Chapter 645.5: Swordmaster and Monk
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Arrows shot forth, precisely striking the charging Wraith monsters.
The natural energy attached to them blasted fist-sized holes in their chests.
The heavily damaged Wraith monsters grew dim and gradually faded into incorporeal forms.
A few more arrows whizzed through the air, striking the weakened Wraiths and blasting them into fragments.
Two glittering soul crystals dropped to the ground, their dazzling glow drawing cheers from the adventurers.
The adventurers used their own voices to "counter" the Wraiths' shrill and mournful howls.
The terrifying screeches echoed in her ears, and Laura couldn't help but shake her head.
She felt negative emotions and thoughts surging in, knowing she had reached her combat limit. She turned to Alice, still drawing her bow beside her, and said:
"I'm heading down to rest."
Alice nodded reflexively. Seeing the Wraiths had all been wiped out, she waved for the cleanup crew to enter the battlefield, then turned to comfort her:
"When fighting these Wraiths, be mindful of your mental state. Don't let their soul shocks affect you."
"Go take a good break and relax. Once you're in shape again, apply for redeployment. I'll save your spot."
"Don't worry about loot either. The magic wristwatch and standard records will log your battle contribution..."
Looking at Alice's usual calm demeanor, Laura noticed she seemed completely unaffected by the soul shocks.
Suddenly, a critical realization struck Laura.
Bay Territory had developed training methods for mental resistance long before venturing into the Desert of Death.
Could they have anticipated the appearance of Wraith monsters all along?
The thought sparked a flash of clarity in Laura's eyes.
Most battles in the Desert of Death were probably within Bay Territory's calculated plans.
They had prepared well in advance, which was why they handled the Wraiths so smoothly.
Even the adventurers fighting alongside them were raking in hefty profits.
The more the adventurers earned, the more they trusted Bay Territory.
Bay Territory, in turn, gained immense benefits from the adventurers, achieving their goals while making a fortune.
This kind of mutual cooperation gave Laura much inspiration.
She felt a rush of excitement—maybe she had just discovered the secret to rapid territorial development.
Unfortunately, Laura's idea was too "naïve"!
Just as she was leaving the battlefield, something stunned her completely.
A towering city wall, bathed in dusk's glow, shimmered with a soft, radiant sheen.
Unable to resist, Laura entered and saw many busy construction golems and Bay Territory's builders.
Most buildings were just beginning construction, but the adventurer hall and lodging complex were already completed.
Some staff were actively installing various magical devices in the hall and buildings.
The rich aroma of food drew Laura in, and she found a large group of adventurers happily chowing down.
Even picky Laura found Bay Territory's cuisine a delightful experience.
Here she could taste exotic fruits, enjoy unique honey, and indulge in her favorite—beef.
Elves were never just vegetarians!
They've always loved meat!
Bay Territory's beef was especially remarkable—firm, chewy, sweet, and rich. Every bite gave Laura a new experience.
Even better, they had various ways to cook the same cut of beef.
Of all these, Laura loved a particular preparation style the most.
Neck beef—tougher, great for stir-fry.
Chewy and full of flavor.
Ribeye—great for searing or deep-frying.
Laura adored it in skewered form—juicy, greasy, utterly satisfying.
Eye of round—cut vertically from between the 6th and 7th thoracic vertebrae to between the 12th and 13th, just below the longissimus dorsi.
It was thick and perfect for hotpot—rich and delicious.
Laura could devour several pounds in one go.
But her ultimate favorite was shoulder beef.
Sliced from both sides of the scapula.
Chewy and satisfying—Bay Territory's marinated beef was Laura's go-to snack.
She could never get tired of it!
Best for stewing, boiling, or marinating.
Bay Territory's signature grilled steak.
Marbled with fat and tender in texture.
It sizzled on the grill, oozing juices—simply irresistible.
Even Laura's old favorite—braised beef—
Had its own dedicated cut here.
Specially selected brisket!
While she'd grown bored of the usual potato stew, Bay Territory's braised brisket and brisket noodles were her favorite breakfast treats.
Laura even learned to cook one dish herself—
Stir-fried beef tenderloin.
She was passionate about it, always thinking of bringing it home to her family.
Even ox head, tail, and shank had multiple cooking styles.
Not to mention the beef blood, heart, liver, intestines—all things she never imagined eating before.
These opened her eyes—and after every battle or training session, she indulged in a full beef feast.
Though she could eat over ten pounds in one sitting—
That was still too little compared to an entire cow.
Part of why Laura wanted the Dragon Warrior transformation was to boost her appetite and capacity.
Yep, she was a massive foodie!
As she savored the food, Laura carefully studied the city under construction.
Compared to other desert towns, this one was clearly much larger.
Over 12-meter-tall thick walls.
Magic cannons and heavy ballistae being hoisted up.
Tall watchtowers.
Deep underground excavations.
All of it showed how seriously Bay Territory valued this city.
During construction—
What drew Laura's attention most—
Wasn't the magical cement mixers in each center.
But the large number of spellcasters using magical illusions while directing construction.
"You'll see spellcasters working everywhere in Bay Territory."
That was how many adventurers described it.
But to more observant people, it raised deeper questions.
Some even suspected it was a deliberate smokescreen.
A show of strength—implying Bay Territory had ample spellcasters and a unique training system.
After all, even in Sevinton, the "City of Spellcasters," no one was extravagant enough to use mages to farm or build houses.
More importantly, most non-spellcaster professionals and common folk didn't agree with that view.
Noble, mysterious, powerful spellcasters—doing menial work?
Laura used to dismiss such talk as a joke.
But seeing it with her own eyes in Bay Territory, she slowly came to accept it.
"Do what your ability allows."
"Making money's not shameful."
"No job is beneath anyone!"
"Every profession plays a vital role. Bay Territory's success depends on everyone."
"Leveling up your job and skills improves everyone's life."
"Your contribution defines your value..."
"..."
These unique slogans intrigued Laura when she first arrived.
But once they became reality, her feelings changed completely.
Bay Territory wasn't just talk!
This massive city was coming together before her eyes.
She bet it would be fully operational in two days—achieving what other territories and Kingdoms couldn't in a century.
Feeling the speed, savoring the food, Laura took a deep breath and made up her mind:
"Time's on our side. Let's watch this unfold."
Two days later—
Nearly 100,000 adventurers arrived in the newly built city.
All drawn by the endless stream of Wraith monsters.
Bay Territory opened over 20 small and large battlefields on the mist's edge.
Using the city as a base, they set up outposts and camps to completely control the fog zone.
Every day, waves of Wraith monsters poured out of the mist to attack the adventurers.
The adventurers fought back fiercely with magical weapons and gear purchased from Bay Territory.
Any team willing to fight—even the unluckiest ones—could earn three or four soul crystals a day.
That meant 200–300 gold per adventurer, equal to half a year's income for many.
Top adventurer teams earned even more.
Lucky high-tier adventurers made over 1,000 gold daily.
Even for them, it was a sizable haul.
Even Extraordinary adventurers who usually avoided combat gave it their all in these days.
Thousands of gold in a day, and with almost no risk.
Even the rich couldn't resist!
What really drew them in was the gear—Extraordinary-level magical equipment sold in the hall.
Top quality, budget prices.
Normally, such items would cost two to three times more—
And were often impossible to obtain!
In Bay Territory, as long as you had enough merit and money, you could buy however much you wanted.
Many Extraordinary adventurers hadn't yet completed the Dragon Warrior transformation—
But through battle, they were surprised to find they'd already assembled a full top-tier set of enchanted gear.
Nearly every adventurer got what they wanted!
Bay Territory's control over the region only kept growing.
Other factions and Kingdoms tried to intervene—
But Bay Territory's reputation among adventurers was unbeatable.
Their offers paled in comparison to the benefits Bay Territory provided.
If it were just profit-driven, maybe some adventurers would waver.
But Bay Territory did everything right.
Anyone who came—adventurers or professionals—got what they wanted.
Comfortable housing.
A free home with magical furniture and tools.
Education for children—
Fully free, stress-free, fair Professional Training.
Great career prospects.
Easy, profitable jobs, fast professional advancement, specialized training.
Aside from absolute power, any dream could be achieved through hard work.
How could such a wonderful land not be attractive?
Of course, Matthew noticed the noise—but he didn't care.
In the desolate Desert of Death, Bay Territory's city was the only place that could field massive forces.
Other powers couldn't afford to send elite troops this far.
The time and cost of transport and battle were astronomical.
Bay Territory had invested nearly a billion gold into transforming the Desert.
Nearly all of its revenue from the first four months of the year had gone into this.
With this level of investment, a powerful army, and a permanent base in the desert—
Bay Territory had the confidence to explore the desert's underground ruins.
The daily flood of Wraiths, bringing endless soul crystals—was just the appetizer.
The main course hadn't even arrived yet!
But Matthew wasn't in a hurry to explore.
He patiently let Bay Territory continue building strength and resources.
With each passing day—
They banked millions more in pure profit.
Their control over the desert grew.
More adventurers were unknowingly drawn into Bay Territory.
Its combat power surged silently.
At the same time, Bay Territory absorbed tech from shallow ruins nearby.
The longer they waited, the greater their advantage.
The ones getting anxious were the others—not the rapidly growing Bay Territory.
Besides, Matthew was preparing to establish Bay Territory's new Swordmaster class and profession path.
Swordmaster and Monk!