The group had been walking for about an hour after leaving the Commander and his camp and they had been pretty silent the whole time, each lost in their own thoughts. Roman had been thinking about how to try to teach the others to use chi…or like how to force it on them. He figured if he couldn’t teach it to them he could put a little bit of his chi in them and command it to build and follow the host’s orders…but that seemed weird and impossible but then again so was almost everything he’s been doing so far. Roman glanced at Lexi as they walked, the thought of sharing his chi bouncing around his mind. It was risky and untested, but it could make a difference. He took a breath, slowing his pace until they were walking side by side, slightly apart from the rest of the group.

“Lexi,” he said softly, drawing her attention. She turned, eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of weariness. “I want to try something, but it’s… unconventional.”

She furrowed her brow. “What is it?”

“I think I can share a small part of my chi with you,” Roman explained. “If it works, you’ll be able to harness it, use it for strength, maybe even start cultivating your own power.”

Lexi’s eyes widened, her surprise giving way to determination. “I trust you. What do I need to do?”

Roman slowed a bit but kept walking and gestured for her to do the same. Roman gently grabbed Lexi’s hand, her tiny hand lost in his much bigger one, feeling the coolness of her skin. He closed his eyes and summoned a small thread of chi, guiding it carefully from his core to hers.

“Focus on this,” he whispered, nudging the glowing energy forward. Lexi’s eyes shut tightly, and her breathing became shallow as she felt the pulse of warmth begin to spread through her. The chi moved sluggishly, as though unsure of its new home.

“I feel it… but it’s slipping,” Lexi said, her voice tight with concentration.

“Don’t fight it. Guide it gently for now, its a lot more physical than mana but it doesn’t recognize you yet,” Roman encouraged. He kept his hand steady, using his own chi to push and stabilize the thread as Lexi struggled to take hold. The glow between them flickered, and beads of sweat formed on her brow. Time seemed to slow as they stood there, locked in silent focus.

Behind them, Seth, Jessika, and Z noticed their unusual stance and stopped walking. They exchanged glances but remained quiet, their curiosity evident as they watched Roman and Lexi work in unison.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lexi’s expression shifted. A small smile curled at her lips, and her eyes opened, shimmering with an inner light. The seed of chi had settled within her, its pulse steady and warm spinning gently as Roman set it.

“I can feel it now,” she said, her voice soft with wonder. “It’s… different, but it’s there.”

Roman’s shoulders relaxed, a relieved smile spreading across his face. “Good. Now, you need to focus on shaping that energy, building it into a core. Once you have that, you can start cultivating it on your own, spinning your chi to cleanse it, and maybe you can even absorb it and add to your own like I can...not sure the extent of this.”

Before he could say anything more, a sudden alert blinked across Roman’s vision:

He blinked, a rush of realization washing over him. Lexi had just gained access to the benefits of his titles, which meant she would grow stronger and faster—leveling at his speed. He glanced at her, the subtle glow in her eyes already hinting at the changes taking place.

“What just happened?” she asked, noticing his shift in expression.

“We’re a party now,” Roman said, still processing the implications. “You’ll gain the benefits of my titles. You’re going to grow stronger, faster than before.”

Lexi’s eyes widened, and then a determined gleam settled in them. “Then we need to do this for the others.”

Roman turned to Seth, Jessika, and Z, who had stepped closer. They must have heard, their expressions filled with anticipation.

“Your turn,” Roman said with a grin. One by one, he implanted a small seed of his chi into each of them, guiding it until it settled and their eyes reflected the newfound energy within. Each time, the system alert repeated, solidifying their bonds as a permanent party.

The group continued their journey north, the renewed sense of power and unity palpable. The forest began to thin, giving way to open plains where the town awaited. Rows of farmland stretched out before them, dotted with crops and grazing livestock. The air carried the familiar scent of earth and hay, a stark contrast to the dense forest they had just left behind.

Roman took a deep breath as they approached, the sight of simple life in the town a welcome change after days of hardship. But they all knew this moment of peace was just a brief reprieve. The true test was still ahead.

As they stood on the edge of the open plains, a sudden shimmer of blue crossed Roman’s vision again:

* Roman (Leader)

* Lexi

* Seth

* Jessika

* Z

* Grey Wolf (Unnamed)

Party Benefits:

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

* Party members gain shared benefits from the party leader’s titles.

* The more party members cultivate their cores, the greater the benefits and accelerated growth they gain.

* Cultivation progress will dictate individual leveling speed and effectiveness of shared benefits.>

Roman’s eyes widened as he read the new alert. He turned to the group, who were still basking in the afterglow of their newfound power, and took a moment to let the significance sink in.

“Oh cool.” Roman said, glancing between each of them “The more you cultivate, the more you’ll benefit from my titles. It means your cultivation will directly affect how quickly you grow stronger.”

Lexi’s eyes shone with determination. “So if we cultivate like you do, we’ll level up as fast as you?”

Roman nodded, a smile breaking through the seriousness of the moment. “Exactly. It’s not just about gaining power; it’s about how we shape it. The better we are at cultivating, the faster we can take back what we’ve lost.”

Z clenched his fists, his massive hands tightening with newfound resolve. “Then we have no time to waste.” They started walking again, eager to try things out as they move or better yet get to the town already so they can settle down and really get to it.

…

The town ahead stood bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, surrounded by golden fields of wheat and patches of vibrant green crops. The peaceful sight was a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind. And Roman knew this wasn’t time to relax in the peaceful town—it was time for preparation, time to get stronger.

“Let’s move,” Roman said, looking at the party around him. “We’ve got a lot to learn, and even more to fight for.”

They stepped into the open, the farm fields crunching beneath their boots, ready to face whatever lay ahead. The battle wasn’t over—it was only just beginning.

As they approached the edge of the fields, a tall, wiry man stood upright in the golden sea of wheat, a scythe in his hands glinting faintly in the sunlight. He shaded his eyes with one hand and called out, his voice carrying over the rustling stalks.

“Hey there! You folks have business in the town?”

His shout drew the attention of others nearby. Five more heads popped up from the wheat, their faces wary but curious as they glanced in Roman’s direction. Each of them appeared to have been hard at work harvesting, their tools momentarily idle as they waited for a response.

Roman slowed his pace and raised a hand in greeting. “Yes, sir! We’re travelers passing through and looking for a place to rest!” he called back. As they closed the distance and his voice could carry more easily, Roman added with a casual tone, “We’ve been out of touch for months—exploring that new dungeon everyone was buzzing about—and we have no idea what’s going on. Things seem... different now.” He feigned curiosity, watching the man’s reaction closely to gauge the tension in the area.

The man spat onto the ground, his face twisting with anger. “You got that right—things are different! We were attacked!”

Roman furrowed his brow, mimicking shock. “Attacked? By who?” he asked, injecting a note of incredulity.

“They never confirmed it,” the man growled, his voice rough with rage, “but it has to be those Fairennian scum!” He spat again, his disgust palpable. “They’ve been prowling around those mountains for generations, lookin’ for a way to strike. My daddy used to warn about it all the time, but did anyone listen? No! He used to say, ‘If only we had a King more interested in the safety of the whole Kingdom than just his precious capital!’ And he was right. We should’ve been combing through those mountains ourselves, but the King ignored it. And now look at us—doomed!”

His voice cracked, the bitterness raw. “The army tore through here, took everything that wasn’t bolted down. Livestock, supplies, tools—you name it. All we’ve got left is this harvest, and God help us if we lose that too.”

Roman nodded solemnly, his face painted with concern while his mind churned through the new information. “I’m so sorry to hear that,” he said earnestly. Seth stepped forward, his shoulders tense. Roman glanced at him, wondering if the talk about an absent King had struck a nerve.

“Well,” Seth began, his voice calm but firm, “do you mind if we stay awhile? We can help out with the harvest if you show us what to do. We’re also good hunters, so we can bring in fresh meat if needed.”

The farmer nearest the stone wall leaned on it, his face weathered but his eyes sharp. “We’d welcome the help, of course,” he said, wiping his hands on a ragged cloth. “But hunting’s not what we need. Ever since that bastard army passed through, the monsters they brought with them escaped and have been terrorizing the area. If you can deal with those, we wouldn’t have to stand guard all night just to sleep a little before working all day.”

Roman nodded eagerly. “Monsters? Consider it done. Just show us where to settle down, and then point us in their direction.”

One of the older men stepped forward, his gait slow but steady, his voice carrying the weight of experience. “The Markenson family fled before the army came through, but word is they were attacked on the road and didn’t make it. Their farm’s empty now—unused and abandoned. You can stay there. We’d been trying to figure out how to handle their harvest along with ours, but maybe that’ll solve both problems. We’ve lost too many hands since the attack. Most of the younger folk fled to the coastline, hoping to reach family and safety.” He sighed, shaking his head. “But enough of my rambling. Follow me—I’ll show you where to put your feet up.”

The man turned, leading them down a narrow dirt path that soon widened into a cobblestone road. Roman’s gaze wandered over the vast fields of wheat on either side, golden stalks swaying in the breeze. The farmhouses were scattered across the land, some looking well-kept while others bore signs of abandonment—broken windows, overgrown yards, and roofs that sagged with neglect.

As they walked, other farmers raised their heads and offered wary nods or half-hearted waves, their weariness clear. Roman returned their greetings, offering smiles where he could. The tension in the air was palpable, the kind of unspoken fear that lingers long after the devastation.

“We’ll help them,” Roman murmured under his breath, his voice firm with resolve. His companions glanced at him and nodded. The destruction left behind by the army—and the abandonment that followed—reminded him of Eidon, and the thought of doing nothing while these people struggled was unbearable.

The old farmer finally stopped in front of a modest farmhouse with a faded red door. The surrounding fields were still intact, but the farm itself bore the marks of neglect. “Here it is,” the man said, gesturing to the house. “It’s not much, but it’s yours to use. I’ll come by later to tell you about those monsters and where they’ve been spotted. For now, settle in and rest up. You’ll need it.”

Roman nodded, stepping forward to take in their temporary home. “Thank you. We’ll make sure this place is put to good use.”

The farmer tipped his hat, a ghost of a smile crossing his lips before he turned and shuffled back toward the fields. Roman stood there for a moment, the weight of the situation sinking in. He wasn’t sure what kind of monsters they’d face or what they’d find in this worn-down farm, but one thing was certain: they’d fight, not just for themselves, but for the people who were left to pick up the pieces.

“Let’s get to work,” he said, turning to his friends. “We’ve got a lot to do.”

And with that, they stepped into the farm, ready to face whatever came next.