Closing with the massive giant, Duke circled his head, striking with his tonfa at every soft part he could see. The giant flailed around with its empty hand trying to swat Duke out of the air, growling in frustration as his sword was useless at this range. Duke was likewise frustrated seeing that the giant’s Health was going down, but maddeningly slowly. Every hit took off hundreds of Health but the giant had over one million Health to start. The only benefit that Duke immediately realized was that other soldiers that attacked him with their ranged weapons missed him and struck the giant far more often than not. This added to the giant’s roaring frustration.
After minutes of this game, Duke’s Mana was completely topped off. The giant, however, seemed to be even more angry than ever. The enraged swings became more and more erratic, any technique the giant may have been employing having fallen to the wayside. He slapped at Duke with his hands, having dropped his sword as the annoying hits started to accumulate.
Duke started to pour LIGHTNING into his strikes, dramatically increasing the damage each blow did. Despite the giant’s considerable resistance, Duke was now doing more than 30,000 damage with each strike but that still wasn’t going to finish the giant off anytime soon. When magic attacks started to pelt him, Duke decided that it was time to step things up and end play time.
He launched himself vertically, quickly rising several kilometers in the cloudless sky. He was high enough that his DUNGEON SENSE was useless, so he deactivated it. He also cleared the LIGHTNING from his eyes to open his vision up. From this height it wasn’t easy to see, but he could tell that the army was largely bunched up like the undisciplined mass he had determined them to be.
I really don’t want to kill all the farmers and laborers even if they are part of this army. I’m going to take out their biggest threat and see where that leads us.
As he prepared, a lance of golden energy flashed upwards towards him, causing him to TELEPORT half a kilometer to the side to avoid it. The blast was as wide as a city bus and sizzled with an unknown energy. When he looked down, the giant was glowing and had its sword pointed at the sky where Duke had just been. The blast had been incredible, and Duke was very glad he wasn’t there to receive it. As he readjusted his plan, another blast came right for him again forcing him to TELEPORT to another spot.
I gotta admit that those blasts are shockingly impressive. Has to be some divine power flowing through them. I have to be just as flashy or somehow equally impressive. A massive LIGHTNING strike would do the trick but that would arc through the gathered crowd. Plan B it is!
He changed location a few more times, getting the timing down for the Ability cooldown of the giant’s blasts. Duke prepared himself for the next blast and launched himself downward after TELEPORTING away from the blast. He poured on the speed, reaching mach three in under two seconds, removing dozens of blades from his INVENTORY before TELEPORTING away once again.
Man, TELEPORTATION is just broken the way it cuts all momentum like that. Not that I’m complaining.
Duke watched as his barrage of blades slammed into the giant at an obscene speed. He remarked, adding his own color commentary to the fight. “This world may operate on magic but it also seems to give a nod to the physics of motion in this case. Just watch as these hyper-fast weapons strike home!”
And strike home they did. Not every blade struck the giant, but enough did to leave grievous wounds straight through its skull and face. The remaining blades struck the ground hard enough to completely bury themselves in their impact craters. Duke smiled as the giant dropped his sword and collapsed to the ground with a tremendous boom. First the giant collapsed to its knees with a completely blank expression on its face. It paused in that position as if its body was waiting for nerve signals from its brain to tell it what to do. Finally, the giant collapsed to the ground as soldiers scattered from the impact. Duke landed just beyond where the giant’s head had come to rest and waited for the full reaction from the army.
The majority of the giantkin decided they had had enough and started unhurriedly walking away. The rest of the army rallied behind a single leader on horseback until Duke fixed the man with a stare and raised his right hand towards him with a single finger pointed. Duke offered a single line. “Go home.” It was delivered with the full force of his Psyche and seemed to strike hard. Almost as one, their morale broke and the conscripted soldiers quit the field. Most shed their armor and swords as they left, leaving it all behind like a bad memory.
Duke waited until they had left and toured the area, pulling all the equipment and much of the giant’s body into his INVENTORY before heading back to the Wildheart Refuge. This time, he didn’t TELEPORT in but rather flew in, gently descending to the square before the Council Chambers. Snarlheart met him with a look of concern.
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“I do not know what happened out there, but we saw many flashes of light and heard some strange sounding thunder. We were all concerned for your safety. I am glad to see that you seem to be OK.”
“Yes, my friend. I am fine and I appreciate your concern. It seems the army has decided to quit the field.”
“Just like that?” Emberclaw chimed in.
“Well, the leader was some sort of religious sword fanatic that really wanted you all dead. I rather like having you all alive, so we had quite the disagreement. He completely lost his head over it all. And then his mountain giant entered the argument. Once he finally got all my points, he gave in. Then the rest of the army decided it was time to go home.”
“Something tells me that you are leaving quite a bit out of that story.” Emberclaw gave Duke a penetrating stare. He only smiled in response.
“So, the threat is passed? The danger is over?” Nibblesworth joined the conversation. Duke wasn’t sure where the mousekin had come from but was happy to see him as well.
“Yes, I sent the army home. Or at least whatever was left of it. Besides a few of them, they were all bluster but little substance. You would have been able to handle them easily.”
“What makes you so sure of that?” Snarlheart asked.
“I’ve fought you before. I know what you are capable of doing. The army consisted mostly of well-equipped farmers and laborers. They would have crumbled against any real resistance.”
“We thank you for showing just how valuable an ally you are, King Duke. We will find some way to pay you back for this. Is there anything you need?”
“Actually, there is. Since my kingdom is just starting to recover from war and the ravages of an insane despot, what we need most right now is tools and raw materials to get our crafters back in business.”
“That is something we can gladly help you with.” Emberclaw smiled. “Come with me and I will show you to our tool warehouse. Take whatever you need. Empty it if it will help your kingdom. You have certainly helped our nation.”
The warehouse was moderately-sized but was full to bursting with various common tools and a fair number of specialized tools which Duke happily pulled the entirety of into his INVENTORY to bring back with him. Emberclaw smiled when she saw the slightly guilty look on his face.
“Do not concern yourself, Duke. I was serious when I said to empty the warehouse. We have many more crafters among our number than are needed. For some reason, it seems every bearkin wants to be a smith which is great when another crafter needs a new or different tool, but it gets a bit overwhelming when we get hundreds of excess tools a week. If our excess can aid our ally who came to us unbidden in our time of need, it gladdens my heart.”
“Then I’ll not feel guilty about taking all the tools. But I will give you this.” Duke handed Emberclaw one of the long-range Jewels of Whispers. “You should be able to contact me with it should you need me. Just speak into it and concentrate on reaching me. If I’m not too far away, I’ll respond.”
“Thank you, Duke. I hope to not have to use it, but it is good to have.”
After meeting with the rest of the Council to receive their thanks and confirmation of their alliance, Duke headed back to the Inn for the night. Once he realized that Aurelia was still tending to the Legion, he redirected himself her way, firing off a CLEANSE and RESTORE before departing, wanting to look his best before seeing her again.
He found her at the Legion headquarters in the middle of a meeting with people he did not recognize.
Maybe I should not burst in and instead let her finish her meeting. I’ve got one more person to track down anyway.
Duke began his search for Lady Hargwaetch since his INVENTORY was just brimming with things for her. The sun was setting by the time his inquiries had finally allowed him to track her down in her office within the castle.
That was a bloody idiotic search. Next time, try looking for someone in the place they are supposed to be first! If nothing else, it allowed me to take an impromptu tour of the city and verify the one thing we need above all else – people. There are so many beautifully RESTORED buildings that stand vacant, I have to do something about it but I’m not sure what just yet. I need help with all this. I can’t run a kingdom by myself.
His thoughts were interrupted by finally making it to Lady Hargwaetch’s office. He knocked on the door and waited for a response.
“Come in!” Her voice was clear but also was clearly fatigued. Duke entered her office and she immediately perked up. “Your Majesty. How may I serve?” She rose from her chair in a bow as she spoke.
Duke quietly closed the door behind himself and took a seat, gesturing for her to do the same. Your original request was for a caravan to seek out tools and supplies for our crafters, was it not?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am still lining up members for the caravan, but it should be ready to depart in the next two weeks.”
“That’s excellent news. While working on some separate diplomatic items, I secured a large shipment of tools. Do you have a place secured like a warehouse to store them?”
“We have seventeen warehouses that stand empty right now. Take your pick.” She pushed her map information to Duke, frowning when it didn’t transfer over.”
Duke sighed, reading the all-too-familiar look on her face. “You’re trying to send me map information, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. But it isn’t working for some reason.” Confusion clouded her features.
“Yes, for some reason, my map is locked from receiving input from others. Just ell me where one of the warehouses is located and I’ll have the tools delivered there.”
“Sure. The most convenient one is behind the main market square. It used to be filled with food but there is precious little of that left.”
“We have a food shortage? Of course we have a food shortage. Is there anything we have in excess?”
“Empty buildings. We have plenty of those.” She offered up a small smile. Duke returned it.
“Thank you. Adjust the caravan requirements as I think we will be all set with tools for the near-term.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Duke departed, heading for his Throne Room to make sure he wasn’t missing anything there. He found Aurealia waiting for him. Suddenly his day felt even better.