Either way with all eyes on us it makes my troops straighten up despite being exhausted. Their pride is ignited for the first time and now everything I have put them through is worth it to them. After all, as the bottom troop they have never felt what it is like to have people's respect.

Now I will have a much easier time turning them into an elite force in the short time remaining before the invasion. Teaching them the skills needed, I can do, teaching them to believe in themselves, that I can't do. Now that they have a reason to start believing in themselves, my teaching them a new fighting style will work even better.

My plan all along was to train them similar to the legion of Rome, which is what their new gear is for. Especially the shields and spears, something the troops have never used before. In this kingdom, the shields they use are all light round shields, they have no heavy shields.

With heavy shields my troops will be able to use the legion's shield wall, a perfect tactic against monsters. With my troop to act as the center of a defensive line I think I can lead the humans to hold against what is coming. Of course now that I have tons of gold there may be other things I can do as well.

The reaction when we reach the castle is even more intense than that of the people outside. Lots of other troop members immediately rush up to my guys and start questioning them. Being the center of attention will also be good for their self confidence so I leave them be and head to the hall to get some food.

As I am sitting at a table alone eating my meal, Shard comes over and sits down. He is accompanied by another man wearing a captain's insignia on his armor. The new guy is almost as tall as I am and is muscled like a weightlifter.

Shard says "Hi, Ash. This is Fallon, captain of the fifth troop."

Fallon says "Good to meet you."

"Hello. So, what can I do for the two of you?"

Shard says "Well, as you probably expect we are curious about your troop's new gear."

Fallon says "I also want to ask about the rumor going around that you actually killed a demon."

While I finish my meal I answer their questions and at their prompting I describe in detail the fight with the demon. In the end Fallon wants to verify my strength so he challenges me to arm wrestle him. Not wanting to hurt him I just hold my hand still and despite trying everything he can Fallon isn't able to move my hand at all.

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Fallon says "You are a monster! Your strength is incredible! And you are saying the demon was stronger than you?"

"Yes, much stronger."

Shard says "Then I guess it's a good thing you ran into it. Otherwise it would have taken the entire army to fight it."

Fallon says "We would have lost. From what Ash says we wouldn't have enough men left after fighting the ettins to face the demon."

Shard says "True. Doesn't that mean that Ash here has the strength of an army all on his own?"

Fallon says "That's the way I see it."

Shard says "How about it, Ash, could you defeat the kingdom's army?"

"All at once, probably not. But out in the field, where I could use hit and run tactics, yes."

Shard says "Are humans really that weak?"

"Yes, individually humans are much weaker than monsters. That's why they work together and use tactics to make up for their weakness."

Fallon says "You do have a point there. In the entire kingdom I can only think of about ten people aside from the captains that would have a chance against an ettin one on one."

Shard says "Yet, Ash, you can fight five ettins at once and win?"

"Yes, but that is due to my speed not my strength. Ettins are stronger than I am but they are very slow."

Fallon says "Are you saying that strength doesn't matter?"

"No, strength matters, but it is useless if you can't hit your target."

Shard says "So, strength matters, but speed matters more?"

"That has been my experience, yes. I have defeated many opponents stronger than I am by being faster than them. Including the demon."

Fallon says "Hm, I admit you make some good points."

Shard says "It makes me think that maybe we should add some speed training for our troops."

Once the two of them start discussing how to change their troop's training I excuse myself and leave. After returning to my room I lock the door and sit on the floor, then I take out the shadow ape cores. Counting them I have a total of 79 cores, and I need 31 to reach the next rank, so I quickly eat 31 cores.

Core Upgrade Progress: 100%

Core Upgrade Completed!

Congratulations! You are now Rank 6! HP +100, SP +100, Lightning Wave!

*DING*

Congratulations! You have acquired the magic skill Lightning Wave!

Lightning Wave

Level: 1

SP Cost: 150

Deals lightning damage in a cone in front of your sword.

Area: 15 foot by 5 foot cone. Damage: Int x 2

'Finally! Now I have an AoE attack!'

Looking at the remaining 48 shadow ape cores I pick one up and throw it in my mouth. At rank five each core gave me three percent so I want to see what it gives me now that I am rank six.

Core Upgrade Progress: 1%

'Only one percent each. Well, that figures. May as well eat the rest of them though.'

Core Upgrade Progress: 48%

'Almost halfway to rank seven. That's not bad.'