A different popup layered over the skill shop window.
[You are but the sum of all your decisions. You are only worth as much as the enemies you slay.]
[What shows in the shop is dependant on your kills and your experiences. You unlock skills by using stat points, so choose wisely.]
A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes. 'The sum of your decisions, huh? Old-fashioned, but true nonetheless.'
Closing the window, the actual skill shop came into view.
[Skill - cost]
[Minor cold resistance - 0]
[Sword affinity - 3]
[Minor Ice Magic - 5]
[Physical enhancement - 10]
Looking at the skills, he noticed a problem.
'I can't see what is what? That's just like you, system.'
'As for which skill to pick... I don't always use swords, but for now I'm stuck with one.' he cast a glance at the sword in hand.
'Ice magic... Sounds good but I don't think i have a mana pool. Since cold resistance is free, I can take it I guess? And the physical enhancement...' the image of the monstrous knight hacking his arm off flashed in his head.
[Physical enhancement lvl 1 - provides a 20 % bonus to physical stats.]
[Minor cold resistance lvl 1- you are less affected by cold temperature.]
'Wait, they can level up!' Magnus eyes went wide, 'Jackpot!'
A surge of power spread out through his body, filling him with newfound power. The sword in his hand felt lighter than ever before, as if made of paper.
He clenched his fist, and the power surging in his body made him feel-
'Amazing! This is amazing!' he thought, 'I could chop up the old me 10 times over!'
'Yet-' he glanced at his cut off arm, 'I must not get cocky. I may be stronger, but I doubt I can match the bastard who cut off my arm.'
'I need more power, and even then, nothing is set in stone!'
'Though, I don't feel any temperature difference - Is it because I already got cold resistance from the ice spirit?'
"Magnus?" Etins voice came from behind him.
"Huh? Oh sorry I was distracted, let's keep going."
They vanished into the snowstorm, hunting for their next targets.
A group of three knights entered into view.
Usually, they would decide to ambush groups so that they would not create a ruckus. Prowl through the bushes, hide on trees, dig into the snow.
'Now, forget that!' Gripping the sword's leather hilt firmly, he strode boldly toward the three knights.
One of the knights noticed his presence.
"Get him!" he shouted, prompting the other two to turn around as well.
Promptly, three long blades were raised mid air, while their horses stampede towards him.
'No you don't -'
The three horses stopped, refusing to budge.
Even after trying everything, the knights didn't get the horses to move.
And upon noticing Magnus still stood there arrogantly, all three of them jumped off their horses and charged him in unison.
'Wait-' Magnus looked at the weapons they wielded, an unpleasant memory stirring in his mind. 'The same as the one who cut off my arm!'
Two slashes interrupted his thoughts, one from each side.
'Damn-'
He jumped backwards, using the blow to create distance.
His thoughts churned, and he turned to run back to the area where he came from.
He glanced over his shoulder, 'Still following? Good!'
Within seconds, he ran past the tree.
The first and second knight did as well.
A scream rang out, and both knights turned to look back.
A blood soaked blade pierced the chest of the third knight.
Pulling the blade out, the corpse fell down, and Etin revealed himself.
"Be careful." he said, before charging one knight.
"I know!" Magnus charged the other.
An overhead slash came from above-
He slashed at the blade-
CLANG-
The swords trajectory changed, digging into the ground.
Magnus tried to kick him, yet a fist came flying at his face.
Ducking to avoid the punch, the knights sword dislodged from the ground, arcing towards Magnus.
He barely raised the sword in time, stopping the blade.
"I'll hack you!" the knight pulled back his sword-
'Fast-'
"to pieces!", another overhead!
He rolled, evading the blow.
"Then I'll eat you!" a kick sent him flying.
He sprawled on the ground, his world spinning.
'How-' he tried getting up, as pain spread through every inch of his body.
"Then the elf!" the frenzied shouts pierced the sky, and the knight charged him again.
'How can these bastards be so monstrous!' he thought, before charging towards the knight as well.
CLANG!
The knight performed a diagonal slash, which Magnus matched.
Another clash of swords, he deflected the blow, yet his blade broke.
"Hack-" the knight raised his blade up high, a mad light surging within his eyes, ready to kill Magnus.
Swing!
His arm seperated from his body, and rolled on the ground.
Before he could process what happened-
Swing-
Another cut, and both his legs were chopped off.
"Ahhhhh-?!" he screamed as he fell to the ground
Before his head was promptly pushed into the snow, muffling his screams.
"You alright?" Etin asked, covered in blood, the corpse of the other knight visible behind him.
"These guys won't regrow their limbs, right?" Magnus asked cautiously.
"What? No, these guys are lieutenants only. Now then-" he reached out with his hand, gripping the neck of the knight.
"Speak, why do you seek to invade our lands?"
"Why!? We've been at war for hundreds of years before this, knife ears!" the knights gaze turned ferocious, before smirking "And I'll tell you something."
"You will all die-" his shout reverbated through the woods, before a blade plunged into his head.
[13/100]
[level 5]
'So it doesn't just double whenever I level up? Good to know...' he thought, before turning to look at Etin.
"Let's go, can't stay here after all that shouting."
Opening the map, he started making his way into the woods. Yet after a few seconds, he turned around to look at his companion.
"Etin?" he called out.
"Oh- I'm sorry. Let's go." lost in his thoughts, Etins reply became a bit dry.
"What is it?"
"I'm trying to figure out why they're invading now. Say..." he turned to look at Magnus, "What country did you come from?"
"Isn't it Velez?" he asked back.
"What was the city you came from called, or do you not remember that?"
"Oh, nah, it's Grandia." Magnus replied, and Instantly Etins face darkened.
"Ah- It all makes sense now. They didn't just invade the kingdom of Velez, they also invaded the Norl kingdom! But, why? Why would they try to expand so much, when they have much more resources than us?"
"Say-"
"Unless it's because they are searching for something?!" the eyes of the elf went wide, "Like for example-"
He turned to look at Magnus.
"You?"
Magnus was dumbstruck.
'Me? I'm the reason why the whole city... NO, WAIT!'
"Nope, Grandia was burnt down when I came to, and I doubt they would search for a no name like me. Nobody chased after me, other than just 2 horsemen. And there were hundreds of them, Etin."
"Hmm... You're right, they wouldn't have sent just two like you say. Then what-"
"Stop thinking about that and heal me, man. It hurts to even walk." Magnus cut him off.
"...Okay. I am running somewhat low on mana, so I can use heal maybe twice more." he explained, as a green light enveloped Magnus.
A soft sensation spread through his body, and the pain vanished almost completely.
'Worse than level up, but still good.'
"Yet you can use ice spears constantly?"
"Healing magic is very costly, mana wise. It's much harder to create than it is to destroy, my friend."
"I see..."
Not speaking further, they made their way through the mountainside, avoiding patrols they couldn't handle, while ambushing any lone riders.
The diversion strategy was a success, and Magnus saw more and more knights swarming the map.
After a quick count, he was shocked that the initial 40 knights he saw turned into more than 120.
'If- IF by any chance we alert the horde, we're going to be run over by these bastards. Still, more than 80 of them died at our hands, yet there seems to be no end in sight to their numbers...'
---
Inside of a lavish tent, an old knight sharpened his blade. Standing at roughly 2 meters tall, scars etched across his face, his presence commanded fear and respect wherever he went.
Surrounding him were 20 Elite Knights, each one strong enough to mow down 50 men. Although each one struck fear in their enemies, the blood lust in their eyes was palpable.
"Report!" a young man came into the tent.
"Speak."
"3 elites were found dead, you've been requested to investigate, lord Bastil."
He stopped sharpening his blade, looking up at the squire in front of him.
"Why am I being dispatched just for that?"
"Ei - Eighty men were killed, the attackers still at large." the squire stammered, fear apparent in his voice.
"INCOMPETENT FOOLS!" the old man yelled, his voice sending the everyone present buckling to their feet.
Even the tent shook, ready to collapse.
'How dare you waste men on some idiotic folk tales, ingrate!'
The man rose, and the knights gathered behind him.
Leaving the tent, all of them mounted on a horse, each one the same as the one Magnus used to escape.
"To the Spirits Clearing!" Bastil shouted, and they set off.
Behind them, a massive siege camp spread as far as the eye could see, with a large pillar in the distance being built.