Chapter 129: Mobile Merit, Walking Treasures

Aiden looked at Silas first.

"Your defensive capabilities will determine how much room the rest of us have to operate. But ordinary defensive equipment won’t be enough against specialized enemies."

He reached into the portable storage associated with [Alderton’s Alchemy Workbench] and retrieved several items.

The first was a bottle containing a viscous liquid that glowed with a soft white radiance.

"Lesser Holy Light Coating. Apply it to your weapon or shield before engaging undead enemies. It temporarily grants a weak holy attribute, allowing your attacks to inflict additional damage on suitable targets."

Next, he produced several enchanted metal plates that radiated a faint warmth.

"Basic Fire Resistance Rune Plates. These can be embedded into your armor to improve your resistance to fire-based attacks. They won’t make you immune, but every bit of protection matters when facing Orc shamans and other enemies capable of exploiting elemental weaknesses."

Finally, he handed Silas a bottle of dark amber liquid.

"Sturdy Barrier Concoction. I developed this formula using my previous life’s knowledge and Alderton’s alchemical notes. It temporarily enhances your durability, increases your effective health, and provides some resistance to control effects."

Silas examined the items with undisguised interest.

"With these, I should be able to withstand much more punishment."

"That’s the objective, but equipment alone won’t make you effective."

Aiden brought up a training display.

"During the next seven days, you need to become familiar with every one of these items. You must know when to use them, how long their effects last, and how to combine them without wasting their duration."

He highlighted two of Silas’s abilities.

"At the same time, focus on improving your War Stomp and Violent Strike. War Stomp can disrupt groups of weaker enemies and create openings against clustered formations. Violent Strike will be more important when we need to eliminate elite enemies or inflict decisive damage on a boss."

Aiden’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"I’ll arrange combat simulations based on the attack patterns of the Undead and Orc races. You’ll train against different formations and learn to adapt when enemies change their tactics."

Silas gripped the items firmly, his usual grin returning.

"Don’t worry, Sir Aiden. I’ll learn to use these things as naturally as my shield."

"Good. I’ll hold you to that."

Aiden turned toward Luna.

"Luna, your role is different. Your spells will provide most of our ranged damage and battlefield control. We need to make every cast count."

The violet-eyed girl straightened attentively.

"Your training will focus on three things."

He raised one finger.

"First, spell selection and combinations."

The holographic display showed several elemental symbols.

"Against the Undead, prioritize lightning and fire where their individual weaknesses make those elements effective. Lightning can be particularly useful against certain spiritual or magically sustained entities, while fire provides sustained damage against vulnerable targets."

The display shifted to a group of Orc warriors.

"Against the Orcs, ice can help slow advancing enemies and interfere with some shamanistic abilities. Area-of-effect fire spells can punish tightly grouped formations and disrupt charges, provided you use them before the enemy reaches our frontline."

He looked at Luna.

"I want you to switch between elements quickly without sacrificing accuracy or wasting mana. During combat, you must be able to identify the most useful spell for the situation and adjust your casting rhythm accordingly."

"I’ll work on it," Luna promised.

"Second, the tactical application of your Heavenly Karmic Dice."

Luna’s expression grew more focused.

"Your ability shouldn’t be treated as a passive source of good luck. I want you to explore how its effects can influence actual combat outcomes."

Aiden brought up two entries on the display.

"Test whether Minor Good Luck can improve your chances of landing critical hits or help you maintain stable casting under pressure. Likewise, determine whether Minor Misfortune can interfere with the actions of key enemies, such as an Undead Mage attempting to summon reinforcements or an Orc Warlord preparing a powerful war cry."

He paused.

"Don’t assume the effects will work exactly as you hope. Record what happens, identify the limitations, and learn when using the dice is worth the opportunity cost."

Luna nodded thoughtfully.

She had often relied on the ability’s unpredictable effects to improve her chances, but Aiden wanted her to approach it as a tactical tool that could be tested, refined, and incorporated into a coordinated strategy.

"Understood."

"Third, coordination."

Aiden displayed a simulated formation showing Silas holding the frontline while Luna attacked from behind.

"Your timing with Silas and me needs to become more precise. When Silas draws enemy attention, you must know when to attack, when to disrupt the enemy’s formation, and when to conserve mana."

The formation changed, showing Aiden moving through a group of enemies.

"When I use Sky-Splitting Slash to break through a formation or execute a priority target, you need to create the right opening. Use control spells to prevent enemies from interfering, or coordinate your attacks with mine to finish them before they can recover."

He retrieved several more items from his portable storage.

"These are for you."

He handed her several improved Elemental Damage Boost Scrolls, a bottle of Mental Focus Potion, and a collection of gems containing different elemental energies.

"The scrolls will temporarily enhance the corresponding elemental spells. The potion improves mana regeneration and casting stability. Use the gems to practice recognizing and switching between elemental energies. They’ll also help you become more familiar with the properties of the elements you’re less accustomed to handling."

Luna carefully accepted the items.

"I understand, Sir Aiden. I’ll make the most of the time we have."

Aiden nodded.

With the assignments distributed and the immediate preparations underway, Dark Abyss had begun moving toward a single objective.

To outsiders, the organization might appear to be doing nothing more than stockpiling supplies, training its members, and securing a few locations.

In reality, each action was part of a much larger plan.

And Aiden had no intention of allowing his enemies to discover its full scope.

Later, Aiden walked alone into the deeper reaches of the cavern.

The sounds of activity faded behind him until only the faint trickle of underground water remained.

He stopped before a rough rock wall and slowly drew the Devouring Soul Blade.

The weapon’s dark, gilded edge caught the dim light, reflecting his cold, composed features.

His preparations extended far beyond the instructions he had just issued.

Through Marcus’s channels, Aiden had already obtained intelligence on the preparation strategies and resource allocations of several major guilds.

He knew the Dragon Sovereign Guild was redirecting its remaining resources toward combat readiness. Damien was undoubtedly trying to stabilize his authority while positioning his forces to compete for the highest World Event ranking.

He also knew the Ironhelm Guild had begun contacting surviving military forces in an attempt to secure heavy-firepower support.

Meanwhile, the Valkyr Guild was aggressively acquiring engineering materials, suggesting that its leaders intended to construct defensive fortifications or develop specialized war machines.

Each faction had its own strategy.

Each was scrambling to prepare for the invasion.

And none of them understood the full extent of what Dark Abyss already knew.

Aiden’s advantage wasn’t simply that he possessed information about the future. It was that he knew which information mattered, how to act on it, and when to turn it into something tangible.

He knew which supplies would become valuable, which locations would produce the greatest rewards, and which enemies could be defeated for the lowest possible cost.

More importantly, he understood that possessing an advantage meant little if he failed to exploit it before others caught up.

He slowly ran his fingertips along the blade’s cold edge.

"Stockpiling supplies, securing strategic locations, and strengthening our combat capabilities..."

He murmured the words to himself.

"Those are just the fundamentals."

His gaze shifted toward the holographic map visible through the cavern’s entrance, where several coordinates marked as high-value initial outposts remained highlighted.

"What truly separates us from everyone else is what we do while they’re busy preparing to defend themselves."

A faint, dangerous smile touched his lips.

"While they’re trying to survive the invasion, we’ll be hunting the invaders. While they’re struggling to secure their first rewards, we’ll already be moving toward the next targets."

He raised the Devouring Soul Blade, its dark edge glimmering faintly in the underground light.

"Minimum cost. Maximum gains."

That was the principle he intended to follow.

There was no reason to waste his strength fighting every enemy or competing over every available resource. He needed only to identify the most valuable opportunities, seize them before his rivals could react, and turn each victory into an advantage for the next battle.

The coming invasion would provide countless opportunities for those capable of recognizing them.

Aiden intended to claim as many as possible.

The countdown continued ticking toward zero.

Across Eclipse Online, players were still arguing about the effectiveness of Holy Water, searching for the fastest ways to gain levels, and desperately trying to find reliable groups before the invasion began.

Some were stockpiling whatever supplies they could afford. Others were joining guilds in the hope that stronger allies would protect them when the first enemies arrived.

Most had no idea what awaited them.

Meanwhile, Dark Abyss’s preparations proceeded according to the blueprint Aiden had laid out. Supplies were being acquired through concealed channels, forward positions were being secured, and its core combatants were beginning their specialized training.

The organization wasn’t merely preparing to resist the invasion.

It was preparing to exploit it.

And the enemies about to cross the boundary would discover that the greatest danger awaiting them wasn’t necessarily the armies of players struggling to defend their homes.

It was the group already waiting for them, armed with foreknowledge, carefully prepared strategies, and an appetite for every reward they carried.

To most players, the incoming invaders were a threat to civilization.

To Aiden Cross, they were something else entirely.

Mobile Merit. Walking Treasures.

And Dark Abyss was already preparing to collect.