As the cheers of the small Breakpoint army die down, I move to the back of the group to find my companions. Walking through the crowd I hear two or three people whispering about "the city guy" and that they saw me kill two Kontrix soldiers like it was nothing. I'm glad my reputation is growing, and with the screams coming from nearby I'll have an opportunity to improved it further.
"Listen up everybody, we're not done yet, there's more to do this wasn't the entirety of Kontrix's force. Let's move out and find the rest of these bastards and finally put them down like the rabid dogs they are." Jax announces to the group receiving a few cheers, and more "yes sir's".
As the army moves towards the screams to find more foes, I slip in next to Lilly.
"How'd you guys do" I ask the group after confirming everyone was alive and without injury.
"Pfft, we didn't even get to the front lines before it was over." Gideon says looking disappointed.
"I got one before the fight was over." Iyana notes, sending a smirk to her boyfriend.
"How about you, did you get into the action before it was over?" Andy asked me.
"Yup, I was able to kill a few before it was over." I smirk at Andy.
"I figured out what classes and weapons Jax and his group use while I was up there too." I add as the army turns a corner.
"Really? What are they." Lilly is the first to ask, though the others aren't far behind.
"Well, Jax is a warrior and uses a sword. Conrad is a rogue with dual daggers, no surprise there. Austin is also a warrior and you guys already know he uses an axe. Grover was a surprise, he's an archer with a bow and arrow. Finally, Vivian is the most interesting, she's a mage and used some sort of energy ball attack." I sum up what I found out about the top combatants of Breakpoint.
Lilly nods along with what I say like she had some guesses that were accurate, the others took in the information in a contemplative silence. That is until I released the bomb that Vivian is a mage. At this everyone gaped in surprise, even Lilly.
"Wow, a mage. I wonder how mana even works in this world." Sam was the first to collect herself and comment.
A small conversation followed, but I ignored it in favor of looking at my level up notification.
Congratulations, you have reached Level 5.
For reaching level 5, you have received stats according to your class.
+5 Intelligence, +4 Wisdom, +4 Agility, +3 Dexterity, +4 Free stats
Next, I opened my stat screen to apply my free stats.
Name: Cassius Heart
Titles: Primus
Class: Void Tainted Spell Blade (Lvl 5)
Unallocated Stats: 0
Strength: [12] +20% effectiveness
Vitality: [17] +20% effectiveness
Endurance: [17] +20% effectiveness
Dexterity: [25] +20% effectiveness
Agility: [28] +20% effectiveness
Intelligence: [37] +20% effectiveness
Wisdom: [34] +20% effectiveness
Skills:
Energy Blade
Energy Control
Burst
Void Tainted Sight
Void Tainted Cowl
I applied my free stats the same as last time with 2 to Endurance 1 to Vitality and 1 to Strength. I was finishing up as the Breakpoint army turned a corner and found another group of 50 Kontrix soldiers standing over five dead soldiers and fighting another squad, but this one only had three left. The conversation about magic died as we saw what was happening. Without waiting another second Jax raised his sword and shouted for a charge. There was a mighty roar from our soldiers, they wanted vengeance for their dead friends. I planned use the same strategy as last time and moved off to the left flank of our charge.
I used the same strategy as before, waiting until the two sides clashed in melee, then activated my Void Tainted Cowl and started slaughtering the left flank of the Knotrix platoon. Again, as I came around behind the soldiers after collapsing their left flank, I killed a few before fading back into our lines and deactivating my cowl only to push forward in melee and try to kill whoever was left. It was easier this time, with the level up. I had to consciously limit myself once I rejoined the line.
With my improvements and the fury of our soldiers the battle was a quick and decisive victory, and this time hardy cheers broke out before Jax said a word. Revenge for fallen friends was an impressive motivator. I wasn't even halfway to another level yet, but the amount of progress I made was still baffling to me, if I was able to fight in another battle or two, I might get two whole levels tonight.
Rendezvousing with my companions I learned they got a few kills this time, they were able to push forward into the front lines near the end and Gideon, Iyana, and Andy were able to get kills. Without a beacon of sound pointing us to the next platoon of Kontrix soldiers, Jax decided to send out some scouts to find them. We knew there were more out there as Peter hadn't been seen on the field yet.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The Breakpoint army slowly roamed the streets while scouts looked for more Kontrix platoons, we only had to wait a little under 10 minutes before a scout team came back in a sprint panting for breath. I couldn't hear what was said to Jax, but after the report was done, we were on the move due east. What we found when we reached the location the scout led us to was concerning. Down the street from us was easily 200 classers, the Kontrix army had us by nearly double, though not quite. Standing out in front of their line was a man wearing all while robes with a large cross embroidered on his back. I guess that's Peter, he's an older guy maybe fifty or fifty-five, he has short grey hair and a neatly trimmed grey beard.
With my Energy Control skill, I can feel the man from here, he's easily level 7 maybe even higher. Which is impressive as I think he's got some kind of cleric class from the way his energy feels, that's just a guess I certainly don't have enough experience yet to know for sure, but it's still surprising. As Breakpoint's army approaches, I can hear Peter speaking and considering his profession I'm gonna go out on a limb and say he's giving a sermon before the battle. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the sermon was some kind of group buff or some other kind of skill.
We're running now, charging at Peter and his army even as we're outnumbered. Jax is in the lead, and as we near, I hear the last few words of his sermon before he finishes and steps back into the lines of soldiers, heading for the rear. His final words were "... and let the heathens be cleansed from this Earth no matter the cost, that we may ascend unto heaven and be reborn. AMEN!". The Kontrix army shouted an amen along with their leader, 200 throats yelling in unison. It was honestly impressive, though it would not stop me from slaughtering every last one of them.
Before we meet in combat Jax yells a final call to arms.
"FOR OUR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS CHARGE!" Jax bellowed, and Breakpoint responded in kind.
I was already on the left flank of the two groups as the lines collided and battle was met. Without a single eye on me I activated my cowl and moved through the night like the grim reaper himself, out to reap the souls of those I deem unworthy to live.
I started my by now usual work of slaughtering enemies with Energy Daggers dissolving vitals and dropping bodies as fast as I could aim. I move into Kontrix's left flank closing the distance with a Burst and manifesting my Energy Blade into my right hand, cutting a soldier from neck to hip with casual ease. I move through them cutting down anyone close enough and launcher Energy Daggers at those out of my reach. I am death incarnate scything through these men and women like they're nothing more than wheat. I push for their back lines feeling the flood of Void and class energy rushing into me faster than they ever had before. I can feel through my Energy Control skill where Peter is, he's hiding at the back likely healing anyone who lives long enough to receive his aid. Cutting off the head of the snake will destroy their morale and shut down their best, if not only, healer. He is my goal.
The Kontrix soldiers finally start to understand that something is within their lines slaughtering them. They see their friends drop dead in front of them with holes where their vitals should be and can't see where the blow came from. They start swinging wildly where they think the threat is, but I'm either too far away, using Energy Daggers, or I've already Burst away from any target I've used my Energy Blade on. It causes havoc within the army; some friendlies are starting to get injuries from the random swing of weapons.
I've easily killed over twenty soldiers by the time I reach their back lines, and I'm nearing my levelup. Coming out of the back of their formation, I have maybe one third of my energy remaining, and it's dropping every second I have my cowl and blade manifested. I see Peter looking towards the men I've reaped in horror, as the Breakpoint soldiers rush into their formation following in my wake flanking them. He's looking at what I've done, not at me, good. I close on him, trying to get a clear shot. When I finally do get a clear shot at his open back, I send three triple strength Energy Daggers at him. The first is for his heart, the second for his head, and the third is for his heart in case he has a shield like most clerics do. I immediately offset my angle of attack with a burst to my left, then use Burst again to close into melee range to finish off whatever is left. As I activate the second Burst, I see an opaque barrier of blue light shatter from my first dagger, the second puts a hole straight through his skull, the third obliterates his heart. The next second I decapitate the corpse; on my next swing I bisect the man down the middle as his cold dead body falls to the ground in pieces. I am not taking any chances.
I feel my level go up as soon as his pieces hit the ground, I instinctively open the message, close it, and push my extra stats to where I want them. I see a flash of white and I'm done adding my stats. I feel faster, stronger, less tired, sharper, and my energy reserves have replenished some. I move forward into the backs of the remaining Kontrix soldiers, cutting them down or launching Energy Daggers into their hearts from behind. I work my way back to our left flank, and once again move into our line before releasing my skills, pulling my knife, and moving back into the fray.
The fight's over, maybe no one but me has realized it yet, but it is. With the left flank utterly demolished, and my successful decapitation strike, there is no more leadership, and they're being surrounded. It won't be long now. I show off a little as the last Kontrix soldiers die, I quickly kill two of the last four with a predatory grace as everyone is winding down and watching. Nothing special but enough to leave a strong impression of strength. Jax and Austin finish the remaining two, this time now that the night is truly won, soldiers fall to their knees, crying, some jump and scream with joy. They've been in constant battle with this group for the last several days, fearing for their lives every waking moment hoping Kontrix didn't do exactly what they did tonight, and now that it's happened, and they've won, everyone can finally take a breath and release all the tension that had built up in whatever way they need to.
When I look over from the men, I see Jax staring at me, he saw what I did at the end, just like everyone else. There's, if not fear, then apprehension in his eyes as we stare at each other. I can't quite tell what he's thinking, maybe he wants to kill me right here and now, maybe he wants Conrad to do it later, maybe he just doesn't care that much. I don't know but we're both tired and it's unlikely anything will happen tonight.
I find my companions as everyone gathers themselves. Their weapons are bloody, but they all seem to have come out of the fight without any major injuries. Most of them seem a little stunned from everything that happened here. I understand, I'm a little stunned myself, I expected something like what happened but seeing the raw emotion from the soldiers after the fight was something I thought I was prepared for but wasn't.
"Is everyone all right?" I ask my companions, even though I can see they are physically fine.
I receive affirmatives and nods from everyone, though they're all subdued. A minute later Jax decides to lead the group home, saying that we will go and gather the supplies of Kontrix tomorrow. I understand why he made the decision, though I would have gone now, even if I had to take a different group with me. You never know if there's a group of people back at their base that will take all the supplies and run. It's not my decision though.
The walk back is practically silent, no one talks to each other, everyone is in a solemn and contemplative mood. Upon returning to the HQ we are applauded by everyone who remained or was recalled back after we left. The applause slowly dies though as they see the mood of the returning soldiers. Jax gets up onto his table and tries to inject some cheer into everyone by giving a small speech about how we Breakpoint has triumphed over their foe, and that we should honor the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the cause. It was a decent speech; he may have even rehearsed it before today. There were a few cheers as he finished, especially from the group who didn't go out to fight, but for the soldiers, it just didn't quite seem like the time to cheer.
As Jax finished and everyone dispersed to their homes for the night, Grover found us. He thanked our group profusely, saying they owed us one, which was nice, but we weren't really in a celebratory mood, and he could tell. Hell, he probably wasn't either, so we agreed to talk again at breakfast tomorrow and bid him good night.
Our group returned without much issue, with all the patrol squads recalled we had to fight through a few groups of monsters to get back to where we were sleeping, but it was nothing compared to the fighting we just participated in. Simple "good night's" were exchanged, then we all went to bed, exhausted in body, mind, and soul.