The first victory had given Leon a renewed sense of purpose. The Eye of Cthulhu lay defeated, but he knew Master Mode Terraria offered no reprieve. Each step forward demanded preparation, resourcefulness, and careful planning. Surface enemies now seemed manageable, almost predictable, compared to what he anticipated underground and in the biomes beyond. The world's natural progression was unfolding, and as a summoner, his survival depended not on brute force, but on commanding an army that could do damage while he maintained control.
Leon began by assessing the potential for minion expansion. The finch remained loyal, fluttering along his shoulder and occasionally darting ahead to scout. The two bats, now fully bonded to him, were reliable but limited. He needed more—and not just any minions. For Master Mode, quantity alone was insufficient; quality mattered. Bats were fast but weak. Slimes could soak a hit or two but provided minimal offensive output. He needed creatures capable of holding their own against mid-tier enemies, creatures that could synergize with one another, and that could eventually scale with him toward harder bosses.
His attention turned toward the surface forest near his base. Procedurally, slimes were abundant, and certain birds could be bound, but more aggressive creatures required risk. Corruption lurked beyond the far hills, and Crimson spread like a living infection in other areas. Leon needed to venture carefully. One misstep could result in a fatal encounter with enhanced Master Mode spawns. He decided to expand outward methodically, marking safe paths with torches and clearing small choke points to control enemy approach. Survival in this mode required that he never expose himself to multiple hostile types simultaneously.
The first target for expansion was a nearby cave system he had scouted during daylight. The entrance was narrow, natural stone forming a perfect funnel. From experience, Leon knew that creatures summoned from these environments often adapted to player presence. If he could lure small slimes and bats into a controlled area, he could bind them without risking unnecessary exposure. He cleared the first few steps with his silver shortsword, allowing the finch to harass while he focused on positioning. One green slime jumped, and as it collided with the finch, Leon extended his hand in instinctive summoner motion. Energy flared briefly, and the slime's movements became responsive to his command. A second bat joined shortly after, swooping obediently at his signal.
It was working. The real challenge lay ahead: creatures capable of mid-game offense. Underground, he had spotted crimson bats and blue jellyfish drifting in subterranean pools. Binding them would require precise positioning and understanding of their movement patterns. But he had mastered patience in Master Mode; the creatures would come to him if he orchestrated the environment correctly.
Over several days, Leon worked systematically, expanding his army incrementally. Each new creature added to his command increased efficiency. Slimes blocked and distracted, birds harassed, bats struck from above. He experimented with placement, determining optimal distance for attacks and how to minimize friendly interference. The balance between control and aggression was delicate; too close, and creatures collided, losing effectiveness; too far, and enemy targets escaped their reach.
Meanwhile, he continued gathering resources. Surface exploration provided wood, herbs for future buffs, and coins, while deeper caves yielded ores critical for refining weapons and armor. He upgraded to silver armor for full coverage, crafting a silver helmet, chestplate, and greaves. It wasn't final-game strength, but in Master Mode, incremental improvements made the difference between surviving a single encounter and succumbing to a chain of hits.
One afternoon, he ventured farther than before, crossing a swamped section that hinted at corruption. The grass here was darker, the air heavier, and the monsters more numerous. Giant worms tunneled unpredictably, blue slimes moved faster, and scattered Demon Eyes patrolled the canopy. Leon adjusted his approach. Platforms and choke points were set up to funnel enemies toward his summoning line. Bats harassed aerial threats; slimes and summoned birds blocked and distracted. For each kill, he gained experience in managing multiple threats in real-time—knowledge critical for future mechanical boss encounters.
By nightfall, Leon had established a permanent surface staging area near the swamp. The wooden platform, reinforced with stone supports, provided vantage points and mobility for both him and his minions. Torches were placed strategically to reduce spawn zones in unsafe areas, while honey pools were integrated for quick recovery. He rested briefly, knowing that each night would bring waves of Master Mode enemies, now strengthened by the swamp's proximity to corruption.
The night attack began with subtle rumbling. Zombies emerged from tree lines, their numbers higher than the previous night. Demon Eyes swooped with aggressive precision, their erratic flight patterns amplified by Master Mode's AI logic. Leon maintained calm. His minions reacted instantly, drawing attention and dealing consistent damage. He moved with the rhythm of survival, positioning himself and his creatures to control enemy approach, maximizing the effectiveness of his limited weaponry.
Hours passed, yet his structure remained intact. Master Mode's challenge was relentless, but Leon's army had grown capable. Each night, he expanded the number of minions under his command, increasing his damage output without sacrificing mobility or safety. By the end of several cycles, his summoner setup included the finch, three bats, two slimes, and a small trio of birds he had lured from the corrupted sections—creating a layered defense capable of handling multiple enemy types simultaneously.
With a growing army, refined weapons, and reinforced armor, Leon felt ready to consider his next objective: an early Hardmode trigger would eventually require preparation for the Wall of Flesh, but first, he had to master the intermediate challenges. Mechanical spawns, biomes with high enemy density, and rare resource nodes demanded both tactical foresight and the coordination of his summoned creatures.
Leon spent the following day mapping these priorities mentally. Each cave, each resource node, each potential minion type had to be cataloged. Master Mode demanded no improvisation—only careful, deliberate progression. His army of minions had become his primary advantage, capable of controlling terrain, disrupting enemy formations, and allowing him to maintain safe positioning while navigating dangerous environments.
By evening, Leon had expanded his base, added a small underground armory, and established multiple summoning points. The finch chirped from its perch atop a stone column, bats hovered in their designated patrol areas, and slimes sloshed patiently near choke points. Even as night fell and Master Mode spawns increased in number and aggression, Leon felt the first true sense of security he had achieved since arriving in Terraria.
This was only the beginning. With his army growing and his strategy solidifying, Leon knew that progression in Master Mode was no longer simply about survival. It was about domination. Carefully expanding his territory, exploiting the rules of Terraria, and methodically increasing his summoning potential, he prepared to face larger threats—bosses, invasions, and eventually the deadly mechanical monstrosities that awaited beyond the first stages of the world.
Leon's summoner army was no longer a simple finch and two bats. It was a growing, adaptable force. Every creature brought into his command added layers of strategy, and the lessons learned in each night's fight refined his understanding of combat in this world.
Master Mode was not a test of strength alone; it was a test of intelligence, patience, and adaptation. And Leon had begun to prove himself—not as a player behind a screen, but as a living, breathing summoner within the world itself.
With dawn approaching, he surveyed the terrain. The corrupted swamplands were alive with potential for expansion, deeper caves promised stronger minions and rare ores, and his fortified base stood ready to support his growing army. Tomorrow, he would explore further, seek stronger minions, and begin preparations for his first pre-Hardmode mechanical threat.
For the first time, Leon allowed himself a sense of cautious optimism. In Master Mode Terraria, nothing was guaranteed—but with careful strategy, coordination, and the right minions, the impossible could become reality. And Leon was determined to prove it.