Chapter 320

Chapter 320: Rapid Development

After understanding the origin between psychic users and Thought Capturers, Midi’s comprehension of mind-related abilities reached a new realm.

Not just mastery, but the peak.

With these supreme mind-related abilities, even Thought Capturers couldn’t withstand Midi’s relentless attacks. The invisible psychic energy under his command became like sharp swords, executing unpredictable skills that ultimately pierced through mental defenses.

The battle between psychic energy and anti-psychic energy ended with Midi’s complete victory. By the fifth month’s end, he eradicated all guerrilla forces, restoring safety and peace to the Heart-Seizing Demon settlement.

As the psychic user who defeated the Thought Capturers, Midi’s reputation soared to its highest point. The council unanimously promoted him from "Commander" to "Ruler," voluntarily surrendering authority. Though in reality such power transfer among intelligent races would be impossible due to greed, within this illusion, no one opposed Midi’s ascension since he’d fulfilled all conditions.

Thus within five months, Midi rose from a psychic energy novice to become the supreme ruler of a Heart-Seizing Demon settlement. While borrowing a level-70 expert’s powerful body helped, his own willpower and intelligence proved decisive. With no stronger enemies left and his status unmatched, Midi sensed the trial’s conclusion approaching.

Staring at his octopus-headed reflection with pupil-less white eyes and four controllable tentacles, Midi felt unsatisfied. Though vastly different from human form, manipulating mind-related abilities to achieve literal "thought becomes reality" fascinated him. He considered staying longer to refine his skills – mere days in real time.

The ancient voice interrupted: "First phase of Central Temple trial completed upon becoming Ruler. Await other trial participants’ completion or elimination before second phase begins."

A second phase? Others existed in this trial? Midi immediately thought of Octagonal Island’s other seven temples. Had Avril and companions secured entry? He could only wait now.

"Who else finished?" Midi tested.

"You’re first. Seventh temple’s participant should become Ruler within half-month."

"Who’s in seventh temple?"

No answer came. Undeterred, Midi asked: "What should I do while waiting?"

"Expand territory. No enemies will appear. Explore and develop until Central Temple grants special reward."

As the voice faded, Midi pondered. Exploration and rewards hinted at impending conflict – the second phase’s war would likely be against other trial participants.

Without hesitation, Midi began expanding his forces. After five months of high-pressure battles, he’d fully grasped the resource needs for developing the Heart-Seizing Demon settlement. As Belmar Kingdom’s supreme ruler and founder of the Hawk Brigade, he naturally understood settlement management.

The settlement’s military comprised two main forces. Core fighters were Heart-Seizing Magicians – battlemages wielding combat magic and offensive mind-related abilities. The second force was the servant army, brainwashed captives retaining their intelligence and skills, far superior to alchemical automatons or Undead warriors. These served primarily as meat shields in battles.

Though these human shields had performed well under his command, Midi now prioritized developing Heart-Seizing Magicians. More magicians meant more frequent brainwashing sessions to grow the servant army. The demon population depended on the Mind Crystal Pool’s size and hosts’ potential.

Midi formed elite exploration teams to gather premium materials for expanding the Mind Crystal Pool, while personally leading border raids to capture prisoners. Through these efforts, a new crystal pool emerged, connected to the original. Soon, tadpoles swarmed within – juvenile Heart-Seizing Demons.

When prisoners entered the pool, tadpoles burrowed into their skulls within seconds, devouring brains and merging with brainstems. The host’s body transformed into a Heart-Seizing Demon through this metamorphosis ritual. The newborn demon’s magic power depended on the host’s original strength, while mind-related abilities hinged on the tadpole’s maturity. Exceptionally strong hosts could rarely produce mutated demons with enhanced psychic powers.

Under Midi’s leadership, demon numbers surged from 200 to 300, then kept climbing. The servant army ballooned from 800 to 1,500 – all high-level Awakened Ones. Midi estimated this force could conquer the Delos Empire before Sky City’s opening.

When demons reached 400, the ancient voice announced: "Settlement upgraded to city. Activate Central Temple’s special reward? Enhances military power but increases resource consumption."

"Activate." Midi didn’t hesitate. Resources existed to be spent – conservation never won wars. Increased costs simply required more territory expansion, a principle the conqueror-king understood well.

The city’s alchemical factory soon produced new units: Star Exiles. These magical entities resembled those from Octagonal Island, though constructed from Star Ocean’s "star-like entities" reshaped with psychic energy instead of standard magical materials. Their ultra-durable forms boasted high magic resistance and complete immunity to mind attacks – perfect counters against other temples’ forces in the trial’s second phase.

Midi halted crystal pool construction and servant recruitment to focus on Star Exile production. Even with full city resources, only one could be made daily. After thirty days, he possessed thirty Star Exiles – his "Exile Squad." Meanwhile, demons increased to 450 with 2,000 servants.

Considering military drills to improve quality over quantity, Midi contemplated his trinity force of servants, magicians, and Exiles. Before implementation, the ancient voice declared: "Phase one complete. Phase two objective: eliminate other trial participants. Occupied Mind Crystal Pools mean elimination. Rankings based on survival time. Begin."

Simultaneously, scouts reported: "Ruler, tunnels connecting to other regions discovered!"