Chapter 73: First Day of Camp
<span style="font-weight:400">Silence.
<span style="font-weight:400">A bead of cold sweat dripped from Drake’s cheek as he stood there, his hand in the air, as his shoulder healed slowly in silence.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Shouldn’t they be cheering or something…</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought awkwardly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Hahahaha!! They are all looking at you as if you are crazy! This is certainly a treat! Finally! Sane people that understand how cringe you are!</em><span style="font-weight:400">” Natto screamed, practically fist pumping out of Drake’s skull.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Hey! Aren’t you supposed to be on my side!? This should be just as embarrassing for me as it is for you!</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake shouted internally as he slowly lowered his arm and turned away from the onlooking crowd.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">It would but they can not see me! So all the embarrassment is yours, you dolt!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> she barked,ughing.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Fuck..</em>
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s ears turned a shade of redparable to his mask, but he tried his best to recover.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A-a-a..and With that said!” Drake shouted turning back around, “Any support ss, or healer that wants to improve. See me tomorrow! For now, rest up, I will keep watch so you can rest easy for now.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Looking into the sky it was beginning to paint a darker orange. The day had been long and difficult for many. But Drake would make sure they could rest for now.
<span style="font-weight:400">He moved to the wall, and jumped onto the guard tower, looking out to the destruction his spell had caused.
<span style="font-weight:400">The open ins that had once been dirt was now a wet pool of mud as the water still receded back into the forest bringing the bodies of the Goblins with them. But not all of them. Some of the Goblins had been mmed against the Outpost’s walls, others crushed into the mud unable to be freed by the waves of the receding waters.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll have to do some clean up tonight huh…” Drake mumbled.
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">“You believe anything that crazy dude said?” one of the men whispered to another, taking a spoonful of the food he had grabbed to his mouth, “Ahh this is good! What the fuck?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m not so sure about killing all the Goblins. I mean you saw that quest right? But at least we’re safe here. That spell he just did was something else!” another chimed in next to him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shhh! Don’t be so loud, what would you do if the guy heard us?!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t believe Mr. Shot is so petty to kill someone for having a differing opinion,” Harley said, handing another person a bowl of food, “He did save everyone after all, even with some being not so cooperative,” she added, sparing a nce to a gruff looking man on the edge of the group.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ha! Save everyone? What about the other people still in the camp?” someone said.
<span style="font-weight:400">Harley pursed her lips, not sure how to respond to the question. But a familiar voice came to her rescue.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah? And what exactly the bloody hell did your sorry ass do to save those people? Easy to point a finger when you’re sitting cozy by a fire eating grub when you didn’t lift one to do shite,” Jacqueline sneered.
<span style="font-weight:400">The man who spoke scoffed and ced a spoon of food into his mouth grumbling something.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you..” Harley offered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t sweat it, love. Tensions are high and all that, but we all have something to bear for not doing more,” Jacqueline replied.
<span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly another horn sounded. And both women looked to the guard tower.
<span style="font-weight:400">It had been a few hours since thest one sounded, and was not dark. The only thing they could see in the night was the shine of green before a sh of white formed the outline of a person on the tower.
<span style="font-weight:400">Those with magic senses and identification skills looked up in more detail. Seeing the man on the tower. His ck and gold outlined robe that was in tatters, white hair with red animal ears and tail. And the ferocious red, ck and white mask covering the bottom half of his face.
<strong>[Shot Level 15]</strong>
<span style="font-weight:400">A momentter, the sparks of green flicked in the night as arrows and spells seemed to cascade against a shield in front of the man.
<span style="font-weight:400">But he stood unperturbed as a crimson red magic circle formed in his left hand, a tall throng of fire extending from it, lighting up the night like a beacon.
<span style="font-weight:400">The fire bent and formed a longbow, another circle of red bursting to life in his other dark earthen hand. It forming a condensed arrow of fire.
<span style="font-weight:400">Shot pulled back the bow, the string of fire flicked and sputtered in the air as he stretched the string. A breathter he let go the mountain of fiery mana, the arrow shrieking as it screamed through the air, a loud explosion sounding in the distance.
<span style="font-weight:400">And then he formed and pulled another, then another, and another. Each one sounding fiercer than thest, a loud cascading boom following each screeching arrow that was released.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Could you do that?” Jacqueline asked hesitantly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“N-no. I’m a level 15 Farsight Archer… The best I could do is maybe kill two Kobolds at a time. How many Goblins do you think he is killing with each arrow?” Harley asked just as pensively.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My liege is killing around 30 Goblins per arrow,” Theodore said, shimmering into existence next to Harley with an expressionless face, “Ah. Another level. This system of gathering is quite extraordinary. Should my liege decide to continue this one feels he twill be set quite speedily upon their goal of getting stronger.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Harley looked over at Theodore, her eyes gleaning green for a moment as she inspected him.
<strong>[Theodore Rotwood Level 13]</strong>
<span style="font-weight:400">Theodore was slowly closing in on Harley’s level and he had increased so quickly over the course of such a small period. Even Shot had also increased in level, and no one knew his ss.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Theo,” Harley whispered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, my love?” he responded, dropping his ear to her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What ss is Mr. Shot?” she asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Theodore looked troubled for a moment but then answered in a low tone, “Truly, this one hasnt the slightest. My liege has not graced this one with such information as of yet.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“And you still follow him?” she asked again, her face painted in surprise.
<span style="font-weight:400">Theodore curled his mustache with a slight grin as he stood straight and answered in an even tone looking up at the fireworks disy Drake was putting on.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My Liege has done much for me. Even going as far to kill perpetrators of torture as rpence for their actions. Sire is… Shot is… as he would put it, now family.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Harley’s mouth parted slightly in astonishment, but regained herposure to look back up at the man still firing arrows into the distance. She wondered what exactly Shot had done for Theo and just what was he nning for the future?
<hr>
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Haha! I’m so fucking d I have that show as reference for this! How cool is a full magic bow?!!</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake shouted internally, as he continued to fire off arrows, each one dropping his Mana slowly only to be filled back up from his massive pool and regeneration he now had.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Brihd! Brihd!</em><span style="font-weight:400">” he whispered with each arrow as they screeched through the air like a phoenix then plummeted into the ranks of the now scattering Goblins.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">“You are such a child and a moron.. Why not just use a real bow?! You have plenty.”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Nattoined, as she watched the disy of magic with disinterest.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Obviously because this is cooler. AND do you really think that a regr bow can withstand the fire spells I’munching?</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake countered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Fair I suppose. But Drake. We really must discuss your personality changes. You have been showing more inclination towards fighting, and even gone berserk. I fear it might be a side effect of your growth or the Oppression skill stone,”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> she told him worriedly.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake grimaced. She was right, they needed to discuss it. And Drake had been intentionally dodging the discussion.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Can’t we wait just a b-</em>
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">No! I know you, and you will keep putting off something like this until it bes a problem! Use more than two brain cells for once and get ahead of the problem!!</em><span style="font-weight:400">” she yelled.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Ok. Ok. No need to shout…</em>
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">There is always a need to shout when ites to you! Have you not been paying attention to the past 72 hours?!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> she shrieked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake pursed his lips, “Ok fair..” he replied, finally drawing and releasing hisst arrow. The impact lighting up the ins in front of the Outpost enough to see that the Goblins had fallen back to retreat or regroup.
<span style="font-weight:400">Looking back up at the night sky, Drake plopped back down on the top of the Guard Tower, then turned his gaze over his shoulder, where now 60 odd some people had found residence and ate.
<span style="font-weight:400">Unfortunately because of the Goblins continuing to try to force their way into the Outpost. Which Drake assumed was because of him. No one was getting any sleep. At least that was what Drake was guessing as most of the people were now eating or up and about wandering the grounds.
<span style="font-weight:400">There were a few that he had noticed watching him since his little ‘speech’.
<strong>[Amir Fadel Level 10]</strong>
<strong>[ire Osberg Level 11]</strong>
<strong>[Harley Mongrass Level 15]</strong>
<strong>[Jacqueline Evans Level 15]</strong>
<span style="font-weight:400">And thest one who was trying her best to not show she was studying him. But his Aura was able to feel her subtle head turns as she stood at the bottom of the Guard Tower.
<strong>[Chelsea Jackson Level 14]</strong>
<em><span style="font-weight:400">They should really have made Aliases.. Having your real name on disy seems kinda careless.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Stop thinking about other people! Where did that selfish asshole a moment ago go?!”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Natto chided.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">I know I know… Look, let’s wait until morning when I have better visibility. My Magic Sight’s improved but I still can’t catch everything. It isn’t like it improved to see in the dark and I do need to stay alert for now. I haven’t noticed too many Red-Caps in the notifications but that doesn’t mean they aren''t there outside my scope of sight.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake exined.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And I’ll have time to thinkter when we bury them…” Drake whispered under his breath.
<hr>
<span style="font-weight:400">The next few hours went surprisingly fast for Drake. The Goblins had a pattern of attack that made it easier to know when they did.
<span style="font-weight:400">They would sound a battle horn, then try to storm the front gate. Footmen and shamans would try to support the Lieutenants and other footmen as they marched forward.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake had yet to see another General as the night pressed on, and their ranks had be less diverse as well, which he was sure was for a reason, but he couldn’t think of one.
<span style="font-weight:400">Were they trying to oust him in a battle of attrition?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good luck… My mana pool is sorge now I sparsely know what to do with it against this level of monsters,” Drake grumbled as he paced back and forth on the new strip of Earth he had conjured behind the wall of the Outpost.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake had decided during the night to make a temporary wall along the Outpost so he could change his position. The decision had been made for him when the Goblins decided to focus fire on him, breaking both his defensive shields and taking a good chunk out of his shoulder before he teleported away to recover.
<span style="font-weight:400">The spell that hammered the Goblins after was one for the ages, but had taught Drake another lesson.
<span style="font-weight:400">Don’t stand in the same spot more than once.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It looks like there''s a small lull right now. Might be the best time to do it… “ Drake said, looking back at the camp, in the new morning daylight.
<span style="font-weight:400">The campfires were sputtering out and people were exiting the tents very very slowly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alfred!” Drake called, but no one answered.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Damn I was hoping that would work…</em>
<em><span style="font-weight:400">“You never cease to joke do you..</em><span style="font-weight:400">” Natto sighed.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What can I say it’s in my nature? Theo!” Drake tried again.
<span style="font-weight:400">A momentter a shimmer in the air turned to Theodore, bowing slightly next to Drake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, my liege?” Theodore asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Here, before I forget,” Drake said, cing the Illusion Stones he had picked up on the way back in Theodore’s hands, “This finish up your slots?” he asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Theodore eyed the stones for a moment then gripped them in his hands. “I believe it will sire. This one is most gracious.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake nodded and eyed the breaking suning fully over the horizon.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I have some stuff to finish up really quickly, I need you to watch the Goblins movements. If anything happense get me,” Drake said, pointing to the corner of the Outpost where no one was camped, “I’ll be over there.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Theodore bowed slightly again then chanted something under his breath, disappearing once again.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake hopped off the Earthen rampart he created and began walking to the area he had pointed to. Many of the early risers had given him nces but no one approached him as he walked on the outskirts of the newly formed camp inside the Outpost.
<span style="font-weight:400">A few momentster he had reached the area and began the process of something he had been dreading since he found them inside the Jailer’s and General’s pouches.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">Natto, you can ask away while I do this. I don’t have time to waste not doing both.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake thought.
<span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Is it not disrespectful..?”</em><span style="font-weight:400"> she asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake ced his earthen hand over the ground, a small portion falling from it to the floor below. He put mana into the shard of earth that fell and it expanded into a six foot deep rectangr hole.
<span style="font-weight:400">His mana took a dip, but it wasn’t something his recovery in his Water Endowment couldn’t nowpensate easily.
<span style="font-weight:400">Opening his inventory, he began cing one slot of human remains into the hole. Then slowly covered it in earth, cing a gravestone at the foot of the grave.
<em><span style="font-weight:400">I don''t even know their names, or what they have gone through. The most I can do for them now is ce them in a proper burial.</em><span style="font-weight:400"> Drake replied.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And leave them with a promise,” he added, as he engraved something in the gavestone.
<strong>[Here lies a Victim of the tutorial. May they rest in peace, for I will find them justice.]</strong>
<span style="font-weight:400">Drake turned around, looking the auburn twin ponytailed woman in the eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What do you want, I have work to do.”