NOVEL NEXT Chapter91-New Unit
This sword art… it can be practiced long-term!
After only a brief moment of contemplation, Aurek had already reached this conclusion.
Back when he killed Butler Brown, Aurek had already come into contact with sword arts.
However, compared to the King's Swordsmanship, the techniques that Butler Brown used were nothing more than trash—utterly crude and without refinement.
In contrast, the King's Swordsmanship resonated with Aurek on a fundamental level.
Whether it was the aura of absolute dominion over the world, or the belief in the supremacy of royal authority, both of these aligned perfectly with his current needs.
Aurek even felt that the value of the King's Swordsmanship to him far exceeded anything he could currently imagine.
It was not merely a combat art—it was a philosophy, a weapon of rule, and a reflection of the throne itself.
There was no denying it—today's harvest had been tremendous!
And what's more, Aurek still had a massive reserve of 100,000 Emperor Points in his possession.
Yet this time, he chose not to continue upgrading recklessly. After all, the marketplace had not refreshed yet. Who could say if, after the next refresh, even stronger units or weapons would appear? Aurek still remembered the bitter regret of drooling over the Doomsday Warrior without the means to purchase it. To prevent such a scene from repeating, he decided to keep his points in reserve.
He reined in his thoughts and turned his full attention toward the Marketplace.
At present, the store still displayed the word SOLD OUT across every slot.
However, he knew that if he used a Shop Refresh Card, it would undoubtedly bring forth a new set of items. The real question was—would this refresh include new units?
"Use Shop Refresh Card!"
The very next moment, the once-empty shelves of the store shimmered, and brand-new items appeared before his eyes.
The instant Aurek caught sight of that familiar symbol, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Today was without a doubt his lucky day!
Inside the marketplace, a new unit had indeed refreshed once again!
But there was a catch—this particular unit came with a staggering price tag. To obtain it would require a full 100,000 Emperor Points, and even then, the specific type of unit acquired would be random!
So the dilemma arose: should he spend all 100,000 points at once, or use a Shop Exchange Card to guarantee the purchase?
After thinking it through, Aurek decisively chose to use one of his Shop Exchange Cards.
Those 100,000 points were far too valuable to waste in one go. And since he already possessed three Shop Exchange Cards, consuming a single one was hardly a loss.
[Would you like to use a Shop Exchange Card?]
Without hesitation, Aurek confirmed.
Almost instantly, a dazzling light erupted before his eyes.
It was golden in hue, radiant and sacred, shining with an aura that inspired reverence. The light swirled together, condensing into human-shaped forms.
These figures were massive, towering with strength. Each raised a colossal shield above their heads, exuding an imposing and unyielding presence.
[Congratulations! You have unlocked a new unit: Mountain Shieldbearer]
[Initial Level: Elite Rank Lv.7]
[Current Daily Summon Limit: 10]
[Special Traits: Omnidirectional Defense, Defense Conversion, Damage Reduction]
[Description: Warriors of extraordinary defensive might. To stand behind them is to feel an unparalleled sense of security.]
"Hm…" Aurek stroked his chin.
The Mountain Shieldbearer was undeniably powerful. Yet at the present stage, its practical utility for him seemed limited.
Units of this type were designed for the chaos of the frontline battlefield, where armies clashed head-on. But Aurek had not yet torn off the veil of diplomacy with the surrounding powers. Until open war broke out, this defensive unit wouldn't see its full potential.
Still, having such a unit in reserve was not a bad idea. As the situation escalated, it was inevitable that the battles of the open field would come. When that day arrived, the Mountain Shieldbearer would truly shine.
One particular trait especially caught Aurek's attention—Defense Conversion.
This ability allowed the unit to absorb any usable element from the environment and transform it into defensive power.
For example:
When facing an attack imbued with fire, the Shieldbearers could draw upon surrounding water elements to generate protective shields.When suffering physical strikes, they could absorb nearby metals, forging them into impenetrable plates of defense.
In short, whether confronted with physical assaults or elemental bombardments, the Mountain Shieldbearers possessed a countermeasure.
And to top it off, they also carried the innate ability of Damage Reduction.
As expected of a unit specialized entirely in defense—their resilience was monstrous, bordering on terrifying. Even if Aurek had no immediate use for them, having this as a trump card was invaluable.
Yet soon he found himself faced with another decision.
For the price of 50,000 Emperor Points, he could upgrade the Mountain Shieldbearers, granting them an immense boost—just like he had previously done with the Elemental Assassins and the Doomsday Warriors.
Should he invest here? Or conserve his points?
After only a moment of hesitation, Aurek clenched his fists and made his choice.
"Upgrade them. I must."
The balance of power across the continent was steadily shifting. The various factions were already preparing to reveal their true intentions, and large-scale war was all but inevitable. When that time came, the Mountain Shieldbearers would be indispensable. Better to strengthen them now and build their numbers.
Without delay, Aurek initiated the upgrade.
In an instant, the Mountain Shieldbearers rose to the same tier as his other elite units.
Now, each day he could summon up to 100 of them, and their initial level had risen to Elite Rank Lv.9!
[Would you like to summon this unit now?]
Aurek didn't even pause. He chose "Yes."
Golden radiance swept across the ground, and in the blink of an eye, 100 hulking warriors materialized before him.
Each was built like an iron wall—broad shoulders, muscular frames, their very presence exuding raw power. In their hands, they each wielded a shield the size of a door, enormous slabs of metal and earth.
"My lord, we thank you for your summons!"
As one, the 100 Mountain Shieldbearers dropped to their knees in reverence.
Aurek's eyes gleamed. "Show me what you're capable of."
The warriors immediately obeyed.
They formed into a line, shields raised high as though performing some sacred rite. Their colossal shields began to tremble ever so slightly, glowing with a faint earthen aura.
The ground beneath them stirred.
Streams of earth element surged upward from the soil, flowing directly into their shields. Before Aurek's very eyes, the massive shields thickened, layered with deep yellow stone-like reinforcements.
The transformation was rapid—tangible, visible, undeniable.
Aurek expected such a modification to make the shields unbearably heavy, burdening their wielders.
Yet what he saw shocked him—the warriors lifted and maneuvered their shields with ease, as though they were no heavier than folding fans.
"You… possess such immense strength?" Aurek asked in astonishment.
The leading Shieldbearer shook his head solemnly and spoke in a reverent tone.
"No, my lord. It is not mere strength. There exists between us and our shields… a sacred bond. No matter how heavy the shield becomes, in our hands, it will always feel light as air."
Aurek froze, momentarily speechless.
Could such a thing truly exist? A warrior whose burden grew stronger with him, yet never weighed him down?
As he pondered, the scene before him shifted yet again.
The Shieldbearers began to interlock their massive shields, stacking them together into an impenetrable wall. The warriors themselves became the foundation of a living fortress, forming a bulwark of steel and stone directly before Aurek.
The sight was breathtaking—a formation of absolute defense, unyielding and immovable.
Aurek's eyes narrowed with interest.
"You there. Test the shield's defense for me."