37. Invasion(2)
It's a quiet anxious night. The remaining few in Chael take a shift to guard and rest in the city, soon to become a battlefield.
A young knight sighs, he can't sleep. An older warrior notices it and comforts him.
Among the hundred sleeping people, I walk and step past them.
A few raise their head to see me.
Lena is seen sleeping beside a cabin, wrapped in blankets beside a warm campfire.
I walk to her and give her shoulder a nudge.
"Ngh...?"
An eye still closed, Lena lifts her head. I place a book in her arms. "This for you," I say.
"Young...master?" She murmurs.
Lena rubs her eyes and inspects the foreign book. Once she flips the cover, a rush of knowledge and adrenaline consumes her existence.
She jolts up and drops the book, instantly awakening.
"What..."
She squats to grab the book and flips it once more. Her eyes are forthwith glued to the contents as a surge of mana gathers around her.
"Where did young master find this?" Lena thought out loud.
In the courtyard, Rena sits on the floor with her back against the wall. Her resting body hugs the sword usually on her waist.
I attempt to sneak up on her but she instantly draws her sword and points it at my neck. My hands shoot up into the sky.
"You...where have you been?"
"I notice a group of bandits with some treasures so I went after them," I reply.
Rena glances at my hand, noticing the light blue golden scabbard.
"It's a misunderstanding. Why would I attempt to kill you?"
"True, you are too weak." Rena agrees and puts her sword down.
---------------------------------
Rena Altos
Age: 21
Level: 50
Title: The Chosen One
Class: Knight
Hp: 30000/30000
Mana:200
Atk: 51(101)
Def: 61(76)
Dex:40
Mag:5
Luck:7
Skills:
[Active]
-Moonlight Swordsmanship(lvl 4)
-Battle Cry
-Adrenaline Frenzy
[Passive]
-Frugal Embodiment
-Iron Will
Favourability: -75
Altos Bloodline awakened
---------------------------------
This monster...she's two times stronger than before.
Her current sword is named Ace of Hunter and gives a whooping 50 attack stats and extra 10% Dexterity. If I am to convert a musket's power to an attack stat, it would be 2 to 1. Thus, my actual attack power is barely on par with Rena's.
"How was my gift?" I ask.
"..."
Rena clicks her tongue and sighs. "I don't know how you knew I needed it but...I owe you one."
!
It sounded forced but at least she said it. That's progress.
"Have you heard of Pharoh?" I lean against the wall and ask.
"The legendary mage of The Hero's expedition, yes."
"He was mainly renowned for his versatile talent. Wielding a grimoire and a sword, he can lavishly react to different situations albeit best at magic. He also holds the title of the best magic swordsman and this is his sword." I say.
!
"What?!" Rena exclaims.
I pass it to Rena and she inspects it. The moonlight bounces off the gleaming cold blade. The sharp edge slices the atmosphere into two.
----------------
Keri's(Legendary)
Type: Sword
Durability: 4982
+100 atk
+20 dex
+50 mag
+5000 mana
Special effect:
-Durability will increase as long as mana is supplied.
-Magic up to tier 5 can be nullified.
A sword made especially for Pharoh. Its blade is an extremely good conductor of mana as well as sharpness.
----------------
Although I would love to keep the sword to myself, self-restraint must be exercised. The core trump card of all my plan lies with Rena.
"Why are you giving me this?" Rena asks.
"I trust you," I reply.
"What? Why?"
"Unlike me, you truly care for the people."
...
"You are contradicting yourself," she says.
I wave my hand and left.
Rena stares at the blade.
------------------
Rena had a slight change of heart.
+20 favourability.
Current favourability: -55
------------------
===============================
4 hours later...
===============================
------------------
Titles available:
{Master of The Abyss}[Choose]
+100% stats in a dungeon
+Immunity to atmosphere debuffs in dungeons
{Warrior Spirit}[Choose]
+Buffs when facing a stronger enemy.
(Stats Buff Formula: Difference in level divided by 5)
+Unstoppable will. (People around the player and the player himself are immune to "fear" status ailment against a strong opponent.)
--------------------
--------------------
"Warrior Spirit" chosen.
--------------------
I swipe the panel aside to close it. A ball of flame rises from the horizon spreading yellow and orange across the sky. Dawn is here. The invasion is imminent.
I've spent the past four hours inspecting everything but found no issues.
Thus the only thing that may cause my death is the enemy.
...
Are things really okay?
"Young Master," Lena says. Both of us stand atop the wall and stare at the sun. "The cold...will end right?"
"Yes, spring will come," I reply.
"Odd...when I'm with you, I don't fear anything..." Lena mumbles.
Don't get any wrong ideas, Lena, it's just my title effect.
I extend my hand out. "Lena, I want to form a temporary party with you," I say.
?
Without hesitation and a bit of awkwardness, Lena takes my hand. "Sure...?"
--------------------
"Party" formed.
A synergy effect has manifested.
[Ranged Hell]
+50% ranged damage.
+100% range.
--------------------
Everyone is getting up and preparing themselves. The battering rams are being pushed to the broken part of the wall, blocking any invader's way in.
--------------------
A Main Mission has been created!
Run.
Run for your life.
Reward: ???
Failure: Death
--------------------
...
Huh?
"Young Master?" Lena asks.
Why...is the...mission panel...
A few knights riding horses run out of the forest and stop at Chael. Their body trembles and they drop to the floor. They are the scouts.
"RUN! EVERYONE RUN! WE CANNOT WIN!"
?!
Radz and a few people go up to help them up.
"What's wrong!?"
"D-Demons! The information we received is completely false!"
!!!!!!!
Ha...I expected the information to be fake but for our true enemy to be demons.
I click my tongue and squeeze my eyes.
It's the worst possible enemy: an army of The Demon Lord.
"Two thousand! Around two thousand demons are heading our way! In addition, a Demon Commander is leading them!"
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Demon commander...
Fuck.