Chapter 5:The Final Countdown: Nexus City's Last Stand
30 minutes later,
Ash thinks deeply in his mind, I should do more to prepare for the monsters' attack. Maybe I should set some traps, get some suggestions from Evan. After all, he's from this world. He must know something about traps that could kill monsters.
As Ash is about to speak to Evan,
"My lord, why don't we create some traps for the monsters? After all, they'll only be able to use a narrow path to come here for the attack," Evan says, his eyes filled with nervousness.
Ash thinks to himself, you've got my thoughts, my friend. Does Evan have a mind-reading spell? Hmm… no. But he's a smart, talented person. He figured out how to strengthen the defense of the city. That's good for me and for the city. I do like smart people after all.
"Let's do it. We've got a few hours left before the monsters' attack," Ash says, his eyes shining brightly.
Then, Ash thinks of checking the status window for the monster attack.
A window pops up in front of his eyes.
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Time left before the attack: 2 hours, 0 mins
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"So, what kind of traps will we prepare in such a short time with this narrow area?" Ash asks, wide-eyed, smiling.
"My lord, we can create a spike pit using 6 woods and dig a shallow hole," Evan says, a confident smile on his face.
"Let's do it quickly and prepare for some rest before the monsters attack Nexus-city," Ash says, still smiling. He thinks to himself, it's a simple trap for a beginner, but it's quick to construct. I hope it help in killing monsters And it's better than nothing. Building complex traps in the city will take time, manpower, and the right talents, which I don't have right now. But I'll definitely build more complex traps in the future and make the strongest city in the world.
"Okay, my lord," Evan says with sincerity on his face.
"I'll dig the soil, and you can sharpen the wood with your sword. Then, help me dig the soil," Ash says with a commanding look.
"Okay, my lord. I'll try to complete my task quickly," Evan says, smiling.
"Okay, but make sure you do it perfectly. Otherwise, we'll have to fight the monsters without any traps, and that won't be good. The spikes need to be as sharp as possible," Ash says, his tone growing strict.
"Okay, my lord," Evan responds, his face nervous.
After 1 hour and 30 minutes,
Ash and Evan have almost finished the spike pit trap, and Ash checks the status window for the monster attack.
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Time left before the attack: 0 hours, 30 mins
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Ash and Evan finally complete the work.
"Now, let's rest before the attack," Ash says, wiping the sweat from his forehead, tiredness in his eyes. He thinks, Manual labour is exhausting. Maybe that's one of the downsides of being transmigrated into a different world, away from my peaceful planet. But I still prefer this compared to life on Earth, the blue planet. The air here is fresh, and the world offers a longer life. If old or wealthy people, or those with an adventurous spirit on Earth, were given the choice to come to Eldros, I think most of them would jump at the chance, even with the threat of death.
"Okay, my lord," Evan says, smiling, though sweat beads on his forehead.
After 25 minutes,
Ash stands there with his low-grade gun, a nervous expression on his face and fear bubbling in his mind. His legs aren't standing fully straight, but he doesn't care. He knows it's just the side effect of the unknown. When he fights the monsters, his whole body will join the battle. Evan, holding his low-grade sword tightly in his hand, stands in the area where the monsters are about to attack. Confidence fills his face, arrogance lingering in his thoughts.
Ash stares at the status window for the monster attack.
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Time left before the attack: 5 mins
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Time left before the attack: 4 mins
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Time left before the attack: 1 min 30 sec
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Time left before attack: 0 min 30 sec… Ash's breath quickens. The seconds feel like an eternity as his heart hammers in his chest. He grips his gun tighter, fighting the rising panic. I have to hold it together. I have to protect this city.
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Time left before the attack: 0 min 00 sec ...
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Ash thinks deeply, Now, the monster attack has started.
Then, a window pops up in front of him.
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System Task.
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Defend the Nexus-city for: 10 Mins
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Ash decides to check his city's "Status window" because the monsters haven't reached the city yet, and he wants to distract himself for a while.
A window pops up in front of Ash.
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City: Nexus City
Ability: Territory defense doubled
Description: In the event of city defense, all attack and defense power of people and buildings become doubled.
Altar level: 0
Area: 625 square meters
Status: Very small village
Building: Guide mark1 (active)
Warehouse: Wood * 34
Population: 2
Specialty: None
Attack power level: 0 (2/1000)
Description: City's power level to attack enemies
Defense power level: 0 (4/10000)
Description: City's defense power level against enemies.
Ash decides to check his own status, so he thinks, My status.
A window pops up in front of Ash.
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Name: Ash (Altar Owner)
Age: 24
Status: Healthy
Abilities: None
Level: 0
Weapon: Low-grade Gun, 20 bullets
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Ash's hands tremble slightly around his low-grade gun. I've done this before, I've been trained for this, he tells himself. But even with his experience, the fear gnaws at him. This is real. I can't afford mistakes now. And I'm going to kill these monsters with my dear gun.
He sees.
The night presses in with an unnatural stillness, the air thick and heavy. Not even a whisper of wind stirs the trees—just an eerie silence that clings to Nexus City, as if holding its breath. Ash feels the weight of it, the oppressive quiet before the storm.
After looking afar,
Ash sees a group of 12 monster rabbits approaching.
Among them, a leader monster rabbit is level 1.
Ash tries to see the status of these monsters.
A window pops up in front of his eyes.
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Gnawfang (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 1
Description: A small, rodent-like rabbit with oversized fangs capable of chewing through wood, leather, and even weak armour. It moves in packs, using its numbers to overwhelm prey.
Abilities:
Fast Reproduction – If not culled quickly, their numbers explode.
Gnawing Instinct – Can chew through doors, weak barriers, or ropes to escape traps.
Cowardly but Aggressive – Fights only when cornered or in large groups.
Weakness: Weak to fire and blunt attacks. Easily scared by loud noises.
Ash watches them carefully, then is fully sure that only the commanding one is level 1, and the other 11 rabbit monsters are level 0.
He tries to see the status of a level 0 monster.
A window pops up in front of Ash.
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Gnawfang (Low-Grade Monster)
Rank: F-rank
Level: 0
Description: A small, rodent-like rabbit with oversized fangs capable of chewing through wood, leather, and even weak armour. It moves in packs, using its numbers to overwhelm prey.
Abilities:
Fast Reproduction – If not culled quickly, their numbers explode.
Gnawing Instinct – Can chew through doors, weak barriers, or ropes to escape traps.
Cowardly but Aggressive – Fights only when cornered or in large groups.
Weakness: Weak to fire and blunt attacks. Easily scared by loud noises.
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Ash thinks deeply, these monsters look scary, but I can surely kill them. The level 1 monster could complicate things, though. I hope it dies in the trap. I need to think of the best strategy to deal with these mindless monsters.
Then,
Ash says to Evan, "Follow my command," his face serious.
"Okay, my lord," Evan says, his face matching Ash's seriousness.