Chapter 2: Perception

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I quickly used my skill inspect as I watched one of the monsters raised above the others against the wall.

Level 2 demon

Type: Orc

That's the basic info I received from my low level inspect. Higher level inspect could inform me about its stats, and basic skills, but I rarely relied on its use. The inspect skill only informs me on creatures with souls, and it wouldn't work on inanimate objects. If it worked on inanimate objects my inspect skill would've been a higher level.

The monster roared into my face, and I blinked as I felt its hot breath over my face. I noticed other monsters were starting to reach the upper tier walls too. I gripped my sword tightly and unleashed a vertical slash against its face. Green blood spurted out as it stained my blade, and the monster's roars escaped as it fell down the piles of bodies that scramble and wiggled to the top. I noticed I received 20 EXP from that single kill.

“Prepare the oil!” I yelled over the noise. Immediately boiling oil pans were dumped over the walls onto the hordes. The monster's cries brought joy to my face. A smile plastered over my face. I retreated down to the ground, and walked up to my second in command general.

“Graffias, how does the north, east and west walls look?” My second in command was older than me by 30 years. He was an old war veteran that faced countless of these monsters. I respected his decision and actions as he had countless sieges and battles under his belt. If I wasn't born nobility he would have outranked me.

“Lord Loto, the blunt of the monster's attack were focused on the south. The other sides encounter the stragglers but overall the men stationed there can handle it.”

I nodded, but underneath all that I could see the problems faced on this side on the man's face. We knew we couldn't last that long under the horde's assault. There wasn't just too many of them, and they have nearly reached the top of the walls.

- - - - X X X X - - - -

I groaned as I pushed the corpse of a green goblin away. My head was pounding as I stood up. It was midnight now, and the moon's ray illuminated the streets. Countless goblins, trolls, orcs, and few other types of monsters laid across over the streets of the outer town. I could see some humans bits and pieces all over the place too. Our red blood intermingled with the green blood of the monsters. A street away I could see some trolls push against our makeshift barrier, its bodies riddled with arrows.

A noise interrupted my musing, and I avoided an axe that came my way. An orc roared and alerted everyone within the area. Soon goblins, and the trolls came running in my directions. I cursed under my breath and sighed at my predicament. When was walls were breached and the gate was smashed, we had retreated into the city one street at a time. Along the way we barricaded anything we could use. We had lasted the six hours, and our numbers were significantly were reduced to half of its original numbers. It was under the second battalions turn that things turned worse. The horde had a single level 7 monster, it was called the colossal Mammoth, it was easily 15 metre tall. It crushed our gates, and a small portion of our walls. We managed to drive it away under the hail of arrows, and so far it hasn't returned.

I ran into the alleyway, and smashed a window by diving into it. Inside the house, I ran to the second floor, and opened the window. The next house only had one floor and I easily reached it when I leaped. The monster behind me roared when I escaped.

I cursed and surveyed my surroundings. On the streets below, I could see countless monster's trying to smash into the barrier one street down, with countless Julian guards trying to hold its position. A little further down was another barrier being created from anything the guard could find.

Our situation looked hopeless as this was only the first day. It won't be until tomorrow when reinforcement would arrive. We needed time, and I wasn't sure if I was strong enough help turn the tides. I looked the other way, and saw our old barrier slowly being crushed by the horde that continued to piling in the current street I was on. I helped construct that old barrier, and when it was breached we were forced back. In the ensuring chaos goblins rushed in and nearly killed me.

The outer town was lost, but we still had the inner town. The walls were weaker there as it was made from wood. From this position I could see the inner town about ten streets down. Our town was build into a circular shape, and it was an easy walk to the middle of town where our household, and government building were. It was also where the markets were located and any major buildings.

I leaped towards the next building in the direction of my fellow Julian guardsmen. I was glad the buildings were bunched together, and were easy to reach the next house. In my original world this would be a fire issue and if a fire started it would easily catch to the rest of the houses. Of course I didn't care, I just wanted to stay in my room.

Within moments I was inside the safe barrier in the next street over, I used my sword and smashed my way into the house. Cutting a small opening for me to get into the attic, and I made my way to street level. When I opened the door, the men behind the barrier raised a sword in my direction, and was surprised I was there.

“Lord Loto! We thought we lost you!”

“Where's General Graffias?” I asked.

“He's at the next street finishing up the next barrier. We're under heavy pressure here and think we won't last 20 minutes. We need to hold this line for 30 minutes until the next barrier is constructed. Two streets down, another barricade is currently being created.”

I nodded, and watched a small squad of goblin leaped over the barrier. I immediately took action and slashed at the nearest goblin. It's head dislodged from its body, and I continued to the next one. The next goblin was carrying a spear and tried to stab me in the stomach but I changed its trajectory with my free hand, and countered attack with a slash to the stomach. The swordsman next to me took on the next goblin, and finished it off within moments. Another goblin further away was attacked by two man carrying a sword and a spear, and it died moments later. I looked around me and saw the desperation in the mans’ eyes. Even I could feel the tension in the air, and I knew it was only a matter of time until this barrier was breached.

“Hold this line, I'm reporting to General Graffias.” The nameless soldiers nodded and I gave command to the highest ranked solder within the area. I retreated into the higher lane, and saw Graffias yelling out commands.

“Graffias!” I yelled out.

When the man saw me, he looked relieved.

“I thought we lost you at the last barricade, Lord Loto.”

I nodded, my head was still pounding. I didn't have a rest yet, and I could feel my body getting heavier.

“I'm going to retreat to have a rest, I'll send up captain Drake, and squad captain McKinley to help man the station.”

Graffias nodded. “They should be at headquarters informing the Lord Cecil about our situation. They should arrive soon.”

I nodded, and sheathed my sword in my holster. I've been fighting nonstop since early this morning, and I was getting tired. I walked down the street to the inner town, I could see soldiers running back and forth in the streets, and once in awhile a soldier recognized me and saluted me. I nodded back at them, and continued my way to my destination. When I reached the looming walls of the inner town I could see the large gate which was usually open was firmly closed, and a smaller door was used to direct the traffic of people entering and leaving the inner town. I waved at the guard stationed at the door on the large gate, and he let me through easily. I entered the headquarters, and entered into the war room. I expected my father, and captain Rex to be in the room, but there was two others I recognized that slightly surprised me.

One was my younger bother, who was about two year younger than me. His name was Titus Julian, his level at 2, closely reaching the level 3 mark. My younger brother was the front-liner, and was always out and about fighting the monsters that threatened our lands. Sooner or later he'll surpass me when compared to experience and levels. Mostly because of my habit to stay in my room.

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The next person didn't surprised me as much as my brother being in the room. The man's name is General Theodore, and was command of the whole regime in our entire town. He was the man in charge, second to my father.

“I didn't expect you to be here, I would have thought you'll still be out fighting,” I initial the conversation to my younger brother.

“I also expected you to be in your room cowering older brother,” cold eyes glinted in my direction.

“There was too much noise outside to enjoy the comfort of my room,” I replied. “So I might as well help out this minor shuffle your party can't handle,”

I could see twitch of annoyance on my younger brother's face. I smiled slightly, and ignored him.

“General Theodore, Lord Cecil, I have completed my duties,”

My father, the lord smiled, but his eyes held no warmth.

“Excellent my eldest son, but as of this moment our forces are constantly being pushed back, and we expect the horde to reach the inner wall in the morning.” I knew once the inner wall was taken the monsters would reek havoc among the population, as it was harder to barricade the inner town than the outer town. The inner town was built during the time of the city-states era, and it wasn't uniform unlike the outer town which was built with defence in mind.

I sighed,

“I request two hours rest,” I immediately replied.

“Cowering again my dear brother?”

“Granted,” My father replied. “But once you have rested you are expected to return to your post.”

I nodded. I ignored my brother's remarks, and left the building. I entered my estate and I called for my servants to help remove my amour within the armoury. Treya was our head butler, and he was one of my trustful aid. I ordered him to clean my blade, and amour of any blood that stained it. I also told him to wake me up in two hours as I headed to my room for a much needed rest. I didn't bother taking off my leather gauntlets.

My muscles ached, and my head was still pounding when I fell on top of my soft bed. I was out like a light.

- - - - X X X X - - - -

I opened my eyes, and stared down at the darkness around me. It eternally stretched in all directions, and I couldn't pierce its depth. I could strangely see my hands perfectly within this darkness. It was dark, yet it wasn't dark. Where was I?

The light giggled interrupted my thoughts, and I tried finding it's source. I had no clue where the sound originated, but the more I waited, the sound became louder.

“Hi,” A whisper entered into my ear. I could hear the hot breath escaping from whatever was behind me.

I twisted my body and tried swinging my arm at whatever was behind me, but nothing was there.

“That was rude,” the person giggled again.

I turned around to look at the source, and my eyes slightly widen. The person was a women, a very beautiful women. She had flawless pearl white skin, and smooth silky hair. She wore some sort of toga that tightly showed off her curves.

“Where am I?” I replied.

“Silly you died remember?” She smiled.

I held my head in pain while memories rushed back into my head. I remembered being in my room using the computer, and the weather was pretty hot that day. I wanted ice-cream but we didn't have any in the fridge. So I gathered some change I threw around my room, and walked to the local convenience store. I remembered crossing the street, and then the truck.

“So I must have died huh,” I smiled slightly.

“Yup!” The women was happily upbeat that I find slightly annoying.

“So this where I get judged, and get sentenced to either heaven or hell?” I asked.

“Ah that's where your wrong. Well you see, you weren't suppose to die, and the God of your world wasn't paying attention when you died. That truck should have missed you, and you would have brought your ice-cream and go back online on your computer.” The women grinned at me.

“If I wasn't suppose to die, what am I doing here?”

“Well... Since the God of your world made a mistake I'm here to correct his error. You see, your world's God has a plan, and when everything follows that plan the souls get recycled and sent back into the world, but very rarely we have people like you,” the woman’s smiled widened.

“Other Gods of other universes take this opportunity to take the souls of the oldest universe in the multiverse, and recruit these souls like you to help the calamity of the younger universes.”

Huh... Multiverse, calamity, younger universe? My head tried to revolve around these words. Just what was exactly going on?

“In the younger universes, there's a growing virus that's wiping out everything within that world. A few Gods and universes I've known has grown dark, and I haven't heard from them. Your soul has the power to fight against this growing calamity within my Universe. And I fear the world will meet its end soon. Which was why I fought to take your soul first before the others took it for themselves. Soon my influence will end and I will disappear too if this trend continues.”

Somehow this reminded of me some light novel I read, and I could guess where this was going to end up.

“Let me guess, I'm either going to be summoned as a hero or reincarnated into a baby into this world?”

The Goddess nodded, and I sighed. I am probably the worst person for the job, as everyone within my family knew me as the laziest.

“Your correct, but your going to be reincarnated. Reincarnation is the safest way to safely transport a soul from the oldest universe to my universe. A forced summon damages the soul and couldn't reach its full potential.”

The Goddess lightly tapped my head, and a small glow escaped from my body. I could feel some sort of sensation entering my body and entered deep within me.

It felt good.

“This is a small blessing from me, I expect great things from you.”

- - - - X X X X - - - -

“Young master,” Treya lightly shook me awake. I groaned from the headache I received. I wasn't fully rested, but it was enough for now.

“I'm awake,” I replied. I left my bed, and followed Treya to the armoury.

“How's the outer town? I asked him.

“I hear the soldiers are still fighting at the barriers, and on the west side the pressure increased when the horde couldn't penetrate the south side.”

I nodded and equipped the rest of my amour and my weapon. My position was at the south side. All I had to do was hold that position the longest I could until reinforcements arrived. The commanders of this siege was my father and General Theodore, and I was expected to follow their orders.

“I'll be leaving Treya,” I nodded at my trustful aid and left the estate.

I bypassed the headquarter this time as the Lord and Commander would know I would arrive at the battlefield on time. I left the inner wall on the south side, and walked down the streets. I could see even more injured being carried into the inner town. I walked down the main street and saw General Graffias barking out orders. We have lost two more barricades within the two hours I have slept.

“Graffias I've returned,” I stood next to the man. He was taller than me, and was more buff with scars around his body and face.

“Lord Loto, we're been expecting you. The battle been fierce this side, and we can't handle the trolls that ram the barricades.”

I sighed, those damn trolls were huge, and its levels easily reached level 4.

“I might have a plan to handle those trolls, but I'll need a small elite force to back me up,” I replied.