《The Mechanical Mage - A run 'em over LitRPG》 Chapter 1 & 2 – Man with a Van isekai? Ben shifted into gear. The two dog-sized scorpions were almost twenty meters away when a notification appeared above their heads. [Wasteland Scorpion Level 4] If it wasn¡¯t for their size, they looked exactly like their counterparts on earth. He knew enough about them to establish they were native predators of the desert and wouldn¡¯t hesitate to cause him serious damage. Not wanting to be a victim of their snippy claws and poisonous sting, he momentarily thought about running them over. With his van being his only asset in that hellish landscape, he decided to save that for when things took a turn for the worse. With their telsons shooting back, he knew they were about to strike like vipers. When they came within attack range, Ben¡¯s heart started beating like a heavy metal kickdrum, sinking into an ocean of stress. Come on, don¡¯t get stuck! Even though he had changed his tires recently, they weren¡¯t meant for off-roading. With the threat of getting stuck, he gently lifted the clutch and gave it some gas. The wheels spun briefly, flinging up sand on both sides before he started moving. Spinning the steering wheel, the van¡¯s back end drifted around, almost clipping their claws. Once facing the other way, he counter-steered and hit the gas, pelting their faces. Thinking that was it, he was about to slow down but glanced at the side mirror. The giant dust cloud obscured his vision, and the moment he was about to slow, they leaped out, violently snipping their claws with murder on their minds. Oh, crap! Pressing harder on the gas, the tires spun again. The traction-control light flashed in the dash, limiting momentum. This feature was great on a normal road, but it would surely get him stuck in that random desert. Holding the button briefly, it switched off, and he could accelerated again. Suddenly, one of the scorpions jumped like a grasshopper and shot towards his rear end. Luckily, he saw the entire thing and swerved out of the way, causing the creature to crash into the sand. Ben shook his head. ¡°What the heck!¡± If they can do that, then there¡¯s no telling what other abilities they have. The engine started roaring like a lion as it reached the higher rev range. It was telling him to shift up, but he knew the loss of traction from doing such a thing would cause him to enter an uncontrolled swerve. Luckily, he gained enough speed that their bodies vanished in the mirrors. The van had given him enough to leave them in the dust. A wave of frustration swept him as he felt more of them could be waiting anywhere behind the dunes. Taking some deep breaths, he calmed himself down. He never thought his ordinary day as a delivery driver would turn out like that. It''s all because of that stupid parcel.
Earlier that day, Ben started his morning as he usually did. The sky was mostly dark, with little early morning sunlight barely emerging from behind the cloud cover. The previous night''s temperature had plummeted, causing the roads to become covered in a thin layer of frost. Typical of early winter in the north of England. He had arrived at the warehouse and was ready for another great day. The weather had never stopped him from looking his best and getting to work before all the other drivers. As usual, he waited for the gate to open. That would only happen once the night staff had finished organizing everything for the couriers. But he wasn¡¯t bothered. Being early meant he could scan, load, and deliver the parcels before all the other drivers. Plus, he knew his customers would be happier and leave him positive feedback, earning him a nice bonus from the managers. Glancing at the time, he knew he still had some time to wait. Lucky for him, the driver''s seat of his camper van was soft and comfortable. He grabbed his comb from the glove box and brushed his hair to make it look more presentable. It wasn¡¯t super long, but it was just the right length where it sometimes needed to be touched up. When he was done, he looked down at his phone on his lap. The next chapter of his favorite web novel was open on the screen. As much as he wanted to pick it up and start reading, other thoughts distracted him. It had been almost five years since he turned eighteen. For his birthday gift, without warning, his parents had explained to him that he was a mistake and should never have been born. They had packed his things into garbage bags and piled them in the front yard before wishing him good luck. They even had the gall to slam the door in his face. Being homeless hadn''t done him any favors. He had grown distant from all his relations. Even his girlfriend left him for someone else as he was forced to leave his education and find work. No matter what life threw at him, a fire within him wanted him to succeed no matter the cost. Luckily, he had found some light at the end of his dark tunnel. Before putting down a rent deposit for a house, he found his camper van parked in a hippie spot with a massive ¡®FOR SALE¡¯ sign on the windscreen. A pearl white paint job, the little Viking badge at the back, and the writing ''Valkyrie'' made him fall in love with her. But the real steal was her four-wheel drive system, which allowed him to get off the road. Over the years, he converted her into a full-fledged home on wheels. Ah, Val. We¡¯ve come so far, haven¡¯t we? Smiling at his progress, Ben grabbed his thermos and sipped the warm tea. Then, suddenly, he noticed a pair of headlights emerging from behind the van. He recognized the shape and knew whose car they belonged to. He¡¯s early today. Jimmy, the depot manager, parked his car behind the van. When momentarily, the gate started to slide open. Ben put down his phone on the holder and shifted Val into gear. He drove into the large parking lot before going to the closest spot near the loading shutter. Strangely, Jimmy had followed him, parked his car next to the van, and opened the window like he wanted to chat. Something¡¯s up with him. Ben rolled his window down before giving Jimmy a nod, who sipped on his coffee cup. ¡°How are you doing, Ben?¡± He placed his cup into one of the holders. As much as Ben wanted to tell him the truth about how the blistering cold had kept him awake most of the night, he didn¡¯t like to burden other people with his problems. ¡°Not bad, mate. How about you?¡± He smiled. ¡°It''s better now that I have some coffee. I have no idea how you sleep in that van when it¡¯s so cold like this. And you still get to work before me.¡± Jimmy finished the sentence with a shiver, blowing into his hands and rubbing them together. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s alright. It gets easier after the first winter.¡± Ben glanced at the time, ¡°You¡¯re early today¡­ Got some important meeting or something?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Jimmy scratched his chin. "I had one of those abrupt phone calls in the morning. The CEO had sent one of those special parcels and wanted me to deliver it personally. Something''s wrong. They usually have someone pick them up." He shook his head, "It¡¯s too busy here, and I¡¯m drowning in paperwork, so I won''t be able to do it. I had a feeling you''d be here early, and you''re the only driver I can trust around here to do a proper job. So, what do you say?" It wasn¡¯t the first time Ben had been tasked with delivering a ¡®special parcel.'' These jobs were usually rare and involved items of significant value that the elites of society sent to each other. The previous time, he was paid a full day¡¯s wage as compensation. Hmm. There¡¯s no harm in making some extra cash. ¡°I see that look on your face. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll send cash into your account once you complete the job.¡± ¡°Alright, that sounds fair enough.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°We have a deal.¡± Another vehicle entering the parking lot caught Ben¡¯s attention. Jimmy also twisted his neck to see who it could be, ¡°I better get to the office. I¡¯ll come by once you¡¯re loaded. I heard about what happened yesterday when the other drivers shouted abuse at you. I¡¯ve spoken to them, and if it happens again, you come to see me, alright? You¡¯re my best driver, and I don¡¯t want you going anywhere because of their bullish behavior.¡± Ben smiled. ¡°Ah, thanks for that, mate. You know, I¡¯ve learned to ignore them. And don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± He didn¡¯t think he was better than anyone. He was just an average person who liked to work hard and do his job properly. ¡°That¡¯s what I like to hear. Alright, I¡¯ll see you soon and get that package to you.¡± Jimmy finished with a nod. He rolled his window back up and moved his car toward the other end of the parking lot where the office staff parked. He noticed that the other car looked too expensive for someone working at the warehouse to own. Ben let out a huff of frustration as the memories of the previous day resurfaced. He had grown tired of the bullying he had received from some of the other drivers. He figured it was due to jealousy as he would always be offered extra work and overtime. This behavior resulted in him being called a manager''s pet, and sometimes, they even made fun of him for living in his van. He pushed the thoughts away as the loading shutter started opening. Finally, he could fill his van and get out delivering.
Ben stared at the parcel. It looked just like the others, and nothing was special about it. That¡¯s odd. Normally, these have better packaging or a premium look, at the very least. The only exception was that it didn¡¯t have a scannable barcode, as if they didn¡¯t want it tracked. The address had been printed on a smaller label attached with melted, maroon-colored wax and stamped with a sigil. It did have tape around it that read, ¡®Fragile, take care when handling.¡¯ Glancing at the address, it was unfamiliar. ¡°Remember, you need to send me a picture once the parcel has been delivered. Otherwise, we could be in hot shit.¡± Jimmy warned, passing it over. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I always do a proper job.¡± Ben nodded, taking it. When his fingers touched the box, he felt a strange tingle in his hands. It was as if he were getting a minute electric shock, which almost caused him to drop it.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Be careful with that,¡± Jimmy muttered, shaking his head, ¡°I need to get going¡­ Just remember the picture.¡± Ben placed it on the passenger side seat, where it would be safe. He blamed the lack of sleep he had received the previous night and thought the shock could have been a hallucination.
¡°What?¡± Ben mumbled, staring at his phone screen. It was time to deliver that parcel, and the navigation app showed him where the customer was. Having previously delivered parcels in that area, he knew it was a few miles from his usual area and would take some time. He figured it wouldn¡¯t be too much of a problem. After all, he knew almost every street, nook, and cranny to get back on track. Alright, let¡¯s not waste any more time! A short while later, he arrived at an old country road that cut through farm pastures when the stench of manure hit his nostrils like a freight train. The worst thing was that it was ill-maintained, with potholes and bumps everywhere, causing the van to bounce uncontrollably. Slowing down, he used his driving ability to navigate around the bad parts. Glancing at the navigation, he was about to miss the turn and sharply steered. The parcel fell and hit the footwell floor. Damn it! The fall wasn¡¯t bad, so he didn¡¯t pay much attention. Besides, he could pick it up and inspect it when he arrived at the address. The road itself continued for some time. The quality of the tarmacking was exceptional, and riding along it was smooth. Even the bushes and trees were neatly trimmed, making Ben think much money must have been spent on maintenance. The further he drove, the more trees appeared on either side, and the scenery shifted to a dense woodland. The terrain became hillier, and more bends started appearing. Ben figured there was little chance of other vehicles on a quiet road like that, so he gave his van more gas. That way, he could save time and get back to finishing the rest of his tour. Suddenly, a small figure sprang from the bushes as he approached a sharp bend. Slamming on the brakes, he was yanked forward, his seatbelt locking him in place so he didn''t suffer a concussion on the steering wheel. His tires screeched to a halt as the smell of burning rubber and clutch filled his cabin. He was too late. A loud thud knocked the front bumper, and his butt bounced back in the seat as a curled-up fox rolled into the bushes ahead like a bowling ball. Oh crap! He was about to rush outside and see if he could do anything to help it when a weird, unfamiliar smell started filling the cabin. Rotten eggs? There¡¯s no way a van can make a smell like that! Ben twisted his head and noticed reddish smoke from the footwell where the parcel had fallen earlier. ¡°Damn it!¡± He yelled as he noticed it coming from the parcel. Fearing that the van could be set on fire, he opened the window and went to grab it. But the moment his hand touched it, that same electric feeling emerged, much stronger and pulsed throughout his entire body. ¡°Urgh¡­ what the hell is this thing?¡± He squirmed, covering his nose with his other hand. Both the smell and the feeling made him sick to his stomach, and he wanted nothing more than to launch it outside. The moment he rolled the window down, the smoke stopped. He felt relieved it was over but couldn¡¯t take a chance if embers were still burning. A strange red glow emerged from a small rip in the corner of the box. Curiosity got the better of Ben, and he took a little peek to see what was inside. A strange object rested within. It was a black sphere with strange crimson symbols scattered along its surface. They gleamed in a neon-red hue similar to Christmas lights. That¡¯s not normal! The symbols didn¡¯t look like anything Ben had seen before, but their pointed ends made him think they could have been related to some satanic cult. His finger accidentally touched the object''s surface before it gleamed brighter. More smoke bellowed out, springing in every direction. Not again! His body became covered, and within seconds, the cabin, too. [Engineer Seed Activated.] [The system is now being initialized.] The writing appeared in his vision like he was looking through an AR headset. It moved when he tilted his head, always staying in the most optimal position so he couldn¡¯t miss anything. It felt like some crazy brain modification like the ones he had read about in the futuristic cyberpunk stories. [Initialization successful.] [Activating pre-loaded transportation command.] ¡°What? No, no, no! Cancel that shit right now!¡± He yelled to no avail. More and more energy emerged from the sphere. There was so much of it that it had made its way outside till it surrounded the entire van. It started to spin around like a merry-go-round before everything started to fade.
A shroud of ice-cold darkness surrounded Ben. It felt like he was trapped inside a pitch-black glacier, which was freezing enough to kill a man. But for some reason, he was still alive. His body was completely numb to the point he couldn¡¯t even open his eyelids. Is this a dream or something? No way, a dream can¡¯t last this long. I would have woken up by now. There¡¯s more to it. Something is not right! He put his mind into reverse gear and recalled his memories before getting into that mess. Maybe there was a chance he could figure something out and escape that cold hell. Surely, I haven¡¯t missed anything. He recalled the events leading up to the eternal darkness and concluded he could have done nothing to prevent it. The weird object in the parcel had activated itself. I wouldn¡¯t have accepted the job if I knew what it could do! There must be something I¡¯m missing here. One peculiar thing about the whole event was the strange writing displayed in his vision. There was something about a transportation command. Hmm. Hang on! The moment it appeared, I yelled to cancel it. It could have been too late to cancel the procedure, so it paused me in perpetual dark limbo. Whatever this system thing is, it could be connected to my mind. Maybe I can issue commands to it. It feels like a long shot, but worth a try. Alright! Continue the transportation command, please? Nothing happened. Just as he had given up all hope, the darkness shifted. Dots of light emerged in strange patterns, strengthening with each passing moment. The bigger ones also moved faster than the smaller ones. Suddenly, one of the dots began to increase in size exponentially. The closer it got, the more it started to resemble a star like Ben had seen in the science-fiction movies. Holy cow, I¡¯m flying through space! The light from the star began to increase until it was too much to bear. As much as Ben wanted to close his eyes, he couldn¡¯t. Just like his body, he wasn¡¯t in control. The speed then began to slow. There was a change in the direction before he shot off again towards another constellation. The whole thing happened so fast that he would have missed it if he had blinked. He could only observe the procedure as it occurred several more times. It was like being on auto-pilot until he began to slow down. He arrived at another star, but this time, he was not moving towards it but rather to something smaller orbiting around it. The closer he got, the more it resembled a planet like Earth. A dark cloud surrounded Ben once more. It was filled with the same crimson energy he had seen coming out of the spherical object. A mixture of random feelings materialized in his head before overwhelming him.
Ben awoke, sucking in a breath of air. [The transportation command was successful.] [The system is now being activated.]
Name: Benjamin Bailey
Level: 0 (0/100XP)
HP: 29/50 SP: 28/50
This time, The writing popped up on a neatly arranged blue table. Ben''s jaw dropped at the sight of it; he didn''t think this kind of thing was possible. This kind of technology was still years away, as even the best augmented reality goggles had to be worn to view the actual screens. When compared to the rest of his vision, it was crystal clear. The information it showed appeared to know his name and went on about some stats as if he were playing a role-playing game. Great. A Game system. His senses returned, but not in the way he wanted. His head began to ring like a church bell, and his stomach churned like a cement mixer. It seemed like he was about to puke all over his van. Oh, no, you don¡¯t! Slamming his mouth shut, he held his breath and pushed the urge back down from where it had come from. When it had receded, he took a few breaths. Luckily, he passed out in the driver¡¯s seat, and his head rested on the steering wheel. The numbness in his body also faded, and he realized something wasn¡¯t right. His entire body was saturated with sweat, his clothing was soaked, and even his steering wheel had been covered. Eww! An unbearable heat swept across him as if he were sitting inside an industrial oven on the maximum setting. Even in heatwave weather, it had never been that hot in England. Fearing his van was on fire, he raised his head to see what was happening. His mouth dropped as wide as a whale. The orange glow of sky-high dunes slapped him in the face. No matter which direction he twisted his neck, he was surrounded by them. His van was parked in a central valley between them, preventing him from seeing further. He had been transported to a place resembling the Sahara Desert. Wait, I haven¡¯t. Have I been isekaied? While realizing his situation, a gust blew across the dunes. Tiny particles of sand were flung over their tops and fell below, where another breeze blew them down across the area where the van was parked. ¡°Oh, damn.¡± He muttered as it blew straight through his window. It would have been okay if it had been normal wind, but it wasn¡¯t. The moment it brushed his skin, it felt like he was a foot away from the flames of a gas-fired barbeque. Fortunately, the layer of sweat on his skin evaporated as it took the brunt of the burns. Ben poked the window switch, not wanting that to happen again, but nothing happened. When he glanced at the dashboard, he realized the engine was off. It must have stalled when I hit the fox. With the temperature rising, he put on his thinking cap. He didn¡¯t know exactly how long he had been unconscious, but it was enough time for the electronics to drain the battery. He went to twist the key to make sure, but there was nothing¡ªnot even a click. The chances of it being an engine problem were slim, as he had recently completed a full service and replaced any worn parts, including the starter motor. Everything seemed to point towards a dead battery. He noticed the area where he landed was the lowest between two large dunes. It was as flat as a pancake, ruling out a push start. A lightbulb suddenly lit up when he realized he had some leisure batteries in the back. They weren¡¯t designed to start a vehicle but more so to run the electronics in his living area. The solar panels on the roof had been in the hot desert sun for some time, so he figured they would be well-charged and provide enough juice to get the van started. It¡¯s worth a shot! Scurrying to the back, he glanced at the controller, which read ¡®100%¡¯. Then he found his tool bag, shuffled around inside it, and found a wrench with the correct socket to remove the battery connectors. Playing it safe, he hit the charge power kill switch to avoid sudden power surges and short circuits. Once the battery was out, he hurried to the front of the van, raised the hood, and connected everything with the jump leads he kept for emergencies. He waited a moment, then rushed to the steering wheel. After twisting the key, the engine sprayed a few times before humming. ¡°Awesome.¡± Ben sighed in relief. He was then interrupted by two notifications. [Vehicle sub-system has been unlocked.] [Your vehicle, Valkyrie, is being integrated into the system.] What on earth is going on now? Ben wondered why this system had suddenly started integrating his van. Wait. Has my van been isekaied too? Frustrated, he pulled the window up and switched on the AC. It took a moment, but cold air started to fill the cabin, and he began to feel more relaxed. He was about to lean back on the seat to rest when another menu popped up. It appeared in front of the dashboard above his instrument cluster. It displayed stats related to the van and even knew its name.
Vehicle: Valkyrie, Level 0
Type: Camper
Condition: 68%
Fuel: 48%
Power: 140HP (Mechanical)
Mass: 1872KG
Armor Rating: 24
He wasn¡¯t entirely sure what all this meant, but some information, like the condition and fuel level percentages, seemed helpful. However, they also reminded him he couldn¡¯t get fuel and spare parts to fix his van while stuck in a random desert. I¡¯ll have to cross those bridges when I get to them. First, I need to figure out where the hell I¡¯m at. Glancing up, he noticed some movement in the corner of his eyes. His eyes darted to the top of the dune directly before him. Two dark figures emerged, momentarily obscured by the heat waves. Once they stood at the peak, he knew what they were. Giant freaking scorpions! Chapter 3 – The Chase! Ben shook his head in disbelief. He had made the dangerous trek up the largest dune he could find. Getting up was a battle, as his tires often lost traction, making him think he would get stuck. Through patience and precise steering, he managed to prevail. Looking over its peak, he discovered an endless desert that resembled the Sahara. In some areas, the dunes became small, making the ground look flat; in others, they were so tall he couldn''t see anything beyond them. What was worse was that the sun had already started dropping and would soon shroud him in darkness. Scorpions were nocturnal creatures and preferred the darkness for hunting their prey. The thought of more appearing made his gut wrench. The damn system could¡¯ve taken me somewhere better, at least. Ben¡¯s head started to pulse, and his breath became heavy as a mountain of stress started to suffocate him. Closing his eyes, he held his head and took some deep breaths. You can get through this! Isn''t there anywhere else? He moved the van to face the other way, where a set of rocky mountains appeared near the horizon. The terrain looked greener there, alluding to the possibility of a nearby water source and maybe even food if he was lucky. But getting there would require him to travel through a large salt flat where other surprises could await him. No matter the risk, he knew his chances of survival depended on him getting across it. Putting the van into gear, he made a move. The van started to tremble as small fissures appeared around him, causing the sand to start rolling down the slope. Dark chitin claws started appearing from within. Not again! Ben wasn''t going to wait around. He steered towards the flats, got moving, and knew the salt there would act like grit, allowing him to travel faster and escape from the oversized arachnids. He used the downward slope to boost his momentum. Near the peak, he nearly toppled over but managed to counter-steer in time to stay upright. He adjusted his course and stayed in low gear. Looking at the mirrors, the bodies of many scorpions hopped out and started chasing him. No freaking way! Distracted, Ben hit a rocky bump and flew through the air. The suspension rattled with a loud clang before the underbody scraped against something. The steep part finished, and he went along a valley between two dunes that led directly toward the flats. He couldn''t even let out a breath of relief as their sand dispersed with more holes. Before Ben knew it, an entire horde was behind him. Looking ahead, the golden sands started to meld with the chalky white of the flats. Come on! I¡¯m almost there! His plan was thwarted when the ground on his path started to rattle. Damn it! Not now! It was too late. There was no time to slow down. Even if Ben had applied an emergency brake, too much momentum would cause him to spin out of control. There was no way he would lose his van to some stupid scorpions. Ben¡¯s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. Sweat poured down his face as he took a deep breath, and his foot on the gas started to tremble. The moment he drove into the ones blocking his path, two loud thuds shook the van. He could feel their chitin shells cracking as they were squished. A weird blue goo was splattered across the front of his hood, with some drops even landing on the windscreen. [You killed Wasteland Scorpion Level 5: +5XP] [You killed Wasteland Scorpion Level 4: +4XP] [You will be rewarded with experience points (XP) when hostile creatures are killed. Other rewards will sometimes be gained if specific system parameters are met. Defeating higher-level enemies and more robust variants will provide you with more rewards. When an enemy is defeated but not killed, the system will still provide you with experience if you deal damage. You are currently Level 0. You must gain more experience points to level up.] Ben noticed he had lost a couple of points off his vehicle condition. The front bumper remained intact, and the engine drove without hiccups. As much as he was thankful he made it to the flats, he wasn¡¯t too proud of what he had been forced to do to achieve his goal. What made it worse was that the system rewarded him with experience points for it. Shifting his attention to the chasing horde, he felt they wouldn''t leave him alone, and his hand would be forced to indulge in Murderhobo tendencies. That way, he could gain enough experience to level up and gain the ability to repair the van, as he knew it wouldn''t be able to do much more damage like that.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The van¡¯s tires touched the salt. Instantly, he felt an increase in grip and tested it out by steering side to side. He shifted and hit the gas pedal when he noticed it wasn''t sliding and swerving. After some moments, the scorpion horde was still on his tail and starting to get on his nerves. It was like they didn¡¯t know when to give up. As much as I¡¯ve tried, there¡¯s no way they will leave me alone! I¡¯ve had enough! If I kill enough of them, the others might turn tail and run away. The seatbelt pushed against his chest as he pressed the brakes. He downshifted for better traction as he steered left before spinning the wheel the other way, causing his butt to slide on the seat. He adjusted the throttle to control the momentum and aligned the front of the van so it faced the horde. His heart beat faster than a rocket, pumping adrenaline to every corner of his body as he pressed on the gas. Dirt flew into the air as his back was pressed into the seat. He could taste the salty sweat running down his face and mouth before dropping below. The urge to wipe it away was overwhelming as he neared the horde, but he persevered, as letting go could mean disaster. Chase this, you overgrown freaks! The shrieks of scorpions filled the air as countless knocks and thuds shook the van. The first ones to contact the fender were splattered instantly, with their dismembered appendages flying and crashing into other nearby ones. The smaller ones were dragged beneath the van, with some finding their way beneath the tires, which caused the van to bounce like it was going over a speed bump. It didn¡¯t take long before Val¡¯s entire front end, including most of the windscreen, was covered in blue goo. Ben hit the switch to clean the windscreen and watched the water dilute it away before it was wiped. A few had piled up on his fender, causing the van to drag along the dirt, slowing its momentum. Ben kept the pressure on the throttle as multiple kill notifications filled his screen. They appeared so fast that he didn¡¯t even get a chance to look at them properly before the system collated everything into one. He sighed in frustration as all he wanted to do was get away from them, but in the end, relentless hit and run was what he was left with. Suddenly, he heard a loud clang and a scraping sound that shook the entire van. The front fender had fallen off from one side. And when he hit another, it flew off, spinning and hitting another creature in the head. [Warning: Vehicle condition critical at 24%. Front fender missing.] [Total Experience Gained: +120XP] [You are now level 1: +1 Skill Point Available.] [Mechanical Mage Class has been unlocked. This is now your default Class. Please see the Class menu for more information.] The fender had served him well and lasted much longer than he thought it would. With it gone, the radiator and engine bay were vulnerable to damage. Apart from escape, there was no other option. He went to a clear area when two scorpions hopped in his path. Yanking the steering wheel, he narrowly missed them. Two loud clanks hit the roof, followed by smaller taps. Paranoia swept across his head like a tidal wave. It wouldn''t be long till their needle-sharp telsons would start poking through the roof above his head. Oh no, you don¡¯t! Kicking the brakes, he was jolted forward. Luckily, the seat belt had saved him from a concussion with the steering wheel before he bounced back into the seat. The scorpions had been dispatched like cannonballs before landing a dozen meters away. The urge to run them over was great but would cause unnecessary damage. He changed his trajectory away from them and continued moving away. The engine ran a little jerky, and the drivetrain knocked like a hammer on an anvil. His plan had failed, and his van was borderline breaking down. I¡¯m not going to let you win that easily! Shifting up, he continued to accelerate. His performance was sluggish, barely enough to create considerable distance, but it could buy him time to think. Turning his attention to the system, he remembered the notification about the class he had unlocked. Around the same time, he felt a shift of energy resembling the crimson mist. A powerful sensation had rocked his body, buzzing like a hornet''s nest. And it stayed with him as if it had become a part of him. Something had activated, but what? Ben opened the menu.
Name: Benjamin Bailey
Level: 1 (29/200XP) Skill Points: 1
HP: 29/50 SP: 28/50 MP: 50/50
Active Vehicle: Valkyrie, Level 0
Class: Mechanical Mage, Level 1
Class Skills: None
Tell me more about the class! The class box glowed as if it had been pressed before another menu opened. *** Class Menu: Classes are roles that can be assigned to the system user. They allow the user to unlock special bonuses and skills specific to the role they are designed for. The class level is independent of the user''s overall level and must be used to increase proficiency and unlock more class benefits and related skills. *** Alright! Now, hurry up and tell me more about the class I unlocked! *** Active Class: [Mechanical Mage, Level 1] A blend of magic and mechanical engineering, this class seamlessly works with the vehicle subsystem, allowing the system user to unlock and allocate skills to their vehicles. The available skills are relevant only to the active vehicle. Each vehicle has its unique skills that can be unlocked and allocated. Once a predetermined number of skill points have been allocated to a vehicle, it will level up. New skills and abilities will unlock when the system user reaches level 5. Once skill points have been allocated, they cannot be unallocated. Caution is advised. Class Benefits: Mana Pool: +50MP. Bonuses: +1 MP regenerated for every hostile enemy killed/defeated via a vehicle until the mana pool is filled. Level 1 skills for [Valkyrie Level 0] are now available to select. *** Hell yeah! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about! Chapter 4 – Mechanical Mage Skills Ben grinned. He couldn''t have hoped for better. The system had learned from his behavior and unlocked something that could benefit him the most. Even that strange feeling he felt earlier started to make sense. He wondered what feats he would be capable of once he properly tuned himself to be proficient with the magic. Alright. What skills are available, then? *** [Repair Mk.1]: Once active, this skill uses magic points (MP) to improve the condition of the user¡¯s vehicle. This skill can only be activated through the vehicle system menu. When the user is satisfied with the repair, they may stop the procedure at any time. Skill Proficiency: 1MP/1% Condition Repaired Skill Point Cost: 1 *** [Refuel Mk.1]: Once active, this skill uses magic points (MP) to conjure fuel associated with your vehicle. This skill can only be activated through the vehicle system menu. When the user is satisfied with the fuel level, they may stop the procedure. Skill Proficiency: 1MP/1% Refueled. Skill Point Cost: 1 *** What! Only two skills? He hoped it would have given him a greater selection, maybe even cool abilities to kill the scorpions. Well, beggars can''t be choosers. Besides, I only have one point to spend anyway. I should be careful where I spend it. The fuel situation was okay, which he hoped would grant him enough time to level up again and gain another skill point. Considering the state of his van, he felt it was a no-brainer not to choose the one that could be used to repair it. [Repair Mk.1 is now unlocked.] A new option appeared on the vehicle stat screen, and when he thought about activating it, the magic started to flow out of his body. The entire van had become covered in a blue aura, and small speckles of magic started to blow from its surface like dandelion seeds in the wind. The glow is concentrated, and luminosity increases around the damaged areas. Another great bonus was that it cleaned the van as if going through an automated car wash. Not bad at all! Ben wasn¡¯t sure how it worked, but the results put a smile on his face. Most of the van had started to look better than when he first bought it. The only downside of the process was that the magic within him started to fade to the point he could barely feel it was there anymore. He wanted to save what was left if things got hairy and stopped the procedure. [Vehicle Condition: 64%] [Vehicle front fender has been regenerated.] The engine''s sluggishness had gone, and the suspension didn¡¯t feel like it was driving over multiple potholes. According to the notification, the van''s fender had been replaced. But he couldn¡¯t see it from where he was sitting. He lifted his butt off the seat and leaned forward to discover it did look like it had been replaced. He made a mental note to check it once he wasn¡¯t being chased properly. Looking through the now shiny mirror, he turned his attention to the horde, where he noticed dust emerging from where they scurried. There was some distance between them and him, but not near enough for him to be safe. He sighed in frustration, and their behavior had made him sick and tired. It was getting beyond annoying. I guess there¡¯s no other way to end this chase. I¡¯ll have to mow them all down! Since using the repair skill, he wondered if he could simultaneously run them over and use the ability perpetually. That would allow him to dispose of them all and get a much-needed break from the madness he found himself in. He turned the van around and headed directly for the horde. Once again, knocks shook the van as the scorpions'' chitin bodies crashed into the fender. Some bounced and spun around the van''s sides, clanking every time they contacted metal panels. Blue goo once again flew around like confetti and splattered all over the hood. Ben felt the rush of adrenaline buzz around his body. His clothes were soaked in warm sweat, and his knuckles had turned white from the steering wheel swinging side to side. The pain in his palms was becoming unbearable, and all he wanted to do was let go, but he knew the moment he did, he would be toast. One of the scorpions somehow rolled up the hood and bounced off the windscreen, causing it to crack. Oh, shit! That was a close call. With the magic inside of him buzzing back to life, it was the right time to start the repair function before he lost any vital parts of the van. The blue aura filled every inch of the van before he pressed harder on the gas to finish them off. The closer Ben got to his goal, the sicker it made him feel. The relentless murder run had taken its toll. At that moment, he just wanted to be done with it all.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Come on! Hang on a little longer! The van''s condition still depreciated, but it did so at a slower speed than his first run. He knew he couldn¡¯t keep perpetually repairing it for much longer as his magic pool was diminishing faster than it was being replenished. Maybe later, he could upgrade it to improve its proficiency, as the system had stated in the notification. He steered away, noticing the scorpion carcasses lying dead in the salt. Around them, the ground had soaked in the goo like a sponge and started to look the same light blue as the sky. A few creatures remained, the ones he had missed during the run. [Total Experience Gained: +160XP] They just wouldn¡¯t let up their chase and kept at it as if they were programmed like machines. ¡°How can such creatures even exist?¡± He sighed in frustration. Ben once again created some distance. With the few that remained, he was certain the next run would be his final. When he turned and was about to accelerate towards the closest one, a loud noise erupted in the distance. It resembled a war horn, like the ones he had heard while watching battle scenes in historical documentaries. He twisted his head towards the mountains, where it came from. What the heck! That¡¯s unreal! Three giant scorpions were rushing towards him at speeds he didn¡¯t think were possible. The massive clouds of dirt they threw up were so immense they resembled a dust storm and nearly reached the top of the peaks behind them. What was even more peculiar was that they appeared to look different. It looked like they had riders. He held his steering wheel and moved closer to the windscreen to see the riders better. They were covered from head to toe in dark, puffed-up robes. In their hands, they held ropes that went all the way to the scorpions'' heads, which appeared connected to a collar. One moved an item close to its head before another loud horn blared. As they got closer, the sound shook the surrounding area, causing the van to shake and rattle. Ben noticed the ones he was about to run over had stopped in their tracks. They paused for only a moment as they turned to face the three approaching mammoths before turning tail and running back toward the dunes. A few of them even tried to burrow themselves in the salt and failed before joining their kin. Their behavior gave him the chills and a gut-wrenching feeling that he was in danger. Knowing something big would happen, he steered the van the other way and put the pedal to the metal. Ben¡¯s chest felt like it would explode as he pushed his engine further than ever. He held the steering wheel hard until he couldn''t feel his hands. The van started losing control, swerving side to side, and almost spun out of control. His efforts were all in vain when he was forced to come to a halt. One of the larger ones had jumped through the air and landed a hundred feet before him. Granules of salt were chucked away in all directions as if a pile of explosives had been detonated. A small shockwave hit the front of the van, rattling its suspension before the salt started to rain down on the windscreen like hailstones. That happened two more times as the others arrived, causing the area to be covered in a white salty fog. A breeze blew from the side, dispersing it away. First, the silhouettes emerged, and once it was clear, Ben noticed they had stayed in the same position since landing. The scorpions faced him and looked like they wanted to rip him to shreds, snapping their claws and twitching in rage like drug addicts who had gone cold turkey. Great. Now I¡¯m stuck! There was no way he could outrun them, and judging from the feats he had witnessed, he knew he had messed up big time. The magic they used to leap great distances was both awe-inspiring and intimidating. It was like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Are they human? Do they have access to a system like mine? Is there a skill that allows them to tame and ride the scorpions? Ben¡¯s thoughts were interrupted when he noticed the rider in the middle started aggressively pointing at the van. The way its head bobbed back and forth with the other two riders made him think they must have been conversing. One of the other riders joined in with the hostility, while the final one stayed relaxed. The scorpion mounts appeared to mirror their rider''s behavior as if they were telepathically linked. The angry ones twitched and moved about all over the place, the complete opposite of the calm one, who stood as still as a stone. Suddenly, it felt like the angriest one had enough of talking. The mount sprang forward in a frenzy, stomping its appendages and swinging its gigantic claws. It moved forward a little before hopping toward the van. The ground trembled like an earthquake as the scorpion landed fifty feet away, causing sand to fly in every direction and pelt the windscreen like hailstones. Damn! I better get out of here! Not wanting to stay there any longer, Ben put the van into gear and was about to hit the throttle when the other angry rider moved closer. Both of them stood side by side, and before he could react, one launched blue magic towards him. It spread around the van''s body like a cobweb before contracting together, forming a strong grip. His efforts were useless. The tires just kicked up salt on both sides before he was lifted. The spell had acted like a crane, causing his suspension to creak before stopping when he got a few meters up. ¡°Hey! Put me down!¡± Ben yelled at the top of his voice to no avail. What am I doing? They probably don¡¯t even understand me! The one in the middle lifted one of its hands into the air and started charging magic like he was about to make his special move. The energy appeared to condense into a sphere, getting bigger as more magic was forced into it till it reached the size of a football. Small jolts of energy started to pulse out of it. Even though Ben was new to magic, he could feel the tremors interacting with the magic inside of him. And it told him one thing, that he was about to get ¡®Final Flashed¡¯ into oblivion. Ben shot his hand towards the door latch and pulled. When it didn¡¯t open, he knew one of the webs must have covered the panel. The stress of the situation hit Ben like a ton of bricks. Entire waves of sweat radiated from his head, and his gasping became so heavy his chest hurt. Ben pressed the window switch with so much force that it nearly cracked the plastic. Hurry up and open, damn it! As it reached halfway, he held the window frame on both sides. Taking a deep breath, he was about to jump out like some Olympic diver when another earth-shattering thud hit the ground. ¡°Now what?¡± He snapped, twisting his head. Chapter 5 – The Scorpion Riders! Ben saw that the calm one had leaped between him and the two angry ones. The rider held out a hand with a stop motion. There was no response to that action, which appeared to force the other one to do something Ben didn''t expect. The calm one raised the same hand, pointing it to the sky when a blue blast of energy shot out. The trail it left resembled a beacon. Whatever it was, the angry one didn¡¯t let up and continued to charge the attack. It pointed its hand toward the direction of the van when the magic began to pulse more vigorously. Bolts of electricity started to come off the sphere before it started to lose shape, as if its structure started to become unstable. Some of the sparks even spun and trailed off like fireworks. Ben could feel the mammoth energy shake him to the core. ¡°No, no, no!!! " he shuddered. Ben was about to close his eyes when he noticed strands of magic materializing from the ground near the calm scorpion. They wrapped around each other and started to form an egg-shaped oval. Once it was around two meters in diameter, the outer ring thickened. Its center gleamed in a blue aura resembling a swimming pool''s water. A darkly robed figure stepped out. Seriously? Another robed one? The portal guy walked toward the angry ones, glancing around at the situation. He stopped around a dozen meters away when their heads started bobbing as if they were conversing with each other. Ben was a little confused about how that was possible. He would have heard something by then as his window was open and figured they must have been using telepathy. The van was lowered to the ground before the cobweb-like strands receded, and the charged attack was dispelled. It looked like things were settling down before the portal guy turned toward Ben and stopped a few meters away. His gleaming blue eyes fixed on Ben as if a much-needed chat was on order. Ben calmed his nerves and made his way there. The portal guy''s robes looked different, with a hood rather than an entire covering. A strange dark aura filled the area under the hood, obscuring the face, with only the glow of the eyes visible. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done?¡± The figure asked, breaking the awkward silence. His voice croaked like an old man¡¯s and contained hints of anger. Ben¡¯s mouth dropped open. ¡°What! You can speak English?¡± He asked, scratching his head. ¡°Of course I can. But you still haven''t answered my question.¡± ¡°Ah, right. Maybe you should ask those scorpion riders,¡± Ben pointed at them before crossing his arms. ¡°I have. According to them, you nearly wiped out an entire nursery of their scorpion young. You¡¯re lucky I was summoned before they wiped you off the face of the planet." He explained, disapprovingly shaking his head. ¡°Younglings? Are you messing around with me? Those things were the size of dogs.¡± Ben shrugged, huffing. ¡°Look here. The moment I got there, they appeared from the ground and started to chase me. Before long, an entire horde of them were hellbent on trying to kill me. You know, I would have died if I didn¡¯t defend myself.¡± ¡°Then you should know better than to turn up in the middle of a scorpion nursery. It''s a stupid move if you ask me.¡± The robed figure said. He started to look closer at Ben and tilt his head as if he was a little confused. ¡°You don¡¯t look like any of the humans I know.¡± He turned to the van. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a machine like that. You¡¯re not from this planet, are you?¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know how I ended up here. One moment, I was out delivering parcels, and the next, I was flung across the entire universe. I woke up in the middle of those dunes.¡± He motioned with his hand. ¡°Across the universe?¡± The figure asked. ¡°Yeah! Past entire galaxies and stars. Wait,¡± Ben stopped as he wasn¡¯t even sure if the guy knew what he was talking about, ¡°Do you know what they are?¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. An awkward silence filled the air momentarily before the figure snapped, ¡°Do I look like some ignorant fool to you? Now, tell me the name of your planet before I let them finish what you started.¡± Ben stepped back and raised his hands. ¡°Whoah! Take it easy, mate. It¡¯s Earth. I¡¯m from Earth!¡± ¡°What! Are you messing around with me?¡± Ben crossed his arms. ¡°Tell me, why would I do that?¡± The portal guy did not respond right away. Instead, his eyes got brighter, and it looked like he was thinking about a few things. ¡°You used the artifact, didn''t you?¡± He nodded, stepping forward. "Yes, you did. It¡¯s faint, but I can sense it¡¯s magic on you.¡± ¡°Erm, for your information, I didn¡¯t use it, alright. It activated by itself.¡± Ben replied, scratching his head. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter, now. This situation changes everything. Those artifacts don¡¯t just randomly activate themselves; the magic within them must choose you to wield its power.¡± Before turning toward the riders, the figure explained, ¡°Those riders want your blood spilled across this salt for destroying their nursery¡­ You do not know how lucky you are that one of them had the common sense to summon me before they enacted their plan.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s going to happen now then?¡± Ben asked. ¡°You¡¯re going to stay here and be quiet. I will go over there and negotiate for your life. They are too stubborn and stuck in their old ways, but I should be able to talk some sense into them.¡± Ben huffed before nodding. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll stay here then.¡± The portal guy walked away before a lengthy conversation transpired. There was much back-and-forth as the sun set over the horizon, and even a few arguments had broken out at various times. It looked like the previously angry weren''t too happy with what was happening and became more agitated. Suddenly, things settled down, and the three riders made their way back towards the mountains. While all that took place, Ben found himself sitting on the ground near the van. The weather had gotten much cooler, and breathing became much easier. The mountain of stress he was under earlier had all but faded, especially after the conversation with the portal guy. He had some time to look at the van and discovered the repair skill had done what it said on the tin. It did an awesome job of fixing and replacing the parts he had lost while in the fire with the scorpions. The only bad thing about waiting around was that all he could think about was his grumbling stomach. He heeded the portal guy¡¯s warning and refrained from disappearing behind the van. The portal guy returned. ¡°They will leave you alone, but you''re not completely off the hook. There will come a time when you have to pay them back for the damages you have caused here today. I will disclose the details to you when the time is right. Consider yourself lucky.¡± Ben crossed his arms and shook his head, disappointed. ¡°What? That¡¯s a load of rubbish.¡± The portal guy scoffed. ¡°Unless you want to be hunted down by their assassins, I suggest you entertain their demands. Now, you must come with me.¡± ¡°Hey, I just met you¡­ There¡¯s no way I will follow you to god knows where. You might have saved my skin from those riders. How do I know you''re not trying to use me now that you know I used the artifact?¡± ¡°There are things worse than those scorpions out here after dark. You can stay here and find that out for yourself, or you can come with me, and I can take you somewhere safe. I won¡¯t force your hand. The choice is yours.¡± What! Are there things worse than them? Ben stroked his chin and sighed. ¡°Alright. If I feel like you¡¯re trying to use me or something, I want out, okay?¡± The portal guy shrugged. ¡°Do what you want. I¡¯m taking you to where other humans are situated. You won''t survive a week in this world without their help.¡± He raised a hand before threads of magic shot out like confetti. They hit the ground and formed another portal. A feeling of butterflies swept across Ben¡¯s guts. Standing near it, he could feel the magic it radiated. He was somewhat unsure about going through it as the terrifying feeling of his previous experience of being stuck in limbo still lingered in the back of his mind. ¡°Hurry up! I can''t keep it open forever.¡± Ben nodded before pointing at the van. ¡°All my things are in there. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m leaving it behind.¡± ¡°That won''t be a problem. I can make it bigger.¡± With a wave of his hand, the ring around the portal started to gleam before it stretched to twice its size. ¡°After you.¡± When Ben entered the portal, the scene shifted from the desert landscape to complete darkness. After a few seconds, a small dot of blue light appeared in the distance. How it increased in size made it seem like he was riding a high-speed train through a tunnel. It resembled another portal as he neared it, and suddenly, he whizzed through it. The scene shifted to a stone courtyard when his tires landed on cobblestones. The momentum from exiting the portal was enough to yank him forward. There wasn''t even a chance to look around as he was forced to hit the brakes. Looking ahead, various groups of knights clad in steel plate armor are standing in defensive positions. Their shields were ready, and they stood as still as stones as the van screeched to a halt a foot away from them. Chapter 6 – The Hollow Keep ¡°Phew, that was close.¡± Ben exhaled in relief. The last thing he wanted was to accidentally create more enemies, as he had done with the scorpion riders. Wanting to know more about the knights, he glanced over to them. Their heater shields had an elongated point at the bottom, nearly touching the ground. Ben thought they looked very similar to the ones the Templar knights had used towards the end of their last Crusade. They had been painted white with a black coat of arms, which consisted of a white sword pointing down on a shield, surrounded by two crescent moons meeting in the middle. Behind the dozens of knights, one was mounted on an armored horse. His armor appeared more extravagant and in better condition than the others. His head panned around the area where the van was parked as if he were scanning the situation; pointing at various areas around the van, he appeared to shout muffled orders. Within an instant, the standing knights huddled together and created a shield wall. They then raised their swords and pointed the ends at the van. Taking short steps, the ends of the wall started to surround the van like a pincer. Just as Ben raised his hands and said, ¡°Take it easy, guys.¡± A blue light flashed behind the van, reflecting off the knight''s helmets and the white parts of their shields. The mounted knight raised his hand and shouted something. His subordinates ceased their movements, put down their shields, and put their weapons into their sheaths. They returned to their original positions and appeared to wait for further orders. Ben glanced through the side mirror and noticed the portal guy standing there with his arms crossed. The portal flashed twice before the watery surface in the middle dispersed towards the ring, and it all vanished. The mounted knight got off his horse and started making his way through a path that had been created for him. Ben pulled on the door latch. When it opened, a cool breeze brushed across his entire body, causing him to shiver slightly. Even though clouds covered the entire sky, it appeared to be much brighter than the evening sky in the desert area moments before he drove through the portal. He felt they had traveled a considerable distance away from that part of the world. Turning his attention back to the knights, he wasn¡¯t sure if they would be making more hostile moves. He hopped over to his safety net, the portal guy. He figured he was either an important person or just so powerful they all feared him. Nevertheless, he instantly felt the tension melt when standing beside him and sucked in a breath of fresh air. Looking around, he noticed they had landed in the courtyard of a medieval castle. Even though it did have similarities with the ones he had seen in the history books, it looked more like something out of a fantasy movie. The courtyard was a giant square surrounded by three-story ramparts. Occasional guard towers rose above them at the corners and gates. The small bodies of archers stood at their tops, looking down at the situation, holding on to their bows. Ben saw that the entire outside of the castle had been constructed from thick mortar and stones that appeared larger than a person. Behind the towers, he could see an entire backdrop of mountains, which looked similar to the Himalayas. Cloud cover obscured their peaks, so he couldn¡¯t tell if they were snow-tipped, but he figured if they were that high up, they would have to be. When he looked at the castle itself, his mouth dropped open. What the heck! How did they do that? Most of the castle''s interior looked like it had been built into the side of a mountain. These people had chiseled out a whole section of it so that it was perfectly flat, and there were even small slits in straight lines that went across it at various intervals. He counted twelve floors and wondered if more were in its interior. Impressive! The portal guy cleared his throat. When Ben glanced down, the mounted knight stood before them. ¡°Sir Alfred of Wesport, a warm welcome as usual.¡± The hooded guy stated. Alfred removed his helmet, which caused his long brown hair to fall on either side of his shoulders behind his thick beard. He grinned and nodded, ¡°Welcome to the Hollow Keep, Master Blue. I should¡¯ve known all this was you. Well, you are the only one who uses portals to travel here.¡± He glanced at his men, ¡°I apologize for the hostile response upon your arrival.¡± He turned to the van, ¡°It¡¯s not every day when a large box on wheels arrives in your courtyard and nearly crashes into your men.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. A large box on wheels? A little annoyed that Alfred had labeled his van in such a way, Ben sighed and shook his head disapprovingly. That was until he realized that was what it would look like to someone from a medieval setting. I¡¯ll let you off the hook for that one. Besides, I wonder if Blue is his actual name or just an alias due to the color of both his eyes and magic. ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. I always say that it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. At least I know I can count on you to get things done. Anyway, there is much to do. We need to speak with Le¡¯Vieux. I figured portalling directly into his office would have caused no small damage to your castle.¡± Blue motioned towards the van. ¡°It¡¯s understandable. Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux would have sure been annoyed about that.¡± Alfred nodded, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not waste any time then. If the two of you kindly follow me, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± He glanced at Ben, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about your...¡± then shifted his focus to the van with a frown and shrugged, ¡°What is that thing, anyway?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a van,¡± Ben replied. He noticed Alfred¡¯s blank expression and rephrased it in medieval terms. ¡°It¡¯s a storage cart that runs without horses.¡± ¡°So, a magic cart, then?¡± Alfred asked with a raised eyebrow. Ben sighed before nodding. ¡°Alright, you can call it that.¡± ¡°Great¡­ My men will guard your magic cart. It looks more like a caravan if you ask me.¡± Alfred finished before heading towards the large iron gate before the castle.
Ben raised his eyebrows. He saw that the workstations filled the area when they passed the gate. The clanking of tools rang throughout the area as countless smithies, carpenters, and various other artisans were hard at work. There also appeared to be a few production lines where arrows and other projectiles were being made. It looked almost like a Victorian factory, except for the lack of industrial machinery. He wanted to look at the craftsmanship of the items and learn more about how they worked but was forced to hurry as Alfred was power-walking ahead. At the end of that area, another massive gate had to be opened before they entered the castle. A large communal area met Ben¡¯s gaze. Many candles, hearths, and chandeliers provided enough light to give the place a welcoming glow. It was filled with hundreds of knights and thousands of soldiers. Even some castle staff appeared in that area, rushing around performing their various tasks. Given the castle''s sheer scale, Ben knew it must have taken many decades to cut and move the stone required to carve such a structure. Though there was magic in this world, he presumed it could have been built in a weekend for all he knew. At the end of that area, a corridor led to a large set of stairs that went up multiple floors. When they reached the eighth floor, Ben was out of breath. His legs were sore and seemed to wobble like jelly a little. He wasn¡¯t sure if that was due to being tired from the nightmare he had experienced earlier or if it was due to his legs being worn out from delivering parcels. Leaning on the railing, he looked up and noticed the floors above were not lit. The way the staircase entered the darkness made it look like it went on forever. Glancing at Alfred, he felt a little sorry for the knight, who had walked all that way wearing a full suit of armor but realized the man had made it all that way without breaking a sweat. Multiple knights guarded a door there and saluted Alfred when he approached them. They promptly opened the door and cleared the way. When Ben entered the room, it was dark. Some of the candles had burned out, and the hearth looked like it needed a top-up from the pile of coal near it. It was just enough for him to see the various weapons, armor, and tapestries along the walls. There were some fine leather furniture pieces and even a hand-drawn map. Apart from those few things, the room was mostly empty. An old man sat at a large desk at the far end where the slits in the wall were located. He had snow-white hair that fell to his shoulders and a short, precise beard. His armor was immaculate, gleaming with a mirror finish as if made from chrome and trimmed in a shimmering gold. It made Alfred¡¯s set look mediocre in comparison. The old man put down the piece of vellum in his hands before standing up and giving everyone in the room an intense look. Ben held back a chuckle as he thought the man looked like a medieval version of Santa Claus. Alfred saluted, ¡°Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux, my apologies for the abrupt interruption. May I present to you Blue and his companion¡­¡± he turned to Ben as if he was waiting for a name. Ben saw the awkward look, ¡°It¡¯s Benjamin, but everyone just calls me Ben.¡± ¡°¡­Ben. Master Blue wishes to convene with you about an important matter.¡± Alfred finished after turning back to the old man. He then moved to the side and stood at attention. Le¡¯Vieux stared at Ben with a raised eyebrow before shifting his attention to Blue, ¡°As always, it¡¯s great to see you, old friend. I assume that stir in my courtyard was your doing.¡± Blue shrugged, ¡°You get a commotion when you don¡¯t want your castle damaged. You¡¯ll see with your own eyes later why I didn¡¯t come directly here.¡± ¡°Sir,¡± Alfred interrupted with a cough, ¡°There is much work for me to finish. May I leave?¡± ¡°One day, you may take my place here and must attend meetings like this with Blue. I think it¡¯s time for you to start getting comfortable with all this. Besides, once we are done here, I may have an important task for you.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Alfred nodded, taking a place beside him. ¡°Alright,¡± Le¡¯Vieux started, turning back to Blue, ¡°It¡¯s been almost half a decade since you were last here, and there are a few things that I also need to discuss with you. So, I will let you get things started.¡± Chapter 7 – The Order of the Hollow Moon Ben nodded. Blue had just finished recounting the events that had occurred in the desert. The two knights stood there, wide-eyed, with their mouths slightly open, as if what they heard was impossible. Le¡¯Vieux glanced at Ben. ¡°You have a large pair of steel balls to take on an entire nursery like that.¡± Ben scratched his head, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far. They started the whole thing. All I did was defend myself. Then, things got out of control when those riders showed up. I would have been toast if Blue didn¡¯t also turn up.¡± ¡°Lucky for you, Blue here has many agreements with the civilizations of this world. You¡¯re lucky one of them had enough common sense to summon him to extinguish the flames of that situation.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained, then shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m still trying to work out how you, a level one, managed almost to slaughter an entire nursery by yourself. That¡¯s completely unheard of. How did you manage that?¡± What? Does he also have access to a system? And how on Earth does he know I¡¯m a level one? Besides that, Ben was starting to think his system was broken. It had worked perfectly fine when fighting the smaller scorpions, but it stopped giving him level information when the riders showed up. I¡¯ll have to ask about that later. Maybe they know more about it. Ben cleared his throat. ¡°Erm¡­I ran them over with my van,¡± he said, glancing through the little slits in the wall behind Le¡¯Vieux. A frown filled Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s face. ¡°A Van? That¡¯s another thing I¡¯m unfamiliar with. Is it a weapon?¡± Alfred interrupted the conversation with a cough, ¡°Sir, what he means to say is a caravan. Maybe they call it a ¡®van¡¯ where he¡¯s from.¡± Le¡¯Vieux squinted and looked more confused than he had been a moment before. ¡°That¡¯s absurd. I still don¡¯t understand how he could kill a horde of scorpions with a caravan.¡± ¡°Sir, it¡¯s not like the ones we use. It¡¯s more like a large metal box on wheels, considerably larger than our military transports. Another interesting thing to note was that it ran without horses. A few of my knights were almost squashed when it came through the portal.¡± As Alfred explained, he motioned out a rectangular shape similar to the van. Le¡¯Vieux stroked his beard and said, ¡°Interesting. I¡¯ll have to look at this ¡®van¡¯ sometime. It sounds like something that could be useful in combat situations.¡± He then turned to Ben, ¡°Alfred said there were no horses. Does it run on magic or something else?¡± ¡°It might look like it runs on magic, but it¡¯s just a mechanical machine that requires fuel to run¡­ Well, it has some magic abilities, too. So, technically, you can say it also runs on magic.¡± Ben explained, but he wasn¡¯t sure if mentioning the artifact and the class it had granted him was a good idea. Before disclosing more information than necessary, he wanted to understand what these people were about. Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°I bet my mages would love to see how it works.¡± He then turned to Alfred and asked, ¡°I¡¯m curious, how big is it?¡± Alfred glanced at the ceiling, ¡°Compared to our military transport carts, the width is two side by side, and the length is three when placed the long way. And you could stack three of our carts to be approximately the same height.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°That¡¯s larger than any vehicle in our inventory¡­ I can¡¯t wait to see the quality of the craftsmanship. I hope our engineers can learn from it one day so we can also make machines of such stature.¡± Blue took a few steps forward. ¡°It always has to be about size¡­ Come now, put your measuring sticks away. I don¡¯t have all day to waste here, and we still have more important matters to discuss.¡± Le¡¯Vieux cleared his throat. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to it then.¡± Blue positioned himself in front of Le¡¯Vieux. ¡°Do you remember the whole plan with the artifact on Earth?¡± ¡°Of course I do. We put a lot of resources into getting that here. Why? What¡¯s happened?¡± Le¡¯Vieux questioned, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You won''t want to hear this, but he,¡± Blue pointed at Ben, ¡°used it to get here. That''s how he ended up in that nursery.¡± Le¡¯Vieux started to fume like a kettle. His face turned red, and he started to get irate as if someone had poked him with a hot glowing iron rod. ¡°What? That can¡¯t be right. How did that happen?¡± Ben started to get bad vibes from Le''Vieux''s death stare. He took several steps back in case he tried to attack him but doubted he could do anything against someone who had trained all his life in the art of war and combat, even though he was an old man. Without the van, he couldn¡¯t even try running him over.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Blue glanced at him and gave him a reassuring nod with a hand motion. ¡°Grand Marshall,¡± he exhaled, ¡°you should calm down before you pop a vein in your head. I have no reason to believe Ben has any bad intentions. The thing with the nursery was plain bad luck, no fault of his own, and his explanation of events that got him there all seem to add up. I brought him here for a reason, and if there were any ill will, I would have left him there in the wasteland.¡± Le¡¯Vieux took a few breaths and calmed down before speaking, ¡°Alright, I trust your judgment enough not to question it, and the whole scorpion situation is making more sense now. With the artifact''s power, it was no wonder he could do what he did. So, how did it come into his possession?¡± ¡°Ben was a courier on Earth, and he was tasked with delivering it somewhere when it activated. As you know, these things don¡¯t just randomly activate by themselves. It must have sensed Ben was worthy of its power.¡± Blue explained. The artifact thought I was worthy. What? I¡¯m just a delivery driver! ¡°Are you sure there¡¯s nothing you can do to remedy the situation?¡± Le¡¯Vieux asked, rubbing the lines on his forehead. Blue shook his head, ¡°Once the artifact has melded with someone, it¡¯s a lifelong bond that can only be broken by his death¡­ Even then, I doubt we¡¯ll be able to use it.¡± ¡°As much as I don¡¯t like it, It seems we are stuck with him then,¡± Le¡¯Vieux grumbled. Blue crossed his arms and added, ¡°You know there is nothing we can do, and you also know my powers are not what they used to be. Our enemies strengthen while we wait and see what they do next. Soon, they will overwhelm us without us even realizing it. I suggest you both get friendly and start working together.¡± Le¡¯Vieux sighed in annoyance but nodded, ¡°Ben, please forgive my rash reaction earlier, and don¡¯t take it to heart. It seems we have much to discuss, but before we do, let me properly introduce myself and who we are. I am Grand Marshall Rolf Le¡¯Vieux, commander in chief of the Hollow Lands and all its military might.¡± He motioned towards Alfred, ¡°That is Knight-Captain Alfred of Wesport.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to meet you both¡­ again.¡± He pointed at one of the tapestries on the wall. ¡°That must be your coat of arms, am I right?¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°That is correct. We are the largest of the five military orders in the Canrich Kingdom.¡± He stepped toward the map on the wall and pointed to an island a little north of the center. ¡°This is the island of Great Malle. Our kingdom rests on the southern part of the Island, with most of the North still being wild and full of hostile creatures.¡± Ben moved closer to the map and noticed that the island sat between two large continents. Without a distance marker, there was no way to be sure, but it looked like it was the size of Australia. A prominent mountain range rose from its center. The Canrich Kingdom was marked by the five sigils of the knightly orders and their respective borders. The Hollow Moon appeared to be located northwest of the Canrich kingdom, with most of its border with the wild north and the rest with an independent duchy named Meso. Ben was surprised that the lettering was in old English and easy to read. There¡¯s more to these people than meets the eye. A lot of this is giving me Knights Templar vibes. I should ask about their origins when the time is right. Le¡¯Vieux then pointed to the northern area, ¡°In case you¡¯re wondering, we call it the Feruslands, based on the Latin word for feral.¡± Latin? Surely, that confirms it. Blue coughed and interrupted before Ben could say anything, ¡°Not only is it feral and full of creatures, but also organizations in the shadows trying to plunge the world into an all-out war.¡± If he¡¯s so powerful, can''t he go there and whip up a can of Whoop-ass or something? Blue glanced at Ben and noticed the expression of confusion on his face. ¡°I know what you are thinking. I can¡¯t venture there because they have erected barriers that cancel my magic.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°He¡¯s right about that.¡± He pointed to the independent duchy, ¡°Around a month ago, swathes of refugees crossed the border. With them came varying accounts that all their knights and soldiers went north to fight a war¡­, but they never returned. Something is wrong there, and I fear they might be on the verge of extinction. With Blue¡¯s power being blocked, he can¡¯t go there and fix the situation like he normally does.¡± ¡°This is where you come in,¡± Blue added, ¡°When you arrived in that desert, I couldn¡¯t detect you or your magic. And I believe it will be the same for them as I believe the artifact can mask your presence at large distances.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Ben nodded, then crossed his arms and said, ¡°Alright, I understand why this situation might be frustrating for you guys. Earlier, Le¡¯Vieux mentioned that I was only a level one, which means he could see some information from my system. Then now, you guys are telling me that they might be unable to detect me and my system. How can I not see any of your level information? Seems the other way around if you ask me.¡± Le¡¯Vieux and Blue shot each other a glance before laughing as if a silly question had been asked. ¡°Ben,¡± Alfred interjected, holding back a chuckle. ¡°They weren¡¯t talking about that. Everyone¡¯s system can see the level information of another system user when engaged in combat. For enemies that don''t have a system, your system will estimate their level. For you to see level information, you can¡¯t be more than ten levels below them. I¡¯ll give you an example. I am level sixteen, meaning you must be at least six before seeing it. Does that make sense?¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°Well, it makes more sense than it did moments before.¡± Alfred grinned, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s like that for all system users unless you have a skill that can bypass it. I think you could do with some training on how the system works. Even the basics would be helpful.¡± Le¡¯Vieux stopped laughing and put on a serious face. ¡°Listen, Ben, we have the resources to help you with that and much more. As you have already witnessed, this world is full of dangerous creatures, entities, and organizations. Some will want to take the power of your artifact for themselves and will stop at nothing to get what they want. We can provide you with the knowledge and know-how if you agree to join our cause. All we want is peace in this world and to preserve our way of life. So, what do you say to that?¡± Chapter 8 – Negotiations Ben stroked his chin. The offer from Le¡¯Vieux made sense. He needed help to survive in the new world, and he had already nearly met his demise if it wasn¡¯t for Blue. After hearing about his magic being blocked, he doubted he would always be able to come to the rescue, so he figured he should, at the very least, be able to take care of himself. Making friends and forging relationships would be one way of achieving that. Based on the reactions of everyone in the room, he understood that his class, combined with the vehicle system, could be a vital asset to their order. But he was certainly not going to let anyone take advantage of him. Let the negotiations begin. ¡°Thank you for the offer, Grand Marshall.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°As much as I appreciate your hospitality so far and Blue for saving my skin, I still don¡¯t know much about you people. We just met today. I can¡¯t just blindly trust you and have nothing to show for it.¡± Le¡¯Vieux grinned. ¡°Ben, you are a smart man, I¡¯ll give you that. You must think I am a fool if I don¡¯t know what you are trying to do. Our time is pressed, and we have much to do. I normally wouldn¡¯t do this, but I can sweeten the deal. The system rewards a skill point whenever you level up. If you agree, I can offer you three of these skill points¡­ That will save you some time with whatever skill tree you want to progress.¡± Alfred¡¯s mouth nearly dropped to the floor by the end of the Grand Marshall''s sentence. Ben thought what he was being offered must be very valuable and would allow him to unlock the [Refuel Mk1] skill, not to mention the other skills that would unlock in the tree. He knew they would be invaluable when facing his next challenge, especially if other creatures were as powerful as those scorpions. I''d like to know if I can squeeze more skill points from him. ¡°Again, you have my thanks for the offer.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°Back on earth, I wasn¡¯t a soldier, nor am I any good at fighting. That¡¯s why I had to run those scorpions over with my van. I will be putting myself and my van in harm¡¯s way, and I don¡¯t know what to expect when out there in the world. I need to be as prepared as I can be¡­ I believe a few more skill points would fulfill that requirement.¡± Le¡¯Vieux slammed his hand on the table. He started to get flustered and turned to Blue, ¡°The steel pair of bollocks on this one.¡± He said while disapprovingly shaking his head. ¡°The next time we have negotiations with the enemy, you should bring him along.¡± Blue started to chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. This is between the two of you.¡± Le¡¯Vieux turned to Ben, ¡°All right. This is my final offer, so I suggest you decide what you want to do quickly. Otherwise, I will be inclined to kick your steel bollocks out of my castle. The most I can offer you is five skill points, as that¡¯s all I have left in my system. You mentioned you have no combat experience, but that won''t be a problem. I will instruct Alfred here to teach you the basics when he can¡­ Before you say anything, he is one of the finest knights in my order.¡± Blue coughed and cleared his throat before turning to Ben, ¡°I can¡¯t wait all day for you to decide. If you don¡¯t mind, you should quickly think about what you want to do and give him your answer. A little advice from me¡­ It¡¯s the best offer he¡¯s ever given anyone, so you should be grateful and accept it.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°All right, this sounds like something I can agree with. And you are right¡­ I need to learn combat in case things get hairy.¡± He then moved towards the desk and put his hand out, ¡°Where I come from, it¡¯s customary to seal the deal with a handshake.¡± Le¡¯Vieux stood from his seat, grabbed the hand tight like a vice, and shook it. ¡°I still need verbal confirmation that you accept the offer. Blue and Alfred will act as our witnesses to this contract.¡± Ben heard a few cracks and started to regret the handshake. He should have known better¡­ Le¡¯Vieux had decades of training in war and combat. The negotiations that did not go his way culminated in the most powerful handshake Ben had ever felt. I should¡¯ve seen that coming! Ben cleared his throat, holding back the pain, and he nodded. ¡°All right, I accept your offer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great¡­ You can tell a lot about a man by shaking his hand. You do not complain when hard times arise.¡± Le¡¯Vieux cheekily smiled before letting go. Yeah, you can also tell who the idiots are too! Ben shot his hand back, moved it around in various motions, and checked to see any broken bones. All seemed well, and he put it back down. Le¡¯Vieux then shuffled through his system when a notification popped up.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. [Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux has gifted you +5 Skill Points.] ¡°Now, before we get into the gist of things, you must officially become a member of the order. I need to give you access to our system, but there will be some complications because you already have a system courtesy of the artifact.¡± He turned to Blue and asked, ¡°Do you have any suggestions on how to get around this pitfall?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I may have an idea. Try letting him use one of your crystals. The procedure will start the integration process but will ultimately fail. There is usually a failsafe with the older artifact systems that allow them to integrate the features they do not possess from newer systems.¡± Blue explained. ¡°It won¡¯t hurt to try.¡± Le¡¯Vieux shrugged. He then raised his hand when suddenly a crystal resembling the stem of a small tree materialized. Its surface started gleaming with an aura as white as snow. Small particles dispersed off it like a water sprinkler before they whizzed out of existence. ¡°How do I use it?¡± Ben asked, taking a few steps towards it. He could feel his magic buzzing the closer he got. ¡°You need to come closer and hover your hand above it.¡± Le¡¯Vieux motioned with his other hand. [Integrate Stem Crystal with system: YES/NO] Without a second guess, Ben hit the ¡®YES¡¯ command. The magic encompassing the crystal began to pulse on and off. The speckles that dropped out of it ceased before small threads emerged. They inched out before shooting and wrapping themselves around Ben¡¯s hand. Ben felt another buzzing sensation, different from the one he had felt when he had chosen his class. The way it acted inside of him made it feel like it had a different personality, as if he had changed the magical radio to another channel. [Seedling System Initializing¡­] [Integrating¡­] The threads began to tingle, similar to a jellyfish sting. That feeling transformed into something that resembled getting an electric shock from a small household appliance. Ben felt its energy torrent like a tsunami as it melded with every fiber of his body. The process made him feel lightheaded and high, like riding a rollercoaster. This is weird! A moment passed, and the intensity of the crystal''s magic started to fade before vanishing. The magic it had injected inside Ben¡¯s body continued to change his very being. Suddenly, the process stopped dead like a rollercoaster hitting a brick wall. The change made Ben feel like he was about to puke. The only thing that halted it was his lack of food that day. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± He muttered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you should be getting another few notifications any time now,¡± Blue said. [System error¡­] [Seedling system unable to integrate completely. Existing features of the system cannot be replaced. Only new sub-systems can be added.] [Canrich Kingdom Currency has been unlocked.] [Profession sub-system has been unlocked.] [Faction sub-system has been unlocked.] Ben turned to Le¡¯Vieux and said, ¡°All right! It¡¯s unlocked a whole bunch of new stuff now.¡± ¡°Not so fast,¡± Le¡¯Vieux stated, messing around with his system. [You are now affiliated with the Hollow Moon faction.] [Hollow Moon Rank: Cadet.] ¡°With that done, you are now a member of the Hollow Moon.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded, ¡°This will allow you to receive faction-approved quests and progress through our skill tree. But before all that, you will first need to be taught how the system works¡­ Oh, and while you are here, you can take one of the guest quarters.¡± ¡°Thank you for the hospitality, but I prefer sleeping in my van, where I¡¯m comfortable.¡± Ben nodded. But really, he wanted to get to his van and unlock those other skills. ¡°What? You sleep in there as well?¡± Le¡¯Vieux asked with a frown. Ben scratched his head, ¡°Well¡­ It is a camper van.¡± Le¡¯Vieux stroked his beard. ¡°Interesting¡­ sounds like you have an entire camp in there. Alright, be ready at first light. I will begin your training¡­ plus it will allow me to see what this van of yours can do¡­ It did cost me five skill points, after all. Now, I need to discuss something privately with Alfred and Blue.¡± He then turned to Blue, ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you mind opening a portal to the courtyard for him?¡± Ben was about to object as he still had a few more questions, but it was too late. Blue had already started casting the spell. Damn it! The air around him spun like a merry-go-round and brushed against his skin. The faster it went, the more his vision blurred as a small vortex formed. He felt the spell''s magic tingle his skin before the scene shifted like a movie transition. He went from being in Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s office to standing in the courtyard when the swirling stopped. A cool breeze swept past him as the remaining magic of the spell dissipated. Two guards stood near the van. Glancing at each other, they bobbed their heads before their gauntlets clanked on the hilts of their swords. Ben was about to identify himself, but an uneasy feeling filled his body. His head started to spin like a yoyo, and his legs got all numb. His vision started to black out when one of the knights sprang forward and tightly wrapped his steel gauntlets around his arm, preventing his face from slapping the cobbles below. He took a moment to gather himself, and soon, the spell''s effects regressed. ¡°Thanks for that!¡± Ben said, standing upright. The knight shrugged before his helmet bobbed, ¡°You''re welcome, stranger. We weren¡¯t sure who you were for a moment there¡­ And it¡¯s not like you¡¯re a familiar face around here, so we must be careful¡­ Speaking of careful, you should be too. I¡¯ve seen grown men die falling over and hitting cobbles like you were about to.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°It¡¯s alright¡­ I wasn¡¯t expecting it to feel like that.¡± ¡°Anyhow, now that you¡¯re back, we must return to our usual duties. If you need anything, ask one of the guards around the courtyard, and they will assist.¡± He motioned towards the castle entrance and the gatehouse at the opposite end, where armed sentries stood. Ben nodded again, his face flustered and looking a little red. ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem. I guess I¡¯ll see you around.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see you next time then.¡± The knight finished with a bob of the head. They both turned and went to the castle entrance as Ben turned his attention to the van. Now, Let¡¯s see what this other skill can do. Chapter 9 – Val’s Upgrade Menu! The moment Ben¡¯s butt cushioned into the driver¡¯s seat, he twisted the key in the ignition. As usual, Val¡¯s stat screen emerged. Glancing at the fuel level, it read [40%]. He wasn¡¯t desperate to fill his tank but didn¡¯t want to be in a situation where he would run out in case he needed to escape danger. He opened the [Mechanical Mage] skill tree and selected the skill. [Refuel Mk.1 is now unlocked.] [Valkyrie is now level 1.] [More skills will become available at Level 5.] [The Upgrade Menu for Valkyrie is now available.] *** The upgrade menu allows the system user to purchase upgrades for their active vehicle using currencies based on precious metals. The system will automatically convert the currency stored in your [Currency] inventory to the correct amount needed for the transaction. If the user does not have the required amount, then a predetermined number of skill points may be used instead. When the upgrade menu is opened, the available upgrades are specific to the active vehicle and cannot be used on other vehicles. The system user must level up their vehicle to unlock more proficient upgrades. Multiple variants of the same upgrade may be available, but only one can be active. Based on their circumstances, the user should select the most applicable upgrades. Caution: The system does not accept returns and refunds once upgrades have been bought. *** What! The system allows me to upgrade the van. Besides, the returns policy is stingy. When Ben backed out of the skills menu, he noticed two more options had been added to the vehicle stat screen. Ignoring [Refuel], his mind darted to the [Upgrade] option. *** Vehicle: Valkyrie Level 1 *** Bull Bar Mk.1: A basic bull bar is added to the front of your vehicle. This upgrade adds more protection against head-on collisions. It can also be used to run over enemies. Cost: 5GP or 1SP Armor Plating Mk.1: The body of your vehicle is reinforced with additional Armor. Armor Rating: +25 Points. Cost: 10GP or 2SP Off-Road Tires: A full set of off-road tires. These tires will allow you to drive over most terrain types effortlessly. Cost: 4GP or 1SP Fuel Efficiency mk.1: Improve the fuel efficiency of your vehicle by 10%. Cost: 5GP or 1SP *** Struck by awe, Ben raised his eyebrows. The upgrades seemed useful, especially since they improved Val in one way or the other. The one that stood out to him the most was the [Bull Bar Mk.1]. It''s a perfect match for my method of killing creatures and would do wonders for vehicle condition degradation. He held back the urge to spend a skill point and buy it immediately. Hmm. I don¡¯t want to misvalue the currency these people use here and waste points that could be better allocated to the skills. Before making concrete decisions, I must learn more about their currency. Outside, the sky was starting to get darker. Yawning, Ben glanced at the time and discovered he had been awake for a few hours longer than usual. His eyes hurt almost to the point of having a migraine, and his body ached with all the back and shoulder pain he normally experienced when driving for long periods. ¡°I should get some rest.¡± He said, wiping his forehead with the back of his palm and feeling the slimy sweat and dirt transfer over. Urgh! I need a shower before I sleep. Looks like there¡¯s no chance of that around here. When he refurbished the van, he had no space to install the sanitary facilities. Normally, he would have used the facilities at the delivery warehouse or gone to one of the local gyms, where he had a membership. I guess it¡¯s time for ¡®Plan B¡¯ then¡ªwet wipes! Shrugging, he switched the engine off and made his way to open the side door. That was when the plopping of steel horseshoes emerged from the castle entrance. Distracted, Ben turned and noticed four mounted knights coming towards him. What¡¯s going on now? They stopped near his van when Ben noticed the one in front was Alfred. Alfred removed his helmet. ¡°I hope my knights did a great job guarding your van. You know, It was great meeting you today. I hope one day, we may have the opportunity to see each other again.¡± Ben grinned. ¡°They did an excellent job. It was great meeting you, too. Hang on, I thought you would be training me up.¡± ¡°That was the plan, but the situation has changed.¡± A troubled look filled Alfred¡¯s face as he glanced towards the gatehouse before speaking. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can''t share many details. I¡¯ve been tasked with an urgent mission, and as you may have noticed, we must travel in haste. The reason why we stopped here is so that I can relay a message from Le¡¯Vieux. He asked me to let you know that he will see you at first light. Don¡¯t be late. Between me and you, not many people have had the opportunity to be trained by the Grand Marshall, so you should consider yourself lucky.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ve learned to make the most of my chances. I wish you and your knights good luck on your mission.¡± Ben gave them a thumbs up. ¡°We bid you farewell.¡± Alfred finished before putting his helmet back on. The four rode in formation to the gatehouse opposite the castle entrance. It looked like the gate took some time to raise before the group kicked their horses into gear and galloped beyond. Even though it had been a few hours since Ben had met Alfred, he found the man likable. How he had commanded the situation when he first arrived in the courtyard, and how the men followed his orders without question. Alfred had also personally taken them to the Grand Marshall¡¯s office, even though he could have ordered one of the other knights to do that. Not to mention how he did a great job of explaining things at the meeting. Ben admired people with whom he shared similarities¡ªpeople who did their jobs well and selflessly helped out. He had a feeling that he would become good friends with the Knight-Captain. Until we meet again. Shifting his attention back to the van, he pulled on the latch and slid open the door. What the heck? Ben¡¯s mouth dropped in shock at what he saw. His storage boxes had all fallen out of their places, and some had even opened, scattering his belongings everywhere. The fiasco with the scorpions was no doubt to blame. He grabbed his things, put them back in place, and secured the boxes so they wouldn¡¯t topple again. Rubbing his twitchy eyes, Ben let out a long, drawn-out yawn. Glancing at his bedside alarm clock, it had been almost twenty-four hours since he¡¯d gotten any sleep. No wonder it felt like his body was on the verge of shutting down. He didn¡¯t waste time and cleaned himself up before dropping on the mattress.
[Sleeping replenishes health at a rate of 20% per hour.] A metallic clang resounded on the Van¡¯s body, breaking Ben¡¯s slumber. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± He mumbled, still tired and groggy. Lifting his head from the pillow, he glanced towards the shut curtain at the window. Small amounts of dark bluish light flowed in from the edges. ¡°It¡¯s morning already?¡± He mumbled. When he moved, his muscles felt sore. He wanted to rest his head on the pillow''s softness again, but another similar sound interrupted him. ¡°Come on! I said first light, not mid-afternoon, so get your backside out of there at once!¡± Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s muffled voice yelled from outside. ¡°I¡¯ll be out in a moment!¡± Ben yelled back. Feeling like a zombie, he rushed out of bed, nearly tripping over something in the process. In a flash, Ben tidied his appearance and went outside. Le¡¯Vieux was standing nearby, his arms crossed and an expression that looked like he had been waiting for some time. ¡°Finally, he¡¯s awake! Follow me so I can take you to the lavatory. I doubt you like holding it in.¡± He pointed towards a little outbuilding near one of the guard towers. When looking over there, Ben noticed the courtyard was more active than the previous day. Some knights were training their men at arms while others were running along the perimeter of the ramparts. There were even a few melee bouts with small congregations of soldiers observing. Civilian castle staff, wearing black clothing with white embroidery, performed various tasks. Some transported goods around, while others ensured the place was clean. Judging from the efficiency of the work, it was a tight-knit operation. ¡°Just don¡¯t take too long. We have much to do.¡± Le¡¯Vieux muttered as they arrived at the entrance. ¡°It takes longer when I¡¯m under pressure,¡± Ben smirked before heading inside. A small slit high up on one of the walls dimly lit the outbuilding. Across the room was a stone seat with a hole in the middle. It was simple in design, and Ben half expected the smell of feces to hit his nostrils. But it never did, leading him to believe it must have been cleaned regularly. What reinforced that notion was the fountain where clean water flowed from a small pipe into a stone washbasin. There was even a towel and a fragranced soap bar near it. Hell yeah! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about!
After thoroughly washing his hands, Ben stepped out and noticed Le¡¯Vieux standing nearby. A maid was also waiting there, holding a wicker basket by the handles. Ben couldn¡¯t see what was inside, as it was covered with white cloth, but she moved the basket forward so he could grab it. ¡°I apologize for my lack of hospitality last night.¡± Le¡¯Vieux started, ¡°I should have offered you something to eat before you slept.¡± He then pointed at the basket. Ben leaned forward and looked into it. The moment the aroma of the food hit his nostrils, saliva started to fill his mouth, and his stomach grumbled like a hungry lion. The last time he got to eat was when he took a little break while delivering his parcels. ¡°A bottle of our finest cold-pressed apple juice taken from the officer''s refectory. And for breakfast, a couple of Apples, some pears, berries, cheese, and a fresh bread roll.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. ¡°Thanks for this.¡± Ben nodded, almost snatching the basket. Each item looked like its counterpart on Earth except for the berries that were a little larger than he expected. The most important thing about the little breakfast bundle was that he could make a cheese sandwich. If only he had some pickled onion, that would have been the cherry on top. When they arrived back at the van, Ben had already made his sandwich and started munching away. Le¡¯Vieux took a closer look at the van. He first walked around it, then went closer to the parts that intrigued him the most. Then, he removed one of his gauntlets and touched the various materials on its exterior. It looked like he wasn¡¯t too surprised by the painted metal panels, but he took extra time with them when he reached the plastic parts. Finally, his mouth dropped wide open when he reached one of the tires. He rubbed his hand across it. ¡°This material is different. I can smell it. Something I¡¯ve not encountered before.¡± He got up, kicked it several times, and watched his feet bounce off the rubber. He then looked at his hand, which had black and blue marks. Urgh, the van needs a clean. That blue goo must still be floating around in the crevices. Regardless, what a damn tire kicker! ¡°It¡¯s a very sturdy machine, I''ll give you that.¡± Le¡¯Vieux grinned with raised eyebrows. ¡°The wheels are much smaller than the ones we use on our transport carts, but I assume that¡¯s because they are made from metal. And the material surrounding them seems miles better than our wooden ones. This blue stuff looks like scorpion blood.¡± [Eating food and drinking beverages replenishes Stamina Points.] By then, Ben was halfway through his snack. He gulped down a bite before grinning and nodding. ¡°That¡¯s where over a century of mechanical engineering gets you. The metal part of the wheel is made from an alloy. The bit you kicked is called a tire, made from steel wires and covered in a softer material called rubber. Between them is a gap filled with compressed air, which, as far as I know, reduces the rolling resistance when driving.¡± A confused expression filled Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s face, and he shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what half of that means, but I hope we can learn craft machines and take on the scorpions as you did. I¡¯m curious to see how it performs in combat situations. I believe I have the perfect thing in mind for that.¡± Le¡¯Vieux chuckled. Ben gulped down another bite and washed it down with the apple juice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a feeling you won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± He placed the basket inside the van for later. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s get started then.¡± Chapter 10 – Answers and History Lesson ¡°Whoa!¡± Ben exclaimed, glancing across the courtyard where a loud shockwave erupted. Two steel-clad knights appeared to be in the heat of battle. A magical aura surrounded their armor, and whenever their weapons struck, sparks of energy exploded. Le¡¯Vieux coughed and cleared his throat. ¡°Excuse me, Ben. I¡¯m certain you will have plenty of time to watch the battles at another time.¡± With the courtyard being more lively, hearing him was hard. Hey, I was watching that! Ben shrugged and moved closer to the Grand Marshall. ¡°Usually, the first thing we do with recruits is to put them into combat training and see if they are worthy of becoming soldiers in our standing army. Since you only set foot in this world yesterday and are a unique addition, I think it would be beneficial if you knew a little about who we are, what we stand for, and how things work around here.¡± Le¡¯Vieux started. ¡°That makes sense¡­ Since arriving here, I couldn¡¯t help but notice your order has many similarities with the old knights of Earth. The spoken and written language, and even the currency, are similar to those used in England during the Middle Ages. Let''s start with your origins if you don¡¯t mind?¡± Ben asked, tilting his head forward, eager to learn more. A smirk filled Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s face. ¡°Interested in our history, I see¡­ very well. As you can imagine, there is much to cover with this topic and to be honest I¡¯m not a historian so I can only give you a basic explanation. You are correct about the similarities, as all the humans on this planet originated from Earth.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°That seems to add up more now.¡± ¡°You mentioned old knightly orders as if they are non-existent on Earth anymore. Did machines like that make us obsolete?¡± Le¡¯Vieux asked, motioning toward the van. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say they are non-existent. Some do exist, but their role is more for ceremonial purposes now. The shift wasn¡¯t as sudden as you might think. Still, it took almost seven centuries of technological development, and machines have replaced many societal roles in the military and civilian industries. Regarding warfare, soldiers and commanders still need to operate the machines and serve as the boots on the ground, but the need for knights faded a few centuries ago.¡± Ben explained. Le¡¯Vieux paused, taking the time to soak in the information. He then exhaled a long-drawn-out sigh before responding. ¡°As much as I am intrigued by your machines and want to see them implemented here, I feel they have the potential to destroy our way of life, something we have held on to since The Great Migration.¡± ¡°The Great Migration?¡± Ben asked, scratching his head. Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°Let me explain¡­ Our people arrived here almost seven centuries ago when our people were known as the Knights Templar. They spent almost two centuries protecting the pilgrims of Europe and built an empire of commerce and finance. They were stabbed in the back by the leaders of your world. Betrayed, they faced death. Those who could escape did so on a fleet of old ships from the Crusades. They were lucky to have an artifact, like the one you used to get here, in their possession that summoned Blue.¡± Knights Templar! Damn, I had a feeling they would be connected! Ben stroked his chin, remembering something he had read a few years back when he had gone down a medieval history rabbit hole. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose this has something to do with the fleet at LaRochelle.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°Indeed. It seems you know a lot about your history for someone who is a courier. Many scholars here believe your people destroyed any trace of my ancestors from how they were treated.¡± ¡°Well, they don¡¯t teach about it in any academic institutions. Our technology has developed on Earth to the point where most information is widely available. We have devices that allow us to read whenever we wish to.¡± Ben paused, biting his lips, before asking, ¡°There are many conspiracy theories regarding what happened to the fleet. You don¡¯t mind telling me how you got here?¡± ¡°No wonder you¡¯re far more intelligent than any couriers here¡­ As for the fleet, they negotiated with Blue, and once they agreed to help him with his plans, he opened a giant portal and brought them here. And that¡¯s why we call it The Great Migration.¡± ¡°Hang on¡­ If Blue was able to bring all of you here, then why can''t he take me back?¡± Ben asked.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Since then, our enemies have become stronger and, through their efforts, have weakened Blue to the point where that won¡¯t be possible.¡± ¡°At least that puts that to rest. From what I¡¯ve seen, Blue seems capable of feats that we, with our superior technology, can''t replicate. Surely, he isn¡¯t human, is he?¡± ¡°His magic is something else, I tell you. Many high-ranking officials, including my predecessors, believed him to be a Djinn¡ªthe same race as those pesky scorpion riders you encountered in the desert but vastly more powerful. They all seem to have that blue aura in their eyes. But don¡¯t take my word for it, as no one''s had the balls to ask him. Unless your steel pair wants to take that risk?¡± Le¡¯Vieux then chuckled. Ben shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m still a little shaken up by his buddies who tried to blast me off the face of the planet¡­ I think my steel bollocks are alright the way they are.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded with a cheeky smile. ¡°You don¡¯t understand how lucky you were. My people had it much worse when they came here. We had to fight entire wars against the Dark Fairies, not to mention hordes of creatures and wild beasts hell-bent on our demise. We would have perished if it hadn¡¯t been for Blue, who endowed us with the Seeds of Power and the system. Only through hard work and persistence have we achieved what we have. As you saw on the map in my office, there is still much for us to do before Great Malle is truly safe from the enemy.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be finding out more about those Fairies and Seeds of Power¡­ Your people have been here for centuries, so I assume your plan could take time, resources, and an imperial ton of money to implement.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s where the artifact was supposed to come in. From what little we know, it¡¯s supposed to grant the user abilities beyond the power of the seeds. Our goal was to use its power against our enemies in the north and bring the Feruslands to heel. Are you certain you don¡¯t feel any different?¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t feel that much different.¡± Le¡¯Vieux gave Ben the side eye and shook his head. ¡°Are you sure you know nothing about a Mechanical Mage Class?¡± What the heck! Ben felt sweat start to run down the back of his neck. He raised his hands and stepped back as if he had been caught red-handed. ¡°How did you know that? Can you read my mind or something?¡± Le¡¯Vieux chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can¡¯t read your mind. Understandably, you chose not to share that information as we had just met. I have a skill that allows me to see your entire system profile. You must think me a fool for parting with five skill points. It was the only reason I upped my offer.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°I¡¯m assuming these classes must be rare then.¡± ¡°Indeed, they are. Only around a dozen people in the Canrich Kingdom have access to one. Combined with the artifact''s power, I believe you could become very powerful one day. And don¡¯t get me wrong, it won''t be easy. You must work hard, level up, and progress through the system.¡± Le¡¯Vieux paused, taking in a breath. ¡°Earlier, I mentioned I had something in mind to see what you can do with your van¡­ I want to take you to a place we call The Proving Grounds. Once there, I can teach you more about the system and how it works, not to mention some combat training in case you find yourself in a situation where you can¡¯t use your van.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°I hope I can live up to the expectations. But before we go there, I have a few questions floating around my head that I need answers to.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll answer one more before we need to move from here. There will be plenty of time to answer questions once we are on the road. As you can imagine, I have a busy schedule, so it¡¯s better if we get that over and done as soon as possible.¡± ¡°I do have a few¡­ Anyway, I noticed a new section dedicated to your currency since your system integrated with mine. Now that I know your people originated from the knight''s templar, they must have had some Englishmen, which is why I recognize the currency. But I have no clue what it¡¯s worth.¡± ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m a military man, not an economist. The best thing you can do is to look around and see for yourself during your travels. As for why we used the English standard, the order''s treasurer during migration was an Englishman. He stuck to what he knew best; thus, it stayed the same when the Canrich Kingdom was formed.¡± Ben crossed his arms. ¡°At least tell me the conversions¡­ back on Earth, a hundred pennies make a pound, and the use of shillings is long gone.¡± Le¡¯Vieux sighed. ¡°Alright¡­ One gold pound is equivalent to twenty silvers, and one silver is equivalent to twelve coppers. Don¡¯t worry too much about that. Thanks to the Bankers Guild, your system will automatically convert the currency once the threshold has been met. For example, if you are given fourteen coppers, it will automatically convert to one silver and two coppers.¡± Ben crossed his arms. "So, now that I''m part of your order, do I get a wage or something? I don''t work for free, you know." Le''Vieux''s gaze narrowed. "Everyone is paid at the end of the month, and the money will be transferred automatically into your system." Ben nodded. ¡°Appreciate the info¡­ Now, what¡¯s the deal with The Proving Grounds? Why are you taking me there?¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°Come on then, show me how to get inside that thing.¡± He pointed at the van. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about it on the way there.¡± Ben walked up to the passenger side door and pulled the handle. ¡°Just sit on the seat¡­ hang on, let me put something on the seat.¡± He was about to put his jacket there so Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s armor didn¡¯t damage it when he suddenly realized he could repair it with the skill. ¡°Never mind, that won''t matter now.¡± Le¡¯Vieux jumped in before Ben shut the door and hurried into the driver''s seat. Chapter 11 – Road Trip with Le’Vieux! Ben twisted the key as the instrument cluster beeped and pinged to life, careful not to start the engine. Glancing over to Le¡¯Vieux, he noticed he had made himself comfortable and pressed the seat foam in and out. ¡°This chair is more comfortable than I thought it would be¡ªmore so than the expensive one I have in my office.¡± Frowning, he looked around the instrument cluster. ¡°Where did those sounds come from?¡± ¡°Electronic sensors ensure everything is right before I start the engine¡­ They normally make that sound.¡± Before a cheeky grin filled his face, Ben explained, ¡°Just wait until I start it.¡± Hang on! Ben gave Le¡¯Vieux the side eye. What confused him the most was that the guy was all hyped up to get to a place called ¡®The Proving Grounds¡¯ with a stranger he had only met the day before without a helmet or any weapons. What if things take a sour turn? Then he noticed something completely out of order. The guy wasn¡¯t wearing his seatbelt. Now, that was something he couldn¡¯t let him off for. Safety first! Medieval world or not! Le¡¯Vieux motioned ahead with his hand. ¡°What are you waiting for? Go on, then! I want to see how this thing works.¡± Ben cleared his throat. ¡°Not so fast¡­ Before we start moving, you should put on your seatbelt.¡± Le¡¯Vieux frowned, giving Ben a confused look. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Ben pulled the belt from his chest and flicked it back to show him. ¡°I have a feeling we¡¯ll be going over some rough terrain. This belt is designed to keep you in the seat. I don¡¯t want to slam on the brakes for whatever reason and see you fly through the windscreen.¡± He motioned. ¡°Look, I¡¯ll show you how to do it¡­ Grab it from there and place the buckle in the locking mechanism.¡± Le¡¯Vieux scoffed and frowned. ¡°What? I¡¯ve fought powerful enemies before. I¡¯m certain I can handle whatever this thing has to offer.¡± Ben raised his eyebrows. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not moving till you do it.¡± Le¡¯Vieux sighed and shook his head, clearly annoyed by the request. He pulled the buckle down and locked it in. ¡°Whatever, just make your way to the portcullis.¡± The moment the engine hummed to life, Ben revved it several times. ¡°That¡¯s the roar of her diesel engine. She can produce the same amount of power as a hundred and forty of your horses.¡± Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°A hundred and forty? How did they get that many horses in such a small place?¡± Ben grinned. ¡°Just wait and see.¡± I can prove my point about the seat belt, too. Ben put the van into gear and quickly lifted the clutch while giving it some gas. The wheels spun a little before the van jolted forward, pushing them into the seat. Ben steered towards the gate and chuckled as Le¡¯Vieux quickly grabbed the seatbelt with both hands and bellowed as if his life depended on it. ¡°What! How can it move this fast!¡± Le¡¯Vieux almost screamed, and when Ben neared the gate, he yelled, ¡°You idiot! You¡¯re going to kill the both of us!¡± At the last moment, Ben hit the brakes harder than necessary. He was pushed forward before the seatbelt locked, causing it to press into his chest as they lifted a little from their seats. He turned to face the old knight when the tires stopped screeching. Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s arms were out in front, holding the dashboard and visibly shaking. Sweat ran down his cherry crimson face as he panted. ¡°What was that all about?¡± ¡°Do you see why I asked you to put the seatbelt on now? That was nothing compared to what this van is capable of. Imagine if we were traveling twice as fast and I was forced to brake like that. Your head would have hit the windscreen like a cannonball, followed by the rest of your body.¡± Le¡¯Vieux shook his head in disbelief. ¡°What? Are you telling me this thing can go faster?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see when we get on a straight road.¡± Le¡¯Vieux sighed. ¡°Alright. I need to get out and tell the guards to open the gate. I could do with some fresh air, too.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to get out.¡± Ben pressed the window switch, and a cool breeze flowed in as it slid down. ¡°See.¡± ¡°Damn trickery, I tell you. I wonder what else you have up your sleeves.¡± Le¡¯Vieux muttered before sticking his head out and yelling. ¡°Come on, open the gate!¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The guards looked stunned, shaking in their boots. Ben knew it was most likely due to his slightly dangerous driving, but it had to be done to prove his point. Ahh, sorry, guys. I¡¯ll be more careful next time. ¡°Oi! Why are you standing around?¡± Le¡¯Vieux shouted, breaking their trance. Within moments, the guards sprang to action, relaying the order. The gate started to rise, reminding him of his early morning at the delivery depot. Some things don¡¯t change, do they? ¡°That gate weighs a few tons¡­ It takes a while to get it up.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. Once they were clear to proceed, Ben noticed the ramparts must have been at least five meters thick and on the inside, similar to the Victorian viaducts used with the train bridges. Looking closer at the other end, I noticed another gate. He figured they must have moved together as if they were connected to the same mechanism. ¡°Please be careful going out. There¡¯s a bend right there. I don¡¯t want to die rolling down the side of a mountain.¡± Le¡¯Vieux warned, pointing at the other side before the van moved even an inch. Moving through the arch, Ben followed the cobbled road and made the bend. Luckily, a meter-high stone barrier was along the edge. The road started to decline down the side of the mountain, and when he looked further ahead to see where he was going, his mouth dropped open. The triangular tiled roofs of buildings continued for a considerable distance. Their walls were constructed of stone and looked sturdy enough to stand the test of time. In the center was a congregation of taller multi-story buildings, the most prominent being a clocktower, which rose above them a few stories. Another thick rampart surrounded everything, and the lack of roofs beyond it gave Ben the feeling that all sorts of danger could be beyond. ¡°Impressive, is it not?¡± Le¡¯Vieux interrupted. ¡°What is this place?¡± Ben asked, still mesmerized by the scale of the settlement. ¡°We call it Hollow City, the main hub of all the guilds and tradespeople in the Hollow Lands. Over the years, it has become one of the largest cities in the entire kingdom, rivaling even the capital.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect all this to be here¡­ Back at the courtyard, it looked like this was just a military installation.¡± ¡°With it being more dangerous up north, the guilds prefer the fort''s safety to conduct their business, resulting in better opportunities for the people here.¡± As they neared the bottom, he pointed at what looked like another gatehouse and added, ¡°There is a crossroad just ahead. You¡¯ll want to head over there.¡± As Ben approached the bottom, the city''s people started appearing. Most stopped what they were doing and stared at the van as it hummed by. Some people even peeked out the windows of the buildings that appeared around the road before a group of armed men ran towards the commotion. They stopped in their tracks once they noticed Le¡¯Vieux in the passenger seat waving them away. By the time he reached the end of the road, a small group of children had gathered around it. The guards at the gatehouse were all out, with their weapons drawn and in defensive formations. Le¡¯Vieux had to head out the window again and command them to clear the way and open the gate. ¡°You and your van will be the talk of the town for the next year¡­ I won¡¯t hear the end of it.¡± Le¡¯Vieux muttered, shaking his head. When the gate was raised, Ben drove through it. The cobbled road continued, with a few other trails leading off it. They were decent and flat enough that the van could travel without issue. Looking around, he noticed more buildings scattered around the area, but they were not as cramped as the ones behind the rampart. They had larger land attached to them where some animals grazed on the sparse patches of grass. ¡°You need to go down that one. It¡¯ll take us to the grounds.¡± Le¡¯Vieux pointed at a trail leading toward the mountains in the distance.
¡°Is that it?¡± Ben asked after parking near the edge of a hill. Because they were considerably higher, they had a great view of the valley below. A lake sat in the middle, fed by a river from the larger mountains in the distance. It was surrounded by more flora and trees than they had seen in the last half of their journey, making it look like a desert oasis¡ªor a mountain oasis, as Ben thought. ¡°We call it Lake Valley. The ecosystem there is just right for some wildlife to flourish, which makes it a perfect hunting ground for creatures called Frogmen,¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained before putting his hand up. An item materialized out of thin air with a brushed steel cylindrical shape and round glass pieces at either end. Ben¡¯s mouth dropped open at what he had witnessed. ¡°What! How did you do that?¡± ¡°Hah! You¡¯re not the only one with tricks up your sleeve. My spatial storage skill allows me to store and summon items at will.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained, raising the item. He held one of the ends and slowly extended it before it started to resemble a looking glass like the ones used by naval captains. He then stuck his head out of the window before putting one end close to his eye. Alright, I¡¯ll give you that one. Ben sighed in relief. He was glad they made it there in one piece. They had spent the previous two hours traveling down that trail. A hilly forest emerged when they passed the city¡¯s outer buildings. The terrain had gone from patchy grass to stones resembling gravel, but the trees confused him the most. He wasn¡¯t sure how they could grow in a place like that. His question was answered when Le¡¯Vieux randomly explained how their extensive root network allows them to access underground water reserves. When they ascended to higher altitudes, the trees became sparse before disappearing, leaving only smaller shrubs here and there in their place. After that, the trail became hillier, and some cliffs appeared. The trail bent around them like a snake, and some parts became narrow at the edges of the cliffs. Ben, whose hands had become sweaty, maneuvered through using his years of driving experience. Before finally arriving at the hill, they had gone through a tunnel chiseled through the body of an entire mountain. Luckily, the van had enough space to pass without suffering any scrapes. Le¡¯Vieux finished looking through the glass and let out a huff. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right.¡± Ben raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Our knights have used this area for centuries to train and test their skills, which normally keeps the Frogmen numbers in check. If I¡¯m honest, these last few years have been rough for the order, and we have not been able to send new expeditions here. However, that doesn¡¯t explain why hundreds of them are down there.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°You¡¯ve just said you¡¯ve not been coming here. Kinda explains why their numbers have increased, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Yeah, that would be true. But there¡¯s a manned outpost of hunters here who are supposed to keep things in order while we are away.¡± He pointed towards a smaller trail. ¡°If you follow that one there, it will take us to the outpost. We should figure out what¡¯s going on before doing anything else.¡± Chapter 12 – Mysterious Circumstances? ¡°Hold on to something,¡± Ben exclaimed, motioning Le¡¯Vieux to grab the handle above his head. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m warning you not to do something stupid,¡± Le¡¯Vieux grumbled. His hand shot up and grabbed the seatbelt. Ben slyly grinned. ¡°Come on¡­ You said you wanted to see what it can do in combat. Well, this is it.¡± ¡°Yeah, I did, but I didn¡¯t mean with me in it, you idiot.¡± Well, you¡¯ve got front-row tickets now! A small congregation of Frogmen had appeared moments before on the path leading to the outpost. Le¡¯Vieux had just mentioned that they must have been separated from the horde closer to the lake. When they got closer, Ben got a better look at their features. Their humanoid bodies stood around five feet tall, encased in green reptilian-like skin with scales in the areas where humans normally had hair. Their arms were frail and connected to an anorexic torso. There appeared to be frills between their sharp nails on their hands and feet. The frills were more apparent on their backs, where pointed spikes extended beyond the bones of their spines. They went all the down, where they had small tails that dropped down to knee length. I don¡¯t know what they were thinking when they named them. They look more like lizards than frogs. According to the notifications, their levels were around the same as the wasteland scorpions, between three and five. Ben had a gut feeling that they would have completely different amounts of health and stamina pools because they were a different species. Still, there was no way to be certain until he gained a skill that would allow him to see that information like Le¡¯Vieux. Ben positioned the van to run them over in one clean sweep before pressing the gas pedal for more momentum. The Frogmen moved slowly like clumsy zombies and didn¡¯t notice the van until it was too late, making him think they must have been deaf or just plain stupid. Their bodies squished, and their bones cracked as they bounced off the fender like ragdolls. Some of their limbs even snapped off, splattering crimson blood all over the front of the van, including the windscreen. Le¡¯Vieux panicked the moment their vision was obscured and yelled, ¡°Oi! What are you going to do now?¡± Ben didn¡¯t respond and instead flicked the wiper switch to clear the foamy mess. He then finished the remaining Frogmen off and continued down the path, repairing the van with the magic he had been rewarded with. [Total Experience Gained: +45XP] [You are now Level 2: +1 Skill Point Available.] [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Private.] [Vehicle Condition: 41%] Ben glanced at Le¡¯Vieux to see his reaction. ¡°Does that meet your expectations?¡± The old knight shook his head and chuckled. ¡°I have seen many things in my old age, but I must say, this is the most peculiar method I¡¯ve seen anyone kill their enemies. And how you used your magic to repair the van is exceptional.¡± Disappointed with the encounter, Ben shrugged. ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t exactly a challenge like those scorpions. They didn¡¯t even notice me till I ran them over. I can¡¯t believe you and your knights come here to prove yourselves in combat.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember when I said they were acting strange? That isn¡¯t their usual behavior. Even though they are adapted for water-based combat, they are still formidable enemies on land. They normally look tougher and would have noticed you well before you approached them.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. ¡°Yeah, they looked like they were nearly starved to death. What¡¯s your theory on that?¡± Ben asked. Le¡¯Vieux paused to think about it. ¡°It could be something to do with their increased numbers. With more mouths to feed and the limited resources in this environment, it would no doubt cause them to compete for food and resources.¡± ¡°Natural selection,¡± Ben muttered. ¡°And what¡¯s that supposed to be?¡± ¡°What you just described with the competition between them¡­ It¡¯s survival of the fittest. If that''s what¡¯s happened here, I suspect there are much stronger ones out there.¡± ¡°You could be right about that. Now, come on. Let¡¯s go to the outpost and see what¡¯s going on. Oh, and please, stay away from that horde near the lake.¡± Le¡¯Vieux looked at Ben and saw the look on his face, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll have time to clear them out after we investigate the outpost.¡± Ben nodded, continuing along the path. They had to go around another hill before they saw the outpost''s tall, pointed wooden palisades in the distance.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Le¡¯Vieux moved forward and squinted before taking out the looking glass again and taking a better look. ¡°What? The gate is wide open. Idiots are supposed to keep them closed when not in use. No, that can¡¯t be. It¡¯s fractured and hanging off its hinges.¡± Le¡¯Vieux exclaimed, pointing at it. ¡°The wood looks like it¡¯s been dispersed inwards like it was bashed with a siege engine¡­ They should have sent word about this so we could¡¯ve contained the situation. The Frogmen are known to spread like wildfire when left unchecked. They will keep spreading themselves out and cause havoc in the entire region.¡± He started to fume like a kettle, ¡°Just wait till I have words with their Grandmaster about this.¡± Ben glanced at the Grand Marshall and shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s a rash response if you ask me. What if none of them survived? How is their grandmaster supposed to know? This place is miles in the middle of nowhere.¡± ¡°You probably don¡¯t know this, but guilds and their certified members also have access to the system. Military commanders and Guild leaders can see the status of the people under their command through a leadership sub-system once they are awarded a command position.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°But I remember you said before that Blue¡¯s magic was being blocked in the Feruslands. How do you know the same thing isn¡¯t affecting the system here? Before jumping to conclusions, shouldn¡¯t we figure out what¡¯s happening?¡± Le¡¯Vieux crossed his arms and sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll see¡­ once you pass the gate, there will be a clearing where you can stop.¡± He motioned with his hand. Approaching the gate, Ben stopped just as his doors were a little beyond it. He turned to face Le¡¯Vieux, ¡°That¡¯s as far as I¡¯m willing to go. Those splinters can puncture my tires, and I¡¯m not wasting my magic on repairing the van, especially if I can avoid it.¡± Le¡¯Vieux raised his eyebrows. He then materialized a small, corked glass vial, half filled with a glittering blue liquid. ¡°It¡¯s called a Mirium potion. As the name suggests, it is crafted from a rare mineral that contains a concentrated amount of magic.¡± Ben looked at it and frowned, ¡°What the heck is that supposed to do?¡± Le¡¯Vieux put it forward so Ben could grab it. ¡°It regenerates some of your magic pool when you drink it. Now, stop pondering and move further in.¡± Fair enough!
Mirium Potion (E-Rank)
When consumed, this item can replenish your magic pool. Status Effects: +50MP
Ben grabbed it and held it between his legs. Beyond the mess of splinters, the entrance area connected with what looked like a place used for storage. Once organized in lines and columns, barrels and crates littered the ground with their contents, making the place resemble a rubbish dump. Then, a central area with a well appeared between the half-dozen wooden buildings. Again, it wasn¡¯t too different from the storage area, apart from many arrows sticking out of the ground like wheat stalks. There were even splatters of what appeared to be dark, dried blood. Le¡¯Vieux also looked confused before he cleared his throat. ¡°The direction of the arrows suggests they were shot from the main garrison. Mind you, the place is littered with them, which might suggest they fought against a much larger force.¡± Ben glanced around. ¡°Yeah, I figured as much¡­ But I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ve noticed, there are no bodies, and I doubt those hunters are experts at clearing the dead.¡± Le¡¯Vieux sighed and then nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. There must have been too many bodies here for a dozen hunters to clear. The procedure here has always been to burn the dead to prevent disease outbreaks.¡± Looking around, he added, ¡°And I don¡¯t see any piles of ash.¡± ¡°Well, something happened to them. I doubt they randomly disappear into thin air. Unless I don¡¯t know something, and there¡¯s magic at work here.¡± ¡°What happened is yet to be determined. If there are any survivors and clues, they should be in there.¡± Le¡¯Vieux pointed at the larger building close to the cliff behind. As they walked towards it, Ben glanced at the other smaller buildings, which looked in a severe state of decay. Most of their thatched roofs had collapsed, and the walls looked like they were on their last legs, with how much they were almost toppling over. Given the lack of people going there recently, it made sense that the smaller buildings must have become disused to save on upkeep costs. The garrison building was constructed from similar materials but spread across a larger area. Ben figured it was enough to house at least fifty troops at full capacity. Its entrance looked like it had been bashed open, too. ¡°That doesn¡¯t look too good,¡± Ben stated. Le¡¯Vieux didn¡¯t respond, stopping at the entrance to peek inside. A helmet suddenly appeared on his head, followed by a short sword in his hand. ¡°And let there be light.¡± His muffled words echoed before the entirety of his armor started to gleam in a white aura. ¡°Listen here, I don¡¯t know what to expect in there. I doubt you¡¯ll be able to defend yourself till you are adequately trained in combat, so ensure you stay behind me. And please try to avoid any sudden movements or sounds. Is that understood?¡± Ben knew the knight was correct in his assessment and nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± The building lacked many windows, and the ones it did have were mostly boarded up except for small gaps where minute amounts of light trickled in, adding to the dark, damp, and depressed atmosphere. Ben tip-toed behind Le¡¯Vieux, who held his sword out in a defensive stance. The moment he stepped through the boundary of the door, his hand shot towards his nose as the stench of a dead cat hit his nostrils. Disgusting! Turning to face Le¡¯Vieux, he noticed that the armor had started to shine brighter. Ben wasn¡¯t sure if that was due to the change in lighting conditions from coming inside or if the armor had other enchantments that allowed that. Regardless, he was able to see the surroundings much better. The inside appeared less cluttered, with hardly much going on apart from a few storage crates here and there. There were even stacks of arrows under the window sills, which the hunters must have used as cover. The rest of the space was filled with basic furniture, nothing as extravagant as the Hollow Keep. Le¡¯Vieux started opening the doors connected to the entrance area one by one. He carefully looked around every inch of the rooms, even looking behind the doors and in storage cupboards. Finding nothing, he moved down a corridor where a door rested toward the end of the building. There was a sight above the door which read ¡®Outpost Commander.¡¯ When they entered, it was devoid of life like the others. The one difference between the other rooms was that it had a large desk, filled with books and paperwork, in the middle with a few chairs around it. Le¡¯Vieux did a thorough check before standing near the desk. He looked around and found what looked like a journal. ¡°Here, take this,¡± Le¡¯Vieux said, throwing it at Ben. ¡°It smells like death in here, and there¡¯s no trace of any bodies. Commanders are required to record everything in their journals. See if you can find anything important while I stand watch.¡± Chapter 13 – Competition Time! After leafing through the journal, Ben slapped it closed. He then faced Le¡¯Vieux with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. Le¡¯Vieux removed his helmet and motioned the journal. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, you idiot. Tell me what it says.¡± ¡°Well, everything was going great. The hunters were keeping the Frogmen in check and conducting regular patrols. The Frogmen numbers had been kept in check with regular cullings. Then, toward the end of the journal, one of the patrols noticed a change in their behavior. The commander didn¡¯t think much of it and asked the hunters to watch it. The next patrol discovered an increase in their numbers. Four hunters were ordered on a mass quelling mission, fearing their numbers would quickly get out of control.¡± Ben explained. Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°Seems like they followed the correct procedure to me. Is there anything about what happened after?¡± ¡°The four didn¡¯t return, and the others started worrying. The commander ordered everyone to get geared up to head out to the lake¡ªsomething about not leaving any man behind. The horde arrived when they reached the gate, and an outpost defense was orchestrated. That¡¯s where it ends.¡± Le¡¯Vieux scratched his chin. ¡°The way it ends there suggests they must have fought to the last man. That only adds to the mystery surrounding the missing bodies. We can''t even be sure if there are any survivors. Hmm, does it say anything about when that battle occurred?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing about any dates from what I can tell¡­ Unless you guys use a different calendar from ours on Earth.¡± Ben opened the journal again, flicked to the last entry, and held it out. ¡°I think it¡¯s better if you take a look.¡± ¡°It happened almost a week ago. Hang on¡­¡± It looked like Le¡¯Vieux started doing something with his system. His eyes darted around, followed by the movement of his hand as if he were selecting some options. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ben asked. ¡°This outpost must be manned at all times. As you saw on the map, these mountains connect with all the regions of the Canrich Kingdom. I can¡¯t allow these Frogmen to wreak havoc everywhere; otherwise, the people will lose confidence in us. I¡¯ve notified my Marshalls to get a platoon down here tomorrow and get things back in order.¡± Once he was finished, he turned his attention back to Ben, ¡°Now, I did say we would do some training, but we¡¯ll have to leave that for another time. Right now, what matters is that we go to the lake, figure out what¡¯s happening, and rescue any survivors.¡± What? Is this guy for real? The whole thing with the scorpions crept into Ben¡¯s mind, and he didn¡¯t want to be in another situation like that again if he could help it. Crossing his arms, he frowned. ¡°That¡¯ll mean we¡¯ll be fighting that entire horde by ourselves. Don¡¯t you think waiting for backup is the responsible thing to do here?¡± Le¡¯Vieux smirked, ¡°What? Are you scared to go into combat with an old man like me? You handled that small group of Frogmen better than some of my knights. You¡¯ll be alright if you stay in your van and keep moving. I will fight them on foot.¡± He must have noticed the skeptical look on Ben¡¯s face and added, ¡°You might think me an old fool, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve¡­ How about this? Let¡¯s compete to see who can defeat the most.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ And whose going to keep count?¡± Ben asked, scrunching his forehead. ¡°The system, of course,¡± Le¡¯Vieux replied. He then started doing the same thing and flicked through his system. ¡°I¡¯ll sweeten up the deal if you can beat me.¡±
New Quest Added: Competition (The Proving Grounds)
Try to kill/defeat more Frogmen than Le¡¯Vieux. Tally Ben: 0 Le¡¯Vieux: 0
Rewards: 25XP
Oh great! It¡¯s got a counter!
Ben slowed the van down. The trail from the outpost led them straight to the lake. When they went over the hill overlooking the area, the horde started moving towards them. Even with the dim light coming through the thick cloud cover above, it was enough to see more emerging from the flora around the water. Ben¡¯s heart thumped with adrenaline, pumping him for the slaughter ahead. ¡°There must be over a hundred of them,¡± Le¡¯Vieux stated before his hand shot towards the door latch. ¡°Let me get out here.¡± When the van stopped, Le¡¯Vieux jumped out and held two vials in his hand. One contained a Mirium portion, and the other was dark green. He ripped the corks off with his teeth before swallowing them.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Ahh, it¡¯s time for some extermination,¡± Le¡¯Vieux muttered, stretching his back and arms out. ¡°Good luck.¡± He finished, closing the door with his elbow. He then put on his helmet and summoned twin swords before advancing. What an idiot! Dual-wielding or not, he can¡¯t take them all on like that! Smirking, Ben revved the engine before moving towards the horde. The idea of a competition with the Grand Master got his blood flowing, but he was concerned about driving over the grass. When his tires went off-trail, they seemed to hold traction with the ground as it seemed dry. Passing Le''Vieux, he caught a glimpse of his armor encased in a crimson glow, forming a crimson sphere. It expelled heat waves like the ones he had seen in the desert and started zapping sparks of electricity. Strange symbols resembling runes started burning down the spine of his swords seconds before he leaped forward with unnatural speed. What the heck! Ben saw him crash head-on into the horde, swinging and slicing the creatures with dozens of strikes¡ªdismembered body parts of the Frogmen, which started flying all around before they were set ablaze. Damn it! I can¡¯t lose to an old man! [Tally: Ben: 0, Le¡¯Vieux: 13] Squeezing the steering wheel tighter, Ben positioned the van so that he could plow through as many enemies as possible. Before crashing into the horde, he noticed that they looked and acted differently from the ones he had encountered when going to the outpost. They leaped at him with their razor-sharp claws, swiping them side to side. Their skin appeared darker, almost grey in some places, and they were covered in pitch-black veins across their entire bodies as if they were suffering from a serious blood infection. Ben didn¡¯t have time to think as he made contact. He heard the cracking and crunching of bones as their body parts burst open upon impact. The van was splattered with gooey, tar-like black blood. The resistance of the piling bodies started to slow the van down. Ben shifted down and pressed more on the gas in time before losing too much momentum. He then steered towards another group and mowed them down. Ben held his nose as a disgusting stench resembling rotting corpses filled the cabin. He felt like vomiting but held it back. Sweat ran down his head, but he couldn¡¯t afford to let go of the steering wheel to wipe it as the ones he missed started to take swings. Their blade-like claws scratched and scraped the body panels, causing nail-biting sounds throughout the cabin. He heard their shrieks and squeals getting louder in the back and realized some of their strikes must have gone through. [Van Condition Critical: 25%] Getting too close to the bushes and trees, he swerved out of the way and pressed harder on the gas. His tires spun, tossing a mixture of gravel, dirt, and creature guts into the air. He knew the van couldn¡¯t take anymore and hit the repair function. [Tally: Ben: 37, Le¡¯Vieux: 44] [Total Experience Gained: +185XP] [Van condition: 62%] While making his way to open ground, shockwaves of magical energy caught Ben''s attention. The old knight swung his swords so forcefully that the creatures exploded upon impact like landmines, covering his crimson sphere in black goo. The red sparks zapped the blood away almost instantly. Between strikes, Le¡¯Vieux appeared to use an ability that seemed to radiate powerful blasts, which knocked back three or four creatures at a time while causing the ground to tremble. What a madman! Ben steered in a circle, going around Le¡¯Vieux to give the panels extra time to get fixed. Twisting his head, he noticed Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s attacks had become sluggish. The enemies had started piling up before him, and it looked like they would surround him within the next few moments. As much as that would help Ben win the competition, he wasn¡¯t the type to allow anyone to get swamped like that. An idea popped into his head, and he positioned the van for another mow down. He steered around the knight and hit the ones creeping upon his rear. Ben noticed a few were left and began finishing them off. [Tally: Ben: 71, Le¡¯Vieux: 68] [Total Experience Gained: +170XP] [Van condition: 52%] [You are now Level 3: +1 Skill Point Available.] [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Levy.] Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s crimson sphere started gleaming more. The zapping became more apparent as if it was charging up. Suddenly, it exploded, causing red lightning to bolt across the remaining three Frogmen, frying them instantly. [Tally: Ben: 71, Le¡¯Vieux: 71] Ben squished through a pile of bodies and parked near Le''Vieux, who was panting profusely. The old knight opened the door, putting his helmet and swords away. ¡°Phew, haven''t had exercise like that in a long time¡­ You know I would have won that if you didn¡¯t butt in like you did.¡± Ben noticed the knight''s armor miraculously survived any tarnishing from the mess of blood and guts. ¡°Yeah¡­ It looked more like you were about to get buried under them.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Le¡¯Vieux shook his head before chuckling. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you did well today. At least I can depend on you in times of great need. Not many can say they drew with me in this competition.¡± He then looked around at the mess of corpses. ¡°Their behavior was more aggressive than normal.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Yeah, and they nearly ripped my van to shreds. What¡¯s the deal with their blood? Looks like a severe blood infection to me.¡± Le¡¯Vieux shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s not the only odd thing about them. In the ones I decapitated, I noticed leech-like creatures lodged in their necks. You might not have noticed them, but I was right before them and saw the dark aura they were giving off.¡± Ben scratched his head, ¡°Huh? I¡¯ve come across blood-sucking leeches, but never ones that reside in the necks of their victims. Hang on. If they can infect these Frogmen like that, they should be able to do the same with humans.¡± ¡°Hmm, I believe you may be right about that. We should go to the nesting area and see if there are any clues about what¡¯s going on. Besides, If there were any survivors, they would have been taken there.¡± Le¡¯Vieux pointed at the other end of the lake. There were more bushes and trees, and the water looked dark greenish, making it look like a swamp. Ben shook his head. ¡°It was a little too far from comfort driving on this grass. My van will get stuck in that. Besides, what if there are more creatures there? I can''t fight them like you can.¡± Le¡¯Vieux scrunched his forehead as if he was disappointed. ¡°Ben, you worry too much. We just took most of them out. The remainder shouldn¡¯t be a problem if you ask me. Just stay behind me, and you¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Oh yeah! Is that so you can carry on adding to your tally?¡± Ben spoke with narrowed eyes. Le¡¯Vieux bobbed his head with a grin. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re worried about? We both drew fair and square. You have my word that the tally ends here.¡± He quickly did something with his system when a notification popped up. [Quest: Competition (The Proving Grounds). Result: Draw. Rewards: None.] ¡°There you go. Come now, let¡¯s get over there.¡± Le¡¯Vieux motioned. Chapter 14 – Infected Nest! ¡°That¡¯s disgusting,¡± Ben mumbled, covering his nose. He had followed Le¡¯Vieux through the bushes and tree trunks for almost fifteen minutes. The further they advanced, the more everything looked dry and dead. The entire area appeared to be covered in a dark mist. When he looked, he realized there were no leaves, only shriveled-up branches. The ground had also drastically changed. The mixture of grass and gravel had shifted into what looked like sloppy mud covered in a glaze of slimy mold. Luckily, Ben and Le¡¯Vieux managed to avoid most of it by using the remaining small patches of dead grass as stepping stones. ¡°There¡¯s no worse smell than death and decay,¡± Le¡¯Vieux mumbled. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ve got a gas mask in your special storage?¡± Ben asked as his stomach churned like a cement mixer. Le¡¯Vieux motioned to stop before putting his finger to his lips with a ¡°Shh.¡± He then took a peek at the area beyond and only turned back after a few moments. ¡°The area looks clear of hostiles.¡± He then advanced further, motioning Ben to follow. Dozens of piles surrounded the lake where water met land. Each was around a meter in height and looked like they held over a hundred eggs. When he moved closer to them, Ben noticed they were covered in a clear slime, allowing him to see through the eggs that had thin membranes. Pitch-black worm-like creatures twitched, twisted, and turned in the embryonic fluid. They seemed to react to any nearby movements. ¡°What the heck are these things?¡± Ben asked, stopping in his tracks. ¡°Not Frogmen.¡± Le¡¯Vieux replied. Ben frowned, ¡°What do you mean? I thought you said this is supposed to be their nest.¡± Le¡¯Vieux scratched his head. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s supposed to be.¡± He pointed at the creatures within the eggs, ¡°But they look exactly like those neck leeches. Frogmen look more like tadpoles in the egg stage and are much bigger. They also don¡¯t leave the nests unguarded like this. Almost always, they have multiple nest mothers caring for them. I¡¯m unsure how those creatures got into their eggs like that.¡± Ben carefully thought about everything he had seen up to that point. He cross-referenced it with his knowledge of biology and some of the horror films he had seen. ¡°Hmm¡­ I might have a theory about what¡¯s happening here.¡± Le¡¯Vieux moved closer. ¡°All right, I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°I believe those neck leeches require a host to function properly. They take control of the body while making modifications to suit their purpose. The ones in the horde must have been the males chosen to fight for and defend the nest. The nest mothers must have been modified to give birth to eggs containing leeches to expand their population.¡± Ben explained, motioning at the eggs. Le¡¯Vieux nodded before pausing a moment. It looked like he took some time to process the information before replying. ¡°Hmm, that makes sense now. It explains why the normal-looking ones we encountered were away from the horde and in a brain-dead state¡ªpushed out from their nests without food and water.¡± ¡°Yeah, they got out of there while they still could.¡± Something caught Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s attention as he stared into the distance. He then pointed there, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to be?¡± Ben twisted his head, following a slime trail to a pile near some bushes. It looked like it was composed of a large number of dead bodies. ¡°Certainly not a pile of eggs.¡± Every step they took towards it, the harder it became to breathe. The stench of death reached its worst point as they stopped a few meters away from it. ¡°That explains the stench.¡± Le¡¯Vieux scoffed. Goosebumps pricked the skin around the back of Ben¡¯s neck as the contents of his stomach rose to the back of his throat, making it hard to breathe. The pile of horror before him was a sight that would give any sane person nightmares for months on end. He stepped back and let Le¡¯Vieux check it out. ¡°Damn it,¡± Le¡¯Vieux almost gagged. He moved away from the pile and faced Ben. ¡°These are the corpses from the outpost. The hunters are mixed in with them, too.¡± He shook his head in disbelief and then let out a huff. His hands scrunched up into fists before he started to shake. Ben crossed his arms and stepped back after noticing that the Frogmen in the pile looked like the normal ones without any dark patches. He wondered why they would be taken like that and piled near the nest. After going over a few theories, he scratched his chin and asked. ¡°What if this is how they infect the host?¡± Le¡¯Vieux gave him a confused look as if he was talking nonsense. "What?" Ben cleared his throat. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I mean. A dead host is an easy option with no struggle and resistance. All they have to do is wriggle along that slime trail and hop right in.¡± He pointed his finger down his throat, then pointed at the pile. ¡°Look, all the bodies here are not infected. The Frogmen have no dark coloring.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Upon hearing that, Le¡¯Vieux double-checked the pile. ¡°You''re right about that. Look, no matter what, we can''t allow these things to get out. What would you say is the best way to destroy all this?¡± Ben felt he would be asked that at some point and was prepared with an answer. ¡°Burn the shit out of them until nothing is left¡­ Though I¡¯m not sure how we will go about that.¡± We sure could use a flamethrower right about now. Le¡¯Vieux nodded, putting his hands together. A few vials containing a gleaming orange liquid appeared. ¡°I think these will suffice.¡± Ben stared at them with a raised eyebrow. ¡°What''s that?" ¡°When the liquid within contacts the air, it explodes into a scorching hot inferno.¡± He moved them forward for Ben to take. ¡°Here, take a few¡­ You¡¯ll lose more than a few layers of skin if you''re not careful with them.¡± Huh, magical grenades? After that warning, Ben stopped his hand in mid-air and hovered it above the vials before asking, ¡°What would you say is a safe throwing distance?¡± ¡°A dozen feet at the minimum,¡± Le¡¯Vieux replied. He then motioned with his head in the direction of the eggs. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get this done.¡± Ben softly pressed the vials and took a few. He followed Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s movements, who had started throwing them like Molotov cocktails at the piles. Surprisingly, the clear liquid burned easily, engulfing the area in flames. The heat became unbearable, and Ben sweated like he was sitting in a sauna on overdrive. Looking up, he saw the smoke had risen to the clouds, further contributing to the darkness. Le¡¯Vieux hurried towards him and gave him a little nudge on the shoulder. ¡°We need to get our backsides out of here before we¡¯re burnt alive.¡± Motioning the dead and dry flora surrounding them. He then started hopping towards the direction they had come from. Just as Ben started following his steps, a blood-curdling shriek filled the air like a siren. ¡°What the heck was that?¡± He twisted his head around in every direction to no avail. Le¡¯Vieux, who didn¡¯t stop moving, yelled, ¡°Hurry up, we don¡¯t have much time. I¡¯ll tell you when we¡¯re back at the outpost.¡± When Ben caught up, he noticed something wasn¡¯t right with Le¡¯Vieux.
They returned to the outpost as the sky started to dim. The evening was taking hold, and the temperature slowly crept towards zero. Once through the gate, Ben parked in the storage area. Le¡¯Vieux instantly jumped out and hopped toward the gate, closing what little remained. He shot toward the closest unbroken barrel and moved it toward the gate. Glancing at the van, he yelled, ¡°Help me with this!¡± Luckily, the window was open a little, so Ben heard it. ¡°Hang on. I¡¯ll join you once I¡¯ve checked the van.¡± Due to Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s obnoxious nagging, they had left the lake in a hurry, and he didn¡¯t get a chance to give the van a once-over. [Van Stats: Condition 52%, Fuel 17%] He let out a sigh when he looked at his magic pool. [MP: 23/50] Damn it! Not even half as much as I need. Remembering the Mirium potion that Le¡¯Vieux had given him, he grabbed it from the door compartment. Using his teeth, he yanked off the cork. The blue liquid started to glow like a firefly and let off small glittery sparkles that floated away before vanishing. He moved it closer to his nostrils and took a sniff. It smelled like really strong vodka. Hitting the repair skill, he waited for his magic to diminish when suddenly the van stopped glowing. He put the vial to his lips and chugged it in one big gulp when a buzzing sensation filled his stomach and spread to the rest of his body. He noticed his magic pool started to fill, and when it got almost full, he continued the repair procedure till completion. After that, he used the remaining MP to refuel. [Van Stats: Condition 100%, Fuel 42%] [MP: 0/50] Then, he quickly checked to see if he''d unlocked any more skills that could prove useful for any upcoming battle, [More skills will unlock at Level 5.] Sighing, he turned off the engine and made his way to help Le¡¯Vieux. It took them almost ten minutes to pile up enough barrels until the gate seemed sturdy enough to take an elephant on. Le¡¯Vieux took some breaths of relief. ¡°Glad that¡¯s sorted now.¡± Ben crossed his arms. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is this something to do with that shriek we heard?¡± ¡°It came from the mountains that are north of the nest. You probably don¡¯t know their significance, so let me explain. There¡¯s nothing there except an old network of caves there that lead to the Feruslands. Long ago, during one of the old fairy wars, my predecessors collapsed them off to prevent the slightest chance of invasion.¡± He motioned around the area with his hand, ¡°These mountains lead to almost every region of the kingdom and are a logistical nightmare to defend. I believe the fairies must have made it through somehow and are no doubt behind this damn nightmare.¡± ¡°Are they that powerful to spook someone as strong as you?¡± ¡°Indeed, they are. One of them can take out an entire platoon of my knights. I pressed you to get here quickly because it will be nighttime soon, and their power is known to increase exponentially during darkness. We wouldn¡¯t want to be caught out there, especially after fighting a horde like that. We need to try to get some rest today and prepare. We will head out there at first light.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. Ben crossed his arms. ¡°Are you being serious? Shouldn¡¯t we wait for your knights to arrive before going out there?¡± ¡°They will arrive in the afternoon, and we can''t wait that long. Every second those caves are open increases the threat to the kingdom and its people. We must eliminate all threats and ensure those caves are sealed shut. Don¡¯t forget that nest mothers are still out there and can lay more eggs. You¡¯ve seen what they did to the Frogmen. I can¡¯t risk the same thing happening to my knights.¡± Le¡¯Vieux replied. He then started gathering pieces of wood from the ground. Ben realized he was right and figured that if the knights started turning into infected zombies, that could be dangerous for everyone. ¡°I understand what you mean by that.¡± Le¡¯Vieux paused with his wood gathering. ¡°I know you might not want to come along for that. It¡¯s a massive undertaking you are not yet equipped to deal with. I can''t force you to come with me, but I have to go no matter what, even if it leads to my death. That is a knight''s oath to protect his people no matter the cost.¡± He motioned ahead, ¡°Let¡¯s get inside.¡± Le¡¯Vieux led him to the communal area near the entrance, where he started piling wood near one of the few fireplaces. Once the embers were burning, he grabbed a couple of chairs from nearby and placed them close to the heat. Just as they were about to start chatting, another shriek filled the air. This time, it was louder and sounded like it was nearby. Not even a second passed when the splintering of wood could be heard bash after bash. Chapter 15 – The Angry Nest Mother Ben hurried in the pitch darkness, almost out of breath. A barrage of earth-trembling thuds kept crashing into the gate one after the other. The sound of wood shattering made it feel like the creature on the other side would break through at any moment. With the minute visibility, Ben almost lost his footing as he stepped on what felt like a broken plank. I should have grabbed my damn flashlight earlier! Le¡¯Vieux, running behind him, illuminated his armor with that neon-white glow, allowing them to see just enough to avoid the obstacles between them and the van. Once they arrived, Ben planted his butt in the driver¡¯s and twisted the key. He then flicked the high beams on, causing the area in front to illuminate. Le¡¯Vieux stopped and stared at the front of the van. ¡°Those lanterns are like broad daylight¡­ Hurry and make them point at the gate.¡± He then raised two vials, ripped their corks off, and gulped their contents. His helmet and swords materialized before he tapped on the door. ¡°You stay put here¡­ I won¡¯t be able to see a thing, and I¡¯m all out of Night-Sight potions. Normally, I would have something like this handled, but I don''t know what to expect with everything that''s gone on here. If it looks like I¡¯m about to die, then that¡¯s your cue for joining in. Is that understood?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Alright. But please be careful.¡± Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s sigh echoed in his helmet. ¡°If I don¡¯t make it, then it¡¯s up to you to ensure those caves are taken care of.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for a response, and instead, his armor started to radiate that crimson energy again and zapped into a sphere. The gate cracked a few times before suddenly it exploded into a mess of splinters. Some pieces were as large as stakes and looked like they could impale a person. Ben put his arms in front of his face and held his breath. It felt like if one of them hit the windscreen, it would cause serious damage to him. Luckily, they bounced off, causing only minor scratches. Sighing in relief, he dropped his arms and saw the entire area covered with dust, which acted like a thick fog, diffusing the light beams. Le¡¯Vieux had tanked the projectiles and advanced. He abruptly froze as still as a stone when he reached halfway between the gate and the van. His head tilted upwards as if he were looking at something. As the dust settled, it revealed a pair of gleaming yellow eyes that towered over twice the knight''s height. They darted around the van several times before settling on Le''Vieux with a menacing stare full of rage. What the heck is that thing? Ben edged the van forward to get a better look and was stunned to see that its skin was as dark as the night. He could only see it due to the layer of wet slime that reflected the light in small dots from the headlights. Besides, there was no system notification, so the creature must have been more than ten levels higher than himself. The creature''s face was similar in size to that of the regular Frogmen. However, it appeared to have large cuts along its cheeks, as if carved by a cleaver, revealing the razor-sharp teeth. Its head was connected via an elongated neck around a foot in length to a giant ballooned-up torso thicker than the van. She¡¯s probably got the entire next generation of eggs in there. The enchantments on Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s swords started glowing like red-hot coals before he started hacking and slashing at her belly. Every blow appeared to bounce off without significant damage while she stared at him with a menacing grin. Le¡¯Vieux must have realized his attacks were ineffective and started backing off. However, an elongated hand raised from behind the creature before he could create enough distance and went down like a jackhammer. A shockwave of sparks emanated from the sphere, zapping toward the creature to no effect before it started gleaming so much that the surrounding area turned almost red. Holy crap! Ben was on the edge of his seat, biting his lips. When the glow dimmed, he could see Le¡¯Vieux charging one of his power attacks, the same one he had used on the horde. The Nest Mother tilted her head, looking slightly confused about what had occurred, and was about to launch another blow when Le¡¯Vieux swung his swords in a cross pattern. The gleaming energy collided with her belly with the roar of a lion, causing the earth to tremble and rupturing her skin wide open. Ben gagged when he saw the twitching mess of decayed guts within. He even noticed a few developing eggs nearly fall out before her hands went to push them back in, and she expelled an ear-shattering shriek. Le¡¯Vieux must have noticed the opening and went for another attack. A slimy black substance started rushing from the skin surrounding the wound, filling the exposed area. His attack rebounded as if he had struck a dense boulder.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. What? It has a healing factor, too! The Nest Mother entered a vengeful frenzy, lashing out at the knight, who couldn¡¯t escape in time. It started to whack him like a pinata, causing cracks in the sphere, which kept getting larger the more damage it took. He can¡¯t keep tanking blows like that! Even though the creature seemed impossible to defeat, Ben didn¡¯t want to wait and let the knight get hammered. He knew his van would suffer more damage than what the creature would suffer if he tried running it over. He needed to increase the damage while maintaining the condition of his vehicle. Knowing what could help, his hand shot to the upgrade menu. [Vehicle: Valkyrie Level 1: Bull Bar Mk.1 is now unlocked.] Ben raised his butt from the seat as blue particles appeared to come together at the front of the van. He saw the top of a bar forming, and when its shape was set, the magic faded, leaving behind the upgrade. Eager to test the bar''s effectiveness, he took a deep breath and shot forward. Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s sphere broke into tiny particles before the whack slammed into his armor, causing it to ring loudly like a church bell. He flew a few meters back and hit one of the barrels lying on the ground. Adrenaline raced through Ben¡¯s chest as he positioned the van coming from the side. He wasn¡¯t too happy about Le¡¯Vieux being slapped like a ragdoll, but at least he wouldn¡¯t be in the way when he rammed the creatures. Coming from the side, he observed the creature had a thick tail protruding from above its butt and figured that¡¯s where the eggs must have come out of. Pressing harder on the gas, he crashed into its side. The force jolted Ben from his seat as the van rebounded to the side. The creature hit the ground like a sack of potatoes before rolling in a shriek. A large portion of its skin and guts had been ripped out and were hanging from the top of the bull bar. As much as he wanted to turn around and go in for another strike, he needed to check up on Le¡¯Vieux and see if he was alright. He had something in mind that could finish it, but he needed help from the knight. Le¡¯Vieux had gotten out of the rubble when Ben stopped near him. He threw an empty vial, which shattered when it hit the ground a few meters away. He stomped towards the van, panting in anger. Ben put his window down. ¡°Fighting it head-on is not going to work.¡± He pointed at the hanging mess before him, ¡°I¡¯m going to ram it again with the van. It should create a big enough opening for you to throw another one of your fire vials inside. Fire seems to be the only thing that works with these things.¡± Le¡¯Vieux didn¡¯t say anything and just nodded. He raised his hand when the orange vial appeared. Ben hit the gas and turned the van around. By then, the creature had gotten up and started moving toward the van. He steered around as its hand came hammering down, shaking the ground. Once he reached the fortifications on the other side, he turned around and accelerated as fast as possible. The moment Ben made contact, the front of the van dug deep into the creature''s belly, and his seatbelt did the same to his chest. It felt like he had fallen off a cliff as a metallic taste filled the back of his throat, and his ears rang like an old telephone. He dragged the creature across the storage area before he squished it between the fortifications on the other side. Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Ben shifted into reverse. His tires spun in the mess of guts and gore before he sluggishly moved away with a bounce, squishing the eggs that had dropped out. Looking up, he saw the creature twitching, trying to hold in the eggs, when the vial flew in from the corner of his vision. The perfectly aimed vial landed in her guts and exploded into an inferno, causing the slime to sizzle away before the skin melted away like hot candle wax. The eggs hissed as they popped before shriveling into piles of ash. Ben managed to escape the flames, which bounced off his windscreen. He parked near Le¡¯Vieux, who took his place in the passenger seat. [You killed Infected Nest Mother Level 28: +350XP] [You are now Level 4: +1 Skill Point Available.] [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Companion.] *** When more than one system user defeats an enemy, the total experience is divided equally among all system users who damaged the enemy. *** [Van Stats: Condition 68%, Fuel 38%] They both exhaled in relief as Ben saw the notification pop up. Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s helmet and swords vanished before he tapped Ben on the shoulder with a nod. ¡°You did good, kid. Not many can say they saved my skin like that. Now, I think we both deserve some rest.¡± Ben pointed at the flames which had spread to the outpost walls. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we take those flames out before everything burns down?¡± Le¡¯Vieux shook his head. ¡°Those walls are made from fire-treated trunks. The fire will die down soon enough. Regardless, we¡¯ll have to rebuild this outpost from the ground up at some point.¡± He looked around at the state of the gate and yawned, ¡°We¡¯ll have to take turns to keep watch while the other sleep in case there are any more attacks.¡± Ben noticed Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s eyes were red, and it seemed like he was about to fall asleep at any moment. He shrugged and nodded. ¡°Relax¡­ I¡¯ll take the first watch.¡±
Ben parked the van on a hill overlooking the foot of a large mountain where the caves were located. Earlier in the morning, he had been shaken awake and given another Mirium potion, which he used to repair and refuel the van. After taming their grumbling stomachs with much-needed food, they set off. Their journey had taken them past the nest''s aftermath, where the flames of the forest fire they had caused the previous day still burned, blowing out dark plumes of sooty smoke. The trail became more rocky until no flora could be seen apart from a dried branch. After another fifteen minutes of driving, they arrived at the hill. Le¡¯Vieux slid open the looking glass and motioned Ben to follow him to the edge, where he started observing below. After moving it around a little, he stopped and tilted his head as if he had seen something peculiar. ¡°What?¡± Ben looked below to try and see what was going on and noticed two large figures embroiled in a melee. ¡°Looks like a battle if you ask me.¡± Le¡¯Vieux cleared his throat, ¡°Yeah, between two fairies, and one appears to be infected. There is also a new opening at the foot of the mountain where they must have come through. We need to get down there.¡± He snapped the looking glass closed before heading towards the van. Chapter 16 – Grave News! Ben slowed down to cruising speed. When they were around a hundred meters away from the skirmish, Le¡¯Vieux raised his hand. ¡°Here is fine¡­ You don¡¯t want to get stuck near a battle between two fairies. They''re known to move like the wind and are impossible to see when fighting. From the looks of things, these two have been in the heat of battle for some time, hence their sluggish movements.¡± With the trail mostly loose gravel, the van drifted to a stop. Ben turned to face the knight. ¡°Earlier, you said something about the whole nest mess having something to do with the fairies; then why is one of them fighting an infected one?¡± Le¡¯Vieux shrugged. ¡°How should I know? Something is amiss here, and the only way to find out is to go there. Are you coming or what?¡± He nodded before getting out. His helmet appeared along with his twin swords. He faced Ben and waited for a response. Ben knew he would be useless on foot, especially if they needed to fight. He shook his head as if to say no. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here and be ready if things turn sour.¡± Le¡¯Vieux sighed and disapprovingly bobbed his head. ¡°It looks like these machines have made you lazy.¡± ¡°What else am I supposed to do, you git? I''ll probably die out there within seconds. I''m all ears if you¡¯ve got any bright ideas other than to march up there and face them head-on." He paused for a moment before shrugging. ¡°Fair point.¡± He closed the door before stomping towards the altercation. At least I can see what they look like now. The one that wasn¡¯t infected appeared a few feet taller than Le¡¯Vieux and wore full plate armor crafted from black metal. Protruding from the back of its torso were bat-like wings, the ends pointy and sharp like spear tips. From both the wings and the gaps in the suit, a dark shadowy aura flowed out like smoke from a wood fire, adding to its intimidating demeanor. It moved with precise movements as if it were conducting a choreographed dance. It dodged every attack it was dealt with while sometimes taking flight and used gravity to glide across its enemy, slicing it across various extremities with the twin daggers it held. The infected one didn¡¯t appear to be wearing any armor. Instead, it wore a veiling, long-hooded robe that obscured its features. It was covered with dirt, muck, and some tears from where the daggers had struck it. Ben knew it could have that regenerative ability if it were anything like the nest mother, which is why the other had difficulty defeating it. What was more strange was that it held something that resembled an infected tree branch, spilling out nasty slime particles. It tried to attack the other one with it a few times but kept on missing. The moment Le¡¯Vieux approached, the normal fairy noticed him. It flew backward and landed a dozen meters away, each dagger ready while the infected one stopped in its tracks. All three kept shooting each other glances as if it were an old three-way cowboy showdown. Suddenly, the fairy dropped the dagger pointed at Le¡¯Vieux and bobbed its head towards the infected one. Le¡¯Vieux appeared to shout something at it before doing the same. He dug the end of his sword into the dirt and materialized a fire vial. He swung the sword and pointed at the infected one in a slicing motion before pretending to lob the vial. The fairy appeared to shrug when it started to expel more shadowy mist like a smoke grenade. It leaned forward with one foot out, holding one dagger back, which glistened with purple magic as if it were charging a special move. The infected one blasted out an ear-wrenching war cry in response before it shot forward like a viper at the other fairy. Le¡¯Vieux sprang to action. He had replaced one of his swords with a large shield similar to the ones Ben had seen in the courtyard when he had first arrived at the Hollow Keep. By the time he had made it between the fairies, the crimson sphere had morphed around the shield and exploded with a loud ring. Whoa! That was insane! An earth-trembling shockwave knocked the infected fairy to the ground. It wriggled on the ground like a worm until it came to its senses and used the infected tree branch for support like a walking stick. When it was back on its feet, it was too late. Le¡¯Vieux had already sidestepped a few feet out of the way. As Le¡¯Vieux had warned, the armored fairy completely vanished from sight, mist included. Almost instantly, a purple line of magic erupted in a slashing motion across the infected ones'' guts. Blackened blood spewed out like a fountain. Ben didn¡¯t even see the vial being thrown as it was engulfed in flames. It took a moment for the creature''s robe to burn away before Its insides began to get cremated. Le¡¯Vieux profusely looked around until his gaze stopped at a nearby cave entrance. There, he noticed the fairy standing there, putting its weapons away. The two exchanged a nod before the fairy vanished into the darkness. Ben watched him stand around for what seemed some time. What¡¯s he waiting around for? He¡¯s probably waiting for his new friend to get away before blowing it to smithereens. Le¡¯Vieux walked up to the cave''s entrance. He removed some round balls from his spatial storage and rolled them in individually. Once done, he threw a fire vial and high-tailed it back to the van as if his life depended on it. Smoke blew out of the entrance with such force that even small rocks were launched like cannonballs. Le¡¯Vieux had erected his crimson sphere again and hid behind his shield; even though he was almost a hundred meters away, some projectiles still managed to contact him.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. What the heck! Take down the whole mountain while you¡¯re at it.
When they arrived near the outpost, Ben noticed the glistening armor near the destroyed gate. A knight stood there, pointing his finger back and forth, most likely shouting orders at his soldiers navigating horse-drawn carts to an open area beyond the walls'' protection. The journey there wasn¡¯t that eventful, and Le¡¯Vieux mostly stayed quiet. Ben assumed he must have been still digesting his interaction with the fairy. ¡°Looks like your platoon has arrived.¡± Ben broke the silence. He stopped the van a dozen meters from the entrance area when the knight twisted his head and noticed them. They both got out before Le¡¯Vieux shuffled over to the knight. Ben¡¯s stomach started to grumble again, so he went straight to the side door and slid it open. ¡°Damn. Not again.¡± He sighed, glancing around at the mess. Luckily, the cloth-covered basket had prevented the food from scattering and spoiling. Ben grabbed it before filling his mouth with fruit and observed Le¡¯Vieux and his subordinate conversing. ¡°Grand Marshall, Sir.¡± The knight stood at attention and saluted. ¡°At ease, Lieutenant.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°I know this place looks like a gory mess, but what is your progress?¡± ¡°Aye, Sir. There¡¯s too much rubble within the outpost''s walls to set up a camp. And the buildings within are beyond their use anymore. We will have to start work on repairs right away, so I have ordered my men to set up camp outside the perimeter of the walls for now.¡± Le¡¯Vieux glanced at the gate and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ll be here for a couple of years clearing that lot. Your mission is to ensure this area is free from any enemy incursions. You are to conduct regular patrols both day and night. If you see anything out of the ordinary, no matter how small, you are to report this directly to me in the first instance. Is that understood?¡± The lieutenant nodded. ¡°Aye, Sir.¡± Le¡¯Vieux patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Your men should be safe out here for now. As far as I know, we have removed all the major threats in the area. When I return to the keep, I will send more platoons here and a contingent of builders to rebuild this outpost from the ground up. I¡¯m leaving this outpost under your command, so I expect it to run like a well-oiled machine.¡± ¡°I won''t let you down, Sir.¡± ¡°Alright. I need to be getting back to the keep.¡± Le¡¯Vieux finished before they both saluted each other. Ben put the basket forward and motioned Le¡¯Vieux to take a piece when he returned to the van. The old knight hovered his hand above it before taking the best-looking apple. He was about to bite into it when he suddenly stopped as if he remembered something. Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s eyes started darting around when the lines on his forehead morphed into a frown. His gaze narrowed as he bit his bottom lip. ¡°What? That can¡¯t be right.¡± Ben stopped chewing and raised his eyebrow. ¡°Is everything alright over there?¡± He mumbled. Le¡¯Vieux held his head with his palm before shaking it. ¡°No, it¡¯s not. I should¡¯ve received word by now from Alfred. As you know, I sent him on an important mission before we came here, but there was nothing there when I saw his progress. All their system information has vanished.¡± His face started to go red as tears ran down his cheeks. The apple squished to a pulp, causing the juice to drip to the ground, and Le¡¯Vieux clenched his hand into a fist. ¡°Damn it! I am to blame for this stupidity. I was the one who sent them to their deaths.¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t know that for sure. It could be that they¡¯ve found themselves in a bad situation and need help. Can''t you send more knights there to determine what¡¯s happening?¡± Le¡¯Vieux let out a growly huff. ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t already thought about that? Alfred¡¯s abilities as a knight surpass most in the order; if he and his knights have perished, then the others will no doubt suffer the same fate.¡± As much as Ben didn¡¯t like what Le¡¯Vieux had said, he knew it was the truth¡ªsending the knights there would just put more lives in danger, especially if something crazy, like the infected thing, was rampaging around. Ben wouldn''t stand around while someone like Alfred could be in danger. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°What?¡± Le¡¯Vieux frowned. ¡°I¡¯ll go there and figure out what¡¯s happened to Alfred and his knights.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind? What will you do if something happens to your van out there? You haven¡¯t even been trained in combat. I can¡¯t put your life in danger, too.¡± Le¡¯Vieux looked like he was about to pull his hair out. He started pacing back and forth, rubbing his head as if thinking about the offer. He finally stopped and faced Ben with a heavy sigh, ¡°If there¡¯s a chance they¡¯re still alive, we need to take it.¡±
Ben stopped at a crossroads. In the distance, he noticed the outline of another castle nestled between two large mountains. Le¡¯Vieux had instructed him to diverge off the normal track towards another fortified keep, Deepwich. ¡°Stop here.¡± Le¡¯Vieux motioned with his hand. He removed a pendant from around his neck, dangled it before Ben, and pointed to a cobbled road ahead. ¡°You will follow that. It will lead you to a bridge checkpoint that leads into the Mesolands. Show this pendant to that drunkard knight in charge and tell him I have personally sent you on a quest. Follow the signs to a village called Robynhill. You will find an inn; missing and speaking with him is impossible. He should be able to help you with your quest.¡± Ben went to snatch the pendant when its information popped up.
Hollow Moon Grand Marshall Pendant:
A pendant belonging to the Grand Marshall of the Hollow Moon Military Order. This item can aid you when crossing military checkpoints. Bonus status effects: None.
Ben shrugged. ¡°Thanks. If you have any spare, I could do it with a weapon and some potions. After that mess in the proving ground, I don¡¯t want to get caught with my pants down.¡± ¡°The blacksmith at Robynhill can craft you one. As for the potions¡­¡± Six vials materialized in Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s hand before he passed them over. ¡°This should do. Oh, I should issue you with a quest as well.¡± He messed around with his system, followed by a nod when another notification popped up.
New Quest Added: Robynhill Village
Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux instructed you to travel to the village of Robynhill. Speak with the innkeeper about the disappearance of Knight Lieutenant Alfred and his detachment of knights.
Rewards: +25XP + 1GP
Le¡¯Vieux opened the door before stepping out. ¡°I will make my way to Deepwich, where I can get a transport back to the Hollow Keep. I know it¡¯s a lot to ask for, but I¡¯m counting on you to bring my knights back home. Good luck out there. If I were you, I would get there before nightfall. There¡¯s all manner of wild beasts and creatures that lurk around after dark.¡± Le¡¯Vieux finished saluting before shutting the door and starting his trek towards the keep. Chapter 17 – Checkpoint Ben squinted at the fuel gauge. [23%] He wasn''t sure exactly how much he¡¯d need for the journey to Robynhill, and the last thing he wanted was to run out in the middle of nowhere, potentially surrounded by enemies. He felt there would be no chance of a rescue out there. Opening his profile stats, he realized his magic pool was dry as a bone. Ahh, great news. Twisting his neck towards the potions Le¡¯Vieux had given him, he figured it would be best to use one so he could put his mind at ease. He wanted to enjoy the journey there and not constantly think about fuel level. Leaning to the passenger seat, he grabbed one and gulped it down. [+50MP] After pressing the refuel option, he waited till it was all used up. [Fuel: 73%] Hopefully, I can upgrade this damn skill sometime. Ben glanced at the road ahead. The feeling of butterflies erupted in his stomach as he wasn''t sure what to expect. If it was anything like what he had seen the previous few days, he was in store for one crazy ride. Let¡¯s get to it then! *** The road led him through the mountainous region before the scenery shifted to a densely packed forest of conifers. It was mostly straight with few bends and blended perfectly with the terrain. The great thing about it was that it seemed almost in perfect condition as if no expense was spared for its maintenance. He could travel at greater speeds without worrying about wearing out the van¡¯s suspension and jokingly decided to name it the ¡®medieval highway.¡¯ Along the way, various off-road trails shot off the highway and led to what looked like smaller settlements in the distance. The people there started running towards the road to see what was happening, but Ben didn''t want to cause any commotion and hit the gas to escape swiftly. Then, there were the caravans, which consisted of many horse carts and platoons of armed men. Upon noticing him, they had always huddled together and formed defensive formations as if they would get attacked. When he drove past them without giving them any notice, they appeared to look rather confused. After avoiding trouble, Ben noticed a little trail leading towards a large river where he could see a bridge. Towers of smoke rose from between tents where various Hollow Moon banners had been staked into the ground. That must be the checkpoint Le¡¯Vieux was talking about. Two guards standing at the mouth of the bridge noticed him. They went straight for their weapons before one of them sounded a war horn. Within seconds, more figures stormed out of the camp and joined them with their steel glinting in the fading light. Ben counted eleven in total, including a knight and two archers. Ben rolled the window down. Behind his shield, the knight shouted muffled orders, and the men at arms formed a V on either side of their commander. The archers stood at the back, removed arrows from their quivers, and aimed their bows at the van. Whoa! Relax guys! Not wanting to get an arrow through the windscreen, Ben stopped about a hundred feet away. His heart pounded as he didn''t like the idea of those arrows going through his windscreen. Since Ben wasn''t wearing any armor, he figured he would be dead if one managed to hit him. He raised his hands to show he wasn¡¯t armed and gave them a friendly wave, hoping it would dispel the tension. The knight must have noticed that and grabbed two of his younger-looking men by the shoulders and pushed them towards the van. They looked like they were trembling with every step as they stumbled to the van. Ben grabbed the pendant and dangled it out the window to be visible to them. The two men came to a sudden stop. One of them turned back to the knight. ¡°Sir, you should see this!¡± The knight shook his head as if he was annoyed before stomping ahead. When his gaze met the pendant, he pushed the two out of the way. He froze still as a stone for a moment before facing his men. ¡°Stand down, for now!¡± He stepped closer to the van and thoroughly examined the pendant. While he did that, Ben noticed the steel plates on his armor were tattered and bent, with many scratches and scuffs. It looked like the man had gone through years of service without repairing it. Even his surcoat was full of dirt and patches of blood, making it hard to see the Hollow Moon sigil. ¡°Where did you get this from?¡± The knight asked. Ben cleared his throat. ¡°Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux.¡± ¡°How do I know you''re not lying? You could have forged it for all I know.¡± ¡°Look here¡­ Le¡¯Vieux gave this to me to get past this checkpoint so I can help figure out what happened to Alfred and his knights. He said nothing about this giant fuss you''re making now.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The knight shook his head and let out a huff. ¡°You¡¯re right. Alfred and his knights did come through here. But there¡¯s no way I can risk you going through on my watch based on that information. However, there is something I can do to make sure things are in order.¡± He paused momentarily before a notification popped up. Allow Knight Elias Leloup to access your quest log. Y/N When Ben accepted the request, the knight nodded. ¡°Alright, take it easy. Everything checks out.¡± He shook his head in disbelief. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s sent you. A level four companion in a damn magic metal box on wheels to do this quest. Alone, mind you.¡± ¡°Hey! It¡¯s called a van. And it does a damn good job disposing of enemies.¡± ¡°Whatever you say. Just be sure to get to Robynhill before nightfall. Those pesky bloodhounds are a pain in the ass around here. They can appear at any time through the shrubs.¡± The knight then turned to his men and shouted, ¡°Make way!¡± it looked like he was about to start walking back to the camp but stopped mid-step. ¡°Seen as though you¡¯re headed to Robynhill. I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯re interested in earning some extra experience?¡± ¡°If you can throw in some money, I don''t mind. What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°Our ale stores have been dry for months, which has caused low morale in the camp. Speak with that stingy innkeeper and see if he can sort something out for us. I¡¯ll send you the quest through the system. Get this done, and I¡¯ll owe you a favor, too.¡±
New Quest Added: Resupply (SMC)
Knight Elias Leloup has requested a resupply of ale at the South Meso Bridge Checkpoint. Quest Rewards: +25XP, +1 Silver Shilling
Ben nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I like to hear. Now, get going before darkness falls.¡± The knight motioned towards the bridge. Ben didn''t waste any time and made his way to the bridge. It was constructed of large stones and thick mortar, similar to the ramparts of the Hollow Keep. It was arched up with a couple of viaducts under it. It was wide enough for a couple of carts to pass without issue, but the van barely made it through without being scratched on either side. A crossroads presented itself, where a small wooden fingerpost had been erected. Forward: Dimiwood, Chateau Meso Left: Robynhill Village, Blackrock Mine Right: Sudfield Town Back: Feruswich, Deepwich When he steered left, he looked in awe at the snow-tipped mountains in the distance, which resembled the Himalayas. Suddenly, he hit a bump that rocked and rattled the van¡¯s suspension, causing his butt to clench as the vibrations trembled up. Damn it! Ben didn''t notice that the road had become thin and bumpy. The cobbles were uneven, and dead leaves and dirt obscured the path¡ªthe complete opposite of the one before the bridge. Lifting off the gas, he slowed down. He knew he could have upgraded the tires but opted to wait on spending any skill points till a more dire need arose. *** Ben had been driving for over half an hour when darkness began creeping across the sky. He knew it would soon be pitch black, like the old country roads in the English countryside back home, so he switched the headlight on. Moments later, something out of the ordinary caught his attention. It appeared to be a dark blob of fur at first. Then it started to resemble a large wolf with two humps on its back till, finally, he was close enough to get the finer details. The creature stared at a broken-down cart stuck in a ditch at the side of the road, a foot from where the trees began. It snarled at the struggling hooves of a horse, which looked like it would soon become a gourmet meal. Seconds before the creature looked like it was about to pounce, its ears stood erect, and it twisted its neck to face the van. Its crimson eyes fixated on Ben before it gave him a dirty snarl, revealing razor-sharp teeth resembling metal spikes. Great! [Barguest Level 7] Do you want some? Ben pressed hard on the gas and hurled the van towards it. As much as he wanted to avoid damaging the van, he wouldn''t let a helpless horse die like that. The sudden shift to aggressive driving confused it before it turned tail and ran through the bushes on the opposite side of the road. Yeah, that''s right. Run like the wind before you become roadkill! Ben stopped near the cart and looked around to see if more creatures were waiting. Once he was sure, he got out and made his way to the cart when he noticed two pale faces staring back at him from behind the trunks of the trees. One belonged to an old man who looked way past retirement age, with his frail white hair sticking out like a sore thumb. He was accompanied by a little girl no older than ten, and they both appeared to try their best to hide. Their heavy breathing and trembling gave away their positions. It didn''t look like they would be a threat, so Ben shifted his attention to the struggling horse. Once more, he looked around to see if the coast was still clear before running to the van¡¯s side door and sliding it open. He shuffled through the mess and took out a tow rope before attaching one end to the bull bar and the other to the back of the cart. When it was pulled out, the horse could stand on all fours. Its swishing tail was a testament to its urgency to escape the situation. Ben got out and slowly moved closer before patting it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re doing just fine. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯re hurt badly.¡± When he was about to check for wounds, rustling from the trees caught his attention. ¡°We don¡¯t have anything of value. Take what you want and leave us be. We will walk back to town.¡± The old man quivered, raising his hands Ben shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not a thief. Just someone trying to help out another person in need.¡± The man huffed in relief, ¡°Not many good people left in this world. I thought you were a thief or part of those bandits. That damn Barguest caught us off guard. We were running late with this shipment of barley and food for the inn.¡± He then moved closer to the horse and inspected the damage. ¡°Just a little rash, but he¡¯ll be fine.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Well, it¡¯s kinda dark out here, and everyone keeps telling me it¡¯s dangerous. I need to get to Robynhill Village and speak with the innkeeper there. Will you two be alright? Or shall I escort you to where you need to go?¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s our lucky day, then. That¡¯s where we are heading. I¡¯ve never seen you around, so I¡¯m going to assume you don''t know where it is. You¡¯re welcome to follow us. We¡¯re not far.¡± The old man stared at the van, ¡°If you don''t mind me asking, what is that thing?¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°It¡¯s a magic cart that runs without horses.¡± He had grown a little tired of people asking that question. ¡°Fair enough. I have nothing to repay you with. Once we arrive at the inn, I can buy you ale and give you some coin once I¡¯ve been paid for this shipment.¡± Before climbing the horse, the old man helped the little girl on the wooden cart. He kicked it a little and then set off. Chapter 18 – Robynhill Village ¡°What the heck?¡± Ben¡¯s mouth dropped open at the sight. By then, the sky had become completely dark, which caused the headlights to beam into the guts of the village like a lighthouse. A large two-story building stood at the front of the village. Its construction consisted of tattered wood, uneven walls, and small slits for windows, which appeared to be boarded up. Still, some glow came from within, and smoke rose from the stone chimney. Further up, he saw the silhouettes of smaller dwellings that looked worse for wear and devoid of life. They reminded him of the ones he had seen at the outpost with Le¡¯Vieux, and he hoped it wasn''t another situation like that. The old man pointed towards the entrance of the large building, where a pair of guards stood with their weapons drawn. Muffled shouting emerged between them, and the guards finally pointed toward a grassy clearing beside the inn. Ben followed the cart and parked. But before switching the engine off, he gave the fuel gauge a once-over [56%] and hoped it would last him till the end of his quest. With nightfall, the temperature had plummeted to around five degrees, which made him feel sorry for the old man and the little girl who only wore thin garments. As he got out, the old man approached him. The little girl was hopping in his tracks, still shaking. He wasn''t sure if that was due to the encounter with the creature or the cold. ¡°Your magic cart will be safe here. The guards usually keep a keen eye on things around here.¡± The man pointed at the building they were next to. ¡°That¡¯s the Blackrock Inn. If you don''t want to freeze your nuts off, it¡¯s a good idea to head inside. They have a large fireplace. Also, don''t mind the guards. They can be a little rough, but rightly so. Everyone''s walking on the edge of a cliff with all that¡¯s happened recently.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll let you lead the way then.¡± The guards stood in the way of the entrance, lifting their torch to get a better look at Ben¡¯s face. Their hands never left the hilts of their swords as they scanned him from head to toe with frowns of confusion. They wore rugged leather armor filled with scuffs and rips that looked like it had been hard-boiled. A crest on their chests looked like it had been stamped on with a hot iron, resembling a dilated cat eye with a bird in the center. A robin on a hill¡­ It makes complete sense that. The older one gave him a narrow gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen the likes of you around here. Who are you, and what is your business here?¡± Ben removed the pendant from his pocket and showed it to the guard. ¡°I¡¯ve been tasked with speaking with the innkeeper here.¡± The guard scoffed as he wasn''t impressed. ¡°That''s what the last bunch said.¡± He moved the torch closer to the pendant before his eyes opened and his jaw clenched. ¡°Who does that belong to?¡± ¡°Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux. He¡¯s the one who sent me here.¡± The guard gulped and started to look more relaxed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to let you in. You need to make your way to the bar and ask for Arthel. He should be able to help you with whatever you need. If you¡¯ve forged that pendant, then be assured the Hollow Moon will hunt you down without mercy.¡± ¡°Take it easy.¡± The old man interrupted. ¡°We were ambushed by a bloodhound on the way here and broke down. We would have been dead if it weren''t for him saving our skins.¡± The guard nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it, Olson, but we have to ensure things around here are safe.¡± He then hopped to the side. Before opening the door, the old man faced Ben. ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally. Come now.¡± The warm orange glow of the inside slapped Ben¡¯s face, melting away the layer of cold that had gathered there. The inside was very different from what he thought it would look like. The tables and benches had been piled around the edges of the customer area and looked like they were barricading the walls. The central part was filled with straw-filled mattresses, where people sat staring at him with raised eyebrows. ¡°Nice to meet you all,¡± Ben stated, breaking the awkward silence. Many of the adults'' faces were still concerned, but he did get a few of the children breaking into hysterical laughter at the situation. The old man raised his hands, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no reason to be alarmed. He¡¯s here on Hollow Moon business and even saved us from being mauled to death by a bloodhound.¡± As the tension in the room faded, he turned back to Ben. ¡°There are not enough guards to protect everyone in the village, so they asked everyone to live here¡­ It makes the whole job of saving lives a lot easier.¡± ¡°Are the knights not protecting the people here?¡± Ben asked. The old man shook his head. ¡°What knights? You¡¯re in the Mesolands now. Our knights disappeared one day and never returned, just like the ones that came here a few days ago from your order.¡± He pointed to the bar. ¡°Arthel is over there. You should speak with him as he runs things around here. We¡¯re going to warm ourselves before I make my way there.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Ben nodded and twisted his head toward the bar. A middle-aged man with greying hair stood with a towel over his shoulder, cleaning a wooden tankard. He stared at Ben unrelentingly as if weary of his presence. The old man patted Ben on the shoulder, ¡°Don''t worry. He does that to every new face that shows up here. You should talk to him before he gets frustrated.¡± Before Ben made his way to Arthel, he turned to the old man. ¡°I never got to ask you your name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Har Olson. And what¡¯s yours?¡± ¡°Benjamin Bailey. Just call me Ben for short.¡± Ben replied as Har gave him a nod and started moving away. When Ben arrived at the bar, he didn''t even get a chance to speak, as he was cut off by Arthel slapping the towel on the table. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen your face before, and trust me, I don¡¯t forget a face. I¡¯m unsure why the guards let you in, but I won''t hesitate to kick you out if you start causing trouble here. What''s your reason for being here?¡± Arthel spoke in a passive-aggressive tone. Ben shrugged. He didn''t know what the guy¡¯s problem was and instead planted his butt on the stool nearby. ¡°Relax. I¡¯m not here to cause any problems.¡± He pulled out the pendant and placed it on the bar table. ¡°Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux has lost contact with the knights who came here a few days ago. He sent me here to discover what happened to them and to bring them back to the keep if they are still alive.¡± A frown filled Arthels face. ¡°Is this some joke? You look like you can''t even fend off a dog. I¡¯ve no idea how you saved Har and his granddaughter from a bloodhound.¡± Ben let out a huff and gave the innkeeper a narrow gaze. ¡°If you want to come outside, I¡¯d be more than happy to show you how. Or shall I return to Le¡¯Vieux and tell him I returned empty-handed because of you?¡± Arthel raised his hands. ¡°Come on, there¡¯s no need for that. I will tell you what I know, but we can''t speak here in front of everyone like that. My people are already suffering hardships. It¡¯s better not to stress them more than necessary.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Alright, just don''t be pulling my leg.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome to my free room upstairs if you have the money. It¡¯s three copper coins for the night and one extra if you want your meals included. The ale will have to be paid for separately.¡± ¡°Coins?¡± Ben realized he didn''t have any money. ¡°Don''t worry about the money.¡± Har interrupted from behind. He took a seat beside Ben and turned to Arthel. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for his stay, meal, and whatever he wants to drink.¡± Arthels mouth dropped wide open. ¡°Is he a relative of yours or something?¡± ¡°No. But I believe you owe me some coins for the shipment. It¡¯s at the side.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Arthel said before turning to the back and shouting, ¡°Carolina, get a warm meal ready! And tell the lads to help me unload the cart outside.¡± He then walked to a barrel at the back of the bar and poured two tankards full of ale before placing them on the table. ¡°The meals should be ready shortly, and I¡¯ll let you know about the room.¡± He then hurried to the back and appeared to open a door that led outside. Ben turned to Har, ¡°Thanks for that.¡± ¡°Don''t worry. It¡¯s the least I can do for what you did.¡± He said before taking a sip. Carolina soon arrived with the meals, which consisted of a watery vegetable soup and almost stale bread that looked like it had been baked for over a week. Ben washed it down with the ale to avoid an upset stomach. Just as they took their last bite, Arthel returned to the bar. ¡°What in the hell is that thing on my lawn?¡± Ben gave him the side eye. ¡°That¡¯s my van.¡± ¡°Are you some kind of mage or something?¡± Arthel frantically asked with a worrisome look. Har cleared his throat and interrupted. ¡°Relax Arthel. It¡¯s just a cart that runs on magic instead of horses and has lanterns brighter than the sun. I could see the entire road getting up the hill on the way here.¡± Arthel started to tremble. ¡°That must mean you¡¯re a mage¡­ Look, I¡¯m sorry for acting the way I did before. Just don''t be launching fireballs at me.¡± ¡°Fireballs? I don¡¯t know what you''re talking about, mate. I¡¯m not a mage.¡± Ben replied. Arthel scratched his head. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you''re not a mage, and you have a cart that runs on magic parked on my lawn?¡± Ben grinned. ¡°What, are you scared of mages or something?¡± ¡°Hey! I didn¡¯t say I was scared of any uptight magic users. I don¡¯t like how they set things on fire when they''re having a bad day. You know this business has stood here for over two decades, and I would like it to stay intact without being engulfed in flames. You hear me?¡± Ben put his hands up. ¡°Alright. No flames, I promise.¡± Arthel sighed in relief before turning to Har and saying, ¡°Next time, just let me know when you bring in a stranger who appears to be using magical devices.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°The shipment all adds up.¡± Arthel opened an iron lockbox from behind the bar and twisted the lock open with a wrist flick. He counted and piled fifteen round copper coins atop one another. The coins appeared to have a circular cutout in the center. He then placed a square silver coin, which had the exact cutout in the center, and slapped it on the table. ¡°One silver pound and fifteen copper pennies as agreed.¡± Har quickly counted the coins before placing ten coppers in front of Ben. ¡°That should last you a few days here if you decide to stay.¡± When Ben went to grab the coins, they vanished before a notification filled his vision. [+10CP] What? Do they get stored in the currency sub-system? He was about to open his system menu to double-check when the inn¡¯s door slammed open at full force, almost crushing the wall behind it. The ear-shattering thud was loud enough to shut everyone up mid-sentence. The older guard poked his head through. ¡°The Bloodhounds are coming. Brace yourselves.¡± Organized chaos filled the room as everybody moved frantically like headless chickens. They grabbed whatever broken furniture they could and started moving things around as if they were used to this happening regularly. ¡°Don''t forget to barricade the damn door.¡± The guard finished before slamming it shut. Chapter 19 – Revenge of the Bloodhounds! Ben stared at the faces of the terrified people. The adults were old and frail, way past their prime. They clutched makeshift weapons close to their chests and trembled like lambs to the slaughter. But what made his heart sink was the pale-looking children behind them. It was like they had seen all this many times before. They¡¯ll all die if those creatures get inside. The clanking of steel faded beyond the door as the sounds of demonic growls erupted. ¡°They must have followed you up the trail,¡± Arthel huffed. Ben exhaled a drawn-out sigh. ¡°You¡¯re right. When I scared the one who was after Har, it must have gone to get the rest of its friends. They¡¯ve come here for revenge.¡± He huffed as he realized the people of the inn were in danger because of him. ¡°I should¡¯ve killed it when I had the chance.¡± Arthel shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no point in wallowing in your crap decisions. I thought you were a mage. Can''t you throw fireballs at it or something?¡± ¡°I told you before, I¡¯m not that kind of mage. Those things will cause serious damage here, and I won''t stand around here doing anything. Don''t you have a weapon back there that I can borrow? I need to get out there and do what I can to stop them; I can''t have the lives of these people on my conscience if they get hurt." Arthel¡¯s mouth dropped as he let out a scoff. ¡°What? Did they send you here without a weapon? You¡¯ll be a great help here, won''t you?¡± Ben slammed his hand on the table. ¡°Shut the hell up and give me a damn weapon!¡± A frown filled Arthels face as he stepped back and shook his head. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± He bent down before thudding a wooden club on the table. It was simple and had iron nails sticking out of the top. If one of those made contact with someone''s head, they¡¯d surely be dead. Spiked Wooden Club A wooden club that has been modified with sharp iron nails. This weapon is effective against most enemies without armor and can cause severe bleeding. Attack: 8 Bonus status effects: Bleeding Ben grabbed it and hurried to the door, slamming it shut behind him. The warm glow of the inside faded as he ran ahead into the darkness, where the sounds of struggle emerged. The guards were each locked in a life-or-death struggle with a pair of bloodhounds. Two smaller ones emerged from the trail and ran around, encircling them. Adrenaline surged through Ben¡¯s body. The feeling was similar to what he had felt before the brawls he had during his youth, except the stakes were higher, and lives were on the line. The weight of it all bore down upon his shoulders and threatened to crush him if he failed. Ben waved the bat around as the smaller creatures were about to strike the guards front the back. ¡°Hey! You think you¡¯re tough, huh? I¡¯ve got a special delivery waiting for you. Come and get some!¡± As much as he thought it sounded silly, he wasn''t sure if his bravado would dent their egos. The largest bloodhound glanced toward Ben. It let out a vicious growl and motioned its head towards where he was standing when the two smaller ones fixed their gaze upon Ben. Yeah, that¡¯s right! Come at me! [Barguest Level 2] Both were at the same level, making Ben feel uncertain about fighting them simultaneously. He thought about running to his van to try to run them over. But it was too late. They had already made their way to him and stood there snarling, dripping their disgusting saliva on the ground beneath them. Ben tightened his grip on the bat, putting it back in a striking motion before the hounds started moving again before leaping. As much as he wanted to strike them, there was no way he could hit both of them at the same time. The danger of taking damage was too great, so he hopped out of the way, barely missing one of their jaws. The hounds crashed into the dirt but swiftly recovered and turned to strike again. They split up, breaking away from each other and being surrounded from opposite sides. They once again leaped, and as they were in the air, Ben dropped to the ground and crawled away, causing them to crash into each other head-first.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Ben took that as his opening as they struggled on the ground and got up. He repeatedly swung the bat down upon both heads. The awful sounds of their skulls squishing almost made him want to vomit, but he sensed they were about to start biting for him again, so he hopped back to a safe distance. The hounds faced Ben and let out more blood-curdling snarls. The ones engaged with the guards became distracted and twisted their heads. It was enough opening for the guards to exploit and gain the upper hand. The smaller hounds turned back with a whimpering howl as if they knew no help was coming. It wasn''t enough for them to back down, and thus, they sluggishly moved closer to Ben before the one with the least damage pounced at Ben. Ben swung the bat like he was making a record home run. The blow contacted the creature''s head with a crunching sound, crushing it instantly. Blood sprayed out everywhere like a water fountain before its lifeless body fell upon Ben¡¯s chest, dropping him to the ground. [+6XP] Damn it! Get off me! As Ben pushed it off himself, the other took that opportunity to get him. He grabbed the bat and pulled it to find it stuck. One of the nails had lodged itself in the skull. He stomped on the head and pulled on the handle with all his strength. But his efforts were all in vain as the other hound had gotten airborne. Ben had tried to get out of the way at the last minute, which had saved him from a nasty bite, but he didn''t come out unscathed. Its teeth had managed to slash across his back, causing an itchy burning feeling similar to being stung by nettles. ¡°Argh! Get the heck out!¡± Ben pulled as he felt blood flow down his back. He was more annoyed by the stupidity of Arthels weapon than anything else. It took a few more stomps for the nail to dislodge, causing blood to spray like a water fountain. The other creature was already moving with its mouth open for another attack. With all the might Ben could muster, he lunged forward like a spearman, causing the club to enter its mouth. Ben heard its jaw crack as it fell to the ground like a rock, twitching and writhing in pain. Some of the nails had ripped through its cheeks. Wanting to get it over and done with, Ben kicked the bat''s handle, causing its jaw to rip wide open and dangle upon the ground. [+6XP] He pulled the club out, held it ahead of himself, and gagged. The blood dripped down, and even pieces of brain lodged between the nails. ¡°That¡¯s disgusting.¡± He then shifted his attention to the guards, who appeared to have prevailed in their battles. The older guard approached him and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°I can''t thank you enough for saving our skins back there. If you hadn''t shown up there, we would have surely died. I was wrong about you earlier.¡± He then glanced at Ben¡¯s back. ¡°You look like crap¡­ you should get that looked at, as these bloodhounds carry many diseases.¡± Ben¡¯s back burned like fire and itched so that he could scratch himself through to the bones. ¡°I couldn''t let the two of you have all the fun now¡­ I don''t feel so good.¡± He stammered as he felt his entire body start to sweat profusely. ¡°Don''t worry about all this. We¡¯ll clean up the mess. Get yourself inside. Carolina should be able to fix you with one of her infusions.¡± Ben felt the pain get worse as he stumbled to the entrance, each step almost taking his breath away. He tried to open the door, but something was in the way. ¡°Hey, open up!¡± He yelled, bashing it a few times. ¡°Who is it?¡± A shivering voice croaked from the other side. ¡°Come one, Arthel. It¡¯s me¡­ I¡¯m not a monster.¡± Ben sarcastically replied. ¡°Oh, is that right¡­? It sounds like something a monster would say.¡± Arthel mumbled before a few thuds could be heard aligning with the furniture scraping. The door creaked open when his face poked out. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you. You can''t be sure these days. There are creatures around these parts known to mimic human voices.¡± Ben barged in, pushing Arthel out of the way. The moment he stepped in, every eyeball was set upon him. ¡°Those creatures have been dealt with.¡± He was hoping for a cheer or something from the people, but they all kept staring at him as if they were frozen in place. He looked down and noticed his clothes were soaked in crimson blood. There were even bits of brain stuck in various sports for some added seasoning, making him look like something out of a horror film. ¡°You should get yourself cleaned up,¡± Arthel muttered. ¡°Yeah, and you should take back you¡¯re a crappy club,¡± Ben replied, holding out the dirty club up. Arthel looked like he was about to vomit and shook his head. ¡°You can keep it.¡± He moved to the door and slammed it shut. ¡°Hopefully, that¡¯s the last of them.¡± Ben¡¯s vision started to burn as he felt the stinging sensation spread to the rest of his body. His head felt like it was floating like a balloon filled with helium. Everything around him started to slow down. The last thing he heard was Arthel mumbling about his back before everything spun like a merry-go-round. His face hit the ground before darkness was all he saw. *** Ben found him surrounded by a dark void. It was no doubt the doing of whatever those Bloodhounds had afflicted him with. He had resigned to the emptiness, not expecting it to change. He was surprised when tiny dots appeared similar to what he had seen during the transportation command. They left ephemeral trails as they whizzed past him, and he realized he was once more traveling through space. A strange sensation swept across him, leaving a sour taste in his gut. It was like he was being watched by someone or something when the movement around him suddenly stopped. His vision was forced to an area without dots. Distress. The feeling had come from nowhere. It seemed like whatever was controlling Ben was trying to tell him something via his feelings. Devastation. Ben was flung to an area where no dots could be seen until the faint glow of one started to emerge, getting larger the closer he got. Before he could blink, the light from the star completely blinded him, causing him to come to a complete stop. Giant rings spun around it in a multilayered formation and sucked life from its magnificence like a parasite. Its glow diminished with each turn. Ben¡¯s vision was forced to turn around and face the other dots in the surrounding area. Their light was dimming while others flickered out of existence. He stopped moving as a field of endless space junk floated in the distance. Death. Chapter 20 – Dire Situation Ben gasped awake. A sharp pain erupted in his back as if he was being stabbed. His stomach churned like a cement mixer, and his breaths felt heavy. His body started twitching as a wave of ice swept across it. After rubbing his eyes, he found himself in a dimly lit room where the orange light of a lone candle flickered. Above him, he could make out the shape of a vaulted ceiling connecting to wooden planks that made up the walls. Being in an unfamiliar room felt wrong. Just as he was about to start panicking, he remembered the fight with the bloodhounds and realized he must have been taken to one of the rooms upstairs. Putting his arms down, he tried to push himself up. His back started hurting more, causing the pain to spread. Looking down, he noticed a thin cloth tightly wrapped around his torso like a bandage. Damn, that hurts! Looking across the room, he saw the candle on a table near the doorway. Two figures stood there staring at him, catching him off guard. He fought the pain and managed to get upright before he could make out one of them to be Arthel. ¡°Take it easy.¡± Arthel broke the silence. He strolled into the room and stood beside the bed. ¡°You passed out and nearly hit the ground like a rock. You¡¯re lucky Har¡¯s agile for an old man of his age. He grabbed you before you cracked your head open on my floor.¡± He then turned to face the other figure in the doorway and walked there. ¡°He¡¯s awake, love. Bring him the tea before he passes out again.¡± Once the lady hurried off, he picked up the candle and used its flame to light the others around the room. Once he was finished, he faced Ben with a furious frown. ¡°What in the hell were you thinking going out there like that? You had no armor and would surely die here from your state. You don''t understand how lucky you are that Carolina had some herbs left to make the infusion that saved your life.¡± Ben labored to scratch his head. "Now that you mention it, it was kind of silly." Arthel sighed. ¡°The next time you run into a pack of bloodhounds without armor like some hero, someone will have to bury your sorry ass in the dirt.¡± His words hung heavy in the air. Ben nodded. ¡°Alright. I know I shouldn''t have done that, but you realize that if I hadn''t stepped in when I did, your guards would have been dead, and those things would have made it inside. I saw the fear on their faces. It didn''t look like they were going too far apart from getting themselves killed. I wasn''t going to stand around and let that happen.¡± It was like a nerve had been struck. Anger and frustration swept through Arthel''s face, and it became red like a cherry. He huffed and shook his head. ¡°Leave them be. They¡¯ve been through a hell of a lot worse these past months. We¡¯ve lost too many good people, including entire families and even little children. We¡¯ve all been dragged through a mountain of crap.¡± ¡°Look, I''m sorry. Maybe if you talk to me about what¡¯s happened, it might help me understand what you¡¯ve been through.¡± Arthel stared at the planks of the wooden wall across the room as if the memories of the past replayed in his mind. He took a heavy breath and started. ¡°I might as well start from the beginning. Robynhill was the jewel of the Mesolands, and the people here basked in its prosperity. We had an entire garrison of guards who patrolled these roads along with the local Knights. Dozens of caravans from the Canrich Kingdom came here to trade goods.¡± Arthel paused as his eyes became misty. Then blew out a shaky breath. ¡°One day, the knights were recalled back to Chateau Meso¡­ That was the last time we saw them. Shortly after, the bloodhounds appeared and started to cause havoc, the result of which you see here now. Some refugees came through here and spoke rumors of ungodly creatures.¡± ¡°Ungodly creatures?¡± Ben asked with a raised brow. He wondered if they could be connected to what he had witnessed at the proving grounds. Arthel shrugged. ¡°I don''t know what they looked like, and the refugees didn''t exactly give any descriptions. I explained all this to your knights when they passed here a few days ago. I told them the best thing to do would be to get to the chateau.¡± He shook his head. ¡°They¡¯ve probably fallen victim to the same fate as our knights. None of it matters now. We¡¯ll all be dead soon. After the attack last night, Har is too scared to venture out there alone. We¡¯ll run out of supplies by the week''s end.¡± Before anything else could be said, there was a knock on the door. A lady hurried in, balancing the contents of a tankard in her hand. She passed it to Arthel before making her way back. Arthel placed it on the end table near the bed. ¡°Let it cool down before taking a sip. It¡¯ll burn your tongue to the seven hells that will. Just make sure you drink it all. It¡¯ll get the last of that poison out of your body.¡± Ben gave him a nod. ¡°Thanks for that. Now, about your situation here. I think I have a plan that might help.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Arthel raised an eyebrow as if caught off guard. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± ¡°On my way here, I had to go through the checkpoint at the bridge. They''ve got no ale left and would like a resupply. The knight said he would owe me a favor if I managed to sort it out for him.¡± Arthel sighed. ¡°That drunkard is always asking for ale every chance he gets.¡± ¡°Yeah, then why not use that to your advantage?¡± Arthel scrunched up his forehead as if he were being asked a silly question. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I know you don''t have much, but the occasional resupply of ale could convince them to patrol the roads around here. That would allow Har to get his deliveries done without the risk of losing his life.¡± Arthel took a moment to think about it. ¡°You have a point, and it makes sense. But there is something that you should know about the woods directly near the road. Large numbers of them were spotted by a hunter about a month ago. They might have a den there, which could cause more problems if not dealt with. ¡° ¡°Don''t worry about that. I¡¯ll speak with the knight and see if we can figure something out. Does that sound alright?¡± Ben asked. Arthel bit his bottom lip and nodded. ¡°Alright. I think I have enough ale to get things started. I¡¯ll speak with Har about the plan. Hopefully, it will convince him to get back on the road.¡± He motioned the tankard, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you be. Make sure you drink it all and get some rest. I¡¯ll get a bath ready for you and some clean clothes. They''re not much, but we can''t have you running around the village butt naked."
Quest Completed: Robynhill Village
There is not much information on Alfred''s whereabouts to continue the investigation. Await further instructions. Rewards: +25XP + 1 Gold Pound
Ben arrived at the bottom of the wooden staircase. A day had passed, and he felt his energy had returned to him. His back had improved, and he could move without hurting it much. Arthel waited for him at the bottom with a wide grin. ¡°Great news. I¡¯ve spoken with Har about your plan. He¡¯s all for it and even helped load the cart. He¡¯s waiting just by the back door.¡± When Ben stepped through, the blinding light hit his eyes like a floodlight. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the sunny outside before he noticed Har sitting atop his horse. With daylight, his curiosity shot toward the village, and he saw the wholesale desolation it had suffered. More than a dozen neglected buildings loomed in the area. Some appeared nearly decayed, alongside an unused marketplace where tattered cloth tents flapped in the wind, a remnant of the village''s past glory. Atop his horse, Har let out a drawn-out huff of frustration. ¡°This village used to be full of life. I remember the days when I used to play in that marketplace as a child. My mother ran a stall there while my father grafted in the mines. All that remains now is a skeleton of what this place once was.¡± Ben sighed. ¡°Arthel told me what happened. Even though I have my mission, I will do what I can to help your people.¡± ¡°The night we met you in those woods, I thought you were like the rest of them and wanted to take what was ours. I¡¯m glad I was wrong about you. You saved us that night, which nearly cost you your life. The people of Robynhill never forget a good deed.¡± ¡°Ah, don''t worry about that. I was happy to help even less. We must get this ale to the checkpoint and make these roads safe again. I will take my magic cart and stay behind you if there are nasty surprises on the way there.¡±
Ben arrived at the checkpoint. There had been no contact with the Bloodhounds on the way there, and once they neared the bridge, the soldiers had already moved into defensive positions. When the knight made his way to the front, he turned to the others and appeared to point and shoot before most dispersed. They were pointed to a clearing near the riverbank. Once Ben got out, the knight approached them and stated, ¡°Back again, are we?¡± He then glanced at the cart. ¡°I see you¡¯ve made your acquaintance with Har Olson.¡± Ben pointed to the back of the cart. ¡°The ale you asked for.¡± The knight''s head glanced to the back of the cart. ¡°I was thinking you wouldn''t pull through for us.¡± ¡°Well, here I am, and there¡¯s the ale. But that¡¯s not all. We need to talk.¡± The knight turned back to him. ¡°About what?¡± He turned to his men, who were stood watching. ¡°Stop staring. Get those barrels off the cart.¡± [Quest Completed: Resupply South Meso Bridge Checkpoint with Ale.] [Rewards: +25XP, +1 Silver Shilling.] When the knight turned back to face him, Ben cleared his throat. ¡°The road to Robynhill isn''t safe anymore with all the bloodhounds. Har nearly lost his life the other night if it wasn''t for me stumbling upon him the other day. Later on, more of them came back and nearly wiped them out. They¡¯re offering you regular shipments of Ale if you can ensure the road stays safe.¡± The knight nodded, ¡°You do realize we are not allowed to cross beyond the boundary of the Hollow Lands? There are treaties with the Mesolands which forbid us from entering their territory. If my captain finds out, I could lose my post, never mind get my ears chewed out.¡± ¡°Look, these people are on their last legs. I¡¯m certain you can sort something out without anyone knowing about it. You could call it a deal under the table. If that makes sense.¡± Har coughed before interrupting. ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to say no more treaties are left to break. The Meso Knights have been absent around these lands for some time now. Our people are struggling for life over there and won''t be around much longer without those supplies, but I can''t risk my life every day. My granddaughter has already lost both her parents.¡± The knight paused as if stuck in deep thought. ¡°Are you both aware of the den in the forest that goes along the road?¡± Ben raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah¡­ how do you know about that?¡± ¡°Look,¡± the knight said, hushing his tone slightly, ¡°keep this between us, or we¡¯ll have problems, alright? I tasked a team of my men with an unsanctioned mission into that forest to hunt for game as our food supplies ran low. We were in a desperate state, you know. They stumbled upon a large group of them, and when they returned, they kept appearing along the tree line beyond the bridge for over a month. To get rid of the problem, we need to take care of that den. But I can''t risk the lives of my men like that, and my superiors will find out.¡± Ben gave the knight a grin. ¡°If you can lure them out on the road. I will run them over with my van and kill them all.¡± Chapter 21 – A False Hope Ben held the steering wheel, staring down the road leading to the Chateau. It was the only one that wasn''t uneven and riddled with potholes, which would allow him to gain some momentum when running the hounds over. He was parked near the fingerpost, waiting for the soldiers to emerge with the creatures in tow. Ben glanced through his mirror and noticed the knight and his remaining soldiers standing in a defensive formation at the checkpoint. The knight had initially been skeptical about the plan and outright rejected it. Only after Ben explained the concept of running them over did he become curious and wanted to see how it was done. Ben¡¯s eyes caught a glimpse of the rustling branches beside the road. The soldiers were sprinting for their lives like Olympic athletes and gave Ben dirty frowns as they passed. One of them stopped near the driver''s side window and started shouting. ¡°There¡¯s too many of them. This plan of yours is going to get us all killed.¡± The guy shook his head and continued towards the bridge. Just wait and see what I do. The thought of more enemies shifted Ben¡¯s adrenaline into overdrive. It meant there was more experience to gain, which would help him to level up. He was desperately waiting for his class to upgrade and unlock more abilities. Taking more damage didn''t bother him, as he could always fall back on the potions if things didn''t go his way. Gulping a deep breath, he shifted into gear. Dark, furry bodies hopped through the bushes. Their heads shot everywhere as if they were looking for the soldiers who had disturbed them moments before. Their noses sniffed when Ben pressed the horn to catch their attention. When their gaze met the van, they began to growl as if they could already taste his blood. The first few started single-tracking ahead, and a dozen more poured out. Ben took a breath and resisted the urge to hit the gas until they were lined up like bowling pins for him to knock down. When the time came, his tires screeched on the cobbles before contacting the ones at the forefront. The hounds at the back flinched as their comrade''s bones were crushed to smithereens. It was enough for Ben to catch them before they had tried to move out of the way. With every thud, the cobbles below became more crimson. The ones at the back let out whimpered howls as they turned tail and started running back into the forest. Ben steered towards the road''s edge and heard the bushes swipe his fender. He managed to get a few of them before returning to the center of the road. He slowed down before turning and made his way back around. [+112XP, +16MP] Some of the hounds lying on the ground were still wriggling like worms and looked as if they were about to get back up. Ben knew that if he let them escape, they could still pose a danger to the people of the village later on. Steering the van so its tires lined up with their bodies, he ran them over on the way back to the fingerpost. [+42XP, +6MP] Ben positioned the van to face the road again and reversed back along the length of the bridge until he reached the other side. He figured that if more of them decided to show up randomly, he could dispose of them quickly. When he got out, the knight stared at him with his mouth open as wide as a whale¡¯s before saying, ¡°I can''t believe you just did that.¡± Ben grinned. ¡°Now, do you see what a man in a van can do?¡± He scratched his head. That sounded less cheesy in my head. ¡°You slaughtered an entire pack of them without even breaking a sweat. Now I understand why Le¡¯Vieux sent you here alone.¡± ¡°You should have seen the look on his face when I showed him. Anyway, with that done, can you assure us that we have a deal.¡± The knight nodded. ¡°Of course. The remaining hounds won''t be a problem. I will order my men to return to their den and burn it to ashes. That should hopefully get rid of the problem altogether. Don¡¯t worry. I am a man of my word and will run regular daily patrols to the village and back.¡± Har nodded. ¡°We appreciate what you¡¯re doing for us. Hopefully, this will get things in order at the village, and life can return to normal.¡± He then faced Ben. ¡°We should return and give them the good news they¡¯ve been waiting months for.¡± *** Ben squinted his eyes. What the heck! They were halfway through their journey when the figure of a young lad running down the road caught his eye. He looked no older than twelve years old and appeared to be in distress. When he neared, terror glinted in his eyes.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Ben recognized him from the inn when his heart sank deep into his guts, and he huffed in frustration. He figured those stupid hounds that escaped his slaughter must have made their way there for some revenge. Har had already stopped near the boy when Ben hit the brakes, edged towards them, and dropped his window. ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Ben asked. Har leaped off the horse, grabbed the boy by the shoulders, and shook him before bombarding him with questions. ¡°Finnan, tell me what¡¯s going on? Is everyone in the village alright? Was it the damn bloodhounds? Is Kerstin alright?¡± Ben couldn''t tell if he was shaking his head or if it was all that shaking Har was subjecting him to. ¡°They attacked the village and took everyone.¡± Finnan whimpered before starting to cry again. ¡°Who did it?¡± Har pressed. Finnan choked on his words before they escaped his lips, and it looked like he was about to pass out. ¡°Har! Ben yelled. ¡°I doubt he¡¯ll be able to talk with you, shaking him like that. Calm down and make sure he¡¯s alright. I can get there quicker and see what¡¯s happened there.¡± He didn''t wait for a response and instead pressed the gas pedal to the floor. *** When Ben turned to face the inn, anger swept across his body. The inn¡¯s door had been smashed through, and there appeared to be random things scattered around the entrance as if they had been ransacked. There didn''t appear to be anyone in sight except for the bodies of the two guards who had been butchered and left for dead in puddles of their blood. He scanned the surrounding area to see if anyone was around. At that point, he wasn''t sure if getting out of the van was a good idea in case an ambush awaited him. He crept towards the entrance and saw a complete mess. Where could they have gone? He blared the horn a few times before poking his head through the window and shouting at the top of his lungs. ¡°Hey! Is anyone still alive in there?¡± Surely, someone must have heard him, and when there was no response, he slammed his hand on the steering wheel. Damn! Just when I thought things were getting better. He sighed and growled in annoyance as the faces of the little children flashed through his head. He had let them all down. His breaths became short as a wave of anxiety swept across him like a tidal wave. Putting his head down in shame, he grabbed his hair and pulled. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Ben had almost lost all hope when a labored coughing sound emerged. He glanced at the older guard, who let out another cough, which splattered blood across his face. Seeing that the guard was barely alive, Ben¡¯s hand shot to one of the healing potions before swinging the door open and running towards him like the wind. Ben wasn''t sure if the potion would work on someone barely alive, but having one less potion for himself was worth the risk of saving someone''s life. He grabbed the guard, lifted him, and turned him around before pounding his back. It took a moment before the trapped blood joined the crimson-colored mud below. When the guard started croaking some breaths, Ben turned him over while ripping the cork off the potion and forced it down his throat. ¡°It¡¯s a healing potion,¡± he muttered. And once life started returning to the guard''s face, Ben asked, ¡°Tell me what happened here?¡± The guard sat upright and frantically checked his wounds. His mouth dropped wide open as if he couldn''t believe what had occurred before sucking in a lungful of air. ¡°I thought I was a dead man for sure.¡± He held his head in shame and appeared to hold his tears back. ¡°Those damn bandits launched a surprise attack the moment you and Har left. They disposed of us first, then took the village folk as prisoners. From the looks of things, they ransacked all our supplies before returning to the old mine.¡± ¡°The old mine?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been disused since the entrance collapsed a while back, killing the miners along with it. They set up a camp there since it was no longer guarded.¡± Ben took a deep breath as anger caused him to tremble for revenge. He wanted nothing more than to dispose of those disgusting excuses for human beings who preyed on innocent people barely getting by. He would bring the people of Robynhill back no matter the cost. ¡°I need you to tell me where they are.¡± The guard stared at him in confusion. ¡°Have you gone mad? There are over a dozen of them; you¡¯ll be overwhelmed.¡± It was like a red filter had been placed over Ben¡¯s vision. There was nothing that was going to stop him. ¡°Only a dozen? I¡¯m going to make them wish they were never born.¡± The plopping of horse hooves was followed by a set of creaky wheels bouncing on uneven dirt. Ben turned to see Har leap off the horse and dart towards the inn¡¯s entrance. His face looked pale as snow, and he trembled with each step as he kicked the rubble out of the way, crying Kerstin''s name repeatedly. Finnan had run past him and hurried to the decrepit buildings in the distance before the guard could stop him. He entered one of the buildings and slammed the door shut. The old guard stopped near Ben. ¡°That used to be his old folks home before they passed away. They were working the mines when it collapsed.¡± Har emerged from the entrance and dropped his butt on the planks below. Ben could tell he was trying to hold back the tears when they exploded like rivers running down his cheeks. ¡°She¡¯s all I have left,¡± He sobbed, almost choking on the words. Ben blew a deep breath, walked up to him, and held his shoulder. ¡°I need you to take me to their camp. We have to get them back.¡± The sound of something metallic scraping through the dirt emerged from the direction of the other buildings. When everyone turned, they found Finnan dragging a pickaxe in tow. How he stopped and started leaning on it made him look like a prospector from the American gold rush. ¡°I¡¯m coming with you.¡± He sniffed. Ben crossed his arms. ¡°It¡¯s going to be dangerous out there, and I don''t want you to get hurt out there.¡± Har had calmed down by then and wiped his tears away. His eyes were wide open and glistening for revenge as he turned to Finnan. ¡°I know you want to go there for your sisters and see if we can clear that rubble while there. I promise you, we¡¯ll get to that. You and Otker must stay here and keep an eye on things. Is that good?¡± Otker? It must be the guard''s name. Finnan looked like he was about to object but stopped short of just nodding after seeing the look on Har¡¯s face. Otkar also nodded. ¡°Just bring our people back in one piece.¡± ¡°We will.¡± We¡¯re the only words that escaped Har¡¯s mouth. Chapter 22 – The Rescue Mission Ben planted his butt in the driver''s seat and opened the upgrade menu. He wanted to save his skill points for later, but going up against human opponents made him feel like something could go wrong. There was no telling what weapons they would have at their disposal and whether or not they had things similar to what Le¡¯Vieux had used to burn those creatures to ash and destroy that tunnel. With lives at stake, he couldn''t take risks and needed to be prepared. Thus, he clicked all the remaining level-one upgrades. [Armor Plating Mk.1 is now unlocked.] [Off-Road Tires is now unlocked.] [Fuel Efficiency Mk.1 is now unlocked.] [Vehicle Valkyrie is now level 2.] *** Vehicle: Valkyrie Level 2 *** Bull Bar Mk.2: An improvement in effectiveness and protection compared to the Mk.1 variant. This bar also adds other contact points, such as spikes and hinges, to increase the damage inflicted when running enemies over. Cost: 2SP or 20GP Armor Plating Mk.2: Reinforce your vehicle''s body with thicker armor. It will allow your vehicle to sustain more damage before depreciating condition. Armor Rating: +50. Cost: 2SP or 20GP Off-Road Drivetrain: All areas of the drivetrain are fortified to improve performance in off-road applications. It also decreases the rate at which your vehicle condition is lost when used regularly. Cost: 3SP or 30GP Spatial Storage Mk.1: Create a dimensional space in the back of your vehicle to store your belongings and passengers. This space can be accessed via a small terminal added to the vehicle''s side or the system''s quick access menu (Range 100M). When using the dimensional space, it is recommended that the user leave their vehicle in a safe place away from danger. Space: 10M^3. Cost: 5SP or 50GP *** Ben scratched his head as the gleaming magic particles started modifying the van. But Ben''s thoughts were on the newly available upgrades, which seemed way better than the previous ones. The one that caught his eye was the spatial storage. With its space, he could store a lot of stuff there. His eyes started watering when he realized how expensive they were. Ben let out a sigh of frustration. The ceiling for each level was getting higher, and he knew it would be harder to level up. He needed to be smart about where he spent his skill points and instead needed to look for a way to make some money so he could use gold to buy the upgrades. There was much to do and not enough time to do it. After the rescue mission, he needed to return to his quest to discover what happened to Alfred and his knights. Har interrupted Ben''s thoughts by knocking on the passenger-side window. Once Har was in, he pointed to the trail from where they had entered the village. ¡°Go there and turn so you¡¯re moving away from the checkpoint.¡±
The journey there mostly consisted of a trail nearly overgrown with grass across the riverbank. It would have been hard to follow if it hadn''t been for the tracks carved out by years of cart use. Har had said the mine once moved over a hundred ore carts daily in its heyday. When the landscape started to get hillier, the trail went inland, weaving between the hills and snaking up the difficult inclines. It almost resembled the trail to the proving grounds, minus the claustrophobic tunnels and cliff roads. He thought the van would lose traction at some points, but the tire upgrade worked wonders. He also noticed that the van used less fuel. A moment of realization slapped Ben in the face. He felt silly about not purchasing the tire and fuel upgrades earlier. I guess you learn from your mistakes. I should think about things more clearly next time. After half an hour, they arrived at a bend around a large hill. ¡°Turn into there and stop.¡± Har pointed to an area of the track where the slope started. ¡°If you get any closer, they will hear it, and we¡¯ll lose our advantage of surprise. We¡¯ll hike to the top and look at what¡¯s happening before going in.¡± Ben raised an eyebrow and nodded. He didn''t expect that thinking from a simple courier like Har and wondered if there was more to him than what met the eye. Once they were at the top, they dropped into a prone position and crawled to the peak of the verge.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The camp was in a clearing beside the rubble-filled mine entrance, where the remains of old stone chimneys were scattered. Half a dozen tents rested in the clearing, and a few guards sat on logs, warming themselves by a campfire, drinking, and celebrating their victory. Nearby, a few horses and carts appeared to be filled with supplies. Har scoffed. ¡°Look at them basking in their victory after stealing from us common folk. It makes me sick to my stomach that they prey on those weaker than them. If you look just by the mine entrance, there¡¯s an old ore cage where they''re keeping the village folk penned like chickens in a coop.¡± Ben turned to Har and shook his head. ¡°I don''t understand why they would kidnap everyone and keep them in a cage like that. What¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°They might be trying to use our people as slave labor to clear the rubble blocking access to the mine. Before it collapsed, Lord Blackrock had made a big deal about discovering some rich ore veins there. Days later, the tragedy happened, trapping the miners along with the guards.¡± He paused, taking his frustration out. ¡°Poor Finn¡¯s parents perished in there, and now his sisters are down there stuck in that cage.¡± ¡°With the guards gone and the bloodhound problem, they moved in without resistance.¡± While staring at the camp, something caught his eye. A man appeared in full knight''s armor and ordered some bandits around. His movements were not sloppy like the other but instead filled with confidence. ¡°Is that a knight?¡± He asked. Har squinted, taking a closer look before his jaw dropped. ¡°If I¡¯ll be damned¡­ That crest is Lord Sudfields. It must be one of his Knights.¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve no idea who that is. I thought knights were supposed to protect people, not enslave them to do their bidding.¡± Har turned to Ben with a narrow gaze and shook his head. ¡°As if you don''t know. He¡¯s one of the richest men in Meso and tried to buy the mine from Lord Blackrock many times.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not from around here¡­ He¡¯s still set on that goal and is resorting to dirty tactics.¡± Har blew out a croaky sigh. ¡°He¡¯s using the bandits to make it look like he¡¯s not involved. Once the mine entrance is cleared, he¡¯ll dispose of our people, remove the bandits, and take over.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to let that happen.¡± ¡°He has over a hundred men at arms and a small host of knights. That¡¯s a battle I don''t think we can win.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with that when the time comes. On to the matter at hand, I¡¯ve counted around a dozen enemies, including the knight who could have combat abilities. If I¡¯m not careful, they could overwhelm me, so I''ll need help breaking them apart.¡± ¡°What do you suggest?¡± Har asked.
Ben had turned the van around to face the trail before switching it off again. The last thing he wanted was for the bandits to hear it and ruin his plan. His hand rested on the key as he heard a commotion from behind the hill¡¯s slope before Har emerged, running for his life. Half a dozen bandits made the turn and stumbled in their strides as they noticed the van. By then, Ben had already started the engine and moved towards them. A few panicked and dropped their weapons as they all turned tail and sprinted back along the trail. The system showed them to be between levels three and four. Ben didn''t like the idea of harming unarmed people, even if they committed despicable crimes against innocent people. He slowed down, steered to the side of them, and started clipping them one by one as he passed. It wasn''t enough to kill them but seriously hinder their efforts if they continued their belligerence. [+60XP, +6MP] Ben continued down the track, driving past the mine entrance. When he reached the clearing, he ran over a few tents, ripping them from their anchors and causing them to blow away in the wind. The bandits had run across to the other side, forming a defensive line with the knight. Ben positioned the van so the driver''s side faced them and rolled his window down. Ben stuck his arm out and pointed to the knight. ¡°Are you in charge around here?¡± The knight snarled. ¡°You don''t know who you¡¯re messing around with. If you value your life, I suggest you leave this place immediately.¡± Ben shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can''t do that. You and your friends here should pack your bags, head back to Sudfield, and tell him he can''t have the mine. It belongs to the people of Robynhill.¡± ¡°What, you think you can scare me with your metal box?¡± ¡°I took out half your men with it, which was me taking it easy with them. The only reason I¡¯m talking with you now is to give you all a chance to do the right thing and leave this place. I don''t want to kill any of you, but I will do what it takes to save those people.¡± The knight laughed, ¡°You can do whatever you want, but it won''t be useful. I¡¯ll destroy you, and then I¡¯ll kill all these stupid peasants.¡± Ben sighed. ¡°Don''t say I never warned you. You have till I turn around to leave.¡± He rolled the window up and drove across the clearing, turning around and facing them head-on. He revved the engine a few times and lifted the clutch, causing dirt to be flung up on both sides momentarily before he shot ahead. The knight looked confident with his choice, but the men standing on either side appeared shaking in their boots. He raised his shield and poked his sword ahead before a crimson sphere, similar to Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s, appeared enveloping them all. Ben took a deep breath, knowing the impact would devastate himself and the van. His chest was heavy with the path he had been forced to take, but there was too much at stake to let them have their way. The moment Ben crashed into it, he was yanked forward. Instantly, the sphere shattered like glass before exploding into speckles of magical dust. The bandits, including the knight, were all hit with such force they were flung like spinning ragdolls a few meters away. Some splatters of blood had landed on the hood as Ben came to a stop. [+66XP, +6MP] Ben shifted into reverse and moved a dozen meters away. Most of the enemies had suffered broken bones and screamed in pain while the rest tried to crawl away. Ben knew they wouldn''t be causing any more problems and instead shifted his attention to the knight, who stumbled to his feet using his bent sword for support. The disgraced knight entered a rage, shouting obscenities at the van. He looked around for his shield, found it broken, and bent on the ground before unsheathing a smaller blade on his belt. He turned to face the cage where the people were kept and stomped towards them with a limp. Oh no, you don''t! As the knight almost reached the cage, Ben got to him and crashed into his armor with a loud metallic clang. The knight bounced off the ground like a ball before Ben slowly mounted one of his tires on his leg, causing the van to lift slightly from that side. Even from within, he could hear the reverberated screams. Chapter 23 – More Bad News Ben kneeled beside the trapped knight who was facing down in the dirt. ¡°I can leave you there all day if you want.¡± The knight growled like a vicious animal. ¡°Do you think this is the end? Even if you kill me, Lord Sudfield will send an army here to destroy everything.¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°I doubt Sudfield will be too happy about your defeat here. He can come here anytime, and I¡¯ll be here waiting for him.¡± He noticed the knight¡¯s arm dart toward the small dagger that had fallen just out of his arm''s reach. Ben got back up, shaking his head. He kicked the dagger away and then stepped on the knight''s arm. ¡°You just don''t learn, do you?¡± Shrieking, the knight scoffed. ¡°You have no idea what¡¯s in store for you.¡± He coughed a few times. ¡°Go on then. Kill me while you can. I will never stop till you and your peasant friends are dead.¡± ¡°Shut up already.¡± Ben huffed, kicking the knight''s head, which rang like a stone had hit it. The knight went limp as his head plopped in the dirt. Ben shook his leg. Even though he wore heavy work boots, his ankle hurt like hell. ¡°Some people just don''t learn.¡± He muttered before turning his attention to the people of Robynhill. [+25XP, +1MP] Har had already made his way there and attempted to pry the lock with one of the metal tent anchors. A few seconds later, the cage door screeched open. Kerstin hurried out and embraced Har, who picked her up and took a few steps back. Arthel emerged from the mass of bodies and started shouting. ¡°Listen here! The danger is gone! There¡¯s no need to panic while we figure out how to get everyone back.¡± He then turned to Ben and Har. ¡°Did you kill them?¡± Ben shook his head. ¡°No, but they¡¯ve been hindered. I don''t think the bandits will be causing any more problems. I firmly believe in second chances, so you might want to try to convince them to consider their life choices and turn over a new leaf.¡± Arthel frowned. ¡°What? You can''t be serious.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying welcome them with open arms. Don¡¯t you have a place in the village where you lock criminals when they get caught? Make them serve their time, and once you feel they¡¯ve paid for their crimes, give them a chance to be productive citizens.¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°As for the knight, he seems hell-bent on your demise, so I''m not sure what you want to do with him." Arthel scratched his chin, stuck in deep thought. ¡°We usually string them on the hanging tree for crimes like this, but I understand what you mean. Killing them wouldn''t make our situation any better.¡± He then motioned Ben to move away from everyone before he whispered. ¡°What happened at the checkpoint?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say the Bloodhounds won''t be much of a problem anymore.¡± Arthel let out a breath of relief and nodded. ¡°Good going. Alright, I think I¡¯ve got something up my sleeve.¡±
Ben leaned on the van with crossed arms. Arthel stood before the cage where all the bandits, except the knight, had been tied up. ¡°Your leader has been defeated. And I doubt Lord Sudfield will be too happy with what happened here and will no doubt make you pay. You have an important choice to make. We can leave you here for the bloodhounds, or you can take your chances with us. We will tend to your wounds and ensure you are fed while you serve your time. After that, either live within the law, or we will hunt you down and decorate the hanging tree with your bodies.¡± By then, the knight had come around and started screaming again. ¡°I swear, if any of you listen to a word they say, I will personally split your throats.¡± Arthel seemed to have had enough. He picked up one of the tent anchors from the ground and stomped towards the knight before clanging his head back to unconsciousness. He made his way back to the cage. ¡°We don''t have all day, and it¡¯ll be night soon, so make your choice.¡± After that, most bandits looked pale and agreed to the terms. The ones who didn''t were left tied in an open cage. Har had gathered the horsecarts and placed the younger children in them. Most adults were huddled between them, while the bandits were tied like a chain gang at the back. The van breathing down their necks a few feet away kept them in check.
It was almost evening time when Ben parked up beside the inn. [Condition: 57%, Fuel: 44%.] Har had already led the carts to the nearby grassy clearing, where Finnan stood, tearfully embracing his sisters. Everyone else seemed to give Otker strange stares before getting to work clearing the mess. Arthel spoke with Otker about the prisoners before they were dragged across the village to the jail cells. Arthel¡¯s gaze met Ben¡¯s before he made his way over with a heartfelt smile. ¡°When you first arrived in my inn, I thought you were like the rest of them, but I was wrong. You¡¯ve done more to help us than any of those uptight nobles. With the hounds dealt with, the roads are now safer, and we can start getting this village back to where it was. Everyone here is thankful.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Ben nodded. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I¡¯m just happy things turned out in a positive light.¡± Arthel patted Ben on the shoulder. ¡°I know you¡¯ve got your quest to complete, but there is much to do, and we could use all the help we can get. There¡¯s a place for you here anytime you wish.¡± ¡°Are we going to clear the rubble from the mine?¡± Finnan interrupted, coming to stand between them. Arthel looked at Finnan and scratched his head like he had been caught off guard. ¡°Take it easy. I was going to get to that. I know you want to know what happened there.¡± He faced Ben again. ¡°This village exists because of the mine; without it running, we will never get to where we used to be. We would be happy if you want to take it.¡± Ben¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°What? Why do you want me to take the mine?¡± ¡°Well, first, you¡¯ll have to clear the rubble, then find the deeds. Without them, that idiot Sudfield won''t stop at anything to swipe it away. I feel you¡¯ll bring it back better than it ever was.¡± Ben thought about it momentarily. It would take some time to get up and running again, which meant it would fix his money situation. After all, more money meant more upgrades for the van. Plus, he would be helping the people here out by improving the economy and creating jobs. It seemed like a win-win situation. ¡°Alright. Once I finish my quest, we¡¯ll see how to clear that mine.¡± Finnan walked between them. ¡°Sir, you have to promise me one thing.¡± Ben looked down. ¡°Yeah, and what¡¯s that.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll take me with you when you clear the rubble. I want to find out what happened to my parents and put their memories to rest. They deserve a proper burial.¡± Ben gave the kid a pat on the back. ¡°Don''t worry, kid. We¡¯ll go there together, you have my word. For now, I need you to hold tight while I get something important done.¡± As he finished, a commotion erupted across the other side of the village where the marketplace was situated. ¡°What¡¯s going on now?¡± Arthel huffed, stopping over there. Ben followed in his tracks, noticing unfamiliar people walking towards them. At the front was a man wearing a greenish hood, armed with a longbow. Beside him were a couple of guards who looked a little like Otker. They wore dirty surcoats with a crest resembling a green background, with a black pine tree above a badger in the center. The bowman raised his hand and motioned for his people to stop. He passed the bow to one of the guards before walking alone towards Arthel. ¡°Arthel.¡± The bowman said, dropping his hood. ¡°It¡¯s been a few years, hasn''t it?¡± Arthel raised his eyebrows and nodded. ¡°Is that you, Jerry of Dimiwood?¡± ¡°The last time you saw me was when I came with that fur caravan. You lot gave me a crappy price for my goods, so I started fighting in the marketplace.¡± Arthel crossed his arms. ¡°Yeah, how could I forget? Then, you fought Otker and his guards and ended up in the cells for several days. Anyway, what happened to your people?¡± Jerry grunted. ¡°It¡¯s a long story, one better told over some ale.¡± Arthel motioned towards the marketplace. ¡°Tell your people to get themselves here. You¡¯re welcome to stay here as long as everyone contributes.¡±
Ben sat on a stool by the bar. Jerry sipped on some Ale. ¡°Everything was going alright when the Meso Knights were stationed there. Out of nowhere, they received orders to return to the Chateau.¡± Arthel nodded. ¡°Yeah, I know that much. Did you find out why they were recalled?¡± ¡°I heard rumors that a war broke out along the northern border with the Feruslands. They were gone for months, and we didn''t hear anything back. That¡¯s when that idiot Sudfield decided to make his move. Lord Dimiwood and his men fought them back for days till they lost their lives. Those of us you see here didn''t turncoat and were imprisoned.¡± ¡°How did you manage to get out of that one? I doubt they let you walk out of there like that.¡± ¡°About a week ago, that Knight-Captain came with a few of his knights and soaked the ground in their blood. Sudfield managed to launch an ambush that caught them off-guard. They all died except for Alfred, who was imprisoned with us. The two of us managed to plan an escape, but he was caught at the last moment by Sudfields knights while we escaped into the woods.¡± ¡°Do you know if Alfred survived?¡± Ben asked. Jerry sighed. ¡°I can''t be so sure. He was taken back into the cells. Knowing Sudfield, he would have made him pay for that.¡± He then gave Ben an extended stare. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen your face before. How would you know who Alfred is?¡± ¡°Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux sent him to figure out what happened to Alfred and his knights. His mission is to save them if they are still alive. Since we had little information, he stayed and helped us deal with the bloodhounds and bandits.¡± Arthel explained. Jerry frowned. ¡°Bandits?¡± Arthel nodded. ¡°Don''t even ask me about that. Sudfield hired them and sent a knight dog to dispose of us so he could take over the mine.¡± Jerry turned to Ben and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s an impressive feat. Look, I won¡¯t allow Alfred to rot in those cells. I¡¯m not one to leave a man behind. There are a few things I need to grab from my hunter''s cabin, and then we can see how to rescue Alfred.¡± Arthel raised an eyebrow. ¡°I know what you¡¯re up to. Let me guess, you¡¯ll be going to the cattle farm after that.¡± Jerry shrugged, then gave him a sly grin. ¡°Depends.¡± Arthel chuckled. ¡°Anyway, It¡¯s too late to head out into the woods. You should rest and fill your bellies in the morning before heading out there.¡±
New Quest Added: Rescue Alfred.
Venture with Jerry to Dimmiwood and rescue Alfred from the guardhouse. Rewards: 50XP + 1 Gold Pound
Ben slid the side door open. The early morning sun was obscured behind light cloud cover, making it dim. Ben had finished breakfast and bathed in the back of the inn. Jerry was still getting things sorted, giving Ben some free time to organize the back of his van and inventory everything he had that could be useful. After taking everything out, he made separate piles on the grassy clearing beside him. The first order of business was to check his power system. Luckily, he had upgraded the solar panels on his roof the previous year, and they seemed to be working despite the beating the van had taken from various encounters. That repair ability probably thinks it¡¯s all part and parcel of the van. Ben grabbed some paper and a pen and created a list of all his items. After organizing them back into their correct boxes, he once again piled them into the boxes so they wouldn''t tip over and be damaged. ¡°It looks like an interesting machine.¡± Jerry interrupted. He raised a sack of things before Ben¡¯s face and plopped them in the back. The only things he kept were his quiver and bow. ¡°I¡¯m curious to see how it moved without horses.¡± ¡°Don''t worry, you¡¯ll see soon enough.¡± Ben slid the side door shut before opening the passenger side and letting the hunter take a seat. Once he was in the driver''s seat, he turned to Jerry. ¡°How do we get to this cabin?¡± Chapter 24 - A Hunters Stash After driving for a quarter of an hour, Ben stopped the van. They had descended a bumpy trail beyond the marketplace, where a pine forest started. The path had gotten muddier, and they had to cross a small grassy clearing before arriving at the cabin. After some playing around with the seat and complimenting its softness on his butt, Jerry made himself comfortable with the window switch, playing around with it the same way a child would. He asked a few questions about how the van worked and what some of the other switches and buttons did. He seemed understanding, making Ben think he was smarter than the average village person. When Ben first saw the cabin, his jaw dropped in awe. It appeared to look brand new as if it had been recently built. It stood two stories high, with the second being built into the triangular roof. It was around half the size of Arthel''s Inn and sat atop a foot-high stone foundation. Even the designs along the windows looked as if no expense was spared. At the entrance, there appeared to be a few storage sheds. One contained half a pile of firewood, while the other contained animal traps. ¡°Welcome to the cabin. Or, as I like to call it, home sweet home.¡± Jerry motioned with his hand. Ben nodded. ¡°It looks better than all the buildings I''ve seen in Robynhill. Are you a rich man or something?¡± Jerry started to chuckle. ¡°You know what they say. Hard work pays off. It was built over a year ago when things were going well here. We managed to harvest some high-quality furs and turn a good profit. We had some money left over to rebuild it.¡± Sadness swept across his facial expression, and he bellowed in frustration. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that hard work was for naught. We could only live in it for less than a year.¡± ¡°Did you stay here with your family?¡± Ben asked. ¡°Aye. I sent them away to Feruswich to stay with some relatives. When the knights were recalled to the chateau, I felt something wasn''t right. Things went to crap after that, especially with that egotistical nonce Sudfield trying to take advantage of the situation.¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°I don''t understand what his problem is.¡± Jerry shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s what greed does to a man, and he won''t stop at nothing till he has it all. That¡¯s why we must end his madness.¡± He turned to face the entrance. ¡°Come on... How do I get out again?" Ben switched the engine off and pointed at the door latch, ¡°Just pull that, and the door will open.¡± Jerry stepped out, shut the door, and approached the entrance. When he reached the door, he began to fidget beneath his tunic at the neck. He pulled out several large iron keys. After unlocking the door, he walked in and gestured for Ben to follow. Ben looked around and discovered the dusty remnants of a cozy home. ¡°It¡¯s been a few months since I¡¯ve been here. Sorry about the bad lighting. The window covers are all shut, so I must get the candles lit.¡± Jerry stated, walking up to the stone hearth. He picked up a small metal box and creaked it open to reveal a flint, steel, and dried tinder. Within seconds, small embers were burning, which allowed him to get one of the nearby candles lit. ¡°You don''t mind closing the door for me.¡± He said while hopping around, lighting the other candles. Jerry walked across to the end once the room was illuminated in a warm orange glow. A doorway led to a storage room filled with wooden crates. He moved things out of the way, revealing a hatch in the floorboards. ¡°A secret cellar?¡± Ben asked. ¡°They¡¯re not as common around here as they are in the Hollow Lands. It¡¯s a safe place to prevent your things from getting stolen if anyone breaks in.¡± Jerry explained, putting another one of his keys in the small lock. It looked pitch black, and Ben couldn''t see anything except the steep wooden steps. Jerry held his candle in one hand and went down. By the time Ben arrived, Jerry had fixed the lighting situation. Ben¡¯s eyes opened as he saw a few workbenches. Some were empty, while others appeared to have arrows in various states of being crafted. The walls near them held a rack filled with various tools. The opposite wall had another doorway, more storage boxes, and sacks of feathers. ¡°Nice little operation you¡¯ve got here,¡± Ben stated. ¡°Ahh, it was just a little hobby. You can¡¯t get decent arrows anymore, so I made my own. I had a few potential buyers for them, too, and even registered them with the guilds so they would appear in the system. But that all fell through before I could get things going.¡± Jerry picked up one of the completed arrows and passed it to Ben. ¡°Nothing like a Jerry arrow, they used to say.¡±
Jerry Arrow
An arrow crafted from the finest components. Their exceptional build quality makes them perfect for the most powerful enchantments. Damage: 18
Ben wasn''t sure if he was blowing smoke up his ass, but the arrow did look better than the ones he had seen thus far, and the damage rating on the system seemed impressive enough. ¡°But that¡¯s not why I¡¯m here,¡± Jerry said, moving across the room to the other door. He opened it up and lit the candles within.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. As if Ben had thought there were no other surprises, he couldn''t believe his eyes when he entered the other room. Three armor mannequins held three unique sets of armor, each in a different style and all embossed with Hollow Moon crests. They didn''t look as fancy as what he had seen Alfred and Le¡¯Vieux wear, but they did look in great condition. Various racks held different types of weapons, ranging from ranged to melee and even a large chest. ¡°Erm¡­ What¡¯s all this about?¡± Ben asked. He thought either Jerry was a Hollow Moon enthusiast or he had served. Jerry removed his hood and started taking off his over-clothes. ¡°Around a century ago, the Meso lands were once a territory of the Hollow Moon. The chateau was a crucial fort during the Fairy Wars. Once the enemy was defeated, the nobles here wanted to become independent. That¡¯s how the duchy was formed. While they built the Meso Order, an elite company of knights was always stationed here. We were disbanded a decade ago, and most of us decided to settle here.¡± He finished by placing his hand on one of the armor sets. The set looked simpler than the knight''s full plate armor but had more steel than the simple leather set. Ben thought he would start putting it on when it suddenly vanished and reappeared on Jerry¡¯s body instantly. Jerry then grabbed a set of twin swords from the wall rack and tied them to his belt. He then grabbed a quiver from the wall and a bow crafted from a dark grey metal. ¡°If only I had this gear when Sudfield attacked, it would have been a different story." He shrugged. "That can''t be helped now. If you want the leather armor, it''s yours. The system will make the adjustments so it fits you."
Ranger¡¯s Leather Armor (Hollow Moon)
Crafted by the leathersmiths at the Hollow Keep. This armor was crafted for the archers who ventured deep into the Feruslands to combat the Dark Fairy threat. Armor: +24
The system offered the option to wear it. When Ben thought about the ¡®yes¡¯ option, the armor vanished before reappearing on his body. He couldn''t believe how that worked so easily and patted himself across the torso. ¡°Impressive.¡± He nodded. Jerry opened the chest, which appeared to be filled to the brim with arrows that had been separated and placed tip down. He started taking them out, reveling in the tips gleaming with orange magic. Ben gave Jerry a nod. ¡°Are those what I think they are?¡± As Jerry filled his quiver, he explained. ¡°The finest enchanted arrows you¡¯ll find north of the border. They were enchanted by an old mage named Aella, who passed half a decade ago. Upon impact, they explode and can kill almost anything.¡± He filled half the quiver with normal arrows and the rest with the enchanted ones. He then turned to Ben and motioned at the weapon racks. ¡°I can''t believe Le¡¯Vieux sent you here without a weapon or armor, so take your pick.¡± Ben looked at them and wasn''t sure what would fit his style. He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve not been trained in combat yet. Normally, I just run things over with the van." Jerry shook his head in disappointment. He approached the rack, picked out a Warhammer, and passed it. ¡°Just whack them with that.¡±
Iron Warhammer
A simple weapon crafted by the smiths at the Hollow Keep. Damage: 26 (Chance for bludgeoning damage.)
As Ben browsed the stats, Jerry grabbed one of the hooded cloaks and put it on to finish his archer look. ¡°Before we head to Dimiwood, we should make our way to a nearby cattle pasture. Knight-Major Hauxwell, the former commander of our old unit, lives there with his sister. If we¡¯re going to get Alfred out, we¡¯ll need his help.¡± He then opened a smaller box containing various vials and placed them in his spatial inventory. They extinguished all the candles and locked all the doors on their way out before setting off.
They had traveled further up the bumpy trail, up a slope as things got hillier. The forest abruptly stopped, and meter-high stone walls appeared on either side of the trail. As Ben drove past, cattle grazed beyond them and turned their heads with a moo. ¡°All the milk in the Mesolands used to come from here. Not sure what they do with it all now since most people have left.¡± Jerry shrugged as they approached the large stone-built farmhouse surrounded by outbuildings. Everything was going great until an old lady emerged from one of the barn buildings holding a crossbow aimed at them. A few other people emerged, joining her, holding farm tools as weapons. ¡°Whose the granny with the crossbow?¡± Ben asked, slowly putting his hands in the air. Jerry chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s Lady Hauxwell, the commander''s sister.¡± His hand then shot to the door latch before he stepped out. Ben rolled the window down to listen in on the conversation. ¡°Relax, Hannah. Don''t tell me you¡¯ve gone blind in your old age and don''t recognize me,¡± Jerry chuckled. ¡°Is that you, Jerry? What are you doing on my farm with that big magic box.¡± She croaked, putting down her weapon. She then removed the bolt and hit the trigger, causing the string to snap like lightning. ¡°We¡¯ve not seen anyone come through here for over a month. I sent one of the farmhands to your cabin, and they said it looked like no one was there. ¡°Aye, maybe because everything has gone to hell. That scoundrel Sudfield has taken over Dimiwood and will probably be coming this way next. I must speak with your brother if he¡¯s still kicking around.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not dead yet, just keeping warm by the fire. You should get inside before he falls asleep for another week. I¡¯ll get a nice brew in the kettle.¡± She replied before turning to the others. ¡°Nothing to see here. Get yourselves back to work.¡± Ben followed Jerry inside. The farmhouse was filled with old furniture and had many things scattered around, making it look like a hoarder''s den. A large fire danced in the hearth where an old man sat on a well-cushioned seat covered in multiple blankets. Ben wasn''t sure how the old man, who looked a decade older than Le¡¯Vieux, would help. He wasn''t even sure the man could go to the toilet without help. ¡°Knight-Major, Sir,¡± Jerry saluted at attention. The old man sluggishly twisted his head and croaked. ¡°Haven¡¯t heard that one for years. My eyesight isn''t what it used to be. Is that you, Jerry?¡± ¡°Aye, Sir, it¡¯s me. I see you¡¯ve been living all nice and comfortable by the fire here.¡± Jerry replied, making it look as if the old guy was being lazy. The old man chuckled before coughing. ¡°Still acting like a nonce, I see. You won''t show up like this for no reason. So, tell me, what¡¯s going on? I¡¯ve not heard anything in months since they stopped buying from here.¡± ¡°Sir, forget the milk. Sudfield has made his move on Dimiwood.¡± Jerry blurted out. The old man nearly dropped out of his seat and looked like he was about to fall face-first into the fire. ¡°He¡¯s done what?¡± Jerry nodded. ¡°Yeah, and he¡¯ll soon be coming here to take everything before making his play for Robynhill.¡± He then raised his hand, and a vial contained a pearl-white liquid that shimmered with majestic magic. ¡°Your old friend Aella stocked me up before he passed.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes opened wide. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Chapter 25 - For Old Times Sake Ben stared at the old man. How¡¯s that possible? Whatever concoction was inside that vial took away two decades of age. Hauxwell slowly stood as his back snapped, crackled, and popped. He stretched his arms and legs before twisting his neck at various angles to squeeze the remaining stress. He turned to face Jerry, ¡°You¡¯ve been holding out on me all these years. I haven''t been able to stand like this for years.¡± Jerry shook his head, ¡°Take it easy, old man. That¡¯s the last youth potion in my possession.¡± Hauxwell huffed as if he didn''t believe a word. ¡°Knowing you, you¡¯re probably saving a bunch for your stingy self.¡± He gave the archer a pat on the back. ¡°I¡¯m messing around with you. Alright, what¡¯s the situation then?¡± Jerry explained the events that took place in detail. Once he was done, Hauxwell appeared to shake his head in disbelief and scratched his chin. ¡°We should have seen this coming. He¡¯s always been a sly bastard, scheming in the shadows and plotting against the duchy. This knight, Alfred of Wesport. The name rings a bell, but I can''t put my finger on it.¡± ¡°He was that skinny kid squiring for Le¡¯Vieux back in that tournament when Aella fought that uptight mage from the capital,¡± Jerry explained. ¡°Ahh, I remember now. Aella nearly blew that arena to smithereens.¡± Hauxwell started to chuckle. ¡°I knew Le¡¯Vieux was grooming that kid for the grand master''s table. He¡¯s going to be pissed if that kid ends up dead.¡± He paused as if thinking about something, then turned to Ben. ¡°Tell me, did hot-head Le¡¯Vieux make it to Grand Marshall?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°As far as I know, he¡¯s the Grand Marshall.¡± Hauxwell started to chuckle. ¡°You know, me and him were rivals. We were even at each other''s throats at one point. I was a little older than him and lost my prime while he kept rising through the ranks.¡± A teary smile swept across his face, and he sniffed a deep sigh. ¡°Those days feel like a lifetime away.¡± Jerry nodded and started laughing. ¡°Enemies at home and best friends on the battlefield.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy he made it after all those years. It would have been fun if he had come along for this; it would have been like old times. Did you both formulate a plan, or did you come empty-handed?¡± Ben and Jerry shot each other an awkward glance. Jerry gulped and shrugged. ¡°Ahh. Sir, I hoped you¡¯d develop one since you have more experience. Besides, don¡¯t you know if the others are still kicking about for one last battle?¡± Hauxwell took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll just be the three of us. The others have either passed or ended up joining the Meso Knights. You¡¯re the only one that¡¯s kept in regular contact with me.¡± Sadness filled Jerry¡¯s face. It looked like he was about to say something when the door creaked open. Hauxwell¡¯s sister walked in with a tray containing three steamy cups, a bread plate, and sliced cheese. As the room started to fill with the scent of honey and camomile, she stopped dead in her tracks, almost dropping everything. ¡°My god! I never thought I¡¯d see you up and about like that again.¡± Hauxwell grinned. ¡°Yeah, I didn''t think so too. We can thank Aella for leaving us with that youth potion. The guy pulled through for me, even after his death.¡± Hannah glanced at Ben and Jerry and huffed as disappointment swept her face. ¡°What are the three of you up to?¡± Hauxwell scratched his head. ¡°Erm¡­Nothing.¡± Hannah put the tray on a nearby table. ¡°As if I believe that.¡± She shook her head as tears started running down her face. She hurried out of the room, slamming the door shut. ¡°Hannah!¡± Hauxwell yelled to no avail. ¡°Don''t worry, she¡¯ll be the first one there with her crossbow when Sudfield comes for the farm. I better talk to her and get into my old gear. Help yourself.¡± He finished, motioning to the tray before leaving the room. Ben glanced at Jerry, who shrugged before grabbing one of the cups with one hand and a piece of cheese with the other. The bread was freshly baked and soft on the inside. Combined with the cheese, it melted in Ben¡¯s mouth, tingling his tastebuds with tons of dairy goodness. He snatched a few more pieces and stuffed his mouth. When Jerry paused and gave him an awkward glance, he shrugged. ¡°What?¡± Jerry grinned while chewing. ¡°The best dairy farm in all of Great Malle.¡± The door creaked open with a metallic thud. Hauxwell entered, his suit of armor clanking as he walked in. ¡°Come on, lads. We¡¯ve got a rescue mission to conduct.¡± He turned to Jerry. ¡°Did Aella tell you how long this thing lasts?¡± ¡°After a day, the effects will slowly start to wear, and on the second day, it¡¯s completely dispelled,¡± Jerry explained.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Hauxwell clanged his fists together. ¡°A day is all we¡¯ll need to kick their asses. Come on, let¡¯s get to it.¡± Jerry put his hands up. ¡°Hold your horses, Hauxwell. If things turn sour, then everyone here will be in danger. You need to speak with Hannah and get everyone to Robynhill. There¡¯s more people there, and it¡¯ll be easier to escape from there if need be.¡±
Ben sat in the driver''s seat, feeling squashed. Hauxwell and Jerry managed to squeeze into the passenger seat and the smaller one in the middle. Ben figured it would have been alright if everyone had worn normal clothes, but the armor made it a tight fit. Before getting in, Hauxwell had spoken with his people and convinced them to prepare for a migration to Robynhill. Some argued, but they ultimately agreed after he explained what Sudfield was up to. Ben glanced through the side mirror and noticed the mass of bodies, horsecarts, and cattle. Even a few herding dogs were barking around, keeping everything in check. ¡°Are we good to go?¡± He asked. ¡°It¡¯ll be right. Come on, let¡¯s get moving.¡± Hauxwell nodded and pointed ahead. After driving down the farm track, Ben was pointed in the opposite direction of Jerry¡¯s cabin. The trail bent around the uneven terrain between the trees before going uphill. Hauxwell and Jerry decided to use their time for a much-needed catch-up. They shared nostalgic tales of their days and the battles they had fought in, even speaking of a few great knights whom they idolized while grinding the ranks of the Hollow Moon. They remembered their fallen comrades and agreed to share a few drinks at Arthel¡¯s in their honor once everything blew over. From their conversations, Ben learned that Hauxwell seemed more like a father figure to Jerry than a mentor. This could have been due to their years of service together, or the old man had taken him in. Ben¡¯s chest tensed, and his eyes started to water. He felt somewhat jealous of their relationship as he had never experienced something like that before. On Earth, apart from a few friends, there weren''t many people who had noticed him, let alone cared for him. Living in the van for years had isolated him from a normal life. Since disappearing, he figured no one would have even gone out looking for him. Jerry, who was sitting in the middle, must have noticed Ben¡¯s face and decided to change the topic of the conversation to be more comedic. Ben took a few breaths to calm himself and continued till he reached the verge. All his worries faded as he took in the grand view before him. A large fortress had appeared, its circular towers rising into the sky while its foundations sat on an island in the center where three rivers merged into one. ¡°What is that?¡± He asked. ¡°That right there is The Trident Fort. She is also known by many around here as Chateau Meso and was built by the Hollow Moon almost two centuries ago to defend against the great army of the dark fairies. One of the greatest castles you¡¯ll ever set your eyes upon.¡± Jerry sighed. ¡°We spent too much time there training and perfecting the art of war. I sure miss those youthful days.¡± Hauxwell started to laugh. ¡°Youthful days? Half that time you spent chasing women.¡± He then glanced at Ben. ¡°You know, he used to spend hours gathering flower bouquets. A real ladies'' man. They used to call him ¡®The loverboy of Meso.¡¯¡± Jerry facepalmed. ¡°I swear if I find out any of you blabbered that to my wife, I¡¯m going to shoot arrows in both your knees. Is that understood?¡± Ben raised his eyebrows and said. ¡°My lips are sealed.¡± Hauxwell shook his head and chuckled. He then pointed ahead. ¡°Ben, we¡¯re nearing the outskirts of Dimiwood. Stop this thing behind that hill so we can look at the situation and create a plan based on what we learn.¡± Ben did as he was bid. They got out and crawled to the vantage point. Hauxwell removed a looking glass from his spatial storage and started observing. Once he was done, he passed it over to Jerry. Hauxwell pointed. ¡°Most of them are gathered near the guardhouse.¡± Jerry chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s called a guardhouse, Sir. Where else would they be?¡± Hauxwell shook his head as if annoyed. ¡°Stop being a smart ass. Around a dozen are on duty, including the four out on patrol. They will rotate the men each time a patrol is completed.¡± Jerry raised his eyebrows and gave Hauxwell a funny look. ¡°I wonder who taught them that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good strategy, but it has one weakness. If they are attacked when their patrol is at the far end of the perimeter, then their manpower is down a third. From the looks of things down there, it looks like most of Sudfield''s army must have fallen back away from here, or they could be hiding in ambush. Either way, we need to get in there, find the Knight-Captain, and haul our asses out of there.¡± Jerry finished with the looking glass and passed it to Ben. Seeing the smaller end, Ben looked at the village below. It was split into two areas, each with distinct architecture. The side closest to the forest looked newer, was constructed from wood, and resembled Jerry¡¯s cabin. Then, they shifted to stone and mortar as they neared the main road to the fortress. That was where Sudfield''s men stood, alert and looking around. Jerry cleared his throat. ¡°The main problem I will face is the wall surrounding the guardhouse. It¡¯s got the height to provide them with cover from my bow. And I can''t even see a decent vantage point to pick them off from a distance. It¡¯s going to be a tough one.¡± Ben approximated the wall''s height to be around a meter and a half, and it didn''t look too thick. He retracted the looking glass and passed it to Hauxwell. ¡°I think I might be able to remedy the situation.¡± ¡°Go on then, what is it?¡± Hauxwell asked. Ben cleared his throat. ¡°My van should be able to drive through the thin part of the walls easily. It should be enough to catch them by surprise.¡± Jerry shrugged. ¡°That still doesn¡¯t fix my situation with the bow.¡± Ben grinned. ¡°Well, that¡¯s why we¡¯ll tie you at the top of the van. That should provide you with enough of a vantage point. And the ones you miss, I can always run them over.¡± ¡°What? You can''t be serious. I¡¯m not getting on top of that thing while you crash through a stone wall.¡± Jerry objected. A wide grin filled Hauxwell¡¯s face. ¡°He¡¯s right. That¡¯ll work wonders.¡± ¡°Yeah, while the two of you do nothing, I¡¯m putting myself in danger.¡± Jerry crossed his arms and quickly shook his head. Hauxwell patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Come on, you¡¯ll be the first archer in the world to say he did that. He did say you¡¯ll be tied down, so I don''t see the problem.¡± ¡°I won''t need to drive fast to break through it, so all you have to do is hold tight.¡± Ben interrupted. Jerry shook his head in disappointment and huffed. ¡°Fine. The two of you owe me a drink.¡± They returned to the van, and Ben hurried back to grab his tow rope. ¡°How do I even get up there?¡± Jerry asked, glancing up. Ben passed him the rope. ¡°Just climb up. When you get there, you will see some flat panels stay well away from them and move to the front. Under the front of them, you¡¯ll see metal feet bolted into the van''s roof. Make sure you tie the rope in two places and wrap it around yourself so it¡¯s tight.¡± Jerry cursed with every step up. ¡°I¡¯m getting too old for this shit.¡± Once everything was set, Ben put the pedal to the metal. Chapter 26 - The Battle at Dimiwood Ben drove down the trail, which soon joined the main cobbled road. Along the forest''s boundary, various small huts near the treeline could be seen, where small chunks of the forest had been cleared. ¡°What¡¯s that all about?¡± Ben asked, motioning with his hand. ¡°Dimiwood has been in the logging business since its inception. There used to be more trees around here, but as the village grew, they were cut down, making it harder for the hunters and trappers to do their work." Hauxwell explained. ¡°Understandable. But I don''t understand why half the village is made from stone and the other half wood." Ben shrugged. ¡°You see, they transported too much stone from the quarries near the Hollow Keep to build the chateau here. They had transported too much, so what remained was used for the village. When it ran out, they started using the widely available wood." Hauxwell said. Jerry knocked on the roof, interrupting their chat. ¡°Stop here. Let me see if the patrol''s gone out.¡± His voice was a little muffled. He took a few moments, then added, ¡°It¡¯s clear. We have our five minutes.¡± Hauxwell turned to Ben and gave him a nod. ¡°It¡¯s now or never, kid.¡± Ben took a deep breath, clenching his fists on the steering wheel. He pressed the gas, careful not to topple Jerry from his position, and slowly gained momentum toward the guardhouse in the distance. The two soldiers by the gate were caught off guard as the van approached. They quickly turned and were about to head through the gate. Two arrows whistled from the top of the van, causing them to stumble to the ground. Shouting and yelling emerged in the distance before a horn was blasted. Several more men approached the gate and instantly hopped behind the wall for cover. Ben gently pressed the brakes and slowed down while aiming the van at the section of the wall that seemed the weakest. There wasn''t even mortar holding the stones together there. He figured with both the bull bar and upgraded armor. It wouldn''t take as much of a toll on the van. The thought of the airbags deploying and hitting both him and Hauxwell flashed through his mind. He doubted the old knight would be too happy about that. ¡°Brace for impact!¡± Ben yelled, hitting the roof liner with the bottom of his hand. Jerry, who was shooting arrows across the other side, stopped. The van rocked with a loud thud as it impacted the wall. The bar took the brunt of the force as the stones crumbled, scattering across the grassy ground. A large section of the adjoining wall fell, causing small tremors in the ground. The suspension rocked side to side as the tires mounted the rubble. Some stones got lodged beneath the underbelly and started scraping the metal. ¡°Enemy archer! Second floor!¡± Jerry shouted. Two arrows whooshed past the windscreen, missing it by mere inches. ¡°Whoah! That was close,¡± Ben bellowed. The enemy archer peeked behind a wall with another arrow locked and loaded. The soldiers down below must have taken that as their opportunity to rush ahead with their weapons drawn. Jerry flung an arrow toward the second floor, leaving a glistening orange trail. ¡°What an idiot!¡± Hauxwell yelled, knocking on the roof liner. The moment the arrow hit the enemy archer, his head exploded like a watermelon before raging flames shot out in all directions. The entire second floor was engulfed as bits of stone and rubble rained down upon the soldiers below, causing them to scatter for cover. Ben felt his breaths become heavy as he processed the man''s head explode. His legs trembled as he knew there was more gruesome violence to come. He didn''t like violence, nor did he feel comfortable being an accomplice to human death. These people didn''t look like they were the kind to let them walk in and get Alfred out without a fight. Hauxwell hit the roof. ¡°Oi! I know it¡¯s a stone roof, and you want to show Ben what your fancy arrows can do. Don''t forget we still have to get in there and rescue Alfred, so take it easy with those." He disapprovingly shook his head and then stepped outside. His helmet, a large heater shield, and a longsword appeared as he equipped them from his spatial storage. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to see if this body of mine still works like it did many years ago." Ben noticed movement in the side mirror. "Hauxwell! Behind the van they''re coming in." Hauxwell turned, raising his shield in a defensive position. ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll take care of them. You two concentrate on taking care of the ones blocking the entrance." He used his elbow to shut the door before his armor radiated yellow energy speckles. They condensed around his armor as if to fortify it, and just before he started marching ahead, his shield started to pulse in a similar glow. "You boys want some?" he chuckled like some maniac. Looking ahead, Ben saw the enemy soldiers had huddled together and formed a shield wall. Jerry had started shooting regular arrows at them but was unable to hit them, apart from one guy who was shot in the foot, causing him to hop away and break from the wall.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The shield wall kept coming closer, and their weapons were pointed at the van. Ben knew they would soon start causing damage to the van if he didn''t do anything. He hit the roof liner and yelled, ¡°Hold on! I¡¯m gonna run them over and break the shields apart.¡± When Jerry gave Ben the go ahead, he gripped the steering wheel tightly and hit the gas. The front of the van hit the shield with such force it shattered it into multiple pieces. The men were knocked back, most hitting the building''s stone wall behind. Some were even squashed before they coughed up blood across the front of the van. Before their bodies were plopped to the ground, they were finished with some well-aimed arrows. [+90XP, +4MP] Raging shockwaves of energy erupted from behind the van. Ben looked through the mirror and noticed the body of one man flying through the air and spinning like a yo-yo. What the heck is that? Another man was splattered against the crumbled wall, his blood glazing the stones crimson. The remaining two tried to run away but were side-swiped by the bottom of the shield, causing deep gashes in their backs. Hauxwell charged his shield with more magic before finishing them off with a bash that shook the air around it. Blood showered the surrounding area, giving everything a red tinge. Ben''s stomach clenched at the sight. He had just witnessed grown men be battered to death with a shield. Even if they did deserve it, it seemed over the top that they went out that way. And the way Hauxwell spun on his heels and started walking back to the van made it all the worse. The weight of all the death started to pile upon his shoulders like an avalanche. He wasn''t a soldier like these men who had taken many lives and seen combat most of their lives and knew it would take him time to process all the deaths. Trying to keep it together, he let out a sorrowful sigh. Jerry''s feet hit the ground near the driver''s side door. He knocked on the window and said, "You look like you''ve seen a ghost. Are you coming out or what?" Ben nodded without a word escaping his lips and stepped outside. Hauxwell inspected the bodies before taking a closer glance at the entrance. "The two of you work well together. At least that''s over and done with now." He then pointed toward the reinforced door. "That door is reinforced, and I doubt we¡¯ll be able to find the keys in that mess of bodies. Jerry, I need you to provide cover fire while I bash it open. If there are more lurking inside, they are probably waiting for us." Jerry removed another arrow from the quiver. ¡°Don''t worry, I¡¯ve got you.¡± He positioned himself so the doorway was in clear sight and pulled the arrow back. Hauxwell charged more energy into his shield and hit the door, causing a shockwave that shook the entire building. Instantly, the lock snapped off, and what remained of the door crashed into the wall behind it, falling off its hinges. Hauxwell hopped sideways and raised his shield. Ben wasn¡¯t sure how Jerry could see anything with all the dust floating about, but he figured it must have been some system skill or ability, as his eyes were glinting a little green. ¡°It¡¯s clear,¡± Jerry stated. Slowly taking the pressure off his bowstring, he added, ¡°It¡¯s pointless for all of us going in there. I¡¯ll stay out here and watch out for any nasty surprises. Knowing Sudfield, he¡¯s probably got more men in the area somewhere. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Hauxwell nodded. He then turned to Ben. ¡°You¡¯re with me.¡± Ben held his hand up with a raised finger. ¡°Hang on. Let me grab something.¡± He rushed inside the van to grab his flashlight and a health potion. Once he was ready, he followed the knight through the entrance. The guardhouse was dimly lit inside. The few candles that were lit provided just enough light to see where they were going. Ben aimed the flashlight ahead and hit the switch, illuminating the whole area. The entrance chamber looked old, frail, and damp. Cobwebs lined the edges of the walls and around the corners. Rubble filled the ground, and parts of the ceiling looked like it was about to collapse if it took another hit from another enchanted arrow. Ben noticed a few tables filled with stale bread, moldy cheese, and various tankards. It looked like a communal area where the guards would hang out when not on duty. He noticed a stone wall at the back with a rusty iron gate in the middle. Once he had looked around, Hauxwell turned. ¡°What sorcery is this?¡± ¡°We call it a flashlight. It¡¯s like a lantern but stronger,¡± Ben explained, raising it. ¡°It¡¯s bright as daylight that.¡± Hauxwell then pointed across the room. ¡°That¡¯s where they keep the prisoners. Let¡¯s see if our man is there.¡± When he got there, he rattled the gate to open it, but it was locked. Taking a step back, he charged his shield a little and used the bottom of it to break the lock. When he barged in, he stopped dead in his tracks. Speechless, Ben stopped before his jaw dropped. He was slapped in the face with the wholesale scene of torture and acts of violence which had befallen Alfred. The knight was lying on a table, his body bruised black and blue. Fresh scars filled most of his skin, and blood trickled from a wound on his shoulder where his arm appeared to be chopped off. Ben felt his knees wobble. He felt sick to his stomach and hoped the healing potion would be enough to heal Alfred back from his injuries. Hauxwell hurried, removing his helmet, and put his ear next to Alfred''s battered face. ¡°Hurry and force that potion down his throat. He¡¯s still alive. We''re not going to lose him on my watch." Ben snapped out of his trance. He ripped the cork off before pressing it between Alfred''s lips. Some liquid escaped his mouth and ran down his cheeks, but Hauxwell pumped his chest a little to push it down before they silently waited. Alfred groaned some breaths and blinked his eyes. His scars started improving, and even the arm wound stopped leaking. "The arm." Ben shakily pointed. Hauxwell huffed a sigh. "I''m afraid the potions only heal wounds. I doubt even the mages of the Hollow Moon can fix that with all their magic." Alfred gargled some more breaths before clearing his throat. ¡°You fools.¡± he croaked. ¡°I¡¯m as good as dead. It''s an ambush." Hauxwell ignored the comment. ¡°Come on, help me get him back to the caravan." He looked Alfred in the eyes and said, "Remember, the Hollow Moon doesn''t leave any man behind." They dragged Alfred¡¯s body across the guardhouse, almost tripping over a few things on the way to the door. Once they made it out, Jerry stood there with his bow ready as if something was wrong. ¡°Hundreds of them are coming from the treeline. But that''s not all. There''s something wrong with the way they''re moving." Jerry muttered, his eyes darting all over the place. Heavy clouds moved from the direction of the fortress with unnatural speed, blanketing everything below in a shroud of darkness. It took seconds for the entire area to look as if it were evening time. ¡°Hurry up!" Hauxwell commanded. "There¡¯s no use standing around like idiots. Get him in the caravan.¡± Once Alfred was safely placed in the back, he added. ¡°The two of you need to get him to Robynhill with haste. I will create a distraction to allow your escape." Jerry twisted his head towards the knight. ¡°Are you out of your mind? You¡¯ll be overwhelmed.¡± "Just leave that to me." Hauxwell nodded. Chapter 27 - Ambushed Ben started the engine. Jerry climbed back atop the van and tied himself down before knocking. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± He paused and must have turned to Hauxwell. ¡°Hey, don''t forget you owe me a drink, so don''t go getting yourself killed.¡± Hauxwell scoffed and shook his head. ¡°You think these fools are a match for me.¡± He then walked beyond the rubble of the collapsed wall. Ben followed behind, carefully treading over the loose stones and avoiding the mess of gore Hauxwell had created earlier. When he made it to the other side, he had to stop as the knight stood still. There must have been over a hundred of them. Their silhouettes were surrounded by unnatural darkness, and their eyes glinted blood red. Their bodies twitched and jolted with every step as if possessed by something sinister. When they were about a hundred feet away, they froze still like soldiers at attention, waiting for the command to attack. Ben¡¯s chest felt heavy, and his guts sank like a rock being dropped into the ocean. Flashbacks of what happened at the proving grounds whizzed through his mind, and he knew some crazy shit was about to go down. He felt concerned for Hauxwell, who was putting himself in danger, and hoped he had something awesome up his sleeve to get out of the situation alive. Around a dozen enemy knights stepped forward. Their armor had a darker tinge than the Hollow Moon knights, almost like gun-metal grey. The darkness they radiated was more apparent than the regular foot soldiers, and the one leading them was wearing fancy armor similar to Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s. When their leader removed his helmet, he revealed a pale blue face. His long, slimy hair fell below his shoulders, covering the dark veins across one side of his face, leading to his neck area. A malicious grin filled his face, revealing blackened teeth that would make a dentist run for his life. ¡°Holy shit, they¡¯re all infected,¡± Ben muttered. After facing the infected Frogmen and Nest Mother, he felt they would be harder to kill. Their leader put up a hand, causing the other knights to stop. Alone, he stepped towards Hauxwell as if he wanted to chat. Ben put his ear near the window and carefully listened. ¡°Sudfield. What an unpleasant surprise for you to ruin a wonderful day like this.¡± Hauxwell started. ¡°Shut it, old man. I thought you would have been dead by now. What is this sorcery?¡± Sudfield growled, his voice sounding morphed and twisted. Hauxwell patted his torso, causing his armor to ring. ¡°Dead? I think you must be mistaken. It seems you''re the one who looks a little worse for wear. Don''t you think?¡± He then looked around. ¡°If you¡¯d kindly ask your men to move out of the way, that would be most appreciated. We¡¯re a bit pressed for time.¡± Sudfield eerily laughed. ¡°You came here, killed my men. Then you have the gall to make demands. We have you surrounded, and there are more of us in the tree line. Meso has fallen, and their knights are mine to command as I please. Why don''t you and your friends join us? This power is mesmerizing beyond belief. We¡¯ll take the Feruslands for ourselves and be unstoppable.¡± Hauxwell shook his head. ¡°You must be dreaming if you think we want to be anything like you. All my life, I¡¯ve never needed devilish tricks to be powerful. Why would I start now? Burrow back in that dark hole where the sun doesn''t shine and leave us be.¡± Sudfield¡¯s grin vanished, and a scowl took its place. ¡°The Mesolands are mine. When I¡¯m done with the rest of you scum, I will ensure your friends down south suffer a long, painful death.¡± Yellow magic started to radiate off Hauxwell¡¯s armor like flames. He raised his shield and held his sword back, ready to strike. ¡°Over my dead body. Even in my old age, I will cut through all of you like a hot knife through butter.¡± His sword started to gleam brightly like a lantern as if he was charging a special attack. Sudfield laughed as if he didn¡¯t care. ¡°We will see about that, you old fool.¡± He turned towards the treeline and shouted. ¡°Meso knights, stand forward.¡± Dozens of mounted knights emerged from the tree line. Their bodies were glazed in a slimy tar-like sheen, and even their mounts looked zombified. Ben felt a shift in the air, as if their presence filled the entire area with despair. Jerry knocked on the roof of the van. ¡°When Hauxwell starts his attack, move on my mark. Be careful getting onto the road. Those knights are not like the men we fought before. They are trained killers with powerful skills and abilities.¡± Sudfield pointed ahead. ¡°Attack! Make sure they all die slow and painful, then we will add them to our ranks.¡± Hauxwell¡¯s energy had become larger than the van. It buzzed with sparks of electricity and occasionally pulsed out with shockwaves that vibrated the surrounding air. It all became smaller and condensed into his sword, glowing almost as bright as the sun. ¡°Come and get some!¡± He yelled, swinging it sideways. The magic sprayed off the sword in a giant slash of light, encasing the battlefield in a warm flash. Smaller beams split off of it like cluster bombs before shooting toward multiple groups of enemies across a large area.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Sudfield and his close knights erected a barrier before the attack hit. It cracked in multiple places, deflecting the beams to the unprotected men on either side before shattering into smaller pieces and dispersing. Explosions shook the battlefield like artillery shells, causing the earth to tremble with each blast. Within seconds, many of the enemies were flat on their asses, some missing limbs and others splattered. Hauxwell¡¯s armor started blazing again, and he turned to face Sudfield and his bunch. He motioned with his sword toward the road before marching ahead. ¡°What? Is he not coming with us?¡± Ben asked. ¡°Don''t worry about him. He can handle himself. Get us out of here right now!¡± Jerry yelled. The van¡¯s tires spun to action. Ben steered towards the main cobbled road, avoiding the potholes and craters. The enemies that had survived in that area were getting up and readying their weapons. Jerry launched a barrage of standard arrows, which didn¡¯t do much. He then switched to the fire-enchanted ones. The enemies hit the ground again, their bodies in sizzling tatters. The mounted knights kicked their horses into action but were slowed down when a few arrows exploded in the dirt directly in front of them, causing their horses to stumble. Powerful shockwaves rang in the air behind them. Ben glanced through the mirrors and saw Hauxwell engaged in a melee with multiple knights. He was surrounded, and it looked like he was about to get swamped as his body disappeared, making the bend onto the road. Ben frowned in frustration. He hated everything about leaving Hauxwell behind. From the way things looked, there appeared to be no other way. Even if he did try to go back and run a few enemies over, the likelihood of them getting surrounded was high. He hoped the old knight would make it out of there in one piece. [+120XP, +4MP] [You are now Level 5: +1 Skill Point Available.] *** After completing every five levels, the system user can boost one of their stat pools by 25 points. These bonuses do not stack, so the system user should choose before the next five levels are progressed. *** [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Corporal.] [Mechanical Mage Class is now Level 2: New skills and abilities are now available.] Hell yeah! The problem was that Ben couldn''t afford to look away from the road to see what class skills he had unlocked. A group of mounted knights emerged near the treeline, joining the chase. Their bodies and mounts began to gleam small embers of crimson energy. The horses started plopping faster, leaving trails of black slime on the cobbles with each plop. Within an instant, they closed the distance. ¡°Damn it,¡± Ben yelled. As the enemies caught up, hitting the gas was useless. The uneven road made gaining speed with the van difficult and caused the suspension to creak and rattle. Repairing it would only fix part of the problem, as there was no way he could keep it up until they reached safety. That drivetrain upgrade could work wonders right about now. He glanced rapidly at his profile screen and had just the right number of points for the upgrade. While steering with one hand, he hovered the other over it and selected it. [Off-Road Drivetrain is now Unlocked.] Hopefully, I''ve made the right choice. The van lifted off the ground, and the steering became less jittery. Ben pressed on the gas and noticed the van could take more of a beating. He managed to create some distance. "What the heck!" Ben exclaimed, noticing something strange. The enemies became blanketed in a blood-red glow. Their movements became supercharged before they shot toward him, leaving trails of darkness after them. Jerry shot an enchanted arrow at the horse in front. It landed between its eyes before exploding like a grenade, splattering brain matter everywhere and causing it to stumble. The horse''s rider was launched like a trebuchet into the nearby bushes as his buddies behind tried maneuvering out of the way. They were either knocked off balance or ended up in the flora. When they recovered, they looked pissed off and started twitching. Their weapons started to gleam before they started lobbing blobs of magical energy. ¡°Watch out!¡± Jerry shouted. Ben calculated when the attacks would hit and avoided the resulting explosions. He got distracted enough to allow the enemies to catch up. The riders split into two groups and approached both sides of the van, either avoiding or deflecting the arrows that were shot their way. Ben saw they were about to start swinging at the van. He swung the steering wheel side to side, using the entire road''s width to ram them off. ¡°Take a swing at that,¡± Ben muttered, watching them crash into the nearby tree trunks. [+275XP, +5MP] Another group of enemies had caught up to them and looked like they were charging special attacks. Ben held the steering wheel tight, which hurt his palms, and shouted, ¡°Hold on!¡± When Jerry paused his barrage, he waited for the enemies to get within arm''s length before slamming on the brakes. The riders crashed into the back of the van. Most of them were pushed off balance, their armor scraping with sparks as they slid across the cobbles. There was one who managed to leap off his horse and hold onto the back of the van. Ben heard a twang from the top, followed by a ring, before he saw the enemy rolling on the cobbles. He thought that was it but noticed some enemies rise from the ground. They started skittering towards the van like zombies. [+45XP, +2MP] The surrounding darkness began to shift. Ben noticed a strange white glow from up ahead, and a spiral of what looked like magic was spinning into the sky, pushing the dark clouds away. ¡°What¡¯s that up ahead?¡± Ben asked. ¡°Keep going! I see Hollow Moon crests up ahead. From the looks of things, they¡¯ve brought a war mage.¡± When they neared the source of the spiral, a loud warhorn rang. Columns of armed men marched ahead, stopping when they noticed the van. At the forefront were mounted knights clad in black and white surcoats. The one leading them raised his hand and rode ahead, slowing down near the van before turning and riding along. ¡°Alfred is in the back. He¡¯s in bad shape and needs urgent help.¡± Jerry explained. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll instruct my men to make way. You must get to Robynhill, where Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux is waiting with the other mages. We will hold the line here.¡± The knight was about to ride ahead when he was interrupted. ¡°Hauxwell is still back at Dimiwood fighting with Sudfield and his men. Be careful. Some evil sorcery has possessed them.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll keep an eye out for him.¡± The knight finished before riding back to his column. He pointed and shouted orders before the men dispersed to either side, creating enough space for the van to pass. Ben estimated there must have been over two hundred soldiers and around a dozen knights. He didn''t know what was happening, but a war was brewing. He sped up and high-tailed it back to the village. Chapter 28 - Aftermath Ben steered into Robynhill. Soldiers and knights littered the area, performing various tasks. Many were in the disused marketplace, where builders erected tents and barricades. The knights went about their job, pointing fingers and shouting orders. Closer to the village, there appeared to be a few dozen horsecarts overflowing with supplies. Countless men had formed a daisy chain where they passed crates along the line to where things were being built. To Ben, the place looked like it had been given a new lease on life, and he hoped it would stay that way. The people of Robynhill had already gone through so much that they deserved some piece of mind. He wondered how the Hollow Moon had arrived with all those supplies quickly. It was like the whole operation had been planned. I¡¯ll have to speak with Le¡¯Vieux about it when I see him. One of the high-ranking knights shouted orders to the soldiers before they cleared the path. Everyone stared at the van curiously before some started pointing to the top and whispering to each other. The knight in charge walked alongside the van as it moved. ¡°Is that you, Jerry?¡± ¡°Aye, it¡¯s me. Richard of Feruswich, it seems like ages since we last met. How are you getting along?¡± Jerry responded. ¡°Made it to Knight-Captain. I never thought I''d be seeing you again since you left the order. I¡¯ve gotta get these lot back to work. I¡¯ll catch up with you later. The Grand Marshall is waiting for you at the inn.¡± Richard motioned towards the inn. Ben got to the inn and stopped near the grassy clearing. Flicking the ignition off, he hurried to the side door and slid it open. By then, Le¡¯Vieux and many figures wearing white and black robes rushed closer. When everyone saw Alfred¡¯s state, their expressions shifted to worry. Le¡¯Vieux pointed at the fallen knight. ¡°What are you waiting for? Ensure he survives no matter the cost. I need him alive and well.¡± The robed men sprang to action, putting a hand out where long staff members were materialized. One used a spell where the magic wrapped around Alfred like a cobweb before levitating him out. The other mages started to shoot sprinkles of warm beige magic all over him. The glow around the wounded knight began to pulse like a homing beacon before it looked like he was getting better. The mage who looked in charge turned to Le¡¯Vieux. ¡°Marshall, I¡¯m afraid our magic will only be able to heal his wounds. The lost arm is tragic, and if there were a way to regrow it, we would have done it. Our healing magic has limits and will take a toll on his state. Thus, he must rest for a few days.¡± ¡°Understood. Take him inside and speak with Arthel about getting him a bed upstairs.¡± Le¡¯Vieux ordered. He shifted his attention to Jerry, who had just plopped his feet on the grass. ¡°I should¡¯ve known you were still kicking around these parts.¡± Jerry nodded. ¡°It¡¯s great to see you too, Le¡¯Vieux. Listen, I''d love to carry on the pleasantries, but your friend Hauxwell is back at Dimmiwood doing a one-man army operation against Sudfield and his men.¡± Le¡¯Vieux took a few steps back as if he couldn''t believe the mention of Hauxwell¡¯s name. ¡°What? Is that old git still kicking around?¡± ¡°Aella¡¯s youth potion. He left me one before he passed.¡± Jerry muttered. Le¡¯Vieux turned to one of the high-ranking knights in the distance. ¡°Oi! Get me a mount this instant.¡± He turned back to Ben and Jerry. ¡°The two of you did a great job getting Alfred here. Let me return from saving that idiot again. Then we¡¯ll have an important chat, so don''t think about going anywhere.¡± Ben and Jerry both nodded as the mount arrived. Le¡¯Vieux paused momentarily and did something with his system before kicking the horse full speed ahead. [Quest: Rescue Alfred Completed. Rewards: +50XP, +1 Gold Pound.] ¡°Hey!¡± Jerry shouted at the top of his lungs. ¡°Be careful out there. Some evil sorcery has possessed them.¡± Le¡¯Vieux replied with a thumbs-up as he rode away. *** With things calming down, Ben found himself sitting at the bar table. Arthel fed them warm meals and drinks while Jerry explained the events at Dimiwood. Har mostly sat there listening and nodding along. ¡°You sly bastard.¡± Arthel disapprovingly shook his head. ¡°You sure kept those potions a damn secret.¡± Jerry shrugged. ¡°There was only one. And according to Aella, it was only supposed to be used in an emergency if anything like this happened.¡± He looked around. ¡°If this isn''t an emergency, then I don''t know what it is.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Arthel replied with a narrowed gaze. ¡°He did right,¡± Har interjected. ¡°The only way they were getting out of that was with Hauxwell. I remember there was a time when the bards of the kingdom sang tales of how powerful he was during his prime.¡± He paused, taking a sip, and turned to Jerry. ¡°Didn''t he take on an entire company of Dark fairies by lonesome?¡± Jerry grinned. ¡°I was there, too. We were trapped in a cauldron and soon to be surrounded. Morale was low amongst the men, that was till he charged out and started kicking the shit out of them. Those damn fairies stayed away from the borderlands for a few months after that.¡± Har let out a sigh drowned in sadness. ¡°It was sad to see him get older. Even those Golden Scale knights at the capital trembled in fear at the mere mention of his name.¡± ¡°I hope Le¡¯Vieux got to him in time. But knowing Hauxwell, he probably wanted to die in battle like a hero to be remembered for the ages.¡± Before raising his tankard, Jerry added, ¡°Sir Henry Hauxwell of the Hollow Moon.¡± Everyone, including Ben, toasted to that and cheered the knight''s name a few times. Ben had seen the old knight stand up against Sudfield and his men, even though he was outnumbered, with great heroism. He had given them the time to escape and hoped Le¡¯Vieux managed to get him out in time. ¡°So.¡± Arthel interrupted everyone''s thoughts. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with the Hollow Moon? Do you think they¡¯re here to stay?¡± ¡°From the looks of it, they¡¯ll be here for some time. I¡¯ve half a mind to believe Le¡¯Vieux will annex the region and make an example of Sudfield.¡± Jerry explained. ¡°I think it¡¯s about time the Hollow Moon banners flew in this region again. Everything¡¯s been going downhill since they left.¡± Har commented. Jerry nodded. ¡°Well, I think Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s pissed off about what happened to Alfred. He won¡¯t let that slide. We¡¯ll have to await his return and see what he has to say before jumping to conclusions.¡± He paused to look around. ¡°Besides, did Hannah get here with Hauxwell¡¯s people?¡± Arthel refilled everyone''s tankards. ¡°Don''t worry, they made it here earlier. I¡¯ve instructed them to use the old disused farm pasture on the way to the mine. Can¡¯t have cattle roaming around unattended with all these soldiers about.¡± He then gave everyone an awkward look. ¡°That¡¯s the last free one. You all better start coughing up some coin if you want more.¡± Har bellowed. ¡°You stingy git.¡± While the others chatted with each other, Ben thought it would be a great time to open his class menu and see what new skills were available. *** Active Class: [Mechanical Mage, Level 2] Class Benefits: Mana Pool: +100MP. Bonuses: +2 MP regenerated for every hostile enemy killed/defeated via a vehicle until the mana pool is filled. Level 2 skills are now available to select. *** Kunai Outburst Mk.1: Two chained Kunai are spawned and launched from the front of your vehicle, each targeting a nearby enemy. Once the enemies have been caught, the chains recede at speed, causing them to collide with the vehicle. The system user is advised to travel at a moderate speed to inflict the most damage. Skill Proficiency: 25MP per use. Skill Point Cost: 2 Exponential Mass Mk.1: When an enemy is struck, your vehicle''s mass increases exponentially without any drawback for a split second, increasing the damage dealt. Use this skill cautiously, as enemies may be launched a considerable distance. Skill Proficiency: 10MP per enemy struck. Skill Point Cost: 2 *** Interesting! I could use these together as a combo. Ben glanced at his profile screen and realized he had spent the last of his skill points on that drivetrain upgrade. I should be more careful spending those. Annoyed, he excused himself from the bar and shifted his attention to Alfred. He felt that if they had gotten to him faster, he might not have lost his arm and been in the bad state they had found him in. He made his way upstairs. A couple of soldiers stood guard by the door. One of them glanced at Ben. ¡°Stop right there. We¡¯ve been ordered to not allow anyone in there.¡± The guard took a closer look at Ben. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the one who brought the captain back, right?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me. I¡¯ve been feeling crap about what happened to him and want to see how he¡¯s doing.¡± The soldier glanced at the other one before they both gave each other a nod. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll allow you to enter. You weren''t here if anyone asks.¡± When they both side-stepped out of the way, Ben creaked open the door and made his way to the bedside. Alfred took croaked breaths and turned to face away from Ben. It was like he was ashamed of what had occurred. His wounds were mostly healed, but the same couldn''t be said about his state of mind. ¡°Alfred.¡± Ben started, taking a breath. ¡°How¡¯re you holding up?¡± Alfred scoffed, moving further away. ¡°Just leave me alone. I don''t want to speak with anyone. You lot shouldn''t have come to rescue me.¡± Ben shook his head and sighed. ¡°We couldn''t leave you there to die.¡± ¡°Take a good look at me. I¡¯m as good as dead out here without my sword hand. I can¡¯t defend myself or anyone else for that matter. What kind of knight does that make me?¡± Ben shook his head. ¡°Stop with that nonsense. Just because you lost your hand doesn''t mean you''re useless. That day, when I first met you, I saw a commander. A knight who led by example and whose word was respected by the men. Your skills lie not in using a sword or the system but in leadership.¡± Alfred blew in a deep breath and sniffed a sigh. The sadness slightly faded away, lifting the mood on his face. ¡°You think they would still follow a broken knight like me?¡± Ben smiled. ¡°Without a doubt, mate. Now, stop looking all sad. You still need to give me my combat training, right?¡± ¡°I need some time to get myself out of this dark hole. I assure you, once I have taught you, you¡¯ll be the finest damn knight in the kingdom.¡± Just as Alfred spoke, the sounds of commotion erupted outside. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I think Le¡¯Vieux might be back with Hauxwell. I better get out there. He said something about an important conversation when he returned.¡± Ben explained. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll see you later. Oh, and Ben, thanks for saving me back there. I owe you one.¡± Alfred finished. Ben gave him a nod before rushing down the stairs. Everyone at the bar was gone. He assumed they were already outside and made his way there. Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s mount stopped directly at the entrance before he shouted. ¡°Mages!¡± At the back of the mount was Hauxwell¡¯s body resting sideways, motionless. The mages rushed from where they stood, moving the unconscious knight to the ground. They began to heal him when the one in charge removed the helmet. Ben¡¯s chest sank deep as he saw a wound on his neck where the skin was dark and bruised. It looked like something had gone inside. Chapter 29 - Prepare for War! Ben observed the mages as they started casting their spells. ¡°Be careful and control your mana. We don''t know what we¡¯re dealing with here.¡± The main mage commanded. He continued guiding his subordinates through the process, urging warnings and words of wisdom. Ben thought the mages looked like surgeons in an operating theatre by the way they carefully controlled their spells. Le¡¯Vieux motioned everyone to move away. ¡°Come, let¡¯s give them some space.¡± Once they had moved a dozen meters away, Ben turned to Le¡¯Vieux and asked, ¡°What happened out there?¡± Le¡¯Vieux took a breath and cleared his throat. ¡°I found him lying there in the dirt amongst a field of craters and destruction. It looked like he gave them one hell of an ass-kicking. There was no trace of Sufield nor his men there. They must have planted that thing in his neck before retreating.¡± Jerry shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no way there were no bodies. We took out around half a dozen getting out of there. Well, you know what Hauxwell¡¯s like. He must have killed at least half a dozen. Unless there¡¯s something strange going on with that darkness.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known Hauxwell for decades and don''t doubt his abilities. I¡¯m certain he must have caused serious damage to them.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°Before Ben arrived here, we ventured to The Proving Grounds and faced Frogmen infected by these neck leeches. Some of them can regenerate, making me think Sudfields men can do the same, or they¡¯ve been taken elsewhere to be reanimated.¡± Almost everyone shook their heads in disbelief, with some cursing under their breaths as if it was the end of every one. ¡°What? Are you seriously telling me these neck things turn people into monsters?¡± Jerry asked, his face full of worry. ¡°Yes, and the same thing will happen to Hauxwell if we don''t extract it. They must have left him there for us to find so we could bring him back here before he transforms. As much as I hate Sudfield for what he¡¯s done, the man always knows the best ways to dispose of his enemies.¡± Le¡¯Vieux sighed, then continued. ¡°Also, from the look of the dark storm surrounding the Chateau, I feel that¡¯s where they are regrouping before they attack.¡± He turned to Jerry. ¡°What manpower do you reckon the Meso knights had when they all disappeared? We have to assume the entire order could be compromised.¡± Jerry scratched his chin. ¡°About five thousand men at arms and an additional five hundred knights.¡± Le¡¯Vieux blew out a breath of frustration. ¡°Yet that doesn''t include the civilians and guard garrisons who could also be infected.¡± He looked up like he was about to pull his white hair out. ¡°Damn it!¡± Jerry shrugged. ¡°The last time I checked, you had over twenty thousand under your command. Can''t you call in the reserves or ask the other orders for help.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°I would say we¡¯re more close to twenty-five thousand. The only problem is that we¡¯re too thinly stretched along the northern border with the Feruslands. We must also keep a considerable force on standby to defend the Hollow Lands if war breaks out or we are invaded. And I can''t ask the other military orders for help as trouble is brewing with the nobles in the capital trying to create a single centralized military force.¡± He motioned towards the marketplace where many tents had been erected, and smoke rose from their campfires. ¡°That regiment should be able to hold the line as long as the supplies keep coming in.¡± ¡°Stop!¡± The mage in charge shouted, interrupting everyone. ¡°Hold off on the pressure. Can''t you see it causing him more pain?¡± He scolded one of the mages before turning to Le¡¯Vieux and shaking his head as if nothing could be done. ¡°Sir, our magic isn¡¯t able to remove the parasite. Every time we come close, it lodges itself deeper.¡± Le¡¯Vieux raised his hands, ¡°There¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m going allow him to be taken by those monstrosities. Don''t you have any potions that could keep it at bay?¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The mage sighed. ¡°There is something we could try, but we don''t have the resources.¡± ¡°Go on then, tell me what you need.¡± Le¡¯Vieux motioned at Hauxwell. ¡°We need at least a pound of refined Mirium to craft a royal flush potion. You could call it a last resort, but there¡¯s a chance it will push that thing out with brute force.¡± The mage explained. When the amount of Mirium was spoken, everyone¡¯s mouth opened as if it was preposterous. Le¡¯Vieux looked like he was taken aback.¡°A pound of refined Mirium! Are you messing around with me? You know the Mirium supplies have been running thin for almost a decade. Besides, wasn''t Aella the only mage ever to craft one of those?¡± ¡°Sir, Aella was my master at the mage''s academy for a time. I was there when the potion was crafted, and I believe I can replicate the process as long as I have the resources.¡± Le¡¯Vieux thought about it for a moment. ¡°Alright, I think I have something in mind.¡± He turned to Arthel, ¡°Didn''t the Blackrock mine have some deposits of Mirium back in the day?¡± Arthel shot to attention and looked like he had been caught off guard by the question. ¡°Yes, Sir. There were rumors that the mine did, at one point, have those deposits. But I believe they must have been sold off. Before the mine entrance collapsed, there was a big deal about some rich ore veins discovered on the lower levels. It could be that they were rushing around at that time because they did find some.¡± Le¡¯Vieux turned back to the mages. ¡°Mirium is found in the lower levels of most mines. There could be some still kicking about in that mine. How much raw ore will they have to extract for you to refine into a pound?¡± ¡°Around two pounds should be more than enough. The mineral is usually highly concentrated with little to no impurities. If they intend to venture into that mine, I suggest you do it quickly, as we need to keep Hauxwell in suspended animation until then so the parasite doesn''t take over. My mages will be spent before long.¡± The mage explained. Le¡¯Vieux crossed his arms as if he wasn¡¯t impressed. He gave them a narrow gaze. ¡°I don''t want to hear any excuses. Create a schedule and do it in shifts if you have to. Is that understood?¡± The mage nodded, ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± He turned to his mages and said, ¡°You heard the Marshall. Get him inside.¡± Within moments, Hauxwell was taken into the inn. Le¡¯Vieux turned back. ¡°Alright, you all know what needs to be done.¡± Arthel cleared his throat. ¡°Grand Marshall, sir, there is one problem.¡± ¡°And what is that?¡± Le¡¯Vieux asked with a raised eyebrow. His expression then changed as if he had remembered something. ¡°Ah, the mine¡¯s entrance collapsed some time ago. Well, can¡¯t you get it cleared?¡± Arthel nodded. ¡°Yes, sir, but it¡¯ll take some time to clear the rubble, and besides, I offered ownership of the mine to Ben for saving our skins.¡± Le¡¯Vieux gave him a nod before bouncing his gaze around the others. ¡°Alright, people, we¡¯ve got a lot of work to do. The survival of the Mesolands depends on it. This damn war that¡¯s brewing will send shockwaves throughout the entire realm, and the stand we make now could save many lives. I expect everyone to pull their weight. With only one bridge between here and the Hollow Lands, we need to start local production of vital items. I will instruct the guilds to provide artisans who will help, but before they can get to work.¡± He turned to Ben and gave him a nod of respect. ¡°Not only did you complete your quest to save Alfred, but you also helped these people in their time of need. You know what must be done, so ensure Mirium is on your priority list.¡± He then did that system thing before a notification filled Ben¡¯s vision. New Quest Added: Blackrock Mine Le¡¯Vieux has instructed you to clear the rubble at the mine entrance and ensure it is safe to reopen. You must also search the lower levels of the mine for Miruim ore and retrieve two pounds so the Hollow Moon mages can craft a Royal Flush potion for Hauxwell. Rewards: 150XP + 10 Gold Pounds ¡°Once you¡¯ve completed your quest, Alfred should be better and will begin your combat training,¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. He turned across to one of the high-ranking knights and shouted. ¡°Oi! I need another mount, one that¡¯s not worn out.¡± Turning back to Ben and the others, he finished. ¡°I must return to the Hollow Keep. You all have your tasks, and I do not wish to scold you for not completing them upon my return. Now, get to work!¡± The knight had brought another mount, and Le¡¯Vieux got on. He gave everyone a nod before setting off at full gallop towards the trail leading to the checkpoint. Arthel blew a huff of relief. ¡°Well, that was intense.¡± Jerry turned and mimicked Arthel from a moment before. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Ha ha, very funny,¡± Arthel said, his face going cherry red. ¡°It is. You were shaking in your boots like a scared child.¡± Jerry chuckled. He turned to Ben and asked, ¡°Anyway, what will you do about the mine?¡± ¡°Before we go there, it would be good to know what happened there before the collapse.¡± He turned and waited for a response. Arthel raised his hands. ¡°Don''t look at me. I didn''t work there.¡± ¡°Listen,¡± Har interrupted. ¡°If anyone knows about the mine, it will be young Finn. He used to work in those tunnels with his parents when they were short on labor. He¡¯s been itching since the collapse to find out what happened to his parents, so I think he¡¯ll happily share all he knows.¡± ¡°Yeah, and I will no doubt want to join you when you go there,¡± Arthel added. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get inside and get things in order before you set off.¡± Chapter 30 – The Old Mine Ben found himself getting warm by the fire. The inn was much more lively since the Hollow Moon protected the village and conducted regular road patrols. Many came to thank Ben for his actions; some even offered him goodwill gifts. Ben respectfully declined them, not wanting to take advantage of what little they had left. Arthel had brought him a meal and placed it on a nearby table. The bread seemed better than he had previously provided, and the tea filled his nose with honey and camomile. ¡°Just don''t tell everyone I gave you this on the house,¡± Arthel whispered before returning to the bar. As Ben finished eating, Arthel returned with Finn in tow. Finn¡¯s short and stocky body lumbered towards him, dragging something across the wooden floorboards. Even though it was hidden, Ben knew it must have been the same pickaxe from before. ¡°This is young Finnan McGarin.¡± Arthel motioned. ¡°I believe the two of you met briefly before the whole thing with the bandits. He should be able to answer your questions about the mine before it collapsed.¡± He then glanced at the bar where an older-looking man sat staring at him, ¡°That¡¯s Halyard, he¡¯s waiting for me. Before I forget, come by the bar when you''re done here. That man has a quest for you if you¡¯re interested.¡± Ben had no idea who that Halyard guy was but felt curious about what he wanted. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see you in a bit.¡± Arthel gave Ben a nod and hurried to the bar. When Ben shifted his gaze to Finn, the kid had been staring at him with his emerald eyes and instantly looked away as if embarrassed. Ben wasn''t sure what was up with the kid and decided it would be best to break the ice. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s Finnan, isn''t it?¡± ¡°Just call me Finn, Mister. Everyone calls me Finn.¡± The kid timidly stumbled over his words. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± Ben put his hand out for a shake. ¡°My name is Benjamin, but everyone calls me Ben for short.¡± Finn plonked the pickaxe on the floorboards and rested its handle on the nearby table before shaking Ben¡¯s hand. ¡°How did you fight all those bandits on your own?¡± He asked. Ben scratched his head. ¡°Ah, yeah, that was me. To be fair, I ran them over.¡± ¡°I wish I were as brave as you. Maybe you can teach me how to fight, and one day, I will be strong enough to protect my sisters,¡± Finn said, with hope glinting in his face. Ben nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that. But before, I must go on an important quest to the mine to get some Mirum so the mages can help Hauxwell get better.¡± Finn scratched his head. ¡°Ah, right. Mister Arthel mentioned that earlier, so I¡¯ve brought my pickaxe. We¡¯ll need it to clear the rubble from the entrance.¡± Ben raised his eyebrow and rubbed his chin. ¡°We? There¡¯s no way you¡¯re coming along. Things could get dangerous out there. Finn¡¯s eyes started to swell up, and it looked like he was about to burst into a fit of crying. Before the tears started to fall, Ben patted Finn on the shoulder. ¡°Are you alright there, kid? Look, I don''t want you hurt, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright, Mister. It¡¯s just my parents both died in there when the entrance collapsed. Since then, I¡¯ve been trying to get everyone around here to go back and clear the rubble. I want to know what happened to them. Mister, I need to be with you. I¡¯m the only one here who has worked those mines. I used to go with Ma and Pa before they disappeared. I know everything there is to know about the mine. You will see when I show you.¡± His eyes grew mistier, and it looked like he was about to cry again. ¡°Look, kid, I know you¡¯re desperate to get answers about what happened to your parents, and you want to do what you can to help us fulfill our mission. The decision to take you along is not mine¡­ I will need to speak with Arthel and Har about it, and they will tell you if you can come along or not.¡± Ben explained. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to everything you say. You have my word, Mister.¡± Finn pleaded, holding his hands together. ¡°Kid, I¡¯m sure you will. As you know, I¡¯m new around here, and It¡¯ll be of great help if you could tell me everything you know before the mine collapsed.¡± Finn cleared his throat, ¡°There¡¯s not much to tell than what everyone already knows. It was one of those days when I had to stay home and take care of my sisters. My mother had said they would be going for some time as a new ore vein was found in the lower levels. She said that they were going to be back after a week.¡± He paused to hold back his tears and cleared his throat, ¡°We waited for them to return, and they never did. Another week passed, and everyone here gathered to talk about it. Mister Arthel and Mister Har took me to the mine only to find the entrance filled with rubble.¡± Recounting the events had caused his eyes to swell, and tears started raining down on the floorboards below.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Ben¡¯s chest started to hurt, and his stomach sank upon hearing what the kid had gone through. Ben patted him on the shoulder and softly said, ¡°It¡¯s alright, kid. I promise we¡¯ll find out what happened to your folks and give them a proper burial. You have my word.¡± When the tears receded, Finn looked better. He wiped away the tears and gave Ben a vice-like hug. ¡°The moment you walked through that door for the first time, I thought you were one of those bandits or someone that wanted to do bad to us. But every day, you do things to help us¡­ Thank you, Mister Ben.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s no problem at all, kid. Thank you for telling me what you know. I think you should speak later with Arthel or Har about coming along with us, but for now,¡± I motioned to the bar, ¡°I need to find out what they need from the mine. Grab something to eat and make sure your sisters are alright. I bet they are counting on you to be their older brother.¡± Finn wiped the rest of his tears away, ¡°Okay, mister, I¡¯ll be ready when you''re done.¡± He then picked up the pickaxe and shuffled across the room to where two young girls sat silently on a bench, watching. ¡°See you later, kid.¡± Ben waved before turning his attention to the bar. Arthel stood behind, chatting with that old guy. He stopped when he noticed Ben approaching and motioned to him. ¡°This is the guy I was talking about. Once he clears the mine and ensures it¡¯s safe, it¡¯ll be open for business again. Ben is his name.¡± [Halyard Gregoritz Level 7 (Senior Journeyman, Blacksmiths Guild)] The notification popped up the moment Ben got close. It had information about his rank within a guild, which caught Ben¡¯s curiosity. He hadn''t met many civilians who had access to the system. Halyard turned, revealing his thick, patchy beard, and gave Ben a weird look as if he weren''t impressed. A pendant resembling a Smith''s anvil dangled from his neck. His clothes appeared in better shape than everyone else''s, making Ben think he was more well-off than the other locals. Could this be the famous blacksmith Le¡¯Vieux was on about? Halyard scoffed and shook his head. ¡°It doesn''t look like he knows his way around a mine. Never mind getting me the ore I need.¡± His expression shifted to frustration as if he had been let down. Arthel cleared his throat. ¡°Look, I thought that too when I first met him. There¡¯s more to him than what meets the eye, alright. He¡¯ll get you what you need, so get to it.¡± Halyard¡¯s gaze narrowed as he took a moment to think about it. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take your word for it. The way everyone talks about him, he sounds like some hero of the ages.¡± He huffed. ¡°As long as he gets the ore, it doesn''t matter.¡± Ben crossed his arms. He was sick and tired of people underestimating him. ¡°Look, if you want your ore, I need you to stop wasting my time and give me the details. Otherwise, I¡¯m gonna get going.¡± Halyard raised his hands. ¡°Alright, no need to be rash. Before things went to crap, I was working hard to reach the rank of Expert within the Blacksmiths guild. Since the mine closed down, the supply of iron ore plummeted, and I couldn¡¯t complete my goal. Since then, we¡¯ve been melting down old tools for repairs. With the Hollow Moon here, I will have plenty of business to reignite the flames of my forge and get back on track.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°You want me to get you the ore you need to restart your business. As much as I like to help people when they are in danger, this kind of job won''t be free. If things turn sour, I¡¯ll be putting my life in danger in those mines.¡± ¡°I will pay you what''s due, and it¡¯ll be properly logged through the system so you receive some experience. I¡¯m not just any old blacksmith. My work is known across the entire Canrich kingdom. I will need the finest quality ore, or the steel will be brittle and shatter my reputation. Hematite ore is what I need.¡± Halyard explained. ¡°Hematite?¡± Ben scratched his head, not knowing what it was. ¡°It¡¯s an ore that has a high concentration of iron, and it melts down in the bloomery with little impurities. I¡¯ll need around five hundred pounds, which¡¯ll be enough to start.¡± He paused, ¡°Arthel here was telling me you¡¯ll be getting the mine up and running again. Be certain that I will place regular orders every week.¡± New Quest Added: Gather Hematite Ore. Blacksmith Senior Journeyman Halyard Gruner has instructed you to procure five hundred pounds of ore from the mine. Quest Rewards: +100XP, +10 Gold Pounds Ben raised his eyebrow at the reward. It was a decent amount of experience and money, which he could use well. ¡°You know what needs to be done, and please, don''t let me down. Now, I must return to my family.¡± Halyard gave Ben a nod and grabbed his tankard before moving towards a small group of people who looked like they were waiting for him. Arthel huffed out a sigh of frustration. ¡°Don''t worry about him. He can be like that. He was once rich and lost much of his wealth like everyone else.¡± Har emerged from the back of the bar. ¡°The supplies have been loaded. I spoke with Jerry earlier and asked if he wanted to tag along, but he said something about getting to his cabin to grab a few things from there.¡± He paused and scratched his head. ¡°There¡¯s something else I should mention. Finn¡¯s sitting in my cart with his pickaxe and isn''t moving off it.¡± Arthel nodded. ¡°He¡¯s been waiting for this moment for months. Nothing the three of us can say or do will change his mind. Just be sure to take care of him. If something happened to him, it¡¯d break both his sisters¡¯ hearts.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Well, Har, you must ensure he listens to what we say and keeps his distance. I don''t want to be distracted if there are monsters in there.¡± ¡°Don''t worry. I¡¯ve spent my lifetime taking care of children. Now, come on, before we lose the sunlight. You can''t expect an old blind man like me to build a tent in the darkness.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°I¡¯m sure I can make space for you both in the back.¡± Chapter 31 – Into The Darkness Before setting off, Ben glanced at his van stats and MP pool. [Condition: 45%, Fuel: 24%.] [MP: 50/100] The condition would be okay if they didn¡¯t get into more trouble. Besides, they would spend most of their time on foot in the mine shafts. But he wasn''t taking risks with a quarter of a fuel tank. Thus, he decided to use half his MP to refuel and save the remainder if he needed to repair the van. [Fuel: 49%] [MP: 25/100] With that done, he turned his attention to Har and Finn, sitting in their cart, waiting for him to give them the go-ahead. A few other village folks, including some from Dimiwood, were sick and tired of waiting around and wanted to tag along and help. Ben gave Har a thumbs up before the old man kicked his horse to action and led the way. *** When they arrived at the mine, Ben¡¯s gaze shot toward the cage where they had left the bandits. There was no sign of anyone, and their broken camp had been cleared away. Ben hoped they had learned their lesson and would think twice about returning for any revenge. He had allowed them to change their ways and wouldn''t do the same if he saw them again. The mine entrance rested at the foot of a rocky ridge that cut across the valley, pointing towards the snow-capped mountains in the distance. He wondered if some of the tunnels could be connected to the proving grounds or even the Feruslands, where that powerful fairy, who fought alongside Le¡¯vieux, had come from. Har led the village folk to where the bandit tents had previously been erected. Everyone got to work, unloading the supplies from the carts, and began building the camp. Har then made his way to Finn and motioned him to the mine. Ben parked near the entrance, glancing at the temperature, which had plummeted a few degrees. He grabbed his jacket and the two flashlights from the back. He joined Har and Finn, who were waiting for him. When closer, Ben noticed the entrance looked rough and uneven and a little dark in places where soot had gathered. It looked like some explosive was used to collapse, making Ben think the miners must have done that on purpose. Ben figured it was wide enough for two horse carts to travel alongside each other. There were even marks on the ground which looked like cartwheels had carved them out. Har picked up one of the rocks. ¡°These are not too large. How long do you think it could take to clear it?¡± Finn stroked his chin. ¡°It all depends on how deep the rubble is. It could take around three days if it¡¯s at the foreman¡¯s office. Besides, we don''t know how big the rocks will get as we go further in.¡± ¡°From what I remember, the office is around fifteen feet down the shaft where the main chamber is. With the extra hands here, we could clear a small path down and leave the rest once we know what¡¯s going on down there.¡± Har explained before turning to Ben. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. We don''t know what went on down there, and looking from the soot around the entrance, it seems like the miners collapsed it on purpose. There could be creatures down there, and I don¡¯t want to take risks. I say the three of us go down and check things out.¡± Har nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll let the others know, and once the camp is set up, we¡¯ll get to work clearing this.¡± *** The next day, Ben stared at the tunnel. He was surprised they had cleared it so quickly. ¡°They put some back-breaking work into it. Luckily, it paid off, as it was only halfway filled in.¡± Har explained. ¡°Great work," Ben complimented, adding, ¡°We can''t let everyone go inside without checking if things are safe; it would unnecessarily put their lives at risk.¡± ¡°What do you suggest?¡± Har questioned. Ben glanced at both Har and Finn. ¡°The three of us should venture forth with Finn as our guide. The village folk should stay out here and keep an eye on things. If there is danger, I want you both to run back here and prepare to collapse the cave as a last resort.¡± ¡°Sounds fair to me.¡± Har nodded. He then spoke to the rest of the village folk, explaining everything. Ben went to the van and grabbed the weapon Jerry had given him. He figured it would be useful if he encountered any creatures. Once he was back at the entrance, Har motioned with his hand to lead the way.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. After a few steps into the darkness, Ben felt a strange feeling reverberating like pins and needles across his body. Something seemed odd and out of place. A sickly feeling churned in his stomach before the magic in his body started buzzing like when he first touched the artifact back on Earth. He wanted to reach for his flashlight, but something stopped him. His arm had become numb, and he dropped his weapon on the ground. Ben felt the darkness call for him, drawing him into its cold grasp. The next moment was a haze. Ben heard Har¡¯s voice call out for him several times, but it seemed like he was moving further away from him each time. He twisted his neck to see what was happening, only to be met with nothing. What the heck is going on now? ¡°Har? Finn?¡± Ben yelled at the top of his lungs. He would have thought in the caves, and his voice would have echoed, but it didn''t. All he received in response was a deafening silence. The numbness faded, and Ben reached for his flashlight. When he pressed the button, the light only penetrated a few feet before diffusing, as if he were standing in a thick fog. This can''t be real! Thinking back to what he had seen after fighting the bloodhounds, the reality of the situation started to set in. He was stuck inside another vision. When the darkness shifted to a starry background, it felt like hours had passed. Everything started to resemble the scene from the previous vision. None of this makes any sense. The hairs on Ben¡¯s neck started to tingle as he felt something wrap around his waist. When he looked down, it looked like two tentacles had grabbed him. Oh, hell no! ¡°It will soon enough.¡± An unfamiliar voice echoed around Ben¡¯s head. Ben was pulled back and spun to face the other direction. His mouth dropped open when he noticed a large cloud of mist before him. Strange crimson energy sparked and zapped across its surface. It looked the same as what he had seen coming out of the artifact before he was flung across the universe. The mist began to shrink and condense before it became humanoid. It started to resemble a mannequin, similar to the ones Ben had seen in clothing stores, except it looked more sinister, like some eldritch being from an evil corner of the universe. The entity moved closer to Ben until its blank, featureless face rested a few feet away. Then, it stared directly at Ben while staying unnaturally still. ¡°What the hell are you?¡± Ben asked, his voice trembling in fear. A feeling of frustration and annoyance swept across his body. ¡°You should watch your tone when speaking with higher beings. I gave you access to the power of the engineer seed, and I can take it from you instantly.¡± The entity snapped. ¡°Whoah! Take it easy. It¡¯s not like I asked you to give it to me.¡± Ben replied. The feeling then changed to that of amusement. ¡°It seems that is correct. You were chosen to wield its power based on your character. Strong-minded, resourceful, and able to work with what you have.¡± It responded. ¡°Hmm. You still haven''t answered my question.¡± ¡°In the universe, two forces always work against each other: creation and destruction. What you saw before was the work of destruction. I am an engineer who creates. I¡¯ve endowed my knowledge upon countless civilizations and given them the means to build vast galactic empires to defeat the destruction. The artifact you were transporting is a seed of power and has created a connection between us.¡± The entity explained. ¡°That explains the crazy visions. So, does that mean you¡¯ll be stuck in my head, reading my thoughts?¡± Ben asked. ¡°The visions you previously witnessed were my memories and a side effect of the integration process. We are connected now that the seed has fully assimilated with you.¡± ¡°You should think about fixing the entire darkness trap thing, and I was stuck in there for hours¡­ if it¡¯s going to be like that, then I would rather not talk to you. Besides, if I¡¯m honest, how you look right now is creepy. Are you not able to take a better form?¡± ¡°The aesthetics of my appearance are of no importance. You wouldn¡¯t be able to comprehend the scale of my true being. The reason you are here is due to what you see around here. The forces of destruction are out to destroy this part of the universe. They will stop at no end and even have their sights set on the world where you are situated. You may have come into contact with them already.¡± ¡°Well, if you count weird leeches that lodge themselves in your neck and take over your body. They¡¯ve already started taking over both creatures and humans. I don''t suppose you know what¡¯s going on with them?¡± Ben asked. ¡°They are the result of the dark spore. Crafted from dark matter by the agents of my enemies. Before launching a full-scale invasion of destruction, they infect a world to weaken it. They will stop at nothing to destroy everything. You must defeat them.¡± The entity explained. ¡°Hang on, I¡¯m not sure what you mean by that. I just saw an entire field of space junk where I¡¯m guessing a massive space battle occurred. I¡¯m stuck in the middle of a medieval civilization, which will probably take a thousand years or more to reach a stage where they can go up against a threat like that. What do you want me to do?¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°Trust in the power of the seed, and you may one day build a civilization that rules the galaxy or possibly even the universe. On your rise to power, you will encounter many obstacles and enemies who will no doubt want your end.¡± The entity explained as the stars in the background started to flicker. ¡°I must leave you now. Here, take this tool. It will be of use to you in your quest. I may contact you again when the time is right.¡± Just as the entity finished speaking, darkness began to consume everything. *** Suddenly, Ben jumped as the flames of a torch danced in his face. ¡°Ben?¡± Har called out. ¡°What the heck? Get that thing out of my face.¡± Ben shrieked, taking a few steps back. The scene had changed so rapidly it caught him off guard. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± Har asked. ¡°You stood there for moments, frozen still like a stone. Your face went pale as if you¡¯d seen a ghost. Young Finn is over there worried out of his mind.¡± ¡°Erm¡­ was I? I must have been daydreaming or something.¡± Ben nodded. After witnessing all that, he needed time to process it all. He didn''t want to share the details with Har if they thought he was insane. Har looked down before a frown filled his forehead. ¡°What¡¯s that in your hand?¡± Ben gave Har a funny look before he felt something smooth like plastic in his hand. When he looked down, a notification popped up in his vision. *** Omnitool Mk.1: A tool with various uses. Open the menu for more information. *** Ben shrugged. ¡°I have no idea.¡± He took a deep breath, realizing it must have been given to him by that entity. Chapter 32 - Moving rocks? Ben held up the Omnitool. It looked like a gun, and its shape resembled something from a futuristic video game. What on earth do you do? *** Omnitool allows the user to perform various tasks. Upgrade it to unlock more features and improve its proficiency. Features: Scan Resources: This feature scans the surrounding area for resources viable for extraction. Extract Resources: This feature allows the user to extract resources that have been scanned. Upgrade Tool to Mk.2: 10 Gold Coins. (Unlocks the research and craft features.) *** Alright. Open up the scan menu. *** Scan Resources: The user may not scan any resources at this moment. Please discover new ore types before attempting to scan. *** It was worth a try, but where will I put it when unused? I can''t carry it around with me like this. [The Omnitool may be kept in the system when unused.] The moment Ben thought about putting it away, the tool vanished. He glanced at Har and Finn, who looked at him with their jaws almost dropping before picking up his weapon. ¡°Come on then, let¡¯s get going.¡± Har rubbed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°You mages are crazy, you know that?" He then shrugged. "Crazy or not, you''ll need a torch unless you can see in the dark.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need one,¡± Ben exclaimed, garnering a raised eyebrow from the old man. He removed the flashlight from his pocket, pointed it into the darkness, and turned it on. The uneven path ahead was illumined in white light, allowing them to glimpse the entrance chamber below. Har scratched his head. ¡°And he says he¡¯s not a mage.¡± Finn chuckled. "It looks like Mister Ben has you all confused." He motioned at the tunnel walls as they moved further along, adding, "These walls used to be smooth and a little smaller. It looks like they used that weird fire thing here.¡± Ben gave Finn a raised eyebrow. ¡°Wierd fire?¡± ¡°They called it Greek fire. The knights use that stuff when they need to set things on fire. When lit from an almost closed clay pot, I¡¯ve heard it violently explodes like an inferno." Har interjected. ¡°They used it to clear large ore veins, but only when the miners were far away,¡± Finn added. ¡°Ah, I think I know what you¡¯re talking about. From the looks of things, they collapsed the entrance on purpose. I¡¯m certain we¡¯ll be finding out why soon enough.¡± Ben said, nearly stumbling over something. He aimed the flashlight down and discovered the barbequed remains of a person near some broken clay pots. ¡°We¡¯ve found our arsonist.¡± Finn moved closer to the body and inspected it. ¡°All the miners had to wear an iron badge with their name in case of an accident.¡± After fumbling around a little more, he found it, passed it to Har, and asked. ¡°What does it say?¡± Har looked at it, taking moments to read the letters as if he wasn''t too great at reading. ¡°Jorin Cranmer¡­ I remember him. His mother used to own a stall at the market, and when she fell sick, he had no choice but to start working the mines.¡± ¡°He was a good friend to my father, too. He looked out for me and my sisters. It''s not like him to do something like this." Finn explained while shrugging. Ben moved closer and shined the light on the neck area. For a corpse that was a few months old, it wasn''t too decayed, and patches of shriveled skin could still be made out. He thought it was worth checking to see if those neck leeches were to blame for what had happened. Everything seemed normal, so he got up. ¡°We should bury the bodies once we¡¯re done in here," Har said before motioning to the entrance chamber. "Come now, let''s see what happened to the others." When they reached the end, Ben glanced around the chamber. It was large, with enough space for around fifty people to stand comfortably. The walls appeared chiseled to a smooth finish, and plenty of candle holders were dotted across them. About a dozen wooden wheel barrels rested near a wooden door on one side. The chamber appeared empty except for a large locked wooden door ahead and two others on the opposite side. Ben gave Finn and Har the go-ahead to go around the room and light all the candles. When they were done, Finn was the first to open his mouth. ¡°This area here was used as a common area by the miners. I still remember being too young to work the mines I used to play in here. Guards were standing at each of the doors, and Mister Blackrock, the foreman, used to shout orders at people.¡± ¡°Blackrock sounds similar to a certain inn name,¡± Ben muttered, recognizing the name. ¡°Damon Blackrock,¡± Har interrupted, ¡°he owned this mine and much of the village. When the mine fell on hard times, he was forced to sell the land and most of his buildings in the village. Arthel bought the inn a decade ago but decided not to change the name. Damon was able to keep the mine in his possession.¡± ¡°Yeah, he was also the foreman. Do you remember that his wife and children ran across the border after the collapse with all his money?¡± Finn asked. ¡°Ah, yes, they couldn¡¯t wait to get away¡­ alright, Finn, that¡¯s enough talk about that. As the guide, you should tell us where all these doors lead.¡± Har replied, sternly motioning at the doors. ¡°Ah, right,¡± Finn nodded. ¡°You see those two doors?¡± He pointed to the side where two smaller fortified doors beside each other rested. ¡°The one closer to the entrance leads to Mister BlackRock¡¯s office. The other one will take us to the ore store.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°If the ore store was in use just before the collapse, it could save us some time if it was filled with what we need," Ben stated before turning to Finn. "That door looks solid to me. Do you know how to open it?" ¡°I saw them open it all the time. But, it''ll only open with Master Blackrock''s key, which he always carried around his neck. He didn¡¯t want anyone going anywhere near his ore.¡± ¡°Mister Blackrock could be anywhere in this place,¡± Ben mumbled. ¡°What about the office?¡± Har asked. ¡°He used to keep his office unlocked in case anyone needed the key for the tool shed. The entrance was guarded, and all the important things were kept safe.¡± Finn explained. ¡°We should get in the office to see what else we can discover, then get in that tool shed as there could be things in there that could come in good use when we¡¯re in the deeper levels,¡± Har suggested. ¡°Alright, the office it is.¡± Ben nodded. The office door was a little stuck but opened after a few heavy kicks. It was cold, dark, and empty, like the entrance chamber. Finn went around the room and lit the candles. The room itself was much larger than Ben thought it would be. There was a sleeping area with a dusty old bed resting on it. A large table surrounded by a few chairs was in the middle of the room. At the back, there was another desk with a single fancy chair. Behind that was a square iron box with a tiny keyhole. There was even a little fireplace chiseled out of the stone, and Ben wondered if it had a chimney hole where the smoke would have gone. After searching the room, Har found a journal and opened it before moving it closer to one of the candles. ¡°I¡¯m not the best reader, but I can make sense of some words.¡± He tried to say the words but stuttered all over the place. Ben looked over his shoulder and snatched the journal. "Here, pass it over. We¡¯ll die of thirst before you finish that.¡± ¡°You can read?¡± Har asked. ¡°I learned as a child." *** ¡°What the heck! This isn''t good.¡± Ben exclaimed. He had finished reading through the final entry. Both Har and Finn had eagerly waited with their arms crossed. ¡°Go on then, what does it say?¡± Har asked, motioning at the journal. ¡°Well, it starts with the mine running as usual.¡± Ben started, raising his head from the pages. ¡°You both know it wasn¡¯t in the best financial shape. Damon had ordered the few miners he had left to search for any undiscovered ore veins. He grew increasingly frustrated as his debts piled up atop one another. Someone called Sudfeld was on the verge of reclaiming the mine from him to settle the debts.¡± ¡°That figures.¡± Har scoffed, ¡°Damon''s middle name should have been Debt. Constantly borrowing money to drown himself in fine wine and chase noble women. But still, he was miles better than that idiot Sudfield.¡± Seeing the look on Har¡¯s face, Ben continued. ¡°So, he had almost given up hope when one of the miners down at the three-hundred-foot level cracked the surface of high-quality hematite. That¡¯s around the time when all the miners from Robynhill were called. He wanted to exploit the vein, hoping it would give the mine a new lease on life and bring prosperity back to Robynhill.¡± ¡°Prosperity?¡± Har shook his head in disbelief, ¡°I remember the time of his grandfather when I was a child. With my own eyes, I watched the men of that time build Robynhill from the ground up. Damon wouldn¡¯t know prosperity even if it hit him in the face.¡± He sighed in frustration and looked away for a moment as if his childhood memories had resurfaced from the archives of his mind. After a short silence, he asked, ¡°Does it say anything about why the entrance was blocked?¡± ¡°The following entry is about the miners doing well with the vein. They managed to fill the ore store to half its capacity¡­ I¡¯m not sure if that will be enough for Halyard.¡± Ben explained. He then turned to Finn. ¡°What is the capacity of the ore store?¡± Finn took a moment to think about it and scratched his chin, ¡°Erm¡­ from what I remember, Mister Blackrock used to say that it could hold around fifty tons of ore¡­ And that includes the small amounts of coal they stored there, too.¡± ¡°It says they filled it up to half. Do you know how much they would have mined?¡± Ben asked. ¡°Erm¡­ Well, coal weighs less than iron ore and takes up more space. But I think there should be around ten tons.¡± ¡°Ten tons!¡± Ben explained. That was enough to start things with Halyard and maybe even more, which could be sold off for a decent profit. ¡°It would make our lives easier if we could get into that ore store right about now.¡± Har muttered before facing Finn, ¡°Can''t we just break the door, or does it need the key to open.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Finn started, ¡°Like I said before, it¡¯s a thick iron door and can only open with the key.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Remember, getting the Mirium is our top priority. If we find the key, then we can keep Halyard happy. We don''t want to lose Hauxwell. I found him a great person from my little time with him.¡± Har nodded, ¡°is there nothing about what happened?¡± ¡°There was more entry. He was preparing to contact some caravans to transport the ore to Feruswich¡­ Har, it mentions your name here as ¡®the old fool Har and his broken cart.¡¯¡± Finn found the remark funny and laughed, ¡°I remember that.¡± Har gave Finn the death stare. The smirk on Finn¡¯s face quickly vanished before he tried to look busy by searching around the desk. ¡°Look here.¡± Har shook his head with a frown. ¡°Nothing was wrong with my cart¡­ just one of the wheels was shaky. That idiot was lucky I was here to transport his ore when he needed it.¡± ¡°Anyway, their progress stopped when they hit another cave system that appeared to run perpendicular to the three-hundred-level. They were ordered to look around the cave and see if they could see the start of any other veins. Some miners were too weary to proceed as strange noises were heard. Someone had even believed to see a rock move in one of the smaller tunnels. Damon didn''t care and called it ¡®superstitious hearsay.¡¯¡± Har scratched his head, ¡°I don¡¯t believe rocks can move on their own.¡± Then frowned. ¡°Of course, he would say that. Nothing could get between that man and his profits.¡± ¡°The last words written here mention the remains of a dead miner before it abruptly ends with something do with an infestation. They sent armed guards down there." Ben finished closing the journal and placed it on the desk. ¡°Mister Ben, Does it say anything about whose body they found?¡± Finn interrupted with a worrisome look on his face. ¡°There¡¯s no name, but I¡¯m certain we can check the name badge once we find the body,¡± Ben replied, reassuringly nodding. Har nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Finn. We¡¯ll find out what happened down there.¡± Finn held back his tears and raised his hand. Sniffling, he said, ¡°We should get to the tool shed.¡± Ben patted the kid on his back while Har rubbed his head. They left the office and went straight for the tool shed. Har shot straight for the wheelbarrow pile as they neared and began rummaging through it. Occasionally, some curse words escaped his lips as most of them appeared to be broken. He sighed in relief before rolling one of them out. The wheel wobbled a little and caused it to rattle. ¡°This shaky wheel will come in use, don¡¯t worry.¡± He remarked before parking it directly near the entrance of the tool shed. Finn had spent most of that time trying to twist the key, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°I think it¡¯s seized.¡± He said. ¡°Here, let me do it,¡± Ben muttered, pushing Finn out of the way. Ben budged the key a little after putting all his power into it. It was thick enough that he knew it wouldn¡¯t break if he were rough with it. He smacked the end with the back of his flashlight before it clicked and started moving. Pulling the handle, the heavy door creaked open. Like a freight train, the smell of animal fat, spirit, and other things hit Ben¡¯s nostrils. There were no candle holders, and it looked like the room relied on the candles placed just outside the door. He shined his torch in. ¡°No torches allowed beyond this point,¡± Finn warned. ¡°Mister Blackrock didn¡¯t want his mine setting on fire. They stored pots of that Greek fire in here and other things that can set on fire if not careful.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, kid, mine doesn¡¯t use flames,¡± Ben muttered while looking at the internals better. The room was larger than the office and resembled a small storage warehouse. Its interior was lined with many shelves but mostly empty, with only a few items on display. The further they looked, the more open it became, where piles of crates rested. As with the shelves, that area also looked more empty than full. Finn pointed out some of the crates and named the various items they contained, and Har went along, filling his wheelbarrow with whatever he thought would be needed. He got towards the end, where the pickaxes were kept, and took two that looked decent. He put one in the wheelbarrow and motioned for Ben to grab the other one. Finn took them to the door, which led them down to the first mine level without further ado. A thick wooden beam ran across its middle. Once open, they faced a dark tunnel. On one side, the miners had carved out some steps; on the other, it was just a steep sloop. ¡°All right. I guess this is it.¡± Ben muttered. Chapter 33 - Roach Extermination Ben got down and hid behind one of the protruding walls. He wasn''t sure what the creature was a few meters ahead of him. Getting lower into the prone position, Ben crept towards a pile of nearby rocks. He was a little weary. The creature might have seen the light coming from his flashlight and detected him, but there was no response. The creatures looked like they were native to an underground habitat, so Ben felt they probably couldn''t see anything and must have relied on their other senses to get around. Ben poked his head out and shined the flashlight on the creature. It resembled a football-sized rock with small legs coming out from either side. Small insect-like appendages, three on either side, protruded from the lower part of the shell. At the front, a small head stuck out with a pair of long, thin, cockroach-like antennae. [Mineroach Worker Level 3] To Ben, it didn''t look like it could cause any damage, but he felt there would be bigger, tougher ones knocking around the further he traveled within the grasp of the mine. They did somehow take out a bunch of miners and armed guards. The Mineroach rubbed its front two appendages, which were pointed and sharp, on the wall. When it got to the glittery patches that looked like an ore of some kind, it used its sharp, pointed teeth to break small chunks off from it. After chewing for a moment, it spat onto one of its appendages before placing the slimy stuff in a little crevice in its rocky outer shell. The way it acted appeared to be peaceful. The last thing Ben wanted was to hurt it if it was harmless. But he also didn''t want to be unprepared if it decided to attack him. Ben clutched his weapon tight. Glancing around, he checked to see if any more enemies were lurking around, as he felt they could swarm him in greater numbers. When he felt the coast was clear, he grabbed one of the nearby rocks and lobbed it at the creature. Suddenly, the Mineroach''s antennae jumped, becoming erect at full mast. Within a second, it stopped, turned to where the rock fell, and unleashed a flurry of stabs as if it had personally switched to a full-on serial killer. Holy shit! It''s not so peaceful anymore! Ben saw the creature frantically start looking around. Its antenna waved around in circles as if they were searching for him like a radar. When they were pointed at him, they stopped dead still. Ben shot up as the creature skittered towards him like a crab on a boatload of meth. He dodged out of the way in time for it to crash into the pile of rocks. While its back was turned, Ben slammed the hammer down. What the hell¡¯s going on with this thing? The creature''s shell cracked, popping and flinging smaller pieces away as the hammer bounced away. It started shaking in a frenzy and was about to rush ahead when Ben took a couple of steps back, raised his weapon, and pummeled its head a few times until there was no movement. [You killed Mineroach Worker Level 3: +6XP] ¡°Eww.¡± Ben almost gagged. The creature''s innards had been splattered all over the ground, mixed with whatever glittery ore it had collected. What was more concerning was how it instantly went from zero to a hundred on the hostility scale. Shaking his head, Ben moved away from the creature and started looking around. The rest of the mine level appeared mostly empty, apart from various storage crates containing more mining supplies. A few carts were filled with ore, which looked like they were being transported to the main chamber. When Ben reached the actual shafts, he noticed a large area that had been dug out. Massive dark patches covered the walls, and there were even a few piles of coal. He picked up one of the rocks, causing a few to roll down and hit the ground with a thud. Suddenly, the sounds of movement closed in on Ben from behind. The moment he turned, five notifications filled his vision. The creatures were between levels four and five and had come out of nowhere and looked pissed off. Oh, hell no! Ben knew he couldn''t fend them off all at once. He threw the lump of coal at one of them before running back the way he came. When another creature appeared, blocking his path, Ben lifted his hammer and swung it like a golf club. Although it wasn¡¯t a hole-in-one, the creature rolled to one of the coal piles before being buried beneath. [You killed Mineroach Worker Level 5: +10XP]A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Ben rushed to the first pile of rocks and picked up a few. He knew they couldn¡¯t see him and decided a distraction was on order. Momentarily confused, the roaches split apart from each other, with some starting to stab the rocks. Ben stepped a little back and entered the shaft, hoping he could bottleneck them there. Two roaches had almost caught up to him, causing Ben to clutch the hammer tighter before putting all his strength into a downward blow, causing the creature''s shell to shatter. He managed to kick it out of the way before the other arrived. Ben used the same tactic, noticing a couple more creatures closing in. He kicked the one he just pummeled at them, breaking their momentum. Seeing his opportunity, Ben rushed forward and launched a barrage of constant blows till all three stopped moving. The remaining two still had some distance to cover, so Ben lined up a golf swing and launched them across the chamber. Scattered and confused, Ben ran towards them and finished them off. [+36XP] ¡°Not too shabby,¡± Ben muttered, raising his weapon. Ben gave the area a final check before returning to get Finn and Har. *** ¡°Just keep your voice down. We don¡¯t want to be attracting any unwanted attention.¡± Ben warned. ¡°Don''t worry, Mister Ben.¡± Finn nodded. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll explain why they called it the Blackrock mine. When the first people who found this cave went inside, they found loads of coal. Master Blackrock''s ancestors changed their last names to be fancier. For the other ore, you have to keep going lower." ¡°How many more levels does this place have?¡± Ben asked. ¡°About three, unless they dug another one that went even deeper. Master Blackrock always said this mine could go deeper." Finn explained. Ben pointed to where the first mine roach was biting chunks from the wall. ¡°What¡¯s that then?¡± Finn took a good look at it and then scratched his head. ¡°That doesn''t make any sense. It¡¯s galena.¡± ¡°Galena?¡± Ben asked with a raised brow. ¡°Galena is a lead and silver ore,¡± Har interjected. ¡°That could be what all the fanfare was about before the collapse. Silver is valuable and traded around as currency. Something like that would have brought Robynhill back from the dead." ¡°Well, when I found the roach, it was eating away at it before putting the shiny stuff in a little pouch,¡± Ben explained before pointing at one of the carcasses. ¡°You should still see it sparking in the blood." Har scratched his head. ¡°That is rather strange if you ask me. Then again, I''ve never seen or heard about these creatures before today." ¡°Well, there¡¯s no point pondering over it too much, and I doubt anyone around here knows what they are. Let¡¯s keep moving for now. Ensure you light any candles you notice along the way. They''re blind as bats. And please, both of you keep your eye''s peeled, the little buggers are fast." *** Ben knelt. ¡°This doesn''t look too good.¡± They had reached the doorway, which, according to Finn, led down to the second level. Upon the ground were splatters of dried blood. They streaked across the ground, going beyond the doorway. ¡°These things must have killed them here and dragged their bodies down below,¡± Har explained before pointing to an area near the door. ¡°Their pickaxes are piled over there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to see where they lead. I¡¯ll let you know once it¡¯s clear.¡± Ben said, moving towards the door. As Ben was about to open the door, he heard the same skittering sound the roaches made, but louder with more oomph. ¡°Both of you get back now!¡± Ben ordered, getting into a defensive stance. As Finn and Har gained some distance, a few loud thuds hit the door before it swung wide open. [Mineroach Warrior Level 5] Ben took a few steps back. The warrior variant was twice the size of the workers. Its rocky exterior seemed thicker and more resilient, while its front two appendages were longer and sharper. It inched forward with a confident thirst for blood. Ben wasn''t sure if the warrior was slower due to its bigger size or if it thought he was a walk in the park. The moment the creature lunged towards him, Ben dodged to the side, bouncing off the nearby rocky wall. While the roach was gathering itself, Ben pummeled its rocky shell. When he noticed the lack of damage, he hurried a few meters away. It''s no use hitting that shell. It''s too thick. I might be able to take it out if I get its head. The creature leaped once more. Ben dodged, causing it to slam head-on into the rocky wall. Disoriented, Ben took the opening and repeatedly bashed its head until it was lifeless. [You killed Minroach Warrior Level 5: +15XP] Ben let out a sigh of relief. He had a feeling that wouldn''t be the last of them. He motioned Finn and Har to come back. When they got closer, "Wait for me here." *** The moment Ben entered the next area, his mouth dropped open. Around a dozen more roaches were there hurrying about. In addition, there were even a couple of warriors guarding the area. More of them congregated at the other end, and another shaft led to the next level down. Ben knew he couldn''t fight them all simultaneously, so he devised a plan. Tirelessly, he threw one rock at a time to distract the workers individually. Then, he led them to the entrance shaft, where they were bottlenecked and smashed to oblivion. A few others had noticed before a small group came at him. Ben used careful dodging and a mixture of hit-and-run tactics before all the workers were defeated. [+96XP] [You are now Level 6: +1 Skill Point Available.] [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Deputy Sergeant.] Shifting his attention to the warriors, Ben scratched his head. They were both walking together and looking around with their arms ready to strike. They¡¯re probably wondering what happened to all the workers. How am I going to fight them at the same time? Time was running out as they neared, so Ben decided to throw more rocks, aiming at them directly behind them. He crept up from behind and lifted the hammer, swinging it down from the back. It landed directly on the ass, causing the roach to tremble before hitting the ground. It wriggled in pain for a moment while the other one lunged. Ben tried to dodge but was grazed across his thigh. If it weren''t for the leather armor Jerry had given him, he would have surely suffered from a deep cut. He shook it off before whacking its head a few times. It was useless. The creature¡¯s shell kept getting in the way. The other one had recovered and was already going for him. Ben barely got away and ran back to the entrance shaft. When he turned, one was already on his tail and nearly got his leg. Chapter 34 – Mineroach Barbeque Oh no, you don''t! Ben flipped the hammer around and used the end of the handle to poke at the roach''s head. After several unsuccessful attempts, he managed to smash its brain matter out. The moment the creature became lifeless, the other one rushed him and attempted to bite his leg. Ben kicked the creature, where the antennae protruded from the head, causing it to freeze. He then used the same poking tactic to finish it off. Phew! [+30XP] Ben took a moment to gather himself and wiped away the sweat on his forehead. Things had gotten too close for comfort, and he wished he had a better weapon or cool abilities like most Hollow Moon knights. Ben made his way back up. ¡°Finn, Har! It¡¯s alright for you both to come down now.¡± Har creaked open the door and gave Ben a second glance. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve seen better days. I hope they didn''t cause you too much trouble.¡± Ben huffed a sigh. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing except a couple of close calls. There were more down there than I expected, so stay alert in case I missed any.¡± Har glanced at Finn. ¡°So, Mister Mine Guide, what was mined at the second level?¡± ¡°Well, down at that level, there wasn''t much coal. It was full of iron ore, but most had been mined. That¡¯s why they dug deeper for the third level.¡± Finn explained just as they arrived at the bottom. ¡°Finn, you stay here with Ben. I¡¯ll get some of these candles lit.¡± Har said, moving away. Ben shone the flashlight around, giving Har the light he needed to finish the job. When Har returned, he pointed near another large doorway at the other end. ¡°There¡¯s something over there you should see.¡± When they got there, Ben shined his flashlight where Har had motioned. A pile of bones rested there in a mangled mess. The ground below was covered in dark splatters where various tools and a tattered journal rested. Har started taking the name badges and staring at them one by one. ¡°These were some of the other miners.¡± He glanced at Finn and said, ¡°Don''t worry; your parents are not here. They must have been on the third level when this happened.¡± Ben picked up the journal and flicked through the pages, trying to make out the scribbled writing. Once he was done, he slapped it closed. ¡°There¡¯s one entry at the end that explains what happened. Down at the third level, they discovered a part of the collapsed wall leading to some uncharted cave system. That¡¯s where the roaches were coming from. The miners fought alongside the guards and managed to kill a fair few but were ambushed by one as large as the chamber. There¡¯s something in here about hundreds of dormant eggs down there.¡± Har shook his head. ¡°Hundreds? We can''t allow these things anywhere near the outside. The people of Robynhill already have a lot to deal with. This would be the end.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what they were thinking. They sent that guy upstairs to grab the Greek fire and were going to burn them all. They made it back here, held the door shut, and waited. From the looks of things, that guy must have taken the pots to the entrance shaft and collapsed it instead.¡± Har held his head and huffed. ¡°He must have gotten scared and panicked. He was probably thinking about his family back at the village.¡± ¡°To be fair, if they had set those things on fire, it could have worked, especially on the eggs,¡± Ben muttered, remembering how effective the fire was on those eggs near the lake. ¡°Whatever that large thing was down there must be taken care of. How many pots of that Greek fire were left in the tool shed?¡± ¡°Erm, there were around a dozen pots,¡± Finn replied. ¡°Is that enough to cause a serious fire?¡± Ben asked. ¡°It should be enough to collapse that new cave system where these things were coming from, but you need to place some of the pots inside,¡± Finn explained. ¡°Alright.¡± Ben nodded and turned to Har with a half grin. ¡°I¡¯m gonna them.¡± Har understood what Ben meant and let out a sigh. ¡°Right. You two stay here. I¡¯ll go bring a wheelbarrow full of the stuff.¡±
Ben rolled the wheelbarrow down the shaft, which led to the third level. As usual, he had asked Finn and Har to stay behind if things got hairy. The third level felt much deeper than the previous two. It had taken Ben almost twice as long to get there, and the decline was more prevalent, with the wheelbarrow almost tipping over a few times. When he reached the end, he shined his flashlight around and found the chamber filled with several different groups of enemies. The workers were closer to the mineshafts, and the warriors were dotted along various areas on patrol.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Near the far end, there was an unnatural opening that looked like it must have led to the cave system. Ben hit the button on his flashlight to increase its luminosity. His mouth dropped wide open as he noticed the glistening of dull steel covering yellow bones. He figured if Finn¡¯s parents were anywhere, they must have been there. Ben couldn¡¯t risk getting swarmed because of a creaky wheel and let go of the wheelbarrow, carefully leaving it near some crates full of ore. He softly tip-toed over to the corpses, keeping his distance from the roaches, and started his search. Once the badges and key were in his pocket, he returned before picking up a few pots from the wheelbarrow. He journeyed to the cave, narrowly avoiding a group of roaches that went through. Ben opened the lid when the stench of oil and tar smacked his nostrils. He knelt and started pouring it wherever he could. Then, he opened the other pots except one and rolled them sideways so the liquid could flow out. He placed the final one there without removing the lid so it would explode when the moment the embers brushed against it. The roaches started moving to action, running towards the cave entrance where the sounds had come from. By the time they arrived, Ben had already returned to the wheelbarrow, where he started launching the other pots across various parts of the chamber, ensuring enough liquid to ignite the cave. While the roaches panicked, Ben grabbed the last two pots and started creating a snail trail back to the second level. ¡°Is it done?¡± Har asked the moment Ben arrived. Ben rolled the pot in his hands down the slope before turning to Har. ¡°Give me the torch and run as far back as possible.¡± Once he had the torch, he held it down. Happy Fourth of July! When the flames touched the liquid, it puffed into large embers, causing Ben to jump back. The flames shot down along the trail as he slammed the door shut and sprinted back towards the entrance of the mine like an Olympic athlete. When Ben reached the first level, the ground trembled multiple times before shaking like a high-category earthquake. Bits of rocks started raining down from the ceiling, and some mineshafts even collapsed before his eyes. Luckily, Ben reached the main chamber as a gust of dust crashed into his back, flinging him a few feet forward. His face almost scraped across the rough stone floor, but he could move his arms ahead to take the brunt. As things started to calm down, a notification filled his vision. [+375XP] Ben pushed himself up as Har rushed towards him and helped him get back on his feet. ¡°That was a close one.¡± Har shook his head disapprovingly. When Finn arrived, he added. ¡°Mister, let¡¯s hope those coal veins don''t set alight. Master Damon always kept warning us about that. He said the entire Mesolands could be covered in smoke for decades.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°Well, let¡¯s hope it doesn¡¯t get to that.¡± Turning to Har, he added, ¡°I think we need to call everyone down to start clearing the rubble. Hopefully, we¡¯ll still be able to find Miriam Ore.¡±
Ben stood staring at the destroyed doorway leading to the third level. He had spent almost two days helping with the clearing process, and he was happy there were no traces of those roaches anywhere until he was abruptly summoned. Ben looked down the shaft, pointing his flashlight in. Vibrations in the air could be felt as if something was hitting one of the walls like a jackhammer. ¡°Could it still be alive?¡± Finn asked. Ben shrugged. ¡°It looks like it from the looks of things. I thought that entire level would have been destroyed.¡± ¡°Master Blackrock always said to use safe mining practices and even paid for extra support beams to be placed there,¡± Finn explained. ¡°There will be serious damage down there, but not to the point where it will be impossible to start mining again.¡± A groan escaped Ben¡¯s mouth. ¡°We¡¯ve not encountered any of the smaller roaches. Which means they must have perished in the explosion. The sounds we hear now feel like that large one is still kicking around there.¡± Finn shrugged before asking, ¡°Are you going back down there?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Well, I don''t see any other way. I must ensure none of those things are still alive before any village folk are allowed in.¡± He sighed. ¡°Besides, there¡¯s no other way if there¡¯s a chance of me finding that ore to save Hauxwell.¡± ¡°Alright, Mister Ben, well, good luck down there. I¡¯ll tell Har to prepare the wheelbarrows so you can take the ore out.¡± He paused for a moment as sadness filled his face. ¡°Har told me two of the name badges you found were my parents. I hope their bodies can be taken out and buried.¡± Ben patted the Finn on the shoulder. ¡°Don''t worry, kid, you have my word. We¡¯ll give them a proper burial no matter what. Alright?¡± With teary eyes, Finn nodded. Ben faced the darkness ahead and made his way down. He made sure not to trip over any rubble, as there appeared to be much more damage to the structure of the mine the deeper he went. He hoped Finn was right about the main structure being solid, as the last thing he wanted was to get buried under a pile of rocks. The thuds got louder as Ben entered the level three chamber. He shined his flashlight all over the ground and saw the carcasses of the mineroaches littering the entire area. Some were covered in soot as their innards had been burned to a crisp, while others had been crushed where parts of the ceiling had collapsed. When Ben arrived at the cave entrance, it was almost blocked. He managed to shine his flashlight through some of the rocks. What the heck! [Mineroach Queen Level 10] The queen twitched around, its face huddled across near a small part of the cave that looked like it had been unnaturally cut out. Some of her limbs were missing, while massive parts of her body blistered with scorched blisters. The womb area where the eggs must have come out of had been compressed to a pulp by a large rock. It looked like her days of laying eggs were gone. Ben glanced around to see if any of the eggs had survived, and all he was met with were grilled embryos, which resembled pieces of coal. Ben wasn''t sure if the queen could regrow the womb and start the process over again. And thus, he started clearing the way before stepping in. The queen must have sensed him approaching as she limpingly turned. Her mouth appeared to be munching on what looked like glowing blue rocks gleaming with a glittery light and sluggishly moving towards Ben before swinging one of her spear-like arms. Ben easily dodged out of the way, causing his arm to get lodged in the wall behind him, causing more rocks to fall from the ceiling. Ben shone the flashlight up and hopped out of harm''s way. The roach mama struggled to escape the clutches of the wall. She shrieked in pain as more rocks plowed into her from above. Ben ran ahead, dodging another attack from one of the queen''s deformed appendages. He used her stuck arm as a platform before aiming his hammer at her head. He let out a sigh before repeatedly pummeling her head till her brains started splattering everywhere. It looked like she was about to fall dead on the ground when her mouth started glowing and released a blast of energy. Ben was about to jump off when her arm was dislodged but was hit as the arm snapped back. He was flung a few meters away, where his head met the rough walls of the cave before he blacked out. Chapter 35 – Two Quests With One Stone Ben gasped for air, sucking in the dusty air. He was surrounded by darkness, and his throat felt like sandpaper as he gulped down his metallic-tasting saliva. [You killed Mineroach Queen Level 10: +150XP] Ben breathed relief as he thought he would have to fight the queen in total darkness. His flashlight had been knocked away when he pummeled into the wall. Patting the ground around him, Ben hoped to find it again. Instead, he discovered a faint blue glow reflecting off of certain things. After twisting his neck, Ben noticed it was coming from the cave wall behind him, where luminescence patterns were woven into the rocks like wonderful web-like patterns. They were concentrated at various points where the effects of the light multiplied. It looked like he was looking at an ore of some kind. Crawling, Ben moved closer to a little pile on the ground. [Raw Mirium Ore] [This mineral contains high concentrations of magical energy. It can be used for various applications, such as creating basic potions and enchantments. It can also be refined for more advanced applications.] [Mirium ore can now be scanned and extracted with the Omnitool.] I need to figure out how that damn Omnitool works. Ben looked around and found his flashlight. He turned it on without issue and placed it on a nearby rock, pointing it at the vein. He stood about a meter away from it and put his hand out. Thinking about the Omnitool made it suddenly appear, causing him almost to drop it. Whelp, that¡¯s gonna take some getting used to. Ben aimed it like a gun and activated the scan function. An opaque hologram emerged, covering the vein like a water jet and flashing several times. [Mirum ore vein detected.] The extract function became available, and when he pressed it, the hologram became thin in the area where he pointed before it started to spark, creating the same sound a pickaxe would make when striking it. Ben waited until there was a small pile before stopping the process. Then, he moved closer and picked up one nugget. It felt heavier than it looked, which made Ben think it must have had a high density similar to heavy metals like gold and silver. That meant he wouldn''t need to mine much of it to make up the weight he needed. Ben grabbed the pieces that looked like they contained the most ore and stuffed his pockets full of the stuff. Satisfied with what he had, he made his way back.
The moment Ben came out of the shaft, he got awkward stares from everyone. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Har asked. ¡°Yeah, that queen was still alive. She won''t be causing any more problems. For now, the third level seems clear of enemies but will need structural work to make it safe before any mining can begin.¡± Ben explained. ¡°With time, we can make it safe again.¡± Har nodded. Finn chuckled. ¡°Talk about filled pockets, Mister Ben. Is that what I think it is?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Strangely, that darn queen had her mouth full of the stuff. I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s the reason she got all big the way she was.¡± He then patted his pockets, ¡°Hopefully, this should be enough to get Hauxwell better.¡± "What? You fought and defeated the mine queen!" Finn cheered. ¡°Hey,¡± Har interrupted, ¡°you should be more careful. From what I¡¯ve heard, that¡¯s volatile stuff. Put it in a damn crate before you damage your family jewels.¡± Ben raised his eyebrows. ¡°I didn''t have anywhere better to put it.¡± Har shook his head in disappointment and almost facepalmed. Then he turned to the other people and said, ¡°You heard him. It¡¯s not safe to go down there without serious safety work. Stay clear of the third level until we sort things out. For now, continue your clearing efforts and move the remaining ore piles to the ore store upstairs.¡± Turning to Ben. ¡°Speaking of the ore store, what do you want to do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get there and open it up,¡± Ben replied.
Ben stood at the ore store. After twisting the key, the mechanism clicked to life, and a loud clang reverberated around the entrance chamber. The door opened slightly, and Ben swung it open, shining his flashlight around. The chamber had a path running down the middle, nestled between sectioned areas where large piles of ore were stored. Near the door were a few storage crates that would have been used to transport the ore out and into the carts. Ben grabbed one of the crates, quickly dusted it off, and emptied the Mirium ore from his pockets. Looking around, he also noticed the coal and iron areas were filled.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Har cleared his throat. ¡°Well, it looks like our lucky day.¡± Finn nodded, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve never seen it this filled before. They must have worked hard before the collapse.¡± Ben turned to Har. ¡°We need to fill a cart of iron and deliver it to Halyard so I can complete his quest. It¡¯s better to kill two quests with one stone and save a journey.¡± Har didn''t complain and got to work ordering the village folk. It had taken a few trips back and forth before filling the cart outside. Before setting off, Har pulled Finn aside. ¡°Give us some time. When we get back, we¡¯ll get the burial done. Now, don''t go about doing something stupid. I don''t want to see you or anyone else get hurt. Alright?¡± Finn nodded. ¡°Alright, Mister Har. I¡¯ll wait here.¡± Har then patted him on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s important that you keep an eye on things here and ensure things go smoothly. If you do a good job, I¡¯m certain Ben will give you an important position when the mine properly re-opens for business.¡± ¡°I promise I¡¯ll do a good job and won''t disappoint you.¡± Finn finished. After that, Ben started the van, and once Har gave him the signal to go, they set off towards Robynhill.
Ben found himself at the inn and stood before the mage in charge. ¡°Will this be enough?¡± He asked. The mage glanced within before he raised an eyebrow. ¡°We need to refine this before it becomes useful. I''ll update the quest for you so you can reap its reward." He then looked at the crate''s contents, "You''ve brought us more than we need, so I''ll pay you for the leftovers, as they¡¯ll come to good use when we start the alchemy operation here." [Quest Completed: Blackrock Mine] [+150XP, +10 Gold Pound] [You are now Level 7: +1 Skill point available.] [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Sergeant.] The mage turned to his subordinates. ¡°We have the ore. Now it¡¯s time to get to work,¡± he ordered. He was about to walk away when he stopped. ¡°Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you. Alfred is doing much better now but wants to be alone. He said not to come after him as he had gone off somewhere. I think he¡¯s having difficulty coming to grips with his situation. If the Royal Flush works as intended, you could ask Hauxwell to train you." He gave Ben a nod before getting back to his work. Ben glanced around the inn and found Halyard before making his way over to him. ¡°I see you have returned.¡± Halyard started. ¡°Yup, and we¡¯ve got your ore. It¡¯s outside near the grassy clearing in Har¡¯s cart.¡± Ben explained. ¡°That¡¯s the best news I¡¯ve heard all year.¡± Halyard smiled before making his way outside. He checked the cart''s contents before turning to both Har and Ben. ¡°I didn''t think you¡¯d be able to do this. With this, I¡¯ll finally be able to make it to Expert Blacksmith.¡± [Quest Completed: Gather Hematite Ore.] [+100XP, +10 Gold Pound] Halyard continued. ¡°As promised, that is your reward. Now, I must get to work getting the forge up and running. These Hollow Moon knights have already put some orders in.¡± Turning to Har, ¡°You don''t mind moving this near my forge.¡± Har crossed his arms. ¡°You better be paying me for that.¡±
Ben sat at the bar. Later in the evening, Arthel provided them with a warm meal and something to drink. Ben noticed the inn had been cleaned up and repaired to its original state. With the Hollow Moon providing military-level protection, more people filled its wooden walls and appeared lively. It was like a mountain of frustration had been lifted from their shoulders, and they could finally rest from the constant threat to their lives. Arthel explained that a few people had set up stalls near the inn to sell their wares, and even a couple of caravans had come to trade their goods. He also mentioned that he had received word from one of the knights that the artisans would be arriving soon to set up their workshops. The talk then shifted to the mine, with Har explaining in-depth what had occurred. Arthel stood there stunned by what he had heard about the mineroaches. After gathering himself, he shook his head. ¡°In all the years I¡¯ve been here, there hasn''t ever been a mention of those little buggers. Sounds like you were lucky to get out of there alive.¡± Har motioned towards Ben. ¡°He¡¯s the one that fought them.¡± The inn¡¯s door creaked open, causing Arthel to look that way. ¡°Look who¡¯s finally back.¡± Jerry walked in before rushing to the bar. He motioned to Arthel for a drink before turning to Ben. ¡°You two are back already. Did you get the magic rocks?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Of course. The mage guy said it¡¯s more than he needs and is working on that potion.¡± Jerry let out a sigh of relief. ¡°You¡¯ve done good work out there, and Le¡¯Vieux was right to trust you in that quest. I just hope the damn thing works.¡± Ben pointed to the back of the inn, where the mages worked hard with their alchemical equipment. ¡°That mage guy seems like he knows his stuff. We¡¯ll see how it goes soon enough. Besides, where the heck did you go? I could''ve used your help down in that matter.¡± Jerry scratched his head before taking a sip of ale. ¡°It took me some time, but I removed my things and workshop from the cabin. I¡¯ve brought them here but don''t have a place to set it all up.¡± Arthel slapped his towel on the table. ¡°I¡¯ve got a shed in the back that you could use until you get a more permanent workshop area. But I¡¯ll expect you to pay me some rent while you use it.¡± Har shook his head disapprovingly and gave Arthel a death-filled stare. ¡°Do you ever shut up about money? These two have done so much for the survival of this village. You should be thanking him, not charging him money so he can help with the war effort. You can be a greedy git sometimes, but this is pure stupidity.¡± Arthel grunted as if he was annoyed. ¡°I¡¯m trying to run a business here if you can''t tell.¡± ¡°The two of you need to take it easy,¡± Jerry stated with a hint of laughter. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ll need a larger area than a shed for my workshop. Besides, there¡¯s a lot of noise around here with all the knights knocking. Some peace is what I need to craft my arrows, maybe somewhere secluded.¡± He stroked his chin as if thinking about what to do. An idea pooped into Ben¡¯s head, so he cleared his throat. ¡°We¡¯re still clearing the mine, and there¡¯s plenty of space where the old mineworks used to be. You¡¯re more than welcome to set up there. And besides, you¡¯ll have quick access to plenty of resources without waiting for deliveries.¡± Jerry gave him a nod. ¡°You¡¯re on to something, but it won¡¯t be as simple as that. You¡¯ll need artisans such as Bloomers to smelt the iron ore, foresters to cut the wood, and builders to create the workshops.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Har interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ll speak to a few people around here and see who we can convince to go there. I¡¯m sure Arthel said there were more artisans on the way.¡± Jerry shrugged, ¡°Fair enough. You get the people on board and can count me in.¡± A coughing sound from the back distracted them. When Ben twisted his neck, he saw the mage commander standing there. The mage raised a small vial to show everyone. ¡°The Royal Flush has successfully been crafted. If you want to go upstairs, we can begin the procedure.¡± Chapter 36 - The Curious Case of Henry Hauxwell Ben stood at Hauxwell¡¯s bedside. A steady stream of magic was being pumped around the old knight, keeping him suspended in time. The mages who kept the spell going appeared to be sweating from the strain it was taking on their bodies. Jerry had been asked to keep his bow ready if things got out of hand. ¡°Slowly decrease the amount of magic.¡± The mage commander ordered. ¡°Keep going. Only keep enough mana flowing so the spell is only active in minute amounts. Now adjust the spell to target the neck area and keep it suspended.¡± The mage commander removed the cork on the vial before pressing the top to Hauxwell¡¯s lips. ¡°Get ready to pause the spell for a moment. We have to give the potion enough time to flush his body. Then you will wait for my command to continue if things go awry.¡± Once the spell was paused, the mage commander opened Haunxwell¡¯s mouth and poured the liquid in. For a brief moment, nothing seemed to happen. Then, without warning, the knight''s body emitted a dazzling white light. Tiny particles of magic resembling dandelion seeds started to emerge around the body before shooting into the body. The spectacle lasted nearly ten minutes before everything went back to normal. The mage commander raised an eyebrow and looked a little gobsmacked. ¡°Surprisingly, his body has absorbed the magic without issue. I know about the stories they used to tell about him, but even this much magic should have taken a visible toll on his body.¡± He shrugged, ¡°Now we must wait for the second function of the spell, the flush.¡± He turned to one of the other mages who was free, ¡°You be ready to hold the leech once it comes out so it can be killed.¡± Hauxwell''s body then radiated magic spurts before expelling a mana tsunami. The entire room became engulfed as magical sparks shot in various colors in every direction. When the light faded, Hauxwell began to twitch and wriggle as his neck bulged. The leech suddenly shot out before being caught by a magical net, before an arrow sliced through the middle of it, causing it to explode. The mage commander pointed at the old knight. ¡°All of you, healing spells.¡± He pointed his staff ahead as beams of beige-colored magic sprinkled out, encasing the body. When his subordinates joined it, he waited a moment. ¡°Stop! Something¡¯s not right. For some reason, his body is rejecting our magic.¡± Jerry moved closer to the bed. ¡°Look, his normal color is returning.¡± The mage commander whizzed the end of his staff around Huxwell¡¯s body. ¡°It appears he is regenerating.¡± Jarry scratched his head. ¡°How is that possible when you flushed all the magic out of his body.¡± ¡°Hang on a moment.¡± Ben interrupted. ¡°When Le¡¯Vieux and I fought an infected nest mother in the proving grounds, she could regenerate her wounds. I figured that was due to the neck leech wanting to keep its host alive to ensure its survival.¡± Both Jerry and the mage gave Ben a frown as if what he was saying was otherworldly. The mage¡¯s eyes lit up as if he realized something. ¡°You could be on to something with that. When I scanned his body, I noticed variations similar to when the leech was in his body. The royal flush must have only removed the leech and left some of the modifications it makes in place.¡± Hauxwell gasped awake, causing everyone to turn. He shot up, looking around in bewilderment. ¡°Did you get that thing out of me?¡± he asked, frantically patting his neck where the wound started to vanish. Then, his patting shifted across the rest of his body as his skin tightened. His muscles became more prominent, and his physique resembled someone in his twenties. Hauxwel squeezed his hands into fists. ¡°This feels great!¡± He turned to Jerry with a wide grin, ¡°Did you shove a gallon of that youth potion in me?¡± Jerry shook his head. ¡°No, it seems that creature we pulled out of your neck has left some regeneration ability in you.¡± Hauxwell started to laugh as his body tensed up. Yellow flames of magical energy started expelling from all around him, and his eyes started to gleam the same. When sparks started to zap, he dispelled the energy. ¡°This is unreal.¡± The mage commander looked shocked by what he had just witnessed. ¡°Where did you learn to do that?¡± ¡°What? You mean the mana control?¡± Hauxwell asked. ¡°Indeed. My Master Aella could use such a skill, but from what I know, only the most powerful mages could achieve such a feat. I¡¯m a little confused about how you, a former knight, can do it.¡± The mage enquired.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Hauxwell chuckled. ¡°Aella and I have known each other since we were children. We grew up together, joined the Hollow Moon, and were stationed together. You could say I picked up a few neat tricks along the way.¡± The mage nodded. ¡°This is now making a lot more sense. After the royal flush, your body should have been completely devoid of magic. Our magic was rejected when we tried to heal you, and your mana continued to regenerate, which means you also learned the regeneration technique from him.¡± Hauxwell nodded with a grin. ¡°You hit the nail on the head. How else do you think I can take on entire companies of enemies by myself?¡± The mage nodded. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right about that.¡± He then let out a huff of relief. ¡°Our work here is done, so we will return to the camp and await further instructions from Le¡¯Vieux.¡± He motioned the other mages towards the door. Once the mages left, Hauxwell turned to Ben and Jerry. ¡°Thanks for saving my¡­ neck back there.¡± Ben and Jerry awkwardly glanced at each other and shrugged. ¡°That wasn''t us. When Le¡¯Vieux heard about you doing the whole hero sacrifice thing, he rushed like the wind and brought you back.¡± Jerry explained. Hauxwell¡¯s mouth dropped open before he disapprovingly shook his head. ¡°Out of all the people you could have asked to help me. It was HIM!¡±
It was early morning the next day, and Ben stood on the grassy clearing beside the inn. He leaned on the handle of his hammer like a walking stick and waited for the Hauxwell to emerge. While eating breakfast, everyone contributed to explaining the events that had occurred while Hauxwell was out of the loop. The former knight had asked about Alfred and was told he survived, minus the arm, and had gone to be alone. Ben asked for some training but was shot down. Luckily, Jerry was there and managed to speak some convincing words before Ben was told to wait outside. Full of confidence, Hauxwell marched out in his steel plate armor and stood before Ben. Raising his hands, his sword and shield appeared. ¡°So you want to be trained?¡± He asked with a grin before his helmet appeared. ¡°I¡¯ve been itching to test my newfound youth out since last night.¡± Ben put his hands out and took a couple of steps back. ¡°Hang on a moment.¡± He frantically stammered. The visions of what had happened to Sudfield¡¯s men back at Dimmiwood flashed through Ben¡¯s mind. With Hauxwell looking like he was in his prime and much stronger, Ben felt he wouldn¡¯t be alive much longer. Hauxwell chuckled. ¡°Are you having second thoughts?¡± ¡°Sure, I want to be trained. But if you¡¯re going to turn me into a puddle of blood like you did to those soldiers at the guardhouse, then I¡¯m not down for that. The best I¡¯ve fought so far is a few Bloodhounds, which didn''t turn out too good, and some rocky, overgrown bugs.¡± Ben explained as sweat ran down his forehead. Hauxwell¡¯s chuckles became more prominent as his head started to shake. ¡°Hah, you look like you¡¯ve soiled your pants. Part of being a soldier or a knight will require you to take beatings occasionally. It¡¯s how things are in this life and sometimes the only way to navigate your challenges. Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of being here? Now, I¡¯m not saying I will beat the crap out of you here. I want to see what you¡¯re capable of before I take you under my wing.¡± Ben huffed out a breath. ¡°Alright, maybe say that to me before you go on about testing your newfound youth out. So, what do you want me to do?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been lugging that hammer around with you since Dimmiwood. Come at me and try to land a blow.¡± Hauxwell explained with a motion of his hand. Clutching the hammer, Ben started running. Using his momentum and all the strength he could muster, he swung it from the back. Hauxwell moved lightning fast, dodging the blow. He then continued to hop out of the way as a flurry of attacks were hurled towards him. His movements looked careful and precise as if he knew every move Ben was about to make. Ben had kept up his barrage for some time, but it was useless. The constant rushing around had taken its toll as he found himself panting for air, and his movements had become sluggish from all the strain. Not one of his hits had landed, causing him to stumble many times. Ben lifted the hammer, which felt like it weighed a ton for one last attack. He scrounged every fiber of his being for that energy and swung. When Hauxwell didn''t move, Ben felt a sense of hope he would succeed. A second before the blow landed, Hauxwell flicked his shield up. The impact caused the shield to ring like a church bell before the attack was deflected. The resulting momentum had caused Ben to be flung a few feet back, ass first in the dirt. Hauxwell disapprovingly shook his head. ¡°You know, you just did that to yourself. I didn''t even have to put any energy into that. Swinging that thing like some maniac might work against mindless creatures and enemies weaker than yourself. But against men trained to kill, you¡¯ll find yourself in a heap of trouble which could result in your demise.¡± In confusion, Ben looked up at the knight and scratched his head. Something more was at play, maybe even some skills and abilities. ¡°How was you able to move that fast?¡± he asked. Hauxwell gave Ben a hand and helped him back to his feet. ¡°It takes years of hard work, training, and grit. You¡¯ll learn these things as long as you don¡¯t slack off. You already know the system rewards you with skill points when you level up. You can start unlocking skills and abilities with access to the Hollow Moon faction skill tree.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Le¡¯Vieux mentioned something along the lines of that. In my system, I don''t have access to the skill tree.¡± ¡°Yeah, that sounds about right for Le¡¯Vieux. He should have given you the training and waited for you to unlock the skill tree before sending you out. But with everything that¡¯s gone on, I understand why he was rushed.¡± Hauxwell explained. Ben nodded. ¡°Can¡¯t you help me unlock the skill tree, or does Le¡¯Vieux have to do it from his system?¡± ¡°Before the skill tree unlocks, you must complete the basic training. Now, achieving that is not exactly a hard task. You¡¯ve not done too bad here. I¡¯ve seen much worse from people who became great knights. It shouldn''t take you too long.¡± Hauxwell explained. ¡°Really? How long do you think it¡¯ll take?¡± Ben asked. Hauxwell de-equipped his helmet before rubbing his chin. ¡°That depends. If I teach you some techniques, it shouldn''t take longer than a couple of weeks.¡± The mention of techniques made Ben curious. ¡°Techniques? What exactly are you talking about?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re a fast learner and eager to learn. I will teach you how to regenerate and control your mana. Then, you will be able to achieve feats beyond your dreams.¡± Hauxwell grinned. Chapter 37 – An Unorthodox Approach ¡°What?¡± Ben blurted out with a squint. ¡°That mage commander said those techniques are hard to achieve. Unless I¡¯ve missed something, how do you expect me to learn them?¡± Hauxwell cleared his throat, motioning Ben to come closer to him, and whispered, ¡°Listen, I''m not saying the Hollow Moon¡¯s training is inadequate or lacking, but they are stuck in their outdated ways, conceived hundreds of years ago. When someone suggests a new method to achieve great power, they label you a heretic. Those who agree with you don''t know where to begin after years of being forced to learn the old ways.¡± Ben was gobsmacked. He didn''t expect those words from someone who had been in a high-ranked role within the Hollow Moon. Maybe that could have been why Le¡¯Vieux was chosen to take over the order instead of someone like Hauxwell, who held views that could send ripples through their proper way of doing things. Once Hauxwell received a nod from Ben, he continued, ¡°You¡¯re probably thinking about how Aella and I managed to do it. Well, Aella was the first to figure out energy exists in almost everything. Even something silly, like a rock, has vast amounts of energy locked within it. It¡¯s just so small it¡¯s impossible to see with our eyes. You have to tune yourself to its rhythm and feel it. It took us years to backtrack decades of progress until we could figure it out. From there, we created techniques [Mana Control] and [Mana Regeneration.]¡± Ben nodded. ¡°You know, where I¡¯m from, people study this field. We call it nuclear theory and have complex machines that can even see the small things you speak of. They even harnessed that energy to create weapons that can destroy entire cities within the blink of an eye.¡± Hauxwell¡¯s jaw dropped, and his forehead filled with a frown. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d know what I was talking about. If what you say is true, then Aella is right. He did say that energy was enough to destroy entire continents if extracted in their entirety. I¡¯m surprised you don¡¯t know how to do what I will teach you.¡± Ben motioned at the van. ¡°Well, my people rely on technology, and machines like yours rely on the system. And we don''t have magic in my world. So you¡¯ll have to teach me like I¡¯m a complete newbie.¡± ¡°Regardless, it saves us months of me explaining the little things to you. You should be able to pick things up rather quickly.¡± Hauxwel sat in the dirt with his legs crossed and motioned Ben to do the same before crisscrossing his fingers together. ¡°I¡¯ll guide you on how to do it, so follow my lead carefully.¡± Ben sat down in the same stance. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m ready.¡± Hauxwell started, ¡°Physical training, system skills, taking potions, and using enchanted items will only get you so far before you hit a stone wall. To get the most out of magic, you must learn to become attuned to it and bend it to your will. At first, it will cost you a lot of your magic reserves. With proficiency, you will become more efficient before achieving greater feats. That¡¯s where regeneration comes in. Once I teach you, you can take the energy from your surroundings and convert it into usable magic.¡± After pausing to catch his breath, he asked, ¡°Are you ready to begin?¡± Ben thought it was a lot to take, but it did make sense. Even after Hauxwell had done a great job of making it sound simple, he knew it would take a lot of time and effort to get it right. Taking in a deep sigh, he exhaled, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m as ready as I¡¯ll ever be. Let¡¯s get to it.¡± ¡°Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Your goal is to block everything out except for my voice. It¡¯ll be hard at first, but for this to work, you must have a clear mind free from distractions and enter a state of peace.¡± Hauxwell instructed. To Ben, the process was similar to meditation. He was accustomed to its effectiveness and had often used it in stressful situations. He concentrated on distancing himself from the distracting sounds around him. The thuds of marching soldiers faded along with the voices of people going about their business, but it wasn''t enough for him to distance himself from them. He hit the rewind button in his mind and regurgitated his feelings while suspended in the darkness of space during his visions. He artificially put himself back in there when it suddenly started to work. His senses became numb apart from the reverberations of the magic within him. It felt like hours had passed before Hauxwell¡¯s voice was heard again. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you¡¯re getting the idea. Can you feel the magic within you?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re talking about the humming and vibrating, then yes, I feel it,¡± Ben replied. ¡°Now, I¡¯m going to increase the presence of my magic. I want you to focus your concentration on it. It will seem faint at first and hard to detect, but once you know what you¡¯re doing, you can do it without realizing.¡± Hauxwell explained.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Ben followed his instructions but hit a roadblock when he couldn''t feel a thing. He returned to when he was about to be obliterated by the scorpion riders and that powerful charged attack. Ben remembered how the magic in his body started reacting to near-death reactions. He pulled those feelings out from the depths of his mind and once again tried to replicate them. From the nothingness, Ben felt a tingle before the buzzing started. It was going at a low frequency and had an oomph, like standing near a bass guitar amp deck. ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Ben exclaimed. ¡°Alright. That''s great work. I will reduce my power to the lowest I can. Keep concentrating, and don''t lose it.¡± Ben felt the energy fading at an increasingly fast rate. He used every bit of concentration to keep a hold of it, but it left his grasp and vanished before he could do anything. ¡°Damn it! It¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Don''t worry too much about it. You¡¯ve done a great job, considering it was your first time. Before you burn yourself out, this is enough for the first time. You must reduce your concentration and slowly crawl out of this state of mind.¡± Hauxwell instructed before his voice vanished. Ben distanced himself from that state of mind before his normal senses returned. He felt oddly cold, almost frozen solid. A colder breeze whistled against him before he felt his muscles start to cramp. The real shocker came when he opened his eyes and saw the faint blue darkness of the evening. It was like the whole day had whizzed past him. Plumes of smoke rose from various campfires, sparkling with small embers from the campsite. Even a few people were setting up torchlights, giving him and Hauxwell curious glances. Ben scratched his head. ¡°Surely, this can''t be right. We were only in there a few hours.¡± ¡°When you are in that state of mind, you will lose the sense of time. That is why you should be careful and only work on your proficiency with it in small bursts. Surprisingly, you did much better than I thought you would. I don''t know about you, but I need to fill my belly with some food. Let¡¯s continue this tomorrow.¡± Hauxwell finished, rubbing his stomach. Ben took a moment to stand up, but his legs wobbled like jelly. Then, pins and needles emerged, making each step to the inn painful. He shook his head and said, ¡°We need better seating arrangements.¡±
Ben found himself meditating again. After almost a week, his routine had improved. He had become more attuned to the surrounding energy and could detect small amounts of it. He had also been taught to adjust his magical energy to change its characteristics. According to Hauxwell, the changes weren¡¯t a game changer but would help with the next step. Hauxwell started, ¡°Now that you feel the energy of your surrounding area, I want you to focus on the energy in the ground. Adjust your magic so it hums with the same rhythm.¡± Ben tried over a dozen times to match the frequency of his magic. He pushed his body to almost the point of no return and found himself at a crossroads where he knew if he kept it up, his body would perish to dust. He didn''t want to let Hauxwell down as the man had spent every moment of the last few days trying to teach him. Pulling himself out, Ben took a moment of pause. ¡°Give me some time. I need to gather myself before trying again.¡± You can do this! Ben had developed a theory about detecting the energies of other things. They were all waves and vibrations playing in a rhythmic melody, like the notes of songs, each with its specific genre and nuances. He remembered the emotions he felt listening to his favorite songs and their impact on him. Instead of forcing and changing his energy to match the outside one, he figured it might work if he let it affect him. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to try this again,¡± Ben muttered, diving back into a deep state of concentration. Ben focused and listened to the energy from the ground, implementing his plan. Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming tsunami of relaxation as the pieces of the puzzle became perfectly aligned. Without even realizing it, his energy now matched that of the ground almost perfectly. Hauxwell chuckled. ¡°I had my doubts you¡¯d be able to do it, but here you are. Now that you''re on the same page, you¡¯ve hooked it like a fish. Now you just have to reel it in for the catch. It will start flowing into your body like a river. Once you¡¯ve mastered this, you¡¯ll be able to latch on to and exploit the energy of multiple things simultaneously.¡± Ben followed the instructions and found himself overwhelmed with energy. His magic started filling, and once it was topped off. His body started to tremble as if it was going to explode. He slowed things down and distanced himself from the energy. ¡°Phew!¡± Ben bellowed. ¡°That feels amazing!¡± [MP: 100/100] Hauxwell clapped. ¡°Well done! You can regenerate your mana without chugging like a drunkard on potions. With time and practice, it¡¯ll become as easy as breathing, and you¡¯ll be able to regenerate mana constantly. It¡¯ll become like an endless supply.¡± Ben couldn''t believe what was being said and scratched his head. ¡°Are you telling me you can do that without meditating?¡± Hauxwell started to chuckle as if it was a stupid question. ¡°When I fought those soldiers, did you see the gleaming energy surrounding me like flames?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Yeah, it was a raging fire.¡± ¡°Compared to almost all the other knights, who use their reserves and skills to create such aura, I create mine with the energy of my surroundings. Then, as I use my skills and abilities, I refill my reserves with it.¡± Hauxwell explained. Ben sat there dumbstruck. ¡°I didn''t think that was even possible.¡± ¡°Once you become better at [Mana Control], almost anything is possible,¡± Hauxwel said before sighing. ¡°When I got old, many thought I became like a potato sleeping in my seat almost every hour. Little did they know I was honing my proficiency with these techniques. While the leech was in my neck, I learned much from it and how it worked. It¡¯s the reason I got my youth back.¡± He looked to the sky and smiled. ¡°If only Aella were here to see what I could achieve.¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to teach me, I¡¯m here to learn,¡± Ben stated. ¡°I just hope I¡¯m worthy of these techniques.¡± Hauxwell nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve navigated through the hardest part. Tomorrow, I will show you how to control your mana.¡± Chapter 38 - Mana Control The next day, Ben stood by the inn. When Hauxwell stepped out, he didn''t waste any time and marched straight to the point. ¡°You¡¯ve learned to focus on the energy around you and tap into it to regenerate. The next thing I will teach you is how to put it to good use. I¡¯m not saying your system skills and abilities are useless or anything. But when you learn to master mana control, you¡¯ll be able to achieve so much more.¡± Ben gave Haxwell a curiously raised brow. ¡°So that¡¯s what you were doing with all that magical energy before you confronted Sudfield and his men?¡± ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s correct,¡± Hauxwell said, giving Ben a stern nod. ¡°As you know, magic hums with a certain rhythm like a bard strumming a lute. If you want to create a protective barrier or charge your weapons to deal more damage, you can alter its song to change its properties.¡± Ben had flashbacks to when those soldiers were smacked with the shield and disintegrated into a bloody rain. The thoughts brought the sickening feeling back to his stomach. Shaking his head, he said, ¡°No wonder you were able to bash those soldiers to oblivion.¡± Sadness filled Hauxwell''s eyes, and they became a little misty as if he regretted his actions. ¡°War is a nasty business. It¡¯ll make us commit acts of great violence. I do not condone what I did, but it was a battle, and we needed to rescue Alfred, who we later found nearly tortured to death. If you don''t already know, it¡¯s either them or us.¡± Ben was feeling confused on the inside. He had never seen people killed like that in such an overpowered way. ¡°Well, it will take some time to understand what happened.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard at first, and you¡¯ll never get used to seeing the faces of the people you¡¯ve had to end while conducting your duties as a knight.¡± Hauxwell pulled in a deep sigh filled with the weight of the enemies he had ended. He paused, taking a moment to look over into the treeline ahead. It looked like he took some time to gather himself before turning back to Ben. ¡°Make sure you use what I teach you responsibly, and don''t hesitate to do what you need when the people you love are in danger.¡± Hauxwell¡¯s body became enflamed with magical energy. ¡°Focus on my energy and feel the way I tame it to my will,¡± Hauxwell stated. The magic condensed and concentrated around his body, forming a bright glaze. ¡°This is what the layer of protection looks like when it¡¯s active. If you keep it up like I am, you¡¯ll run out of magic before your battle is done unless you¡¯ve got a large pool to draw from. Instead, you should learn to use it in short bursts and shift it to where you need it.¡± Ben watched in awe as the condensed energy shifted to cover only the torso and then moved around his head. He felt the vibrations morph as their properties changed. He shook his head in disbelief and muttered, ¡°It must have taken a lifetime of training to control it like that.¡± Hauxwell nodded, ¡°Practice is the key to success.¡± He then shifted the energy to his shield, and the magical properties felt like they were tuned to be more offensive. ¡°I like to do this before a shield bash. I want you to try and do the same.¡± During the display of power, Ben took mental notes on what he saw. It didn¡¯t seem as hard as the regeneration; it manipulated the energy in small ways that seemed easy to achieve once learned. He felt confident enough to give it at least a try. ¡°Alright, here goes!¡± Ben closed his eyes, focusing on his magic pool. Trying to copy what Hauxwell had done, he found the magic within him shift to a different tune. Small amounts of glistening magic began to appear around him. He tried to create the same flames, but the energy was dispelled when he felt he was close to doing it. ¡°Damn it!¡± [MP: 0/100] Ben regenerated his magic using the technique he had learned the previous day and tried to copy Hauxwell a few more times, but he kept failing. Something was up with his magic pool. Every time he got close, there wasn''t enough oomph to complete the task. He then remembered something from when he reached level five. The system had allowed him to increase one of his stat pools, which he thought could help. Ben flicked through the system and selected his magic pool to get the boost. [Max MP has been increased to 150.] Ben''s next attempt improved as the larger pool allowed him to brute force the mana into submission. Pushing with all his strength, he created the flames and turned them into a barrier, even though it lasted a few moments. ¡°Great work!¡± Hauxwell applauded. ¡°Now, keep at it.¡±
Ben had spent a few more days putting into practice what he had learned. The magic felt more moldable, like glowing iron on a blacksmith''s anvil. Hauxwell stood before him, shield at the ready. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to come at me again.¡± Ben pushed the magic down to his legs. The moment he felt his calves pulsing, he sprang ahead. Moving like the wind, he shifted the magic to his hammer and held it back. The wind whooshed as it swung but was too slow for Hauxwell¡¯s battle experience. Pushing more energy into his arms and extending the excess into the weapon, Ben unleashed a flurry of quick, concise strikes.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Hauxwell was caught off guard, and some blows rang off the shield like a bell. He hopped a few steps back and was then struck with another hit. ¡°You¡¯re getting the hang of this. If I had met you all those years ago, I could¡¯ve made a grand knight for the ages out of you.¡± His shield started to gleam like the sun as it charged before he started running toward Ben. Ben recalled his magic, then pushed it out, covering himself in embers of energy. Like he had been taught, he formed a glaze of protection a fraction of a second before the blow landed and pushed the remainder of the energy to his legs. Moving sideways, he dodged the shield bash. Before Hauxwell could react, he swung the hammer and hit the former knight in the back. His hammer rebounded back. Ben had finally done it. The feeling of victory rushed through his body as if he were flying through the sky like an eagle who had caught its prey. ¡°Hah, you did it,¡± Hauxwell exclaimed before giggling. ¡°It¡¯s time for me to increase my power some more.¡± More embers of magic started to expel from around his body before it looked like he moved so fast he vanished from sight. The blow landed in Ben¡¯s chest before he could fully concentrate his magic and reinforce the barrier. He was knocked at least a dozen meters away as his magic shattered into speckles of glistening dust. He rolled in the grass a few times before coming to a stop. ¡°What the heck was that all about?¡± Ben yelled. Hauxwell appeared directly in front of him. ¡°I can''t have you thinking you got the better of me like that. Don''t forget the lessons I taught you here, and make sure you keep practicing. Maybe one day, we¡¯ll be able to fight again, and you¡¯ll even beat me.¡± He put his hand out for Ben to grab. Once Ben was up, he slapped the dirt off from all around himself. ¡°Well, I did land some blows on you. Does that mean I passed?¡± Hauxwell gave him a nod. ¡°With flying colors.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°Yeah, more like flying into a pile of mud.¡± [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have completed Basic training. Please wait for official authorization from your commanding officer before the skill tree is available to allocate skill points.]
Later, Ben had taken a bath and cleaned his armor. He went to the bar where the others sat, sipping their ale. ¡°There he is,¡± Jerry remarked, raising his tankard. ¡°We heard about how you did. Few can say they¡¯ve landed a blow on Hauxwell and lived to tell the tale.¡± Hauxwell tapped Jerry on the shoulder, ¡°You shut up, alright. Beating the crap out of recruits is not my way.¡± Jerry¡¯s mouth dropped open before he shook his head as if that was an utter lie. ¡°Oh yeah, that¡¯s not what happened when you trained me. I still have scars to prove it.¡± He pointed at his torso and back. ¡°That¡¯s because he,¡± Hauxwell motioned towards Ben, ¡°was taking me seriously. As I recall, you started cursing and threatening to beat me down as if I was your slave.¡± Jerry nodded, ¡°To be fair, I completely deserved that. I¡¯m still not sure how you turned me into a warrior from the lowlife scrote I was.¡± ¡°Well, it took some work, but you finally started listening to me and turned your life around.¡± Hauxwell chuckled. Jerry raised his tankard, ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that. Since you have your youth back, are you returning to your old life as a knight?¡± Hauxwell crossed his arms, stroked his chin, and looked off into space momentarily as if he were stuck in some deep thoughts. ¡°I spent a lifetime fighting wars and battles. When this thing with Sudfield is over, I want to settle down and follow the dreams I wasn¡¯t able to. Life is too short, and the older you get, you¡¯ll see the days shoot past you like the arrows from your bow. And before you know it, you become old, frail, and full of regrets.¡± Hauxwell scratched his head and looked around as if he had forgotten something. ¡°Talking of regrets, where¡¯s Hannah gone? She¡¯s probably worried sick to her teeth about me.¡± Jerry nearly choked on his ale and almost spat it across the bar table. After taking a heavy gulp, he croaked, ¡°You remember her now.¡± Arthel cleared his throat with a cough. ¡°North pasture. There¡¯s no space here since all the soldiers and knights moved in. They¡¯ll be safe and have all the space they need there.¡± Hauxwell nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make my way there. I can sense Alfred¡¯s energy from that direction; it feels like he¡¯s training up there. I¡¯ll check up on him and see if I can help him with his situation.¡± He turned to Ben before asking, ¡°What¡¯s the plan for you?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯ll make our way back to the old mine and get things up and running again.¡± Ben replied before glancing at Har and Jerry, ¡°Speaking of the mine, did you two have words with those builders?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve spoken to a few; they¡¯re happy to come with us.¡± Har nodded. ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll have to pay them for the work, but they¡¯ve said they¡¯ll give you a good rate, and since you¡¯ve helped people around here, you can pay later once the money starts flowing from the mine.¡± Jerry tapped his tankard on the table to catch their attention. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about your offer and I¡¯ll be coming there, too. I¡¯m happy to pay rent once the workshop is running.¡± He then turned to Hauxwell, ¡°You do know the north pasture falls within the territory of the mine.¡± Hauxwell tapped Jerry on the shoulder with a mean look on his face. ¡°Thank you for reminding everyone.¡± Turning to Ben, ¡°You need not worry. We will pay our dues when the time comes.¡± With a smirk, Jerry chuckled, ¡°Look¡¯s like Ben is our landlord then.¡± Arthel coughed from behind the bar and interrupted everyone. ¡°Before Ben can legally take rent, he must have the deeds to the mine and the adjoining lands in his possession.¡± Turning to Ben, he asked, ¡°Did you find the deeds?¡± Har gave Arthel a dirty look and interrupted before Ben could say anything. ¡°Don''t worry about that. I¡¯m certain it should be in the safe. Before we left, I instructed Finn to look for the keys.¡± ¡°Well, you better get it found and get things going with the mine.¡± Arthel stated, ¡°Those artisans Le¡¯Vieux promised will be arriving soon, and they sure as hell will need a place to get to work. You know we don''t have space for them here. Besides, keeping production around the mine is better if you ask me.¡± Har nodded. ¡°If Sudfield attacks, then at least the production won''t be halted. The mine is well protected by the natural barriers the surrounding terrain provides. Besides, he doesn¡¯t expect anyone to be at the mine. Anyway, tomorrow, we should make our way there and get things started.¡± Chapter 39 - Deeds to the land Ben parked his van and got out, going to the entrance where Har and Jerry joined him. Glancing at the builders, Ben noticed they got straight to work and started unloading their carts. He turned to Har and asked, ¡°Are they just going to start building anywhere, or do we have to tell them where?¡± ¡°Don''t worry about that. They¡¯re just unloading their tools and equipment. But before they start any work, they¡¯ll want to see that you have the deeds. That¡¯s why we should get inside and open that safe as soon as possible.¡± Har explained. Ben glanced at Jerry, ¡°Are you coming in?¡± Jerry said, ¡°I¡¯ll stay out here and watch things.¡± Ben shrugged, ¡°Suit yourself.¡± He then motioned to Har before they walked in. When Ben entered the Foreman¡¯s office, Finn sat in the boss''s seat and appeared relaxed, fidgeting with his hands. Finn shot up and pretended to look like he was doing some work. ¡°Mister Ben, I was wondering where you¡¯d gone. It¡¯s been almost two weeks, but you don''t need to worry about a thing. We¡¯ve cleared most of the third level. It¡¯ll take a few more days before mining work can start again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great work, Finn. Oh, I wanted to ask if you¡¯ve properly buried the bodies?¡± Ben asked. Finn¡¯s eyes became teary in the flickering candlelight. ¡°It was hard, but we laid them to rest nearby and placed some headstones. I just wish things had turned out better for them.¡± ¡°You did good, kid.¡± Har patted Finn on the shoulder with sadness sweeping across his face. ¡°It appears you¡¯re cut out to keep things running around here while Ben is away.¡± Har turned to Ben, ¡°You should offer him the position of deputy foreman.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right. Finn¡¯s done great work around here. His experience with the mine will be invaluable.¡± Glancing at Finn, he asked, ¡°So what do you say about being the deputy foreman?¡± A smile filled Finn¡¯s face, ¡°Of course, Mister Ben! As long as you pay me well, we have a deal.¡± ¡°Of course! But first, Har told me he gave you a very important task before we left. Did you find the key to the safe?¡± Ben asked, pointing at the safe. Finn opened one of the drawers and removed a small iron key. ¡°You must have missed it when you took the journal from Master Damon¡¯s remains. It was on the ground near there. One of the village people found it under some rubble there and brought it to me.¡± ¡°Good lad!¡± Har chuckled, ¡°I knew I could count on you.¡± Ben gave Finn a pat on the head and took the key. He put it in the safe lock and tried to twist it. It didn''t even budge a little. Ben turned to Finn, ¡°Am I doing this right?¡± Finn scratched his head. ¡°The lock might be stuck since it¡¯s not been greased in a long time. It¡¯s an old safe, but Mister Blackrock wanted to keep it because his grandfather had it crafted.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably all rusted up in there.¡± Ben sighed. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the van. I¡¯ve got something that might get the job done.¡± Ben returned to the van and grabbed a can of spray lubricant he always kept. When he was back near the safe, he poked the little straw end of it in the lock and gave it a good spray. Putting the key in, he wriggled it around and only got it to move around half a turn before it got stuck again. Ben huffed out a frustrated sigh. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s properly stuck.¡± Grabbing a candle from one of the holders, Ben lit the lubricant. He then gave it a few more spurts from the can, causing the flames to bellow like a blow torch. When the embers died down, he placed the key in and used a nearby paperweight to whack it several times until it clicked open. ¡°There we go!¡± Ben exclaimed. Turning to the others, Ben noticed they were dumbstruck by his actions. He shrugged and creaked the door open. Inside, he saw that the safe had three equal sections. The top one appeared to contain piles of paperwork and ledgers. The middle contained coins and pieces of paper that looked like letters of credit from various banks. The bottom contained another journal. Finn pointed at the journal. ¡°You should take a look inside that. Master Blackrock always kept his important things in there.¡± Ben took the journal and placed it on the table. When he opened it, a few small pieces of Vellum fell out. He inspected them before noticing one contained words about the mine and land.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Ben exclaimed, giving it a closer examination. *** Deeds of Ownership. Let it be recognized that the bearer of this title is the rightful owner of The Blackrock Mine and its adjourning land located in the Duchy of Meso. The bearer is entitled to its freehold use within the legal code for residential and business purposes. The owner is responsible for collecting taxes and paying all fees required for property upkeep. Two members of the community must witness the transfer of ownership. If it is found that this document was taken illegally, legal action may be taken to retrieve it, and life may be lost. *** ¡°This is the deed.¡± Ben picked up the sheet and showed it to Har. Har gave Ben a smile followed by a nod. ¡°Congratulations, Mister Bailey, you are now the official owner of the mine, with Finn and me as witnesses. I advise you to keep it safe till a legal magister can notarise it.¡± ¡°Don''t worry, I¡¯ll keep it somewhere.¡± Ben nodded. He then pointed at the piles of coins and checks. ¡°We should chat about the money. How do I cash these checks out?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not exactly a money expert myself; otherwise, I¡¯d be rich. As far as I know, you must take them to a bank. We don''t have any open branches in the Mesolands, so you¡¯ll have to travel to Feruswich in the Hollow Lands and speak with the clerks there. I¡¯m assuming they¡¯ll want to look at the deeds before handing over any money to you.¡± Har explained. ¡°Fair enough, I¡¯ll keep a hold of these then,¡± Ben said before turning to Finn. ¡°Alright, Finn, your first duty as deputy foreman will be to count all the coins in the safe and pile them on the table while we go outside and speak with the builders.¡± Finn nodded, ¡°Master Ben, I¡¯m good at counting things, so that shouldn''t be a problem. It¡¯ll be done before you make it back.¡± Ben patted Finn on the shoulder, ¡°While you''re at it, can you check how much I should pay the village folk for their work clearing the rubble.¡± Finn scratched his head, looking puzzled. ¡°Master Ben, I don''t know how to read or write.¡± Ben raised his eyebrows and realized there probably wouldn''t be many schools for a civilization still stuck in medieval times. ¡°As a deputy foreman, you¡¯ll need those skills.¡± He saw the expression on Finn''s face drop down as if he thought he would lose his newfound job. ¡°Don''t worry, I can figure it out through these ledgers. I¡¯ll have to see that you learn to read and write.¡± A smile appeared on Finn¡¯s face again. ¡°Really! You¡¯d teach me! I always wanted to learn when I was younger, but only the fancy rich folk were taught. I was stuck in the mines with my parents or caring for my sisters.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, you¡¯re a fast learner. I don''t think it¡¯ll take long if you put in the time and practice.¡± As Finn started to remove the coins from the safe, Ben and Har made their way outside. ¡°Alger!¡± Har shouted and motioned the builder with his hand to come over. Alger dropped what he was doing, trudged ahead, and asked, ¡°Is everything alright?¡± ¡°We have the deed so that you can start your work,¡± Har stated, motioning at the sheet of vellum in Ben¡¯s hand. ¡°Alright, let me take a look,¡± Alger said. Ben handed over the deed to Alger, who scanned the document from top to bottom. ¡°The transfer still needs to be notarized, but that shouldn''t be a problem with us starting work. We know the situation here very well. Right! Before we begin construction, we must excavate the land and flatten it. We can''t start that until we know where you want the buildings.¡± Alger explained before giving the deed back. Ben glanced around the area and stroked his chin. They needed the area where the tents were situated to house the villagers. There was a clearing in front of the mine entrance with enough space to build a small hamlet. Ben pointed there, ¡°Over there. While you¡¯re at it, can you fix these old bloomeries out? That way, the ore can come out, get smelted, and be available for the artisans and crafters.¡± Alger appeared to think about it for a moment. ¡°The bloomeries won''t be an issue. What you said sounds like a good idea. It¡¯s like creating a production line similar to the factories I''ve seen in the capital city but on a larger scale. We¡¯ll get to work right away.¡± He then turned to the other builders, ¡°Alright, lads! Get those shovels out. We have work to do!¡± *** Ben returned to the foreman¡¯s office with Har. Finn had created neat towers with the coins in a way they were easy to count. When he noticed Ben and Har, he turned to them. ¡°Master Ben, I¡¯ve counted the coins. We have forty-seven gold coins, one-hundred and fifty-eight silver coins, and two-hundred and eighty-five copper coins. The letters of credit have all been piled up here for you to cash out at the bank.¡± Ben scratched his head. He wasn''t sure how the kid could count that high when he didn''t even know how to read or write. Instead, he patted Finn on the shoulder, ¡°You¡¯ve done a great job, Finn. Now, we should look at these ledgers and see how much we must pay the village folk.¡± Ben grabbed a few of the ledgers, the ones that looked recent, and leafed through the pages. When he was done, he glanced at both Finn and Har. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen here, it says that the going rate for a miner is, on average, one silver shilling a day. Does that sound right?¡± Har glanced at Finn, ¡°What do you think?¡± Finn nodded, ¡°Well, that¡¯s for mining, which is much harder than clearing rubble. I would say that you pay half the mining rate for clearing. It¡¯s been two weeks they¡¯ve been working, so seven silvers sounds like it would be right.¡± Ben was impressed with the kid''s math skills. ¡°Alright. I don''t suppose you know how many people we have working here?¡± Finn stroked his chin and thought momentarily like someone taking an exam at school. ¡°A dozen people. We¡¯ll have to pay them eighty-four silver shillings in total.¡± ¡°Alright, Finn, as the deputy foreman, your next task is to pay everyone their dues once they finish clearing the third level. Oh, and one more thing. Please ask them to stay clear of the cave on the third level. I will go there and mine the rest of that magic ore.¡± Ben explained. ¡°Don''t worry, Master Ben. It will be done.¡± Finn smiled and started piling the silver coins. Har walked over to Ben. ¡°You should think about checking those letters of credit soon. Anyway, what¡¯re you thinking of doing now?¡± ¡°Hmm. I will go down to the cave and get some mining done. From what I hear, Mirium ore is valuable stuff. We¡¯ll need the money to invest in the little village we¡¯re building here.¡± He scratched his head, ¡°Besides, with the war getting closer, I should consider upgrading my van so it¡¯s ready for the fight.¡± Chapter 40 - Omnitool Upgrade Ben shone his flashlight around the third level. Most of the rubble had been cleared out and formed into neat piles near the entrance where a few wheelbarrows rested. From the looks, the village folk would take all the stone and dump it near the mine entrance with the rest. He figured the builders could put it to good use when setting the foundations of the buildings. Looking across the ore tunnels, from the amount of colored patterns, they appeared to contain a decent amount of ore. A large portion of the wall contained what appeared to be chiseled-out markers ready for new shafts to be dug. Ben shifted his attention to the cave, where he saw that part of the level had been left mostly untouched, with rubble still near it. The stones he had removed to get in there to fight the queen had been placed back. He didn''t blame the village folk for not wanting to look at the carcass of the queen. It was a gruesome sight, not to mention the smell it would have produced from the natural decay. Walking toward the cave entrance, Ben started removing the stones individually. The moment he could see across, his nose received a punch with a disgusting stench, which made the contents of his gut wrench. It felt like he was about to vomit. Covering his nostrils, he pushed on until he reached the other side. Upon closer inspection, the queen''s carcass looked shriveled and dry, with puddles of puke-inducing slime surrounding its remains. Ben knew he couldn''t get any work done with that stench and rushed out of the cave, grabbed whatever wood he could find and a nearby lit candle. He made a pile beneath the body and set it alight. Surprisingly, the flames were quick to get going. Smoke started to fill the cave, which caused Ben to choke on the fumes before he rushed out. He filled the entrance with a few stones to stop the smoke from seeping into the rest of the cave and patiently waited for some time. Around an hour later, the amount of smoke seeping through the gaps of the stone began to cease. There was hardly much smoke for some strange reason, which caught Ben¡¯s curiosity. He removed the stones and once again stepped into the cave. Apart from the place smelling like someone had barbequed rotten meat, there wasn''t much smoke filling the chamber, leading Ben to believe the cave must have been larger than it looked. His flashlight reached the other end of the chamber without getting too diffused in the smoky fog, where the walls shifted around a bend. Hmm, there must be more chambers and tunnels around here. Ben made a mental note to get the cave surveyed and mapped out to ensure its safety when he had time to spare next. He felt better that he warned Finn to keep everyone away from there. The last thing he wanted was the weight of someone getting hurt in case other creatures lurked in its deep, dark depths. Ben shifted his attention to the blue glow of the Mirium, where the veins appeared to contain a vast amount of ore that he could exploit. Walking up to it, he placed his hammer at arm''s length in case things went south and removed the Omnitool from his inventory. Before aiming it, he paused momentarily as the Mk.2 upgrade caught his curiosity. Are the research and craft functions worth ten gold coins? Will it allow me to craft items that can be sold for higher prices? Damn it! I''d like to see what it lets me do! You better be worth it! Letting out a frustrated huff, Ben took the gamble and selected the upgrade. [Omnitool has been upgraded to Mk.2.] *** New Features: Research: The user can research blueprints that can be crafted via the Craft feature. Craft: The user can craft items once blueprints have been unlocked. Upgrade Tool to Mk.3: 50 Gold Coins. (Unlocks the Spatial Inventory (5M^3) & the Buy/Sell features.) *** Interesting! Ben wasn''t sure what the deal was with the Mk.3 upgrade. It mentioned spatial storage for the tool, followed by another feature that sounded like a shop where he could buy and sell things. The upgrade cost fifty gold, which would seriously put a hole in his pocket regardless. There was no point in pondering over stuff he couldn''t afford yet; thus, Ben opened the craft menu only to find it empty and devoid of options. He backed out and hit [Research]. That was when he was met with a few different options. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. *** Research: The user must collect the required resources and pile them before the Omnitool before selecting the blueprint they wish to research. Alternatively, the user may pay the cost of research using Gold Pounds (GP), the value of which is determined by the default currency stored in their system. Only one blueprint may be researched at any given time. Once the task has commenced, it must be completed fully before another can be selected. Before more Blueprints are unlocked, research the available ones. *** Tier 1 Workbench: The user can craft a simple workbench. This will also unlock the other Tier 1 craftable items, which will be available to research. Cost: 5KG Wood or 1 Gold Pound. Research Time: 24 Hours. *** Ben scratched his head. ¡°Where the heck do I find the damn wood?¡± He returned to where the wheelbarrows had been placed and stroked his chin. A few were there, but he only needed one to take the ore. He figured the workbench would allow him to craft more later. Besides, plenty were still lying around the higher levels of the mine. Ben moved the better-looking wheelbarrow to one side and pointed the Omnitool towards the rest before clicking the [Tier 1 Workbench] option. The wheelbarrows became encased in a blue hologram before the wood vanished into thin air, leaving behind a pile of metal fittings and nails. [Omnitool is now researching Tier 1 Workbench.] ¡°Whoah! Just like that!¡± Ben exclaimed. He thought the way the tool had separated the wood from the other materials was intriguing and wondered if it would allow him to break other items down into their constituted parts. I guess I¡¯ll have to look into that. With that done, Ben finally glanced at the Mirium ore and aimed the Omnitool at the vein. Just like before, the blue hologram did the hard part, while all he had to do was aim for where the ore pockets were located. After an hour, Ben filled his wheelbarrow to the brim with ore. A massive smile was planted on his face with what he had achieved. But the job of selling it remained. He figured Har could provide him with some pointers and, thus, towed the wheelbarrow back to the main chamber. Finn stood around the tool shed, and it looked like he was explaining something to the village folk. When he noticed Ben, he cut his conversation short and went there. ¡°Master Ben, I see you¡¯ve returned with some ore,¡± Finn motioned down, taking a closer look at the Mirium. ¡°Wow, I didn''t think it would have a nice glow like that.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°Hah, wait till you see the patterns on the ore vein. They¡¯re breathtaking, to say the least.¡± Ben paused, thinking he might have made a mistake by saying that. ¡°Now, I don''t want to hear that you or anyone else has gone down there to take a look. That cave is much larger than it looks, and another tunnel might lead outside. I¡¯ll let you know once I¡¯ve looked around and ensured it¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°Ahh, don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ve warned everyone to avoid the third level altogether,¡± Finn explained before taking a breath. ¡°Oh, and before I forget, they''re all happy with the payment for their work. They keep asking me when they should start mining, and I keep telling them it¡¯s not my place to decide. But they¡¯re right. The second level still has some good veins we can mine. What are our orders?¡± Ben stroked his chin. ¡°That sounds great, but tell them to hold their horses for now. First, I need to chat with Har about selling the ore we already have. There¡¯s no point mining when a storeroom is almost overflowing with ore. Besides, we need to start making money; otherwise, we¡¯ll be out of business before it runs.¡± ¡°That makes sense to me.¡± Finn nodded and shrugged before pointing at the office with a funny look. ¡°Well¡­ He¡¯s sitting in there acting like a grumpy old man. I think he¡¯s getting bored since he¡¯s not been on the road for some time. If you ask me, I think going to sell that ore will make him feel much better.¡± Ben glanced over to the office. ¡°I¡¯ll go have a chat with him. You gather everyone here. We¡¯ll need some help getting the carts loaded after.¡± Finn nodded and almost did a military salute, ¡°I¡¯ll be done right away, sir.¡± As Ben entered the office, he noticed Har sitting on the boss seat, sulking and playing with some papers as if bored. Har noticed Ben and shot up with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Ah, Ben, it¡¯s good to see you. You don''t mind me sitting in your seat, do you? Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Aye, not bad. I¡¯ve chatted with Finn, and he says the villagers will start mining the remaining iron veins on the second level soon. The storeroom is already nearly full, so we need to start getting rid of it so the money can flow in. With all your experience transporting goods, I was hoping you could advise me where to start.¡± Ben explained. A smile filled Har¡¯s face. ¡°Holy god, you¡¯ve come to the right man. I was sitting here thinking you¡¯d never ask about that. You can''t sell much to the village as Halyard only buys small quantities. You must go south into the Hollow Lands to the major fortified towns to move cart loads. They have marketplaces and artisans who¡¯ll buy wholesale amounts from you regularly. Feruswich is the closest one, and there¡¯s even a bank there where you can cash those checks. When do you want to set off?¡± To Ben, it seemed like Har couldn''t wait to get going. Raising his hands, he said, ¡°Take it easy, mate. Finn¡¯s going to ask the villagers to help us load the carts. Besides, I¡¯ve got a wheelbarrow full of that magic ore, which might need to be packed properly.¡± Har nodded. ¡°If you wrap the Mirum with some cloth, it should be fine. It¡¯s getting late now, so I think it¡¯s better to set off at first light.¡± Ben gave Har the thumbs up, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Oh, and before we set off, how much will you charge me for the transportation?¡± Har waved as if taking money was out of the question. ¡°After everything you¡¯ve done for us, you¡¯re like family to me. Don''t worry about it.¡± Ben crossed his arms and gave the old man a narrow gaze. ¡°Har! Regardless of what you say or do, I''m paying you, so don¡¯t be waving it away like it¡¯s nothing. Even if you are close to me, you must run your business. So quit whining and tell me how much?¡± Har moved back as if he was taken aback. ¡°Alright, young Kerstin would be annoyed if I came home with nothing to show for all the time I¡¯ve been away. I have a special rate for family and friends, so expect to pay a fair price of ten silvers per cart for the delivery run.¡± ¡°Done! I¡¯ll pay you the moment we sell the ore.¡± Ben nodded. Ben and Har exited the office only to find Finn had all the village folk formed into a neat line awaiting orders like soldiers in training. Ben glanced at Finn and cleared his throat. ¡°Deputy foreman, there is a task which needs to be done with the utmost haste. We must start loading the iron from the storeroom into the carts.¡± Finn nodded and turned to the village folk. ¡°Erm, you all heard Master Ben. It¡¯s time to get to work.¡± Chapter 41 - The Feruswich Market Surrounded by the shroud of dusk, Ben waited in the van. The village folk had finished loading the ore into two of the largest carts, which had been daisy-chained together. Their contents had been covered and secured with large, thick cloths to prevent anything from falling out while traversing the bumpy roads. Ben had placed the Mirium ore in a wooden crate and, as instructed, covered it with a cloth to keep it nice and cushioned. He glanced at Har and waited for him to give the thumbs-up before they set off. The journey took them past the bridge checkpoint, where they briefly chatted with Knight Elias, whose bad drinking habit had been blue-balled by all the soldiers guarding the village. Har promised the knight he would bring him something from the town before they continued. The journey consisted of going down the neat cobbled road along the river. Apart from a few spaced-out villages and hamlets where a few people had gathered to watch the van as it strolled past them, there wasn''t much to see. A few times, they were stopped by the local guards, to which Har kindly explained the situation on Ben¡¯s behalf. After almost four hours, Ben hit the brakes and stopped at a large gatehouse surrounded by two-story high palisades on both sides. A pair of guards approached Har before a lengthy conversation transpired, and when they were done, Har made his way to the van. ¡°They said you can¡¯t take the van beyond that point as it¡¯ll attract too much-unwanted attention from the village folk. They don''t want a full-blown riot to break out because people want to take a look at it.¡± Har explained. Ben understood the reasoning. It had been normal for people to gather around the van in densely populated areas, and he figured the same thing would happen when he traveled out of the Hollow City. He gave Har a nod, ¡°Alright, tell them that¡¯s fine as long as no one comes near it and starts messing around with it. Or else I¡¯ll be having words with Le¡¯Vieux about it.¡± Har nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll let them know.¡± He then went off to speak with the guards. Ben parked the van on the grassy clearing near the gate before grabbing the crate of Mirium from the back. He made sure to lock the van before climbing atop Har¡¯s cart. The moment his butt touched the seat, he felt uncomfortable, feeling as if he was sitting on a pile of rough, uneven rocks. ¡°What the heck!¡± He exclaimed. He waited for Har to return when asking, ¡°How do you even sit on this thing for hours at a time? Your ass must be rough as a bear''s ass.¡± Har chuckled, ¡°I know it¡¯s not as fancy as your van, but you get used to it after some time.¡± ¡°What? You mean get used to having my ass bruised black and blue?¡± Ben questioned. The only response he received was a laugh as the gate was raised. When they entered, Ben noticed dozens of multistorey buildings made from various wood, stone, brick, and thatch materials. Most buildings were very close together or joined together to conserve space. ¡°The town is split into various districts. The commoners live around here, so the buildings are like this.¡± Har remarked. As they approached the center, the buildings became more spaced and larger, some even four or five stories tall. Then, suddenly, everything became flat, and many market stalls appeared. The place looked like a bazaar, as Ben had seen in some eastern countries on Earth. ¡°This is the commercial district.¡± Har started, ¡°The larger buildings are home to the various guilds where you¡¯ll find some of the best vendors. The other buildings contain smaller artisan businesses with traders of general goods taking up marketplace stalls.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°I see. So, where shall we begin?¡± Har motioned towards the marketplace. ¡°I know someone there who might be interested. The artisans and guilds will want to buy in large quantities and at wholesale prices. We can barter with the stall merchants for a better price.¡± Har steered the cart along a track that cut through the cloth canopies that covered the stalls. Many people were walking around browsing wares and had to move out of the way when the clopping of hooves approached. Ben noticed a few people giving them strange stares and figured they must have been curious about something. As the cart came to a stop, Ben felt the cart shake and rattle, causing him more discomfort on his ass. ¡°You should think about getting this seat padded,¡± Ben muttered. ¡°Besides, what¡¯s the deal with them staring at us like that?¡± ¡°People around these parts are weary about new faces showing up. They¡¯re probably wondering who you are and where you¡¯re from. Those clothes you¡¯re wearing are out of place here. Then, some would want to steal what we have. A few criminal outfits operate in this city and have watched our every move since we entered. The guards do a great job of keeping the peace around here, and since you¡¯re Hollow Moon, these people wouldn''t dare try anything with you lest they lose their heads.¡± Har explained in a hushed tone. He then motioned at a nearby stall that sold various ores and ingots. ¡°Let me do all the talking. If he hears your voice, he will know you are not from here and will try to rob us blind on the price.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Har hopped off the cart and pranced over to the merchant. They appeared to greet each other before Har pointed at the carts. They started chatting some more before it looked like they were arguing. The conversation started taking a turn for the worse when it looked like they were about to start fighting, which caused one of the nearby guards to walk over and stare. Things eventually calmed down before they shook hands like a deal was made. Har walked back to the cart with a wide grin planted on his face, ¡°He can be a stingy git like Arthel sometimes, but he¡¯s agreed to buy half a cart for twenty gold pounds.¡± Ben helped Har to unload one of the carts. Once the merchant had his ore, he counted the coins and passed them to Har, who then put them in Ben¡¯s hand. [+20 Gold Pounds.] Seeing that, the merchant shook his head with a hiss and gave them the death stare. ¡°Don''t pay him any attention. He always does that and buys more the next time you see him.¡± Har muttered. He twisted his neck and started looking around the stalls, ¡°If my memory serves me well, there¡¯s another merchant around here with a similar stall. Ah, I remember now.¡± Har steered the cart across to the other side of the market, where another similar stall appeared. The merchant at that one appeared to be more well-mannered and didn''t try to fight with Har. When the price was agreed, he bought half a cart¡¯s worth and even helped unload it. [+20 Gold Pounds.] With that done, Har jumped back on the cart. ¡°From the looks of things, I don''t think any more merchants around here are looking to buy ore. There¡¯s a smithy nearby where we can try, but I¡¯m not sure if they¡¯ll want to buy from us.¡± Ben raised his eyebrow and asked, ¡°And why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Well, you see, they used to buy from Lord Blackrock a long time ago, but there was some disagreement over the ore quality, and the contract was canceled. With you being the new owner, I''m hoping they might want to try it again,¡± Har explained before setting off. After weaving out of the market stalls, they traveled to a place that looked like a central square. The buildings were constructed of stone and appeared to have facades that looked much better than those in the commoner''s quarter. Their roofs were tiled like those in Hollow City. Har stopped the cart beside a shop where a wall surrounded the front garden. The place smelled smokey and acrid like a lot of coal was being burned with hints of earth and metal. The rhythmic clangs of metal rung from within, and when Har moved through a small gap in the wall, a dozen people could be seen working hard. At the back were two large round forges, where blacksmiths pounded red-hot metal on an anvil. A few workers carried various things, such as coal and crafted items, back and forth. Ben thought the operation was decent, but it was pale compared to what he had seen at the Hollow Keep. A man walked out of the building and rushed to the cart. ¡°If I¡¯ll be damned, is that you, Har?¡± He asked. ¡°Aye, it¡¯s me, the one and only. I¡¯ve come to see if you¡¯re interested in buying some iron.¡± Har replied. Ben observed the man as he glanced at the carts keenly. He appeared to be older than the other workers, and Ben estimated him to be just a few years yonder than Har. His clothes were of fine quality, and he had a fairly large pouch around his belt that looked filled with coins. The man crossed his arms and raised his brow. ¡°I¡¯m assuming this is from the Blackrock Mine. I¡¯m certain you know well what happened to our contract with them. And from the rumors, didn''t the mine collapse, trapping the miners along with Lord Blackrock?¡± ¡°Aye, it¡¯s true that. But this man here,¡± Har pointed at Ben before continuing, ¡°cleared the mine entrance and is trying to reopen the mine under his new management. Unlike Lord Blackrock, he¡¯ll provide you with good-quality ore if you are interested in some regular deliveries. I will personally ensure the ore is of high quality.¡± The man sighed before thinking things through. He then nodded and asked, ¡°I¡¯ll start with two carts full every week. Is that something you¡¯re able to do?¡± ¡°Well, it all depends on how much you want to pay. Give me a figure so we have something to work with.¡± Har replied. ¡°Alright,¡± the man nodded. ¡°The going rate is thirty gold per full cart. I can double it if the ore has been smelted into ingots.¡± ¡°Thirty!¡± Har exclaimed. ¡°We sold a carts worth for forty in the marketplace. Come on, I¡¯m certain you can do better than thirty.¡± The man sighed, ¡°The best I can offer you is thirty-five for a cart full and double if it¡¯s smelted. If you want more, then you should do business somewhere else.¡± Har turned to Ben and said, ¡°It¡¯s not as good as what you¡¯ll get in the markets, but it¡¯s regular money coming in every week. This forge works closely with the guilds and might be your way if things go well. That¡¯s where the real money is. What do you say?¡± ¡°Well, if you¡¯re more than happy to handle the deliveries, tell him we have a deal,¡± Ben said. ¡°We might need to hire a couple more couriers, but that can be done once I¡¯ve spoken to a few people.¡± Har nodded before turning to the man, ¡°We have a deal. As you can see, we¡¯ve only got one cart full left, so you¡¯ll have to wait till next week for the agreed-upon two.¡± The man counted thirty-five coins and passed them over before turning to some of the workers. ¡°Get here and unload the ore from this cart.¡± He then faced Har and said, ¡°That won''t be an issue. Ensure you don''t miss the delivery next week; otherwise, the deal will be off.¡± He passed the coins to Har and said, ¡°You¡¯ll be paid upon delivery every time, and from next week, you¡¯ll receive a banker''s check as payment.¡± [+35 Gold Pounds.] The man looked about to walk off when Har stopped him. ¡°I don''t suppose you know anyone looking to buy Mirium ore?¡± Har asked, removing the cloth covering the crate to reveal the enchanting glow of its contents. ¡°As you can see, we have a full crate.¡± The man stepped back before his mouth nearly dropped to the ground as if in shock. It took him a moment to get composed when he finally asked, ¡°Where in the holy hell did you get that much from?¡± Har gave the man an awkward stare, ¡°It was mined.¡± The man nodded. ¡°I didn''t think that mine had any left there. We don¡¯t exactly have a use for it here, but you might be able to try one of the guilds that specialize in magical items. With that much in tow, you won''t need special privileges. They¡¯ll practically throw the money at you.¡± Shaking his head, ¡°You¡¯re full of surprises, Har. I never thought I¡¯d see that much Mirium in my entire lifetime. Anyway, I have to get back to my work. I¡¯ll await my delivery next week, so don''t be late.¡± Ben turned to Har. ¡°So, what now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get to one of those guilds and see what they say.¡± Har finished before they set off. Chapter 42 - Unofficial Alchemy Guild Business Ben tilted his head upwards. The building was almost four stories high, and its architecture appeared to be some of the finest Ben had seen. According to the large sign near what looked like a glass flask, it belonged to the alchemy guild. A small group of Hollow Moon soldiers guarded the entrance, making it look like what occurred inside was paramount. ¡°You should speak with those soldiers. Seen as though you¡¯re a system user and you have a Hollow Moon rank, they¡¯ll be more inclined to entertain you than someone like me.¡± Har explained. Ben grabbed the crate and chuckled. ¡°Alright, come with me at least. After seeing your bartering skills at the market and the forge, I want you there if they try to rip me off.¡± Har started to laugh before he nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± The soldiers blocked their path when they made it to the entrance before the one in charge stepped forward. [Sargeant Gunther Level 7] ¡°Stop right there!¡± Gunther yelled before his tone calmed down. ¡°It¡¯s official business only.¡± Ben gave the soldier a narrow gaze. ¡°Sargeant Gunther, we are here on business, although it may not be official.¡± The other soldiers glanced at each other and laughed when the one in charge shook his head. ¡°Sargeant Bailey, I haven¡¯t seen your face around here, so I''m going to assume you¡¯re from an out-of-town garrison. I have orders to not let anyone in without prior permission.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Ben muttered. Turning to Har, he nodded at the crate, ¡°Could you please remove the cloth for me?¡± The soldier looked on with a raised eyebrow. ¡°You better not be doing any funny business.¡± His eyes shot wide open when he saw the crate''s contents. It was like his entire demeanor had changed. ¡°I apologize for the cold welcome, but where did you get all that Mirium from?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the new owner of the Blackrock Mine, and we¡¯re here to see if the guild would like to buy it. If you don¡¯t want it, others might be interested.¡± Ben explained in an official tone. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go elsewhere. If you kindly wait here, I¡¯ll speak with the clerks. For that much Mirium, they¡¯ll most likely send the guildmaster out.¡± The Sergeant nodded before disappearing through the doors. Ben glanced at the other soldiers, whose laughter appeared to have stopped. They stood there at attention, still like stones, as if embarrassed by their earlier outburst. The Sergeant shortly returned. ¡°If you¡¯d like to follow me inside. They¡¯ve told the grand master, who should arrive at the reception shortly.¡± The moment Ben walked in, he saw an immaculate interior. The place was simple in shape but was furnished with some of the finest furniture he had ever seen, putting the Hollow Keep to shame. Various glass displays held chemical equipment normally seen in a science lab. Ben was most drawn to a case near the reception table. In it, separate racks held vials containing differently colored liquids. Beneath them was a vellum sheet displaying the wholesale prices for a case that contained twelve vials. Ben felt overwhelmed by the different types and tiered variations. Ben turned to the reception clerk, a young lady who appeared to be watching him and Har with a curious look. ¡°Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but I don''t suppose you have a list of these prices I can take with me.¡± Without saying a word, the receptionist nodded to Ben, flicked through a nearby pile of vellum, and held it out. Ben looked down, his hands occupied by holding the crate. He turned to Har and was about to ask him if he could take it, but he had already shot forward with a hand and grabbed it. The sheet was folded before Har tucked it in his pocket. ¡°Many thanks to both of you.¡± The receptionist must have found it funny as she chuckled. When a nearby door swung open, she returned to work and pretended to look busy. An old man dressed like a royal prince walked towards the reception area. His gaze bounced from Ben to Har before he cleared his throat. ¡°Sergeant Benjamin Bailey of the Hollow Moon.¡± Ben walked ahead, ¡°That would be me. Are you the Grand Master?¡± The old man nodded, ¡°Indeed, Gran Master Malfor at your service. Welcome to the Feruswich branch of the Alchemy Guild. Normally, you¡¯d be talking with one of the guild members, but since you¡¯ve got an entire crate¡¯s worth, I am the only person here, apart from the treasurer, who can issue such a large payment for the delivery of goods.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to meet you regardless. I would have shaken your hand if I wasn¡¯t holding this thing.¡± He raised the crate, looking down at it. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°I apologize for taking some time to get here. Running a guild such as the one we have here is not an easy task. If you¡¯d like to follow me with your companion to the back, we can grade the quality of your ore and weigh it on the scales.¡± The grand master motioned. When he saw the curious looks on both Ben and Har, he added, ¡°Due to the valuable nature of your product, we conduct this standard operating procedure whenever a new batch of Mirium is received. It¡¯s so we can ensure you are properly compensated.¡± Ben understood what he meant, similar to what the jewelry shops did when dealing with precious metals and gems. He gave the man a nod before following. Beyond the door, a large storage area appeared, filled with multi-tiered shelving units and crates, similar to a warehouse. Armed guards stood at various points, with some patrolling the narrow corridors between the stock. Further down, an open area appeared toward the back of the building. Several piles of crates were on the ground near what looked like large enough doorways to the outside, big enough for carts to reverse in and be loaded. Workers scurried around with the crates, placing them in the various piles, checking a sheet of vellum, and making their way back to the storage area. The grandmaster took them to a location that looked like goods were incoming. A man with an oversized mustache sat behind a desk filled with magnifying glasses. Behind him was a large scale, as big as a cart. When he saw the grandmaster, he stopped what he was doing and stood to attention. ¡°Grand Master Malfor,¡± The man smiled and nodded, ¡°how may I be of assistance?¡± Malfor pointed to the crate Ben held and said, ¡°This is Sergeant Bailey. He is here to sell his Mirium. Please grade the ore and weigh it so we can pay him.¡± Without hesitation, the man nodded, ¡°Of course, Grand Master. It shall be done at once.¡± He then moved a few things out of the way on his desk and motioned for Ben to bring it forward. ¡°If you could place it here.¡± He removed the cloth covering it when his jaw almost hit the table. ¡°Magnificent. A powerful glow with massive dense pockets of ore. This stuff is as nearly refined Mirium as you can ever get.¡± Turning to Ben, he asked, ¡°Who mined this?¡± Ben scratched his head with a chuckle. ¡°It was me. I mined it.¡± He didn''t feel comfortable sharing the details of the Onmitool, which had done most of the hard work. ¡°Finding excellent quality ore is one thing, but it must have taken you immense hard work and effort to get it to be like this.¡± Before turning to the Malfor, the mustache man explained, ¡°I don''t need a magnifying glass to tell me this is the best Mirium you¡¯ve had here in a long time.¡± Malfor nodded to the grader. ¡°Well, you should weigh it and determine its worth.¡± He then turned to Ben and asked, ¡°Where did you mine this ore?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the new owner of the Blackrock mine,¡± Ben explained. The grand master glanced at Ben as if he wasn''t sure what to make of that. ¡°Interesting. I¡¯ve not heard that name in a long time. Alright, I will assume there¡¯s more where that came from. Are you willing to work with us to create a contract for regular deliveries? We will buy all you can produce.¡± ¡°That depends on a few factors. I¡¯m not sure how much we can produce and send to you regularly. Let¡¯s keep it so that whatever we mine, we will come here once a month and deliver it for on-the-spot cash. Does that sound better?¡± Ben enquired. He felt like the grand master had already started negotiating and didn''t want to give in to his demands too easily as it would make him look weak. Malfor let out a croaky sigh, ¡°I¡¯m fine with once a month as long as the ore is similar to this.¡± He motioned to the crate. Ben stroked his chin as a little idea popped into his head. ¡°There is one thing I wanted to ask you.¡± Malfor nodded and motioned for him to continue. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ve heard from the Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux, but he¡¯s sending a bunch of artisans to the Mesolands. Almost all of them will stay at the mine where we¡¯re creating a production-based village. Do you know about it?¡± Ben explained. Malfor gave Ben a narrow gaze. ¡°Indeed, but we¡¯ve not been specifically called to donate our artisans to the cause. I¡¯m assuming due to the lack of resources available for us to do our work.¡± He motioned at the crate, ¡°This here greatly changes the situation. But still, I don''t see why we would create another operation there. It makes no sense from a business standpoint.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but you¡¯ll have access to whatever Mirium is mined without waiting for it. Besides, from what I hear, many skilled artisans will be working there, which could, in theory, result in the creation of items and potions that are more powerful than what this kingdom has ever seen. Besides, Le¡¯Vieux will be handing out honors once that war is over. Imagine what it could do for your guild.¡± Ben explained. He hoped he had done his cause of helping the people there get the justice they deserved. Malfor paused. It looked like he was thinking things through before he started. ¡°I¡¯m not making any promises, but I''ll send someone up there to assess the situation. If working with yourself up there appears feasible, then I don''t see any problems with it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± The mustache man exclaimed. He placed the crate and the contents back on the table and waited patiently. Malfor ignored the man momentarily as he waited for Ben to speak. ¡°That sounds great to me. Also, I don''t suppose I could buy some crates of potions from you?¡± Ben asked. ¡°What potions are you exactly looking for?¡± Malfor asked with an inquisitively raised brow. ¡°Health and Mana,¡± Ben replied. ¡°Consider it done at no cost to you. I will have them in your cart and some other varieties as a goodwill gesture for our continued cooperation.¡± Malfor nodded. ¡°That¡¯s much appreciated.¡± Ben smiled. They all turned to the desk where the man had taken out a sheet of vellum. He waited for a nod from the Grand Master before he started speaking. ¡°As you can see on this sheet, there are many prices for ores of different qualities. According to the grading, your ore was of exceptional quality, the highest on this list, priced at ten Gold Pounds per pound in weight. According to the scales, you have approximately twelve pounds of product, which will be rounded to the whole number according to our fair trade rules. You¡¯ll be paid one hundred and twenty Gold Pounds.¡± Malfoy removed a book filled with what looked like banking checks and promptly filled it in before passing it over to Ben. ¡°One hundred and twenty as valued.¡± Ben grabbed the check and gave him a funny look. ¡°I don''t suppose you know where I could cash that. I¡¯ve got a few in my pocket.¡± ¡°The Royal Bank of Feruswich is your best bet. You can''t miss it if you carry on down the road past this building. It¡¯s one of the grandest buildings in the city, second to only the keep. You¡¯ll need to show them the deeds to the mine and open a bank account before checks can be cashed out.¡± Malfor explained. Chapter 43 - Shady bankers? Ben found himself looking at a building that looked like something out of a fairytale. The Royal Bank of Feruswich exceeded the architectural complexity of the Alchemy Guild building. It was twice as large and had a few more floors to top it off. The towers at the corners rose towards the sky, and the chiseled-out designs decorating the outer edges made it look more like a royal palace. At the front of the building, there appeared to be a large clock tower where the giant iron fingers displayed the time. Massive stained-glass windows covered the front facade, reflecting the rainbow''s various colors. Ben was surprised they were able to create such a structure. He figured they must have had to bring in an army of artisans who must have used every medieval method known to man to finish such an exquisite design. The thing Ben was most glad about was finally knowing the time. The clock in his van had been reset when he had jump-started the van and had to rely on guesstimation. Har steered the cart into the courtyard, where various groups of soldiers led by knights either stood guard or patrolled the area. Countless fancy carts were parked on a large circular brick road around a central, well-kept garden. A path ran through the middle where people walked towards or away from a wide entrance four times the width of a standard double door. ¡°It looks like one hell of an operation going on there,¡± Ben muttered. ¡°Oh, aye. I¡¯ve only seen it from afar before today. From what Lord Blackrock used to say, it¡¯s the largest of the six banks in the Hollow Lands¡ªmany nobles and merchants from the Mesolands also used it. I think Arthel may have an account here, too. Common folk like myself are left with pockets and lockboxes to keep our money safe. I prefer it that way as I don''t like the thought of other people controlling my money.¡± Har explained with hints of dubiousness filling his tone as he finished. Ben shrugged. ¡°Where I¡¯m from, almost everyone has a bank account. Some are even more powerful than entire governments and countries.¡± He remembered the deed in his pocket and asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we get the notarization done before heading in?¡± Har shrugged as if he didn''t have a clue. ¡°I knew it needed notarizing, but I have no idea where or how it¡¯s done. If you talk to one of those clerks there, they might be able to help with that.¡± He steered the horse towards where the other carts were parked and found a space before pulling in. Ben hopped off, and when he noticed Har''s hand wasn¡¯t doing the same, he asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming?¡± Har looked around as if it was a silly question. ¡°All these fancy folk walking, and there¡¯s me dressed in my common clothes. I¡¯ll make you look bad in front of all these people.¡± Ben shook his head. ¡°What the heck are you talking about? Come on, Har, you mean more to me than any of these fancy folk, no matter how rich or noble they may be. Besides, I doubt they will care about your appearance as long as we¡¯re there for business. Not to mention that you¡¯re my only witness who can confirm my ownership of the mine.¡± Har let out a lazy groan before huffing a sigh. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get inside.¡± As if the building weren''t already surprising, Ben found the interior awe-inspiring when he entered. They were met with a large open space with finely carved wooden cladding decorating the low part of the walls. Above them were hand-painted designs and patterns covered in gold foil, which glinted in the exterior light coming through the stained glass. Large chandeliers hung from various points, and many wall mounts held metal storm lanterns, like the ones that used oil to create large dancing flames. The ceiling must have been crafted from metal plates polished to a mirror finish. ¡°I can''t believe this. It¡¯s putting the Hollow Keep to shame, and that place was magnificent,¡± Ben muttered. Har nodded. Turning to Ben, he whispered. ¡°Aye to that. I guess this happens when you give your money to rich people to keep it safe. They spend it on fancy things like to convince others to do the same.¡± They walked across one of the lines leading to the clerks'' desks. Various guards gave them stern stares as if they were eyeing potential bank robbers or troublemakers. A few guards split up and approached a knight. Moments later, the knight started approaching the pair but suddenly stopped halfway. Around the same time, Ben noticed the system notification pop-up. The knight nodded and waved as if all was well before hurrying back to the guards and giving them what looked like an earful. ¡°Serves them right.¡± Ben chuckled under his breath. ¡°Thankfully, this faction system is more than just a tool for war.¡± ¡°Oh, damn right.¡± Har agreed. ¡°The soldiers and knights of the Hollow Moon have a sense of respect and camaraderie for other members of the order. From what I know, even if you find yourself without a place to sleep, you¡¯ll be allowed in their forts and camps where a warm meal and bed are provided on the order. If you find yourself in trouble, they¡¯re under oath to help regardless of the situation, even if it leads to their death.¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Are you saying, with a high enough rank, I can just ask for things, and they¡¯ll be provided?¡± Ben questioned. ¡°Don''t take my word for it. That¡¯s just what I¡¯ve heard.¡± Har shrugged. Like a well-oiled machine, the line started moving quicker as more clerks reached a few empty desks. It didn''t take long before Ben was served. A middle-aged lady sat upon a raised seat, giving Ben a suspicious look as if he looked alien. She then glanced at Har, letting out a whispered scoff as if to say he didn''t belong in a place like that. Ben frowned and gave her a narrow gaze. There was no way he would allow her to treat them like that. The clerk cleared her throat. ¡°Welcome to the Royal Bank of Feruswich. How may I help you?¡± She asked in a condescending tone before glancing at the line behind them. ¡°If you could please be quick, I have other customers waiting.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to cash some checks, but before we can do that, my deeds must be notarized,¡± Ben explained, taking out the small pile of vellum sheets from his pockets. He placed the deed on the table. The clerk glanced at it briefly, as if dismissing it immediately, before asking, ¡°Do you hold an account with us?¡± Ben shook his head. ¡°I don''t. But I want to open one to keep the business finances separate.¡± The clerk gave Ben a look as if she thought he was wasting her time. ¡°If you could wait here, I¡¯ll speak with my steward.¡± She hurried off towards a man in the distance before they both made their way back. ¡°This man here wants to open an account and cash these checks, but he¡¯s claiming his deeds need notarized.¡± The clerk explained. Her voice sounded very discerned as if something dodgy was going on. The steward glanced at both Ben and Har before asking. ¡°May I take a look at the deed?¡± Ben gave him a nod. ¡°Of course.¡± The steward grabbed the deed. ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s see the details of this property. The Blackrock Mine and its adjourning lands in the independent duchy of Meso. I¡¯ve not heard much from that side of Great Malle, nor has Lord Blackrock appeared here at some time.¡± ¡°Lord Blackrock passed away when the mine entrance collapsed,¡± Ben explained. ¡°This type of deed allows the person possessing it to become the rightful holder as long it is legally notarized. But before that, you must have at least two witnesses.¡± The steward explained, he glanced at Har, ¡°I¡¯m assuming this man here must be one of your witnesses.¡± ¡°Indeed, he was there when I took possession of the mine. There was another named Finnan, but he¡¯s keeping the mine running in my stead while I conduct my business here.¡± Ben explained. ¡°That''s fine. And how did you come into possession of the mine?¡± The steward asked. ¡°After helping the fine folks of Robynhill, they offered me the opportunity to reopen the mine. We cleared the entrance and exterminated the creatures that roamed within. Things are returning to normal there, and we¡¯ll soon have regular deliveries coming here.¡± Ben explained. The steward nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Does anyone with an official government rank approve the mine transfer?¡± Ben stroked his chin. The only official person who knew the transfer was happening was Le¡¯Vieux. ¡°The Grand Marshall of the Hollow Moon knows about the transfer and even instructed me to gather some special ore from within.¡± Ben shrugged, ¡°Is that good enough?¡± The steward raised his brow, and his face became flustered. ¡°If you¡¯re trying to fool me into thinking that the Grand Marshall himself witnessed this transfer and even personally tasked you to do something. These are outrageous claims that someone like yourself knows someone of stature like the Grand Marshall.¡± He turned to the clerk, ¡°Please may you call for the Knight-Captain. Falsifying information like that is a crime.¡± Ben crossed his arms. ¡°Do what you must.¡± Har had started to chuckle by then. ¡°It looks like they¡¯ll get the shock of a lifetime.¡± A couple of moments later, the familiar clanging of steel emerged. A knight wearing armor similar to Alfred marches ahead, surrounded by knights and soldiers. The clerk pointed towards Ben and Har before they approached them. Silence had filled the chamber by then, and everyone eagerly stared at what was happening. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± the knight-captain¡¯s voice reverberated. The steward lifted his hand and pointed at Ben. ¡°This man here is falsifying information about a Hollow Moon military commander. He¡¯s claiming to personally know the Grand Marshall who witnessed the transfer of this deed.¡± The knight paused for a moment before replying. ¡°He¡¯s a Sergeant of the Hollow Moon.¡± He then shrugged before turning to Ben. ¡°Falsifying information is a crime. Which knight do you report to?¡±¡± ¡°Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux.¡± Ben replied. ¡°To back those claims, I must insist that you grant me access to your quest logs.¡± The knight asked, placing his hand on the hilt of the sword. The passive aggressiveness didn''t faze Ben. ¡°That won''t be a problem.¡± When the request came through, he gracefully accepted it. The knight-captain took a few steps back, almost crashing into the soldiers standing there. He turned to the steward and said, ¡°Sergeant Bailey here reports directly to the Grand Marshall and was recently tasked with gathering Mirium ore from The Blackrock mine.¡± He turned to Ben and said, ¡°I apologize for any inconvenience. I will speak to the soldiers and knights so as not to trouble you.¡± ¡°Don''t worry about it, it¡¯s understandable.¡± Ben nodded before giving the knights and soldiers a thumbs up.¡± They looked completely dumbfounded when he turned back to the steward and clerk. ¡°Are you both just going to stand there? We have other business to attend and don''t have all day to be wasting here.¡± The steward lowered his head in shame. ¡°Please accept my apology. We will call for the grand master, who can notarize your deed immediately.¡± He turned to the clerk and nodded his head towards the back, ¡°Go on.¡± A few moments passed before the clerk returned with an old guy in tow. The man looked the same age as Malfor and even wore the same style of robes. The grandmaster nodded. ¡°Sergeant Bailey, I¡¯ve heard a quick recollection of what transpired. I do offer you my apology on behalf of the Bank of Feruswich. I hope this incident won''t impact your decision to bank with us. Rest assured, I will deal with these two once I¡¯ve helped you with what you need.¡± He glanced at the deed before turning to the Steward. ¡°Go get a fresh sheet of the finest vellum.¡± Chapter 44 - Officially The Bailey Mine Ben stared at the grand master, who began writing a new deed. ¡°Normally, we just write over the old deed, but since my colleagues have been unprofessional with their demeanor towards you, I have the authority to issue you a brand new one. This is the time to tell me if you want to give the mine a new name." The grand master stated while glancing up. Ben glanced at Har and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m unsure if changing the name will bode well with the villagers. What do you think I should do?¡± Har gave Ben a stern nod. ¡°Hmm, a new name sounds like a good idea and would make things more exciting for the people there. The Blackrocks did much for Robynhill, and their legacy will always be a part of the village. Ben, you are yourself, and so far, you¡¯ve done enough to be remembered in the same light. As the new owner, change the name and allow the fine folk of Robynhill to be a part of your legacy. They will be over the moon, I¡¯m certain.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Alright. I don¡¯t want to make it look like I just changed it to feed my ego, so let¡¯s keep a plaque near the mine entrance in honor of the Blackrock legacy.¡± He then scratched his head, ¡°The thing I can''t figure out is what I should call it?¡± Har nearly facepalmed, ¡°The Bailey Mine would suffice, although I doubt Arthel would be too happy about it?¡± Ben frowned. ¡°Why wouldn''t he be happy?¡± Har started to chuckle. ¡°The man who didn''t change the name of his inn when he bought it. I have a feeling he was secretly in love with the Blackrocks, or he¡¯s a stuck-in-the-old-times person.¡± ¡°Understood. Well, he¡¯ll have to get used to it then.¡± Ben nodded before facing the grand master, who looked annoyed that he had to endure that conversation. ¡°The Bailey Mine is what I would like to call it.¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± The grand master muttered before continuing. ¡°What are the names of the two witnesses?¡± ¡°This is Har Olson, my first witness and deputy foreman, Finnan Mcgrain, who is currently running the mine in my stead,¡± Ben replied. The grand master continued writing. ¡°Since it¡¯s been confirmed that Grand Marshall Rolf Le¡¯Vieux was in your presence and had no objections about the transfer, I will also write his name here as a secondary witness. That should ensure you are not bothered by anyone who thinks you may be lying.¡± When he finished, he continued, ¡°With that done, it¡¯ll take a few moments for the ink to dry. Until then, I will open and integrate a new business account with your system.¡± Ben patiently waited as the grand master created the account, but suddenly, a new notification appeared on his system. [The Bailey Mine business account has been added to your system.] ¡°That¡¯s all completed for you now. Please open your system and select the business account. You should read the system information while we prepare your checkbook, " the grand master explained. *** [The Bailey Mine: 0 GP] *** Only Gold Pounds (GP) may be stored in the account. The system user may transfer the GP of their personal system currency to the account at any time. Transfers with other account holders may only occur in person. Transfers out of person to another account holder may only take place via the checking system in person at any bank branch on Great Malle. When issuing checks, please ensure enough funds are in your business account; otherwise, your account may be subject to an unarranged overdraft with high interest rates. Always speak with someone at your local bank branch for help with the account. *** ¡°Impressive,¡± Ben muttered, bouncing his eyebrows up and down. For a medieval society, their banking systems seemed similar to those he was used to on Earth. The grand master smiled before passing the new and old deeds. He also placed a thick book filled with slips on the table. ¡°Congratulations, Mr Benjamin Bailey. You are officially the new owner of The Bailey Mine, formerly The Blackrock Mine. I have excused your military rank as I feel it will change in the future, and we can''t keep issuing you new deeds. In case of future disputes, I implore you to keep both title deeds, old and new, together.¡± He then pointed at the book, ¡°This is your checkbook. Please be careful when filling them out, as mistakes can be costly. I will now cash these checks for you. Would you prefer a transfer to your account or in fiat money?¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°I would prefer them to be transferred into my business account, please,¡± Ben replied. The grand master picked up the pile of checks and began counting them. When done, he looked at Ben and said, ¡°A total of one hundred and seventy gold pounds. The recent one from the alchemy guild will have no problems, but those older ones may not get processed as we can''t guarantee that the issuers still have their accounts open.¡± A few moments later, the grandmaster smiled. ¡°It seems you are in luck today. None of the checks bounced, and all their payees still have accounts. I understand your situation this time, but I would advise you not to leave it for longer than a couple of months when receiving a check. Is there anything else I can help you with with?¡± [The Bailey Mine: +175 Gold Pounds. (Total: 175 GP).] Ben nodded. ¡°That¡¯s perfect. I want to thank you for getting all this sorted for me. I do hope to see you again in the future. I bid you farewell, Grand Master.¡± Ben picked up the title deeds and felt the silky smooth texture of the new one. Carefully, he opened the checkbook and neatly fit the deeds inside to ensure the edges didn''t get creased. Once he was done, he glanced at the clerk and steward before giving them a grin of victory. [New Title: Owner of The Bailey Mine.] After waving goodbye to the grandmaster, Ben and Har returned to the horse cart. Ben noticed the sun was starting to set in the sky, and it wouldn''t be long till night blanketed the town. All the goals they had set out had been completed, making him feel the best he had since being transported to the world. Wanting to end the day positively, he figured it would be best not to travel at night. ¡°It''s too late to head back now, and I don''t want to put your life in danger in case we encounter trouble on the road. Let¡¯s find a nice place to hunker down.¡± Glancing down at his grumbling stomach, he added, ¡°Could do with some nice food too.¡± ¡°Aye, some good ale would go down nice as well. There¡¯s no need to worry about your van. The guards around here are true to their word. They¡¯ll let the night watch know to keep an eye on it during the night.¡± Har stated before looking around as if he was thinking. ¡°Ah, yes. In this district, there are a few fancy inns that I have always dreamt about staying at, but I doubt I have the coin. I can drop you off at one of them and make my way to the other side of town where it¡¯s more affordable.¡± Ben chuckled and patted the old courier on the shoulder. ¡°Come on, Har! Do you think I will stay in a fancy place and let you wander off to the dodgy side of town? After everything you¡¯ve done for me, you¡¯re coming no matter what. We may have different blood, but we¡¯re family now.¡± Ben noticed Har¡¯s eyes become misty, and a warm smile filled his face. The man had gone through hell and back, losing almost all his family to the bloodhounds. It looked like Har wanted to say something but was lost for words. After a moment, Har cleared his throat. ¡°I don''t haggle like that for just any old sod. You know, I felt you¡¯d turn out to be a good egg after we first met.¡± He shifted the cart into gear and got moving out of the courtyard. *** ¡°Not too shabby.¡± Ben complimented. The Feruswich Hollow was the name of the inn. Har steered the cart in when a teenage porter a couple of years older than Finn approached them and took the reins. ¡°Hey, lad! We¡¯ve got precious cargo in the back, so make sure you leave it in a place where it¡¯s well guarded.¡± Har explained, getting off. The boy was silent and only nodded in acknowledgment before taking the horsecart to a nearby barn. Ben glanced at the inn building itself. It stood proud on almost three floors, with many windows across its facade. Almost all the building was covered in a beige render with some bits, especially the corners and window sills, where the stone was still bare. At the entrance, they were greeted by armed guards who looked like they had seen their fair share of combat from all the scars on their faces. Because of their exquisite armor, they must have profited well from their combat skills. Ben and Har had no issues walking into the inn as the men moved out of the way and opened the entrance. A young woman in her late teens wearing a maid''s outfit stood there with a heartwarming smile. She waved and started her greeting. ¡°Thank you for visiting The Feruswich Hollow. My name is Annie, and I will be your waitress today. If you don¡¯t mind me asking, are you here to stay the night, or would you like to book a table? We have special rates for our wonderful patrons if it''s both.¡± Ben cleared his throat. ¡°Hello there, Annie. Thank you for the warm welcome. If it is okay with you, we would like to book a table and stay the night.¡± Annie bowed her head before taking a piece of paper and attaching it to a clipboard. ¡°That won''t be a problem. Could I have a name for the booking?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. My name is Benjamin Bailey, and this man with me is Har Olson.¡± Ben replied. ¡°Perfect. How long will you be staying with us?¡± ¡°One night¡­ Two rooms.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. I will get this to the innkeeper so your rooms are ready. Because you will be dining with us tonight, I have included a free breakfast so you can fill your bellies before you leave in the morning. If you could follow me, I will take you to your table, where you can peruse the best food in the town.¡± The waitress explained before taking them to a table. Ben looked around and saw that the bar area was full of guests. Multiple bartenders served drinks and kept the area clean. There was a small stage where some bards played their instruments and sang tales of heroic warriors. Most tables were fully booked, but a few empty ones were in the back, where they were motioned. The waitress picked up two sheets from nearby and placed them before Ben and Har. ¡°If you have any questions about the menu or feel ready to order, please don''t hesitate to call me. Once again, thank you.¡± She smiled at them both before tending to her other duties. The whole atmosphere and vibe gave Ben flashbacks of the restaurants back home. Although he preferred living on the edges of society and made the most of what he had, one of his favorite things to do was going to eat at nice places. ¡°I haven''t seen a smile on your face like that since we met.¡± Har chuckled. ¡°Does this place remind you of somewhere?¡± Ben pushed the thoughts back before nodding. ¡°Ah, just some memories from my old life. Come on, let¡¯s see what they have on offer. I¡¯m starving so much my stomach is about to eat itself.¡± Chapter 45 - Back To The Mine. Ben and Har had finished eating. ¡°That was good.¡± Ben complimented, feeling stuffed in his throat. He had ordered a bowl of grilled fish with some boiled vegetables. It wasn''t like the fish and chips back in England, but it sure hit the spot. Har, who had ordered a meat stew and some bread, gave him a funny look. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how you can eat fish. It¡¯s not my cup of tea.¡± ¡°I don''t understand how you don¡¯t like fish when most of the menu is fish and seafood.¡± Ben shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s mostly fish and seafood because the river run along the northern boundary of the town, not to mention regular caravans from Wesport where they have access to the sea.¡± Har explained before sighing deeply and smiling half, ¡°My mother used to make a proper stew like this when times were good. I still remember running to the hearth to get the first bowl with my siblings as a child. These days, meat like this can put a hole in your pocket larger than the tax man''s.¡± They sat and talked about old times while washing down the upmarket ale. ¡°That¡¯s enough about old times,¡± Har muttered. It seemed the nostalgia of his younger life made him a little grumpy. ¡°What I want to know is your next move with the mine?¡± Ben let out a sigh. ¡°We¡¯ve made a good start here in this town. We have enough ore veins to last at least a few years of mining. Our main problem will be transporting the stock for sale and finding new buyers. We must go to the other towns and villages if necessary.¡± Har nodded in agreement. ¡°Understood, but that won¡¯t be an easy task.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Ben muttered. ¡°That¡¯s why we need to set up a regular delivery schedule. Look, Har, you¡¯re the only person I know who is up to the task. You know the area, routes, and the people. You¡¯ve already proved yourself by bartering on my behalf. It would be stupid of me not to give you the position of Logistics Manager. Well, that¡¯s what we call it where I¡¯m from.¡± Har stroked his chin. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard that job title before. Around these parts, the person in charge of caravans is called a coach steward. For this to work, you¡¯ll need to hire a few more people¡ªanother two coachmen and at least a few guards. As you saw on the journey here, traders and merchants travel in larger numbers to avoid their chances of being robbed by low-life criminals.¡± ¡°That¡¯s understandable. I trust your judgment. After all, you¡¯ve got decades of experience under your belt. How much do you think it¡¯ll cost to get things going?¡± Ben asked. ¡°We¡¯ll need to buy some good horses. New carts, too. I think around ten gold should cover everything, including wages for a month. I¡¯ll get a regular caravan traveling on the road, going past all the towns and villages.¡± Har explained. ¡°Consider it done.¡± Ben nodded, opening his profile screen. He transferred thirteen gold pounds from his business account to his own. Then, he waved his hand across the table to remove them. ¡°I believe I owe you some for your services as well. I¡¯ve added a little bonus for you.¡± [-15 Gold Pounds.] Har¡¯s eyes opened wide before he bowed his head. ¡°Ben, you are being too kind here. There¡¯s more here than what I need.¡± ¡°It¡¯s well deserved, Coach Steward Har.¡± Ben grinned. ¡°I will see to my duties first thing in the morning. Once again, you have my thanks.¡± Har nodded. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, mate. It¡¯s been a long day, and we will have a big journey back tomorrow. We should call it a night.¡± Ben said before waving to Annie to catch her attention. They were led to the bar area, where a barkeeper calculated the cost of their food and drinks before giving them a total, including their stay. [-6 Silver Shillings.] By the time Ben reached his room, he had walked up to Ben and almost face-planted on the soft mattress. Within a few moments, he drifted off to a much-needed sleep.
It was almost midday when Ben set his sights on the mine. Before setting off, Har had walked around Feruswich tirelessly, finding the carts, horses, and coachmen he needed. He had even found some armed men for hire willing to travel the roads. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Har guided the caravan of six carts toward the mine entrance and ordered them to park in a grassy clearing after Ben had come to a stop. Ben got out, taking a look at the builder''s progress. They had managed to dig up a large chunk of the area in front of the mine and flatten it. He was waved by the builder in charge before he made his way over there. ¡°Good work.¡± Ben complimented. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s alright. We had a few issues with a few large rocks in the way, but it¡¯s all done now.¡± The builder explained. ¡°I¡¯m not an expert in this stuff, but you¡¯re going to start creating the foundations next, aren''t you?¡± Ben asked. ¡°Indeed. Luckily, we¡¯ve got everything we need here. We can use those rocks near the entrance for the filler as they¡¯re not brittle. Yesterday, I sent some men to search for lime, sand, and clay. From the looks of things, you¡¯ve got enough to build an entire city.¡± The builder explained before stroking his chin. ¡°I don''t know why the Blackrocks didn''t exploit those resources. They could have made a fortune selling that stuff. It could be something to look at once the mine is running again.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°Thank you, that¡¯s good to know. I bet there¡¯s a lot of other stuff around here that could be exploited for profit, too. Anyway, while you work on the foundations, is there any chance you could get the bloomery area fixed up? With them, we can create ingots and sell them for more.¡± The builder glanced at the broken structure of the three bloomeries. ¡°I¡¯ll put two of my men on it. It shouldn''t take more than a few days to finish.¡± He glanced back at the flattened area and added, ¡°I¡¯ll need to know how many buildings you need and how large you want. Honestly, a layout of the village would be better.¡± ¡°Leave it with me. I¡¯ll need to speak with the others about that before giving you an answer. For now, start work on the bloomeries.¡± Ben explained. ¡°That¡¯s no problem at all. We still have time as the guys gather the lime and sand. I¡¯ll speak to you later.¡± The builder waved before making his way back to the other builders.
A few moments later, Ben called Finn and Jerry to join him and Har in the foreman''s office. They all sat around the table in what looked like a boardroom meeting. He had finished explaining the results of the Feruswich trip. Before the meeting, Ben had grabbed a pen and paper from the van and sketched a rough drawing of the area. ¡°Alright,¡± Ben said in a huff. ¡°The next order of business is the village. The builders have asked me for an outline of what we want it to look like so they can start work. With all the new horsecarts, I need to know what structures and buildings we need for them.¡± Har gave a nod before speaking. ¡°You¡¯ll need a loading area directly outside the entrance to make life easier for the workers. A hitching post with wooden railings would suffice for that. As for the horses, you¡¯ll have stables with enough space for a dozen horses in case you need to expand. Don¡¯t forget the horses need food and water to survive.¡± ¡°This area should have great groundwater,¡± Jerry interrupted. Until a well is built, short journeys to the river will have to suffice. I recommend you build a barn where supplies can be stored and a food hut. With winter coming up, the last thing you want is for people to starve to death in case supplies get low. You could speak with Hauxwell. I¡¯m certain he¡¯ll be happy to help with that.¡± ¡°Thanks for that.¡± Ben nodded as he drew some markers on the paper along with some notes. He showed it to the others and continued when they agreed. ¡°Jerry, I¡¯m not an expert in workshops or dwellings. Since you¡¯ve built your cabin, I need to know how large the workshops need to be and how much space we need for accommodation?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be better off building the workshops with two stories. That way, the artisans can work on the ground floor and use the space above to live and sleep. The workspaces need to be around the same size as my cabin. Remember, they must have space for their forges and crafting tools.¡± Jerry replied. Ben traced a road down the middle of the flattened area. He reserved some space for a well and started making rectangles where the buildings would be placed on either side of the road. ¡°From the looks of things, we can build around a dozen. If we need to expand in the future, we can always clear out the camp area and flatten the land towards the direction of the mountains.¡± Once the map was done, he placed it in the center of the table before turning to Finn. ¡°Do you need anything for the mine?¡± Finn scratched his head and looked a little shy to ask. He only spoke when Har gave him a nod. ¡°Master Ben, we could do with another ore storage area. We¡¯re nearly full again, and it¡¯s only been a couple of days.¡± Ben glanced at the map. ¡°The builders will use all that stone piled near the entrance. We can build an additional storage area there. That way, it¡¯ll be easier for the smelters to do their job and for the people to load the carts faster.¡± He then drew another square. Finn smiled, ¡°That will help a lot and keep things going.¡± Har gave Finn a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll start loading those carts in the morning. We should be able to clear enough space in the store, so you¡¯ll be all alright for another week.¡± Turning to Ben, he added, ¡°I¡¯ll go around the other towns and villages to see what we can sell.¡± Ben glanced at some of the nearby ledgers. ¡°I¡¯ll quickly look through those and see if I can dig any old contracts from the other towns and villages. If you speak to them like that forge guy in Feruswich, they might be interested in buying ore from us again.¡± ¡°That sounds like it could work.¡± Har agreed. Ben grabbed the ledgers and began siphoning through Lord Blackrock''s squiggly writing. He made a list of settlements and the names of the previous customers, making sure to write down the amounts they bought and for how much. Feeling happy with the information he had gathered, he passed the list to Har and wished him good luck, hoping things would turn out positively. Ben grabbed the map he had made and made his way to the builder before giving the man a brief explanation. Once he was done, he went to the van for much-needed maintenance. Chapter 46 - The North Pasture The moment Ben rested his butt on the driver''s seat, he started the engine and glanced at the stats. * Vehicle: Valkyrie, Level 2 Type: Camper Condition: 27% Fuel: 8% Power: 140HP (Mechanical) Mass: 1983KG Armor Rating: 49 * The fuel and condition stats were getting low. There had been much to do, and he had left it too long. He first hit the refuel skill, then waited for it to complete a hundred percent before using the remainder to fix the condition. [Fuel: 100%, Condition: 85%.] [MP: 0/150] Good enough for now! With his magic pool dry as a bone, he closed his eyes to begin the meditation procedure. Having not practiced it much since his training with Hauxwell, it took a while to get used to the feelings again. Beyond the noise of the nearby energy, he felt two strong hums of magic in the distance. One of them had a rhythm Ben found familiar and knew it belonged to Hauxwell. The weaker one was a complete mystery to him. Often, the energies felt like they were colliding or clashing with each other. That must be coming from the north pasture, but what on Earth is going on there? Ben felt his curiosity reel him like a fish toward the north pasture. As much as he wanted to go there and investigate the commotion, he knew he needed to block the distraction and focus on the task at hand. It took some hard work, but Ben managed to connect with the nearby energy and absorb it. [MP: 150/150] Awesome! When Ben opened his eyes, a couple of hours had passed. With the sun in its mid-afternoon position, he figured he better set off to see what was happening in the north pasture. Although Ben knew the general direction of it, he wasn¡¯t sure how to get there, and there was no way in hell he would be driving over the rocky cliffs on the way. After leaving the van, Ben found Har near the entrance, chatting with the new coachmen. Har noticed Ben was waiting for him and quickly finished the conversation before making his way. He glanced at the van before a smile emerged on his face. ¡°Ah, Ben, you¡¯ve made the van look new again. I can see her shine from here.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°Just some regular maintenance that should have been done much earlier. I see you¡¯ve gotten right to work with your duties as a steward.¡± He noticed the men had gotten to work and started clearing the loose rubble around where the new loading area would be built. ¡°Oh, Aye. We don¡¯t want them getting lazy with no work to do. We need to clear this area so the carts can be loaded before we set off in the morning.¡± Har explained. Ben nodded. ¡°Keep up the good work.¡± Har bounced his eyebrows before crossing his arms. ¡°From the look on your face, I know something is going on. Is everything alright?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got me with that one. While meditating, I could sense Hauxwell¡¯s energy interacting with another powerful one. It was coming from near the north pasture, but as you know, it¡¯ll be impossible to get there in the van with the terrain. Isn¡¯t there a trail that leads there?¡± Ben asked. ¡°I¡¯m afraid there isn''t a proper trail that goes there, which was the reason for its abandonment. Hauxwell¡¯s lot must have found it difficult to get everything over there in one piece. You¡¯ll be better off walking beyond that hill there. A hilly path will take you through a small forest before you arrive at the stone walls separating the pasture.¡± Har pointed over a hill nearby that was across from the mine entrance. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°It looks like it¡¯ll have to be a hike, then. I should speak with them about the food situation. Once the food storage hut is erected, maybe they can help us get stocked.¡± Ben said, giving Har a wave. I¡¯ll see you later.¡± *** Ben trudged along the path. His legs had started to get sore from the uphill struggle, and he felt sorry that Hauxwell¡¯s people had to carry their things over such terrible terrain. He vowed to instruct the builders to improve the road infrastructure once they finished the mining village. As Har had directed, a small forest filled with conifers flattened the terrain. It took Ben almost a quarter of an hour to arrive at a grassy opening where an old stone boundary separated the pasture from the wild. The clashing of steel erupted nearby, and Ben turned to see what was happening. What the heck? Ben used the remainder of his energy to run to where the sounds were coming from and prepared himself for a battle. When he saw what was going on, he almost stumbled over and came to a stop. Ben rubbed his eyes and wanted to ensure that what he saw was real. Hauxwell radiated energy like a storm lantern on maximum setting while swinging his sword in various combos. Alfred somehow extended his mana from his shoulder and used it like an arm to block the attacks and land some of his own. The bout went on for a few minutes before one of Hauxwell¡¯s attacks hit Alfred''s sword, causing it to get launched and shatter the mana arm out of existence. ¡°Come on! I know you can do better than that.¡± Hauxwell yelled before his aura shifted away. ¡°Still, it was better than the last time. You have to keep practicing the mana control.¡± Alfred approached his sword and picked it up with his other arm. ¡°It¡¯s hard to keep balance when missing an arm.¡± Hauxwell shook his head. ¡°Yeah, but you need to change the properties of the magic forming the arm. You must learn to add weight to it. That¡¯s enough for today. It seems we have a spectator.¡± He turned and motioned towards Ben. Ben made his way over there. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you both. I was wondering what was happening here. You both nearly rocked my socks off with that display. I didn¡¯t think creating an entire arm out of mana was possible.¡± Hauxwell let out a slow chuckle. ¡°Hah, do you feel left out? I don''t think Alfred will mind if you join in. I hope you¡¯ve not been slack off with your practice.¡± Alfred smiled. ¡°Good to see you¡¯re doing well. I don¡¯t mind seeing how far you¡¯ve come regarding combat.¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°So the two of you can wipe the floor with me? I¡¯m alright, thanks. If you''re interested, I¡¯m here to discuss some business with the pasture.¡± ¡°Business, huh? We¡¯ve been out here training for hours. I think the first thing we need to do is eat something. You¡¯re welcome to join us.¡± Hauxwell motioned towards the farmhouse in the distance. Ben held his stomach as it grumbled. ¡°Now, that sounds like a great idea. I haven''t had anything to eat since the morning.¡± *** After eating the bread and cheese sandwiches he had created, Ben washed the food with some honey and camomile tea. ¡°The best cheese sandwich I¡¯ve ever had. Where I come from, we add some pickles there, too.¡± Ben stated. Alfred and Hauxwell glanced at each other before Ben, giving Ben a funny look as if to say he was mad. Hauxwell shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what a sandwich is, nor do I want to know how a pickle tastes good with my cheese.¡± Ben shrugged, ¡°Look, when you combine two pieces of bread with something like cheese to fill it, it¡¯s called a sandwich. This is a popular food in England; we normally add some pickles. It tastes amazing. I wish I had some with me so you could figure out what I was saying.¡± Hauxwell nearly burst into laughter and turned to face Alfred, looking like he was about to say something. He stopped when he saw the look on Alfred¡¯s face. ¡°Don''t tell me he¡¯s actually from England, where some of our ancestors came from.¡± Alfred nodded. ¡°It¡¯s true. He used an artifact to get here. Well, talking of pickles, he got himself in one with the scorpion riders. Nearly wiped an entire nursery out before Blue found him and brought him to us at the Hollow Keep.¡± Hauxwell¡¯s mouth dropped open, almost hitting the table below. ¡°No wonder you drive that van thing. Technology on Earth must have advanced way beyond us.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°It had indeed. But with the mine up and running again, maybe I can help get things progressed here so you can also have machines like we do on Earth. But before we do that, there¡¯s a food situation we need to get sorted.¡± Hauxwell nodded. ¡°Ah, I understand. With the population rising, there will be more mouths to feed. I¡¯m assuming you¡¯ve instructed the builders to erect a food hut where you can store the food. We can send you a delivery down there within a week. Milk, cheese, bread, and honey. When we slaughter an animal, meat can also be provided.¡± ¡°I¡¯m certain everyone will appreciate that. However, there are a few other things we¡¯ll need, too. We have a few more horses now, and they must also be fed. Since we¡¯re selling ore, we can pay for the supplies to reimburse you.¡± Ben explained. Hauxwell stroked his chin before being stuck in deep thought for a moment. ¡°It sounds like something we can do, but first, I need to speak with you about something. We only have space on the pasture for our cows and apiaries. The west of here is a small valley that leads into the mountains. I believe that is also included in the deed to the mine, as it sits directly behind it. If you allow us to clear it and use it to grow wheat and vegetables, we can pay you a share of what the farm makes.¡± Ben thought about it for a moment before giving his answer. ¡°Alright. We have a deal if you don''t claim the other resources there. I¡¯m looking to turn the mine into a prosperous business, which will require us to use all the resources the land can give me.¡± Hauxwell chuckled. ¡°We just need the land suitable for farming. Only you are at liberty to take advantage of everything else there. I¡¯ll ask one of the farmhands to give you a few things to take back with you, as we¡¯ve got plenty here.¡± He paused before looking like he remembered something and added. ¡°The next time your people go out to sell ore, ask them if they can buy some chickens. We could do with regular eggs and poultry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let Har know about that,¡± Ben said, scratching his head. ¡°I should get going now.¡± Hauxwell shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. It¡¯ll be nightfall soon. You¡¯re more than welcome to stay here the night.¡± Ben shook his head. ¡°I would love to, but Har is leaving first thing in the morning. I need to tell him about the chickens.¡± Chapter 47 - Another Omnitool Upgrade Ben returned to the mine as the evening shroud almost enveloped the land. The trek back from the pasture wasn¡¯t as bad as getting there, as it was mostly downhill. It would have been much easier without the small cart of supplies he had been gifted. Luckily, he had some help. Before leaving, Hauxwell had ordered one of the farmhands to help Ben push and pull the cart over the tedious terrain. The farmhand, Jochim, parked the cart near the mine entrance. He glanced at the sky and shook his head. ¡°Right, that should be fine over there, Sir.¡± Ben nodded and gave Joachim a thumbs up. ¡°I appreciate the help, mate. I don''t think I would have been able to get it down those cliffs if on my own.¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯re welcome, Sir. I¡¯m glad to have been useful to you.¡± Joachim said with a smile. He turned slightly before facing the way back to the pasture. ¡°It¡¯ll get dark soon, so I should set off.¡± ¡°Hey Joachim, hang on a moment. I don¡¯t want you taking any risks when night falls. You¡¯re welcome to stay here at the miner''s camp we¡¯ve made till the morn.¡± Ben explained, pointing at the tents. ¡°I appreciate the gesture, Sir, but there¡¯s much work to get done at the pasture. I must be getting back now.¡± Joachim said before glancing at the lit torches by the mouth of the mine. ¡°Will it be alright if I take one of those torches for my journey back?¡± Ben walked up to the entrance and removed one before passing it over. ¡°Of course. Look, if you ever need anything from here, just come and take it. I¡¯ll not give you a hard time for something as simple as taking a torch. Just be careful out there, mate.¡± Joachim nodded and put his hand on his chest. ¡°You have my thanks, Sir. Don¡¯t worry. The trail isn¡¯t too bad once you have a bit of light. Till we meet again.¡± With a smile, he turned and started his journey back. Ben made his way towards the camp, where the flames of a campfire danced. Har sat there with the other village folk, looking like they were having a good time. Har raised his tankard the moment he set his eyes upon Ben. ¡°Ah, Ben, you¡¯ve returned. You¡¯re back in one piece, so I assume nothing bad happened at the pasture.¡± Ben waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you too, Har. I see you¡¯re all having a great time here. There was no cause for a concert over there. Just Hauxwell and Alfred having a knightly melee. An interesting battle, if I must say so.¡± Har raised his eyebrows. ¡°A melee? How¡¯s he doing that with one arm?¡± ¡°It seems Hauxwell has taught him how to make an arm out of mana so he can swing his sword. Still, he needs a little more practice, but he¡¯ll return to his duties soon enough. Speaking of duties, I hope all of you take it easy with that ale. You¡¯ve got an early morning if I remember quite rightly.¡± Ben stated while glancing at the tankards. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s just one to put us to sleep. Besides, did you get a chance to ask about the food?¡± Har enquired. ¡°I¡¯ve negotiated for regular food supplies as long as I allow them to use the valley north of here to farm wheat and crops. Speaking of supplies, Hauxwell sent some goods. Milk, cheese, beef, and animal feed for the horses.¡± Ben explained, pointing at the cart. ¡°You should ask someone to take care of that.¡± Har asked the village folk to move it in with the rest of the food. Then, turning back to Ben, he said, ¡°We¡¯ve got an early start. I think we¡¯ll be calling it a night now.¡± ¡°Ah, before I leave you, Hauxwell asked for some chickens when you go out next. They¡¯re looking to start farming poultry products soon. I don''t know about you, but it¡¯s been some time since I¡¯ve had a nice omelet.¡± Har gave Ben a funny look as if he was confused. ¡°A what now?¡± He shrugged, then added, ¡°Anyway, the chickens won''t be an issue. Almost all villages have some for sale.¡± ¡°Just try to buy enough so they can get set up without worrying about things. I¡¯ll see you in the morning and help you load those carts. You all have a good night.¡± Ben finished before waving. Ben stumbled his sore legs back to the van and opened the side door. He cleaned up from the day''s work and wore comfortable clothing before falling face-first on the mattress. The tiredness of the day pushed him into a deep sleep. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. *** Ben awoke just as the dark blue light of the morning flowed through the spaces around his curtains. Grogilly, he got out of bed and readied himself for another day at the mine. Making his way towards the camp, he noticed the fire was being lit, and a few people were preparing breakfast. As more sunlight peered over the horizon, they finished eating and lined up the carts near the entrance. Ben spent the next half-hour pushing wheelbarrows until the carts were full of ore. Har sat at the forefront of the caravan and turned to face Ben as he approached. ¡°Hopefully, we can make you some coin with this run. Keep the ore coming. I¡¯ll return for the next Feruswich run in a few days.¡± Ben patted one of the horses. ¡°Good luck out there. I will return to the third level to mine more Mirium. I¡¯m certain the Alchemy Guild will want more of it. We¡¯ll need that extra money to get this village done.¡± ¡°Oh, Aye! Take care of yourself while I¡¯m gone.¡± Har finished with a wave before getting a move on. After watching them ride out, Ben returned to the van to grab his flashlight off charge. He entered the mine and reached the cave on the third level. Taking out his Omnitool, he opened the menu and hit the upgrade option. [Omnitool has been upgraded to Mk.3.] [-50 Gold Pounds.] *** New Features: Spatial Inventory: Using advanced Architect technology, users may store items in the Omnitool as tokens. The user currently has 5M3 storage space split into five blocks of 1M3. Only one type of token can be stored in each block simultaneously, and the tokens will stack until the block space is used up. Please note that different types of tokens have different stack limits. The user may also extract resources directly into the Omnitool as tokens. Tokens can be removed from the spatial inventory at the user''s discretion. Buy/Sell (Architect¡¯s Marketplace): Allows the user to access the marketplace, where they can buy and sell tokens stored in the Omnitool. Please note that the marketplace¡¯s buy/sell prices are based on the cosmic economy, and the user will have to pay using their local currency. Only currencies based on precious metals are accepted. All transactions are final, and the marketplace accepts no refunds. Upgrade tool to Mk.4: 100 Gold Pounds. Increase Spatial inventory to 10M^3. *** ¡°No way!¡± Ben exclaimed while staring at the description. He probably was never going to figure out how those tokens worked, but the way they integrated with that marketplace seemed like they could be useful when he needed to get rid of items and resources he didn''t need. Before perusing the marketplace, Ben thought it would be better to start mining first. He pointed the Omnitool at the Mirum ore node, and using his thoughts, he could tell the tool that he wanted to store the ore in the spatial inventory. The tool did its magic a few times before a small screen appeared beside it, displaying the five blocks and the Mirum token being added to one of them. The more Ben mined, the higher the number increased. It took almost an hour of working the vein till the stack filled. [Mirium Ore: 200] Ben''s next business order was to open the marketplace. When he selected this option, a notification appeared. [Architect¡¯s Marketplace is now scanning your system.] [Your primary currency has been detected and approved for use within the marketplace. You may now buy and sell tokens.] ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s see how it works.¡± Ben muttered, selecting the sell option. A screen appeared showing the spatial inventory blocks. When he hovered over the Mirium ore tokens, a small box appeared. [Mirium Ore: 0.5 Gold Pound/Token.] Ben shook his head. ¡°What the heck? Are you trying to scam me?¡± The amount the marketplace offered would only give Ben a hundred gold pounds for a full stack of Mirium. He knew the amount he had mined was enough to make him over two hundred gold pounds if he were to sell it to the Alchemy Guild. He figured the price difference was most likely due to the resource being scarce in the Hollow Lands. After backing out of the menu, Ben selected the Buy option when a search menu appeared. He could explore various items with seemingly endless options, each with its pricing scheme. The marketplace was daunting due to the vast number of items for sale, each featuring distinct pricing. Realizing that browsing aimlessly would waste his time, he closed the menu. He could search for items if the need arose. Ben returned to the main chamber and entered the store room. He was curious about what the marketplace would offer him for the iron and his ample coal supply. Pointing the Omnitool at the piles, he saw an option to collect and store the respective resources as tokens. He collected a stack of each. [Iron Ore: 200.] [Coal: 200.] [Iron Ore: 0.2 Gold Pound/Token.] [Coal: 0.1 Gold Pound/Token.] Ben figured his stack of iron was equal to approximately one cart full. After a quick calculation, his price was around the same as what he could get, selling it to the marketplace traders in Feruswich. A good deal for when we¡¯re having trouble selling our iron. Ben didn''t know the price of coal, so he wasn''t sure if the marketplace was giving him a good deal. Because there was no demand for the resource, Ben decided to sell some and make more space for the iron. He knew he could sell all of it, as the bloomeries would surely need it to refine the ore into ingots. Ben selected the coal tokens and sold them. [+20 Gold Pounds.] The transaction occurred instantly, and the gold was added to Ben¡¯s account. ¡°Awesome,¡± He muttered. He decided it would be better to speak with Finn before selling more stock and left the ore store. Standing in the main chamber, Ben opened the Omnitool menu. He was certain the research for the Tier 1 Workbench had been completed, and he was itching to see what the crafting feature was capable of. Chapter 48 - Tier One Workbench and Bloomery A blue hologram shot out of the Omnitool. It sat flush with the ground, causing Ben to raise an eyebrow. Depending on where he pointed the tool, he could move it around, but the moment he selected the command to place it, nothing happened. It had completely crossed his mind when Ben noticed a small section below the hologram displaying two squares resembling tokens and an error message. [Missing: Iron Rod (10), Iron Sheet (10).] What the heck is this about? Ben stroked his chin as he reviewed a few scenarios. Ultimately, there was no way to craft the tokens for those components, so he figured it would all have to be done via the Omnitool. Opening the menu, Ben selected the research menu when he noticed a few more options had been added. *** Research: Iron Ingot: Allows the user to craft ingots from iron ore. These ingots can be used to create other crafting components. Cost: 100 Iron Ore or 20 Gold Pounds. Research Time: 3 Hours. *** [Omnitool is now researching Iron Ingot.] With three hours left until the research was completed, Ben thought his time would be better spent doing something productive. He glanced at the foreman¡¯s office and remembered his promise to Finn. The moment Ben stepped into the office, Finn looked like he was looking through some ledgers and frustrated to the point that he would pull his hair out. Finn stood up, ¡°Master Ben, how are things going?¡± ¡°Not bad at all.¡± Ben waved before asking, ¡°How are you?¡± Finn glanced at the ledgers and scoffed. ¡°It could be better. I¡¯ve got all the village folk working the veins on the second level. I was sitting here trying to make sense of these ledgers to be more useful, but I can¡¯t make sense of them. I¡¯m thinking of doing down the mines with my pickaxe to help fill the ore store again.¡± ¡°It seems you might be in luck. I¡¯ve got some free time. How about we get started with your reading lessons?¡± Ben asked, motioning the ledger. The look on Finn¡¯s face shifted from frustration to a hopeful smile. He picked up the ledger and opened it up. ¡°It sounds good to me.¡± Ben spent the next three hours teaching Finn the basics of the English language. Although initially he thought it would be much harder, Finn showed great promise in quickly picking things up. When the notification popped up about the research being completed, Ben excused himself for a moment. Ben opened the craft menu and selected the new option to craft an [Iron Ingot]. Crafting one cost two [Iron Ore] tokens, which took a full minute to complete. A new token had been created and placed in one of the spatial storage blocks. Before doing anything else, Ben opened the research menu again. *** Research: Iron Rod: A common crafting component. Cost: 10 Iron Ingots or 4 Gold Pounds. Research Time: 1 Hour. Iron Sheet: A common crafting component. Cost: 10 Iron Ingots or 4 Gold Pounds. Research Time: 1 Hour. *** Ah, there you are. The combined research cost of both options was twenty iron ingots. Ben got to work crafting those, and after almost twenty minutes, he had what he needed and selected one of the options. He wondered if the Omnitool could be upgraded to improve the crafting time or if there was a specific station he could craft that would make it easier. [Omnitool is now researching Iron Rod.] With another two hours of waiting, Ben returned to Finn and continued his lesson.
When both the components had finished researching, Ben had once again excused himself from the lesson. He opened the crafting menu and hovered over the new options. He was once again met with the message about missing components. They both required one iron ingot to craft and thus, Ben worked the rest of his tokens into ingots. [Iron Ingot: 30.] Ben crafted ten of each item, which took another twenty minutes. He left the remainder of the ingots for later use. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. [Iron Ingot: 10] [Iron Rod: 10] [Iron Sheet: 10] Ben again opened the crafting menu, orienting the workbench to his desired position near an empty wall, and pressed the command to place it. The tokens whizzed out of the tool before zapping into the hologram, filling it with matter. Once it had been fully crafted, Ben observed the workbench. Its full metal construction resembled the industrial ones in an old English factory. Although it was simple in design, Ben felt it would use technology similar to Omnitool. His theory proved correct when he walked closer, and an option to craft appeared. *** Tier 1 Workbench *** [Iron Rod: 1 Iron Ingot. 30 Seconds Craft Time.] [Iron Sheet: 1 Iron Ingot. 30 Seconds Craft Time.] *** Ben noticed that using the workbench to craft items took half as long as the Omnitool. But there were only two options for the items he had researched. He opened the research menu to see what else was available. *** Research: Tier 1 Bloomery: The user can craft a simple bloomery to refine ores into ingots. It costs 100 Stones or 1 Gold Pound, and the Research Time is 12 Hours. *** Oh, great! I need to gather some stones now. Shaking his head, Ben went outside. As the sun set, the sky was gloomy and dark. He could barely see the builders in the distance, gathering their tools and equipment from around the various areas where they were working. It looked like most of the foundations had been completed. Shifting his attention to the pile of stones, Ben saw that it had shrunk by more than half. He hoped there would be enough left for what he needed. Pointing with the Omnitool, he collected the stones until he accumulated a hundred tokens and set the bloomery to research. When Ben turned to return inside the mine, he noticed the orange dancing flames of a few torches coming closer. Looking drained from a full day¡¯s hard graft, the village folk trudged out with smiles and greetings before continuing toward the camp. ¡°Master Ben,¡± Finn exclaimed the moment he stepped out before lighting the two torches near the entrance. He turned to face Ben, adding, ¡°I spent more time practicing, but my head started hurting, so I¡¯m taking a short break. I¡¯ll get some more done before I sleep tonight.¡± He motioned towards the ledger resting in his other arm. Ben nodded. ¡°You¡¯re doing great, kid. Just take it easy. You don''t want to bombard your head with too much information.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try. Oh, I almost forgot to ask. What¡¯s that table thing near the wall to the ore store? A few village folks were asking about it. It came out of nowhere.¡± Finn asked, scrunching his forehead in confusion. ¡°Ah, that table thing? It¡¯s a workbench for crafting things. It¡¯s just system stuff I¡¯ll have to explain to you one day. We¡¯ve both worked hard and should get food in our bellies.¡± Ben motioned towards the camp where a fire had been lit. Finn patted his stomach before it audibly grumbled, and he chuckled. ¡°I won''t say no to some food.¡±
Ben awoke early the next morning and completed his usual cleaning ritual before going to the camp. As he neared, the builder in charge approached him with a puzzled expression filling his face. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Ben asked. The builder shook his head. ¡°The hell it is. I could¡¯ve sworn we had a decent pile of stones last night. And now most of them have vanished with a trace. Tell me, who goes around stealing stones in the night?¡± Ben was about to burst into a fit of hysteria but used all his strength to stay composed. ¡°Ah, the stones. I used them for something.¡± The builder raised his hands and frowned with an expression of utter disbelief. ¡°How?¡± Ben scratched his head and replied, ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± The builder huffed, ¡°We¡¯re already behind schedule. We¡¯ll need more to complete the remainder of the foundations. Then, larger ones must be dressed for the walls.¡± Ben turned towards Finn, who was drinking tea and watching the interaction with a smirk. He waved the teen to come closer. ¡°Master Ben?¡± Finn asked with a wide smile planted on his face. ¡°Finn, the builders will need more stone for the foundations and walls. I¡¯m not saying to cease all iron ore production; just take a few people off that and get them on mining the stone. I¡¯m not sure what kind of stone you¡¯ll need, so I think it¡¯s a good idea if you both should chat and figure things out.¡± Ben explained. Once he received a nod from the builder, he left for the campfire, where some breakfast was cooking. After that, Ben returned to the van and decided some meditation was in store. As Hauxwell had always told him, he needed to keep practicing to become more proficient with the techniques he was taught. Another positive note was that he could use the time dilation of deep concentration to his advantage till the bloomery finished researching.
Ben stood by the mine entrance where the bloomery hologram appeared before him. [Missing: 50 Stone.] Oh great, more stone. The builders will pissed off about this. Looking around, Ben waited until he was certain no one was watching and pointed the Omnitool down. He collected fifty stone tokens from the back of the pile before crafting the bloomery beside the mine entrance in an area that wasn''t reserved for anything. The bloomery was about three meters high, with most of the top half being a chimney. At the base, its circumference was around a meter and a half. Similar to the workbench, when Ben approached, a menu appeared. *** Bloomery: [Coal: 0/50] *** [Iron Ingot: 1 Iron Ore. 15 Seconds craft time.] *** The bloomery cut the craft time by three-quarters at the expense of using one coal. With all the extra coal lying around, it seemed like a win-win to Ben. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± The builder''s voice asked, interrupting Ben¡¯s thoughts. Ben twisted his neck to see the builder standing there, hands resting on his hips, shaking his head. He had no idea how long he had been looking at him as he was certain no one was around when he took the stone. After an awkward nod, Ben replied, ¡°It¡¯s a bloomery.¡± ¡°So, this is where all my stone went.¡± The builder muttered before his expression shifted to a wide smile. ¡°The craftsmanship of this bloomery is commendable. It¡¯s much better than what my builders and I could have created with what we have.¡± He went closer and inspected the stonework. ¡°Perfect in every way. Not even one measurement out.¡± Glancing at Ben, he asked, ¡°Why would you ask us to repair the old ones when you can craft such perfect ones?¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°Thanks for the kind words, but it wasn''t me. The system did everything for me. To answer your question, I only just got the ability to craft it.¡± Pointing at the missing stones, ¡°I needed the stones to do it.¡± The builder nodded. ¡°At least they were put to good use.¡± He glanced towards the building side before starting to walk there. ¡°Anyway, I should be getting back.¡± Chapter 49 - New Arrivals After building the bloomery, Ben took a little break from the system stuff. He decided to focus on practicing what Hauxwell had taught him. After vastly improving his concentration, he became sensitive enough to detect it without meditating. When not messing with mana, Ben spent the rest of his time teaching Finn and helping the village folk move the stones out of the mine. The Omnitool allowed him to store the stones as tokens in the spatial storage and rematerialize them when outside. It had helped speed things up at the cost of getting a few funny stares from people, but it was worth it. After all, it was his fault the supply outside had diminished. The builders were happy about the ample stone supply and started dressing them. Once that was done, they gathered wheelbarrows full of lime from the nearby deposits and started creating the mortar they used to build the walls for the first few dwellings. Sitting by the campfire, Ben sat with a tankard of warm tea and glanced around at the progress. He was surprised by how fast they had gotten the walls done. He figured it wouldn''t take long before they would be ready to take their first inhabitants. Sometime later, sounds coming from the trail caught Ben¡¯s attention. He noticed the caravan had returned, with Har shouting orders to his staff to get the caravan and horses in order before taking their rest. Har then promptly made his way to the campfire with a wide grin. ¡°How are you doing, Har?¡± Ben asked with a wave of the hand. Har nodded before glancing around at the buildings. ¡°Not bad at all. I could, however, do with some rest. I no longer recognize this place. How are things going with you?¡± ¡°Same story, different day,¡± Ben said before glancing at the empty carts. ¡°How¡¯d it go out on the road? I see the caravans returned empty, so good news, I¡¯m hoping.¡± ¡°Oh, aye. You could say we had an interesting journey. We made it to Wesport, where we¡¯ve created new contacts with the forges. They don¡¯t usually have access to good ore because they are by the sea and have requested regular deliveries.¡± Har explained before going to a little pouch on his tunic. He passed an entire thing over. ¡°There were a few more gold coins, but we had to get a few supplies along the way. My cart¡¯s got a couple of crates of smoked fish, and there''s some feed for the horses in one of the others. We should make better use of the trips so we bring supplies we need back.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°That¡¯s completely fine with me. Always do what you think is right. I trust you.¡± He opened the pouch and found a small stack of checks and a few gold coins. [+23 Gold Pounds.] Har coughed to interrupt. ¡°Oh, before I forget. On the way here, we came across another caravan bound for Robynhill. There were three artisan families, and from the looks of things, they had the tools and resources to get their work started again. They also had a small group of Hollow Moon soldiers with them, all with supplies. If I were you, I would speak with the builders and ask them to focus on finishing the first three buildings so that they can accommodate them once they arrive.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Appreciate that! I¡¯ll let the builders know.¡± *** The next day, Ben sat by the campfire drinking warm tea when he heard horses clopping in the distance. He turned and noticed a dozen carts, along with armed soldiers dressed in the white and black of the Hollow Moon, approaching the mine. Sitting beside Ben, Har stood up and put his hand above his head before squinting. ¡°Ah, that looks like them. They must have stopped by Robynhill yesterday and stayed the night. I¡¯ll need to direct the carts. Otherwise, they¡¯ll make a mess of it. Let¡¯s head over for a chat.¡± They made their way there before Ben gave the soldiers a friendly wave. When the one in charge approached, the notification popped up. [Corporal Knox Maxwell Level 5.] ¡°Welcome to the mine, Corporal Maxwell.¡± Ben gave the man a thumbs up. Maxwell saluted. ¡°Greetings, Sergeant Bailey, Sir. We were ordered to escort the first artisan caravan here. We are here to uphold the law and ensure the safety of the village here. We are under your command and may only report to you.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°That¡¯s great. We¡¯ll appreciate all the help we can get right now. Get settled in, and I¡¯ll give you your first assignments.¡± The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Maxwell nodded. ¡°Aye, Sir. If you don''t mind, could we build our camp near the one you¡¯ve already got there?¡± He asked, pointing at the tents. ¡°That¡¯ll be fine for now. So that you know, we¡¯ll hopefully be expanding the village in that direction when the time comes. So, you might have to take it down later.¡± Ben explained before motioning towards Har, ¡°This is Har Olson. He is my coach steward and will direct your people to where their carts and horses are. After that, we can chat properly if everyone can gather by the campfire.¡± He finished motioning that way. Maxwell saluted, ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± He then moved out of the way so Har could step in and explain where to park the carts. The horsecarts were moved toward the clearing near the mine entrance and anchored. The three families, wearing better-than-average clothes, looked slightly annoyed with what they saw, as if the mine was beneath them. Luckily, they followed Maxwell¡¯s words before making way for the campfire. Ben stepped atop a large log and coughed to catch everyone''s attention. When it didn''t stop the ruckus, Maxwell shouted for silence before Ben put on his friendly face and started. ¡°Thank you for your attention. I¡¯m Sergeant Benjamin Bailey, and welcome to The Bailey Mine. As you can see, we¡¯ve been working hard to get your dwellings and workshops in order. We didn''t exactly know when you would be arriving apart from Har here, having met you on the trail while he was on a delivery run. The builders have concentrated on completing the workshops first, but as you can tell, the roofs still need another day or two. You are more than welcome to move in while the builders carry on working, or you can spend your time at the camp with the fine folk working in the mines.¡± The new arrivals didn¡¯t look happy about hearing the last part. Conversations of frustration broke out, and they looked as if they were about to march back to their carts and run back to where they had come from. ¡°Silence!¡± Maxwell shouted, which resulted in a deafening silence. ¡°These people have been working hard to build this village for you, for which you should be grateful. New buildings like this cost much money to erect. Look at their camp.¡± He motioned at the tents. ¡°They have people of their own whom they should be accommodating first. Yet they have chosen you to take the first dwellings while they wait longer for the same privilege. Remember, you are under special orders from your guilds to be here and working. I don¡¯t want to be hearing any excuses lest you want me to relay this information to my commanders. I doubt the Grand Marshall would be too pleased with that.¡± The artisan''s expressions appeared to shift as if they had just been confronted with some hard facts. With silence still in the air, Ben took the opportunity to speak about the security situation. ¡°Corporal Maxwell is now under my command, and I am giving him the task of upholding the law around here. He and his men will secure the perimeter around the village so that the people here can live safely. I ask that you speak with him before you leave the village bounds so you may be escorted. Har is my coach steward; you may ask him about anything related to deliveries. And finally,¡± Ben motioned to a figure in the background who was standing near the other village folk. ¡°That young man there is Finn, my deputy foreman and second in command of the mine. He is the man to ask if you have any queries about any ore.¡± As Ben expected, Finn got a few funny stares from the people who probably were confused about why a young teen was in charge of the mine. When Maxwell walked around, giving those people the side eye, they huffed out sighs and made half-assed nods. ¡°Alright, now that we have some understanding, you know a little about us. I want to allow you fine folks to speak about yourselves.¡± Ben stated before passing the speaking torch. Maxwell cleared his throat, ¡°Sir if you''d like, I would be happy to make the introductions and explain what they specialize in.¡± He waited for Ben to nod before moving towards the first family. ¡°Here we have the Hoover family, excellent farriers who turn iron into horseshoes. Our cavalry units and knights require their services to keep their horses running. They will create blanks here so the Hollow Moon battle farriers can quickly complete their work on the front line.¡± Maxwell then moved to the second family, ¡°Here we have the Smythsons, crafters of various weapons. When our soldiers are in the heat of battle, sometimes weapons break, and an ample supply of replacements is needed.¡± He then moved to the last family. ¡°Finally, we have the Platons; they specialize in crafting chainmail and various armor pieces. The Hollow Moon has some of the best-equipped infantry in the entire realm, and our armorers are renowned across the known world. Each of these families is certified by the guilds of the realm to run their workshops, and at the minimum, their heads have over ten years of experience. Another three families will arrive in two weeks.¡± Ben gave the Corporal a thumbs up. "Thank you, Corporal Maxwell." He then glanced around the new families and gave them a warm smile. "I want to thank you all for being here. I don''t want you to feel out of place or like you don''t belong here. We won''t give you any problems if you follow the rules and get on with us. We believe in working together as a team. You have my assurance that everyone will be treated as an equal and that you¡¯ll be treated like one of us.¡± The new arrivals looked shocked by what Ben had said and glanced at each other as if no one had ever spoken to them like that. A few of them smiled and let out a little cheer before their demeanor changed from being like they didn''t want to be there to being more relaxed. Ben nodded reassuringly, not wanting to be seen as an evil dictator. He figured they must have been hungry from their journey, so he was about to offer them some food when everyone turned to look behind him. Ben twisted his neck and noticed Jerry approaching them with an entire deer over his shoulder. ¡°What the heck?¡± Har came up beside Ben and gave him a nudge. ¡°He must have gone out for a hunt last night when I told him about the new arrivals.¡± ¡°Well, it seems venison is on the menu today.¡± Ben chuckled. Chapter 50 - Winter Preparation A few days passed, and Ben found himself by the campfire again. He overlooked the workshop dwellings where their roofs had just been completed. Initially, the builders wanted to make clay tiles, but baking them without a suitable kiln would have taken too long. So, they utilized the dead plant matter surrounding the mine in small patches around the foot of the cliffs. According to them, the thatch would be perfect during winter, when the blistering mountain cold would freeze the homes solid. The three families had moved in, along with their belongings, to their new abodes. They mostly consisted of the tools and equipment needed to conduct their work. Once they had settled in, a few complaints had been made to Ben due to the lack of a heating solution for their homes. Thus, Ben called the main people and the heads of the families to the campfire for a village meeting. Before clearing his throat, Ben glanced around everyone¡¯s faces to ensure no one was missing. ¡°With fast winter approaching, a few complaints have been made about the lack of heating. I want to assure you that this will be resolved.¡± Ben turned to the builder, ¡°I know you¡¯re behind schedule, but we can''t have people freezing to death out here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll speak with my men to see the individual families about how they want them. It will take us a couple of days, but we can do the forges simultaneously and build the chimneys in a way that is connected to one shaft. It¡¯s the new way they build them in the towns and cities.¡± The builder replied. Smythson raised a hand as if he wanted to speak. When Ben nodded, he spoke, ¡°Sergeant Bailey, we appreciate your prompt action. We would like to know how much rent we would be required to pay and how the supplies would be allocated. Then there is the food situation.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t charge you rent while you set up your shops. We will discuss this later once you begin to profit. But please understand that things will be run differently around here in a way you might not have seen before. I hope this settlement is successful.¡± Smythson looked at the heads of the other two families as if surprised by that answer. Once what he said had been acknowledged, Ben continued, ¡°The next order of business is the food situation. We have a contract with Hauxwell¡¯s farm, but it will be some time before their crops are ready. We must look elsewhere until they provide us enough supplies for self-sufficiency.¡± He turned to Har, ¡°I know you¡¯ll be heading out in another two days with ore to sell. It makes sense that you bring supplies on your return journey.¡± Har nodded. ¡°I will take the caravan to Wesport before hitting Feruswich. I¡¯ll try to buy foodstuffs which will last the winter. But you can¡¯t expect me to start buying things without knowing exactly how many people we have here.¡± Ben stroked his chin, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± He turned to Finn, ¡°Can you take a tally of everyone here, including the children? It¡¯s better to have an excess if things get hairy.¡± Without hesitation, Finn shot up. He removed a scrap piece of vellum and a small stick that looked like charcoal before bouncing around the campfire and gathering the numbers. Ben returned his gaze to Smythson. ¡°Till they finish the forges and hearth, please try to manage. Build a small fire if necessary, but be careful not to burn anything down. We have ample coal in the mine, so you can use as much as you¡¯d like.¡± The artisans looked at each other before agreeing with a bob. They looked thankful, and Ben could even see their frustration shift to a lighter mood. ¡°How many do we have?¡± Har interrupted just as Finn completed his task. ¡°Twenty-seven people, including the children,¡± Finn replied. Har looked at Smythson and said, ¡°With more artisans coming here, we¡¯ll also have to consider their numbers. How many more can we expect?¡± Smythson shrugged before turning to Maxwell for an answer. ¡°We weren¡¯t given the details. This thing is all Hollow Moon led.¡± ¡°My previous commander had said that there would be three more families. You¡¯re probably looking at around fifteen more people.¡± Maxwell replied. Har took a moment to count in his head. ¡°That means we¡¯re looking at around forty-two people, not including the builders. With the mine operational again, the word will start to spread, and people will be looking to make money. Undoubtedly, you may have more additions in the coming months. We should be prepared.¡± ¡°Alright. This time, bring enough supplies for fifty people. The caravans will continue regularly, and if the situation changes, we can always adapt and buy more if the need arises.¡± Ben suggested. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Har nodded. ¡°I think that will be the best way.¡± ¡°I think that covers everything in today''s meeting. I will try to call another one when the need arises. If you have any questions, please speak with Corporal Maxwell, who will bring the matter to my attention.¡± Ben explained but stopped when Finn stepped forward as if he wanted to say something. ¡°Yes, Finn.¡± ¡°Master Ben, we¡¯ve been working hard on the second level of the mine to gather the ore, but the veins there are starting to produce lower-quality ore. I think it¡¯s time we start moving the miners down to the third level, where the veins are plentiful.¡± Finn described. Ben nodded. ¡°I can''t let anyone down there without fully clearing that cave system. I was hoping the second level would provide enough till winter was over.¡± Ben looked over to Jerry, who grinned. ¡°What do you say we go down there?¡± ¡°My expertise isn¡¯t exactly in close-quarters combat, but it¡¯s been rather boring sitting around not doing much. I can have the supplies ready within a couple of days.¡± Jerry replied, clicking his knuckles.
A few days passed, and Ben took the time to practice his mana control further for the cave expedition. He could now regenerate in small amounts without being in a deep concentration. However, Ben still had to meditate for a short while for it to work. He figured he was on the cusp of making and using a breakthrough like Hauxwell did during combat. Around midday, Ben detected a familiar energy approaching from the north pasture. It hummed like Alfreds had done when he and Hauxwell were going at it. When the energy was a few minutes away, Ben finished his meditation and stood leaning at the van¡¯s side. Alfred approached alongside Joachim, who pulled another cart. Ben rushed ahead and helped the farmhand to bring the supplies near the mine entrance. Once they were done, Ben said, ¡°It¡¯s great to see you two again.¡± Alfred looked around the new structures. ¡°Likewise, Ben. It sure looks like you¡¯ve been hard at work here with all these new dwellings. It looks much better than the last time I saw it. At this rate, you¡¯ll have an entire town here.¡± ¡°Aye, but we still have a long way to go before that.¡± Ben looked into the cart and noticed it was full of cheese, bread, and beef. ¡°Like last time, we appreciate the supplies. The two of you should take a rest by the campfire. We¡¯ve got some salted fish you are welcome to eat. Har is expected back anytime now, and he¡¯s coming with winter supplies. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m letting you return to Hauxwell¡¯s farm without taking some with you.¡± Alfred grinned before giving Joachim a funny glance. When he turned back to Ben, he said, ¡°I think Joachim here will have to make his way back alone. I¡¯ve taken much thought and wanted to come here to help you with what you¡¯ve got going on here.¡± ¡°You need not worry. I¡¯m familiar with the route and will return the cart alone.¡± Joachim interuppted with a thumbs up. ¡°Joachims is a warrior in his own right,¡± Alfred added, with a bob of the head. ¡°That he is. But what¡¯s with your change of heart? Did Hauxwell¡¯s training regiment get to you?¡± Ben asked with a chuckle. ¡°There¡¯s no change of heart. It had always been my plan to come here. But I was broken after the loss of my arm. I needed some time to myself. In my solitude, Hauxwell approached me before blabbering on about his mana techniques. I¡¯ve learned what I can for now and need to keep practicing. I still have a long way to go before I return to where I was.¡± Ben smiled. ¡°That¡¯s understandable. With practice and time, you¡¯ll even surpass where you were. Anyway, this place could use your famous leadership skills. But before that, I have something in mind that could put your new skills to the test.¡± Alfred leaned forward, ¡°You¡¯ve caught my attention. What is it?¡± ¡°The mine''s third level is currently off-limits due to the uncharted cave system. When I defeated the mine-roach queen, I noticed there was more there than what met the eye. I have reason to believe another exit may lead somewhere else. Before the rich veins down there can be mined, Jerry and I are considering going on a little expedition to ensure it¡¯s safe.¡± Ben explained. Alfred grinned. ¡°That sounds like it¡¯ll be fun. I¡¯ve been itching to test my new combat method out on real enemies for some time now. When do we start?¡± Ben glanced towards the campfire where Jerry had finished gathering the supplies. ¡°We can get to it the moment Har arrives.¡±
Later, Har arrived with the caravan. The incoming supplies included grain, pickled vegetables, smoked and salted fish, and other bits and bobs. Ben personally packed a cart for Joachim and sent it to him on his way as Har passed over the remainder of the gold and a small bundle of checks. [+13 Gold Pounds.] Ben made a mental note to visit the bank in Feruswich after the cave exploration to pay the mine wages and even the builders for their hard work. But the real reason was to see how much he had left and use it to upgrade the van, which had been on his mind for some time. He felt excited about what the next level of upgrades would grant him. Ben had entered the mine without further ado, with Alfred and Jerry wearing their gear. ¡°Is that it?¡± Jerry asked, looking through a gap in the stones. ¡°Aye,¡± Ben said. ¡°What can you see with your eye thing?¡± ¡°A giant corpse that reminds me of the enemies we fought deep in the Feruslands. That blue stuff is glowing like fireflies. Those cave walls are also uneven and shaped like this, going on for quite some distance. Walls like that make it difficult for this skill to detect signs of life.¡± Jerry explained. Alfred cleared his throat and added. ¡°Your skills lie in ranged attacks, so you should stay behind and watch things. Me and Ben will lead the way, that way I can teach Ben a few things about close quarters combat. Does that sound good?¡± ¡°If things get bad, I am proficient in using short swords. But that¡¯s good with me.¡± Jerry added. ¡°I¡¯m probably just going to whack anything that looks like it wants to kill us.¡± Ben chuckled, raising the hammer. Alfred shook his head. ¡°Where the hell did you even get that thing from?¡± Ben glanced at Jerry with a nod. "Yours truly." Alfred faced Jerry with an unimpressed gaze. ¡°You could have given him something better.¡± Jerry shrugged. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like you trained him how you use something better.¡± Chapter 51 - New Lands? Ben shined his torch down the dark tunnel. They had spent what seemed like hours going down a shaft that had appeared at the end of the chamber where the charred remains of the mine-roach queen rested. There wasn¡¯t much flora or fauna apart from a few patches where only small glowing mushrooms grew. Ben wasn''t sure if they had the magic factor but decided to leave them alone. As they continued pushing, the tunnel became thinner, and only one man could traverse it at a time. Thus, Alfred took the point with Ben sandwiched in the middle. After some time, it opened up and joined a larger tunnel. ¡°What the heck is going on here?¡± Ben asked, shining the torch all around. The tunnel they had joined appeared chiseled to a smooth finish with not a sign of roughness. ¡°This isn¡¯t natural. The way it goes in a straight line makes me think powerful magic was used in its construction. Something like this would take all the Hollow Moon mages combined at least a hundred years to do this, depending on how far it keeps going.¡± Alfred explained. Jerry got down on the ground and used his torchlight to examine the ground. ¡°It doesn''t look like it¡¯s been used long. Most of these tracks are small and wide when compared to ours. Two large sets went over that way, with one making a return journey around a month or two ago. Their shape resembles armored boots, similar to what the armored fairies used to wear.¡± Alfred turned around. ¡°Fairies? Their magic could be behind all this madness with those neck leeches.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case.¡± Ben interrupted, shaking his head. Alfred and Jerry turned their heads simultaneously. Their inquisitive eyebrows shot up with looks on their faces indicating they wanted the beans to spill. ¡°Alright, take it easy, lads.¡± Ben stepped back, raising his hands as if he was caught red-handed. ¡°When Le¡¯Vieux and I were at the proving grounds, there was an intense battle between a dark fairy and an infected one. Long story short, Le¡¯Vieux joined in and worked with the normal one to defeat the infected one.¡± Alfred scrunched up his eyebrows as if confused. ¡°I¡¯m unsure why he worked with the dark fairy, as our people have been mortal enemies since we first set foot on this island, as Jerry can tell you from years of frontline experience in Feruswich.¡± ¡°He probably had his reasons.¡± Jerry added, ¡°You probably won''t know this, but not all fairies wish harm to humans. Some tribes were against the other ones going to war with us and even acted as mediators during peace negotiations.¡± He turned to Ben before asking, ¡°What happened after the battle?¡± ¡°Well, the fairy ran like the wind back through the tunnel before it was blown to crap by Le¡¯Vieux. I think the tracks here might belong to that fairy.¡± Ben explained. Jerry nodded before pointing in the direction where the single tracks returned. ¡°There must be another opening that way. That¡¯s where we need to go, as the other way probably leads to the proving of grounds. You never know. We might even come into contact with that fairy again and get some answers about what¡¯s happening.¡± Alfred turned to face that way. ¡°That sounds like a plan to me. Let¡¯s see what we find there.¡±
After a long stretch of straight and flat terrain before ascending an incline, a few other rough tunnels appeared, making Ben think it was good that Jerry had marked the one from where they had entered so they didn¡¯t get lost. As they trudged on, an hour passed, and light began to pierce the darkness, some reflecting off the smooth surface. It wasn''t long before they could see a large opening leading to the outside. The closer they got, the more intense the light became, with Ben almost squinting his eyes shut the moment he stepped out. It took a moment for Ben¡¯s sight to refocus when he noticed they were standing on finely crafted slabs where four pillars held up a canopy. Looking ahead, he noticed a large untouched valley consisting of mostly meadowland. ¡°Well, this is a little strange. Someone would put all that effort into building a perfect tunnel and this entrance for nothing to be here.¡± Ben stated. Jerry looked around and inspected the stonework craft. ¡°This stonework has stood the test of time. This is older than both the humans and fairies. I think this could be an entrance, and the tunnel leads to someplace important if we go past the tunnel from which we entered.¡± He then turned and faced the valley below, ¡°We¡¯ve got a good vantage point here. I¡¯m going to take a look around and see what I can find.¡± Jerry looked around while Alfred continued looking around the entrance to ensure no nasty surprises. Ben took a few moments to take a sip of water from a leather pouch that Har had given him before he set off. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Jerry cleared his throat while his sight was stuck ahead. ¡°We¡¯re not alone here. Many creatures are roaming this valley, and they all seem to be moving around with strange patterns like those infected soldiers. Some seem much larger than others, which could be challenging.¡± ¡°Nothing the three of us shouldn¡¯t be able to handle, right?¡± Alfred asked, motioning that way. ¡°Maybe, but there¡¯s also a fairy encampment on a hill just before these mountains begin,¡± Jerry added. Alfred was taken a little aback by that and scoffed. ¡°Then I think the best course of action would be a calculated retreat.¡± ¡°They only create encampments like that when surrounded by enemies. If we fight through the smaller creatures that are between us and them, some of them may have enough common sense to figure out we¡¯re not enemies.¡± Jerry explained. Alfred shrugged. ¡°I hope you¡¯re right about them, and they¡¯ll be able to provide with the answers we¡¯re looking for. We should leave our supplies here for safekeeping and move before we lose the daylight. Our primary goal should be to make contact with the fairies and avoid getting into any battles with the creatures till we know more.¡± ¡°Defence only. Alright, fair enough,¡± Jerry stated before putting his sack inside the cave where it couldn''t be seen. Alfred and Ben followed suit. The three of them got their weapons ready and began walking.
They had traveled across the meadows, staying close to the mountains. They had to traverse over some hills and cliffs before the meadows shifted to bushes and a small conifer forest that rose to the sides of the mountains. They weren''t far from the encampment when Jerry saw movement ahead and motioned the danger. Ben stopped in his tracks and crouched behind a thick tree trunk as Alfred followed suit. Jerry crouched ahead, stopping near the two before whispering. ¡°There¡¯s a pack of mountain wolves ahead. Their movements are unnatural, and it seems they might have a den from how they are huddled around a central point. It also explains why there¡¯s no other type of creature around here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re scared of a few wolves? Those bloodhounds are probably more of a challenge.¡± Alfred muttered. ¡°You¡¯re right; Bloodhounds can be a thorn in our sides sometimes, but these creatures seem to be acting more intelligent. A few of them have already alerted the others and seem to face this way in a huddled formation. A couple of them are sniffing around, trying to find us. I wouldn''t underestimate them if I were you.¡± ¡°That means we can say farewell to the surprise factor.¡± Alfred paused momentarily and thought deeply before continuing, ¡°Ben and I should defeat the closer ones. As the others dash to join in, you should provide suppressing fire atop one of these trees to slow them down.¡± Jerry shrugged. ¡°The two of you love making me climb things, don''t you?¡± He then started climbing and stood on a sturdy branch before giving a thumbs-up. ¡°Time to make our move,¡± Alfred commanded. A rush of magic surrounded his body. It shimmered and flowed to his shoulder before extending outward like some phantom arm. He removed his sword from its sheath. Glancing at Ben, he waited. Ben got up and put his magic into action, shifting it to cover his body and weapon. He put it in a state where he could activate it when needed. He gripped the handle of the hammer tight before giving Alfred a nod. Ben followed Alfred as they rushed out of the tree cover, weapons blazing. Alfred hopped to the closest wolf and came down with a slashing motion. Its body almost tore in half while the other nearby wolf snarled and ran to help its buddy. Ben used his magic to shoot ahead with superhuman speed. As the wolf neared, he stepped in the way and shifted the magic from his legs to the hammer above his head. He swung it down with ferocity before the sounds of crunching bones were followed by a splatter of blood. With the closest two taken care of, Jerry had already started shooting arrows, which whistled through the tree trunks. A few of the wolves were taken out with well-aimed headshots and got in the way of the ones behind who stumbled over their bodies. Alfred and Ben charged their weapons before leaping ahead at those not affected by the roadblock. Once they were out of order, they dealt with the remaining ones with some well-aimed slashes and whacks. [+75 XP] Alfred looked around before glancing at Jerry. ¡°Are we done?¡± Jerry gave a thumbs-up before getting back down. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t take us long to get there from here.¡±
Ben squinted ahead. The encampment was located at the peak of a hill overlooking the valley, like an ancient hill fort. It was constructed from wooden palisades pushed into the ground and dug out. At the bottom, thinner elongated stakes stuck out, ready to impale anything that approached. A large gate stood in the middle where wooden planks had been placed to form a bridge, and two large platforms had been built directly behind it. A few armored fairies stood there staring below at their unexpected visitors before one sounded a horn. The fairy watchmen raised their bows and readied arrows whose tips radiated a purple glow. Jerry gulped before clearing his throat. ¡°I think we should stop here and try to look friendly. No sudden movements, please. Those arrows are enchanted to follow their targets and explode more angrily than the fire ones I use.¡± The gate swung open as a group of armored fairies marched out in formation. They stomped over the bridge and formed a line before buzzing their wings and removing their short swords. They looked ready to leap forward to strike when, down the middle, another one walked ahead, taking its time to observe the humans ahead. Jerry scratched his head. ¡°Damn it. We might have royally messed up coming here. Those are not just any kind of fairy but ones with enough power to destroy an entire company of our knights on their own. The best of the best. Even Le¡¯Vieux and Hauxwell would have issues fighting them.¡± Alfred turned to Jerry and whispered, ¡°That means we don¡¯t stand a chance. How are we going to play this out?¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Ben interrupted before they both turned to face him. ¡°That one at the front leading them is the one who fought alongside Le¡¯Vieux. It might recognize me from there, so I will try communicating with it.¡± Alfred let out a chuckle before shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°I wish you good luck with that endeavor. There¡¯s probably two fairies in the entire world who understand our language.¡± Chapter 52 - Negotiations For Peace Ben dropped the hammer in the dirt behind Alfred and Jerry. He raised his hands to show that he wasn¡¯t armed and walked forward, ensuring his steps were without aggression. When he neared the fairy commander, Ben smiled to look friendly and stopped a few meters away to avoid encroaching on personal space. Ben noticed that the commander stared him down, unsure of his intentions. He gulped, clearing his throat. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you can even understand what I¡¯m saying, but I will try it. I was there when you and Le¡¯Vieux fought that infected fairy on the other side of those mountains, which makes me think you¡¯ll be willing to listen to us. Be assured, we come here in peace.¡± The fairy stayed still before suddenly raising a hand to the others, who appeared to relax slightly. Ben felt his head feel slightly funny, like he had gone around a merry-go-round. Suddenly, he heard a voice and realized the fairy was using telepathy to speak with him. Whoah! ¡°I remember your energy sitting in that metal box atop the hill during the battle. It seems you¡¯ve grown much stronger since then.¡± The commander motioned behind Ben. ¡°You say you come in peace, but your allies have their weapons ready.¡± Ben still felt butterflies from the fairy''s communication with him. It reminded him of his interaction with that cosmic being, but in a more ¡®down to Earth¡¯ way. He turned around and motioned downwards with his hand. ¡°It might be a good idea to put the weapons down.¡± Alfred and Jerry glanced at each other confusedly and shrugged. They lowered their weapons but kept their gazes locked with the warriors. Ben turned back to the fairy commander. ¡°Is that better?¡± The fairy commander nodded. ¡°Our people and yours have been at war for hundreds of years. Why would you three come here to our fortification?¡± ¡°Well, we followed a tunnel from a mine that led to this valley. My friend Jerry, the archer, noticed your camp. We came here to speak with you about those leech-like creatures that burrow in people''s necks and take control of their bodies.¡± Ben explained. The fairy commander nodded. ¡°I know what you speak of, but that doesn''t explain why you are here.¡± ¡°Well, after seeing you fighting one of them, we figured you might have answers about what they are and if you know how to deal with them. Let¡¯s say that many knights and people have been infected and will continue to spread until the entire island is infected.¡± Ben explained. ¡°When you saw me down that deserted valley, I was battling a fairy who had been infected to a point where it transformed into a sporemancer. The elder here sent me there to destroy all traces of the parasite to prevent it from spreading across the human lands as it did with ours. Lest you think we were to blame and declare war. You and your knight made it there in time and somewhat did my quest for me.¡± The fairy commander described. Ben nodded. ¡°I¡¯m glad we¡¯re on the same page with that. You said it spread across your lands. What happened?¡± ¡°They arrived here on a shooting star that crashed in the heart of our lands. These creatures began as little spores that infected small insects. That allowed them to morph into their leech form to infect the wildlife. The infected creatures overwhelmed some of our tribes, resulting in them becoming infected, and the most powerful became sporemancers. The civil war that ensued displaced our people to various encampments like the one you see here, where we protect the last remaining tribe elders. If you and your allies mean us harm, we won¡¯t hesitate to fight till the end.¡± The fairy explained. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that happened to your people. As I¡¯ve explained, a similar situation is brewing with our people, and the last thing we want is to make you enemies. Since our peoples are fighting the same enemy, is there no way for us to cooperate for the common good?¡± Ben asked. ¡°What makes you think we want to ally ourselves with you?¡± The fairy questioned. ¡°Look, where I come from, if I can tell you one thing about our history, it is that in the face of great evil, even the worst of enemies have come together to defeat it,¡± Ben replied. The fairy commanded and nodded. ¡°I understand the meaning behind what you speak of. Before anything can be agreed, I must speak with the elder. His word is the law to which we are bound till death.¡± When he finished speaking, he turned and returned to the camp. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Ben stood beside Alfred and Jerry for almost an hour. He explained his conversation with the fairy before discussing how they would soon run out of time, with the sun starting to drop in the sky. Alfred had suggested they could camp in the tunnel if they took turns keeping watch. While they chatted, the camp gates swung open, and the fairy commander marched out. He made his way to Ben. ¡°The elder has agreed to speak with you. While in our camp, we ask that you keep your weapons in their sheaths. Our customs forbid us from harming guests unless you attack us first.¡± Ben relayed the information and followed the fairy inside once Alfred and Jerry agreed. A multitude of tents filled the interior, and thin paths led into the heart of the camp. In the center, one large tent had been erected, where many warriors stood guard while others patrolled. A few civilian fairies had canopies connected to their tents, where the sounds of artisans going about their business could be heard. They were led inside the main tent, where the small embers of a campfire danced in the center. Ben stopped as he noticed the fairy sitting in animal skin robes. Up to that point, all the fairies he had seen had their features obscured by cloths or full plate armor, but he could see the elder''s face. What shocked Ben the most was that they appeared to look almost identical to humans. There were some differences, the main ones being the large wings on their backs and a darker skin tone resembling greyscale. Their eyes had an aura like Blue and gleamed the same color as their magic: purple. The elder motioned for them to sit near the fire before another fairy came in with wooden bowls filled with a steamy broth-like liquid. ¡°I have been informed of your reasons for coming here. I hope you accept my offer of mountain lion broth.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°Thank you; we appreciate the gesture.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure if eating the food provided was a good idea, but when he saw Jerry scoop the bowl into his mouth, he figured it would be right, as the guy had superhuman perception, and followed suit. He didn''t want to offend the hospitality by refusing. The broth itself tasted like spices, which tinged Ben¡¯s taste buds. When he got to the diced meat chunks, they tasted like lean pork. Once Ben was finished, he put the bowl down and cleaned himself with a little napkin that was provided. ¡°That¡¯s the best broth I¡¯ve had in some time.¡± Ben smiled. The elder nodded before taking in a breath. ¡°As you can see, our people have been through tough times, and I believe these will come to yours, too, if you don¡¯t defeat the enemy. My commander tells me you wish to negotiate with us for an ongoing peace.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Your people have been through much. I¡¯m proposing that we work together to defeat the enemy as allies. Together as one, we stand a better chance, do we not? Maybe that way, both our peoples can find true peace.¡± The fairy commander sighed. ¡°There are centuries of blood spilled on both sides. What you suggest may be impossible.¡± Ben nodded, ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s worth getting started. We can start with small things like trading goods. We can send you food and other goods. Likewise, you can do the same. We can call it a trade agreement between the fairies and humans.¡± The elder nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t see a problem with making small trades with your people, as it would ease the tensions and make things familiar.¡± Ben nodded before turning to Alfred and Jerry. He explained the details of the conversation. ¡°Do you guys think Le¡¯Vieux and the other leadership would allow some kind of a security agreement for humans and fairies to come to each other''s aid if either gets attacked?¡± Jerry shrugged as if he didn''t know the answer and motioned to Alfred. Alfred stroked his chin. ¡°The trading part is alright. No one would have an issue with that. I think Le¡¯Vieux might be dubious about fighting alongside them at first. He has an open mind about things and is willing to find peace. If it works out, it will remove the strain from all the men stationed at the various forts along the border with the Feruslands. It could even lead to a new golden age of opportunity with the fairies. If you agree to a security agreement, I will personally vouch for it, and it should be enough for him to honor it.¡± Ben nodded with a smile before turning to the elder. ¡°That man there is Knight Captain Alfred. He is very close to our military leader, Le¡¯Vieux, the one your commander fought alongside. He says a security agreement is possible, and we can vow to aid each other in a battle once we build enough trust.¡± The elder looked around at Alfred and Jerry. ¡°You have given me much to think about, and I hope your leaders will abide by what you offer. To show your seriousness, I would ask the three of you to fight alongside my warriors to clear the valley of all infected creatures. With our people being the first of their victims, they have adapted themselves to the way we fight and the effects of our magic. I sense great power within the three of you, which would help us greatly.¡± Ben turned to his companions. ¡°He wants us to fight with his warriors to clear the valley of enemies. I don¡¯t see the harm in doing so. What do you say to some extermination?¡± Alfred nodded, ¡°Those wolves were easy prey. A little challenge wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡± A smile was already planted on Jerry¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s funny you say I brought an ample supply of fire arrows along.¡± He paused as if thinking, ¡°Can you ask him if he¡¯s willing to let me use some of his purple ones? I¡¯ve only seen them in action and always wanted to try them.¡± Ben gave the elder a nod. ¡°We will help you clear the valley, although my companion asks if he can have some of your enchanted arrows. Once we¡¯re done, you are more than welcome to visit my mine beyond the tunnels, where you are welcome to use the resources to rebuild your settlement.¡± The elder smiled before nodding. ¡°When the valley is clear, you have my word as the elder of this tribe. The agreements we have spoken of will be thicker than blood ties. Let it be known that the seeds of peace were planted this day, and the fighting of the past laid to rest. May a new age be formed where man and fairy become allies." He paused to take a breath before finishing, "I will convene with the elders of the other great tribes. Till then, I wish you luck in the valley.¡± Chapter 53 - Clearing The Valley The next morning, Ben stopped outside the fairy encampment where the warriors prepared themselves for battle. After speaking with the elder the day before, they were instructed to return the next day just after the first light. Their supplies were still where they had left them, and they created a small fire to keep them warm while they took turns keeping watch. The fairy commander approached them before speaking with Ben. ¡°I hope you all are well rested. We have a tough day ahead.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°As much as we can be. Oh, I know very well what the day will be like.¡± The commander looked around as if he thought Ben was talking rubbish. ¡°I didn¡¯t know your archer friend could see so far in the distance with his eyes.¡± ¡°When I took my watch last night, I used the time to meditate and sense the energy in the valley. The residual energy allowed me to map the area and even what kinds of creatures roam within its boundaries.¡± Ben described. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you humans have been able to get this far when it comes to truly understanding magic like my people do. I¡¯m curious to know what creatures you think are out there?¡± The commander asked. ¡°More infected wolves, bears, and smaller animals are beyond this area. Then, as you get further into the valley, infected fairies roam. Then, even further towards the end, where the hills and cliffs converge in a pincer, a powerful sporemancer is putting everything in this to shame.¡± Ben explained. The fairy commander nodded, ¡°It¡¯s interesting you can do that. I remember rumors from long ago when we were at war with the humans when one of their mages could do such things. He was almost always with another of their knights, one who destroyed an entire company of fairy knights by himself.¡± Turning to Jerry, he added, ¡°I believe that one used to be with them, too, during the last two decades of that war.¡± ¡°Ah, I think I know of whom you speak of.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°Since we¡¯re fighting together, it would be good to discuss tactics. In our experience, we¡¯ve found fire to be the most effective countermeasure against them.¡± Ben paused before stroking his chin. ¡°That, and he ran them over with my van. It¡¯s a shame I couldn''t bring that with me here.¡± ¡°Fire works well, but we can¡¯t produce it in large enough amounts with the available resources. Fairies have always found it hard to work with fire magic; thus, we don''t know how to create fire arrows like the ones your friend is carrying. Our purple ones use the principle of brute force and cost almost ten times the toll to produce. With our magic being ineffective against the enemy, that is the method we have been left with.¡± ¡°That explains why it took you so long to charge that attack when you defeated the sporemancer and fought alongside Le¡¯Vieux.¡± Ben turned to Jerry before asking, ¡°I don''t suppose you have a spare fire arrow that I can give these lot so they can learn how to produce more?¡± Jerry scrunched his forehead before shaking his head. ¡°What? Are you being serious?¡± ¡°Well, do you know how to make more of them?¡± Ben asked. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. But that doesn¡¯t explain why you want to give one away. This last batch is all I have left, and it needs to last me.¡± Jerry replied, still frowning. ¡°If they figure out how to make more, it¡¯s worth it. You¡¯ll have an endless supply of them.¡± Ben explained. Jerry shrugged. ¡°Alright, I see what you¡¯re trying to do here. But I¡¯ll only part with this if they¡¯ll give me a cheap price when I want to buy them. O,r at the very least, they will enchant my arrows for me when I need a refill.¡± Ben turned back to the fairy commander. ¡°If we give you one of those fire-enchanted arrows. Can your mages and artisans recreate them? He¡¯ll only give you one if you agree to trade them with him once you learn how to make them.¡± The fairy commander took a moment to consider. ¡°I don''t see why not. Our mages and artisans are skilled in recreating enchantments using magic from other cultures. You may tell your friend that I agree to his terms and will personally uphold this bargain no matter the political situation between our people.¡± Ben relayed the information to Jerry, who was still reluctant to agree. Alfred had butted in to reassure him that it would be alright before the enchanted arrow was handed over to the commander. The arrow was given to another warrior, who buzzed his wings before hopping over the palisades. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°We will wait for him to return, and then we will begin the hunt. With these lands familiar to my people, I ask that you and your companions follow my lead," the commander said. When the warrior hopped back, he motioned with his hand before they started marching into the valley.
Ben dodged a wolf as it sprang towards him. Before it landed on the ground, Ben had already charged his hammer and swung it sideways. The blow landed on the creature¡¯s head, bursting it like a watermelon. He was certain the neck leech must have turned to mush, too. After killing a few more wolves, that was the last of them. However, the danger still presented itself as bears, first pummeled with arrows from Jerry and the other fairies, causing them to slow down. Alfred hopped between them and unleashed a multitude of slashes across their bodies. Ben followed up by crushing their skulls as they writhed in pain on the ground, being sure to squish any leeches that had managed to escape their hosts. The fairy warriors were engaged with the last of the bears and made quick work of their targets. When the last bear dropped, a notification filled Ben¡¯s vision. [+275 XP] The fairy commander raised his hand and called everyone to gather around. ¡°We will rest here, so prepare yourselves for a difficult battle. Our infected people are next. They will behave in different ways than you are used to and have use of magical abilities and flight.¡± He turned to the humans. ¡°I will fight alongside you three to defeat the ones on the ground.¡± Jerry understood the assignment and pulled his quiver off. He removed two bunches of arrows, normal and enchanted, from his inventory. He filled his quiver with half each before tending to his bow and double-checking the string. Alfred dispelled his magical arm, which seemed to put a massive strain on his magic pool. He dropped to the ground and crossed his legs before falling deep into concentration and starting the regeneration process. Ben followed suit, and when his entire body buzzed with magic, he hopped back up when it was time to move.
Ben charged his body with defensive mana. Jerry and the fairy archers shot at half a dozen flying enemies with normal arrows that did nothing except bounce away. Jerry switched to the fire arrows and carefully aimed them, causing two enemies to explode into fireballs before their charred bits rained down upon the ground. At the same time, the fairies switched to purple arrows, which overloaded the enemies with chaotic magic, bulging their bodies and causing them to blister. It took seconds for their limbs to burst out with energy that sparkled in different colors like fireworks. The fairy commander called for a ceasefire as the two surviving flyers got too close to being shot with the enchanted arrows. He turned to the warriors and motioned them to engage before their wings buzzed like bumble bees before a melee dogfight ensued. After receiving confirmation, Ben charged out of the treeline with Alfred and the fairy commander beside him. He noticed Jerry had somehow managed to run around the treeline, coming out in a perfect flanking position. Two of the six enemies exploded before the group arrived. The fairy commander took flight and used his twin daggers to crash into two of them, pushing them off. He then continued to launch a flurry of attacks so fast that the commander almost vanished from everyone''s sight. Ben found it genius that Alfred had managed to change the magic properties in his sword so that it could radiate orange fire magic like Jerry¡¯s arrows. Luckily, Ben was tuned enough to sense what changes had taken place and quickly managed to replicate the process with his hammer in a shoddy way. The hammer began to burn hotter than a blacksmith''s forge as sparks blew away from its surface. Ben wasn¡¯t sure how long his weapon would be able to stay that way before giving way to the heat and charging at the enemy running towards him. The enemy suddenly slashed its sword at Ben, who had to use the top of his hammer to block the blow. A powerful shockwave of fire shot out, causing Ben to remove one hand from his weapon and cover his face to avoid the flames seeping through his leather helmet. He was dragged a few feet through the muddy grass, almost tripping backward. Ben shifted his mana around to his back and used it to propel himself forward, using the excess momentum to move into a swing. His hammer landed on the enemy''s sword, causing it to shatter before crashing into the chest area. Another blast of fire set the infected fairy alight as if it was drenched in gasoline. The heat slapped Ben¡¯s face like a train made from the fires of hell, causing him to move back to the point where he nearly ended up in the tree line. Things would have been alright if the fairy hadn¡¯t started sprinting towards him, arms wide open, like an Olympic athlete running on rocket fuel. Luckily, the allied fairies in the sky had finished off their opponents and staked them in the ground with large magical spikes. They had shot up into the sky before nosediving with their weapons on either side and swiped the remaining enemies across their legs. The commander motioned to the treeline. ¡°Get back!¡± He then pointed at Jerry and motioned for him to shoot the enemies still alive. Within moments, all the enemies were defeated. [+200 XP] That was when Ben felt a powerful presence at the valley''s far end. With every step it neared, Ben trembled where he stood, and he felt reverberations of dread in every living thing around him. Even the magic within him started fluctuating, and it became unstable. When he first noticed the energy while meditating, the miles of distance between them must have dampened it, causing a severe underestimation of its true power. The fairy commander shot up into the sky and peered towards the source of the disturbance. He put his hand just above the eye slits in its armor before exhaling an audible groan. He jumped back down and motioned for everyone to gather before talking, ¡°I¡¯m afraid the one approaching has evolved beyond a sporemancer to something that could defeat all of us.¡± Taking in a huff of frustration, he turned to one of his warriors, ¡°Fly back to the camp and inform them about the danger. For those of you that wish to leave, now is the time. We have caught its attention, and it won''t stop at nothing to destroy everything here.¡± Chapter 54 - Super Sporemancer Boss Battle Ben leaped out of the way as a ball of dark energy whizzed past him. He nearly tripped while trying to dodge it, and the way it hummed made him feel like he would have been toast if it had touched him. To Ben, It felt like it had been forged in the heart of the deepest, darkest dread known to the universe. The black ball, encircled by white highlights, crashed into the treeline a short distance away. There was neither an explosion nor a shockwave as it splattered like a sack of ink. It had covered a small forest area, acting like the strongest acid Ben had ever seen. Within seconds, the bushes were gone before the ground started to melt, and when they pierced through the tree trunks, the tops of the trees fell as if lumberjacks had cut them down. A few other projectiles were hurled toward Ben, who continued to dodge and zig-zag through the trees before he started encountering rough patches where it looked like an excavator had gone to town. Even the surrounding flora started to look shriveled and dead like their lifeforce had been sucked dry. At that rate, he figured the entire forest would cease to exist, and there would be nowhere to hide. Ben ran toward the area where Jerry was last seen, keeping his sight pinned in the direction where he was being attacked. When he emerged from the treeline, he focused on the monstrosity they were up against. The sporemancer looked similar to the regular fairies but had a few differences. It towered over the area at twice the height of the nest mother at the proving grounds with a high degree of decay, making it look like something out of a zombie apocalypse. While locked in a melee with the fairy commander, it simultaneously cast many balls of decay directly above its head before launching them at the allies. Ben couldn¡¯t even stay still and had to hop out of the way, using his mana to charge his movements lest he be melted into oblivion. He figured out that the sporemancer must have been regenerating its mana while fighting them the same way Hauxwell could. Alfred appeared out of the treeline, using his mana like a shield before sweeping his sword across the enemy''s legs. That gave the fairy commander a moment to hover back to catch a breath of relief as two arrows flew across the battlefield, one behind the other. The orange trails led directly to the sporemancers head before erupting like a volcano, expelling dark goo instead of lava. The balls of decay stopped moving as if suspended in animation. It seemed like that was the end, but suddenly, the goo formed the shape of a head, and everything returned to how it had been moments before. The balls kept coming, albeit at a slightly slower rate. Great, another crazy healing factor! At least it slowed the damn thing down a little. Putting on his thinking cap, Ben flicked through the files of his mind to formulate a plan. One way would be to completely burn the crap out of it like they had done with the nest mother back at the proving grounds. The fire arrows were good but would only take out a limb or two at best, and it wasn¡¯t like Jerry could spam loads of them at once. Come on, there must be another way! With all the allies tired from all the dodging, their movements became sluggish and sloppy. One thing that looked strange was that whoever got in close range of the sporemancer, the trajectory of the balls seemed to change and fly towards the allies that were further away. It felt like the sporemancer was trying to avoid contact with the stuff as if it was equally as corrosive to itself as to anything else it touched. An idea popped into Ben¡¯s head. Yes! Now, that¡¯s worth a shot!
Ben hurried toward Jerry, avoiding the balls occasionally flung towards him. He pointed above the sporemancers head aggressively. ¡°Hey! Try to shoot those things above its head with your regular arrows.¡± Jerry gave a thumbs-up as he hopped between the dead patches to a place with a better line of sight with the sporemancer. A volley of arrows found their targets above the sporemancers head. When they made contact with the balls, they melted away like candles and expelled a hissing smoke. The surface of the spheres had become unstable as ripples trembled throughout their surface. The sporemancer had stopped in its tracks and stood still as a stone. Its head was pointed up with a look of disbelief as it slowly moved away. The fairy commander sprang to action by hovering a dozen meters away in the sky. His weapons started to glow purple as they condensed magical energy for a special attack. Before the sporemancer moved too far away, he sliced his swords with a crisscross pattern at the balls. The sporemancer grunted as the black goo rained down across its entire body. The acid ate through its skin, flesh, and bones. Black smoke rose from the body before everything started to shrivel like a sundried raisin. From within the empty spots, its regeneration was visible for a moment before the effects of the decay slowed it down to the point it was useless. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Jerry shot a few fire arrows at the enemy while others blasted it with several special attacks. But all that was useless as the acidic black goo seemed to absorb much of the damage. ¡°Cease fire!¡± The fairy commander yelled before calling everyone together. He motioned to Ben, ¡°Using the creature''s attack against itself was a good idea, but nothing we do is useful if it keeps regenerating.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Well, it gives us time to find a way to defeat it. I feel it¡¯s using the surroundings to siphon unlimited energy for its attacks and regeneration. I¡¯m going to meditate and figure out if there¡¯s a way for us to cut it off. That might give us the edge in this battle. Until then, all of you should get some rest.¡± The fairy commander nodded before looking around at everyone. ¡°You heard him. This battle is far from over.¡± Ben dropped to the ground, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes. He concentrated on the wailing body of the sporemancer, where multiple strange energies were connected to various sources across the valley. Most were small and insufficient to power their aggressive abilities and attacks. Looking closer, Ben found one thread resembling an industrial power cable like the ones used on pylons. That¡¯s it! Following the lead revealed a cave system under which the mountains met in a pincer. It led deep down, where the energy hummed similarly to a vein of Mirium. No way! That¡¯s a genius idea! Ben opened his eyes and sat up quickly. He moved towards where Alfred, Jerry, and the fairy commander stood. ¡°The damn sporemancer¡¯s using an entire vein of Mirium.¡± The fairy commander glanced at the creature and shook his head. ¡°Endless power like that will be the end of us. I doubt it¡¯ll use that same attack again after what happened. My warriors and I will keep it distracted while the three of you devise a plan.¡± The fairy commander ordered before they readied their weapons. Alfred shot Ben a glance. ¡°Those mountains are miles away, and that thing looks like it¡¯s ready to get up at any moment." Ben nodded before clearing his throat. ¡°You know how volatile Mirum is; we can use that to our advantage.¡± Turning to Jerry, he added, ¡°I¡¯ll need one of your enchanted arrows to stab the thread. The disruption might be enough to create a chain reaction that could potentially destroy the vein and the sporemancer simultaneously.¡± Just as Ben had stopped talking, the sporemancer leaped up from the ground and back to good health. Luckily, the fairy commander was right, and the sporemancer started using more direct melee attacks. Occasionally, it shot out rays of darkness, which started incapacitating some of the fairy warriors it faced. Jerry passed Ben one of his fire arrows. Alfred stood ahead of Ben and used his mana to create a large sphere of protection strong enough to deflect the death rays and any melee attacks that came their way. ¡°We need to get closer; otherwise, I won''t be able to find the thread,¡± Ben stated. As they got within meters of the sporemancer, all the fairies had been taken out except the commander, who whizzed around the air, avoiding the rays and giving it his all with a flurry of attacks and sometimes deflecting various melee attacks. It was evident he was getting tired and would meet the same fate as the other within moments. Ben closed his eyes, searching for the thread. The raw power of the Mirum was hard to miss, and within seconds, Ben had formed a connection. An overwhelming amount of energy hit Ben like a ton of bricks, causing him to drop to his knees. Knowing he would soon lose consciousness, Ben formed another connection from his body and pumped the excess energy back into the thread. Before disconnecting from it completely, he stabbed the thread. A large fire explosion knocked Ben and Alfred back towards the broken tree line. The sphere had taken the brunt of the blow before shattering into speckles of magical dust. Ben saw the thread burst into a trail of flames that crackled toward the mountains. A massive explosion shook the entire valley like a powerful earthquake, causing extensive damage as if a nuclear bomb had detonated there. Another fire trail shot back and directly hit the enemy, who burst into flames like a large percentage of its body were gasoline. The flames and smoke rose into the sky, making it look like a tower block-sized bonfire. The fairy commander took a moment to breathe a sigh of relief before checking on his warriors and helping them rise after handing them an unfamiliar item. Ben thought it might have been the fairy equivalent of a health potion. It took a few moments before finally a notification appeared. [You killed Infected Fairy Sporemancer Level 32: +360XP.] [You are now Level 8: +1 Skill Point Available.] [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Senior Sergeant.] Taking a breath of relief, Ben dropped to the ground and lay there. His entire body was sore from taking in all that energy, and he needed some time from all the madness. The fairy commander stood beside his head and looked down. ¡°I never thought defeating that monstrosity was possible, but you proved me wrong. Your plan saved all of us here today. With the valley clear of enemies, my people can use this area to rebuild. Soon, we will have the strength to free the Feruslands from the spore scourge.¡± He removed what appeared to be a tea bag filled with herbs from a little pouch and knelt. ¡°We use these herbs for healing. I believe humans also use these for their potions. Just chew it and don''t swallow it lest you want to become sick.¡± Ben stuffed the tea bag in his mouth before mumbling, ¡°Thanks for that.¡± He instantly felt a buzzing sensation on his tongue, which went down his throat when he swallowed his spit. The soreness began to fade, and he was able to sit up without his muscles feeling like they were being stabbed to death. ¡°It was an honor to fight alongside all three of you. You kept your promise and helped us clear the valley. Furthermore, when things looked grim, you fought with us even when your lives were at stake. If that doesn''t demonstrate your commitment, then I don''t know what does. Let¡¯s return to camp so I can inform the elder of your actions,¡± the commander praised. Chapter 55 - New Allies! Ben stood beside Alfred and Jerry. When they returned to the encampment, they were met with cheers and praise for their victory. The fairy commander had invited Ben and his companions to a place where celebrations, feasts, and drinks were brewing. A few fairy delicacies included varied smoked meats, including goat, venison, and rabbit. Their alcoholic beverage was mead crafted from sweet honey before leaving a sour glaze. With things settling down, the elder stood before one of the other fairies hit a large metal ring whose sound reverberated across the camp. When the sound faded to a deep hum and died, a deafening silence remained. The elder raised his hands. ¡°When we received word from the warrior that the most powerful sporemancer encountered to date was here in this valley, my heart sank into the ground. I thought we would finally face death or become one of those monsters. Our best warriors fought alongside our newfound allies and paved the path to victory. Let it be known that on this day, we began rebuilding our civilization after the great fall. Using deep thought. I have convened with the remaining elders and their tribes to journey to this valley where our people will rise again. We can only retake the lands we lost to the spore scourge.¡± He then motioned for the commander to step forward and speak. ¡°Before we can welcome the other tribes and start rebuilding, we must build a large wall the enemy cannot traverse. Only then can we clear the rubble at the pincer where one of the small mountains collapsed. A vast amount of Mirium is beneath that mountain, which we can exploit for our war against the enemy.¡± The fairy commander explained before nodding to the elder that he was done. ¡°You may enjoy yourselves till the day is done. Be sure not to overdo it as the hard work begins at first light.¡± The elder waved before the sounds of laughter and cheering erupted again. Before speaking, the elder went to Ben and his companions, with the fairy commander not far behind. ¡°Our people were able to figure out how your fire enchantment works, and we were able to recreate its properties. The only thorn we faced was that our arrows were not as sturdy as the ones your people craft.¡± Ben motioned to Jerry, ¡°This man here is the one who created those arrows. I¡¯m certain he¡¯ll be willing to trade with you once he gets his workshop running again. Soon, plenty of products at the mine will be available to trade with you.¡± The elder nodded respectfully. ¡°We don¡¯t have much to trade, but we will soon. Your people are welcome here with open arms whenever you wish to come here again. As a gesture of goodwill, I have instructed the commander of my warriors to travel back with you so both our peoples can familiarise themselves with each other''s cultures. He is to send word to me when your battle with the enemy begins so we can send our warriors to aid your victory.¡± Ben gave the elder a respectful nod. ¡°We appreciate the gesture. Likewise, your people can visit the mine and its village anytime.¡± The elder nodded, ¡°I must insist that you wait for a few moments before departing, as I had instructed my artificers to ready a crate of enchanted arrows and other items that will benefit your people.¡± When the crate was brought over, everyone exchanged goodbyes before Ben and his party set off towards the mine.
The journey down the tunnel consisted mostly of chit-chat about how the humans and fairies would work together and the various items that could be traded. A few times, it had shifted to respectfully debunking certain stereotypes about each other''s people. Ben was slightly confused by the fairies and their not sharing their names and thus turned to the commander and asked. ¡°What¡¯s your name, if you don¡¯t mind me asking? We¡¯ve just been referring to you as ¡®the fairy commander.¡¯¡± ¡°We don¡¯t share the names we are given at birth as our people believe some may use that to inflict curses and other fairy superstitions. Thus, most of us use aliases. You may call me by mine, Quicksilver.¡± ¡°Quicksilver¡­ A great name for a great warrior.¡± Ben nodded before stopping where the cave leading to the mine joined the smooth tunnel. He shined his flashlight down the opposite end where they had come from, and it looked like it had gone on forever. ¡°You used this to get to the proving grounds, right?¡± ¡°Indeed. Other caves sprout from it like the branches of trees leading all across the great mountains of this island. The main tunnel goes beyond the sea to places unknown to the fairy people. To this day, no one has ventured to see where it leads, but there are rumors that the civilization of Mirock allowed them to travel across this entire world.¡± Quicksilver explained. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Mirock? Who the heck are they?¡± Ben asked, raising his eyebrows. ¡°The race of people who lived on this island before men, fairies, and whoever else calls this place their home. We know little about them, and what we do, we deciphered from depictions from various unearthed artifacts.¡± Quicksilver replied. Ben nodded. ¡°Hmm. I think Blue might know more about them. I¡¯ll ask him about them the next time we meet.¡± Looking down the cave tunnel back to the mine, he finished. ¡°Now, on to the task at hand.¡±
Ben had led the way through the tunnel before they entered the third level. Ascending the levels revealed no one working, which made Ben think it must have been late. Arriving in the main chamber, candlelight flickering from the foreman''s office was revealed. When Ben stepped through, he found Finn looking through some ledgers and figured he must have been practicing his reading. ¡°Master Ben, you have returned. How did it go out there?¡± Finn shot up energetically. As the fairy walked in, the expression changed to worry and fear before he started to shake uncontrollably. ¡°Master Ben, who¡¯s that with you?¡± Ben raised his hands. ¡°Take it easy, Finn. This is Quicksilver, a great fairy warrior, our newfound ally.¡± He then gave a brief explanation of the prior two days. ¡°But I thought fairies were all bad and couldn''t be trusted because of their dark magic. I don¡¯t think the people here will be too happy about that since our people have been at way for so long in the past.¡± Finn explained. ¡°I think everyone will need to take a few steps back and take deep breaths. The fairies have been fighting the same enemy we now face for far longer. They have agreed to help us in the upcoming battle with the infected. Divided, we are weak. Together, we have proved we can defeat them.¡± Ben explained. He took a pause and noticed Finn had calmed down a little. ¡°Anyway, what¡¯s the progress with the mine?¡± ¡°Well, the second level is bone dry. We only have enough ore in the store to last Har another two runs.¡± Finn explained. ¡°In that case, I have some good news for you. The third level is clear and deemed safe for mining activities to resume. From how the ore veins look down there, I think they¡¯ll last for the next few decades.¡± Ben explained. Finn nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll get them on it at first light.¡± ¡°Oh, Finn, before I forget. I would say that you meet with the village folk and explain our situation with the fairies. They will come here regularly and trade their goods and resources with us. Two things must be done without fail. I need the cave area cleared and ready for a small trading area, and I want the rough cave path to be chiseled out so that there¡¯s enough space for a cart to get past. They will know where to stop as it¡¯s obvious.¡± Ben explained before Finn acknowledged with a nod and left for the surface with Jerry. Ben turned to Alfred. ¡°Right, now I wanted to speak with you about something. I¡¯m not sure about your responsibilities with the Hollow Moon or if you¡¯ll be going back to your old unit. But I could do with someone overseeing everything here. You have both the knowledge and experience when it comes to leading people. So what do you say?¡± Alfred nodded before letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°My lieutenants were killed in action by Sudfield. With my system destroyed, my men have been disbanded into other platoons and companies. Like Hauxwell, I¡¯m sick and tired of war and want to retire when the battle with the infected is settled. With no lands of my own, I would be honored to oversee and lead this settlement alongside you. After all, I wouldn''t be alive if you didn''t rescue me.¡± Ben patted Alfred on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m happy to have you here with me. We have a long way to go but can do it together.¡± Alfred nodded before stroking his chin. ¡°We¡¯ll need to convince more people to make their way here. People who can work the mine and those with vital skills for a settlement to flourish. A few people I know in Feruswich may be interested.¡± Ben, Alfred, and Quicksilver had decided to stay in the office, spending their time glossing over stories of the past. It must have been the early hours of the next day before they fell asleep. *** When Ben awoke the next day, he nudged the others to get up. They had just about got ready to make their way to the surface when Finn pranced in with a smile planted on his face. ¡°Master Ben,¡± Finn started. When they awoke, I called for a meeting around the campfire and discussed the points you mentioned yesterday. Some took the news badly, but Jerry and I assured them that you¡¯ve promised peace between us and the fairies now. They all agreed to welcome Quicksilver with open arms.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great work, Finn. We will be heading up to fill our bellies, but before then, I want you to know that I¡¯ve nominated Alfred here to work side by side with me to oversee the village and everything here. I want you to take his word like mine if I''m gone. We are lucky to have him here in this capacity.¡± When Finn agreed, Ben continued, ¡°Now, tell me, how¡¯s the progress with the village going?¡± ¡°The builders have been doing some great work. They managed to get the workshops done so that the new families could get to work with their craft. The bloomeries have been built and are smelting ore into ingots. Some are being used by the artisans, while others we are saving for Har to take on his next delivery run. That builder guy came here asking for you yesterday. It was something about a payment.¡± Finn explained. ¡°That¡¯s great progress. When Har returns with more checks, I will head to the bank to cash them out and get things settled with wages and payments. Did they get any of the other dwellings done?¡± ¡°The builder guy said they will be ready in the next few days before the next batch of artisans arrives. Jerry has already taken his pick to get started with his arrows. We made some extra food so that the three of you can eat. You should get up there before it gets cold¡­ I have a lot of work to do here getting things started with the mining operation at the third level.¡± Finn finished before Ben and the others made their way out. Chapter 56 - A New Quest Ben had spent a few days helping the village folk move their mining operation down to the third level. There were a few issues with the lack of torches and wall mounts, but that was soon fixed as one of the artisan families had managed to create some simple ones that could be easily hammered into the rocky surfaces. Before that, Ben had spoken with Quicksilver, who didn¡¯t want to be stuck in the mine during his time there. Instead, he wanted to go around the various workshops to determine the products available to trade with his people and what other resources were available around the mine area. With the days passing, someone had called for Ben as Har¡¯s caravan had returned. He tidied himself up and returned the torch to Finn before leaving for the surface. Har was following his usual routine of shouting orders to his team to get things where they belonged. When he noticed Ben waiting for him, he hurried over. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you in great health. We¡¯ve got a few more contracts for ore. At this rate, we¡¯ll need more horsecarts and drivers.¡± Ben glanced at the carts and noticed a few were full of foodstuffs. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve managed to get some winter supplies too.¡± Har sighed, ¡°Well, it¡¯s a start. With winter looming, people are not too keen to give up their food. I managed to speak to a few farmers I know who¡¯ve provided us with hay for the horses, eggs, meat, vegetables, and grain. It was hard, but I grabbed a few chickens for Hauxwell.¡± Ben scratched his head as the people here didn¡¯t have fridge freezers. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t some of that stuff go off after a week or two?¡± Har nodded, ¡°Aye, it will. That¡¯s why you should instruct those builders to start on the food storage building. Without it, we won¡¯t be able to preserve and organize the food for winter.¡± ¡°Preserve? Do you mean pickling?¡± Ben asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Aye. Around these parts, we usually either salt the meat or pickle the eggs, vegetables, and fish caught from the river.¡± Pointing at one of the carts filled with sacks and barrels, he continued, ¡°I¡¯ve bought some salt, vinegar, and a variety of glass jars. We¡¯ll need those for the preservation. We can build a smoker for the fish to keep our costs low.¡± Ben shrugged, ¡°That explains that, but honestly, I don''t know how any of that works.¡± Har patted Ben on the shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. It¡¯s a common occurrence every year before winter, and everyone is familiar with it.¡± Ben stroked his chin. ¡°That¡¯s great. After this, I will speak with the builders about their payment and mention the food storage. They''re making fast progress, so I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll take that long before it¡¯s done.¡± Har tapped his gold pouch. ¡°Speaking of payments. More checks are in there for you and whatever gold was left from buying the resources.¡± He passed it over to Ben. Ben opened the pouch and passed Har his share to run the caravan. Afterward, he went to the foreman''s office and left the remainder of the gold with Finn to pay the wages before returning to the surface to find the builder. ¡°You¡¯re making great progress.¡± Ben complimented as he walked closer to the builder, almost stumbling over some rocks that littered the ground.¡± ¡°Likewise. The mines have been busy these last few days, and your man Har is always on the road.¡± The builder stated, glancing towards the carts. ¡°Oh, he likes to keep busy. Anyway, he asked if you could start working on that food storage building as we need to start preserving and organizing the food for winter. Oh, and how much money do I owe you?¡± The builder crossed his arms before looking around at his completed work. ¡°We¡¯ve completed six workshop dwellings, including three forges. They usually cost around twenty gold pounds each, but since you provided many raw materials, I¡¯ll give you a discount and drop the price to fifteen. So, that¡¯ll set you back ninety in total.¡± Happy with the price, Ben transferred the amount over via the system. [The Bailey Mine: -90 Gold Pounds.] ¡°The payment is much appreciated. Once the other buildings are done, I¡¯ll charge you for them. Now, where do you want us to build the food storage?¡± the builder asked. Ben looked at the various spots where the storage could be placed. He thought that once the remaining six workshop dwellings were completed, the builders would start working on housing for the mine workers, which would be built where the temporary camp had been erected. Ben pointed to a central location: ¡°Over there. That should protect it from unwanted thieves while giving everyone in the village access. We could use the remaining space around it for things like a marketplace and villager shops.¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good eye for planning things. I¡¯ll get a few of my men to start work on it while the rest of us continue to finish the workshops.¡± The builder waved Ben goodbye before getting back to work. With Ben¡¯s business account almost bone dry, he thought it would be a good time to journey to the Feruswich bank and cash the collection of checks he had gathered.
Around a week had passed. Ben had traveled to the bank and returned with his business account looking healthier. [The Bailey Mine: +180 Gold Pounds.] By the time Ben had returned, it was time for Har to set off for another delivery run. While work continued on the food storage, Ben helped out at the mine and used his free time to practice something he had learned from the battle with the sporemancer: connecting with a Mirium ore vein so he could perpetually regenerate while in battle. While deep in concentration, Ben felt a group of new energies moving closer to him. Zooming in on them, he realized they must have belonged to the next batch of artisans almost at the end of the trail leading to the mine. Ben got up, quickly making himself look more presentable, before heading out to meet them. Another three families and a small group of Hollow Moon soldiers had joined the village. As the families settled in, Ben instructed the soldiers to speak with the corporal who would give them their assignments. Ben almost returned to his van to continue his meditation when a notification filled his vision, showing a new quest had been added. *** Quest: Local War Production (First Order) With the battle for Robynhill approaching, Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux has instructed you to begin local production of goods needed for the war effort. With a large number of horses arriving at Robynhil soon, the military outpost there will need the following items: Blank Military Grade Horseshoes: 120 You have one week to complete this order and deliver the goods to the Robynhill outpost. Rewards: 240XP. 24 Gold Pounds. *** With only a week to complete the quest, Ben felt a weight of frustration upon his shoulders. He hurried over to the Corporal and instructed him to gather everyone at the campfire for a meeting. When that was done, Ben stood on a log to be seen and heard. ¡°I apologize for calling everyone here on such abrupt notice, as there has been a new development. Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux has just sent the village''s first production order, due in one week. However, before I share the details, we should create a process whereby we don¡¯t have to call a meeting like this whenever we receive an order.¡± Looking around, Ben waited for either a nod or verbal confirmation before motioning. ¡°Alfred has been given the job of overseeing everything here in the village. He is my second in command, and I expect everyone to listen to his word as if it were mine. Whenever an order comes through, I will give him the details, and all the right people will contact him to get production started. If you have any issues, you must let him know so things can get back on track. Currently, the artisans are without a leader. I would suggest either do it by the one who is the most experienced or it to a vote.¡± After chatting and bickering for almost half an hour, Smythson was chosen to lead. According to the others, he held the highest rank in the smithing guild and the most years of experience, which would be vital for keeping things organized. Ben read the order out word for word. When he was done, he glanced at Smythson before asking, ¡°Can we deliver within the given timeframe?¡± Smythson stepped forward. ¡°There are six families here, some with more experience than others. Let''s split the order equally between the families to twenty each. The ones who complete their batches first will then help the others. That way, we should be able to meet the deadline while sharing knowledge and techniques to better our craft.¡± He paused as if he had remembered something, ¡°However, there may be another issue. With most of your smelted iron being taken away to be sold, we may not have enough to meet the demands of the order.¡± Ben nodded and turned to Finn. ¡°Ensure that we don¡¯t run out of iron ingots while the order is being processed.¡± Finn nodded before raising his hand. ¡°Master Ben, I will take two people off mining duties and place them with the smelting group, which should be enough. That will dent the mining operation, and we must dig more into the store. I think now is a good time to hire more people.¡± Before Ben could reply, Alfred stood forward and spoke. ¡°Leave that with me. I will travel with Har on his next delivery run to Feruswich. We can either speak to the people who went there as refugees when things went to crap around here or a few people I know who may be interested. I estimate we can convince around a dozen to return with us.¡± Har nodded. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. The last time I was there, I met a few familiar faces who were asking about the mine.¡± ¡°That settles it then.¡± Before turning back to Smythson, Ben stated, ¡°I will stay here on the surface and help move things around to ensure this order goes smoothly. Let¡¯s get it done!¡±
Just like that, the week had flashed before Ben¡¯s eyes. He placed the final horseshoe in the delivery crate and reinforced his strength before moving it to the back of the van. With Har and Alfred already out on the road, he had to deliver it himself. With the nostalgia of his old life kicking in, Ben felt good to be on a delivery again. He soon arrived at the trail''s end when his mouth nearly dropped in his lap. ¡°What on Earth have they done with the place?¡± He muttered, steering towards the high palisades where a group of soldiers stood guard. There were even large watchtowers and some turrets where bunches of archers stood at the ready. After being cleared for entry, Ben was able to drive through the reinforced gate. He saw that the place no longer resembled a desolate settlement filled with a ragtag bunch of people who had seen better days. There must have been hundreds, if not thousands, of troops going about their business. Before heading directly to deliver the order, Ben steered towards Arthel Inn and parked on the same grassy clearing he had done when he arrived. He locked the van and made his way towards the inn door when a familiar voice from the side caught him off guard. ¡°What¡¯s that thing doing on my lawn?¡± Arthel shouted. Ben turned to see a wide grin on the innkeeper''s face before shouting back. ¡°I know how to use fire magic now, you know.¡± Arthel raised his hands before motioning for Ben to go to the side of the inn. ¡°Take it easy, I was jesting. It¡¯s too busy there, and you¡¯ll have to come in from the side door.¡± Chapter 57 - Talks Of War Ben took a seat on a stool in the inn''s backroom. Arthel passed him a tankard of ale. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you back here. As you can see, this place is ram-packed full of customers now.¡± Ben peered through the doorway and saw an unfamiliar sea of soldiers and knights. ¡°Aye, I bet business is booming for you, too. Where did the rest of the villagers go?¡± ¡°With ample protection from the Hollow Moon, they made their homes fit for habitation and moved back in. Even the folk from Dimmiwood could settle in the unused ones. Since then, most have had little marketplace to sell goods to the soldiers and their logistics staff. Mostly food, clothing, and whatever else they can scavenge.¡± Alfred explained, taking a seat opposite Ben. ¡°That¡¯s enough about us. What brought you back? I thought you¡¯d be busy with the mine.¡± ¡°I hope things stay well for the village. The mines are running again, and we¡¯re making regular deliveries across the Hollow Lands¡ªmainly Feruswich, Wesport, and the smaller settlements surrounding them. As for why I¡¯m here, we received our first production order from Le¡¯Vieux for the military outpost here.¡± Ben explained and took a sip. ¡°There¡¯s word the enemy might be launching an attack soon. With all these soldiers about in your fine establishment, have you heard anything?¡± Arthel moved his stool forward before nodding and whispering. ¡°While cleaning up the tables just after we had closed, the high-ranked officers wanted to meet here away from the men. I pretended to work and listened in on their conversation.¡± ¡°Go on, tell me what they said. You¡¯re killing me with the suspense.¡± Ben muttered. ¡°Just don¡¯t tell anyone you heard it from me,¡± Arthel said with a frown, continuing only after receiving a nod. ¡°One of the scout units spotted a large buildup, numbering in the thousands, of those twisted creatures: ordinary people, former soldiers, and knights of Meso¡ªall gathering at the chateau one that appeared to be as large as a building. The officers thought they would launch an attack within the next few weeks.¡± ¡°That explains why the quest came through so abruptly before the second batch of artisans even had a chance to settle in. It looks like the fighting will start soon. Ensure you care for your family and the village folk when things go down. They¡¯ll seek someone to confine their emotions with and lead them.¡± Ben explained and finished his ale. Arthel was about to grab the tankard. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a refill.¡± ¡°Thanks for the offer, but I must deliver that order to the military commander.¡± Ben stood up and patted Arthel on the shoulder, ¡°If you need any supplies such as food or whatever, you¡¯re more than welcome to come by the mine.¡± Arthel nodded, ¡°Likewise, good friend. I hope to see you soon. Come through the side door next time you come by here. You¡¯re like family to us.¡± Ben waved goodbye and got back to his van. He revered out onto the main path and drove towards where the soldiers and knights were living.
Ben sat at the war table after thudding the crate of horseshoes down beside it. The knight commander, an older man in his fifties, marched into the tent and towards the table as if he were still in his youth. At various points, he had battle scars across his face, and one of his eyes seemed slightly slanted. He stared at Ben judgementally before breaking the silence with his deep, growly voice. ¡°Ben, the one Le¡¯Vieux seems to talk about much.¡± ¡°Aye, that¡¯s me,¡± Ben replied before pointing at the crate. ¡°Your order is ready.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be honest with you. You don''t look like much to me. Even your presence is minute, but the stories of your deeds have met my ears, and they beg to differ. They all say that you¡¯re a capable man who can get things done.¡± The knight commander stated. He leaned over, removed the crate''s cover, and inspected the contents. Picking up one of the horseshoes, he slammed it on the ground a few times before wiping away the dirt. ¡°The quality of iron is excellent. My smiths here won''t have any issue adjusting these to fit the horses.¡± He then closed the crate and took a seat across the table. ¡°Le¡¯Vieux will hear of your exceptional products and timely delivery.¡± He paused momentarily to do some system stuff before a notification appeared. [Quest Local War Production Complete: +240XP, +24 Gold Pounds.] Ben gave the commander a thumbs up. ¡°Thanks for that. Now, I¡¯m not stupid. I know we¡¯re close to war with the enemy. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have needed this order so abruptly before my people even had the chance to settle in. So, What¡¯s going on?¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The knight commander scoffed before leaning back on his seat and shaking his head. It was like no one had spoken to him like that. ¡°Le¡¯Vieux did say you had a pair of steel bollocks when talking to superiors. I didn¡¯t think it would have been frank like this. But aye, you¡¯re correct to think the enemy is upon us. They are building up a large force at The Trident Fort, and from the looks of things, they will begin their march in a fortnight. Nightfall is coming quicker with winter approaching, and I suspect they want to use the darkness to their advantage as it multiplies their power.¡± Ben nodded in agreement. ¡°Aye, it does, and when they are in large groups, they can blanket the sky with thick, smoky clouds that make even the day look like night.¡± ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, you have experienced defeating them. Tell me, what¡¯s best for my men to prepare?¡± The commander asked. Ben sighed before explaining. ¡°Well, fire seems to be the only thing that can burn through them. But you have to make sure every inch of them is burned. Arm your men with those vials of that fire liquid, maybe even some of those firebombs. Jerry is crafting arrows that will be sent to the fairies to be endowed with fire enchantments. Your archers will be useless without them.¡± The knight commander raised an eyebrow before asking, ¡°Did you just say fairy?¡± Ben explained the entire situation with the fairies, including their desire to help the humans during the battle with the enemy. The knight commander held his head like someone had died. ¡°This goes against everything I believe, but if what you say is right, then I believe working with them will benefit us. It would be a shame if they turned coat and tried to kill us after the battle.¡± Ben shook his head. ¡°They won¡¯t. Their people have been through much similar to the people of Meso. They want peace and prosperity, too. Alfred and Jerry were there and believed they were speaking the truth. Besides, we will have heavy hitters of our own on the battlefield if things turn sour.¡± ¡°For all our sakes, I hope you¡¯re right.¡± The knight commander took a deep breath, full of frustration, continuing, ¡°We did an inventory of everything we had in this outpost last week. I don¡¯t think we have enough fire-based military equipment here. Our caravans from that direction have been suffering from logistical issues related to horse feed. If we¡¯re going to defeat the enemy, we need those supplies no matter what.¡± The knight commander explained. ¡°I understand what you mean. We still have some time, and I don¡¯t mind helping you out by picking up the supplies from where they are located. But you¡¯ll have to issue them through the system and reward me with experience or, preferably, a skill point if you have one spare. There¡¯s a couple of skills I¡¯ll be needing before that battle.¡± Ben offered. The knight commander stroked his chin. ¡°The skill point won¡¯t be an issue, so I¡¯ll take you up on that offer.¡± He paused again to do something on his system before a new quest popped up in Ben¡¯s vision. New Quest Added: Supply Run. The Knight-Commander of the Robynhill military outpost has instructed you to collect supplies from the Hollow Keep. Speak with Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux for further details. Once the supplies have been delivered, the quest will be marked as complete. Rewards: +1 Skill Point. After saying goodbye to the commander, Ben climbed into the van and set off for the Hollow Keep.
Ben drove for a few hours before arriving at the city and climbing the steep incline to the keep''s gates. Getting there had been different than before, as a few new checkpoints had been set up close to the city, but after seeing his quest log, the soldiers there had let him through without issue. Once inside the keep, Ben went to Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s office, where he was warmly greeted. ¡°Ben!¡± Le¡¯Vieux exclaimed, getting up from his seat. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you back here.¡± ¡°Aye, likewise. How are things going here with you?¡± Ben asked. ¡°Same stuff, different day. I¡¯ve heard things at your mine have been going well, and you delivered your first order on time. Keep up the good work; your name will weigh the entire kingdom. Now, I know why you¡¯ve come all this way. I have already instructed my staff to ready the order to be loaded into your caravan at first light. It¡¯ll also give me some time to gather my equipment.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. ¡°Your equipment? Are you going somewhere?¡± Ben asked, raising his brow. ¡°Do you think I was going to sit around here while the rest of you have all the fun knocking those infected creatures to the afterlife? Besides, after hearing about Hauxwell returning to good health, I decided to change my routine.¡± ¡°Is that right?¡± Ben asked. Le¡¯Vieux nodded, ¡°Without fail, I woke earlier than usual to beat the rust out of my skills and abilities like a blacksmith would his metal work. I can confidently tell you that what you saw me do at the proving grounds was only a grain of sand in a great desert of what I¡¯m capable of now.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you and Hauxwell are going to be at each other throats during the heat of battle?¡± Ben muttered, crossing his arms and giving Le¡¯Vieux the ¡®not impressed¡¯ stare. ¡°No, It¡¯s not like that. We¡¯ve both fought wars and battles together for decades without issue. Anyone can tell you that. Many people don¡¯t understand that our competition formed such a strong bond resembling brotherhood. With him being a decade older than myself, his power withered once he got old and frail. Mine continued to grow as I reached my prime. Now, by some miracle, he has regained his youth, and I¡¯m curious to see where the two of us stand.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained as his eyes glossed over with a nostalgia-filled mist. ¡°Well, so you know, he can regenerate his mana without guzzling potions like a drunkard and will most likely beat you if you don¡¯t have something up your sleeve.¡± Ben gestured toward Le¡¯Vieux, who looked like he had been stabbed in the back. Le¡¯Vieux crossed his arms. ¡°Taking potions and connecting with random energy are not the only ways to regenerate mana. You¡¯ll see what I¡¯m talking about when the time is right. My knight commander tells me you came into contact with some fairies. I need the details now!¡± Chapter 58 - Val’s Spatial Storage Ben had been given one of the officers'' guest rooms the previous night. The number of times the hotel staff checked on him made it seem like the medieval equivalent of a five-star experience, and the bed seemed far more comfortable than the average one. After waking, he cleaned himself in one of the washrooms as his armor had been taken for quick repairs. The staff had provided him with fresh clothes that were his exact size. Eager to get going, he made his way outside and stopped dead when he saw three carts full of various explosive items. There was no way they would all fit in his van. Le¡¯Vieux, ready to get going, patted Ben on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how you will fit all that in there with all your belongings in the back. Too bad, my spatial storage is almost full; otherwise, I would have helped you out. You might have to abandon the thought of that skill point you negotiated.¡± Ben gave Le¡¯Vieux a frown. ¡°I may be in a pickle, but I think I have something in mind that might work.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made me eager to see what,¡± Le¡¯Vieux said with a raised brow. Ben walked walked over to the van and got inside. Once the engine was on, he opened the upgrade menu and hovered his finger over the spatial. He thought about how it would set him back fifty gold, let out a huff of frustration, and pressed it with a light hand. ¡°Darn, expensive upgrade.¡± [Spatial Storage Mk.1 is now unlocked.] -50GP Once the magical fanfare of the changes had dispersed, Ben stepped out of the van and wondered what had happened. Everything looked identical except for a circular button above the side door handle, which he examined closer. [Spatial Storage: 10m^3. Press to access Spatial Storage.] Ben did what it said when something else appeared. [Open the side door to access the portal to your storage.] When Ben slid the door, he was met with the unfamiliar view of a magical barrier that resembled a portal. He put his hand through first to ensure it was safe, and when nothing felt wrong, he pulled it out. Next, he was about to stick his head in before turning to Le¡¯Vieux, ¡°If I don''t stick it back out in 20 seconds, pull me the hell out.¡± The inside of the space looked pitch black, making Ben think he had gone blind for a moment. He could breathe properly, and when he yelled at the top of his voice, it echoed back to him from multiple points as if he were in an enclosed space. Quickly, he pulled out. ¡°Place is darker than the lowest level of the mine without a light source.¡± He then grabbed his flashlight in front of his glovebox and went in again, using one of his hands to shine the light. In a large ten-by-ten-meter cube, four stone walls stared back at him. He glanced around the portal and noticed it was a wooden doorway, making the space look like the underground dungeon of a medieval castle. Taking his head out, he glanced at Le¡¯Vieux with a wide grin, ¡°There¡¯s plenty of space in there for those supplies.¡± Le¡¯Vieux shook his head while chuckling. ¡°You never cease to amaze me. Let¡¯s get all this in there and set off before we lose the daylight.¡±
They had traveled for around an hour, giving Ben more than enough time to give Le¡¯Vieux a full account of everything that had happened and explain the deal with the fairies. Le¡¯Vieux gave Ben a deep frown. ¡°You¡¯re the biggest madman I¡¯ve ever met. No one in their right mind would make a deal like that with the fairies.¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°What else would you have liked me to do? I think things will turn out pretty well if the agreement holds. From what I saw of their people, they don¡¯t look like they¡¯ll be waging war on anyone within the next hundred years. The infected have ravaged most of their population, with the remnants just about getting back to rebuilding.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded and patted Ben on the shoulder. ¡°At least they agreed to help us with the battle. With Alfred being there during your talks, I have faith the agreements will hold. He has a knack for seeing through dubious plots and would have mentioned any dodginess.¡± He paused momentarily, then turned back to Ben as if he had remembered something. ¡°Did you say you saw that high-ranked fairy again?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Oh yeah, once we were done, the elder ordered him to return with us so their people could get accustomed to our customs. Plus, it allowed him to see what items and resources we have to trade with them.¡± Le¡¯Vieux scratched his head. ¡°I hope things are still going well at the mine. That was one of the most powerful fairies I have ever encountered.¡± You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Aldred and Jerry are there, not to mention Hauxwel around the corner at the pasture,¡± Ben muttered. Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°Regardless, you¡¯ve done great work out there. You have the makings of a great grand master, but until then, I¡¯m taking you with me whenever I have important negotiations. Oh, and I won''t take no for an answer.¡± Ben gave Le¡¯Vieux the side-eye. ¡°Well, as long as you have some skill points to offer as reimbursements for my services, I¡¯m happy to do that.¡± Le¡¯Vieux burst into a chuckle, shaking his head as if he couldn''t believe what Ben had just said. ¡°You have come here two decades ago when I was given my first position of high command. We could have done a lot together.¡± Ben started to laugh. ¡°If that were the case, then you¡¯d have a toddler version of me to deal with.¡± They continued to chat about various topics before arriving at Robynhill. Once the guards noticed Le¡¯Vieux, they didn¡¯t even ask questions and immediately raised the gates before standing at attention. They didn''t waste time and made their way to the command tent. Looking at a map of the area, the knight commander shot up and stood to attention. ¡°Grand Marshall, sir. If I¡¯d known you were arriving here, I would have made the welcome much warmer.¡± ¡°Knight Commander, there is no need for that right now. I need you to give me a situation report.¡± Le¡¯Vieux commanded. ¡°Sir, my scouts arrived back this morning with bad news. The enemy has gathered a large force of around two thousand infected, with one in ten being former Meso knights. They also have animals and creatures with them that could pose a challenge, including one that had morphed into a giant monstrosity. Their numbers have stayed the same, forming into units I believe will begin the march towards us within days, " the commander explained while pointing at the map. ¡°Understood. And how is work going with the defenses?¡± Le¡¯Vieux asked. ¡°The palisades, watchtowers, and turrets have all been completed. The engineers dig trenches at various intervals in the direction we assume the enemy will attack. The woodworkers are currently making the stakes stuck in the ground.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°That¡¯s great work; I knew I could count on you. I have ordered another company of reserves to make their way here, but I believe they have been slowed due to the shortage of horse feed. According to the other Grand Marshalls, they don''t have any to spare. We must work with what we have.¡± He motioned to Ben, ¡°He has brought the requested supplies. Please ensure the men are adequately trained in their use before the battle starts and use the crates of Greek fire to fill the trenches.¡± ¡°Understood, sir.¡± The commander nodded. Ben returned to the van with Le¡¯Vieux and the commander. A few soldiers had been ordered to help unload the supplies from the spatial storage, and even Le¡¯Vieux had stepped inside to take a peek. Once Le¡¯Vieux stepped out, he faced the van and motioned towards the portal. ¡°If I''ll be damned, you¡¯ve got enough space in there now to hold an entire unit of elite knights. You could unsuspectedly drive behind enemy lines and attack them from the rear in a deep battle maneuver.¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Suprise attacks from the rear always seem to work wonders. I could even combine it with the other skills and abilities of the van for added effect.¡± Ben stroked his chin, ¡°Speaking of skills, I have some available still to be unlocked.¡± ¡°We don''t have much time left. You have a day to get yourself prepared for the battle and gather the team of elite warriors. Make sure you leave a spot for me as I will be coming with you. Master Blue has instructed me to go behind the enemy lines and investigate the Chateau, as the source of magic blocking him is there. It could be something to do with that large creature the scouts discovered.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. ¡°That thing sounds like the super sporemancer we faced in the fairy valley. If it is, then it¡¯s going to be one hell of a tough battle, and I don''t know if we¡¯ll make it through if it¡¯s more powerful than that.¡± Ben stated before huffing out a breath of frustration. Le¡¯Vieux crossed his arms. ¡°I remember what you said about the acidic attacks it used. That could make things a whole lot more complicated. More reason for you to get your unit gathered.¡± He then motioned to the command tent. ¡°When you are ready, meet me there, and we will create an attack plan. Oh, I¡¯ll instruct the commander to complete your quest so you can allocate the skill point to those skills you were speaking about.¡± Ben gave Le¡¯Vieux a thumbs up. ¡°Thanks for that. Don''t worry, you can count on me.¡± ¡°Godspeed, kid.¡± Le¡¯Vieux finished before heading off towards the tent.
[Quest Completed: Supply Run: +1 Skill Point has been added.] Later, Ben made his way back to mine. His first port of call was to speak with the Corporal, who was instructed to send a couple of his off-duty men around to the various people known for their combat prowess for a meeting by the campfire. Ben explained his task once Alfred, Hauxwell, Jerry, and Quicksilver were present. ¡°Le¡¯Vieux will also be joining us. So, are you all committing to this, or what?¡± Ben asked, looking around at everyone. Hauxwell was the first to step forward and raise his fist in the air. ¡°How can I miss an opportunity to put Le¡¯Vieux¡¯s abilities to shame? It¡¯s been decades since I fought alongside him, so count me in!¡± Jerry was next and raised one of his arrows. ¡°If Hauxwell¡¯s in, so am I. Let my arrows pierce the skulls of our enemies.¡± Alfred also said his piece. ¡°When I lost my arm, I thought it would be the end of me. But, it turned out to be something that awakened a newfound strength in me. Thanks to Hauxwell, who spent those days teaching me and the battle with the sporemancer, I feel more confident with my capabilities. Count me in.¡± Everyone''s heads then turned to the fairy with raised eyebrows as he stayed silent throughout the meeting. Quicksilver walked forward. ¡°You all are looking at me like you think I¡¯m going to run back home and keep our end of the deal. I have already telepathically sent word to my elder. A few other tribes have joined ours in the valley. They will send out a war party to provide support in the battle. I will wait in the cave to guide them and ensure peace between our peoples. I would advise you to wait for them so that they can join your elite unit.¡± Ben raised his fist into the air. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Chapter 59 - Upgrade Spree! After the meeting, everyone went to prepare, and Ben returned to the van. Before heading out in the morning, Ben wanted to get his van in order so he, too, was prepared for the battle ahead. He didn¡¯t want to get caught out and have his companions suffer the consequences of laziness. Ben opened the upgrade menu once his butt hit the cushion of the driver''s seat and scanned through the details. *** Vehicle: Valkyrie Level 2 *** Bull Bar Mk.2: An improvement in effectiveness and protection compared to the Mk.1 variant. This bar also adds other contact points, such as spikes and hinges, to increase the damage inflicted when running enemies over. Cost: 2SP or 20GP Armor Plating Mk.2: Reinforce your vehicle''s body with thicker armor. It will allow your vehicle to sustain more damage before depreciating condition. Armor Rating: +50. Cost: 2SP or 20GP *** [Bull Bar Mk.2 is now unlocked.] [Armor Plating Mk.2 is now unlocked.] [-40 GP.] [Vehicle Valkyrie is now Level 3.] *** Alternative Fuel Tank Mk.1: Your vehicle receives a fuel tank for MP. The system user may fill this so it can be used for class skills and abilities. It is also a prerequisite for other vehicle upgrades that require MP to be used. Tank Capacity: 200 MP. Cost: 5SP or 50GP. Radar Mk.1: Your vehicle will receive a radar system to detect hostile enemies. This radar can also automatically lock on enemies with other skills, abilities, and upgrades for increased accuracy. Range: 100M Radius. Cost: 5SP or 50GP. Turret Mk.1: Your vehicle will receive a turret that shoots magical projectiles, which can be set to produce different effects. This weapon system can be charged directly with MP or drawn from an MP fuel tank. Fire Rate: 60/M. Cost: 5SP or 50GP. Spatial Storage Upgrade 1: Increase the space available in your spatial storage by 100 percent, for 20 M^3¡ªcost: 5SP or 50GP. *** These are not bad at all and could come in handy. Ben glanced at his profile screen and noticed his account was nearly empty. However, he still had a decent amount in his business account, but he knew that he couldn''t afford to spend it all lest progress with the village be stalled after the battle. Ben was stuck between a rock and a hard place in his thoughts. If he didn¡¯t purchase some upgrades, he knew their chances of victory could hang in the balance, and the village would probably cease to exist. Breathing out a heavy huff, Ben muttered to himself. ¡°Let¡¯s do two of them and see how it goes. I can always get the other two later on if the need arises.¡± [Spatial Storage Upgrade 1 is now unlocked.] [Alternative Fuel Tank Mk.1 is now unlocked.] [-100 GP.] Then, Ben opened his class screen. *** Mechanical Mage Level 2. *** Kunai Outburst Mk.1: Two chained Kunai are spawned and launched from the front of your vehicle, each targeting a nearby enemy. Once the enemies have been caught, the chains recede at speed, causing them to collide with the vehicle. The system user is advised to travel at a moderate speed to inflict the most damage. Skill Proficiency: 25MP per use. Skill Point Cost: 2 Exponential Mass Mk.1: When an enemy is struck, your vehicle''s mass increases exponentially without any drawback for a split second, increasing the damage dealt. Use this skill cautiously, as enemies may be launched a considerable distance. Skill Proficiency: 10MP per enemy struck. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Skill Point Cost: 2 *** [Kunai Outburst Mk.1 is now unlocked.] [Exponential Mass Mk.1 is now unlocked.] [-4SP.] Once the magical specks of the upgrade magic had faded, Ben was eager to see how Val looked and jumped out. The bull bar, as stated, appeared twice as thick as the first variant. It had more points at the front and edges where the bar curved, while other parts had blunt edges. Ben knew it would cause serious damage to any enemies who met its touch. Walking up to one of the side panels, Ben squeezed his hand into a fish and used his knuckles to knock on one of the panels a few times. The metal didn¡¯t make a hollow sound, but one that made it seem denser, as if its entire metallic makeup had changed. Ben patted the same panel and muttered. ¡°I just hope it¡¯s enough to get us through this.¡± Regarding upgrades, Ben had become as prepared as much as he could be. He figured the others would be neck-deep in making similar preparations. He was about to move into the back when he remembered the tank upgrade. Walking around the entire van, Ben couldn¡¯t determine where the MP tank had been added. He dropped to the ground and glanced at the underbody to no avail before getting back up and scratching his head. I should see if there¡¯s anything about it on the stat screen. *** Vehicle: Valkyrie, Level 3. Type: Camper Condition: 100% Fuel: 100% MP: 0/200 Power: 140HP (Mechanical) Mass: 2168KG Armor Rating: 99 *** The system had added a new section under the fuel level for MP, which read empty. Are you going to let me refill it? The moment he finished asking the question in his mind, another command appeared. [Refill MP? Y/N] Without hesitating, Ben used his magic pool to fill the tank till it was fifty shy. Feeling drained, Ben figured the battle ahead would be hard and unpredictable. The enemy and the numbers they would be facing pressed a weight down upon his shoulders as the reality of the situation hit him like a freight train. He felt tired, drained, and stressed out. ¡°I should get some rest,¡± Ben muttered before exhaling a deep, drawn-out yawn. He made his way to the back of the van before dropping into the grasp of his comfortable bed. He had a feeling there was a chance he might not get another chance with what was to come.
Ben awoke before the first rays of blue light pierced through the sky. He exited the van and completed his usual morning ritual of relieving and getting himself clean. Then, he wore clean clothes and the armor Jerry had gifted him. Within moments, the others had gathered near the side of the van, all wearing their battle gear and armed to the teeth with their respective weapons. Ben thought it would be great to show everyone how spatial storage works. When stepping inside, he noticed that each wall had been flawlessly pushed back to create the extra space. It was more spacious, and Ben felt that a dozen men could fit in with their equipment. He placed one of his flashlights for lighting and showed the others around. Jerry took a glance inside and scoffed. ¡°If you think I''m going to stay in that thing, another thing is coming your way. It looked like one of those dungeons where those corrupt lords keep their dirty secrets. I¡¯ll take my chances at the top of the van like we did at Dimmiwood.¡± Ben shrugged. ¡°Well, suit yourself.¡± He then turned to Alfred and Hauxwell. ¡°With him up there, that should leave enough space for the two of you to sit in front.¡± They nodded in agreement before leaving the storage. Once everyone had taken their place, Ben started the engine. He glanced at both the mine and the village before heaving a sigh. ¡°All the time and effort spent building this place up from where it was is weighing down on me. I don''t feel like leaving it like this.¡± Hauxwell patted Ben on the shoulder. ¡°Ah, I know that feeling all too well. It never changes. I¡¯m glad this will be my last battle before I retire from this life to chase my dreams.¡± Alfred turned with a chuckle. ¡°You worry too much, Ben. I¡¯ve ensured everything will continue to run. They know what to do, and if things turn sour, they will go to Feruswich to take refuge. The Hollow Moon garrison there will protect everyone.¡± He nodded, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen powerful warriors like Hauxwell and Le¡¯Vieux fight together. If the fairies keep their word, then people will speak of this for centuries after we have passed.¡± He then gave Hauxwell a side eye, ¡°He never seems to die, so I have a feeling he will still be here to confirm everything.¡± They all laughed when Jerry thudded the roof and shouted, ¡°This darn thing feels solid like a bank vault. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve done to it, but we¡¯ll be late if you don''t set off now.¡± Ben shifted into gear and hit the gas. The van felt heavier than before, and the engine seemed to put in more work before moving towards the trail. The van was slowly transforming into a tank, and he knew if he kept going with the upgrades, he would soon need more power lest he be stuck at a snail''s pace. Shrugging, he set off.
Ben arrived at Robynhill and drove to the command. Le¡¯Vieux stood leaning on the tent with his arms crossed as if he had been waiting for some time. Ben and the others exited the van while Jerry jumped off the top. Hauxwell ran towards his old comrade before the two exchanged a hug for the ages. Jerry shook his head with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Just wait till they get on the battlefield. They¡¯ll both be at each other''s throats about the correct tactics.¡± ¡°Is it that bad?¡± Alfred asked. Jerry sternly nodded. ¡°It was before your time, but I''ve seen them break into an argument surrounded by enemies in the heat of battle. They started fighting each other, which funnily confused the enemy and gave the rest of us an opening to win the battle.¡± Both Hauxwell and Le¡¯Vieux had overheard that before turning to look at Jerry with a deathly stare. Jerry raised his hands and shrugged. ¡°Come on, we were scarred for weeks after that one.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ll be scarred for life if you don¡¯t shut up.¡± Hauxwell scoffed, causing everyone to burst into a fit of laughter. Jerry took a couple of steps back. ¡°So you know, I have a full quiver of enchanted arrows and won¡¯t hesitate to defend myself.¡± Le¡¯Vieux patted Hauxwell on the back before everyone burst into laughter. He shook his head, chuckling, ¡°I¡¯ve not laughed like this in years. The way you love and hate each other never ceases to amaze me. I never thought the three of us would fight another battle again.¡± He took a few breaths before continuing, ¡°Alright, the time for joking is over. We¡¯ll have a rather serious situation on our hands very soon. We should take this time to figure out the best tactics during the battle and how to implement Ben and his van to defeat the enemy.¡± Hauxwell nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s get to it, old friend.¡± Jerry chuckled under his breath with a wide grin. ¡°Now you¡¯ll see what I mean.¡± Chapter 60 - The Battle For RobynHill Part I A loud horn ripped through the air, causing Ben to twist his neck towards the gate facing the trail leading towards the Chateau. Once the gate had been raised, a knight from the scout unit entered with his horse huffing and puffing as if it had run a marathon. Within seconds of him talking with one of the other knights, the horn blew another two times, which Le¡¯Vieux had earlier explained meant the enemy was on the march. Almost instantly, the settlement erupted into full-scale organized chaos as soldiers, archers, and knights rushed to their posts. The knight commander emerged from his tent along with his Majors before yelling several orders. They each dispersed in different directions before the commander moved towards the van where Le¡¯Vieux was situated. ¡°Grand Marshall, Sir,¡± The commander saluted before explaining, ¡°The men should be in position within a few moments. The mages have split into two halves, the first of which will station themselves along the watchtowers while the others should arrive here in a moment.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°Great work, Commander. Inform the men to clear the area directly before the gate. We will soon depart and take our hidden position. You¡¯ve trained decades for this moment, and I believe you know what must be done.¡± The knight commander saluted once again. ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± He then approached the mass of armored bodies that had formed into their ranks. A group of mages arrived, including the one in charge who had cared for Alfred and Hauxwell back at the inn. They stopped before Le¡¯Vieux before waiting. ¡°Follow me and Hauxwell into the van, where we will take our positions," Le¡¯Vieux ordered, motioning the portal into the spatial storage and leading the way inside. Moments before, Ben had opened the portal for them to enter and placed a rope they had jerry-rigged to signal the people inside to make their move. Another thing that had been discovered was that the area beyond the portal stayed still regardless of how fast the van traveled or rocked on uneven ground. Once everyone was inside, Ben approached the side door and tied it with one of the bungee cords he normally kept in a box of random things to keep it open. He then opened the driver''s door and took his seat. Jerry climbed the van''s side and strapped himself down at the top like before. This time, he had also created a space where he could keep his quiver to make it easier to grab arrows while in the heat of battle. Alfred planted his butt in the passenger seat and looked like he was in a similar state of mind. Huffing out a sign, he muttered. ¡°This feeling you get before a battle like the one we¡¯re about to face is unprecedented. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s worse, feeling like this or having been subjected to those two old timers bickering as if they were at war with each other.¡± A sharp pain tremored through Ben¡¯s head; it was a reminder of what they had to endure the previous day. ¡°Alfred, please, let¡¯s not talk of this again. My head still hurts.¡± Jerry had overheard that and began to laugh before thudding on the roof. ¡°Hah, don¡¯t say I never warned you.¡± The soldiers and knights had moved out of the way, creating a path to the gate that led towards Dimmiwood and the Chateau. That was the side they expected the enemy to arrive at and where most of the Hollow Moon forces had gathered.e ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait here till when the time is right,¡± Alfred muttered before glancing at the archer who had been in charge of signaling them to go. *** A couple of hours later, around midday, everything darkened. Ben thought it was unusual for that time of day, but everything made sense once the tar-black clouds began sweeping across the sky unnaturally as they had done at Dimmiwood. The mages who stood at the watchtowers started casting their spells. Beams of white light emerged from their staves, shooting up above before spreading out. The mages looked like they were putting everything they had into combatting the darkness but could only stop it still in its tracks and not push it back as they had done previously. Ben shook his head. ¡°This thing is way stronger now than it was before.¡± One of the archers leaned over the edge of the watchtower before shouting. ¡°Captain Alfred, we¡¯ve sighted the enemy. Their men and knights have stopped while the mongrels and beasts advance.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Alfred gave the man a thumbs up. ¡°Oi!¡± Jerry yelled, stopping the archer from turning back into position. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot them with the enchanted arrows while they¡¯re near the trenches. Save those for the infected men.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The archer gave Jerry a thumbs-up before aiming with his bow. The next few moments were filled with a deafening silence as all the normal sounds of nature ceased to exist. Then, out of nowhere, the growling and howling emerged along with the stampede of their feet. And soon, the ground shook as if an earthquake had hit. The archers'' leader ordered his comrades to take aim and nock their arrows back. With the ground shaking worse, the order was given to fire. Countless bowstrings twanged before arrows began to fly, and explosions erupted like a barrage of artillery. The palisades rocked inwards as the creatures must have made contact. Even though they were subjected to the weight of what felt like hundreds of creatures, they held their place. Next, they crawled and scratched up the walls, some getting impaled on the sharp spikes while others fell over and crashed to the ground. They were a mixture of Bloodhounds, regular dogs, a few wolves, and things that looked like giant spiders that had taken steroids. The moment they landed on the ground, their infection provided enough protection that the fall damage had little to no effect on them. Without gathering themselves, they strode like lions on a hunt for the first humans they set their sights upon. One of the Knight Majors had shouted orders for shields to be raised and one of his platoons at the front to begin engaging the enemy. His men broke rank, igniting the bladed parts of their weapons, which had been dipped in a gel-like variant of the Greek fire earlier on. After swinging and slashing, the enemies were set alight and dispatched to their burning deaths. A stench of decay filled the air, causing Ben and a few others to cover their noses. Some younger-looking soldiers had puked their stomachs on the ground, garnering a scolding from their knights. When the creatures stopped raining down and the arrows ceased, the archer leaned over the watchtower and glanced at Alfred. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Tell us what¡¯s going on?¡± Alfred asked. ¡°Sir, the smaller creatures will no longer be a problem. I¡¯ve seen their unarmored humans, around two hundred in total, form into what appears to be a horde and move towards us. They look like the rabble you¡¯d send to wear down defenses before launching a main attack.¡± The archer explained. ¡°Understood.¡± Alfred nodded before continuing, ¡°We¡¯ll stay put till the main attack is launched. Keep your eyes peeled for unusual behavior. They¡¯re smarter than they look, which is undoubtedly the work of Sudfield, who may have taken over their minds with that evil magic to which he¡¯s become accustomed. Keep clear of the trenches and give them hell.¡± The archer nodded before passing another set of orders to the other watchtowers and turrets. After the next few moments, the same thing occurred. Arrows flew and hit their targets with explosions on the other side. The enemies once again hit the palisades, concentrating their efforts on the gate, which began to rock in as great force was being pushed upon it. Ben was surprised with how well the iron bars that reinforced it held up. As the bodies piled upon one another, the gate started to bend inwards, with cracks starting to form and splinters shooting out. The enemies wailed and growled like vicious animals as they were crushed before the gate started moving, giving Ben a glimpse of the zombified humans whose entire skin had been enveloped by the dark tar-like slime. The soldiers of the Hollow Moon had been ordered to form defensive formations and prepare their weapons. They had moved into a semicircle with shields at the front and stuck spears out from the spaces between, ready to hold back the horde. Another unit had ignited their weapons and stood at the ready. To Ben, the soldiers would have easily dealt with the enemy if the gate had broken through. However, the massive pile-up of the bodies created a mound that the ones at the back used to climb up before leaping over the palisades. ¡°Damn it, that was unexpected,¡± Alfred yelled before knocking on the roofline. ¡°Cover fire.¡± Jerry started shooting explosive arrows at those leaping over while they were in mid-air, alleviating the pressure below where the defensive formation had been shattered and dispersed like fragile glass. A few other units and their knights had been forced to join in. Magical skill and abilities shocked the battlefield before the thread had been eliminated, with only a few wounded soldiers who had to be taken back by the medics to a care tent a short distance away. The archer looked down upon Alfred and started yelling. ¡°The crushed ones are still moving around, but they¡¯ve formed a bridge to the top for their soldiers and knights who¡¯ve started moving. I can see Sudfield with his commanders at the back.¡± Alfred turned to Ben. ¡°There¡¯s no way we can fight them if they start coming down from the top like that. We¡¯ll have to break the bridge they¡¯ve created so the men can meet them in battle outside while we get into position and enact the plan.¡± He then glanced towards the knight commander and yelled, ¡°Sir, ask your men to clear the gate area and open it up so we can move and take our positions.¡± As the gate was opened, Ben squeezed the steering wheel with a vice-like grip. He exhaled an anxiety-filled breath as the butterflies buzzed through his stomach, and he could feel his chest thumping with each beat. As much as he hated violently running things over, this needed to be done to save the lives of the living. He hit the gas, causing the van to jolt ahead. A few enemies fell from the mass with broken legs that wobbled like jelly, making their faces slap the dirt. They soon rose and started crawling in like cockroaches. Jerry shot an explosive arrow into the center of them, setting them alight and causing cracks in their biological structure. A loud clang rattled the suspension as the van crashed through the bodies, causing them to fling in different directions. Ben stopped before he got too far through the gate and started reversing to avoid the ones tumbling down like a Jenga tower. He figured if any fell on Jerry, he¡¯d be super angry. Once the danger was clear, he shifted into first gear and ran over the remaining ones. [+168XP and +50MP.] [MP tank is now full.] ¡°Good work!¡± Alfred said before pointing at the trail around the fortifications to an off-road path leading them further down the road. ¡°With that done, the knights and their soldiers can form their ranks here. Come on, it¡¯s our time to shine. Let¡¯s get into position.¡± Chapter 61 - The Battle for Robynhill Part 2 Ben had driven along an off-road path that shot off the main trail near the entrance of the fortification. It had taken them through the wooded area before a few clearings started to appear, along with their hideout, which had been created by a unit of soldiers the day prior. There was enough space for the van to be parked there, and it was adequately shielded from any nosey advancing enemies by bunches of bushes. ¡°It should be alright here,¡± Ben muttered before knocking on the ceiling. ¡°Keep low so you don¡¯t stick out like a sore thumb before we even get a chance to make our move.¡± Jerry knocked back. ¡°You don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got that covered.¡± Ben switched the engine off, so they were silent. He turned to Alfred and was about to ask something when he noticed him meditating. Ben realized what was going on and closed his eyes to follow suit. All the time he had spent practicing had paid off, as he could see a visualization of the area with the individual soldiers on each side. What surprised him the most was how detailed it looked as if he was using some insane 3D sonar technology from a science fiction film that made him feel like that Daredevil superhero. The horde of infected soldiers marched towards the fortification with unnatural, jagged movements that made them look like animatronics. There were too many to count, but Ben figured they numbered in the five-hundred range. Almost two hundred former Meso knights and their mounted commanders were behind them. When Ben set his sights right at the back, he was dumbfounded to get a glance at Sudfield, who was pointed for the taste of battle. His energy began to radiate so much that it seemed to surpass that of the super sporemancer. A singular thick strand of energy pumped him with more and more energy from the direction of the Chateau. Suddenly, the image around Sudfield became distorted to the point it was unbearable to observe. Annoyed, Ben shifted his focus back to the fortification. Although the Hollow Moon were outnumbered, they had formed into a large defensive formation. The infantry soldiers at the front stood side by side with their Knight Lieutenants and formed a shield wall. The ones behind had their spears poking out from between the shields while the rest stood ready for their orders. Another detachment, consisting of a dozen mounted knights, had taken their place in the nearby treeline. Come on, guys! You can do this! As the enemy soldiers arrived near the trenches, Ben noticed small threads of magic emerge from Sudfields distorted blob. They connected like puppet strings to the heads of the infected soldiers, who stopped in their tracks before falling victim to the trap laid out for them. ¡°Damn it!¡± Alfred yelled with frustration filling his voice. ¡°That blasted Sudfield knows what we¡¯ve laid out for him.¡± The Hollow Moon archers appeared dumbstruck as they readied their bows in panic. The trap had failed as they had intended, but it didn¡¯t stop them from going through. Before the enemy could move away, a hail of arrows had been shot at the trenches. An earthshattering explosion followed by a shockwave of flames shot outwards. Although half as effective, the plan had been salvaged from how the first few lines of enemy soldiers were knocked back. The way the fire spread amongst their ranks made it look like an unstoppable wildfire. More puppet strands appeared before the burning ones were contained, and they were tossed into the source of the fire. Some threads from Sudfield began to get thicker before a group of enemies transformed into blobs of slimy infectious matter. They ran into the ones on fire, spreading their fireproof slime before pushing a few comrades into the trenches to extinguish and plug the fires. Once the danger had passed for them, the remainder rushed towards the men of the Hollow Moon like wild animals. Bodies crashed into the shield wall, causing the line of defense to be pushed back a few meters before the spearmen started poking. They had managed to impale a few slowly down the enemies at the back. The allied soldiers at the ends moved out in what looked like a semi-circle pincer while others secured the flanks. The mounted knights emerged from the treeline in full stride, sweeping across the enemies'' main body as they traversed the trench area. Many enemies had been knocked over, while others had been struck by the violent swings of maces that left fire trails through the air as they moved. That tactic had been repeated a few times and had stalled the enemies down enough so that a few soldiers could break from their defensive positions and counterattack with their fiery weapons. The infected knights, Sudfield and his commanders, started advancing when the allies'' situation improved. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Get ready!¡± Alfred yelled. ¡°It¡¯s nearly time for us to make our move. We¡¯ll emerge before the treeline when most of their knights have passed.¡± Ben had already broken his concentration, and his hand shot into the ignition before he shook his head disapprovingly. ¡°Hang on. If we do that, then the others may be in trouble. We don¡¯t have enough knights to counter theirs, so our guys will easily become overwhelmed. You¡¯ve seen their numbers. If I drive out earlier, we can take some of them before cutting Sudfield and his commanders off from their host.¡± Alfred wasn¡¯t too pleased and frowned. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not the kind of person who likes deviating from the plan. We¡¯ve strict orders to engage Sufield and his commanders.¡± He scratched his head in frustration before continuing, ¡°But you¡¯re not wrong. They will overwhelm our men. Alright, but you must go when they''re almost at the end of their column.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Ben nodded before knocking above him, ¡°Jerry, did you hear that?¡± Jerry thudded in response. ¡°Understood. From what I can see, they¡¯re nearly at the end of their column. If you want to make a difference, I suggest you move now. Go, go, go!¡± Ben started the engine, shifted into reverse, and hit the pedal to the metal. His tires spun in the grass before he reversed and positioned himself to face the main trail. Beyond the trunks of a few trees, he could see the enemy knights marching. Some of them had noticed the van and adjusted their trajectory to intercept it but were burst into flames by Jerry¡¯s good aim. Luckily, there was enough space between the trees for the van to go through. The smaller bushes and shrubs were run over and squashed before Ben contacted almost a dozen infected knights. Slowing down, Ben steered towards the end of the column and thudded into another dozen bodies. [+850XP. +0MP (Full)] [You are now Level 9: +1 Skill point available.] [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Sergeant Major.] Sudfield and his commanders stopped in their tracks before spreading out across the width of the main road. They readied their weapons before a dark energy started spiraling out of their bodies. Their looks were pure malicious terror, like those of demented serial killers. The entire thing gave Ben a spine-trembling chill before he stopped and looked up. ¡°Pull it!¡± Hauxwell, Le¡¯Vieux, and the mages materialized out of the portal. Alfred and Ben both stepped out at the same time while Jerry untied himself and jumped down. Le¡¯Vieux turned to the mage commander. ¡°You know what must be done. Attack them from the rear, hard and fast, with lightning precision. Then, work with the others to get rid of these dark clouds. The mages and knights then must make their way back here for the assault on the Chateau if we survive that far.¡± Just as the Grand Marshall had finished speaking, a faint buzzing sound emerged from the treeline. It got louder with time till it felt like it was almost there. Within moments, the figures of fairies, all elite warriors, leaped from above the treetops. They were led by Quicksilver, who motioned for them to take their place above the van before he descended to the ground. ¡°Thanks for pulling through for us.¡± Ben smiled, greeting Quicksilver with a wave. ¡°Apologies for the delay. We were waiting for another tribe to arrive so we could come here in greater numbers. Where do you want us?¡± Quicksilver asked as he and the other fairies removed their weapons from their sheaths. Ben turned to Le¡¯Vieux for a response. ¡°You should stay with us here to fight those ones since you are the strongest amongst your people. Ask your warriors if they would kindly follow my mages back to the fortification and dispose of any remaining enemies.¡± Le¡¯Vieux motioned to Ben. ¡°I am the Grand Marshall of the Hollow Moon, and I give you my word that the peace agreement you made with Ben will stand once the battle concludes.¡± Quicksilver nodded. ¡°The agreement will stand.¡± He flew up to his warriors and motioned at the mages, explaining the orders. When he returned, he said, ¡°They will follow the orders of the one in charge of your mages.¡± Once the mages and fairies had set off, Le¡¯Vieux walked ahead. The rest of the party followed a few steps behind before stopping a dozen meters away from the enemies. ¡°Sudfield,¡± Le¡¯Vieux started, ¡°You are one sly conniving bastard. We should have taken care of you a long time ago when you first started acting up, being a pain in our asses like the turd you were destined to be. Look around and see the damage you have caused to the people of Meso and the Hollow Lands.¡± Sudfield let out a vicious snarl like some rabid dog. ¡°Shut it, you old fool! These lands were destined to be under my control. They were mine, and you all know it. That fool Meso thought he would escape when he and your knights stole power from my grandfather. These lands rightfully belong to me, and I would have taken them for myself if it wasn''t for you and your hollow scum showing your faces.¡± His voice no longer resembled any hints of a human but sounded like a demon who smoked ten packs of cigarettes a day, seeping in deep raspiness. Hauxwell cleared his throat. ¡°That¡¯s the biggest load of bullshit I¡¯ve ever heard. Meso was the firstborn son, and then it was your grandfather who, if you don¡¯t remember, was a bastard born out of wedlock.¡± Sudfield shot a deathly glance at Hauxwell. ¡°I thought I killed you back at Dimmiwood. How did an old fool like yourself survive that?¡± Hauxwell clicked his neck side to side. ¡°I told you before, it won¡¯t be easy to kill the likes of me. You thought sticking that little bug in my neck would be enough to change the colors of my cloak. I hate to break the bad news to you, but it gave me back my youth, and now I¡¯m stronger than ever.¡± He put his hand out and waved it about. ¡°I¡¯m going to slap the crap out of you.¡± Sudfield burst into demonic laughter as the words he heard were just some last-ditch ploy before instantly shifting to an aggressive, serious demeanor. ¡°Even if you manage some miracle, my power is just a drop in the ocean of what my master is capable of. You and all the knights in the Canrich Kingdom won''t be able to stop it.¡± He turned to his infected commanders before ordering, ¡°Bring me their heads.¡± Chapter 62 - The Battle For Robynhill Part 3 The moment Sudfeld shouted the order, his commanders leaped without hesitation. Ben noticed they were former Meso knights who were captains or higher in rank. The infected jazz supercharged their power beyond what they would have normally been capable of, and their lightning-fast movements fortified that thought. The stronger ones went directly for Hauxwell and Le¡¯Vieux, who easily dodged away from their attacks and began pummeling them with parry counters before explosions of magical energy erupted over the main road. Jerry leaped into the trees while Quicksilver took to the sky and used his altitude advantage to avoid attacks and throw some of his own. The surrounding landscape was soon subjected to wholesale destruction. Ben leaped back before bending the top half of his body. If he didn¡¯t charge his legs a moment before, he knew the blow from one of the infected commanders would have slashed across his neck and decapitated him. He had to hop back continuously as the enemy charged him with a flurry of attacks. [Infected Knight Captain Level 14] The enemy Ben faced was fully armored, wearing a suit similar to Alfred¡¯s, except that it was branded with the marks of Meso. It used two short swords as weapons, expelling dark smoke glistening with slimy glitter patches. Its attacks followed a set combo pattern, which wasn''t too hard to learn. Sometimes, it mixed and matched a few different ones and finished with a lunge, presenting a small opening. Ben¡¯s body was full of sweat, and his muscles were getting tired from the dodging workout he had been forced to implement to avoid sudden death. His magic started running low from charging his movements, and thus, he began to regenerate from his surroundings passively. He even went as far as to siphon the excess energy from the nearby magical explosions that missed their targets. After his arm was almost sliced, Ben had had enough of being a moving target for his enemy. He charged his legs before driving the excess to the end of his hammer. Waiting for the opening, he side-stepped and swung his hammer with everything he had. The blow landed on the enemy''s dark metallic helmet with a loud church bell ring. Sparkling blue specks of magic radiated away like dandelion seeds. It caused enough of a stagger for Ben to get a few more blows landed on the enemy before it started belching smoke from its body like a smoke grenade. Seeing the enemy in the already dark conditions was impossible, forcing Ben to rely on his senses to feel the enemy. Suddenly, his enemy leaped out with a lunge, almost impaling Ben¡¯s head, who had to quickly allocate his reserves to that area to form a protective barrier. The bludgeoning force hit his face like a train, causing him to be knocked back a few meters and roll on the ground. He didn¡¯t even get a chance to gasp for air before continuing the roll to avoid another leaping attack. That was it. Ben had had enough of messing around. He charged every last bit of magic and supercharged it with everything he could gather. Ben waited for the enemy to leapfrog towards him again before shooting a death ray. Once it made contact, he adjusted its properties with the same fire-based magic used in the enchanted arrows. The resulting flame tornado stopped the enemy in mid-air. Its armor began to glow orange before melting like butter on a hot pan. The damage was so sudden that there wasn''t even any indication of a struggle. With the effects of the attack dying, Ben rolled away not to get caught by the mangled mess of molten metal that fell like a rock. [+210XP] Phew! Talk about another close one! Huffing a sigh of relief, Ben noticed the others were fishing up with their battles while Hauxwell and Le¡¯Vieux were already done and advancing towards Sudfield. ¡°Leave this sly bastard to me.¡± Hauxwell motioned Le¡¯Vieux to stop before cracking his neck side to side and stepping forward. ¡°You can¡¯t wait to get him back for what he did to you at Dimmiwood. I assume there will be plenty of action for the rest of us when we get to the Chateau, so I guess you can have him to yourself. At least I¡¯ll see how much stronger you¡¯ve become since the last time we fought together.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded before crossing his arms and hopping back. ¡°Are you just going to let him do that? The thing we faced in that fairy valley took a dozen of us to defeat.¡± Alfred shook his head. Le¡¯Vieux and Jerry chuckled before the Grand Marshall turned to face Alfred and explained. ¡°You''re too young to have ever witnessed one of the most powerful knights in the kingdom fight in his prime. This will be the greatest battle of our age, and we all have the pleasure of firsthand viewing.¡± Hauxwell had begun charging himself with a golden aura that burned so bright it acted like a lighthouse, illuminating the surroundings and almost blinding everyone there. The residual energy hit Ben like a ton of bricks as it interacted with his magic, to the point where his legs wobbled like jelly. The spectacle was on a different spectrum of magical ability. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Quicksilver stood beside Ben and asked. ¡°That power is greater than any I have felt before. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the human whose stories were told by the elders of the fairy tribes who fought in the war a few decades prior.¡± Ben couldn''t even put any words into his mouth. He had heard the stories from the others about Hauxwell''s power, but feeling it in person was boggling his entire being. Jerry approached and patted Ben on the back. ¡°If the two of you think this is power, wait till he warms up.¡± He looked around before adding, ¡°Speaking of which, what he did at Dimmiwood was nothing. We should move back to a safe distance so we don¡¯t get caught up in their attacks.¡± When Ben and the others moved back out of the way, the immense light around Hauxwell simmered down. ¡°Whoah!¡± Ben exclaimed, mesmerized by the glowing glittery particles that radiated off Hauxwell''s body. ¡°It¡¯s like he¡¯s not even human anymore.¡± Hauxwell raised his sword and pointed the end at Sudfield. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can beat me this time!¡± He lunged forward with such speed that he vanished from sight before Sudfield did the same. Ben scratched his head as air-shattering shockwaves erupted across the surrounding area. Dirt was being flung all over the place while trees lost what little leaves they had left, and even a few smaller bushes were completely uprooted and began rolling like Wild West hay bales. It was hard to stand still without leaning forward at an awkward angle. Ben pointed towards the van. ¡°We should stand behind there to soften the blow of all this wind.¡± Once they were there, the intensity of the blasts became more apparent, and they started shaking the ground as if countless earthquakes kept coming. ¡°It¡¯s pointless trying to watch this battle. We¡¯ll be better off closing our eyes and sensing their energy.¡± Hauxwell and Sudfield were shooting around the air at hypersonic speeds that even advanced fighter jets on Earth couldn¡¯t achieve. Over a dozen blows landed from each side in a millisecond space, making it hard to determine the details of their combat. It was neck and neck. The duel had continued for some time, with Ben and the others getting used to the constant turbulence. There were even a few times when the van had been pushed back, causing its tires to smear dark marks across the cobbles. Most nearby trees had toppled over; some had snapped while others were uprooted. The road beneath where the battle was being fought had been filled with craters where meteor showers of residual magic had rained down. ¡°I don¡¯t know how they can keep this up for so long. They will continue for the next week at this rate.¡± Ben muttered, still mesmerized by the show. Alfred glanced at Ben and frowned with a look that told a different story. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it won''t last much longer.¡± Ben raised his brow. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Alfred huffed a sigh. ¡°You might not be able to feel it, but Hauxwell¡¯s energy is slowly decreasing with every strike. At this rate, this battle will be over soon.¡± With the sky getting increasingly darker, another hour passed, and Hauxwell¡¯s movements became sluggish. A few attacks from Sudfield had managed to land before one big blow that knocked Hauxwell with such force all his magic dispelled, and he bounced off the ground before scraping to a stop near the van. Sudfield landed on the ground some distance away and began his sinister laugh. ¡°It¡¯s finally time for you fools to face death. Once I¡¯m done with you, I will ravage the Hollow lands and take your Canrich Kingdom. They will beg on their knees for their lives, but I will ensure they meet slow, painful deaths.¡± Hauxwell got up, patting the dirt off his armor, and laughed. ¡°You and what army?¡± He pointed backward with his thumb. ¡°Seems like your friends over there are all dead.¡± The malicious grin on Sudfield''s face vanished as if he realized something. ¡°How can this be? You were stalling me all this time.¡± During that whole time, Ben and Alfred were occupied with Hauxwell and didn¡¯t take the time to check up on the progress at Robynhill. He was about to close his eyes and start sensing the energy from there when a beige-colored light swept across the sky, pushing all traces of the darkness back towards the Chateau. Sudfield started growling like a wild animal before putting his hands together. He started charging his energy again before a black ball of decay appeared, with sparks of lightning dissipating through the air and filling it with dread. ¡°I¡¯m going to destroy you all and everything that stands in my way!¡± Hauxwell hissed some curses and kicked the ground in anger. He also put his hands out and started preparing an attack of his own. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have enough energy to counter whatever Sudfields conjures up. There¡¯s enough power in that ball to destroy this entire valley and some chunks of the Hollow Lands.¡± Alfred exclaimed. Ben shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you lot, but I¡¯m not going to wait around here to die. I might have a plan that could work. When I tell you, force your energy into my body.¡± Ben sat on the ground, closed his eyes, and started to meditate. He used every ounce of concentration to search and find the strands of magic Hauxwell used to siphon magical energy. One looked like it could handle more energy than it was transferring. Ben forced his magic to create a needle and spun it around so the energy formed a thread. He shot it through the air, intercepting Hauxwell¡¯s before tying it around. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± The connection, which felt like a small tunnel, was formed, and he could push what remained of his magic into it. Hauxwell glanced back briefly as if he figured out what Ben was trying to do before shouting, ¡°As much as you can give me!¡± While regenerating, Ben turned and yelled. ¡°Do it now and keep regenerating at the same time!¡± He felt Alfred¡¯s hand upon his shoulder before their magic started to knit together. It was just in time before the two powerful attacks were released. Hauxwell and Sudfield engaged in a constant battle of energies. Both hurled every ounce of their power, but neither could overpower the other, resulting in a stalemate. Surely, there¡¯s another way! I could try that other thing! Ben closed his eyes again and shifted his concentration towards the mine area. He mentally rushed over there before zooming through its inner structure. He found the Mirium deposit in the cave, quickly created another strand, and ran it back to himself. The moment the energy connected with Ben, he felt a sudden boost, which he transferred directly to Hauxwell. The magic stalemate shifted towards Sudfield before exploding like a small nuke, knocking everyone back dozens of meters. When Ben opened his eyes from the ground, he saw the evening sky ablaze with a light so bright he had to close his eyes to avoid permanent blindness. He covered his eyes with his arm and realized that Sudfield¡¯s energy signature was almost unreadable, and Hauxwell used his magical fumes to redirect the attack to the sky. Ben huffed a sigh of relief. ¡°At least that¡¯s over now.¡± Chapter 63 - The Battle For Chateau Meso Part 1 Ben finally opened his eyes as the light from the explosion started to fade. The sky above was filled with streaks and waves of golden magic where small speckles glistened like the northern lights. His chest thumped like a machine gun, and his muscles ached with unbearable pain. It took a few moments for him to muster the strength to stumble to his feet. Glancing around, he noticed the others were also in the same flabbergasted state. Alfred patted Ben on the back. ¡°That wasn¡¯t bad for a plan you devised on the spot. Looks like it did the job and saved everyone¡¯s hide.¡± Ben scratched his head. ¡°Hey, be careful, mate. My back still hurts from that magic overload. Honestly, these last-minute plans are becoming the norm with me these days.¡± Le¡¯Vieux scoffed. ¡°The battles for Robynhill may be over, but the danger at the Chateau remains. Hauxwell, over there, looks like he¡¯s seen better days, so let¡¯s focus on getting him back to good health before anything else.¡± Hauxwell was lying on the ground, making small, slow movements and croakily breathing. Upon close inspection, it was revealed he was still conscious. ¡°Are you alright there?¡± Le¡¯Vieux asked, kneeling beside his old friend. Hauxwell groaned a scoff before struggling to clear his throat of whatever phlegm had gathered there. After a few weak coughs, he gave a broken reply. ¡°Barely hanging on here, skipper. My entire body feels like it fell off a cliff and rolled through endless thorns. I don''t think I¡¯ll be able to move like this.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded with a grin. ¡°Guess what? It¡¯s your lucky day. And you know what I¡¯m known for.¡± He removed a couple of health potions from his inventory and used his teeth to remove the corks. Slowly, he poured them down Hauxwell¡¯s throat. It had taken some time for the potions to do their thing, and before long, Hauxwell was back to his feet. His back was bent, stumbling over with each step, and he walked like a dog with three legs. ¡°It¡¯ll take more than a couple of potions to recover.¡± Le¡¯Vieux was glancing at the sky. ¡°You¡¯re in even more luck than. All of us are in a bit of a state from all this, so I will order everyone to return to Robynhill and rest tonight. It¡¯ll give us a chance to rest, recover, and prepare for the upcoming battle for the Chateau.¡± It was safe to say everyone agreed with that before they returned to Robynhill. Most of the evening had been spent sleeping and restoring their energy levels. Ben had taken some time to regenerate, which felt harder and took longer due to the strain he had suffered boosting Hauxwell. Finally, he repaired and refueled his van before hitting the sack.
Ben was abruptly awoken before the first light and was ordered to make way for the command tent. Once there, Ben noticed the others of high rank were present, and Le¡¯Vieux patiently waited for the stragglers to arrive. Le¡¯Vieux glanced around, ensuring all were present before clearing his throat and speaking. ¡°Last night, Quicksilver sent a few of his warriors on a scouting quest to the Chateau. While under the cover of darkness and camouflage, using their fairy magic, they gathered some details about what we would face today.¡± He then motioned to the fairy commander. Quicksilver stepped forward. ¡°Most of the enemy were defeated at this fortification. However, they kept a few of their forces back to protect the castle. Those forces no longer resemble humans as the infection in their bodies has evolved to take a new, much stronger form to protect their master, who is getting larger and consumes more energy.¡± ¡°Did you¡¯re scouts manage to figure out how strong those creatures are while they were there?¡± Le¡¯Vieux asked. ¡°Stronger than the infected knights but weaker than the crazy one, your man Hauxwell fought on the main road. The big one¡¯s power is overwhelming and difficult to overcome.¡± Quicksilver explained. Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°We appreciate the bravery of your warriors. Will you and your people join us in the Chateau battle? This battle will be hard; we could do it with all the available hands.¡± Quicksilver put his hand to his chest and bowed. ¡°These monstrosities have reigned terror upon my people and subjected them to an almost near miss with extinction. My warriors and I are at your command for the good of all living peoples of Great Malle.¡± ¡°Once this is over, you have my word that compared to the past, relations between our two peoples will be in a more positive light,¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained before glancing around the others. ¡°This is the final battle against the enemy here in Meso. If we take the Chateau, we will win. I want the soldiers to stay here and keep this village guarded. All knights and mages must prepare themselves and form into elite battle formations within the hour. Quicksilver will lead his warriors the way he sees fit. The siege of Chateau Meso will begin shortly. Is that understood?¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. There were no disagreements, and everyone nodded before things got hectic in the camp. Within the hour, Le¡¯Vieux was mounted upon his horse at the front, with Ben sitting in the driver''s seat nearby. Behind him were the other commanders and knights of high rank, Alfred, Hauxwell, and Jerry included. The fairies were all airborne, with Quicksilver leading them. Le¡¯Vieux pointed his sword at the gate, ¡°Raise it! Knights of the Hollow Moon, Elite warriors of the fairy clans, advance!¡±
Ben had stopped at the peak of the hill on the main road to the Chateau. Looking down, he could see the Chateau, albeit covered in a shroud of darkness, as the violent, stormy clouds above it were still in full effect. Vast amounts of electricity were shooting down, hitting the peaks of the towers, and even an unnatural mist that more resembled a locust swarm. The minute outlines of creatures could be seen roaming the area, even as far out as the remains of Dimiwood. As much as Ben squinted, he couldn¡¯t exactly see any details. Jerry momentarily climbed atop the van, looking glass in hand, while Le¡¯Vieux positioned his horse near the driver''s side door before waiting for a response. ¡°I can see around two dozen enemies down there. They appear to be scattered and look like they could easily surround us. Using my archer sight skill, there appears to be more within the walls of the Chateau; however, many are in the obscured areas.¡± Jerry explained before hopping down and passing the glass to Le¡¯Vieux. After a moment, Le¡¯Vieux shook his head. ¡°This isn¡¯t good. We must figure out how to take those creatures out and siege the Chateau without engines.¡± He turned to Ben, ¡°You¡¯re the one who comes up with last-minute plans. Do you have any ideas in mind?¡± Ben let out a sigh before spending a few minutes going over a few ideas. ¡°Hmm, I think I have something that could work, but I¡¯ll need someone ballsy to bait them together and bring them towards us.¡± Le¡¯Vieux shrugged before giving a stern frown. ¡°I see what you¡¯re getting at with that. It will help us eliminate most of them, but I don¡¯t see how it¡¯ll help us siege the Chateau.¡± A wide grin filled Ben¡¯s face. ¡°Oh, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Just wait and see.¡±
Ben sped down the cobbles. The latest upgrades had worked wonders, making it feel like he was gliding across a surface that was as flat as a pancake. The additional Armor plating he had upgraded and its additional weight fortified his confidence. A small group of fairies was heading in his direction, and within moments, they whizzed above the van. The enemies huddled up like sardines in a tin and stampeded towards the van. These new variants were quadrupedal with long, extended torsos, which made them look like centaurs. Their skin was pitch-black as if every inch of their bodies absorbed the surrounding light, and whatever they touched seemed to decay instantly. Seeing them made Ben sick, and he knew he needed to remove as many of them as possible lest his friends suffer severe casualties. As he was a dozen meters away, Ben pressed the gas pedal down. The first enemies he crashed into were crushed with their goo, splattering the front and sides of the van. Flicking the switch, Ben cleared the windscreen while continuing to crush the enemies ahead. Curious to see what the [Exponential Mass] skill would do, he activated it. The next enemies he contacted were decimated and launched like cannonballs, running on rocket fuel. Like ragdolls, they spun, hitting the other enemies behind them with such force their body parts were dismembered or, worse, turned into dark mist. As Ben approached the Chateau, the last few remaining enemies were flung into its stone walls, some even hitting the wooden gates. The stone palisades at the front were soon covered in the decaying mixture, and the wooden gate slowly fizzled away with a hissing smoke¡ªit was like a strong acid had been poured all over it. [+1800XP. +36MP.] [You are now Level 10: +2 Skill points available.] [A stat boost is now available.] [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Knight Lieutenant I.] [Mechanical Mage Class is now Level 3: New skills and abilities are now available.] Luckily, the van''s Armor plating held up to the corrosive effects of the black goo, but the rest of the main path wasn¡¯t as lucky, as deep creators began to melt through the cobbles. Ben felt a wave of worry for his comrades and wondered if they were doing all right. Looking back through the side mirrors, he saw them marching through the treeline, avoiding the damaged areas while burning all that remained of the creatures. Ben sighed in relief as a ton of pressure was lifted from his shoulders. Most arrived without much damage to their bodies. Soon, they had all gathered near the van parked just before the bridge across the river, where a few empty stone dwellings were situated. Le¡¯Vieux galloped his horse towards the driver''s side window. ¡°That was some great work running them over before damaging their walls with that black goo. We were able to take the remaining ones out on the way here. A few of my knights were hurt and have already been sent back to receive medical aid. The real battle will begin when that gate melts, so prepare yourself.¡± He twisted his neck and looked like he was about to start yelling orders when he was interrupted. The Chateau¡¯s walls shook and rumbled, and bits of stone and rocks fell into the river below. The dark aura surrounding the fortified structure began to get denser before it saturated the entire structure. Ben couldn¡¯t see what was happening, but suddenly, a loud crashing sound shook the air, followed by the cracking and splintering of wood. A plethora of demonic red eyes emerged from the other side before the gigantic outline of a disfigured head appeared over the palisades of the Chateau. What! They¡¯ve got a fricking titan! ¡°Damn it!¡± Le¡¯Vieux cursed before yelling, ¡°Everyone, get into defensive formations.¡± Chapter 64 - The Battle For Chateau Meso Part 2 Ben gripped the steering wheel tightly. The sight of the titan had given him shivers down his spine. Luckily, it had moved back a moment after looking at the allies before the thick mist had moved further out from the Chateau and enveloped the allies, making it more difficult to see what was happening. From what Ben had seen of the bridge and the gate, there was enough space for the van to make it through, so he slowly pressed the gas and kept his speed low. The enemies started running towards him, but were run over, while the ones behind were knocked over into the fast-moving torrent of the river. Ben activated the [Kunai Outburst] skill when two small chained blades were launched from the front of the van, with their aim being automatic. Two enemies were reeled towards the van like fish on a pole, a few seconds before they hit the bull bar. Suddenly, Ben activated the [Exponential Mass] skill to blast them ahead, causing them to knock over the other enemies at the gate like bowling pins before he drove through. [+960XP. +24MP.] [You are now Level 11: +2 Skill points available.] [Order of the Hollow Moon (Faction): You have been promoted to Knight Lieutenant II.] Hauxwell and Le¡¯Vieux raced in, hacking and slashing like madmen at any enemies who stood in their way, with the knights following in their steps. The mages started casting spells and pushing the dark mist away. When the mist cleared, it revealed a giant mess of mangled bodies piled atop one another, taller than the palisades constituting the Titan''s structure. It had a human shape, albeit very large beyond what constituted morbid obesity, and caused it to be stuck in a seated position. Its head turned to face Ben and the allies while the rest of its body moved slowly and sluggishly. It didn¡¯t take long before all the smaller enemies had been dealt with, and Jerry started shooting the titan in the face with exploding fire arrows. They looked like they didn¡¯t even cause an inkling of damage from the lack of reaction. Ben was confused by the Titan''s behavior; since arriving in the courtyard, it hadn¡¯t attacked them or even given them a second thought. It felt like they were insignificant, like how little bigs are to humans. Jerry shrugged before looking at one of his enchanted arrows, confusedly. ¡°What in the hell? I¡¯ve never seen that one happen before.¡± Hauxwell slapped Jerry on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember my lessons about using your head and thinking about what enemies you are facing before pulling your quick bowstring?¡± Le¡¯Vieux coughed and cleared his throat. ¡°Alright, our conventional weapons won''t work against that giant thing. While it¡¯s still passive like that, we should figure out how to defeat it.¡± He motioned for the others to huddle around before they began discussing. Ben used the time to step away and close his eyes in deep meditation. The energy radiating off the titan was colossal, many times more than Sudfield''s, and it made it feel like some gigantic powerplant generating an obscene amount of magic. It didn¡¯t feel like the energy would be used for offensive purposes, but rather something else entirely. Hmm, that seems odd. Ben was curious about what was happening and decided to investigate. The entire area, including most of the courtyard, was fuzzy and distorted, similar to how it had looked when he had observed Sudfield during the battle for Robynhill. Sometime later, after checking everywhere, he noticed a singular thread that led toward the main archway into the Chateau and down some stairs. Where does that lead? Ben jumped out of meditation and stood before marching ahead, startling the others and giving him a funny look. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Le¡¯Vieux asked while scrunching up his forehead. Ben pointed to where he had seen the thread. ¡°This giant thing is generating a giant amount of magic. I can¡¯t sense any ill will from its demeanor, so it looks like it will use it for ulterior motives. I discovered one thread connected to it originating beyond there and down some stairs.¡± Alfred and Hauxwell appeared to have closed their eyes briefly before confirming the information. Le¡¯Vieux nodded before turning to his knights and mages. ¡°Keep this area clear from the mist and form defensive formations near the main gate. I don¡¯t trust this, so keep your eyes peeled for danger. Hauxwell, Jerry, and Quicksilver, you¡¯re with me and Ben. Let¡¯s see what¡¯s going on down there.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The stairs led to an area built into the chateau''s foundations. It consisted mostly of tunnels and small storage areas where countless crates and barrels filled with long-decayed goods were kept. The stench down there got more unbearable the further they moved, and before long, the walls and floor started to become covered in the usual thick, slimy tar. Some areas were hard to navigate due to how thick the disgusting matter had gotten before they finally reached an area that resembled a dungeon, where countless human bodies filled the cells. Moving his torch around for a closer look, Le¡¯Vieux muttered. ¡°These people are all buried under that slime and still alive.¡± Turning to Quicksilver, he asked, ¡°Have you seen this thing before?¡± ¡°They did this with many of our people in one of our settlements on the northern edge of this island. We had to burn the entire area down to ash. I would suggest you also do the same here.¡± Quicksilver replied. Suddenly, one of the bodies on the far end bellowed a wet, chesty cough that sounded full of phlegm. It sounded like he was trying to mouth some words but failed miserably. Le¡¯Vieux motioned everyone to move there. When he got there, he moved his torch closer to the body that was almost fully submerged in the goo, with only some parts of the face showing. Le¡¯Vieux looked like he had seen a ghost as his torch began to shake before he muttered in shock, ¡°What in the hell is this?¡± Hauxwell moved in for a closer glance before shaking his head in disbelief. He turned around with his mouth wide open and was about to say something when he was interrupted. ¡°The Duke of Meso.¡± Jerry blurted. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone would have thought he would still be alive after all that¡¯s happened.¡± Turning to Le¡¯Vieux, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be giving him a health potion or something?¡± After Le¡¯Vieux had cleared the goo and stuffed a few vials down the duke''s throat, it looked like enough life had returned to his face for a conversation. ¡°Grand Marshall Le¡¯Vieux.¡± The duke asked. His voice was hoarse, raspy, and broken as if he had caught a deadly flu. The slow, delayed way he spoke made him feel like an old man upon his deathbed. ¡°Aye, it¡¯s me. Your old friend Hauxwell is here, too.¡± Le¡¯Vieux replied. The duke¡¯s face lit up like a beacon on a night before he moved his eyes around and smiled. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s good to see you again.¡± Hauxwell nodded and stepped ahead. ¡°Likewise. We thought you might have perished with the rest of the Meso Knights.¡± The expression on the duke''s face changed to one filled with sadness. ¡°It took us a couple of generations to build the Meso order up from the ground. It¡¯s a shame it all fell within weeks due to one man¡¯s greed.¡± When he finished speaking, both Hauxwell and Le¡¯Vieux huffed deep sighs. Hauxwell cleared his throat. ¡°We¡¯ve taken care of Sudfield and the army of monsters he had created from the remains of your Knights. Our only regret is that we weren¡¯t able to save anyone from the effects of that evil which took over their bodies.¡± Le¡¯Vieux nodded before interrupting. ¡°The only one that remains now is the big one in the courtyard. We would be grateful if you could tell us how to get you out of this mess and advise us on defeating that thing.¡± The duke coughed up some dark phlegm, clearing his throat. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to help someone in my situation. I¡¯m too far gone; the magical barrier I erected will soon fail and let that evil thing overwhelm me.¡± He paused momentarily, taking some heavy breaths filled with frustration. ¡°We got word from the northern border that one of our fortifications had fallen. Word was sent out to rally the soldiers and knights, but it was all for naught. When we arrived, the entire northern province was overrun with fairies.¡± He glanced at Quicksilver with a dirty look as if it was all their fault. Quicksilver shook his head and grunted. ¡°My people, the ones you fought, were also victims of this decay.¡± Ignoring the statement, the duke continued, ¡°After a week of bloody fighting, and at the cost of most of our men, we were victorious and managed to defeat every last enemy. That bastard Sudfield purposefully delayed his entrance till the last moment and used his then-superior forces to turn coat and seize power. We were either butchered or imprisoned.¡± Le¡¯Vieux looked like he was about to punch something. ¡°I always told you to get rid of him, but with all your grace, you always kept giving him second chances for his transgressions against yourself and the people of Meso.¡± ¡°What¡¯s done is done. There is nothing we can do to go back and change things.¡± Hauxwell muttered before asking. ¡°Oh, before I forget, how did he become infected and use it to create his undead army?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. He went out one day and returned with that monstrosity you see in the courtyard. It was much smaller then and could lay eggs, which were used to infect most of my men and knights. Those who created barriers to protect ourselves were thrown in the cells and encased in this slime, slowly eating away at our defenses.¡± Looking around, Le¡¯Vieux nodded. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like there¡¯s any other survivors apart from yourself.¡± ¡°Speaking with you has taken away the last of my reserves. Before I pass, you should know the creature in the courtyard has become like that to generate vast magical energy. This world has never seen the likes of which, and from what I''ve heard, it will use it to open a portal.¡± ¡°A portal? For what exactly?¡± Le¡¯Vieux questioned. ¡°To bring forth an army of creatures from whence it originated. This world and all its peoples will cease to exist if you don¡¯t destroy it before that.¡± The duke explained. ¡°As I said, I doubt neither conventional weapons nor magic will work.¡± Le¡¯Vieux reiterated. While that conversation transpired, Ben went into deep concentration a few times and tried to figure out what was happening. He cleared his throat to grab everyone''s attention. ¡°That thing is squeezing what energy it can from down here. If we cut it off from this source, we might be able to cause some damage.¡± Le¡¯Vieux shrugged. ¡°I don''t see how that¡¯s going to work.¡± ¡°From everything I¡¯ve noticed with these creatures, they become vulnerable momentarily whenever they cast powerful spells. By cutting it off, we may be able to trigger it into casting that portal spell and give us our opening. We give it all we¡¯ve got.¡± Ben explained. Le¡¯Vieux motioned towards the duke. ¡°Doing that will surely mean his death, will it not?¡± The duke croaked a few coughs. ¡°I¡¯m as good as dead, and you¡¯ll be doing me the favor of a merciful death when compared to what I will become when that thing takes the last of me. I beg you to save yourselves and burn everything here to a crisp. Make them pay for what they¡¯ve done to us.¡± Chapter 65 - The Battle for Chateau Meso Part 3 Ben emerged from the stairs, gasping for air, and moved to a safe distance. He had followed Hauxwell and Le¡¯Vieux and needed to charge his legs with magic to keep up to their pace when, suddenly, everything began to shake and rock. Quicksilver flew out of the opening, holding Jerry by the shoulders before they fell on the ground, and ducked as a torrent of flames shot out. Moments before, Le¡¯Vieux had mercifully taken care of the duke to put the misery of his situation to rest. He had then piled a few glass vials there before ordering Jerry to light the place up like the Fourth of July. Jerry stood up and brushed the dust and ash that covered his armor. ¡°Next time, one of you lot can shoot the arrow.¡± Ben glanced at the courtyard and noticed the Titan¡¯s position had changed. Its arms and face were pointed upwards, with its mouth open like a whale. Magical energy whizzed around it like a tornado, with sparks shooting off at various points like supercharged static electricity. Within moments, the clouds in the sky fizzled away, leaving only the blue. A circular pattern darkened everything within its center before it looked like space and time were being warped. Ben thought the thing looked like a magnifying glass without the bezel and handle. Suddenly, the scenery of space shifted to that of a planet that looked like it had been charred to the point it resembled a lump of coal. Ben felt the vast amounts of energy being forced into the spell. The Titan¡¯s body started to lose weight before shriveling like a raisin. It was doing everything in its power to ensure absolute success. The portal¡¯s view zoomed in on the planet to the point where they could see an endless sea of creatures waiting at the ready. A thick ring formed around the circle''s edges before Ben could feel the other side starting to connect. Pointing upwards, Ben twisted his head and glanced at the others. ¡°It¡¯s going to start connecting to the other side, and those creatures will start to pour in like a torrent of endless water. If we¡¯re going to do something, now is the time.¡± Le¡¯Vieux, who was looking on in shock, nodded his head. ¡°Listen up, men, we must stop this madness before it goes any further. It looks weak compared to before. Maybe this is our opportunity to deal a finishing blow to this evil.¡±
Ben rushed to the van before getting in the driver''s seat. Once the engine was on, he hit the gas and rushed into the creature at full acceleration. Before the impact, he selected the [Exponential Mass] skill and reinforced his entire body with what magical energy he could muster. Even with the added force, it wasn¡¯t enough. The entire front end of the van felt like it had crashed into a solid brick wall. The back end was lifted before it rebounded off the creature''s flesh as if made from cardboard. Ben had been lifted off his seat and hit the steering wheel with such force that his protection magic shattered. For a split second, he felt the full brunt of the pain before everything went numb, and he blacked out momentarily. ¡°Damn it!¡± Ben grumbled as his senses returned. Parts of the dash were covered with blood, and Ben¡¯s nose was running down his mouth and chin like a fully open faucet. His neck was stiffer than an iron rod, and he was certain most of the tendons had been either torn or ruptured beyond repair. Taking out a health potion from his inventory, it slipped out of his hand. Ben tried his best to lean towards the potion but failed. He felt the darkness once again try to consume him before he was on the verge of blacking out. Suddenly, something pressed against his lips, and a liquid was forced down his throat.
Ben¡¯s eyes shot open. His entire body throbbed from what he had gone through before his sense of touch returned to him. He was undoubtedly lying on the stony surface of the courtyard. Once his sight returned, he saw the portal was still present in the sky, albeit suspended in the same stage he had seen it last. Alfred appeared above him with his arms crossed. ¡°We thought we¡¯d lost you there with that one. Glad to see you awake again.¡± Ben let out a groan and sarcastically asked. ¡°I¡¯m starting to doubt it wasn¡¯t worth it one bit. Did it work?¡± Alfred scratched his head. ¡°Somewhat. The nudge you gave it was enough to knock it off balance, but as you can see, Le¡¯Vieux and Hauxwell now have their hands full.¡± Curious, Ben wanted to see what on Earth Alfred was doing and pushed himself upright. The Titan entered his field of view. Its top half almost touched the ground as it struggled to stay upright. The two knights had somehow found a thick chain, wrapped it around the creature''s neck, and pulled each end as if playing a game of tug of war. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Ben shook his head. ¡°Those two never cease to amaze me with their tactics. I don''t think that will be enough to keep it down, so we can complete the final part of the plan. I might be able to give it another whack with my van to get its head down for good.¡± Alfred scratched his head. ¡°About that.¡± He then pointed across the courtyard. ¡°I ordered a few knights to help me move it out of the way while those two wrestled with the giant.¡± When Ben set his sights on the van, his mouth dropped. ¡°Oh, hell no!¡± Ben rushed over to the van and shook his head in disbelief. He pushed back the tears as his eyes swelled to the sore sight. The entire front end of the van was pushed into the engine bay. Ben was certain he would have been crushed like a bug without the bullbar, and he added armor upgrades that prevented the engine from coming through the dashboard and into the cabin. After glancing up, the roof looked like it had also gone to hell and back, with the solar panels shattered into a hundred pieces and the entire ceiling going in and out like a mountain range. As Ben moved toward the driver''s side, he was starting to regret what he had done. When he pulled the latch, the entire door came off its hinge and started hanging off, with only the cables holding it upright to the ground. Expelling a sigh of frustration, Ben looked inside and noticed that the windscreen, although cracked a little, had survived a shattering. He sat on the seat, put the key in, and prayed it would work. After twisting his hand a few times, he only received sounds of ignitionless cranks. ¡°Damn it!¡± Ben cursed under his breath. He knew that without it being on, there was no other way for the menu screen to appear and activate the repair skill. He took a deep breath and added, ¡°Please, come on. You¡¯ve served me without issue all these years. Just start one more time.¡± The sounds of the cranks rang through Ben¡¯s ears as his prayers went down the toilet. He was about to call it quits when suddenly, there were a few hums here and there. Keeping the key pressed, it jerkily hummed back to life. [Condition: 5%, Fuel: 57%, MP: 200.] Ben wasn¡¯t certain how long the engine would stay on, so he quickly got to work by pressing the [Repair] skill. He could have used the MP stored in the tank before he realized he had made a silly mistake by not using it to repair the van when he struck the Titan. The entirety of the van glowed like a lighthouse as the skill worked its magic. It was like the rewind button had been pressed, with the panels cracking back into place and everything returning to its original condition. [Condition: 100%, Fuel: 57%, MP: 105.] Hauxwell and Le¡¯Vieux were losing the struggle with the Titan, who was getting more upright and back to its spell-casting position. Ben revved the engine, which sounded like it had just come out of the factory. Putting it into gear, he muttered, ¡°It¡¯s time to dance.¡± Turning the van around, he positioned the front to align with the Titan¡¯s face before racing ahead. Ben pressed the [Kunai Outbreak] skill. The chained blades shot towards the Titan''s head and landed under its chin. Instead of bringing the enemy to Ben, the chains pulled the van with such force that it was sent airborne. Ben followed up with the [Experimental Mass] skill and prepared to hit the repair skill when he made contact to avoid repeating the same mistake. The van hit the Titan in the face, which looked like a knockout punch from a professional boxer. Combined with the knights'' efforts, it was enough to bring the oversized head down to the ground. Luckily for Ben, the van had survived, and the wheel spun away as the fairies and mages moved in to conduct their part of the plan. The fairies were given the remainder of the explosive fire vials and moved just above the creature''s mouth, where they started to throw them in carefully. It was done so they didn¡¯t crack and blow their load. Once done, they flew out of the way, allowing the mages to take their places. The mages hovered in a circular position and began to charge their staves full of magic. Some had even gulped down a few potions until they were ready. They all pointed the ends of their staves to the center point, where they discharged everything into a giant ball of fiery goodness. Suddenly, the ball became unstable, and the mages used some telekinetic ability to push it down and force-feed it down the behemoth''s mouth. The fairies came up behind them, grabbing them by the shoulders and pulling them back in a coordinated retreat. Hauxwell and Le¡¯Vieux dropped their ends of the chain and were about to high-tail it out of there when the Titan jumped up and was about to throw up their plan. Its efforts were in vain as its head exploded as if a metric ton of TNT had detonated. The entire structure of the Chateau was shaken to the core, with the courtyard ground cracking in every direction before tearing apart and falling into the catacombs below. The palisades followed suit, some falling into the river while others added to the mayhem. A few towers flatlined and fell like tree trunks in a forest. Most of the knights had made it out and across the bridge, with Ben following suit. The fairies dropped the mages to safety while Le¡¯Vieux and Hauxwell were the last to make it out, helping the knights caught in the raining debris. With the dust still settling, Ben glanced up into the sky. Although the portal was getting smaller, it was still active, and it looked like a few high-level creatures were approaching the event horizon as if they were seconds away from hopping over. ¡°Damn it! Ben exclaimed, hitting the steering wheel. Till then, there was no kill notification for the Titan, which meant it was still alive and kicking. Huffing a sigh of frustration, he gripped the steering wheel tightly, expecting another fight when something strange began to happen. The sky had become encased in a shroud of magical energy that shimmered in light blue. A figure materialized, hovering near the portal. Upon closer inspection, Ben realized that it was Blue. Chapter 66 - Aftermath Looking up, Ben saw Blue as he used his magic to reduce the portal''s ring. All was going well when some creatures started materializing from the other side. Blue had to use a telekinetic boost to push the creatures back while continuing to wrestle with the portal. A few Hollow Moon mages must have noticed what was happening and motioned the fairies for a lift. Once they were in the air, they assisted Blue by barraging the inside of the event horizon with a similar spell that was more sustained. Being freed from multitasking hell, Blue could concentrate all his energy on the portal, which began to shrink before it exploded like a firework, filling the sky with multicolored sparks. Blue gave the mages and fairies a nod before hovering down into the dust cloud that had formed with all the damage the Chateau had taken. There were a few rumbles as powerful, earth-shattering magic blasts were expelled, causing the fortification to tremble momentarily. [+600XP, +1MP.] Strands of magic emerged from the dust like spider legs, contacting various points of the Chateau. Every inch of the fortified structure began to glow similarly to the van¡¯s [Repair] skill when active before the damage began to reverse. Within moments, it looked like the Chateau had returned to its original condition, minus any trace of the infection. Ben noticed Le¡¯Vieux starting to make his way into the courtyard. He took a few moments to look at the repair work before motioning everyone else to make their way inside. Ben drove inside, parked to the side, and got out before joining the others. Once Blue arrived there, Le¡¯Vieux asked. ¡°Is it done?¡± Blue nodded. ¡°All traces of the enemy from here have been eradicated. I can sense there are still small pockets of the enemy scattered across the Feruslands, but not enough to pose a severe risk.¡± He glanced towards Quicksilver, ¡°I¡¯m assuming those will be dealt with once your people have regrouped.¡± ¡°We will ensure it¡¯s done. We will graciously accept assistance if the Hollow Moon wants to contribute.¡± Quicksilver replied. Le¡¯Vieux acknowledged the request. ¡°Consider it done. I will instruct a company of my elite soldiers and knights to make their way to your settlement. It¡¯s the least we can do in return. After all, if it weren''t for your people, we would have suffered heavier losses here.¡± Quicksilver bowed his head. ¡°It¡¯s good to see humans and fairies finally getting on with each other.¡± Blue started, ¡°Maybe this alliance could strengthen us against future transgressions. Now that this debacle is finished, I used the remainder of my power to return this place to its original state.¡± Turning to Le¡¯Vieux, ¡°You know more than anyone that things can change within an instant. Our enemies may find this an opportunity to take this Chateau from under our noses, so I suggest you elect someone to keep it manned.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me that twice.¡± Le¡¯Vieux muttered before turning to Alfred, ¡°Are you ready to return to your duties?¡± Alfred looked like that took him aback, and he scrunched his forehead. ¡°Are you being serious? You know I don¡¯t have access to my system anymore.¡± Le¡¯Vieux gave Alfred a narrow gaze before crossing his arms. ¡°And you know that the system is not the only way to communicate with your superiors. The mages at the academy will deliver a communication sphere so you can conduct your new duties as Commander of the Trident Fort. This won¡¯t be on behalf of the Hollow Moon but rather the Mesolands. You will be tasked with rebuilding the order from the ground up. I trust you¡¯re more than capable of handling this position. Now, don¡¯t make me change my mind.¡± Alfred sighed deeply. ¡°That sounds like one hell of a task, and I doubt I can do it without good people by my side.¡± He then turned to Ben, adding, ¡°However, one thing is standing in my way. I can only accept it if Ben doesn¡¯t mind me leaving my position at the village.¡± Ben waved the notion away. ¡°Ah, don¡¯t be silly. Taking care of the Chateau and rebuilding the order is more important than being a second in command at a mining village. Besides, with things calming down, we should have that place on the right track in no time.¡± A smile filled Alfred¡¯s face before he gave Le¡¯Vieux an eyebrow bounce. ¡°That means you¡¯ve got me on board.¡± Le¡¯Vieux let out a huff of relief. ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad that¡¯s sorted now.¡± He looked around at everyone. "Regardless of rank and position, you¡¯ve all done great work here. We fought an impossible enemy and won. Your names shall be remembered eternally once those pesky bards know this. I hope you all don¡¯t slow down your momentum, as much work still needs to get done.¡± Hauxwell slapped Le¡¯Vieux on the back. ¡°I bet you can¡¯t wait for those bards to sing your name with such romantic tones. Let''s share a drink before we all go our separate ways.¡± Le¡¯Vieux turned to Blue and shrugged. Blue shook his head slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to this unnecessary drinking and meet you once you¡¯re back at the Hollow Keep.¡± He then opened a portal and stepped through. Once everyone was ready, a small group of knights was left to guard the Chateau before the rest made their way to Robynhill.
Ben almost choked on his drink. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious, he¡¯s not even from the Mesolands!¡± Arthel exclaimed, shaking his head. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Ben put the tankard down on the bar table and held his chest to recover, taking some breaths to clear his throat. The entire story of what had happened at the Chateau had been explained, and once Alfred''s new position had been revealed, the entire inn entered a deafening silence. Le¡¯Vieux motioned with his hand for the innkeeper to calm down. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right about that. But he¡¯s the only person, apart from Hauxwell, who has experience running a fortified keep.¡± He motioned to Hauxwell, ¡°This old coot wants nothing more than to pull his cows'' udders and plant vegetables.¡± Hauxwell smiled and nodded. ¡°My days running around for military orders are over. My dream is to focus on my family and build the farm back to where it was. We¡¯ll need the produce when more people start flocking back, unless you want them all to go hungry and start rioting. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I will still support Alfred and ensure his men are adequately trained.¡± ¡°Indeed, he¡¯s right about that. With the news of our victory, the people of Meso who left as refugees to the Hollow Lands will return. They will need places to stay and jobs to support what remains of their kin.¡± Le¡¯Vieux explained. ¡°Well, that makes sense. We¡¯ll soon have the marketplace cleared and new stalls built so people can start trading goods like they used to.¡± Arthel explained before turning to Ben, ¡°I don''t suppose you could take some in?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°We could always use more hands at the mine. I have an idea to create an industrial textile factory that will need a few workers. However, it will produce so much that we¡¯ll need to export many goods beyond the Ferus Delta River.¡± Le¡¯Vieux gave Ben a thumbs-up. ¡°In the coming weeks, I¡¯ll meet with the leaders of the other orders and formulate a new trade plan to ease restrictions.¡± He finished his drink before standing up. ¡°Truly, I want to thank you all for your bravery. You¡¯ve made even the most honorable knights proud of your work. Now, while the rest of you enjoy yourselves, I must return to my commanders and make my way to the Hollow Keep.¡± Everyone raised their tankards and cheered Le¡¯Vieux before taking a sip. Hauxwell got up and embraced his friend, bidding him a heartwarming farewell, before Alfred did the same. Le¡¯Vieux then waved everyone goodbye and left the inn. ¡°Always great to see happiness within these walls,¡± Arthel muttered with teary eyes. He then turned to Jerry. ¡°What''s the story with you then?¡± Jerry shrugged. ¡°You know, it¡¯s always the usual with me. I will send word to my family and get them settled in the new workshop. We¡¯ll be ready for full-scale production in no time. I¡¯m sure Alfred and Quicksilver here would be more than willing to buy off me once I¡¯ve got a decent stockpile.¡± He then turned to Ben, ¡°Speaking of which, I¡¯m itching to return to work. Shouldn¡¯t we be heading back to the mine? Ben nodded, ¡°Aye, we should. I bet they all want to know the battle¡¯s outcome.¡± Arthel let out a huff. ¡°Well, you''d better not be acting like strangers. Be sure to come by here once in a while, otherwise I¡¯ll be getting all worried about all your sorry backsides.¡± Ben finished his drink and got up. ¡°I¡¯m sure we will.¡± He turned to Hauxwell and Jerry, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll give you both a lift back. I think Quicksilver and his warriors have that covered, seeing they can fly.¡± Alfred patted them all on the back. ¡°I¡¯ll return to the Chateau and get things started there. I¡¯ll send you all word when I¡¯m ready.¡± Everyone exchanged farewells before Ben, Hauxwell, and Jerry started their journey to the mine.
When Ben arrived at the mine, Hauxwell and Jerry thanked him for the lift before returning to their respective abodes. With some daylight left, Ben knew most village folk would still be working their shifts in the mine. But before heading down there, he took a moment to glance around the builder''s progress. Most of the area around the makeshift camp had been cleared, with sticks in the ground where the foundations for the regular dwellings would be placed. Ben figured they would want to start getting paid soon and made a mental note to get that sorted once Har returned from his current delivery run. Turning to face the mine entrance, Ben made his way inside before entering the warm glow of the foreman¡¯s office, where he found Finn working through some papers. ¡°Master Ben!¡± Finn exclaimed, jumping up. ¡°You¡¯re a sight for sore eyes. We were worried that you and Jerry had been gone so long that something bad might have happened. The sky started getting dark up top before it cleared up.¡± Ben raised his hand. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a long story that I¡¯ll have to tell you over the campfire sometime. I think it¡¯s safe to say the danger is gone.¡± Finn¡¯s face filled the largest smile Ben had seen in ages before he asked, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Does that mean people start returning here?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll be over our heads with the new arrivals that should start pouring in soon. We must be prepared to receive them and increase production to provide more jobs. Le¡¯Vieux has promised us some new trade agreements so we can sell our goods across the Canrich Kingdom. We will be taking this mine to a whole new level of success. Which brings me to an important question: how have things gone on the third level whilst I¡¯ve been away?¡± ¡°Surprisingly, it¡¯s been great. You¡¯ll be happy that the third level has proved fruitful for high-quality ore. There have been a few discoveries of other minerals that contain traces of silver and gold, which can be exploited once the new mining shafts have been reinforced. I have a feeling we¡¯ll start making some big money soon.¡± Finn explained. He then looked around and scratched his head. ¡°Where¡¯s Sir Alfred?¡± ¡°I had a feeling you¡¯d be asking where he¡¯s at. Le¡¯Vieux put him in charge of the Chateau, which means he¡¯ll be rebuilding the Meso order from the ground up. You don¡¯t have to worry. With things calmed down, we should be able to keep things running smoothly. I think I¡¯ve got something in mind that could keep people busy when they arrive here.¡± Ben replied before explaining how the industrial textile factory would work. ¡°That sounds like an interesting idea. I¡¯ve never heard of a factory before, but the way you¡¯ve explained it to me, I hope it gets us back on top.¡± Finn nodded. Ben let out a long yawn as fatigue started to take hold of him. ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m tired and should get some rest before I pass out. Thank you for all your hard work, Finn. You¡¯ve made me proud of how far you came from when we first met. Keep it up and you¡¯ll soon be running your mine one day.¡± Finn became teary-eyed before grinning. ¡°I wouldn''t have been able to achieve any of this without you taking a chance on me. I should be thanking you for everything.¡± Ben waved the motion away. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re too kind, kid. Anyhow, I¡¯m heading up. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow when I¡¯ve got more energy.¡± He gave Finn a wave before returning outside. The sun was almost touching the horizon, and thus Ben made his way to the back of the van before dropping onto the bed and drifting off into a much-needed slumber. End of Book 1 Stats Name: Benjamin Bailey Titles: Owner of the Bailey Mine Level: 11 (1208/3000XP) Skill points: 4 HP: 50/50 SP: 50/50 MP: 150/150 Currency: Copper Penny: 10/12 Silver Shilling: 15/20 Gold Pound: 26 The Bailey Mine: 150 GP Active Vehicle: Valkyrie, Level 3 Bull Bar Mk.1, Armor Plating Mk.1, Off-Road Tires, Fuel Efficiency Mk.1, Off-Road Drivetrain Class: Mechanical Mage, Level 3 Class Skills: Repair Mk.1, Refuel Mk.1, Kunai Outburst Mk.1, Exponential Mass Mk.1 Profession: None Profession Skills: None Faction: Order of the Hollow Moon Faction Rank: Knight Lieutenant II Faction Skills: Basic Training Vehicle: Valkyrie, Level 3 Type: Camper Condition: 100% Fuel: 100% MP:200/200 Power: 140HP (Mechanical) Mass: 2168 kg Armor Rating: 99