Jason spent 5 Energy Crystals to purchase a discounted spear, followed by another 1.5 Energy Crystals for a round shield for Dilios.
The five spears were of ordinary quality, typically costing 10 Energy Crystals each. Dilios' buckler, however, was of fine quality, which Jason managed to buy after a 0.1% discount from the marketplace.
The remaining Energy Crystals went into buying a bag of discounted flour, leaving Jason with only a few crystals left.
Fortunately, one of the villagers was a cook, and there was a well within the territory. A single bag of flour would provide 25 units of food, enough to sustain the 11 people for two days.
For now, food wasn't an immediate concern, but Jason knew it wouldn't last long.
"It's time to explore!" he thought, despite the temporary safety his village offered. He wasn't about to get complacent.
Jason had his Spartan warriors gear up, ready for battle, and he headed over to Tinder to gather more information. He checked the [World Channel], where activity was intense.
The messages flowed quickly:
[I just walked out of the village and tried chopping some wood, but I ran into a gray wolf the size of a bison... Chaos Continent is too dangerous, I want to go back to Blue Star!]
[Hahaha, I signed a warrior at the start, I really have the appearance of an emperor!]
[I signed a mount with extraordinary potential, hahaha! I am the son of heaven in this battle of all races!]
[I signed in for a sword... not great, but at least it's something.]
[I signed a 20-person golden potential class.]
Jason skimmed through the messages. Some were bragging about rare finds, others complaining about bad luck.
One message caught his eye:
[The LV1 residents are really weak. I sent them to gather food, but a wild boar the size of a car killed six of them. The rest are badly injured.]
[I saw a dragon! A dragon breathing fire!]
The severity of the situation was sinking in. Creatures on the Chaos Continent were not only massive but incredibly dangerous. There were even legendary creatures like dragons.
Jason closed the World Channel and looked at his Spartan warriors, now ready for action.
"At this stage, survival is the priority," Jason murmured to himself. "We can't worry about hegemony just yet."
With the looming seven-day assessment, Jason knew his villagers' Black Iron potential wouldn't suffice for long-term survival. Even the wild beasts could easily destroy the settlement if they weren't prepared.
Walking out of the hut, Jason saw Dilios and the Spartans, who immediately saluted.
"Lord, our spears are ready!" Dilios declared. "We are born to fight, please let us lead you to victory!"
Jason smiled and nodded. "Go, my heroes, and return victorious."
"Yes, wise Lord!" Dilios and his warriors shouted, eager for battle.
Jason stood back, watching as the five Spartan warriors marched into the forest.
Suddenly, from the bushes, a venomous snake the size of a tree trunk lunged at the Spartans.
In a flash, Dilios spearheaded the attack, his spear piercing the snake's body and pinning it to a tree. The snake, writhing briefly, finally succumbed to the strike.
Jason's eyes widened in anticipation as the system prompt appeared:
[The Lord has gained 28 experience and 1 Soul Crystal!]
Jason's heart raced as he realized the Lord could share experience with his warriors.
Dilios threw the snake's carcass into the village territory, and two foragers, though fearful, bravely approached to collect the materials.
[You've collected: 5 units of snake meat (Common Food), 1 snake skin (Common Material), 1 pair of fangs (Common Material).]
After the successful hunt, Jason was feeling optimistic. But just as he turned his attention to the Spartans, three wild boars erupted from the bushes with fierce howls. One boar, massive and as large as a car, charged at the group.
Jason's heart raced again. "This is it," he muttered.
The wild boar and Dilios clashed with a roar. Dilios activated his Spartan Fury skill, the red aura of battle covering him as he raised his shield and readied his spear.
With a deafening crash, Dilios slammed his shield into the wild boar's skull, stunning it for a moment. Without hesitation, he drove the spear into its heart. The boar let out a final scream before collapsing to the ground, twitching as it bled out.
Jason's warriors had proved their worth, but the danger outside the village was far from over. There was much more to face in this chaotic world.