Upgrading The Sword & Shield Twins

The clean-up operation was amazingly swift, almost eerie in thoroughness. Gone were the remains of Peter, scattered all over the floor and splattered on the walls following Sirius's vicious gorging

The place was all but spotless by this stage, thanks to the well-organized efforts of the maids, led by Mary—who, quite unambiguously, had made sure that every little detail was taken care of.

Her presence had been the catalyst behind the speed, her mind sharp and focused as she had orchestrated the work with an ease that left no room for error.

After all, that was the least she could do in thanks to Asher for saving her from Peter and everything associated with that.

She stood at the right flank, just a little too close to Asher's seat, which seemed more like a throne by its great grandeur.

Her hands were clasped together in front of her, fingers interlaced in a way that spoke for her mind: taut, controlled, but with a hidden nervousness.

Her gaze could not help but stray to him. Time and time again, her eyes came back to his form that was reclined with an attitude of both nonchalance and command.

'To think… Asher, Lord Asher... He really did it. He broke this tyranny—he always had it in him,' she thought.

Asher's focus was elsewhere—far beyond her.

His brow furrowed in concentration as he considered the state of his land, his gaze wandering off into space thoughtfully, as if he were composing the next orders within his mind.

There was no knowing in his face of the stirrings in her, of the way her body tensed whenever his gaze shifted ever so slightly in her direction. His thoughts, as always, seemed locked in some distant place, beyond even her reach.

And then—there was a shift.

The moment Asher had selected the 'Yes' option, the room was filled with a brilliant and almost blinding light. The light came with such strength that it left no room for reflection or second thoughts.

The maids let out gasps, hands rising to cover their eyes as faces froze in amazement and shock.

When the light faded, two men stood in the center of the room, though they were no longer the same men they once were.

Alex woke first, shifting his shoulders slightly with a gentle crack, as if to shake off some great load. The sword at his back now felt different—heavier, yet attuned to the power now coursing in his arms and legs. His frame had expanded slightly, and his muscles had grown, each movement feeling more effortless as the strength settled into his body.

He adjusted the hilt, allowing the blade to catch the light of the room, its edge gleaming.

"How does it feel?" Asher asked, his voice steady, though the transformation of Alex's sword was something he hadn't fully prepared for.

Alex's eyes flicked upwards for a moment, and a look of mixed confusion—almost incredulity—crossed his face. "My Lord—how did you...?"

"Ah, never mind," Asher replied. "As for your question, my Lord... I can feel it now. I've stepped forward, stronger. Ready to be your soldier, your guard and right-man if needed."

Although Alex would wear this proud expression majorly on his face, which masked an attitude of strength and pride, internally he would feel weak.

Indeed, his exterior was camouflage, which did not indicate the constant insecurities that were eating him up from inside. A past promotion to bronze rank, supposed to be a triumph and a clear signal of his growth, did little for the caustic tide of doubt inside.

Even now, with more strength at his feet, awakening as a silver rank warrior, he felt not worthy of such a position, let alone the trust of someone such as Asher.

In contrast, Alec's change was more subtle, but no less noticeable. His stance had shifted, and though his face still bore the mark of unwavering resolve, his posture had changed, reflecting something different within him.

The shield he wore, which had first been only a defensive tool, had grown with him—standing beside him, almost as tall as he, its iron surface gleaming with a dull but menacing light.

His gaze flickered toward Asher, and for a brief moment, the corner of his mouth twitched upward. It was subtle, but there was a hint of something more beneath his hardened exterior.

"Ready," Alec murmured.

Asher nodded, his eyes roaming over them both.

Soon after, the two brothers kneeled, their bodies bending in perfect synchronization.

"Rise," Asher commanded softly.

The panels flickered before him, confirming what he already knew.

[Name: Alex

Age: 35

Rank: Silver

Talent(s): Telepathy (A), Blademaster (C)

Job: Swordsman

Loyalty: 95]

[Talent description: Telepathy—a unique passive talent that connects the minds of two or more persons, giving them the ability to communicate without words and read each other's external thoughts.]

Blademaster: A rare melee-type active talent that increases the strength of a swordsman by 30%. This talent blesses the person with unnatural control and understanding over all sharp weapons, especially the sword.]

[Name: Alec

Age: 35

Rank: Silver

Talent(s): Telepathy (A), Strength Enhancement (A)

Job: Shieldman

Loyalty: 98]

[Description: Strength enhancement is a passive talent that increases an individual's strength by two folds with every rank increase!]

Asher's mind reeled. 'Two talents? These twins aren't just soldiers—they would have remained bronze-ranked captains, wasting away, had it not been for the change of leadership.'

He exhaled softly, masking the thoughts racing through him.

"I want a report on the state of my territory."

Alec and Alex exchanged a glance before looking at Kelvin, who, after a brief pause, met Asher's gaze.

"We have 200 iron-ranked soldiers, most of them in their forties, and a population just over 5000. The walls are crumbling, and morale is low. Many soldiers are already fleeing, like the others who deserted before them."

Kelvin's words hung heavily in the air, his face pale with the weight of the situation.

"The people are hungry, unprotected from wild beasts, and their loyalty to you is weak, milord. On top of that, there's a debt of 100,000 gold coins, with 5000 coins due each month. Peter has squandered most of our funds, leaving us in dire straits."

Asher closed his eyes, processing the grim report. His territory was on the brink of collapse—disloyal citizens, an unreliable army, deteriorating walls, and a mountain of debt. What a mess.

But he wasn't bereft of resources. Underneath his bad circumstances lay this precious capital: his mind, the knowledge accumulated from worlds, Boundless, and experience with strategic games like Frostpunk.

Thus, he immediately addressed the issue directly.

"Who borrowed such an amount of money?"

Kelvin hesitated, sensing the brewing storm in Asher's voice.

"Your father and two brothers."

"And what were the funds used for?"

Kelvin cleared his throat upon hearing that. He shot the maids a glance, who swiftly exited the room, no doubt eager to escape the tension. Their faces had grown pale, no doubt haunted by the grisly murder they'd witnessed not 30 minutes ago.

"Your father borrowed 10,000 gold coins from a mercenary, Baron Snow, and spent it all on women. He visited brothels nightly, indulging in luxury with high-class women in the city of Count Tigris. Two months later, he borrowed another 10,000 coins."

....

Several minutes of ill-surprising information later...

....

"And Master Thomas, while being Baron, borrowed two thousand to start an expedition to reclaim our mines, but was killed by one of the abyss creatures. The money was wasted on his treatment and feeding the army until it finished."

Asher looked at Kelvin.

"What a proper way to inform me that your talent is perfect memory."

Upon hearing that, Kelvin was stunned. "Milord, how did you know?"

"Humph!"

Asher's snort made him retreat. Meanwhile, Asher did that to avoid further questions.

"You mentioned mine. I never knew we had mines."

"We do, Milord, but it has been taken over by Abyss creatures," Alex replied respectfully but audibly.

Asher's mind spun as Alex's words about the mine sank in. 'A mine? Why hadn't I known about this before?'

The realization hit him like a thunderclap. 'This could be the key to it all.' A mine. It wasn't just an excavation; it was a wind of change.

New resources meant more than simply metal for the army's weapons. The wealth created could pay for trade with neighboring regions to revive the economy and, most urgently, solve the food shortage.

Food. Without it, his people would turn on him, and his forces would starve into irrelevance.

The mine would be the fulcrum of everything he was developing here. But to get it working, he had to shift his thinking. 'I need strong soldiers'.

His fingers tapped lightly on the surface of the armrest, which denoted the mental activity inside his head.

The system... It gives me the means to grow these men. They will level up, strengthen, and adapt with each battle. A few skirmishes will upgrade them, some would even unlock new skills. I need an army that is capable of fighting beyond what this place can offer.

Lifting his head, Asher gazed at his captains.

He stood tall and commanding. "Gather your troops; we reclaim our mines tonight."

He shifted his focus back to Alec and Alex, who were watching him intently. The twins, while loyal, had no idea what drove him. They saw only his words.

But they had seen him do the impossible before. They trusted him. With that, they left to carry out his orders.

Asher turned to Kelvin and said, "I'm hungry. I also need a bath before we head out."

Kelvin was beyond stunned. He couldn't understand where his 22-year-old lord got this much confidence from. This was the same place his father avoided, his eldest brother feared after scouting, and where his second elder brother died!

"Milord, you may be brave, but this plan... it's madness. The Abyss creatures are no simple beasts. They tear men apart with ease, their strength unmatched. Walking into their domain with an army of starved men is suicide."

Asher smiled, a slow, knowing curve of his lips.

He got to his feet and stroked Sirius's head. The white wolf squinted, enjoying his caresses.

"I'm not blind to the danger, Kelvin," he said, his tone calm yet edged with certainty. "But here's the thing—the Abyss creatures are not invincible. They're terrifying, yes, but they can be outsmarted. And once we reclaim the mine, that's not just a victory in resources. I'll win the people's trust. With the mine, I can employ the men, feed the people, and slowly rebuild. It's a slow beginning, and the army will never be the same after this battle."

A clear vision reflected in his eyes.