NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12: War Camp
The next day's cultivation session went by smoothly. I gained I was only able to cross the threshold to level ten which earned me another pair of titles.
First to Ten: First in the World to Reach Level 10 Reward: All Attributes +10%
Voyager: Reach level 10 Reward: Agility +1, Constitution +1, Strength +1
Both titles were incredible and confirmed that I was still firmly in the lead. None of the instructors would confirm how much of a gap I had so I assumed it was around two levels between me and the next person. Which meant as long as I kept up my plan I should open up some breathing room. It didn't take very long to decide how to spend my attribute points this time. They went into Agility. As much as I wanted to focus on Offensive power I needed to be able to survive. My shield spell was powerful but it wasn't perfect and if I was going to survive I needed to avoid some attacks. Plus if I could keep finding more titles it would be a moot point anyway. The new method was more than sufficient though. I was already around twenty percent of the way to the next level. I was pretty sure that I would level at least once between the upcoming mission and the next. Either way, it was time for bed.
The next morning I was up and out of my room before the hum. It was a bit more difficult to suppress my aura while walking. It was kind of trying to walk and chew gum at the same time only messing up would kill people. When I entered the main plaza something unexpected happened. First, a cold chill ran down my spine. It wasn't painful, it was a bit more like being stalked. I looked around but couldn't find anyone or anything that explained the sensation.
"You will get used to it." A gruff voice called from behind me just as I decided to get a move on. I turned and found a tall man with dirty blonde hair. He had a long sword on his hip and thick half-plate armor made out of white metal. "According to the teacher, that sensation is an aura. The higher levels are choosing their assignments while the rest are asleep."
I nodded and turned back to the plaza. There were a dozen or so groups of people. Each of them wore fearsome weapons and armor. I wasn't sure what the big deal was though. The sensation was unpleasant but it wasn't a problem. Part of me wanted to unleash my aura but I had no reason to believe the workers would lie to me. Nor did I feel the need to tempt fate. Not when a massive bolt of lightning would obliterate me for being wrong.
"I take it you're on the lower end of the scale? I don't sense anything from you. A bit of advice, stay back in the morning. It could fuck with your head if you stay in this for too long."
"So it's kind of like a mental attack?" I asked as the man stepped past me.
"Uh yes and no. Honestly, I didn't get the explanation but it's more like your will? According to the teacher, it could affect your "Tao Heart" whatever that means."
I wanted to ask him some more questions but it was pretty clear he had no interest in answering. He jogged over to a group of three that had been waiting for him. I couldn't help but chuckle at their group dynamic. They had formed the traditional Rogue, Wizard, Warrior, and Cleric from the look of it. Of course that assumed that the white-robed person did healing magic and not something like light or fire. I quickly realized a slight problem. If my aura felt weak or nonexistent to other people they would assume I was weak. If they assumed I was weak they wouldn't want to group up with me. I might also have to deal with assholes but if I unleashed my aura I might kill someone and then I might have to deal with a bunch of people wanting to join me.
I made a mental note to practice releasing some of it at a time if that was possible but for now. I found a corner to myself and went through my quest options. Everything from normal to very easy was eliminated immediately. I thought about it for a few minutes before I decided that slow and steady would be best. I selected the next tier up and closed my eyes as the teleportation washed over me. When I next opened them I was in the middle of a military camp. It looked like something out of a text book only the animals were all wrong. Instead of horses, they had these weird gecko-like animals. They had green skin, four legs with three "fingers". Before I could decide what to do the voice of the System filled my head.
Assist the Military Camp In their Retreat. Reward: Elixir of Awakening
I wasn't sure what that meant but from the panic going through the camp, I was in the right place. I looked around for a command center and found a dirty black tent from the shouting match going on. I stepped up to it expecting a guard or something to step forward. When no one did I shrugged and entered.
"As I have told you time and time again. We do not have the manpower to mount an attack. Our losses in the retreat will be catastrophic enough." A tired older man spoke as his hands rubbed his temples. From his body language, I could tell that this was an argument he had many times before.
"Oi, and I am telling you that we won't have a reason to fight if we tuck tail and run at every opportunity!" The second man looked a bit like a fantasy dwarf. Only he was bald and the pointy ears of an elf. When I entered both men stopped talking.
"Hello, I have been sent to buy you time for your retreat. How long do you think you will need to get everyone out of here?" I decided to slide into the role presented by the System. Now that I know it was effectively just a role play and not real people it was kind of fun.
"Great at the rate we are moving we need three hours. Is it just you?" The leader asked with a raised eyebrow. I considered lying to him but I had no answer for where my others would be. I also didn't want the other man to get some delusion about being able to fight them all off.
"Yes, since I am only buying time one should be more than enough. Is three hours the fastest you can or is it the speed you want to move?" The dwarf man opened his mouth as if ready to continue their argument but I raised my hand to ward it off. I had to work to hide the surprise when he stopped immediately. I wasn't sure what kind of cover the System generated for this quest to make sense but it was nice.
"Ah, yes of course. Three hours is the fastest we could move without abandoning people and equipment in the forest. Even if we dropped everything and ran the amount we would lose in lives would make the retreat pointless."
I was about to reply when the System updated the quest. I now had a three-hour timer which meant there was no point in arguing the point. "Which directions have you seen the enemy? Including any scouts."
"They have been to the north for the last week. They have stopped sending scouting parties and our traps have kept them at bay until now. I believe they are gearing up to rush in and wipe us out all at once."
I nodded and asked a few more questions but it was clear there was limited information. It felt a bit like being in a video game. I had reached the end of the prepared dialogue tree and any further pushing would either break the scenario or cause them to repeat themselves. I chuckled at the idea of a broken quest before remembering that this was real life and I had no idea what the consequences of that would be. I was able to borrow a simple steel sword and dagger just in case I encountered something that couldn't be hurt by mental attacks. Once I was ready I sat off through the woods.
I had no idea how to move stealthily through a forest so I went slow and steady. It took me nearly an hour before I found the other camp. To say the other side was outmatched would have been the biggest understatement of the year. This camp had to have at least twice as many people. It wasn't easy to tell but it seemed like on average the people here were weaker especially if I compared the feeling I got from the two leaders. Of course, I had to assume that they had a leader that would be comparable. Which left me in a bind. Did I try to challenge their leader straight up? Or cause as much damage as possible.
I was pretty sure that psychic aegis would let me get away regardless of the strength of the opponent. Even if I had to fight something as powerful as the Metal Man. I thought about it for a few more minutes when I made my choice. Ultimately there wasn't enough knowledge to make a decision either way. Since that was the case I decided to go with old reliable. I was pretty sure the System would give me a better reward if I beat the leader in a one-on-one. I slowly approached the camp until I heard the voices.
At first, they just called for back up but once a pair of archers arrived and pointed their bows at me I decided to stop. I couldn't help the smirk that spread across my face as I let my aura loose. At first, nothing happened I was worried that the teacher had been fucking with me. That thought was quickly pushed down when people began to step away. It was hard to explain what happened to them it was a bit like their resolve was eroded. The people closest to me kept looking at one another as if unsure the other was still there. Then the other began to step back, it was like each one was a domino that once tipped over began a chain reaction. I was sure that they were about to split in a run when a man passed between them.
He looked to be middle-aged with dirty blonde hair and dark grey armor. He was missing his left arm at the shoulder and had a rapier on his hip. As soon as he saw me he unleashed his aura and I had to fight to keep my feet. It felt like I was standing in a river of blood. Every part of me wanted to run, to get as far away from his as possible. I resisted the urge and straightened my back. I locked eyes with him and tried to aim my aura toward him, to answer his fire with my own.
"Who are you? Our scouts have no record of someone with your description in the enemy camp. If you are a mercenary we are prepared to pay you to stay out of this conflict."
I considered it for a moment but since the quest didn't mention anything about this option. I decided against it. "I am willing to let the matter rest if you will delay your attack by three hours. I have been asked to buy time for the army to retreat."
The man shook his head. "I am afraid I can not allow that. We must complete the campaign and this army is the last thing defending the imperial city." The leader spoke calmly as if we were discussing the weather and not the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of people.
"Is there nothing that we can do to avoid this bloodshed?" I was pretty sure that we had reached the end of the dialogue tree but there was no harm in asking.
"I am afraid so. I will offer you an alternative to death at the hands of my army. I will fight you myself. If you defeat me my army will retreat for one week."
"What would be the rules for this duel?"
"A single participant each and we fight until surrender or death. Though I have no intention of surrendering."
I raised an eyebrow at that. Had the System just—before I could finish the thought the quest updated and I couldn't help but smile.
Defeat the General. Reward: Elixir of Awakening
The timer was gone but everything else was the same. Before I could come up with any other questions the general drew his rapier. A scream of danger caused me to dive to the side. I tucked into a roll and pushed energy into Psychic Aegis. The protective barrier came into existence just as the general's second attack would have caught me. The point of his sword slammed into the aegis and I felt a drain on my spiritual and mental energy. I unleashed Psychic Blast intending to end the battle as quickly as possible. Instead of the expected sight of the general collapsing to the ground or even stumbling. A ring on his finger glowed dark red before it cracked.
I stumbled back a second and rapidly drew my sword. Only to find the general hadn't continued his attack. He looked down at the ring with an inscrutable expression on his face. I pushed spiritual energy into the sigil for my defensive spell. The cracks that had started to form quickly repaired themselves.
"A mentalist class? I wasn't aware that someone like that was in the backwater. We would pay you handsomely to join us." The general's voice was calm almost emotionless but I was pretty sure he was being honest. At least it wasn't some kind of trick to get me to lower my guard. Unfortunately, I had no choice.
"I am unable to accept. It would damage my organization. I am thankful for your offer though." I wasn't sure if I should bow like in a martial arts movie but the decision was taken out of my hands as the general tightened the grip on his blade.
He turned into a blur before his blade slammed into the shield. This time with enough force to shake the earth beneath our feet. I gritted my teeth and unleashed another blast of psychic energy. Instead of taking the attack head-on, he pushed off my shield and backflipped. The movement was so fluid that I was sure it would have been impossible for someone from Earth to do. At least Earth from before everything went crazy. I was pulled from my thoughts when the general landed. Energy surged into his sword as electricity crackled along its tip.
A scream of danger told me in no uncertain terms that I could not let that hit me. He turned into a blur and I immediately abandoned Psychic Aegis. The barrier shattered like glass as I narrowly avoided the general's thrust. I pushed energy into Psychic Blast a second later only for a bolt of lightning to arc out from his blade and slam into the remaining pieces of my shield. My eyes widened as I threw my hand forward the lightning tore through my palm. The energy got halfway up my arm before it met the energy from Psychic Blast. The two powers fought for dominance inside my body. The pain was so incredible that my mind with blank. I gasped and focused on the small voice in the back of my mind. It urged me forward with primordial desperation. I screamed as I pushed more and more energy into the sigil.
My blood felt like it was on fire but the lightning began to falter. I grinned and seized on the weakness like an animal that had been given a reprieve. My spell shot out from me in an explosion of mental lightning. The indigo bolt spread out like the fingers of a storm god. They enveloped the general before assaulting him from every direction. He screamed in agony but his voice sounded like it came from far away, as if the distance between us had turned into a mile-long valley. I didn't relent. The lightning faded only to be replaced with Psychic Blast. I felt the attack fade as my energy was drained but I refused to let it. Spiritual energy was replaced by mental energy as I continued my assault. I wasn't sure how long the moment lasted before something changed. A torrent of kill energy surged into my body. The pleasure from the kill was euphoric. Better than anything I had ever imagined. I let out a laugh of pure exaltation, at the victory, at proving myself better than the general.
It took me nearly a minute to remember that I was still in an enemy camp. I raised both hands ready to fight the entire army if I needed to. A small voice in the back of my head warned me that it was impossible but I refused to listen to it. I was a warrior! I was— before I could finish the thought the euphoria from the kill faded and the pain rushed back in. It felt like I was assaulted from every direction with pure unadulterated agony. The pain lasted only a second before darkness claimed me.