CHAPTER 68: The Shield Maiden

“Are you sure?” asked Garrett.

“Yes. It was always meant for her. She is my Shield Maiden, I doth proclaim,” Adam said goofily, wondering if he could ever get into the LARPing spirit. Brittney shook her head while squeezing his arm.

“Well, the hammer is a little heavy, even if it’s smaller, but the shield took three men to carry, though we made it to the size you requested,” said Garrett.

After their impromptu meeting with the Colonel, Brittney and Adam has changed direction to the smithy that Garrett Starf worked out of. Adam had expected to see forges and anvils in the smith, but this was nothing like that. Clearly, they had gone all in on the alien technology and designs.

There was a forge, but it wasn’t shaped like how Adam thought of them. It was more like a flat pizza oven, but instead of being made with brick, it was a gray stone that was cool to the touch, even with fires burning inside. There were different doors on the sides, where materials could be fed into tubes or platforms to be melted down or mixed with other ones. A whole computer like display allowed him to control the heat and mixture amount, as well as to see purity of metal and…elven wood…that he melted down or softened.

Then instead of anvils he had tables with capabilities similar to a combination of laser cutters, carving tools, 3D printers, and shape changing molds. Adam found it crazy all the things that could be done. Here they were using far in the future technology to make freaking swords and hammers to fight with.

What made it even more odd was that everything was a weaker version of what other races had. Even though they bought the [System] blueprints from the Rift store using the [System] money they took from conquered rifts, they didn’t have the materials other races would have for use. Instead, Jordan and Garrett had asked Colonel Davian for some items and vehicles that could be used as substitutions. They then used the Rift Menu to break down those materials, alter them on a molecular and atomic level, and then reform them into the smith tools.

Adam had been told that Garrett quit a good paying job using modern tools so that he could become an old fashion blacksmith. Now here he was using futuristic tools and was giddy as a teenager in love.

Some of his acquaintances from the renaissance fair circuits had come out to join him at his insistence, so he wasn’t the only one using the smithy. He and Jordan had also brought in a leather-worker and tailor knowledgeable with odd materials after all the Terrenidon hides they had gotten yesterday. Those two had driven through the night to arrive. Their workshops were in progress.

“What's your strength?” Adam asked Garrett. His eyes zipped around as he accessed his status.

“9,” he answered proudly.

“Brittney?”

“46,” she answered. Garrett's pride deflated.

“There you go. Brittney is as strong as five Garretts. With the shield taking three Garretts to carry, that means she has two more Garretts to use it with. Do we need to start using you as a measurement unit?” teased Adam.

“No, boy, no. That should be fine,” Garrett sighed.

“You might want to get some levels under your belt. Today is the last day of them before the invasion, but hopefully we’ll find ways to get levels for those still zeros,” Adam said.

“Wait, isn’t the invasion in two days?” asked Garrett.

“Yes, but we have something planned for tomorrow for morale, so we’ll be cutting the expeditions.”

“I guess I’ll look forward to that then,” Garrett said sadly while looking at his smithy. Adam shook his head. It was only one day. The man sure was dedicated. “Well then, you and the Shield Maiden can take them. We’re still working on armor for your group, making it light enough while still being durable. You said you don’t need your own to completely resist fire now, just higher temperatures?”

“That’s right. I learned a bit of control, but I still get hot. The most important part is shoes. I need something that won’t burn off my feet and can handle some impacts.”

“Aye, General. With Carver and Denton coming in we’ll get something fun made. Er, not fun but useful. Powerful. Stylish? Yes, we aren’t doing this just for fun. Though that Melina and Gerald sure are going all out designing your costumes…I mean armor, not costumes. They will be armor. Yeah…”

Adam just shook his head at Garrett’s behavior. The man was having fun, that much was sure.

He watched Brittney as she held her new shield and hammer. The hammer fit into a loop in her belt for quick removal. Normal Earth leather wouldn’t be durable enough, so her belt was made from a combination of metal links shaped from Testudinate metal, buffed to be extremely shiny, and wooden clasps from the elven wood to make it quieter. Some fluffy materials were put underneath it so it was softer for Brittney to wear, though it stuck out around the edges of the links giving it a very weird look. It was still cute on her though.

The shield was a bit longer than two feet tall. It was rectangular with curved corners. The bottom edge was slightly triangular, with an angular point that could be used offensively. The face of the shield was slanted diagonally to make it easier to deflect with. A decorative border was shaped into the edges using chrome and gold, with the Sentinel Army logo in the center of it.

The logo was a silhouette of Adam holding a war hammer over his head with one arm. It was rather simple, but the clothing designers that wanted to sponsor them after they appeared on the news had used it. They had a warehouse full of all styles of clothes with the logo on it. Even his basic tank tops had the logo on it.

Ed had hired a few friends from school to handle the clothing sales…t-shirts of interesting designs including scenes taken from their videos, cargo pants, shorts, tank tops, a variety of hats, hoodies, etc. …and they were selling them by the crate load. Adam wasn’t sure how much merch they were moving, but it might have even been fun for him if there wasn’t an impending apocalypse. Andrea’s sister had even shown him The General plushie she slept with, complete with ripped clothes and a soft hammer sown into its hand.

Brittney’s movement showed that the shield was heavy, even with her strength, but not so much that it would wear her out while using it. She made small shifts and movements, nothing big or requiring her to dance around. She was a defender, so holding her position was more important than being able to get out of the way.

“Would you be so kind?” she asked Adam after finishing her testing of it.

“Of course, my Shield Maiden,” Adam answered as he lifted the shield. She slipped the hammer into her belt, giggling as she admired the shine of it. Then she held on to his arm and they went to the Adventurer’s Guild to try it out.

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***

Adam was almost surprised at how crowded the training area was, though not entirely. With all the soldiers arriving and days of hunting expeditions getting people a few levels here and there, clearly there was a demand to get stronger and prepare. There were spars happening all over. Lilliard had a large group that he was showing forms to, then allowing them to try the motion with his corrections. Very dojo like.

Others were doing more traditional activities, like running along the outside or lifting the different size and weight pieces of wood. It seemed like there was more than one personal trainer running people through the paces. He even knew a few from the police force. Overall, Adam was pleased by the commitment people were showing. He would need a larger training center, or actual dojos soon.

The sound didn’t stop all at once when he and Brittney walked in. Instead, it quieted group by group as people watched him enter. Those who knew who he was stopped their exercises and pointed him out to those who didn’t know him. By the time he was off the wooden entry deck, and on the training area proper, all eyes were on them.

To meet everyone’s expectations, Adam strode forward as if he owned the place, well, because he did. He nodded to people and gestured in greeting. There was a slightly open space near the edge, so he headed there and took off his jeans and button-down shirt, leaving his tank top and shorts on. When he turned around from leaving his clothes on a bench, the empty space was much larger.

Not even acknowledging he noticed, he jumped around and wiggled his limbs to warm up. He used his skill [Body and Soul Shaping] to lower his strength as much as he could. Brittany hadn’t brought any other clothes, so she just stood there smiling at him.

The crowds all watched. Adam wasn’t sure if he was supposed to feel self-conscious, though honestly, he didn’t care. Some movement did catch his eyes as two college aged boys pushed through the watching crowds. They both looked like they heavily worked out, and he could see the resemblance to Brittney.

“Hey sis! You come to work out?” asked Peter, the older one, ignoring Adam. Murmurs spread through the arena.

Brent, the younger of the two, had the intelligence to look for a number over top Adam’s head. It seemed that not seeing a number made him assume it was low. It wasn’t as if Adam’s muscles looked untrained, they were just not as bulky as a weightlifter.

“This chump your boyfriend? Maybe we should go a few rounds with him to get to know each other,” Brent said with a jovial threat.

Adam couldn’t help but smile. He picked up the shield that had been set down, then carried it over to the three. He spoke loudly so everyone could hear it, deciding to play the game too.

“I’d be happy to go a few rounds, but my Shield Maiden and I want to test her gear first. Can you hand this to her?” Adam reached the shield out to Brent who went to take it.

THUD! The shield practically wrenched Brent’s arm out of socket as it fell to the ground.

“What the hell?!” he screamed as he jumped back, not wanting it to land on his feet. Brent approached it like it was a snake, walking around it while staring angrily at it. Then he tried to lift it. He almost got one edge off the ground.

“Wuss,” taunted Peter. Then Peter tried, grunting loudly despite not getting it up any further. “What is this thing made of?”

The two combined were able to flip one side over without getting it all off the ground. Brittney watched with a smile on her face.

“Oh, excuse me,” said Adam as he sneaked his way in. “I didn’t realize you guys didn’t work out. Do you guys need me to recommend a personal trainer?”

Then he reached down with one hand and lifted the shield by an edge. He handed it over to Brittney as if it was no heavier than a plate. Brittney received it without difficulty either putting her arms through the metal and wood link straps on the back, then pulled out her hammer.

Peter and Brent looked at each other and then burst out laughing.

“Damn, bro! Are you him? The General guy?” asked Peter once he caught his breath.

“Yes, that’s Adam, The General,” answered Brittney while Adam just smiled calmly at them.

“He looks so different not covered in blood and guts. You’re going to fight him, sis?”

“Like he said, we’re testing equipment. It’s a new shield. Honestly, I don’t think any person can actually fight him right now.”

“That’s a damn heavy shield. No wonder he likes ya if you can swing that weight around,” Brent added. “Anyway, nice to meet ya General. Let me know when ya have time for some drinks. We’ll tell you all about how great our sister is.” Brent smiled with pride.

Adam nodded to them, and they backed up. Now it wasn’t just eyes on them. Apparently, most people had taken the time to get their phones and were recording Adam.

Once more he ignored them. Brittney got into a defensive stance.

“How much do you want?” asked Adam.

“How much do you have?” Brittney asked back. Adam’s smile grew.

“Alright, then I’ll start slow and amp it up.”

Adam stepped forward and threw a punch. It was low powered because of his skill, and honestly it hurt his hand, but not enough to damage it. Brittney took the hit and laughed at him.

“Your Shield Maiden is not impressed, oh great General,” taunted Brittney.

He started moving back and forth. It began with him boxing the shield. Brittney stayed still and practiced shifting the shield around and getting the angle for his hands to deflect off it instead of just taking the impact. They continued that for a few minutes, minutes that would have a normal person gasping for air.

“More,” she said.

Adam obliged as he increased the available power. Now when he hit the shield it couldn’t stay still, causing her arm to jostle with each impact. His speed increased and he could now hit her shield one way and then step the other way to get close to her body. She tried repositioning the shield several times before giving up and moving her body as well. Every time Adam tried to hit her shield, she would turn herself so he didn’t have a clear angle to her.

They kept that up for several minutes while Adam saw clear improvement from her. She was getting the rhythm of his attacks down and constantly moving. He could tell that her stamina was still good even as tiring as this must feel. Yet she had faced hordes of goblins and survived. She had run through mountains with the Testudinates on her tail for hours. She had spent a few days leading groups of low levels through nature to hunt mutating beasts, on edge to always protect the people. Stamina was something she knew how to manage.

“Sword,” Adam yelled, knowing that Brittney was getting too used to his punches.

A sword was tossed into their area. He caught it out of the air and swung it on the shield where it proceeded to shatter on the first hit. It had been an Earth metal sword with a dull edge. Probably one of Lilliard’s. He frowned but followed up with a harder punch.

“Better sword,” Adam yelled again. This time a sword made from elven wood sailed in. The edges weren’t sharp, but the sword itself should be rather sturdy. He slashed at the reflective shield, having his blow deflected, but the change in angle from his punches caused Brittney to unbalance for just a moment.

He continued to circle her, slashing and thrusting. She blocked and deflected. Sometimes when her shield wasn’t in position her hammer would swing and keep his sword away.

Adam was by no means a good swordsman, but at this level of power and speed he didn’t have to be. He increased the draw from his heat and his power and speed increased further.

His sword impacts were now strong enough that her shield was getting knocked around. She was having to use her hammer a lot more. Her shield covered her body and the hammer whipped out to prevent his attacks. Faster and faster he moved. Harder and harder he hit.

Brittney’s breathing was heavy now. Adam drew in more of his power. He threw down the sword and stepped closer. He would punch the shield, then when her hammer came in, he lightly touched her wrist. Or her forearm. As he moved around her, now fast enough to dodge beside the shield, he touched her shoulder. Then he got behind her and touched her neck.

Desperately she swung the shield around, full on panting now. Her control was gone as she just had to hope to stop his attacks. A gentle poke to her belly. One to her side. She refused to give up.

Murmurs filled the training center as most people couldn’t even see their motions. They were blurs, spinning and swinging.

Adam got even more aggressive. He put a full hand on her back. Then massaged her shoulder. He grabbed her thigh and immediately let go. She swung the shield, never able to get it in front of him, always just behind his movement. He could feel her frustration through their connection. Her face was grimacing in concentration.

Then he had a moment of teenager mischief. He reached down and squeezed her butt. Brittney flashed red, her skill activating, [Shield Bash]. The shield jumped forward and clocked Adam on the side of the head. It hurt but made him smile. A feeling of satisfaction came through their connection from her.

Keeping the smile on, he tossed the shield away and then with his hand still on her butt he tossed her twenty feet into the air. Brittney shrieked. Adam laughed. Then he jumped upwards half the distance and caught her in a princess style before landing on the ground with a chuckle.