strenghtening forces for conquest

Observing the portal and its fluctuations, Eamon felt a sense of unease at the prospect of bringing people into a place he had originally sought to escape.

However, he realized he couldn't afford such thoughts; he needed every advantage to expand his territory.

The portal was a piece of his territory, a means for lords to obtain formidable fighters or athletic youths like Malakai, bolstering his troops under the command of his lieutenants.

Eamon was eager to see the strength of his new followers.

The two figures materialized within the aura of the portal.

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One figure appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties, slightly overweight with a bald head.

He wore a tweed suit that, while slightly outdated, was immaculately clean and pressed, with round metal-framed glasses perched on his nose.

He let out a startled cry and stumbled backward, falling to his knees in fear at the sight of Malakai and Roxy.

A slender woman, petite in stature, stood beside the man. She wore jeans and a fitted black t-shirt, her dark hair falling loosely around her shoulders. As the man stumbled backward, she quickly crouched down behind him, seeking refuge from the creatures that loomed before them.

Klac burst into laughter behind Eamon, causing the man in tweed to burst into tears and the woman to cover her eyes and curl up into a fetal position.

Klac, still chuckling, remarked to Eamon, "They look quite efficient, don't they?"

He chuckled again before adding, "They remind me of you when you first arrived."

Eamon shot a dark glance at Klac before stepping closer to the two individuals.

"Don't worry," he reassured them in a calm voice. "You've been brought here to help me with my territory."

The man in tweed attempted to speak, but his voice faltered, failing to produce any audible sound. Observing their distress, Eamon approached them with a reassuring demeanor.

"Are you Lord Eamon?" the young woman inquired, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she looked up at him.

Eamon nodded in confirmation.

"There was a message," she continued, her voice trembling slightly. "It appeared to me, urging me to assist you and become one of your core followers."

Eamon listened intently, his brow furrowed in concentration as the woman spoke of the message. "Yes, that's normal," he reassured her gently. "Just like you're able to see your attribute panel. Everything will become clearer as we go along."

Turning to the man in tweed, who appeared to be grappling with his words, Eamon waited for him to collect his thoughts.

Finally, the man managed to speak, his words tinged with uncertainty. "Are those monsters with you?" he asked.

"They're not monsters," Eamon explained patiently. "They're allies. And as long as you don't act against my interests, you have nothing to fear."

He paused, "As you know, my name is Eamon. Could you introduce yourselves?"

The man in tweed took a deep breath, composing himself before responding. "My name is Richard Owen," he began, his voice shaky with nervousness. "I'm a hydrologist. I study water resources, including its distribution, movement, and quality."

Eamon nodded before turning his attention to the woman beside him. "And you?" he asked.

The woman hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I'm Emma Layton," she replied, her voice soft. "I'm a pastry chef."

"Welcome, Richard and Emma," Eamon said warmly.

Richard cast nervous glances at the undead creatures and Klac's floating skull, his terror palpable.

"Thank you, Lord Eamon," Richard managed to say, his voice trembling.

Emma echoed his sentiment with a small smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of unease. "Yes, thank you," she added softly.

Eamon felt uneasy as Richard and Emma thanked him, knowing their presence was a result of his own actions.

"Is there a way for us to go back?" Richard inquired.

Eamon shook his head slightly with a sigh. "I'm afraid I don't have the ability to send you back," he admitted regretfully. "But rest assured, I will do everything I can to find a way to connect this place to Earth."

Eamon couldn't shake off the thought of what his life would be like if he could merge the comforts and technologies of Earth with his powers.

"Thank you for being honest with me, Lord Eamon," Richard said, his voice tinged with resignation.

Emma glanced at Eamon. "I understand," she replied softly. "I'll do my best to adapt to this situation."

Eamon nodded, appreciating their understanding.

"Malakai, give them a tour of the territory, equip them with spears, and teach them some hunting techniques," Eamon requested.

"I'll take care of it, Master," Malakai responded with a nod.

Richard then inquired nervously, "Will I have to be alone with the creature?"

Eamon and Malakai exchanged glances but chose to ignore the question.

Eamon turned to Roxy. "Roxy, you will accompany Malakai and the newcomers into the forest. Ensure their protection while they gather materials for spear construction and help them with the hunt."

Roxy's eyes sparkled, and she emitted eager chirps.

"Follow me," Malakai instructed the newcomers. "We'll start by gathering materials for your spears."

They left the main chamber of the cave accompanied by Roxy.

Eamon turned his attention to Fred and ordered him, "I want you to gather some stones to reinforce the territory's defenses."

Eamon decided to rest, feeling slightly fatigued.

As he lay down on the cave floor, Eamon felt the embrace of sleep gradually enveloping him.

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After a prolonged slumber, Eamon awoke, sensing a soft fur against his body. Upon opening his eyes, he found Roxy curled up around him.

Eamon realized that he had slept longer than expected.

Eamon observed the two newcomers conversing quietly with Malakai in the center of the underground chamber. He noticed that they were eating black-colored berries while talking, each with a spear resting beside them.

A little further away, he spotted Fred, Cassandra, and the ghoul eagle.

In a corner, a massive pile of corpses caught his eye, immediately snapping him out of his state of lethargy.

Malakai approached Eamon upon seeing him awaken. "Master," Malakai greeted as he approached. "I've got a report for you."

"Tell me," Eamon inquired, rubbing his eyes.

"You slept during several hours and it's evening. Cassandra brought back 5 rat corpses and 4 corpses of giant rabbits," Malakai began. "And while accompanying the two humans, Roxy and I managed to kill 6 rats."

"Fred has also reinforced the cave exits with stone barriers," he added.

"Thank you, Malakai," Eamon replied.

Eamon hesitated to absorb the animals at that moment.

He felt confident in his ability to defend himself but preferred not to rush into the forefront of the initial battles against other lords, given the unpredictability of their powers.

His priority was to strengthen his troops first, as they would be on the front lines.

Eamon approached the corpses and signaled for Malakai, Fred, and Roxy to join him.

He then utilized his attribute transmission power on all three simultaneously. Quickly, the pile of corpses shrank, desiccated, while the bodies of his summons cracked and expanded.

Roxy's body enlarged, taking on even larger proportions than before. Her teeth elongated, and her claws grew sturdier, taking on a steel-like hue.

Fred's toes lengthened and widened, with claws emerging from them. His big toes separated from the others, and his feet expanded. His jaw widened, and his canines elongated.

Malakai's body grew until it stood just over 2 meters tall. His muscles broadened, and his nails lengthened into sturdy points. His skin hardened and darkened until it gleamed with a glossy black hue, with blue highlights reminiscent of a raven's plumage. Long, black hair sprouted from his head, and a small horn emerged from the right side of his skull, appearing as sharp as a razor blade.

Eamon couldn't contain his excitement as he watched the transformations unfold, while Klac scrutinized Malakai and Fred with keen interest, his eyes alight with curiosity.

Eamon believed they could now embark on an expedition against the other Lord.

As if to confirm his thoughts, a message appeared before his eyes.

<Congratulations, your creature has evolved>