Chapter 26 - WAR
Going into the city, he marveled at how much had changed in such a short period of time.
The power of humanity to change their terrain is absolute.
He was ushered to a waiting room to rest while the court members gathered for the emergency meeting.
He called up his status, he saw he had 17 free points and started to assign them accordingly.
Now the new status looked like this
######
Name: Kiel Sinclair
Age: 16
Level: 19
Class: Novice SwordMage
Health: 170/170
Mana: 92/92
Stamina: 80+5
Intellect: 100+5
Strength: 104+5
Agility: 110+5
Equipment: Inventory Ring, Hermit's Necklace(C)*, Fine Steel Sword(C), Novice SwordMage Blade(E)*, Leather Armour Set(N/A),
Skills: Extreme Regeneration(S), Instant Step(S), Extreme Mana Sense(S), Sword Casting(A), Spell Casting(B), Life Drain(B), Intermediate Swordsmanship(B), Intermediate Rune carving(B), Sixth Sense(C), Mana Sword(C), Basic Mana Armor(C), Vine Whip(C), Basic Fire Blast(D), Basic Heal(D), Basic Electric Shock(D), Ambidextrous(D), Basic Water Bullet(D), Superior Balance(D), Underwater Breathing(D), Basic Footwork(E), Steel skin(E), Meditation(E), Iron Stomach(E), Basic Martial Art(E), Fleet Footed(11), Wisdom(11), Health Recovery(8), Power Boost(10), Slash(6), Chop(6), Stab(6), Parry(6), Riposte(5).
Experience: 1465/3000
Free Stat: 3
Assessment: Not so Fragile
######
1435 experience points away from the level cap. In his previous life it was determined that the formula for level cap was tied to the Tower Level. 10 x tower level was the level cap. It does not matter how many levels one gained but they just could not exceed that cap.
Experience can still be accumulated but it will always be -1 point from the experience limit to level up.
This was the unbreakable rule.
Before long, both men were called to the court.
Damien was already seated in his throne and all the important people in the city had gathered into the hall.
The mood was somber.
After saluting Damien, Scout Carl dutifully recounted what he saw and experienced while Kiel stood calmly at his side.
The court was in uproar. Many shouted in disbelief calling Carl a liar and this little skit with the City Lord was a blasphemy.
Many had been unhappy about Damien's decision to make the full overhaul of the City Defense.
The forceful conscription and strict control on resources had everyone exasperated.
Some had even called Kiel a charlatan and the City Lord and Kiel was cheating the public and should be burned at a stake.
Kiel simply unloads all the heads he had. Close to a hundred of them, some were even still dripping with blood.
The whole court went quiet and some people even retched.
Some were disdainful, saying that since Kiel could kill so many, their troops were more than enough. They would be safe. Kiel cast "Instant Step(S)" and slapped that fool flying.
Well, he won't die right? Whatever.
"Fools. I only ambush small teams. Now they are going to come in full strength. We all need to fight, I can't fight them all alone nor will I do that."
Some blamed him cursing that now peace is no longer possible:
"I didn't know that your livestock can negotiate with you? How do you decide how many or which to kill, I'd like to hear about it?"
Some believed the Orcs wouldn't come.
"Oh yes they would, I promise you. I killed so many of their kin. They are simple yet vengeful creatures. They will do whatever it takes to come. You can be sure of that."
They begin to blame Kiel for causing the situation anyway.
"You must be dumb. Orcs do not know how to farm or rear livestock. They only know how to breed and plunder. They will eventually run out of food.
So what do you think will happen in 1 year when their population increases to a massive scale and they get hungry?
Stop dreaming and wake up!!!"
He continued:
"They will come, it's not a question of IF, but WHEN.
Now is better than later, when they grow stronger, have more Orcs and are hungry you won't stand a chance.
You are now prepared and I have maimed their hordes. You should be grateful to me."
Damien Interjected.
"Enough, we do not have a choice. Now double up on the war preparations. In a few weeks at most, the siege will begin. Those who steal or run will all be killed. No Exception."
Seeing everyone was still contemplating their next step, Kiel added:
"After the siege is done and you scatter their horde. You need to send your troops to wipe them all out. Saving yourself from the plague in the future."
The advisor blanched.
Damien nodded agreeing.
After that Kiel followed Damien to the back room.
"You know Boss, this time I spent 80 Minor Mana Cores to create bombs to crumble that ledge.
I'm dead broke now and I have rendered great service. Don't you think you should reimburse me a bit?"
"I do not think we have anything you need. You have taken everything you could possibly use last time."
"Don't worry about that, I'm sure I can find something useful."
Shoren was shaking his head like a drum. Desperately signaling Damien to never agree.
The sigh of Kiel making off with all those treasures last time was still fresh in his mind.
"Speak, what do you want?"
"Skill pages, I got some I fancy that I can't afford last time"
"2"
"Bullshit, 80 Carved Mana Cores surely worth more than that!!!?"
"Take it or leave it, we are stretched thin."
"They are sitting on a shelf doing NOTHING!! 5!!"
Kiel put five fingers up.
"3, Last offer."
Damien raised 3 fingers. Then continued on his business.
Left with no other choice. Kiel dragged Shoren to the treasury again.
Shoren looked like he was going to cry at any moment.
Entering, he found the list had changed, some items were no longer on the list and there were some new ones added.
Hence he picked
"Spell Reflect(A)"
"Silence(C)"
"Swimming(D)"
He also offered "Standard Swordsmanship(B)" for "Nightvision(B)" that was not there previously.
From that day on, he would religiously practice swordsmanship with Ryujin every morning.
Ryujin had introduced him to the Martial Arts Dojo Master, Shiryuu Yamada.
The two blockheads got along really well and Kiel spent every noon with him to practice his martial arts.
Time flies and before he knew it 3 weeks had passed and he had finished using all his skill pages and had even upgraded his skills:
"Spell Reflect(A): Reflect next spell below A grade, 20 mana"
"Silence(C): Silence target for 5s, 10 mana"
"Swimming(D): Proficient at swimming"
"Nightvision(B): Able to see in complete darkness"
"Intermediate Martial Art(D): Intermediate level Martial Art"
The news was that the Orcs had finished repairing the ledge and would soon cross the mountains.
Four weeks after his arrival, the Orcs came. Outside the tightly shut gates, were a horde of Orcs, easily 1000 Orc strong.
Standing on the City Wall, he checked his status
######
Name: Kiel Sinclair
Age: 16
Level: 19
Class: Novice SwordMage
Health: 170/170
Mana: 92/92
Stamina: 80+5
Intellect: 100+5
Strength: 104+5
Agility: 110+5
Equipment: Inventory Ring, Hermit's Necklace(C)*, Fine Steel Sword(C), Novice SwordMage Blade(E)*, Leather Armour Set(N/A),
Skills: Extreme Regeneration(S), Instant Step(S), Extreme Mana Sense(S), Sword Casting(A), Spell Reflect(A), Spell Casting(B), Life Drain(B), Intermediate Swordsmanship(B), Intermediate Rune carving(B), Nightvision(B), Sixth Sense(C), Mana Sword(C), Basic Mana Armor(C), Vine Whip(C), Silence(C), Basic Fire Blast(D), Basic Heal(D), Basic Electric Shock(D), Ambidextrous(D), Basic Water Bullet(D), Superior Balance(D), Underwater Breathing(D), Intermediate Martial Art(D), Swimming(D), Basic Footwork(E), Steel skin(E), Meditation(E), Iron Stomach(E), Fleet Footed(11), Wisdom(11), Health Recovery(8), Power Boost(10), Slash(9), Chop(9), Stab(8), Parry(8), Riposte(7).
Experience: 1465/3000
Free Stat: 3
Assessment: Not so Fragile
######
The Orcs have arrived.
It's time for WAR.