Chapter 42: Pikachu, What Have You Been Doing for This One and a Half Hours?

—Your performance time has arrived; let the natives here experience the fear of an invasive alien species!

As the chief confidant, Pikachu has constantly kept the Great King's orders in mind.

The keyword in this sentence is invasion! It is to make them feel fear!

All monsters and all visitors on this level must regard them with terror!

What they must do is spread the Dark Lord's terrifying dominion and demonstrate overwhelming strength in military, architecture, civilization, and other fields.

Beyond that, Pikachu naturally remembers the even more important mission assigned to him:

—For the prosperity of the Pikachu Tribe.

—For the Great King's future ambition to march and unify the world.

Although the Great King never spoke of it to him, Pikachu knows many things are not conveyed by words.

Just as the Patriarch Bodhi in Journey to the West took Sun Wukong as a disciple.

Some things are entirely unspoken; what matters is self‑realization.

Pikachu considers himself dull, so he dares not overlook any detail in the Great King's words.

For example, in the bedroom, that map deliberately spread out for him to see.

The underground city they currently occupy lies on the border between the Eastern and Western alliances.

The Great King's primary target to seize is this strategically contested ground!

By linking these two underground cities with the peripheral small underground cities, and coordinating with the coastal fortress, they will eventually capture the entire continent in one stroke.

What a bold and confident plan!

It seems this is not only the Great King's confidence but also his trust in Pikachu.

After all, his current task is to lay a strong foundation for the Great King to conquer the whole continent.

He is the first snowflake to dive down when an avalanche occurs!

At that moment, Pikachu seemed to sense a gaze, whirled to the left, and met eyes with a Cat perched on a towering ancient tree in the distance.

It is the Great King!

In the backlit, upward‑looking angle, the black kitten looks like a deity standing atop a high mountain.

I see.

So that's what you mean!

Pikachu abruptly halted, turned, and shouted to the brothers behind him,

"Everyone, follow me, advance this way."

Because of the Great King's immense power, his people, though not very clever, possess an intelligence comparable to that of a favored shepherd dog.

They can understand commands, obey orders, cooperate as a group, and have basic reasoning and learning ability.

Their IQ growth is limited, yet not impossible to overcome.

Pikachu believes that, having inherited part of the Great King's abilities and receiving such great favor, he will someday have the chance to raise his people's average intelligence, elevating them to a higher‑race status without the Great King's direct involvement.

After all, the Great King's original purpose in granting him a Thunder Dragon Crystal of level 148 was exactly this:

—Pikachu uses his own ability to make the tribe flourish.

He will certainly not disappoint the Great King regarding this mission!

Oh, sorry, I just overthought it.

The immediate priority now is to flawlessly fulfill the Great King's decree to "establish a home, assert authority, and make enemies feel dread."

The complex details, Pikachu transmitted directly through their mental link.

"Pika Pika Pika!"

Accompanied by the standard roar of a herd of sprinting Pikachu, several Lightning Strikes rained down from the sky, marching straight toward the ancient tree.

That ancient tree is the home's central point personally chosen by the Great King; the area radiating outward from it is the land they now must pacify.

A gentleman does not stand beneath a perilous wall; at the very least, within a three‑mile radius, everything must be cleared spotless.

This is the initial base of their new home!

While clearing a path through the trees to the central avenue, Pikachu casually fashioned a Xiaohei No. 3 clone.

With Xiaohei No. 3's assistance, Pikachu also obtained basic information about the fourth level.

Using the ancient tree as the center, 2,000 meters west lies the main water source and waterfall;

To the east, not far away, a mountain range hides a passage leading to another underground city.

Truly worthy of the Great King's selection, no intelligence gathering was needed; with his keen sense of smell and insight, he instantly pinpointed the lifeline of this fourth level.

This made Pikachu feel ashamed of himself.

"Kill them all, destroy the terrain here."

While admiring the Cat's majesty, Pikachu methodically issued orders to his people.

According to the dungeon's top‑priority self‑repair mechanism, if they wish to camp here long‑term, sabotaging the terrain to trap the dungeon in a 'repair‑failure' bug is crucial.

As long as the terrain remains unrepaired, monsters won't respawn in this area, thus Pikachu's safe zone is created.

Exploiting this trait, the 'Breeding Farm' in Pikachu's homestead blueprint was naturally completed.

Because the Creator is so great, they even have various physiological needs; to keep the young Pikachu well‑fed and prevent them from becoming vampiric level‑grinders, the prototype deems proper monster husbandry essential.

After learning from Xiaohei No. 3 about the diversity of monsters on this level, Pikachu gained many options.

He considers the lazy Forest Python, or the grass‑eating, brute‑force deer, as priority candidates for breeding.

Moreover, after the cat's steadfast split, Pikachu discovered that the trees they just shattered with Lightning Strike were especially unique.

It is a rare dungeon timber called 'Fruit Jungle Tree.'

It boasts the towering height and sturdy, elongated trunks of a jungle tree, covered with symbiotic vines, while also bearing fruit like a fruit tree.

Now is the fruiting season for the Fruit Jungle Tree; after Pikachu's quick taste of a yellow‑green fruit, he thinks the fruit can not only satiate hunger but, when properly processed, be turned into a magical potion that boosts stats.

The jungle tree itself is a popular timber for making weapons and armor, and in this special dungeon it can also bear fruit for secondary use.

Pikachu looked at the fallen fruit-bearing jungle tree before him and nodded in satisfaction.

As expected of the dungeon selected by the Great King, even the trees that construct the environment are so excellent.

To make reasonable use of these resources, after completing and submitting the report, Pikachu issued his second command to his people: chop trees and build walls.

As for books on construction, Pikachu had only skimmed a few articles, but fortunately he had used magic to copy nearly all of his home's collection, so now he only needed to search the content stored in his mind.

Thanks to the Great King for bestowing his magic upon him!

Because of the convenience of the mental link, Pikachu easily synchronized the blueprints and work diagrams he had pondered over and finally decided on, drawn on the ground, with the remaining ten Pikachu.

Since they were created, the two words 'infrastructure' have been etched into the Pikachu's DNA!

They responded to building their homeland with 200% enthusiasm.

Pika!

In the midst of one after another uplifting, battle-spirited shouts, the Pikachu's tails sparked with streaks of white light.

Steel Tail!

Chopping trees, cutting, splitting into pieces, five Pikachu formed a team; working together it took only a few short minutes, and along the way they had already cleared half.

While felling trees, the Pikachu followed the teachings of the First Unit, wasting neither skill nor food; a Steel Tail, while cutting trees, precisely sliced the unscientific Forest Python coiled above it as well.

Although the First Unit didn't know why these Forest Pythons slept in the trees here, it didn't stop him from harvesting the ingredients.

The hide can be left to make leather armor, the bones left to make weapons, the meat… there also seems to be a related way to cook it.

According to a certain famous human explorer who eats anything, the Forest Python's meat is tender and delicious, with protein content five times that of beef.

Since ordinary Forest Pythons are like that, the Silver-pattern Forest Python in Pikachu's hand should be just as tasty, right?

Probably.

Cough cough.

In short, every part of this Forest Python is treasure; it must be brought back to base whole, specially dissected, and carefully stored.

As for the Forest Python's crystals, the First Unit directly had the Pikachu taking turns transporting and hauling the loot back to the warehouse simply eat them.

One reason is to restore stamina, another is to boost ability; by the way, if luck strikes, it can also add a few points of intelligence, allowing the base construction to progress even further.

While the other Pikachu were hard at work, the First Unit Pikachu was meanwhile telling the ancient tree some heartfelt words.

This large tree hollow is Base No. 1, remodeled by him.

This is imitating the Great King's naming style; he thinks this naming style is definitely very cool.

While hollowing it out, the Pikachu released grass-attribute magic at the tree's base to maintain the tree's vitality, allowing it to undergo a certain degree of camouflage on the surface.

At least at first glance, it will make outsiders think this is a lush, growing tree.

After hollowing out the tree hollow, the Pikachu precisely left only a 5-centimeter-thick bark layer for inscribing magical patterns.

Added automatic attack and defense magic, and also added automatic temperature regulation of wind and fire attributes, to ensure comfort inside the cave.

As for why a cricket's tree hollow needs to be built so complexly, because in the Pikachu's design blueprint, this tree hollow must, after the tribe prospers in the future, bear the responsibility of housing the Great King's noble throne, the Great King's comfortable private chamber, and the Great King's most valued tribe breeding nursery for offspring.

The offspring will reside in the innermost tree hollow, receiving protection and care from him as the king of the clan, minimizing the parents' extra expenses to the greatest extent, and giving them more time and strength to accomplish the expansion tasks given by the Great King.

After planning to set up a stepped series of over three hundred small nests accommodating Pikachu offspring, Pikachu will hollow out the trees beside Base No. One and name them Base Two, Three, Four, Five, Six… and so on.

The remaining bases are the dwellings of adult Pikachu.

Inside, they store food, weapons, crystals and other important resources, and on the high branches they build wooden houses out of timber.

Considering that most Pikachu come in pairs, the First Unit believes that the spacious wooden houses built high up will be more suitable for their habitation.

Although a hollow could solve everything, the Pikachu believe that, as the Great King's first retinue and future top demon king army, they absolutely cannot let the Great King lose face.

What makes lowly monsters feel fear?

That is, in clothing, food, housing, travel, and daily life, they must have the consciousness of being the first retinue, a higher race.

Mimic humans, surpass humans, rule humans!

This is what they, as the first retinue, should aim for and put into practice!

……

Thus, after an hour and a half away, the returning Cat, standing on the ancient tree, saw that the fourth-layer scenery had indeed changed.

Enclosed by a tall and sturdy wooden fence, five neat sections were laid out.

Central residential area, storage area, water source area, mountain cliff passage defense zone, and… a suspected monster breeding zone.

The magic-filled tree hollows, neat and uniform, exquisitely crafted, with wooden houses built on the branches reinforced by vines and magic…

One side goes to the outskirts to hunt monsters and clear the field, while the other side transports the loot back to base after cutting it, stripping the prey of tendons, skin, crystals, and cutting the meat into chunks, with the Pikachu working in an orderly, systematic, diligent manner…

And, upon noticing his arrival, the First Unit Pikachu bowed low, bent his knees, and extended his two little short hands to hand him a large stack of paper reports.

……

I spent this hour and a half fighting the boss; what have you been doing in this hour and a half, Pikachu?!

Cat, while twitching the corner of his mouth, used his tail to flip through the report titled "Base Construction Development Plan Overview Diagram",

"You……"

Pikachu: (✧◡✧)

"You…… did a great job."

Cat felt somewhat reluctant but not especially so, and uttered this sentence he really didn't want to say.

To be honest, Pikachu's work was done so splendidly it went straight to Cat's heart.

The most beautiful in the world is Witch Miss; the second most beautiful is definitely this base construction answer sheet.

But……

Looking at this report, and then at the First Unit's fervent gaze, he again felt that something was off.

A subtle and strange feeling began to spread in Cat's heart, but when the words reached his lips, they could only turn into a hollow compliment,

"Not bad, I'm very satisfied."

While praising, Cat walked past the warehouse piled with crystals and meat chunks, and suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right, Pikachu, this is a gift for you."

He handed the faded crown, appraised from his collection and worth only seven thousand, into Pikachu's hand.

"Hmm... I hope you won't disappoint me."

Immediately after, he took out two packets of Frost General's crystals and placed them beside Pikachu's little feet,

"One packet for you to eat, the other for your subordinates to eat. Eat well, don't waste it."

Cat is certainly not thinking that a bite saved is a bite earned; he is absolutely doing it for the sustainable development of the Pikachus.

Even if the experience gain is modest, stealing the Frost General's buff is pure profit.

Whether it's increasing ice‑type magical affinity, gaining the Giant trait, or raising additional attribute values, it's an extremely beneficial growth buff for the expanding Pikachus.

Of course, he's certainly not trying to shirk the responsibility of eating the crystals; he must emphasize it again.

Unaware of Cat's thoughts, Pikachu looked at the crown in his hand, glanced at the two bulging packets of crystals by his feet, and his eyes grew moist.

With a bang, he fell to his knees, raised his two little hands high with the crown, and wailed at Cat,

"Sorry, Great King, it's all my incompetence that let you down!"

"Your mercy makes me feel utterly ashamed; I wish I could end myself right here."

"But... rest assured!"

"I will certainly reform, striving to become a clan leader worthy of the crown you bestowed!"

"I will surely make your first kin flourish, not tarnishing the title of your Black Demon King!"

"I will not waste the precious life you granted me!"

Finishing his speech, Pikachu wiped his tears with one hand, held the crown with the other, with two pouches of crystals hanging from his tail, and vanished in a puff of smoke, running away.

Leaving Cat alone, he felt chaotic and at a loss in the gentle breeze under the rising sun.

Cat:...?

This Pikachu really is beyond saving, huh?

What on earth is he saying!!

Witch Miss! Help! Cat is wrong! As expected, you're still perfectly normal!

Cat misses you!

o(TωT)o

Although it was said in jest, the noon sun reduced Cat's lonely shadow to a tiny speck.

Watching the Pikachus, even when they work hard they appear in pairs, and watching the solitary Prototype No. 1 surrounded by many Pikachus, Cat felt a strange unease.

He silently lifted his tail and recreated the split self and parallel consciousness he had blown up.

But...

"It still isn't right,"

"Cat... seems I really miss you a bit,"

As he spoke, Cat curled his tail forward and stepped on it.

The warmth of his tail heated his feet, which were chilled from over‑eating crystal ice elements, giving a sensation like sitting on Witch Miss's warm, soft lap, which greatly lifted Cat's mood.

It is now the sixth hour since leaving Witch Miss.

But Cat feels it's already been almost three days.

Although Pikachu is odd, he seems capable of working day and night, so he should be able to catch up and exceed the task, right?

Right?

Cat has already decided which sleeping position to use to claim Witch Miss's bed when he gets home.