The chapter does need to be edited more, but I'm not stupid. I would never get around to it.
Maybe when AI takes over the world becomes super advanced I can assign one to do this.
----------------------------------------------------------
Boulder meters from the screaming lines of men, it took a single thought to remove the effects of the enchant from the boulder leaving it in a dormant state. A single swift movement of my hand to throw a clump of pebbles, enchanting them with the last dredges of my mana.
Then I let loose, forcing myself into the state as I received a massive spike of adrenaline.
Aura: Bloodlust is now in effect
Knees buckling, unprepared for the sense of terror sweeping over them. Silence ripping through the air as throats froze in fright.
A moment of perfect peace, made me feel a little sad. Not often that I'll have this.
Time resumed, the boulder smashed into their lines. I could hear loud bangs as pebbles ripped through armor, horses screaming under the unexpected assault.
That's the knights crippled, it should take a forth of their lines and a minute to get back under control.
The boulder surged through their lines, armor crumpling and a deep trench as the boulder coursed through the lines and directly towards the commanders embankment.
At the very least, it'll cause confusion.
With each passing second as I fought to destroy their front lines, preventing them from passing by me I received notification after notification. Receiving exp for every man the boulder kissed, exp for the ones I took care of personally.
When I had enough mana, I threw pebbles at the distant lines, preventing the footmen from fleeing or attacking towards Lily. But most of my mana was used to prevent the connection to the enchanted boulder from snapping.
It was chaos. No one could possibly keep track of who was doing what.
You have leveled up to 26You have been given 5 stat points to distribute
I received a levelup, mana instantly restored and the small drop in health disappearing. Wounds disappearing the second the notification appeared. And the boulder was still under my control while resting a fair distance away from the battlefield.
With a small thought and knowing what it would cost, the boulder consumed substantial amounts of mana as it slowly began to move back to the battlefield, this time towards the knights.
Halin had stressed it repeatably, the numbers of footmen on the ground were my biggest problem, the knights were the next. The new weapons he had heard of were the next biggest problem, simply because he didn't know how they worked. He only had rumors to work from.
The footmen could swarm past me, taking Lily by sheer numbers. The knights could take them on through might and speed, through their might was debatable against me. I think the new weapons could be crossbows, interesting enough but, not really.
By now most of the footmen on the ground were running, the battlefield beginning to clear as the useless soldiers moved off the field. I was happy to allow them, too much hassle and effort for a single man. I'll likely regret this later.
The skill Gamer has reached level 10Inventory increases to 5x5 slots
Skillbooks can be consumed
Oh, how nice. Remind me to checkout the library next time I'm nearby.
Soon sparse numbers of archers remained, knights standing there even as a boulder bore down on them less than a few seconds away from behind. Most of them only beginning to react to the new danger. The commanders meeting spot was gone, a trench in the ground with red bodies pressed into it.
A group of Crossbowmen remained, probably 30 or so. It was in their job title.
Hale lv.8 Crossbowman
But really, level 8? What happens if you remove the crossbow from him? Does his level drop?
You have leveled up to 27You have been given 5 stat points to distribute
Sparse numbers of men still stood around, and after the boulder made mincework of the knights I gained another level. 20 knights remained, 80 either haven run, killed or dehorsed.
I just stood there, picking off anyone who approached Lily as they began to organise themselves as they watched me in fear.
I'm not even going to describe the sound of the battlefield, the screams on the howl as the man next to me howls with the loss of his leg.
EXP +40
Whelp, no longer howling now.
Seems I don't get much exp from a wounded kill. Did I get his already?
Finally they began to resemble an army again, and conveniently I spotted Ilan. He wasn't among the army, nope. He was part of those running away from me, not making a noise or doing anything to attract my attention. His movements also had him skirting the ditch surrounding the battlefield, not once stepping foot off it and forfeiting the fight.
Might work too, but he ran a little too close and glanced a little too long at me..
At least I might be able to keep my promise to Lily now.
Oh, looks like the army has reached a conclusion.
Yep.
Oh, they are scattering. This is going to be irritating. Time to recall my boulder.
Anndd here they come.
30 bolts, a wave of arrows and a charge from the knights. Following closely behind, were the remaining soldiers still loyal.
20% of their army was left, the elites and the foolish. 65% having run, 15% slain or wounded.
It was like what Halin said, the boulder would be the most effective weapon in my arsenal. All it had to do was outrun people and crush them, leaving wounded and killed in its wake and fear would do the rest. My aura remained unaddressed in the conversations, but it had a huge part in this.
Even now the ones who were charging in my direction looked pale, faces set in grim determination or taut fear. Legs churning as they sought to cover distance.
Obvious ploy, they were not headed towards me. The knights scattered across the charge in a effort to make it past. Crossbows and bows likely to distract me, do they have orders to continue fire even if I'm near their own?
Distracted as I watched the advancing armies, I took a bolt from a crossbow to the head.
HP -620
Right eye has been destroyed
95% of INT and WIS temporarily lost, 30% of DEX temporarily lost
Due to mental resistance, you retain the ability to think clearly
I collapsed. No better way to put it.
Connection to the boulder snapped, enchantment on my own body to enhance movements disappeared. I collapsed, unable to cope with the sudden loss of eye and ensuring pain.
Dimly amidst the pain I had a single thought, Lily.
Fighting the screaming agony I slowly stood up as my head throbbed in unrelenting pain.
HP -62
My leg, a burst of pain. I don't remember that arrow being in my leg.
This hurts. Bad.
I remembered my health, I need to keep that up. What's my health?
HP: 21/781
Oh. That's bad.
Dimly in my haze of pain as I thought frantically I remembered the unused stat points.
Summoning my stats with a hand that felt almost numb I tapped at VIT, investing all 10 points.
HP: 121/881
Oh that's better.
I can't feel a noticeable difference, but if I'm not a step away from death that works.
With my one remaining eye I looked up, barely able to move my head in time to escape a arrow as it grazed by.
They are keeping their distance, that's good. They could hit me more if they were closer.
They are not doing anything though, just looking at me with stark terror on their faces. What's wrong?
Patting upwards with my hand, I felt the metal shaft sticking from my eye socket with a burst of pain.
Oh.
That's why they are running.
Better not pull it out yet. Or should I.
I should. But I can't risk it. I don't know.
Oh, the knights have almost reached Lily. I should go.
Stumbling in a broken walk, I began to move to Lily. Chainmail trapping arrows like a porcupine as I grew used to my new lack of vision. Soon I began to jog, scared to trip as it could mean my doom.
No really, do the math. Crossbow bolt in eye socket, falling forwards. Nice?
Those that saw me recoiled in fright, scared to come closer and losing their will to fight.
I was just in pain, I couldn't exactly think straight despite what the message said. My head blazed with pain, my eye blazed with pain, my pain blazed with pain.
And when this comes out, I'm going to be in so much pain.
Oh.
They reached her.
My hand reaches inside my inventory, but the pebble I throws refuses to enchant.
Mana control not sufficient to cast this spell
What mana control? I have a high level in mana control. Did it reduce that too?
I can't waste time. Need to run.
Oh. He swung his sword.
I'm running now, just hold on a little more Lily..
They are not stopping, they are really getting into it.
They see me, but they don't run. They are renewed frantically to claw at her armor.
Hmm. They can't do it, they are straining at the pieces but they can't move it. The slits in the helmet are too thin, their weapons can't fit in.
I'm running towards them, my club raised into the air as I approach the unnerved soldiers.
My running is making the shaft in my head bounce, its not a pleasant feeling. But rather, its painful.
Does Lily refuse to surrender or something? Why is she risking her life.
I'm there, I finally get the chance to use my club.
112 DMG
EXP +600
122 DMG
EXP +600
141 DMG
EXP +650
Haaa. The club has a dent in it now. At least it didn't break.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Can I repair stuff? I should be able to repair stuff. What kind of game doesn't let you repair stuff?
"Is that you?" I heard a voice whimper
Who is it. Lily? Its Lily isn't it. This pain is agonising.
"Hi Lily" I gasped out. "I came"
I'm on my knees, when did that happen. Were the weapons poisoned?
Oh. There is is. In the corner of my vision.
Paralyzed for 5 minutes, 20 seconds
40% of DEX temporarily lost, 85% of AGI temporarily lost
Ha. Just my day. When did that happen.
I can hear sniffles coming from the armor.
I look around at the nearby people, no one is attacking right now which is good.
My health is recovering, recovering too slow.
HP: 341/881
I'll wait until its at least 700, what if it does damage on the way out as it did on the way in?
I need my magic, 7 knights are nearby with at least 10 men on foot. They are not attacking yet, but they are watching me as their eyes flicker towards Lily on the ground.
"Ilan" I heard a whisper, a pause.
"Take him alive"
Is that Lily?
She sounds like she's been crying.
She must have been terrified. I weakly climb to my feet, unsure if I can keep my legs.
I didn't shiver or shake, and I looked quite solid to those watching. But I still felt weak. Even knowing I must be stronger than a normal man.
HP: 462/881
A man on foot is approaching, the others are going to follow. I have no confidence that I can hold them back.
Can I risk it? Pulling the shaft out my head?
How fast will it pay off, will it restore my INT and WIS as I heal or?
No. Theres not enough time.
I need options. Options.
Ah, there's the coin move.
No. Not going to work, its pathetic. A shield maybe. But.
Run.
I have to run.
But I can't run, they will know I'm weak.
Stand, stand and fight.
Run from Lily, allow them to attack her.
I have to stand and fight, then I can save her.
With steps that felt so weak, I began to run towards the attacker as his expression firmed in determination.
With a clash we met, and predictably he ended up with a crushed skull.
He stabbed me in the head though, and it hurt.
HP -122
Why does he do so much damage? For the same reason my dead eye suddenly hurts a lot more of course. Because he stabbed the same place.
Bleeding status, -2 HP a second
Paralyzed for 4 minutes, 20 seconds
40% of DEX temporarily lost, 85% of AGI temporarily lost
I'm bleeding again. And the paralyzing effect refreshed itself?
Are all of their weapons poisoned?
Ahh, My head is killing me. It hurts.
I began to grow used to the paralyzing effect as my movements grew more coordinated, but I was grazed once more as I fended off the next four attackers and knight with club swung blindly towards them.
It wasn't until much later that I wondered why my club didn't break.
Instead I brutally abused the club, unable to wield another weapon, unable to reinforce my club to prevent it breaking down.
Head, head, leg and head.
They finally left me alone.
I can hear Lily's whimpers, the dull clashing as their swords strike her armor ineffectively.
Her desperate screams of terror, not enough strength in them to carry. But I hear just fine. "Jon!"
They are not stopping I observe, they don't talk to her but claw at her armor. Trying to get at her inside.
They look at me, renew their efforts as I slowly begin to approach.
I have to finish this.
They are there to kill her.
The battlefield feels silent as I begin to swing my club, heads removed as the rest scatter backwards.
A few of them try their luck as they see my movements dulled, but my club still works.
Standing next to the armor, my breath ragged as my head throbs with pain and crying coming from the armor, we make a sorry sight.
A minute passes, those near us have left. I can't find the strength to care.
Another minute, and I check my health.
HP: 760/881
Haaaa. It heals that high, even when I have this lodged into my brain.
Can I pull it out myself? Do I dare.
I dare.
I almost cry in anticipated agony as I grip the shaft, a damage window appearing to notify me of the fresh pain inflicted by the movement.
-8 HP
With a intake of breath I stiffened my grasp over the metal shaft, ready to pull out the source of pain.
My arm moves, yank.
Mouth involuntarily opens as I scream.
-158 HP
Minutes pass, at least Lily is no longer crying.
I sit there, lying back on the dirt as Lily lay in her armor. Companionable silence in shared misery.
She didn't know then, but she knew now that I wasn't having an easy time. No words needed to be spoken. We both knew the other was miserable.
Speaking quietly into the air, I asked "Should I welcome his new wife?"
Time passed, I lay there.
"No" she whispered. "She is.. was.. my friend."
Oh. Not just Ilan then. But is it not more reason.
"I better go get him" I eventually spoke, "I'll have to bring you along"
"Ok" she whispered acceptance.
As my health recovered from the damage of the removal of the arrow, the limitations on my stats slowly decreased. Finally disappearing after I recovered 300 health.
After I recovered 400 health, my vision finally returned in a blurred state where I could only differentiate light. It grew better as I recovered my health though, taking less than half a minute to restore itself to full efficiency.
At this point, it was a forgone conclusion Ilan was done for.
The title Demon has been gainedObject of fear and horror.
Covered in a skin of blood not your own, you've earned quite a name for yourself!
Improved relations with demons
10% resistance to fire
Fear effects are 30% more effective
Health recovers 10% faster
--------
Ilan was found hiding in a crowd, protected in a mess of other deserting soldiers as they retreated back to the city.
He screamed as I flew low and touched him, lifting him effortlessly into the air as he fruitlessly clung to nearby men. Entreaties and pleas, meaningless to me.
Finally growing sick of his crying I flew him high above us, far enough that I didn't have to listen. The mana drain was worth it.
--------
The coronation was in a week, and that week was spent quietly. My duties were over, my time was as I liked to spend it.
But my desire to train, fight and otherwise mess-around was gone. I stayed indoors, clinging to the books I carried as I refused to leave my room.
Lily often dropped by, turning to me for comfort even when I was the one who left her there on the battlefield.
Seeing Kane, he wears a expression of loss and agony on his face as he watches Lily, unable to step in her path as she seeks me out.
By now I'm pretty convinced she's fallen for me, asks for my opinion and happy to talk to me even when I remain silent.
Its nice to be cared for; but her love is unrequited.
My main quest is unchanged, and as for the second quest I can't find the will to investigate. It sounds like work and I don't have the will. I just don't care.
This place, its sad. This entirety of my life, its sad. The direction it took, it sounded cool. But its..
--------
Lily's coronation day.
Lucky for me she doesn't need to choose a husband. Infact her choosing a husband at the coronation would give the throne to him. Go figure.
Lily asked me to be there, Kane reluctantly asked me the same. So I was here.
I sat on a balcony, watching over the small crowd as four ministers at the front went through the rites. Lily dressed simply, as simple as a noble can dress with a richly colored dress. The crown looked okay, but I was really watching for the assassin. Those rulers in the other kingdoms died, and I don't want it to end just like that.
And so while her lace bodice and thin veil look harmless, my mana is being drained at a barely sustainable rate to keep the mass up and to manipulate the gravity in a way that they moved naturally.
There's nothing off about the ceremony, and it ends dully.
Lily is now queen.
QuestQuest updated! Conquer the worldsDescriptionWorld has been conquered. 79 worlds remain.
Returning in 10 minutesRewards???
Ahh. There it is.
Sitting at the balcony, I looked down in the courtyard.
Its not long now before I leave this.
Lily is greeting nobles and officials, thanking them or something. She looks up, catches my eye.
Come to think of it, I need to return the money to them.
As for what to give back and what I keep, 30% should be good.
Kane is near Lily, seeing Lily catch my eye he looks and notices me.
"Come over" I yelled towards Kane, uncaring of what the others thought. "I've got something for you"
Sitting back out of sight from the startled looks, transforming into frightened expressions as they saw my face and recoiled in terror. I sat back on the chair and pulled out a bag from my inventory. I had prepared it beforehand for just this occasion.
Withdrawing 7000 coins from my inventory I slid them into the bag, filling it to the top where I drew the strings tight. Then I settled it on the ground, a little distance away from me.
It wouldn't do to be transfered along with the bag.
A few minutes later, Kane dropped by.
Looking at me and the bag on the ground, he lifted his eyebrow dully. His face looked exhausted.
"Take it" I gestured, "I'm going to leave"
He looked at me with an unreadable expression, finally with a sad note saying his last words.
"This is going to kill her"
With weary movements, he collected the bag and left.
The time was fast approaching when I next heard hurried footsteps, I knew the portal was coming.
My back to the hallway, I took my last look at the courtyard with a sad halfsmile on my face.
I'm not going to miss this place.
"Jon?" I heard her ask, her voice somehow both heartbroken and sad, confusion reigning in her emotions.
Don't look at her, it will make it harder.
"Jon!" she desperately yelled, fear in her voice as I felt the air move.
A heartwrenching whimper, the portal came and my vision went black.