Change of plans 13

When John started his task of making all the assembly parts of the gun, it took him 1 hour to make one barrel. As he made more his speed and precision also improved. Mario has very strict requirements and wanted an exact replica, when the others complained for John he said "since you all thought it's hard for my disciple I agree to have 0.0001% margin of error."

Even if the requirements were strict, John could feel his crafting skills improve. His senses have become sharper, he could even sense the microscopic impurities, details and flow of elements and mana that run across the metal.

While training, John felt the his five senses has improved a lot. His kinetic and peripheral vision has been enhanced, just relying on his eyesight every detail on the battlefield moves in slow-motion, he can even perceive the flow of elements and mana. All his senses became acute, without his soul sense, just relying on any of his senses he could still accurately visualize the battlefield.

During his sparing with Jonathan and the saints, John could perceive and predict their attacks. Before he is passively defending, now with his enhanced senses, he could squeeze in sneak attacks on every opening he could see.

...

John joined the war games, they initially wanted to reject him. This may have been a closed-door retreat with a controlled environment, but the battles are still brutal. Being the youngest participant, everyone thought that John is only good at sparing and training. Thus, no one bothered to treat him as a threat. However, they were all proven to be wrong.

John only has the numbered guards as his team, the strongest is zero an earth immortal, while the rest are all just peak saints. During the games, the their team would always rank in the top 10 at the end.

The strategists are impressed with John's unpredictable strategy, commanding skills, leadership and charisma. Even on sticky situations, they have not seen him panic or make rushed orders. He would maneuver his team in ways that they could never imagine. He would use either guerilla tactics, baits, group attacks, and ambushes. Even if all hope for winning is gone and the team is faced with overwhelming disadvantages, he could boost everyone's morale and reverse their predicament.

Alfred is having fun watching his grandson, there was a time when everyone on his team was disqualified and he is the only one left. John removed all his clothes and transformed into a mouse, he sneaks into his opponent's base and stole their flag.

Alfred and the other strategist, wanted to test him, they believed that John is only able to lead the team well because the numbered guards were bound to obey him for Diane's sake. So, they made multiple swaps of teammates. This method would disrupt the momentum and organization of the team. If John is a talented general he could adjust to these rushed changes.

To their surprise, no matter how they change the members, John could always come up with plans and strategies to make use of everyone's strengths. He could make his team perform at their best, bringing out their potentials in battle.

Alfred and the rest were speechless when they analyzed all of his battles. Johns strategies, are aimed to have minimum casualties. This is more difficult than just winning, he earned the approval of the old strategists, 'the prince loves his people, even during this practice games he doesn't sacrifice his men." Alfred is very proud to hear them praise his grandson.

What they didn't know John is multitasking, one soul controls the soul sense, another analyzes the terrain, another focus on the perception of his senses, the fourth soul clone manages the strategy, the fifth predicts the enemies moves, while the last one is the only responsible for making bullets. He could do the same without using his soul clones, but as a cautious person he does not want to take risks.

His training sessions with Jonathan and the saints were put to good use, even with overwhelming numbers of enemies on the battlefield John didn't panic. He would change his style depending on the situation.

Johns fighting style is amazing, he either uses his hammer, ax, and guns. He would change the combination depending on the situation.

The immortals and saints learned alot watching him, they also found out ways to improve their fighting style. This was John's way of teaching them without looking too all-knowing. He put all his mind and effort into this, during the first month of wargames he was silently watching them, he wanted to guide them but reconsidered. These are all proud men, they may respect him but he would step his boundaries if he insisted on his thoughts. This he waited for this day to show them ways to correct their fighting style.

Everyone here is wise, they already knew John's goals when they saw his performance. They appreciated his efforts and we're touched by his meticulous attention to detail, 'he didn't want to embarrass us, the prince waited for us to gain our own style and waited for this day to correct our flaws!' they all thought

Jonathan ordered the soldiers to different positions on the training ground to record John's battle strategy and style. He guessed his son's plans from the very beginning,

There were 10 respected strategists in the empire, Alfred is the leader of this team. When he found out his grandson's plans after the first wargames, he couldn't help himself from being proud that his blood-related grandson is as meticulous as him.

The war games became the strategist's training grounds, all ten of them gathered their own team's and went on a royal rumble against John's ever-changing group. After each games everyone would sit down and watch the replay from all angles that were recorded by the soldiers, watching 20 screens at the same time is not that difficult for these people. Their actual battle strategy has improved by leaps and bounds because of this.

Day after days during the war games, the fights became more heated as the strategists learned of other ways to incorporate the guns into their plans. They all have a new understand

Ing of John, 'the prince is not like their king who is very righteous, he is like a cunning fox who uses his enemies psychology against them, he is very patient and like a tiger, he would wait for the opportune moment to pounce on his prey.'

'The prince will use tricks and backstabbing strategies to win the battle, even with overwhelming advantage, he would have several backup plans for every possible outcome.'

John knew of the barbarian's straightforward personalities this he wanted to let them change this. Though it is not that bad but the risk of having many of their men killed is higher since they would often face their enemies head-on. He wanted them to understand that winning is not just by overwhelming the enemies with strength but there are other ways to win without risking too much.

The people could also feel his concerns, and we're thankful for him. They knew that's its are hard to change but they knew that their previous style is indeed risky, as they hated sneak attacks and backstabbing, they would strategize on head-on attacks. His target of teaching is not the strategists but the other people, this are all commanders of the empire, enlightening them would lower the amount of risk their men would have to face on missions and battles.

The strategists appreciated this, they had long wanted to change this way of fighting, but it's very hard to change one's perception. They were all well-known figures but they can influence everyone since not all of these men look up to them. But John is different, the month he had been with this person he had gained their respect and recognition. The people could be said to have blind belief in him. Thus, knowing that their prince is applying such strategy, they don't look down on this style anymore, slowly they are changing their mindsets.

They now idolize John, they don't feel embarrassed looking up to a two-year-old. Because this two year old prince could battle against the empires top strategist without being on a disadvantage. This only means his style is not disgraceful, but also a way of exhibiting strength without showing all their trump cards.

In just a month the wargames strategy completely changed, from the previous brawling type of battle it has now become a systematic and carefully planned battle. Slowly their battle plans and strategy became flexible, this was noticed by Alfred and the rest. They all became elated, even if there will be another war they knew that the amount of casualties would greatly lessen.

...

The training for the three arts of the barbarian race is moving smoothly, the progress is slow but steady. More and more of them have broken through the earth level of the BGBTA. While the metal element manipulation, may not have improved much but their mastery and control is ten times better than before.

John lectured on firearms and ballistics, he discussed about the parts and purpose of each gun part. Then he thought them about bullet shapes and designs, he also demonstrated the difference of each bullet. He obviously had to test this with Mario, and the rest of the blacksmiths first. On earth, John learned everything about weapons, this he studied even the production, he have read all the books explaining all the theories behind each weapon. Since this world is completely different from earth, he needs to make his own designs for the guns.

Mario, is very much impressed with his disciple, in curiosity he asked John why he knows too much.

"Gramps I have a secret" he said, he didn't want them to be overly suspicious of his knowledge this he plans to share his experience with Rigurs memory to cover up his past life knowledge. He may have kept some secrets but it's all his pastries treasured memories.

Then he asked for his parents and Alfred. When they came he said apologetically "everyone I'm very sorry, I have a secret that I have been keeping all this time."

"You all might wonder why I have too much knowledge for my age and suddenly matured a year ago." all of them nodded, they wanted to ask but knew that everyone has secrets, and John decision has always been respected by his parents and grandfather thus, they didn't ask.

"I know you won't tell this to anyone, but it's a secret that I promised the ancestor to never expose. And the reason why I've kept it, is because I fear that by telling you my secret, I would be kept under your tight protection." he gravely said

His parents and grandfathers were wondering what kind of secret would it be? And to have them be more protective of him, they all feel more interested in knowing it.

Then he recounted his experience while he was transforming his body after the golden page remodeled him. His experiencing the life of the ancestor from childhood until before his ascension. The four were flabbergasted as they heard his unbelievable story, but believed it nonetheless. Johns mastery of the three arts is beyond anyone of them, even before the planar wars when most of the elites of the empire were still alive, no one is more knowledgeable than John.

Now they were all clear of the reason, his frutious encounter is a lifetime worth of knowledge and experience of their ancestor. They didn't feel jealous, but we're now worried. Knowing this they felt the more need to protect John, now they understood what he meant by keeping him under their protection.

Jonathan is having a dilemma, he should have just let John kept this secret, knowing it makes his head hurt. How could he now not treasure his son even more? John is now the empire's most valuable treasure. Diane and the rest could see Jonathan's dilemma, they were also regretting their decision to hear about this secret. Their urge to protect him became stronger.

When John saw them silent he could guess their thoughts, but he silently waited and prayed that they won't be overly protective of him and won't permit him to explore the world on his own.

Jonathan opened his eyes, then said, "its decided, you will not be permitted to leave the empire until you reach adulthood! Spend all this time training yourself until you reach black gold level on the BGBTA."

"Dad I think it's a very difficult requirement!" he complained

"What difficult? Only after you reach the black gold level could we feel at ease when you leave the confines of the empire!" he said, once he reaches the black gold level of the barbarian God body transformation arts, even if he is faced with immortals he has a 100% chance of survival.

Starting from the red-gold level, the practitioners could regrow their limbs and organs. As the level improves the speed of re-growing parts and organs increases, and on the black gold level, as long as there is just a speck of blood or flesh and the soul didn't dissipate the warrior could regrow his body in time.

When they reach immortal level, it's then could a warrior reconstruct a body granted that his soul didn't dissipate.

This was Jonathan's condition, and the others agreed. John did not complain, the target may have been impossible for others but John believed that he could reach the black gold level by his 15th birthday.