Volume One: The Lord's World of Hell—Chapter 27: Reviving the Hero

As Chen Gu passed a certain spot, the awakened fairies, forest spirits, and flower sprites swiftly flew up, lighting the garden cottages hidden among the shrubs and opening a path for him. Guided by such beauty, Chen Gu arrived at the Hero Altar.

Unlike the woodland hotel, the Hero Altar bore a solemn air. Amid countless blossoms, a circle of stone monuments was concealed. The stones were bare, with nothing carved upon them.

Taking out the crystal containing Allen, Chen Gu noticed the monuments instantly lighting up. Allen's achievements appeared on the stones, from his birth to joining the elven forces, finally becoming a hero through a longbow wrapped in green leaves, and participating in the first war against humanity.

The scenes were numerous; at first they appeared slowly, but soon the stones flashed images every second, like a carousel flickering endlessly.

Eventually, a beam of colored light emerged from all the monuments. The light fell to the center of the circle, gradually forming a tall, slender figure.

This figure was slender, with pale green long hair, clad in a robe woven from green leaves, holding an emerald longbow.

Upon seeing Chen Gu standing outside the stones, he quickly lowered his head. "Allen greets you, my lord."

At the moment Allen bowed, information appeared before Chen Gu.

[You have resurrected the elven hero Allen. Hero Allen has joined your team.]

[Hero Attributes]

Name: Allen

Quality: Green (Level cap 5)

Race: Elf

Level: 1

Talent: Enchanted Arrow (Before shooting, can enchant arrows for the troop; for each level gained, enchantment types +1)

Combat Attributes: Strength 5, Agility 10, Constitution 8, Perception 3, Intelligence 3

Campaign Attributes: Attack 2, Defense 1, Magic 0, Wisdom 0

Initial Skill: Level 1 Archery

Legions: None, None, None, None, None, None, None

Note: Former commander of the third archer unit of the Fafner Legion. After resurrection, has become your hero.

Upon reviewing the attributes, Chen Gu extended his hand into the Hero Altar. "Welcome, my hero."

Allen grasped Chen Gu’s hand and, leveraging the gesture, stepped out of the altar.

"Why are you only level 1?" Chen Gu seized the opportunity to ask.

"It is the rule of this world. If I were resurrected at the Hero Altar of the elven realm, I would return at my strongest, level 5. But now, at a different altar, as your subordinate, my strength starts anew."

"And what of your troops? Why are they listed as none?"

"The resurrection of subordinate troops does not occur here. I require an elven lodge."

"There is one; I haven’t disturbed Silverpine Valley’s arrangement. Everything is intact," Chen Gu replied as he led Allen onward.

Silverpine Valley’s layout placed functional buildings on the left bank of the underground river, troop encampments on the right, with residential houses and shops scattered among the structures, forming the city’s backdrop.

Six bridges of varying sizes spanned the underground river as transit points.

Chen Gu took Allen across the nearest bridge. While walking, Chen Gu asked more about heroes.

"I see you lack a mount and a banner. Should I prepare these for you?"

"No, a mount must be tamed by the hero themselves. I used to ride a highland reindeer, but it is not part of me, so it did not return with me upon resurrection. As for the banner, I do not bear it myself. When I have soldiers, a dedicated soldier will carry it for me, which is an honor I bestow upon her."

"How many troops can you command? I see you have seven legion slots."

"That depends on circumstances and superiors’ arrangements. As you know, my third archer unit had only five hundred men; even with seven legion slots, what does it matter?"

"Why did they arrange it that way?" Chen Gu was curious.

"For safety, mainly. If a hero commands too many troops, the superiors worry. Also, there are many heroes among elves—you know elves live long, and if they survive, they have a chance to become heroes. Over time, the number of elven heroes grows. My five hundred archers were already considered a large unit; those commanding golden dragons or unicorns count their troops by individual beasts."

"If unrestricted, what’s your maximum capacity?"

Chen Gu asked casually. Hearing this, Allen’s expression became serious.

"Seven units of a thousand, totaling seven thousand. If I break through to blue quality, level cap ten, I could lead seven units of four thousand, totaling twenty-eight thousand. But then, each legion would require a dedicated hero to manage it, and the management would change accordingly."

Allen paused here.

"I’ve never reached such heights, but I believe, with my potential, it is achievable."

Chen Gu caught the undertone—Allen aspired to be his chief hero. Yet Chen Gu did not answer directly, instead asking, "What about those full-strength eight thousand–strong legions?"

"Purple-quality heroes with a level cap of fifteen—that’s the pinnacle for naturally-born heroes. Wherever they are, they are adored by tens of thousands. I have never considered reaching that level."

While speaking, they arrived at the hunting lodge across the river.

The hunting lodge was situated on the second tier across the river, surrounded by wooden houses of similar size and style.

Inside, the lodge was empty, devoid of any signs of life.

"The city has restarted; previous soldiers must be regenerated. Now, only fourteen training wood elves and seven elven hunters are here. This is usual. You may recruit them first. Also, don’t casually upgrade the wood elves upon recruitment—I know a method to assess their potential."

"Alright."

Chen Gu didn’t ask further, and stepped straight into the hunting lodge.

Inside, two distinct groups sat in different attire. One had pale green long hair, wore leather armor made of leaves, and carried wooden bows. The other also had pale green hair but wore ordinary leather armor, with two fire spirit ravens perched on their shoulders and a blood shadow wolf crouched at their feet.

Just one glance told Chen Gu these ravens and wolves were not his synthesized pets, but belonged to these seven elven hunters themselves.

He swept his gaze over them, then pointed and declared, "In the name of the city lord, I recruit you all."