Chapter 15: Grab it quick!
Julian, the most talented of the Blackwood bunch and only 7 years old, isn't into the rough and tumble like his big bro. Instead, after meeting a wandering blacksmith, he's all about crafting gear.
Nowadays, in the big yard at Blackwood, they've set up a simple forge just for Julian to hammer away.
By his side, a Flame-tail Psychic Cat snagged from the Silver Iron Woods and a Fire-breathing Rage Lizard use their beastly flames to help Julian temper the iron. There's also an Ice Psychic Fish kept in water, ready to spit out a chunk of solid ice into the trough to cool down the red-hot iron.
The whole fam is pitching in to boost Blackwood.
Only little Olivia, at the tender age of two, enjoys her peaceful days. Already holding a pen and scribbling crooked letters on stones, you can hear Olivia's milky voice, slightly muffled, reading aloud every morning.
[Blackwood Year 17, Nathan breaks through to the seventh layer of Foundational Energy!]
[After over a decade of hunting, during one hunt, Nathan felt as if he merged with the forest environment. Trait gained: Forest Ranger!]
[Trait: Forest Ranger]
[Wood Psychic Constitution slightly enhanced in the forest. Years of hunting experience make him more familiar with the forest, doubling his combat effectiveness there!]
Even though Nathan's talents were still lacking after being enhanced by the Psychic Power Pills, after consuming five Beast Blood Fruits and digesting them over two years, he began to break through!
Especially with three traits, it seems to compensate for Nathan's lack of innate talent.
And it's not just him.
This year, everyone in Blackwood has leveled up!
Aside from young Olivia, who's already writing quite a bit and reading clearly, everyone in Blackwood has advanced a minor realm.
And their stash of Beast Blood Fruits, even after giving twenty to the Lightning Python, still has plenty left!
"Things are looking good."
Ethan has been watching the progress of the Blackwood folks on his screen, a fatherly smile on his face.
He occasionally deals with bandits and robbers who come to Blackwood during the drought years, encountering only two psychic power cultivators in two years, and using [Forebearer's Wrath] just once.
"Wonder when the Lightning Python will wake up."
The family shrine they built for him has become the best structure in the residence, with the high cards beneath which the Lightning Python is sleeping, its skin splitting as it undergoes a breakthrough!
This period also prevents Ethan from sending messages to his family.
Of course, Ethan could wake the Lightning Python, but he's unsure if disturbing its molting would cause any adverse effects.
[Blackwood Year 18, after a decade-long drought, the fields around Blackwood remain lush, and Mystic Boar Forest is gradually reviving. More and more people recognize this as a land of prosperity, and despite the terrifying rumors that no bandit who enters Blackwood survives, a large number of bandits have set their sights on this wealthy area!]
"Dad, someone's broken into the Psychic Beast Park!"
In the screen, Amelia, stationed at the Psychic Medicine Garden, rushes home with the psychic beasts, "They started eating everything they saw in the garden, I've harvested all the psychic medicine, and they're heading our way!"
The Blackwood crew was all gathered up.
A savvy Homing Pigeon landed on Luna's shoulder, squawking right into her ear.
Luna turned to her fam with a grim look, "We got a Psychic in the mix, tougher than any of those troublemakers who've messed with us before."
"Hmph! Let 'em come, they won't know what hit 'em!"
Nathan stepped up, standing at the gate with a pair of massive cleavers, looking like a one-man army.
Behind him, the Blackwood folks were pumped, ready for a fight, with all sorts of bizarre beasts prowling around, keeping an eye out for any intruders.
A strange wind whipped through the compound, kicking up dust but not even close to shaking off the battle spirit that Blackwood had built up over the years.
The cards in the Blackwood family shrine were shining bright.
Nathan raised his cleavers high.
"May the Forebearer bless us Blackwoods—"
"To victory in every battle!"
"Momma mia? This many folks?!!"
Ethan, chilling in front of the screen, hadn't been sweating this invasion gig too much. After all, it was just another day, another bunch of wild refugees driven mad by famine—no biggie.
But this time, Ethan's face went pale.
The Blackwood compound was lit up with tons of red dots on the screen—like, thousands of people!
Last time, facing a beast nearly at the Emerging Ability stage had Ethan all fired up, but now? Pure jitters, man.
Thousands of people scattered all over the map.
The power of his Forebearer cards? Not looking so mighty now. If he had to manage each Forebearer move himself, he'd be busy till Christmas!
"Even for refugees, isn't this a bit much?"
Seeing these folks armed with pitchforks and clubs, with that bloodthirsty look, Ethan's scalp was tingling.
He took a deep breath, eyeing the ready and scattered Blackwood kin, his brow furrowed, "It's all on you guys now."
What comforted Ethan was this:
The Blackwoods weren't scared. They sprang into action at the first chance!
"Forebearer, as long as one Blackwood stands, no one steps foot in our shrine!"
Ethan's ability was already hovering over the shrine.
Nathan knelt down, feeling the Forebearer's blessing, banged his head three times against the cards, then stood with his blades outside the Blackwood yard!
"Sssssss—"
Beyond Blackwood, there was an open field, and further out, the current beast park!
As the wind rustled the grass and shook the trees, one by one, ragged refugees sprinted from the beast park.
These starving refugees seemed blind to Nathan.
Their eyes were all fixed behind him, where lush fields full of crops stretched out, next to a large fenced area teeming with plump livestock!
In the center, a little girl with twin ponytails sat on a big rock, book in hand, her voice ringing clear:
"I have fields aplenty, each blade of grass hard-earned."
"When foes invade our soil, now only wolves and tigers remain."
"Why this hardship... why?"
A cool breeze blew, and Olivia's crisp little voice cut through the moment's silence.
But her innocent tone couldn't stir any mercy in these crazed refugees.
"Food, it's food!"
"Don't anyone dare fight me for it, I wanna eat meat, eat meat!"
"They've only got one adult and a kid, all this is ours, no grabbing!"
Madness, total madness!
Even starving, the refugees burst forth with incredible speed towards the Blackwood compound.
But what they met wasn't food.
It was—
"Whoosh!"
A fierce wind blew as Nathan stepped forward, his twin cleavers swinging out, sending out two slashes of air that cut the leading refugees in half!
Blood and gore flew!
At that moment, the charging refugees regained some sense. Nathan's air slashes carved a wide gash in the ground, like a chasm, stopping the refugees in their tracks!
Nathan roared,
"This is my home! You want food, I can give it, but cross this line, and you're done for!"
As Nathan's words fell,
The loyal Ironwood horse, a longtime companion, burst from the house, pulling a cart loaded with prepared food.
The Ironwood horse delivered the food just outside the beast park, then quickly bit through the ropes and ran to Nathan's side.
"It's food, thank goodness, finally something to eat."
"Thanks for the big boss's generosity!"
"Grab it quick!"