Tom stretched and smiled. “Thanks, Beep. Good morning to you, too.”
Morning, Toto. We’ve got a long day ahead, he called out in his mind.
Toto perked up. I’m ready to show you what I can do!
Tom chuckled aloud. “I’m looking forward to it, buddy.”
He headed downstairs to the main hall, where the Bao sisters were already chatting behind the front desk.
“Good morning, Brother Liang Shen!” Bao Li, the older sister, called out with a bright smile.
“Morning, Big Brother Liang Shen!” Bao Mei echoed, just a beat behind her.
“Good morning, you two. Is breakfast ready?” Tom asked, his stomach rumbling.
Bao Li and Bao Mei exchanged a glance—half conspiratorial, half teasing.
“I’ll be right back, Big Brother,” Bao Mei said, disappearing into the kitchen.
A moment later, she returned with a warm plate of food and set it down in front of him.
“Here you go, Big Brother,” she said with a grin.
Tom smiled warmly. “Thank you.”
The three of them chatted idly as Tom ate, sharing small talk about the town, the weather, and a few harmless rumors floating around.
About ten minutes later, Tom finished his meal and made his way over to the counter. He placed the room key down with a soft clink.
“This may be the last time you see me around the city,” he said, his voice light but carrying a hint of something heavier.
“Brother Liang Shen... you’re leaving?” Bao Li asked, her smile fading a little.
“Where are you going, Big Brother?” Bao Mei added quickly, frowning.
Tom shrugged, trying to play it off, though a small cringe slipped through. “I’m going... wherever the road takes me. That’s where I need to go.”
There was a beat of silence—then Bao Li smirked.
“I didn’t know Brother Liang Shen was a poet,” she teased.
Both sisters laughed warmly. “Goodbye!” they said together.
Tom smiled back, feeling a strange mix of sadness and excitement. “Goodbye for now—until we meet again.”
With that, he turned and walked out of the inn, the door swinging gently shut behind him.
Tom made his way to the store where he had bought his dry rations before. He picked up another week's worth, costing him one silver coin, and packed them into the same cloth bag that already held the rest of his food supplies.
His two extra sets of robes were rolled up, tied securely at both ends, and slung across his back like a bundle.
As he headed toward the city gate, he took a moment to check his status.
Status Menu:
Name: Tom Riddle / "Liang Shen"
Rank: 0 Acolyte
Mana Coins: 10
HP: 20/20 (Regen: 5/day)
Mana: 20/20 (Regen: 0.1/min)
STR: 1.0 (≈70 lbs lifting power; affects defense)
AGI: 1.0 (~15 mph run speed; affects body control)
VIT: 1.0 (+20 HP) (every point = +20 HP)
INT: 2.0 (+10 Mana) (every point = +10 Mana)
Spells:
- Mana Hand (Lv. 0)
- Cut (Lv. 0)
User Bag / Equipment:
- (4) Gold coins
- (72) Silver coins
- (125) Copper coins
- Basic Acolyte Robes (Chap. 1)
- Basic Wooden Wand (Chap. 1)
- (x2) Weak Mana Potions (Chap. 1)
- (x2) Weak Health Potions (Chap. 1)
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Carried Items:
- Two Cloth Robes
- Cloth Bag of Dry Rations (Two Weeks)
“Beep, the things I carry show up on my status, too? Does that mean the robes I just bought have stats?” Tom asked, curious.
“Beep. Yes, they show up—but no, they do not have special stats,” Beep answered plainly.
Completed Quests:
? Learn Your Second Spell
? Sell Your Shop
Current Quest:
? Find a Place for a Magic Tower (Chap. 1)
Mana Store: Locked
Reaching the city gate, Tom paused. He took a deep breath, the cool morning air filling his lungs, and looked out at the vast, open world beyond the walls.
With a determined smile, he stepped forward — ready for whatever waited beyond.
After he was safely out of sight of the gate, Tom called out mentally. Toto, time to come out and play.
The ant queen took shape before him in a shimmer of mana.
“What’s the plan, Tom?” she asked, antennae twitching.
“First step is getting much farther away from the city. Once we do that, we move on to step two.”
“Got it. Let’s get going, then.”
About thirty minutes of walking later, Tom stopped. “Here’s good, I think. Can you use your Earth Bending skill to make an underground room around us?”
“Yes, why?”
“So we can get some backup started," Tom said, grinning. He handed Toto a Weak Mana Potion, which she drank eagerly.
“Good idea, Tom.”
Toto lifted her two front legs, and the earth around them shifted, forming a snug underground chamber. Small air holes let the breeze sneak through.
“Thanks for those," Tom said, pointing at the tiny holes.
“I can read your mind, you know. You thought I wasn’t going to put any in.” Toto teased.
Tom blushed like a kid caught stealing a cookie. “Anyway, Toto... It’s time to start your hive.”
She gave him a proud, almost maternal smile.
“Can you produce a soldier — but make it a little tankier?” Tom asked.
“Yes, I can. It'll cost 60 mana to produce one.”
Tom nodded and placed a hand gently on her head. He closed his eyes, feeling a tug in his mana — like blood flowing through a newly opened vein.
When he opened his eyes, a new ant stood before him: twice Toto’s size, looking more like a living statue than a creature. The air felt heavier just looking at it.
To lighten the mood, Tom said jokingly, “Let’s call you Tanky.”
Curious, Tom focused on it and used Status.
Name: Tanky
“That was a joke. It fits anyway.”
Species/Type: Camponotus Ferrum / Terra Husk Soldier-Tank
Affinity: Earth
Rank: 0
HP: 240/240 (Regen: 5/day)
Mana: 30/30 (Regen: 0.1/min)
STR: 12.0 (≈900 lbs lifting power; affects defense)
“If Toto can walk through walls, this one can is like a hot knife through butter.”
AGI: 0.08 (~1.2 mph run speed; affects body control)
“Makes sense, you can't be too fast if you're the tank.“
VIT: 12.0 (+240 HP)
“You have 12 times mine. Now I have an even bigger wall between me and danger.”
INT: 2.5 (+25 Mana)
“Even you have more mana than me. When I get my tower, I need to start my spellcaster training.”
Abilities:
- Earth Shield (Skill) – "Armor of the ground itself."
Type: Active
Effect: Creates a temporary shield absorbing up to 50 HP damage. Lasts 30 seconds or until broken.
Mana Cost: 15 Mana
Cooldown: 2 minutes
“50 HP can be the deciding factor in a battle.”
- Guardian's Roar (Skill) – "You shall not pass!"
Type: Active
Effect: Taunts nearby enemies, forcing them to target the ant for 10 seconds.
Mana Cost: 10 Mana
Cooldown: 90 seconds
“This would allow me or Toto to land a finishing blow on an enemy.”
- Anchor Step (Skill) – "I cannot be moved."
Type: Active
Effect: Greatly increases stability, immune to knockback and forced movement for 15 seconds.
Mana Cost: 10 Mana
Cooldown: 60 seconds
“Yes, how can you be a wall if you’re so easily moved?”