SSS Awakening: I Can Devour Gods to Evolve My Goddesses

"Someone was watching this place."

The last trace of silver light vanished from Veyra’s fingertip.

Cassian did not answer immediately.

"How strong?"

"Judging only by that attempt at spying?" Veyra considered it. "About the level of a Level 3 or 4 Epic caster."

Her tone remained flat.

"Of course, if they wanted to actually see anything useful from me, they’re still far from capable."

Cassian frowned instead.

Epic.

It was still the first day, and someone already had a hero at that level—and had started actively probing other Domains.

That was not good news.

"From now on, don’t go too far from me."

Veyra raised a brow. "Afraid someone will steal me?"

"Afraid you’ll see something valuable and be too far away to tell me in time."

She stared at him.

"Cassian."

"Mm?"

"You could occasionally say something normal."

Cassian was already turning away.

"When I have time."

——

Two hours later, the four Blackfang scouting groups returned one after another.

Around the Forgotten Shrine, most of the war mist across roughly a hundred square kilometers had been torn open.

[Rare Resource Points Discovered: 6]

[Common Resource Points Discovered: 18]

Among them were two Black Oak groves, a Moonrice Patch, a small Aether Crystal mine, two herb-growing areas, and plenty of ordinary stone, timber, and beast territory.

The resource density was nothing absurd, but it was more than enough for early development.

During the two hours the Blackfang were out scouting, Cassian had also used the basic construction options unlocked at Rank I to queue three more buildings. By the time the scouts returned, all three were complete.

The first was a defensive tower.

[Repeater Ballista Tower]

[Level: 1]

[Combat Rating: 8★]

[Range: 200 meters]

[Rate of Fire: 2 shots / 5 seconds]

[Upgrade Cost: Refined Iron ×50 / Black Oak ×200 / Battle Essence ×1,000]

Cassian’s eyes went to the thousand-point Battle Essence upgrade cost.

"Expensive appetite."

Building the tower was easy. Keeping it upgraded would be the costly part.

He opened the second building.

[Wandering Stall]

[Level: 1]

[Current Goods:]

[Minor Healing Potion — 128 Aether Crystal]

[Gloom Lure — 128 Aether Crystal]

[Goods Refresh: 12:05:32]

Cassian’s attention went straight to the final item.

[Gloom Lure]

[Quality: Special]

[Effect: Strongly attracts Dark-type monsters and can deliberately trigger a Dark Monster Tide appropriate to the current Domain rank.]

[If used at night, the monster tide doubles in size.]

Cassian read it for several seconds.

Then he smiled.

Veyra happened to walk over. "What did you find?"

"Monsters."

She glanced at the panel. "That thing is not meant to help you avoid them."

"I know."

Cassian bought it immediately.

[Aether Crystal -128]

The Gloom Lure entered storage.

There was no reason to use it yet. The Forgotten Shrine was still only Rank I; a tide at this stage would mostly bring monsters between Level 1 and Level 5.

Once the Domain reached Rank II, the corresponding monster level would rise above five.

More Battle Essence.

And, more importantly, a better chance of finding something worth devouring.

Cassian also bought one Minor Healing Potion before heading to the newly completed Forge.

The fires were already burning.

The first recruited blacksmith came over from the furnace carrying a longsword that had just finished quenching.

"Lord Vale. The first batch of Refined Iron has arrived."

He offered the sword with both hands.

"This is the first Level 5 standard sword, forged to your specifications."

Cassian took it.

[Blacksteel Sword]

[Quality: Refined]

[Level: 5]

[Sharpness: 9]

[Durability: 6]

[Strength +2]

[Endurance +1]

It was far better than the starter shortsword the Packlord had bent.

"Cost?"

"Including Refined Iron, fuel, and Aether Crystal, roughly four hundred."

Cassian nodded.

"Keep making them. Same specifications."

The blacksmith hesitated. "All of them?"

"Yes. Use as much Refined Iron as we have."

"Yes, Lord Vale."

Cassian left the Forge with the Blacksteel Sword in hand.

Veyra glanced at it.

"That one is finally usable."

"Mm."

"Then replace that piece of scrap you’ve been carrying."

Cassian looked at the new sword.

Then opened the Regional Exchange.

[List Blacksteel Sword for sale?]

"Yes."

[Auction / Buyout]

He selected the second option.

[Buyout Price: 5,000 Aether Crystal]

Veyra turned her head.

"What did you say it cost?"

"Four hundred."

"And you’re asking five thousand?"

"Mm."

"You think someone will buy it?"

"How many Domains in this region can produce Refined weapons reliably right now?"

Veyra did not answer.

Cassian closed the panel.

"So five thousand isn’t expensive."

"They’re just poor."

Veyra was silent for a moment.

"I’m starting to believe you actually used to be a merchant."

"I wasn’t."

"Then why are you so practiced at this?"

Cassian considered the question.

"The academy taught mathematics."

Veyra stared at him.

——

By mealtime, dozens of newly arrived Settlers were still working throughout the Domain—cutting timber, moving stone, repairing broken walls.

Cassian had the meat hunted by the Blackfang sent directly to the communal kitchens.

"Don’t ration the meat. Everyone eats until they’re full today."

After a moment of stunned silence, cheers broke out across the settlement.

[Settler Morale +5]

[Territory Stability: Slightly Increased]

Cassian barely looked at the notices.

His own meal had already arrived: grilled meat and a small bowl of rice that shimmered faintly silver.

It came from the newly discovered Moonrice Patch.

[Moonrice Meal]

[Quality: Refined Food]

[Effect: Slightly increases Aether recovery and provides a minor benefit to meditation and training.]

The aroma had barely spread before Veyra sat down across from him.

"Where’s mine?"

Cassian looked at her. "Gods need dinner?"

"I’m sealed like this right now." Veyra sounded entirely reasonable. "Why shouldn’t I eat?"

Cassian pushed the second serving toward her.

Veyra took one bite.

Stopped.

Then took another.

Cassian watched her. "Good?"

"Ordinary."

She pulled the bowl a little closer to herself.

Cassian chose not to comment.

There had been three servings in total.

One for him.

One for Veyra.

The last went straight onto the Regional Exchange.

[Moonrice Meal]

[Buyout Price: 200 Aether Crystal]

The listing had been public for less than a second.

[Transaction Complete.]

Cassian checked the buyer.

[Seraphine Valcrest]

Her again.

The regional channel erupted almost immediately.

"Moonrice?"

"Refined Food?!"

"It’s still the first day!"

"I’m eating System Rations hard enough to kill someone if I throw them!"

"Two hundred crystals for one meal?"

"Who’s insane enough to—"

"It already sold..."

"Damn it! List another one!"

"Where did Cassian’s Domain even spawn?"

"First an Iron Vein, now a Moonrice Patch?"

"How many resources does he have?"

Then someone noticed the earlier listing.

"Wait."

"He also listed a Refined Blacksteel Sword?"

"Five thousand crystals?"

"That’s robbery."

"Why is he selling a weapon that good?"

Lucan Deyne soon offered his explanation.

"Probably another lucky drop. He must have something better for himself."

"His starting area really is ridiculous."

Cassian read the messages while eating and replied almost casually.

[Cassian Vale: No. I just don’t need it right now.]

The channel froze for a heartbeat.

Then—

"What?"

"You don’t need a Refined weapon?"

"What are you using?"

Cassian looked down at the starter sword beside his foot—the one the Packlord had bent and he had hammered roughly straight again.

[Cassian Vale: Starter sword.]

The channel exploded.

"You’re using a starter sword while selling a Refined one?"

"Are you insane?"

"That isn’t even humblebragging anymore!"

"I want to go rob him myself!"

Veyra looked up from her meal.

"What does ’humblebragging’ mean?"

"No idea."

Cassian kept eating.

A system notification sounded.

[Your listed Blacksteel Sword has been purchased at the buyout price.]

[Aether Crystal +5,000]

Cassian paused.

Someone had actually paid five thousand?

He had deliberately listed it high. His real target price had been closer to three thousand.

Who needed it badly enough to pay that much?

He opened the transaction record.

The moment he saw the name, his expression shifted slightly.

[Buyer: Elara Vayne]