WorldCrafter - Building My Underground Kingdom-Chapter 83: Venom & Storm

Ben envisioned a partial rooftop—something that wouldn't block their field of fire but would provide enough cover to shield them from incoming attacks. He needed a balance. If the openings were too small, they'd have blind spots in their defenses. If they were too wide, it would defeat the entire purpose.

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He quickly pulled up the creation interface and started drafting a design. The structure would be reinforced Grimslate beams, slightly elevated to allow for angles of attack without limiting visibility. The ballista towers would have overhead plating with slotted gaps, allowing operators to fire while remaining protected. The scout perches on the walls would have uneven, gap-filled barriers, shielding them from enemy fire while maintaining full coverage of the battlefield. 'That should work.'

Ben nodded to himself, satisfied with the reinforcement. He turned, intending to call for Elvira—but then, he stopped mid-step.

A cold shiver ran down his spine. The air around him felt heavy, charged with an invisible pressure that sent every nerve in his body screaming. The last time he felt this kind of danger was when the Hellworm ambushed him. Something was coming. His eyes snapped toward the horizon. The ground trembled. Dust rose in waves, and then—he saw them.

From the east, an army approached. Behind them was a smaller Ravager, different from the others. It wasn't just a Brute or a Spine variant. No, this one had a greenish hue to its carapace, and even at a distance, Ben could sense something was off.

A hundred more army strong. The army was composed mainly of Brutes and Spine Ravagers, their forms moving in disciplined lines. But there were more—Phantom Ravagers, at least a dozen of them, weaving between the ranks, their forms flickering in and out of visibility.

Ben's vision flickered as he switched to his Krell Scouts on the western perimeter. There another army. This time, the leader had a blue, metallic sheen to its body, carapace glistening under the dim underground light. Storm Ravager. Ben quickly recognize it this is the oen

Like the first, this force was a hundred strong, broken into disciplined units. They moved in perfect synchronization, but a coordinated force. Ten squads, each consisting of ten Ravagers, spread across a wide formation.

The Brutes took the front, acting as a moving wall of armored flesh. Behind them, the Spine Ravagers adjusted their positions, prepared to launch projectiles the moment they got into range. The Phantom Ravagers flanked their sides, waiting for an opportunity to slip into the battlefield unseen.

But there was another key difference between them. On the eastern army, the green-scaled Ravager—the Venom Ravager—stood at the very back. Meanwhile, on the western front, the Storm Ravager took the lead, standing in front of its troops like a general ready to command a charge.

Elvira landed beside him in a smooth motion, her crimson cloak fluttering as she touched down. Despite being deeply engrossed in her research just moments ago, the surge of danger had been impossible to ignore. She turned her gaze toward the approaching armies, eyes gleaming with anticipation rather than fear. "My beloved…What's the plan?"

Ben didn't turn to face her, his gaze still locked onto the enemy. "Do you have any experience leading a war?"

Elvira's lips curved into a small smirk. "Small-scale conflicts, yes. But something like this?" She let out a breath, her fingers flexing. "The last time I was in a battlefield of this size, I was fighting in the thick of it, not leading from the rear."

Ben considered his options for a moment. The green-scaled Ravager—the Venom Ravager—felt like the bigger threat compared to the Storm Ravager. Its position at the back signified more than just a strategic stance. It was the kind of enemy that worked from behind, striking when least expected. "You take the west side," Ben decided. "Move the northern squad to reinforce your position. If it's not enough, take the southern one too."

Elvira chuckled, shaking her head. "No need, my beloved. Magic shines the most in large-scale battles like these. And I have a few new spells I've been dying to test." Her eyes flickered with something dangerous—excitement.

Ben snorted. "Alright. Just be careful. I'll finish here and come to back you up if needed."

"Don't worry about me," she replied, stretching her fingers as mana crackled at her fingertips. "For all you know, I might be the one who comes to save you." And with that, she vanished, her figure flickering away as she shot toward the western battlefield.

Ben, however, wasn't taking any chances. Through the hive mind, he sent out a command. "Reinforce Elvira's side. Move now." The Krell squads on th northern and southern side immediately responded, sprinting toward the western front. He wasn't worried about losing forces—he could always create more on the fly.

Inside the castle, the workers were also ordered to take up arms. They might not be specialized soldiers, but in a battle of numbers, every fighter counted. "One," Ben called through the hive mind. "Take control of all Krell inside the fortress and assist Elvira. Keep her covered."

"Understood, Master." One's voice responded swiftly before moving to execute the command.

Now, it was Ben's turn. His eyes flicked back to the Venom Ravager, still standing at the back, motionless. It was watching him, analyzing, waiting.

Seconds ticked by. Neither side made a move. Ben let out a sigh. 'So that's how it is? You're waiting for me to strike first?' He narrowed his eyes. 'If you think you can just stand there, then you're underestimating me.'

He turned on his heel and moved toward the nearest ballista tower. Climbing up swiftly, he reached the weapon's base and began preparations. He loaded an explosive bolt into the chamber but didn't stop there.

Reaching into his inventory, he retrieved smaller talismans, layering them onto the projectile, embedding them directly into the Grimslate tip.

If the Venom Ravager wanted to stand there and watch, Ben would make sure its arrogance cost it dearly. He smirked, pulling back the lever, the ballista creaking as it locked into position. "Alright," he murmured to himself. "Let's see how you like this."

And with that, he fired.