The group had been walking for about an hour after leaving
the Commander and his camp and they had been pretty silent the whole time, each
lost in their own thoughts. Roman had been thinking about how to try to teach the
others to use chi…or like how to force it on them. He figured if he couldn’t
teach it to them he could put a little bit of his chi in them and command it to
build and follow the host’s orders…but that seemed weird and impossible but
then again so was almost everything he’s been doing so far. Roman glanced at Lexi as they walked, the thought of sharing his
chi bouncing around his mind. It was risky and untested, but it could make a
difference. He took a breath, slowing his pace until they were walking side by
side, slightly apart from the rest of the group.
“Lexi,” he said softly, drawing her attention. She turned,
eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of weariness. “I want to try something,
but it’s… unconventional.”
She furrowed her brow. “What is it?”
“I think I can share a small part of my chi with you,” Roman
explained. “If it works, you’ll be able to harness it, use it for strength,
maybe even start cultivating your own power.”
Lexi’s eyes widened, her surprise giving way to
determination. “I trust you. What do I need to do?”
Roman slowed a bit but kept walking and gestured for her to
do the same. Roman gently grabbed Lexi’s hand, her tiny hand lost in his much
bigger one, feeling the coolness of her skin. He closed his eyes and summoned a
small thread of chi, guiding it carefully from his core to hers.
“Focus on this,” he whispered, nudging the glowing energy
forward. Lexi’s eyes shut tightly, and her breathing became shallow as she felt
the pulse of warmth begin to spread through her. The chi moved sluggishly, as
though unsure of its new home.
“I feel it… but it’s slipping,” Lexi said, her voice tight
with concentration.
“Don’t fight it. Guide it gently for now, its a lot more
physical than mana but it doesn’t recognize you yet,” Roman encouraged. He kept
his hand steady, using his own chi to push and stabilize the thread as Lexi
struggled to take hold. The glow between them flickered, and beads of sweat
formed on her brow. Time seemed to slow as they stood there, locked in silent
focus.
Behind them, Seth, Jessika, and Z noticed their unusual
stance and stopped walking. They exchanged glances but remained quiet, their
curiosity evident as they watched Roman and Lexi work in unison.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lexi’s expression
shifted. A small smile curled at her lips, and her eyes opened, shimmering with
an inner light. The seed of chi had settled within her, its pulse steady and
warm spinning gently as Roman set it.
“I can feel it now,” she said, her voice soft with wonder.
“It’s… different, but it’s there.”
Roman’s shoulders relaxed, a relieved smile spreading across
his face. “Good. Now, you need to focus on shaping that energy, building it
into a core. Once you have that, you can start cultivating it on your own, spinning
your chi to cleanse it, and maybe you can even absorb it and add to your own
like I can...not sure the extent of this.”
Before he could say anything more, a sudden alert blinked
across Roman’s vision:
<b><System Alert: Permanent Party Formed.</b> <b>All
party members gain benefits from the party leader’s titles.></b>
He blinked, a rush of realization washing over him. Lexi had
just gained access to the benefits of his titles, which meant she would grow
stronger and faster—leveling at his speed. He glanced at her, the subtle glow
in her eyes already hinting at the changes taking place.
“What just happened?” she asked, noticing his shift in
expression.
“We’re a party now,” Roman said, still processing the
implications. “You’ll gain the benefits of my titles. You’re going to grow
stronger, faster than before.”
Lexi’s eyes widened, and then a determined gleam settled in
them. “Then we need to do this for the others.”
Roman turned to Seth, Jessika, and Z, who had stepped
closer. They must have heard, their expressions filled with anticipation.
“Your turn,” Roman said with a grin. One by one, he
implanted a small seed of his chi into each of them, guiding it until it
settled and their eyes reflected the newfound energy within. Each time, the
system alert repeated, solidifying their bonds as a permanent party.
The group continued their journey north, the renewed sense
of power and unity palpable. The forest began to thin, giving way to open
plains where the town awaited. Rows of farmland stretched out before them,
dotted with crops and grazing livestock. The air carried the familiar scent of
earth and hay, a stark contrast to the dense forest they had just left behind.
Roman took a deep breath as they approached, the sight of
simple life in the town a welcome change after days of hardship. But they all
knew this moment of peace was just a brief reprieve. The true test was still
ahead.
As they stood on the edge of the open plains, a sudden
shimmer of blue crossed Roman’s vision again:
<b><System Alert: Permanent Party Details</b> <b>Party
Members:</b><ul style="margin-top: 0" type="disc">
<li>Roman
(Leader)</li>
<li>Lexi</li>
<li>Seth</li>
<li>Jessika</li>
<li>Z</li>
<li>Grey
Wolf (Unnamed)</li>
</ul>
<b>Party Benefits:</b>The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.<ul style="margin-top: 0" type="disc">
<li>Party
members gain shared benefits from the party leader’s titles.</li>
<li>The
more party members cultivate their cores, the greater the benefits and
accelerated growth they gain.</li>
<li>Cultivation
progress will dictate individual leveling speed and effectiveness of
shared benefits.></li>
</ul>
Roman’s eyes widened as he read the new alert. He turned to
the group, who were still basking in the afterglow of their newfound power, and
took a moment to let the significance sink in.
“Oh cool.” Roman said, glancing between each of them “The
more you cultivate, the more you’ll benefit from my titles. It means your
cultivation will directly affect how quickly you grow stronger.”
Lexi’s eyes shone with determination. “So if we cultivate
like you do, we’ll level up as fast as you?”
Roman nodded, a smile breaking through the seriousness of
the moment. “Exactly. It’s not just about gaining power; it’s about how we
shape it. The better we are at cultivating, the faster we can take back what
we’ve lost.”
Z clenched his fists, his massive hands tightening with
newfound resolve. “Then we have no time to waste.” They started walking again, eager to try things out as they move or better yet get to the town already so
they can settle down and really get to it.
…
The town ahead stood bathed in the warm glow of the setting
sun, surrounded by golden fields of wheat and patches of vibrant green crops.
The peaceful sight was a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind. And
Roman knew this wasn’t time to relax in the peaceful town—it was time for
preparation, time to get stronger.
“Let’s move,” Roman said, looking at the party around him.
“We’ve got a lot to learn, and even more to fight for.”
They stepped into the open, the farm fields crunching
beneath their boots, ready to face whatever lay ahead. The battle wasn’t
over—it was only just beginning.
As they approached the edge of the fields, a tall, wiry man
stood upright in the golden sea of wheat, a scythe in his hands glinting
faintly in the sunlight. He shaded his eyes with one hand and called out, his
voice carrying over the rustling stalks.
“Hey there! You folks have business in the town?”
His shout drew the attention of others nearby. Five more
heads popped up from the wheat, their faces wary but curious as they glanced in
Roman’s direction. Each of them appeared to have been hard at work harvesting,
their tools momentarily idle as they waited for a response.
Roman slowed his pace and raised a hand in greeting. “Yes,
sir! We’re travelers passing through and looking for a place to rest!” he
called back. As they closed the distance and his voice could carry more easily,
Roman added with a casual tone, “We’ve been out of touch for months—exploring
that new dungeon everyone was buzzing about—and we have no idea what’s going
on. Things seem... different now.” He feigned curiosity, watching the man’s
reaction closely to gauge the tension in the area.
The man spat onto the ground, his face twisting with anger.
“You got that right—things are different! We were attacked!”
Roman furrowed his brow, mimicking shock. “Attacked? By
who?” he asked, injecting a note of incredulity.
“They never confirmed it,” the man growled, his voice rough
with rage, “but it <i>has</i> to be those Fairennian scum!” He spat again, his
disgust palpable. “They’ve been prowling around those mountains for
generations, lookin’ for a way to strike. My daddy used to warn about it all
the time, but did anyone listen? No! He used to say, ‘If only we had a King
more interested in the safety of the whole Kingdom than just his precious
capital!’ And he was right. We should’ve been combing through those mountains
ourselves, but the King ignored it. And now look at us—doomed!”
His voice cracked, the bitterness raw. “The army tore
through here, took everything that wasn’t bolted down. Livestock, supplies,
tools—you name it. All we’ve got left is this harvest, and God help us if we
lose that too.”
Roman nodded solemnly, his face painted with concern while
his mind churned through the new information. “I’m so sorry to hear that,” he
said earnestly. Seth stepped forward, his shoulders tense. Roman glanced at
him, wondering if the talk about an absent King had struck a nerve.
“Well,” Seth began, his voice calm but firm, “do you mind if
we stay awhile? We can help out with the harvest if you show us what to do.
We’re also good hunters, so we can bring in fresh meat if needed.”
The farmer nearest the stone wall leaned on it, his face
weathered but his eyes sharp. “We’d welcome the help, of course,” he said,
wiping his hands on a ragged cloth. “But hunting’s not what we need. Ever since
that bastard army passed through, the monsters they brought with them escaped
and have been terrorizing the area. If you can deal with those, we wouldn’t
have to stand guard all night just to sleep a little before working all day.”
Roman nodded eagerly. “Monsters? Consider it done. Just show
us where to settle down, and then point us in their direction.”
One of the older men stepped forward, his gait slow but
steady, his voice carrying the weight of experience. “The Markenson family fled
before the army came through, but word is they were attacked on the road and
didn’t make it. Their farm’s empty now—unused and abandoned. You can stay
there. We’d been trying to figure out how to handle their harvest along with
ours, but maybe that’ll solve both problems. We’ve lost too many hands since
the attack. Most of the younger folk fled to the coastline, hoping to reach
family and safety.” He sighed, shaking his head. “But enough of my rambling.
Follow me—I’ll show you where to put your feet up.”
The man turned, leading them down a narrow dirt path that
soon widened into a cobblestone road. Roman’s gaze wandered over the vast
fields of wheat on either side, golden stalks swaying in the breeze. The
farmhouses were scattered across the land, some looking well-kept while others
bore signs of abandonment—broken windows, overgrown yards, and roofs that
sagged with neglect.
As they walked, other farmers raised their heads and offered
wary nods or half-hearted waves, their weariness clear. Roman returned their
greetings, offering smiles where he could. The tension in the air was palpable,
the kind of unspoken fear that lingers long after the devastation.
“We’ll help them,” Roman murmured under his breath, his
voice firm with resolve. His companions glanced at him and nodded. The
destruction left behind by the army—and the abandonment that followed—reminded
him of Eidon, and the thought of doing nothing while these people struggled was
unbearable.
The old farmer finally stopped in front of a modest
farmhouse with a faded red door. The surrounding fields were still intact, but
the farm itself bore the marks of neglect. “Here it is,” the man said,
gesturing to the house. “It’s not much, but it’s yours to use. I’ll come by
later to tell you about those monsters and where they’ve been spotted. For now,
settle in and rest up. You’ll need it.”
Roman nodded, stepping forward to take in their temporary
home. “Thank you. We’ll make sure this place is put to good use.”
The farmer tipped his hat, a ghost of a smile crossing his
lips before he turned and shuffled back toward the fields. Roman stood there
for a moment, the weight of the situation sinking in. He wasn’t sure what kind
of monsters they’d face or what they’d find in this worn-down farm, but one
thing was certain: they’d fight, not just for themselves, but for the people
who were left to pick up the pieces.
“Let’s get to work,” he said, turning to his friends. “We’ve
got a lot to do.”
And with that, they stepped into the farm, ready to face
whatever came next.