Chapter 101: One Hundred Fortresses... and One Promise
## Morning.
Luke woke up after the previous intense night and stretched his body while yawning.
"Hmm, where is she?" He looked around and found out that Aurielle was not in the room. "It seems like she gone to Margaret’s room." With that, he stood up from the bed and reached the corner bathroom to relieve himself while also getting refreshed.
"I have to check the previous rewards as well." Luke remembers how he was almost got declared a cheating husband after getting excited yesterday. So he brings the system info back from the third technique.
[⚔️ C-Rank Black Steel Ascension Series]
Third Ascension Technique: Black Steel Fortress
Realm: Gold Knight Technique
Type: Defence / Aura Manifestation
Description:
After reaching the Gold Knight Realm, the user evolves their defensive power into a true personal ability.
The user learns to manifest their Black Steel Aether outside their body, creating a fortress-like armour that protects them from all directions.
In this realm the armour is no longer just reinforcement. It becomes an extension of the user’s existence.
Every layer of Black Steel Fortress is created from highly compressed Aether, making it extremely difficult to destroy.
---
Effects:
• Creates a full-body Black Steel armour manifestation
• Massive increase in defence
• Blocks powerful attacks
• Protects against multiple enemies
• Reduces damage from high-level techniques
• Allows the user to continue fighting through overwhelming attacks
---
{Mastery Requirement: By completely mastering Black Steel Fortress, the user gains the qualification to ascend into the Platinum Knight Realm.}
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"No wonder golden knights are walking calamity." Luke exclaims after reading the description. Because it clearly indicates it, it allows the user to continue fighting through overwhelming attacks. Which is absurd.
After that he turns his gaze towards the third and final reward, which he has got from the Aurielle.
[One Enchanted Tier Moving War Fortress x 10,000]
The enchanted tier is the first rank on the weapons-ranking system, whose power is comparable to the body-tempering stage.
After thinking for a moment, Luke decided that it would be best to have a number, but not this low level.
So he upgraded once using 100x and made it to the refined tier, which is the second level in the artefacts ranking system.
Then used the 100x to multiply the numbers.
While doing this, he thought about his magic tower, which he got as a reward from the system.
If he brought it here, it would help him a lot. But he has placed the Magic Tower inside the time chamber for territory security.
After a moment the system screen popped up and showed the rewards after the multiplier.
[Congratulations Luke! for getting 100 Refined Tier Fortress: Warwalker Fortress.]
[🏰 Refined Tier Fortress: Warwalker Fortress]
Type: Mobile Fortress / Defensive War Machine
Size: 10 metres
Core System: Central Aether Core
Mobility System: 8 Mechanical Spider Legs
Current Mode: Stationary Defence Mode
---
Core Concept:
The Warwalker Fortress is a refined-tier moving fortress designed for battlefield support and defensive warfare.
Unlike normal fortresses that require a fixed location, the Warwalker Fortress can move across the battlefield using its eight mechanical spider-like legs.
After reaching a strategic position, it can enter stationary mode and transform itself into a powerful defensive structure.
At that point, the fortress becomes a temporary battlefield stronghold.
---
After reading the info, Luke nodded with a satisfied expression. "Because with this, we have another means to defend in the middle of the battlefield." Then he clicked on the appearance button, which was showing its small hovering model. and read the description as well.
---
Appearance:
The fortress has a massive armoured body standing 10 metres tall. Its structure resembles a combination of a fortress tower and an advanced war machine.
Thick metal plating covers the exterior. While multiple defensive structures are built into the fortress body.
At the centre of the fortress lies a massive glowing Aether Core. And the core acts as the heart of the entire machine. which empowers weapons, defence, and shields.
---
After reading the appearance info and also checking the hologram, Luke smiled. ’A 10m-large armoured body. GOOD!’ With that thought, he checked it’s shield and weapons structure as well. Which was looking too cool.
---
Defensive System: Spherical Aether Shield
A powerful spherical shield surrounds the entire fortress.
The shield protects against:
• ranged attacks
• magic attacks
• explosive impacts
---
Weapon System: Small Cannon Array
The fortress contains: 10 Small Aether Cannons
Position: Around the outer walls.
Purpose:
• Anti-personnel attacks
• Suppression fire
• Battlefield control
The cannons can fire continuously.
---
Ballista Towers
The fortress contains: 4 Integrated Aether Ballista Towers
Position: Placed around the fortress structure.
Each tower requires: 1 Dedicated Operator
The operator controls:
• aiming
• firing direction
• attack timing
• target selection
Purpose:
• Long-range heavy attacks
• Armour penetration
• Anti-monster combat
• Precision strikes
---
Main Weapon: Aether Devastation Beam Cannon
Type: High-Power Siege Weapon
Location: Top/Main Core Section
Description: The strongest weapon of the Warwalker Fortress.
The fortress gathers energy from its central Aether Core and concentrates it into a massive destructive beam. Unlike normal weapons, this cannon requires charging time.
After reaching full charge: The attack can,
• destroy large structures
• break defensive formations
• heavily damage higher-rank opponents
{Due to the extreme energy concentration, the beam has a possibility of harming enemies above the fortress’s rank.}
---
Weakness: Because the main cannon consumes enormous energy,
• requires charging time
• temporarily lowers shield strength
• places stress on the Aether Core
If the core is damaged, all fortress systems weaken.
----
"INSANE!" Luke exclaimed but fortunately controlled his voice this time. Still, his face becomes fully shocked.
Because this is a walking tank but with an futuristic setting. "It can defend, carry tropes, attack, and even have mass destruction weapons for its own level."
That’s why it’s insane. And what’s even more insane? HE HAS F***ING 100s of these.
"Just think! Seeing 100s of 10m-tall fortresses, each firing an aether devastation cannon. Will that not even break the mountains apart?" Luke, with an excited expression, said this and thought; ’sadly, Nyx and Myrkhal were sleeping,’ or he would have shared this happiness with them as well.
"Even though its power is equal to Iron Knight’s. But on the battlefield, this can help tremendously." After saying this, he took a deep breath to calm his overexcited emotions.
Which was clearly saying, "Use this weapon now! BIG GUNS! BIG GUNS!" "Yeah, who doesn’t love big guns?
Finally, a few minutes later he calmed down and then checked the rewards from Naivara as well. With hope of finding something even more ridiculous.
[Emotions calculated. Second Wife Naivara Tidewhisper.]
[Yesterday’s emotions: a little jealousy/felt slight love/slight fear/hope, etc.]
"This..." Luke got silent after seeing this.
Because he also knows. that she didn’t fall in love with him like Aurielle. But...finding that she opens herself to him is already enough.
"Hope..." But the last word made him silent and emotional. because he can already guess, what does this mean? "Save me!" He looked towards the ceiling while clenching his fist.
How could he...forget that his wife was still placed as a trophy to be claimed? And he is currently powerless to do anything about this.
"I hate this feeling..." With moist eyes and a low voice, he muttered while keep staring towards the ceiling.
"1 year, that’s all I have!" Luke said with eyes that were filled with determination. Because he would become so strong that no one can touch his wife or even think of placing her as a trophy.
"Huff..." A few moments later, he got a little calmer and clicked to the reward section with a little down mood.
[Congratulations, 10,000x Return Activated.]
[You have gotten the D-rank rewards bundle.]
[100 Marinthians, Coral Guard Realm x 10,000]
[One E rank MARINTHIAN SEA SOVEREIGNTY SERIES x 10,000]
[Arcane tier Whispering Tide Conch (100 km range) x 10,000]
"Huh? D-Rank?" Upon reading the description, Luke becomes surprised. because he didn’t expect to get a D-rank reward from Naivara. As her feelings towards him have not developed much.
So he asked the system, on which the system mentioned. That Niara’s emotions are new and new emotions have more chance to bring higher-ranking rewards. Following that, system also added that the system rewards are also somehow affected by the target person’s rank.
Luke nodded in enlightenment because Naira is a peak silver rank, while Aurielle is a mid-bronze rank.
Then he shifted his attention back to the rewards, but his gaze turned to the last one first.
"Whispering Tide couch?" Once he read that name and also saw the range option. Luke already guessed what this reward will be. So he read its short description and confirmed.
"It’s a communication artefact, like a phone, just with limited range." His eyes lit up upon this. Because in this world far-distance communication is a luxury, which is often owned by nobles or high-ranking warriors.
Sadly, even though he was also a noble, he didn’t have anything related to communication.
"At least I have now. And I can also upgrade this as well." So without wasting any more time, he used 100x to upgrade the arcane tier to the noble tier (4th rank).
"System, show me the info of Noble Whispering Tide Couch."
[Chapter End]
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