62 Time

Talia: "Let's say I believe you, where have you been all this time?"

Jim: "Hm? What do you mean?"

Talia: "We called for your help years ago and you didn't come!"

Jim: "Hold up, what help? Years?"

Seeing him playing dumb, Talia was angered.

Talia: "It's been 5 years since Verdana fell to the surge, now you show up and act like you haven't heard?"

Jim took a moment to absorb the information. '5...Years. I've lost that much time? No, the surge takes place every 2 years...'

Jim: "How...long has passed since I help with the crypt?"

Talia: "What? It's been 9 years, of course."

'That means they held out for one surge and fell to the next?'

Jim: "I've been in another place and lost track of time, please tell me everything that happened."

To summarize Talia's explanation, the surge 7 years ago was even more intense than the one before. Although Verdana and Amgula managed to win, they lost a sizable number of troops each. Amgula's recently rebuilt northern fort fell again, along with the other two. Without the time and resources to properly set up defenses again and a lack of fighting force, both countries were trampled in the following surge.

With the main force of the monsters gathering on the southern end of Verdana's territory, the elves fled to the northwest. Strangely, the monsters seemed to have failed in heading south to Amgula, repeatedly being repelled by something, they ended up forming a barricade between the fallen Verdana and Amgula.

Talia: "I don't know how Amgula has been repelling them, the last report we got was that they were on the losing side. That's all I know."

'Could it be...the puppets I left behind? I did make them rather strong, they don't feel fatigue or fear.'

Jim: "I see, what's your plan now?"

Talia: "The areas to the north, west, and east are all uninhabitable. We've been scouting for a hole in the monsters' barricade to proceed south. We've lost many people in the last two surges, we'll likely be wiped out in the next one."

Jim: "How many people do you have?"

Talia: "A little over 2,000."

Jim couldn't help but be startled at this. 'How the hell are they going to move that many people undetected?'

Jim: "I'm going to scout for a bit, take a few of my wolves for protection."

Talia: "We'll be alright on our own."

Jim: "Mm? Well, alright."

Talia was relieved that he hadn't pressured her, although this guy felt like the Jim she had met before, she couldn't reconcile bringing a goblin or his followers to their hideout. Jim noticed they still felt uneasy due to his appearance and decided to help from afar.

Heading out, Jim sent his scout birds to check the situation ahead. 'This is bad, so many thousands of monsters gathered together. Won't it be impossible to get the elves through?'

Suddenly, Jim's brain was on fire. 'What is this!?' It seemed to last for an hour or more, the pain was debilitating.

[System Hibernation Ended]

[Error: Host Mismatch],

[Scanning...]

[Problem Found, External Interference Detected]

[Excessive Chaos Energy Impairing Functions]

[Attempting Energy Extraction, Error: Function Impaired]

[Attempting Energy Compartmentalization, Error: Function Impaired]

[Finding Solution...]

[Opposing Energy Types Required]

[System Requires Order Or Divine Energy To Resume Normal Functions]

'Ugh...' The pain subsided, and the flood of messages made Jim ecstatic. 'It's back! Yes!' Opening the shop, Jim bought a replacement Mask of Deception and quickly put it on. Now looking human again, Jim was relieved at being able to blend in again. 'I guess i'll tell Talia this Goblin appearance was just a disguise. Status.'

[Name: Jim Garrett]

[Race: Goblin]

[Level: 0]

[Strength: 1]

'Still a large problem to resolve. I've never heard of Order Energy, but Divine Energy on the other hand...' Opening the System Upgrade Menu, Jim spent 50 Upgrade Modules to obtain Divinity Container.

[Divine Power Shop Category Unlocked]

In his status, Jim found a new entry stating his Divinity was currently 0. Now that the system was functioning again, Jim opened the inventory and brought out some gear to change into. Afterwards, he began pulling out Brain Boost pills. 'Appraise.'

[Divine Jing Qi Pill - Quality: Great]

[Permanently Enhances User's Mind And Divinity]

'Haha! Just as I thought!' Jim began popping pills into his mouth, he wasn't worried about losing the mental effect, he needed divinity immediately.

[Host's Divinity Increased By 1]

[Host's Divinity Increased By 1]

After taking all 132 pills, Jim checked his status again.

[Remove Seal - Partial]

[100 Divinity Required]

After using the function, Jim collapsed in pain. Something within him was being torn apart. *Snap, Crack* After hours of agony, he got up feeling refreshed. 'Status.'

[Name: Jim Garrett]

[Race: Goblin]

[Level: 10]

[Cultivation Realm: Peak Foundation]

[Divinity: 32]

[Strength: 400]

[Dexterity: 400]

[Vitality: 400]

[Agility: 400]

'Yes!' Feeling his Dantian again, Jim searched within. His spirit roots and the golden core were there, but there was a darkness nearly blinding his vision.

He wasn't bad to full strength, not even close. But his power was far higher than it had been for the past month. 'Alright, I can't take on that entire horde, but I have a way to get the elves across the border now.'