Humans are coming. And even when the monkeys were focused on only fleeing they did this much damage on them. I call for a war council.

"Humans are coming, they are probably hunters hired to kill me. How many were there?"

"Ook! Four!" I can understand about half of the monkey's speech now. And yes, as monsters, they are intelligent, but not too smart.

"And did they use magic?"

"Fireball! Sword on fire! Ook." The monkeys imitates the moves of the humans. It seems one of them is an elemental magician, and another is a magic swordsmen.

"And the other two humans?" They should be an B or A rank party. Probably strong enough to take out the Orc King without any casualties.

"Pointy fly stick. Hurt! Iron skin. Slow!" An archer and a tanker. It is a rather typical four man formation we see in online games. Ability Power midlaner, tanker, magic blaster and a ranged AD carry. There is no jungle?

APC should be the most troublesome. Because since it is a front liner, it should have some resiliency. If the front is able to stall for time, the rear row will dish out amazing DPS. The only counter I can do is the jungle gank.

I was afraid of fighting until now, and most fights had a bad outcome for me because of my half-assed attitude. But when I stopped and faced the Orc King I also found something. Confidence. I can trust my skills to get me where I want if I have the guts to walk the path. I am sure my skills were leveling up even in the middle of the fight.

Around me, every monster is psyching themselves for a fight.

Can I be so cruel as to throw them into obviously higher ranked enemies?

Can I be so callow as to deny them a chance at fighting?

Should I trust them?

Shelter them?

Use them?

All of the above options leave a bitter taste on my mouth. Any of these paths will lead to the death of several of these companions I've earned.

Only one choice is left. The one I am running from. The one I haven't even considered. I look at Shraaizar. I look at the burly burned blisters monkeys. The other lesser monkeys that are waiting.  I stretch out an arm towards Shraaizar. She takes my hand. I can't run. The path I've stumbled on so far can only take me here. To get even further, I need to walk on a proper one. I shall lead them. Coordinate them. Make them use their abilities to achieve one goal we all want. To keep our way of living.

"Today, we will fight. To protect our meadow. To keep on living. You will follow my orders, and those humans will perish for they foolishness." Roars echoes in the syrup meadow. It is time to lay the strategy.

First, my unused skill points. Fifteen. [Skill Growth] 8 uses that much points, and [Emperor's Might] 3 uses six. One left, leave at that. Second, I'll use up all the skill crystals I haven't used yet. Even [Belching].

Menu Option Skill Fusion unlocked.

Menu Option  Skill Organization unlocked.

 Some new options popped up. I have no time to mess with them now. [Horseback Riding] of which I had three crystals, leveled up to 2. Dupes have an use. Also I can't afford the time to summon crates using the points from the Orc King. These adventurers might be running after the monkeys right now. I should've spent them earlier. Got too carefree there.

"You wounded ones, go hide far away. Come back tomorrow. Live." The wounded monkeys didn't like, but they can't fight now. Shraaizar could heal them, but I need to save her energy. I'd like some way to share my regeneration. Like with a blood transfusion, or something. "Everyone else, move to the other side of the slime area. Shraaizar too. You two. Erase everyone's tracks."

I'll stay behind to lure them. I'll bet they don't have a country such as China in this planet. Time to dish some millennia old wisdom.

First stratagem, 'stomp the grass to scare the snake'. Not my snake.

I go with [Stealth] and [Presence Detection] in the direction the monkeys came from. I bet the ADC will find me, but it is fine. I found them first at the edge of the meadow. They are dropping their bags on a hill, and drinking some potion. Now 'taunt, kite, gank'.

"BURP [Intimidating Presence]!!! [Ferocious Roar]!!! [Belching]!!!" Something weird got mixed up in there. I won't mind now, range has increased slightly. Belching leveled. Twice. This peasant skill is too low rank anyway. It should skyrocket.

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They are startled. The mage boy dropped the potion vial. Archer girl reacted the fastest, an arrow flew in my direction, I'll just dodge. Auburn haired swordsman drew the blade and is running downhill, followed by the tin can fat tank with a spiky mace.

I'll retreat at full speed. Archer is going sideways, mage didn't move. Auburn is leading, tin can can't keep up.

I get to the clearing, the slime area is ahead. Behind a still standing steelwood tree, I'll take cover and cower. Next Chinese stratagem is coming.

Auburn enters the clearing with ear wide grin. The thrill of the hunt. the rush of chasing prey.

I look at my hands, spears in both of them. Troll Horn on the left against the tree, toothpick palmed on the right. I'm scared. But I push my fears down my throat.

Auburn spots me, and his sword flares up. Fire against a troll. He exudes confidence. Stance wide open like a 'come at me bro'.

I crawl backwards sitting on my butt and leave the safety of the tree. My eyes are glazed on the flaming sword. Mouth slightly open.

Auburn charges. Archer is taking a high position but too late.

Stratagem two. 'Defeat the enemy by eliminating their leader'.

I focus all the power I can. "[Emperor's Might]!! [Dirty Trick]!! [Short Spear {Power Javelin} ]!!"

Confident Auburn finds spear to skull unpleasant. Specially one that came out of nowhere, and dealt over fifty times the normal damage.

"Helmholtz!!!!" The archer girl screams from a tree on to my right. She shoots three arrows in rapid sequence. I evade two, one hit my right side.

I charge at the crumbling Auburn Helmholtz. If I am killing, I'll make sure I engrave their names in my soul. Legs are heavy. The toll of [Emperor's Might].

Tin can enters the clearing. More arrows. Poisoned. Useless. I ignore those pencils.

My horn spear stabs Helmholtz metal chestpiece. There is no kill like overkill. Twist and toss, a body is flung high.

Third stratagem. 'Watch the fire burn across the river'.

Turn and run before mage arrives. "[Athletics]!" Dash across the slime area. Jump over slime chasm. Shraaizar is on the other side.

A fireball hits my back and i see the ground approach. Screams of "Helmholtz, NOOOO!" I can't run prone.

Gotta stand up before next fireball comes. They didn't flee without their leader. Stratagem two backfired.

Tin Can charges as I turn to keep running. "[Taunt]!!" I can't ignore him. Must hit tin can. Claw him. I charge him and drop my spear.

A sound like a gong echoes as monster horn meets polished shield. I have to beat tin can. No. Keep the strategy. Cross the slime area.

Skill Charm Resistance increased to level 2.

Another fireball explodes to my left. Poison arrows to my right. Tin Can is caught but not singed. I've unwittingly covered for him. 20% burn.

Tin Can swings, I can only claw at his shield. The spikes hurt. They are squirting acid. Must clear my mind.

Fire bullets pepper me. Hot. The sky spins before me. Tin Can won't let me go. "[Taunt]!!" I'm angry. Acid coated spikes bash me. 30% burn.

Skill Charm Resistance increased to level 3.

Skill Acid Vulnerability (innate) decreased to level 1.

Skill Fire Resistance  level 1 acquired.

Skill Poison Resistance increased to level 6.

 "Grant, get away from him. I'm throwing the big one." A brattish voice comes from behind. "NOW!!! [Nova Blast]!!"

No you don't, Grant. I grab his mace, my hand burns. Ignore the pain. He was going to walk past me but like I am going to dance a waltz with Grant, I hug his chest and grab his shield strap from inside.

"[HP Restoration {Vitality Booster}]!"

WARNING: Technique Vitality Booster activated.          All HP regeneration will be cut off afterwards.

HP restoration doubled. Tick speed x6 ...

6:00 minutes remaining

My wounds and burns begin to close at an astonishing speed. I grip Tin Can while gritting my teeth. Brat finishes his chant.

Nova blast hits me, but Tin Can takes the brunt of the scorching fire. I'm blinded by the flare. 80% burn.

Grant groans and stops breathing. The mace drops. 72% burn.

"GRAAAANTTT" The brat yells. I feel the warmth of Grant's blood flowing in my hand going upward from below his chain shirt. This armor is not a full plate it has no overlayed plate skirt. 48% burn.

My muscles force the arrowheads out, and they clatter on the ground. My mind is clear now. 40% burn.

I drop Grant corpse face down with a smoldering hole in his back. Rush the brat mage. 36% burn.

"Get away from me!!! [Firebolt Storm]!!" Again the flame Gatling. Head on. 57% burn.

Skill Fire Resistance increased to level 2.

 An arrow to my knee stops my movement. I drop on one leg. 41% burn.

A girl's voice shouts from afar:

“THEY ARE GOING TO MURDER HELEN, YOU BIG STUPID IDIOT. WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE NEED TO GO BACK!!!!!!!”

They will Murder.

Murder Helen.

My half-assed stance against this shitty world again comes to bite me.

Racial Skill Berserk Rage (innate)  level 4 unlocked.

Due to deteriorating mental condition, skill activation is mandatory.