It took two more weeks, before Marlin was relatively happy with the group dynamics, before he knew it, he had been in command. Kotak the voice of reason always took that upon himself with the two Canta’s but was more then happy to be second. “I wonder if that’s a hidden effect of tyrant”, Marlin wondered.
How the Canta’s listened to him, knowing how big their personalities and pride were. Was very weird, it was like he tapped into something abstract that made people listen to him, when put in command. Hearing the T’jut overhear how good he was at leadership and how it put them all at ease, worried marlin.
“Please don’t let this be some sort of brainwashing going on”, he thought quietly to himself. However, luckily, Milly was back to her old self when they retired to their bedroom, slightly more respectful, having seen his “leadership qualities”, so it did put Marlin’s worries somewhat at ease but he kept an eye on it.
Marlin realized that on the outside, when it came to battle, he looked like a reckless maniac. Which made the T’jut all the more surprised how much thought he had put into his hunting strategies, to them it had seemed: ‘any wild idea he came up with on the spot’.
All the T’jut started paying attention even the chief had sat in one or two times and was very curious how he was always looking to optimize his XP to risk gain.
The system, he found out pretty early, did not take actual practical risk into account when it came to XP calculation only the potential risk. Your stats vs the opponents stats, was the only thing used for this.
Good strategy, rewarded you with the same XP gain but less risk.
Grouping up with the T’jut, Marlin had to bite his lips the first week. They relied way too much on their raw attributes including Kotak, which surprised Marlin.
He couldn’t fault them, Bron outclassed Marlin’s physical attributes by such a wide margin it was laughable. On the outset Marlin’s current stat distribution, wasted half of his already paltry attributes, he would have most likely been born with the healthy trait, both Betty and Bradford had it. If it hadn’t been for the Meddling of Sadanis.
With healthy and without Ominous star he would have gotten 18 str and 20 con give or take. vs his current 14 & 15.
18 & 20 was considered sort of a minimum for most martial classes. You needed to crank out high numbers of health or good enough defensive skill to survive.
Marlin’s sheer capacity to scare or piss people off and his minions were his saving grace but they also had paltry stats, each would die with 1 hit or 2.
Which pushed Marlin hard into relying on his wit and tactic. His understanding of strategy and his otherworldly knowledge. He had done a tour in his younger years. Was it Afagan? Or Iraq? Lately the details of his old life started to fade.
Something that gave him a bit of existential crisis was how his dad pointed out that his ability to lead and strategize, was related to his “role” as Tyrant. Your role he explained a bit further, didn’t just quantify what you could potentially do, but also how you would be shaped as a person.
Marlin realized it wasn’t just the fact that the 3 T’jut relied on their superior attributes, their roles directed how they needed to think in regards to their role. Leadership wasn’t included.
Kotak who had a whopping 20 wisdom and high capacity in insight, place in life and predicting someone’s attack pattern and high force of will,
was somewhat even when it came to tactics and strategy compared to Marlin.
Marlin simply couldn’t believe what he was seeing, it was surreal.
He had done some sparring with the two Male t’jut again, for the purpose of gauging their martial skills for his plan.
Bron was Bron, a known quantity to Marlin.
Kotak, well Kotak embodied the term Bullshit when it came to Martial prowess.
Marlin could, in a one on one, hit Bron or Milly. Not easily but he could hit them.
Kotak? Practically zero. There was a theoretical chance with him channeling his fury into a perfect precision, with perfectly executed swing. But that took him 6 seconds prep time accumulating his fury. Kotak simply counted to 6 and made sure he was nowhere near Marlin for that to happen. Could Marlin frighten or taunt him?
Yes but Kotak had incredible high willpower and was more then capable to put things into perspective for himself.
Kotak of the 3 T’jut, countered him the most. He would disable Marlin’s Minions within the first 6 seconds of a fight and from there it was downhill for Marlin.
Billy put up a valiant fight but simply didn’t have the stats, training or experience to keep up. 20 blows taken, before Marlin even grazed him.
”I see that smugness Kotak, you sure you don’t have some skill set, that naturally boosts mockery? If not, you would be a natural”. Marlin taunted him lightly.
”I’m not smug you tenacious bastard and fuck that shield of yours”. Kotak responded.
Marlin smirked, he had become better then the sum of his own parts when it came to blocking and parrying. He highly suspected that at level 2 he would officially gain one of the shield perks from the get go. From the description he could infer that he was basically doing what the perk described.
Milly he didn’t fight. He couldn’t, neither could Milly when pushed by Bron. Marlin felt relieved and so did Milly, that particular night was rather tender when they retired to the bedroom.
Marlin knew he countered Milly far too hard with all the tools at his disposal. Even if Milly put up a fight, up close it simply was no contest. And it felt like bullying to him. He hated that feeling.
that being said Milly buffing him made blocking against wild boars completely obsolete.
”I knew magic was bullshit but holy fuck, no wonder you guys don’t bother with tactics”.
Marlin said, as he gripped a boar colliding with him in an iron grip onto his fur, as he started chopping at the boar’s neck, as if he was Chopping down a tree.
“Goddamnit Marlin what the fuck was wrong now”!? Bron stepped away from the tree he was hiding behind.
“Yes i would like to know as well, as far as i could tell, everyone did exactly like you asked”. Kotak raised his voice by the slightest of margins that Marlin picked up on.
Billy with Milly on his back, trotted over and the gnolls were moping and kicking dirt because they couldn’t do some nice stabbing. Milly gave him an ‘im exhausted of this shit’ look.
Marlin smirked, “nothing was wrong Bron. As a matter of fact if you guys remember that feeling that poise you had just now i think that bear won’t know what hit him. We just got to remember a bear is faster then a Boar when he’s charging”.
Bron’s face lit up. “So that means you think we are ready”? Marlin smiled wide and nodded, “damn fucking straight time to get Milly a new sexy cloak”, he winked at Milly who rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her blush, and didn’t have some sarcastic quip.
It did Marlin a world of good to see the soft tender Milly he had met all those months ago on the market in his first visit to Lost Haven.
”Good i was getting impatient”’ Kotak deadpanned.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
”well i guess i tested the god of patience himself if i got you to say that, still a black bear, if my calculations are right, has yours, mine and Bron’s collective healthpool in robustness and is most definitely quite a bit stronger then Bron. I expect to get flung around like a rag doll, if he manages to grip my shield with his jaws”.
“so one last time”, Marlin waited for everyone (his gnolls) to quiet down.
“The plan is simple, i am the main tank with Kotak close by to jump in as a tank if i become indisposed, everyone has to remember, bears swipe and sweep when surrounded so we can’t group him, bears are solitary creatures and are used to fighting small groups of wolves for meat”.
he continued.
”Billy, your sole purpose, a crucial one, is to make sure Milly is where she needs to be and to make sure the bear can never get to her ok? Without her resistance buffs active at all times, one or more of us, will die”.
Billy nods, and bleats, “the Sorcereres Supreme will be kept safe upon my honor i swear this”. Marlin nodded at this.
”good now the gnols you do your thing, Barry you are always behind the tank me or Kotak and stab away, Gary try and keep him distracted with your arrows, no one likes an arrow to the eye”.
“Now Bron in large part the job of killing will fall to you. Jerry will ride on your shoulders the moment you get close he will jump the bear to stab away, hit and run Bron, hit and run ok”? Bron grumbled and ground his teeth for a while but his face and eyes were full of resolve after a few seconds and nodded.
“That’s all, lead the way Bron. You know where it’s den is”.
Everyone looked at Marlin surprised. “Now? You sure my love? You don’t want us fully rested”? Milly asked curiously.
“from what I gather it’s about 2 hours from here”? He looked at Bron, who nodded.
”yea combine that with how far it’s back to the camp and cabin, a long boring march tomorrow will put you all in the wrong mood, no offense”.
None was taken, they set out. Bron at the front, a man with a purpose he was calm and focused.
Milly on Billy, she was light for Billy and although important, Marlin didn’t think Billy would have to do all that much. And wanted Milly fresh for the fight.
The gnolls had been very hesitant at first, about hunting a bear. Until marlin uttered the words “bear bacon”, their eyes never stopped sparkling since, “i just hope it’s tasty”, Marlin muttered to himself.
”I gotta say Marlin, you are a natural at this”. Billy was trotting like a regal horse next to Marlin so Milly and him could talk.
”It’s still freaking me out, how quickly you guys… fell in line”. Marlin had shared his concerns with Milly.
”Tyrant is an insult to how you lead Marlin, Stern and powerful leader is more apt”. Milly looked at him, a sparkle of admiration in them that Marlin felt was undeserved.
“Stop worrying, im not being brainwashed, if anything its that stupid Mistress system that i keep taking apart to see if it’s affecting me”.
“Why did you accept that whole thing in the first place? I have no option to disable or remove it”. Marlin had asked her a couple of times and she avoided the question by giving answers that at face value had made sense but not so much when you thought it over.
”Ugh not this again Marlin i told you i was testing you, im sorry ok”? She sighed she always hated this conversation.
”You really underestimate the impact you have on people Marlin, the impact you had on me”.
Marlin was about to say something but Milly stopped him. “You are unable to hide your feelings Marlin, your eyes literally light up, it took me about a month to map it all, right now you are scared about how your very being affects others, but that’s normal I affect you too don’t I”?
Marlin was quiet, and nodded. He knew he had to trust his friends, his allies but he couldn’t stop the nagging sensation that it happened a little too fast, he wasn’t used to receiving trust so easily.
”Yea you are right i have mayor baggage and trust issues from my old life even now after an amazing life so far”. Marlin spoke.
”Good, now go back to sexy scary Lord”, she leaned in and whispered teasingly, “it’s super hot”.
It was a stark reminder why Marlin had been hesitant to join the T’jut, his crumbling ability to focus.
”Hey Bron how much longer”? Marlin called out after giving Milly a quick kiss.
”About 300 more paces, mister lovebird”. Bron called back chuckling.
”Is that any way to talk to the guy who is about to get ragdolled and your Illustrious leader to boot”? Marlin called back.
”It is when you sleep with his sister mister leader”, Kotak responded for Bron.
it started slowly dawning on Marlin he had been worried about their professionalism, that he confused with them being brainwashed by something his role ‘might’ do. “Point taken”, he felt admonished.
“We are here”. Bron spoke with surety. “The bear is in his cave he pointed, i can hear it”.
None needed to be told what to do, everyone got into position, Milly used her capacity to rally the troops combined with the magical potential of the titan woven into the words.
Everyone felt themselves get fortified ,her resonance spell and magic chanting made marlin feel invincible.
testing against boars he had concluded receiving the trifecta of buffs, almost tripled his damage resistance. The others received less but still enough for his minions to survive a scrape or two.
Marlin banged his shield and axe together. “Hey there little shitstain! Care to take a bite”? He spoke in Tyrant speech.
The bear roused from his slumber and got up, his growl was deep and Marlin did note that this black bear was about the size of a big grizzly from his old world.
”Cmon you lazy shit”’! AgainTyrant speech, that got the bears attention and he barreled towards Marlin,
Marlin had prepped himself that the bear would be fast but it still surprised him, not enough to casually step out of the way of the bear’s first lazy swing and he braced himself for the second blow he didn’t block trusting Milly’s magic it was a glancing blow and it still rattled him but not enough for it to deal any serious damage.
“Jesus Christ magic is such bullshit”, Marlin thought, “wait wo is jesus again”? He had enough experience to know that, that ‘glancing blow’ would have ripped into him pretty bad without Milly’s magical triple protection. One buff less and he would have felt it.
Gary Barraged the bear with 3 shots triggering the bear’s survival instinct, instinctively dodging, one arrow hit but it didn’t penetrate its thick skin.
Barry meanwhile stabbed from behind Marlin with his spear but aside from pissing of the bear and scraping his fur a bit, the spear tip glanced of its thick skull.
Bron and Jerry rush to encircle the bear and attack him from behind but they remain at a distance biding their time.
Billy moved closer making sure Milly magic remained with his and her allies.
Kotak Moves in and feints with a low kick that the bear dodges and Kotak uses that opportunity to strike hard and fast with his fist, into the bear’s ear. The bear shakes its head from the ringing and Marlin hears the faintest of cracks from the bear’s head.
Marlin follows up on the brief window created by Kotak with his axe and shield, his axe hooks into the bears snout, drawing a drop of blood.
Marlin slams the sharpened tip of his Kite shield the skull of the bear. The Bear roars and shakes his head, causing Marlin and Kotak to step back and reset.
The bear is serious now and still very confident he will emerge victorious Marlin taunts him again for good measure and the bear doesn’t feel a need to deny Marlins challenge and slams his paws into marlin, Marlin manages to parry 2 huge swings but one connects pretty hard, the shield slamming into his helmet drawing some blood and headspinning, Marlin on the defensive manages to get his bearings quickly enough to not suffer another swing, The bear had extended his swing into almighty sweep that Kotak lazily dodges, Kotak within range Barrages the bear with punches and kicks simultaneously when Barry and gary keep firing and stabbing, the bear not concerned with the gnolls weathers the blows of Kotak and doesn’t seem to care that his fur gets a nice patting from Kotak.
Bron uses this Moment to roar and step in he swings his mighty claymore into the flank slicing a cut into the Bear’s thick skin and then thrusts the tip full massive force of his body and strength. His weight, his Herculean physique pumping his fury Boiling, drives the blade into the bear all the way to the hilt.
Jerry jumped on top of the bear and started his gory and bloody redecoration of the Bear’s back but the bear was too enraged with Bron and Marlin to notice.
The bear roars in rage and tries to turn, but Marlin takes the opportunity to flourish a swing with uncanny precision into the exposed neck of the bear funneling his fury for good measure creating a deep bloody gash with his trusty axe.
The Bear’s head snaps Back to Marlin and before Marlin can respond, the Bear Body slams into him and Marlin slams into a tree breaking a few ribs, Milly’s magic cracked.
Gary Focuses himself and expertly thrusts twice into the big gash on the bears neck left by his master, his spear finding easy purchase into the exposed flesh, ripping the spear out creates a splattering of Blood gushing out, the last thrust of Barry cuts into the spinal cord of the bear finishing it off.
Marlin gets up, Smiling. Bron and Milly roar to the sky, their primal nature shining through. Marlin spots a tear on Milly’s face and he leaves the two to their moment.
Kotak comes close and looks him over. Marlin, smirks and whispers. “Tell me if im wrong but that fight was almost too easy”.
Kotak rolled his eyes. “You lost like a third of your health brother, but yes this fight was a lot easier then i suspected it would be thanks to you. Kotak waited for the Canta’s to finish who were in the midst of hugging eachother.
“Meant a lot more to them then they let on”. Marlin said and continued. “And let’s be real here the 3 of you needed an extra body for the bear to wail on could have been bloody Itak if needed”.
Kotak shook his head, “Itak would have gotten himself killed and your minions keep surprising me, especially that spear gnoll took some gutsy risks that paid off”.
Marlin had to agree, as brutal and ruthless, as it was of Barry to stab into an already existing wound it had worked. The little gnoll had again exceeded Marlin’s expectations. He idly wondered how he was going to make sure it didn’t get to Barry’s head. Gary started to notice how apart from distracting the enemy, he didn’t contribute much in the ways of damage but was still very elated jumping with his brothers ontop of the bear corpse screaming “bear bacon”!
Billy tried to get them off and to show some respect to the fallen. To which the gnolls hackled and attempted to blow raspberries at Billy. Which looked more like choking and spitting.
Marlin looked at his XP. 474. “Fuck me i had less chance of dying against this bear then with that stupid orc”.
Bron and Milly came over grinning from ear to ear we both hit level 3!