

“I’ll try. It’s just… hard not to think about it.”

Garik’s hand tightened briefly on Lionel’s shoulder before he stood. “It’s normal to feel that way. But don’t let it consume you. We fight for each other, and that’s what keeps us alive.”

Darian stood as well, his smirk returning.

“Besides, you’re not allowed to die yet, rookie. Who else am I gonna tease?”

Despite himself, Lionel let out a weak chuckle. “Thanks, Darian. That’s… oddly reassuring.”

Garik gestured toward the fire pit. “Come on. Let’s see if that fish is ready. Food always makes things a little easier to bear.”

The three knights walked toward the center of the camp, the flickering firelight casting their shadows long against the ruins of the town.

Though the uncertainty of their survival still lingered in their minds, for now, they focused on the simple, grounding act of sharing a meal and preparing for whatever lay ahead.

…

Back in the capital.

Buildings crumbled under the relentless force of destruction. Massive hammers wilded by what appear to be knights in scarlet armor struck with resounding BOOMs, sending debris scattering into the air, while a woman, her gauntlets glowing with orange mana, shattered entire walls with a single swings.

THUD after THUD echoed in the background, each blow carving out more space for the massive train tracks to be laid.

She was the leader of this destructive force, Nadia, her tall figure clad in black and red, reinforced armor, stood amid the wreckage, her gauntlets sparking slightly with each strike.

Her voice rang out above the din of destruction as she ordered her companions.

“Break it all down!”

BOOM! A massive slab of stone fell away as one of her followers, a tall man wielding a hammer larger than most, swung with brutal force.

“Faster!” she barked again.

Another structure crumbled to the ground, the sheer force causing dust clouds to swirl. Her cold, focused gaze swept across the scene, her presence imposing yet efficient.

The ground trembled slightly, sending ripples through the already crumbled structures. She noticed a mother and child attempting to retrieve something from the wreckage—a piece of precious belonging, by the looks of it.

“Get them out of here!” she snapped, her voice cutting through the noise. “This is a werking zone, not a playground!”

The mother, her face pale with worry, hesitated, clutching her daughter close. “I’m sorry…”

“She forgot something… something important.”

The woman’s eyes softened slightly at the sincerity in their desperation. Still, she maintained her stoic stance.

“Just hurry,” she said, stepping forward to shield them as rubble shifted dangerously close to their path. In an instant, her gauntlets unleashed a burst of energy that shattered the debris, clearing the way. “Now go. You shouldn’t be here.”

The mother nodded quickly, leading her child away, both bowing slightly in gratitude.

With the area now clear, the woman turned back to her group, exhaling softly. One of the men, a burly figure wielding a hammer like it weighed nothing, chuckled as he approached her with a teasing grin.

“Captain you always act so cold, but I know there’s warmth hidden beneath that armor.”

She gave him a sharp look, her expression stern. “Shut up and get back to work,” she snapped, her tone firm and icy.

The man held up his hands in mock surrender, chuckling as he moved away. “Yes, Captain.”

The group continued their work, systematically dismantling buildings, creating the necessary space for the new train tracks. Each strike was coordinated, calculated, and relentless.

They were special personnel… Berserker Knights, summoned by Arkanos himself to aid in reshaping the capital since they were shorthanded on manpower.