Chapter 11: The Commander and the Saintess.
"Let's end this here... Spear Aura..." Zurbrugg coated his spear in a red aura as he stared at Bretnach.
Bretnach scoffed and coated his shield with a purple aura, and then coated his lance with a red aura. He didn't hesitate to charge toward Zurbrugg. "Shield Press!"
"Pinpoint Strike!" Zurbrugg thrust his spear at Bretnach's shield, but his spear shattered into pieces. He then grabbed another spear on his back, but suddenly he coughed blood and fell to his knees.
"How does it feel to eat your own attack?" Bretnach looked down as he showed off his horned shield to Zurbrugg. "Spear Aura..." Bretnach coated his lance in an orange aura.
Bretnach thrust his lance, but suddenly Zurbrugg's metal cape broke the lance into pieces which surprised Bretnach. The cape itself was coated in a red aura, and the sickles that were hanging on the cape themselves acted as a hidden weapon. Zurbrugg took a few steps back and held his spear with both hands.
"Surprised?" Zurbrugg scoffed.
"Vice Commander Bretnach!" An elite knight tossed a spear at Bretnach.
Bretnach caught the spear without looking and immediately coated it with aura. He then charged toward Zurbrugg and immediately thrust his spear dozens of times in just a second. But Zurbrugg blocked them and dodged them like it was nothing even though his armor looked so heavy.
"Shied charge!" Zurbrugg clashed his shield against Bretnach's shield. He managed to knock him back, and then took a leap as he pointed his spear at Bretnach's helmet. "Pierce!" Zurbrugg thrust his spear and hit Bretnach's helmet and sent it flying.
The sound of a trumpet had been sounded, and Zurbrugg immediately backed off to respect the truce.
"How surprising... you look younger than what I imagined," Zurbrugg looked at Bretnach's face. "Looks like you might be able to defeat me in a few years knowing how young you are, but that's if you survive in this war," Zurbrugg continued as he turned around and left with the rest of the knights that survived.
Alseace hurriedly went down the cliff to help the Sikar's knights carry the dead bodies.
"What are those auras that they used? I wonder if I could use it as well," Alseace entered the camp so casually. "Moreover, he looks young," Alseace glanced at Bretnach who looked so pissed. "Maybe he's the same age as Mister Ando?" Alseace asked himself as he went to the battlefield and put a helmet on to cover his face.
Alseace looked around and thought it would be more efficient to travel to the furthest side of the battlefield so he could leech all the dead bodies from both armies. As soon as he entered the area where the elite knights fought, he was shocked when he looked at the notifications.
[Agility has increased by 2.14 points]
[0.003911% EXP gained]
[Vitality has increased by 2.09 points]
[0.004210% EXP gained]
[Strength has increased by 2.1 points]
[0.004131% EXP gained]
[Sense has increased by 2.08 points]
[0.004193% EXP gained]
[Magic has increased by 2.01 points]
[Stamina has increased by 2.13 points]
...
[You have leveled up!]
[Extra Point added by 1 point!]
...
[You have leveled up!]
[Extra Point added by 1 point!]
...
[Your Karma has increased by 3 points]
Alseace managed to leech all the EXPs without being suspected by the Cresta's knights. He was glad that he didn't have to infiltrate both camps anymore since he could easily absorb all the EXPs on the battlefield. He then went back to Sikar Clan military camp to check his growth.
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Name: Alseace LaRoze
Level: 3 (30.613762%)
Karma: 99/100
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Status
Strength: 100.92
Agility: 96.92
Dexterity: 94.04
Vitality: 89.78
Mentality: 91.92
Sense: 62.08
Magic: 64.96
Stamina: 99.52
Extra Point(s): 2
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Skill : [Leftover] [Pain Resistance] [Leech] [Sword Art] [Spear Art]
[Dagger Art] [Axe Art] [Staff Art] [Bow Art] [Martial Art]
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Sub-Skill : [Scavenger (E)]
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Achievement : [The One Who Did Nothing]
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Alseace's hands were trembling as he held a wooden bowl with both hands because he was shocked that his status increased almost three times more than before. The reason why he held a wooden bowl was that he was starving and everyone was standing in line for food.
When the knight that gave the portion to the knights looked at his hand, he held Alseace's right wrist. "Get some rest... I know it's hard, but you survived that's what matters," The knight looked at Alseace.
Alseace looked at the knight and was confused as to why he suddenly said that to him. He then walked away after he got his porridge and enjoyed his unappetizing porridge and hard bread.
"Total casualties is around 42,000. 3,000 of them are the elites, sir," An elite knight walked past Alseace with Bretnach as he informed the casualties.
"Commander Arisma is coming tonight, with the Saintess. Prepare a big tent for both of them," Bretnach was covering his left cheek since it got cut by Zurbrugg's spear on their last battle. "You! Prepare the tent for the Commander and Saintess," Bretnach looked at Alseace.
Alseace flinched his eyes because he never thought he would get noticed by anyone, but luckily he was still wearing his helmet. He stood up and bowed his head to Bretnach, and then left to ask the other knights to prepare the tent with him.
The night came, and it was just silence because they were waiting impatiently for the Commander and Saintess to come. The ones who survived since day 1 had lost hope and prayed that they would survive for another day.
Alseace had gathered enough information about the Saintess and the Commander.
Commander Arisma was a Fifth Ring of Redemption and her level was around 600. If that was the case, Alseace could estimate what Sierra's level was and how big her stat was since each level gave 1 Extra Point, but they couldn't put it on Magic for people who didn't have an affinity for it.
The Saintess' name was Arzhela Cherberell, and nobody knew what her level was. She was said to be the most beautiful woman in Sikar Clan and believed she was the embodiment of a Goddess. She was a mage, and rumors said that she could bring back the dead.
There was one thing that Alseace couldn't get from hearing the knights, and it was the reason why both Clans were at war. The only thing that validated the reason for the war was that the Saint was a fake, and Saintess Arzhela planned to take him down.
"Should I change sides tomorrow?" Alseace talked to himself as he leaned on the tree near the camp. "But since my sense is really high, I can feel when people are looking toward me and which of them are strong," Alseace stared at his status screen and still couldn't believe it. "Tomorrow is the 4th day, and they're going to all out from then. I wonder what will come on the 7th day," Alseace said, and suddenly a portal appeared.
Everyone gathered in front of the portal, and Alseace took the front row now because he wanted to look at Arisma and Arzhela. Everyone went down to their knees with their right hand on their chests. Alseace followed them and lowered his head, just like the others.
A sweet and gentle smell came out of the portal, and Alseace felt at peace for a moment by just smelling it. He kept looking down until he saw bare feet in front of him with gold anklets and a white long skirt down to the ankles. There was also a staff next to the feet.
"Stand up," A soothing woman's voice could be heard above Alseace's head.
As soon as Alseace stood up and lifted his head, a cleavage was right in front of his face. A beautiful woman with black hair was covered with a blue cloak with ornaments on each edge. She wore a white cloth that only covered the middle part of her breast and exposed her chest. He could see her white smooth skin, belly button, slim waist, and hips.
Alseace glanced over at the person behind Arzhela wearing a fit full plate armor and a skirt. He could tell the one inside it was a woman since the breastplate was different in design and shape. He believed she was Arisma, the Commander of the Sikar Clan army.
Arzhela and Arisma kept walking and checking the camp for survivors. This time they brought 100,000 armies of Tenth Atonement Candidates and 50,000 First Ring of Redemption Apostles.
Alseace felt a gaze coming from Arisma when she walked past him. He wondered if she realized that she had never seen him before, even though he wore a helmet. He didn't pry on it and made sure he didn't attract more attention by staying hidden in the woods.
"My body is starting to stink, I should take a bath tomorrow before going to the battlefield," Alseace looked at his attire covered in dried blood. "Maybe I should bath in the river near the place where I got thrown here," Alseace looked at the north where he came from.
The morning came and the thick mist covered the whole area after heavy rain. It was nice timing since it made Alseace easier to move around unnoticed. He went to the river and enjoyed his early morning bath even though the water was freezing cold.
While he was enjoying his bath, he heard a rustling sound from in front of him. He immediately opened his eyes and looked in the direction where the sound was coming from. But when he wanted to get up, a blade was already on his neck from behind.
"Don't make a move," A woman's voice could be heard from behind Alseace.
Alseace didn't even feel a presence behind him at all even though there was a woman pointing her sword at him from behind. He looked at the reflection in the water; it was Arisma who was talking to him.
Something was moving in the water until Alseace saw a flat yet wide snake slither above the water. It wasn't a real snake; it was water in the shape of a snake, but the fangs were razor sharp and the tail looked sharp like a blade.
Arzhela came out of the woods and looked at Alseace in the river. She was staring at him for quite a while, and suddenly gently smiled at him.
"If you answer my question truthfully, I'll let you live, Alseace LaRoze," Arzhela said as she walked into the river and soaked her cloth and cloak. "Now, will you tell me the reason why you're here?" Arzhela asked.