Chapter 35 Gemini’s Blessing #2
For the next twelve hours, I swung my fists through the air. Punch after punch. Kick after kick. I just wanted to forget what was happening. Every time I was tired, I would enter a state of meditation until I felt like I could go again.
Time flew by.
Then loud horns were blown. The sound was a blaring, ear-piercing noise but only lasted for a brief moment. I froze and waited for two more horns. They didn't come, and my body relaxed.
The guerrilla warriors were back.
I wiped my sweat away, drank a liter of fresh water, and glanced at my notifications.
Unarmed Combat [Uncommon] has reached level 8.
Meditation [Common] has reached level 7.
I grinned. The first notification was the one I was waiting for. The second one was a nice boon.
For the past week, I had been running Minor Simulation after Minor Simulation. Of course, every time I made sure to give Mila the Unarmed Combat Skill. I considered giving it to Timothy but decided not to take any risks. I had a plan. And that plan was coming to fruition right now.
In the past week, I had gained the Unarmed Combat Skill five times over.
Meaning Mila still would have the Skill in the next run, and the five ones in my Status screen were mine.
Looking at my Limbo State Skills was quite a sight, considering it was literally just five times the Unarmed Combat skill listed one after another.
I hadn't merged with any of them for a simple reason. It was to level up Unarmed Combat one last time. I, of course, considered giving away the General Skill to somebody else, but there were practically no bare-knuckle fighters, and the Skill was better in my hands.
I dismissed my thoughts and focused back on my status screen and my Limbo State Skills.
Do you wish to merge Unarmed Combat [Common] into Unarmed Combat [Uncommon]?
The notification appeared five times. My grin couldn't help but widen. This was going to be fun.
Yes.
With that, the notification disappeared from my vision, only to be replaced by another cascade of blue boxes.
Unarmed Combat [Common] has merged into Unarmed Combat [Uncommon].
Unarmed Combat [Common] ...
...
The same message was repeated five times in total before we came to the truly fun part.
Unarmed Combat [Uncommon] has reached level 9.
Unarmed Combat [Uncommon] has reached level 10.
...
Unarmed Combat [Uncommon] has reached level 15.
I whistled as I looked at the number in front of me.
I could feel the knowledge that was fed into my mind.
Suddenly, I knew how to fight better, more efficiently, and be even deadlier.
At the same time, every time I used my fists as weapons, my body would be strengthened even further, and I would be faster, stronger, and sturdier.
It felt awesome.
Unarmed Combat was now my highest-level skill. A bummer that Mana Manipulation was now dethroned, but I promised to rectify that. Looks like I would have to get Mana Manipulation to Rare then.
Remembering that the guerrilla soldiers were back, I wiped my sweat away and put on some respectable clothes. Then I hurried outside and practically ran through the town. On the outside, I wore a smile, happy to welcome my warriors back, but on the inside, anxiety gnawed on me.
I shoved all these thoughts away and simply moved forward.
I forced myself through the crowd that had formed and made my way towards the front. Despite me being late to the party, none of the archers etc. were present. I grew nervous for a moment, thinking most of them had died before I spotted a couple of disheveled figures pour out of the forest.
I could see people limping, others carrying one or two people. Their leather armors were streaked with cuts, and dried blood clung to their faces and bodies. They looked like they had been through war. What the hell happened?
"Don't just stand there! Get the people some fucking help!
" I commanded, and this seemed to get the people around me going.
The rest of the army forced the civilians to stay back.
Most of them had family or friends that went out.
Another part of the soldiers sprinted towards the men and women coming out of the forest. All of the holes were dodged or avoided.
They, of course, knew about them and had already trained in this environment multiple times.
Out of my peripheral vision, I could see healing pastes being dragged out of a nearby barn we had built.
Despite the chaos and panic, the people were well-trained and prepared. The injured were split up into life-threatening injuries and non-life-threatening injuries. Luckily, there were barely any of the former. Then a green salve was slapped upon their bodies.
I observed the process with pride, making sure that everything stayed organized with the help of Samuel and Gerald. More and more people poured out of the forest, and we sent somebody to get a headcount.
Time passed quickly as the people around us were getting treated. Even Sebastian joined me by my side. I was getting a little fidgety. Did they complete their mission? How did so many get injured? They were supposed to stay as far away as possible.
"Where the fuck is my battle report," I mumbled to no one.
"Patience, Ivor," Sebastian next to me said. He seemed to be completely calm as if this was an everyday occurrence.
Luckily, my patience didn't have to be tested, as I heard screaming from my side.
There Marcus, the veteran who led these folks and the man whom I had given Tactician's Mind, screamed wildly.
He tore off the bandages of his body and stood up despite the vehement denial of his 'doctor'.
He frantically looked around before spotting me.
He limped across the ground as fast as possible.
"Lord Ivor," he screamed, panic evident in his voice. "There are Demons. There are fucking Demons among these fucking beasts. There are Demons charging towards our town!"
Oh.